At first, I thought the similar phrasing in alternating chapters was in error, but soon realized it was the authors' way of tying the two stories together. The book is well written. I highlighted many quotes that seemed so perfect for life in general, but especially in terms of bettering oneself. This was one of my favorite books by the L & L duo!

This was a great, fast paced thriller. I'm not usually a fan of the unreliable narrator thriller but I enjoyed this one with the Sliding Doors dual storyline. Great summer read.

Bravo to awesome writer duo Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke for taking a major risk with their new novel, The Two Lila Bennetts - a risk that more than pays off, in my opinion.For fans of Gwyneth Paltrow's film Sliding Doors or Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel, Maybe in Another Life, The Two Lila Bennetts asks a question about just how much one decision can impact the rest of our lives.

Lila Bennett, a tough criminal defense attorney with seemingly low morals is our character who ends up on the angel/devil on her shoulder path here. The reader gets to explore how things would play out for Lila based on one important decision she makes and how her future is changed as a result. Given that Liz and Lisa are thriller superstars, of course, one of the paths takes her down a dark turn that will have you wondering "whodunnit" and more importantly, why.

I'm keeping this review short and simple to avoid spoilers as this one plays out really well, with some great surprises, but I dare say, I think Liz and Lisa have outdone themselves here and I hope you all agree.

4.5 stars!

4.5 stars!!

Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have been slaying the game together as a writing duo for years now, but nothing comes close to their upcoming mystery novel, The Two Lila Bennetts . Their upcoming mystery novel solidifies them as a force to be reckoned with! Told under two realities, Lila must come to terms about her behavior with her career and with her personal life. Without giving much away (you can read the synopsis if you want more of the backstory), Lila is a defense attorney and she is notorious for working with some of the most vile and cruel people in the courtroom, only to provide them protection under the law. She doesn't treat her marriage or friends with the respect they deserve. Until she is forced to realize that her behavior needs a change, Lila is enjoying the fruits of her labor. Once Lila is faced with the horrible reality that her behavior has vicious consequences, she must decide what is important to her most.

I know that small synopsis is so vague, but honestly that is the most important takeaway from The Two Lila Bennetts . This story is told in a unique way, that at first can be difficult to follow. It starts off as one storyline and then folds into two different, but equally as gripping realities. As the story unfolds in both worlds, it eventually comes together as one strong, amazingly told story. The writing in this book is the strongest I've ever seen from Lisa and Liz, and that says a lot because the duo know how to write a story! It's honestly the best beach read of 2019—I read it in one day, and would've 100% finished it if I was laying on a beach chair enjoying the sun! It's a light mystery, and it doesn't go too dark for the the more squeamish readers, so you can definitely enjoy this book without worry! The Two Lila Bennetts allows the reader to determine what exactly makes a person "good" or "bad", and it gave me the chance to determine my own actions in life as well. Rarely does a book provide such a profound experience.

Free & Captured.

Lila Bennett, a successful criminal defense attorney, has her story told from two points of view. Free & Captured. She’s made her way to the top and become one of the best, but not without stepping on a few toes along the way. She’s wronged a few people and made some less than stellar choices in her life. Karma always comes back to bite you; sometimes with a vengeance.

Who captured her and what is their reason for doing it? Will she ever get to make her amends or will she be killed before she gets to right her wrongs?

I enjoyed this book and I could have sworn I knew what was happening and “who-dun-nit.” I was wrong. This book was hard to put down until I found out who captured her and why. Clear an afternoon from your schedule and enjoy the ride!

Lila Bennetts has made a number of questionable choices in her life. After she makes another he life continues on two paths - one where she is kidnapped and one where she feels someone tormenting her from afar. I’m both is is forced to face the things she has done to hurt others in the hope to save her life and everything she holds dear.

This was such a fun, unique thriller and it was such a fast read! Lila truly isn’t a great person in many ways, but I enjoyed seeing her flaws and her humanity in both timelines. This book definitely kept me on my toes the whole time; I thought I’d had the big “twist” figured out pretty early on but I was WAY wrong. Definitely recommend this for anyone who is looking for a good thriller.

4/5 stars

I always look forward to a new Liz and Lisa book and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s a good thriller and I got through it quickly. I also liked the twist ending.

Wow what did I just read?! My mind is reeling after finishing this book.

I will keep this review brief because I think you should go into this book blind to really appreciate it.

Lila Bennett is a ruthless criminal attorney, one who defends the indefensible. She doesn’t always feel good about the cases she takes on, but selfishly she loves the wins. She starts to realize she doesn’t like the person she has become, she has made a lot of bad choices. One choice literally splits her life in two, but is it too late for redemption?

The Two Lila Bennetts is not only brilliant, it really makes the reader reflect on how to be a better version of themself. The endless suspense kept me reading- what a ride! This is a must read for summer, mark your calendar, July 23, 2019!

Thank you @netgalley @lakeunionpublishing for my advance reading copy.

Choices....Actions....Consequences....

Lila Bennett is a successful criminal defense attorney. She is highly successful and competitive and does not back down from a fight. She has made many bad choices over the years, even stepped on some toes to make her way to the top. What happens when her choices and actions catch up with her?

This book was told in an interesting format via dual scenarios/sections - titled "Free" and "Captured". In one Lila is going about her life when suddenly a bad choice catches up with her and it affects not only her marriage but her friendships and her career. In another scenario she is taken prisoner and held accountable for her actions. Her jailer seems to know all her misdeeds. How? and Why is she being held as prisoner?

This was a clever story and showed how karma can be a badass. Enjoyable book that looks at choices, actions and consequences. Plus, in this book we have a character who has done some bad things, but does that make her a bad person, or just a person who has done bad? It's a thought-provoking question to think about while reading this book. I must hand it to this writing duo, the two timelines seemed to reach their end at just the right pace blending the two timelines perfectly. Nothing felt rushed at the end.

I received a copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow wow wow!! This book was brilliant!! Lila Bennett, hard-nosed defense attorney. Ambitious and prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals, she is faced with a choice. Us, the readers, now embark on a Sliding Door-esque scenario where we get to see the outcome of the two choices Lila could have made. Slick, thrilling and compulsively readable, The Two Lives of Lila Bennett was playing out in my mind like a movie, complete with racing heart, and twists and turns that meant it was never a dull read. But the ultimate twist I did not see coming and I love being surprised when reading a good story. Lila ultimately teaches us that:
'Maybe all we are is a sum of our choices, each one leading us down a different path, each with its own unique outcome'.

This is a good read that is about actions having consequences. I liked the idea of there being two possible stories. Both stories were well written. I was not as gripped by this book as I wanted to be.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The main character, Lila Bennett, is someone who I was able to dislike due to her bad choices she has made that conflict with what I deem is moral and because of this the story flowed perfectly in the different emotions it was able to evoke throughout the journey. There was a few twists throughout the story and I figured out part of the twist at the end.

This story is told through the Captured Lila Bennett and the Free Lila Bennett, either way her life will be changed forever. A real creative page turner and well worth the read.

The Two Lila Bennnetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke - wow! This is a book that I had seen a lot around the book world and was looking forward to reading. I have read previous books by this duo and knew that I was in for a fun read. And it certainly was. I read almost half of this book in one sitting.

In this sliding doors style story we meet Lila Bennett - a lawyer who gets the bad guys off, who works too hard and is having an affair with her boss and best friends husband. She has made some bad decisions in her life. And with one decision we see 2 ways that her life could go. In one scenario he is taken hostage and locked up by a stranger who seems to know a lot about her. She is forced to confront her life errors and make good on them. In her other life she is free, and life carries on. A story about making choices and how they impact not only yourself but those around you.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

Wow! I just read most of the Two Lila Bennett’s today. Once I got started I couldn’t stop. I’m always a little nervous about books with one character and two potential timelines, but this was extremely well done. I’m a big fan of this duo, but I think it might be their best yet.
This follows a free Lila and one that is kidnapped as she comes to terms with many of the clients she’s defended and the decisions she’s made. It was interesting to see the differences between her two timelines and trying to figure out which one was really happening. This also kept me guessing the whole time about who Lila’s kidnappers were. This was a highly addictive read and I definitely recommend it!
This was a 4.5 star review for me.
My review will be posted on my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reading.is.my.happy.place/ right before July 23rd.

This book was just ok. It kept my interest but the ending felt rushed and lacking closure. But I would still recommend.

Wow! Such a clever concept. It follows a dual narrative where the protagonist is kidnapped in one and free in the other and it all boils down to the choices she makes in her life.
I loved the concept and I think the execution was very good. It was a well-plotted and intriguing story which keeps you hooked till the end.
The authors have mentioned the movie, Sliding Doors and this book is exactly that. What happens when you make certain decisions. Do only the big decisions count in life? Can one decision spiral your life out of control or is it a sum of many? This book is not only a good psychological thriller but at times thought-provoking as well.
A great story of remorse, regret and reckoning.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Recently, I had read Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins-Reid, which is about a woman who has two different outcomes based on a decision she has made. Liz and Lisa took this Sliding Doors formula to write a captivating and suspenseful thriller.

Just like the heroine in Maybe, Lila is faced with a decision. If she chooses one way, she ends up getting kidnapped and forced to face her demons. If she chooses the other way, life goes on as usual, but she still has to face her demons. Either way, she doesn't know who is out to get her or what they want from her.

This is my favorite of Liz and Lisa's thrillers. It kept me guessing the entire time. I thought I knew the answers and was still proven wrong. I was so drawn in by the story that I was even reading it while I was out shopping with my parents and sister. (They could shop to their hearts' content, for all I cared!) The novel made me think a lot about the impact of one's decisions and actions. (And not just because of the one that splits Lila's life in two.)

There are definitely some questions that I was left with as I finished. I won't ask them here, as to not spoil the story. All you need to know is that you're in for a wild ride, so hang on tight!

Movie casting ideas:
Lila: Lake Bell
Ethan: Dave Annable
Chase: Miles Heizer
Sam: Ed Quinn
Carrie: Marley Shelton

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

Wow - really enjoyed this book! Was totally able to follow the back and forth, and couldn’t put it down! A really unlikable character, but still couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen!