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!

I just couldn't get into this one. Though the concept was clever and intriguing, there was just too much baggy prose in between the action.

Lila Bennett is a strong, hard ass attorney known for helping the “bad guy” get away with it. One decision, however, sets her life of two very different paths. In one world, Lila has been kidnapped and it being held in a concrete cube. Her captor forces her to look at her wrongs and start to make amends. In the other option, Lila manages to escape her kidnapping, but it doesn’t stop her tormentor from giving her loved ones the information that will ruin her life. This is the story of each path and how her decisions changed the direction of her life.

I found the two storylines of this book absolutely fascinating. I loved watching Lila grow and learn how her mistakes had effected those around her, and seeing how she changed her ways. The different timelines kept the story so interesting and unique. It was amazing to watch two different stories, that both led to Lila wanting to become a better person.

Thank you to netgalley and lake union publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in advance!

Thank you to NetGalley, Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC.

I have loved pretty much every single novel that Liz and Lisa have written and this was no exception. Lila is such a great character, and I loved how the story is told as being free and being captured. The villain in the story is shocking, but amazing. I loved everything about this novel, and cannot wait to read more by this awesome duo.

Wow, an excellent mystery! A story of a successful, ruthless attorney, when consequences and karma finally catches on to her. Cleverly written as a parallel universe, with two closely related scenarios, this book was very hard to put down! Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Imagine your life taking two different paths. In one, you are captured and held hostage by an unknown assailant who seems to know all of your secrets. During this time, you are forced to admit your life’s wrong doings and record public apologies to the people effected. All the while, not knowing who has arranged your abduction and unaware of your outcome. Your other path allows you to get away from your attacker but also leads to life-changing consequences. This is exactly what happens to Lila in this dual plot psychological thriller. This one did not disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and flew through it! It should definitely hold a spot on her summer TBR!

This book was sooooo good. I didn’t want to stop reading this, and when I did I wanted to get right back to it!
Imagine how one choice could change your life. This book tells two different stories - one about the life Lila Bennett would have if she made one choice, and one about her life if she made another choice. It was so interesting to think about how just one choice can change your life so drastically. Filled with mystery and suspense, it will keep you guessing until the end!
I just really, really loved this book!!! Read it now!!!!!

Thank you #LakeUnionPublishing #TheTwoLilaBennetts #NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!!!

I received a copy of The Two Lila Bennett's from Net Galley for my honest review.

Lila Bennett's life has literally been split in two.

The dual plot lines were well crafted and I enjoyed all the twists and turns this psychological thriller offered up.

This is another homerun from Lisa and Liz.

Lila Bennett is a prominent LA defense lawyer. She is good at her job, and has an “in it to win it” mentality. But her choices in life have finally caught up with her.

One night after a victorious win in court, Lila is faced with a choice: go out for a drink with her superior, or go home to her husband. 

Lila’s story from that point on is split into two narratives. In one, she is “captured” by an assailant whose partner desperately wants her to suffer. In the other, she is “free,” where she evades her captor but her life quickly unravels.

This wasn’t your average psychological thriller. The authors explore this juxtaposition of, on one hand, Lila being pressured by her firm to take on cases that basically let the bad guys off, and the consequences that pressure leads to. On the other hand, Lila battles with a startling revelation about her deceased father and how at present that affects her choices about work and family. Lila isn’t a saint, but she isn’t a villain either. In both scenarios, certain variables remain the same.

I’m super critical of thrillers. They tend not to hold my attention and I can almost always predict where the story will lead. This was so NOT the case with this story!! I grew attached to Lila and how human she was. Good people make poor choices for various reasons, even if they make poor choices often. And holy crap, I did NOT see that end coming!

The Two Lila Bennetts comes out July 23. This is absolutely a must read for the summer!

Another page turner from this Duo. This book is completely different from anything I’ve read. While I don’t think this book will be for everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed the originality. Fast paced story that alternates between two scenarios. Once I figured out what was happening, I couldn’t put it down.

Lila Bennett is a criminal defense lawyer, making quite the name for herself...not necessarily in all good ways. She is doing what she wants, not worrying about anyone else, making many bad choices. Until her life becomes split in two. She must atone for her sins. In one scenario, she is kidnapped and kept in a concrete cell. Her kidnapper knows everything she’s one, but he’s a stranger to her. Or is he? The other scene, she is escapes being kidnapped but is hunted and must face her sins one at a time. Lila makes quite the transformation, but is it too late for her? Life as she knew it is over, but what is worth saving? Lila needs to decide, come clean with those she hurt but at what cost.

Lila, although not lovable, is somewhat likable even with all her faults...and boy does she have them. The cast of characters are a mixture of good and evil. The chapters move fluidly between captured and free...as the stories move forward, overlapping with little nuances which make you think. I didn’t want it to end when it did!

I received an ARC of this book. Opinion is mine alone.

A hot-shot attorney is living two lives. And we see all of it. The Two Lila Bennetts goes between two narratives. Before Lila is captured by an unknown person....and during her captivity. While she may be a good attorney, she seems to struggle with personal relationships. Her marriage is a mess. She's having an affair with her best friend's husband. All these things come to a head, and then she is taken. What happens now?

This book was your typical page turner. I wanted to know what was gonna happen next. I really wanted to know if Lila was going to escape, and how. The author did a great job of intertwining two versions of Lila. As horrible as Lila seems, is she still someone the reader even wants saved?

I guess you'll have to read it to find out!

4/5 Stars

Very mixed feelings about this book. VERY.

The concept behind this book is outstanding. So is the structure. It’s one of the most uniquely organized thrillers I’ve encountered. Lila is a fascinating, complex protagonist. And the pace is as propulsive as they come.

However...I really, really do not like books that preach at me. There is zero evidence of that in the first half of the book, but the second half is chock full of moralizing. I went from “I can’t wait to see what happens!” to “STOP YELLING AT ME, JUDGEY, SNEERY BOOK!” in a biiiiig hurry.

Was Lila a truly bad person? I don’t think so. Did she need to change? A lot? Yes, of course. But the groveling, pathetic tone the authors seemed to feel she needed to take on to atone wasn’t redemptive to me, it was deeply unappealing and quite frankly, gross.

Had the tone been different, Lila’s redemption probably would have gone over better, but I’ve got a real problem with this idea of “breaking” a woman to make her a better person.

I think I probably would have liked this book when I was in high school and saw the world in righteous black and white. As an adult, I just see a great concept wasted on shouty moralism and a disappointing ending. And both Lila Bennetts deserved better than that.

One last thing: When creating a character who is a law professor sleeping with a student, don’t name him the exact same thing (Callahan!) as the law professor in Legally Blonde who was also attempting to sleep with a student. It makes the character feel derivative.

So, 1 star for tone, 2 for plot resolution, 5 for structure, and 4 for concept = 3 stars.

This book is about the choices we make in our lives and the consequences of them. Meet Lila a woman who has been ruthless in pursuit of coming out on top. It is these choices that lead in 2 directions in this book. I was really hoping I would like this book but unfortunately I didn't. I felt no real connection to the main character and didn't care whether she lived or died.
Usually I can't put this style of thriller read down but this book I put down a lot and only finished it to review it. I struggled with what was happening to Lila and caring about it. I was definitely disappointed and would say in this summer of some amazing thrill rides I'd recommend a pass on this one.

This book had a lot of promise! A unique premise, a different approach to the usual domestic thriller format, that I really appreciated. The writing is light and easy to read, moves along quickly and is pretty seamless given there are two authors.
The execution is nothing new, especially in this genre. There's obvious red herrings, characters saying pointed things to guide you in the wrong direction and an ending that fits convention for this genre pretty well. But, extra points for the final few pages that wrapped the story up in a really impressive way. It was a quick, fun read, and I'll read more from this duo again.

A twist of fate befalls Lila Bennett in The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton; Lisa Steinke. This is a wonderful "time will tell" story filled with legal dramas, cheating, stealing and taking advantage of sort of book. Ifenjoyed it and couldn't put it down. The strategy of writing this story in two part; evil and not so good, had me flinging through pages to get to the next part. The story is about Lila Bennett facing her past and how her actions have made her who she is, and maybe creates her own downfall. Filled with suspense and bravado, it's a great story!

I have been a long time fan of the authors, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, since they had their website "Chick Lit is Not Dead"- they have fought hard for a place in the publishing world and if anyone doubted they belonged, this book has sealed the deal- they do!!!
This story was unreal- in the very best way! It could have almost been 2 totally different books but merged together it was genius. I have heard a lot of people compare it to "Sliding Doors" but I never saw that so I really did not know what to expect. By the second chapter, I was completely hooked. I feel like I kept saying "OMG OMG" as each chapter progresses. With a lot of suspense reads you can start to guess where the ending is going but the way this book was set up, you had no clue! And the payoff was great. While I enjoyed reading this on the kindle with this ARC, I will be purchasing a hard copy for my bookcase!! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a creative thriller - we see the main character in a split life based on saying yes or no to a crucial decision. Would recommend this to library patrons.

This book explores the concept of how actions have consequences. It has a “choose your own adventure” feel to the book, as the story switches between two storylines: one where Lila is held captive after being kidnapped, and one where she is free, but her life is destroyed in other ways.

I found the captive storyline to be more interesting, though Lila was hard to like in either scenario. It was encouraging to see her develop a bit throughout the book. The suspense angle didn’t hook me like I’d hoped. There are a number of characters, but the reader never really gets a chance to know most of them. Some parts dragged on a bit too much for me to rate this higher. This was just an okay read for me overall.