Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Hot on the heels of “Girls Night Out”, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke’s new novel, “The Two Lila Bennetts”, touches on past mistakes, “what ifs” and the choices we make.
Lila Bennett is a successful criminal attorney, defending the lowest of the low and, according to her legal record, more often than not succeeding in getting them off. However, soon, the error of her ways literally confronts her and she is torn between two words- both reveal the consequences of the choices she has made and changes her forever.
“The Two Lila Bennetts” is a unique novel in a number of ways. It reads like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel, where each chapter features the same protagonist (Lila Bennett) but in two different worlds, each world reflective of a different path she could have chosen as a result of a life choice. In one world, she is being held captive by a stranger by the name of “Q”, who forces her to reveal her deepest secrets and make amends. In another, the same Lila is blackmailed into telling her husband the sordid details of her affair with her boss (who is also her best friends’ husband).
I am always intrigued when these two authors collaborate, as I am always drawn into the idea of two creative minds working together to create a successful, and collective, story. This novel is slightly off pattern, in that it is a little easier to see where one author ends and the other begins, as each chapter tells a completely different story from the one before it, and although they share a main character, each chapter has a different plot.
The character of “Q” and the plot line behind him truly intrigued me, and I was reminded of Caroline Kepnes’ “You” while reading. I desperately wanted more of this, and was disappointed when the other Lila took over. However, once I got reading into this Lila’s life, I wanted this storyline to continue, and again was faced with disappointment. Both stories were entertaining, however, each plot line had enough juice to be a stand-alone novel, and I would’ve eagerly read both from cover to cover.
This was a tough review to do, as I enjoyed the individual plot lines and the characters in each, but I would’ve loved to have seen each one on its own. I was never a fan of Choose Your Own Adventure novels because I did not like the flow of a story being interrupted, while I scrambled to find the right page so I could continue reading. In this case, it’s almost worth reading each plot line at a time, skipping a chapter until the end and then returning to the beginning and reading the second plot line. In fact, I highly recommend reading the novel in this way, as it would flow much better and still provide the entertainment and anticipation that the novel provides.
Overall, a good read full of drama and suspense, and a thought-provoking plot line, but the delivery was choppy and I would’ve much preferred a smoother flow.

At first I wasn’t sure what was happening with the story. It took several chapters to really gain interest.
While I enjoyed reading the two different viewpoints, I had a hard time rooting for the main character Lila. In one situation she was downright unlikeabke and in the other situation she was too predictable.
I didn’t feel like there was much character development. What caused the husband’s depression, how much time had passed? The best friend, Carrie, they were supposed to have this great friendship but it seemed superficial at best.
Also, the assistant Chase - it talked around his backstory sontou get th general idea of it. It nothing overly definitive.
This had the potential to be a good story but I felt like rh characters liked depth and like ability. You want to find yourself being able to relate to or identify with and I could never get there.

This writing pair does it again with a thriller that kept me up late reading and will stay with me for days.

I really enjoyed Girls Night Out so was very excited to read the next book by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. This is another strong thriller that is very reminiscent of Sliding Doors and gives two outcomes for the main character in the book. It was well written and there were various underlying plots and twists that kept me entertained throughout.

Sliding Doors, anyone? Who remembers that movie? This novel gave me all the feels of sliding doors but with the most fantastic protagonist, Lila Bennett.

What I really loved about this book, and there are so many things, so lets get to it. Sometimes good people do bad things. People are fragile and complicated and no one is perfect. I love Lila. I may not love all the things she did, but it who she is or has become that I love.

And that one decision? In this book, one decision sends Lila down two VERY different paths.
Who has made a decision, whether good or bad that changed the trajectory of their life.
Pretty sure everyone has. Lila is insecure, and complicated, but also relatable. All of these characteristics make for one of my most favorite protagonists of all time.

This is a suspense, action filled brain twister of a book and I loved every minute.

Get ready for a ride, that you never want to get off of.

I LOVED this book and highly recommend it .

The Two Lila Bennetts kept me on the edge of my seat! Fenton and Steinke have done an amazing job telling the story of Lila Bennett. This book pulled me in and I kept wanting to get back to it whenever I had to put it down. I hope this team will continue to write together because I can't wait to read to read more from them!

Will have to try this one again at some other date possibly..... this did just not pull me in or hold my attention, Even with all of the hype I was seeing for it & having enjoyed the author’s previous, lighter fare. This almost seems to be a set up to fail and here lately? Thanks for the opportunity to read this though

I hadn't read anything by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke before this, but I'd heard good things and this book sounded really good. The story is told in two parts, Sliding Doors style and I didn't think I would like that...but I loved it! It's so cleverly done and both sides have tiny details that intertwine and relate to the other side. I loved Lila as a character, I thought she was bold and sassy - sometimes a little too much so....but she makes for interesting reading. The storylines were brilliantly told, they both had me hooked and couldn't wait to see how they both worked out - I was sure one would be so obviously better than the other but they were both amazing! Totally shocked me....not expecting that at all. This was a fairly quick read for me and I loved it. If you liked the Sliding Doors movie and love an intense thriller....this is for you!! Go preorder it ❤

What happens when you make a split second decision? How different would your life become? There is a moment when Lila Bennett has to make a decision, and it splits her life in two. This book is like the movie ‘Sliding Doors’. Each chapter alternates between Lila’s two very different worlds. In one, she has been kidnapped and in the other she is been stalked by an unknown figure. In both life’s Lila has to try and figure out quickly who has it in for her before it’s too late.
‘The Two Lila Bennetts’ is a very unique book. It was a very different concept that made for an interesting read. I found Lila to be a pretty unlikeable person (in both versions of her life). But as the story went she began to redeemed herself. And while I still wouldn’t want her as a friend, she made for a fascinating character.
The writing duo of Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke never ceases to amaze me. I don’t know how anyone can write a book with another person, having to share creativity with someone else’s ideas, but they always manage to pull it off.

Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have done it again with The Two Lila Bennetts!!!

I found myself fighting sleep to read just one more chapter...over and over. The book kept me guessing until the very last page!

5/5 stars

Many thanks to the authors, publisher, and netgalley, who provided a free digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Girls Night Out and looked forward to the authors newest book. It was fantastic.! I loved the way it went back and forth between how Lila's life would have played out depending on which choice she made. Great, engaging page turner.

These two authors!!! So sweet and I love how they interact with their readers! I was shook by this book! Sliding doors? Double lives? What’s more to want?

I’ll tell you.
Drama.
Mystery.
And suspense.

This rollercoaster delivered it all.

I have enjoyed both books I previously read by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, but I think The Two Lila Bennetts is my favorite! There were plenty of twists and turns and the book kept me engaged at all times. This is the perfect thriller for this summer. I read it in once sitting because I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic thriller from the dynamic duo of Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke! I read their last book Girls Night out and loved it and this book, The Two Lila Bennetts is FANTASTIC. I loved the "sliding doors" type of two lives, but have to say Liz and Lisa did it better! The twist and conclusion were just as I expected from these authors: Psychologically creeptastic! The characters are well done and a believable and at times a relatable read. We all have secrets, right? Dare I say it's my favorite of this Duo thus far? I loved it and recommend it to anyone that loves a Fab psychological thriller with complex characters and more twists than Chubby Checker.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my early reader copy.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley!!
Lila's bad choices have caught up to her. One of those decisions has split her life in two, literally.

The book switches between alternate storylines... one where she is kdinapped and held captive.. and one where she eludes the captor but her life is destroyed in other ways.

unique storyline... alternate storylines.. good read over all.

I very much enjoyed this book. Not the best written but I don't think that's what the authors were trying for. It kept me engaged, it made me think, it threw some curveballs. Great summer read!

The Two Lila Bennetts is a dual narrative following main protagonist Lila Bennett as in one life she is kidnapped, in another she is free but both lives lead down a dark path..

I love this kind of novel where choices you make lead in different directions, turn left turn right but maybe fate is fate…

This is extremely well plotted, addictive and unpredictable, it is a book about where our life choices lead us and whether those choices define who we are. A good person, a bad person, maybe somewhere Inbetween. Lila is forced in both strands to put herself under a microscope in both her personal and professional life…

It is very engaging and often thought provoking, a one sitting read that is very good indeed.

Recommended.

The Two Lila Bennetts is an intriguing read that will keep you engaged until the final page. Well worth the read!

I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke in order to read it and give it a fair review. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing!

POSSIBLE SPOILERS TO FOLLOW! (I try not to spoil, but sometimes I say too much. Read at your own risk!)

Let me start by saying that I absolutely love books that switch between alternate storylines. This one was no exception! This book starts out introducing you to your main character, Lila Bennett. Lila is a defense attorney for a very prestigious firm and she has the reputation as a bad bitch who will do what it takes to win, even if she isn’t always one hundred percent sure of her client’s innocence. Lila is married to a writer named Ethan. She is close with her mother, and her father passed away when she was a small child. Once Lila becomes an adult, her mother tells her something about her father that changes her completely. Finding out something so different about her father causes her entire world to tilt on it’s axis and may just be the reason for all the bad decisions she’s made in her life in the years following.

In one storyline, Lila is taken and is forced to take accountability for all her wrongdoings in life. The kidnapper compels her to face the things she’s done that she’s tried to justify or forget about, and makes her write letters and make phone calls to admit and apologize for her transgressions. Among the list of people she must make amends to are: her college roommate, her husband, her best friend, and the sister of a murder victim; whose murderer she defended and helped prove innocent (even though her gut said he was guilty). Once Lila has made her amends, she comes face to face with the person who has taken her. To say it was a shock would be an understatement. My jaw fell to the floor. This person seemed like the last person who would have upended Lila’s life the way that they did and I literally had to put the book down and gather my thoughts after reading the reveal!

In the alternate storyline, there is an attempted kidnapping but Lila escapes with only a couple of bruises. Physically, that is. Emotionally, she’s just as bad off in this storyline because all of her misdeeds come to light anyway, and she is forced to face them head-on without the kidnapper as the messenger.

All in all, this story was a suspenseful and gripping tale that had me desperate to keep reading. I could not wait to see what was going to happen in each storyline and I FLEW through it. Although she wasn’t exactly the most likable character in the beginning of the book, watching Lila’s character growth throughtout was wonderful. She went from a selfish and seemingly heartless woman, to someone who really saw the effects that her actions had on other people.
I gave this book a rating of 4/5 and I would recommend to any mystery/thriller lovers out there who are considering picking it up. I will 100% be picking up any further releases by these authors!

I am just amazed how both of these authors (Lisa Steinke and Liz Fenton) can come together and write such fantastic stories.
This was not like anything I have read before....
The main character Lila is telling this story from different POV's...One as the captured Lila and one as the free Lila.
Lila is a complicated woman....one who you may start of not liking due to the choices she has made and who she defends when in court. She has made many wrong decisions in both her life and career and she needs to own it and she does.
This story is full of suspense, an unusual and intense storyline, regrets and life-altering choices.
I will read anything that these two ladies put out together, their stories are always wonderfully written and very intriguing. They did not let me down with this new edition.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review and I look forward to much more from these two authors.