Liz and Lisa take the idea of a parallel universe and use it to lay out Lila's life before the reader. Dual decisions, dual lives describing how her life could go. Criminal defense attorney Lila Bennett's bad decisions are catching up to her and it's a race to see how she's going to survive. What path will she take? What will she do? Great writing with a bit of a rushed ending with many twists and turns along the way.

A great thriller that kept me guessing! I enjoyed the way the book was told from two points of view, as the character's life is split in two. Both story lines kept me engaged and I liked trying figure out who the "good guy" was.
Thanks to Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

A special thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this intense thriller, Lila Bennett is an attorney with an insatiable hunger for success. To get to where she is, Lila has made many bad choices, and one of those choices has literally split her life in two.

In one life, after celebratory drinks, she's taken captive by a masked man who seemingly knows a lot about her. Lila is trapped in a concrete cell with her feet and hands bound. She is forced to face her unsavoury actions or be killed.

Although she manages to evade being captured in her alternate life, she is still hunted by someone who is exposing her secrets one at a time. As result, her happiness is slowly being chipped away.

You see, in both of these scenarios, everything is on the line—her marriage, her career, and her life. Lila must make a list of those in her past that she's wronged to determine who is responsible, before it's too late. And even if she can figure out who is behind what is happening to her, will she even survive? Which Lila Bennett will emerge? Because one thing is for certain, life as she knew it is over.

Inspired by the movie Sliding Doors, Liz and Lisa have ratcheted up the suspense in their newest novel. The story starts out as linear, but when Lila literally muses that her life "could split in two," and that the choices laid at her feet would lead her on completely different paths, the narrative actually splits into two. From here, Fenton & Steinke alternate between the two scenarios at the same point in time (each chapter is title "Captured" and "Free"). Readers are not only treated to some pretty incredible writing, but are tasked to figure out who is responsible.

Lila is a complex, layered character and the perfect unreliable narrator. She's whip-smart, but her intelligence and success are part of her downfall. Also, her conscious is questionable—she gets people off for murder—yet for someone who is so bold and brazen, she actually fosters insecurities about her persona.

What is remarkable, besides the writing, is that it totally makes you start to question some of the decisions you have made in your own life, and that there are several possibilities in every scenario. Both endings are outstanding and overall this book is so clever! This ambitious narrative style could have easily gotten away from them, but it figuratively knocked my socks off.

Authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke offer readers an exploration of the consequences of one's actions. I thought the premise of The Two Lila Bennett's was strong, and for the most part the story supported that thought. Lila was not a very likable character, but the authors managed to make me care about her nonetheless, which was a feat in and of itself. Lila's strongest character trait is that she makes bad choices. She finally makes a choice that splits her life in two. If you're expecting It's a Wonderful Life, you're on the wrong track. I'd liken this novel to The Russian Doll Netflix Series. I really appreciated that I was not able to tell which writer was contributing at any particular time. The Two Lila Bennetts was entertaining, compelling and I would read more from the authors. 3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

This book ended up only being okay for me. It was well written and had a really unique format but I couldn’t connect with Lila and that made it less enjoyable for me. The story is told in alternating chapters between parallel universes and I thought that idea and format was cool. The idea is that one action has far reaching consequences and this book offers a look at both paths. While I loved that idea I just really wish the main character had been more likable.

I’ve actually read several books now by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke and have loved them so I was quite looking forward to The Two Lila Bennetts. Immediately it becomes clear this writing team was trying to expand into something completely different with this story giving readers a split in what could be happening to the main character with one version of her captured and an alternate being free.

Lila Bennett is a successful criminal defense attorney who comes to a point in her life where all of her actions and decisions have led to two possible consequences. In one scenario Lila has been taken hostage by someone who seems to know a lot but she can’ t recognize. Then in her other reality Lila is still free but needs to come up with who in her career or home life could be after her.

Jumping into this story I could still see the strong writing style of the authors that I’ve come to expect. For me however I was a little iffy starting out if I really liked the ” free” and “captured” split in the book, definitely a unique way to go about writing a book so it took a bit of getting used to. That being said though despite the slower start due to the style I still enjoyed this one overall giving it 3.5 stars.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A story of one person told across two timelines; which ultimately dovetail together. Inventive and suspenseful. Another Fenton/Steinke that will be in everyone's "To Be Read" pile.

Lila Bennett is an attorney who has made a series of bad choices. In one fateful decision, we see, from parallel timelines, where the decision has led and what it means for her and those around her.

I enjoyed the format and concept of this book, and the theme is intriguing: that for each of us, our life is just a series of choices, good and bad, that create a whole. As both timelines proceed, it's interesting to see how, for Lila, those decisions have shaped her circumstances and her character. It would have been satisfying to have both endings a bit more fleshed out to see the aftermath of each path. But while it was hard to root for Lila in the beginning, I appreciated the reflection and development she showed throughout the book.

Very enjoyable summer read! This is dark in the way of a psychological thriller, but not gory or graphic. Four stars. Many thanks to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary digital review copy of this title.

I could not get into this book. It just seemed so dark and depressing. I knew it was bad when I didn’t care if the main character lived or died. I get it, she made poor choices in life. I’m glad this book is over.

Lila Bennett’s day starts with a glorious win on the case she’s been working on for awhile. She is a high power defense attorney who is on the rise. This time she gets an acquittal for a man accused of bludgeoning his wife to death. Whether he’s guilty or not is of no consequence to Lila, her job is to give the best defense she is capable of doing.
That evening as she goes down to her vehicle after a long day she is faced with two choices. Does she go for drinks with the man she’s been having an affair with for the past 6 months, which in turn will lead her down one path. Or does she go home to her husband who is finally out of the funk he’s been in for ages which will lead her down a totally different path.
Told from the two different perspectives this book is fresh and new and very unique. I appreciate how it is laid out and is just so much fun to read!
Thank you to Netgalley, Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke and Lake Union Publishing for the copy I got of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Great thriller! I love the alternate story lines. Characters are awesome. Will definitely keep you on your toes. Will recommend. It’s amazing when a book is written by two authors and is so seamless, very well done

Oh this book! This was amazing, the writing was good the storyline was on point,I loved the format, being told from 2 different places. 2 different lives. Kinda like what would happen if you turned right instead of left. It was cool to read, I had a hard time following at first, but about 20% into the story I was hooked.

This is a fantastic read, I will follow these authors anywhere.

Oh my god, this book was amazing! I didn’t think the ladies could top Girl’s Night Out...but they DID! This was incredible. I loved the alternate storyline theory. I loved how it played out. I loved that even tho Lila was a bit of a shit person you still rooted for her! And MAN I wanted to know “whodunnit” so bad that I read the last 40% in one sitting tonight! Five huge stars!

Lila Bennett, an extremely ambitious and successful criminal defense attorney with a high-powered firm, seems to have everything. Her career seems to be skyrocketing, and her case win rate is virtually unequalled. She has a loving, devoted husband, and she enjoys a luxurious lifestyle. BUT she has been somewhat ruthless, has committed serious misdeeds and has made significant mistakes in her past. One night, as she leaves work and her boss asks her out for a drink, her life suddenly splits in two — or, at least at this point in the novel, chapters begin to alternate between two different courses her life could take. In one, she is kidnapped and held captive by someone who seems hell bent on destroying her life as she knows it. In the other, although she is free and has never been held captive, someone begins revealing her past misdeeds and mistakes, thus forcing Lila to deal with all that comes with these revelations and to come to terms with her past behavior.

The authors, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, have done an excellent job in keeping this a real page-turner as the reader toggles between Lila Bennett’s two lives. Not a heavy psychological thriller, but definitely one that is a tantalizing read with plenty of drama and suspense. Although this is the first book of Fenton and Steinke’s that I have read, I highly recommend it and look forward to reading their others.

Author collaborations are always a risk, but these two writers produced an excellent novel with one cohesive voice and a plot that clearly benefited from more than one perspective. The two possible lives plot device has rarely been done well, but these authors approached it from a fresh angle and explored deeper questions than we typically get from Sliding Doors-style stories. This was my first time reading a work by this duo and after this I will definitely be reading their previous works.

Holy holy and wow! One single person, two different paths in life, which do you choose? Once again Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have sucked me into a book, made me root for a character, and wowed me. What a great read!

I loved the concept of this book, but the writing wasn't quite high enough quality to elevate it above a good beach read. The narrative tension was fine, it kept me reading, but there was no deeper insight developed, and relationships were all one-dimensional. I seem to be in the minority among the reviews I've read, so maybe this just fits well under the chick-lit label and I usually go for darker, grittier mysteries. I've recommended it to anyone who likes a fast-paced mystery with an interesting twist.

Opening lines: (Prologue) Wake up! Wake the hell up! The sound of my own voice shakes me out of my deep slumber, and my stomach lurches. I've lost track of time.
Reason I picked up the book: I've read books by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke before, and enjoyed them.
And what's this book about?
Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.

In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time.

Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is over.
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys a good thriller.
Favorite paragraph: I open the door slowly and don't make eye contact. I don't want him to know that I overheard. That I am now quite sure that my husband or whoever has me in here has ordered me dead.

Because there's nothing else to take from me except my life.
Something to know: It's definitely similar to the movie Sliding Doors - even the authors admitted in the post-script that Sliding Doors was the inspiration for the book.
What I would have changed: Nothing, except one of the endings (yes, there are two!) was a little ambiguous ... no spoilers, though.
Overall rating: 4 stars out of 5.
Where can I find this book? Click here to order on Amazon. Free for Kindle Unlimited right now and only $3.99 for Kindle!

So this book for me was like a breath mint, super refreshing!🤣
It was nice change from your standard start, middle, end of story because this book is two alternatives of the same story happening in the one book. Let me explain.
Lila Bennett is a well known criminal defense attorney, that and her habit of making bad moral choices don’t make her the most popular person. In one version of the story Lila Bennett is abducted and made to face all those bad choices. In an alternate version to the story Lila evades capture and continues living her life but now whoever is out to get her will have to ruin her another way, by revealing all her secrets one by one to her loved ones.
These dual stories play out at the same time swapping versions chapter by chapter.
Lila Bennett would be an easy character to dislike but I had a soft spot for her, I found while she wasn’t an honest character her thoughts and perceptions of herself and her situation were very real. I’m a sucker for second chances even for book characters, Lila makes a lot of bad choices but we get to see her struggle with those choices and with that little devil and angel on her shoulder.
You’ll definitely be satisfied with the ending because in this case you get two.
This book is available to buy in stores now!

The two Lila Bennetts" could be described as Sliding doors meets any psychological/domestic thriller out there. Lila Bennett is not a good person and her bad choices have finally caught up with her. One small decision splits her life in two different lines. In one she's been kidnapped and kept hostage by an unknown person. In the other one she's hunted by someone intent on exposing all her secrets and destroy her life. And like her lifes, I have two problems with this book. One, I couldn't care less about Lila and what happened to her in both lines. And two, I don't think this alternating perspectives structure worked at all.

I had so much expectations with this book because I thought the premise was quite interesting, but sadly it didn't deliver.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.