“The Two Lila Bennetts” is an engrossing, clever novel, told in alternating chapters by the title characters. The book explores the choices we make and their consequences, told in two wildly different ways. It’s an intelligent read, and it stays with you long after the book is finished in a way few books do, which is why this is a 5 star novel. A different kind of thriller, but deeply thought-provoking and a genuine page turner. A perfect book club novel with lots to discuss. Highly, highly recommended, kudos to authors @lizandlisa

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley in return for an honest review

This was not my first book by the pair Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, I feel The Two Lila Bennetts is going to put them in a whole new class of writers. They have outdone themselves with this tale. Having two writers to tell this story, I believe made this all the more better.

The story begins with Lila Bennett a high-powered defense attorney winning a murder trial. There is a lot of hard feelings on this one, especially from the defendant’s sister-in-law, Stephanie. What happens can be best compared to a “Sliding Doors” story but a ton darker. To celebrate she has a choice to make to have drinks with her boss, who she happens to be having an affair with or go home to her devoted husband. The choice will change the trajectory of her life. From then on you follow two stories, the 1st, Lila getting kidnapped; the 2nd, everything that occurs if she goes home to her husband. I will let you in on one secret, both scenarios will forever change her life. I do not want to say much more as it gives away the majority of the plot lines.

Both story lines were well developed, and I had a vested interest in both paths. Lila has made questionable choices in her life, but how she goes redeeming herself in both scenarios, is what makes this so enjoyable. Probably all of us have made bad decisions, this book will make you think about these, on a scale x100.

Excellent read, truly enjoyed this one. I did not want to put this down at all. Terrific beach read or really just anytime read.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an Advanced Reader’s copy of this book for an honest review.

I am a big fan of this writing duo so I was eagerly looking forward to their new book. I think this was their best book yet! This book is a take on the movie Sliding Doors which I have actually never seen. Lila Bennett is an aggressive and successful defence attorney. She is relentless with her work and very careless with her private life. Some of Lila’s decisions come back to haunt her. The book is told in dual timelines as Lila’s life is split off. We follow the Good Lila and the Bad Lila. It is interesting to see how lives would be different depending on the decisions we make. I don’t want to give too much away and spoil any plot points. The book is so well written and I was engaged from beginning to end. I highly recommend you try this one out. The unique writing format will keep you guessing how it all will end.

After hearing so much about this book, I needed to read it for myself. While I did like the book, I was unfortunately a little disappointed. It wasn’t until almost the end of the book that it got really interesting. I will say, I was not expecting that plot twist. You could also learn a lot from this book and the decisions that you make. One decision could change your life forever.

This book is written with two different realities. It was an interesting way to tell a story because it was following both of her lives. There were two different stories being told.

Overall, this was a good book and it was a quick read.

I'm going to keep this review short and sweet. Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are a powerful duo. Check out my review for their last book, Girls' Night Out.

The Two Lila Bennetts is about a powerful defense attorney named Lila Bennett. It follows parallel story lines showing how Lila's choices impact the course of her life.

I thought the structure of the book was really interesting. It took me a bit to understand what was going on but once I understood the premise I was on board. I was hooked from very early on and the story kept drawing me in from chapter to chapter. I will say I was more invested in the "captured" story line than the "free" story line (you will understand this when you read the book), but as a whole package it was entertaining.

I will say that I thought the ending was going to lead somewhere different, and when it didn't, I did end up feeling a little bit disappointed. I didn't feel like the story was as resolved as I would have liked. But all in all, strong work by the powerhouse author duo!

-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to review.-

Inspired by the movie Sliding Doors, the story is told in dual timelines and takes different directions.
Lila Bennett is a successful, ambitious, and ruthless criminal defense attorney. She is kidnapped by an unknown assailant. Alternating between "Free" and "Captured", based on the choices Lila has made, we see how the course of these decisions will lead to her ultimate path.
A unique and gripping psychological thriller, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next! This grabbed me right away, and the writing style made the story flow effortlessly.
Lila's character was sometimes unpleasant, but I felt like she learned and grew so much along the way.
My first Liz and Lisa book was amazing! Perfect to bring to the beach for a terrific summer read!
Thank you for the e-ARC provided by Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke was a really fast paced book with betrayal and deception and lies... as well as the self-discovery of the main character, high profile defense attorney Lila Bennett as she faces her worst nightmare and has to come to terms with her own not-so-respectable behavior and lifestyle. As awful as some of the things she has done throughout her adult life, I found myself liking Lila’s character anyway. The Two Lila Bennetts just came out Tuesday of this week. It’s a great book and definitely worth reading this summer!!

I love anything these women write - they are amazing! Over the years they've easily transitioned from fluffy chick lit to masterful suspense - love love love!! Lila is a character you would love to hate - almost cheer for her kidnappers that they've made the right choice in life.. and the plot twist to who her captor is? Mind blowing!! Another amazing job ladies - I can't wait to read the next one!

I started this on my kindle app while on my commute home. I got through the first four chapters and when I got to chapter 5, I was confused. Wait.. didn't this just happen.. but not?! So of course once I got home, I put my phone down, grabbed my physical copy and fell nose deep into this story. Funny enough that I always knew the whole concept of Sliding Doors but I think I'm one of the very few who has actually never seen the movie. *oops So when I read the acknowledgments, it was nice to see I wasn't wrong. *phew!

I fear saying too much without giving anything away. I think we all know there are dual timelines going on and I actually liked this. I always wondered, and continue to wonder, what if I had made *this* decision instead of *that* decision - would my life had turned out any differently? Or is it inevitable for me to get to my present state, albeit via a different road? Is there such a thing as fate? Or do we make our own destiny? Or is there a mixture of both? I JUST DON'T KNOW.

As a character, Lila is pretty selfish and fairly deplorable. However, I did enjoy watching her throughout the entire story. Both of her. Karma is a bitch and so is Lila. Who wins in the end? You'll have to read to find out! Regardless of any of this, I actually did like Lila a lot - what can I say, I've worked with lawyers for over a decade so none of this is new to me. ;)

At the end of the day, while this was something I would put in the thriller category, I somehow felt that due to the message, it was more a contemporary read for me. Either way I was pulled in immediately. Definitely did NOT go in the direction I was expecting and the ending fell just a teeny bit flat for me for one of the Lilas. For pure addictability, I rate this high and will continue to devour whatever Liz and Lisa throw my way.

Also, please guys, always read the acknowledgments and author's notes at the end. I absolutely adore these authors and am SO HAPPY to see that this book brought them back stronger than ever. Best friendships can be hard to navigate - I can't imagine how me and mine would fair if we also worked together as closely as these two do.

Creatively written, this story grabbed my attention from the start and never let me down. Lila’s story is alternatively told between ‘free’ and ‘captured’ chapters. This arrogant attorney with a questionable conscience has made plenty of bad choices and enemies within her legal representations and in her personal life. One day she is kidnapped and put in a concrete cell. Who is holding her captive and pulling the strings behind the camera overlooking the cell? It is a mystery and could any of a plethora of candidates holding a grudge. The writers plant enough seeds of doubt to keep me completely engrossed and guessing into the final pages who was angry enough to seek revenge.

A highlight of this story is the transformation of Lila. Subtle messages and questions to ponder like “would you go back and change anything if you could?” gave me lasting food for thought.

*will post in additional online venues.

Lila Bennett is a smart, driven, ambitious criminal defense attorney who made too many morally ambiguous decisions which lead her down two possible fateful paths. This book is in the thriller, suspense, fiction genre. However, it was less than thrilling or suspenseful for me as I found it predictable and cliche. The characters are not likable nor relate-able and the ending was less than satisfying. I would not recommend if you were looking for a thriller suspense to keep you guessing on the edge of your seat.

This is the dual tales of Lila Bennett, who has spent her adult life making questionable, selfish decisions. The chapters are divided into two different storylines accounting what happens to Lila one fateful night when she has to choose whether to follow or disregard her internal moral compass.

The plot device of multiple storylines has been done a few times recently, most notably in Max Manning’s the Victim. I did not mind the alternating chapters but the same theme of Lila’s thoughts and regrets regarding her past poor decisions and her sudden resolve to remedy this and instantly become a “good” person was exhausting. I found it repetitive and not very interesting, so the story dragged for me. In addition, I figured out the plot twist fairly early on so the ending was not a surprise for me. This was not one of my favorites unfortunately.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you have an author you would buy if they wrote a phone book? @lisaandliz are those authors for me. They are smart, witty, writers. Their books are filled with pop culture I can relate to. I’m looking at you 💃🏻. In their newest book The Two Lila Bennett’s I loved that they took on the sliding doors affect. For those of you that aren’t familiar with Sliding Doors it is an old Gwyneth Paltrow movie. You know pre goop and pre Chris Martin when she used to act. You should watch it after you read this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Lila is someone you are supposed to hate (I think). I don’t want to give anything away so I am going to keep this short. I sped through this book hoping Lila could redeem herself because well for most of the book her life decision are not the best. You will just have to pick up the book to see what we mean by sliding doors and if Lila is redeemable.

Pick up this fast paced thriller! You won’t be disappointed. I’m off to go read the phone books I know Lisa and Liz have written or maybe just their Instagram. If you don’t follow @lisaandliz on Instagram and Facebook you are missing out. They can keep me entertained for hours with their stories. Also they have gigantic giveaways a lot!

Thank you @lisaandliz, @lakeunionauthors and @amazonpublishing for my copy of this fabulous book.

Karianne Veilleux <karianneveilleux@gmail.com>

1:12 PM (7 minutes ago)



to me






After loving Girls' Night Out last summer, I was looking forward to the authors' new book, The Two Lila Bennetts. After a few chapters, I was confused. I don't want to say too much but there are two timelines and the main characters lives two different lives at the same time. Which one is real and which one is not?

After I got used to the plot, I actually liked it a lot! It makes you wonder "what if I made that choice instead?" Would your life turn out differently or would it inevitably end up the same no matter what decisions you make?

As far as Lila goes, I thought she was a bit selfish - she thinks about her needs without caring about the consequences on others. I think the events she went through helped her see through her façade and made her realize she can be a better person, both for herself and the people around her. I really enjoyed seeing her "transformation" throughout the story.

With that being said, I felt the story drag a little in the middle but it was still a very entertaining read for me. The ending felt rushed and did not go in the direction I was thinking but I will continue to read whatever the authors write next.

The Two Lila Bennetts is actually the story of one woman. It's the parallel universe concept, and I always think about the butterfly effect because it's a similar theory. Lila, the main character, makes a choice, not a major decision, and is henceforth split in two(no, not literally). Theoretically, choice a takes her life in this direction, and choice b takes Lila in a totally different direction. The parallel realities are free and captured for reasons I will not explain. Lila's character is sympathetic yet not completely likeable. She's funny and engaging and offputting all at once. The story is fascinating because of the ever elusive what if scenarios. We've all thought about this concept at some point. If I went to a different college.....If I had stayed home.......If I'd never gotten married.....and on and on. I loved reading about the reality of one choice splitting in two directions. Can a single act really change the course of an entire life? I guess it doesn't matter because how would we know? This story approaches those deep theoretical questions floating out there in the universe. It's a ponderous engrossing and entertaining read that I definitely recommend.

4.5 stars - Lila Bennett is a successful criminal defense attorney in LA who will do whatever it takes to further her career. The story follows a parallel narrative in which Lila is “captured” in one and “free” in the other. In both timelines Lila is forced to face the decisions she made that led her to where she is at that point in time. I thought this was such a refreshing and unique concept in the thriller genre.

The Two Lila Bennetts was fast-paced, compelling, and had me guessing throughout. I was completely surprised when I found out who was behind the kidnapping! The book explores the decisions one makes and the different outcomes that can occur as a result of those decisions. It definitely had me thinking about the decisions I make. Once again I’m very impressed with the cohesive writing by these authors. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR this summer!

**Thank you Amazon Publishing, Lake Union, and Lisa and Liz for the copy! It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

A quick read but this was a forgettable story for me - I didn’t think the alternating perspectives or “sliding doors” structure worked. I also found the commentary around the questionable integrity of lawyers and the connection with the clients they represent to be problematic and jarring within the narrative. Skippable read.

According to the authors, the concept of this book came from the movie "Sliding Doors" starring Gwynith Paltrow. I've not seen it before but but I understand it kind of delves into what we've all pondered before "the road not taken". You take an everyday occurrence like crossing the road or running for the train, split it in two, and follow them both and see where they go. In The Two Lila Bennetts, from dual plot lines you see two different scenarios of Lila Bennett's life - part of the chapters are "free" and part of the chapters are "captured". I won't give too much detail on that aspect to avoid spoilers, but that is how the book is written alternating between the two. It takes a decision Lila makes and gives two completely different directions that her life can go. This is a very unique and cleverly written thriller that weaves together two sides of one story and how choices impact not only yourself but those around you. Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are fast becoming must read authors for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sliding Doors, A Christmas Carol, and Freaky Friday rolled into one!

3.5 Stars Rounded Up.

Meet Lila Bennet – an ambitious, aggressive criminal defense attorney with an impressive case-win rate.

One Monday evening she rushes for the elevator, and upon reaching the parking level, her boss invites her for a drink. Lila will never know how crucial her next choice is – that from then on her life will be divided in two, and that there’s repercussions for both.

Her two paths play out for the remainder of the novel.

Chapters titled ‘Captured’ – Lila accepts the drink, and later that night is chloroformed, kidnapped, and held prisoner

Chapters titled ‘Free’ – Lila declines the drink, and eludes her kidnapper, but the people she's wronged are everywhere, and they're coming for her.

I specifically chose this one to read because the notion of parallel storylines exploring the notion of fate, and how a split second decision can alter a person's life course has always fascinated me. It was also interesting how the two universes overlapped, and that there were instances where Lila felt the residue effects of what was happening in her other life. Lila reminded me of Ebenezer Scrooge – she was unlikeable, haunted by ghosts, with her past actions catching up with her, as well as the consequences of the way she treated people coming back to bite her in the arse.

Fun, light and fluffy, but don't make the mistake of thinking it's going to be a serious thriller, because it's not. For example, Lila taunts, jokes with, and shares a beer with her kidnapper, which I didn't get, isn't really my thing, but it was a well done, entertaining story with an unexpected satisfying ending. It helped that Lila was a despicable character whom I got a kick out of watching her life unravel. There's a hefty list of suspects in both Lila's professional and personal life to sift through, and even though I guessed who and why was behind the kidnapping, it wasn't until the later stages of the novel, when practically everyone else had been eliminated.

I predict this will be a summer hit!

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke for the e-ARC.

Out now!

This was such an intriguing read taken from two different perspectives of how your life can be altered by one decision. The dual plotlines are so well written and achieved in this fast paced thriller. This was such a thought provoking read of how one decision can change the whole course of your life. That also forces you to ask what excately makes a person "good" or "bad".

Without giving to much away. Lila, a criminal defense attorney, hasn't always made the best decisions. Are her lies finally catching up to her?
In one scenario Lila is kidnapped and held accountable for her actions. In the other scenario Lila's bad decisions catch up to her affecting her friendships, marriage and career.
Lila is ultimately faced with what is most important to her.


I would like to thank netgalley and lake union Publishing for a copy in exchange for an honest review