The story behind The Lies we Hide is so incredibly realistic it is as if the drama is playing out in a house somewhere in the road you live in. Gritty and sadly so believable, this book is about a family torn apart by domestic abuse. The characters are everyday folk, anyone you know, work with, go to the pub with. Ted and Carol met young, had Graham whilst they were still very young and 6 years later along comes baby Nicola.
This family unit of 4 is brutally torn apart by one man's actions and Carol has to flee in the middle of the night with her two children. What follows is a gripping account of what life is like when you have nothing, are displaced and live in fear. The terror Carol feels literally leaps off the page and grabs you by the throat, refusing to let go. My heart kept on breaking for them all, for Nicola, so clever and so determined to do well in life, Carol, struggling to trust and believe in a future that includes love, and Graham, a stammering teenager who steadily slides into bad company and bad choices.
There is so much more I could say about this book but I don't want to reveal the plot and spoil the read for anyone. I found it difficult to tear myself away from the physical and emotional pain this family were in and yet there are moments that are funny and moments where there is hope. I found the relationship and conversations between Richard and Graham absolutely beautiful, and it was a joy to see how the journey they took together saved them both in different ways. I loved the use of the Jonathan Livingstone Seagull book in this book which added to the profound and powerful message of redemption.
What moves this book beyond the realms of a grim autobiographical account of abuse (which I always avoid reading) is that the novel entertains with its pace and shocking revelations. Towards the end things are revealed that I really did not have any idea were going to turn out the way the author let them, so The Lies we Hide is truly a book worth reading.
FANTASTIC. BEAUTIFUL. SAD. INSPIRING.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a read! I could not put this book down. I binged this book cover to cover and I am pretty sure I didn’t breath the whole time. It was one of the most gripping and emotional reads I have experienced in a long time.

The abuse and despite in this book is heart wrenching. I cried so much hoping that the mother and her children would escape this hell. This was my first book by S.E. Lynes and I really need to add them to my list of future authors to look out for. I spent so much of this book in absolute tears and terrified.

There really should be a disclaimer on this book about the abuse. It can be really hard to get through and very very triggering. The way it is written is so raw and real it is like you experience it yourself.

I love that the dual perspectives in this novel are past and present. It makes you see how a family really can rebuild after years of domestic abuse.

Thank you so much to S.E. Lynes, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. It was such a suspenseful ride and I look forward to learning more about this author.

EXCERPT: A creak on the landing. She curls up. The water swishes loud in the tub; she cringes at the noise. Ted. He's woken up. He's woken up and he's-

The bathroom door flies open. Ted. Eyes bloodshot and wild, blind but seeing, a look full of hate aimed only at her. His nose wrinkles, his hand shoots out in front of him, a starfish of fingers. She shrieks, folds herself smaller still, arms over her head, eyes closed. The smell of whisky goes up her nose, whisky and smoke, sweat and pubs. This is it. She has not got away with it. The punishment is now.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Thirty years ago, Nicola Watson lived with her parents and older brother in a respectable suburb. At ten years old, she didn’t yet understand why her stomach tightened when she heard her father’s heavy tread as he returned home late at night, or why it made her brother Graham’s stammer get worse, or why one night her mother Carol woke them both, wide-eyed and whispering, and took them out of their home and into the unknown.

Now a successful lawyer in the city, with a life poles apart from her dark beginnings, Nicola has returned home for her mother’s funeral. But as she stands in her mother’s house, remembering the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder.

All Carol wanted was to protect her children, but escaping her husband was only the beginning of the story. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.

MY THOUGHTS: Gripping, emotional and harrowing. This is not an easy read. And not an easy book to review. The setting is as alien to me as if I were to wake up on Mars. A large portion of the book is set on an estate.... now a housing estate in New Zealand is a completely different concept. Lovely homes with manicured lawns on wide tree lined streets rather than cheap housing crammed in together or manky tower blocks where despair is the prevalent emotion and a culture of drugs and violence reigns supreme.

But this is not just a story of abuse and despair. It is a story of a mother's love for her children, her determination that they will have a better life than hers, and the lengths she will go to to make that happen. It is a story of love and redemption, of learning to grieve, to forgive ourselves, and the lesson that what we see is not always the reality of a situation. It is also a story of how, despite our best intentions and efforts, things can still go terribly wrong.

I spent much of this read in tears. So be warned, a box of tissues is mandatory.

😪😲😳😟

#TheLiesWeHide #NetGalley

My favourite passage: Maybe love comes in different flavours, like ice-cream. And maybe she is allowed a second scoop.

THE AUTHOR: S.E. Lynes is the Amazon best selling author of psychological thrillers, VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE PACT and THE PROPOSAL.
After graduating from Leeds University, Susie lived in London before moving to Aberdeen where she worked as a producer at the BBC before moving with her husband, Paul, and two young children to Rome.
In Rome, she began to write, snatching time where she could. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University.
She now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published two children's books in Italy.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Lies We Tell by S.E. Lynes for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

Another great book by this author. This is a story about domestic abuse and how it affects a family. Very well written and believable. It held my attention the whole way through. I would definitely recommend this book and any other book by this author.

My least favorite by this author so far

I had a hard time getting into this story and found the pacing a bit too slow in places. This is definitely an emotional, character driven drama versus a thriller and quite a different style then the author’s usual stories.

The writing was good and the characters were well developed. There are multiple narrators and past and present timelines. This was handled deftly. This was not an easy story to read, quite a dark and sad one. There were a few surprises along the way.

I do like this author and will look out for the next one but would recommend some of the previous work more. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

This is my first book by the author, it will not be my last. A gripping psychological thriller that is a must read for the year. An intense plot from the beginning that will have you turning the page until the end.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Compelling, complex, disturbing, and deeply emotional. S. E. Lynes has written an evocative story about love, strength, resilience, in the aftermath of domestic abuse. As someone who was married to and emotionally abusive alcoholic this book was both realistic and heart wrenching. A lot of the book dealt with the impact abuse has on the children and this is something I personally struggle with and feel guilty about every day. This book really stripped things down and took a real and authentic look at a family recovering from abuse. I thought this was done in a very gentle but honest way. The character’s emotions were palpable as well as their desperation. As deep and bleak as the subject matter of this book was there was also a peppering of humor and a generous amount of hope. At its core this is a story about family, love, and survival.

*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

The Lies We Hide is a fantastic psychological thriller. A must read for the year. The characters are well developed and the storyline is entertaining.

The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes is a a work of fiction.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

On the night of her girlfriend's wedding, Carol meets Jim, a kind and decent man.  Jim will be in and out of Carol's life for a long time.

On that same night, Carol takes her two children,  16 year-old Graham and 10 year-old Nicola and runs from Ted, her abusive husband.  The shelter helps her get back on her feet, but it seems no one can help with her fears, or insecurities, her trust, or the damage already done to her and her children.

Graham was always a troubled boy, but after moving away from his father, his behaviour deteriorates.  He makes his mother's life miserable.  His stutter gets worse, and he withdraws into himself, barely speaking.  He turns to drugs.  He ends up in prison for murder, where he meets the new chaplain Richard.

Richard is a kind man who is struggling with his sexuality, and the loss of his mother.  He receives just as much help from Graham, as that which he provides.

Nicola's life was so different than her brother Graham's.  She studied hard, and  became a lawyer.  She remembers her childhood through rose-colored glasses, as most of us do...self-absorbed, and often not seeing the battles around us.

 
My Opinions:  

The story is told in different time-lines by different people, and unfolds wells.

It is a rather sad tale of physical and emotional abuse, of secrets, of lies, and how domestic violence affects the whole family.  How one thing just leads to another.  It is also a tale of redemption, of unselfish acts, of family, of hope, of love.  How a family can rebuild.

It seemed like a slow moving story, but I didn't want to rush it...and I really didn't want to get to Graham's story of the murder, knowing I would hate it.  The suspense just built until I felt I couldn't breathe, and just wanted it over with.  When I finally reached his confession, I could breathe again, because it was not what I had anticipated.  Then additional twists came, which I actually had already guessed.  However that didn't detract from the story.  The writing was amazing...Susie Lynes gets into your head, your heart, your soul....  Well, mine, anyway.

I have read a number of books by this author, all psychological thrillers.  She stepped away from those with this book....and proved she could.

This book got to me.

Just Brilliant!

The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes was an excellent domestic abuse book and I was hooked within the very first few pages.

This new book starts in 1968 when Carol falls for a handsome guy called Ted. He seems perfect at the beginning and carol soon falls pregnant. Ted soon proposes to Carol at the local amusement park and she could not be happier. Things change between them and Ted is not so perfect after all.
They have two children Graham is the eldest brother to Nicola who is ten, they live in a respectable suburb. Everything looks perfect from the outside but when the front door closes everything changes. Their father becomes a monster towards their loving mother. He has never touch their children but things could change especially after he has had a drink or four!
Carol and Ted are invited to their neighbours wedding and Carol knows Ted will have too many to drink and pass out before the evening has finished. This is the only time she can take control of the situation.

Carol finally takes things in her hands and escapes Ted!

Carol wakes their children up while Ted is comatose by alcohol he drank that evening and takes them out of their home to a place which is unknown to all of them. She takes them to a woman's refuse for woman and children who live with domestic abuse.

But for how long?

Will Ted find Carol and their children?

Will Carol ever find happiness in the future?

What will happen too Graham and Nicola in the future?

Too many spoilers if I write anymore..............You will need to read the book to see what happens to Carol and her children.

WoW...........The end has a twist I did not see coming!!!

Just Brilliant and I highly recommend this book. I loved it. It's and involving very emotional story that will evoke empathy in even the most hardened of hearts.

Big thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.

Looked forward to reading this book and i wasnt disappointed. It flicked between time periods but was easy to follow and the plot was easily identifiable and realistic and i had lots of empathy for the characters.

The Lies We Hide SE Lynes
This is a good family drama story, told between the past and the present. We hear the story from each characters perspective, and that builds the whole story.
The story starts with Carol experiencing domestic violence, and we learn from each character how they are affected by this. The book is written over a long time frame so we see the long term effects. I really liked the character Carol, and really felt what she went through.
Overall a good solid read.

This book was ok- it wasn't absolutely gripping as the description says but I enjoyed it on the whole. Some chapters were very slow and probably didn't need to be there. I thought the characters were well thought out but there needed to be more twists to keep me guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

First book I’ve read by this author and I thought it was a fantastic thrilling read. It grabbed my attention from beginning to end and covers the issue of domestic abuse and how this can affect not just the victims life, but her children’s too. Parts of the story were sad and very poignant, and it was told by the three main characters Carol, Graham and Nicola who are all really likeable. It’s a story than takes place over more than 40 years and goes from past to present times effortlessly. I read this book in less than a day, found it hard to put down and wanted to know what happened next. There were plenty of twists in the plot and the author tied up all loose ends very neatly at the end. I found myself engrossed in this book, felt it flowed really well and was a pleasure to read. 5 stars.

Another first class novel from one of my favourite authors, Susie Lynes. A domestic drama rather than her usual psychological thriller, but just as engrossing and heart-wrenchingly sad.

The story tells of Carol, her abusive marriage to Ted, her escape from him with her children, Graham and Nicola and then her quest to make a new life for them all. But the shadow of their shared past hangs over them and they each try to deal with it in their own way.
The book is written from 3 different viewpoints and over different timelines, but this works well and each is easy to follow.

Expertly written and emotionally intense and raw, this book will grab you from the first page and keep you hooked till the last.

This was a solid read - although it seemed really familiar in parts to another book I have read.
Told over a long period of time and by several points of view - the book takes the reader on a rollercoaster of pain and suffering caused by domestic abuse!
Seeing the lasting impact of this on the entire family was difficult to stomach at times - but it was dealt with sensitively and with care!
I always watch out for SE Lynes books and although this wasn’t the best book I have read this year, it was easy to read and kept me very interested.

5 plus stars! Loved this, but be prepared Lynes is one that tends to hit disturbing and dark topics, and she nails them! If you enjoy things that many need trigger warnings for, I suggest not only you grab this one but others by this author. She’s amazing as taking those dark themes and really putting them into a formula to create an amazing psychological thriller that’ll have your brain exploding by the end! A must read for people who enjoy books I do!
Will make sure I buzz this book up big time!

TRIGGER WARNING: THIS BOOK COVERS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DRUG ADDICTION
In the present day, Nicola is devastated by her mother’s death and her thoughts dwell on her childhood and the abuse that her mother endured. We are then shown the family’s escape from the violence but then her brother Graham’s life breaks down as a result of drug addiction and his actions land him in prison.
However, it emerges that Nicola, Carol and Graham have all been keeping secrets and it is time for the truth to be revealed…
Part one of the book was absolutely compelling. I loved the representation of Carol as a victim and survivor which I found utterly gripping, feeling raw and honest to me as a reader. The fear of what will happen and anticipating the imminent danger of a beating is palpable and we are in the moment with Carol. Equally, her guilt at leaving her husband and hope for a better relationship with him is something that we hear time and again from abuse victims so felt very real.
Parts two and three cover Graham’s descent into addiction and then his rehabilitation in prison. I’ll be perfectly honest and say I did not enjoy this as much despite the excellent writing. I wonder if it is the selfishness of his behaviour that made me switch off and this is due to the emotional pull I felt towards Carol, thinking she had suffered enough and not wanting her to have further pain.
Despite the serious topics covered in The Lies We Hide, S.E. Lynes manages to include love and humour as well. The introduction of prison chaplain Richard and his story, looking for redemption and finding it through his interactions with Graham, is gentle and full of hope. The overwhelming love of a mother for her children and the need to protect one’s family radiates through the book.

The Lies We Hide portrays how each family member sees what happens in a different way. Their version of this life leads to the lies we hide whether intentional or not. S.E. Lynes shows how these lies can change lives.

This had me engrossed from the outset.

Fantastic storyline of a troubled family, plenty of twists in the tale too.

Thoroughly recommend. 4.5 stars