Theater and Drew are moving back to where they grew up. The want their two daughter to experience the happiest of childhoods. Just like they did.
A village can be a quaint and exotic place. Everyone knows you. Everyone is interested in your well being. Children run in and out of neighbor houses.
Villages can also harbor gossip, discontent and long memories. Are times you have to be there through several generations before you're no longer a newcomer.
This story is all about those things. Mainly it's about vicious gossip and violent bullying. Things that can tarnish a person's reputation. It's also about friendship, love strength and bravery.
I enjoyed reading this book. It opened my eyes to how bullying can extend to adults. Definitely how gossip hurts everyone. Including the ones spreading it.
Great read!

This is the first of Emma Davies' books I have read and I am so glad I had the opportunity to review this one.
A psychological thriller with a slightly different take. I would probably label it more as a psychological drama, but I really enjoyed it none the less.

The story follows Thea and Drew, childhood sweethearts who are now married with two daughters who decide to make the move back to the small village in which they both grew up in. But Thea soon makes some discoveries that rock her world and really make her question if the move was right after all.

I don't want to spoil this book for anyone, so I wont give any spoilers!.
The story was enthralling and had me hooked from start to finish. The characters were relatable and often likable, and the story was well paced so kept you wanting more.

I would certainly recommend this book.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this wonderful story.

' When I stumbled across the listing for Pevensey House I knew I had found a way for my family to be free and I didn’t hesitate. I should have, I know that now…'

Thea and Drew have always been inseparable since they were kids and now married with their own children they decide to move back to not only their childhood town, but the house Thea grew up in. But Thea starts to wonder why her husband is acting odd and why people literally cross the stress to avoid her.

I have to admit the book started slow for me and I didn't get hooked straight away however it only took a few chapters til I was! I loved Thea and Drew as a couple.. I loved the friendship that grew between Anna and Thea and also the children, Lauren and Tilly.

This isn't a Thriller like ones I've read recently, this is definitely more drama but the secrets unfolding. How people's pain can turn them into something they're not and who to believe. I felt for Thea as it was so many emotions for her to take in, but I do love the direction it went in and I was soo happy it ended the way it did. I hate to say as it's my name 😅 but I hated Stacey's character, soon as she came into it, I knew I wouldn't like her. In the end I definitely felt sorry for her but I still didn't like her. 😅

A new author for me but I am a sucker for a psychological thriller based on a family situation. At the start we meet childhood sweethearts Thea and Drew who are moving back to their childhood village, in fact back into Freya’s childhood home, from their busy London lives.
The pair are excited to introduce their children to the idyllic lives they led, although Drew seems more reserved than Freya.
As the story progresses Freya learns things about her childhood that she has either forgotten or misremembered, which leads to her and her daughters suffering at the hand of others. How do rumours start and where do they end? Does someone have to pay the price?
Good story but a few parts maybe could have been tightened up. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

A really good read. It had some good underlying story lines and I didn’t’t expect the ending. It is well written and the momentum keeps going through the book quite well.

I love stories set in small communities with that feeling of closeness and support that seems to be missing from modern day life, however this story shows the downside of such places.
Thea jumps at the chance of moving back to her old childhood home with her husband Drew. They both grew up in the village and have been together since they were both young, living next door to each other and this seemed to be a perfect opportunity to escape from London and back to open spaces for them and their family. However once they arrive all is not well and eventually Thea discovers the reasons for the whispers behind her back and that Drew knew more than he ever let on.
Certainly not the feel-good type of story that I normally enjoy and that the author is so good at writing, however it did keep me reading to be with Thea as she started finding out the truth of what happened all those years ago. The author has a way of making her characters come alive to me and this is still the case here with Thea's fierce protection of her family, Drew's support and also that of her true friends. It does make me wonder about moving to a small village though.....
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity of reading an advance copy of this book, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit, probably for the same reason other readers did not. I was glad it wasn't the typical 'evil husband' thriller that many were expecting - instead, it was deeper and more substantial. It revolves around Thea and her family moving back to the home where she grew up and met her husband, Drew, who lived next door. It's an idyllic place, a large home with beautiful gardens and plenty of open space and fresh air. Her husband is initially hesitant, but agrees that it will be the best place for them to raise their family.

Of course, after they move back, they're met with whispers and side glances of the locals and Thea finds it harder than expected to settle back in as expected. Even her neighbors that live in Drew's childhood home quickly become less friendly and welcoming than they seemed at first. She soon finds out that her family is the subject of nasty gossip relating to an incident twenty years ago, which is not coincidentally when she and her parents moved away. It's up to her to decide whether she will repeat the past and just escape the unforgiving community or whether she will stay and fight for her family's right to live the life she always dreamed in the village where she spent her youth.

I was thoroughly engaged from the start, the author has such a descriptive way of writing and it made me long for a lovely home of my own in such a place! It probably would be better marketed as general fiction, that way, readers wouldn't be expecting something different and they could appreciate this story for what it is - a beautiful tale of strong family bonds and redemption.

Title: My Husband’s Lie
Author: Emma Davies
Pages: 302
Rating: 3/5

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for letting me review My Husband’s Lie!

Synopsis:

Thea and her childhood sweetheart Drew see that Thea’s old home in the beautiful countryside is up for sale. Thea instantly knows she has to have it, a chance to escape their busy London life and the opportunity to return to a place that give her many happy childhood memories. Drew is reluctant at first, but with a hope their children will experience happy memories like them he agrees and soon the bags are packed. However, a hidden panel in the world soon turns Thea’s world upside down, her husband lied and her childhood was not all as it appeared to be.
Review:
The catchy cover and synopsis were what instantly drew me to this book, it was intriguing but gave nothing away which left me with a strong urge to find out. The fact that the description said this book was perfect for Liane Morarity loves also had me interested in this read. The reviews looked promising and I am a huge thriller lover and really hoped this book would not let me down.
The prologue hooked me in, I was then captured and in the story lines clutches. I was able to connect with the writing style straight away and found that I was struggling to put the book back down and when I managed to, I was still thinking about what would happen in the story.
I like how the storyline dripped in the feeling of doubt right from the start and you instantly had a feel that something wasn’t quite right. The title made me very wary of the husband Drew from the start too- I knew he was going to do something wrong, but I could not guess what. I also loved how the other characters had you doubting them and you really didn’t know who to trust.
The build up to the story was quite large and I really hoped that it wouldn’t disappoint but unfortunately for me it did. The storyline wasn’t what I thought it would be and for me, Draw wasn’t the bad guy I expected him to be at all. I just hoped the twist would be shocking and huge and felt a little let down by this.
Despite this, the story line had some lovely sayings and advice that I could relate to personally. The theme of finding your own strength and courage ran throughout and showed you how important this is. It also highlighted how family life and love is not always perfect and there are many ups and downs you have to overcome together. So despite the disappointing twist and the lack of thrill I felt, the book made up for this in other ways.

This novel should perhaps consider a title change. As that was just a small part of the story. At its heart it was about standing up to people and do the right thing. So the title was misleading as I was expecting a psychological thriller about a rotten husband. I’m out even sure it falls under the category of mystery or suspense but rather women’s fiction.

In all it was a well written book and timely in today’s bullying culture.

I shall say no more as to not give anything away. But a big thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this ARC.

Thea only has good memories of her childhood home, so what secret is her husband hiding and why is the whole village suddenly acting weird? I thought that this would be more of a haunted house story, or at least a whodunit. Unfortunately, it’s more of a “secrets and lies” variety. There is a mystery in the past, but it’s not really that important and, even if we do get resolution, it’s not unexpected or suspenseful. I struggled to relate to Thea and her obsession about other people’s opinions of her. Her attitude toward the titular husband’s lie was, in my opinion, an overreaction. The novel is very well written, so it’s more of a question of predilection. I like action-based plots with twists and turns and this is character-based.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Bookouture!

I am all for domestic thrillers! I lobe them.... but this was more of a drama and I was waiting for the twists and turns and it fell flat. I did enjoy the characters and they were very well written. The story was a little too descriptive for me and I could have gotten the same outcome with less words. Overall it’s a solid book, just not exciting.

A perfect example of trying to make something out of nothing. Mundane plot, mundane characters, and not meritorious in any way. So many holes as well. Do not recommend

Although I wouldn’t exactly classify this book as a psychological thriller, it was still enjoyable even as a family drama. Some of the book was engrossing and kept me hooked, whereas other parts were a bit slow and directionless, throwing me off a bit.

If you’re into books that are not quite fast-paced but move slowly and keep you interested enough, then check this out.

My Husband’s Lie is a well written story with characters that the author brings to life and grabs your attention. From the title, I was expecting more of a thriller. I would describe this book as cosy thriller. I was a little disappointed by the time I finished it. I was trying to guess the ending but I was nowhere close. I was waiting for plot twists but they didn’t come. An enjoyable read overall but not a breathtaking page turner.

My Husband's Lie by Emma Davies is a page-turning domestic drama that was slow to pull me in, yet once it took hold I was fully invested for the duration. Ms Davies is a new to me author, but one who will certainly be on my radar in the future.

Thea convinces her husband Drew that a move back to their childhood home of Pevensey is just what is needed to bring their small family together. It is, after all, where they have both grown up and fallen in love, and Thea longs to recreate their shared and idyllic childhood with their two young daughters. Yet something is off when the family returns, and the village seems to be far from welcoming, with many locals standoffish and some even openly hostile. Upon finding a newspaper clipping in her childhood home, Thea unintentionally opens the wound of a decades old crime that few of the locals are willing to keep buried in the past. Have Thea and Drew unknowingly put their young family in jeopardy by stirring up events long past? Or do they know more than they are letting on, even to each other?

This is a solid, enjoyable read that I was able to finish over the course of an afternoon. I am certainly anxious to read more from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. When I read the synopsis for this, I requested it right away but once I started, I found parts a bit slow going, but overall the plot kept me interested and I will be interested to see more of the author’s work.

Parts of this book were good..some parts just seemed to drag and make me wonder where the story was going.
Didn't love or hate it was just an ok read for me. Hope others enjoy it more.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an early release if this book

The Husband's Lie by Emma Davies follows Thea and her childhood sweetheart, Drew as they make the move from London to Thea's childhood home in the country. The house is beautiful, and Thea and Drew can now work from home. Everything is going well, until Thea realizes that as soon as she says who she is and where she lives, people turn cold. After some digging, Thea learns that her father was questioned after a minor was assaulted. He was never charged because Drew's parents were his alibi. That doesn't stop the townspeople from suspecting Thea's father and thinking the family is tainted. Thea must learn to cope with this view of her father, even though she knows he is innocent.

Davies does a wonderful job of using colorful language to write about scenery and emotion. It was so easy to picture the country, and to understand the emotions of Thea. The plot fell a little short with me, and was very built up for a rather disappointing resolution. I thought there would be more secrets unearthed or a plot twist. Overall, this book is good if thrillers are too dark for you but you want a little mystery.

This was a pretty standard thriller for me. Good story and it was engaging, just didnt blow my socks off. There isnt anything wrong with the book it just wasn't really for me. I will say though, it had more than a touch of Midsommer Murders about it, and I could definitely see it being made into a decent tv drama.

Thea impulsively purchases the rectory she grew up in, years after her parents sold it. She and her husband Drew and their children will be happy there, Thea just knows it. But the move seems to have the opposite effect, driving she and her husband further apart, and her old friends and neighbors are avoiding her at all costs. It’s not until Thea finds an old newspaper clipping that she realizes her happy childhood was only an illusion. A stark novel about the things we choose to believe rather than face the truth