A thrilling, who-done-it t novel that will have you guessing and second guessing at every turn. What exactly happened the night of the murder in which every clue points towards Jules as the one being responsible. She is adamant that she is innocent and not responsible for his death but there is just one huge problem – she cannot remember much about the night in question.

Determined to prove her innocence, Jules takes it upon herself to prove to everyone – the police, her husband, her friends, that she in in fact innocent and will stop at nothing to uncover the truth of that night and to clear her name. What better to tell the story than a completely unreliable main character. That makes for a great story.

I enjoyed reading about her adventures as she tried to gather clues and piece it all together of what truly happened that night. I enjoyed reading the transcripts from her vlog that she uses to share the knowledge she has discovered and trying to clear her name with the public, and how her vlog became a sensation.

There are several surprises in this book that had me guessing the whole way through. Who an you trust? Who can you believe?

This book was not what I was expecting. It's dark, depressing, and all the characters are damaged in some way - some more than others. It took me a long time to get into it - well over halfway - but in the end, I couldn't put it down because I had to know the outcome.

Imagine being so drunk that you wake up the next morning and you’re suspected of murder. Jules is a successful CEO of a non-profit and had just hosted a major company event. When the police show up at her home, she is informed that her wallet was found next to a dead man, that man was the guest of honor at the event. Frustrated that the she is the only suspect, Jules sets out to solve the murder. With some small clues, she starts a true-crime vlog hoping that more clues will emerge. As more information about the night of the murder start to come to the surface, things get very complicated.

This was an interesting story with a good amount of suspense and effective red herrings. But the character of Jules was not someone I could fully root for. She was a mother of a young boy and made no attempt at dealing with her demons. This was a good read, just not a great one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read For The Best in advance of its September 8, 2020 release.

Rated 3.5 stars.

A gritty, twisty, and gripping thriller about a woman who will do anything to prove her innocence... if only she could remember what happened. Full of secrets and coverups, 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 pulls back the curtain on just how damaging secrets can be. I had a love-hate relationship with Jules throughout the book. I wanted to smack her for her excess drinking which fueled the problems in her life. But who can blamer her when it's all she has known? I think the development of these feelings is a tribute to Vanessa's writing. I felt totally embedded in this story and raced to finish. ⁣⁣⠀

This is a riveting, troubling story about a woman who wakes up and finds she's accused of murder. Unfortunately, she can't remember much of the night before, due to being incredibly drunk. As she is the main suspect, she starts her own investigation, using a vlog.

What follows is a compulsive tale as Juliet (the protagonist) works to find out the truth. It's a story about restorative justice, family secrets, lies and the damage alcohol can do to relationships.
I found Juliet at times so frustrating I could have screamed. But, her story is so compelling and the way in which social media is woven throughout, kept me absolutely focused on, like Juliet's watchers, finding the truth.

It's really well written, with characters that are so well developed, you dislike them, are intrigued by them, connect with them and ultimately cannot wait to find out what happened.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and am grateful to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to preview.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thoma & Mercer for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.

Jules wakes up in the morning with her knees scrapped and half of the night she can't remember. What happened, it was supposed to be a great night for the POE Foundation, and Jules is ready to be a success and redeem her father. However, when the police show up to ask questions she knows that she is just like her father.

Soon she finds out that her wallet was found next to the body of a dead man. She can't believe that she would ever hurt Terrance and begins a quest to find out what happened no matter the cost. Along the way Jules begins to lose everything from her job and her reputation... will she lose her freedom too? She is the only suspect in Terrance's murder...

I am leaving this vague because spoilers and also this is a story that deserves for you to read it and let it unfold as it happens. It is wonderfully done, I find Jules annoying at times, but she doesn't experience a lot of character growth. This isn't what I would consider a thriller several major hints are given and it isn't a big leap to guess what happens. It works and it works well I could not stop reading this. I had to know what was going to happen and I couldn't figure out what or who I was pulling for or what I even wanted to happen in this story.

This is my second book by this author and she is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

WHOA!

My mind is still reeling!

THIS BOOK.

The grittiness.

The dark undercurrents.

The slow burning tension that just builds and builds until suddenly everything just blows up and you have to pause in your reading because you're like, OMFG.

Seriously, this book is GOOD.

A story with damaged characters, a murder mystery, and the unraveling of devastating secrets? YES.

This story mainly revolves around a woman waking up after an alcohol fueled night, to discover that a man somehow ended up dead in the process, and she's accused of his murder. Sound intriguing? Because it definitely is, and that's just the start of it. What follows is a tangled, emotionally complex web as secrets unravel and other things brought to light, as the investigation into the murder goes underway.

The writing was alluring and flowed so well, making it easy to just delve into the story, with all of its dark dwellings and disturbed characters, and turn the pages at a frantic pace.

Mesmerizing, moody, and thought-provoking, this story is one that will grasp on to you tightly, and not let go until you have read each and every word on every single page, all the way until the end.

Amazing!

I wasn't sure Vanessa Lillie could top her last book, LITTLE VOICES, a super-fresh thriller with a gut punch of an ending. This book is different for sure, but Lillie reinvents the thriller yet again, with strong character development and an inventive story. Juliet Worthington-Smith is the CEO of the Poe Foundation, a nonprofit started by her father many years ago. Juliet's father failed very publicly, and Juliet has vowed to do what he could not by helping the community of Providence, Rhode Island. But Juliet has a vice of her own - an alcohol addiction, not much different from her father's - and one night, she gets so drunk that she doesn't remember a thing about what happened. And that same night, one of her colleagues is killed. Juliet, trying to clear her name, starts a vlog show in which she investigates the crime, trying to piece together the facts. Juliet is the perfect shades-of-gray narrator - yes, she has the same affliction as other popular unreliable narrators, but she also has relatable daily concerns and a spunky spirit. Lillie paints a believable arc for each flawed character - not just Juliet. Some experience redemption, and others don't, and there are many mirroring points within the separate subplots. A nuanced and thought-provoking novel.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5
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Jules wakes up hungover after blacking out drunk the previous night. She can’t remember anything, she looks down and sees her legs are bleeding and dirty. Minutes later, the police are knocking on her door. They tell her that her wallet was found on a man that was murdered lastnight.
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She gets fired from her job, she’s on the verge of going broke and the entire town has turned on her. She is the only suspect, the police don’t seem to be even looking at anyone else.
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She decides her only hope is to save herself and she sets out on a mission to clear her name.....
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This story is provocative, exploring complex topics such as childhood trauma and how it relates to us as adults, white privilege, flaws in our system and restorative justice.
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I really liked this one. I definitely did NOT think it was going to go the way it did! I will be reading this author’s other book, Little Voices, soon.

Imagine your wallet being found next to a dead man, and you have no idea how it got there. Welcom to Jule Worthington-Smith's life. This is a story of one woman's quest to clear her name and try and find the killer. An intriguing, riveting story that will captivate you. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review.

2.5 stars

This novel gets off to a strong and engaging start with the main character, who finds herself in a confusing but seemingly BAD situation. While it's interesting to follow her for a bit, her inability to take personal responsibility for her choices and actions - along with her alcoholism - are tough to take. This is intentional; readers are supposed to see her growth and to find her more provocative than heroic.

My main issues with this novel came in the form of the answers to the central mysteries of the past and present. They were...not what I was hoping for, and the resolution was off the wall. There were other pieces like the instant result of therapy, for example, that felt weirdly paced.

At times, I wanted the editor to have a louder voice. This line, "I glare at her hair, a nest of arrogance," is one example of something that made me laugh (and probably was not designed for this purpose).

An important component of this work is the discussion of restorative justice. I do like how that is handled toward the end, but I felt like it was a bit clumsy to have the truth about the past + that resolution be part of this piece. I'm staying vague intentionally to avoid spoilers, but I did have trouble with some of these connections.

For the Best is the first book that I've read by Vanessa Lillie. When Juliet Worthington Smith's wallet is found next to the body of a dead man, she becomes the only suspect in his murder. Things are complicated by the fact that Jules can't remember anything from that night due to being blackout drunk. Determined to prove her innocence, she launches her own investigation and exposes new evidence and clues through a series of vlogs. I found the plot to be very intriguing and there were definitely enough secrets and twists to keep me interested until the end. However, I found the main character to be pretty unlikable, so it was hard to sympathize with her. Overall, a quick read that thriller fans will enjoy.

A story of Juliette and her family, their long-buried secrets and how those secrets are involved in the mystery surrounding the murder of Juliette’s colleague. Great psychological thriller with flawed characters and an interesting look at the power and hope of restorative justice. Told from Juliette’s perspective, including through the use of transcripts from vlogs, the tension builds throughout the story with secrets gradually being revealed, leading to a great ending. This is only Vanessa’s second novel - going back to read her debut novel and look forward to her next! Highly recommend! Thanks to the author for this advance arc. On sale September 8 in Canada.

Thrillers aren't usually heartbreaking but this one.. wow. Heavy stuff. The story centered around so much family trauma, and the havoc wreaked by generations of alcoholism was really jarring for me. As far as the mystery, it seemed fairly easy to see what was coming and it was wrapped up almost too nicely. This may sound like I didn't enjoy this book, but that's not the case! It kept me engaged, mostly to see what new secrets would tumble out. Juliet is a tough character; she's not particularly likable. In the end, although some parts hit a few nerves, and the ending was not necessarily a happy one, learning the family secrets and seeing the consequences finally play out was so much more important than the "whodunit" aspect. I would definitely read other books by this author.

For The Best reads like it should not be enjoyable. The main character, Julia, is flawed, an alcoholic in all but admission. She makes immoral decisions and does not deserve the reader's sympathy but the book is written in such a good fashion that she always manages to keep it, even when it is only as substantial as holding mist.

An interesting tale and one that may leave the reader conflicted, but ultimately satisfied.

Read it and make your own mind up.

For the Best by Vanessa Lillie is a thriller involving murder, family lies, and uncovering the truth. When Jules’ wallet is found near someone that was murdered, her quest begins to prove her innocence. Did she commit the murder as others are claiming or will she prove who the real killer is? This was a good book with interesting outcomes.

When Jules Worthington-Smith’s wallet is found next to a dead man, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder. After struggling for years to build the perfect family and career, she’s dangerously close to losing everything.

Jules is desperate to prove her innocence and clear her name. But there’s one big problem: she was blackout drunk when the murder took place and can’t remember what happened.

She embarks on her own murder investigation. As she uncovers fresh clues, she starts a true-crime vlog pushing her into the public eye. But, as she digs deeper, the more dirt she uncovers about the murder and herself.

This was a complex book that was filled with twists and secrets. While the book itself was well written, I could not sympathize with the main character, Jules, at all. I found her her annoying, she was a drunk and a flirt, as well as disregarded the feelings and privacy of others just to prove her innocence.

I kept reading just to find out whether Jules was actually innocent as she claimed despite her many faults.I enjoyed that the story was fast paced and plot line got more interesting as the story progressed. The ending was a bit surprising since it was kind of hard to believe.

Thank You to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!!

I would recommend this story to all thriller lovers. This book took me by surprise. It kept me interested throughout the story and I needed to see what was going to happen. I truly enjoyed the pacing of the story and the well-written characters.

FOR THE BEST by Vanessa Lillie is a compulsive read as the main character investigates murder through unconventional means. Family drama, career upheaval, and addiction add to the novel's conflict, and the storyline culminates in deeper meaning that Jules herself exemplifies.

While the mystery kept me engaged, I struggled to identify with the main character, who isn't particularly likable. Her crusade is noble, but her methods are abrasive. As a reader, I couldn't quite reconcile my perception of her with the "pull" that her husband--and her journalist ex-boyfriend--experienced. I also wondered about the sister, who is mentioned quite often but never appears. For some reason, I expected her to make a cameo.

Nevertheless, Jules's final choices [somewhat] redeem her, and I like the idea that she's not "just like her father"--that willpower and forging one's own path ultimately trump genetics and her traumatic childhood experience.

For The Best By Vanessa Lillie

Juliet Worthington-Smith’s wallet is found next to a dead man automatically making her the prime suspect in a murder investigation.

Adding to her woes is the fact that after a couple of drinks she probably wouldn’t be able to point out her face if asked but that doesn’t deter her from drinking like a frog anyway.

Instead of going the usual route of trusting the Police to figure out the details she decides to vlog about it taking clues and helpful tips from her social media followers and aides by her conveniently-a-journalist ex-boyfriend.

Since she is the protagonist in a mystery story unsurprisingly she does manage to unravel the mystery with some unexpected results.

The story had a good premise that unfortunately for me fell flat with its execution and the pathetically unrealistic reactions of the characters like Juliet’s husband actually tells her something along the lines of “you’ve handled a multimillion dollar enterprise off course you can solve a murder case better than the police”

*serious eye rolling”

The writing was not very fascinating and I honestly got quite bored of the story and may have skipped a few pages in between.

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