Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Unfortunately, I found the book extremely tedious to read. My life has been busy but reading is big comfort and I couldn't enjoy the book the way I expected. It is a good portrayal of a family who have a lot of issues and it had many heavy subjects. I wish I was in the right headspace to read.

I struggled to get through this book. I really wanted to give it my best shot but I had a hard time focusing on the characters. The book comes from a unique perspective about an Armenian family that spans generations. It provided a simple story through the viewpoint of different characters. I loved seeing the mom's point of view and then seeing the same experience through her daughters. Families are complicated and books about family dynamics are always enjoyable because there is so much to unpack and breakdown.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review.

2.7 Stars
One Liner: Started okay but got a bit too messy

What happens to the dysfunctional immigrant Armenian family in Queens (NY) when a tragedy strikes?
With the news of their father’s terminal illness, Kohar, Lucine, and Azad have to handle the mess in their personal lives, come to terms with the present, and lay rest to the past. Having a volatile and strict mother further strains their relationships. Will the family survive or break?
The story comes in the third-person POV of the main characters (Kohar, Lucine, Azad, Jonathan, Garbiel, and Takouhi).

My Thoughts:
I follow an Armenian lady on Instagram and love the pictures of her native place (the farms, plants, ancient cathedrals, etc.). This book seemed like a good way to get a glimpse into the community, even if it is from the immigrant perspective.
Soon, I noticed it had a few parallels with other immigrant books – dysfunctional families, torn between two cultures, the attempts of first-gen immigrants to keep the native culture and traditions alive however possible, etc. Another similarity was in parental control, something we often find in Asian families. I rather liked this sense of familiarity.
The writing is very good. I even forgot this was a debut work. Despite the lack of indication for time jumps, the plot was easy enough to follow. And most importantly, the characterization is good. It doesn’t matter that half of them are unlikeable and toxic. They make a strong impact. I even felt suffocated in some scenes.
I like how Gabriel and Jonathan have such unconventional roles. Even with the book being dominated by women, we cannot imagine the plot without these two men.
You may wonder why such a low rating when the book has such good elements. Well, we’ll tackle them next. There is where I should probably say, ‘it’s not you, it’s me’.
Though I knew the book would be about toxic families and relationships, this was much like watching a massive collision. Can’t say I particularly liked it. And when things could have gotten a little better, they take a turn for worse. There’s only so much I can bear before getting annoyed.
Azad was irritating. If there’s one person I couldn’t empathize with, that’s her. I don’t mind Bohemian characters, but she didn’t work for me.
The book is divided into three parts. The first was good, and the second was okay, even though we see a change in the narrative. The third was off, and since I lost interest by then, I just wanted it to end soon.
While I don’t mind the time jumps, I still had a hard time following the change in the characters. Of course, a few reveals made things clear, which I appreciate.
The multiple POVs give us an insight into each character, even if we don’t agree with their actions. But for me, only Kohar’s POV was compelling. Next was Gabriel.
Being lit fiction, I expected the narrative to be slow, but this one is super dragging. It feels as if the plot couldn’t carry its own burden, especially in the second half. And when there isn’t anything happy or light about the story, such pacing is a disadvantage (at least with readers like me who don’t equate the genre with misery and toxicity).
And what’s with the last part of the book? I know such things happen often. I also know that woman deserved what she got. I am also glad the character I liked could finally move on. Still, it felt like were pushed from one universe to another.

To summarize, All the Ways We Lied is a book about toxic people and what one person’s narcissism can do to the family. It is heavy, slow, and tough to read. Got a few triggers, too.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
**
TW: Miscarriage, cancer, parental death, chronic illness, abuse, parental neglect, talks of the Armenian genocide.

In a Nutshell: A contemporary fiction focussed on a dysfunctional Armenian family. A brilliant first half and a wavering second half. If only I could recommend it just for the initial 50% or so!

Story Synopsis:
Queens, New York. The Manoukians are an Armenian family with barely anything in common with each other.
Gabriel – the patriarch – has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Takouhi – the matriarch – has an obsessive need to dominate everyone in her life.
Eldest daughter Kohar, 38, is blessed in her marriage to American Jonathan, but try as they may, they don’t have a child. This affects Kohar’s sense of self-worth.
Middle daughter Lucine is stuck in a loveless marriage and is just a few dollars away from losing all.
Youngest daughter Azad is a free spirit who seeks escape from the pressure of finding a good Armenian boy.
The story focusses on the internal and interpersonal dealings of all the above characters, with the narration coming from all their perspectives in third person.

Bookish Yays:
😍 Some really great descriptive writing and quotable quotes. The writing doesn’t make it seem like a debut.
😍 Well-defined characters, each having their own flaws and quirks and strengths. Even the minor characters have distinct and realistic personalities. The characterisations seemed authentic in the first half.
😍 Kohar’s situation as the elder daughter resonated much with me. Her husband Jonathan was also an excellent character, breaking the mould of a typical “son-in-law from another country” stereotype. Their complicated family dynamics with each other and the rest of the family are the highlight of the book.
😍 The depiction of Armenian culture and beliefs – detailed and genuine. Perfect for an OwnVoices work.
😍 Though primarily a narrative of mothers and daughters, the fathers in the story also have an important role to play, whether in a major or a minor capacity. Gabriel is a trend-breaker in terms of his depiction. He was one of the best characters in the book for me, though he was not at all perfect.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 Despite the slow pace, I was hooked on to the plot for the first thirteen chapters that comprise Part 1. (The book has twenty-four chapters overall.) Part 1 is excellent in its character detailing, writing, and plot. It easily scored well, and I even began drafting my 4.5 star review in my head. But after this came Part 2, and my rating slid steadily downwards. It would still have stopped at 3.75 were it not for the final 25%, which killed the book for me.
😐 There are too many characters at the start but as they are introduced well, the going becomes easier as we move ahead.
😐 Lucine’s arc started great but I wish we could have had more answers about her past and future. The potential of her character was never fully realised.
😐 The story spans several months (years?) but we don’t get an exact time reference. Though this doesn’t affect comprehension THAT much, I would have appreciated clearer references to the passage of time. I am still not sure which year this book is set in, though it’s definitely not too historical.
😐 The story comes to us in the shifting narrative perspectives of the five Manoukians. It takes a little time getting used to the jumps, but after a while, it is easier to go with the narrative flow. Every important character getting an equal voice also means that we get to know them all well, and can’t decide who is more important than the other.

Bookish Nays:
😣 The pacing is too slow, even for a literary fiction.
😣 The plot jump from part 1 to part 2 is too big. It took me a while to settle into the new direction of the story, because most of the characters seemed to have changed personalities in this section.
😣 I couldn't connect much with Azad’s character as she was too Bohemian for my liking, and her arc contained many lifestyle choices I don’t personally like. This isn’t a book flaw but my personal preference.
😣 The final quarter went completely haywire. I could see no logic to such a drastic plot development, a situation not even connected to what was established before about that character. If the ending had been worth the while, my rating would have been higher.

All in all, I did like a few things about the book, with my favourite being the insights about Armenian culture and the tricky parent-child dynamics. If only the latter half had as much to offer as the initial section, I would have been happier to recommend this as a must-read OwnVoices work. As it stands though, it is a mixed bag for me. Mine is somewhat an outlier review, so do read the other readers’ opinions before you take a call on this work.

2.75 stars. (First half – 4.5, next quarter – 2-3 stars, final quarter – not worth a mention, sorry. I'd happily cull this from the book.)

My thanks to Turner Publishing Company, author Aida Zilelian and NetGalley for the DRC of “All the Ways We Lied”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

All the Ways We Lied is an entertaining and heartfelt read about three Armenian sisters and a domineering mother who's at the heart of a dysfunctional family. Each sister has her own life and issues, but they come together when truly needed by one another.

Each sister's characterization was spot on making this book feel authentic. The cultural aspect of Armenian immigrants originally enticed me to read this book. It was, however, so much more than that.

It started really well. I loved reading about Kohar and Jonathan. The writing is very good, but it's too slow paced. So, I began to lose interest. You might like it if you're a patient reader.

"All the Ways We Lied" is an enchanting exploration of the intricacies within an Armenian-American family, weaving a tapestry of complex relationships that tugs at the heartstrings. Set against the backdrop of Queens, New York, this novel masterfully delves into the lives of the Manoukians—a family teetering on the edge of unraveling.

One of the standout features of the book is its narrative structure, which unfolds through multiple viewpoints. This technique offers readers a nuanced and insightful understanding of the characters, allowing us to witness the same events through different lenses. The result is a rich and layered tapestry of perspectives that adds depth to the storytelling.

The author skillfully navigates the challenges faced by the Manoukian sisters as they grapple with their father's terminal illness. Each sister—Kohar, Lucine, and Azad—brings a unique struggle to the table, be it fertility issues, loveless marriages, or the burden of failed relationships. Their individual journeys are woven together seamlessly, creating a narrative that is both heartfelt and heart-wrenching.

The exploration of the stories we tell ourselves about our families is a central theme, beautifully illustrating how these narratives shape our perceptions. The characters are tragically flawed yet lovable, and the reader is drawn into their world with a perfect blend of humor and compassion. The author's portrayal of sisterhood is particularly poignant, highlighting the contradictions and complexities that often define these relationships.

While the book is a captivating read, the only flaw is the yearning for even more insight into the lives of the characters. The Manoukians are so compelling that one can't help but crave a deeper exploration of their individual stories. Nevertheless, this desire for more is a testament to the author's ability to create characters that resonate with readers on a profound level.

In summary, "All the Ways We Lied" is a charming and poignant tale that skillfully captures the essence of family dynamics. Through its exploration of the Manoukian family, the novel offers a relatable and emotional journey, reminding us of the power of the stories we tell ourselves about the ones we hold dear.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All the Ways We Lied has pretty much everything I enjoy in a book, from difficult women to Armenian family dynamics to Sound of Music & Julie Andrews references. It’s certainly not a page-turning thriller; rather, it’s more akin to slowly absorbing the world and characters that Aida Zilelian has constructed, and then realizing at the novel’s climax just how heartbreakingly beautiful her characters and their stories are.

There’s a lot of gorgeous writing in this book, but my favorite line is towards the end (non-spoiler): “Her mother did not hate her…mothers treat their daughters the way they feel about their own selves.” This line, for me, sums up the essence of this book: it’s about people who care for each other very much, in very complicated ways, in a world that sees care as a weakness and does not support us in caring for each other.

I had a lot of trouble reading this book. It started out as the story of 3 Armenian American sisters and their contentious relationship with their mother and each other. It devolves into a story with too many names, too many people and too many subplots.

The author writes beautifully but I was overwhelmed by all that was happening. I especially disliked the final subplot revolving around the mother being involved in a cliched and incredibly idiotic relationship. As an older reader, I resented the final twist.

So, the novel had so much potential, but ultimately imploded under its own weight.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.