I have never read anything quite like it and it took a while to really figure out what was going on. The main character only exists because of her mother talking about her. When the person that kept her in existence passes, she is left with a sister that is struggling as well. I like how this book jumps back and forth between the characters and breaks down what is going on around them. I found the imagery fascinating and really liked the idea that a lie makes a presence in some way. I do not want to ruin this book for someone else by elaborating any more about this concept, however it is definitely worth the read. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Oh the web of lies that we weave.

The Lies among us had me hooked from the beginning. And oh the twists. Durst knows how to put me on a rollercoaster ride.. the lies just kept coming and coming.

A definite recommend for anyone who loves psychological thrillers.

Thanks Lake Union and Netgalley

All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is my third SBD novel and I'm really impressed with how different her books are. This was a melancholic story beautifully rendered. Highly rec.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled a bit with this novel. I like the ending, but the bar scenes made little sense to me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was intrigued by the description of this book and was excited to read once approved for an ARC. I liked that the book was a quick read and god through it in a few days.
It’s difficult to review without giving spoilers but I found myself very invested in the journeys that both sisters made throughout the book.
I did at times find myself getting a little bit lost with the plot and had to reread parts to make sense of them but overall this was a god read.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I think this novel had an interesting idea, however I didn't enjoy the execution. The characters fell flat and the plot was very confusing at times. I had to PUSH myself to finish this novel, something that hardly ever happens for me.

The Lies Among Us by Sarah Beth Durst

This was a very unique novel; I have not read anything like this before. I originally requested it because the plot seemed really interesting, but I was even more impressed than I expected after reading this. Creatively speaking, this is a work of art and the author must have put real time, care and consideration into writing such an intricate story. It is very hard to review this book without giving spoilers, but I will try my best.

This story is an incredibly powerful commentary by the author on grief and loss. Our two main characters, sisters Hannah and Leah, deal with the death of their mother in very different ways and we follow them on their grieving journeys. Both sisters go on a journey of self-discovery; Hannah goes in search of a purpose now she no longer has her mother to "care" for and Leah goes on a journey of self-acceptance and learning to heal from the trauma that her mother has inflicted on her. The book switches between Hannah and Leah's point of views, meaning we get to experience their struggles first-hand, which really helped me to bond with the characters. Watching Hannah and Leah grow throughout the book was a real privilege and I found myself becoming quite emotionally attached to them, Hannah in particular, All of the characters are beautifully constructed, complex characters with real depth to them and they are what holds this story together. Even their mother, who is portrayed as a very unlikeable woman due to the lies she tells, is a deeply complex character with multiple layers. However, the readers can almost sympathise with her, as we know she is dealing with the affects of her daughter dying and is simply unable to come to terms with the truth.

This book also raises many questions around the mystery of human existence and what happens to us after we die. At the start, I assumed Hannah was simply a ghost, but the author chose to make this book even more interesting by making Hannah the physical embodiment of her mother's lie rather than simply being a spirit or ghost. This really makes us readers pause and evaluate our own lives, what lies we tell and the consequences these lies have. The author makes a large negative judgement on Hannah's mother for the lies she told and the way this has impacted her daughter, Leah. There is a lot to take away from this book in terms of life lessons, and I think that's why I really enjoyed this story. Not only is it gripping and unique, but it also forces us readers to look critically at ourselves and think about our own words/actions.

I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. I have never seen this author before, but after having read this incredible book, I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for more of her work. Thank you to Netgalley and Sarah Beth Durst for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really about how people grieve in their own ways. Hannah and Leah might be sisters but how the deal with their mother's death could not be more different. I thought Hannah was slightly more developed than Leah but both felt like real people. I thought the supernatural themes were woven in in a natural way.

"The Lies Among Us" is a book about a mother that lies, a daughter that is created from the lies and a daughter that's caught in between. I chose to read this book as the description and title didn't give much away and I was intrigued. I can safely say that I'm glad I read it. I wouldn't give it 5 stars as it was quite hard to follow sometimes and it is a bit "out there" for me but other than that it was well written, quite a quick read and the story itself about "the lies" was intelligent and captivating!

This was such an interesting book. Very creative plot line as well. Two sisters struggle in different ways after their mother passes away; all is not as it seems, however.

Hannah was quite a fascinating character for me. Watching her grow and develop was enjoyable. Leah was a little harder for me to connect with but she is well written and demonstrates how different people can handle grief differently.

A great book that is worth reading.

This book is very strange, and I wasn't sure where the story was going for awhile, but it would make a great book club discussion book because because there are just so many aspects of the story to talk about!

The Lies Among Us
A Novel
by Sarah Beth Durst
I would like to thank NetGalley, Sarah Beth Durst, and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Description: After her mother dies, Hannah doesn't know how to exist without her. Literally. In fact, Hannah's not even certain that she does exist. No one seems to see or hear her, and she finds herself utterly alone. Grief-stricken and confused, her sense of self slowly slipping away, Hannah sets out to find a new purpose in life--and answers about who (and what) she really is. Hannah's only remaining family is her older sister, Leah. Yet even Leah doesn't seem to notice her. And while Hannah can see and hear her sister, she also sees beautiful and terrible things that don't--or shouldn't--exist. She learns there's much more to this world than meets the eye and struggles to make sense of it all. When Hannah sees Leah taking the same dangerous path that consumed their own mother--where lies supplant reality--she's desperate to get through to her. But facing difficult truths is harder than it looks...
This book captures you from the beginning. The way it is told by Hannah and Leah grabs you in and you yearn to learn more about their Mother’s webs of lies.

In 'The Lies Among Us,' Sarah crafts a poignant and mystical narrative that delves deep into the profound mysteries of existence and the complicated layers of human relationships. At its heart, this novel is a touching exploration of grief, loss, and the search for meaning when all seems lost.

Hannah, the protagonist, is a beautifully complex character whose struggle with loss and her own identity is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. The author skillfully navigates the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural, creating an atmosphere of enchantment and intrigue. As Hannah grapples with her newfound abilities and perception of a world beyond the ordinary, readers are drawn into a realm where the extraordinary becomes an integral part of the narrative.

The bond between Hannah and her sister Leah is a central focus of the story, adding emotional depth and tension. The author weaves a compelling tale of sibling connection and the burdens of family secrets, making for a truly engaging read.

'The Unseen Grief' is a book that seamlessly blends elements of the supernatural with themes of self-discovery and the enduring power of love. It invites readers to ponder the boundaries of reality and the mysteries that may exist just beyond our perception. For those who appreciate stories that challenge the ordinary and touch the soul, this novel is a captivating journey into the unseen.

This book captures you from the beginning. The way it is told by Hannah and Leah grabs you in and you yearn to learn more about their Mother’s webs of lies. It’s such an interesting story, definitely one I’ve not come across before. It was truly a unique read and I’m glad to have read it. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I was intrigued by the title and cover of Durst's book and wanted to know what the story was. I liked that it was a quick read but it wasn't always clear to me what was happening. I thought it was well-written but I almost feel like I need to read it again at another point to see how I feel about it. It was interesting to read a story about grief in such a unique way. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars.

From the award-winning author of The Shelterlings and The Lake House comes a haunting novel about sisterhood and grief, where difficult truths must contend with the corrosive power of unchecked lies

Great mystery, great plot, very atmospheric.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sarah Beth Durst for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Description: After her mother dies, Hannah doesn't know how to exist without her. Literally. In fact, Hannah's not even certain that she does exist. No one seems to see or hear her, and she finds herself utterly alone. Grief-stricken and confused, her sense of self slowly slipping away, Hannah sets out to find new purpose in life--and answers about who (and what) she really is.Hannah's only remaining family is her older sister, Leah. Yet even Leah doesn't seem to notice her. And while Hannah can see and hear her sister, she also sees beautiful and terrible things that don't--or shouldn't--exist. She learns there's much more to this world than meets the eye and struggles to make sense of it all.When Hannah sees Leah taking the same dangerous path that consumed their own mother--where lies supplant reality--she's desperate to get through to her. But facing difficult truths is harder than it looks...


Wow, well, this turned out to be very different from my expectation after reading the description. From a creative standpoint it was incredible. It really makes you think about the power of how we choose to live our lives and the lies we tell ourselves.

I’ll be honest, it is very difficult to review this book adequately without providing spoilers which I do not want to do. So I’ll say that I very much enjoyed the journey that the sisters needed to go on after their mothers death. Both had equally important albeit different journeys of self discovery that they needed to take. The author uses creative imagery during that journey.

While I liked the experience over all of this very quick read, I did find it very repetitive. I found myself yearning for the concept to be used but to tell a different story or rather construct it differently. That could be a “to each their own” opinion.

I have never been intrigued and engrossed in a books concept but also bored at the same time. So while I recommend reading this book for some personal deep thought on processing grief after losing a very troublesome parent who at the core of things was emotionally abusive and neglectful, the reality is this is a 3.5 star book that I chose to round up.