i struggled a little to get into this, but once i had grasped what was going on i felt fully immersed in the story. i found the characters really likeable and loved seeing their development over the course of the book.

i also really enjoyed the lyrical writing style and will definitely be reading more from this author!

thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc 🫶🏻

Where Water Lies was a book I honestly didn't expect. I was sucked into the story and the characters from the very beginning. The separate character stories keep you on your toes and keep you guessing. You want to keep going to felve deeper to fond out more about their lives and what is happening. I highly recommend. What a great read. Xx

Where water lies is not my usual read and it did take me a little while to get into it but once I did, there was no putting it down. I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this book just to see if my predictions were right and they mostly were. Such a good read!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for eARC of this novel. Reviews are my own.

What happens when two women with haunting past meet? One is dealing with series of threats that become more and more real each time, and the other is forced to face the truth that she tries so hard to ignore. Eliza and Iris made unforgivable mistakes, but the journey to healing is long, frightening, and requiring sacrifice. Will they make it? Will there finally be peace for both of them?

This story set in England is spiced with thrilling mystery, but at the core it's a heartwarming, true-to-name Women's fiction. Eliza's past made me curious that I couldn't wait to flip the page to find out while guessing. I also enjoyed that high school part a lot, and I kind of wish it also was written as a separate novel. Oh, how I love Eric. And also Lucas. The guys here are walking green flags and it made the romance part so much better than expected.

I also adore the setting, making me want to try swimming in a pond or own a cottage. The writing style takes a huge part in this. And since it is written in two distinct perspectives—Eliza's in first POV and Iris' in third—I don't have problems navigating their stories. However, Eliza and Maggie's conversation felt too long even though necessary. Eliza and Iris, since they are the ones making mistakes, can come across unlikable but it'll pay well in the end.

Where Water Lies brings us to an unexpected meeting in the water that says will heal you, but the fact is it's the women, not the water. It's not too late to mend broken hearts.

Eliza's existence can be divided into two distinct phases: the period preceding her entanglement in an intense adolescent camaraderie with Eric and Maggie, and the era subsequent to its abrupt demise on a fateful afternoon. Eric and Maggie held an unparalleled significance in Eliza's life, rendering them irreplaceable figures. Despite the passage of two decades, Eliza remains consumed by the relentless quest to unveil Maggie's whereabouts. A serendipitous encounter with a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Maggie reignites Eliza's fervor to decipher the events of that pivotal afternoon. As the boundaries between bygone memories and present realities blur, Eliza finds herself at a crossroads, pondering whether uncovering the truth will emancipate her spirit or merely plunge her deeper into the abyss of unresolved inquiries.

The narrative delves into the enduring repercussions of youthful relationships, skillfully intertwining Eliza's poignant journey with elements of nature and human emotion. "Where Water Lies" unfolds as a literary slow burn, eschewing dramatic twists in favor of a gradual exploration of multifaceted characters and their intertwined destinies. Within this storytelling, there is a blend of introspection and connected narratives that draw the readers into each character’s life, and one can really see how past regrets can impact present times. The character development is “spot on” and keeps one reading to see what happens to each protagonist. The novel had slow pacing, which allowed for the reader to really feel empathy, compassion, and emotions for the main characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Great book. Absolutely wonderful and breathtaking. I recommend. To read to anyone who doesn’t fear easily.

"People come here thinking the pond will heal them. But it doesn't. It's the women."

Two different stories of two women (Eliza and Iris) who cross paths at a pond, with slightly parallel stories. As their stories and backgrounds are gradually unveiled, Hilary Tailor showcases the significance of the past on the present. It was well-written and very complex, yet retained the high levels of suspense throughout. However, it failed to stand out to me. It had a thrilling plot, but the execution could've been better.

[Spoiler] I didn't fully understand a couple of sentences in the last chapter with Eliza's viewpoint in terms of the grammar.

Where Water Lies by Hilary Tailor was a sweeping novel.
An intriguing and compelling plot which unfolds at a good pace, characters that are extremely likable.
This one was so much fun to read! I was immediately engrossed wanting more.

This is the first time I've read anything by Hilary Tailor, but it certainly won't be the last. This is such a beautifully written book; Hilary Tailor has a poetic way with words. It is about two women who met at natural pond for women only. Both have secret pasts which still trouble them, both swim for different reasons. The characters draw you into their separate stories in a way that makes you want to keep digging to find out more. It’s a story of loss, love and second chances. This was a great read and I highly recommend this book. Thank you, Net Galley for providing me the opportunity to read this ARC.

This may be one of the best books I have ever read. Tailor has written a story so rich in character development and scene descriptions that I FELT I was in the Ladies' Pond swimming with Eliza. I WAS bonding with and falling in love with Eric. I DID love and hate Maggie. I became Eliza reading these pages and can't wait to tell everyone I know about this book so they can experience all of this for themselves.

The personal stories held within these pages are potentially the most enthralling I've ever had the privilege to read. I have never cheered for a character as much as I did for Eliza to find the truth of her history and for Iris to find her way back to her own life. Any review could not do this book enough justice for how truly amazing it is, and I hope thousands more readers pick it up then struggle to put it down the way that I did.

What a beautiful, lyrical book. I was swept away by this story where past and present swirl around each other, ebb and flow like the water theme that runs through it. It dips into several intersecting London lives and there's also a hint of a ghostly presence, which I'm a sucker for. Hilary Tailor's writing is accomplished and poetic and a treat to read.

Two women swim in the Hampstead Ladies Pond in all weathers and through all seasons. It is a precious place for both of them, but they swim there for very different reasons. The cold, murky water filled with the detritus of dead leaves helps isolated Eliza to revisit the past. For Iris, a charity worker whose work includes reuniting missing people with their families, the pond is a refuge that helps her to forget past choices.

Neither woman expects or wants to make a connection with the other, but as the past reaches out towards both of them, their paths are drawn irrevocably together. On the bumpy road towards their different truths, they issue each other challenges that must be accepted in order for each woman to find resolution and to move on in their lives.

I adored this book. The characters and their issues, insecurities and triumphs are so well drawn, and I was with each of them for the entirety of their journeys. The pages are filled with such gorgeous descriptive writing and rich emotion. I devoured it and am now a firm Hilary Tailor fan.