Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin/HTP the Hive for the arc.

This was a fantastic novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoyed The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book had everything. Drama, Mystery. Suspense. Romance, and more. I especially loved the mystery element of this book. I was honestly hooked from the very first page, and I just had to know how the story was going to end. I was actually surprised about how the book ended as well, as the ending was different than I predicted it to be....which I think is a good thing?!

Additionally if you enjoy audiobooks, you may want to check out the audiobook version of this book which is narrated by the fabulous Karissa Vacker and Cassandra Campbell!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HTP the Hive for the arc.

Jillian Cantor is a great writer and The Greatest Lie of All is an entertaining novel. The plot revolves around Amelia, a young actress who is trying to get her life back on track. Amelia's mother died suddenly and her long time boyfriend cheated on her. Amelia takes on the role of celebrated author. Gloria Diamond in a biopic. Amelia lives with Gloria for a few days to learn more about her, but Gloria is cagey and uncooperative.
Amelia finds holes in Gloria's life story that she doesn't understand. Fortunately Gloria's son steps in to help Amelia. The novel is suspenseful and Cantor's characters are interesting. This novel should definitely be added to your TBR list.

Actress Amelia Grant is offered the opportunity of a lifetime: to star in a biopic about the world-renowned romance author Gloria Diamond, who used her own tragic love story as inspiration for her bestselling books. To prepare for the role, she’ll spend a week with Gloria at her secluded Washington estate. Amelia is disheartened to discover that Gloria is cold, verging on rude and mostly unavailable. If not for Gloria’s handsome son Will, the visit might be a complete waste of her time. When Amelia stumbles upon a secret from Gloria’s past, she realizes Gloria’s life story is more fiction than fact. And as the movie’s filming date draws nearer, Amelia must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to uncover the truth.

This author's books are always hit or miss with miss with me, and this one was definitely a miss. I just could not get invested in any of of the characters and the book was a slow burn for the entire book. I am rounding this up to a 3, and hoping that I will enjoy her next book more fully.

Actress Amelia Grant has just lost her mother. After a 10-year relationship, she broke up with her actor boyfriend after she found him in bed with his co-star. Fortunately, she is offered the starring role in a film about the life of her late mother's favorite author, the Queen of Romance novels, Gloria Diamond. To prepare for the role, Amelia spends a few days at Gloria's Seattle home to gain insight and inspiration. The biopic focuses on Gloria's life with her husband George, who tragically died young. This loss of her great love became the basis of everything she would write about. When Amelia meets Gloria's son Will, a charming lawyer, a friendship develops, and it becomes apparent that the story Gloria has been telling of her life is more fiction than fact. There is a darker truth behind Mare, Gloria's real name, and Amelia is determined to uncover it.

Jillian Cantor's The Greatest Lie of All combines mystery, drama, and some romance. The chapters alternate between the present and the past, exploring Mare's college years and her early days of married life and motherhood. This fast-paced, well-written, juicy book is highly engaging. All wrapped up in a beautiful book cover. I found it thoroughly entertaining.

4.25 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Jillian Cantor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The description intrigued me and to be honest the cover was different from many books I read.

Amelia loses her mom and her long time boyfriend and needs a change. A last minute leading role in a biopic is just what she needs. Until she meets Gloria Diamond and starts to realize there is more to her story than what has been told.

This book was interesting. There were a number of timelines, POVs and storylines going on between several points in the past, the present and researching the past.

This was a pro and con for me - every time there was momentum in a storyline, it would switch. It was a bit of a bummer but also difficult to not keep reading to get back to the other story line.

I cannot write a review without mentioning a parallel to Evelyn Hugo - there are differences of course and this book stands on its own two feet but there are similarities.

Its a little bit of everything...

Amelia is a wannabe startlet, was just cheated on by her boyfriend. She gets a plum part and for some reason is off to spend time with the real author, Gloria, whom she's playing. That's a very far stretch. Just saying. Gloria is not receptive and doesn't want Amelia there. Her son Will is pretty chill and the opposite of his prickly mother.
There's secrets and fabrications. Cuz, that's Hollywood, people. An illusion.

A quick paced, fascinating story with a touch of Hollywood glamour and lots of real life intrigue. The complications of love and friendship are highlighted. I love Jillian Cantor's writing style, and it's worked well in both her historical fiction and contemporary writing.

“Sometimes the beginning of everything sneaks up on you when you least expect it.”

Actress Amelia Grant is reeling from the death of her mother and betrayal by her longtime boyfriend when she is offered the role of a lifetime - starring in a biopic about the reclusive romance author Gloria Diamond. To prepare for the role, she arranged to spend a week with the the author. There’s only one problem - Ms. Diamond is unpleasant and uncooperative. She’s also untruthful. Her entire career is built on a lie.

Jillian Cantor allows Gloria’s story to unfold through recollections. Told via multiple perspectives and across timelines, Gloria’s secrets are threatened to be revealed and lives will be affected.

Fans of Evelyn Hugo will get similar vibes from this book. There’s a mystery at the heart of the story entwined with love, loss, and second chances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

“The Greatest Lie of All” is the story of Amelia, an up and coming actress who is hired to play the part of Gloria Diamond, a famous romance author, in a movie about Gloria’s life. Seems straightforward, right? As Amelia starts to get to know Gloria in preparation for the movie, though, she starts to realize all is not as it seems with Gloria.

It’s hard to categorize this book or figure out how to describe it or what to liken it to – it’s got slight shades of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”, “Great Circle”, and “Did You Hear About Kitty Carr?” to it so fans of those may enjoy this. Although I’d say it doesn’t have the same level of character development as those books so I wasn’t really invested in the same way. Also, it was a little predictable at times, although I definitely didn’t guess what I’d describe as the final twist.

This is the second book I’ve read by Jillian Cantor and it did leave me wanting to read more by her. I like that I can’t quite pin down her style.

All in all this was an enjoyable and fast pace read and I’d recommend it to fans of the books I’d mentioned earlier!

Amelia has the lead part in a movie featuring her Mom’s favorite author. She’s headed to the author’s house prior to filming to get some sense of her.
I thought this was a really good book. It’s full of secrets, surprises and heart breaking moments. You won’t be able to put it down

Struggling actress Amelia Grant is offered the chance of a lifetime. She's going to spend a week with the iconic writer Gloria Diamond, a woman with a dazzling past and a fascinating entourage. But Ameila is struck by the icy demeanor of Ms. Diamond and wonders why she is so guarded. Is she a chameleon, ready to change into whatever suits the moment, or she is a sensitive soul who has been bruised by life experiences? Amelia is determined to find the secret that unlocks Ms. Diamond's personality and it may be the surprise of her life. Amelia will have to unravel fiction from fact in this engrossing story. High recommend.

Gloria's got a secret. This moves back and forth in time to tell the real story of Gloria, whose true name is Mare and George, her husband who she idealized. Amelia, an actress who is meant to play her in a film about the writer's life finds Gloria to be not at all how she conveys when they actually meet and she's disappointed. But then she meets Gloria's son Will, who is a good egg but their nascent romance is cut short. Or is it? What is the connection between Gloria and Amelia's mother? No spoilers from. This pops along quickly and if the end is a little discordant, well it's still a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun one.

Whoever said diamonds are a girls best friend never met Gloria Diamond - a bestselling romance novelist with thirty novels on her shelf and a reputation for happy endings. In reality Gloria lives an isolated lonely existence bossing her assistant around and desperately hanging on to her grown son’s dwindling adoration. When Amelia, a pretty, semi-successful actress is offered the lead in Gloria’s biopic, she jumps at the opportunity to escape Los Angeles. The unexpected loss of her mother and very public breakup with Jase - a too handsome actor and rising star - has become more than she can handle. In preparation for the role Amelia heads to Washington State to spend a few days with Gloria prior to filming. A Method actress, Amelia wants to capture the essence of what makes Gloria tick. Upon arrival Amelia immediately senses a coldness she cannot understand. The adoring assistant tries to remain neutral but it appears the only one who can reveal the truth about Gloria is her son. Will is a kind, charming lawyer who doesn’t fawn over Hollywood actresses and doesn’t even watch television. As Will and Amelia get closer and she learns about Gloria’s past, too many things don’t add up. A stack of old photos sends the couple on a goose chase they never expected as they discover the fine line between fiction and the truth. Quick, easy read filled with suspense and a great cast of characters. Always love a good book in a book with a twist!

Amelia is a young actress, given a starring role in a movie about much loved romance writer Gloria Diamond. To do the part justice, Amelia is to live with Gloria for a week before filming starts. Things do not go as planned. Gloria is very cold, not forthcoming, and definitely hiding something. As the story unfolds, secrets are uncovered that will challenge everything Amelia knows and question the story that Gloria has weaved.

Thanks to a fellow Bookstagrammer for her early review. Her reference to Evelyn Hugo vibes, which is one of my favorite books, made me jump to request. Thoroughly enjoyable book that held my attention from the first chapter. I love dual timeline books and Cantor did a wonderful job marrying the two and slowly revealing the holes in Gloria’s story and the surprising connection between the two main characters. Mystery slowly unravels which keeps the reader turning the pages until it’s fulfilling conclusion. Romance takes a backseat to mystery and drama. This is my first book by Ms. Cantor and I look forward to reading her previous books.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row Books for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Amelia is an actress whose life has fallen apart. Her mother died suddenly and her boyfriend cheated on her. So when she is offered the lead in a biopic about a famous romance writer, she believes her luck is changing. While shadowing the writer she believes that the stories of her life are lies. How can she play this role and why was she chosen for the part?

This story is full of secrets and lies. The author Gloria Diamond's version of her life and love story does not ring true. Sometimes the things we don't know about someone can hurt us? This is a quick read and you will be glued to the page to see what lie is revealed next. It definitely was a good read.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #JillianCantor, and #ParkRow for a copy of this book.
#TheGreatestLieofAll

This is a captivating read about love, friendship, and family, with major Evelyn Hugo vibes. The mysterious connection between the FMC (Amelia Grand) and Gloria Diamond, the aging romance novelist she’s portraying in a biopic, instantly hooked me.

I love the alternating timelines and Jillian Cantor's ability to give us just enough at each chapter to keep us wanting more.

For me, though, I found Mare’s character to be EXTREMELY ANNOYING on so many levels. She makes weird decisions and becomes entitled at her age. Thankfully, Amelia and Will make up for Mare’s character shortcomings.

In the end, the novel was a solid 3 Stars. The pacing was good enough, and the dual POVs and will-they-won't-they relationship between Mare and Max had me staying up late to find out what happened. The ending felt rushed, and I hated how many of the problems could've been solved if the characters just talked to one another instead of keeping quiet, but I guess we wouldn't have a book if they did.

Overall, I had a good experience reading this book.

I loved this book. Jillian Cantor has written a novel full of mystery and intrigue. It is a story about friendship, secrets, lies, love, and betrayal. It is so well written and kept me captivated through every single page. There are several likeable characters, Amelia, Will and Bess, and a couple, Gloria Diamond and George, not very so likable. I have read and loved many of Jillian Cantor’s previous books, mostly historical fiction novels, and she is now on her way to becoming a top-notch author of mystery, suspense, and thriller novels. I highly recommend The Greatest Lie of All.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy!

WARNING: it's another unpopular opinion!!

I really enjoyed my first experience with Jillian Cantor's writing last year, and I've been meaning to read more of her work ever since. The premise of this newest story kind of gave me Evelyn Hugo vibes, and I couldn't resist adding it to my shelves... Unfortunately, I ended up being an outlier once again and this story didn't quite hit the mark for me. I'm suspecting this is most likely either because my reading mood has been particularly fickle lately or because this story simply wasn't a good fit for me though.

Don't get me wrong, the premise is without doubt intriguing and I particularly liked the mix of different genres incorporated into the plot. Historical fiction, contemporary, romance, mystery, drama... The Greatest Lie Of All has it all, and as a result offers us a multi-faceted story. The plot uses a dual timeline structure as well as multiple POVs, switching between the present and the upcoming movie and many flashbacks to the past to help learn more about Gloria's life. Dual timelines can go both ways for me, and I think in this case the flashbacks slowed down the pace a bit too much for me personally.

I think part of the reason that I wasn't as invested in the story had a lot to do with the fact that I somehow struggled to connect to the characters. I didn't feel that they were fleshed out enough or there were at least too many cliches involved, and as a result I wasn't really all that interested in discovering the truth about Gloria's past. The fact that certain twists were quite obvious didn't really help either... True, I didn't see the full truth coming, but I'm not sure it was all that satisfying in the end. Will is probably the easiest to like, although some of his actions could be quite frustrating.

Another reason why The Greatest Lie Of All simply wasn't a good fit for me: the fact that there is a lot of active cheating going on especially in the flashbacks. Cheating is a major pet peeve for me and having so much focus on this topic instantly makes me enjoy any story and its characters a lot less. I wasn't a fan of how the domestic abuse topic was incorporated into the plot either... Nor the fact that so many conflicts could have been prevented by just simply putting things out in the open. Oh yes, there is a LOT of drama going on during most of the plot! Certainly an overdose for me, but again this is probably just a personal reaction.

The Greatest Lie Of All has been receiving a lot of high ratings so far, so definitely take my review with a grain of salt if you think this story could be for you... I'm just putting my two cents out there in case there are others out there who ended up with mixed thoughts.

The Greatest Lie of All by Jillian Cantor was such an emotional and captivating read. The storyline was compelling, and the author did a great job weaving together complex emotions and relationships. While I enjoyed the twists and the depth of the characters, there were moments when the pacing felt a little off, but it didn’t take away from the overall impact of the story.

It left me thinking long after I turned the last page, and for that, I gave it 4 stars—a heartfelt and memorable read.

Holy cow did I devour this novel! I was hooked by the first line and then it just kept reeling me in. I wasn’t sure why Gloria/Mare was so rude to Amelia, I mean she could have said no to having her stay with her. What unwinds is that fiction is sometimes better than the truth, when the truth is a lot of heartbreak.