Amelia Grant, a young actress is at a crossroads. She has left her ex-boyfriend after catching him in bed with his costar. Her manager gets her a wonderful role, playing romance author, Gloria Diamond in her biopic. The story is her own tragic love story that was the basis of her first book. To prepare for the role, she’ll spend a week with Gloria at her secluded Washington estate. Once she arrives she is not happy, Gloria is cold, rude and doesn't want to answer questions or let her see her work etc. How will she learn about Gloria? When she meets her son, Will, she and Will begin to dig into Gloria's past, as he can't remember a lot except that his mother and father fought a lot, not the grand romance in her book. As they learn about Gloria, they learn secrets that will tie Amelia to Gloria. This is a dual timeline story with Amelia in the present and Gloria in the past. As the book unfolds, we see how these two tie together.

I enjoy books with dual-timelines and I have to say that I liked both of them equally. Gloria had a lot of secrets that are gradually revealed as the story moves forward. I did like Amelia's and Will's relationship, although it seemed to move quickly. I felt bad for Will, not remembering much from his past, but did he block it out intentionally. I didn't like Gloria much. I thought she was unnecessarily rude and antagonistic. As her story is shared, I can see why she was against true love, but I still thought she was harsh. I don't want to say much more about the story, because you need to read it to see how it all comes together. I did enjoy this story and recommend it to those who enjoy family secrets, secret romance and more.

I went into this book, assuming that it would have the same vibe as a layne Fargo book, but I was wrong this book was just OK. I did like the mystery element but overall it kind of fell flat from my expectations.

An actress signed at the last minute to star in the biopic of a famous romance author heads to the author’s home just before filming begins to become more familiar with her subject. She’s met with an inexplicably frosty reception there.

Told through actress Amelia’s point-of-view with flashbacks from the author Gloria’s past, the story has multiple mystery elements and touches of romance.

The overall mystery that Amelia needs to crack is who Gloria truly is behind her public persona and why her memoir feels more fictional than factual.

For the most part, I enjoyed this one. Go in understanding that Gloria’s married life wasn’t all sunshine, diamonds, and roses, which means some of the scenes may be tough to read. I liked Amelia’s romance arc and some of the revelations—even the ones I saw coming—but multiple characters felt one-dimensional to me.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Harlequin Trade Publishing. All review opinions are my own.

Fans of Liane Moriarty and Taylor Jenkins Reid will be gripped by Jillian Cantor’s latest novel, The Greatest Lie of All.

Amelia Grant is an actress with big dreams. However, regardless of how hard she tries, she feels as if she will never get that one big break that will propel her to stardom. After a series of knockbacks, Amelia cannot believe her luck when she is offered the role of a lifetime: to star in the biopic of world-renowned romance author Gloria Diamond, who has used her tragic life story as inspiration for her fiction. To prepare for her role, Amelia has to spend a week with the writer at her secluded Washington estate. Amelia vows not to squander this opportunity and to make her mother proud. But is she ready for what she is about to discover about the real woman behind the legend that is Gloria Diamond?

When she meets Gloria, Amelia is disappointed by how distant, aloof and disrespectful the woman idolized and loved by millions really is. Gloria is rude and unavailable to Amelia and the actress wonders whether she should just go back to Los Angeles. However, Gloria’s handsome son Will convinces her to stick around. As Amelia begins to look deeper into Gloria’s life she stumbles upon a secret that has her wondering just how far this ambitious writer was determined to go in her determination to reach the top.

As she keeps delving into Gloria’s past, more shocking secrets come to light leading Amelia to wonder who is the real Gloria Diamond? And will getting too close to the truth about the romance writer’s life lead to Amelia losing everything?

A juicy, unpredictable and addictive read, The Greatest Lie of All by Jillian Cantor blends secrets, deception and scandal in one irresistible page-turner that readers will find difficult to put down. A compelling tale about dangerous lies, devastating decisions and impossible choices, The Greatest Lie of All by Jillian Cantor is just crying out for a screen adaptation.

The Greatest Lie of All is a book about Amelia Grant, an actress, who has just lost her mother and broken up with her long term boyfriend. She decides to take an acting job portraying the author Gloria Diamond in the movie about her life. Amelia moves in with Gloria for a few days to learn the “real” Gloria so she can portray her accurately. Nothing appears to be how Gloria really is in real life which is opposite of what she wrote in her books. There are a few twists and turns and the book keeps you in suspense until the end.

After the sudden passing of her mother and breaking up with her long-time boyfriend, when Amelia Grant is cast to play Gloria Diamond, a best-selling romance author, in her biopic, she thinks her life is finally getting back on track. But after moving into Gloria's secluded house in the woods, Amelia starts to think that maybe there's something not quite right about Gloria and the story she's told the world. But Amelia could never guess how Gloria's true-life story coincides with her own in this mystery.

I really enjoyed the character development in this book. While I couldn't quite get a feel for Gloria, I loved Amelia's character. Her pain about both her mother and ex-boyfriend were relatable and heartbreaking. And the flashbacks slowly revealing Gloria's past was compelling and kept me turning the pages. I really liked the romance waved throughout the book, both in the past and present and the storyline kept me guessing until the end. I flew through this book and really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this, and honestly did not expect it to go quite where it did! A book about an author and an actress, and the threads connecting them and their stories over decades. There’s a solid romance subplot (more in the present than past, but it’s there in both!), and really interesting character growth for both main characters. It’s told primarily through dual timelines, with actress Amelia Grant starring in the Gloria Diamond biopic, and Gloria Diamond as she lives the life that led to her success as a romance author. All while Amelia falls for Gloria’s son. It’s a bit of a mystery, a bit of two love stories, and mostly the story of two very ambitious young women trying to find their places and purposes in the world. Fiction and fact intertwine in a search to discover the truth. I had a fun time reading it even as it feels more like something my mom would pick up than me, and I think it’s worth the read if it sounds interesting!

“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.

I loved the book Beautiful Little Fools by this author, so I've been looking forward to this book. I loved the characters in this story! Gloria's story has many layers and I loved how it unfolded. Annie is a great young actress too and she is playing Gloria's character in a movie. The Hollywood aspect, but also the flashbacks are so well done and so well intertwined that I couldn't stop reading!

Amelia Grant is a young starlet in Hollywood who is given the role that will make her famous. She is to star in a biopic about the glamorous and very famous romance novelist, Gloria Diamond. The biopic is based on Gloria’s memoir and as part of her contract, Amelia is to go to Gloria’s house in Seattle to meet her and get to know her before filming starts. However when Amelia gets to her house she finds that Gloria’s is rude, cold and uncooperative. Amelia’s mother recently died and she loved Gloria’s books and had all of them on her bookshelf so Amelia couldn’t wait to meet Gloria and tell her how much her mother loved her books but Gloria is nothing like she thought she would be.

Filming will start soon and Amelia is becoming increasingly nervous about it. How can she accurately portray Gloria in the film if Gloria keeps shutting her out? The story starts in the present and then flashes back to the past as Amelia slowly uncovers some disturbing and confusing secrets about love, lies and betrayal.

The Greatest Lie of All was a page turner for me. If you enjoy novels with a mix of mystery, romance and family secrets you will be drawn into this book just as I was.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

Courtesy of Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Greatest Lie of All by Jillian Cantor. This novel swings between present day and flashbacks, each section revealing more about the romance fiction writer and her earlier years, and her connection to the young starlet about to portray her in a biopic. I found the characters interesting and multi layered, and the concept of writing fiction as truth resonated. This was a compelling story, kept me reading, and had me surprised at the outcome!

A mix of mystery, history, romance and family drama, The Greatest Lie of All asks readers whether we can ever create our own truths—and then slowly untangles truth from lie. Though one of the main characters is far more likable than the other (it won't be hard to guess which), both are compelling and complex characters. This one will appeal to readers who have ever wondered what their idols are really like.

At the start of this novel, actress Amelia has been cast as a last minute replacement to star as bestselling author Gloria Diamond in a biopic based on Gloria’s memoir. As a method actress, Amelia wants to meet Gloria, so she is invited ti spend a few days staying with her before the movie shoot begins, but she just can’t get a handle on her, though she does find Gloria’s adult son intriguing. Interspersed are chapters from the perspective of Gloria (then known as Mare), from her time in college in the early 1980s through adulthood, and they don’t seem to match up at all with her biography.

I really enjoyed Amelia’s part of the story, but found Gloria/Mare a frustrating character. And I felt that while there were some developments in the books I didn’t see coming, there were other things that just felt a little contrived just to move the plot a long. Overall I guess I’d say I enjoyed it but wouldn’t tell anyone it’s a must read.

This is the third book I’ve read by Jillian Cantor, and each one has been totally different - a Great Gatsby retelling from the perspective of the female characters, a modern day thriller-y retelling of Rebecca, and now this contemporary novel that as far as I know is not a retelling of anything. I definitely enjoyed it, but it’s going to also be the third book of hers I rate 3.75 stars, because I just never quite love her books, even though I enjoy them enough to keep reading them.

The Greatest Lie Of All is a story about a celebrated romance novelist, Gloria, and a struggling actress, Amelia, who are both trying to navigate the uncertainty of life while keeping their secrets, desires and complicated relationship all from the prying eyes of others. Amelia Grant find herself at the crossroads of life due to her career being in shambles and her personal life scarred by a cheating ex-boyfriend. She is given the opportunity to start as Gloria in a movie about the author and her life and she grabs on to it. This is her chance to escape Los Angeles and immerse herself in the world of a famous author. Gloria however is shrouded in mystery, a comes off cold and unapproachable. But as Amelia spends time with her she begins to admire her while also learning of her own personal struggles in life. Even though at times their relationship has tension and challenges Jill Cantor chooses to write it in a way that only adds depth and likability to the characters. Gloria's son, Will, also add a bit of romance to the book, due to the fact that the chemistry between Will and Amelia seems sweet yet complicated. However, Amelia learns of Gloria's secret past and it challenges what she thought she knew about her new mentor. Amelia is forced to face her own demons and what she is willing to do for the truth. The Greatest Lie of All is my first book by Jill Cantor and I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what else she comes up with. If you are a fan of contemporary romance or anyone who has ever faced the challenges of reaching for their dreams while juggling difficult relationships you need to read this book.

Actress Amelia Grant needs a career (and life) boost which is the perfect time for her to get the role of Gloria Diamond, the most famous romance writer (and her mom's favorite writer) in her biopic. Before filming begins, Amelia stays at Gloria's house to try and get to know her on a deeper level and learn about Gloria's perfect marriage that her books are based on. Unfortunately, Gloria is rude and completely unhelpful in sharing any of her personality or life with Amelia, fortunately her handsome son Will is much more forthcoming. As the two dig into Gloria's past they realize that it is not all what it seems and it may be risky to uncover the whole truth.

I really enjoyed this one, a bit more than the last one I read from the author (even though the last was a retelling of one of my favorite novels, Rebecca). I connected to these characters more and really wanted to know how the story would unfold. The novel is told in two time periods and through a few POVs and I think it worked really well. I did figure out the twist (it wasn't hard) but I still wanted to finish and see how the characters progressed in their discovery.

Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for the ARC to review

This is a beautiful story of friendships, mothers and daughters, and most of all love!!!!!!!!!! It is definitely one for the ages and one that you will fall in love with as I did.

Jillian Cantor delivers an enthralling and thought-provoking novel in The Greatest Lie of All, seamlessly blending historical intrigue with an emotionally resonant narrative. This story masterfully explores themes of deception, ambition, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets.

The characters are richly drawn, particularly the protagonist, whose internal struggles and determination create a compelling and relatable journey. Cantor’s prose is elegant yet accessible, and her meticulous attention to historical detail adds depth and authenticity to the setting.

The plot is intricately crafted, with twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Cantor skillfully balances suspense with emotional depth, making this a book that is as gripping as it is moving.

I highly recommend The Greatest Lie of All to fans of historical fiction and literary thrillers. It’s a testament to Jillian Cantor’s storytelling prowess, and I’m eagerly looking forward to her next work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this exceptional novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author for a free eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Amelia Grant is offered the opportunity of a lifetime that will see her starring in a biopic about the popular romance author Gloria Diamond. To prepare for the role, she spends a week with Gloria at her secluded Washington home. When Amelia stumbles upon a secret from Gloria’s past, she realizes Gloria’s life story in her novel may not be as true as Gloria tried to sell it. Amelia then has to decide how to deal with what she discovers, both from a professional and a personal life perspective.

I was expecting more from this novel but was left disappointed. The novel alternates perspectives - between Amelia, Mare (Gloria's real name) and one or two other characters. While I liked Mare's chapters more, I disliked Gloria as a character towards the end of the novel as some communication and maturity on her part would have resolved a lot of the issues. This really affected my enjoyment of the novel as it made Gloria seem very one-dimensional. The "twists" were also very predictable.

While the novel is an easy and quick read, it felt very surface-level to me which resulted in me not enjoying the book as much.

This is a really appealing novel. The story is engaging and the characters are interesting. It has a lot of exciting twists and turns and is not too predictable Plus, it has a mostly satisfying ending where everything that has come before makes sense which is not always the case. There is also some bittersweet romance and some touching moments of friendship including a very sweet friendship between two young children. The story reminds us of how fragile life is and how everything can change in an instant and thus, how important it is to appreciate what we have when we have it.

I will say I enjoyed watching this whole story unfold. I liked all the characters (yes, even Gloria), and I am a sucker for a dual-timeline story.

I also love a good mystery.

One question I'm anticipating is: This book is being compared to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo--is it like that novel? Well, not exactly. But in some ways it's similar in that there are so many secrets!

I wasn't sure this "greatest lie of all" would be a surprise, but it was. I had an inkling, but not the whole story. If you like to be surprised, this is a great novel to choose.

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Thank you to the publisher and the author for an eARC of this novel for review. All thoughts are my own.