Never Tell A Lie

I absolutely love this book. It’s a perfectly put together story with great characters. I highly recommend it, a really entertaining read.

Mary Wilson is trying to get over a bad marriage by concentrating on raising her son, but when she stumbles across information that makes her doubt her very own identity, she’s badly shaken. A class reunion seems like a good way to take a night off from her worries and she soon chums up with old schoolmate, April. The two become fast friends, even though Mary isn’t sure she really remembers April from school. But is April who she really appears to be? Or has Mary, once again, put her trust in the wrong person? There aren’t a lot of surprises in this domestic thriller, but readers will enjoy the storyline

After a tumultuous marriage, Mary Wilson is happy in her uncomplicated life, focusing on her twelve-year-old son. She’s always been content with her little family—but then she finds an old postcard that throws her whole past into question…

When an invitation arrives for her high school reunion, Mary jumps at the chance of a distraction from the shock discovery, and meeting her old classmate April feels like a gift. Despite barely remembering April, Mary throws herself into the new friendship and finds her previously quiet social life reinvigorated.

But as the bonds between them are forged, Mary finds herself drawn further and further into April’s life and marriage, increasingly fearing that everything is not as perfect as it seems. Is her own painful past clouding her judgement, or is Mary right to suspect that the people she trusts most are the ones with the most to hide?
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me an advanced copy.

“Never Tell a Lie” by Gail Schimmel begins with two friends going to their 20th school reunion. Both end up making connections with former classmates - and that’s where things start taking off. The main character is Mary Wilson, who has an enjoyable life - raising her son by herself, doing freelance writing gigs, keeping tabs on her wonderful father, and keeping in touch with her bestie Stacy. But between the reunion and helping her father clean out some shelves, Mary’s life becomes more tangled than she ever expected.

This is a difficult book for me to review because I cannot say that I liked it, but I never disliked it enough to feel like I was close to not finishing it. Mary has a lot of baggage, and while for the most part she’s consistent in her thoughts/actions, some of her actions seemed inconsistent (such as telling someone to not contact her again, and then the next day wondering why she hadn’t been contacted); her son is having difficulties at school, but the reader never learns why; she reunites with a family member and says she’s hesitant about the relationship, but then (seemingly) a chapter later all hesitancy is gone. Also, one of my big pet peeves is unreliable characters - and April (former classmate at the reunion) and Leo (April’s husband) are two of the largest. Even at the end, I’m still not convinced that April’s version of everything is the true version (and, on that note, I saw the ending scene between Leo and Mary coming from a mile away - great foreshadowing from Ms. Schimmel). So, I think it’s a fair summary to say that while this book was interesting and engaging, it wasn’t the book for me, though I did like reading a book set in South Africa (braais!). I do feel compelled to add, though, that a book focusing on Steve, Joshua, and Stacy I might read as I found those characters reliable and entertaining (and consistent!).

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review…family secrets…intrigue…mystery…love…lies and deceit hurt those loved ones…finding a long lost relative…caring for family members…this author has woven a story that is intriguing and is a good read…the characters come alive on the pages and are memorable after the book is finished.

Good book! Wow! Lots of twists and turns in this one! This book had suspense, intrigue, nd a crazy storyline! And a bit of a who done it! It was a very interesting story! I definitely recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Mary is a widow with a son and a loving, helpful father, living in Johannesburg. When she gets an invitation to go to her 20-year high school reunion she and her best friend decide to go and end up having a great time. She reconnects with a woman who she never really hung out with at school and they become fast friends. They meet often and slowly Mary suspects all is not well with her friend's marriage. She's drawn in more and more until it becomes a bit of a nightmare. Are her friend and her two children in danger from the father/husband?
I really liked Mary and thoroughly enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book. But towards the end I had to suspend my belief a bit, it felt unrealistic and hurried and was slightly disappointed. Nevertheless I enjoyed it enough to order one of her earlier books.
A good read that I definitely recommend.

Quietly Simmering Suspense…
Quietly simmering suspense in this nicely crafted domestic drama where Mary Wilson discovers that the grass is not always greener in other peoples lives and when the past comes knocking on her door has she done the right thing by inviting it in? With an interesting premise, convincing narratives and a plot populated with a credible cast this is a solid, and engaging read.

This was such a compelling and gripping read that I could not put down. It was so well written with good charcaters and a believeable storyline that makes it clear that Gail Schimmel has a background in law. I really enjoyed it

Never Tell a Lie is a domestic suspense novel set in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mary is a widow raising her son with the help of her dad. On a whim, she decides to go to her high school reunion even though she doesn’t really keep in touch with anyone except her good friend Stacy. She reconnects with April, who she doesn’t actually remember, but can’t tell her that. During their time at school, April had some sort of incident but Mary doesn’t know all the details, although April assumes she does. They quickly become intertwined in each other’s lives—double dates and play dates with kids. As they grow closer, Mary isn’t sure exactly what is going on with April and her husband Leo, but she knows it can’t be good.
and she wonders if she really knows April and if it has something to do with what happened when they were in school. The story moves along with a few elements of drama and then just kind of rapidly concludes. There are not a lot of thrills but there is some build up and a lot of questions about exactly what is going on. Can’t say too much without giving away a critical plot point. I do like that it is told from one point of view in a linear fashion with no flashbacks— rare these days!

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 3.5 stars.

Wow!!!! That’s all I can say. This was one of my favorite books. I was confused until the very end. By confused I mean, I wasn’t sure which character was lying. Great read!!! Great writing.

3.5 stars ⭐️

Never Tell A Lie was actually an enjoyable easy read. I enjoyed getting to know the main character Mary and how she opened up more about herself as the story went on, for instance with the truth of how Travis really was.

The characters all went well together at the reunion which got me more invested in the story as I thought the lying would be focusing on her mother and father, but then it goes in a different direction. AND THEN even more twisty and surprising as I read on. I thought I worked out the truth and how the story was going to go BUT heck no and that really did took me by surprise. I really enjoyed reading this and was really pleased that It ended in a different way than I thought it was going to,

Absolutely fantastic book. The twists and turns were fantastic and I fell for each one. Mary is a loveable character and I grew to really like her. As I said the story unfolded so did she. She goes through some issues which are common for many people and it is written simply but beautifully. I couldn't put thisbook down and when I glanced and saw that I was at 95% I was sad. Its one of those books that stays with you. The characters for Leo and April are incredibly well written too. Brilliant, thank you for letting me read it.

3/5 stars
i really don't know how to feel about this book.. i didn't love it, but i also didn't hate it

it took me a while to finish because i didn't want to keep going at certain points. it wasn't the writing, i thought that was just fine. the problem was with the main character Mary. i just didn't understand her

one positive thing about this book: you are left wondering who the real victim is the whole way through and that was enough to keep me hooked

One never knows when secrets are held how they can determine our life path and how things could have been different so much different. Mary Wilson has been raised by a single parent and loves her dad very much but wonders a lot about her mother who was killed and what her relationship with her would have been like.
Mary attends a high school reunion and past friendships take on a new light. These lead to many eventful events happening and life is about to change. This is a strong story that I enjoyed right up until the end except for one thing. I really liked Mary's character throughout the book, she has great qualities and is someone you could count on if required. Then I felt the author spoilt the story near the end where Mary does something that I did not think was true to her character. Up until this point I would have given it 5 stars but this made me reduce them to four. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I do love these type of domestic noirs, where the storyline is not so far fetched that you find yourself completely drawn in and gripped by the characters because this could really happen and because the characters are so complex and well written, you do find yourself rooting for the victim to get the upper hand..... of course..... its just not easy to always tell who that person is! Really enjoyable read

One of my most reads for 2021

This was such an interesting book, you didn't know who to believe and it really challenged your perceptions. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to read this book and thank the publishers and netgalley.

I read this in one setting as I needed to know how the story would pan out and who was in the right - the ending was just brilliant.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but this in no way influenced my review.

Thank you Netgalley and Author Gail Schimmel for this ARC.

It took me a while to get into the story because the writing was choppy and jumpy and the main character rubbed me the wrong way. But the intrigue of the upcoming high school reunion she was attending and what would happen there kept me reading. It got more interesting when she reconnected with an old friend and they began to grow closer and closer with some twists and turns.

All in all, this was a good read, however, I noticed several holes in the plot--mainly with the main character. I also wanted more red herrings and surprising twists leading up to the explosive ending.

3.5 rounded up
It took a little bit to get into but once I did, I was hooked. I loved Mary, such a great character. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

This is the first time I have read a book in the South African setting and the plot sounded intrigued to me so I was so happy when I got this as the ARC.

Plot:- Mary Wilson has been living happily with her twelve year old son Django after a tumultuous marriage. She gets invited to a twenty year old high school reunion where she reconnects with many including a woman named April. Mary doesn't have any memories of April but the two become best friends. And soon, she finds that April is living a life of secret and lies.

Writing:- The story is told from the perspectives of Mary. The story talks mainly about the victims of domestic abuse and the consequences it has on the victims. Mary herself was a victim of domestic abuse and so is April so I give five stars to the author for addressing such an issue. The writing was spot on. Initially, the beginning was a bit of a slow burn but gradually it got more intense with some twists along the way. However, I kind of expected the ending so the ending was nothing new. Overall, I was hooked into the story and didn't realize I finished reading the book until I came to the end!

Characters:- April and Mary are victims of abuse and so I do feel sympathy towards their characters. I do like Mary having a strong father-daughter relationship with her father and also mother son relationship with Django.

Overall:- this was a good thriller that will keep you hooked into the story--worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

An intriguing book which explores many themes, including friendship, identity, relationships and motherhood. It's twisty and suspenseful as you're working out who to trust. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
Only reluctantly, Mary decides to attend her school reunion. But somehow she is feeling an instant connection to April, a woman she hardly remembers. As the two women grow closer over the weeks, Mary, who has been an abused wife before her husband died, notices that something in April's picture-perfect marriage is terribly wrong. But why does no one else see the abuser in charming Leo? And what did really happen at school camp, and why does April keep mentioning one certain incident?

My opinion:
You guys, this book was AWESOME! It leads you in one direction, only to find out you're completely wrong. Then you think you've figured it out, but nope - wrong again! But you've certainly figured it out after that twist, didn't you? Guess what? You're wrong. And I loved being led astray by the author. And even though it covers really hard topics like domestic violence, Gail Schimmel somehow managed to talk about these topics in a sensitive manner and still write a book that is straight up hilarious. I found myself laughing hysterically multiple times. It might have helped that the character of Mary was so similar to myself. Not only did I see my strengths in hers, I also got annoyed by things that annoy me about myself and found her making mistakes I could've easily made. I loved Mary, and I loved the book!

This was my first book by Gail Schimmel, and it certainly won't be my last! 😍

Parts of this book reminded me of:
- Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
- A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. It was a quick read for me and very clever because I thought I had it all figured out and of course, was wrong. Mary and the rest of the characters are likeable, except April and Leo and the woman who asks her guests to bring everything to her dinner party.

There is a separate plot involving her father, and as Mary tells us, her father is very good at keeping secrets. My first thought was that her father had something to do with the accident and I feel the author wanted to go there but pulled back at the last minute. That would have been a hell of a plot twist.

What I disliked about Mary, and consequently the last third of the book, was that she made relationship choices that made little sense, and she was aware the choices were wrong and made them anyway. It never bodes well for a book if I am shouting at the main character.

Thank you, Netgalley.

Never Tell A Lie is a slow burn suspense fiction set in the beautiful South Africa and it was a smooth read for me.

When Mary decides to attend her uni reunion with her other classmate she's thrilled to meet her old mates, although not too keen on it. Although, when she meets Alice at the reunion, she vaguely remembers spending any time with her at the uni. But Alice remembers something plausible between then, so it has to be true. Soon, these two start spending time with each other. Coffee meetings become play dates and soon they're double dating as couples. It gets weird when Mary starts noticing troubles in the so called perfect marriage of her new bff and her doubts and suspicions start rising above the brim. Is Alice who she says she is? Does she know the other woman really?


There's tension rising right from chapter one and you can feel it creep under the skin as the story progresses which is done in a slightly slower pace. But I really liked the crisp chapters and Mary's character was so relatable that I didn't mind the slow burn really. It's what I call a bingeable popcorn read with plenty of twists thrown here and there to entertain the reader.

“We check their privilege for them, because they don’t check it themselves.”

This book was very well written. Not much happened in the beginning, but it keeps you engaged and form a connection to the characters. I found some of it a little too smooth and wish there was more substance to her family. I did not like Mary. She is an unreliable and unconcerned friend. She complains that Stacey never cares about her rants, but doesn’t care about April’s rants and calls her annoying. She thinks April is dramatic and that Leo is not that bad and “no Travis”. Then contradicts herself by saying that she knows how controlling he can be and is unsure of him. She ignores obvious signs or shrugs it off completely. After April calls saying that Leo is going to kill her, she said that Leo is “better-looking than usual” She complained that April is a horrible drunk for no reason. At one point she says “I’m angry with April because she’s not as strong as I am. And I’m not sure if that’s fair.” and ALMOST jokes and says that she will hit her if she repeated herself one more time after she suspects that April is being abused. April did seem off, but I still enjoyed her character. I like Joshua, but I feel he was too easily manipulated by Leo despite his line of work. Leo really was a very charming man and easily manipulated every person in the story including myself

Overall, I was engaged through the whole thing. I do not think domestic violence is something talked about as often as it should be and I encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out. Both men and women face this on a daily basis and I pray that you never forget how strong and brave they are.

This book was not very interesting to me at all. Sorry I just couldn't finish it. Thanks net galley.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mary is a single widow with a 12 year old son. She reluctantly goes to her class reunion with her best friend. She meets up with an old classmate and the story takes off. They have a whirlwind friendship with dark secrets that reveal themselves. At the same time Mary has discovered her childhood is not what she believed it to be. She was raised by a single father, when her mother died.. or so she thought.

One thing I found a little weird was how Mary talked about her 12 year old son. It was like she was talking about a small child, but when he spoke he sounded very grown. The twists were good. They were well-thought out. I was hoping there would be a twist involving her husband's death.

The writing was so great. The way she describes her characters really painted a picture of them. Some characters were charming and drew you in. Some were deceitful. One part of the book gave me chills. Absolutely recommend!

Thank you, Netgalley for the eARC of this book. I really enjoyed it. This book comes out at the end of November.

This book tackles the hard topic of abuse and pathological lying. It is a tough topic and a deep read. I would recommend this read to anyone. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest review.

Mother Otter! 😳

I cannot believe this novel! I kept going back and forth thinking I knew and what was happening and then agreeing with what was unraveling doing I'd change my mind but fluff sakes! I was wrong AGAIN! Absolutely crazy. I really enjoyed this novel. So flippin good! I suggest going in with NO expectations and don't trust your mind. Sheesh! What a mind ride.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Release date: November 29, 2021

This is my first book by Gail Schimmel and I will definitely be reading more. Never Tell a Lie is a rather tame domestic suspense novel, but it’s engaging and I couldn’t read it fast enough. I love stories about complex friendships and complex female characters. A school reunion has main character Mary becoming best friends with old schoolmate April—even if Mary can’t actually remember April from them.

There are so many secrets wrapped up inside this novel. April has a dark past linking to an event at school; April and Leo’s marriage is abusive but the big question for a long time is who is the abuser; and Mary discovers her long dead mother isn’t actually dead.

But the big plot centres around April—Mary believes her husband is abusing her, as all the signs are there, but Leo spins a convincing tale as he tries to persuade Mary that he’s the one being abused. Given we know April has done bad things in the past, this is plausible too, and the plot evolves into this twisty narrative where we and Mary are trying to work out who is telling the truth.

Spoilers ahead: So, April’s character was so well written and developed for a long time. Leo’s character had less page-time, and so when he managed to persuade Mary to help get April sectioned in a psychiatric unit, I was surprised by how quickly that happened. And then we end up with time-jumps
Suddenly weeks have passed and Mary is on her third date with Leo—where she discovers the truth, that April was telling the truth all along. And while I like that this is a great #MeToo story showing how men can hide their abusive actions and appear charming to others, I really felt like this ending was just too rushed. It felt like it all happened too quickly, like the pacing was off. This is my only complaint about the book, and so it’s a 4.5 star read for me.

All the characters were all so well written, especially Mary’s son Django and her new boyfriend Joshua and her old friend Stacey. Even Mary’s parents felt real.

The writing is well done and sophisticated.

While I usually gravitate toward suspense novels with more action, this one still had me gripped.

Mary is a widow raising her 12-year-old son, Django. Her and her best friend Stacy reluctantly decide to go to their 20th class reunion and surprisingly have a great time. She reconnects with a bunch of old friends and one, April, that she doesn't really remember but seems to have a secret following her. April and Mary become close and Mary suspects that April is being abused by her husband. Mary is a free lance writer and the insurance from her late husband pays for Django's tuition.

I really didn't like Mary very much. She is close with her father who raised her alone since her mother died when she was two. She makes everything about herself and even though Stacy is super supportive of her she never seems to return the favors. With April she is the same, always trying to think of a way to interject her troubles into a conversation rather than really listening to what April has to say. One of her assignments is to write reviews of whiskey for a small magazine. She never tastes the whiskey and writes some pretty lame reviews. She thinks it's funny that she is pulling the wool over their eyes but I found the behavior childish.

Django seems like a good kid but really hates his name. He seems to have problems in school, perhaps bullying, but instead of getting to the bottom of it she only thinks of how she can get him out of the car so she can get about her day.

There was a little bit of a thriller element and some romance with Joshua. I found the story easy to read and the setting was in South Africa which is different for me. I didn't feel a strong sense of place though.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon UK.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This is the first Gail Schimmel book I've read and she definitely will be added to my list of must read authors. I felt that this was a very well written novel that will keep you wondering who the real victim is through out the entire book. I found myself up WAY too late into the night trying to finish it! Highly recommend!

I found this book utterly gripping and devoured it as quickly as I could. Just who is telling the truth? And who is lying? I was kept guessing right up until the end, as was the protagonist, Mary Wilson.
We begin by accompanying Mary and her great friend Stacey to their high school reunion. Both are reluctant to attend, but end up having a great time reconnecting with classmates they hadn’t seen for 20 years. Mary doesn’t really remember April from school, but the two form a bond and soon become close friends. Can April be trusted though? There’s something slightly off about her. And there were some rumours about her behaviour at a school camp all those years ago…..
Wow! I couldn’t put this down. I loved the relationships between Mary and her girlfriends, her new boyfriend, and her wonderful, charming father. Author Gail Schimmel hits just the right notes with the dialogue; it’s always thoroughly believable and utterly authentic. We gradually learn about Mary’s marriage and why she grew up without a mother.
Never Tell a Lie throws out one surprise after another. Just as I stopped reeling from one unexpected revelation I was treated to another curveball. It was both great fun and horrific. Mostly, it was really compelling as the author manipulated me into continuously second-guessing myself. I honestly didn’t know who to believe or who to trust, and kept on flip-flopping.
Apart from a novel Schimmel co-authored with Kate Sidley, under the pseudonym Katie Gayle, I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t read any of this South African author’s books. I intend to rectify that very soon.

Thank you for NetGallery for providing me with this arc for review.

I enjoyed reading this book it tackles and explores issues around domestic abuse in a realistic way, whilst having a thriller element entwined.

This is such a roller coaster ride of suspense and mind games right from the first chapter. I didn't like Mary's character, however, that's not the kind of problem I would consider when rating a book. The book was unpredictable for the most part. Although the climax was a bit predictable and rushed. Still I loved reading this book.

Never Tell A Lie by Gail Schimmel.
After a tumultuous marriage, Mary Wilson is happy in her uncomplicated life, focusing on her twelve-year-old son. She’s always been content with her little family—but then she finds an old postcard that throws her whole past into question…
A good read with good characters. Likeable story. 4*.

A book dealing with domestic abuse and it's victims.
The story of Mary and her friend April, both victims of abuse but as the plot progresses there are twists and this is where the lies come to the fore.
Narrated by Mary, the characters are believable.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC

Wow what a ride this book was. It starts with a troubled past, a school reunion and what did happen at camp? Abook that took the reader on a journey of guess who. Constantly altering who you believe and would you make the same conclusions and outcomes Mary did. From personal experience it was a hard book to decide who to velieve as both sides where well written and shows how a manipulator is very good at playing the victim.

She’s your best friend… but do you trust her?

Oh, this was a juicy and exciting novel! I was hooked right from the beginning scene with an invite to a reunion. I loved the banter between the characters when discussing whether they would go or not. I knew I would like to read about the characters and that the reading would flow. The reading was easy and intriguing, and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel.
Lies are always interesting yet devious, and they always come back to haunt you. Mary can contest to that. She was living her life happily, with her lies tucked away and hidden, until they weren’t. As the lies start to unfold, so does her perfectly constructed life. Lies not created by her also began to be exposed, adding to her anxiety and turmoils. The relationship she had with her father was so interesting to me and led me to ponder what I would do and how I would react as each lie and truth were revealed. I questioned some of Mary’s parenting decisions with Django, but who am I to judge? Maybe if my life were built on carefully created lies I would do the same? We get to know Mary’s “friends”, how each one plays an important part of her life, and how she treats them. Who is the better friend? Who is the best confidante? Who is the reliable one? Some uncomfortable and sensitive topics are introduced but not only are they important to the novel, they are also important in general. I had my suspicions about a few things that happened, some were accurate while some were way off. I don’t want to give anything away so I will leave it vague. This was definitely a good read that you won’t want to put down.

This was an interesting read and I loved that it took place in South Africa - I think this is actually the first book I have read that takes place there.

The story was interesting, and I liked that I didn't know who was lying. However, I also wasn't really surprised by anything.

I enjoyed the book, but didn't think it was truly gripping.

I am rating this good, but not great.

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

Compelling and intriguing, I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed reading and connecting to Mary's character and had a few surprise moments with some twists. Although the ending left me a little unsatisfied, Id say this book was still a very entertaining one that I would recommend to friends.

This book gripped me from the start. I really liked Mary's character, she seemed like a friend I wanted to have. As the book went on, you find out more about her life and what she's been through and how this affects her current relationships.
A really great read about the power of small lies.

It's much easier to read a book where not much happens if you like the characters. And I do like Mary, a spunky single, widowed mom who lost her own mother when she was just 2 years old. The book starts off with the promise of an interesting plot line; Mary finds a postcard from her mother to her father - the mother she's been told died when she was very young.

It's a while before we find out what happened to Mary's mother because first, we have a 20th high school reunion to attend. Mary reconnects with an old crush, but also with a woman, April, whom she cannot remember all too well. There is a mysterious incident that happened when they were in high school that has turned some against April. Instead of just asking her classmates what happened, Mary befriends April and later her husband, Leo.

April and Leo have a glamorous life, but is all as perfect as it seems? Why does April have bruises...and why does Leo?

As Mary gets pulled into their world, we also discover what happened to her mom - and to her deceased husband.

The book reads smoothly even though not much happens until the very end, and I believe all of the little mysteries could have had a bigger twist for a bigger impact. But if you're looking for a light thriller with a fun heroine, Never Tell A Lie may be your next read.

Thank you Netgalley for this preview!

3.5 stars.

What I like about the book: the story is engaging and flows smoothly, it is based in South Africa so it is a nice change. The story has a romance element that is always a plus, although it was too good to be true. The suspense was quite intense and kept me on my toes wondering who the true abuser is and I liked the twist, although it did not surprised me too much. Overall I am intrigued by the author and am curious to read more of her work.

What I did not like about the book is that the main character Mary is not very likeable and April is unbearable.

Mary is supposed to be close to 40 but she acts more like a teenager - throughout the book a lot of time is dedicated to her texting and noting whether the other person read a message, have not read a message, etc. You are a grown up woman, pick up a phone and just call!

As April and Mary were never friends in high school, it is not clear why Mary decides to become fast friends without having much in common, and continue staying in touch although April soon starts acting very selfishly and disturbingly. Most people by that point would just stop returning the calls.

Joshua is portrayed as such a lovely and kind guy who is easy going. He is way too good for Mary who has a lot of baggage and secrets. Without spoiling it, through out the book Mary's behavior is so immature that I am surprised that any man would be attracted to her.

Finding a person who supposedly lives in another continent through a random post on Facebook? Very unrealistic.

There was an effort spent to tell us that her dad was a mechanic, that Mary had a good knowledge of cars and her husband dying in a car accident. I don't want to spoil it so I will leave it at that.

Lastly there are some PC elements as in other author's books and it made me wonder whether big publishers nowadays would only publish if certain characters are introduced or certain references are made.

Thanks Netgalley for a free copy in exchange of the honest review.

Mary's life seems to have found a smooth pace after her husband's passing. Is when she decides to attend to a school reunion and keep in touch with some old friends when the story picks up speed. She develops a new friendship that will alter her life forever. And several others as well.
I loved this book! The story is strong and the characters are perfectly constructed. The epilogue is magnificent.
I admire the authors capable of handling reader 's minds as they wish. It's a gift. And Gail Schimmel is a gifted author. It's my first book from this author and it will not be the last.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

“After a tumultuous marriage, Mary Wilson is happy in her uncomplicated life, focusing on her twelve-year-old son. She’s always been content with her little family—but then she finds an old postcard that throws her whole past into question…”
Not only is Mary dealing with her own emotions around her past and future, but her new friendship brings to light issues and feelings from her past which begin to entwine with the new relationships entering her life.
A fabulous read which I could not put down well written characters which have you doubting your own mind at times and shows you the long term effects of an abusive relationship.
Thank you to the author, Amazon publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
#NetGalley #NeverTellALie

thanks for the opportunity to review Netgalley and the publisher. unfortunately this one was not for me could not get into it no reflection on the author though

Mary & April reconnect at their high school reunion & become good friends. They begin hanging out together, have play dates with their kiddos & share common interests. But Mary feels there is something is just a bit ‘off’ with April (and her husband). Secrets from the past surface and now Mary has to figure out if April really is the person she says she is.

I always love the story line of reconnecting with a friend from the past but to me the ending fell a little flat.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for this book!
This was a bit of a slow starter for me and I nearly gave up reading it. I’m glad it pushed on with it as it turned out to be a really good book with a few turns that I didn’t expect. Would definitely recommend this book!

How can a high school reunion change your life? Mary Wilson finds out in Gail Schimmel’s Never Tell a Lie.

Up until she finds a mysterious postcard within her fathers sprawling bookcases, Mary’s life is enjoyable and predictable. She is happily widowed after a turbulent marriage, dotes over her son, has a dream job of freelance writing and keeps in constant contact with her father. When she bumps into April Short at her twenty year reunion she is left wondering exactly who this woman is, for she has a complete lack of memories of her from school. Schimmel goes on to write perhaps the most accurate portrayal of the awkwardness such events can take, talking to your not quite acquaintances though not quite strangers either.

There was a real pulling force that drew me through this novel. I barely took a break from it bar for cooking my dinner, desperate to find out what the postcard meant and how Mary’s date would go and before I really knew what was happening I was hurtling through the book at a pace quick even for me.

We get the feeling something is not quite right with April’s life as soon as she introduces herself. She seems rather downtrodden over things a person should usually be proud. It is not just the reader who gets this feeling either, for Mary is also immediately drawn in to the woman.

The writing style in this book was right up my street, playful and fun even in the darker topics. I definitely enjoyed it, and enjoyed branching out into a genre I don’t typically read, and would recommend to anyone looking for something new!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Amazon Publishing UK and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Compelling characters, unique premise, suspenseful read.

Attending a high school reunion after 20 years is daunting right.
Stacey a really good friend.
Find a piece of material that makes her question things about her past why would her dad hide this. What does this mean. Catching up with others you use to go to school with can be a shock how lives have turned out right. Finding out a family true was a shock to for Mary. Reading about all the characters and their intreactons with each makes you feel warm at parts and in other parts think about how real this is as well. Leo and April realtionships not what I expected.

This story reminded me why I don’t go to high school reunions! I really liked that this book took place in South Africa, Mary is widowed and invited to her class reunion. She becomes fast friends with April. There’s something totally off about the friendship… just a heads up, the main characters are both not too likeable. Still an intense read!

This title was not a top book for me this year. The characters were intriguing but it was missing something. I would give this title a 3.

got this book as an arc from NetGalley in return for a honest review.


This book was not what I was expecting. Mary and her best friend go back to their high school reunion and become reacquainted with some friends. After the night she starts dating one of the guys but takes it slow as she doesn’t trust easily due to her late husband and the way he was.

She also becomes friends with April. They don’t live to far from each other and their sons are close in age. As time goes on things April say don’t seem to make sense. She is always late and forgetting things. Slowly it seems that her husband might be an abused but on the surface you would never know. Especially with the job he has supporting those who are victims of abuse.

You think you finally have the story figured out but then things change and your not sure who is in the wrong and where they stand…..

This novel keeps you on your toes. Mary who is a survivor of domestic abuse is finally free from her husband. She with her son and Father nearby have hope for a brighter future. The only thing that could have been better is if she hadn’t lost her mother at such a young age.

Ready to branch out and finally line her life without fear of repercussions from her ex, Mary finds herself very excited to attend her upcoming high school reunion. When she arrives she makes connections with long lost friends and acquaintances and finds she had really missed this socializing and reminiscing. There are two notable people at the reunion a long lost friend who Mary feels an instant spark with and a women named April. And although Mary’s memories of April are hazy she is drawn to April and her lifestyle. April has it all. The beautiful house and kids and a very loving husband. Mary and April soon become fast friends meeting for coffees, having each other and their kids over for get together and always in contact. But some of April’s stories don’t match up. At the same time she begins a relationship with Will. The first healthy relationship April has ever had. But all too soon, Mary finds a postcard that will turn Mary’s life upside down. And April’s stories are becoming self evident that April’s marriage may be very similar to the abusive one Mary is now out of. She has Will to talk to and things are going very well there however when Mary admits her suspicions to him he just can’t believe it. Slowly but surely April drives a wedge between Mary and Will because Mary will side with her abused friend no matter the cost…..

Domestic abuse can look very different from one case to the other; Gail Schimmel touches on some of the ways it can look like. What gave this book an extra layer of meaning is that the main character was herself in an abusive relationship, yet has trouble seeing the truth about her former high school classmate’s marriage—a truth that, quite honestly, isn’t very clear until the very end of the book. One of my main conclusions is that building a strong and vibrant community is the best way to both prevent domestic abuse, as well as to be able to identify it and deal with it. If the couple with the domestic abuse problem hadn’t been as isolated as they were, perhaps the issues at the heart of the abuse could have been dealt with before said abuse occurred, or, at the very least, the abuse would not have gone on for as long as it did. A book in the “mind-opening” category.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the characters. The story line was great. I would definitely read another book by this author. Was an awesome read

A book about friendships, the people we trust and the lives we tell. This book was lighter than expected, despite the content. It is a quick, light read, which perhaps makes the twists and turns more meaningful.

Never Tell a Lie follows Mary Wilson, who's life takes a turn right as she attends her 20th High School Reunion. We are quickly introduced to a cast of characters we get to know well, and how they influence and impact Mary's list. If you like a large, meaningful cast, then this book will deliver.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book for review.

This book was definitely different, with a totally different setting (South Africa) than I am used to. Something about this book and me just didn't click. I don't know exactly what it was, but it was almost a DNF for me. I usually like stories of old friendships, but not this time.

Had me reading for hours. Really love it. Look forward to more from this author





Would recommend

Mary Wilson is happy with her current life, raising her son with the help of her father. When an invitation comes for a high school reunion, she accepts, not knowing the turmoil and events that occur as a result. Mary attends the high school reunion with a friend, and ends up reestablishing relationships with former high school classmates. Mary recreates a fast friendship with April, but all is not well with April’s life. Is April in a happy marriage? Mary begins to suspect that something is off. I enjoyed this book. I felt that it started slow, but picked up at the end. I was surprised at the ending and that is what I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

A gripping read.
We meet Mary just before her school reunion. The first few chapters set the scene for the reader, we learn more about her relationship status; her childhood; her job; her life in general.
There are two plots to this story with one being the minor one but still important in the development of our lead character. The major plot ensnares Mary, due to her history, and takes the reader on a thrilling ride.
You think you know what is going to happen, until you realise you have no idea anymore. The ending is best savoured slowly to appreciate the brilliance of it.
I loved the fact that the author is South African and set her book in South African and used South Africanisms to keep it authentic. So often to reach an international market the author introduces terms/words/expressions to catch the international eye and then some spirit of the story gets lost.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

I enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing until the very end with just the right amount of twists and turns. I didn’t want to put it down! I can’t wait to read more by this author in the future

Another brilliant book
Great characters
Plenty of twist and turns
You will not want to put this one down
Thanks NetGalley

I went into this one thinking it was a domestic thriller. Can you trust your friend? Lots of twists and turns maybe. But for me, this was too slow to be a thriller. Halfway through, Mary finds out some information on her dead mother. Her new friend April is married to Leo and on the surface they are perfect but April starts showing signs of abuse. It took forever to get to the plot twist. I liked the writing style, I just wanted more from the story.

Gripping! Mary is a widow with a son and a loving, helpful father, living in Johannesburg. When she gets an invitation to go to her 20-year high school reunion she and her best friend decide to go and end up having a great time. She reconnects with a woman who she never really hung out with at school and they become fast friends. They meet often and slowly Mary suspects all is not well with her friend's marriage. She's drawn in more and more until it becomes a bit of a nightmare. Are her friend and her two children in danger from the father/husband?
I really liked Mary and thoroughly enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book. But towards the end I had to suspend my belief a bit, it felt unrealistic and hurried and was slightly disappointed. Nevertheless I enjoyed it enough to order one of her earlier books.

I did not enjoy this book - if felt very drawn out and not focused in the right areas. It also felt slow and nothing ever really happened until the end. And then even in the end it was like ok it happened and I’m friends again with her. Just nothing shocking

I really enjoyed this book! I love a good thriller and this one really gave me everything I was looking for. I did feel the ending was a little rushed, but still enjoyed.

I loved this book..New author for me but won't be my last.
I read this book on my breaks at work and kept wishing I could go home and finish it..If your looking for a book that keeps you wanting more, than this is the book for you. The characters were intriguing and likeable..

This domestic thriller had a lot of my favorite troupes in terms of class reunions, questionable narrator, and a "Single White Female" vibe. It was a great read!

I read about 20% of the book before giving up. I found the pace too slow and the characters unengaging.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Well. This book was a rollercoaster ride!!!! I had a really hard time putting it down. Mary is loving her re-connections to high school friends, which led to romance and a new best girlfriend, April. But all is not as it appears. Her friendship with April is oddly one sided - April's. When Mary believes her stories and then has to question whether they are true or not, she puts herself in harms way. Add to this mix she's a single parent of a moody boy and the fact that her mother that she thought was dead actually isn't and is now a part of her life. To say that Mary had a full plate would be an understatement.

I liked the title of this book so I wanted to see how the title tied into the story. Mary and her friend from high school decide to go to their high school reunion even though they think it will be uneventful.. When they get to the reunion they find they are seated at different tables. Mary is at a table with April whom she barely knew in high school but is feeling a connection at the reunion. They decide to have coffee together the next day to catch up further. They have a great time so decide to have further coffee dates and introduce their children to each other. As the bond grows Mary begins to feel that something is off in April's marriage. There is talk of abuse in this story that may make some uncomfortable. The suspense of the story keeps you guessing and the ending was satisfying. Thank you Netgalley for the arc and I would love to read my books by Gail Schimmel

‘Never Tell A Lie”was good read. Good characters. Suspenseful. Good book to read on vacation or anywhere. I would definitely recommend this book.

It has taken me so long to finish this book. I could easily blame it on the reader's block I had in the beginning of the year when I started reading this book but that is not the case.

The book started off on a promising note but by midway I simply just kept reading it at intervals because I didn't want to leave it unfinished. I guess the main reason was I just didn't warm up to most of the characters, the main one being the protagonist Mary Wilson. Even though she is a domestic abuse survivor herself, I felt she was quite judgemental in her views and slow to pick up on the signs of domestic abuse where her friend April is concerned. I felt Stacey, her best friend, and Joshua were much better examples of what good and unconditional friends should be like.

I received an e-Arc of the book from the publisher Amazon Publishing UK and the author via NetGalley.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫

Gripping, twisted and had me hooked from page one. A story set in Johannesburg South Africa ( made me super excited seeing that I am an South African) you will get sucked into a mystery that revolves around friendships, lies and trusting people.

Never tell a lie starts off with the introduction of Mary Wilson, on her way to her 20th high school reunion even though she never really kept in touch with anyone.
Mary is seated to a character we get introduced next, April. They barely knew each other in high school, but reconnect at the reunion as though they have been old friends. After a great reconnection they go out for coffee dates and intertwine into one another lives, families and all. As their friendship and trust grows, Mary can’t help but to suspect something is off with April’s marriage. We also get introduced to various other characters we later get to learn well, and how they impact and influence Mary’s list.

Although tough topics like domestic abuse is named, this was still a quick and light read that made the twists even more impactful.
The writer will have you pointing fingers at so many characters you deem as the culprits only to have your hand sliced off at the final plot twist.

This was absolutely brilliant, and completely recommended if you are a fan of authors like Lisa Jewell.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book
.an enjoyable read that hits all the spots. Would.recoommend this one to a friend as it delivers everything promised. Poor Mary is unsure what she has gotten herself into when she attend the reunion and becomes acquainted with an old friend.. the book had me in suspense from beginning to end. One to read

I think this was a case of this just not being the book for me vs the book itself. I didn't connect with the characters or the story, but I think it was just not my vibe and that others would enjoy it.

This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.