Member Reviews
4-5 stars! I really enjoyed this original and very clever thriller, and loved the many twists it gave me as a reader! I thought that it was so well written, and offered a ton of chills, thrills, and as I mentioned tons of twists (at end). Loved reading something original and I recommend to those who tend to love the same as me!
Will use in challenge and recommend to the members of Chapter Chatter Pub!
Compelling story with a number of twists towards the end I didn’t see coming. I was very happy that this book ended up surprising me in a lot of ways. I do feel that the middle dragged quite a bit, but the ending more than made up for it. Would definitely recommend!
I thought this book was very clever, swinging between the "two" different Lila's. It got a little confusing at times, like at the end when she was shot, is she dead or no? But the book kept my attention and I really didn't guess who her kidnapper was until it was revealed. I would have liked to have seen Carrie's character developed more, especially after the truth was exposed to her. Another great book by Liz and Lisa!
This was a clever concept for a book, a la Sliding Doors, where Lila Bennett's life is split in half and you have two parallel stories in one. Lila is a powerful and successful criminal defense attorney. She knows she has many enemies. Chapters alternate between "Captured" where Lila is held hostage by an unknown captor and "Free" where she goes about her life. This concept also reminded me of Dark Matter by Blake Crouch where our life is impacted by the decisions we make. Highly recommend!
This one is actually difficult to review as I think it's better to go in fairly blind. I will say that I really enjoyed the inventive use of the split timeline in this book - like Sliding Doors, the timeline splits at a single point so that we end up following the protagonist along two alternative storylines. I loved how the story unfolded, the characters were realistic and well-drawn, and I found myself rooting for Lila in both timelines, despite her mistakes. I've really enjoyed every book by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, and this one was no exception - I've already recommended it to several friends and my book group. I read a lot of psychological thrillers, and sometimes they feel a little stale as the same tried and tested formats / plotlines are repeated. This one was a breath of fresh air. Can't wait to see what these authors do next.
The Two Lila Bennetts was so stinkin' good. A mystery thriller that executes a dual narrative to perfection! I did not think it was possible to love Lila Bennett so much despite her decisions but somehow I found myself rooting for her with every turn of the page. A great read for sure. Be sure to add this to your TBR pile now!
Wow! This was such a great book! I love how this story was written in dual narrative. This plot had lots of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the very end!
It’s always a challenge to love a book with an unlikable main character...but somehow this book achieves it! For anyone who loved the movie Sliding Doors, this book delivers on the same premise with divergent paths that each carry their own twists and turns. Since reading this book, I’ve gone back and rediscovered several gems written by the dynamic writing duo of Lisa and Liz.
Another winner from Lisa and Liz! This is a fast paced psychological thriller, with a sliding doors scenario. Best to go in without knowing too much!
I really enjoyed the unique twist on the alternating time lines format. We actually get to see two different, parallel story lines for Lila, based on her life choices. This was a thought provoking look at how our decisions and choices affect the entire course of our life. A heavy topic that was nicely balanced with a suspenseful story line and some surprise twists. A quick page turner to add to your summer reading list! This one is out 7/23/19. Many thanks to the authors and NetGalley for my advanced copy.
I love these authors and have read everything by them. The Two Lilas did not disappoint! The first few chapters were confusing until I figured it out. I love how both paths converged on the same outcome and one has to figure out which path was the real one. I am still not sure which was reality which is probably why the write it this way. Can’t wait for their next story!!!
Holy cow what a book!! I stayed up past midnight last night to finish and I regret NOTHING! This book grabs you from the beginning and won't let go! Lila Bennett is not a nice person. She is a defense lawyer and she uses anyone and everyone she can. Her life breaks into 2 pieces, one where she is kidnapped and one where she escapes the kidnapper. As she is trying to figure out who the kidnapper is, we the reader are taken on a journey of Lila's life. Can Lila figure out which of the many people she has wronged has kidnapped her before it is too late? Ultimately this is a story of choices and consequences and I absolutely loved it! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
I do believe I'm going to be keeping this review brief, because not only will I be discussing this one in greater detail come publication (hint hint), but I think the less you know going into this one, the better the reading experience you will have. The dual plot lines are well-executed, and the entire story felt like one of those fun "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, which was a huge hit for me. If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced psychological thriller to add to your summer vacation TBR, this one is PERFECT.
Interesting spin on the suspense genre but lost steam halfway through. The ending was a bit of a let down.
Definitely a 5 star read! This has everything a psychological suspense needs, to be great; drama, deceit, revenge, frightening, and you don’t have an idea who the perpetrator of this diabolical scenario is.
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are known for strong characters and they did it again here. Most are difficult to like, as is Lila Bennett, a vicious, successful defense lawyer, who “takes no prisoners”. As her personal and professional life come to a crossroad, something needs to change in order for her to save herself. Hence she is thrust in alternative situations. In one she is the victim of a kidnapping, her kidnapper vowing to force her to make amends to everyone she has hurt. And the other, is an unknown and is intent on destroying her.
Lila recognizes the terrible person she has become, as she seeks to change, but will she survive to apologize to her husband, her friends and clients.
My thanks to #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley the the authors for the Arc in return for my personal review. I loved this intense, suspenseful novel!
I love Fenton and Steinke. Their books are so smooth and you can eat them in one setting. This one kept me going. At first I was a little confused but I needed to know whaat was going on. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy.
An amazing novel! The characters are well-drawn and truly pull at your heart strings. I couldn't put the book down till I reached the final chapter. Highly recommended.
“The Two Lila Bennetts” is the latest novel by authors, Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. If you are looking for a roller coaster of a novel with plenty of unexpected twists and turns, you need to read this book. The novel follows Lila Bennett on two very distinct paths, one in which she is kidnapped, and one in which she is not. This dual narrative approach is quite effective because neither pathway necessarily leads Lila in the direction you might expect her to go. Clues from one narrative hint at what might be happening to Lila in her alternative reality.
Lila Bennett, a criminal attorney, is not the most likable person. She is frustrated because her husband, a brilliant writer, cannot motivate himself to write a follow up to his debut novel. Lila is having an affair with her best friend’s husband, Sam, who is also managing partner at her law firm. She recently got a man acquitted who may have killed his wife and his wife’s sister informs Lila about karma. The evening of the acquittal, Lila can either make the choice to go home to her husband or have drinks with her lover. But in this novel, she can do both, and the reader is privy to what happens to Lila as a result of both of those choices.
I would love to know more about the writing process of Liza Fenton and Lisa Steinke. Did one writer draft one narrative while the other wrote the second? How did the writers keep track of what information was revealed in one narrative versus in the second one? Regardless, the writing is compelling, vivid, and thought provoking because we all make bad choices that often result in consequences that we then have to face.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the authors for for providing me an advanced copy of this novel. “The Two Lila Bennetts” will be published on July 23, 2019.
A story with a "Sliding Doors" theme- remember the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow?! The authors said it's one of their favorites, and the inspiration for The Two Lila Bennetts. Lila Bennett has made some bad choices, but haven't we all? Is it too late to change her ways? A successful criminal attorney, some say Lila will do anything to clear her clients' names. But deep down, Lila wants to help people and still thinks of cases that she wishes she handled better. Her story is told in alternating chapters, both featuring Lila; we learn about two paths her life could go down depending on the life choices she made.
A quick, page turning read, the alternating story lines will keep you reading fast till the very end. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Lila, and was shocked at the reveal. Really makes you think of how choices can affect so many different people for years to come. A great, thrilling thrilling read from Lisa and Liz!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy for my honest review!
I could not put this book down! Similar in nature to the Sliding Doors movie where there are two options for Lila's life to go - I was glued to see how each life turned out based on her choices.
While Lila definitely had some quirks and dislikable characteristics, I was riveted to see what happened on each of the 2 paths she took. One involved being kidnapped and the other is titled "Free" and she goes about her daily life. Great read! Wild ride!