In exchange for an honest review, I was provided a free eARC of The Liars by Naomi Joy.

Official Blurb (courtesy of NetGalley)

Two women. One deadly secret. A rivalry that could destroy them. 

Ava Wells is perfect. She has the boyfriend, the career, the looks. But one night changes everything and her life suddenly isn't so seamless. 

Jade Fernleigh is ambitious. She's worked hard to get where she is. And she's not about to let Ava take the job she rightly deserves. 

Both women share a secret that could destroy them, but who will crumble first? 

Praise for The Liars: 

'An unnerving page-turning story of secrets and rivalry with an undercurrent of menace throughout, leading to a nail-biting conclusion' Sue Fortin, bestselling author of Sister Sister. 

'A real page turner. It was exactly my kind of read - toxic relationships, thick tension and a grippingplot' Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and Me. 

'An irresistibly compulsive thriller' Ella Drummond, author of My Last Lie. 

'A well written fast-paced story, with more twiststhan a corkscrew' Amanda James, author of Another Mother.


My Thoughts

At first, this story had a lot of appeal. I loved the cutthroat dynamics between Ava and Jade, and how each of their personal lives continuously wreaked havoc in their worklife, threatening to expose the "secret" they were both keeping. 

However, this is one of those books where I feel that the official description doesn't accurately describe the book. True, Ava and Jade had a secret that could destroy them. Jade, not necessarily Ava, was hell-bent on beating Ava and being better than her. But there was more going on in the book that overshadowed their rivalry, in my opinion. 

Ava was trying to get out of her controlling relationship, and her boss, David jumps in to help. Maybe too fast? I thought so. He began doing little things that seemed like he was controlling her every move. When Ava starts getting notes from her ex and David begins to suspect she's lying about something, her life starts to unravel.

Jade, constantly trying to be better than Ava and vying for the same leadership position, is so focused on herself, that she doesn't even realize that she had her own wolf in sheep's clothing to contend with. Add on top of that, her meds are no longer working, the guy she's interested in and had been dating for a few weeks acted like he didn't know her and had been dating Ava this whole time? That's enough to escalate her breakdown.

However, what one thinks will be a story about how the lies break these women by their own actions, there's another party involved that is actually encouraging and aiding in their unravelment, all for the sake of revenge. Who could it be? There are a few contendors that could be seeking their revenge against Ava and Jade, but they are so focused on themselves, they don't see it.

Conclusion

I've been in a reading slump lately, and while this book had some appealing aspects, I felt it didn't start getting interesting until the last third of the book. Basically, when everything starts to unravel. I liked the fact that there were two suspects who I felt could be going for revenge against Ava and Jade, but I guessed who it was pretty quick. 

This book does have an open ending leaving room for a potential sequal, or maybe it is an ending to make the reader guess without a coming answer. I give this one 3.5 stars for the thrilling ending, but I felt the beginning could have used some work. Maybe more psychological warfare from the third party? 

★★★½

Is this really a debut novel? Wow.

Ava and Jade are former friends , working in the same office and vying for the same promotion.

Will their lies and their past catch up with them and ruin any chances of a promotion?

This is a great read full of suspense. I read this pretty quickly as I just didn’t wanna put it down.
Well done to the author on her debut novel. I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future.

I thought this started off interesting, it did a good job keeping the mysteries actually a mystery. I started to get bored, and skim through, at around 90% when the mysteries were solved and all that was left was the resolution. I got bored mostly cause I didn't care about any of the characters, it was the same to me if they lived or died or got caught or went free. I just didn't care.

The characters are alright, they move the story along. Jade was insufferable. But, if you can deal with her, the rest of the book is pretty interesting.

However, things got ridiculously unbelievable/unrealistic at points, which is why I stopped caring about the character's fate.

I’ve worked in offices for a significant part of my working life and whilst I never experienced or witnessed anything as extreme as explored in ‘ The Liars’. There are elements which I recognise, albeit in a less extreme form.

This story has an ordinary setting, but the plot is dark exploring the themes of betrayal and revenge. The characters are driven and verging on immoral, their ambition and the need to succeed and claim what they believe is there due, push out any empathy, kindness and compassion, leaving only the baser human emotions. They are ruthless, revengeful and relentless, willing to sacrifice anything or anyone to achieve their chosen goal.

Even though the protagonists are not likeable, they are interesting and you wonder what they will do next. They have no filters and whilst you wouldn’t want them as friends or work colleagues, they are believable and fascinating characters and make this an enthralling story to read.

If you like your book to tell a story this style of writing may disappoint. If you prefer a contemporary writing style that makes the reader spend most of their time in the uncomfortable reality of the protagonists’ heads rather like watching reality TV, this will be a satisfying read.

I received a copy of this book from Aria Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is one very suspenseful read with more twists and turns than a series of hairpin bends!

Ava Wells and Jade Fernleigh work for the same company; in fact, they are both hoping for the same promotion. But Ava and Jade share a secret. The thing is, will it stay hidden?

Rivalry isn't pretty. It brings out the worst in some people and this is no different. As we get to know both these women better, finding out about their personal and home lives, things get much more complicated. This is a finely sculpted story;  beautifully structured, well written and gripping throughout. As the story progresses, things hot up considerably and I was sure I knew where it was heading - I was wrong! Utterly and completely. The excitement keeps building and the suspense is palpable. I really didn't know I could read as fast as I did in the last dozen or so pages, and my blink rate rapidly decreased. What a read! I'm hoping my heart rate will get back to normal before I climb under the duvet tonight. Absolutely a solid 5* novel.

My thanks to publisher Aria and to Victoria Joss for including me in this Blog Tour. All opinions stated here are entirely my own - as always.

Fans of Big Little Lies and Doctor Foster are going to love Naomi Joy’s chilling tale of deception, jealousy and secrets, The Liars.

Ava Wells is a woman who is envied and admired in equal measures. With a good-looking boyfriend, the high-flying career and her model good looks and enviable figure, Ava is the sort of woman who has it all and who seems to have had everything handed to her on a silver platter. Ava is the sort of woman who has never had to struggle for anything. Everything just seems to go smoothly for her until one night turns her entire world upside down. With her life having changed irrevocably, Ava’s life suddenly does not to be so perfect or so easy. Is Ava about to crumble? Or will Lady Luck continue to smile down on her just when she had been about to give up all hope?

Life has not been a bed of roses for Jade Fernleigh. Unlike Ava, Jade has had to work her fingers to the bone to get where she wants to be – and she is not about to let anything or anybody stand in her way to get what she so rightly deserves. Jade has sacrificed so much to get where she is and she will not somebody like Ava Wells ruin her plans for the future. Jade is prepared to go to any lengths to secure the job which means the world to her – even if it means going down dark and twisted paths from which there is simply no going back.

The two women might be worlds apart, but they share a secret that could destroy everything. But who will hold their nerve and who will let the pressure get to them? In this deadly rivalry, there can only be one winner and neither Ava or Jade are prepared to lose.

A dark, twisted and shocking thriller that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, The Liars is a sinister and chilling tale of toxic relationships, dangerous games and cutthroat rivalries that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you chewing your nails to the elbow.

Naomi Joy certainly knows how to keep her readers riveted to the page and with The Liars she has written a book that you will simply not be able to put down – don’t miss it!

Rating: 4 Stars

I enjoyed reading about the relationship and friendship between the two characters in this book and all the lies and secrets they had. This book is full of lies, deception, betrayal and revenge. What more could you ask for in a book?

Two women working for the same boss, who is very unlikeable, and both girls are vying for the same promotion. Both determined to get the promotion, and doing what it takes to make sure they come out on top. For a friendship turned sour, could you trust that one person who knows your secret and can destroy you in a second? If you’re both vying for the same promotion at work, would you tell their secret so you get the promotion? Could you trust that they will not do the same thing to you?

I enjoyed reading about the dynamics of the two girls in this book, and it gave me a mean girls vibe. An enjoyable read from beginning to end, full of secrets and lies, this book will have you flipping through the pages to see what’s up next.

THE LIARS by Naomi Joy is a rollercoaster of secrets, lies, and power and it kept me hooked from beginning to end.

Ava, Jade, and Olivia used to be friends as well as workmates but that all changed the night that Olivia died. Now they can barely stand each other at the office even though they are on the same team, and the tension only gets worse as they compete for the same promotion. But Jade believes that Ava is playing it dirty to get the job and will do whatever it takes to bring Ava down, while Ava has her own problems dealing with her abusive ex-boyfriend and the untenable position that she has found herself in with her boss. But as the lies from the past begin to come back to haunt them, who will survive as everything takes a more sinister turn?

Dark, twisted, and very uncomfortable at times, THE LIARS by Naomi Joy struck all of the right chords for me as I was drawn into Ava and Jade's relationship. While neither character jumped out as likeable, I was invested in finding out just what their shared secret about Olivia's death really was, but nothing prepared me for the truth which was really just the beginning of this dark tale of control and obsession.

Compelling at every turn, THE LIARS is a cracking debut and I look forward to more from Naomi Joy.

If you are looking for a gripping book to accompany you on your own holiday this Easter, or to get you through the long holiday weekend, this might just be the book for you. It kept me glued to the pages at the beginning of the week, as far as the kids’ demands for trips to the beach and for ice cream would allow, desperate as I was to know how it would all pan out.

This is a book that reminds you not to fall into the trap of taking people at face value. Things are not always what they seem and appearances can be deceptive. There was one character in this book to whom I took an instant dislike, as no doubt the author intended, but by the end everything I believed about all the characters had been turned on its head and I was truly astounded by the conclusion, although it did require quite a suspension of disbelief to buy in to it. Not necessarily a negative in a book of this sort where you don’t expect absolute realism in the plot. In fact, I’d hate to meet some of these characters in real life!

Despite the fact that many of the characters in this book were not particularly likeable and some of them were downright despicable, the author did a good job of making them believable and giving them realistic motives for their actions. She managed to take me with them and make me invested in their stories, despite the fact they were largely unpleasant, which is quite a skill and the writing was very clever in this regard.

There were quite a few twists in the plot that I didn’t see coming and they were slotted in cleverly at intervals that took the story off in a different direction than the way I had thought it was going and kept me turning the pages. Despite the fact that the confines of the story are quite narrow and ordinary, the author managed to imbue it with a real sense of intrigue and tension and maintained the momentum to the end. I think this is an accomplished bit of writing for a debut and it has made me interested to see what she will do with her next book.

This book did have its faults, mainly that I felt events escalated rather quickly at the end to the point where I really did have to stretch my credulity to its limits to believe it but, I was willing to do this because I had enjoyed the story to this point. Beyond that, this was an engaging, twisty thriller with some interesting ideas and if you are looking for an undemanding but gripping read, pick this up.

First, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book.

Ava and Jade both have a secret that could rip their worlds apart. They both work at W&SP. Jade has worked her way up at the company for over 8 years. Ava seems to have it all, she's beautiful, has a boyfriend, and seems to be next in line for a promotion.

But all is not as it seems!
#NetGalley #TheLiars

I wasn't sure what to make of this book,it started off well but then it seemed to drag on little to long for my liking and in the end i was just waiting for the end not really caring how it ended.Set in W&SP a promotions company the story is told mainly from Ava and Jade's point of view who both work together and were once good friends but now are at odds with each other,David is the controlling boss who offers Ava his dead daughter Olivia's flat to stay in when her relationship with her boyfriend falters and that is when things start to go awry for Ava.The book is well written but it didn't grip me like other thrillers do and would say it is a decent 3 star read which i would recommend.

The Liars by Naomi Joy sounded like a book that I just had to read - sadly it was a great disappointment for me. For the first 30% or so I was intrigued about the relationships and what the lies were. After that it just went way off on a completely unbelievable tangent. None of the characters were likeable at all - and unbelievable in their actions and choices.

I don't like to write bad reviews about books and I can see that a lot of people have enjoyed this book. It wasn't for me and everybody has different tastes. Can't love them all.

Thanks to Aria and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

This story started off strong and I was really enjoying it for the first third, but then it just didn't carry on for me unfortunately.

After thoughtful consideration I have decided to stop reading, 'The Liars,' at 30%. I'm not engaed or connecting well to any aspect, story arc or characters. To my ears the characters often sound immature and somewhat unbelievable and the narrative appears over detailed in places without advancing the story. There are other apects I could note but I don't want to completely pick the writing apart as it is purely my opinion and others may enjoy it more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy but on this occasion the story did not work for me, really sorry.

A twisty, dark thriller - fast-paced and unpredictable with compelling characters. An author to look out for in the future and a very good debut.

I was delighted to receive an advance download of this book from Netgalley and couldn't wait to get stuck into it. The first few chapters drew me in and I had high expectations...big disappointment though. I found the 2 lead female characters extremely one dimensional, unbelievable and unlikeable. They were given almost no backstory to make them more relatable to the reader and even their past friendship is a bit mind boggling. Given that the character of Jade is so unlikeable it's hard to imagine anyone wanting her as a friend, not least the insipid Ava, who trades one abusive relationship for another.
The male characters weren't any more likeable. They all seemed to be, in varying degrees the stereotypical dominant alpha male and in one case almost comic book villain.
I can see what the author was aiming for with the story, which in itself wasn't bad, but I really feel that had the characters been a little more padded out that maybe the reader would actually care more about what happened to them.

‘The Liars’ by Naomi Joy published on Tuesday 16th April by Aria

A running theme throughout the book are these words

BETRAYAL, DISLOYALTY, LIES, REVENGE, RETALIATION, DEMISE

and if David thinks you are guilty of the first 3 then you are targeted with the last 3......even if your family, lover or you work for him...

Ava and Jade do work for him, they have history and now they compete for a promotion and David’s son Josh, its not going to end well, and it
doesnt as the book draws all these characters ( fabulous charcaters ) into a seductive story that really had me hurtling between hilarious chick lit moments ( properly LOL at the ‘Mean Girls’ toxicity ) intrigue as to who was true and who was false and full on shuddering at some of the almost horroresque scenes and psychological drama....you never knew what was coming next and it was refreshing to almost bounce between the genres whilst the main focus of the book was never lost, very clever and I imagine hard to do for an author, its risky but this paid of 100%
Psychopaths, Sociopaths and Narcissists wait to greet you in this unique, effortlessly addictive full on story where nothing and no one are quite as they seem
Perfect Reading
10/10 5 Stars

Enjoyable and a fun read!

The story caught my eye from the moment I read the blurb, and I just knew I wanted to read this book. I was not let down and can recommend this to everyone!

# The Liars # Netgalley
Started well so settled myself down for another good book, oh my unfortunately it became clear to me personally that it was starting to drag on a little bit too long. Each giving their own version. At first I liked how it was going from one character to another, however I was not even half way through and I just wanted to put the book down and move into another. Yet I absolutely try so so hard not to do that with any book, so I persevered with a struggle. Only saving grace for me was Ava. Toward the end. I can’t and will notsay why I just will not use spoilers Now truthfully I do sometimes find some books really hard going for whateverreason. I put them down for
awhile give it a couple of weeks and try
again. On second time of trying, it often.



come across as a totally differenaltogether, I wish I would have had the time to do that with this book. My review could have Been so much different. I do not know why this can happen sometimes. I honestly don’t know if it’s a mood thing. Like perhaps needing a small break from a deep complex storyline, or if it’s because I am full of flu. I do know having spoken to many readers I am glad to find it’s not just me. So in reality all I am trying to say is although at this moment this is my opinion, had I read this book at perhaps a later date when I was feeling a little better. Is di not always take my PERSONAL negative review as something to put you off the book. If we readers are honest and admit not just to ourselves but to everyone else, that at some point our reviews are purely based either on illness or needing to have a slight break from this type of book, perhaps read something a little lighter it’s better to say rather than just saying no not for me. I do intend to read this again at some point just to see if it was just me at this particular time. I will revise my review if I find it is. We all say moods illness, should not reflect on anything in life, yet truthfully we all do let it interfere in jobs, reading, life in general, I can be honest enough to admit this. So I send my apologies to Naomi Joy underneath there’s a really good sortyline.

The Liars is a fairly fast paced thriller based around office rivalry or is it more than that?
Jade and Ava are work friends they work at the same place and share the same friend, Olivia who is the directors daughter. One night they go out and something happens and through this dreadful coverup, lies and jealousy start to take over. Ava is David the directors choice to take over from Olivia so is over Jade and this doesn’t go down well at all especially as they share a secret.
This was an ok thriller, I liked both characters even though at the beginning you are made to like one and hate the other but I overlooked that and I think I was right to. I was correct with my guesses of who did what and there were no real shocks but this was still enjoyable, it did lack the desire to not do anything else until I’d read it though.
3.5 stars
I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.