I tried to read from beginning to end, then end to beginning and just could not connect with this book. SO am going to give this book a miss and DNF. If it does not expire in my "library" might give it another try but otherwise...thank you.

If I could give this book more stars I would. What an emotional rollercoaster I have been on with this! Absolutely beautifully written, capturing the thoughts, fears, anger and all the other feelings of the characters. Really gripping and literally held me from the first page. This is my first book by this author and it certainly wont be my last. Fantastic.

I would especially like to thank Bookouture Editions and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.

Nicola Watson lived thirty years ago with her parents and older brother in a respectable suburb. At the age of ten she could not understand why her stomach would get knotted when her father approached her, why her brother stuttered more and more, or why one night her mother took them away from home. Nicola is now a lawyer and is returning home for her mother's funeral. She feels sorry for leaving her family behind. She believes that it is her fault that her brother Graham was put in jail.

All her mother Carol wanted was to protect them until the day her father escaped from jail. And then Nicola will learn the truth about what her mother did at the time and it will change the way she feels about her and her family.

A book read in one go, so much so that I hung on to the story, so moving at certain passages, addictive, captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters.

I've read this author before and really enjoyed this thrilling book just as much as the previous books.  The book deals with a lot of social problems society has to deal with these days, like domestic abuse, drug and alcohol addiction.  I loved the book and can't wait to read some more by this talented author.
TB

This was a great read, enjoyed it thoroughly, great storyline and loads of twists and turns , highly recommend this book x

This is a well written family drama that talks about abuse. There is alot going on in this book to keep you on your toes. This book was extremely thought provoking. I highly recommend.

Amazing writing style & characters.  Different to books I’ve previously read by this author but still as good.  Really enjoyed this addictive read & would recommend to anyone.

Firstly I love this author, always a great read and this story did not disappoint.

The tale is of a desperate mother and her children escaping domestic abuse so may have done triggers.

The story kept me reading and the twists and turns kept it interesting.

Would recommend.

I've read this author before and really enjoyed the book - this one, however, was much different than the others.  This story revolves around domestic abuse and how it truly effects the family; not just the the abused and the abuser, but the children as well.  It also deals with drug addiction and alcoholism. At the core of this book though is the power of love, healing, and the unbreakable ties that hold families together through thick and thin.
I enjoyed this book although it did drag a bit here and there.
Thanks to S.E. Lynes, Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

The story revolves around Nicola Watson, and her brother Graham. She has just returned from her mother’s funeral. As she spends time in her mother’s house, clearing up her stuff, she remembers the woman who sacrificed everything for her children. And she is guilt-ridden for leaving her family behind when they needed her. She also partially blames herself for Graham’s indictment for murder.

As a child, she was oblivious to why her mother, Carol, woke them up in the middle of the night and decided to leave her husband. Carol wanted to save herself, and her children – but escaping her abusive husband was just the start.
What happens to them? Where do they go? What’s the effect on the kids? Does Carol manage to keep themselves hidden?

Told from alternative view-points, between the then and the now, this is a gripping family saga which highlights the impact domestic abuse has on the mental and physical well-being of the entire family. How quickly can one apparently functioning family be jettisoned into disarray?
The story unfolds beautifully – and will leave you guessing till the end.

When eventually Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, will it change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family? Will she be able to forgive?
Without forgiveness there is no freedom, inside or outside – not in any real sense.

4.5/5 for me

A new genre from this fantastically talented author, I had absolutely zero reservations about trying something new by her as (imo) none of her previous work fits solidly in any one genre but is always challenging, thoughtful and thouroughly engaging.

Although a different theme (more family drama/domestic noir than psychological thriller) her wonderful writing style, emotional intelligence and empathy meant that the tough subject of domesic violence and the resultant psychological fall out were managed superbly.

The characters felt oh so real, the greif, fear, kindness and unconditional love between the escapees was evident throghout the story, and the secrets held by and the consequences of these secrets on all three victims of this abuse made for a compelling and extremely moving read. I confess to actually weeping when reading this.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this fabulous book - an unreserved 5 stars :)

I love her books and I was so excited to get my hands on this book and it didn't  disappoint. 

One of my favourites this year so far, a great build up and storyline. I love a book that makes me want to keep reading and gives me the need to pick it up whenever I have a spare 5 mins. 

The first chapter reeled me in and I was  hooked and the story kept me entertained throughout. 

A book that holds your attention and makes you hold your breath as the direction changes  loved the twists and turns as I flew through the book.

A story about a complex family....a battered mum and 2 kids with their own stories to tell....told from the perspective of the wife and two children and a visitor....it unravels and draws you in and I loved reading about the characters progression.  A fab book

Just the title of the book screamed out to me. I was really impressed by the writing style and the main character. Go ahead and give it a read!

This book was so good! I had no idea how much it was suck me in, it was definitely a pleasant surprise! Perfect amount of twists and turns, captivating writing, and unpredictable. Have already recommended to a few friends.

I have always loved Lynes’ books. Her writing is descriptive, captivating and all her previous titles managed to shock me with the twists. This one was different. It wasn’t about the twists and shocking reveals but it was more of a quiet story that ran deep.

Carol has two kids, Graham and Nicola. She was married to a horrible man and lived a life of constant fear and pain. Her story is narrated through two main timelines. One is set in the past and details events as they happen. The second timeline is in the present but narrated through flashbacks. These two narrative styles help in bringing different perspectives to the story. We get to see events unfold through her eyes but we also get to see her marital woes through her daughter’s eyes.

As with Lynes’ other titles, there are a couple of surprises along the way.  Without revealing much, let me just say that I was particularly intrigued by Graham’s story. We get Nicola’s story but her brother’s is shrouded in mystery and its clear that something major happened to alter the course of his life. I couldn’t guess exactly what it was and the reveal made my jaw drop.

Due to the themes in this story, there is a lot to think about.  The theme of domestic abuse is well portrayed hence giving the perspective of the different people it affected such as friends, children and of course the spouses. I especially liked the theme of family and second chances.

The ending was brilliant. It was unpredictable and simply satisfactory. I read this book in December but the characters and events have stayed with me since then. Its such a poignant, memorable read.

The Lies We Hide by S. E. Lynes is a story about love, betrayal, pain, loss, family and second chances. It’s definitely a story that will appeal to different readers because it is quite a relatable read.

Every SE Lines book is so well written with gripping storylines that really get the reader thinking. This story is no different. It's a harrowing read at times but it poses some important questions about abuse and control. The characters are extroidinarily well developed and I felt compelled to turn the pages every step of the way.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read the ARC.

Our lives are shaped by the decisions we make when young.  This book is a hard hitting look at one family and how their lives evolved from two young people in love and expecting to the dark side of life that families hide so well.  Told from differing perspectives, the journey they travelled together is compelling.  This is not a book you will want to read a couple of chapters at a time.  SE Lynes has given this reader a thought provoking story that I'm still thinking about several days after I finished.  I'm definitely sharing this one with my reading buddies.

This one is quite the page turner! It is told from multiple view points and it bounces to 3 different time periods.  Each chapter ends with a little tidbit of information to keep you wanting more.  I loved how it always kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find it what happens next.  There are so many twists and turns that continue all the way to the end. This is definitely a good choice if you want a page turner with a bit of mystery intertwined!

What a haunting read.  No, I don't mean that in the spooky sense, but rather the feelings it left me with.  Carol is a wife and mother, in the grips of a emotionally and physically abusive relationship.  After a last straw incident, she escapes with her children.  But the things they saw and endured have shaped them, and they carry their fear and shame and guilt and pain with them into their future.  Things don't suddenly get better just because they break away.  In fact, this is where their real struggles begin.  They have to figure out how to live their lives and make peace with each other and with themselves.  My heart hurt for the son, Graham, the most.  Quiet, but with a rage boiling just under the surface, he and his mother fear that he has his father's blood running through his veins.  He ends up in prison, seeming to fulfill his prophecy.  Nicola, the daughter, has taken a far opposite path.  She is studious and determined to make a good life for herself.  But, there are secrets to learn and lies to be discovered.  Above anything else, there is a lot of love here.  There are sacrifices they each made and everyone is just trying to do the right thing, but not always in the right way.  It is messy and complicated, and it is genuine.