Twisty books aren't usually my thing, and this one took me some time to get through, because honestly it was just so disturbing. No one needs a friend like Jane.

Downloaded this title for my work as a marketer for Penguin Random House, will not be posting my review publicly.

I don’t like giving reviews like this but this book was soooo boring. I saw many well known authors (who I eally like);highly recommended it - that’s why I requested it. Sorry couldn’t finish it.

Honestly, I did not like this book. I did not find the characters to have redeemable qualities, and they were flat. The idea behind it had potential but sadly, I do not think the writing came close to reaching the potential.

Let me tell you 'bout my best friend...

Oh, Jane -- she just loves too much. Is too loyal. She would do anything for Marnie, her BFF since middle school. They've shared everything and Marnie helped Jane through one of the worst parts of her life. They will be just like this forever. That's what Jane thinks, but then Marnie falls in love and gets married. Jane will tell you exactly how she feels about all that happened next. NO SPOILERS.

What a compelling psychological thriller as Jane confesses the truth from her point of view. Sure she tells a few lies (seven, in fact), but sometimes it best served her situation. She's definitely a sociopath and she demands so much because of her obsession with Marnie as their toxic relationship unravels. The masterful writing draws you in and keeps you turning the pages. I found this almost impossible to put down as I raced to find out how this would end. This is not usually the type of book that I'm drawn to read, so this was a nice surprise and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a very unusual, very disturbing, very good thriller that plays out as Jane tells the story of her life long friendship with Marnie. Jane's story reveals the small steps....or lies....that she has taken to make her friend happy. While I found myself reading this in one sitting to see where Jane was going, the book left this reader glad I have no friends that resemble Jane. One very disturbing read that definitely deserves 5 stars for originality.

I loved this book. The writing style reminded me of Liz Nugent's books, where you know the narrator has some serious issues, but you are entertained watching the crumbling relationship dynamics unfold. Brilliant read!

This was a great debut novel by Elizabeth Kay. This psychological thriller had me hanging on every word. At times though the story seemed to ramble on.

This book was well written and well paced, but unfortunately I had just read another book about a toxic female relationship between friends, with one being obsessed with the other, and this wasn’t original enough to stand out for me.

2.5 stars. The way this book started, I thought this was going to be a great read with lots of tense suspense, but it never really achieved that. Jane was such a great character. I found myself feeling sorry for her at times, but then other times hating her. I wish the other characters had been more fleshed out.

This is one of those books where I debated whether I wanted to know what was going to happen in the last quarter of the book. Should I just put it down because I knew it was going to get worse? I finished it, and although this mystery involving the narrator and seven lies she told about the murder of a friend’s husband was unsettling, its also one of the best mysteries I’ve read. Sociopaths are scary people. They can make the worst things seem so natural. The narrator’s voice is so seemingly kind, you get pulled right into the story.

This is a gripping and chilling novel that was so engrossing I finished it one sitting. Elizabeth Kay weaves a story so tense you can’t put the down for fear of restarting the book in a dark place. Told through the eyes of Jane, we learn how she and her best friend Marnie become the very best of friends and grow to have a friendship found only in story books. From a childhood spent so close their own teachers mixed up their names to sharing their first apartment together, Jane and Marnie were inseparable. But all of that changed when Marnie married Charlie, a man that Jane instantly despised. You can’t tell your best friend that her husband is a boring, demeaning, jerk of a man. Instead, you lie and tell you her he’s fantastic. When those lies begin to add up, Jane finds herself in a position found only in her worst nightmares.

As Jane tells her story, whose identity we only learn at the very end, we learn how their friendship became so close. We learn how Jane’s childhood was far from idyllic, and how Marnie’s childhood was equally troubled. It’s through Jane’s memories that we see the incredibly slow build-up to obsession, one lie at a time. Throughout all of this, Jane remains a sympathetic character, and that is almost the more terrifying than the reasons behind her lies.

If you’re into dark, twisty thrillers, this is perfect for you. Jane tells her entire story to an unknown listener and I couldn’t wait to find out their identity. I nearly through it out the window at about 97% so be prepared-the ending is rough, but readable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

This story of best friends takes a twisted path that makes you realize that you never really know a person and what they are capable of. Looking at Jane an Marnie from the outside, it seems like a perfect friendship. But below the surface lies a toxic obsession created by fear and envy.

I really enjoyed this one. I do wish that there had been a bit more “action” instead of the main characters monologue, but all in all it came together nicely. I absolutely love a good stalker story line, so this one real resonated with me. I would certainly recommend this as a great obsessive thriller.

The book begin with the narrator telling us that she is a liar, but she promises to tell us the whole truth this time. The story goes on to follow the seven lies that Jane (our narrator) has told. It follows her friendship with Marnie and both of their loves. When one of them are in love, their friendship plays second fiddle. The lies all start to come when Marnie meets Charles.

While this is a psychological thriller, I had a hard time getting into the book. I did not connect with Jane and found myself questioning her the whole time and being frustrated that she is so selfish.

Jane is besties with Marnie. They have been since childhood. It is obvious from the beginning that Jane feels undeserving of someone like Marnie. This is an uneven friendship. And this is an uneven book. There are a lot of lies, more than 7 I think. And the tale of obsession that is told is sad and tragic.

At times I thought of throwing this down and picking up the other book I was reading today. It was just drawn out, the story of someone over-explaining their side of things. Someone protesting too much. I stuck to it and found that sad and tragic turned to creepy and horrible.

I went back and forth over this, but I came out on a three. It had its moments and really starts to take off about 1/3 of the way in.

This was a suspenseful and addictive tale about a dysfunctional and obsessive friendship. The writing style put me inside the mind of protagonist whose honesty and sanity was highly questionable. It included all the drama and twists that make for a captivating psychological thriller.

Posted on all platforms in my profile 6/8 - Fully Formatted Novellives.Com


Since this is going to the land of salt licks, and it is an Adult Psychological Thriller, I feel the need to be very thorough in my defense of what makes it so. Sometimes it is easier to do than others, depending on the narrative structure of the book. Seven Lies is not one of those books. For that reason, this will be one of the rare times I provide the summary. I hope this will assure you that my vagueness is not an attempt out of ducking the defense of my opinion, (Seven Lies doesn't release until 6/16) nor am I spoiling anything. Those who have read my site long enough know that I don't deal in spoilers unless there is a very clear warning.

Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay Summary: 

It all started with just one little lie. But we all know that it never ends there. Because, of course, one lie leads to another…
Growing up, Jane and Marnie shared everything. They knew the other’s deepest secrets. They wouldn’t have had it any other way. But when Marnie falls in love, things begin to change. Because Jane has a secret: she loathes Marnie’s wealthy, priggish husband.

So, when Marnie asks if she likes him, Jane tells her first lie. After all, even best friends keep some things to themselves. If she had been honest, then perhaps her best friend’s husband might still be alive today… For, of course, it’s not the last lie. In fact, it’s only the beginning… Seven Lies is Jane’s confession of the truth—her truth

What I liked
 Well...
  ...Oh, it was set in London
 ...Oh, Jane's husband seemed really awesome
Damn it. He gets killed by a drunk driver... and that isn't a spoiler because it happens in like the first 8% of the book and the foreshadowing of it in the first 4-5%
So yeah. Actually, that sucked.
...hmmm

I almost feel like Kay sat down and legit thought that if she took a bunch of despicable characters, and threw them into a horrific plot that had a horrible ending, everyone would love it. And reading that sentence, I can see how that could possibly work. This is not that book. This is not those characters and this is not that plot. What you have here is a bunch of despicable characters that are miserable, sad, delusional, pompous, co-dependent, passive-aggressive, completely selfish and/or a mix of these lovely traits. Then throw into the blender, a plot that is barely meh, until it isn't (I'll get to that in a minute). Finally, an ending so vile, horrific, disgusting and stupid that I was literally dumb stricken.

And here is my big problem with such a stupid ending. If you are going to write a vile, horrific and disgusting ending. Don't waste it on something so inane. At least make the ending twisty, juicy and brilliant. One that readers feel guilty for relishing in because of its horrid and grotesque nature. Or better yet, make the entire book worthy of it.

Half The Lies You Tell Ain't True

There is this amazing song by Stereophonics called Half the Lies You Tell Ain't True. I mention this not because of the story, itself but because of the structure and mess of it.

I wouldn't even call it plot holes. Although there are a number of convenient incidents that allow essential events to take place. If this was an incredible book, I might mention, them but it wouldn't kill it for me. So, that isn't what I mean by Half the Lies You Tell Ain't True. Nope. What I mean is that a great Psychological Thriller like no, wait. Let me back up a second. This is actually two separate issues.

I am a sucker for the unreliable narrator or anything that falls within that scope. So, nothing in this section is a criticism of that type of narration. Although, to be fair to the unreliable narrator, as a point of view/structure. I am not even sure that is what Seven Lies is aiming for. I don't know what the hell it was aiming for. A memoir, a confessional, I don't think Jane is particularly unreliable in telling it. In fact, she actually seems very aware of every action, motive, and the exact feeling she has for doing them. So, if this is supposed to be an unreliable narrator? Then this is a whole new twist called the very reliable narrator who is a psychopathic bitch... but ... I don't even know. That's just how bad it all is. Either way, per the summary, it is very much a confessional. But HOW STUPID THAT EVEN IS, IN AND OF ITSELF... But spoilers so let me stop.

2. OK. Back to the point I started to make. A great Psychological Thriller makes you want to beat the author, so to speak. You want to figure out the big reveals. Sometimes you           are sure you have and then they come, and the author is like FOOLED YOU. And then you beat your head against the floor because when you go back through the book, you           see everything you missed. It is RIGHT THERE. That is brilliant work. Or, like when I read The Split? It got to a point where I was literally taking notes. I was determined to              beat Bolton. I did not beat Bolton.

I'm not sure exactly at what point this happens in a Psychological Thriller. Not too far in. With Seven Lies, it was around the 30% mark that clues started to drop, obvious clues. They weren't even well embedded. It was set-up in a very obvious way that just didn't add up. When the first one popped-up, my interest piqued, of course. Then the second one came, and I sat and thought for quite a bit. Then I caught the third one and I was really baffled. But, not in the good way. I was just sitting there thinking, this makes NO SENSE on any level of reality.

I don't know who she is confessing to (and that isn't a spoiler either because it is just like Ruth Ware's Turn of the Key- but not at all like Turn of the Key because that book was PHENOMENAL) but you know from the beginning that Jane is confessing to SOMEONE. She promised them the truth and she is giving it to them. However, the clues don't add-up in the context of the characters in the story and who it could possibly be, in the end.

I never actually wanted to DNF it. Although, looking back, I'm not sure why. I did, on many occasions just want to jump to the end and find out who Jane was talking to because it was driving me insane. My gut was screaming that this was going to be stupid ridiculous. And it was even worse than that. I think I figured if I quelled my curiosity, maybe I could enjoy the rest of the book. That would not have worked.

That Ending

There isn't much more to say about it. It is, as we would say in Brooklyn Italian/Southern Italian slang, Stunod. On top of that, it is gross, disgusting and vile. Even if you liked the rest of the book, the ending would have, I believe, killed it for you. Speaking of Brooklyn Italian/Southern Italian slang. It gave me ajita (a feeling of agitation or stomach upset or heartburn).

Oh and: Stunod is Southern Italian dialect for "stupid" or having one's head in the clouds and not paying attention, from the Italian "stonato" which means, "out of tune".

I figured if nothing else, you should get something out of this review other than not to read Seven Lies because there are many phenomenal Adult Psychological Thrillers that have or will be coming out this spring/summer. Keep up with them in the Spring/Summer Fling 2020. This way I can save you this kind of pain.

Friends forever, no matter what it takes. Jane and her best friend, Marnie, share everything. As they grow up, their lives move apart. Jane, whose family isn't there for her, does what it takes to maintain their treasured friendship. When an article surfaces, making allegations as to their relationship and the death of loved ones, things get more complicated. Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking, Pamela Dorman Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty good mystery/thriller. You assume, but don't know for sure, if your narrator is unreliable or not. Interesting and kept me going.