This book was interesting. It was slow paced at time, but fast-paced at other times. Overall it was an interesting look into a dark and jealous mind.

*I received this book complimentary from NetGalley.com for reviewing purposes*
I loved the premise of this book when I first came across it and was looking forward to reading it. 

As the summary mentions, the book starts off with one lie that eventually leads to more between best friends, Jane and Marnie. Jane's obsession with Marnie and their 20 year friendship makes Jane do whatever it takes to keep their bond strong and dependent on one another. The story starts off really strong. I read one third of it in the first sitting. But as the story goes on, it loses steam, momentum and starts to feel redundant. Although this story has the makings of a great thriller, it fell flat for me. Some positives, I really liked Jane as the story teller and really liked how she told the story from a first person point of view, often referring to the reader/audience. That's one thing that stood out for me in this book.

I gave this book a 3/5.

I went into this book not knowing what to expect - and it definitely caught me off guard - I was so intrigued with storyline and ... once I started reading, it was very difficult to put down. 🤔.
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Jane and Marcie - best friends since elementary school. Always at each other sides - through the best and worst of times. Jane needs Marcie - and when Marcie meets the love of her life - Jane is not pleased and this starts a series of seven lies that will change the trajectory of their lives - and unveil Jane as a character with overwhelming grief, jealousy and she is simply - the most toxic of friends - willing to do anything to keep Marnie to herself. Jane is a just a mess and she makes for an exciting character - you just don’t know what is next!😳.
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This novel was fast paced - I was excited to see what was around each corner - what could Jane do next? Seven lies is basically Jane’s confession - of her truth and her reality - which is much different than the real truth. A psychological study into a woman - an obsessive woman - you start feeling anxious as the lies are unfolded and wonder if will Jane finally be confronted? Def recommend this book for a fast read that will have you turning the pages into the night. Thanks to @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for an advanced copy for my honest review. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 .
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By far, the characters are my favourite aspect of this book. They are well written with personalities that feel realistic. I particularly liked Jane’s family. They were vivid and you can see how her relationship with them influences her behaviour with Marnie.

Unfortunately, the pacing was a bit odd. There were moments where I could not put the book down but there were also moments when I had to force myself to keep going. There are a few instances where the narrator’s tone changes and it dilutes the tension pushing me out of the story.

However, there were so many moments that were just perfect so I was happy to keep reading. I look forward to future books by this author. 🌟🌟🌟💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.

Jane and Marnie have been friends since they met in school…they shared everything, including secrets. But when Jane lies to Marnie about how she feels about Marnie’s new husband, it creates a wedge that only grows with each successive lie.

While a narrator-centric story can be very compelling, in the case of Jane, most of what she does is predictable and you certainly know it’s coming. You soon learn how she is going to react in any situation.

Marnie is not an interesting enough character that you believe Jane could do what she’s done to impress her. Jane never seems to understand she’s only in Marnie’s adult life to prop her up and constantly does whatever Marnie needs to make herself a part of Marnie’s life. A sister and mother are included in the story, but Jane (and thus the reader) only sees them in a one-dimensional way. A journalist who stalks Jane, striving to reveal her deepest secrets, suddenly decides Jane will self-destruct and just disappears from the story. And, in the end, the final crisis is not a surprise.

Seven Lies fell short for me as a psychological thriller.

2 stars

Jane and Marnie are best friends and have been for a long time. They have promised to stay together forever. Even now when they are grown up, they still have dinner every week. Sound simply ideal doesn’t it?

Jane has a secret though and cannot tell Marnie. Jane despises Marnie’s husband to her core. When Marnie asks Jane what she thinks of her husband, Jane tells a small lie, which becomes the first lie of the seven told.

The lies continue and the story gets more complicated. Jane becomes more involved in Marnie’s life and her goal is to have Marnie all to herself, just like it was when they were younger.

This story is dark, complicated and a very good psychological thriller. As Jane’s character evolves, you get more involved in the plot. I didn’t really connect with the story, but it was well written and had all the aspects of a good story. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review. All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

3.5 Stars

Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay is a mystery novel that has an intriguing premise. The main character is clearly deranged, which makes for some interesting themes in the novel. While this book will have the reader turning pages, the story is more dramatic than it is a thriller.

This is one story that definitely has a luring synopsis. The concept of a toxic friendship that is tainted by lies just seems like quite an exciting story. It starts off slow, which is fine for a thriller if it is going to lead to an explosive ending. However, this book seems to fall flat.

❀ UNRELIABLE NARRATOR

Jane is quite a psychopath and it becomes clear at the beginning of the story that she is an unreliable narrator. Her life takes some unexpected turns and she is definitely suffering as a result. It is easy to feel for Jane and her longtime friendship with Marnie makes for some really touching moments.

❀ A DRAMATIC MYSTERY

Although there are some interesting aspects to this novel, it feels like more of a dramatic mystery than a thriller. As the story progresses and more of the lies are revealed, it just seems that the plot does not ramp up enough to have the reader on edge. Also, the ending feels unsatisfying and rushed, even though it has an interesting twist.

If you enjoy a dramatic story that has an unreliable narrator, Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay is one book that you might want to check out. The premise is very appealing and it will be one that many find enjoyable. That being said, it is not quite the thriller that it appears to be.

This book begins with a bang, Jane (MC) speaks in first person and tells the reader right off the bat that she hates her best friend Marnie’s husband Charles. And by the end of the first chapter the reader knows that Charles is dead but not why or how and Jane teases the reader that if she had been honest, Charles would still be alive.
So begins Jane’s confession of the series of lies that she has told.

Unfortunately what promised to be a exciting book after such an excellent beginning, ultimately turned out to be a letdown. This book is very much Jane’s story and no one else’s. We don’t get any real insights into any of the other characters including her best friend Marnie. Other characters include Jane’s mother who has dementia and is living in a nursing home, plus a sister who’s anorexic, but they both seem like little more than filler in this story. After the midway point I began losing interest in Jane’s character. She was just too shallow and far too much of a whiner. The story dragged towards the end, overall there wasn’t enough suspense.

My thanks to Pamela Dorman Books & Netgalley for the ARC

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Elizabeth Kay for free e-Arc in return of my honest review.

Everything that publisher promised is there, except for me it was not a page turner really. Female protagonists are exceptionally written. Jane and Marnie are both very well developed and multidimensional. There are few flashbacks to past that are beautifully incorporated into the storyline.

I appreciate how Elizabeth Kay divided her book into lie blocks and built her story like a spiral (the book cover design is excellent and prepares for the spiral downside if all the lies).

On the other hand, the pacing was somewhat peculiar. Some parts are dragging on while most important lines are rushed and left unexplained. If it was author’s trick, it did not work for my benefit.

I definitely liked Seven Lies, however, I was in for more.

June 17, 2020
Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay

A special thank you to NetGalley, and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Generally I’m not a fan of first person novels, however Elizabeth Kay weaves a compelling story with her “Jane”. From the title we know there are seven lies, and the revelation of each one leads to the frightening ending.
The language throughout the story is engaging, making the reader feel like they are part of the story. At times, she even chastises, and challenges the reader to accept her version of the events that unfurl. A unique voice for sure.
Characters were believable and fully fleshed.
I will definitely look for more from Elizabeth Kay.

So this book has decently written and developed characters but the story itself wasn't exactly thrilling.
It was actually pretty boring which is not what I was expecting. I think part of the reason may have been way too much inner story. A common word I have seen about this book was "rambling" and I cannot disagree.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you love books with a narrator that has obsessive tendencies and a penchant for lying, welcome to your new favourite read!

Jane and Marnie have been best friends since they were young girls. Marnie is everything that Jane is not and she quickly realizes that a friendship like this must be cherished...and protected. Then one day, Marnie meets Charles, her future husband. Jane loathes him, but when asked by Marnie what she thinks of him, she tells a little white lie. From there, the lies begin to spiral out of control and what follows is a page turning thriller about what one woman will do to keep a friendship safe.

The story is told from Jane’s perspective and from the start you get the feeling that something is not quite right. Kay did a wonderful job in creating a character that is creepy, but interesting enough to keep you reading! The narration style is engaging as you are pulled into Jane’s world.

A great debut that was well-plotted and engaging. The narration, at times, was quite wordy and provided lots of detail - some of it unnecessary. Overall a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advance copy of this e-book in exchange for a review.

Well written and compelling story. I wish I had more sympathy for the narrator, but perhaps that was the point. Just as a personal comment - I'm getting a bit tired of the "unreliable narrator' trope especially as it is applied to women.

Seven Lies will have you thinking deep about the lies we tell and the lies told to us. Marnie and Jane's friendship will keep you hooked as Jane unveils the lies she's told to Marnie. It starts with a simple lie--Jane says she likes Marnie's husband. But then one lie turns into more lies. As the lies evolve, you'll find yourself turning page after page trying to figure out what will happen next as you wait for the next unpredictable twist. This was an enjoyable read that kept me on my toes. Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An inseparable bond formed on the first day of secondary school, Jane and Marnie’s friendship is the focus of Seven Lies, the captivating debut psychological thriller from author Elizabeth Kay. Ultimately a story of confessions as Jane shares the lies she told her best friend with the reader. This masterful tale filled with a dark obsession created from the secrets and lies people tell, had me eagerly turning the page. Kay was able to tell an original, fast-paced and unpredictable thriller that kept me guessing.

I throughly enjoyed being kept on my toes throughout Seven Lies and recommend for those who enjoy twist and turns.

Jane and Marie are a perfect picture of best friends. They met as kids when they both felt alone and friendless, and have been inseparable since. That is until Marnie falls in love and Jane can’t stand her new husband. Jane tells Marnie her first lie when she says that she likes him, then that lie turns into another, and another, and another. Maybe if Jane had just told the truth in the first place Marnie’s husband wouldn’t be dead.

I would like to start off by saying thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review. And congratulations to Elizabeth Kay on the publication of her debut novel!

This book told its story in a unique way. The main character, Jane, is telling her truth about what happened but often breaks the fourth wall, calling her audience out for laughing or rolling their eyes at what she’s saying. I really enjoyed that quirky aspect of the narrative, and the way it portrayed Jane’s character. She seems like your regular 20-something women but each chapter had her looking crazier, and crazier. By the end she’s a full blown psychopath.

There is a constant edge to the story that keeps you turning the page. I found myself repeatedly trying to poke holes in Jane’s lies, to figure out when Marnie was going to realize the truth.

Although I enjoyed the story, it took a long time for the book to get going. It wasn’t until about page 140 that I felt like we were past the introduction and moving on to the real action. Over all it was worth the read just to be able to see inside Jane’s psychopathic mind.

It’s a thriller. Friendship can be good or a nightmare for Marnie and Jane it was a nightmare. Jealousy is a powerful emotion and denied. Didn’t like the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Elizabeth Kay for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

thank you Viking books for my Galley of Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay. WOW! What an interesting read about obsession and the lengths one will go to in order to be the centre of attention. The story follows Jane and Marnie and their friendship, which turns deadly over the years. Jane is an obsessive friend and very selfish, wanting Marnie only to herself, despite what she has going on for herself. This was an entertaining read - a slow burn but an enjoyable read nonetheless.

BOOK REVIEW: SEVEN LIES; Elizabeth Kay – pub date June 16, 2020
2.5 besties out of 5
*
Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay has an interesting premise pertaining to 2 bosom buddies, Jane and Marnie, who meet in elementary school and grow together in years and milestones. Their story see’s two enmeshed besties navigating parallel journeys which is comforting but also a bit unusual, especially following the death of Marnie’s husband. Over the course of the book, readers are provided narration by flawed protagonist, Jane, who admittedly asserts that her version of truth and the lies she told are hers alone. In yet, readers must also dissect her perspective and “truth” from reality which can be obscured by context and her lone point of view.
*
Unfortunately, this book fell a bit short of my expectations for a thriller as it felt more like a diary with a predictable unfolding of events. This is not to say that other readers won’t be drawn in by the authors ability to create a rich atmosphere and scenery amongst an interesting take on this trope. In addition, the two friends entangled relationship is relatable in its portrayal of the human need for connectedness and belonging. We can see ourselves in Jane as she grapples with creating an identity, largely hinged on another (Marnie) and struggling when her footing is shaken as they two friends mature including the normative distancing with life’s stages.
*
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada and Viking for the electronic ARC in trade for an honest review.
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I hate giving negative reviews, but this book was a serious yawn. It was slowwwww. It was boring. It was all things that you don’t want a book to be. For a book classified as a thriller, I was the antonym of thrilled.

Jane and Marnie are bosom buddies; the best of friends since childhood. But Jane starts to feel that their bond is threatened by Marnie’s romantic partner, Charles. And that deep seated insecurity exposes that Jane is one twisted sister. Her obsession with Marnie and preserving their friendship drives her to the edge. Jane quickly becomes tangled in her own web of lies (...seven of them!). If she could have just told the truth, maybe Charles wouldn’t have needed to die.

Thrillers are a difficult genre. It’s supremely saturated and there aren’t many that hit it out of the park. This book had a great premise, but I didn’t love knowing what happened off the hop and then just waiting for it to all come together. Maybe you’ll feel differently, but I was bored out of my tree.


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