Jane and Marnie have been tied at the hip since childhood. Marnie is the light to Jane’s dark, and Jane grew up dependent on her friendship with Marnie. They tell each other everything, their secrets and their lovers. However, Jane doesn’t approve of Charles, Marnie’s new lover. When their engagement is revealed, it threatens Marnie and Jane’s 20-year-old bond, and Jane will do anything to protect it.

Structured in the series of seven lies, the novel reveals that actions that lead to Jane’s growing obsession to keep Marnie for herself. The writing is utterly compelling. Jane is scary as she is obsessive. We see everything through Jane’s eyes, from the first time she meets Marnie, to her falling in love with Jonathan, and to her role in the death of Charles.

The book was an enjoyable read, however, I didn’t find it as thrilling as I had anticipated. The climax of the story occurred mid-way through, and by then Jane’s character felt very fleshed out. The last half lost momentum and the ending didn’t really surprise me.

Regardless, I think the strongest aspect of the book is the analysis of Jane’s character and her toxic relationship with not only Marnie but her dysfunctional family. I was drawn in by Jane’s character, that at points of the story, I was convinced that she was normal and was just suffering grief and jealousy. Though the plot fell flat, I was compelled to continue reading to know Jane’s past.

Received an advanced reader's copy courtesy of NetGalley.  If you're looking for a quick psychological thriller read this is a good choice.  Great read for a short getaway or a beach vacation.

Seven Lies is Elizabeth Kay's newly released debut novel. And what a debut it is!

Jane and Marnie have been the best of friends since childhood. They have forged what seems to be an unbreakable bond despite being polar opposites. Jane is the first to change their dynamic by marrying. But when her husband dies, she wants to retreat back to the ways things were. But Marnie's life is moving on as well - she too has found a man. But....Jane doesn't like him very much. When Marnie asks her if she does in fact like him... well, that's the first lie she tells Marnie.

Kay does a fantastic job drawing these two characters. Jane is flat out scary. And obsessive. And she wants Marnie all to herself, to have Marnie need her. Marnie is eminently likeable. It's hard to see what she sees in Jane. But that just tells the reader how good Jane is at, well, at lying. Kay does a fantastic job at drawing the dialogue and interactions between the two. Jane's mother and sister are just as wounded and add to the dysfunctional feeling of Jane's life.

The reader sees everything through Jane's eyes. The book is told almost as a confession, with Jane detailing how things got to where they are. The next six lies are revealed as we come closer and closer the final pages. I didn't see what was coming with the end of her confession. Brilliant! And then to discover an epilogue that was just as unexpected. But perfect!

Disturbing, unsettling and an excellent original debut. No lie. If you like domestic noir and suspense, you need to pick up Seven Lies

So I’m not sure what I came into this novel expecting, and I’m not sure what I ended up getting either.

It was a good read with some solid potential, but I feel like there was so much rambling and tangents that got tangled up in the story and drew away from it.

I can’t even begin to give a short summary, because I’m not sure what even happened nor what I could say that wouldn’t give the whole story line away. What I will say, is that it’s the story of Jane and the seven lies she told her best friend and how these lies came to be and why they were necessary.

It took me awhile to get through this one, partly because it was convoluted and lost my interest in places...although I have to say that my interest was piqued to try to figure out if the plot had an end destination; and partly because I’ve been working in a COVID centre during this pandemic and haven’t had much down time!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this novel for allowing me to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!</i>

What an incredible storyline. Jane being the main character telling her side of the story. It was just one of the best mysteries I have read in a very long  time. Definitely a must read. Captivating and leaves you wanting more.

This was a truly compelling book. That is, until the end, which was oddly paced and a bit too disturbing. When we first meet the protagonist, Jane, she seems like a devoted friend but as the lies pile up, the story gets darker and darker. It’s a page-turner but by the last lie, I was about ready to put the book down as Jane’s behaviour becomes impossible to read.  There are also some loose ends and characters and plot points that don’t amount too much, leaving me a bit frustrated with the story.

Great suspenseful story, set in London, England, that features an interesting plot that delves into the thoughts of a seemingly normal woman, who is obsessed with her best friend.

Jane and Marnie Have a friendship that is untreatable, or so Jane thought.  Marnie was there for Jane during tough times, but then Marnie meets the someone who takes her time away from Jane.  Jane doesn’t like Marnies new guy, Charlie, she thinks he’s not good enough for her.  But when Marnie asks Jane what she thinks of him, Jane tells her first lie.  This leads to more lies, seven in total that Jane tells.
#sevenlies #netgalley #indigoemployee

I found this book hard slogging. It dragged on and on with the main character's first person dialogue so much that  I found myself speed reading only the major words just to get through it, for me, there were about three areas of the book that caught my interest for a couple of chapters. The only reason I completed the book was due to the fact it was given to me in return for a review.

Really enjoyed reading this book. It was an easy read and kept me interested in the story. I did not know what would happen in the last few chapters and the ending was satisfying, although leaving me wanting more. It's a great, east, entertaining thriller. Thumbs up!

A story of friendship, Jane and Marnie met in school and became intwined in each other life’s.  In fact,  inseparable until Jane fell in love  with Johnathan.  How life can change in an instant and how Jane discovers her friendship with Marnie can not go back to what it was, as now Marnie has fallen in love.   The book is told from Jane’s perspective, and she numbers each lie she tells Jane.   I cannot tell more with giving away vital parts of this intriguing story.  I enjoyed it, a quick summer read.

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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@tolovetoread #tolovetoread #read #reader #reading #readinglife #readersofinsta #readersofig #readthisbook #book #books #bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #bookreviewer #bibliophile #bookaddict #booksofig #booksof2020 #bookrecommendations #canadareads #bookishcanadians #amreading #bookthoughts #booklife #readanywhere #sevenlies #netgalley #penguinrandomhousecanada #elizabethkay

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.