Lies, Lies, Lies starts out innocently enough. We meet Daisy and Simon. They seem like a fine couple, on the surface. And it isn’t until we spend a bit of time with them that we realize, all is not okay under the surface. Not at all. And I loved the way their relationship was written, because that’s so real life. We can hide things and justify, but eventually, “it” hits the fan.

So one little lie, turns into quite a big lie. And the fallout compounds upon itself. And still, no one talks about it. They sweep the issues under the rug, where they simmer, and grow, and become bigger and bigger and bigger.

There actually isn’t much I can say here, because no spoilers. But I can tell you that this one isn’t your typical quick read. It’s a page turner, but it follows Daisy and Simon for not days or months, but years. And it all comes to a shocking conclusion. This one is meaty and long, but pays off long after you read the last page.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Mira Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out today. Run to your nearest independent bookseller and get your copy! My review will be published on my blog, Women in Trouble Book Blog on August 4.

I've had Adele Parks on my list of authors to try for a while now, and after being intrigued by the blurb of her newest I just couldn't resist signing up for the blog tour. I'm glad I did, because my first experience with her writing was most definitely successful. Lies Lies Lies is more domestic drama than thriller, but it packs a mean punch and it will definitely have you in its grip the whole time. Fans of the genre will be delighted!

Like I said, Lies Lies Lies felt mostly like a domestic drama and if you are looking for a superfast and action-packed thriller this book will most likely not be your cup of tea. If on the other hand you enjoy domestic thrillers with a focus on the character development, the psychological aspect as well as a healthy dose of shocking secrets and lies, you will be in for a treat.  Lies Lies Lies will deliver all of this and more! Using a dual POV and storyline, we get to hear the story from both Daisy and Simon's side. We learn about their past, what happened in 2016 that changed their lives forever and what their life is like in 2019 for both after the life changing event. This dual POV is used to explore both characters as well as to build up the suspense and give the multiple secrets they are hiding more impact. Both the plot and plot twists are more than solid and the two POVs complemented each other very well.

As for the characters themselves... In this kind of psychological thriller and domestic drama, the character development is key. While neither Daisy nor Simon are all that likeable, their development is more than thorough, flawed and realistic and it was interesting to see them develop and grow over time. The rest of the cast likewise each had their role to play and they complemented the main characters well. There are a lot of secrets and lies involved in this story, and Lies Lies Lies will have more than a couple surprises in store for you. I especially found Simon's 2019 chapters to be fascinating for obvious reasons, although I won't be going into details to avoid spoilers.

Lies Lies Lies deals with a lot of difficult topics, including addiction, alcoholism, dementia, dealing with a life changing injury, infertility, abuse, rape and violence. Again, I won't be going into details to avoid possible spoilers, but especially the addiction and alcoholism element plays a very important role in the plot and I thought this element and its consequences were represented well. Lies Lies Lies definitely is no picnic and if you are looking for an uplifting read this book is probably not a good choice. But if you are looking for a well written, character driven domestic thriller that isn't afraid to go dark and packs a mean punch, Lies Lies Lies could be the perfect book for you.

Aspects of this book were so realistic I was more than a little alarmed. I felt as if the author was masterfully leading me along with her carefully constructed plot, but then, a second explanation was unveiled that made sense also. So I spent a good bit of the book wavering back and forth thinking less first of Simon and then Daisy. At other times, my feelings were reversed. It just goes to show, with a change of circumstance--perceptions can be altered too.

This book was very well written. The author does an excellent of capturing the emotions of a man who drinks because he doesn't really want to face what he believes, and his wife who has her own secrets and feels upset by her husbands alcohol abuse.

A nice, twisty, turny sort of of book, I definitely enjoyed the story.

Lies, Lies, Lies is a complex page-turner that will make you think twice before you ever tell a lie again. The ending is shocking, and the journey to get to that is dark and full of twists and turns.

The language of Lies, Lies, Lies is straightforward. It is almost taciturn in its stark choppiness. It reminded me of Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammet with their noir mysteries. This style of language gave extraordinarily little away as I made my way through the novel. I do not usually gravitate to this writing style, but I did appreciate its effectiveness for keeping hidden all the lies.

The characters are well-developed despite all the lies and misdirections, mostly because it centers around a group of friends who have known each other for over 20 years. I loved the friendships and all that they brought to the story. It is interesting to see how they have stuck together all these years and each character's role.

The conflict and lies between Daisy and Simon make the first third of the story go amazingly fast. The second third does not contain any conflict and thus drawls on very slowly without a distinct direction. Then the last third picks back up the steam from first third and all but spirals out of control. My only wish is that the middle's pace had not slowed down as much as it did. It was tough for me to keep my focus on the story during this section.

I loved the surprise ending. It is a bit head-scratching, but I loved the twist after twist in that last third. I am all about being shocked and surprised, and this book did not disappoint. The action is very intense. The lies layered upon each other to the point I cannot imagine even the one telling those lies can discern between truth and non-truth.

There are a few trigger warnings with this book, and those scenes are very intense- rape, physical abuse, and cruelty toward animals.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Lies Lies Lies

Author: Adele Parks

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: thrill seekers

Publication Date: September 5, 2019

Genre: Thriller

Recommended Age: 18+ (alcoholism, sexual abuse TW, animal death and abuse TW)

Publisher: HQ

Pages: 448

Synopsis: Daisy and Simon's marriage is great, isn't it? After years together, the arrival of longed-for daughter Millie sealed everything in place. A happy little family of three. And so what if Simon drinks a bit too much sometimes - Daisy's used to it, she knows he's letting off steam. Until one night at a party things spiral horribly out of control. And that happy little family of three will never be the same again.

Review: This book was ok. The book had a lot of good character development and the book had a great atmosphere around it.

However, this book was really slow paced and really hard to get into. The book was confusing and the twist was… impossible? The book also felt like it used the shock factor of the sexual abuse and the kitten death instead of spending the time to build the suspense.

Verdict: It wasn’t that good for me, but it might be for you!

What an interesting storyline! I love the first person perspective for Daisy and then getting Simon’s point of view. There were so many jaw dropping twists right up until the very end! I loved it! Even now, I’m wondering if people did the right thing and I’ll probably be thinking about it for quite awhile as though they’re real people!
I definitely recommend this book! 5 stars from me!

Thank you so much to Harlequin and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reading this book in advance!

We meet Simon and Daisy who had been married for a while and were desperate for a child.

They finally conceived, but when they try for a second child, Simon finds out that he is sterile. Is Millie not his child? Did Daisy have an affair?

All these questions and insecurities have Simon drinking more and being absent more. It also has him lying more than usual. Will Daisy start to lie too?

Friends begin to notice his drinking and his and Daisy's marriage getting rocky so a friend suggests they renew their vows at a shared party since they both have the same anniversary.

Was this party the biggest mistake of their lives? As it turns out what happened after the party was the biggest mistake ever.

LIES, LIES, LIES was very slow moving until the party and then secrets started popping up.

If you can make your way through the slow buildup, LIES, LIES, LIES gets better, but it still dragged for me and didn't have me anxious to get back to reading.

The characters are pretty much unlikable because of their habits, the way a few of them betray friends, and because of their secrets.

Do we really know who’s lying? Do the characters really know what is the truth and what isn’t?

Be aware there is domestic violence and alcohol abuse in this book. 3/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the beginning. Adele Parks takes us on an emotional journey through Simon and Daisy's marriage. Ever time I got her one tragedy and thought that things were going to get better another twist was thrown in. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I also thought the story flowed really well even with the split POV.


Go Into This One Knowing: rape, alcoholism, animal abuse.

This book was a slow go. With a title like Lies, Lies, Lies, of course there are secrets. These secrets (except for a couple), were quite easily figured out. The characters weren’t very likable, and could have been fleshed out more. Alcoholism is front and center in this book and delves into just how devastating it is to both family and friendships. Parts of the story just didn’t ring true. Overall, just an OK read.

Fast read that keeps you interested.
Daisy and Simon long for a baby and when Millie arrives, they seem like the perfect family. Yes, Simon drinks too much, but they still have fun and attend parties. Then one night a terrible accident occurs and a secret is discovered, and their lives will never be the same again. Thank you for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved reading the enthralling and engaging story. Daisy, Simon, and their daughter, Millie, appear to be a happy family, but Simon's drinking problem continues to escalate. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, full of suspense and mystery, and a must read novel.
I reviewed a copy of the book through NetGalley.

This book was a really hard read due to the subject matter. It was entertaining but I found it really hard to like any of the characters. The twist at the end was great!

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ books for the ARC.

I have to say thrillers are my genre of choice lately and this one was a good one. Its filled with twists and most importantly lies and more lies. I felt like the twists were unpredictable which is always a nice surprise for me.

Book: Lies, Lies, Lies
Author: Adele Parks
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for providing me with an ARC.

I really thought that this was going to be a mystery of sorts, but it’s not. It’s a domestic thriller, which I am okay with. I just don’t want anyone to think that this is going to a murder mystery or anything like that. However, if you love domestic thrillers and family drama, then this is the book for you. The way it is presented will have you flying through this.

One thing that I really liked is the fact that we have dual narrators and both of them are equally unreliable. I love that we have no idea which one is telling the truth and which one isn’t. There is nothing that I love better in a thriller than an unreliable narrator. It keeps you guessing right up until the end-especially if it feels like the narrator is trying to get you on their side. I just love it. Adele does this so wonderfully. Daisy presents Simon in a way that doesn’t make him look good and she does. Simon really doesn’t do anything to defend himself either, which only adds to the layers. Plus, Simon is an acholic, which, in case you are wondering, Adele nailed the struggles of someone dealing with substance abuse.

What I also really liked is that no one is nice here. Everyone is morally grey and has something to hide. This only adds to the unreliable narrator. All of the characters know each other. Just based on their actions alone, you are quickly able to tell that there is more to each of them. We have affairs, drinking, and an accident. We have a child who is injured, which is what sets off this whole book. We also have characters who can’t remember what happened on that terrible night. We get to see the hurt and pain that secrets can cause, which makes it very difficult for you to decide who you should feel sorry for.

Even the side characters stand out. A lot of times the side characters just kind of fade into the background, but these ones don’t. They have depth. Each one of them is different. Plus, it also helps that they all have secrets of their own. They are so involved in the plot that it really makes them feel like they are main characters.

I like that Adele did not use stereotypes and had a good bit of depth to everything that she did. I read a lot of thrillers and so many of them are cookie cutter. I like that she did something different, which, in my opinion, is going to make this book stand out. This book is really a test. It’s a test of how much people will put up with, how far they will go for those they love, and forgiveness.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was highly engrossed and could not wait to see what was going to happen. The only reason that it got a four star rating was because it did something that I hate in books. We have dual narration, but one is told in first person and the other in third person. While it is done well, it’s just something that will always grind my gears in books. Please, just stick to one point of view style.

Anyway, this book comes out on August 4, 2020.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/HO2WSv5h17I

I gave up at 50%.....I couldn’t take it anymore. Not enough excitement just whiney characters that I couldn’t relate to. I hate giving bad reviews but this was not good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy!

Whew, where to start.

TW: rape, assault, alcoholism, animal death

This book had all the makings of a really great domestic thriller. It’s split into two POVs—Simon and Daisy, a couple in their 40s with a young daughter, Millie. Simon really wants to try for a second child, despite their ten-year struggle to have Millie, but Daisy is rather reluctant. We learn quickly that Simon has a drinking problem and that Daisy is perhaps hiding something that might implode their otherwise picture-perfect family . . .

While this sounded super promising, the major story beats or twists felt like they came at the wrong time. Heavy hints are dropped early about the twists and the story makes no attempt to use red herrings to divert our attention. So when those hints are then confirmed, they don’t carry the emotional punch they should. The characters might feel blindsided, but readers will likely see the twists coming from miles away. I did keep reading because I truly kept expecting a huge twist—something I had missed. But the climax was exactly what I expected and little more.

I was also sometimes baffled by the characters’ actions. To keep this spoiler-free, it could sometimes feel like they did something just to progress the plot, but the action doesn’t make sense in the context of their characters. The ending was a huge problem in this regard, for me, and ultimately made me drop this to 2 stars.

There was just enough substance to propel my interest and keep me reading, but the end unfortunately doesn’t deliver much more.

This book wasn’t for me. The POVs were confusing and the characters were unlikeable. I just couldn’t get into the story. and found myself trying to get through it just to get through it but not caring either way how it turned out. I wound up not finishing it. I apologize for this review and wish the author must success.
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

This thriller gave me all the feels. I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

Loved, loved, loved this book!
Kept me guessing right up to the end... Read it quickly over 2 days, couldn't put it down at times
My first Adele Parks but will not be my last
#netgalley #lieslieslies

First, I would like to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book.

Second, I'd like to apologize for reviewing this book - I never should have accepted this book. I decided last year that I would not read more by this author. I just don't like her style at all, and sadly, for me, this book had all the issues that I previously didn't like. I don't like to give low reviews for ARC books, but I also don't want to lie and say I loved a book I didn't.

Third, if you have read others by this author and liked them, you will probably like this one too. But for me, the first half was bad. And the second half was even worse. I couldn't wait to finish this one so I could move on.