Lemme just begin by saying that this book deserves a better title. This hackneyed phrase was almost enough to make me skip what turned out to be an enjoyable read.
Since losing her mother as a child, poor Skye has suffered with OCD to the extent that she feels like she’ll never find someone who loves her enough to look past her issues. All of this changes when she meets Burke, the man of her dreams, who not only loves her despite her peculiarities, but also wants to get married pronto. The only problem is that Burke already comes with a wife and kids, and an ulterior motive. Just when things were going along so perfectly...
This story was intriguing and fun with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep it from becoming ridiculous as this genre is often wont to do.
I also appreciated the author’s effort to give her characters some nuance rather than writing good guy/bad guy caricatures.
Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this ARC of #toogoodtobetrue in exchange for an honest review.

I was totally hooked and felt a need to race to the end. The first half was totally crazy and made me think out - what was happening exactly? Right at midway, I guessed how the lives of key characters were connected and everything fell in place. Even though I guessed the ending, it kept me engaged.

The use of multiple narrators caused a good amount of confusion and added interesting twists to the plot. Also I read it in two sittings as this twisted suspense plot was addictive and I was waiting for the showdown between the key characters Skye and Heather.

What an attention grabber! This one grabs your attention from the beginning, but there is a point where events cause you to say ‘OH MY GOD!’ out loud as you’re reading! This is a unique story that’s told from the perspective of the three main characters. Burke and Skye’s perspectives are told mostly in a current timeframe and Heather’s story begins in the past. The character development was so good and the unexpected, shocking twists keep you riveted until the end!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press the ARC!

This is a very quick read - I read it in a weekend. I found the story very interesting from the beginning. I did find the first half more compelling than the second half, especially since I saw one twist coming from early on, but it was still a good read. Would definitely read another book by this author.

Too Good to Be True
By Carola Lovering
⭐⭐⭐⭐3.5

I really enjoyed reading this book. The 'part one' of the book is fast-paced and very engaging, and then when you're at 50% there's a big twist that you won't see coming and it will change everything you think about each character. After the big twist, begins 'part two' and you basically know what's gonna happen next. The second half of the book is explaining how and why they did what they did but you can definitely guess everything but because the book is very engaging you want to finish reading it. It's written in three points of view: Burke, Skye and Heather. Skye is a pretty and very rich girl that has never been able to keep a boyfriend because of her OCD. Until she meets Burke, a handsome, older and mature guy that is fine with her OCD and quickly proposes to her. But Burke isn’t who he claims to be and he's actually married. There's also Heather, and her perspective sets thirty years ago when she and Burke were in High school. This book is about love, money and revenge. There's a big twists, different sides of the truth, falling in love, choices and forgiveness. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

You know when you are reading a book, carried along with the story, and you hit that moment where you say "Oh" aloud? This book has it. You think you know just what is going on. A man decides to help out his family by marrying a rich, younger woman. Oh, that poor wife. You are in for a surprise. This is definitely a tale about how money corrupts, so much so, that it made me dislike a character very, very much. It also touches on someone living with OCD and the fear and humiliation that goes along with it.

I really enjoyed the fantastic twists and the way the story played out. I especially loved Skye coming into her own.

Thanks to St.Martin's for an advance copy of this book.

If you like psychological thrillers and want to read Too Good to be True, then do what other reviewers have recommended: do NOT read the blurb first! It gives too much away. As the entire basis of many psychological suspense/thrillers depends on the “big twist”, then it’s best to start reading cold. Otherwise the story might not work as well for you.

Anyway. Consider yourself warned.

As I’ve written before, psychological suspense/psychological thrillers are hit-or-miss for me. This book, unfortunately, was mostly a miss. The times when it was a “hit” were the times when it was least like a thriller and most like a women’s novel.

POINT OF VIEW

The story is told from three points of view. Skye Starling, a single, beautiful, incredibly wealthy young woman with OCD. Burke Michaels, her “too good to be true” boyfriend who is handsome, caring, sensitive, and accepting of her compulsions–lying. In flashbacks, we get the point of view of Heather, a poor but ambitious teen raising her young brother after her parents succumb to addiction.

CHARACTERIZATION

For me, the characters felt over-the-top, as if the author took the most dramatic aspect of their personalities and exaggerated it. Skye’s insecurity and naivete. Burke’s manipulations and reformed-bad-boy charm. Heather’s ambitions and aspirations, plus her conviction that life has treated her badly.

Of all the characters, HEATHER irked me the most. On the one hand, she acts helpless, like when she whines that her husband hasn’t written their daughter’s college tuition check. (She can’t do this?!) Yet she’s clearly capable of elaborate schemes to get what she wants. That said, she has been dealt a raw hand in life and an early tragedy leaves its mark.

BURKE: probably the less I say about him, the better. In his “too good to be true” version, he’s adorable–but is that the real Burke?

SKYE. I actually liked her. It’s sad to see her compulsions regulate how she navigates the world. Yet at the same time, she has a supportive network of longtime friends. When all the world turns upside down, they are there for her.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BOOK: RELATIONSHIPS

One of the best parts of the novel is watching these friends navigate the transitions in their relationships. They’ve been friends since childhood, but adulthood (along with lovers, husbands, careers) has changed them and their relationships to each other. It’s great to see them support Skye.

The other highlights for me were Skye’s relationships with her trusted therapist and the reality of living with crippling OCD. Her psychiatrist helps her process her emotions but also forces her to dig deep inside to find answers and grow from her experiences.

Skye lost her mom at a young age, and her death was the catalyst for Skye’s compulsions. The author did a good job conveying Skye’s compulsions, in my opinion.

Yet while I enjoyed these aspects of the book, these aren’t great sources of suspense. They do add depth to a fairly basic storyline, though.

SUSPENSE/PLOT

The story’s suspense seems to come from flashbacks and dire hints about bad events in the past. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn't.
Skye’s repeated vague thoughts about MAX LAPOINTE are an example. Several times, she hints that something bad happened with him, but doesn’t elaborate until 50 percent of the way through the book. This exasperated me, as the hints are too vague to even guess what the issue was. It’s a bit like a friend who starts hinting about some juicy gossip but won’t state any specifics because she wants you to beg for answers before she’ll spill the tea.

The eventual story about the devious Max is a doozy, and the continual delay in its telling could have worked. (It increased my sympathy for Skye.) But for me, it didn’t completely work because the hints were all the same level of revelation, and didn’t build upon one another.

Certain twists are obvious to anyone who reads a lot in this genre. The less said here, the better.

WHODUNIT vs HOWDUNIT

The second half Too Good to be True often felt repetitious. If the first half of the book was the “who-done-it”, then the second half was the “how-done-it” part usually reserved for an epilogue or the killer’s confession in a murder mystery. Only in this case, the confession is several chapters long and interspersed with the other points of view from the present time. These confessional/explanatory chapters are mildly interesting. But since I already knew the outcome, I didn’t feel much suspense, only annoyance.

But oddly, I enjoyed the second half more than the first and couldn’t stop reading. Other than the explanatory chapters, I liked watching the other two characters deal with (and perhaps grow from) their troubles. It didn’t feel like a suspense novel at that point, though, more like women’s fiction. So don’t expect an exciting showdown, an adversarial courtroom battle, or anyone pointing a gun at anyone else. It doesn’t happen.

3 STARS

Overall, I somewhat recommend the book. If you like psychological suspense, you may enjoy Too Good To Be True or you may not. Some reviewers loved the book; check out the five star reviews on Goodreads. As I’ve said, psychological thrillers are a hit-or-miss for me. While this one was mostly a miss for me, it might be a hit for you.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This review will appear on my blog on 8 March 2021.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the.
A dark and twisty story that was nonetheless very addictive. Perfect for fans of thrillers.

Too Good to Be True hooked me right away and kept me hooked. The story is told through multiple different narrators and I got the sense very early on that perhaps more than one might be unreliable narrators but....wasn't sure who was the most unreliable. After all, aren't we all a little guilty of being blinded by love?

I don't even want to summarize the story for any future readers because going in as blind as possible will definitely give you the best reading experience for this one.

This book made me feel angry, uncomfortably cringe, feel frustrated, feel sad and a plethora of other feelings too. It was such a well executed story - the flow, the pace, the characters - so well done. The character development was perfection - and boy oh boy, was there ever a lot of character development needed for this one! I don't even want to say anything more - just go read it and then lets all discuss the ending once you're done.

My first book by this author, now want to read her first book. This book drew me in right away. It was a love story, a story of healing a story of revenge, a story of childhood losses and the long lasting effects. It was told in multiple perspectives and multiple timelines. Many twists and despite it becoming clear after awhile it was a delicious road getting there and watching the resolution

I really loved this story! It reminded me of The Last Mrs. Parrish and Gone Girl in a way. You're halfway through the book, think you know what's going on and them BAM! Gamechanger. I really love how Carola Lovering writes and explains matters of the heart so beautifully. Totally recommend!

When Skye meets Burke, the man of her dreams, she quickly falls in love and marries him...but is it Too Good to Be True? Skye’s friends all think she’s moving too fast, but she knows what she wants. Told in three voices, the reader knows that all is not exactly on the up and up, but be prepared for a whirlwind of a story. With a devious plot and clever twists, as soon as you think you have it figured out Lovering hits you with yet another surprise. A story of betrayal, greed, revenge and love, this book will keep you guessing until the very end (which was a bit too sappy after the exceptional cat and mouse lead up all the way through).

Wow! Definitely run out and get this book as soon as it is available! Twists and turns keep you guessing and usually guessing wrong. The whole book had me drawn in and I didn’t want it to end.

In this twisty, suspenseful tale, Skye, a young women plagued by OCD, meets a gorgeous, older man and falls head over heels in love. Of course, as implied by the title, everything is not quite what it seems. Carola Lovering knows how to craft a thrilling plot using multiple POVs and shocking twists. I couldn’t stop turning pages even as I began to have an inkling of what was coming. It was so satisfying when all the pieces finally fell into place. Although the pacing slowed a bit towards the end of the story for me, I still found it an enjoyable and addicting read! Skye is a beautifully real character who had me rooting for her until the very end. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 - 3.5 rounded up

Too Good to Be True sucked me in from the first page, and I was all in until I neared the end of Part I. With the novel having three alternating narrators, two of which were unreliable at best with alternating time frames, the story can play games with your mind. I enjoy when I need to pay close attention to the story to find hints and clues as to what is truly going on, and that was the case here, though the hints were repeated so often that before the midpoint I clearly knew what was going on. The addition of not one but two questionable narrators, added to the heightened suspense and mystery.

However, nearing the end of Part I, my own occupation which deals with clients of wealth and marriage, could not allow me to suspend my own knowledge and experience to swallow the words Lovering penned in hopes the reader would take the bait. By Part II, the reader already knows what is happening, the cat is out of the bag, so the majority of this portion is tedious and repetitive. I cannot divulge details as with a story like this, it would certainly spoil the entire thing, and I am biting my tongue, literally and figuratively as I type this.

The characters are well-developed, including the supporting roles, but not necessarily likable, though in ways, they are relatable.

The ending is a total twist of disbelief and shock; I'm still shaking my head at how this ended. There are many questions that are not answered and I feel like I'm tiptoeing around what I want to say, but this is the type of novel that you can only discuss with those who have read it. This is a suspense turned romance, and I prefer my suspense more thrilling and sinister. I would give the first half of the novel close to, but not quite a 4 but the second half a 2.5, so I'm settling on 3.25 - 3.5.

Triggers: Mental Health, Rape

Thank you NetGalley, Carola Lovering and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. I give this book 5 stars. I was not able to put this book down. The story was greatly written, when you think you have the story figured out, there where twists that were thrown in. This story teaches you how you can go from love to hate, to anger, to forgiveness if you have love for a person. It also shows you the lengths that a person will go to for revenge, but also to save your family from drowning. I will say that I love how Carola gave the main character Skye the strength to overcome being hurt and put herself, happiness and love first. This is a must read and I will definitely be recommending it.

Skye Starling is beautiful, wealthy, and smart. She has a good job and a group of close friends. But she's never found lasting love thanks to her horrible OCD, which she's suffered from since her mother's death when she was young. But when Skye meets Burke Michaels, that all changes. Yes, he's older, but Skye can't help falling for this handsome man who wants her. However, Burke has a secret of his own: he's married, and he's using Skye for her family's money.

"All I'm saying is that if he seems too good to be true, he probably is."

This is one of those fun, twisty thrillers that keeps you reading and guessing. It's filled with wild characters and if you're willing to slightly suspend disbelief while reading, it's a great ride. Skye is a sympathetic yet enjoyable protagonist, and Burke is complex in his own way. The book is told from Skye's point of view and interspersed with letters from Burke to his therapist. We also get the perspective of Heather, a young woman, speaking from her past, who knew Burke when they were kids.

The result is quite compelling, and I blew through this one in a couple of days. The first half is probably a bit stronger than the second, though the last half certainly unveils some crazy surprises. Some you can work out; others caught me off guard.

Overall, I went into this one looking for a fun thriller, and it delivered. It also has a bit of romance thrown in, too. It's crazy and twisty and an excellent distraction. 4 stars.

I am afraid this book was just too far fetched for me in parts.Some twists along the way but not enough for me to engage with the storyline. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This was a fast moving thriller with multiple POVs that make you question things the entire plot all the way until the very end. Loved this early 2021 read! There are tons of plot twists, great characters and just as soon as you start to cheer on one, things flip upside down and they become the ones you dislike.
Sometimes, things really are "too good to be true.".
Great fast thrill ride! Thankful for the ARC!

Fantastic plot and interesting characters Lovering developed here.
My issue was that it felt like two different genres had been smashed together.
It's starts off as a psychological thrillery type, and then turns into more of a women's fiction?
Not exactly what I was hoping for.
The writing is addictive and, despite the weird change in the tone, I still found myself finishing this in one sitting.
Thanks goes out to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for my DRC.