Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. I had never read anything by Maggie Smith until Truth and Other Lies. The story is very engaging and intriguing. Megan is a young woman, moving back home to live with her mother after being fired from her job and the end to her relationship. Her mother, Helen, is running for Congress in a very tight race. Megan meets journalist, Jocelyn Jones, someone she has long admired. She begins working for Jocelyn but things come to light about possible stories from a war that Jocelyn covered with another journalist. Megan's story is intricately woven with her new job, the investigation into Jocelyn and a new relationship with Nick. The story is very fast-paced and difficult to put down. I truly wanted to know the answers and see what Megan could achieve in the end.

Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith is a fast-paced novel about a young investigative reporter who returns home in shame, but a fluke interaction allows her to work for a renowned journalist several decades her senior. We first meet 25-year old Megan as she moves back home to Chicago, on the tail of being fired from her job as reporter for not properly vetting a story and the dissolution of her relationship with her boyfriend. She moves home with her overprotective mother, who turns out to be running for a state congressional seat as a republican. Megan’s personal politics cause her to distance herself from her mother and idolize her new boss, Jocelyn. A scandal develops that threatens Jocelyn’s career and Megan is tasked with investigating and resolving it. I really liked how the characters and story developed. The story reads quickly and we learn more about Megan’s mother and Jocelyn that put their actions and behavior into focus. Though the scandal is serious, it almost seems tame in comparison to the wild headlines we’ve seen over the past several years in the news. I found it fascinating to consider how some women have achieved great success over the past several decades vs. our idealistic expectations now. I really enjoyed this read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

What a fantastic debut! Truth and Other Lies takes on the topics of the day, focusing on a plagiarism accusation against a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. Sounds simple, right? Well of course it’s not. There’s always more to the story.

Leaving a cheating boyfriend behind, Megan Barnes is a young journalist who has just learned an important lesson—always check the facts. Leaving a cheating boyfriend behind, Megan comes back to Chicago and is surprised by her mother, Helen Watkins, who informs her she’s running for Congress. Megan and Helen have never seen eye to eye on the issues, so while Megan looks for jobs, she keeps the tidbit about her mother’s identity a secret.

I don’t like to give away plot points or spoilers, so just know this: Maggie Smith does a great job of keeping this relevant story engaging. It’s fast-paced and twisty and covers a range of timely issues: alternative facts, sexual harassment, abortion, nepotism, and more. And at the core of the story is the power of the relationships between mothers and daughters and best friends. If you’re looking for a read with intelligent, strong, relatable characters, then this is the book for you. Can’t wait to read more from Maggie Smith!

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This book really hit all the right situations with me: fast-paced plot, great journalism angle, a little mystery, relevant topics in regards to current events, family secrets. How could you not like this? I really enjoyed it and can't wait for all my friends and family to get their hands on a copy of this book!

3.5, rounded up.
I tore through Truth and Other Lies in two sittings, which is rare for me-- especially with anything having to do with politics, as I usually have a low tolerance for what often turns propagandistic, and I often find myself bored with politically-centered and reporter-centered fiction. All of this is to say that Maggie Smith's novel navigates dangerous waters remarkably well. There's enough intrigue on various fronts that it kept me entertained, and it never got too bogged down in the politics. In fact, I thought the political issues were wonderfully portrayed, with the ideologically opposite mother and daughter finding common ground. It's never preachy, and the whole 'moral of the story' is that we must be more careful before judging others, whether the conclusions to which we jump are negative or positive. My biggest critique of this novel is that the relationships are sacrificed to the quick pacing, like the story's being delivered at 1.5x speed, and it's abridged on top of that. The result is that nearly all of the characters besides Megan are short-changed and feel like plot points rather than well-developed, multi-dimensional people. I also think Jocelyn being the antagonist was forecast too early. The author could've served up a delicious twist, had she not told us early on to be wary, and instead really developed Jocelyn and Megan's relationship so that when Megan finds out, she's completely blindsided (and we feel that, because we didn't expect it either). Curious to see how this is received by others once it's released.

I really enjoyed this book and found it to be an engrossing and topical read. Megan was an immensely relatable character, and I enjoyed reading about her dynamics with her mother and Jocelyn. This is a multilayered story where we see each woman’s dreams, struggles, and determination, and the lengths each one will go to to protect them. The author didn’t shy away from addressing certain “hot button” political topics, and lest this detract some readers, she actually presented them in a fair and balanced way.
There are some great discussion topics that would make this a good pick for book clubs.

This was a really nice surprise. I had never read anything by this author but I found this novel very engaging. When Megan “boomerangs” back home after personal and professional disasters, she must face her strained relationship with her mother. She is searching for a way to get back into journalism, so an encounter with an esteemed journalist should be the ticket. Sadly she learns that her idol has feet of clay and a “cheating heart.”

Megan becomes involved in a story, while her mother is running for political office. The complications are far-ranging and there are many lies. These are uncovered and the pieces of the story come together as Megan seeks her truth.

Not only did I enjoy this novel, but there is an excellent list of book club discussion issues which will make this a superb choice for book clubs. I was very impressed by this book and I love tge timely issues it discusses.

I’m so glad I read this ARC, thank you Netgalley.

Maggie Smith brings an energy to her debut, Truth and Other Lies, that will keep you up into the wee hours of the night.

Not afraid to delve into the big topics of today: abortion, sexual harassment, ethics, and ambitions, Smith’s writing also reflects her ability to portray the beauty of friendship and loyalty, along with the timeless angst of mother-daughter issues. And secrets. Smith is a genius with secrets.

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Truth and Other Lies

I absolutely loved the relevance and timeliness of Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith. The characters and storyline were intriguing and had me racing through the pages. Long after I turned the last page, I found myself thinking about Megan, Jocelyn, and Helen. Great book!

Unique, captivating, and complex. Part romance, part thriller, and part analysis and ultimate critique of our current social landscape, this book and its author (a fellow Wisconsinite) didn’t shy away from difficult subjects. At times I thought the book was a little more plot-driven than character-driven and I would have loved an epilogue or additional chapter, but overall it was an engaging and entertaining book. Here’s hoping for a sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Maggie Smith, and Ten16 Press for the advanced reader digital copy of "Truth and Other Lies.”

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Wild ride.. Solid five

Maggie Smith's debut novel, Truth and Other Lies is a timely novel spotlighting some important issues, questioning the role journalism plays in how the public views hot topic events and the exploration of journalistic ethics. Megan is a believable and likeable protagonist who learns some hard lessons. Recommended.

'Truth and Other Lies': 3⭐

(Unpaid Review: thank you to @netgalley, @maggiesmith and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review.)

This book was enjoyable and very intriguing. Loved the plot and all the journalism vocabulary and family-oriented characters. More people should read it and more people should write like this author!

This normally isn't my typical type of book, but I enjoyed it. I kind of guessed the end, and didn't like how it ended on a cliff-hanger, but it was enjoyable and it was a fast read.

Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith spotlights media, spin, and the tenuous trust between reader and journalist. Smith tells her story through the lens of Megan, a recent graduate with a keen desire to make her mark as a newspaper reporter. Megan is like a recently opened package of chest-thumping ambition. She wants a seat in the pressroom, to work alongside the truth-tellers, to take on the time-honored role of a news writer. It is from that implicit trust in the Fourth Estate, the unshakeable belief that a free press will always deliver the truth, that Megan discovers that true and false isn’t always black and white, what is right isn’t always good, and the power of spin can make the blackest lies palatable. Five stars for this one.

I requested to read “Truth and Other Lies” because of its intriguing premise. News reporter Megan Barnes returns to her hometown of Chicago after a job loss and a romantic relationship hit the skids. But Megan discovers she cannot go home again when her politically conservative mom whom she’s has a bumpy relationship with runs for Congress, which limits Megan’s ability to find a job in journalism. At a rally, she meets her idol, Joselyn Jones, a respected journalist, and when Megan defends her, her actions lead to a PR position. But then Joselyn Jones is accused of plagiarism, and Megan investigates in her idol’s defense. But in Megan’s discovery of truth, she is led back to her mother. If Joselyn has made any mistakes Megan may be willing to forgive, can she offer the same forgiveness to her mother?

I thought the concept of Megan in conflict with her mother was a good one, especially when their relationship is compared to the admiration Megan has for Joselyn. It’s not easy to take advice from someone you love—even when she may be right. I found Megan to be a relatable character and really enjoyed the setting of journalism and politics in the 2020s. I didn’t care as much for the romantic aspect of the story, but with a novel about strong women who needs men?

Thank you the Maggie Smith, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel.

Truth and Other Lies is a great debut by Maggie Smith. Do you ever have that one character who you start off not feeling and slowing becomes one of your favorites? Megan Barnes was that for me! I couldn't figure her out or where her story was going but ended up really pulling for her. I was fully engaged by the plot. I liked the exploration of ethics and the purpose of journalism. Definitely makes you ask your own questions for the media and what is real and what isn't.

Truth and Other Lies is a debut novel by Maggie Smith. The protagonist, Megan Barnes, has caught the attention of a famous reporter named Jocelyn Jones and quickly becomes her protege. When Jones finds herself under fire after an accusation of plagiarism, Megan goes undercover to get to the bottom of the story.

There are several layers and subplots happening simultaneously in the story. Smith does a good job of tying up loose ends by the end of the novel, but I found myself much less invested in Megan's mother's congressional run or Becca's personal crisis. Megan's relationship with Jocelyn was far more interesting, especially as there has been an exploration of power, prestige, and authority in our society the last few years. I liked that the text was centered around the female characters and how women exert power and influence over one another. I appreciated that it wasn't a story about a male who has taken advantage of a young woman with higher ambitions, especially since we have seen that narrative being told over and over in the news. Jones wasn't strictly a bully and didn't use her sexuality to get to the top; she was opportunistic and jaded, and that catapulted her to fame. Her character was developed in a more nuanced way so she wasn't a stereotypical character. I didn't feel particularly connected to Megan, but I was intrigued by how she and Jocelyn used one another for their own gain.

At times, I felt like the pacing was a bit imbalanced. The middle was definitely the most engaging for me, and the ending felt rushed. Everything tied up quickly, and I was left wanting to know a bit more about how the dots were all connected.

I think the comparisons to Liane Moriarty are fair, and I can see this book being a limited series on Netflix or Hulu. It would likely have a decent-sized viewership as well. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC.

Really enjoyed this book! The characters felt real, Megan’s complicated relationship with her mother felt genuine and her friendship with Becca was sweet. There was even a love story mixed in.

Working for celeb journalist Jocelyn Jones was to be her stepping stone to bigger things. The ending was very satisfying…there were some twists I didn’t see coming.

This is one of those books you hate to finish because you miss reading about the characters. Really, really loved this book! Two thumbs up! Thanks to NetGalley and Ten16 Press for allowing me to read this book.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Ten16 Press and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

A deep, multi-fasciated story that delves into relationships.