I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Nothing but the Truth is an interesting novel that has more depth to it than I originally thought.

Holly James offers a #MeToo novel that disguises itself as a romance novel. I would definitely say the romance is a subplot within this book and the main focus is the shit women have to put up with on a daily basis just be accepted by society as well as the bullshit we are told we must deal with when working with cis men. I liked that Holly James ventured into this topic and it was especially intriguing as Lucy works within a PR firm.

The premise is essentially that Lucy wakes up on her 30th birthday unable to tell a lie. I loved getting to navigate this new found truth within Lucy's life as she is struggling to understand why the things she used to "love" and just naturally put up with are no longer things that she is willing to deal with. This idea that we could wake up on a monumental birthday and really just say fuck this shit is such a nice idea. Although Lucy almost uproots her life completely, I love the honesty that Nothing But the Truth offers and it lends for an easy read even though the major plot point is that a bunch of the women at this firm have been Sexually Harassed or Assaulted by the CEO.

If you are looking for a book that is quick but also offers a lot of good insight about womanhood, I would really recommend this novel!

Holly James knocked it out of the park with this one. A day in the Life of Lucy Green. It's her 30th birthday and when her boyfriend stands her up the night before, a bartender makes her a special birthday drink and she makes a wish that her birthday will be perfect. She's up for a big promotion and is hopeful her boyfriend will propose. When she wakes up though, something has happened. She can't lie. Not even something as silly as putting make up or blow drying her hair. She decides to go with the flow. From canceling spin class to eating whatever she wants, turns into breaking up with her boyfriend and calling out the CEO of her company for sexual harassment. Meanwhile she keeps bumping into the bartender.

This book was wow. Why did I wait so long to read it. I felt so seen. So has every woman. Who's been afraid to speak up especially in male dominated industries. There was so much, breaking out of her shell, smashing the patriarchy, yelling about injustices of that which women continually face. There was a comraderie in the knowledge that most women have been heckled and worse - many women have been harassed by men in power and the fear of saying anything might cost them their livelihood.

I loved it. I love that it was one full day of truth telling and the world imploded and she got her best day ever.

I think it's also special to see how an author can show you the depths of a friendship based off one day. One terribly horrible day but that is actually spectacular. It was wonderful and Lucy Green is my new hero.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book reminded me of Liar, Liar. Both are insanely enjoyable, and I was amused and entertained throughout. This was an enjoyable read through and through.

Alexa play The Man by Taylor Swift!


How would your life be different if you could tell nothing but the truth? Lucy Green finds out that much of the life she has been living is a lie when her wish gone wrong has made it impossible to tell lies. Her life is turned upside down when she realizes how much of her life is a lie - including the fact that she dislikes her makeup, clothes, eating and fitness routines!

This is the story of a woman finally living her life for herself, and it is a fun, enjoyable ride from start to finish!

Lucy Green's about to hit the big 3-0 and she's got it all planned out: snag a promotion and get a sparkly ring from her boyfriend. But when her birthday eve at a bar doesn't go as expected, a sympathetic bartender and a special cocktail lead to an unexpected birthday wish. And bam – her wish comes true in the most surprising way!

The next day, Lucy finds herself saying and doing exactly what she believes, throwing social norms out the window. It's like watching someone break free and live life their way – from ditching high-maintenance looks to tackling bigger life challenges. It's a total feel-good journey that'll have you cheering and chuckling.

If you're hunting for a book that's all about good vibes, a touch of romance, and a whole lot of 'living your truth,' this one's a winner. Perfect for a pick-me-up read that's sure to leave you smiling!

This one was great! I didn’t think I was going to get approved and was so happy when I was. The characters are fun, and the story kept me turning pages!

This one was okay. I'm excited to read more of Holly's work as her writing progresses! I love a rom-com and a millennial who has know idea what they are doing with their lives - hello relatable! But wasn't super memorable to me.

I love the cover of this one. It’s so cute! I loved the character development in this one. The humor was very good and the setting was giving what it needed to give.

In my pregnancy I shifted my reading time to baby research and was not able to review what was on my shelf. I apologize as I know the number of copies you can give out is limited and would never have intentionally ignored this copy under normal circumstances. I am rating this as 5 stars as it is not the author or publishers fault I was not able to meet this timeline, and hope that you will give me another chance in the future to review as I am back into my regular reading schedule this year after adapting to the newborn life!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the review copy, and my apologies for the delay in getting this review posted.

I really enjoyed this book! Lucy is a fun, well-developed character, particularly as we get to know her without the polite face she usually puts towards the world. Her inability to lie begins with skipping spin class and ends up setting a ton of massive life changes in motion.

While I expected the truth telling to create some embarassing, cringe-worthy moments, I was pleasantly surprised by how James handled it. It is certainly an inconvenience, and it pushes Lucy to do things she wouldn't normally do, but the truth isn't painted as something shameful. We see how other people react with surprise or alarm, yet ultimately, Lucy navigates her world with a sense of freedom that I found incredibly refreshing.

There were a few times when the message about being true to ourselves felt a bit forced, especially as Lucy gives passionate speeches to other women a few too many times in the pages of the book. I am very pro "eat the cake" and all, but it began to feel a bit like a lecture from the author at times, which took me out of the story.

Lucy's friendships and her relationship to her job were the stars of the show for me. I loved seeing her navigate her work and her personal life while being truthful, and I would've honestly been satisfied with just this part of the book. The romance element felt a bit tossed in and unnecessary. I was rooting for Lucy in so many other areas of her life that I didn't really need a love interest thrown into the mix.

In all, this book manages to convey important messages about societal expectations on women and how hard it can be to stay true to ourselves, while still telling a fun and engaging story. I highly recommend this one to fans of women's fiction and stories about figuring out who we want to be as we get older.

This book was interesting and wasn't really what I was expecting. This was well written such an original story. It felt like a breathe of fresh air in women's fiction. I really enjoyed it!

🎂🤐Book Review:
Title: Nothing But The Truth
Author: Holly James
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/4 stars

This was an enjoyable read! I originally received it as an ARC but didn't have a chance to read it before it was released. Then I borrowed it from my local library and, once again, didn't read it. 😣 Finally, I re-borrowed it and read it, and it was worth it! Maybe if I didn't have SO MANY books on my #tbrlist!

Lucy Green is turning 30 years old. This is a huge milestone for many, herself included. She is looking forward to a promotion and a proposal, neither of which she receives 😔. Things need to change. She makes a wish on her birthday eve, over a cocktail at the bar, that this will be the best, most perfect birthday ever. Be careful what you wish for!

Upon waking up on her big 3-0 day, she realizes something is different. She just doesn't care anymore about the unimportant things that she's always invested too much time in. She can't be anything but completely honest. She can't tell a lie to save her life anymore! Things start to go crazy but eventually, she finds that being her most authentic self gets her further in life. Great message!

Published: July 12, 2023

This was such a fast-paced, delightful read, and all taking place in one day! I found the moral dilemma of all the lies women tell to protect themselves from our society fascinating, specifically when examined under a fictional lens like this one. Lucy was a fiery, passionate, empathetic character. I can't wait to read Holly James' next!

I had so much fun reading this.

Lucy is a publicist and after a drink at a bar, she can't lie anymore. Even though it's a big day for her, even though one of her bosses keep coming onto her and she could lose her job, she just can't lie.

3.5 rounded up.

I can't call this creative, it's pretty much the romantic comedy you'll expect. The romance isn't even that romantic, I was hoping for more thrill in the department. However, I had a great time following Lucy as she grows more and more desperate about what to do with her new curse and how to solve it.

This was my first book by Holly James, but I'm very interested in her style for chick lit. If you're more into funny scenarios than falling for Mr. Right, you'll like this book. But there is a Mr. Right, don't worry.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

"This sharp, bighearted, and magical novel tackles all the lies women are encouraged to tell just to get by in today’s world—in life, in love, and in the workplace—and the liberation that can come from telling nothing but the truth."
What a well done story that felt good and connected so well the characters to what I want to read. Thank you for the opportunity to read! And just like the Rolling Stones song, Lucy Green learns that when you make a wish, you can’t always get what you want…but you might just get what you need.

Lily is dealing with alot before her birthday. She is dealing with a boss who is more friendly than she would like but she is also dealing with how her life is going. She realized her relationship isn't something she sees long time and she realizes she wants and deserves more. When she meets a bartender she feels things she never felt with her boyfriend, is he her one?

Great light hearted feminist novel. What I like about it, is that it takes place roughly in a day which is a new concept to a book for me. Turning 30 is somewhat on a psychological mind game and Lucy was feeling it. This book really instills for women to stop convincing yourself of the things you don’t want, to stand up and be true to yourself.

It took me forever to finally read this. I kept picking it up and starting it, only to put it back down again because I just couldn't get into it. Initially I felt it was going to be another saccharine romance chick lit read and I was berating myself for continuing to request these types of books when this category is obviously just not my thing. I did finally get through it, and honestly, I kinda loved it. It's like a feminist version of that Jim Carrey movie "Liar, Liar". A woman whose entire career is built on crafting these (mostly fictitious) perfect lies and airbrushed profiles for celebrities wakes on her 30th birthday only able to say what's she's really thinking and behave accordingly. It ended up being pretty empowering to see her confront sexual harassment in the workplace, dressing in a way that truly felt comfortable to her instead of fitting in to societal pressure, etc. It got silly at times, but overall, I did enjoy it and it was a cute book with a good, female power message. 3.5 stars

The “can’t lie” premise is an interesting one, but in the end, I don’t think the story took full advantage of it or had anything to say that was really new or interesting or couldn’t be reached without being able to lie.