Set over a spectacularly dramatic weekend, in the grand halls of a sprawling castle estate—amid floor-to-ceiling libraries, falconry lessons, and medieval meals—Lovers and Liars is the unforgettable story of a family’s ability to forgive and to find joy in one another once again.

Twisty, stylish, and emotionally messy in the best way. The dual timelines worked well, and the secrets unraveled at just the right pace. A few characters felt underdeveloped, but the tension and sharp dialogue kept me hooked. I read it in one sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This is one of my favorite authors so I squealed with delight when I was approved to read this! There was so many things to love about this book that I don't even know where to begin! How about I say - run, don't walk to get your hands on a copy ASAP!

This book has mystery and a love story, with a beautiful European backdrop. The only criticism is that the mystery went on through most of the book and seemed to wrap up very quickly at the end. Not my favorite but was a quick and entertaining read.

Three sisters gather at a castle in England for the youngest sister’s wedding. Each one brings secrets involving their families as well as their relationships with each other. I found this book very disappointing. The plot was very shallow and the character development almost nonexistent. So there wasn’t really very much to this book. The characters were unlikable and just “silly”. Reading the book felt like a chore. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

Classic Amanda Eyre Ward: family tension, some great lighter moments, memorable characters, excellent writing!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was just very boring for me. I really wanted to love these sisters, but they were lackluster to me.

This book was short, but it somehow felt much longer than it is.

Lovers and Liars follows the story of three sisters and the complex dynamics that many families navigate. While the premise held promise, I found the execution disappointing. The narrative felt disjointed, with an overuse of abrupt and seemingly random intimate scenes that disrupted the flow rather than adding depth to the story. Instead of drawing me in, these moments felt excessive and out of place.

Additionally, the characters lacked the depth needed to make them truly compelling. The librarian character, in particular, felt like a tired cliché rather than a nuanced, engaging figure. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the setting, the characters, and the overall plot as much as I had hoped. While some readers may enjoy the dramatic elements and familial tensions, this book ultimately fell flat for me.

I found this book to be rather middle-of-the road, honestly pretty boring.

Three sisters:
Sylvie, a widowed elementary school librarian who meets and falls for fellow book lover Simon. Simon is a Brit and the two get engaged fairly quickly, plan a wedding in the family castle in the UK.
Cleo, a high-powered attorney with a live-in boyfriend she isn't sure she loves. Cleo is suspicious of Simon and investigates his background.
Emma is married with two boys and lives in their home state of Montana. She has squandered away the family savings and is deep in debt due to a MLM and is sick worrying that her husband will find out.
Top this all off with their narcissistic mother, and they all travel to attend this wedding.

I can't quite put my finger on what didn't work for me. It's a short book, and we alternate between the three sisters' points of view, so we never really get any depth on any of their stories. I didn't connect with any of them, save for Sylvie's love of reading. The historical tidbits of information given at the castle seemed overly detailed and unnecessary.

Although we are given details about their growing up and their toxic mother, she honestly seemed like a caricature and her behavior frustrated and annoyed me. I realize that it is a fraught dynamic for those actually experiencing and growing up with a narcissistic parent, but because we didn't actually get that on the page, all I wanted was for the adult daughters to stand up to their mother and tell her to knock it off.

Overall, I think this is a forgettable novel that doesn't really bring anything new to the table. Not a bad book, but not impactful either.

Lovers and Liars drew me in because it was about sisters. Three sisters, very close as children, but let their bond fades as adults. Keeping secrets from each other will do that. Lovers and Liars is a heartwarming story about finding oneself, finding love and finding forgiveness. Reminded me of my relationship with my siblings.

This book instantly drew my attention because it was about sisters. Three sisters, very close as children, let their bond go as adults. Keeping secrets will do that.

I found this an interesting read. 4 stars!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lovers and Liars has family estrangement and an English castle? Alright, I'm game. Eyre Ward writes these dynamics well and the three sisters were all endearing in their own ways. Toxic mothering is something I am all too familiar with as well. Lovers and Liars goes through all the drama and emotions seamlessly and the story is satisfyingly brought together at the end. A great read.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Emma, Cleo, and Sylvie used to be much closer but as they grew older, the sisters grew apart. When Sylvie meets and falls in love a charming British man, Simon, the sisters come together at Simon’s castle. Cleo is immediately suspicious. Emma made some bad investments and can’t afford the trip but is afraid to tell anyone. Sylvie is madly in love. As the sisters come back together, they all need to decide who they will trust.

A charming novel about family bonds, how bonds can be broken, and how to rebuild them. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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#loversandliars #amandaeyreward

Lovers and Liars is a interesting read for anyone who enjoys the themes of family relationships, secrets, and romance complexities. The story at the center is heartwarming as well as challenging. It explores the power of forgiveness, and the search for love and identity.

Are you ready for the destination wedding of a lifetime? In Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward, three sisters prepare for what could be the wedding of the century.

Baby sister Sylvie is getting married in an English castle with all the fanfare and tradition you may expect. Although she, Cleo, and Emma haven't been in consistent communication for a while, they once were close as children, protecting each other from their domineering and callous mom. Now they have their own problems and challenges, but this wedding could glue their family back together and bring closeness again. Will the wedding go off without a hitch or will their individual problems sink the whole event?

I found this novel a fun read with incredible scenery once you cross the pond to England. You do also get apt descriptions of New York City life since one of the sisters resides in the Big Apple. All the traditional, medieval events bookend the scenery to make it all the more magical. This is another get-away novel to the charmed life of living in a castle so it's perfect if you're looking to escape the upcoming winter doldrums and travel to a faraway place.

Each sister differs greatly from the others except for their red hair. They live in wildly different places, embody diverse careers, and have individual lifestyles, making it hard to imagine that they may get along. They're very distinctive so it's easy to keep track and also the different chapters focusing on each sister help you to do so. While the scenarios may be on the verge of far-fetched, they're engaging and keep you interested and wondering what will happen next. The action never slowed down.

The only real issues I had with the book was the epilogue. One character who wasn't that prominent provides an epilogue, which I didn't find necessary. I really didn't care what she thought, and, frankly, it didn't add much to the book.

Otherwise, I thought this was a fun novel, and the author really made you feel like you were at the English castle and countryside. Maybe she took a trip to one herself because it felt so fresh and vibrant. Plus, I liked the characters, their stories, and how they interacted with each other. I'm interested to see what far-flung place this author takes her characters to next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward!

I hated this book. I was drawn in by a story about three sisters - having grown up as one of three sisters it’s a plot line that always draws me in. And I felt like the basic setup had a lot of promise. Unfortunately the execution really didn’t work for me at all.

The characters felt like absolute caricatures. Has the author ever met a librarian or is she basing her idea of it on the description from a second grader of what a librarian is like? Every description of Sophie’s librarian life was a giant cliche and every sex scene of Sophie and Simon felt awkward and just made me cringe.

I hate how a lot of drama was built up with each sister and then they were all resolved very easily and neatly with a bow on each. Except there also had to be a fire thrown in at 95% through??? Just to put a little action in an otherwise entirely dull book I guess? It did not work for me and that’s the point when this went from 2 stars down to 1. This was definitely not for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

Amanda Eyre Ward has a wonderful way of interweaving stories and making you want to know more and more and more about a character. I love stories about sisters and I love when I am not able to figure it all out at the beginning. Well done!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward is a compelling, intricately layered novel about family, secrets, and the lies we tell ourselves to survive. The Peacock sisters—Sylvie, Cleo, and Emma—are brought back together by the upcoming wedding of Sylvie, a widow who has found a new, mysterious love. Each sister harbors her own truths, fears, and regrets, and their reunion at a lavish castle for the wedding sets the stage for revelations that will unravel the fabric of their complicated relationships.

Ward’s writing is rich with detail, and the gothic atmosphere of the castle, filled with books, secrets, and history, provides a perfect backdrop for the sisters’ emotional journey. Sylvie is on the verge of opening her heart again, but Cleo’s suspicion and Emma’s shame complicate matters. As their toxic mother enters the picture, the sisters are forced to confront their pasts and the roles they've long played in each other’s lives.

Lovers and Liars is a thoughtful exploration of family dynamics, the complexity of forgiveness, and the tension between truth and self-deception. With its vivid setting and rich character development, it’s a novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate emotional depth, family drama, and the messy, redemptive process of healing old wounds.