"Lovers and Liars" was such a fun read. Three sisters reunite for an English wedding and each carry a secret with them. One is in love with her best friend, one has lost her identity and money to an MLM and one is still carrying the weight of something she experienced as a child. The sister and family dynamics were done well and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the stories of Sylvie, Cleo and Emma.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is a little peculiar but some may find it to be just right.

On the surface, many young women dream of a perfect marriage in a castle with a man that is wealthy, kind and incredibly attractive. Sylvia, a librarian in Miami, felt like she just met her charming white knight. Simon was wonderfully romantic and gave her a huge diamond engagement ring. Perhaps, he was her prince. But the Prologue revealed that she wrote him a note at the castle to tell him she was sorry; it was over. Readers know right away that reality was going to hit hard.

Sylvie’s two sisters told their story next – both miserable. Emma was deep in debt and Cleo was in love with not the man she was living with but an adored Jewish friend. His mother said he had to marry a Jew and she wasn’t the right match. The sister’s divorced mother, Diane, was diagnosed as a narcissist. And these were the people that Sylvie hadn’t seen in ages. And now she wanted to get close to them again -- at her wedding? Well, that would be her second marriage. It’s crazy, insane and made my head spin.

Yet, it was fun to imagine the place where the wedding was set: the Mumberton Castle in the northern part of England. Simon’s family owned this mansion from the 1200s with the kings who ruled and women who were there to serve. It made me want to read more about the many wives of King Henry VIII who had connections at this place. The family also had adventures before the wedding date with birds, sea animals and specialty shops in town.

It’s was a quick read with the suspense that made me eager to find out if Sylvie and Simon would be living happily ever after at the end. However, I couldn’t relate to most of the characters. I found Emma, Cleo and Diane to be annoying. Yet, I get it. This is set up just in time for a beach read with those wanting to sink into a fantasy world of tender love.

My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 14, 2024.

This book left me baffled as to how it received high praise from some readers. I could not get into it at all and had to force myself to keep reading. The characters were wooden the plot contrived. Even the writing style was painful. Every sentence of dialog – and much of the story was told in dialogue - was followed by a “said” tag even when it was obvious who was talking. There were a few harrowing moments, particularly toward the end, but they were wrapped up too quickly and too conveniently. And then it was followed up with an epilogue where everything was rosy and the dysfunctional characters were suddenly functional again and everyone lived happily ever after. Sorry this one didn’t work for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy to read and review. The book is about three sisters that meet in England for one of their weddings. It details their relationships with their romantic partners and how they impact their family relations. We learn about the lies and deceptions between them and their lovers. I decided to read the book in “read out loud mode” on the NetGalley app. I found it challenging to keep the characters and their lives straight. I think if I had read the book it would have been easier. If you don’t mind juggling a number of characters and their stories you will enjoy reading the book.

I loved this book! LOVERS AND LIARS takes readers through a drama-filled destination wedding at an English castle, from the perspectives of three very different sisters. Sylvie, the bride, believes she's ready to love again, but is also still coping with the tragic loss of her first husband. Emma is struggling with financial burdens that could threaten her family's stability, and also trying to let go of her crushed career dreams in the process. Cleo isn't sure if her seemingly perfect boyfriend is "the one"...and she also isn't sure if the wealthy, mysterious Simon is the right match for Sylvie. She attempts to save Sylvie from more heartbreak...but is she really trying to save herself instead? When their toxic mother shows up, the sisters find themselves reverting back to their childhood selves—but they might finally be ready to start making some new choices.

I really appreciated how effortlessly Amanda Eyre Ward balances the heavier storylines with the more lighthearted moments! I thought she did a great job of combining romance, drama, and comedy throughout to tell the story. The relationship between the sisters was the true heart of the book for me, and I loved seeing how their bond evolved, and how they stepped up to support each other even after years of estrangement. The England setting was another highlight—all of the descriptions of the castle and the wedding weekend activities were so vivid and immersive! Overall, LOVERS AND LIARS was such a fun, summery read with substance—I could see it being the perfect beachside book this summer! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC.

I received a copy of "Love and Liars" through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to delve into the lives of the three Peacock sisters.

In this captivating tale, Sylvie, Emma, and Cloe each harbor secrets that shape their lives and relationships. Sylvie grapples with the lingering attachment to her first husband despite her engagement to the wealthy Simon Rampling. Emma finds herself ensnared in a multi-level marketing scheme, jeopardizing her family's financial security. Meanwhile, Cloe struggles to reconcile her fierce independence with the suffocating expectations of her long-term boyfriend.

At the heart of each sister's story lies the trauma of their childhoods, a haunting presence that continues to influence their decisions into adulthood. Despite the complexities of their relationships, the bond between the sisters remains palpable, underscoring the enduring power of familial love.

"Love and Liars" is a compelling narrative that delves into the intricacies of sisterhood, love, and personal growth. It offers a poignant exploration of the challenges faced by each sister as they navigate their individual journeys toward self-discovery and happiness.

Overall, "Love and Liars" is a captivating read that will resonate with readers who appreciate heartfelt stories of resilience, forgiveness, and the enduring bonds of family.

I admittedly was not into this book for the first half, pushing myself to finish so I could leave a review since I got an advanced copy. It felt chaotic, yet surface level, where I couldn't really attach to any one character and thus didn't fully see or feel pulled into the plot.

While it got better toward the end, it still felt disjointed rather than a full story from beginning to end. It was...fine. Not sure I'd read another by this author. For me, I appreciate deeper storytelling, with a clear arc and a point. I'm not sure this one had either of those.

This book was slow going at the start and I even contemplated not finishing it but I stuck it out and was pleasantly surprised and throughly lived this story of sisters and love.

This is a clever book about three sisters who "reunite" in England at the outset of Sylvie's wedding to Simon. Because they are getting married in a grand baroque castle that belongs to Simon's family, everyone is excited to be a new place with so many things to explore. But they all have secrets; one is in love with her best friend, one is almost bankrupt, and the third is harboring thoughts about something that she witnessed as a child. And like many families, these people have messy, complicated lives (and children) that may be upended if drastic decisions are made. It's a wild ride but worth it in the end!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC for this lovely romance novel.
This is the story of three sisters who had a difficult childhood and as adults rather lost touch with each other. The youngest sister tries to reunite the family (including the most unlikeable Donna the mother) to attend her second wedding. Each sister has her story presented bit by bit and the reader can really appreciate what makes them all tick.
I found the characters very well drawn and for the most part quite appealing. The writing style was pleasant and easy to follow. I especially liked the short bullet chapters as a device at the end of the book.
As a romance I found the book very appealing as well. The resolution to the story was most satisfying if somewhat expected.
Overall this is a fun read for fans of Romance novels as well as those readers who want a little more from the genre.

The premise for this (with the intriguing prologue) pulled me in. The characters and their relationships kept me pushing through pages. The story was poignant and lovely, though the section in England did start to drag when describing everything around the castle (at times it felt like all the research that had been done was dumped into the descriptions). Overall, a solid read.

This was a good story and well written but again, I feel the editor let us down. The rating should reflect the hole book. But I need to take a star away because it was horribly edited. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I have enjoyed all of Amanda Eyre Ward’s novels, so I was excited to receive an advanced copy of Lovers and Liars to read. This is a fun story about sisters, secrets and meeting a boy with a literal castle in England… not too shabby.
Sylvie Peacock is a young widow who is working as a librarian in Florida when she meets her prince charming. They get engaged and she invites her estranged sisters (and crazy mother) to her wedding in England. The story really centers around the Peacock sisters, and their messy lives, coming together to heal. All of the sisters have distinct personalities and problems, but they put everything aside to support each other when Sylvie falters.
This is a multiple POV story that had lots of twists and turns. It reads easily and was fun to get to know the characters.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

The Peacock sisters reunite for the wedding of their sister, Sylvie. And this is the wedding to not be missed, even if mom shows up in time to almost mess the whole wedding up! Sylvie is getting married in a castle to a man she barely knows! Simon has secrets and Cleo is determined to expose him. Sylvie can't be hurt again. Everyone has secrets to hide and in the Peacock family is no different.
Lovers and Liars is my first read from Amanda Eyre Ward. I loved the story's setting. Could there be a cuter town and the castle?! I can't imagine having the funds to get married in such a place. How these sisters, who grew up so close, fell out of touch doesn't really make sense to me. The mother, Donna, is an awful character (and I think that is exactly how the author meant her to be). I like how the book was divided in to different parts. The chapters were the perfect length for pausing in between chapters. I would recommend this book to my other book loving friends and would like to read others works by Amanda Eyre Ward. Special thanks to NetGalley, Amanda Eyre Ward, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 3.5 stars for me.
#LoversandLiars #NetGalley

“Lovers and Liars” is a romance (kinda) book by Amanda Eyre Ward. This book covers the stories of three sisters - Cleo, Emma, and Sylvie. Cleo is a successful lawyer, Emma is a stay-at-home-Mom in a pyramid scheme (and also perfume maker wanna be), and Sylvie is a school librarian. The story mainly revolves around Sylvie’s upcoming wedding - but also delves into her past (she’s a widow) - along with diving in the past of all three girls with the relationship with their mother. There’s also the current timeline. Honestly, I’m surprised I did not DNF this book. It’s a bit all over the place. I don’t know if it’s a “woman’s fiction book” or if it’s to be a comedy. There was romance (a wedding!) but that seemed to be there to move the plot along. Part of this book happens at a castle in England (to get everyone together) and, honestly, I found the information about the castle to be, at times, more interesting than the story in this book. It took me a while to keep the sisters separate. I’m obviously not the audience for this book - it felt messy, I couldn’t connect to the main characters, and there was a lot of drama that, honestly, felt like drama to be, well, drama. I would recommend this book to those who like delving into past instances, a romantic British castle, hidden secrets, and family drama.

A fast easy read about 3 estranged sisters and a castle wedding. It all wrapped up nicely in the end, but not in a believable way.

I enjoyed this book and found it to be a fairly quick read. The relationship between the Peacock sisters is one that anyone with a sister will understand and find comfort in. There were some overly descriptive sections which I found myself skimming, but overall this was a cute read. Can definitely see many packing this into their beach bag for a fund beach read.

In Amanda Eyre Ward's masterful novel, "Lovers and Liars," we are thrust into the tumultuous world of the Peacock sisters: Sylvie, Cleo, and Emma. Once inseparable little girls, the weight of decades-long secrets has driven them apart, leading to a tangled web of lies they weave to themselves and one another. As Sylvie prepares for her second marriage to Simon Rampling, a wealthy and enigmatic man from Northern England, her grief-stricken heart finds solace in the written word and the perfect order of library shelves. Yet, Cleo, the successful criminal defense lawyer with the seemingly perfect life, harbors suspicion towards Simon and embarks on an investigation to expose his secrets. Meanwhile, Emma, struggling with financial burdens and a shattered dream of becoming a perfumer, finds herself trapped in a lie that threatens her family's stability. As the sisters reunite at Mumberton Castle, the roles they assumed to survive their tumultuous childhood resurface. However, amidst the chaos, they discover the courage to break free from their past and make choices that will shape their destinies. Ward weaves a captivating tale that explores the complexities of family dynamics, the enduring power of secrets, and the resilience of the human spirit. "Lovers and Liars" is an immersive journey into the lives of three women as they navigate love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness. With its intricate storytelling and unforgettable characters, this novel will leave readers captivated and reflecting long after the final page is turned.

This was a fun, quick read. Who doesn't want to get married in a castle :-)

This definitely will not be my last book by this author!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I have read her books for 20 years or so and I feel like she is trying to transition into lighter books but there is still always a darker storyline that seems at odds. In this book I felt there was enough ideas between the three sisters, their mother, their partners and a wedding to a potential fraud for several books. As a result, I didn’t really get a feel for any of the women or their motivations. Honestly, despite their different jobs and issues (librarian, lawyer, failed pyramid scheme saleswoman) they were easy to get confused when they weren’t interacting with their own family or partners. I felt like the whole castle setting was bizarre—why were there so many reinactors leading up to the wedding but no other members of the public? Everything came together in the end way too perfectly. Some topics like problem drinking were repetitive (even down to the wording) and not really followed up on.

I don’t understand why the lawyer sister and her investigative journalist BFF just showed up at the ex wife’s door like that rather than doing more research? Why did she call the police on them? It seemed odd.

I think she was going for light and madcap but her more literary fiction tendencies kept popping in and derailing the tone. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t as good as it could have been.