Not my cup of tea. The prologue really reeled me in, however I felt at some points of the book the plot was lost. I liked Sylvie and Cleo’s characters but Emma was a bit annoying to me. Very average book.

This books starts out as a charming novel about love, loss and 3 sisters who share a toxic mother. It seems that the author quickly loses her footing and the book becomes a trite predictable satire of other romance and family novels.
As the sisters move to England to celebrate the wedding of the youngest, the book devolves into absolute page filler nonsense. The author pulls it all together, but with an unlikely, simplistic ending.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC, in return for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I generally enjoyed this read. It felt a little rushed in spots and underdeveloped as well. But the premise was really engaging and I kept reading because I wanted to see what happened to these sisters and how they resolved their trauma.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on May 14, 2024.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Whew. The Peacock sisters - three red-haired girls raised by a narcissistic mother, their lives spiraling out from each other and full of self-sabotage. As Sylvia, the baby of the group, sets to marry the mysterious British Simon, the whole family gathers in a castle in England where everything falls apart/finally heals(?)

At first, I did not like this book - the beginning was a bit jumbled and unclear - but as things unraveled I found myself settling in and enjoying the prose and plot. I kept going because I wanted to know more, there were so many mysteries at the outset. I don’t know why but I got a vibe of Cold Comfort Farm? Maybe it was a combination of toxicity and weird buoyancy running through the narrative. In the end, I was pulling for these fragile women and their families and enjoyed the ensemble cast.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sending me an ARC for an honest review.
Lovers and Liars was an introspective view on how a traumatic childhood can deeply and diversely affect different siblings. Throughout the book, the three Peacock sisters reminisce about how they grew up while navigating adulthood and the turmoil of love and loss and complacency. Though I did not grow up with a narcissistic parent, my of my past experiences have led to similar feelings and behaviors that the sisters have. Cleo has a sense of protectiveness over her sisters that as the oldest sister, I very much relate to. Emma just wants those around her to love and need her, which can definitely be both a positive and negative trait. Like Sylvie, I also can feel myself disassociate when I experience any sort of strong emotions.
The short chapters kept me enticed and had me speeding to the finish. There was a fair amount of repetition around thoughts the sisters would have or feelings they needed to express. From personal experience, trauma can bring out the need to repeat yourself or go back over memories or thoughts in a continual loop.
My only criticism is that the conversations would sometimes feel disjointed or out of place in the context of the chapter.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book and I want to look into more of the author’s work.

This was a quick read but not my favorite. The ending just seemed off to me and not believe able in the least. I just didn’t feel for these three estranged sisters like I thought I would.

I wanted to like this one more but it just didn’t capture my interest. I felt like each of the three storylines could have had more time and depth and trying to intertwine them just left them short changed. The resolution felt rush as well.

Three sisters, as different as night is from day, are the focus of Amanda Eyre Ward’s latest book, Lovers and Liars. One sister is getting married to a man she barely knows, one is a high pressure attorney with no time for love, and one is a wife and mom in debt up to her eyeballs. But just who exactly are the lovers and who are the liars? That’s the question you’ll ask as you begin reading, but it won’t take long to realize any one of the characters could be either or both.

"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.