HQ | March 2017 | 384 pgs
Source: Library
Sometimes I Lie is the second choice of a poll I conducted awhile back and I want to thank you again for helping me with the selection.
In this book, we have Amber Reynolds as our unreliable narrator and she's in a coma. However, readers are able to read her thoughts through her subconscious mind although she remains comatose. We also learn that she hates her job working in the radio industry and most of all, she dislikes Madeline Frost, a well-known radio presenter of Coffee Morning because of the way she treats her lowly and coldly. Amber has also received a verbal warning from her boss that if she hasn't 'reconnect her ties' with Madeline, she'd be the one to leave her job.
Back at home isn't entirely a bed of roses for Amber too as her relationship with her husband, Paul, has gone lukewarm. Worse, she suspects Paul of having an affair and that she is jealous that her younger sister, Claire, is getting chummy with Paul. What with her drab situation and her unhappy adolescence stage, it is easy to see why Amber is miserable and resentful so much so that she wants Madeline to be out of her life.
Narrated in three different timeline 'Now', 'Then' and 'Before'; each timeline chronicles the events and emotionally state of Amber between her current circumstances of being comatose, the incidents occurred at home and at work before her coma and several diary entries respectively. While it was a boldly plotted thriller filled with many twists which had me reeling, I had mixed feelings about this book. Most of the characters here are unlikeable but this is not the main thing which got to me. I think my main issue probably lies with the twists, which was funny (and not to mention unthinkable) since that this element is at times essential in a psychological thriller but it was hard to say it without spoiling it. That being said, it was an unputdownable read and I think this would make a great reading group discussion.
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Well now I'm curious about what happens! I feel like a lot of recent thrillers don't have likable characters. I'm ok reading standalone books with characters I don't necessary care for but in a series I definitely need a character I can root for.
I like the idea of this one...it sounds like you didn't love it, but that you didn't hate it either. So maybe I'll give it a try. :)
Iliana - I appreciate the twists but I couldn't help but to feel a little... manipulated. Oh well. Still, it was a very intriguing psychological thriller. I'm with you about having a character to root for in a series. I couldn't imagine reading an unlikeable character continously in a series, lol.
Lark - I admit it has a great premise. I just wished the twists would've been better but then it might be me. Hope you'll enjoy it more than me when you get to it. :)
I've noticed several books I've read in the last year seem to add twists that feel manipulative. It does sound like it could make for a good discussion, though.
Jenclair - I've to say while some of the twists are reasonably good twists, there're also others that would've stated the obvious facts right from the beginning instead of leading readers on and then portray this fact as a twist. Not a good move IMO. (I'm not saying this book is, though.)