Would I Lie To You? by Clare Dowling
| Would I Lie To You? by Clare Dowling | |
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| Category: Women's Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Jo Heffer
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| Summary: Hannah has been friends with Ellen and Barbara for more than twenty years and could never contemplate anyone or anything coming between them. That is until her partner, Ollie, unexpectedly walks out on her and she and Barbara go to visit Ellen and her family in France. Soon tensions are brewing and loyalties are tested to the limit. Will their friendship be strong enough to survive or will it be time to move on? | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 374 | Date: November 2012 |
| Publisher: Headline | |
| ISBN: 9780755359813 | |
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Hannah, Ellen and Barbara have been friends ever since they shared a house at university. They are now in their late thirties and over the years have always been there for each other. This year though, as both Hannah and Ellen prepare to celebrate their thirty eighth birthdays, they all seem to have a bit more stress in their lives than usual. Hannah’s partner, Ollie, has left her and their seven year old daughter, Cleo; Barbara is preparing to adopt a Russian baby on her own; and Ellen and her husband Mark are struggling to ‘live the dream’ that was theirs when they moved to France a few years earlier. Added to this, when Hannah and Barbara spend a couple of weeks with Ellen and her family, something happens that shocks Hannah. If she tells Ellen, it could wreck their friendship. However, if she keeps quiet, she runs the risk of Ellen finding out anyway which could make things even worse.
This is a very enjoyable tale about friendship and falling out – themes that I am sure most female readers will identify with. After a bit of a slow start, I found it very easy to get caught up in the trials and tribulations of the three women. I hoped that things would turn out well for them but, more than anything, I found myself hoping that the power of their friendship would withstand all their troubles.
This was the first book that I have read by Clare Dowling and I did enjoy her style of writing. At the start of the book she has a tendency to tease the reader about things that have been going on. For example, Ollie’s parents, who are separated, have had a big falling out over something his dad has done to the family pet dog. The reader is kept in the dark for many pages though over exactly what he may or may not have done and why it is so dreadful. This is just one example where the writer provoked my curiosity and made me want to read on.
This is a book that is very good at making you think about relationships and how we deal with them. There are quite a few relationships that have gone wrong in this story and it’s fascinating to read how the various characters deal with each other. At times it is thought-provoking and at other times it is funny, making it a very entertaining read. Overall, it is light reading that is perfect for a little bit of escapism.
Why not also take a look at The Bridesmaid Pact by Julia Williams, another book about friendship? You could try Love and Other Things to Live For by Louise Leverett but we weren't impressed.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Would I Lie To You? by Clare Dowling at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Would I Lie To You? by Clare Dowling at Amazon.com.
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