Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
Ghost-writer Joely Foster has been asked to write the memoir of an eccentric old lady with a troubling past. Relieved to have a break from her own marital difficulties, Joely escapes to the woman’s isolated house, where she gets to work writing about a pivotal event in Freda Donahoe’s life. On its surface, the story is of a fifteen-year-old girl being groomed at school by her teacher. But Freda is determined to set the record straight by showing that the girl was complicit in the seduction, and had only called the police when she was spurned. But that’s just half the story… The ending felt way to forced and implausible to justify the quite unpleasant and unnecessary 'relationship' from 1968. It is 1968 and the story of a 15 year old schoolgirl who embarks on an affair with her music teacher. It is explicit in all its naked glory. Their secret assignations, their trip to Paris, their plans and promises for the future...as they parade around naked in the confines of a secluded cottage, soaking up their love for one another. She was 15, he was 25. Not a huge age gap by any means, but still unacceptable by society's standard...even in the age of free love. But where was this love to go, given their age difference? And the fact he was a teacher and she was a student? Surely this could not end well. Each storyline had a richness that was only strengthened by the comparison and contrast to the other. The book certainly brought all the feels, and elements of all characters. Throughout the novel, the story is smooth and generally moves along well. At the end of the day if you are looking for something that you have read similar to this before and don’t mind another, then this will satisfy you. If you are looking for something more than just an average read, that you will want to engage with, then this is also something you will enjoy. Details About My Lies, Your Lies by Susan Lewis ePub I would like to thank #SusanLewis, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #MyLiesYourLies in exchange for an honest review.
So is the relationship supposed to be acceptable or not? It's not so much the age thing, as there were only 10 years between them, it was the fact he was in a position of authority and trust. He has to take responsibility because he was the adult in the scenario. But we all know what 14 and 15 year olds are like. They can turn it on with the best of them. That doesn't make it right but it doesn't make her innocent or blameless either. She set out to seduce him. She wanted him. While in the eyes of the law she is still a child, there is so much about her that isn't. Both are equally to blame because it takes two. She knew what she was doing as did he. They were both complicit. They were both to blame. And there are always two sides to every story. The story is told primarily through Joely's eyes in the third person, as as occasionally Freda and Joely's mum, Marianne. Peppered throughout are the memoir entries written in the first person narrative, leaving the reader pondering who she may well be. For readers of Lisa Jewell, Diane Chamberlain, and Jodi Picoult comes another gripping novel from internationally bestselling author Susan Lewis, about an eccentric old woman, the ghost-writer helping write her memoirs, and the destructive secrets binding them together. The following morning she get up to find her host Freda chatting to Brenda her home help and great cook they are enjoying breakfast. They soon get started on Freda's story and well you can see what happens for yourself because it would be wrong or sad for you not to read it for yourself.
About this book
Freda’s memoir begins with a 15-year-old girl falling madly in love with her teacher. It ends in a way Joely could never possibly have imagined. The descriptions of the house and local landscape were brilliant. Very evocative and they gave a real sense of remoteness so you just know something unexpected and untoward will happen. Joely was the ghostwriter and Freda was the elusive author and the story wound around the years in the past when a fifteen year old student had a love affair with her teacher. We all agreed that though we enjoyed the book the ending felt a little rushed and also a little twee with things turning out the way they did. Given what happened during the book we weren't sure we would be such a happy family afterwards. Overall, not a bad read but not the Author's best. Still, I give it 3 stars for being middle of the road. It's not a book I can decide whether I like it or not.
Freda’s memoir begins with a 15-year-old girl falling madly in love with her male teacher. As Joely sets out to write this troubling love story, she is spun into a world of secrets and lies she could never have imagined, causing her to question everything she thought she knew about her own family. As the story progresses, Joely discovers the subject is very close to home and there is a reason why she was chosen to write this. Loved it and was totally gripped.Susan Lewis writes with the most brilliant sense of place that I was there imagining each location vividly”— Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of Love She got herself a Mercedes to share with her dogs as well as a house that sat up in the hills with perfect views of the sunset each night an a pool to swim in. She decided to try and navigate her way through Hollywood, but ultimately realized that Tinsel Town was not going to be waiting for her to show up. From then on she just had more fun, going on dates and attending glam parties and movie screenings. Susan Lewis has a gift for telling warm family stories that also take you by surprise’ Jane Corry‘A gripping read’ Bella -Joely tells other people’s secrets for a living. As a ghost writer, she’s used to scandal – but this just might be her strangest assignment yet. Freda has never told her story to anyone before. But now she’s ready to set the record straight and right a wrong that’s haunted her for forty years. This had me captivated from the beginning and kept me in its grasp long after finishing this amazing book. Even when I reluctantly put this down I was still thinking about the characters!! Freda drip-feeds information while Joely begins to make assumptions. Is the girl in the story a young Freda? And is the music teacher the husband she lost three years ago? And why does she feel that Freda s watching her and listening in on her phone conversations? It is obvious that Freda is manipulating Joely to tell the story as she wants it perceived. So what was it Freda truly wants out of this? Even though these parts were set in the late 60's and deemed 'a different time' it still felt uncomfortable reading how the 25 year old David manipulates his student into a love affair. Most of her recollection focusses on a 15 year old school girl who is besotted by her music teacher.
Nearly there and things have changed dramatically. I know a lot of people won’t like this but it appears that the love between David (Sir) and Marianne (Linda) was real. Even though she was only 15. I think maybe the fact that he was her teacher is what makes it indefensible. He had a duty to his pupils and he let his desire overcome that. However 10 years seems a long sentence ( from what I have read about sentencing Laws in the UK). An intriguing read that drew me in from the very beginning. It combines heartfelt family drama with a gripping plot. The characters are expertly drawn … Susan has done a brilliant job of weaving her research seamlessly into the novel” - Julie Corbin MY LIES, YOUR LIES is an eccentric tale to say the least. It was mysterious, duplicitous and intriguing in a strange way. It did promise to be so much more but it really dissolved into a ridiculous caricature. Freda was meant to be a formidable woman but was more eccentric and aloof. Joely should have scarpered when she had the chance but she too went on to prove how idiotic she could be. Her big secret that she wallowed over the entire book, when she wasn't presuming what was to come in the memoir, wasn't that great after all...more a run of the mill kind of secret. Everyone else played so little part you couldn't really connect with them. Holly is a precocious 15 year old that should be taught a little more respect than the way she spoke to her parents, grandmother and even Freda. I think she was given a little too much free reign that would never have been allowed when I was her age. Times may change, but boys and hormones don't. And considering what the basis of this story is about, I would have thought she would have been reigned in a little more.It’s been a long time since I read a Susan Lewis book, but reading My Lies, Your Lies reminded me of what a brilliant story teller she is. Joely is an ex journalist who now works as a ghost writer, whose latest assignment takes her to Devon. Famous, but reclusive author Freda Donahoe wants Joely to help writer her memoir, detailing a story never told before. Split between present day and 1968 secrets are revealed, taking Joely and Freda on a journey that will change both their lives.
Freda has for years blamed Marianne for her brother (David, the paedo teacher) committing suicide in prison. Ya know, because his 'affair' with his 15yr old student was discovered and he was rightly charged with rape and sent to goal, couldn't take how he was treated in there and ultimately topped himself. All this was Marianne's fault because she should have defended David and told the authorities that David 'never raped her', not actually, only in the 'technical sense'.
My Lies, Your Lies has gone straight to the top of my favorite Susan Lewis reads.Full of drama, intrigue with so many twists and turns, I promise you'll be surprised and captivated right to the end. Carmel Harrington As the story unravels, Joely is spun deeper into a world of secrets and lies. Delving further into Freda’s past, Joely’s sure she can uncover the truth… But does she want to? The story follows ghostwriter Joely who's been given the difficult task of telling famous author F.M Donahue memoir in the style that her fans will appreciate.
Great Deal 
New Comment