Fotografía de autor

Kaela Coble

Autor de Friends and Other Liars

2 Obras 53 Miembros 6 Reseñas

Obras de Kaela Coble

Friends and Other Liars (2018) 46 copias
Friends and Liars (2017) 7 copias

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Miembros

Reseñas

This book starts off in a very Pretty Little Liars-esqe way. Ten years ago, Ruby, Ally, Emmett, Murphy and Danny were best friends called "The Crew" who made a pact to always be honest with each other. Now, Ruby is forced to return home after a decade to attend Danny's funeral and confront all the issues that made her leave Chatwick in the first place. But Danny's surprise will force all of them to acknowledge that they have never truly been honest with each other.

The story unfolds in two timelines - ten years ago and now, told in multiple POVs. This gives us a chance to know the truth about what happened decades ago in small bursts and I liked the anticipation of figuring out their secrets. Ruby is kind of the main protagonist here and it was difficult to read about her struggles in teenage years with a bipolar mother and an absent father and I could empathize with her need to escape from the stifling life of her small town and get lost in a big city. Her relationships with Murphy and Danny were messy and complicated but also relatable. Ally feels like this typical small town girl happy with marrying her high school sweetheart and leading a quiet life but as the book goes on, it was interesting to see more facets of her and she rediscovering her friendship with Ruby. Murphy may seem like an indecisive coward who doesn't want to step out of his comfort zone and fight for what he wants but we later realize that there is more to him.

The characters are not all very likeable at first glance but slowly we start looking at them in a different light. But the author always keeps us on our toes - just as we start liking someone or feel like we have figured them out.. BAMMMM they go do something totally out of whack. The plot has all the entertaining elements - friendship, love, drama, secrets but also the tough topics of parental abuse, drug addiction, mental illness, murder and how all of these affect our relationships. Even though this book is essentially a mystery, I think it's most important message was that sometimes, we keep secrets from our best friends too because we want to show them only the best version of ourselves but that doesn't make us bad. This might even create distances between friends and we should probably communicate better with them because, ultimately our friends love us and only want the best for us.

I think the epilogue was a very nice touch and though the ending is tad bittersweet, it's also hopeful with a sense that everyone will be okay.

PS: I received the review copy of this book through Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark but it has no way affected my opinion.
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Denunciada
ksahitya1987 | 3 reseñas más. | Aug 20, 2021 |
I received this book free from the publisher via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Please see my full reviews available at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com. Please note that reviews are scheduled to appear close to release date if novels are review items. Subscribe to my blog to be updated when they are published.

For requesting arcs and books to review, please visit www.netgalley.com.
 
Denunciada
SarahRita | 3 reseñas más. | Aug 11, 2021 |
4.5 stars.

Friends and Other Liars by Kaela Coble is an engrossing novel of friendship and forgiveness.

Ten years after leaving Chatwick, Vermont and never returning, Ruby St. James is back for her childhood friend, Danny Deuso's funeral. Her reunion with her best friends from childhood through high school (dubbed "the crew) is uneasy since she cut off all contact with them when she left for college in New York.  Navigating the death of their friend is already difficult, but when Danny's mom invites the crew back to her house for a private memorial, everyone is shaken by the letter Danny left behind. From beyond the grave, he threatens to reveal their deepest darkest secrets if they do not do so themselves. Over the next few months, they each receive unnerving messages they have no doubt are from Danny which leaves them all nervously anticipating how he will destroy their lives.

Growing up, Ruby and Danny has the most in common since their home lives are so dysfunctional.  Ruby is the person Danny turns to for comfort but Murphy is the one who provides him with a safe haven. As Danny's life slowly implodes due to his chaotic life, Ruby and Murphy become close friends who spend long hours talking on the phone. Rounding out the group are Ally, who relies on the crew for support after her life is upended, Emmett, the serious friend who walks the straight and narrow and Aaron who becoms a defacto member after he and Ally begin dating.

Despite how closely intertwined their lives were back then, each of them have secrets that have been kept hidden from one another. Danny leaves each of his friends an envelope with their secret that he expects them to reveal. He also leaves a legacy of guilt for members of the crew since, in his opinion, they all failed him when he needed their help.

A series of flashbacks provide an insightful and thought-provoking view of their friendships and their lives. The secrets they are each keeping are cleverly concealed despite these peeks into the past and the suspense surrounding what they are hiding is propels the storyline.

A riveting debut, Friends and Other Liars is an intriguing novel that has a wonderfully unique premise. The characters are multi-layered and well-developed. Kaela Coble does a brilliant job keeping each of the secrets under wraps until the novel's emotionally satisfying and cathartic conclusion.
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Denunciada
kbranfield | 3 reseñas más. | Feb 3, 2020 |

Estadísticas

Obras
2
Miembros
53
Popularidad
#303,173
Valoración
½ 3.7
Reseñas
6
ISBNs
6

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