Thursday, May 25, 2017

All the Lies We Tell

Book: All the Lies We Tell
Series: Quarry Road #1
Author: Megan Hart


Everyone knew Alicia Harrison’s marriage to Ilya Stern wouldn’t last. They’d grown up on a remote stretch of Quarry Street, where there were two houses, two sets of siblings, and eventually, a tangled mess of betrayal, longing, and loss. Tragedy catapulted Allie and Ilya together, but divorce—even as neighbors—has been relatively uncomplicated.

Then Ilya’s brother, Nikolai, comes home for their grandmother’s last days. He’s the guy who teased and fought with Allie, infuriated her, then fled town without a good-bye. Now Niko makes her feel something else entirely—a rush of connection and pure desire that she’s been trying to quench since one secret kiss years ago. Niko’s not sticking around. She’s not going to leave. And after all that’s happened between their families, this can’t be anything more than brief pleasure and a bad idea.

But the lies we tell ourselves can’t compete with the truths our hearts refuse to let go…-Goodreads


Review: I was expecting a steamy romance and instead read...fiction with a small dose of mystery. It's hard to classify this. Told in alternating narratives, we follow Alicia, Ilya and Nikolai in present day and when they were teenagers. 

**this review may contain spoilers**

As teenagers, Ilya and Alicia's older sister had a casual fling while Alicia and Nikolai kissed once. When Alicia's sister dies in a nearby quarry (this death was clearly not an accident and I suspect the boy's stepfather killed her..which should be addressed in the next book), Nikoali leaves town resulting in Alicia and Ilya to get married (in their grief/rebound). This marriage lasts 10 years and they are divorced another 10 in the present day timeline. Although Alicia and Ilya are divorced, they still live across the street from each other and own a business together. When Ilya's beloved grandmother becomes sick and passes away, Nikolai and the boys estranged, crazy mother all return home. Alicia and Nikolai have a secret relationship while Ilya....is drunk and a complete waste of space the entire book. 

Reading this, I was reminded of Joe Biden's sons. The widow of one son is now marrying the other son. My gut reaction is "yuck" to that and even though we know Alicia and Ilya weren't a good match and she and Niko shared a sweet kiss at teens...I was still thinking "yuck" throughout this book. Beyond the ick factor, I wasn't engaged in the story and beyond the first chapter, I see zero appeal for Ilya. The  next book is focused on him and MH will have to do a great job portraying him in a positive light. He seemed so gross and nasty throughout this entire book. 

Grade: 2/5

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