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Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'
Would I Lie to You? by Aliya Ali-Afzal, Aliya Ali-Afzal
9 reviews
sarahsg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I tried reading this previously and had to stop. The lies and the deceit within the relationship made me so uncomfortable. I find it hard to read a POV of someone with such seemingly contradictory and hypocritical views on what love and respect means. But I gave it another go and I think knowing what I was signing up for made this a little easier for me. Turns out I really enjoyed this. I didn’t connect with the main character or respect almost any of her choices but I enjoyed everyone around her and the story as a whole, which I suppose is the point of this character. I would recommend this book but I would not reread it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
ilhaanreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
clotalksbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I felt such a ball of worry reading this book the whole way through. Which did mean I can't really describe it as enjoyable haha but at the same time, it is so well written to make me care so much about the characters. Tom in particular is a sweetheart. It is one of those where so much could be solved by just talking!!! Sadly this is so realistic to life though.
I found the second half to be stronger, so if you are struggling at the beginning do keep reading, it is so worth it. I was sobbing by the end. I know I have said it already, but the main strength of this book is how the author makes you care so much, incredible writing.
I'm now exhausted haha but so glad I read this book. Gives you lots to think about.
I found the second half to be stronger, so if you are struggling at the beginning do keep reading, it is so worth it. I was sobbing by the end. I know I have said it already, but the main strength of this book is how the author makes you care so much, incredible writing.
I'm now exhausted haha but so glad I read this book. Gives you lots to think about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
sunshineariel's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
soobooksalot's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Would I Lie To You? is an entertaining web of lies in book form.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy for review!
I went into this one incorrectly thinking it was a thriller. Instead it's the portrait of a woman caught up in her own deceit - I read the second half in less than a day!
Faiza has been dipping into the family's emergency fund savings in order to "keep up appearances". As a mum to three children in an exclusive private school and wife of a banker, she has an image to uphold.
Until her husband loses his job to cutbacks and they need the emergency fund to pay for necessities.
Faiza's lies and coverups are frustrating to read, but the elements of her Muslim-Pakistani culture and upbringing add depth. Her motivations are interesting, as is her return to the workforce and struggles to reclaim the money and her self-respect. Racism, sexism and societal pressures are elements throughout, as are family/marital relationships in tense times.
I'll be interested to see future releases from debut author Aliya Ali-Afzal. Recommended!
Released on Feb. 22.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted copy for review!
I went into this one incorrectly thinking it was a thriller. Instead it's the portrait of a woman caught up in her own deceit - I read the second half in less than a day!
Faiza has been dipping into the family's emergency fund savings in order to "keep up appearances". As a mum to three children in an exclusive private school and wife of a banker, she has an image to uphold.
Until her husband loses his job to cutbacks and they need the emergency fund to pay for necessities.
Faiza's lies and coverups are frustrating to read, but the elements of her Muslim-Pakistani culture and upbringing add depth. Her motivations are interesting, as is her return to the workforce and struggles to reclaim the money and her self-respect. Racism, sexism and societal pressures are elements throughout, as are family/marital relationships in tense times.
I'll be interested to see future releases from debut author Aliya Ali-Afzal. Recommended!
Released on Feb. 22.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Islamophobia, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
sachimi's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
becca_thegrimreader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Have you ever wanted to jump into a book and shake some common sense into a character? Well, that’s exactly how I felt reading this. Faiza is in huge trouble, and instead of telling the truth, she keeps lying. After spending all of her family’s savings and now must try to replace it without her husband finding out. To make matters worse, her husband has been fired from his job.
Many scenarios that Faiza ends up in don’t seem entirely plausible, especially when getting loans from the bank without certain documentation. However, many situations that do happen are what women would go through daily. I thought that Ali-Afzal wrote about the sexual harassment that Faiza suffers honestly. Faiza’s fear and terror during this is one that many women can relate to. The author highlights some other themes in the book, such as male mental health, suicide, debt, and racism. The blatant and horrific racism that Faiza encounters is shocking, and the fact that many of the other characters in the book brush past it are disgusting.
I’ve seen many who don’t like Faiza as a character, but I think that she’s quite loveable. For me, she was a character who would do anything for her family. At many times during the book, she is utterly lost, but she never stops trying to right her wrong. (Apart from doing the one thing that could help, telling the truth). Faiza’s journey through this book makes her realise that she doesn’t need money or doing anything to fit in with everyone else. Her character growth through this book is emotional and will have the reader hooked from the start.
Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
Many scenarios that Faiza ends up in don’t seem entirely plausible, especially when getting loans from the bank without certain documentation. However, many situations that do happen are what women would go through daily. I thought that Ali-Afzal wrote about the sexual harassment that Faiza suffers honestly. Faiza’s fear and terror during this is one that many women can relate to. The author highlights some other themes in the book, such as male mental health, suicide, debt, and racism. The blatant and horrific racism that Faiza encounters is shocking, and the fact that many of the other characters in the book brush past it are disgusting.
I’ve seen many who don’t like Faiza as a character, but I think that she’s quite loveable. For me, she was a character who would do anything for her family. At many times during the book, she is utterly lost, but she never stops trying to right her wrong. (Apart from doing the one thing that could help, telling the truth). Faiza’s journey through this book makes her realise that she doesn’t need money or doing anything to fit in with everyone else. Her character growth through this book is emotional and will have the reader hooked from the start.
Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
annieks's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Faiza's husband Tom has just been made redundant from his high flying banking job in the City, but he's not too worried as they have a £75K emergency fund to live off while he looks for another job. What he doesn't know is that Faiza has frittered away every penny in her quest to keep up and fit in with (as the only woman of colour) the uber-rich yummy mummies of affluent Wimbledon Village.
This well-paced and expertly plotted novel follows Faiza as she tries to get the family finances back on track while also covering up her financial indiscretions from Tom, trapping herself in an ever increasing spiral of lies.
Faiza, who is rich, privileged and entirely the author of her own misfortune, could be a difficult character to like, but Aliya Ali-Afzal does a great job with the characterisation, so that I rooted for her despite her flaws. Tom was also a well-drawn, sympathetic character who I cared about.
A real strength of this novel was the depiction of some serious issues - the microaggressions Faiza has to contend with from some of the white mothers in her social circle, the challenges of an interracial marriage and raising biracial children, sexual harassment, mental health and suicide - which were expertly woven into the broader plot so they never felt preachy or tacked on, but added extra layers of depth to what could have been, in less skilled hands, a shallow story about shallow people.
I listened to the audiobook version of Would I Lie to you, excellently narrated by Aysha Kala.
This well-paced and expertly plotted novel follows Faiza as she tries to get the family finances back on track while also covering up her financial indiscretions from Tom, trapping herself in an ever increasing spiral of lies.
Faiza, who is rich, privileged and entirely the author of her own misfortune, could be a difficult character to like, but Aliya Ali-Afzal does a great job with the characterisation, so that I rooted for her despite her flaws. Tom was also a well-drawn, sympathetic character who I cared about.
A real strength of this novel was the depiction of some serious issues - the microaggressions Faiza has to contend with from some of the white mothers in her social circle, the challenges of an interracial marriage and raising biracial children, sexual harassment, mental health and suicide - which were expertly woven into the broader plot so they never felt preachy or tacked on, but added extra layers of depth to what could have been, in less skilled hands, a shallow story about shallow people.
I listened to the audiobook version of Would I Lie to you, excellently narrated by Aysha Kala.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
sameerareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
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