Reviews

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

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kaylo88's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book left me with mixed feelings. There were certain aspects that I absolutely loved, and overall, it wasn't a bad read at all. However, I found the pacing to be quite slow, which made the big reveal feel rather underwhelming. The central event in the story was constantly mentioned, and I expected it to have a greater impact due to the extensive build-up. Additionally, I felt that the twist in the plot was somewhat predictable.

The characters in the book were also quite complex and challenging to root for. Each of them had their own personal struggles, making them relatable in some ways. The main character and narrator, Isa, is a woman living with her husband and six-month-old baby. While she clearly loves her daughter, she often puts her in questionable situations, and her self-centered nature made it difficult for me to sympathize with her. There were instances where her husband's behavior was also quite frustrating, particularly when he argued with her over breastfeeding and jumped to conclusions about infidelity based on trivial evidence.

Kate, another central character, was shrouded in mystery and came across as moody and reclusive. I found it perplexing that she didn't confide in her friends about the situation she was in, especially considering how much they shared with each other. Thea, on the other hand, struggled with alcoholism and an eating disorder, and her prejudiced remarks about Islam made her a challenging character to empathize with. Despite understanding that she had her own issues, her behavior was inexcusable.

On a more positive note, I found Fatima to be the most compelling character in the group. She demonstrated strength, courage, and empathy, often being the voice of reason among her friends and enduring their mistreatment with resilience.

One aspect of the story that troubled me was the behavior of Kate's father. I couldn't shake the feeling that there were elements of grooming in his actions, and while the character's clearly loved him he abused his position as the adult and their teacher.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. I wanted to read on and find out the truth behind the story. The girl's friendship reminds me of my friendships at that age, and there are parts of the story that were gripping. However, there was too much build, which left the climax of the story underwhelming.

kellerko's review against another edition

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4.0

Another thriller by Ruth Ware that had me up both too late and too early reading. A story of a tight knit group of friends who excluded others. How understanding and perceptions change from child to adult. And of course murder of a beloved teacher. So good.

hudakhl's review against another edition

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3.0

This was a surprisingly slow read for me. Every other Ruth Ware book that I read I could not put down but this one struggled to keep picking up. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters, and a few times was confused when the story jumped to a memory. The ending had a quicker pace but I wasn't enthralled. I would have loved to see the POVs of the other characters, Fatima, Thea, and Kate.