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kvolker's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-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
4.25
genthebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Diane Chamberlain is one of my very favorite authors and I always highly anticipate her new book publications. Her 2018 release, The Dream Daughter, ranks as one of my favorite books ever and was a tough act to follow. It made my week when I was recently sent an advanced reader's copy of her upcoming 2020 release, Big Lies in a Small Town and I just couldn't resist reading it right away!
Chamberlin is gifted at writing engaging and compelling novels that tackle tough topics with such awareness of others. Her topics are thought-provoking and always cause great self-reflection for myself as the reader. Chamberlain's vividly detailed plot lines and multifaceted characters bring you inside the story and you can feel the emotions of the characters she shares. In Big Lies in a Small Town, Chamberlain shares a dual narrative as well as a past and present timeline with ease.
She introduces us to the worlds of Morgan Christopher and Anna Dale and the events who made and changed them. I don't know how she does it, but I can connect personally with every one of her characters, even if our lives and worlds are so different. There are many "heavier" themes including alcoholism, sexual assault, racial issues of the 1940s, and many family secrets which she handles both sensitively and eloquently.
Not only does she make you feel but she makes you think when reading her novels. I really enjoyed reading this one but I kept thinking about it long after I was finished which is the sign of a great book for me. I highly recommend adding this to your winter reading list and in the mean time, catch up on some of Chamberlain many other amazing reads, there are so many to choose from!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Chamberlin is gifted at writing engaging and compelling novels that tackle tough topics with such awareness of others. Her topics are thought-provoking and always cause great self-reflection for myself as the reader. Chamberlain's vividly detailed plot lines and multifaceted characters bring you inside the story and you can feel the emotions of the characters she shares. In Big Lies in a Small Town, Chamberlain shares a dual narrative as well as a past and present timeline with ease.
She introduces us to the worlds of Morgan Christopher and Anna Dale and the events who made and changed them. I don't know how she does it, but I can connect personally with every one of her characters, even if our lives and worlds are so different. There are many "heavier" themes including alcoholism, sexual assault, racial issues of the 1940s, and many family secrets which she handles both sensitively and eloquently.
Not only does she make you feel but she makes you think when reading her novels. I really enjoyed reading this one but I kept thinking about it long after I was finished which is the sign of a great book for me. I highly recommend adding this to your winter reading list and in the mean time, catch up on some of Chamberlain many other amazing reads, there are so many to choose from!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
bookhoarder76's review against another edition
4.0
Wow what a tangled web that was. I really enjoyed this read and love how all the pieces fell into place in the end. Very good story indeed!
katherine287's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
anuja_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this story and the different view points of past and present that were intricately woven together. We are introduced to Morgan and get to know what caused her downfall. We also learn about Anna the artist and what happened to her in 1939 in Edenton.
The characters were easy to root for and I was extremely invested in both stories. The book dealt with mental illness, racism, and poverty. Diane Chamberlain never lets me down and she wrote a beautiful story.
Thank you to St. Martin’s press for a digital ARC of this book. This comes out Jan 14th and I highly recommend you all check it out.
The characters were easy to root for and I was extremely invested in both stories. The book dealt with mental illness, racism, and poverty. Diane Chamberlain never lets me down and she wrote a beautiful story.
Thank you to St. Martin’s press for a digital ARC of this book. This comes out Jan 14th and I highly recommend you all check it out.
rosina24's review against another edition
5.0
This book takes place in alternate time periods. It takes place in 2018 with Morgan Christopher striking a deal to restore an old mural in time for a grand opening of a gallery. The other time period is 1940 when Anna Dale wins a contest to paint a mural for a town to put up in the post office. Anna Dale doesn’t know what she is getting herself into when she accepts this job. As the book continues, the two stories start to overlap and their links become more and more obvious.
Very good writing, a creative storyline and lots of mystery. It kept my attention throughout and the ending did not disappoint. I found both characters stories interesting and I liked how the book swapped from 1940 to 2018. The story covered many issues such as, racism, poverty, mental illness and friendships. An engaging story and I would like to read more of this authors books! “You have to make peace with the past or you can never move into the future.” (4.5 stars).
Very good writing, a creative storyline and lots of mystery. It kept my attention throughout and the ending did not disappoint. I found both characters stories interesting and I liked how the book swapped from 1940 to 2018. The story covered many issues such as, racism, poverty, mental illness and friendships. An engaging story and I would like to read more of this authors books! “You have to make peace with the past or you can never move into the future.” (4.5 stars).
kelly_inthe419's review against another edition
4.0
After Reading Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain, I will definitely be looking into her backlist for more stories. This was a thoroughly enjoyable story and an engrossing dual-timeline mystery.
North Carolina 2018 - Morgan Christopher is incarcerated for a crime she really didn't commit, her plans for a career in a art on hold. When she is given an opportunity to restore an old mural in a sleepy southern town, she jumps at the chance to be free even though she knows nothing of art restoration.
North Carolina 1940 - Anna Dale wins a national competition and is selected to paint a mural for the Edenton, NC post office. But before the mural is complete, Anna disappears while whispers of an ilicit affair plague her disappearance.
I really enjoyed learning about both of these artists' lives and how their fates and fortunes were intertwined. Side characters such as a young Jesse Jameson Williams, his daughter Lisa, and art gallery director, divorced father of one, Oliver.
Although parts of the storyline were a bit predictable, I enjoyed learning more about both Morgan and Anna. I felt invested in both characters and my heart ached for their unique circumstances and difficulties. The ending was complete an satisfying, and I highly recommend this for the mystery, the great dual timelines, and a even a little romance.
North Carolina 2018 - Morgan Christopher is incarcerated for a crime she really didn't commit, her plans for a career in a art on hold. When she is given an opportunity to restore an old mural in a sleepy southern town, she jumps at the chance to be free even though she knows nothing of art restoration.
North Carolina 1940 - Anna Dale wins a national competition and is selected to paint a mural for the Edenton, NC post office. But before the mural is complete, Anna disappears while whispers of an ilicit affair plague her disappearance.
I really enjoyed learning about both of these artists' lives and how their fates and fortunes were intertwined. Side characters such as a young Jesse Jameson Williams, his daughter Lisa, and art gallery director, divorced father of one, Oliver.
Although parts of the storyline were a bit predictable, I enjoyed learning more about both Morgan and Anna. I felt invested in both characters and my heart ached for their unique circumstances and difficulties. The ending was complete an satisfying, and I highly recommend this for the mystery, the great dual timelines, and a even a little romance.
hbellan's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written and intriguing story. I loved how Anna and Morgan’s perspectives were woven together so perfectly.