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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
marieemily's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
s4yy4d4's review
funny
reflective
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
4.0
read_with_tea's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
3.75
danisbookshelfx's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jaynbug's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lizzie_readsandwrites's review against another edition
4.0
⏳ Would I Lie to You by Aliya Ali-Afzal ⏳
It’s been a while since I’ve shown la femme behind the account!
This is another of those books that’s been sat on my shelf for a long time, but has finally been given life – why didn’t I pick this up sooner?! This book, at its base, is nicely written with a good, original story.
Set in London (which I’m always a fan of), it follows mum-of-three Faiza. It quickly becomes apparent that she is a bit spoilt and whiny and has a nice life thanks to husband Tom who makes a decent living in finance, where she’s grown used to the nice Wimbledon house, cars, kids in private school, meetings with mums and keeping things in order at home.
You’d think things are perfect, until Tom loses his job and struggles to find a new one, but is chilled knowing they have a healthy pot of savings… or so he thinks. It turns out Faiza has been keeping a secret: she’s blown their £75,000 in savings!
‘Would I Lie to You?’ – turns out, yes. It doesn’t stop at one lie for Faiza, as she tells many more to keep the truth from Tom, whilst trying to find a way to top it up before he finds out.
I liked this book: it has everything for an original storyline: constant lies; how many more lies can she tell; ultimatum; blackmail; as well as highlighting cultural differences, racism and class.
How long before the truth – the full truth - comes out for Faiza… A wonderful read, particularly for those who are fans of London-based novels ☺️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It’s been a while since I’ve shown la femme behind the account!
This is another of those books that’s been sat on my shelf for a long time, but has finally been given life – why didn’t I pick this up sooner?! This book, at its base, is nicely written with a good, original story.
Set in London (which I’m always a fan of), it follows mum-of-three Faiza. It quickly becomes apparent that she is a bit spoilt and whiny and has a nice life thanks to husband Tom who makes a decent living in finance, where she’s grown used to the nice Wimbledon house, cars, kids in private school, meetings with mums and keeping things in order at home.
You’d think things are perfect, until Tom loses his job and struggles to find a new one, but is chilled knowing they have a healthy pot of savings… or so he thinks. It turns out Faiza has been keeping a secret: she’s blown their £75,000 in savings!
‘Would I Lie to You?’ – turns out, yes. It doesn’t stop at one lie for Faiza, as she tells many more to keep the truth from Tom, whilst trying to find a way to top it up before he finds out.
I liked this book: it has everything for an original storyline: constant lies; how many more lies can she tell; ultimatum; blackmail; as well as highlighting cultural differences, racism and class.
How long before the truth – the full truth - comes out for Faiza… A wonderful read, particularly for those who are fans of London-based novels ☺️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ljcl_'s review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this book - I was gripped from the beginning and had to stop myself from scanning the bottom of the pages to find out what was going to happen next!
Great storyline and really well written.
Great storyline and really well written.
helenpickett's review against another edition
4.0
Fazia is a British Pakistani married to a white man with their mixed race children.
They have an indulgent life, with Tom earning enough money to keep them very comfortably well off with two children in private schools, living in a large house in an expensive area of London and Fazia not needing to work.
That it until Tom looses his job. It’s okay though, they have a substantial emergency fund. Or have they?
The characters really pop out at you, giving a feeling that you know them well. Well enough that you know you like some and some you would really like to give a slap.
Fazia is a good person, all she’s done is tried to do her best. Fazia has struggled to come to terms (and her can blame her) with the blatant racism she suffered as a child. This has left consequences in her adult life. She recognises that some of the mothers are arrogant self obsessed snobs but wanted to blend in with them. Not to be ‘othered’. The sickening realism is, racism is still around in subtle undertones of peoples language.
I really felt for Fazia, the twists and turns of trying to make things better and how she just got into this spiral of disaster.
It was a page turner though, you just wanted to read a bit of good luck coming Fazia’s way right up until the very end when everything looked so bleak.
I’ve never really thought about the colour of the author before and look back at the many books I have read, have they all been white? Surely not.
This book was interesting though, with Muslim culture becoming part of the plot in Britain. This lady could be our neighbour and she has all of the internal struggles that just shouldn’t be an issue in 2021.
It was a refreshing insightful read and I do think that this is an author to look out for.
I would to thank NetGalley for the preview read in return for my honest review.
#WouldILieToYou #NetGalley
They have an indulgent life, with Tom earning enough money to keep them very comfortably well off with two children in private schools, living in a large house in an expensive area of London and Fazia not needing to work.
That it until Tom looses his job. It’s okay though, they have a substantial emergency fund. Or have they?
The characters really pop out at you, giving a feeling that you know them well. Well enough that you know you like some and some you would really like to give a slap.
Fazia is a good person, all she’s done is tried to do her best. Fazia has struggled to come to terms (and her can blame her) with the blatant racism she suffered as a child. This has left consequences in her adult life. She recognises that some of the mothers are arrogant self obsessed snobs but wanted to blend in with them. Not to be ‘othered’. The sickening realism is, racism is still around in subtle undertones of peoples language.
I really felt for Fazia, the twists and turns of trying to make things better and how she just got into this spiral of disaster.
It was a page turner though, you just wanted to read a bit of good luck coming Fazia’s way right up until the very end when everything looked so bleak.
I’ve never really thought about the colour of the author before and look back at the many books I have read, have they all been white? Surely not.
This book was interesting though, with Muslim culture becoming part of the plot in Britain. This lady could be our neighbour and she has all of the internal struggles that just shouldn’t be an issue in 2021.
It was a refreshing insightful read and I do think that this is an author to look out for.
I would to thank NetGalley for the preview read in return for my honest review.
#WouldILieToYou #NetGalley