ARC Review: The Lies About the Truth

I may have been expecting something from this book because of how much I loved Faking Normal, but I don't know what that something is. While I am not really disappointed in this one because I feel like they're really different, I do like Faking Normal more than this one.


7 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK:

• The family aspect: Oh my gosh, the family aspect in this book is unbelievable! I love the relationship of Sadie's parents - it was clear that they loved each other very much and they have a great relationship! My favorite family aspect is how Sadie's mom can still scold and be firm with Sadie, while giving her all the support that she could get. I really felt uplifted by that and it just warmed my heart.

    "From what I could tell, happiness was getting stuck with someone and never feeling stuck."

• The friendship: The friendship in this book is so, so good. Granted, they weren't friends for most of the book - Sadie, Gray and Gina, I mean - but it portrayed how friends will always have ups and downs and challenges to face. The way that they made up, which took a lot of time, made it seem realistic to me. I also really enjoyed all the fun times that were portrayed of the four or five friends in this book.

    "Where one goes, the other follows."

• Sadie's relationship with her psychologist: In most teenage novels, the psychologists are the bad guys, the bitches, the uncaring bastards. In this book, Sadie actually appreciated her doctor and was really willing to let him help her, which I think really helped her case. It was also clear that Dr. Fletcher really cared about Sadie's progress and was really supportive throughout everything.

    "Scars tell a story, but this week, you decide what that story's going to be."

• The healing journey: I love how the healing process in the book was done gradually, instead of immediately. Also, I loved how Sadie actually did the healing on her own rather than relying on the love interest, Max. Granted, she had help from Max, but he wasn't at the core of it. I also loved the support that everyone has given her. As with the friendship, I think this one was really realistic too.

    "Sometimes the journey to let someone love you is the journey to loving yourself."

• The writing: Man, Courtney C. Stevens' writing can do no wrong! She fall in love with her words with Faking Normal, and she has done it again with The Lies About the Truth. I just love how she lets her stories unravel and she has really good choice in words, which creates lots of quotable quotes in her books.

    "I missed Trent like I missed the person I used to be. Makeup covered parts of the my, scars, but nothing covered up grief.”

• Max: My gosh, Max was so sweet in this book! He was the expert at pushing Sadie to reach her goals while not being pushy or obvious. I loved how he was always there without hovering, and how he just seems to know exactly what Sadie needs. Best of all, I think he is the most patient and most understanding love interest I've read.

    "I think maybe everyone is a mystery. Even the people we know really well."

• Metal Pete: My gosh, the friendship of this two is just so weird that I love it! Just imagine - a car parts owner and a teenage girl! I loved the dynamic of their friendship, and how much they understood each other without words having to come out. He was also really supportive, and I loved how Sadie could confide in him.

    "Then, somehow, you have to accept that you're still here, and that maybe, just maybe, there's a reason. Find the reason."

This book was an amazing journey for me to take part in, with really amazing character development. I was not able to connect with the characters as much as Faking Normal, but I loved watching how everything unraveled. I didn't feel like I was the main character in this book, but a spectator from afar, watching everything unfold.