Lying To You

This was a hard book to read. There needs to be a CW/TW regarding the themes: rape, manipulation, abuse, death.

The book itself wasn't hard to read, and I think Amanda has done an incredible job for her second book. It is engaging, tantalising, gripping, and very well structured.

But the themes. My word. Some people have claimed it's too predictable, or that there's no feeling in the actions of some of the characters.

I disagree.

This book, scarily, imitates what people go through in real life, with regards to child abuse, emotional manipulation, rape, how awful people are with judgement, and how terribly victims are put to blame for the abuse they receive.

Yes, some parts you could see coming, just like any outsider can. But the big difference here is that you feel the character's adrenalin, emotion, conditioning, which completely blinds a person. For years.

I found this book hard, because the story is just so real. The themes are presented raw, and powerful.

If you can stomach them, I definately recommend having a read.