Carola Lovering, author of the 2018 novel Tell Me Lies, is my favorite author of all time. I’m in awe of her- her writing is nothing short of a masterpiece. Personally, I’ve read Tell Me Lies about four times (going onto my fifth as I write this). After finishing the book, I immediately want to reread it, and each time I do I am filled with so much clarity and understanding, it’s like the first time reading it all over again. I believe that’s what a great book and author should be able to do; reestablish a person’s love for reading and make each time reading the book better than the last.
Tell Me Lies is the gripping story of Lucy and Stephen, two college students involved in a toxic relationship, the story switches perspective between Lucy and Stephen which demonstrates even further Lovering’s writing ability being able to differentiate between each other and create clear shifts in point of view. The readers get a look into the minds of Lucy and Stephen as we see them navigate relationships before each other, connect over similar family situations, and admit to wanting more than a friendship. I believe it’s amazing how Lovering can get so indepth with the characters you feel like they are real, you feel every experience and emotion with them. She really delves into the depth of a toxic relationship, and how it affects both participants as well as perfectly capturing the thoughts and ideas of how the characters would react. We get a look into Stephen believing he really can’t feel love and that being in a relationship is just sex and the knowledge of being able to get a girl. We see Lucy evaluate herself in a past relationship and slowly develop feelings for Stephen and the toll it takes on her physically and mentally. It is a flawless portrayal of a flawed relationship, when good memories outweigh the myriad of reasons to leave.
It’s no surprise that I am so excited and eager to read her new book, Too Good to be True. I know that the book will surpass my expectations and that it will be such an enjoyable read. Too Good to be True is a psychological suspense, following Skye Starling and Burke Michaels as their relationship develops but it is revealed through a series of letters, to his therapist, that Burke isn’t who he says he is and is actually using Skye for his own needs. In addition, the readers are introduced to a third perspective that is set 30 years earlier in which we learn of one of Burke’s old girlfriends, Heather, and how she is desperately trying to end things with Burke and create a better life for herself.
Keep an eye out for Carola Lovering’s Too Good to be True, coming out March 2, 2021- you won’t want to miss it.