#Book Tour #Book Review – Love the Way They Lie; L. Smolkin

Book review stop! Today I’m delighted to be the host for Love the Way They Lie, a contemporary novel written by L. Smolkin.

First thing first, let me thank Anne and the author for providing me with an e-copy of this book. Much obliged *hat tip*

MEET THE BOOK

In a matter of minutes, a speeding ticket turns her life upside down.

Thirty-eight-year-old Maggie Simmons has another reason to hate the Department of Motor Vehicles—other than the long lines. A visit to the DMV reveals a photo from a speeding ticket with her husband in the arms of a mystery woman. Maggie’s happy marriage to Nate shatters, but he refuses to leave her alone. In her attempts to move forward, remnants of her old life tear apart.

After separating, she fills the void with her dog, Chili, and a string of unexpected relationships. She finds herself with multiple people vying for her attention—and she enjoys the distraction. However, Maggie soon realizes they may have ulterior motives.

One by one, more betrayal weaves its way into Maggie’s life, leaving her devastated by the idea of being heartbroken and alone. In order to escape her reality, she flirts with the unthinkable—the one thing that triggered her suffering in the first place. A lie.

308 pages
Contemporary fiction
Publication date: 07/12/21
Purchase links

Amazon.com

READ MY REVIEW

Cover: Interesting, but I’m not sure about its link to the story.

This is a complex story. In a good way and in a kinda puzzling way, Love the Way They Lie is a novel that stays with you for a long time. Let’s start from the very ending.

Without giving away plot points, I’m impressed with the courage Maggie—and, of course, Smolkin—shows. That’s just what I hoped to find in a book featuring a plot like this; a different outcome would have cheapened it all, and I’m glad Smolkin didn’t take the easy, more mainstream way out.

On a technical level, Love the Way They Lie is impressive. Good grammar, solid structure, no typos or misplaced words in sight. Smolkin has a great grasp of both her characters and her own writing skills. Well-done!

First POV and a cast of supporting characters that tend to grate on a reader’s nerves? They’d both be a no-no in my book if Love the Way They Lie had a different plot. As it is, they both work fine.

Flaws. I’m a bit perplexed by Maggie’s characterization and arc. She grows and changes throughout the entire story, yes. Still, painting her with a little less naïve brush would have helped establish a connection with her. While romantic relationships are a big mystery to me, I wouldn’t be able to forgive and forget, I wouldn’t be able to look elsewhere for love, and right now I still can’t understand the logic behind some choices Maggie makes.

4 stars on GR.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Linda Smolkin always wanted to be a writer—ever since she saw her first TV commercial and wondered how to pen those clever ads. She got her degree in journalism and became a copywriter. Linda landed a job at an ad agency, where she worked for several years before joining the nonprofit world.

She’s the author of AMONG THE BRANDED, THE SECRET WE LOST, and LOVE THE WAY THEY LIE and currently working on her fourth novel. When not in front of the computer, she’s behind the drums escaping into her pretend rock-star world.

For more information about Linda, visit her website at lindasmolkin.com.