This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Susan Loban
In a gorgeous beachfront mansion in Martha's Vineyard, Annick and Rebecca have left their young children in the care of their life-long friend Tash. Tash has made millions from her fashion business and treating her friends to a luxury holiday makes all the hard work worthwhile. But by the end of the afternoon, one of the children will have vanished . . .
As the daughter of an iconic actress and an assassinated president, Annick has spent a lifetime running from the truth of her family's wealth. For her, Rebecca and Tash have always felt more like family than friends. But can she truly trust them with the secret of her past?
Rebecca, the dutiful daughter of a financial dynasty, has always done the right thing. And when the pressure of pleasing her parents gives way to the pressure of being a model wife and mother, she begins to wonder if she'll ever have the chance, or the courage, to please herself.
And Tash, who's worked so hard to escape the poverty of her mother's Russian roots, now has the world at her feet. But despite her millionaire lifestyle – the business, the houses, the holidays – why is she struggling to keep a grip on her life?
Money, it would seem, isn't the answer to everything.
I found this book to be completely different from what the cover and synopsis suggests. Rather than a story of a child missing in Martha’s Vineyard, we are treated to a lengthy saga of three friends, which spans numerous countries and decades. I love an epic read, and this turned out to be a fantastic, utterly immersive one.
Little White Lies was slow to get into at first, probably because I was anticipating something more fast paced, but once I let go of my initial preconceptions I was hooked. It was fascinating to see how the family history of each main character influenced the present day. I gained a real insight into what shaped the characters and saw how the decisions they made through life affected them and those around them. Each of the best friends’ story lines were compelling as their lives progressed, but my particular favourite was Annick who took more knocks than most.
The dramatic conclusion exposes the weaknesses that have seeped into the girls’ friendship. The little white lies that have been told over the years have escalated into something much bigger. Although somewhat rushed, the ending did tie up some outstanding loose ends in a satisfactory way.
If you are a fan of Louise Bagshawe then you will love this interwoven tale of friendship and deceit. There is more than meets the eye when it comes to Annick, Rebecca and Tash and, quite literally, you should not judge this book by its cover!
8/10