Here We Lie
Grade : B+

I'm always on the lookout for books that deal well with social issues, and Here We Lie, the latest novel from Paula Treick DeBoard, is just such a book. On the surface, it's a story not all that different from hundreds of others, the tale of two young women from startlingly different backgrounds who forge a friendship that will shape both their lives in unimaginable ways. But if you look a little deeper, you'll see it's so much more than that.

Megan Mazeros can't wait to get away from her small mid-western town. Her father recently died of cancer, and his death has shaken her far more than she ever thought possible. Her mother seems ready to move on with her life, and it doesn't seem as though Megan has much of a place in her plans, so she's more than happy to head off to the east coast for college. Maybe there, she'll finally be able to discover who she really is. Maybe there, she'll be able to leave the shadows of her past far behind her.

Lauren Mabrey is no stranger to privilege. The daughter of a powerful senator and his strong-willed wife, she's grown up with every luxury money could buy. Even so, Lauren isn’t happy, feeling constantly like a stranger in the midst of her family. Her goals and dreams are so different from theirs, and her mother is constantly criticizing her for her unwillingness to fall in line with their expectations. So, when Lauren gets accepted into a small women's college, she's eager to attend, if only to get out of the shadow of her powerful family.

Halfway through freshman year, Megan and Lauren begin rooming together. At first, Megan is a little put off by Lauren's careless way of approaching the world and can’t help but think that if she had all the privilege Lauren seems so willing to take for granted, her life would be far easier.  But as time passes, the two women form a strong friendship that embraces their similarities and respects their differences. It's the kind of friendship they have both always yearned for, but never really found until now. They vow to always have each others backs, and, for the next two and a half years, nothing comes between them.

Then, the summer before senior year, Megan joins Lauren and her family for a vacation on the private island that has been in the Mabrey family for generations. It'll be just the break she needs before the hustle and bustle of her final year of college. Plus, she can't deny her attraction to the affluent lifestyle enjoyed by Lauren's family. But then, something goes horribly wrong, and neither Megan nor Lauren will ever be quite the same. The reverberations of one random act of violence will be felt by both women for years to come, until, years later, Megan feels compelled to come forward about what really happened on that terrible night.

Here We Lie is an intensely powerful read that takes an unflinching look at political power and the privilege it affords to those at the top of the social ladder. The story isn't always easy to read, as the author doesn't hold anything back as she explores the ramifications of sexual violence, but I feel it's a story that has needed to be told for quite some time. Obviously, if books about sexual assault cause you some distress, you'll want to give this one a pass.

The story is told in alternating chapters from both Megan's and Lauren's points of view, and I found myself more drawn to Megan's chapters as she's a far more sympathetic character. She doesn't always do the right things, but I was never in doubt as to her integrity, whereas Lauren's self-involvement and irresponsible actions had me questioning her at pretty much every turn. Even so, the author succeeds at making their friendship completely believable, and even though I sometimes wanted Megan to kick Lauren to the curb, I could understand why she didn't.

My one criticism of the novel has to do with its ending. It's the kind of idealistic ending most of us dream about but one that doesn't necessarily hold up well in real life. I wanted the villain to be brought to justice and for Megan to get some closure, but the way in which the author brinhd these things about didn't quite ring true for me. Even so, Here We Lie is a book I'm more than happy to have read, and I hope countless readers will pick it up and love it as much as I did.

Buy it at: A/BN/iB/K

Reviewed by Shannon Dyer
Grade : B+
Book Type: Women's Fiction

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : January 28, 2018

Publication Date: 01/2018

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Shannon Dyer

I'm Shannon from Michigan. I've been an avid reader all my life. I adore romance, psychological fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and the occasional memoir. I share my home with my life partner, two dogs, and a very feisty feline.
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