Written by Emily Giffen

 

 

 

 

Could one bad decision tear two families apart?

Everyone’s seen the compromising photo of Lyla, a scholarship kid in a prestigious private school.

Everyone knows that Nina’s son, expensively prepared for success since childhood, took the photo.

And everyone thinks they know who to blame.

As events spiral out of control, Nina and Lyla – both outsiders in the elite social circle they inhabit – are drawn together in an unlikely bond of friendship.

Because this photograph is forcing them to question who they really are – and who they are becoming.

 

 

 

 

 

Didn’t Do It For Me, Sadly   

 

Despite looking forward to reading this book, I just couldn’t get into it.

When photos – indecent ones – appear on the internet of his daughter, it causes a lot of embarrassment and distress to both Lyla and her father. Nina, discovering that her son is the one who shared the pictures, is both of those things in addition to being very upset at the stupidity of a privileged lad who can’t see that what he did is wrong and she struggles to understand why he could behave so appallingly. From being in the shadows, both Nina and Lyla find themselves tossed into a very unwelcome spotlight in the community.

I don’t know what it was with this one that made me struggle throughout; I can’t put my finger on it. It’s a competently written story, well-edited but it just didn’t gel with me – didn’t seem real enough perhaps. Whilst I realise it’s fiction, it wasn’t a story which captivated or made me care about the characters. I ploughed my way through, but was quite relieved as I stumbled towards the ending, which I thought was a bit rushed and unsatisfactory. 

Due to the plaudits given to this ‘best-selling author’ I expect I’m out of step with many other readers and whilst it’s a sound idea, it just didn’t pan out for me. I realise it will probably be enjoyed by others, but it’s not a novel I could recommend.

My thanks to publisher Random House, Cornerstone for my copy via NetGalley. As always, this is my honest, original and unbiased review.

 

Tags: women’s fiction

• Format: ebook, paperback, audio
• Size: 332 pages
• Publisher: Random House, Cornerstone
• Publication Date: 24 July 2019
• Purchase Links: Google Play
•                               Barnes & Noble
•                               Kobo
•                               W. H. Smith
•                               Waterstones

 

 

Meet the Author

 

 

 

Emily Giffin graduated from Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She practiced law in New York City for several years before moving to London, where she began writing full time. She now lives in Atlanta with her husband, two sons and a daughter.