(3.5)

Here We Lie though not my favorite book to read, is definitely a timely book worth reading nonetheless. ( )

4.5 stars.

A close college friendship and the circumstances surrounding its abrupt end lie at the heart of Paula Treick DeBoard's newest release, Here We Lie. Weaving back and forth in time, this incredibly fast-paced novel is an intriguing mystery with a socially relevant storyline.

Megan Mazeros and Lauren Mabrey form an unlikely and exceptionally close friendship when they become roommates at an exclusive all girls college. Megan is from a small town in Kansas where she worked as waitress while helping care for her father as he was dying from cancer. The youngest child of a US Senator, Lauren's attempts to break free of her family's expectations are met with disdain and derision from her rather cold mother. With enough money to pay for her four year degree, Megan carefully counts every penny and works hard to get good grades. Despite her family's disapproval, Lauren has a generous allowance and she maintains her careless attitude toward her education although she excels in her newfound love of photography. Despite all of their differences, the women forge a close friendship yet they each keep secrets, tell some rather elaborate lies and jealousy and anger occasionally come between them. However, their bond remains unbreakable until a shocking act and family loyalty rip them apart.

Megan and Lauren are very well-developed characters with all too human strengths and weaknesses. Megan is surprisingly comfortable at school despite the fact that most of her schoolmates are wealthy and privileged. She is slightly uncomfortable with Lauren's generosity when they first begin spending time together, but their easy friendship soon eclipses her reservations. Lauren's desire to be her own person, make her choices and experience life on her own terms is understandable yet she is quick to rely on her family's money and connections to ease her way.

The novel begins with a press conference in the present then quickly flashes back in time to before Lauren and Megan meet. The story is written in first person and alternates between Lauren and Megan's points of view. They each have very distinct personalities and each of the perspective shifts are clearly marked but it is sometimes difficult to keep up which women is the currently narrating the story.

Most of the novel takes place during Megan and Lauren's college years but there are brief glimpses of their lives in the present. Both women are in relationships but only one of them has children. How they arrived at this point in their lives is a bit of an unknown but a brief recap eventually provides answers. What truly drives the story is the circumstances surrounding the mysterious press conference and the flashbacks of Megan and Lauren's friendship gradually leads up to the horrific act that destroys their friendship.

Here We Lie is an absolutely entrancing novel that explores the bonds of friendship. While not a conventional mystery, Paula Treick DeBoard does an excellent job building and maintaining suspense about the incident that ends Megan and Lauren's friendship. With a storyline that could very well be ripped from today's headlines, readers won't have too much difficulty guessing what happened, whereas figuring out the who will be much more difficult. This riveting novel comes to a heartwarming conclusion that is quite touching. ( )

This book was captivating.

I was drawn in from the beginning and never left. The characters are still with me as I write this, long after putting the book down and I know they will stay here with me for awhile.

Two girls thrown together as roommates through very different circumstances with nearly no chance of ever being friends, become best friends and confidants. The political and wealthy family of Lauren are not pleased with the relationship and it shows when Meghan is invited to family gatherings. Lauren is somewhat of a rebellious sort, and mostly ignores what her family thinks about most things. She takes her place in the world for granted. Meghan's mother is thrilled that her daughter is attending a prestigious girls' college and that she has Lauren for a roommate. Lauren doesn't meet Meghan's mother, as Meghan has told some untruths about her own background.

One thing leads to another, as things do, and a horrible incident ruins the relationship between the two girls, and ruins parts of Meghan's life. She is left floundering for some time.

Years later, something happens that reaches back into the past and touches this incident. Both girls and their families are put in a position where they must address the past.

A solid story in light of current times, and the writing puts you right in the middle of it. You are captured and must read your way out of captivity. ( )

Friendships can be complicated. Megan and Lauren are the mirror image of each other. Megan comes from a solid middle-class, upbringing in America’s heartland. Lauren has had a life of privilege as the daughter of a New England senator. Yet, as life would have it, they find themselves navigating college together.

The two women share a room, clothes, and college life. Gradually, they also share advice and eventually secrets. Inseparable, their bond deepens through these important college years. Through highs and lows, the girls are there for each other.

Before their senior year, they come together for fun and sun at the vacation home of Lauren’s family. It is there that their lives are forever altered. Friendship cannot withstand everything, as Megan comes to realize. Somethings are just too heinous. That is when bonds are broken, but secrets are formed.

Many years after that fateful Summer, Megan faces the secrets she kept buried. Thrust into the spotlight of the harsh political arena, she goes back to that Summer of secrets to expose Lauren’s family truths.

Paula Treick DeBoard has done it, again. Her novel is an important read in the climate of today’s world. Her understanding of family dynamics is always clear and accurate. In this book, Ms. DeBoard also addresses deeply human elements often not discussed. In Here We Lie, she delves into women’s relationships, both with each other and with men. She also bravely confronts the taboo issue of male dominance and its lasting effects on the women it rules.

This is the fourth novel of Paula Treick DeBoard. She is an author that I always eagerly anticipate. Reflecting the world around us, her books are timely, well-written and meaningful. I highly recommend Here We Lie, and all of Ms. DeBoard’s fascinating books. ( )

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All Opinions are my Own.

This book reaffirmed my love of “campus novels”, and it touched on some prominent themes in today’s news. The dichotomy of the rich girl/poor girl friendship was so well done, and I enjoyed the backgrounds and the current day stories throughout the entire book. There was a lot of foreshadowing throughout the book, so I was able to guess the ending pretty early on. That being said, it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book at all—I was racing back to my Kindle to get back to the story!

Megan was more relatable for me than Lauren, but both characters were very well developed and believable. I found myself rooting for Megan throughout the book and wanting her to end up with the happy tie-up at the end. I don’t want to include any spoilers, but suffice to say that Megan overcame all of her obstacles by the end of the novel.

This was definitely one of my favorite books in a long time, and I will look forward to more books from Paula DeBoard in the future! ( )