Beautiful lies - Iridescent Reads for Aotearoa Bookwyrms

English language

Published March 25, 2006 by Shaye Areheart Books.

ISBN:: 9780307336682

(1 review)

If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect--with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole. But that's not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door--a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory …

If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect--with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole. But that's not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door--a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory she never knew existed, where everyone in her life seems like a stranger. She has no idea who's on her side and who has something to hide--even, and maybe especially, her new lover, Jake, who appears to have secrets of his own.Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies is a true literary thriller with one of the freshest voices and heroines to arrive in years. Lisa Unger takes us on a breathtaking ride in which every choice Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to imagine . . . . AN INTERNATIONAL BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH SELECTIONA featured alternate selection of the Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, Mystery Guild, and Rhapsody Book Club.Also available as a Random House AudioBook, a Large Print edition, and an eBook.From the Hardcover edition.

6 editions

Soulhaven (Deb E Howell) reviewed Beautiful lies by Lisa Unger

Review of 'Beautiful lies' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this read. I think its main draw would have to be the sexy Jake - that's certainly how it came to be on my reading list - "You have to read this book. The main guy is Hot!", so I did.
In fact, I've read it a few times. I love taking a ride with Ridley as her fears grow and she and Jake argue and make up. It's fun trip.
What I didn't like: the whole premise of the book is based on Jake finding Ridley because her photo was plastered all over the media after she rescues a kid from a potential accident. However, as she is on her way out of her apartment, prior to said rescue, she stops to talk to her elderly neighbour, who complains about the new guy who has just moved in upstairs making too much noise. Later, this would …

Overall, I enjoyed this read. I think its main draw would have to be the sexy Jake - that's certainly how it came to be on my reading list - "You have to read this book. The main guy is Hot!", so I did.
In fact, I've read it a few times. I love taking a ride with Ridley as her fears grow and she and Jake argue and make up. It's fun trip.
What I didn't like: the whole premise of the book is based on Jake finding Ridley because her photo was plastered all over the media after she rescues a kid from a potential accident. However, as she is on her way out of her apartment, prior to said rescue, she stops to talk to her elderly neighbour, who complains about the new guy who has just moved in upstairs making too much noise. Later, this would appear to be Jake... So, I am confused. Had he actually found her BEFORE the rescue? I'm pretty sure that later in the book he says that he found her because of the media coverage. Since everything that happens in the book is meant to begin because of the rescue and resulting media coverage, I think it would be important to get the timeline right! If I am mistaken, please correct me!
Other than that, there were a few typos in the edition I read (eg. 'break' instead of 'brake' during a car chase), but on the whole it was a nice read. I still give it four stars because I really DID enjoy reading it a great deal. Twice... ok, maybe 4 times.

Subjects

Women journalists -- Fiction.
Birthfathers -- Fiction.
East Village (New York, N.Y.) -- Fiction.