All My Lies Are True is the fourth book of my 20 Books Of Summer challenge. It’s clear I’ve run out of time to complete my original list for this year, but I have read some cracking books that weren’t on the original list.

Blurb:

Verity is telling lies…
And that’s why she’s about to be arrested for attempted murder.

Serena has been lying for years. . .
And that may have driven her daughter, Verity, to do something unthinkable…

Poppy’s lies have come back to haunt her . . .
So will her quest for the truth hurt everyone she loves?

Everyone lies.
But whose lies are going to end in tragedy?

Review:

I absolutely loved The Ice Cream Girls, so I was excited to see what Koomson would do with a sequel. I was a little worried that as it was a few years since I left Serena and Poppy behind, I would struggle to recall important details and immerse myself back into their lives. I need not have worried: Koomson gives us plenty of detail without ever rehashing the original story.

All My Lies Are True is a longer book than I am used to, but this was no obstacle to my enjoyment at all. Koomson’s writing appears effortless (although I am sure it is not) and I was immediately drawn into the story. The main theme of the novel is truth and as each chapter is narrated by a different character, the reader gets to see the events from both sides. At times, it’s very difficult to decide whose version of events represents what actually happened, but that’s part of the joy of this novel. It tugs at your heartstrings and makes you question yourself and all the characters all the way through.

There are many sensitive yet important themes in All My Lies Are True: relationships, domestic violence, coercive control, rape and consent. It is sometimes hard to read, but Koomson has researched the issues well and writes about them with a deep understanding of the discussions surrounding them and the emotional impact they have on both her characters and, potentially, her readers.

For obvious reasons, I can’t say much about the ending, but it’s safe to say Koomson made sure I won’t be forgetting All My Lies Are True for a long time.

All My Lies Are True is available from Amazon.