The Lies We Told by Diane ChamberlainBlue Archipelago Reviews

The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain – Review

The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain is an insight into the effect that lies can have on the lives of people who love each other.

My Book Review Rating:

Fiction or non-fiction? What’s the genre?

This one is a wonderful work of fiction.

Why did you decide to read this book?

I became a fan of Chamberlain last year after reading The Lost Daughter (The secret life of CeeCee Wilkes) so when I was offered an advanced review copy of her latest novel I couldn’t say yes fast enough!

Summarise the plot – without revealing the ending!

The novel revolves around two sisters; Maya and Rebecca Ward, and the chapters alternate between the sisters to tell the story from their point of view.

Both sisters are physicians, but that’s about as far as the similarities go. Maya is cautious and timid and treats children from the safety of her office, while Rebecca is the risk taker who travels the world offering medical services in disaster zones.

When a hurricane hits the coast of North Carolina Rebecca heads out to join the rescue operation along with Maya’s husband Adam. When he sees the sheer devastation and the number of injured children Adam urges Maya to join them.

In a twist of fate Maya’s helicopter crashes in the forest and she finds herself stranded on a small island, cut off from civilisation and caught in the lives of the strangers who rescued her. As Maya tries desperately to let her loved ones know she is alive the search party gives up hope of ever finding a survivor and Rebecca and Adam find themselves drawn to each other.

What did you like about this book?

I enjoyed hearing the story being told from two sides. Chamberlain focuses on the lies that people tell to their loved ones to protect them. And how these lives can grow and take on a life of themselves which can actually have a much more devastating effect.

What did you think of the main character?

Although the story is told from the perspective of both Maya and Rebecca I feel that Maya is the main character here. She is the cautious one and both Rebecca and Adam wrap her in cotton wool. But actually Maya demonstrates that she has more courage and fight in her than either her sister or her husband.

Are there any other interesting characters in the book?

Simmee is the girl who nurses Maya back to health, she lives on a small island with her husband and an old lady who was the midwife at Simmee’s birth. She is a wonderful character who has her own secrets and tells her own lies to protect both herself and the life of her unborn baby.

What did you think about the ending?

I was really surprised by the way the story ended and it took me a while to decide whether I appreciated it or not. I think I can understand why Chamberlain chose to close the tale in that way though.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of them?

Yes, The Lost Daughter (The secret life of CeeCee Wilkes) and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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