Accepting the proposal of an older, sophisticated man after a whirlwind courtship, a woman struggling with severe OCD throws herself into wedding plans before discovering her fiancé's secret past and deceptive agenda.
Carola Lovering is a master at writing about toxic people and relationships. She is fabulous at spinning tales around seedy situations, and I know that when I pick up one of her novels, I am sure to be entertained. I come to her 2021 novel Too Good to Be True by way of her debut Tell Me Lies, which I loved. I am happy to share that I loved Too Good to Be True even more, and Carola Lovering is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. In fact, I will be picking up her latest book, Can't Look Away, as soon as I finish this review!
Too Good to Be True is a novel that slowly unfolds over the course of alternating POV chapters, narrated by three main characters - Skye, Burke, & Heather. The plot is best explored through your own reading, but to give you the gist, here's what you need to know about our narrators going into this book: Skye, a beautiful, wealthy young woman who suffers with OCD, is thrilled when she finally meets the man of her dreams - Burke - after years of frivolous, noncommittal relationships due to her disability; Burke, handsome, charming, and very much married, is about to take Skye for a ride, which is uncovered and narrated through a series of journal entries written by him to his marriage counselor; Thirty years earlier, 17-year-old Heather, strapped down with caring for both her little brother and drug-addicted boyfriend Burke, gets a taste of the finer life while babysitting for a local heiress and has her eyes opened to what her life could be.
I was immediately sucked into Too Good to Be True. Carola Lovering caught my attention on the very first page and I quickly settled into this book, excited to see where it would take me. I was not disappointed. Lovering is a phenomenal writer, adept at creating dynamic, vibrant characters that leap right off the page, and weaving intriguing stories that reveal the dark truths about human nature and psychology.
Too Good to Be True will appeal to readers who enjoy dark contemporary fiction with a hint of twisty suspense. Fans of Caroline Kepnes' You will enjoy the confessional writing style of this novel, as will readers who like edgy psychological fiction.
Availability: Book; eBook & eAudiobook in cloudLibrary Rating: ***** Stars (I loved it) Reviewer: Brooke, Public Relations Librarian
ARE YOU AND THIS BOOK A GOOD MATCH? DISCOVER MORE WITH NOVELIST APPEALS! Too Good to Be True
GENRE: Book Club Best Bets; Multiple Perspectives; Parallel Narratives; Psychological Suspense
THEME: Surviving Sexual Violence (These books are about characters who have suffered the trauma of sexual violence and follow them as they survive, cope, and build their lives.); Too Good to Be True (Whether it's a perfect marriage, the appearance of a "long lost" family member, or a stranger who inserts himself into the main character's life, something doesn't add up. Each has secrets that can harm or even kill.)
CHARACTER: Ability Diverse
STORYLINE: Intricately Plotted
TONE: Disturbing; Suspenseful
WRITING STYLE: Compelling
SUBJECT: Courtship; Deception; Financial Planners; Marriage Proposals; Married Men; Men/Women Relations; Obsession; OCD; Secrets; Teenage Girls; Wedding Planning; Women Editors; Young Women
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THESE TITLES:
Comments