The story is told over 2 timelines. In 1968 we meet a schoolgirl who falls for her music teacher, she persuades her mother to let her have piano lessons so that she can be alone with him. They begin a passionate affair that must be kept secret but has disastrous consequences when he tries to end things. The story follows ghostwriter Joely who's been given the difficult task of telling famous author F.M Donahue memoir in the style that her fans will appreciate.

I think you’ll enjoy 'My Lies, Your Lies' if you can suspend disbelief and go in expecting this as more of a “suspense for part one and then it turns into a family drama for part two” book! We really enjoyed some of the characters in the book, particularly the housekeeper. Plus the character of the actual house shone through the book. We could all see ourselves in this by times gothic, and also strangely comforting house. The landscape around the house was also beautifully drawn, to the point where it was easy to imagine it. Joely is a ghostwriter who is used to telling other people's secrets and scandals for a living but this might be her strangest assignment yet. Freda has never told her story before but now she's ready to set the record straight and to right a wrong that's haunted her. Freda's memoir begins with a 15-year-old falling madly in love with her teacher. It ends in a way Joely could never have imagined. Joely is sure she can uncover the truth but as the story unravels, she is spun deeper and deeper into a world of secret and lies... One of the things this author does really well is create complex situations which are incredibly realistic and very easy to feel involved in. This book was no exception and I soon found myself drawn into all the drama and feeling a lot of sympathy with Joely. As a mum myself I can imagine how hard it must hit you to have your daughter want to move out. Joely delves into her work, learning more about the events that happened all those years ago. She is soon surprised to discover that the truth lies much closer to home and is bizarrely connected to her. How can Freda’s past be linked to Joely? Could the teacher be someone near to her?

About this book

The story is told primarily through Joely's eyes in the third person, as as occasionally Freda and Joely's mum, Marianne. Peppered throughout are the memoir entries written in the first person narrative, leaving the reader pondering who she may well be. Overall, not a bad read but not the Author's best. Still, I give it 3 stars for being middle of the road. It's not a book I can decide whether I like it or not. I always look forward to a Susan Lewis book, knowing full well to clear my diary as once you start, you won’t be able to put it down.

We all agreed that though we enjoyed the book the ending felt a little rushed and also a little twee with things turning out the way they did. Given what happened during the book we weren't sure we would be such a happy family afterwards. Nearly there and things have changed dramatically. I know a lot of people won’t like this but it appears that the love between David (Sir) and Marianne (Linda) was real. Even though she was only 15. I think maybe the fact that he was her teacher is what makes it indefensible. He had a duty to his pupils and he let his desire overcome that. However 10 years seems a long sentence ( from what I have read about sentencing Laws in the UK).This had all the promise of a great book. Great characters, a heartbroken Joely on a train ride to a virtually unknown ghostwriting assignment. A broken marriage and an absent daughter. The opening and a substantial portion of the book was of intrigue and kept you reading. The structure of the story was really good though as Joely's apprehension of trying to write for a famous novelist was well captured, just like the reader she's also desperate to know the outcome of the couple. In my opinion, MY LIES, YOUR LIES took a little too long for interest to take hold - at nearly 30% in, which is a bit too long in my opinion - but then it did admittedly get rather interesting. And then it didn't. The climatic twist came 20% too soon or rather the ending was dragged out a little too long. As a result, it did become slightly ridiculous. I'm not sure how the past and the present were supposed to entwine but didn't seem entirely real. I'm not entirely sure what the author was trying to say in bringing such a story to light.Society certainly wouldn't accept it, so what is she saying? Did I miss something? Is she romanticising it? Or is it a warning?