If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

SYNOPSIS

A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.

Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

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Jenny:  5 Stars

This book made my heart hurt and was such a  thought provoking read. It was beautiful and the writing was flawless.

There was certainly a lot to take in with this book but I found I kept pace with the authors story and  Sophie/Quinn reached into my heart and held it all through this book.

What a wonderful loyal and strong character Sophie was.  She sacrificed so much to keep her promise to her boyfriend Carey that, at times, I was willing her to tell! I actually did shout at my Kindle once “just tell someone”.  I wanted  the cruelty towards her to end.  I wanted to reach in and hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay.

“Some words hit you like a tree branch slapping you in the face.  And some words rip into your flesh, leaving scars so deep, they never completely fade”

Sophie/Quinn wasn’t perfect but she was honest, mature beyond her years at times, pragmatic and loyal to a fault.  She didn’t play the victim, even though she very well could have.  My frustration at her for keeping her secret was born out of a deep feeling and connection I felt for Sophie…I felt this connection to the point where I wanted everything to be okay for her.  I wanted, with all my heart, for Sophie to enjoy her life and everything around it.  I wanted her to be happy.  Oh I wanted so much the hatred towards her to end because she didn’t deserve any of it.

“I can’t go home to sit alone in the dark.  I belong nowhere.  Nobody wants me”. Yes, my heart ached for Sophie.

This book was so emotional and moving.  The author really sets the pace and doesn’t let you go for one minute.  Just when you get through one emotional ride, the roller coaster goes right back up the top and you’re plummeting again. Hearing the story in first person by Sophie really does have an impact whereby you feel everything Sophie goes through and at times it’s not pretty.

Sophie was captured kissing a boy that isn’t her boyfriend Carey. Carey is the hometown hero who is serving in Afghanistan and is currently MIA.

Sophie is harbouring a secret for her boyfriend Carey..  A secret that could clear her name and end the constant taunting and ridicule she suffers daily at the hands of her “friends” in her town.  But to clear her name, Sophie would have to break a promise she vowed to keep.  A promise she made to Carey before he left for Afghanistan and one she intends to honour at all cost.

The blurb really doesn’t do this book justice.  You will never understand the emotional journey of this book unless you read it and experience the emotion first hand.

I haven’t stopped thinking about this book since I closed the last page, such was the effect it had on me.

This book about friendships, loyalty, accepting people aren’t perfect and not believing everything you see and hear gripped me from start to finish.  It’s about misconceptions and how they can affect those around us.  There are always two sides to every story and this is discovered through flashback glimpses from Sophie.  It unravels slowly for the reader and the impact of some of the reveals had me gasping.

“Sometimes a moment defines you, defines how people see you for the rest of your life”

Everything in this story felt real.  The relationship between Sophie and her father broke my heart and her relationship with George made my heart soar.

This is one book that will stay with me for a long time to come.

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IF I LIE by CORRINE JACKSON
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