Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
352 Pages
Synopsis: When debut novelist Eliza Fontaine is found at the bottom of a hotel pool, her family at first assumes that it’s just another failed suicide attempt. But Eliza swears she was pushed, and her rescuer is the only witness.
Desperate to find out who attacked her, Eliza takes it upon herself to investigate. But as the publication date for her novel draws closer, Eliza finds more questions than answers. Like why are her editor, agent, and family mixing up events from her novel with events from her life? Her novel is completely fiction isn’t it?
The deeper Eliza goes into her investigation while struggling with memory loss, the closer her life starts to resemble her novel until the line between reality and fiction starts to blur, and she can no longer tell where her protagonist’s life ends and hers begins.
I have to admit that The Elizas started off a bit slow for me. Somewhere around the halfway point though, the pace picked up considerably and I wound up enjoying it for the most part.
Eliza is not a particularly likable character, but then she’s not meant to be. I like unreliable characters as long as they’re interesting and Eliza was. The secondary characters are equally unreliable so I really didn’t trust anyone! Although the story didn’t have the excitement I was hoping for, I kept flipping the pages because I needed to find out what was really happening. The author is known for wrapping up all loose ends and inserting an unexpected twist at the end of her books and I’m happy to say this was the case here.
The plot is a bit like a movie you’d see on Lifetime, and has all the melodrama of Shepard’s YA bestselling Pretty Little Liars series. If you’re looking for a book with lots of thrills and chills, you could probably skip this. However, if you like slow building psychological suspense that doesn’t require a lot of deep thinking, The Elizas might be a fun summer read for you.
thebookwormdrinketh said:
Hm, I’m not really into the “unreliable narrator” it’s been ruined for me too many times! I like that you say this one wasn’t as bad!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I definitely liked Eliza and her unreliability. She was really the reason I kept reading.
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ChrissiReads said:
It does sound like a book that would be good for the summer! Great review.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Despite my issues with it Idothinkit would make for a good beach or vacation read Chrissi.😊
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Raven @ Dreamy Addictions said:
Great review, Kim! 🙂 I like psychological thrillers but I really hate the slow starts. This sounds interesting!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
If you decide to try Raven you’ve got to let me know what you think.🤗
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Lashaan (Bookidote) said:
Ah man, sorry to hear the character dragged this story through the mud! Great review though, Kim. 😉
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Lashaan. It wasn’t horrible, but neither was it a stand out.
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(Danielle) Books, Vertigo and Tea said:
Very insightful review Kim and you pretty much answered my suspicions. I had a chance to request this one and couldn’t shake the feeling it would not be right for me, so I passed. I think that was a good call.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yeah. I think that was the right call for you Danielle. I have a feeling you’d have felt a bit “meh” about it as well.
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jennifertarheelreader said:
Thoughtful review! I am glad you said it reminded you of a Lifetime movie- I can definitely skip it.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Jennifer. I used to love Lifetime movies, but got bored after awhile.🤷🏻♀️
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Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ said:
Fantastic Review, Book Sister! Also very spot on, as well. I was pretty disappointed in this novel. I had high hopes for it but you know but it wasn’t the worst. Great Post, as always, my friend!🤗😚
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Dani. Sometime reviewing “meh” reads are tougher than reviewing ones you hated.🙇🏻♀️
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Dani☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ said:
I agree, Kim! They can be so hard to rate.😢
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beetleypete said:
One for me to miss, I suspect. Thanks, Kim.
Best wishes, Pete.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Most definitely Pete!
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fragglerocking said:
Well I suppose you can’t win them all, onwards ever onwards my friend 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
So true Fraggle. Thankfully I’m reading an awesome book right now.😊.
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fragglerocking said:
Me too! Luvvly jubbly!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😊😊
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Carrie said:
Lovely review Kim. Sorry you didn’t enjoy this one a bit more but it makes me feel better for passing it up. 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Carrie. I have a feeling you’d have felt the same about this.
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lostartofreadingblog said:
Awesome review, I have such a hard time getting into a book when it starts off too slow. I get bored and usually end up DNFing.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Asia! I can’t blame you.
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James J. Cudney IV said:
Hmmm, I’m torn. I loved PLL but this doesn’t sounds as strong?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Yeah. I suspect you’d have similar feeling about this Jay. Because I too was a PLL fan, I’ll still give her next book a try.
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mlbradford said:
Another fine Review, Kim!
Always amazed at the quantity and rate of novels u get thro – I can’t remember the last novel I actually managed to finish!
Was going to read Thrawn and some other spinoff Star Wars novels, but it’s got to the point where I can’t bring myself to watch any of th original movies!
You can read all about it here:
Hope you are well 🙂
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Brad. I’ve been a bit slower the last several weeks because my migraines have been acting up, but I’m trying to post at least two every week. Thanks for the link. I’ll stop by ASAP.
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mlbradford said:
Sorry to hear about your health troubles – all th best, my friend
It’ll be wonderful to see u over @ my site again – I’ll prepare the cocoa right now! 😉
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