Reviews

Everything but the Truth by Gillian McAllister

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danielle__2386's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

bennnnnnnn's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An excellent and very compelling read - and not for the reasons I expected. For me, the intrigue and suspense was less about Jack's story and what he was hiding (which I figured out before the big reveal) but about the narrator Rachel's hidden past and how that was slowly drip fed to us as the present-day narrative unfolded and tripped her back into her past, filled with pain and errors of judgement that had terrible consequences, things she would rather forget, genuine mistakes that arose from her just trying to do the right thing. The parallels with Jack's situation are not lost, and indeed make the reader think about culpability, intention, motive and why we do what we do. It also makes you think about the difference between lies and the stories we tell to make our actions more justified in our own minds; the right to anonymity; the right to wipe the slate clean after a traumatic experience and start again....but how that doesn't always work in the real world. McAllister is a skilled, thoughtful and engaging writer and Everything But The Truth is a dark and different love story that will certainly make you think, as well as make you stay up until 1am turning the pages. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

helenloves's review

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

bethkayreading's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

paulahllr's review

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

noolna's review

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2.0

I'm surprised I actually finished this book. After about 20 chapters, the suspense fizzled out and nothing really happens after that. There's no excitement at all, and I kept waiting for something to happen but nothing really did.

kayhalo's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

nickmasters's review against another edition

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5.0

I can barely imagine what the future holds if this was what was dished up as a debut novel! Superbly written.

Proof that you don't need twists and reverse twists to captivate readers. The journey of two souls, two culpable souls, coming to terms with actions that are completely unique from one another, but both hugely significant, is portrayed with precision and an eloquence that keeps you captivated from the start.

Well done on a great novel.
To think that I accidentally requested this title! Glad I made that mistake.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.