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Ridley Jones #1
Beautiful Lies
Ridley Jones sets out on a quest to unlock the secrets of her murky past after the faded picture of a man, woman, and baby girl is delivered to her door with a note asking "Are you my daughter?".
If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect — with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole.
But that’s not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door — a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.
Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory she never knew existed, where everyone in her life seems like a stranger. She has no idea who’s on her side and who has something to hide—even, and maybe especially, her new lover, Jake, who appears to have secrets of his own.
Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies is a true literary thriller with one of the freshest voices and heroines to arrive in years. Lisa Unger takes us on a breathtaking ride in which every choice Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to imagine . . . .
If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect — with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole.
But that’s not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door — a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.
Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory she never knew existed, where everyone in her life seems like a stranger. She has no idea who’s on her side and who has something to hide—even, and maybe especially, her new lover, Jake, who appears to have secrets of his own.
Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies is a true literary thriller with one of the freshest voices and heroines to arrive in years. Lisa Unger takes us on a breathtaking ride in which every choice Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to imagine . . . .
400 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2006
1271 people are currently reading
10734 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Unger
48 books10.4k followersLisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including her upcoming release SERVED HIM RIGHT (March, 2026). With books published in thirty-three languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense.
Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,852 reviews
October 6, 2021
3.5 "exciting, interesting, logical" stars !!
We have been on the road for ten hours or so ....coming home from vacation and what am I doing instead of unpacking. Well first of all picked up kitty and squeezed him o so tight and now he is on my lap while I type out this review. Unpacking can wait !!
I very much enjoyed this book and my time spent with the heroine, Ms. Ridley Jones. Ms. Unger is able to write a very good thriller/mystery and I understand that this is one of her first novels.
Although I was able to predict most of what was to happen I was still mostly interested and at the edge of my seat as the action unfolded in a logical and layered way. The characters were fairly well fleshed out and alive. The author did not pull any tricks on the reader that were jarring and you were constantly left with satisfying ahas or wonder how dilemmas would be resolved. The love story was both sweet and hot and as a reader I so wanted it to work out between them.
I very much like how the protagonist spoke to the reader and would ask questions as the action played out. The story was extremely interesting and was not in black-white but in shades of grey that lent a sophistication and complexity that is often lacking in these types of books. It was cool that it was set in New York and it really felt that it was 2006 as I was reading. The supporting cast was also interesting, diverse and full of their own quirks...I like how they would re-appear throughout the novel.
Why not 4 stars Jaidee?
Well I would say I would have liked a surprise or two and more importantly I did not find Ridley's reactions to some of the trauma she witnessed believable. These are minor issues but important ones.
All in all a very good and mostly satisfying read. I would definitely pick up another of Ms. Unger's books !
We have been on the road for ten hours or so ....coming home from vacation and what am I doing instead of unpacking. Well first of all picked up kitty and squeezed him o so tight and now he is on my lap while I type out this review. Unpacking can wait !!
I very much enjoyed this book and my time spent with the heroine, Ms. Ridley Jones. Ms. Unger is able to write a very good thriller/mystery and I understand that this is one of her first novels.
Although I was able to predict most of what was to happen I was still mostly interested and at the edge of my seat as the action unfolded in a logical and layered way. The characters were fairly well fleshed out and alive. The author did not pull any tricks on the reader that were jarring and you were constantly left with satisfying ahas or wonder how dilemmas would be resolved. The love story was both sweet and hot and as a reader I so wanted it to work out between them.
I very much like how the protagonist spoke to the reader and would ask questions as the action played out. The story was extremely interesting and was not in black-white but in shades of grey that lent a sophistication and complexity that is often lacking in these types of books. It was cool that it was set in New York and it really felt that it was 2006 as I was reading. The supporting cast was also interesting, diverse and full of their own quirks...I like how they would re-appear throughout the novel.
Why not 4 stars Jaidee?
Well I would say I would have liked a surprise or two and more importantly I did not find Ridley's reactions to some of the trauma she witnessed believable. These are minor issues but important ones.
All in all a very good and mostly satisfying read. I would definitely pick up another of Ms. Unger's books !
July 2, 2017
Glad to have stumbled across this in the audio section of my library, although I do own the hard copy. That's okay as I'm going to pass it onto a friend that likes this genre.
My three star rating doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this, obviously, though I do find it hard sometimes to rate and review audio books.
I enjoyed the character development of Ridley (excellent name) and can see her being a great fit for a series that I will read at some stage. She's a cool woman, sure of herself and will not put up with anything, as she is just discovering. The elusive and very cool Jake would be a good pairing for Ridley. It seems her life has been had on some beautiful lies, and it was fun to unravel these as she went along. An inquisitive freelance writer with a sharp mind. She has ended up on the front cover of Vanity Fair after saving a child, this brings on a chain of events that leaves her running for her life. I enjoyed the people she came across in her search for the truth. Of course lots of well to do folk with bad morals as we seem to see everywhere in fiction books!
The pace was always exciting and the storyline interesting. Lisa Unger is a writer I will look out for.
As an aside, this review has been bothering me. I think what it comes down to is this. When it comes to audio books I do not completely concentrate, it's inevitable. So, sorry about my I ability to articulate! I'm not happy with it.
My three star rating doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this, obviously, though I do find it hard sometimes to rate and review audio books.
I enjoyed the character development of Ridley (excellent name) and can see her being a great fit for a series that I will read at some stage. She's a cool woman, sure of herself and will not put up with anything, as she is just discovering. The elusive and very cool Jake would be a good pairing for Ridley. It seems her life has been had on some beautiful lies, and it was fun to unravel these as she went along. An inquisitive freelance writer with a sharp mind. She has ended up on the front cover of Vanity Fair after saving a child, this brings on a chain of events that leaves her running for her life. I enjoyed the people she came across in her search for the truth. Of course lots of well to do folk with bad morals as we seem to see everywhere in fiction books!
The pace was always exciting and the storyline interesting. Lisa Unger is a writer I will look out for.
As an aside, this review has been bothering me. I think what it comes down to is this. When it comes to audio books I do not completely concentrate, it's inevitable. So, sorry about my I ability to articulate! I'm not happy with it.
February 17, 2008
I picked up this book at the library after seeing the description online and being intrigued by the plot, but not enough to want to pay for it. (Not even as a bargain book from B&N.) The plot was interesting enough, but the answers to the "mystery" was pretty evident from the beginning. To be fair, there were a few things I didn't figure out right away.
While I sped along the story to discover those remaining facts, I got really annoyed with the narration. The story is told by the main character who is looking back on it. Her telling me how stupid she acted at every turn (basically every page), on top of me already thinking she was, only heightened my aggravation.
This is NOT a "normal person becomes a detective" book. Ridley does not figure out anything on her own, not really. Even whenever given 95% of the information, she still doesn't seem to realize what is going on.
There is also one GLARING time line inconsistency. I won't refer to it because I don't want to revel any of the plot, but I would be interested to see who else saw it.
While I sped along the story to discover those remaining facts, I got really annoyed with the narration. The story is told by the main character who is looking back on it. Her telling me how stupid she acted at every turn (basically every page), on top of me already thinking she was, only heightened my aggravation.
This is NOT a "normal person becomes a detective" book. Ridley does not figure out anything on her own, not really. Even whenever given 95% of the information, she still doesn't seem to realize what is going on.
There is also one GLARING time line inconsistency. I won't refer to it because I don't want to revel any of the plot, but I would be interested to see who else saw it.
November 26, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. This was my first Lisa Unger book but it will definitely not be my last. Beautiful Lies was easy to get into and it kept my interest throughout. Just a fun mystery/thriller/romance and not to mention I absolutely loved the main character, Ridley.
August 30, 2010
I finished Beautiful Lies late last night and I enjoyed it very much. I loved this book and I will give it a 4,5 if I could.
Mostly what I loved about it is that there is so much wisdom and truth in Ridley's reflections, her intro-prospection about life, about who we become and who we love in life. I liked that about this book.
She talks to the reader directly, taking the reader aside to confess her findings & her flaws, that was nice.
The story dragged a tiny bit for me towards the end.
But all in all, I'd say it's an interesting, entertaining and refreshing read.
Mostly what I loved about it is that there is so much wisdom and truth in Ridley's reflections, her intro-prospection about life, about who we become and who we love in life. I liked that about this book.
She talks to the reader directly, taking the reader aside to confess her findings & her flaws, that was nice.
The story dragged a tiny bit for me towards the end.
But all in all, I'd say it's an interesting, entertaining and refreshing read.
January 24, 2015
Well, I read this pretty fast, and I didn't abandon it, so I guess that makes it "ok." For a thriller, it was disappointingly predictable. No surprise twists here. I actually think the author gave it all away with her italicized prologue, and for the rest of the story, I was waiting for the narrator to catch up. It takes her a while...I disliked the conversational tone - it grated on my nerves how the narrator kept stating the obvious followed by some inane aside to the reader. It was like listening to a really long story told by someone you've just discovered you don't like.
June 5, 2015
I've been on quite the thriller kick lately; I'm not sure why. But hand me a thriller, or tell me you've read a great one, and I begin almost salivating.
So when I saw a few of my friends had read this and liked it, I immediately requested it from the library. Let's start with the good about this book: it is a super fast read. I began reading this because my husband needed to borrow my copy of The Martian for a bit, and this was the next of my library books to be due. I was sucked in from the first page, and had so many high hopes that this would turn out to be a stunner of a thriller.
Unfortunately, the awesome beginning was the best thing about this book. All the action is at the start; the rest of the book is simply Ridley trying to figure out who she is and why she may have had a different identity at birth. She can't figure out anything on her own, however, so of course there's a super hot, yet possibly dangerous, bad boy metal sculptor to help her piece things together. There is literally *no* good female character in this entire book; her mother is of course the typical wealthy yet emotionally distant woman, and all the other women have extra tiny bit parts. Every piece of data that Ridley finds out is thanks to some guy who gave her the information. Ridley is literally paralyzed with indecision or denial for much of the narrative.
Speaking of narrative, I *hated* it (my apologies for such strong language, but sometimes it is necessary). Frequently, Ridley breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader in the second person, asking us what we would do in her position, or how we would feel in her shoes. I found it quite distracting and off-putting to have Ridley always trying to engage me, the reader, in her story. I'm sure it was meant to make the reader feel more connected to the story, but it backfired to me.
Unger's writing was always rather trite as well. She goes on and on, in Ridley's voice, about how life always comes down to the choices we've made, and it's not how strong we are but rather how we react to things. Especially near the end, every other paragraph is some musing over some trite platitude, and it just got to the point where I started to skim.
I also felt that the narrative was so very slow. I'm sure Unger meant to draw out the sexual tension between Ridley and Jake, but considering they went to bed pretty early in their acquaintance, and that Ridley wasn't even sure throughout most of the book whether she could even trust him, it simply served to lengthen the plot unnecessarily.
This is apparently the first in a series starring Ridley Jones, but I think I'll pass on the other novels.
So when I saw a few of my friends had read this and liked it, I immediately requested it from the library. Let's start with the good about this book: it is a super fast read. I began reading this because my husband needed to borrow my copy of The Martian for a bit, and this was the next of my library books to be due. I was sucked in from the first page, and had so many high hopes that this would turn out to be a stunner of a thriller.
Unfortunately, the awesome beginning was the best thing about this book. All the action is at the start; the rest of the book is simply Ridley trying to figure out who she is and why she may have had a different identity at birth. She can't figure out anything on her own, however, so of course there's a super hot, yet possibly dangerous, bad boy metal sculptor to help her piece things together. There is literally *no* good female character in this entire book; her mother is of course the typical wealthy yet emotionally distant woman, and all the other women have extra tiny bit parts. Every piece of data that Ridley finds out is thanks to some guy who gave her the information. Ridley is literally paralyzed with indecision or denial for much of the narrative.
Speaking of narrative, I *hated* it (my apologies for such strong language, but sometimes it is necessary). Frequently, Ridley breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader in the second person, asking us what we would do in her position, or how we would feel in her shoes. I found it quite distracting and off-putting to have Ridley always trying to engage me, the reader, in her story. I'm sure it was meant to make the reader feel more connected to the story, but it backfired to me.
Unger's writing was always rather trite as well. She goes on and on, in Ridley's voice, about how life always comes down to the choices we've made, and it's not how strong we are but rather how we react to things. Especially near the end, every other paragraph is some musing over some trite platitude, and it just got to the point where I started to skim.
I also felt that the narrative was so very slow. I'm sure Unger meant to draw out the sexual tension between Ridley and Jake, but considering they went to bed pretty early in their acquaintance, and that Ridley wasn't even sure throughout most of the book whether she could even trust him, it simply served to lengthen the plot unnecessarily.
This is apparently the first in a series starring Ridley Jones, but I think I'll pass on the other novels.
October 5, 2017
I was in a weird place when the idea for Beautiful Lies struck me. I was very mindful of my own past and how it had shaped me, trying to decide what I wanted to take with me and what I wanted to leave behind. I had been married just a couple of years; my husband Jeffrey and I were thinking about starting our own family, calling into focus a lot of issues from my childhood. I was really deep in thought about who I was and who I wanted to be as a parent.
During this time, I received one of those mailers … it had an advertisement or something on front and, on the back, there was a picture of a missing girl. It was one of those terrible age-graduated photos. Those images always make me so sad, always make me stop and think: Someone’s child is missing and has been for years. Someone had to imagine what their child might look like five or ten years later. What could that possibly be like? What kind of questions must they ask themselves every day? I was standing in my kitchen and this time, as I was looking at it, I had a strange thought: What if I looked at this mailer and recognized myself? That was the germ for Beautiful Lies, the place from which the plot evolved.
I had been away from New York City for about three years, living near the beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida. When I left New York, I was tremendously burned out on the city … everything about it seemed like an assault on the senses; I felt as if the day-to-day of living there … the subways, the homeless, the odors, the noise … was taking everything I had. I felt separated from nature, from myself. Financially, I was on a treadmill … always doing okay but never getting ahead. So Florida – though it seemed insane to everyone I knew that I would actually move there – felt like paradise to me. Palm trees and white sand, the beach a quick walk from my house on the Intracoastal Waterway, a blue, blue sky that I could actually see. I felt like I could breathe again. But you know what they say: You can take the girl out of New York City …
New York City was the natural setting for Beautiful Lies; I know it so well. I mined the memories of my life there. Everything from Ridley Jones’ (my main character) East Village apartment, to Five Roses Pizza, from Van Cortlandt Park to the Brooklyn Bridge, were all big parts of my life, had tremendous personal meaning. I know the sights and sounds and smells of that city. If I close my eyes, I’m there. I think it’s the distance that makes it possible for me to write about it well. Sometimes we need to step away to really see.
Ridley Jones inhabits that old life but she’s not a past version of me. I see her as somewhat naïve, someone more comfortable in denial that in reality, someone who’s life has been fairly idyllic – until a single event changes everything. And personally, I don’t connect with those things about her … but I really love spending time with her. She’s funny and stubborn; she’s deep, a thinker. A great deal of her observations on family and what binds us together, on love, and most especially on the idea of choices, the paths we choose in our lives, are close to my own … without being exactly me. She’s her own person, fully evolved and independent.
If you asked me what Beautiful Lies is about, I could give you a run down of the plot … but other people might do it better. For me, it’s about family, what binds us and what tears us apart from the people we know best … and the impossibility of shifting off those relationships even under the most desperate circumstances. It’s about choices, how the tiny decisions we make affect the course of our days and our lives and have consequences we could never predict. And it’s about identity; when everything that defines us is stripped away – our family and relationships, the past events of our lives – what’s left is the true self. We are more than the sum of our parts. There’s something victorious about that … don’t you think?
During this time, I received one of those mailers … it had an advertisement or something on front and, on the back, there was a picture of a missing girl. It was one of those terrible age-graduated photos. Those images always make me so sad, always make me stop and think: Someone’s child is missing and has been for years. Someone had to imagine what their child might look like five or ten years later. What could that possibly be like? What kind of questions must they ask themselves every day? I was standing in my kitchen and this time, as I was looking at it, I had a strange thought: What if I looked at this mailer and recognized myself? That was the germ for Beautiful Lies, the place from which the plot evolved.
I had been away from New York City for about three years, living near the beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida. When I left New York, I was tremendously burned out on the city … everything about it seemed like an assault on the senses; I felt as if the day-to-day of living there … the subways, the homeless, the odors, the noise … was taking everything I had. I felt separated from nature, from myself. Financially, I was on a treadmill … always doing okay but never getting ahead. So Florida – though it seemed insane to everyone I knew that I would actually move there – felt like paradise to me. Palm trees and white sand, the beach a quick walk from my house on the Intracoastal Waterway, a blue, blue sky that I could actually see. I felt like I could breathe again. But you know what they say: You can take the girl out of New York City …
New York City was the natural setting for Beautiful Lies; I know it so well. I mined the memories of my life there. Everything from Ridley Jones’ (my main character) East Village apartment, to Five Roses Pizza, from Van Cortlandt Park to the Brooklyn Bridge, were all big parts of my life, had tremendous personal meaning. I know the sights and sounds and smells of that city. If I close my eyes, I’m there. I think it’s the distance that makes it possible for me to write about it well. Sometimes we need to step away to really see.
Ridley Jones inhabits that old life but she’s not a past version of me. I see her as somewhat naïve, someone more comfortable in denial that in reality, someone who’s life has been fairly idyllic – until a single event changes everything. And personally, I don’t connect with those things about her … but I really love spending time with her. She’s funny and stubborn; she’s deep, a thinker. A great deal of her observations on family and what binds us together, on love, and most especially on the idea of choices, the paths we choose in our lives, are close to my own … without being exactly me. She’s her own person, fully evolved and independent.
If you asked me what Beautiful Lies is about, I could give you a run down of the plot … but other people might do it better. For me, it’s about family, what binds us and what tears us apart from the people we know best … and the impossibility of shifting off those relationships even under the most desperate circumstances. It’s about choices, how the tiny decisions we make affect the course of our days and our lives and have consequences we could never predict. And it’s about identity; when everything that defines us is stripped away – our family and relationships, the past events of our lives – what’s left is the true self. We are more than the sum of our parts. There’s something victorious about that … don’t you think?
October 15, 2022
Ridley Jones is a happy free lance writer living in New York City. On the way to work one day, she sees a little boy about to get hit by a car and races to save his life. That single decision unleashes a series of events that uproots everything Ridley believes to be true in her life. Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself as well as her family, Ridley is cast into a dark underground world and she must find the answers fast or she's not going to make it out alive.
My thoughts:
I love this thriller. It's really engaging, but my favorite thing about this novel is that it is written in the second person. Ridley (narrator) is talking about what's happening to her and she frequently stops to interact with the reader. I don't think I've ever read a fictional book written in this way, but it really had me hooked.
I know that there are a lot of low ratings on this, but for me I found it to be a five 🌟 read. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. 🤷
My thoughts:
I love this thriller. It's really engaging, but my favorite thing about this novel is that it is written in the second person. Ridley (narrator) is talking about what's happening to her and she frequently stops to interact with the reader. I don't think I've ever read a fictional book written in this way, but it really had me hooked.
I know that there are a lot of low ratings on this, but for me I found it to be a five 🌟 read. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. 🤷
May 26, 2008
In Beautiful Lies, Ridley Jones unexpectedly finds her nice, normal life turned upsidedown when she heroically saves a little boy from being hit by a car on the streets of New York City. Everything she thought she knew about herself is suddenly called into question and she finds herself in a great deal of danger.
The writing in this book is simply outstanding! I found myself saying very often, "yes, I've thought that same thing and never put it into words" or "yes, I KNOW how she feels." Lisa Unger is one of those writers who works magic with the English language.
The story is told in the first person from Ridley's persective, as though you are sitting across from her in her living room listening to this harrowing experience. And by the end of the novel, you feel as though you are friends with this woman. Unger doesn't try to make Ridley a superwoman by any means, but she also doesn't make her a spineless wimp who opts for the easy way out. I really liked that Ridley had contradictions about her...she acknowledged those contradictions and didn't necessarily offer an explanation for them, they just were. And at the same time they were believable contradictions. How many times have I felt the exact same thing about myself?
The plot was unique, but I will forewarn anyone who is interested in reading this book...don't read anything about Unger's second book, Sliver of Truth, until you've finished this one. I made that mistake and it took some of the suspense away. The summaries I read of Sliver of Truth gave away the ending to Beautiful Lies. Not all of it, but enough that I was waiting for a particular detail to come out; knowing that it would.
Harlan Coben's influence on Unger came out when Ridley turned on her cell phone and dialed the police as she was entering a dangerous situation. Maybe Ridley has met Myron in her day-to-day dealings in NYC!
The only criticism I would have about Beautiful Lies is that the ending seemed longer than it needed to be. There were several times when I thought the book was at its conclusion and it still continued. Unger definitely wrapped every loose end up. But, that aspect wouldn't be enough for me not to recommend this book highly. Anyone who enjoys suspense/mystery...and especially anyone looking for a great female protagonist...this book is a great choice.
The writing in this book is simply outstanding! I found myself saying very often, "yes, I've thought that same thing and never put it into words" or "yes, I KNOW how she feels." Lisa Unger is one of those writers who works magic with the English language.
The story is told in the first person from Ridley's persective, as though you are sitting across from her in her living room listening to this harrowing experience. And by the end of the novel, you feel as though you are friends with this woman. Unger doesn't try to make Ridley a superwoman by any means, but she also doesn't make her a spineless wimp who opts for the easy way out. I really liked that Ridley had contradictions about her...she acknowledged those contradictions and didn't necessarily offer an explanation for them, they just were. And at the same time they were believable contradictions. How many times have I felt the exact same thing about myself?
The plot was unique, but I will forewarn anyone who is interested in reading this book...don't read anything about Unger's second book, Sliver of Truth, until you've finished this one. I made that mistake and it took some of the suspense away. The summaries I read of Sliver of Truth gave away the ending to Beautiful Lies. Not all of it, but enough that I was waiting for a particular detail to come out; knowing that it would.
Harlan Coben's influence on Unger came out when Ridley turned on her cell phone and dialed the police as she was entering a dangerous situation. Maybe Ridley has met Myron in her day-to-day dealings in NYC!
The only criticism I would have about Beautiful Lies is that the ending seemed longer than it needed to be. There were several times when I thought the book was at its conclusion and it still continued. Unger definitely wrapped every loose end up. But, that aspect wouldn't be enough for me not to recommend this book highly. Anyone who enjoys suspense/mystery...and especially anyone looking for a great female protagonist...this book is a great choice.
November 1, 2021
Until ten minutes ago, this was the best of 2021 thus far. Until ten minutes ago, I was hoping that this was one in a series so that I could inhale the next. Until ten minutes ago, I was mentally drafting and revising my letter to author Lisa Unger’s publicist asking to be officially named as a recognized “super fan”. And then.....oh, and then. ::sigh:: And then I read the final pages...and I’m pretty hacked off.
Now here come the spoilers folks. The first 99% of the book is brilliant. Seriously. Well-written, well-drawn characters, well-developed plot. So things are going along swimmingly. As a reader, you get that little tingle—you know, the one that is strangely sad, knowing the end is right around the corner; but, also exhilarating, to be finally getting some answers after the investment you’ve made in the story. Suddenly, and without warning, the narrator—our beautifully smart and just as beautifully flawed protagonist—is using the “let’s wind this thing down” time to utter phrases that amount to “we may never know”, and “that remains unanswered”. Oh sure, she is using far more engaging vocabulary, and her style is still there, but she is basically telling us, us invested readers, that she has just plum run outta time, sugar! Every damn question that had urged me forward and propelled me through the pages sat quidam, orphaned and alone, of absolutely no consequence EXCEPT TO ME. You just can’t suck me in, then, as I get close to the finish line, say “oh man, I can’t believe I told you so much....and now, well just LOOK at the time! I GUESS YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO BUY MY NEXT BOOK!”
So Ms. Ungar, when you can tell me who killed Teresa; when you can tell me how Max ended up with the baby; when you can set me straight on how, exactly Jake ended up back in the system—when you can begin to address these burning questions, only then can I possibly consider “super fan” status. Really, now. This was just.....soul-sucking.
Now here come the spoilers folks. The first 99% of the book is brilliant. Seriously. Well-written, well-drawn characters, well-developed plot. So things are going along swimmingly. As a reader, you get that little tingle—you know, the one that is strangely sad, knowing the end is right around the corner; but, also exhilarating, to be finally getting some answers after the investment you’ve made in the story. Suddenly, and without warning, the narrator—our beautifully smart and just as beautifully flawed protagonist—is using the “let’s wind this thing down” time to utter phrases that amount to “we may never know”, and “that remains unanswered”. Oh sure, she is using far more engaging vocabulary, and her style is still there, but she is basically telling us, us invested readers, that she has just plum run outta time, sugar! Every damn question that had urged me forward and propelled me through the pages sat quidam, orphaned and alone, of absolutely no consequence EXCEPT TO ME. You just can’t suck me in, then, as I get close to the finish line, say “oh man, I can’t believe I told you so much....and now, well just LOOK at the time! I GUESS YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO BUY MY NEXT BOOK!”
So Ms. Ungar, when you can tell me who killed Teresa; when you can tell me how Max ended up with the baby; when you can set me straight on how, exactly Jake ended up back in the system—when you can begin to address these burning questions, only then can I possibly consider “super fan” status. Really, now. This was just.....soul-sucking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2011
Beautiful Lies is a silly book. Silly in the sense that the plot is mostly ridiculously contrived and way more convoluted than it needed to be. But who cares? When you read suspense thrillers only a couple things really matter. First of all- can we get behind the main character? Do we like her/him? Do we care what happens to them? Secondly, is there enough mystery/action/suspense/sex to keep the pages turning?
Beautiful Lies concerns the life of Ridley Jones, a successful, single freelance writer living in New York City. One day, on her way to meet her ex-boyfriend for breakfast, she saves a life and is thrust into the spotlight. Soon after, she gets a letter in the mail and everything she ever thought she knew about herself and her life is suddenly suspect.
There’s a lot of stuff going on in Unger’s book: doting parents who have pat answers for all Ridley’s questions, a junkie brother, a cloying ex-boyfriend, and a new love interest cut from romance 101 fabric.
Yet even as I questioned some of Ridley’s choices, even as I tried to piece together things that didn’t make a lick of sense, I kept turning those pages.
Perhaps it was Unger’s conversational style. Ridley tells the story herself and in some ways as a reader I felt as though she was telling me her story over a pot of tea on a long afternoon. That intense focus, though, also means as a reader you get to be more critical of the character and I have to admit that sometimes I did want to shake her.
Ultimately, though, you don’t read a book like Beautiful Lies for insight into the human condition. You read it for sheer fun and I had a lot of that.
Beautiful Lies concerns the life of Ridley Jones, a successful, single freelance writer living in New York City. One day, on her way to meet her ex-boyfriend for breakfast, she saves a life and is thrust into the spotlight. Soon after, she gets a letter in the mail and everything she ever thought she knew about herself and her life is suddenly suspect.
There’s a lot of stuff going on in Unger’s book: doting parents who have pat answers for all Ridley’s questions, a junkie brother, a cloying ex-boyfriend, and a new love interest cut from romance 101 fabric.
Yet even as I questioned some of Ridley’s choices, even as I tried to piece together things that didn’t make a lick of sense, I kept turning those pages.
Perhaps it was Unger’s conversational style. Ridley tells the story herself and in some ways as a reader I felt as though she was telling me her story over a pot of tea on a long afternoon. That intense focus, though, also means as a reader you get to be more critical of the character and I have to admit that sometimes I did want to shake her.
Ultimately, though, you don’t read a book like Beautiful Lies for insight into the human condition. You read it for sheer fun and I had a lot of that.
May 10, 2016
I haven't had a lot of reading or reviewing time lately, so I'm late actually writing a review for this one. A friend gave Beautiful Lies to me because I like mysteries and she had enjoyed it. I too ended up liking this one.
The mystery wasn't that difficult to figure out, but the story was very compelling. I liked Ridley a lot and found the love interest to be likeable as well. I think the book's biggest flaw would be the insta-love aspect of it.
This was a good stand-alone read even though there is a sequel. I considered reading the sequel until I read the reviews and found that a lot of people didn't like it and have said it ruins this book. I did read the spoilers and I have to say, I agree with them. I've been down that road recently with Shadow Scale so this will remain a stand-alone for me.
The mystery wasn't that difficult to figure out, but the story was very compelling. I liked Ridley a lot and found the love interest to be likeable as well. I think the book's biggest flaw would be the insta-love aspect of it.
This was a good stand-alone read even though there is a sequel. I considered reading the sequel until I read the reviews and found that a lot of people didn't like it and have said it ruins this book. I did read the spoilers and I have to say, I agree with them. I've been down that road recently with Shadow Scale so this will remain a stand-alone for me.
November 10, 2013
I loved this, I really couldn't put it down. Well, okay I put it down for three meals but that was all.
Ridley Jones is the New York City hero of the week when she saves a toddler from being run down in the street. Her face is plastered all over the papers and she make appearances on all the morning news shows. Everyone recognizes her wherever she goes. Then she receives a package in the mail, in it is a photograph of a man, a woman and their baby. And suddenly she begins to question everything she thought she knew about her self, her life and the people she loves.
I thought this was so well done. I loved the characters. The way Lisa Unger tells the story...I just thought this was a great story, very well done, a book to get lost in. I never wondered what the editor was thinking. I give it an A+
Ridley Jones is the New York City hero of the week when she saves a toddler from being run down in the street. Her face is plastered all over the papers and she make appearances on all the morning news shows. Everyone recognizes her wherever she goes. Then she receives a package in the mail, in it is a photograph of a man, a woman and their baby. And suddenly she begins to question everything she thought she knew about her self, her life and the people she loves.
I thought this was so well done. I loved the characters. The way Lisa Unger tells the story...I just thought this was a great story, very well done, a book to get lost in. I never wondered what the editor was thinking. I give it an A+
January 5, 2018
Quidam, the stranger, the anonymous passerby. The man walking in the rain on the street after midnight. The sound of a violin through your apartment wall. The homeless man asking for change on the steps of a church. The old woman next to you on the bus. Disconnected from your life but joined to you by a moment in time. All the choices and events of his life and the choices and events of yours have led you to be in the exact same place at the exact same time. Think about it.
April 16, 2021
This is the book that turned me into a Lisa Unger fan, and a fan of the entire suspense/thriller genre, 15 years ago. Reading it for the second time was just as much fun as the first time. A great novel filled with secrets, lies, twists and turns, there is never a dull moment. Loved this book then and now!
August 23, 2019
I found this to be a provocative thriller, with a charismatic and relatable female lead.
The story delves into relevant and serious issues that impact the most vulnerable members of our society. It asks a number of difficult questions. Should we have the right to remove children from homes where the worst possible abuse and neglect scenarios are likely to come to fruition? Who should make this ongoing determination? How do we avoid turning our precious children into a commodity?
An intriguing page turner that asks important and divisive questions.
The story delves into relevant and serious issues that impact the most vulnerable members of our society. It asks a number of difficult questions. Should we have the right to remove children from homes where the worst possible abuse and neglect scenarios are likely to come to fruition? Who should make this ongoing determination? How do we avoid turning our precious children into a commodity?
An intriguing page turner that asks important and divisive questions.
March 2, 2020
I circled back around to Lisa Unger's earlier books after falling in love with her recent ones. Wow. Can't believe this was a first book--great writing, great plot, great characters.
February 11, 2009
Family secrets you like you can’t imagine.
It all started when Ridley saves a little boy from being run over in the middle of the street. That fifteen minutes of fame - are going to cost her like you wouldn’t believe.
A grainy photo and the words: “Are you my daughter?” are shoved under her door, and this starts the entire train of destruction. Everyone she knows has been lying to her, from her parents to her brother, her ex-fiance and friend, Zach and his mother, Esme. Even her deceased Uncle Max lied to her. Everyone is telling her that, because of her act of bravery, it’s bringing crazies out of the woodwork, but for some reason, that doesn’t ring true for Ridley, and she becomes determined to find out why.
And it seems that the only one she believes she can trust is Jake, a man who recently moved into her apartment building. After a little research, Ridley learns that the woman in the photo, Teresa Elizabeth Stone, had been murdered in 1972 and her 18-month-old daughter, Jessie Amelia Stone, went missing. It was believed that Christina Luna, father of Jessie, had murdered her and disappeared with the child. With Jake’s help, she gets in contact with the man who sent her the photo, Christian Luna. He’d found Teresa’s body that night, and Jessie missing, and he ran, knowing that he would be a supsect, for Teresa had a restraining order on him, and he’d been banging on her door, drunk as a skunk, earlier that night.
But as Ridley is talking to him in the park, he’s shot dead beside her, rifle shot to the head.
Lies upon lies tumble, and Ridley becomes even more determined. Whether or not she is Jessie, she’s going to find out what happened over thirty years ago. Who killed Teresa Elizabeth Stone? And what happened to Jessie?
I’d had high hopes. I’d heard such good things about this author that when Crystal suggested this book as a Buddy Read, I jumped on it. I think we both may be regretting the idea.
It’s not that it was a bad book. The action was superb, the mystery was great, the plot thick, the lies, deceit and twists ties the reader up in knots. The characters have you wondering, but the main character, Ridley… oh, boy, where do I start?
You can tell she grew up in a bubble of her parents love and money. Naive, she knows about bad things in the world, but she really had no idea. Reading about it is one thing, but being involved is another, and her eyes are being opened rather drastically, rather quickly. But the rambling… OMG, the rambling! It screams FILLER! It may give you an idea about the kind of person she is, how she grew up, yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah, but enough is enough! At one point, she even jokes that we might be upset at her rambling but that there’s a point to it. I’m sorry, but there was stuff rambled about that had no bearing to the story whatsoever. The rambling drove me crazy, and I even had my husband look at me funny when I yelled: “Get to the point, already!” Not once, but three times.
And while I did feel that spark, that click between her and Jake, the relationship hit high really quick… too quick. First the sex (which is painfully really nothing to gossip about whatsoever,) then the I love you’s inside a week? Are we really supposed to believe that? Sure, I felt that connection, but the rest went way too fast. Sorry, Ms. Unger, but readers of the suspense/thriller genre are not that naive.
And the ending - perfect set up for a second book. And honestly, I wasn’t happy… Not. One. Bit. Way too many unanswered questions, plus we still don’t know who actually killed Teresa Stone. Now I feel like I’m being forced to pick up the second book, Sliver of Truth, in order to find out. To me, that screams: guaranteed sales. From an author’s and publisher’s stand-point, that’s awesome. From a reader’s stand-point, a huge load of B.S. At this point, I’m not sure if I’ll pick up Sliver of Truth. I feel cheated, and I don’t like feeling cheated.
I can’t say it was a bad book, cause it wasn’t - not to me, anyway. But it wasn’t the greatest for me. Do I recommend it? *shrug* The choice is yours.
It all started when Ridley saves a little boy from being run over in the middle of the street. That fifteen minutes of fame - are going to cost her like you wouldn’t believe.
A grainy photo and the words: “Are you my daughter?” are shoved under her door, and this starts the entire train of destruction. Everyone she knows has been lying to her, from her parents to her brother, her ex-fiance and friend, Zach and his mother, Esme. Even her deceased Uncle Max lied to her. Everyone is telling her that, because of her act of bravery, it’s bringing crazies out of the woodwork, but for some reason, that doesn’t ring true for Ridley, and she becomes determined to find out why.
And it seems that the only one she believes she can trust is Jake, a man who recently moved into her apartment building. After a little research, Ridley learns that the woman in the photo, Teresa Elizabeth Stone, had been murdered in 1972 and her 18-month-old daughter, Jessie Amelia Stone, went missing. It was believed that Christina Luna, father of Jessie, had murdered her and disappeared with the child. With Jake’s help, she gets in contact with the man who sent her the photo, Christian Luna. He’d found Teresa’s body that night, and Jessie missing, and he ran, knowing that he would be a supsect, for Teresa had a restraining order on him, and he’d been banging on her door, drunk as a skunk, earlier that night.
But as Ridley is talking to him in the park, he’s shot dead beside her, rifle shot to the head.
Lies upon lies tumble, and Ridley becomes even more determined. Whether or not she is Jessie, she’s going to find out what happened over thirty years ago. Who killed Teresa Elizabeth Stone? And what happened to Jessie?
I’d had high hopes. I’d heard such good things about this author that when Crystal suggested this book as a Buddy Read, I jumped on it. I think we both may be regretting the idea.
It’s not that it was a bad book. The action was superb, the mystery was great, the plot thick, the lies, deceit and twists ties the reader up in knots. The characters have you wondering, but the main character, Ridley… oh, boy, where do I start?
You can tell she grew up in a bubble of her parents love and money. Naive, she knows about bad things in the world, but she really had no idea. Reading about it is one thing, but being involved is another, and her eyes are being opened rather drastically, rather quickly. But the rambling… OMG, the rambling! It screams FILLER! It may give you an idea about the kind of person she is, how she grew up, yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah, but enough is enough! At one point, she even jokes that we might be upset at her rambling but that there’s a point to it. I’m sorry, but there was stuff rambled about that had no bearing to the story whatsoever. The rambling drove me crazy, and I even had my husband look at me funny when I yelled: “Get to the point, already!” Not once, but three times.
And while I did feel that spark, that click between her and Jake, the relationship hit high really quick… too quick. First the sex (which is painfully really nothing to gossip about whatsoever,) then the I love you’s inside a week? Are we really supposed to believe that? Sure, I felt that connection, but the rest went way too fast. Sorry, Ms. Unger, but readers of the suspense/thriller genre are not that naive.
And the ending - perfect set up for a second book. And honestly, I wasn’t happy… Not. One. Bit. Way too many unanswered questions, plus we still don’t know who actually killed Teresa Stone. Now I feel like I’m being forced to pick up the second book, Sliver of Truth, in order to find out. To me, that screams: guaranteed sales. From an author’s and publisher’s stand-point, that’s awesome. From a reader’s stand-point, a huge load of B.S. At this point, I’m not sure if I’ll pick up Sliver of Truth. I feel cheated, and I don’t like feeling cheated.
I can’t say it was a bad book, cause it wasn’t - not to me, anyway. But it wasn’t the greatest for me. Do I recommend it? *shrug* The choice is yours.
November 8, 2017
Ridley Jones is a freelance journalist living in an East Village apartment; she’s between assignments so has a free day and what better way to start than breakfast with her ex-boyfriend. On the way to meet him she happens to witness a situation with a distracted mother and a runaway toddler and saves the child from a potentially lethal traffic mishap. A Post photographer happens to capture her heroic act and she’s a minor celebrity for the next few days. But the publicity draws attention, and a mysterious package delivered to her door includes information that proves her entire life is a lie. Before long she finds herself at the center of a large conspiracy and doesn’t know whom to trust.
This is a fast-paced thriller with an intelligent, resourceful, courageous heroine who thinks – and acts – for herself. Yes, there is a romantic interest, but Ridley doesn’t just rely on Jake to save her. She’s strong-willed and independent, and takes matters into her own hands. Some plot points seemed to get a little overboard, but on the whole this was an entertaining read. I’d definitely read another book by Unger.
This is a fast-paced thriller with an intelligent, resourceful, courageous heroine who thinks – and acts – for herself. Yes, there is a romantic interest, but Ridley doesn’t just rely on Jake to save her. She’s strong-willed and independent, and takes matters into her own hands. Some plot points seemed to get a little overboard, but on the whole this was an entertaining read. I’d definitely read another book by Unger.
March 11, 2008
You know a book is bad when you've guessed the ending by page 153. Maybe because it was almost the same plot as Harlan Coben's Tell No One, another book with an obvious ending. Given all the positive reviews of both books (and the best seller lists), I guess most people have a higher tolerance of these kind of "mysteries" than I do. Another thing that drove me crazy, I realize that the author lived in the East Village at some point (as did I for 8 years), but you would think she would know that the housing there was built for immigrants that came over from Eastern Europe circa 1900 and not for soldiers coming home from WWII, something that would have been obvious if she had a succession of railroad apartments with bathtubs in the kitchen (and the Lower Eastside Tenement Museum could clue her in as well). NY's restrictive housing laws enacted during that war prevented a huge building boom after the war, which is one of the reasons suburbs like Levittown popped up.
September 24, 2016
4.5 stars. I think I've found a new favourite author.
Ridley Jones has a perfectly happy, ordered life until she steps into the path of an oncoming van to save a little boy. As fate would have it, a photographer captures the whole thing on film and Ridley has her 15 minutes of fame in the newspapers. The only problem is that someone recognises her from that photograph. A chain of events is set in motion that forces Ridley to question everything about her life - who she is, who to trust, how to see that justice is done without risking her own life and the lives of those she loves.
I loved this book. It's an intriguing plot from the get-go, all told in Ridley's point-of-view (except for the prologue). There are lots of twists and turns, the characters are well-drawn and the prose is beautiful. Unger expertly crafts great imagery and fresh writing. For example: "I remember looking into his blue eyes and seeing grief edging his lashes, pulling down at the corner of his mouth. I remember how he’d glaze over, lost in thought, when he thought no one was looking. And I remember the way he always looked at my mother, Grace, as if she were a glittering prize that had been awarded to someone else." (p. 20); "I appreciated that I didn’t have to baby-sit his emotions while mine were in a twister in my chest." (p. 90); "We had dinner with injustice sitting between us. It drank a glass of wine and ate heartily while we pushed pasta around our plates and picked at salad. We had been crushed by fear and it sat with us fat and victorious, untouchable." (p. 343)
I'd class this book as a psychological thriller. There's a lot of layering and delving deep into the characters. Some sections tend towards the philosophical and I found myself thinking about some of the points raised, especially regarding identity, truth, ethics and interpersonal relationships.
The only reason I gave it 4.5 rather than 5 is that I thought there was perhaps a little too much navel-gazing in the middle of the book and I wanted the plot to move more quickly. But then some of those passages also really made me think. There were also a few too many F-words for my liking, but they were all in context and not overdone.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Even more amazing to think it was her debut. Oh to write a debut novel like this! I've already got the sequel out from the library and can't wait to get into it.
Ridley Jones has a perfectly happy, ordered life until she steps into the path of an oncoming van to save a little boy. As fate would have it, a photographer captures the whole thing on film and Ridley has her 15 minutes of fame in the newspapers. The only problem is that someone recognises her from that photograph. A chain of events is set in motion that forces Ridley to question everything about her life - who she is, who to trust, how to see that justice is done without risking her own life and the lives of those she loves.
I loved this book. It's an intriguing plot from the get-go, all told in Ridley's point-of-view (except for the prologue). There are lots of twists and turns, the characters are well-drawn and the prose is beautiful. Unger expertly crafts great imagery and fresh writing. For example: "I remember looking into his blue eyes and seeing grief edging his lashes, pulling down at the corner of his mouth. I remember how he’d glaze over, lost in thought, when he thought no one was looking. And I remember the way he always looked at my mother, Grace, as if she were a glittering prize that had been awarded to someone else." (p. 20); "I appreciated that I didn’t have to baby-sit his emotions while mine were in a twister in my chest." (p. 90); "We had dinner with injustice sitting between us. It drank a glass of wine and ate heartily while we pushed pasta around our plates and picked at salad. We had been crushed by fear and it sat with us fat and victorious, untouchable." (p. 343)
I'd class this book as a psychological thriller. There's a lot of layering and delving deep into the characters. Some sections tend towards the philosophical and I found myself thinking about some of the points raised, especially regarding identity, truth, ethics and interpersonal relationships.
The only reason I gave it 4.5 rather than 5 is that I thought there was perhaps a little too much navel-gazing in the middle of the book and I wanted the plot to move more quickly. But then some of those passages also really made me think. There were also a few too many F-words for my liking, but they were all in context and not overdone.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Even more amazing to think it was her debut. Oh to write a debut novel like this! I've already got the sequel out from the library and can't wait to get into it.
November 8, 2017
(re-read)
This is by far the best romantic/suspense book I've read this year.
I have never heard of this author, so on a last minute decision I decided to get this one.
Which comes to the "theme" of this book.
On the decisions or choices we make and how they play a part in the paths we end up taking in life. Everything in Ridley Jones's life is turned upside down in one moment of a decision.
Told in the first person, Ridley talks directly to the reader, which really drew me into not just the story itself but made me think about the "how & why" of how things turn out in your life.
I felt like I was with the character throughout the story & sharing what was happening in her life.
A great story with lots of twists & turns, at times I thought I had it figured out..then the author would throw in a new twist, so I couldn't guess until the ending and that in itself kept me turning the pages.
The author's writing style was very cleverly done.
It also had a great love story.. Jake being a "mysterious" man to enter into her life.
I already have the sequel
on order from the library and plan to read other books by this author.
A great read if you like romantic suspense with lots of twists & turns & keep you guessing, a mysterious man to fall for, and to take a ride with ups & downs with a funny & most likeable heroine.
This is by far the best romantic/suspense book I've read this year.
I have never heard of this author, so on a last minute decision I decided to get this one.
Which comes to the "theme" of this book.
On the decisions or choices we make and how they play a part in the paths we end up taking in life. Everything in Ridley Jones's life is turned upside down in one moment of a decision.
Told in the first person, Ridley talks directly to the reader, which really drew me into not just the story itself but made me think about the "how & why" of how things turn out in your life.
I felt like I was with the character throughout the story & sharing what was happening in her life.
A great story with lots of twists & turns, at times I thought I had it figured out..then the author would throw in a new twist, so I couldn't guess until the ending and that in itself kept me turning the pages.
The author's writing style was very cleverly done.
It also had a great love story.. Jake being a "mysterious" man to enter into her life.
I already have the sequel
on order from the library and plan to read other books by this author. A great read if you like romantic suspense with lots of twists & turns & keep you guessing, a mysterious man to fall for, and to take a ride with ups & downs with a funny & most likeable heroine.
October 2, 2012
How many tired cliches can you fit into one book? Lets find out...One...Too Many. The main character, Ridley, is a writer in New York who lives a charmed life. Did I mention she is a writer in New York? For those of us who aren't privilege enough to live in New York, you get a bunch of useless descriptions of thugs hanging out on the street corners, what it's like to ride the subway, cool loft apartments (because everyone in New York City lives in a cool loft apartment), blah, blah, blah. There's the stereotypical dark and mysterious boyfriend, who seems dangerous and yet she is drawn to him. The "beautiful lies" were totally unnecessary, but I guess there wouldn't have been a book without them. And when all else fails, throw the Mafia in for absolutely no reason. I almost stopped reading twice, but I finished it. The plot twist were pretty predictable, so when I did get to the end there was no big payoff, I was just glad it was over.
July 25, 2011
I absolutely loved reading this book. Not only was it well written but I loved how the author had the main character, Ridley Jones, act as though she was talking directly to the reader. It's a very interesting premise that I'm sure we've all thought of at one time or another.
From the get-go, because of a small series of events that leads Ridley to getting her picture in the paper, she receives an anonymous note which leads her to question and reflect on everything in her life while growing up in her family. Everything that she thought was normal, never questioning, just going with the flow, doing everything that was expected of her. While going against everyone, she decides to learn if what she is finding out is true even though that means it will hurt those she cares about.
There are a lot underlying themes to the story and without giving it away, all I can say is give it a read.
From the get-go, because of a small series of events that leads Ridley to getting her picture in the paper, she receives an anonymous note which leads her to question and reflect on everything in her life while growing up in her family. Everything that she thought was normal, never questioning, just going with the flow, doing everything that was expected of her. While going against everyone, she decides to learn if what she is finding out is true even though that means it will hurt those she cares about.
There are a lot underlying themes to the story and without giving it away, all I can say is give it a read.
March 29, 2023
3.5 stars Love Lisa Unger. I listened to this audio book. For whatever reason my phone was dragging and spoiled the enjoyment of it somewhat. Nothing to do with the narrator. The story also dragged a bit. I like Lisa’s observations and comments on her characters and life in general so this is worth the time for me. I will continue with the second installment of this series although if it wasn’t Lisa Unger, I am not sure I would.
April 30, 2024
3.5/5 🌟 *rounded up
3/5 ❤️🩹
2/5 🥰
1/5 🌶️
3/5 🔎
3/5 😰😱
0/5 🎭😂
2/5 🎭😭
0/5 👻
0/5 🔬
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Murder
Death
Blood
Violence
Gun Violence
Sexual Content
Adult Situations
Gaslighting
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect--with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole.
But that's not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door--a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.
Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory she never knew existed, where everyone in her life seems like a stranger. She has no idea who's on her side and who has something to hide--even, and maybe especially, her new lover, Jake, who appears to have secrets of his own.
Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies is a true literary thriller with one of the freshest voices and heroines to arrive in years. Lisa Unger takes us on a breathtaking ride in which every choice Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to imagine . . .
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 818 REVIEWS
Moods
mysterious 71%
dark 35%
tense 35%
adventurous 28%
emotional 21%
challenging 7%
funny 7%
reflective 7%
relaxing 7%
sad 7%
Pace
medium 66%
fast 20%
slow 13%
Plot- or character-driven?
Plot: 40% | A mix: 40% | Character: 20%
Strong character development?
Yes: 62% | No: 25% | N/A: 12%
Loveable characters?
No: 50% | It's complicated: 20% | Yes: 20% | N/A: 10%
Diverse cast of characters?
No: 77% | N/A: 11% | Yes: 11%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
No: 33% | It's complicated: 33% | Yes: 22% | N/A: 11%
Average rating
3.49 ⭐️
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I wish I had read this before Sliver of Truth but it’s not necessary. Both books can be read as stand alones. But they are related in the fact that both books have the same characters.
It was nice to get the background information and get to know the characters and the world this book and the other book are centered around, Project Rescue. Exactly how Ridley came to be with her adoptive parents and who, how and her biological parents are.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared🫣/Anxious😱 - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy😂/Tragedy😭
-based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
👻 Spooky😵💫/Creepy🧟♀️ -based on if this had any occult or paranormal themes and if those elements creeped me out or gave me anxiety!
🔬 Sci-Fi -based on the Science Fiction in the book as well as the Dystopian elements.
3/5 ❤️🩹
2/5 🥰
1/5 🌶️
3/5 🔎
3/5 😰😱
0/5 🎭😂
2/5 🎭😭
0/5 👻
0/5 🔬
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
Murder
Death
Blood
Violence
Gun Violence
Sexual Content
Adult Situations
Gaslighting
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
If Ridley Jones had slept ten minutes later or had taken the subway instead of waiting for a cab, she would still be living the beautiful lie she used to call her life. She would still be the privileged daughter of a doting father and a loving mother. Her life would still be perfect--with only the tiny cracks of an angry junkie for a brother and a charming drunk with shady underworld connections for an uncle to mar the otherwise flawless whole.
But that's not what happened. Instead, those inconsequential decisions lead her to perform a good deed that puts her in the right place at the right time to unleash a chain of events that brings a mysterious package to her door--a package which informs her that her entire world is a lie.
Suddenly forced to question everything she knows about herself and her family, Ridley wanders into dark territory she never knew existed, where everyone in her life seems like a stranger. She has no idea who's on her side and who has something to hide--even, and maybe especially, her new lover, Jake, who appears to have secrets of his own.
Sexy and fast-paced, Beautiful Lies is a true literary thriller with one of the freshest voices and heroines to arrive in years. Lisa Unger takes us on a breathtaking ride in which every choice Ridley makes creates a whirlwind of consequences that are impossible to imagine . . .
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 818 REVIEWS
Moods
mysterious 71%
dark 35%
tense 35%
adventurous 28%
emotional 21%
challenging 7%
funny 7%
reflective 7%
relaxing 7%
sad 7%
Pace
medium 66%
fast 20%
slow 13%
Plot- or character-driven?
Plot: 40% | A mix: 40% | Character: 20%
Strong character development?
Yes: 62% | No: 25% | N/A: 12%
Loveable characters?
No: 50% | It's complicated: 20% | Yes: 20% | N/A: 10%
Diverse cast of characters?
No: 77% | N/A: 11% | Yes: 11%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
No: 33% | It's complicated: 33% | Yes: 22% | N/A: 11%
Average rating
3.49 ⭐️
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I wish I had read this before Sliver of Truth but it’s not necessary. Both books can be read as stand alones. But they are related in the fact that both books have the same characters.
It was nice to get the background information and get to know the characters and the world this book and the other book are centered around, Project Rescue. Exactly how Ridley came to be with her adoptive parents and who, how and her biological parents are.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared🫣/Anxious😱 - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy😂/Tragedy😭
-based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
👻 Spooky😵💫/Creepy🧟♀️ -based on if this had any occult or paranormal themes and if those elements creeped me out or gave me anxiety!
🔬 Sci-Fi -based on the Science Fiction in the book as well as the Dystopian elements.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2013
Three stars, should probably be 3.5.
Basically, this is a slowly untangled mystery that takes place in Manhattan, revealing the seedy underbelly of a seemingly innocent organization. The end :)
Basically, this is a slowly untangled mystery that takes place in Manhattan, revealing the seedy underbelly of a seemingly innocent organization. The end :)
April 22, 2021
honestly this was not as great as I expected it to be... I found the narrative style annoying and overly conversational and things like "you may be wondering..." "maybe you think..." followed by a response such a tacky and cheap way of addressing loopholes and obvious reader questions instead of answering these questions by weaving them skilfully into the narrative.
the epilogue also seemed like a convenient dumping ground to summarise things up in an easy way but it was frankly unimpressive.
the action took too long to pick up and I wanted so badly to give up...
on the note of the protagonist, I had difficulty being able to empathise with her because the narrative seemed a bit whiny at times and also relatively immature. perhaps this book was written with younger teens in mind and might resonate with them more but I personally found that off-putting. the protagonist was also difficult to sympathise with because of her sheer inability to learn from her mistakes and consider more carefully who to trust. this, in addition to her berating herself yet literally not changing her behaviour just made her seem whiny... the protagonist was largely helpless throughout the story, requiring male figures to provide her with support, comfort, safety and answers and only being pushed to take action when her life was in danger. for someone who seemed so distraught about her past, one would expect a more active, independent response. while I understand that the intention might have been to allow readers to relate to the helplessness she felt, it irritated me nevertheless to have such a weak protagonist who did nothing except to run from her problems and naively seek answers and reassurance from the clearly untrustworthy male figures around her
I think the storyline had great potential but the execution was lacking
additionally, the blackouts she had were just convenient transitions which I did not find particularly skillful. the tension and suspense that was meant to be created felt a bit forced and cliche at times as well. I can enjoy a good cliche as much as the next person, but the instances of these in the book just didn't sit well with me.
the epilogue also seemed like a convenient dumping ground to summarise things up in an easy way but it was frankly unimpressive.
the action took too long to pick up and I wanted so badly to give up...
on the note of the protagonist, I had difficulty being able to empathise with her because the narrative seemed a bit whiny at times and also relatively immature. perhaps this book was written with younger teens in mind and might resonate with them more but I personally found that off-putting. the protagonist was also difficult to sympathise with because of her sheer inability to learn from her mistakes and consider more carefully who to trust. this, in addition to her berating herself yet literally not changing her behaviour just made her seem whiny... the protagonist was largely helpless throughout the story, requiring male figures to provide her with support, comfort, safety and answers and only being pushed to take action when her life was in danger. for someone who seemed so distraught about her past, one would expect a more active, independent response. while I understand that the intention might have been to allow readers to relate to the helplessness she felt, it irritated me nevertheless to have such a weak protagonist who did nothing except to run from her problems and naively seek answers and reassurance from the clearly untrustworthy male figures around her
I think the storyline had great potential but the execution was lacking
additionally, the blackouts she had were just convenient transitions which I did not find particularly skillful. the tension and suspense that was meant to be created felt a bit forced and cliche at times as well. I can enjoy a good cliche as much as the next person, but the instances of these in the book just didn't sit well with me.
September 28, 2016
Of all the books I've had on my list to read by Lisa, Beautiful Lies was one I wasn't really that bothered by. I don't know if it was the synopsis or what, but it felt a bit meh. Still I've read almost everything else by her so got out both Ridley Jones books from my library, Beautiful lies is book 1.
This story is clever. It draws you in, you question you own questions about what's happening and why. You question who you can trust, what will be the out come and whether Ridley herself is actually going through it all or whether she really is paranoid.
This book make me think so many questions and also try and predict too many outcomes. Was I right by any of it? Some yes, but more not so. And that is why I loved this book. I love a book that isn't predictable, that makes me think and wonder. In everything I have read by Lisa so far I have found I love the voices she gives her characters. Ridley wasn't perfect. She definitely had flaws. But she was relatable if a little naive at times and felt honest, real. I loved Jake and Ace and kind of wish we'd heard more of Max.
Beautiful lies is a clever spiders web of intrigue and mystery. I loved this book and read it over 2 sittings (I had to get some sleep after all). I'm now looking at Sliver of Truth, book 2 of Ridley's and wondering what journey that will take me on, 4 stars.
This story is clever. It draws you in, you question you own questions about what's happening and why. You question who you can trust, what will be the out come and whether Ridley herself is actually going through it all or whether she really is paranoid.
This book make me think so many questions and also try and predict too many outcomes. Was I right by any of it? Some yes, but more not so. And that is why I loved this book. I love a book that isn't predictable, that makes me think and wonder. In everything I have read by Lisa so far I have found I love the voices she gives her characters. Ridley wasn't perfect. She definitely had flaws. But she was relatable if a little naive at times and felt honest, real. I loved Jake and Ace and kind of wish we'd heard more of Max.
Beautiful lies is a clever spiders web of intrigue and mystery. I loved this book and read it over 2 sittings (I had to get some sleep after all). I'm now looking at Sliver of Truth, book 2 of Ridley's and wondering what journey that will take me on, 4 stars.
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