Alice's Reviews: The Comfort of Lies

Summary: “Happiness at someone else’s expense came at a price. Tia had imagined judgment from the first kiss that she and Nathan shared. All year, she’d waited to be punished for being in love, and in truth, she believed that whatever consequences came her way would be deserved.”  

Five years ago, Tia fell into obsessive love with a man she could never have. Married, and the father of two boys, Nathan was unavailable in every way. When she became pregnant, he disappeared, and she gave up her baby for adoption.  Five years ago, Caroline, a dedicated pathologist, reluctantly adopted a baby to please her husband. She prayed her misgivings would disappear; instead, she’s questioning whether she’s cut out for the role of wife and mother.  Five years ago, Juliette considered her life ideal: she had a solid marriage, two beautiful young sons, and a thriving business. Then she discovered Nathan’s affair. He promised he’d never stray again, and she trusted him.  But when Juliette intercepts a letter to her husband from Tia that contains pictures of a child with a deep resemblance to her husband, her world crumbles once more. How could Nathan deny his daughter? And if he’s kept this a secret from her, what else is he hiding? Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl. And before long, the three women and Nathan are on a collision course with consequences that none of them could have predicted. Riveting and arresting, The Comfort of Lies explores the collateral damage of infidelity and the dark, private struggles many of us experience but rarely reveal. ~amazon.com

Review: Julie introduced me to Randy Susan Meyers last year during our List Swap Challenge. I really enjoyed The Murderer’s Daughters (Alice's Review & Julies's Review) and had high hopes for The Comfort of Lies.  Ms. Meyers exceeded those expectations, delivering a power novel about an unsettling subject.

Something Ms. Meyers masters is writing believable imperfect women who are so relatable you swear you are friends with them.  In this novel, she brings us three very different women:  young Tia, in over her head with a married man; Juliette, hopelessly in love, yet betrayed by her husband Nathan; and Caroline, eager to hold onto her life yet please her husband Peter.   

This is my favorite kind of review to write in that I don’t know what to say other than read this novel.  If you are familiar with Randy Susan Meyers, this is a must read for you.  If this if your first introduction, you won’t be disappointed. 

It touched so many emotions in me.  I especially loved how each chapter is told from a different woman’s point of view.  As a reader, I love knowing what each character is experiencing.  It also gives great insight into someone’s psyche.  I will admit that had Ms. Meyers not told the story this way, I wouldn’t have liked Tia at all.  As is, I am lukewarm towards her.  Caroline, on the other hand, was someone I enjoyed reading. I thought she was the one who was most honest, open.  I sympathized with her and her dilemma.   However, of the three, Juliette was my favorite.  She was a wonderful mix of emotions especially love and crazy.  And man, do I love it when characters have some crazy in them. 

One character that needs mentioning is Nathan.  Oh, Nathan:  the cheater, the husband, the father.  Nathan was charming, and as much I resisted it, I was couldn’t stop my literary crush on him.  And man, that took skill.  Nathan was public enemy  #1, yet he was so damned likable I actually felt sorry for that lying, sneaking, cheating  jerk. 

I had no idea how The Comfort of Lies would end.  There were so many ways it could have gone and once again, Ms. Meyers let the story run its natural course.  It made sense.  I loved The Murder's Daughters, but with The Comfort of Lies, she has made me a fan for life.  

Final Take: 4/5