Review: The Lies About Truth

The Lies About Truth

By Courtney C. Stevens

Published: November 3, 2015

In the same vein as Jandy Nelson and Gayle Forman comes a novel from the gifted author of Faking Normal, Courtney C. Stevens, about hope and courage and the struggle to overcome the pain of loss.

Sadie Kingston is living in the aftermath. A year after surviving a car accident that killed her friend Trent and left her body and face scarred, she can't move forward. The only person who seems to understand her is Trent's brother, Max.

As Sadie begins to fall for Max, she's unsure if she is truly healed enough to be with him. But Max looks at her scars and doesn't shy away. And Max knows about the list she writes in the sand at the beach every night, the list of things that Sadie knows she must accomplish before she can move on from the accident. And while he can help her with number six (kiss someone without flinching), she knows she's on her own with number three (forgive Gina and Gray) and the rest of the seemingly impossible tasks that must be made possible before she can live in the now again.

My review:

An accident destroys more than one life in this sophomore novel by Courtney C. Stevens. It has been a year since Trent died and Sadie is living as a recluse. She takes solace in helping out at the junk yard where Trent's car now lies and in running on the beach at night. She also finds comfort in her emails to Max, Trent's younger brother. While she'd like it if the rest of the world left her be, someone is trying to remind her of the past, her friends Gina and Gray try to reach out to her again and her parents want her to step out of her comfort zone a little. Then Max moves back to town and Sadie has to decide if their long distance friendship can turn into something more now that they are face to face. Secrets and fears have been holding her back but now she has the chance to move forward.

I liked this novel and its focus on friendship. The romance is sweet but doesn't overshadow the story. Trent is very present through flashbacks and memories and he was the glue that held the group together. Gray was Sadie's boyfriend and Gina was her other best friend but things happened that drove them apart. Little by little the events of the fateful night are revealed and it helps the reader piece together what happened, why the friendships were damaged and what can help them all to heal. I think fans of contemporary YA authors like Morgan Matson, Sarah Dessen, Sarah Ockler and Jessi Kirby would like this book.

Note: I received an ARC for review purposes courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss