Oh wow - this was absolutely blinding! Harrowing and very difficult to read at times, it was perfectly written so that there was an emotional rollercoaster on each page. Angela, a troubled 12 year old accuses her drama teacher of touching her inappropriately, and the events that follow this are shocking! Told by many characters - we get to know the type of life she has, and compare it to the seemingly idyllic lifestyle Nick and his wife have!
However the story is called little liar, Angela does appear to be totally unhinged - she has to be lying? Right?
No spoilers here - but my life I did not see the twist coming - and I felt myself trying to believe that Nick really is an abuser!
Faultless - totally loved it! Best book I have read for a while!

Nick Dean loves his family. He has gorgeous wife and two beautiful young children. Life couldn’t be better – until it couldn’t get any worse. An acting coach who specialises in working with teenagers, one of his students has accused him of abuse. And everyone believes her, even – eventually – his wife. Nick swears he’s innocent but it seems that, despite there being no evidence, he is considered guilty until proved innocent.
Angela, Nick’s accuser, loves her family too, they just don’t make her happy. Her parents are divorced and she is struggling to cope with the break up. She’s eating too much and unhappy with how she looks. Kids at school pick on her and she reacts by striking out. The police look at her and see a vulnerable child very much at risk of being abused. She is believed immediately, as she should be, but then – after her first statement – refused to say more.
Told in alternating chapters between Angela and Nick, Little Liar lays out a story where it feels impossible for most of it to know just where the truth lies, and who is telling it. Both Angela and Nick seem credible and when you are reading their account of events, you believe them. It shows just how hard it must be for the police and social services to deal with these cases and why they often take a long time to come to court. There was a level of detail here that made me feel Ballantyne had done her research and I feel I actually learnt something about how the system works when it comes to child abuse cases.
However, I was also somewhat uncomfortable with the story being turned into what is essentially a domestic thriller. I know I’m probably in the minority here but it is such a serious topic and I just felt that because there was the obligatory twist at the end which turned everything on it’s head, it lost its power. It meant I was left feeling slightly empty and disappointed, which is a shame as the start of the novel worked really well for me and I thought Ballantyne did a great job of creating two very likeable and believable characters. Sorry!

A completely gripping emotional story covering sensitive subjects. My only criticism is that I found the ending quite abrupt but that didn't stop it being worth five stars

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Written in close third person narrative this follows 12-year old Angela, a bully in her school who attempts suicide. She’s saved in time and later alleges the drama teacher, Nick sexually assaulted her. The story focuses on the repercussions this accusation has on Angela and her family, and on Nick, and his relationship with his wife and children. Events build up and culminate in a heartbreaking climax...
I read this book in 1.5 days, and couldn’t put it down. The characters are nuanced and flawed and so emotionally engaging, there’s brilliant pacing with underlying tension that grows until the very end. Due to its themes it felt topical and relevant. It’s 5*s from me.

4.5 stars rounded up. This book had me gripped from the start and I read it in two sittings. Have never read anything by this author before but loved her style of writing and the chapters told by alternating viewpoints. It is not an easy read and deals with a difficult subject but was so well written. I loved it

Richard and Judy and international bestselling author of The Guilty One returns with a nail-biting ride of 'he said/she said' between a teacher and his pupil. For fans of Anatomy of a Scandal and TVs Liar and Dr Foster.

A drama involving a teacher accused of sexual assault sensitively covered by the author.

Accused of sexually abusing troubled twelve year old Angela, actor/drama teacher Nick finds himself at the centre of a police investigation. However, it’s clear that all members of his family suffer as they see him becoming more and more frantic as the story refuses to die down.
If read as a ‘whodunnit’, ‘Little Liar’ is not the strongest of tales. It was fairly obvious quite early on that Angela’s abuser is unlikely to be the charismatic father of two whose glamorous, successful Spanish wife does her best to remain steadfastly at his side even when further troubling revelations are announced. Whilst not wanting to plant a ‘spoiler’, the abuser’s identity can be quite easily uncovered by the reader as there are not many options to choose from. The real strength in the writing comes from Lisa Ballantyne’s ability to create character and build up credible relationships through carefully crafted description and dialogue, demonstrating that even the most devoted families can and do unravel when faced with shocking news.
Angela, the child accuser, was particularly well depicted, all the more realistic for being an awkward, unattractive, aggressive child. Full of self-loathing, unpopular at school and finding no solace at home, she has a toxic relationship with her mother, Donna.
Don’t read this novel for the ‘surprise’ element alone. You could be disappointed. Nevertheless, the author clearly understands family dynamics under pressure and portrays these relationships carefully and thoughtfully.
My thanks to NetGalley and Piatkus (little, Brown Book Group) for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a compelling read about abuse, parenting, relationships, betrayal, trust secret and lies. Absolutely had me hooked all the way through

Little Liar was a rollercoaster from beginning to end! Angela, an unhappy twelve year old girl, accuses a man Nick who is working at her school of abusing her. Quickly, Nick's life begins to unravel. His relationship with his family and even his wife Marina start to devolve, just as the case ramps up. At first I was convinced that he was innocent, but then little things start to come out that really made me question that.

The novel is told from the dual perspectives of Angela and Nick, meaning it's really hard at times to know who to trust. At first I found Angela quite unlikeable but as the story developed I had more and more sympathy for her and her mother Donna. Nick's wife Marina was my favourite character, she was such a strong woman. I also loved the way they used both Spanish and English in their home to teach their kids..

For me, the ending wasn't a *massive* surprise but the journey we went on to get there was. It's tricky to say more without spoiling whether Angela really was a 'little liar'!

I'd really recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories with unreliable narrators and family drama, as well as a crime at the centre.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus and Lisa Ballantyne for the opportunity to read Little Liar. I have posted my review on Goodreads and will be posting elsewhere closer to the February release date given here.

This book covers a modern day hot topic and feels like it could have been lifted from any newspaper or news bulletin.

This was a real page turner and made me want to keep reading just one more chapter each night! I enjoyed seeing the story unravel from both perspectives

Little Liar by Lisa Ballantyne Book Review
What an introduction to Lisa Ballantyne. Little Liar deals with some heavy issues in this novel filled with tension & suspense. Due to the subject matter, I think this must have been a diffcult story to write. Lisa Ballantyne handles the story line in a raw but relatable way. Fans of Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan are sure to enjoy Little Liar.

The Accused
We meet Nick. He's a small-time actor who is now a teacher. Nick is getting on with life & has a beautiful family. In an instant, his world is shattered. A student accuses Nick of sexual misconduct. Lisa does a great job here as she tells readers what happens from Nick's point of view. Quickly, the fallout occurs. The news spreads all over town.

Not only does the accusation immediately alter Nick's life, but his wife's career is hanging in the balance. Should she support her husband? Does she really know if he is telling the whole truth? This couple has some really important decisions & statements to make. The truth is, they risk losing everything. 

The Accuser
Angela is a hot mess. Readers first meet her after an altercation at school. Initially, I'm left with a terrible impression of the young girl. Remember the old talk show Sally Jessy Raphael? She had these "wild teens" on the show. Then a drill instructor comes out, gets in their face & they are off to boot camp. Angela reminds me of one of those kids who needs to get sent to boot camp.

But, when I hear the story from her point of view I can't help but feel for her. She doesn't have a stable home life. The blow-ups between Angela & her mother are monumental! Her dad is around, but not fully in the picture. It seems to me she is in bad need of discipline, support, stability & love. Surely, she didn't make this story up, right? Even worse, if she's telling the truth then her life is fully changed. Ugh, either way, it makes my heart ache!

THE VERDICT
I am Into This book. Lisa Ballantyne uses alternating narrators that really increase the tension throughout the story. Readers are left wondering who to trust. As the cover states, there are 2 sides of one truth & I did not see this truth coming.

Special thanks to Lisa Ballantyne, Little, Brown Book Group UK & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Little Liar is the first book I’ve had by Lisa Ballantyne and definately won’t be my last as this was an intense and believable read.
We meet Angela a 12 year old girl whose parents have split up and is supposedly to blame in her downward spiral in behaviour at school,and towards her mother. Angela has just been suspended for 2 days after violently attacking another girl, she is sent home with her mother and during the next few hours tells her that her drama teacher has inappropriately touched her when he was on his own with her behind the stage. This revelation shows the aftermath and destruction this causes to the separate families. Angela’s parents are devastated something like this could happen to their daughter without them knowing and then there is the accused family, Nick, his wife and two young children, he claims he is innocent and whilst his wife believes and supports him it puts unimaginable strain on her job and her to try and keep everything together.
This was a very real read that wasn’t filled with blurb to thicken it out, it all felt very believable and I must have had my head in the sand as the ending was an eye opener.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK, Piatkus for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for letting me read this great book. How a lie can ruin a families life and nearly kill the person accused. It was. Sad story about ruined lives, and by looking up wrong things on the internet can also nearly destroy your life. It should tell you looking st porn on internet should never be done.
I felt sorry for Angela and her mom, But pleased they sorted there life out
Nick could have easily been guilty was not, and hope he can get forgiveness for looking a porn.
We done great book.
Here’s to the next one,

As two sides of a story emerge so the truth and lies tangle. Who to believe? The teacher or the pupil?

I was very tempted to check the ending as I could not wait to find out what happens – so glad I resisted.

Was captivated fro the beginning with this he said/she said drama. Although I had a fair idea who was telling the truth, the back story for both the characters constantly surprised and shocked. I like to prize myself on seeing the twist coming but did not get this until all was revealed. Highly recommended

From the outset of this book I immediately felt great sympathy for Angela who clearly had had a very challenging upbringing and currently a horrible relationship with her mother. I felt that whether or not she was telling the truth about her allegation that the drama teacher,Nick, had sexually assaulted her, she needed care and attention that her family were not able to provide. I loved the way that Lisa Ballantyne’s writing evoked this emotion. Nick’s character is laid back and shows little emotion.
Is this a sign of guilt? Or resignation to the fact that he will lose everything if the police believe Angela is telling the truth.
A great read full of drama, emotion and suspense.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb for this book just gives you enough to get on with, but doesn’t come close to the full horror within its pages.
We begin with Angela, a young high school student getting into trouble for fighting. She is clearly troubled, and there’s hints of something not being right. She swallows aspirin in an attempt to kill herself and when she is admitted to hospital she tells her mother she has been assaulted by someone working with her in school.
Alongside Angela we have Nick, an actor who works in school doing drama courses. He is presented as the archetypal family man, but when the police arrest him for the alleged assault of a student we witness all manner of awful things.
The moment such rumours are heard people are likely to judge. You tend to think there’s no smoke without fire and trust that nobody would lie about something so potentially damaging.
Over the course of the novel we watch both characters and see how this event impacts on them. We’re encouraged to swing between thinking each is lying, and we’re never sure. The truth is more awful than anything you could begin to imagine, and the way this was resolved left me feeling very uncomfortable.
While this isn’t a subject you’d choose to read abou5 for fun, it’s gripping. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this prior to publication..

A great writing style that was easy to get into from the beginning. A tricky subject that was handled brilliantly from every perspective. Believable characters with very human flaws, behaving as you'd expect in their varying roles within the plot. A chilling but very enjoyable tale that was worryingly easy to imagine in reality. I'd definitely recommend it if you like your books to be on the dark side

When one of Nicks students places an accusation of sexual abuse, Nicks world is turned upside down, Nick is happily married with two small children, straight away when I started this book I was drawn in by this amazing, addictive read, I highly recommend it.

My version of Little Liar by Lisa Ballantyne is not actually out until February 2019, but as I've had a copy sitting in my e-reader for a while I decided to go ahead and read it. And I'm certainly glad I did.

I was going to hold off on the review as one's not supposed to review books too far in advance, however.... then I noticed the book's just been released in Australia, so here we go....

One of the things I liked about this book is that it's short (my e-version was under 300 pages). I know that sounds bad, but it's actually a good thing. I've read a few epic thrillers / mysteries / novels of suspense recently and it's hard to remain seated on the edge of one's seat (or in the bathtub in my case) for 450-600 pages. Plus it's sometimes a huge commitment if you're like me and in the midst of a nightmarish month or so of one's day job.

I wasn't planning it, but read this in a comfortable (bathtub) sitting (time-wise I mean!). I'd kinda guessed the twist (the whodunnit element) as options are limited - so a few more red herrings would have been handy, but the characters we're offered and their realism sucked me into this narrative.

Ballantyne alternates her storytellers (in third person), so the plot unfolds from the point of view of Angela, her mother Donna and father Stephen, Nick, Nick's wife and Nick's mother.

Twelve / thirteen year old Angela is unfortunately quite unlikeable. I know I should have felt more sympathy as we're quickly informed she was a good kid and excellent student until she started acting out. And when we're in her head we know she feels some guilt and remorse for her actions and violent outbursts, though possibly not as much as she should.

It's a horrible thing to admit... but Nick is far more amiable and whether it was solely my distrust of Angela or it's implied through the backcover blurb or plot itself I initially found myself very much doubting the young girl's allegations.

But there's obviously something going on.

I related far more to her mother than I did to her, which of course could have been an age thing, but nonetheless I felt bad I didn't have as much sympathy for Angela (our victim) as I should have. I also really liked Betty - Nick's mother. Ballantyne's portrayal of maternal love from the points of view of Donna and Betty - in particular - are in contrasts in some ways, but not in others. I found it interesting to ponder, for example, Betty's unflinching faith in her son.

Which also brings me to the other very interesting element of this book, which is obviously the reaction of those around the key players.

I've labelled this a 'psychological thriller' though it could be construed as a 'he said, she said' but it's the fallout of the allegations that will keep readers wanting more. I've talked about Angela and her trustworthiness, but Nick's marriage is tested... and not just because of Angela's actions but because of Nick's own.

It's a reminder that real life is messy and often requires understanding, forgiveness and honesty.

** This book features child abuse and child sexual abuse allegations, as a warning for whom the topic could be stressful. **

3.5 stars