Complex story of a family's struggle after the husband/father is killed. Full of interesting characters and moral file and a few surprises.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Wow - Susan Lewis never disappoints her readers.
An emotional read. Angie has everything she has ever wanted, a home, a husband she loves and three children, just when everything is good in her life, things start to go drastically wrong. Liam her oldest boy is involved with a gang, who brutally beat and kick her husband Steve to death, Liam is a witness to this and vanishes, Angie is in turmoil, the loss of her husband, her sons disappearance, she is behind with the rent and council tax on her home, she is being threatened with eviction, she has stopped opening the many final notice letters thar come through her front door.
Her daughter Grace is just 13 and desperately wants to help her mother by earning some cash, she is using social media, a woman who says she knew her dad has offered to help her make some money, but when Grace arrives for what she thinks is a screen test, she realises that she is in too deep and that this woman is not who she says she is. This leads to a scary predicament for the family. Will Angie be able to get her family back together.
The story grips the reader from page one until the very end. 5 stars

An intense family drama, with an authentically crafted contemporary plot.' Home Truths' is exactly what it says on the cover. A realistic and thought-provoking insight into people who are failed by the welfare system and wider society. The homeless, the young people recruited by crime gangs and abusers, and the millions of families drowning in debt.

I often read fiction for escapism, but this is not that. It gets your attention in a dramatic, tragic way, and then while you're reeling from the horror, it explores the aftermath. Ordinary, people are drawn into lives of crime, debt and poverty, though, circumstances out of their control, poor decisions and unscrupulous individuals and organisations, who see a financial gain, and not the collateral damage their decisions leave behind.

Angie and her husband have what many people want, each other, children and somewhere to call home. When Liam as a child is corrupted by local gangs, it changes the course of their lives. This story follows Angie and her family, as she fights to keep her remaining family safe when everything is against her. Her situation is relatable, and her motivations to her imploding situation believable and disturbing.

The story manages to highlight the issues, whilst delivering a gripping family drama. 'Home Truths' is an excellent story, with a realistic, and positive conclusion. It makes you think, about contemporary issues and the society's blame culture and lack of compassion.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins UK- Harper Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A compelling read but I do wonder if too many issues are covered in one book. Angie's husband has been murdered and her son has disappeared. She finds herself in dire straits financially - all of which is believable. BUT, the help she receives from so many different sources does seem a bit too good to be true. But then, they always say that truth is stranger than fiction - so maybe not.

Susan Lewis has really mastered the art of taking a topical subject relevant in today's society and making a good story from it without going overboard. Home Truths is a well written, emotionally-charged story, but it was not what I was expecting.

In this book some very sensitive and real subjects are explored such as debt and potential homelessness. Angie has lost her husband to drug related gang violence and her eldest son has vanished. Her debts have spiralled out of control and she is at risk of losing their rented family home. Grace, her thirteen-year-old daughter tries to find ways of helping her mother but has chosen the darker path of social media and before she realises what is happening, she finds herself in a terrifying predicament that has awful consequences for everyone. Fortunately for Angie, it is not long before she can see a light on the horizon that could lift her out of her family's disastrous circumstances.

Home Truths was gritty, emotionally gripping and the story built very nicely, however, there were parts that I really struggled to read. Susan Lewis portrayed a series of events that are all too real for many people who find themselves in a position they could never have imagined would be possible. I love to completely lose myself in a novel and this one was a little too close to home for me in this current modern world.

Although this was not my favourite novel by Susan Lewis, it was still an extremely worthwhile read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from HarperCollins UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

'Home Truths' by Susan Lewis, although written as a story, is also a social comment on modern society written by a sensitive author with a social conscience. I found it incredibly sad, but also quite frightening in the way that Angie, the mother in the story, is struggling - and I mean REALLY struggling - to hold together her family, her home and her finances - amidst her grief at the violent death of her husband as a result of her eldest son's actions. As a reader I really felt for Angie and the situation she found herself in through no fault of her own; personally, for me however, there was something missing in the story. It was very readable, and the downward spiral of the situation was very real, but the emotional connection that such circumstances would carry with it just didn't feel like it was quite there.
The rating I've given this is 3 and a half stars.

As one might expect from Susan Lewis the drama abounds in this novel. The hard hitting story line does not pull too many punches. There are some times when we might expect more detail or tough realism, but the author herself says she pulled back from some of the more gritty detail of the social problems around drug use and homelessness. From my perspective that was OK as I could concentrate on the emotional effects of the troubles surrounding Angie's family and friends. My imagination could fill in any gaps.

Yet another good, well-paced story from a skilled writer.

Home truths by Susan Lewis
What a great page-turning, gripping story. At times this was a very tough read as it deals with a lot of current social issues: drugs, sex workers, homelessness, housing issues and debts to name but a few, but I couldn’t put it down!
The main character Angie Watts (I had to keep reminding myself not to think of Eastenders) faces the aftermath of some tragic events and more issues than she ever dreamt of: her husband murdered, her eldest precious son manipulated into the world of drugs and she was left facing spiralling debts, all whilst Angie tries desperately to hold her family together.
There is strong family emotional support from Emma, her sister, who has her own limitations.
Throughout the story I had a huge sense of the good person Angie was and her desperation to maintain some control and provide for and hold her family together. I shared in her desperation, panic, grief and helplessness feeling a total loss of security and dignity. It made me much more aware of what some people are left to face.
Parts of the story were breaking my heart whilst also making me treasure my own family, stability and security.
Many other characters add depth to the story, like Hamish in particular.
There was a lovely touch towards the end of the book with a link to Deerwood, from Susan’s previous book ‘One Minute Later’ - I’m not explaining why to avoid any spoilers. I loved the ending and the resolutions to all the unknowns. A definite strong recommendation from me!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book.

An excellent book. I loved the way it was written. Loved it.

This is not my typical read, so I'm very unsure of how to rate it for now.

The main story goes around a family huge major event that changes everything, so they see themselves struggling to keep the life they are used of having, that part felt so real and sad, it captured the essence of how devasting debt can be, and how some life choices can definitely turn your life upside down.

It made me think of life in general, and I was sad for the characters, I was obviously expecting a turn of events because at point I said this is too much, give them a break already!

I was able to figure out many things of the plot, and some, specially towards the end felt very conveniently unrealistic, but it was a good (happy?) ending,..... if only life found a way to turn things around for people who go through this.. but hey it is called fiction for a reason.

So if you enjoy family drama and a light at the end of the tunnel I definitely recommend this for you

A great read and I enjoyed it from start to finish. Although I think I was expecting more of a ‘thriller’, but despite that it didn’t disappoint at all

I thought I had requested a thriller. This was more like a family drama novel. Which is fine. But it's not the type of book I read. So can't say more than that.

What a fantastic read from beginning to end, loved the charecters and the storyline and a few times there were tears, brilliant

Another great suspenseful family drama from Susan Lewis.

A number of difficult issues are covered in the story - debt, homelessness, poverty, drugs, gangs, human trafficking and grooming. The author has captured what is unfortunately a reality in British society today. Many people - the ‘working poor’ - find themselves struggling to make ends meet each day. The author has successfully portrayed this through the character of Angie. We also see how a person’s life can be changed literally overnight through no fault of their own, but also that there is hope and the kindness of others that can be invaluable in helping people to overcome the worst times of their life.

The story is detailed, well-paced and easy to follow.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins for an early digital copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was not what I expected at all and is not the sort of novel I would read. I am therefore not going to be finishing it. Did not finish.

A good read with a harrowing storyline but also some unlikely scenarios. This is the story of Angie’s struggle to cope after her husband dies and she is left with two dependent children in a rented house with no realistic means to pay the rent. Add in a nasty landlord who is insisting on repossession and a missing son who has got involved with the drug scene and poor Angie is soon spiralling into real trouble. Cue a knight in shining armour in the shape of a local property developer but will things ever get better?

Another brilliant book by Susan Lewis. A fantastic storyline and one I think a lot of people could relate too.

I would highly recommend this book.

My what a great story. This book shows you how happiness can change overnight to despair, sadness, and frustration.

Angie & Steve watts and their 3 children Liam, Grace, and Zak are a happy hardworking family until Liam who has mild learning difficulties falls into a ruthless gang and goes off the rails. Resulting in him witnessing his dad being beaten to death by the gang and him not having the power to stop it.
Angie in her fury and anger tells Liam he is dead to her and she never wants to see him again.

Angie and her 2 other children are then traumatically thrown into the deepest poverty and struggle you could never imagine. Her sister Emma and children are her only saviors when they are evicted from their beautiful home that Steve has worked hard to perfect by a ruthless landlord. Emma takes them in, but they are reported to their landlord for overcrowding by a spiteful neighbour and Emma is then threatened with eviction making Angie leave her children in the safety of her sister and unbeknown to Emma she is sleeping rough in the back of her van on the station forecourt.

Angie is working any job she can just to pay of the never spiraling debt that is suffocating her.
There is a good dig at the government about the struggle of families on universal credit and the devastation it causes. but you are not preached at.
There are some funny moments but also crying out loud and sad moments.
This was a great book with some good characters.
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A brilliantly written book. It really makes you think about what it would be like living a life on benefits and how easily it could happen to anyone. How quickly things can change. However, Angie is a fighter and desperately manages to keep her life on track. It really tugs on the heart strings. An excellent read from a marvelous story teller.

# Home Truths # Netgalley
It brings to life just how much anyone would do to keep the family together, from that point of view it knocks you completely of your feet very well written. You really gives you food for thought about what any of us are capable of. We all say no matter what anyone of us does it certainly made me question what I would do, has a mother. I would like to think I would do the right thing. Yet as a mum it’s not that easy. I like to think I would The right thing. In reality would you though. Amazing