Love Painted in Lies: A Maida Vale Tale

Yes, this is a really funny book in which disaster after disaster sends the reader hurtling towards a very satisfying wrap-up. The characters and the situations they find themselves in are often hysterical and the author creates a real sense of life through the dialogue. But this book also captures an incredibly important message about inclusion - how different we all are and how labelling and judging can get in the way of living. I found parts of this book incredibly sad as the experiences of someone “different” struggled to get along within the rails of “normal” expectations. So, yes, people can read it for a genuine laugh but I also hope people will take a moment to reflect on inclusion, difference and judgement,

This book was so good. The plot was very well written and it had some great plot twists. I would highly recommend this book.

Unusual and thought provoking novel. Three siblings trying to gain their father’s approval. This books had me laughing and gasping in shock with the shenanigans of Minty, she goes into her own world but always trying to get her dads approval she works hard for it unlike her older sister who has it in abundance.
Minty is an art forger and has been in prison for it she took the blame for the whole operation letting her sister and brother lead their lives. Then her mother is diagnosed with dementia and she’s has to move back home to look after her. Then comes the police and a Glasgow gangster looking for a painting she stole long time ago.
Hilarious in parts but also deep in others
Fantastic read

Honestly, this book was an unexpected reading and a difficult voluntary review to write, but not because the book wasn’t hilarious or interesting, is that the family dynamic of the main character reflects a little my own and that was difficult to deal with.

Minty is this talented artist who is afraid to express through her art her uniqueness. She thinks is easier to copy someone else’s art instead expressing herself and maybe being judged wrongly or rejected by her own father and the rest of the world. Due to this wrongly misconceptions and fears, she gets entangled with the mafia, police and even imprisoned for fraud. Her life becomes a chain of chaos, mixed with a strong feeling of family loyalty, and life resignation.
This chaos brings stressful, humiliating and sometimes laughable situations that will make you root for Minty so she could find peace, happiness, love and personal success as herself.
The story was well written, the characters well defined and the plot crazy and hilarious which reminded me of the Chavy Chase’s movies a bit.

I just reviewed Love Painted in Lies: A Maida Vale Tale by Holly Denham. #lovepaintedinlies #NetGalley

This was a cute and fun book. Very amusing characters who were also somehow true to life. The book has some twists and turns and I would definitely recommend it as a light quick beach read. Enjoy!

The family dynamics of this hit close to home for me, which made for an enjoyable read (to a point). I flat out adored Minty and was rooting for her every step of the way! The book was funny and the plot was one that is easy to connect with.

Lovely book! While I typically read and review books that are purely romance or romantic comedies, Love Painted in Lies was refreshingly different in that romance felt like a subplot. I enjoyed that the story involved more than just a romantic thrill of the chase but an actual chase too! There was comedy, mystery, action, and romance which made for a talented work by Holly Denham.

I lived in Maida Vale for six months, so the setting of this book holds a special place in my heart. It was nostaglic to read this story knowing all too well what it is to live in the area. Though my experience there did enhance my experience reading this book, I can say the picture Denham paints of Maida Vale and Little Venice is one that can allow any reader to put themselves there in their mind. What a great location to set a story revolving around art!

Overall, I really loved reading this book. For a book of this size, I would often read it in one sitting, but I read it in three because I did not want it to be over so soon. I could say more but I dare not say anything that would cause any reader not to go into this book with an open mind and a readiness to be engaged in a all-around good story. Excited to tell my former Maida Vale flatmates about this one!