This was an interesting book. I think it falls somewhere between police procedural and dysfunctional family drama. Pretty sure you would need to like both to enjoy this book. Just as a matter of interest, a lot of the vocabulary is different than we use in the US. I still wonder what bean and cheese toasties are. I keep forgetting to look that up. :) ( )

I'm so surprised this is a debut! It's well polished, with a voice and cadence that speaks of years of writing experience. As soon as I finished SWEET LITTLE LIES, I wanted to read more by this author, so I'm eager to see what else she can do.

I found this book immensely readable. It kept me hooked throughout, wanting to learn the mystery of what happened to Alice / Maryanne. Was Cat's dad really involved? What role did Cat herself play in masking her disappearance? I was filled with questions, and when the truth unravelled, I was glued to the pages.

My only complaint is about Cat herself. She was so incredibly hostile toward her father, who'd shown her nothing but love, support, and affection (even when she didn't deserve it.) I understand that parents and children can push each other's buttons like no one else - and this sometimes destructive dynamic was beautifully illustrated in the novel - but it still irked me that she held so much hostility toward him. Sure, he hadn't been a perfect parent, or a perfect husband... but who is? By all accounts he was there when it counted, and he'd done nothing but try to love Cat throughout her life. This line, in particular, really struck me -- and it speaks volumes: "He gives me that look. The one that says I’m the apple of his eye and the bane of his life and his world would be a whole lot easier if he didn’t love me so much."

Overall, though, I found SWEET LITTLE LIES quiet compelling, tender at times, and intriguing. I'm excited to have discovered a new author who, I think, has a bright future ahead of her in this genre. ( )

I'm not sure about this book. My feeling is just kind of "eh." It was a very slow burn, I had a hard time getting into this book, it wasn't overly interesting. It didn't get to the point that I really wanted to read it until about the last quarter of the book. The first 3/4 was just stuff that I had to get through to get to the good stuff. I know it's an "international bestseller" but at this point, I'm thinking that was because people thought it would be better than it was.

There were a lot of characters, and honestly, I couldn't remember who people were half the time. They just became names that didn't connect to anything. The author did tell the backstory of all of these people, but I just didn't care about it. Honestly, it all had less to do with the actual dead person than it did about the people who were still alive.

The story itself was twisty and there were a lot of things that I didn't see coming. But I figured out the reason for the disappearance 20 years ago way early. The rest of the story I didn't really see coming.

I don't really know what else to say about it. Usually, this would be the part where I would say "I'd recommend it if..." but I don't know that I'd recommend it. It was an alright book in the end, I guess. If you like dysfunctional characters/family, some mystery, uncovering secrets, connecting the dots...you may like this book. ( )

BOTM choice for August. This was great for a first time author! The mystery was all twisty and turn-y (is that a word?) and had a great ending. I loved the snarky and outright funny banter between the detectives, the author could probably write comedy just as well as mystery. The character development was excellent. Each of the characters were likable and relatable in their own way. Even the father who I was sure had something to do with it the whole time and who I am still not sure is in the clear at the end. Hoping this author keeps writing, maybe even a sequel or a series with these characters. ( )

Cat comes from a dysfunctional family, with her father skating on the edge of the law, and often crossing that line. While still a child, she catches him in a bold-faced lie concerning a missing teen, one who might be a runaway or a murder victim, but is never seen again. This colors the way she sees and acts with her father, even as an adult. Now, a murdered woman leads back to this missing teen. And Cat is forced to decide between revealing the truth or concealing it with lies, lies that will save both her father and her job as a constable. This tightly written story doesn’t waste words, but so much happens, much of it illegal, that you may be amazed at how well it all fits together. Cat is a complex character, flawed but still intent on doing the right thing. It’s just that sometimes, a sweet little lie is the only way out. ( )