Review: The First Lie by Diane Chamberlain

The First Lie

by Diane Chamberlain

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 35

Format: ebook

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  The First Lie gives readers an early glimpse into the life of thirteen-year-old Ivy Hart. It’s 1958 in rural North Carolina, where Ivy lives with her grandmother and sister on a tobacco farm. As tenant farmers, Ivy and her family don’t have much freedom, though she and her best friend, Henry, often sneak away in search of adventure…and their truest selves. But life on the farm takes a turn when Ivy’s teenage sister gives birth—all the while maintaining her silence about the baby’s father. Soon Ivy finds herself navigating the space between adolescence and adulthood as she tries to unravel a dark web of family secrets and make sense of her ever-evolving life in the segregated South. 


Kritters Thoughts:  The First Lie is a prequel short story of sorts to go before the full novel Necessary Lies.  I read Necessary Lies in March of 2016 and at the time didn't know there was a prequel short story, I kind of wish I had.  So if you haven't read Necessary Lies, read this one before you dive into that book - this sets such a good foundation for where that story is going to go.  If you have already read it, this is still worth the time, I enjoyed it.

This short story takes you back to a time where things can easily be swept under the rug and women and children have minimal rights for themselves and their lives and the crazy, surprising thing is that this book isn't set to long ago.  This book made me gasp and I had to remind myself over and over again that this was based in truth and isn't too fictionalized and made me realize how far we have come in women's rights - still not all the way there yet!

I love Diane Chamberlain and this is the second time that she has a short story that precludes the novel and I loved it.  I like a little set up before the main event, I wouldn't mind this set up for more books!

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 54 out of 50