If I Lie by Corrine Jackson
Publishers: Simon Pulse
Published Date: August 28th 2012
From: Publisher
My rating: 4 out of 5
Synopsis:
Quinn’s done the
unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she
got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is
deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not
just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in
their small, military town.
Quinn could clear her name, but that
would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that
aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far
she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.
Review:
If I lie captures your attention from the start. The first thing you realise is that Quinn is one of the strongest females in the world, and I don't mean of the muscular kind. How she had the courage to get out of bed every morning was startling.
The book takes you through how difficult her life has become after a picture of her was posted onto Facebook, shirtless, kissing a guy who was not her boyfriend. Her boyfriend being the town hero and now currently MIA on his tour of Afghanistan.
In Quinn's case a picture tells a thousand stories, but none of them are the correct one. Carey committed Quinn to a secret days before he left to go on tour and now Quinn is stuck with the backlash.
Jackson got nearly everything right in this book. The school friends all turn on Quinn like a pack. She gets bullied. Her own father is blinkered by the betrayal. Her only saving grace is George, an elderly war veteran.
What I was disappointed with was the portrayal of Blake. Considering he grew up with Carey and Quinn and was effectively the third wheel his character seemed too awkward around Quinn. I would have thought he would have done more to defend her but he stayed away at her asking and didn't question it. I think lots of people would agree that if a friend was suffering such horrible abuse day in day out you would intervene more hastily than he did. Just saying. I know he did his bit but I didn't think it was enough.
Anyway, as the story carries on we get more back story and the eventual reveal (which I guessed way before!). The wrap up clears everything over but leaves us hanging a little at the end. I would have wanted just a little more romance than was promised.
However, all in all this is a very powerful book, a great example of how rumours and gossip and PICTURES can ruin peoples lives if you assume you know the story - never assume you know everything...
-CBx
