Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman Publisher: Bloomsbury (September 28th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 320 pages
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Source: Publisher On the surface, Emily Meckler leads the perfect life. She has three best friends, two loving parents, and the ideal setup at the Connecticut prep school where her father is the headmaster. But Emily also suffers from devastating nightmares about fire and water, and nobody knows why. Then the enigmatic Del Sugar enters her life, and Emily is immediately swept away—but her passionate relationship with Del is just the first of many things that aren't quite what they seem in Emily's life. As the lies she's been told start to unravel, Emily must set out to discover the truth regarding her nightmare; on a journey that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about love, family, and her own idyllic past.
This companion novel to Warman's critically acclaimed Breathless proves that sometimes the biggest lies are told to the people you love the most. Review: Where the Truth Lies is a wonderfully written tale involving Emily, a junior, who begins her school year with many firsts, obstacles, and discoveries. The story begins with us getting to know Emily, her friends, and the details of the dreams that leave her breathless most nights. I thought that this book would focus heavily on these mysterious dreams Emily faces but I was wrong. While this is an important aspect of the story, Where the Truth Lies contains way more than this mystery. Early on Emily meets Del, a bad boy that immediately seems drawn to her. Their relationship puts her at odds with her parents and her friends, but deep down, Emily can't help but want to be with Del. Their secret encounters lead to much more than Emily ever anticipated.
As Emily faces unimaginable decisions, she finds out that Del may not be the person she thought he was. In addition, her parents, whom she has always trusted, may be hiding a dark secret that breaks apart the steady foundation that used to be her life. Emily's own strength and determination may be the only thing she can truly rely on.
Where the Truth Lies is not a quick read but I was completely submerged into Emily's story. The layers of the plot kept me guessing and gripping the pages. As I tried to piece together my own perception, the story would twist into a place I never considered. This, along with the outstanding characters, kept me wanting to read more. Jessica Warman's writing style is fantastic. She knows how to bring realistic situations to each page. Her descriptions, characters, and plot stayed true to what I imagine many teens face when dealing with love, friends, and family secrets.
Characters: Emily was very much like a typical teenage girl, struggling with school but enjoying her time with her friends and exploring love along the way. She, like many others, was not resistant to making mistakes or misjudging situations. As her story progressed I could see her grow and change into a stronger young lady. I enjoyed the light interactions she had with her best friends and seeing how they learned to deal with their own personal drama. Del was amazing because his personality didn't fall too much into one particular category. He wasn't too bad, too good, too perfect. He was mysterious and maybe a little damaged by his past, but I continuously wanted to know more about him. Emily's friends, and the wonderful"swoon" worthy Ethan, were all a great addition to the story because they were very multidimensional as well. Together, these characters made the perfect blend to bring together Emily's story.
Cover: I like this cover. I feel that it sums up the mystery aspect of the book with the school far in the background and the girl's hidden face.
Where the Truth Lies is the incredible story of a young girl, facing the challenges of life, and learning how to get past the lies in order to find the truth.
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