Dejected after losing her job as an investigative reporter at a local New York City newspaper and a bad break-up, twenty-five-year-old Megan Barnes heads back to Chicago to start again. With no job and little savings, she moves in with her mother Helen, who shocks her that she is running for U.S. Congress. Megan does not share any of Helen’s conservative core values and needs to find a job and her own place. Luckily, Megan meets her idol, journalist and Pulitzer winner Jocelyn Jones, who is about to publish her memoir. With no job prospects in sight, she takes a PR position to assist Jocelyn, who offers to recommend her to the Chicago Tribune if she does a good job on her book launch. It soon appears that Jocelyn’s past may have a dark secret as someone is posting incriminating tweets which could derail the legendary journalist’s career. Megan needs to figure out the truth about her hero. Her moral compass and loyalties are tested.
In an impressive debut, author Maggie Smith tackles some important issues including ethics and the political divide. Smith delves into the complexities of female relationships - family, friends, mentors, lovers and co-workers. I particularly enjoyed the evolving relationship between Megan and her mother Helen. An interesting cast of supporting characters, including best friend Becca and co-worker Nick, added a nice dimension to this engaging story which addresses the decisions people make in their lives and its ramifications. I enjoyed Smith’s storytelling writing style and will be on the lookout for her next book.
Many thanks to the author and Ten16 Press for the opportunity to read Truth and Other Lies in advance of its release.
Rated 4 out of 5 stars.
Contemporary Fiction.
Publication Date: March 8, 2022.
Please "like" this post if Truth and Other Lies sounds like a book you might like to read. I'd love to know. Scroll below the photo and click on the red outlined heart on the lower right-hand side of the page. Comments can also be left below.
