Lies We Tell Ourselves by Amy Matayo

 

Presley Waterman is a rescuer: of animals, of businesses, of people. Like the stray cat she's allergic to, but continues to care for. Like her small-town newspaper, a business that’s been dying a slow death for the better part of a decade. And like Micah. Her best friend and the man she has loved since they were kids, back when no one else cared.

As for him…

Micah Leven loves Presley. She’s the girl who’s always been there to help, the one who knows all the ugly things about him and makes him believe he can be a better man, the one who will never leave because she’s promised over and over.
But he also loves Mara.

Mara is his ideal. She’s the dream he conjured up as a boy and never wavered from. She’s beautiful, ambitious, driven, a fellow newscaster at his Atlanta station, and the perfect asset for the life he’s always wanted. Together, they could conquer the world and their respective careers. Even better, with Mara he could prove that he did—in fact—finally amount to something. Maybe then his father would be proud.

There are just a few things Presley and Micah have both forgotten. One, just because you rescue someone doesn’t mean they’ll love you for it. Two, some dreams disappear when reality wakes you up. Three, the only way to silence lies is to face the truth head-on.

This is the story of the man torn between two existences, the woman who finally took the choice away from him, and what happens when you stop listening to lies once and for all.

Even if the biggest liar is you.

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One thing I will say about this author, Amy Matayo, is that she sure doesn't shy away from the deeper, gritty emotions that come from difficult life circumstances.  This book is a testament to how much she really thought through those emotions and how her characters were acting and reacting to life.  The natural consequence of that is that I believe it.  

Presley and Micah were scarred, broken and vulnerable.  I was so invested in them both.  How could I not be?  Flashbacks to their younger years and alternating viewpoints played a large part in my understanding and connection to them.  

I loved the overwhelming theme of the lies we tell ourselves.  It's true.  We all tell ourselves lies.  Sometimes we really believe the lies, sometimes we know what we are doing but can't seem to help ourselves.  This is a tough world to live in.  Lies are all around us and they become truth if we let them.  I love when Presley finally decides to make a stand and force the lies away from her.  It's a struggle, it's raw, it's emotional but man, it also felt so empowering for her.  It takes courage to face the lies we tell ourselves.

This book isn't light, easy reading.  It's not really what I would call a "romance" either.  It's definitely about relationships and life and struggles.  It made me think and it made me feel.  Two very awesome things that I look for as a reader.  I like to be challenged in the way I look at people and things.   I really loved it.

Content:  scenes of physical, emotional and verbal abuse, kissing, alcoholism mentioned

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.