Review: The Comfort of Lies

“Happiness at someone else’s expense came at a price. Tia had imagined judgment from the first kiss that she and Nathan shared. All year, she’d waited to be punished for being in love, and in truth, she believed that whatever consequences came her way would be deserved.”
Five years ago, Tia fell into obsessive love with a man she could never have. Married, and the father of two boys, Nathan was unavailable in every way. When she became pregnant, he disappeared, and she gave up her baby for adoption.
Five years ago, Caroline, a dedicated pathologist, reluctantly adopted a baby to please her husband. She prayed her misgivings would disappear; instead, she’s questioning whether she’s cut out for the role of wife and mother.
Five years ago, Juliette considered her life ideal: she had a solid marriage, two beautiful young sons, and a thriving business. Then she discovered Nathan’s affair. He promised he’d never stray again, and she trusted him.
But when Juliette intercepts a letter to her husband from Tia that contains pictures of a child with a deep resemblance to her husband, her world crumbles once more. How could Nathan deny his daughter? And if he’s kept this a secret from her, what else is he hiding? Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl. And before long, the three women and Nathan are on a collision course with consequences that none of them could have predicted.

My Rating:

My Review: Three women find themselves unexpectedly connected through one child. Tia has an affair with Juliette's husband and conceives a child which she ultimately gives up for adoption to Caroline. Five years later all three women are still adjusting to the changes in their lives based on this event. Tia makes it through each day by drinking more than the last. Juliette tries to move on from her husband's affair only to be reminded in the most surprising way. And Caroline still struggles to adjust to motherhood and her feelings of inadequacy. Though each think it impossible to get past these struggles, all attempt to progress toward a happier life, but they just might need something from each other.
This was such an amazing book in so many ways. I loved how each women felt so real. As I read through each chapter from a different character's point of view, I felt like I could feel what they were feeling and understood their struggles as it were happening to me. In some books, characters face struggles that the reader--from the outside looking in--can clearly see the solution and we just wait for the characters to realize that solution. This is definitely not one of those books. I never knew what each character should do to solve their particular problem and I was intrigued by this. I enjoyed Caroline's story the most and Tia's the least. Caroline's story seemed especially real and refreshing. I had never considered the struggles of a new mother after an adoption. I had also never considered the feelings of a mother who didn't feel she had the same feelings as other mothers toward their children. I enjoyed Caroline's journey. Tia was a bit of a mess and she didn't progress as much as the others so it was difficult to sympathize and I didn't connect with her because she seemed like two different characters in one. There was Tia who cared about the elderly and Tia who couldn't seem to face reality. It was a strange mix that intrigued me but didn't captivate like the others.
Overall, a wonderful and intriguing book. It isn't merely about the consequences of an affair but touches on some issues that women face silently. Best of all, it isn't depressing or sad. It made me think and I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for the train wreck because I knew there would be one.