Allison’s Book Report: “Lovers and Liars” by Amanda Eyre Ward

There’s still a few weeks of summer left, and that means we still have a few weeks to squeeze in all of those perfect summertime reads before we move into books with a cozier vibe. This week's book is a juicy family drama that you’ll want to devour in one sitting—whether you read it in a hammock or by the pool, definitely add this one to your end-of-summer reading list!

In Amanda Eyre Ward’s "Lovers and Liars," the Peacock sisters—Sylvie, Cleo, and Emma—are thrown together for a spectacularly dramatic destination wedding at a sprawling English castle. The catch? The sisters have been living separate lives, each one harboring their own pile of secrets. The wedding is for Sylvie, a newly widowed librarian who has found a new, mysterious, and very wealthy love in Simon Rampling. Her older sister, Cleo, a no-nonsense criminal defense lawyer, immediately suspects Simon isn’t who he claims to be. Armed with her lawyer instincts and a stack of files, she’s determined to protect Sylvie from another heartbreak—but she’s also wrestling with her own trust issues.

Meanwhile, their youngest sister, Emma, is caught in a lie of her own. She can’t afford the lavish trip and has been hiding a desperate financial situation from her family. This reunion forces her to confront the silence that’s been suffocating her. As the sisters navigate the castle’s grand halls, medieval meals, and falconry lessons, their long-held secrets begin to unravel. The situation is made even more complicated by the arrival of their toxic mother, who brings all the old, painful childhood dynamics to the surface.

Over the course of the weekend, the sisters are forced to confront the lies they’ve been telling themselves and each other. The wedding, which was meant to be a celebration, becomes a catalyst for truth. "Lovers and Liars" is a witty, heartwarming story about the complexities of family and the messy, beautiful bonds of sisterhood. It’s about finding the courage to make new choices, forgiving past mistakes, and discovering that even after decades of secrets, a family can find joy and genuine connection once again. It’s a tale that proves that sometimes the biggest deceptions are the ones we tell ourselves—and the best way to move forward is to embrace the truth, together.

Whatever books you have left to squeeze in before summer ends, I hope there's room on your list for "Lovers and Liars"—and don’t forget to pop over to my Instagram @allison.the.reader for more recommendations and book talk.