I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton, Lisa Steinke Published by Lake Union Publishing on July 23, 2019
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy, mystery
Pages: 307
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
Goodreads
Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.
In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time.
Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is over.
I really liked the premise of this novel but its execution really didn’t work for me. It was just trying too hard.
I like the concept: readers get to read two versions of a story in alternating chapters. It’s great for people who always wonder what if life had worked out differently. And that’s the kind of person I am. The idea that one decision can completely change my future is always in my mind. I was excited to see where the authors would go with it. Here, Lila makes a crucial decision: in one scenario, she goes home and in the other, she doesn’t.
I’ll be honest: I preferred the version where she doesn’t go home. It was far more interesting. But still boring. Looking back on it, nothing really shook me or took me by surprise. The plot was just … there, a vehicle for the actual message of the story.
There are some really strong themes on forgiveness, healing one’s traumas, and loving yourself despite your flaws. However, these concepts were not presented subtly. It made the story more cringy and predictable.
Overall, this was an okay book. It’s not terrible. But it didn’t excite me and didn’t bring anything new to the table. At least the writing style made this a quick read!
