Lies My Girlfriend Told Me by Julie Anne Peters (review)

Alix is still reeling from the news that her girlfriend, Swanee, has suddenly died when she learns that Swanee had a secret additional relationship. This news sends Alix into an irrational tailspin, causing her to impersonate Swanee over texts to Liana (who, like Alix, believed she was Swanee’s only love). When the truth finally comes out, the girls bond over Swanee’s betrayals, and Alix lets Liana believe it was someone else who did the impersonating. When the revelation inevitably occurs that it was Alix pretending to be Swanee, the girls’ budding relationship may be over before it truly begins. True romance fans may appreciate this seemingly fated pair finding each other even through multiple setbacks. However, Alix is startlingly self-centered, and she doesn’t experience much consequence for her protracted cruel lying; the device of Liana’s contrasting perfection’s somehow magically enlightening Alix about her family, her life, and her romances is unconvincing. In addition, the messiness of Swanee’s family is offered mostly for exposition, with the book never really giving the characters real depth or growth. Nevertheless, readers who are seeking a lesbian version of a typical romance plot (instant attraction, problematic person in both lives, contrived obstacle, and profound declarations of everlasting love and fidelity) could find an easy escape and the happy ending they seek here.