BOOK INFO
Title: Lies My Girlfriend Told Me
Author: Julie Anne Peters
Pages: 256
Publication date: June 10th 2014
Description: When Alix's charismatic girlfriend, Swanee, dies from sudden cardiac arrest, Alix is overcome with despair. As she searches Swanee's room for mementos of their relationship, she finds Swanee's cell phone, pinging with dozens of texts sent from a mysterious contact, L.T. The most recent text reads: "Please tell me what I did. Please, Swan. Te amo. I love you."
Shocked and betrayed, Alix learns that Swanee has been leading a double life--secretly dating a girl named Liana the entire time she's been with Alix. Alix texts Liana from Swanee's phone, pretending to be Swanee in order to gather information before finally meeting face-to-face to break the news.
Brought together by Swanee's lies, Alix and Liana become closer than they'd thought possible. But Alix is still hiding the truth from Liana. Alix knows what it feels like to be lied to--but will coming clean to Liana mean losing her, too?
Warning: Small spoilers
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
The way Swaane is portrayed
Alright, first of all, what kind of a name is Swaane? It makes sense the more you dive into the story, but it's still an awkward name.
So, uh. Yeah. Swaane. The dead girlfriend. From the very beginning, we're already shown signs that she's not the perfect girlfriend. As the story goes on, I kept on waiting to read more about her. More of why Alix—our main character—wants to be with her.
But I never got that. Swaane is described as this manipulative, toxic partner and while yes, that is true, I also would like to see a side of her that's real. It didn't help that the characters hate her more and more the longer the story goes on.
The lying thing
One thing I've noticed in the last three sapphic books I've read is how the main character is lying about something to her partner, and how that lie is what puts a temporary end to the relationship.
This book is no different. And honestly? I'm getting tired of the trope. Only Nina LaCour doesn't fall into this trap. I'm starting to think that she's the only good female queer writer out there.
The resolution
I don't know. It feels "unearned", for a lack of a better word. And it came too fast, too.
THIINGS I LIKED
The romance
Alright. It's cute. It's super cute. Me likey. There's not much to say about it.
The topic of families
I also liked the way this story tackles different kinds of families. How the "cool ones" are actually be cruel. How the "strict ones" are actually good. I really liked the way the parents are portrayed. They still love each other, and they still go on dates and stuff.
Not to mention the baby brother too! I love the way Alix's relationship with him develops throughout the story. Same thing goes for her and the rents.
OVERALL
I'm honestly kind of disappointed. Not just with this book, but with all the other queer books—besides anything made by Nina LaCour, God bless her lesbian soul. I know that, in a week or two, I'd already forget everything about it. Hell, I'm already starting to forget everything now.
Rating: 7/10
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Clemmie Judges
Non-FictionSo, books. I've read a bunch of them. I also have strong opinions about them. Why not share it with the internet? (Don't worry, it's spoiler-free.)
