The Kindest Lie A Novel

Ruth Tuttle harbored a secret that she couldn’t get off her mind, and when she finally divulged it to her husband, it about broke the relationship. Ruth then goes back home to small-town Indiana to face her demons and find the answers she needs to be emotionally ok again and to move forward with her husband and their life together. I get most of my books from my library’s ebook access. It’s been a godsend, I can get them directly into my kindle (I use the app on my phone so I literally have a phone in my pocket at all times). The library only allows me to put ten books on hold at a time, and frequently they all become available at the same time. Because of my book-reading system, I don’t always get to read a book with the vibe I’m feeling at that time. For the most part, this doesn’t typically affect how I feel about a book, but with this one, it REALLY did. I had just finished quite the string of World War II historical fiction books with both alternating points of view and alternating timelines. I got really frustrated and annoyed with all of that alternating hullabaloo (true story: I just DNF one because of the alternating timeline…it wasn’t done well), and I truly had no idea what this book was about when I downloaded it and dug in. I was SO pleased it was a book written in chronological order, I was ready to give it five stars just because of that. I genuinely liked most of the characters in this book! My empathetic side just fell right out for almost everybody (Midnight’s dad…not so much). I did have some minor issues with Ruth’s husband as well, but considering I have never been in a similar position, I have no idea what kind of reaction would be acceptable. The story flowed beautifully, and this is one of a very short list of books that have brought some tears…I was genuinely verklempt. If I could give it 4.5 stars I would, and I reserve the 5 stars for the books I absolutely love, so unfortunately this one got bumped down to 4 stars. It’s very good.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is the story of Ruth, looking for about the son she gave up for adoption, and her relationship with Midnight, a young boy with problems at home. It’s about grief, loss, family secrets, class, racism, and so much more. It is beautifully written and pulled me in.

Great characterization and pacing make this an engrossing read, particularly in light of current events. This expertly written narrative explores the divide between white and black communities and the commitments and sacrifices made by a mother. Do we allow the decisions of the past to define our future? To say no would itself be the kindest lie. The truths explored here reveal there is no simple answer to this question. A timely read. I found myself rooting for Ruth to not only overcome her own personal barriers but the barriers of racism as well. As in all good books, I was left wanting more.

For me, 2008 sometimes feels like an alternate universe, so reading a novel set in that time after Obama’s first election to president was so strange. It is amazing that it can be so recent and feel so far away. I enjoyed Ruth’s story and her this peek into her world. The Kindest Lie managed to be set in that optimism of the end of 2008 and the racist history of the US, and the highs/lows of being black at the time. Ruth’s family and the rest of the town felt fully realized, and it is always a good sign when you care enough to be annoyed by the readers. Once this book picked up, I could not put it down.