A Version of the Truth
A Version of the Truth
by B.P. Walter
3 out of 5Synopsis
We all see what we want to see…
2019: Julianne is preparing a family dinner when her son comes to her and says he’s found something on his iPad. Something so terrible, it will turn Julianne’s world into a nightmare and make her question everything about her marriage and what type of man her husband is or is pretending to be.
1990: Holly is a fresher student at Oxford University. Out of her depth and nervous about her surroundings, she falls into an uneasy friendship with a group of older students from the upper echelons of society and begins to develop feelings for one in particular. He’s confident, quiet, attractive and seems to like her too. But as the year progresses, her friends’ behaviour grows steadily more disconcerting and Holly begins to realise she might just be a disposable pawn in a very sinister game.
A devastating secret has simmered beneath the surface for over twenty-five years. Now it’s time to discover the truth. But what if you’re afraid of what you might find?
Review
Julianne discovers her husband might be hiding something; something that started with their days at university.
I received a free copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows two connected timelines - the modern day Julianne, who is married to James; and the 90's Holly, who has a major crush on James when they both attend Oxford.
I was worried, coming into this book, after reading some reviews about the trigger warnings, that it wouldn't be for me; but I actually thought the author did it well. Rape, and gang rape does happen because it's part of the plot, but it doesn't go into detail, and it doesn't glory in it. It's a horrible experience, and has long-standing consequences for the victim.
I felt that the author did a really good job in creating a statement on the flaws in our society, and how some things haven't changed in the last thirty years. There's an underlying sense that the victim is to blame, which is echoed by her friends and family, and general atmosphere of boys will be boys. It's a disturbing picture, that is disgustingly familiar.
The casual homophobia is written in the same way. It's wrong, you want to scream at the characters that it's wrong, as they carry on with their unfounded and hurtful remarks, all the while participating in gay sex.
That being said - did I enjoy this book? No.
For all that I appreciate what the author is trying to convey, and I do think they did a good job - that's not the sort of book I go for.
I picked this book up, because I was under the misconception this was some sort of psychological thriller. This is definitely not a thriller.
There are no twists, there are no surprises. It follows the lives of two women, and the men that betray them.
Aside from that, I did not like our narrators. Holly (the 90's timeline) is dull, and overly-occupied with boys and the fact that she isn't sexually active, when all of her friends are constantly talking about sex. For a girl that got into Oxford on a scholarship, and the first of her family to get into uni - she has no passion for her studies, and no interests outside the already mentioned boys and sex obsession.
Julianne (current timeline) is also dull. She's pretty but vacant. The American wife of an upper-class gentleman, the only role she plays is "James' wife". She has no personality beyond this. No hobbies, no thoughts of her own.
I felt pity for both of our leading ladies, but couldn't relate to them, or like them enough to be truly invested in their story.
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