Everything but the Truth: Gillian McAllister

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An utterly unique story with a deep heartbeat and expertly crafted moral dilemmas' Holly Seddon, author of Try Not To Breath Everything But the Truth is a companion novel in an adorable series, entitled If Only. I’ve really been enjoying this series, and I was looking forward to reading this one after enjoying Mandy’s first book in the If Only Series, Fool Me Twice, which I read last year. The books in this series can definitely be read alone but it’s still good to see a group of authors working together to make a series along the same theme. In this installment we meet Holly who isn’t as well off as the residents in the retirement home her mother works and lives at. But she’s genuine and real, especially when she meets Malik Buchanan. But then again not that genuine as he’s under the impression she’s really someone else, mistakenly of course.

Everything but the Truth by Gillian McAllister | Goodreads

I really enjoyed this great psychological thriller. It’s a pacey, fun read which kept me completely absorbed. While I had some slight issues with the romance aspect of the ending, I did appreciate Hubbard's overall approach to wrapping up the story. Holly handles the ups and downs of her relationships maturely, and learns how to adjust and let go as needed.One thing that was understandable about Holly though were her insecurities about her best friend, Alex and her relationship with Rena. It was relatable the way Holly was scared that Alex was replacing her with Rena but then again, I also had my suspicions that there was something more to it. AND I WAS RIGHT!!!I'm trying not give the details away so not to spoil anything. This review was originally posted on About to Read. For Fairytale fashions, reads, and more visit abouttoread.com This one, about a young boy who wants to talk, intrude himself in adult affairs, is delicious. And the gorgeous Maureen O Hara, one of the few remaining female Hollywood movie stars still alive - with Laureen Bacall and Olivia De Havilland - is always worth seeing. I won't never be tired of her. Universal Studios is one of my all favourites, because it offered us pretty good pieces of work, as well in horror, scifi, crime, westerns, adventure films. And these were never boring or corny films. And often grade B pictures, but fancy B pictures. This comedy movie is also somewhere a B movie, pure Universal product, so charming and entertaining. Richly textured and complex in character, the secrets in the book are slowly revealed. This beautifully written book leaves the reader with thought-provoking questions for which there are no easy answers. I did not like Rachel for most of the book, but in the end it was easy to understand her, and most IMPORTANTLY ... forgive her for rubbing me the wrong way. I was completely absorbed by this book. It's quite a steady story, but it really gets under your skin. An outstanding debut by, Gillian McAllister, and I genuinely hope there is more to come.

Everything but the Truth Lyrics - Genius Lucinda Williams – Everything but the Truth Lyrics - Genius

McAllister delivers a fascinating, complex and fast paced read about love, lies and acceptance. You won't be able to put it down!" - Hollie Overton Everything But The Truth by Mandy Hubbard is mainly centered around Holiday (Holly) Mathews and Malik Buchannan. Their story is mainly set at a fancy and expensive retirement home, known as Sunrise House, where Holly's mom works and where they live and where Malik visits his extremely wealthy grandfather. Holly is known for voluntarily helping the staff and keeping the residents company. Malik is Hollywood-famous and well-known on the internet, but secretly he wishes that people would like him for who he is, not for who they think he is. The main conflict is introduced soon after Holly and Malik first meet. When Holly is about to introduce herself to Malik, one of the residents walks by and calls out to Holly. But, instead of using Holly's real name, the resident calls her "Lucy." Holly then lets Malik believe that that is her real name, brushing away the thought that soon it would matter what her name was. Based on Holly's illogical thinking about her growing lie and Malik's inner thoughts, a main theme of the story is many can know who a person is, but few actually know who that person is. An initial action that hooked me was when Holly texts her best friend, Alex, that she found her "new boyfriend."

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Our main character, Holiday, is in a really odd situation since she can’t be honest about her life. I understood how she found herself there and how it just gradually spun out of control. I don’t agree with her actions, and think she should have just been honest, but I do understand how it got to the point it did. Plus it made for an interesting story, and that’s really the point isn’t it. :) One of the things I like most about the If Only line of books - and in particular Everything But the Truth - is how they deal with growing up. Holly is only months away from college and becoming an adult. This book manages to show how mature she is becoming at the same time as showing how she is still a teenager. I loved the romance and appreciated how this love story was developed. This book is certainly a light and fluffy romantic story that you can easily engulf in one sitting. It's your typical clean teen romance novel since the characters - especially the protagonist Holly - seem a bit immature for a bunch of 18-19 yr olds. They blow up the tiniest things and overthink every small complication. Despite this, this book is easily amusing and entertaining. When wealthy playboy Malik assumes Holly is another rich relative visiting family in the fancy retirement home her mother manages, she doesn't correct him. Things between them were never going to get serious - they come from different worlds and in just a few months Holly is leaving for college. But when flirting leads to one date and then another, Holly finds it harder and harder to tell Malik the truth. He's been hurt by others who have lied to him to get close. How can Holly come clean and without losing her new relationship?

Everything But the Truth (1956) | MUBI Everything But the Truth (1956) | MUBI

In this novel, there are moral dilemmas, and I would argue that if you polled people, you would get all sorts of different opinions and takes on what the correct decisions would have been under these circumstances.

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It's hard not to put yourself in Rachel's position, wondering how you yourself would come to terms with the discoveries she's making, but it sure makes for a compelling read.

Everything but the Truth - Penguin Books UK Everything but the Truth - Penguin Books UK

Everything but the Truth is without a doubt a read that will have you totally engrossed in it. The author weaves a story that will have readers hooked from start to end. I’m not sure what I was actually expecting from this book as I thought it sounded like it could be a psychological thriller from the description, which it isn’t by the way. What it is though is a story that is shrouded in lies and suspense and without a doubt makes for an engaging read. Hard to believe this is the authors debut novel and very excited to read more by her in the future. If you’re looking for an easy-breezy type of romance, you could give Everything but the Truth a try. It may not blow you away, but I promise it’s not a chore to read either. It’s fun, it’s cutesy, it has its share of funny moments. I don’t regret getting to know these characters at all. I think all of the books in the If Only line are great for an afternoon of summer reading; I’m definitely looking forward to future books in the series! Holiday Mathews and her mother have recently moved into a very posh retirement home in Seattle called Sunrise House. This is where the wealthy go to retire, and she just happens to live there too. Her mother is the new leasing manager and while she goes about doing her business and proving her worth, Holly visits with some of the residents and does odd jobs for them. It's a great gig because not only does she actually enjoy talking to them, but at the same time she's making tips on the side to put away for college. I was swoony for Malik almost immediately after we met him. Later in the story, he definitely had some meh moments. I understand his trust issues, given who he is and what he's been through; however, I hated how mistrustful he became of Holly. Yes, I know, I JUST condemned her for dragging her lies out for too long. But in the end, she DID tell him the truth. And it's obvious she was sincere, so I'm kind of mad at Malik for waiting so long to forgive her. Really, they were both equally at fault. Once I'd started I was of course powerless to stop. Everything But the Truth is a dream debut, brilliantly executed, clever and utterly realistic. I loved it." - Jill MansellI actually really liked Holiday—she’s ambitious and hardworking. I also loved that she was so proud of her mother. It’s a bit “Gilmore Girls ”-esque in the sense that her mom struggled to make ends meet for a long time and is finally stable and earning enough income for them to have a better life. Holiday respects her mom for working so hard to make their situation better, and also works really hard to get into a good college and pay for it. Hubbard builds a convincing and beautiful tapestry of the important relationships in Holly's life, and how each of these relationships have contributed to who she is today. Consequently, when Holly fears the loss of a friendship, Hubbard uses it as a great tool for showing Holly's burgeoning growth and maturity, and the evolution of that friendship. Even though Holly has graduated high school, she acts a lot like a pre-teen. One might argue that if I was her and going through a first love, I would be acting the same. Well, I beg to differ. Firstly the situation she was in - Malik thinking she was someone else - could've been solved as soon as that old woman (Henrietta) was gone. It wasn't a big deal. Holly was a very insecure character. Despite all the nice words, Malik was saying about being attracted to her because she seemed down to earth and simply not obnoxious, Holly doesn't take the HUGE fact that he likes her because of her. It had nothing to do with wealth. In fact, he liked her because she seemed untainted by wealth. Let’s start off with the fact that I LOVE that it’s set in Seattle–my hometown. I loved reading about Alki Beach, Lake Washington, Gas Works Park, and Pike Place Market. Since I’m so familiar with the area, it was really easy to place the characters in the setting. The author is from the Seattle area herself so everything is pretty accurate, but I did have a couple of minor issues–I know I’m splitting hairs here, but I can’t help it! First, WSU. Sorry, but my blood runs purple and gold (both my parents graduated from UW and both of my siblings were also students). So the fact that our main character was going there? Not a fan. Second, (and this is so minor, I know) at the end of the book Holly mentions how she’s been at school for a couple of weeks and her friend Alex (who’s going to UW) is going to call to update her on her classes. Sorry, but the timing doesn’t work out there. WSU has semesters and starts classes at the beginning of September or the end of August. Meanwhile, UW has quarters and doesn’t start classes until the end of September (or beginning of October even). So…Alex wouldn’t be in classes yet. This book was just so close to being accurate! I was just disappointed.