Would I lie to you? Aliya Ali-Afzal

This is a brilliant read. Hilariously funny, sad, original and a VERY compulsive page-turner. And yes, it’s a debut, although that’s hard to believe with the quality of the writing. So hang on to your hats for a hell of a rollercoaster ride. You won’t be able to put this down.

 The theme of the book is quite simple. What would you do if you’d spent your emergency fund and now your husband has lost his job, he wants to use the money for bills? And it’s not just a couple of grand either, it’s £75,000!There is an impending sense of unease as the book flies along and it is nailbitingly tense.

 And, do not be fooled by the ‘simple premise’ comment. This book is far from simple. It’s clever and original and brilliantly written, but it deals with some hard-hitting themes: racism, mental health issues, gender-specific roles in marriages, money worries, the need to fit in to a ‘stereotypical perfect mother and wife mode,’ and how spending money can sometimes be a comfort blanket to fight our inner demons.  

The pacing is spot on. The main character is totally relatable and there are plenty of eye-opening moments in the novel that you won’t see coming. This family felt like my friends by the end, and as for the main character, I think I have a girl crush.

 ‘Would I lie to You?’ is like a breath of fresh air in a competitive market. It certainly stands out from the crowd. I would highly recommend. What a brilliant debut!

Available now.