Review: The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Title: The Two Lila Bennetts

Author: Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Published: July 2019, Lake Union Publishing

Format: ARC Paperback, 320 pages

Source: Authors

Summary: 

“One fateful decision. Two unexpected endings. A perfect summer read!” —Wendy Walker, bestselling author of The Night Before

Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.

In
one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger
but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper
forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life,
she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her
happiness, exposing one secret at a time.

Lila’s decorated career
as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the
line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the
courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But
even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she
does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must
die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is
over.

My thoughts: I am absolutely loving this new direction that writers Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have taken…they have definitely shown they have staying power in the world of thriller-writing, especially if this latest book is anything to go by. They have such a unique writing style and their spin on one of my favorite movies definitely ups the ante with this book!

Sliding Doors is hands down a favorite movie, so when I heard that Liz and Lisa’s newest book was inspired by this movie, I was ecstatic. But…of course, there has to be a darker tone to it – it is a thriller after all! Let me just tell you, this book rocks! These authors have managed to craft a unique story that pulls you in right from the start, with a character that gets under your skin. This is one of those situations where not only do you become totally invested in what is going on with Lila Bennett, but it will also have you questioning some the choices you have made in your life…I love books like that!

Lila Bennett is one of those characters that you both love and hate. She’s got that angel and devil sitting on her shoulder and she’s made a lot of bad choices in her life. So, it should come as no surprise that eventually things are going to catch up with her. And this is were the Sliding Doors part comes in as we see two different paths play out.

This book kept me glued to the pages. Once the split occurred, I felt the suspense grow, and I was desperate to know more. I love the concept of the book – seeing how the consequences of her actions are played out. I had so many theories as to who was behind everything and each time something would happen, I would change my theory, but let me tell you, I never once guessed it. And that ending…what a fantastic twist it was, one that I did not see coming at all!

I loved this book. I loved the uniqueness of it, I loved the character development that we get, I loved that I both loved and disliked the main character, and I loved that she was relatable and deeply flawed. I’m a big fan of dual narratives, yet I’ve never seen one done this way and I thought it was brilliant! I will be telling everyone to pick this book up – it’s the perfect beach read – one that once you start reading it, you won’t want to stop!

***Be sure to check out my Instagram feed later – I’ll be giving away a signed copy of this book!!!