My Mother's Lie by Anna E. Collins 

I hadn’t read Anna E. Collins before, but the premise of My Mother’s Lie immediately caught my attention. While there are moments you might see coming, there are plenty you absolutely won’t — and that unpredictability makes the story all the more gripping. It’s a cleverly crafted tale, filled with believable, well‑drawn characters, and it’s left me eager to explore more of Collins’ work in the future.

Frankie Lavigne has always believed she and her mother, Estelle, were inseparable. They lived on the same property, worked side by side at the Starview Academy, and shared a bond Frankie thought was unbreakable. Estelle had even built a brief burst of fame on a one‑hit wonder inspired by Frankie’s childhood abduction — a story the whole town knew and rallied around. When Estelle dies, hundreds turn out to mourn her, leaving Frankie overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. But among the sympathy cards is one message that shakes her to the core, triggering a chain of revelations that prove her relationship with her mother was far more complicated than she ever imagined.

 What makes My Mother’s Lie so compelling is the way Anna E. Collins draws her characters with such nuance and emotional truth. Frankie’s journey is layered, painful, and deeply human, and the people around her feel just as vividly realised. Every revelation lands with weight because the characters feel real — flawed, loving, and shaped by their own histories. It’s this authenticity that keeps the story gripping and leaves you thinking about Frankie long after you’ve turned the last page.

 

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8279963257