Adam Oliver hated me. Loathed my very existence. He had every right to, but that didn’t make my life any easier the afternoon I had to rescue him on the side of the road.But worse than rescuing a guy who hated me to his core was the lie I told my parents.Because I’d just told them that my long-term boyfriend was finally back in town.My long-term boyfriend who didn’t actually exist.The one named … actually exist.
The one named Adam Oliver—the guy I’d crushed on all through high school.
So the real Adam had no idea that he and I were engaged in a years-long, committed, serious relationship.
And, somehow, some way, I needed to convince him to play along with my one little lie.
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One Little Lie was just an okay read for me. I found the story to be so slow, and I honestly wanted to quit reading, as I had a hard time to keep turning the pages. I kept thinking it could get better. The characters had no spark at all, they felt so forced and they couldn’t let go of the past. I have read this author before and liked her stories, but this one just wasn’t for me.
There is so much packed within this sweet story it’s difficult to dissect all it’s facets, but at it’s essence it’s a story of forgiveness, sacrifice and a gentle love.
I really enjoyed Adam and Hollis’s story.
Their beginning had such promise; but as is often the case with young love, the hurdles in communication and peer social interactions can hinder it ever getting off the ground.
As it is for this luckless pair. But with a seemingly benign lie coupled with some unfortunate circumstances, they are brought together again and face an uphill battle to confront the emotional scars of the past and apparent prejudices, to once again recognise their obvious connection.
There’s a lovely sense of innocence about these characters and the gentle but at times turbulent way they reconnect.
Hollis is a guileless almost naive creature who is shackled by her father’s control and plans for her future and this permeates her interactions with others. She’s just too damn nice!
Adam is the quintessential brooding musician who is confident enough in himself that despite the prejudices of others he knows who he is and makes no apologies.
Yet it’s obvious he still seeks acceptance.
I really fell for him in this story and the tender romantic approach he showed Hollis.
However, I really think it’s the diversity of the colourful, insightful and stable supporting characters that help these two navigate their tumultuous emotions and give them the not-so-gentle shove they need, that really make this book something special.
This is where Barbetti’s superb storytelling really shines.
She crafts such an honest, impassioned and soul stirring tale, you can’t help but be invested in her characters and their journey.
This was an at times angsty and painful, but wholly immensely satisfying read for me and as such an easy 4.5 stars.
One tiny lie just snowballing and rushing downhill, it’s disaster waiting to happen. That’s what the beautifully written story is all about. Whitney has a knack of taking simplest of scenarios, not chock-a-blocked with twists and turns and she decorates it with her flowery prose. The end result simply etches on your soul. I remember vividly every book I’ve read of hers.
Her characters are very pure and pristine. Colored in human shades, the situations dictating their behavior and actions
Like Hollis Vinke and Adam Oliver meet in a high school party, as the young’uns do, and they like each other. Before their per chance meeting could translate into something big and continuous, an incident happens which ends up creating misunderstandings and their paths veer off of each other.
Mishaps morphs their personalities in a way that they are standing at the opposite sides of realities. What he believes as truths are facades and what she believes in facades are truths.
He’s abrasive, trigger happy and battling with his self
“You know what? That high horse you’re riding on? It’s actually a donkey.”
She’s calm, quiet, introvert which is often construed as being selfish, never over acting, always complying, To the point of being a pushover. And people take advantage of her!!!
Driven by precision, she has hard work down to a science.
“If you want something bad enough, if you work hard enough for it, I can’t call that anything but passion. And passion, that’s what is remarkable.”
The beauty is in the telling. Whitney has touched my heart with this sweet story and introduced me to a multitude of side characters, a some of them are getting their own books down the line.
Cannot wait for them B
4.5 stars for roses and sticky notes
Holy mother…Whitney has done it again. This author always has me coming back for more with the worlds she creates and One Little Lie is no exception. There are so many emotions that fly through you while reading it. There were parts that had me laughing at the shenanigans then parts that had my heart breaking for the characters but through it all the angst had my heart in my throat.
I really loved these characters and what they brought to the table, even though they weren’t all easy. The great part about this book is that there wasn’t much I didn’t like. Don’t get me wrong, there were times I wanted to shake the characters for some sense but I still loved them all.
I can not recommend this book enough and I feel like it’s a book everyone should have in their life!!
This was a fun sweet read with sides of angst and drama. Hollis and Adam were good characters to read. I do love a slow burn romance, the anticipation of waiting for that moment when they give in kept me invested in the story. Great secondary characters help keep the story moving and real. On the plus side they’ll make you laugh too. A good enemies to lovers book.
reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
ONE LITTLE LIE was a bit of a departure for what I’m used to from Whitney Barbetti, but it only proves that she has talent in spades. Instead of dark and angsty, this book hit much sweeter, lighter notes. Despite that, the characters are well drawn and retain the depth I’ve come to expect in Whitney’s heroes and heroines. As Hollis and Adam navigate from hate-to-love within their fake relationship, you’ll find yourself rooting for them and cheering them on until they get to that moment when they realize their love has been blooming all along.
I loved ONE LITTLE LIE and was thrilled to learn that Barbetti’s next book will feature characters from the book. Hurry fall! I can’t wait.
Oh … and that cover! Totally swoonworthy!
Oh, I have a huge Adam Oliver Crush!! As teenagers, Hollis Vinke had a crush on Adam Oliver. Adam on the other hand didn’t think to highly of her and the crowd she hung around with. As adults, Hollis creates a lie to keep her family from setting her up “with a good man.” However, this little lie becomes much more when she bumps into non other than Adam on the side of the road one day & accidentally gets him involved with her ruse. Never in a million years did she think a lie would make them be stuck together. “Your lies have the effect of a snowball becoming an avalanche.” Can they get along long enough to convince her parents? One little lie… a fake boyfriend with your enemy…and a whole lot of hate love. They are from completely different worlds but sometimes people surprise you and they aren’t who you first thought they were. This was a fun enemies to lovers romance, a little slow to start but picks up from there. My heart broke for all Adam is dealing with. Such a strong H and I loved these two together. Told in dual POV
5 ONE LITTLE LIE STARS!! This story is PERFECTION!! I loved Adam and Hollis’s story it has all the elements for the perfect entertaining book. In their story you get sexiness, lies, humor and fantastic characters. Whitney Barbetti gives us readers everything in her storytelling, she is PHENOMENAL. You definitely need to 1-Click this book.