Review: Little Lies by H. Hunting - A Five Star Read

Little Lies by H. Hunting is a Five Star Read

Little Lies by H. Hunting

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An Incredibly Romantic, Angst-Filled Book That Will Have You Begging For More

Publication Date: November 16, 2020

Little Lies:
✔ Enemies to Lovers Romance
✔ New Adult
✔ Lavender Waters (daughter of Alex and Violet Waters of Pucked)
✔ Kodiak Bowman (son of Rook and Lainey Bowman of A Lie for a Lie )
✔ Angst!
✔ HOT
✔ Flashbacks throughout Lavender and Kodiak’s lives
✔ All the children from the Pucked and All In Series
✔ Complete Standalone
✔ Dual P.O.V.

Helena Hunting has crafted one of my favorite books of the year, filled with detailed characterizations of severe anxiety in children and young adults, issues surrounding co-dependence, first love, heartbreak and finding your strength. And so much romance and heat.

Kodiak Bowman and Lavender Waters’ lives are intertwined from a young age. And not just because of the relationships of their parents. They are “the same but different”. They are connected by “invisible threads” and understand one another more than anyone else. Kodiak understands Lavender even more than her own twin, River, much to River’s disgust. Kodiak is witness to some truly terrible and tragic events that happen to Lavender and through the lens of childhood he believes he is an intrinsic part of her wellbeing. They each become a key part in one another’s lives to an unhealthy level according to the adults surrounding them.

“Power wielded over each other has the ability to both to both build and break.”

When Kodiak takes a childhood admonishment regarding Lavender too far it manifests as hate.

“You and me? We’re toxic together.”

Lavender describes their relationship to Queenie, her long-term therapist, as an untended garden in which weeds have killed all the beautiful, delicate flowers.

With Little Lies H. Hunting has created a beautiful new adult book that is rich in character and substance with a story that will have you in tears one moment and then swept up by the romance that was always meant to be.

“You can’t keep out what makes your heart beat in the first place.”

Little Lies is a book that needs to be experienced. Those that have read the Pucked and All In series will love reading about the children of their beloved characters. (Although this book is completely different in tone) There are so many great characters in this book. Those that have not read any other books by the author will still love this book.

I sincerely hope we get to experience more of this new generation.

““I want to take away every hurt I caused, but I don’t know how,” I admit. She cups my face between her warm palms. “You can start by erasing all the little lies with truths.””

My Plot Summary:
Kodiak and Lavender were bound together by tragedy as children but something drove them apart. Now they are together at college and Kodiak is acting as though he hates Lavender and he wants Lavender to hate him. What drove them together and what finally drove them apart? Will they get tired of all of these little lies they keep telling to keep them away from each other?

WRITING STYLE: 5/5
PLOT: 5/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
ROMANCE: 5/5
HEAT: 5/5

View all my reviews

“H. Hunting pens a heartbreaking tale that leaves readers absolutely breathless from beginning to end. One of her best books yet!” –Stacey Lynn, author

Little Lies, an all-new, angsty and emotional new adult romance from New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting writing as H. Hunting is out now!

I don’t want you.
You mean nothing to me.
I never loved you.
I turned my words into swords.
And I cut her down.

Shoved the blade in and watched her fall.
I said I’d never hurt her, and I did.

Years later, I’m faced with all the little lies, the untruths, the false realities, the damage I inflicted, when all I wanted was to indulge my obsession.

Lavender Waters is the princess in the tower. Even her name is the thing fairy tales are made of.

I used to be the one who saved her.
Over and over again.
But I don’t want to save her anymore.
I just want to pretend the lies are still the truth.

Excerpt

The front door swings open, and the never-ending nightmare that is this day smacks me in the face like a long-expired sausage. Kodiak stands in the doorway wearing only a pair of swim shorts, wet hair sticking out all over the place, water dripping on the damn floor. But God, is he ever glorious. Muscle layered over muscle, thick biceps flexing as he holds the doorjamb, a mischievous grin popping the dimple in his left cheek.
My heart seizes and gallops. I miss this version of him: the one that smiles and doesn’t hate me.
He ruins everything a moment later by bellowing, “Who’s fucking in the driveway?”
His gaze moves to Dylan, who looks as horrified as I feel, but as it shifts to me, his smile drops and my stomach tightens.
“You should really go,” I tell Dylan.
“I’ll see you around.” He disappears into his car and barely has the door closed before he’s backing out of the driveway and screeching down the street.
I adjust my backpack on my shoulder and head for the house, steeling my spine and my nerves because Kodiak is still standing in the middle of the doorway, his face a mask of indifference. I try to brush by him, but he stays where he is, making it impossible.

I sigh, exhausted beyond belief. I just want to go upstairs and have a good, cathartic cry. I try to mirror his apathy. “Can you move so I can get into my house?”
His brow furrows as his eyes move over my face. He lifts his hand, like maybe he’s thinking about touching me. There’s no way I can handle that. I jerk back and swat his hand away. “What are you doing?”
“Your lip is bleeding.”
“Don’t act like you actually give a shit, Kodiak.”
“Tell me what happened.” His voice is low and soft, and for whatever reason, that makes me even angrier, so I lash out, wanting to wound him the way he keeps wounding me.
“You, Kodiak. You happened, and you ruined my goddamn life. Now get the hell out of my way.” I elbow past him, almost tripping over several sets of running shoes.
I head straight for my bedroom and lock the door behind me. I slide down the wall until my butt hits the floor and close my eyes, taking deep breaths.
I imagined the concern in his voice.
I imagined the pain that sat heavy behind his eyes.
We see what we want to, not the truth, especially when it hurts.

Warning: Some Explicit Lyrics

About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

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