Randy Susan Meyers

Title: The Comfort of Lies
Author: Randy Susan Meyers
Genre: Fiction
Published: January 2014 (paperback) – Washington Square Press
Source: Publisher

Synopsis: Five years ago… Tia fell into obsessive love with a man she could never have. When she became pregnant, Nathan disappeared, and she gave up their baby for adoption. Caroline reluctantly adopted a baby to please her husband. Now she’s questioning whether she’s cut out for the role of wife and mother. Juliette considered her life ideal: solid marriage, two beautiful sons, and a thriving business. Then she discovered Nathan’s affair. He promised he’d never stray again, and she trusted him.

Now… When Juliette intercepts a letter to her husband that contains pictures of a child who deeply resembles him, her world crumbles once more. How could Nathan deny his daughter? What other secrets is he hiding? Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl, and before long the three women are on a collision course with consequences that none of them could have predicted. (publisher)

My take: The Comfort of Lies is a story about the fall-out from an affair between a married father of two and the 24 years old woman who worked for him. When she conceives he ends the affair and confesses to his wife. The story really becomes one of how the affair affects many people: Nathan’s family, Tia – the young woman, the adoptive couple, and Savannah – the child.

This is one of those books that is impossible not to become emotionally invested. Meyers’ characters are so well-wrought that it was easy for me to feel at least a bit of sympathy for most. Written from the various characters’ POV the reader learns details that flesh out each character. This story is not just about the affair. Each character grapples with issues that readers will connect with to some degree.

I’ve thought about this novel quite a bit since finishing – one of my signs of a good book. I liked it and think it would be a great choice for book clubs. There’s a readers guide included.

From the publisher:

Since the release of her debut The Murderer’s Daughters in 2010, international bestselling author Randy Susan Meyers has earned glowing critical praise, award nominations, and a devoted readership around the globe for her thought-provoking, emotionally-resonant novels.

Told in alternating points of view, THE COMFORT OF LIES reveals the darkest and most private thoughts of three very different women all connected to a five-year-old girl: Tia, the birth mother; Caroline, the adopted mother; and Juliette, the wife of the birth father. The year their lives collide, the women must confront their choices while discovering sobering truths about their relationships and most importantly, themselves.

Five years ago, Tia fell into obsessive love with a man she could never have. A married man and a father, Nathan was unavailable in every way. When she became pregnant, he disappeared and Tia gave the baby up for adoption. Five years later, she struggles with the decision and yearns to connect with her daughter—and her former lover.

Caroline, a dedicated pathologist, had always been a bit ambivalent about motherhood, much preferring the freedom of her childless, work-addicted lifestyle, but attempting to please her husband, she agreed to adopt, hoping her misgivings would disappear. However after five years, she’s questioning whether or not she’s really cut out for a domestic life.

Juliette thought she had it all—a loving husband, two healthy sons, and a successful business. Then she discovered Nathan’s affair. He promised he’d never stray again and she trusted him. Five years later, when Juliette intercepts a letter meant for Nathan containing photos of his daughter, her world crumbles, again. How could he keep this from her? What else is he hiding? Most importantly, how could he deny his daughter?

Desperate for the truth, Juliette goes in search of the little girl. Her quest leads her first to Caroline, then Tia, and before long, the women are on a collision course with consequences none of them could have predicted.

THE COMFORT OF LIES: A Novel

By Randy Susan Meyers

Washington Square Press/Atria Books || January 28, 2014 || $16.00 || Paperback

ISBN: 978-1-45-167302-9

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“Sharp and biting, and sometimes wickedly funny…Meyers writes beautifully about a formerly good marriage.” The Boston Globe

“Meyers’ complex characters feel familiar yet flawed, and this sharply woven tale demonstrates her uncanny ability to explore and illuminate the nuances of life’s most thorny dilemmas.” —The Brooklyn Daily Eagle

“Meyers’ carefully told story is a satisfying examination of the imperfect paths we all walk.” —BookPage

“The characters crackle with both intelligence and wit…Meyers’ women resonate as strong, complicated and conflicted, and the writing flows effortlessly in this sweet yet sassy novel about love, women and motherhood.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Meyers has crafted an absorbing and layered drama that explores the complexities of infidelity, forgiveness, and family” —Booklist

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About the author: Randy Susan Meyers is a founding member of Beyond The Margins, a multi-writer site dedicated to the craft of writing and the business of publishing. She is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and has recently co-authored the guide What To Do Before Your Book Launch with bestselling writer MJ Rose. She teaches writing at the Grub Street Writers Center in Boston. Meyers, the mother of two grown daughters, was born in Brooklyn, New York. She lives in Boston with her husband. (photo by Jill Meyers)

For more information: randysusanmeyers@gmail.com * randysusanmeyers.com