Publication Date: January 9, 2026
‘Natalie, it’s mum. You need to come home. It’s your father…’ Clutching the phone, my hands shaking, my entire world tilts. For years I’ve run from a family secret which threatened to devastate us all. But with my darling father’s life on the line, I have to face the truth, whatever the cost.
Bursting through the hospital doors, I see my mother and sister waiting in the corridor, worry etched on their faces. Over the years I’ve grown apart from my sister Victoria. She married young and started a family. I chose a different path. I had no choice but to leave so that the rest of my family could be happy.
Gathering at my father’s bedside, I clutch Victoria’s hand like we’re little again. As we start to share our memories of the fun and loving home he created, he leans towards us, uttering words which will turn our world upside down: ‘You mustn’t blame your mother. It was never her fault.’
Victoria reassures me that it must be the medication, that he doesn’t know what he is saying. But I do. Years ago, I thought our mother had betrayed us in the worst possible way. But looking at the stranger standing next to her, I know they are part of the lie my parents were so desperate to hide. The lie I ran from. But if I tell the truth of what I know, will it destroy our lives forever?
A totally gripping and heartbreaking read about devastating family secrets with the power to change everything you thought you knew. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Kate Hewitt and Diane Chamberlain.
Family relationships can be messy, especially if secrets are involved. Estranged sisters Natalie and Victoria must deal with forced proximity when their father is hospitalized.
Author Emma Robinson uses different perspectives to set the stage for a family disconnect of epic proportions in The Lie She Told.
Having a 360-degree view of the storyline is helpful as readers try to determine what led to the division between the sisters, as well as their mother’s clear preference for Natalie. While Victoria and Marcus are presented as accomplished overachievers, their carefully polished exterior hides the cracks.
In the high-stress aftermath of their father’s health crisis, a tightly kept secret begins to unravel with devastating consequences. It’s an emotional roller coaster full of twists.
The Lie She Told depicts a family threatening to fall apart as old secrets are uncovered.
Emma Robinson is the author of several women’s fiction novels. She also blogs about the funny side of parenting and has contributed to podcasts such as Funny Women. Whilst her early novels are humorous, her recent work focuses on emotional themes and these novels are both heart-breaking and life affirming. Emma enjoys writing stories which explore the power of family and friendship in the most challenging circumstances.
Emma currently lives in Essex with a husband, two children and a small black dog.
