Review: This Much Is True (The Liar's Club #3) by Vivienne Lorret

 

Print Length: 384 pages

Publisher:  Avon (July 1, 2025)

From Goodreads.com:Althea Hartley has lost her spark. As the youngest daughter of an eccentric family, playwrighting is in her blood. But two failed Seasons have left her disenchanted. In desperate need of inspiration, she takes matters into her own hands by creating a tale of a dashing highwayman. What could possibly go wrong?

But her stories prove to be a little too true for the actual highwayman living beneath the tons’ nose.

Jasper Trueblood, Viscount St. James, needs to put an end to the bewitching Miss Hartley’s incriminating tales. Society can never suspect that he isn’t the clumsy oaf he pretends to be. Or that, under the cover of darkness, he greets scoundrels and lightens their purses. Not too much. Just enough to keep those closest to him safe from his menacing uncle.

Then sparks fly when this unlikely pair meets one perfect night. And while she is eager to unmask him, he is determined to stay hidden. But there’s no denying the chemistry that neither of them are able to resist…

The only thing for certain is that Thea needs to guard her heart before the highwayman steals it. 

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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

I wanted to like this book SO much, yet it fell so flat that I found myself struggling to finish at times. First off, there were some character issues. 

Starting with, I wish we had seen more of Jasper AS an actual highway man. I feel like the stakes would have been so much higher if the authorities were actively closing in. Instead, we get one made up story, and then one actual instance that in itself was a little weird (example how did Abernathy later clue in to the fact it was Jasper in the first place)? And speaking of Jasper, I really didn't need to be told that the ton considered him an "oaf" a "simpleton" or a "baboon" every few chapters. I get it. He is putting on the image he needs to in order to stay under his uncle's radar. Although, I never really did understand why he continued to do so once he had was nearing his majority. He could have ended the conservatorship then, but didn't. And his uncle? Was just an over-the-top villain with seemingly no real motivation. All I got from reading scenes with him was he enjoyed being a bully. He didn't need the money. He didn't need the prestige. He just enjoyed bullying everyone he considered beneath him. 

Now let's look at Althea. I wanted to like her. A young woman in her third season who lost her sense of self the year prior after someone she looked up to tore apart the play she had written and her self-esteem along with it? What's not to like right? Especially when she figures out that the man she was so enamored with before was nothing but a pompous jerk. And yet, during the three times she comes face to face with him, not once does she display that backbone. Not once does she stand up for herself (not even when she finds out what he did). Instead, she is too busy declaring that she is in love with Jasper, when we haven't really seen a reason for her to have done so. Other than he is her "muse", and well.... he took certain liberties with her that I'm sure you can imagine. Even after he tells her they can have no immediate future she still clings to him, declaring her love. 

And that leaves us with the plot. Which, due to the character flaws I stated above, I also had some issues with. Especially the ending. For everything that came before, and despite the way it was obviously intended to be dramatic, it felt very anti-climatic to me. And that's not even mentioning the utterly ridiculous plot point where in there is a play being performed in which Althea's heavily pregnant sister plays a debutante of all things. 

Honestly, I think this series just wasn't for me as I do feel as though the author has a solid writing style with some good ideas, although as mentioned above there are some things I would have changed. However, I do believe this novel will appeal to those who are already fans of this series, or this author. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.