The Truth of Us - Sara Cox

 

Description

'Like all great storytellers Sara pulls the reader in and doesn't let go until the utterly satisfying, heart-swelling conclusion' Graham Norton
'Utterly brilliant. I inhaled it. I loved it' Claudia Winkleman
'Unputdownable' The Sunday Times

FRIENDS ARE THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE.

Manchester, 1982. The houses on the street are almost identical but number 51 has always been slightly neater, a shiny penny next to number 49. The people inside have their differences too but still their lives are entwined, most especially for young girls Abi and Christy. From questionable fashion choices, illicit nights out and doomed romances, growing up together they share everything. Including the secret that eventually tears them apart.

Two decades later, Abi's life is one of marriage, family and stability. Christy, always the wilder of the two, has travelled and partied and risen high in the world of TV. Until, unexpectedly, they're living next door to each other again. Is it finally time to confront the past and speak the truth?

The Truth of Us showcases Sara Cox's superb storytelling skills in an unforgettable story that spans generations but always stays truthful to the strong, funny and complex women at its heart.

Review

We meet Abi and Christy as adults when they end up living next door to one another in their childhood homes again. There are a lot of characters and I struggled at times to remember which parents belonged to which character. One of the main features of the story is the kitchen windows in each house. Over the years the girls/women see each other through it, a glimpse into each others lives. It fitted the storyline perfectly, but I couldn't visualize two houses that would have this layout and it really annoyed me.

I loved both of Sara's previous books. They felt original and different from other books I had read. I began to read this one and after a few pages I thought it formulaic - a story I had read before. But, I was proved wrong as the story progressed, it was more original than I had at first thought. However, the constant flipping back and forth with the time line was too much for me. One instance especially sticks in my mind when the book goes back sequentially, but then when we next go back it is to an earlier time.

I felt the story was very long and drawn out until about half way through when I began to really embrace the storyline and I actually wanted to continue reading. This I thought is the writing I was expecting from the beginning.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 16 July 2026.