Book Review: Luna and the Lie

I read another Mariana Zapata book last week (only a few left for me to read so I hope she releases a new one this year!) – Luna and the Lie. It was another slow burn winner!

The novel follows Luna Allen, a young woman in her late 20s who works as a painter at an autobody shop, and Lucas Ripley, or Rip, who is one of her bosses and co-owner of the shop. Luna has spent the past few years making a good life for herself. She works hard, has a house, food on the table, and has been providing for her 3 younger sisters for years. After a very rough childhood, Luna has worked to make her life and her sisters’ lives better.

A few years ago Luna covered for Rip by telling a lie and since then he has asked her every day what she wants in return and every day she says she doesn’t know or that he doesn’t owe her etc. But her grumpy boss won’t let it go, which is surprising since he’s a man of few words. When Luna begins to struggle with family issues and people from her past popping back up, she may need to call in that favor with Rip.

I loved this book, which isn’t surprising as I always love MZ books. I will say I wasn’t as invested in this one as I have been in some of her other books, but I still loved it, the characters, and the delicious slow burn. I felt very connected to Luna in some ways. While I did not have a rough upbringing like her, I did understand her feelings of doing a lot for others or giving up pieces of yourself and being taken advantage of or unappreciated etc. I think that can be relatable to a lot of people. Now if only we all had a Rip to want to take care of us!

I always love how MZ books are either connected (side characters – for example, Diana from Wait for It was Vanessa’s best friend in The Wall of Winnipeg and Me) or there is a mention of some aspect of another one of her books (Jasmine and Ivan from From Lukov with Love made an appearance at a party that Bianca and Zac (he was also in Winnipeg!) were at in Hands Down. The motorcycle club, the Reapers, are mentioned in this book and that was the rival club to the Widowmakers in Under Locke! Anyway, I just love it.

Read this if you want a spicy slow burn, age gap, grumpy sunshine novel!

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