When I sat down to write Reasonable Lies back in 2016, I knew I was embarking on an emotional journey, but I couldn’t have anticipated how deeply Jane Walden’s story would connect with readers around the world. What started as a single question, would you lie to protect the ones you love? - grew into an entire universe of secrets, heartbreak, and unexpected resilience.
If you’ve ever wondered how the main books and the companion novellas fit together, here is your complete guide to The Lies Series.
The Core Trilogy
At the heart of the series are three full-length novels that follow the ripple effects of buried truths:
- Reasonable Lies - The book that started it all. Set against the backdrop of a quiet bench, this international bestseller introduces Jane Walden and the impossible choices she makes to protect her family. It’s a story about sacrifice, love, and the fragile line between protecting someone and keeping them in the dark.
- Secrets & Lies - Taking the story deeper, this book examines what happens when the past refuses to stay hidden. It tests the limits of trust and family bonds, asking whether a relationship built on a foundation of buried secrets can ever truly survive when the truth comes to light.
- Telling Lies - A darker, more twisted instalment where the psychological tension peaks. Here, betrayal and deception collide, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as every remaining secret is dragged into the open.
The Bonus Novellas: Deepening the Mystery
While the main trilogy delivers the overarching emotional drama, the two companion novellas offer an intimate, behind-the-scenes look into the minds of the characters. They are short, powerful pieces designed to enrich the reading experience.
- Sarah’s Secrets (Understanding the diary no-one should've kept hidden) - This novella opens up Sarah’s private diary - a journal that was never meant to be read. It exposes the hidden layers of pain and context behind the main events of Reasonable Lies, giving readers a heartbreaking look at what was happening in the shadows.
- Jane’s Journal (Understand the Reasonable Lies Jane told) - Written to tie the series together, this companion piece takes you directly inside Jane’s head. It pulls back the curtain on her innermost thoughts, fears, and true motivations, helping readers understand the heavy burden behind every lie she told.
How to Read the Series
While each story can be enjoyed on its own, reading them together creates a multi-layered reading experience. You can read the main trilogy straight through (Reasonable Lies, Secrets & Lies, Telling Lies) and dive into the novellas afterward for extra depth or slip Sarah's Secrets and Jane's Journal in right after Reasonable Lies to uncover the hidden truths before moving forward!
Whether you're a long-time "Rosette" re-reading the series or picking up Jane's story for the very first time, make sure to keep a box of tissues nearby.
Over to You: Have you read both of the companion novellas yet? Which secret surprised you the most? Let’s talk !