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The Victoria Lie: When is a lie a lifeline? (The Butterfly Effect Book 2) Kindle Edition
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WHEN IS A LIE A LIFELINE?
...To Tori lies are everything.
ZOE wants to end her life. But she can’t just leave a note. She needs to say goodbye to boyfriend JAMES and best friend ALISON.
TORI is waiting in the wings to fill the space ZOE will leave behind, wanting to claim both James and Alison for herself.
But with ZOE still alive and Alison's childhood friend RUBY now on the scene vying to fill the gap, TORI realises she has her work cut out.
Just what lengths is TORI willing to go to in order to claim Alison and James for herself?
And what does any of this have to do with BETH and FAYE?
The Victoria Lie is perfect for fans of Gail Honeyman, Maggie O'Farrell, Patrick Gale and Elizabeth Strout.
Note from the publisher: The Victoria Lie (The Butterfly Effect Book 2) is a standalone story and can be read without reading The Second Cup (The Butterfly Effect Book 1) first.
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TRIGGER WARNINGS: Suicide, depression, IRA bombings, ADHD, Autism, neurodiversity, neurodevelopmental disorders, Sarcoidosis, lying, manipulation.
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Praise for The Victoria Lie
Pure escapist reading Graye's series is proving a compelling saga and one you will struggle to put down. - Book Viral
The addition of Tori gives this story added depth and perception I didn’t see coming. What makes a liar tick and why do they lie are just two of Tori’s motivations explored here. - N.N. Light’s Book Heaven
There are certainly plenty of parts of the story where Sarah Marie Graye displays an accurate and piercing acerbic wit that had me chuckling along at the protagonist. - Readers' Favorite
The writing is crisp and clean, and Graye is an unquestionably gifted author. - Please Pass the Books
The first thing you need to know about this series is that it is like the film festival version of books. If you imagine it being like one of those weird films you see at the film festivals, then you have The Butterfly Effect series. - Paula Phillips, Goodreads
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateAugust 16, 2018
- Reading age16 - 18 years
- File size1198 KB
Product details
- ASIN : B07FS8GQBH
- Publisher : Vociferate Press (August 16, 2018)
- Publication date : August 16, 2018
- Language : English
- File size : 1198 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 302 pages
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Sarah Marie Graye was born in Manchester in 1975, to English Catholic parents. The second eldest of five daughters, to the outside world Graye’s childhood followed a relatively typical Manchester upbringing... until aged nine, when she was diagnosed with depression.
It’s a diagnosis that has stayed with Graye over three decades, and something she believes has coloured every life decision, including the one to write a novel.
Graye wrote The Second Cup as part of an MA Creative Writing practice as research degree at London South Bank University – where she was the vice-chancellor’s scholarship holder.
First published in July 2017, The Second Cup was: longlisted for the Book Viral 2017 Millennium Book Award; a finalist in Read Freely’s Best Indie Book 2017; a finalist in the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards; a semi-finalist in the Online Book Club 2017 Book of the Year Award; and a "distinguished favorite" in the 2017 NYC Big Book Awards.
Graye was diagnosed with late-onset ADHD in 2017... and published an extended edition of The Second Cup in 2018 so she could diagnose one of her characters with the same condition.
Graye's second novel, The Victoria Lie, was published in August 2018, and explores what it mean to be neurodiverse as an adult, looking at both high-functioning Autism and ADHD. The Victoria Lie has been awarded a Chill with a Book Readers' Award and was longlisted for the Book Viral 2018 Millennium Book Award.
Graye lives in Whitstable and is studying a Contemporary Novel: Practice as Research PhD at the University of Kent.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2018
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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THE VICTORIA LIE focuses on Zoe’s suicide attempt and the affect her plan has on those around her. Although this is the second book of a series, it stands alone very easily!
Zoe’s plans for her own death go awry and we are given a very close, inside look at the impact this has on the lives of her friend, Alison, and boyfriend, James.
Ms. Graye has written THE VICTORIA LIE in the same style as THE SECOND CUP (Book 1). The dialogue between the characters and each character’s internal dialogue is seen throughout the book. She allows us to see each of them in the moments as each learns of Zoe’s suicide and then we become more intimately acquainted with each of them as the book progresses.
Writing THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT SERIES, Ms. Graye is touching on some very real-life issues that we, as a society, are hard-pressed to discuss. I greatly admire her for writing about issues that are difficult to face!
I strongly encourage you to read this book, and then have your teens read it. It very well may open the dialogue that saves a life!
I give THE VICTORIA LIE by SARAH MARIE GRAYE four cups of steaming hot Reviews by Room With Books Coffee!
©SEPTEMBER 29, 2018
Patricia, Reviews by Room With Books

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 30, 2018
THE VICTORIA LIE focuses on Zoe’s suicide attempt and the affect her plan has on those around her. Although this is the second book of a series, it stands alone very easily!
Zoe’s plans for her own death go awry and we are given a very close, inside look at the impact this has on the lives of her friend, Alison, and boyfriend, James.
Ms. Graye has written THE VICTORIA LIE in the same style as THE SECOND CUP (Book 1). The dialogue between the characters and each character’s internal dialogue is seen throughout the book. She allows us to see each of them in the moments as each learns of Zoe’s suicide and then we become more intimately acquainted with each of them as the book progresses.
Writing THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT SERIES, Ms. Graye is touching on some very real-life issues that we, as a society, are hard-pressed to discuss. I greatly admire her for writing about issues that are difficult to face!
I strongly encourage you to read this book, and then have your teens read it. It very well may open the dialogue that saves a life!
I give THE VICTORIA LIE by SARAH MARIE GRAYE four cups of steaming hot Reviews by Room With Books Coffee!
©SEPTEMBER 29, 2018
Patricia, Reviews by Room With Books


The Victoria Lie is the second in Sarah Marie Graye’s The Butterfly Effect series, following an overall theme of the decisions we make and how they impact those around us. In this book there is more of a focus on suicidal impulses and actions than in the previous, so it may be triggering for some people, especially in the detailed realism of Zoe’s planning.
Whilst a few of the characters from The Second Cup do pop up here, it is more in almost a cameo role towards the very end of the novel, so this can definitely be read as a standalone story. As someone who has read both, I felt somewhat starstruck by the reappearances of Faye and Beth in amongst these new characters and new story, almost like when tv series do crossover episodes and you see Horatio Caine and co outside of their usual context!
In terms of similarities to the previous book, I would say that the writing style and structure are the same; moving between the narrative viewpoints of the characters to give the reader a full and intimate insight into the motivations behind the actions we see.
Most of the story involves conversations between the characters and flashbacks to their memories to provide context for their current thoughts, therefore there is not a lot of action after Zoe’s first initial and impactful journey. However emotionally there is a lot going on here and the exploration of lies (that we tell ourselves and others), mental health issues, and relationship analysis is both thought-provoking and moving. Graye also throws in a couple of unexpected curve balls which made me reassess the whole situation and come to some different conclusions.
For example, I initially disliked all of the characters, with the notable exception of Ruby. Zoe, Alison, Tori and James all came across as selfish or self-centred, to the point of sociopathic manipulation in some cases. Gradually though, as the author drew me into the inner lives of the characters and revealed more about how and why they behave the way they do, I realised that maybe I had been a bit too quick in my first impressions and my sympathy grew for all bar one of them (no spoilers!). I can’t say I’d want to be roommates with any of them, except Ruby, but at least I had more understanding and empathy (a lesson I learnt alongside and with the characters!).
The Victoria Lie is another well-written female-centric novel, this time exploring some of the intricacies of mental health and forming/sustaining relationships at times of mental unhealth. This would be a great book for book group discussions as there is a lot of food for thought here.
Tell yourself a lie enough times, it feels like the truth. It seeps into the cracks and your sponge brain becomes swollen with it. It becomes part of who you are.
If anyone questions it, you’re horrified, indignant – of course it’s true. It’s only later you remember, sheepishly, it’s not.
How many of the certainties in your brain started as lies?
– Sarah Marie Graye, The Victoria Lie
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
This is a continuation of The Butterfly Effect series with the return of Zoe, James, Alison, Beth and Faye. No, you don’t have to read book one first but it’s helpful for context. It has the same poetic prose which draws you in from the first page. It also has the same dark issues surrounding planned suicides, mental illness and taking your own life.
The addition of Tori gives this story added depth and perception I didn’t see coming. What makes a liar tick and why do they lie are just two of Tori’s motivations explored here.
While The Victoria Lie is a microcosm of what it means to live with mental illness, it’s the glimpse into the relationships of those dealing with mental illness is what makes this a must-read. Graye doesn’t shy away from the conflict, anguish, torture of those who love a mentally ill person. Instead, she thrusts the reader inside the black hole of emotions those left behind and those pleading with their suicidal loved ones are living in. I found myself crying while reading. An emotional page-turner.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Top reviews from other countries

This one - The Victoria Lie, looks at how mental health issues can affect friendships and relationships. It is basically about a planned suicide, something which I myself have experienced with more than one close friend. I think it really touched a nerve seeing the inside and looking out of what my closest friend planned and carried out. luckily without success. Saying goodbye is actually what prompted us to take action and save her, we just knew something was wrong. This book reminded me of the reality of that period of time and my friend.
The book is a deliberately slow-paced story, such is life, and is often about thoughts more than actions - so it won't be for everyone. I however adore psychology, realism, reading between the lines and just cannot fault how 'clever' this book is. Maybe because I can relate. I can apply the plot to a real life encounter - or two.
The use of language to create imagery gets five stars from me, definitely a fan of this author now and will await more in this series.
Not enough people write about mental health with such delicacy and understanding.

I didn’t warm to some of the characters initially, but then we don’t meet them at their best. The most intriguing thing about this book is the way the motivations and backstories of the main characters are gradually revealed and your view of them shifts as a result. It’s definitely worth letting the characters draw you into their world.
Graye does not shy away from tackling difficult issues (e.g. suicide) and it’s worth a read just for the insight into what it might be like to live with mental health issues (if you’re lucky enough not to be one of the 1 in 4 people with first-hand experience). Ultimately, though, this is a thought-provoking story about friendships and why we make them and why some last and others fade away.
I loved the recurring references to the tube (in particular, the Victoria line – tying in with the title). These little details bring different strands of the story together in a really neat way – so clever.
All in all, this was a great read. Definitely recommend.