I really wanted to not reiterate what every other reviewer out there has said but this book really takes a few turns that boggle the mind. That said, it's definitely a book worth ruminating over before simply setting it aside as something odd for odd's sake.

We follow Samantha Mackie, who is struggling to fit in at the prestigious Warren University, where she is reading for a writing MFA. She shares her workshops with 4 other girls who call each other Bunny. They're a clique not dissimilar to the Heathers, and anyone who's had to sit through writing workshops will tell you how important it is to feel like you can share and offer constructive criticism to those in that group. So despite her dislike of the Bunnies, when Samantha is invited to attend a Bunny event, she reluctantly goes along, and falls down a rabbit hole that has the reader react with an astounding "what the heck just happened".

It's quite difficult to explain why that is without spoiling the book, as I think going in without much in terms of expectations helps maintain the effect. But let's just say, this book is like a bit of a fever dream, with a surprising amount of gore (so take that as a content warning), and a lot of feeling.

Deep down, Bunny really is about the loneliness one feels when they are suffering from intense impostor syndrome, and literally not having anyone around to help you get through it. There's toxic friendships, and funny and relatable internal monologues, and some fun animal metaphors that are reminiscent of a children's book, if it were on a mission to scar an entire generation of kids. And a lot of satire familiar to many who have attended a University, whether part of the popular cliques, or those who see themselves on the sidelines (spoiler: everyone is pretentious either way). 

As a child who grew up in Malta with nothing but access to Italian television, I definitely felt like The Lying Life of Adults transported me to a familiar time of trying to understand the dramas and news on TV, all to the background of older family members gossiping about this or that in hushed tones. Since I listened to this on audio, this feeling was the more amplified, and I was immediately sucked in.

The book is told from the point of view of Giovanna, who at around the age of 13, overhears her father saying that she is turning very ugly, and is starting to resemble his sister, Vittoria. This whispered comment is what sends Giovanna spiraling into a world of adult lies, secrets, hipocrisy, and so much more. Following this comment, she sets off to meet her aunt who she's never known, which uncovers many secrets that her parents have tried so hard to distance themselves from. The story follows Giovanna through the age of 16, leading us through a coming of age story she herself did not envision at the start of the book.

'Lying Life' is definitely a character based book, with a cast of well fleshed out but mostly unlikable characters. Lies and ugliness are strongly linked in this book, and represented in the recurring imagery of the bracelet that exchanges hands and wrists multiple times throughout the book. It almost acts like a placeholder for how one person is feeling towards an other, which is useful as it is ultimately told through the eyes of a teenager who is trying to come to understand why adults lie, or hide their feelings, or flip flop continuously withought being transparent. 

I personally was enjoying the book but found the ending to drag out and a bit too crude to be in any way a satisfying ending, even though I understand there was never any way Ferrante could have tied a neat bow on this story.

Following this, I am curious to read her Neapolitan Quartet, and I'm even tempted to do so in audio in Italian if I can get hold of them - partially to see if my Italian holds up, but mostly because I did feel I could have gotten more out of her story in its native tongue.

First I should say I read this book on audio.

And I'm glad I did because I feel like I would have otherwise struggled a bit. I sometimes felt like some of the characters were written as caricatures especially the two main adult protagonists. 
I think my main issue is that the book doesn't do much other than go beyond what the blurb says it will: white people trying to do what they think best.
What I really enjoyed was the dynamic between Emira and her friends, and Emira and Briar. It really sheds a light on how child care workers are treated, and how being unsure of what you want to do when out of school is very different whether a person is black or white.
I'd definitely pick up more of Reid's books in the future though!

If you are in a semi reading slump like I was (am?) And you pick up this book thinking it will help you then oh boy...
The book was off to a promising start, but when she finds the book that intercuts a lot of the main narrative it severely slows down the pace in my opinion. Once the action starts again and you are suddenly greeted by more interesting magical characters they walk away and then there's more of the book and I almost put it down because of that. I enjoyed the final third of the novel but I felt like it was rushed at this point. I feel like the blurb and the talk of doors and other worlds are there to tease the reader because we don't get to see much of them but instead are just throw away sentences. I feel like this book had so much potential... 

Ooft. So the entire point of this book is basically what if women did to men what women are subjected to in our reality? 

That's it. It's just wordy. 

And also the only way women might be remotely more powerful than men is if they have a super power, not through mind games that men played over women throughout history to make them believe inferior.

I just think it's a bit too superficial and I am not here for it. 

Tried it as an audiobook and I can't handle audiobooks! Will pick up again after I buy a copy.