I liked The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes even more. It captured my attention instantly and even though you know all of the details and there is not much mystery to it, it's still engrossing and you want to know how it all wraps up--if it does. The characters seem well thought out and drawn as well, which helps because it is relatively character-driven once you get past the main event in the first 1/3 of the book. What is the main event you ask?
CeeCee Wilkes, 16, falls in love with Timothy Gleason, a man around 7 years her senior. She is so desperately in love with him that she will do anything for him, including, aid in the kidnapping of the Governor's wife so that they (Time and his brother, Marty) can force the Governor to reduce the sentence of their sister who is on death row for murder. Whew. Sounds complicated and like a pretty dumb plan, but CeeCee is young, naive, and in love. As the event unfolds, her life is forever changed.
Diane Chamberlain writes very well- in a way that is beautiful, yet simple and accessible. After first reading Necessary Lies, I would say read her if you like Jodi Picoult's novels (a favorite author of mine)-because there is a similarity in the stories, meaning there's usually a big ethical dilemma and you read about how the characters react to this dilemma. Usually Picoult (and now Chamberlain) describes the story in a way that you can truly see the multiple viewpoints or "sides" to the ethical situation. A writer from the Boston Globe describes the writing of Picoult (and tandemly I'll say Chamberlain) perfectly, "...she beautifully creates situations that not only provoke the mind but touch the flawed souls in all of us." After reading a second novel by Chamberlain, I would still stick with the comparison and maybe even more vehemently have her be the first person I recommend when someone wants a "read-a-like" for Jodi Picoult. If you enjoy women's fiction, a little bit of mystery, drama, and stories about relationships and flawed people, read Diane Chamberlain--and Jodi Picoult for that matter (can you really tell she's one of my favorites?).