Elyse is a shy girl that lives with her drug addicted mother in Portland, OR. Her best friend Brynn has been acting since she was a little a girl and with her help Elyse becomes interested in their schools theater program. Romeo and Juliet is the upcoming production and the new theater teacher, Mr. Hunter, thinks Elyse is perfect for the role of Juliet. The starring roles always go to Brynn but Mr. Hunter see's something in Elyse that no else has ever seen before and Elyse can't resist his attention. But what happens when attention turns to attraction?

Gabe is a young hispanic skateboarder that lives in Austin, TX. He has a nice and caring family and a sister, Vivi, with Down Syndrome that he adores with all his heart. He also has a girlfriend, Sasha, who happens to be one of the most popular girls in his school. However, dating the most popular girl in school comes with challenges especially when you disagree with her. She's possessive and controlling and even though he wants to break up with her it isn't his choice to make because Sasha always gets what she wants.

These two seemingly unrelated stories are bound to connect and I should of saw it coming from like a mile a way but I didn't and then at 75% in I had my AH HAH moment.

Is there suspension of disbelief to be had? Oh yeah. The short chapters and quick pace made it easy for me to overlook some of those little details though. 3.5 stars!

I am in charge of the senior library and work with a group of Reading Ambassadors from 16-18 to ensure that our boarding school library is modernised and meets the need of both our senior students and staff. It has been great to have the chance to talk about these books with our seniors and discuss what they want and need on their shelves. I was drawn to his book because I thought it would be something different from the usual school library fare and draw the students in with a tempting storyline and lots to discuss.
This book was a really enjoyable read with strong characters and a real sense of time and place. I enjoyed the ways that it maintained a cracking pace that kept me turning its pages and ensured that I had much to discuss with them after finishing. It was not only a lively and enjoyable novel but had lots of contemporary themes for our book group to pick up and spend hours discussing too.
I think it's important to choose books that interest as well as challenge our students and I can see this book being very popular with students and staff alike; this will be an excellent purchase as it has everything that we look for in a great read - a tempting premise, fantastic characters and a plot that keeps you gripped until you close its final page.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good, twisty tale. I wondered how the two stories connected, and they came together in such an unexpected way!

The sneak peek of this book is really intriguing and I could barely tear my eyes away from the page. Going in, I thought this was going to be some kind of love story because I’m way behind on my netgalley requests and usually, I only request romance but this book is quite captivating and there’s nothing romantic about it. Gabe and Elyse are in way over their heads but in two different subplots of the same story. Gabe is dating someone who is manipulative and cunning while Elyse has just landed the lead role in Romeo and Juliet which puts her up close and personal with the drama teacher. Both teens are in precarious situations and it’s obvious at some point their lives will intertwine. I am curious to see how this happens as they don’t go to the same high school and appear to be in two different social groups. This book has an eerie feeling about it and it drew me in even though I am not in high school anymore and much older. This author writes in a way that makes me want to find out what happens next even though it might not relate to me at all. I cannot wait to read the entire book and since this review is a year overdue, I am now on my way to buy it.

Three high school students and lots of secrets, love, obsession, and darkness. Not your average mystery plot and will keep readers reading on and surprised along the way.

was a gripping thriller that took you to every aspect of trying to figure out what was really going on and what was going to happen next! This was such an amazing book and I can’t wait to see what else is released from this author!

Thank you to Jennifer Donaldson the author, Penguin Random House, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

This is an interesting book, told in the first person by 3 different people high school students. At first I wasn't paying close attention because I thought that they all were at the same high school. It is an intriguing, but familiar scary story of obsession, dark secrets, and love. I will say that I am rarely surprised in a book, but this one really got me.

The story was a slight bit cliche, but still held my interest throughout and even surprised me. It may be a little heavy for young teens, but high schoolers and adults will eat this up.

This book will seriously keep you up reading until dawn. I could NOT put it down!! Shy Elyse tries out for the school play, not expecting much. But the day of part assignments, she's incredibly shocked to see her name next to Juliet! (Yes, as in Romeo and Juliet). 

Gabe is a sweet boy from Austin, but when he considers the unthinkable- breaking up with his popular girlfriend Sasha, he realizes that a simple choice may have many complications surrounding it. 

Elyse and Gabe realize too late that one choice has many consequences, and some that will affect the rest of their lives. Those of them who survive. 

This is such a page turner, and like I said you won't be able to put it down! Go read it now!

This sampler has made me very excited to read the full book and find out the answers to the many questions which were answered in this sneak peek.

Two teens in different cities battle the perils of first love: unmet expectations, surprise demands, and the reality that relationships are hard once they get past first blush. Neither of them can predict the challenges headed their way; both of them will have to navigate situations much beyond their years. Author Jennifer Donaldson performs a neat literary trick but misses a major plot point in her debut novel Lies You Never Told Me.

In Austin, Texas, high school junior Gabe Jimenez has begun to realize that his girlfriend, Sasha, may not be right for him. A member of the drill team, Sasha monopolizes Gabe’s attention and it’s starting to get old. Even when a mystery driver knocks Gabe down in a hit-and-run, Sasha manages to make every situation about herself.

When Gabe runs into new student Catherine, he realizes she’s the one who called the ambulance for him the night of the accident. Despite her initial reluctance, Gabe pursues a friendship with Catherine and the two get close. He realizes that Catherine is truly the girl for him, but he also knows that she’s hiding something from him. The more time they spend together, the more Gabe begins to understand that Catherine’s secrets come from a dark place.

Across the country in Portland, Oregon, Elyse McCormick can’t believe the new drama teacher, Mr. Hunter, has cast her as the lead in her high school’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Brynn, her best friend, has always been the star; she’s the born actress. The only reason Elyse even joined the drama club in the first place was because of Brynn’s gentle encouragement.

Despite a challenging home life with a single mother struggling with drug addiction, Elyse stays up to date with her schoolwork and the demands of the play. Mr. Hunter begins taking time out of his schedule to help her run lines and prepare for her role. In time, Elyse and Mr. Hunter—Aiden, he urges her to call him—get closer. Both of them know the relationship is inappropriate, but neither of them has the willpower to fight it. Then Elyse makes a choice that changes her entire life and the lives of those close to her.

Author Jennifer Donaldson writes with her target audience in mind but in many places misses the mark. Gabe complains about Sasha’s stalker-like tendencies but exhibits similar behavior in his pursuit of Catherine. He says he does it out of genuine concern; Sasha says many times that the stunts she pulls are all because she loves Gabe. Some readers may interpret this as Donaldson’s justification of behavior that encroaches on personal boundaries as long as it’s done “for the right reasons.”

Because Donaldson chooses to tell both Gabe and Elye’s stories in first person, in alternating chapters, readers don’t get to interact with other characters much. As the book progresses, it becomes clear that Gabe and Elyse will have to connect somewhere. The question is how and when.

Although she chooses a clever literary device to make that connection happen, Donaldson requires her readers to suspend their disbelief after that to the extreme. Characters get away with criminal offenses, but the police don’t investigate. Also, when it comes to the choice Elyse and Aiden make, one question that keeps cropping up is “why”. Why does Aiden continue on the path he’s chosen when it’s clearly jeopardizing his entire life? And if secrecy is their only weapon, why does he relinquish it with such abandon later in the story?

Unfortunately Donaldson sacrifices logic for an “aha” moment, the charm of which only lasts a couple of pages. Once it does, more astute readers will scratch their heads at the way the story unfolds in the last few chapters. It seems as if the story tries to mask sloppy plotting with grand gestures of drama and romance. In the end, when it comes to Lies You Never Told Me, readers are better off Bypassing it.

I enjoyed this excerpt and am looking forward to reading the rest of the novel. I can’t wait to see what happens.

While the buildup was pretty slow, the end of the book is worth it. There are twists and turns along the way, with one big ultimate shocker. The characters were engaging and I wanted to find out what happened to them and how their stories intersected. I would recommend this book.

Received an advanced copy from NetGallery to review..

OMG the twists in this book! This was truly a story that sucked me right in and did not let go. I loved the way the author kept me guessing until the end.

I'm interested enough to want to read the whole book I think it has an intense sense of mystery that I loved and I need more of that

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC excerpt of this book.

This review is based on the excerpt I read, not the whole book.
An enjoyable read which leads me to add this book to my TBR pile.

This was just a short excerpt, nothing spectacular that I could see in such a short amount of text, but the cover and blurbs make it look appealing as a new book on display and will probably go out well in the library.

This sneak peek takes you through Chapter 7. We meet Gabe and Elyse, 2 teenagers who live in different parts of the country. Elyse is in Portland, Oregon about to be the lead for Romeo and Juliet in her high school play. Gabe is in Austin, Texas where he is deciding whether or not he wants to stay with his controlling girlfriend. These first 7 chapters grab you and want to make you keep reading. I did grab the book from the library and I can't wait to see how everything unfolds.

This was a good beach read, something to relax with. I suggest this book for all fans of the genre and will keep an eye on this author.

Never had the chance to read it. Is this just an excerpt? It wouldn't let me send it to kindle. It has good reviews though.

This review is on the "sneak peak" only. From what I read, i'm not sure if it will be my type of read. A bit too juvenile for me.