There is just something about a story set at an all girls boarding school that peaks my interest. Be assured this book did not disappoint. There is something dark, gothic and forbidding about the Goode School, set in Virginia. Small town, the school being its claim to any name. Full of history and traditions and rules, oh so many rules. While set in current day the rules seem very strict, no cell phones for the students being one of the most constricting.

Ash Carlisle arrives from Oxford, England just before fall classes are set to begin. We learn immediately of her family tragedy and her desire to be a studious yet invisible student. Dean Westhaven sees herself as confidant, guardian and friend.

A school full of privileged teen girls has to include drama, because this is the real world. The natural hierarchy of who’s who, money and power have dug in deep at Goode, and with ominous and deadly results.

J.T. Ellison has given us a compelling and can’t put down book to begin 2020. I felt inside the dark and hallowed halls of the school, the dorm, the secret tunnels and passageways. An unreliable narrator doesn’t even begin to tell the story of the secrets and lies that are all over this school.

This is my first book by the author but certainly not my last. My advice, grab this up any way you can and be prepared to enjoy every dark unputdownable page.

There is something about the Goode Girls..........they come from well respected families...they are wealthy...they are smart...they are wealthy...they are driven...they are wealthy...Also..they drink, do drugs, cut school, murder, bully, haze, lie and get into the BEST colleges!

The Goode Prep school is the best of the best. All girls of Goode are hand picked by the dean and have been for decades. Goode is almost a guarantee to an Ivy League school of your choice upon graduation. The girls of Goode seem to have it all...don't they?

I loved the atmospheric feel that the author managed to create. An old building surrounded by wrought iron gates, a wicked past filled with suicides and murder. The building is cold, dark, secluded. Often as the girls were going about their day I felt a tinge of unease and creepiness as I imagined the building and the secrets it kept.

The girls at Goode seemed much older than the high school girls that they were. They were functioning in an environment with very little supervision, treated more like college students. They were expected to be able to write a thesis and it was not uncommon to be a part of secret societies with outlandish initiation processes.

Ash Carlisle was like all the other girls that arrived at the school. Well except her family is dead and she was witness to it. Pretty much everyone around her dies...well there is that. Maybe it is just a coincidence? Bad luck?

As a fan of J.T. Ellison I knew she would bring a big twist into the mix. She did with this book as well, although I did find it a slower pace and more atmospheric than her other books I fully loved the boarding school setting. I thought the ending was a bit predictable but I still enjoyed the road we took to get there.

There's a lot going on in this book; plot points pile one on top of the other and things get pretty crazy. Private school antics. Illicit romances. Ghost stories. Unreliable narrators. Depending on the thriller, I like to have the story firmly grounded in reality, or I just go with the flow and get swept up in the drama. Good Girls Lie requires you to do the latter. Enjoy the twists and turns, the spooky murder mystery, and the entertaining characters. Though the middle of the story dragged a little for me, overall I thought this was a great mystery/thriller.

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison is a difficult novel to get into. I could not connect with characters. I struggled with knowing who the main protagonists were. The beginning was so slow, I wanted to skip halfway through the novel just to see if it was better. I was so disappointed with this book. It was frustrating. I know J.T. Ellison can write well. This novel was just not up to her normal high standards. The topics issued in this book sounded good-reminded me of Pretty Little Liars. A lot of the content was geared for YA but it was so dark it should be for those 18+. I am not judging the book by the topics it brought. I was so curious to read about a prep all girls school and see what secrets were hidden. Yet, as I read it, I was like-nope, forget it. My attention span said this isn't worth reading. Again, I was upset that this was not as good as it sounded or should have been.

No one is as special as a Goode girl. The Goode School is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, far away from outside distractions to provide privileged, bright young girls the tools they need to be leaders in society. But for Ash Carr, her arrival at Goode is tinged with the haunted memories of her parents' deaths.

As smart and talented as Ash is, she is no match for the girls at Goode, especially Becca, a brazenly cruel senior that wants Ash to be her mark. It is through her classes, her interactions with other students, and her past that never seems to leave her alone that Ash must forge ahead to prepare herself for the life that she wants to live. But when teachers and students start dying under mysterious circumstances, it is apparent that Ash will not be able to live the quiet life that she desperately wants.

This book is full of intrigue, but some of the twists and turns will have to wondering just who the narrator is at times. This is ultimately on purpose, making sure that you are just as confused as the rest of the character in the book until the reveal. However, at about 70% every reader will realize what is going on, it is just a matter of getting to the resolution after that. The problem? The resolution is ambiguous. I found it a head-scratcher, which I enjoy, but those looking for a clear resolution to Ash Carr's story may walk away from the book without a solid answer.

An intriguing first chapter followed by an attention grabbing story.
The scene is set with a prestigious all-girls boarding school with an Honor Code and seemingly perfect girls with strictly laid-out rules but all of it is tinged with a darker undercurrent of secrets.
It is a bit difficult in the beginning to identify all the narrators, but it soon becomes easier.
The ending blows you away - I'm still not 100% sure who the "real" villain was
Well-written with enough intrigue to leave you reading deep into the night. The title is a clever play on words.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

I featured this on my blog and will provide specific details directly to the publisher in the next round of this process.

The book was a twisted tale of girls in the exclusive Goode school. A new girl, Ash's entry flipped the balance. And secrets overtipped it.

My second book by the author J. T. Ellison, it was predictable in its mystery. The book had a lot going for it with its secret societies, the meanness, drinks and drugs. The school gave an eerie atmosphere to the book, its characters added to the mystery to some extent.

But the suspense and buildup of the plot were missing. Compared to the previous books, this was just meh. I tried liking it, but unfortunately it kind of misted away like a forgotten fog.

Overall, it was an okay book.

Good Girls Lie is set at an all girls boarding school, which already has me taking interest. Boarding school stories, especially those with secret societies or similar aspects are typically must reads for me. This one did not disappoint. It had a lot of twists and turns, some that I predicted but also some that threw me for a loop.

I did really enjoy the format with the flashbacks that suitably built up the backstory. It was like puzzle pieces falling into place as each different perspective and scene was revealed. The suspense and pacing of this book was also really good as it was a relatively fast read for me.

This was definitely a win when it came to suspense and creepiness, a lot of the time you are left wondering just who certain people are and what they have as motivations. And there are definitely moments of misdirection that I loved.

There is definitely something to be said about J.T. Ellison's writing style. The descriptions are soooooo damn good! I love it when I'm completely connected, feel as though I am inside the pages of the story. I was hooked from the first page of Good Girls Lie, read it in a day. It ticked all the boxes of a stellar psychological thriller for me. The creepy watch your back vibes, interesting characters, awesome storyline and asking yourself - who's the killer? This was an excellent read you're going to want to get your hands on.

Huge thank you to Harlequin - Mira & Netgalley for my review copy!

I am such a sucker for stories that take place at boarding schools, so as soon as this one came across my radar, I knew that I needed to read it as soon as possible. Thankfully, Good Girls Lie did not disappoint!

The Goode School is a prestigious all-girls boarding school located in Marchburg, Virginia. Each year, only 50 girls make up the incoming class which means that the roster boasts the brightest (and richest) girls in the country/world. This is ensured by Dean Westhaven who hand selected the accepted girls herself. One day, one of the students is found hanging at the front gates. Did she commit suicide or is there something more sinister at play?

Ashlyn Carr, who is originally from the UK, has arrived to the Goode School, but she does so under a different name. She is now Ash Carlisle, and she is desperately trying to keep her past life under wraps. All Ash wants is to finish school without drawing attention to herself, but she has managed to get tapped for one of the exclusive secret societies on campus. Can Ash maintain her secrecy when other sophomores dream of the opportunities that she now has access to?

Good Girls Lie was a fast-paced, page turner that left me needing more at the end of every page. I loved learning more about Ash’s background and the secrets that she so desperately wanted to hide. Additionally, the twists and turns left me guessing along the way. Some of them were a bit more obvious, but I was ultimately was guessing up until the very end. This was my first book by J.T. Ellison and will definitely not be my last!

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

The story, Good Girls Lie, opens with a lie and a truth. It's your job to figure out which is which. I'll admit that this book was slow to start for me. I wasn't into the perspective switches and was kind of confused as to where the story was going. However, I did end up ultimately liking the end result. The characters were interesting and trying to figure out who had secrets kept me on my toes. At about halfway, the pieces started to fall into place and I found myself sucked in and wanting to see the solution. I did think I had guessed the big twist, but I was only partial correct. There are a lot of surprises along the away as well. I also loved the ending. It is almost best to go into this book not knowing much more than the synopsis. Even though it is slow to start, it's worth sticking to the end. I definitely recommend this one. What a great way to start off the new year!

CALLING ALL GOSSIP GIRL FANS! This one is for you!

I cannot stress this more-this book is PERFECT for GG fans. Becca was Serena van der Woodsen, Ash was little J, Dean Westhaven was Rose Byrne (okay not Gossip Girl) and Rumi was Penn Badgely.

This book is almost 500 pages, but don't be deterred- it will go by F A S T! The story took me about 150 pages to get addicted to, but seriously page 151 had me hooked and wouldn't let go.

These girls are forces of nature. They are scheming, secretive, manipulative, capricious, two-faced, clever and oh so charming.

While creepy, I LOVED the setting! The buildings are old, have numerous scary stories, are crawling with secrets, tunnels and history.

As I said before the characters were basically all Gossip Girl characters for me. Becca is the quintessential queen bee with the power to crush not only you, but herself.

Ash- I knew something was off with her, I just couldn't put my finger on it.

The other characters were minor, but layered, critical to the plot and really . key to the theme of this book.

Speaking of the plot, have I mentioned it's like Gossip Girl?! Throw in some Pretty Little Liars, The Parent Trap, Dead Poets Society and maybe a dash of Ninth House and you've got this book.</p>

If I had to be SUPER picky, I'd say that the plot twist wasn't that great or twisted enough for my messed up mind.

Good Girls Lie is a dark psychological study of the seemingly honor bound Goode girls. It's full of hazing, mean girls, secrets and of course murder.

You may never trust teenage girls again after reading this book. The Goode School is a very prestigious all-girls school. Its graduates are guaranteed entrance into only the best colleges. There is a strict Honor Code at Goode School but these are pampered, privileged girls with all their deceits, manipulations, and lies. Behind the closed gates of Goode School one encounters secret societies and scandals. Dean Ford Westhaven has run the school ever since her mother had to step aside in the aftermath of the murder of a student at the school. Is history now repeating itself?

New student Ash Carr, 16 years old, is the catalyst for the newest scandal to beset the school. I found myself feeling sorry for the bullying and hazing she encountered, but also wondered about her role in the mysterious events that occur only after she arrives. Instigator…or victim?

The setting for this book is perfect – a school atop a hill, hidden doors, tunnels underneath the school, a legacy of a murder, a cemetery. It reminded me of the old Victoria Holt books.

This book is action-packed and sure to keep you up past your bedtime, muttering the mantra “Just one more chapter, just one more.” You are kept guessing to the very end.

Thank you to Harlequin-MIRA for a digital copy of this amazing new thriller. Opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The Goode School is a prestigious all-girls prep school in Virginia. It is a boarding school for the daughters of politicians, diplomats, and the rich and famous. With decades-old traditions, a strict honor code, and its elite atmosphere, it is ideal for girls with aspirations to attend ivy league universities.

When the school year begins, a new student appears. Ash Carlisle is different. She’s from England. She’s an orphan. And, Ash Carlisle has secrets. With secret societies, the stomp, and cliques. Good Girls Lie is a suspenseful and twisty story of jealousy, lies, and deceptions. The story unfolds with flashbacks that reveal the lives of several of the characters.

While many of the characters are less than appealing, the setting is interesting and compelling and the storytelling is well-done. At times I felt that the story was a bit slow, but overall it is fairly fast-paced and I found it difficult to put down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Good Girls Lie takes place at the Goode School, a prestigious all-girls boarding school in Virginia. The school is known for its strict honor code, and it demands both the best in academics and telling the truth. The story begins with a death as a student's body is discovered at the school. The book then goes back in time to explain how the story got to here. This includes the arrival of Ash, a British student. With Ash's arrival, she learns of the secret societies, hierarchy, and rules (both written and unwritten) that govern the school.

Much of the story is about the dynamics of different students at the school. While there is a strict honor code, there are secrets and lies bubbling below the surface. As the story moves towards the death where things began, suspense builds as to what happened and who might be responsible. What is great about this suspense is how the author plays with emotion to build it. You can see there is some evil and scheming going on, but you can't quite figure out who is responsible. And the person responsible shifts, so one moment you could feel sympathy for one character, and the next, you feel it for another. It was this plot device that kept me guessing throughout. I knew things weren't just happening, but I couldn't quite figure out why. I also found I wanted to believe characters, but because of the way the story was told, I always held onto some suspicions about who was really good and telling the truth.

The twists in this one are so good, and they go until the very last pages. Again, much of this is you don't know who you can trust as a truth-teller. In the school, there is a strong want to fit in, so you have to wonder what lengths people will go to in order to make this happen. Ash also is a character with secrets. She is recently orphaned after the death of her parents, and she comes to the school having changed her name to escape this tragedy. As she finds her place at the school, she interacts with a variety of students finding both friends and enemies.

With this review, I realize I haven't given a ton of plot details, and that is quite intentional. To walk you through too much gives away the feels you get as each secret and lie is unwound! This is the type of book that makes you gasp when the twists come to fruition. And then just as you think you've got it figured out, there is another curveball that comes into the mix. This is a thriller driven by characters and their secrets, and I just could not get enough. If you want something that embodies a page-turning thriller, look no further than right here!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley, Mira Books and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this free copy.

This was my first book from Ellison, and I don’t know if all of her books are like this, but the writing style was very interesting. The entire premise of this novel was pretty interesting when I think back on this. I believe it was the narration in the beginning that had me intrigued the most part, because it starts off with someone being found dead on the front gates of The Goode School. Now, this all-girls school is very small, very elite, so clearly it wouldn’t take very long to figure out who it was, which I can’t believe it would start off like that.

Then when that third person narrator tells us who it is, we end up going back in time in the POV of the victim, and wow. Ash Carlisle is an interesting sixteen year old girl. Sometimes when I was reading it, I would forget that she was supposed to be sixteen. Actually, all the time, I kept forgetting that she was only sixteen. She gets accepted into The Goode School as a sophomore, and yet when I hear her voice throughout the novel, I felt like I was listening to a young 20 year old woman. Maybe it was her upbringing in Oxford, I mean she did come from a very rich family after all. Her father, really. Her mother just married into it. Her vocabulary had me highlighting all these words to get the definitions, and then feeling stupid for not knowing them right away. Her mannerisms were something I wouldn’t have pegged for a girl like her, and yet she was one of the most interesting characters in this entire novel.

I was a little bummed at how one of the few brown girls that we know of in this novel is hostile towards Ash over something that wasn’t even her doing? At first we think Vanessa – the brown girl – is going to be a friend and ally to Ash, but then when Ash gets an invitation to “the attics” for something that’s supposed to be prestigious or whatever, Vanessa gets all bitchy. Then her suite-mates as well – mostly Camille – starts treating Ash like the enemy and that just didn’t sit well with me. I know girls are supposed to be catty or whatever, but the girl on girl hate gets me every single time, and not in the good way. I get that drama has to happen somehow, but I mean the deaths could have been drama enough. No need for girls to randomly hate on one another for no reason. They are already in a league of their own. It would be better if they were supportive of one another when they are already isolated from the rest of the world, in a sense.

Other than that, I was intrigued by the mystery that surrounded this novel. The mystery surrounding Ash, her reasoning for keeping her true identity a secret, for trying to stay under the radar. She was an interesting character and while I wasn’t necessarily rooting for her to survive by any means, I couldn’t help but respect her for everything that she went through. Dean Ford was also an interesting character, whenever we would get to see from her point of view. Well, not really since whenever it was her chapters, it was a third person POV. But you know what I mean.

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison is a riveting novel of suspense. The Good School is a prestigious prep for young ladies that resides in Marchburg, Virginia. This boarding school is for the intelligent daughters of the rich and powerful. They will receive a superior education that will get them into an Ivy league school and prepare them for a brilliant and influential future. But not everything is at it seems at this school. A new student arrives from Oxford, England who causes quite a stir. One student ends up dead and the truth must be uncovered. J.T. Ellison’s writing drew me into this engaging story. I enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing which allowed me to visualize the scenes. Virginia sounded beautiful in the fall. I thought the characters were thought out and developed. There are alternate points-of-view which I liked (Ash, Becca Curtis, and Dean Westhaven for example). It allows readers to view the events from different perspectives plus it keeps the tension up. Details are revealed a little at a time to keep readers guessing. Good Girls Lie is packed with secrets and deceptions. I kept trying to guess what is true and what is false. I just loved the fabulous twist. I thought the creepy aspects enhanced the story. There is a great ending where all the loose ends are wrapped up. Good Girls Lie has tradition, secret societies, hazing, deceits, clandestine relationships, jealousy and murder. As you can tell, I enjoyed reading this thrilling suspense tale. Good Girls Lie is a book that will keep you riveted until you finish the very last word.

The Goode School is a private all-girls prep school for children of the town's elite community. Born from the world's most powerful parents, these girls are no strangers to secret societies, dark secrets, and juicy drama. On the outside, the students, like their equally despicable parents, are picture-perfect, hiding layer after layer of all things that make an unputdownable suspense novel. These girls are elegant, intelligent, and successful in their endeavors, but when a new student enrolls, the dark side of this prestigious academy is slowly unveiled, and what unfolds is a delicious thriller that explores sinister secrets and the truth behind this famous school. GOOD GIRLS LIE is my first Ellison novel, and it certainly won't be my last.

My full review is on my blog knitsandtales.com

I really enjoyed this book. My final rating was 4.5 stars and the desire to read it again for pleasure.