This one was challenging to read because it was on the netgalley app and not on my kindle. I do wish it was in a different format.

ike Like Poison was a twisted contemporary fairytale with exciting twists and centring around the friendship between four kids who would do anything for each other.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it was an exciting thriller with four queer main characters, a m/m and f/f romance and discussing abuse, trauma and other topics. It was full of exciting reveals, morally grey characters and most importantly queer found family!!
The first two thirds of Lies Like Poison, were a little messy. The pacing and reveals were kind of disjointed, and I wasn’t fully enjoying it. But the last third really saved the book, where it got so exhilarating and full of reveals I didn’t expect!! This was where we really saw the soft queer found family content I had been craving, and more of my favourite characters. I really wish the whole book had been more like the last third.
I think I would have preferred this book if Belladonna was the main character rather than Jack. She had the most distinct voice of the three, and I adored her badass and witchy vibes, plus she’s a bisexual icon. I do feel all of the characters could have done with a bit more depth, but I did really like them. Belle who is ruthless and fiercely caring, Jack who is protective and loving, Lily who is badass and learning to love herself and Raven who they would all do anything to keep safe.
The writing is stunning at times, and very poignant. It gave the whole book a lot of atmosphere, and I loved how Lies Like Poison had fairytale aspects and hints woven among the twisted and murderous plot. The tangled storylines were super intriguing, and I really like the unreliable narrator aspects, where characters keep things hidden even when it’s their POV! This takes skill to do and I enjoyed how there were was constantly threads niggling at the story until it came together at the end. It was an intense story with many interconnected parts including flashbacks, confessions and secrets, twists and turns.
A favourite aspect of mine was how the theme of being caged or trapped was one we could see in every character’s storylines in the material plot also tie into the characters being queer and their journeys with that. Their identity’s as queer aren’t super discussed apart from Jack’s, which is great cause it’s just like “we’re here, we’re queer, we might have committed murder”, but there is a lot of subtext. I felt the story was woven with queer coding and with overall themes that are inextricably linked to the queer experience.
One thing that I did not like was how Jack being a trans boy was almost a plot twist. I already knew as the author told me the rep in the book, and I found that this being a surprise wasn’t great.
Some aspects of Lies Like Poison felt rather unrealistic but the magical atmosphere makes the whole book feel a little out of this world, so while fans of a grounded mystery may not love this, readers who prefer something fabulist and mystical with thriller aspects are sure to fall for it.

I have elected not to read and review this book due to time constraints. Thank you for the opportunity.

A really good book though it was slow paced in my opinion. Still very interesting and well executed though!! Overall, solid 3.5 star read. Though I did get bored during reading it during some points.

Lies Like Poison was a quick read and the lose ends were tied up nicely, I loved the way each of the characters were introduced and the plot for murder was remarkable. My two major problems were all the red herrings Chelsea Pitcher tried to place throughout the book. There was just to many. Secondly, each section was the truth according to so and so but they didn't really fit each character or remain in that character's point of view.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this.

3 out of 5 stars

What a creative YA mystery this turned out to be!

Firstly, I enjoyed the four main characters. While Jack steals the show, I also liked Belle, Raven, and Lily. Each of them is unique in their manner. The author wonderfully highlighted the LGBT theme with queer and transgender people. It was interesting to see the characters develop over the mystery plot. Initially, it took a while for me to learn the gender role because of their names and relationships. However, once I got the hang of them, the story was so good!

It was also interesting to see who killed Raven’s mom, Evelyn. The story also alternates between different perspectives and makes it fresh and fascinating. I also loved the flashbacks that set the relationships between the characters. Some of my favorite moments were when Raven and Belle meet, and she is scared of telling Edwin, or when Jack and Belle talk about Jack’s abusive childhood. Similarly, all the characters have broken childhoods that connect them somehow.

I also loved the hints of the fairy tales that the author embeds in the storyline. From Jack and the Beanstalk to Snow White, the author seamlessly adds some of the classics to the storyline. Moreover, throughout the book, the author maintains a mystery level when you feel like you are slowly unraveling the truth behind all the secrets.

Surprisingly, the story took a turn that I did not expect. The climax threw me and was pretty good. Overall, “Lies like Poison” is very intriguing with a dynamic cast.

This book had a lot of moving parts. It moved back and forth in time and it was not always clear if it was the before or the after. There was a character who went by one name in one time and then another name in the later time. The story also jumped from one character's viewpoint to another's, and this made it somewhat confusing to read. I had to go back and reread in several places to clarify what was happening. Overall, it was an okay read, but not my favorite.

I love a good YA thriller and the plot of this one didn't disappoint! I struggled a little bit with so many characters and the switching narration, which took away some of the suspense build up. Otherwise a fun and twisty read! Unfortunately it's too mature to be able to add to my school's collection (we have a big faction of 7th & 8th grade mystery readers, but the high schoolers are harder to convince), but definitely a title I can keep in my back pocket to recommend as needed for my stronger readers.

I really liked this book. I am a big fan of thriller/mystery books and Lies Like Poison definitely hit the mark. The story centers around the mystery of who murdered Raven’s stepmother, who also happens to be Lily’s mother. The four best friends are trying to help their friend who is being accused of committing the murder. While the mystery is at the center of the book, it also deals with mental health and queer characters who you see overcome what everyone else in their town and life expects them to be. One thing I really liked about the book is that the author gave each of the characters a chance to tell their story in the book. It wasn’t just stated that they were queer but gave us the backstory and the happenings through each character’s eyes.

In the beginning of the book, you do question who actually killed the stepmother because everyone has different stories on where they were and what is actually the truth. The story had a lot of twists and turns which kept you reading on finding out who killed the stepmother, and it kept you guessing until the true murderer was revealed.

If you are looking for a YA thriller/mystery book with LBGTQ representation then I would definitely recommend this book.

Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of this book truly intrigued me, which is why I requested it and wanted to read it. I think the execution could have used some work, but Lies Like Poison is a solid YA Mystery that delves into the tangled web of 4 teenagers, friends who have many secrets...

Poppy, Belladonna, and Lily got together one day to plot to kill Lily's mother, because they believed she was torturing their best friend, Raven, by causing him to want to commit suicide after his mother died. The create the recipe for the perfect murder, intending to carry it out, until one of them backs out at the last minute. Flash forward 3 years, and Evelyn has been murdered - but no one knows who. The four friends must reunite to clear their names, and discover the truth about what happened to her, as well as what was going on 3 years ago.

I overall found this book to be very enjoyable. The mystery element here was good, the characters were unreliable, allowing the big reveals not to be seen a mile away. The characters are great as a group, but only okay individually. Some more development could've been helpful. Also, prepare for some suspension of disbelief around the police procedural scenes. I had a good idea of the 'whodunnit' piece of the plot, and ended up being right. But, it took awhile to get the guess right.

Lastly, there is queer representation in a lot of the characters, which is always great to see.

** Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

I was pleasantly surprised by this book and just how much I liked it. It was twisty, haunting, and ethereal. A glorious murder mystery that keeps you guessing. All the fairy tale references were epic.

I just don't think this was the book for me. I am not a huge fan of magical realism and I feel like this is exactly what it turned into with a hint of paranormal. I found all of the characters to be super predictable and I often confused them with each other and their every changing names/nicknames.

I wasn't a fan of the mystery either. It wasn't that interesting and it just took so long to get anywhere in the story.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Murder mystery where it could be everyone who did it. The narrator keeps changing from chapter to chapter but the voices all read the same, none of them like their parents and they all want to live with their friends instead. I felt like they had a list of current hot topics and had to check them all off in the tale.

It won't go to a kindle so I had to read it in the new app on my phone. As a result it was read in 5 minute blocks while I waited in the carpool area. Scrolling all the time on a little screen and reading in small chunks did nothing to help make this book better.

I am unable to read this title as it was archived. It was only available to be sent to the Netgalley app, and not my Kindle. I’m guessing the license for it expired within the app, so now I cannot access it at all.

I really enjoyed this book!
This was one of those that really made you think.
Told from 4 different POVs.
While I really enjoyed the four main characters of Belle, Lily, Jack and Raven, when their parents entered the mix it was a little hard to keep them all straight.

I really enjoyed the ending.
Kind of reminded me of Pretty Little Liars.

Poppy, Lily, and Belladonna would do anything to protect their bestfriend, Raven. So when they discovered he was suffering psychological abuse at the hands of his stepmother, they came up with a lethal plan to prevent her from hurting Raven again. But someone got cold feet, the plan faded, and the group fell apart.
The best part about this book, is that everyone seems guilty from the very beginning. They are all unreliable narrators with motives that only get fleshed out as the story progresses. Truly, a group of friends all out to double cross each other due to misunderstandings that took place three years ago. So many potential motives and plots are discovered that each suspect seems as guilty as the last. It can be overwhelming to keep it all straight, but it definitely keeps you guessing up to the very end. Some might also find that it wraps up a little too nicely, but I like that in a standalone. The relationships weave together interestingly as well. Some don't seem as likely, but as more information is revealed, you start to see how the characters formed bonds and alliances.
TW for child abuse, murder, homophobia, and self harm.
Includes representation of multiple LBGTQIA+ perspectives and mental health.

3.5 stars = Good+

This is a super-twisty suspense story with tons of secrets and lies. Hardly anyone is a reliable narrator early on. That made it hard to know, much less *like* any of the main characters, which is a huge factor for me in a book. The one character I felt like we knew the best by the end is the one I liked the most of the main 4. There are tons of questions early on, and the reader isn't sure who to trust, but the story is clear enough to draw readers forward and compelling so that you want to stick with it to see how it all plays out. Found family is a huge part of the book, which I liked. I also enjoyed the fairy tale feel of this. Fans of We Were Liars or One of Us Is Lying should check this one out. (Language, sexual references, LGBTQ+, TW: grief/loss, eating disorder, inpatient treatment, abuse/neglect)

Three years ago, Belladonna, Poppy, and Lily planned a murder to protect their friend Raven. They never went through with it, but someone has now killed Raven's stepmother just before his seventeenth birthday as they planned. Only, it was just Belladonna in her tea, so Bella is arrested. Her former friends are asked to prove her innocence, but a lot more is at stake when the truth is revealed.

Bella might be the one arrested, and Raven sent away for the prior three years after nearly killing himself, but Poppy and Lily are sure that Bella isn't the killer. Poppy has become Jack, more comfortable in boys' clothes even though she is still the pronoun of choice out of fear that others will hate Jack-as-a-boy. Jack's mother is racist and homophobic, casually abandoning her children when the mood strikes her to stay with boyfriends. Lily was in a psychiatric facility because of her disordered eating, but even that isn't what it looks like.

Everyone in the book lies for various reasons, and the relationships between the four friends/couples are strained in different directions as they mistrust each other and doubt their memories. They each have different variations on the truth, their perspectives warped by time and emotions. Just when I thought I knew who killed Evelyn, that theory got yanked out and upturned. The fragments of story leading up to the night Evelyn died finally coalesce at the end so that we know exactly what happened and why. It's a devastating ending for Raven, but he still has hope for the future and a life free from the lies that had dogged him for years. I'm not sure it'll be as rosy as he thinks it will be, but I'm rooting for them all.

This is the year for me trying new genres apparently! “Lies Like Poison” is intricately written with flashbacks and well developed relationships. Each character had their own lies and secrets to keep and it made for an interesting story.

Lilly, Poppy, (Jack), and Belle each had their own reasons for wanting to protect Raven, but it all tied back to their friendship. Right from the start we see how much Belle cared for Raven in an almost cynical manner. She creeped me out quite a bit until I learned to sympathize with her and see the problem from her point of view. Poppy, who goes by Jack but uses female pronouns, was probably my favorite character. She was quirky and unapologetic in a way that I loved.

My main problem with Chelsea Pitcher’s murder mystery was that I had a difficult time determining when and where the story took place. I was expecting it to have taken place in an older time period, seeing how Raven’s grandmother is murdered with deadly herbs in her tea, but it was actually a pretty modern book.

Overall, “Lies Like Poison” is a twisty turny murder mystery that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

TW: Transophobic comments, murder (obviously), violence, etc.

Like Like Poison was a twisted contemporary.

It was full of exciting reveals, from beginning to end. I enjoyed the the diversity of the group of friends the book focuses on, Belle who is ruthless and fiercely caring, Jack who is protective and loving, Lily who is badass and learning to love herself and Raven who they would all do anything to keep safe.

It isn’t immediately clear how this group formed or the reason for the dynamics between them - but we know they have a shared history, and would do anything to protect each other.

The Book Begins with Raven’s stepmother's body being found. She has been poisoned with leaves of belladonna placed in her tea. There’s a recipe, written in fourteen year old Bella’s handwriting, on the table next to her that outlines the perfect poison. It would seem that Bella came good on her vow to protect her best friend Raven from his abusive stepmother.
It all seems clear-cut, but then things start unravelling.

Another thing I didn’t love about the book was the flow of the plot. There were moments that I questioned, “well how did you get here?” (Example: one minute they are in a house, the next couple of seconds they are in a car with little to know explanation of how they got to the car. I felt like the reader had to put a lot of their assumptions into the plot. overall it was well written and it was a fantastic adventure that chelsea pitcher has written.