I really liked the overall plot of this book. It was a great and spooky concept that seemed almost like a fairytale. There was a great deal of diversity that I really appreciated and the queer relationships were beautiful. Another plus was the character development, though I did want to see more of how they acted before their friendships fell a part.

While I loved the inclusion of transgender identity, it was kind of jarring when a character’s pronouns change in the middle of the book. I wish it could have been established from the beginning or even hinted at, but all the character discussed was clothing. For me, the transgender discussion kind of came out of nowhere and then all of a sudden there's a change in pronouns and an entirely new identity. Granted, as I am not a part of the queer community, I can't say what seems authentic or not—this is just from my perception.

My biggest problem was the execution. There was no grounding for the reader, I was constantly questioning time and place. The whole book could have taken place over two days, two weeks, or even two months. I also never knew what time of day it was so it felt very confusing.

I want to thank NetGalley and The Book Terminal Tours the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really like this book, I am a big fan of thriller/mystery books and I have been trying to find more YA books in the genre and Lies Like Poison hit the mark. The story is based on the mystery of who murdered and four best friend trying to help their friend who is being accused of committing the murdered. This book not is a mystery book, but deals with mental health and queer characters which you see them overcome what everyone else in their town and life expects them to be. What I like the most was that the author gave each of them a chance to tell their story in the book. It wasn’t just stated that they were queer but gave us a information on each one of them.

In the beginning of the book, you do question who actually killed the stepmother because everyone have different stories on where they were and the truth. The story had a lot of twist and turns which kept you reading on finding out who killed the stepmother. I was totally shocked on who actually did the murdered and it wasn’t who I thought it would be.

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

3.5 Rounded to 4 Stars

Four friends, one person dead, and a recipe of murder. Chelsea Pitcher’s new YA Mystery Lies Like Poison will keep you on your toes.

This mystery is told in 4 POV’s. When Poppy, Belladonna, Raven, and Lily plan the murder of Raven’s step-mother three years earlier they’d never thought it’d actually happen. So much has changed in three years and now all of them are suspect.

The pacing was a little slower than I was anticipating and the plot was confusing for the first half of the book. I think this is what I struggled with the most and why I rated it a 3.5 star. I’m not sure if it had to do with the multiple POV’s or the writing style.

Overall I did think the plot, once clearer, was really interesting. This does have some triggers related to murder and child abuse. It had a really well developed LGBTQ+ rep which I was refreshing to see in a YA Mystery. If you’re in the mood for a slower YA Mystery than I think you’d enjoy this one.

This is a dark story filled with wonderful characters, family secrets, mystery (of course), romance and LGBTQIA+ representation. The 4 main characters are truly what made this book for me. I loved their background, their growth, their flaws and their relationships with one another. You definitely get to unravel their pasts and secrets as well, so there was never a dull moment.

One of my favorite things about this book is that I really couldn't pin point the murderer until it was actually revealed. There were so many red herrings and twists that it kept me guessing and not fully positive until the very end!

My only negative was that at times it was a bit confusing as there are multiple POVs and shifts on present vs a flashback. Overall though, this was a really interesting read! Fans of Sherlock Holmes, Pretty Little Liars or Riverdale are sure to enjoy this! Highly recommend!

Disclosure: I received an ARC from Book Terminal Tours, the publisher & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Lies Like Poison

Author: Chelsea Pitcher

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3/5

Diversity: LGBT+ rep, transgender characters

Recommended For...: mystery lovers, thrill seekers, LGBT+ rep!

Publication Date: November 10, 2020

Genre: YA Mystery

Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Pages: 304

Synopsis: Poppy, Lily, and Belladonna would do anything to protect their best friend, Raven. So when they discovered he was suffering abuse at the hands of his stepmother, they came up with a lethal plan: petals of poppy, belladonna, and lily in her evening tea so she’d never be able to hurt Raven again. But someone got cold feet, the plot faded to a secret of the past, and the group fell apart.

Three years later, on the eve of Raven’s seventeenth birthday, his stepmother turns up dead. But it’s only belladonna found in her tea, and it’s only Belladonna who’s carted off to jail. Desperate for help, Belle reaches out to her estranged friends to prove her innocence. They answer the call, but no one is prepared for what comes next.

Now, everyone has something to lose and something equally dangerous to hide. And when the tangled web of secrets and betrayal is finally unwound, what lies at its heart will change the group forever.

Review: I had to DNF this book at 32% in. While I’m so excited for the LGBT rep in this book and I will be revisiting this book at a later date, for right now it isn’t for me. The book is kind of strangely written and you have to be in the mindset of mystery/thriller for this read.

Verdict: It’s great, just not for me in this moment.

Lies Like Poison by Chelsea Pitcher is an intriguing YA thriller! A story full of mystery, a tangled web of lies, and the deceit these pages revealed will keep you turning the pages.  I was intrigued from the start and just had to know how this thriller would end.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, as this is genre I don’t read very often, but I actually really liked it! The writing was well done and the characters were really well developed. I loved how the author wove various fairy tales into the characters.

Lily, Poppy (Jack), and Belle are all very different character that have different reasons for wanting to rescue Raven, but they are all tied by friendship. Throughout the novel we see the bond they all have with each other, the struggles that each of them face, and the lies and secrets they hide, even from themselves.

The only problem I had with this book was that at times it was difficult to follow. There were times that I had no idea what was happening and the story would shift suddenly and I was even more confused. It was a murder mystery and a “who dunnit” book so it worked out in the end. I definitely did not see the ending coming so it was an enjoyable read overall.

This is honestly such a great read! It’s a thriller with many twists, turns, and unreliable narrators that keep you guessing about their motives. The writing style is engaging, keeping you trapped in the pages no matter who is telling the story. The characters were also so dynamic and complex that once you think you know who they really are, a secret comes out and changes things. Jack, Lily, and Belladonna are protagonists with distinct voices and dark pasts. This book also has great LGBTQ+ rep as the characters find themselves more comfortable in their own identities and sexualities. The book also has deeper themes of abuse and neglect as we delve deeper into the home lives of our main cast. The only thing that could be slightly confusing are pronouns and keeping track of which character is which, something I find pretty common for books with larger casts.

It was an interesting take on intertwining fairy tales and reality without adding magical elements. This is a petty annoyance but I found the character names irritating and the character development was shallow. I wasn’t rooting for anyone in particular. The murder mystery plot (times 2!) kept me interested til the end. I found the end a little hokey. Overall, I know I have a group of students who would love this book!

I received this as an arc as part of a book tour with Terminal Tours - this review reflects my unbiased opinions.

I was really unsure about this book when I first started. I struggled getting into it for about the first 10% or so. But once I got into it, boy did I get into it! I couldn't put it down once the mystery started picking up. I think the mystery of this book was really well written! It kept me guessing until the final clue was revealed, and once I had my final suspicions as to who the killer was, it was a matter of waiting to see if I was right. While I did figure out who the killer was before the characters, the lead up to the final reveal wasn't boring at all. There is a little bit of a secondary mystery, and that reveal left me totally shocked. The majority of the character motivations were strong and made sense, and no part of the mystery felt like it didn't belong. This book is very character centered, as it does focus on the friend group. However, I think Chelsea Pitcher did a very good job with the main characters. At one point or another I was suspicious of all of them, and I loved seeing the flashbacks of their friendship, then in the present seeing how it ha broken down, then watching it grow stronger again. I think the romances were so secondary that they're almost unnecessary, but since the focus is on the friendship and the family the main characters create together, I don't think that's necessarily a bad point. While I am not trans, I personally think the trans representation was handled really well throughout the book, and I really appreciate that all of the other characters accepted their friend for who he was. My only complaint is that sometimes it was hard to tell whether an event was happening in the present, or the past. It often took me a little bit to figure out when a scene was happening.

Overall I would say 4/5 stars!

I had read another one of Chelsea Pitcher's books, This Lie Will Kill You, and enjoyed it, so when I heard about Lies Like Poison I was very excited! Based on the summary I assumed that I was going to love it - and I absolutely did!

Lies Like Poison is filled with unreliable characters and I love that in a murder mystery. The mystery was so well thought out and executed masterfully - each time I thought I had it figured out something new was revealed that would throw me for a total loop. The characters were so well written and while unreliable, likable, and multifaceted. In my opinion, this is one of the best YA mysteries that I have read in a long time. A solid 4.5 star read.

I thought I would like this book much more than I did, which was so disappointing. It wasn't bad by any means, it just wasn't what I thought it would be.

The book starts with Poppy, Belladonna, and Lily who plan on killing Raven's stepmom. They think she is torturing him since his mom died and she remarried his dad. Someone pulls out of the plan, and they all end up going their separate ways. Lo and behold, years later, stepmom is dead and it is them who are the prime suspects.

The mystery was good, I didn't figure it out. I don't know if it was because I was in a slump in October, but this book took forever to finish. It wasn't even that long. This may have been more of a me problem than the book problem.

This book was dark, and gritty, and had me hooked from the beginning. Between the lies and the secrets and the shady characters, I wasn't sure who to believe or where to look. It was captivating and revealing in so many ways.

I think what I loved most about this book was how guilty each character seemed. Each of them did have secrets they were holding onto, things they had done wrong in their lives, but finding the big secret, who killed Evelyn, was the hard part. Pitcher masked the true story of the murder so well that it took the whole book to unveil all the facts and lies. I loved that it kept me guessing the whole book.

Also, part of what made this book so haunting and gritty was the difficult family situations the main characters were stuck in. Between abusive parents, absent parents, and no parents, most of the boxes were checked on "hard to live with parents". As well, a lot of the families were so wrapped up in this murder case that it made it even harder for the characters to leave behind. Although I hated to see these characters suffer so much from their home lives, it was a good look into how rough some people have it, no matter their social or economic status.

This book also consisted of lots of flashbacks. These flashbacks made things more interesting in my opinion. The author would hint towards a lie or a secret being kept, but then we wouldn't really learn about it until a few chapters later through a flashback. As well, these flashbacks ended up being the key to most problems. I loved that they served so many purposes and were weaved into the present storyline so well. 10/10 on that part.

My only negative to add is that I didn't really like any of the characters. I know they were all supposed to look guilty as if any of them could have committed the crime, and that wasn't my drawback. I just didn't get attached to any of the characters. I love it when my favorite character ends up being the murderer or my favorite character's love interest is. That's part of the fun for me, but I didn't really love any of these characters so I never really gained a favorite.

Overall, this was a solid murder-mystery that points out the importance of standing up for what you believe and making a family and future of your own.

It was a really interesting premise that intrigued me at first, and I can definitely see this being for a certain niche of readers. Similarities to Pretty Little Liars all the way throughout, with fresh and nuanced commentary on gender identity and abuse.

“Pain couldn’t be outrun. It was a wild, snarling creature in the forest, indiscriminately stalking its prey. There was only one way to survive it. You had to call out for other voices in the tangled woods. You had to reach for careful hands and let them pull you to safety, away from gnashing teeth and curling claws. And then, when you were strong enough, you had to reach out your own trembling hands and pull other people out of the darkness.”

Are you a fan of murder mysteries? Are you immensely fond of the fairytales you grew up with? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to experience the best of both worlds? Well, look no further, because Lies Like Poison is the perfect read for you! Following the murder of one of the main character’s stepmother, this novel is the latest work from American author, Chelsea Pitcher, who is also known for her previous works This Lie Will Kill You (2018) or The S-Word (2013).

Lies Like Poison will be a fantastic choice for younger fans of Agatha Christie, who want to keep the thrills and unravelling mystery of her prose while being able to relate to the more juvenile set of characters. Get ready, because very similarly to Christie’s timeless novels, Pitcher’s murderer (or murderers) are hiding in plain sight. You will be wary of every single character, doubting their motives and words, because everyone has something to lie about. Divided into three parts, each section is told through the rather unreliable perspectives of Belladonna, Jack, and Lily, where they reveal their past, intentions, and… alibis? Who to believe is then up to the reader; but believe us when we say it is a much more difficult task than it appears to be.

Through multiple images from some of the most popular childhood tales, such as Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, and Jack and the Beanstalk, Pitcher is able to imbue this murder mystery with the whimsical narrative style of a fairytale. The combination of both is nothing but original thanks to the retrieval of that original dark tone that the Brothers Grimm gave to their tales and adding an extra modern twist by means of present-day themes. The inclusion of fairytales reads as a way for the characters—and thus, the reader—to cope with their reality; a mechanism of survival in their abusive households. However, the harshness of truth becomes so oppressive that even the fairytales become sour, and hence, more aligned with the original versions of these tales.

Topics of abuse, societal pressure on teenagers, social issues, and mental health problems and eating disorders linked to toxic households are some of the main thematic elements around which Lies Like Poison is structured. The novel is not just a murder mystery, it is also a tale of self-discovery and self-acceptance. It is a tale about found family and learning to embrace your identity, no matter what family or people around you say. Particularly, the author explores the self-discovery of gender identity beautifully, using a gorgeous change of pronouns as soon as the character in question fully accepts his true identity.

There is no doubt that Pitcher’s protagonists are practically alive in Lies Like Poison, as such is the nuance in their personalities. Belladonna, Jack, Raven, and Lily are each incredibly unique and loveable, each too with a set of flaws and insecurities that make them unbelievable real and relatable. This is a set of characters that makes you root for them from the very first few pages and charm their way into your heart. The four main characters have such strong, magnetic personalities that the reader almost feels compelled to learn everything about them. At times, nonetheless, that plays as a bit of a disadvantage, as there is a clear unbalance in the attention paid to them. For a novel that is divided into three sections led by three different characters—Belladonna, Jack, and Lily—the focus is mostly placed on Jack. It would have been lovely to learn more about the other two. This is also the case of Raven, who is relegated to the shadows of the “damsel in distress” trope. While the reversing of the role is somewhat refreshing, it would have been immensely interesting to learn more about him, as it is not usual to find such a hypnotic, delicate, soft male character, who lets his friends be the ones to save the day—and him. Also, being the stepson of the murdered woman, one would expect him to have a bit bigger spotlight.

All in all, Lies Like Poison is a gorgeously refreshing novel; a new take on the strong trend of retellings that has been populating the field of YA. It is not a retelling, it is not a fairytale, but it takes the best traits of the two to create something unique: a pastiche where fantasy and reality collide when murder strikes the lives of four little kids who had always planned to commit a murder…but had never planned on acting on it. Are you ready to learn the recipe for the perfect murder?

While I found the story ok... the constant switching between characters felt a little confusing and not smooth at all. I did think the concept of the mystery was intriguing.. however, the whole story fell flat for me.

"I think kissing unconsciously girls is demented. So is trapping them in a castle until they fall in love. And what's with all these princesses just sitting around, waiting to be rescued? Tie your sheets together, girls. Rescue yourselves."

A murder mystery with a fairytale twist and good representation for the LGBTQ+ community? Sign me up!!

This book was so wonderful and I had trouble putting it down. The twists were enough to have my head spinning. I adored the trans and bi representation. And these characters were all so flawed and real. I couldn't tell if I loved or hated them sometimes.

Highly recommend if you're looking for a good lgbtq read, a great murder mystery, or just a beautifully written story.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for this early copy!


Trigger Warnings: child abuse, eating disorders, murder, and death of a loved one.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book much more than I was expecting. I loved how it was based around this mystery of who murdered someone, but also about four queer best friends who would do absolutely anything for each other. We have Belladonna, Poppy (Jack), Lily, and Raven who we get a perspective of and for the first half of this book they are completely unreliable characters. So, you don’t know who to believe and who is actually telling the truth. Lily’s mom married Raven’s dad and she is the evil stepmother in everyone’s eyes. Even her own daughter Lily can’t stand her mom. One day Belladonna, Jack, and Lily come up with a plan to kill her because she is slowly killing Raven. They don’t go through with it and quit being friends because of it. Later in life, the step mother is killed and it is with the flower Belladonna, which was part of the plan years ago. Belladonna is accused of murder and the friends have to come back together and solve who really murdered the stepmother.

While this was focused on the murder mystery, it also dealt with mental health and had such amazing queer characters with huge depth to them all. We see them overcome what society expects them to be and being their own person, and they all have a story to tell in this book. I had so many emotions while reading this because I became connected to all of the characters and felt for what a horrible life they have all had growing up. How they rely on each other for strength to get through their toughest days. It was a very powerful book and the characters were all so deeply written.

I loved how atmospheric this book was and how we have so many different perspectives that it is a whirlwind to read. You can’t trust a single character in the beginning because all of their whereabouts the night the step mother was murdered contradict each other, and they have all have secrets to tell. I seriously was shocked with all the twists and have to admit this was a really good YA thriller. I didn’t expect who the killer was, and it completely made sense. It wasn’t someone who would have been unbelievable, and I like when thrillers have a realistic ending.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Lies Like Poison. Overall, it was a well written book that in the end just wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Actual rating: 3.5/5
I love a good thriller, and this one was decent. I loved the idea of this story. In parts, it was just confusing. There were a lot of characters thrown out at one time. 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. The evolution of the characters was beautifully done though. I truly enjoyed watching them grow into themselves, their true selves. The representation of the LGBTQIA+ community was awesome.

When the mother of one of the core friends is murdered three years after they’d plotted to kill her, it a race to figure out if one of them is responsible. This was a relatively quick and easy read, just a little confusing at times. But I did enjoy it!