I have anxiously been awaiting another book from @anniewardauthor for years. I absolutely loved Beautiful Bad, so I was beyond excited when I saw this book set to release this year. I was also floored that Annie was kind enough to send me a copy when I let her know how excited I was for her new book!

Of course I dropped everything for it! If you like books like Big Little Lies you will absolutely love this one! I highly recommend this one and also The Beautiful Bad!

I hope she writes another one ASAP!

The way this book sounded I was thinking it might be along the lines of housewives type of drama but it ended up being far more than that. It does have a slow beginning and takes a while for the story to truly unfold, but that isn't to say it is a hard read at all, just a slower pace. It's the kind of book where you don't really like anyone, but you're still trying to figure out who might be good or bad and when everything truly came together it suddenly really picked up. If you're looking for a book that is full of tons of twists and turns, this is definitely a thriller that would fit the bill.

The Lying Club by Annie Ward, shares a thrilling story featuring about rich and entitled teenagers; and their mothers who will do anything in their power to ensure their child's success.  This cleverly written tale will slowly draw the reader in and keep them hooked until the end.

The Lying Club delivered a scintillating and twisted tale of murder, secrets, manipulation, gaslighting and revenge. The story began with the discovery of two bodies in the school gymnasium. However, the story gave no clue as to the victims’ identities until about the last twenty-five percent of the story. Natalie, the office assistant for the elite school, was fingered as the suspect for one of the victims. She was believed to be the last one to see this person alive. But did she do it, or was she just in the wrong place at the time? She certainly had motive and opportunity. But so did many other people in this twisted tale.

The Lying Club provided details of the events prior to and after the tragedy. Majority of the characters had issues and frankly not very likeable. All, except for Natalie, had a sense of entitlement because of their status in life. Natalie, on the other hand, obsesses about being a part of this crowd which led to her doing questionable things. As the story dug into her past, my connection with her grew.

Now, with all honesty, I did not sympathize with the person the authorities suspected Natalie of killing. The person in question displayed a narcissistic personality. The story kept me on the edge of my seat as the events in the past connected with the present. As the story moved between the before and after events, the suspense grew. This made putting the book down a difficult task.

Fans of psychological thrillers would get a thrill out of The Lying Club with its well-crafted plot, twists, suspense and dramatic turn of events.

Rich, private school kids and their parents. It’s like this book was made for me. I was very much looking forward to reading The Lying Club by Annie Ward. It sounded like mystery and intrigue and scandal. Just what I like.

The story follows a few different families in an affluent neighborhood where no one’s perfect life is as good as it seems. I quite enjoyed that we got to see perspectives from both the teenagers and the parents and the struggles between the two. It was interesting to see how the things they were hiding from each other affected the story and led it along. Ward did a good job feeding one storyline into another to show how they connected as the story pieced together.

There was one thing about this book that bothered me. Some of the behaviors seemed a little bit over the top and more inappropriate than most individuals would deem normal. At times it was so over the top it didn’t feel very realistic, which made it harder for me to enjoy.

With that said, the flow of the story was good and one story fed into the other as the story built and I enjoyed how I knew what the story would do because of the initial reveal at the beginning of the book. Knowing the outcome, but not how it got there kept me flipping pages. I’m curious to see what comes next from Annie Ward and even though I had issues with The Lying Club, I definitely intend to check out more from her.

A masterful escape into the lives of students, teachers, coaches and parents on a wealthy Colorado suburb. Students get caught up in setting. Parents get caught up in cheating. The storyline is fast paced and highly entertaining.

Natalie Bellman works as an administrative assistant at the exclusive Falcon Academy. She has come to know who the big players are at this school. Brooke is extremely wealthy and the mother of Sloane. Asha sells real estate and is the mother of Mia. Both school girls are very active in sports and have been very good friends through school. But as they eye college in the near future with an emphasis on sports, they know that two girls from one place would never be chosen. So, which one of them will it be? Nick is the handsome coach admired by students and mothers alike.

There is disharmony is the marriages of Brooke and Asha which causes much upset for them and their children. Gossip and cattiness abound. Money doesn’t always make one’s life good. These women have a lot of problems.

Natalie has eyes for Coach Nick and ends up being his girlfriend. She has secrets of her own and takes pills to try and regulate her moods. She is unsure about this man she cares for and worries about some of the students he coaches. So when she wakes up in her car outside the school, she knows that some of the medication she is taking has made her pass out. It’s when she goes inside the school and finds something shocking, she wonders what she could have done!

This was a good story that kept me guessing for some time about what was going on. The wealthy women involved are characters that have been well-written. Brooke, especially, is a piece of work. However, she is a good mother. I liked the book and found it very enlightening and why I would never let a school have that much control over my children. Oops! Hope that wasn’t a spoiler. Enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is full of lies, deceit, and half-truths — it was such a fun + fast read that’s full of unlikeable characters and toxic relationships. Annie Ward is such a talented writer and this was a gem of a psychological thriller.

I also loved that Scissors and Scotch got a shoutout in the book — that’s where my husband gets his hair cut here in Denver. 😂

Thank you to HTP books for my physical copy and NetGalley for my e-copy!

From my blog: Always With a Book

I absolutely loved Annie Ward’s last book, Beautiful Bad, and have been so eager for her to write something new so of course I jumped at the opportunity to be part of the blog tour for The Lying Club and I am so glad I was…this is another book that is captivating and full of surprises from start to finish.

This book is being comped to Big Little Lies and I have to say it definitely has that feel to it, but I think it’s a bit darker which I loved. An elite private school, rich parents who will do anything for their children, adults behaving badly…it’s just a recipe for disaster and yet when you add in some major drama that involves two bodies and three women who are potential witnesses/suspects how can you possibly walk away?

This book immediately drew me in and every time I thought I had put my finger on the pulse of what was really going on, a new twist would be revealed to throw me off-track. There were so many moving parts to this story that kept me glued to the pages and very slowly the layers are peeled back. It is such a juicy, drama-filled story that is full of secrets and revenge and lies and I loved seeing how all the characters interacted with each other. They are definitely not all what they seem to be and I love books like this because it really keeps me on my toes.

I really enjoyed this book – not only is it fun and entertaining, but it is quite suspenseful, too! I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Natalie Bellman lives a quiet life as an office assistant at a private school in Colorado. She often comes in contact with the wealthy mothers of the students at her school. She knows she could never be like them. Then, she falls in love with the school’s athletic director and everything changes.

Brooke Elliman wants what is best for her daughter. As far as she’s concerned that would be getting her daughter into a good soccer program. For that she needs the help of the handsome athletic director, who Brooke wouldn’t mind getting into bed with - especially since her husband left her.

Then there’s Asha Wilson. Her daughter is in direct competition with Brooke’s. Asha will do anything to get the athletic director on her daughter’s side. Meanwhile, she’s also wondering if her husband could be cheating on her.

The tension between all three women increase when two bodies are taken out of the school.

I was immediately drawn right into this story. I was hooked from the Prologue. Throughout the entire book I was trying to identify the good guys from the bad guys. Not an easy task with a cast of characters so secretive, scheming and conniving.

It’s a twisty, sometimes soapy, drama that reminded me of Big Little Lies right from the start. I can easily see this book played out on a movie screen. It kept me captivated until the last page. Just when you think it’s all figured out, it’s really not.

This is a new-to-me author, but she’s on my radar now. I will be on the look out for more books by Annie Ward.







FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

There are lots of twists and turns in this thrilling murder mystery standalone story.
I was definitely caught up in the plot. But there really were no likable characters, which is a bit of a pet peeve for me.
It takes place at an elite private school and starts out with two bodies being removed from the school but goes back to the time leading up to that and keeps the reader guessing who the murderer is and also who the victims are!
A wonderful story for fans of twisty plots that uncover cheating and lies all around.
-3.5 Stars-

Review of The Lying Club by Annie Ward

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. It was action packed drama from start to finish which mostly unlikeable characters but some who surprised me quite a bit by the end which is unusual but a great twist by itself. I definitely will be reading from this author again in the future.

Quick synopsis: Asha is a loving mom with marriage problems. Brooke is now single but very wealthy and mom to a rising soccer star. Natalie is a young single assistant at their children’s prestigious school. When someone associated with the school dies it brings these women together in ways they could never imagine.
Big thank you to @netgalley and @parkrow for the copy of this book that is out now! Can’t wait for the buddy read discussion with #theyearofnetgalley!!

The Lying Club by Annie Ward is a thriller novel. The story in The Lying Club is one that is done in a before and after format around an event taking place in the Prologue going back to before that event until it catches up and goes beyond. It also is one that changes the point of view between several characters to give all sides of the story.

The Lying Club is centered around an elite private school nestled in the Colorado mountains. Natalie works in the office at the school and wishes she had the life the rich families that attend have. Asha’s daughter Mia attends the school and is best on again and off again friends with Brooke’s daughter, Sloane.

The women Natalie envies may look perfect on the outside but they all have their own issues. Asha works in real estate and has found out she’s expecting all the while trying to figure out if her husband is cheating on her. Brooke on the other hand is usually the other woman even though she is married. The moms both have Mia and Sloane in private coaching with coach Nick who Natalie has had her eye on at the school.

I have to admit starting off The Lying Club I wasn’t sure if I would end up even liking it as the characters aren’t exactly the most likable, often thinking they were rather despicable really. However, what drew me into the story was the secrets and lies to eventually be followed by some twists and turns. By the end of the book I was loving the complete turnaround the author worked into the story and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out how the tangled web would finally unweave.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Lying Club is my first book by Annie Ward. I enjoyed it and I will certainly look forward to reading another one. Set at an elite private school - the book opens up and we know there are two bodies but we have to read to find out the who, what, when, and where of it all. The book follows 3 women - Natalie - the office assistant at the school; Brooke that wealthy mother who throws her wealth and affluence around; and Asha, a realtor and mother of two with a husband who she thinks is cheating on her. Its really a cast of unlikeable characters but what a train wreck of twists and turns, back stabbing and jealousy. Its kind of like a soap opera on steroids. It took me just a little bit to get invested in the storyline but once I did I finished it rather quickly. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin trade Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I did grab an audiobook from my library to listen along to as i read and I must say the narration was great on the audiobook.

<b>Note:</b> I received an advanced copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing via NetGalley.

At an elite private school nestled in the Colorado mountains, Natalie, an office assistant, dreams of having a life like the school moms she deals with every day. Women like Brooke—a gorgeous heiress, ferociously loving mother and serial cheater—and Asha, an overprotective mom who suspects her husband of having an affair. Their fates are bound by the handsome assistant athletic director Nicholas, whom Natalie loves, Brooke wants and Asha needs.

But when two bodies are carried out of the school one morning, it seems the tension between mothers and daughters, rival lovers, and the haves and have-nots has shattered the surface of this isolated, affluent town—where people stop at nothing to get what they want.

What was even happening in this book? All the people in this book were wacked out crazy. I did not like any of the girls, they were all extremely dislikable characters.

This is my first book I've read by this author and I loved it!! Filled with high profile families, their dramas, their deceit, and their deceptions. This is a delightful to read and I was sorry to see the story end!!! Perfect for fans of Jackie Collins.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book in advanced in exchange for my honest review! The Lying Club is a slow burn thriller that follows three women. There are secrets, lying, and more to build up the anticipation for The Lying Club. The action picks up towards the end but I enjoyed her writing style a lot!

Natalie Bellman is an office assistant at the Falcon Academy, an elite school nestled in the Colorado mountains and attended by mostly the children of the town’s affluent families. But it’s their charismatic soccer coach Nicholas Macguire, better known as “Coach Nick,” who has her attention and heart. Coach Nick is popular with all the ladies and moms, including Brooke Elliman, the town’s wealthiest who also has a roving eye despite being married. Her daughter Sloane is one of the two soccer team standouts, along with Mia Wilson whose mother Asha is anxious to have him help her daughter get accepted at the university of her choice. Things get dicey when two bodies are brought out from the school one morning and police are there to investigate. But there are a few people there who know exactly what happened.

There was a comparison of this story to Big Little Lies, which got my attention. While there’s a similar, underlying vibe, it’s a completely different tale and one I enjoyed a lot. It opens with the event where two bodies are dispatched from the school and then goes back in time to tell the story leading up to that day. Told from the points of view of Natalie, Brooke and Asha, it was impossible to know where it was going but I got a clear view of all three of these characters, boils and all. I liked Asha a lot but Natalie and Brooke weren’t as likable, more like two trains on the way to wreckage you couldn’t stop watching. In the midst of it all was Nick who was sort of an enigma, someone you struggled to figure out whether he was a good guy or up to something.

I finished this book in a day because it was such a puzzler and I was desperate to get answers. Whenever teens are involved, you can count on them being unreliable narrators who muddle up the mystery. It’s just natural for them to keep secrets from adults and it was clear that was at play here. It’s a slow build while time is taken to fully flesh out Natalie, Brooke and Asha, which I’ve learned to be patient in the process. Thank goodness I did because it was worth it by the time the last third of the book unfolded. It’s a complicated and diabolical plot that was a popcorn-worthy listening experience. I’m such a fan of the narrator as Teri Schnaubelt is a talented storyteller. She mastered this story, keeping it edgy and well paced. I had a good time with this one, even though I was fairly clueless until close to the reveal. Someone needs to make this into a movie!

Natalie Bellman is an administrative assistant at an exclusive private school in an affluent Colorado neighborhood. She spends much of her time off attending real estate open houses, wishing that she could afford one of these beautiful homes and also using the opportunity to steal whatever pills she can find in each house. As part of her job at the school, she has to cater to the rich and sometimes demanding parents of the students. One of the worst to deal with is Brooke Elliman, whose freshman daughter, Sloane, is an excellent soccer player. Another star player is Mia Wilson, whose mother Asha is the real estate agent at many of the open houses Natalie attends. They are all affected when one morning, two bodies are carried out of the school and police detectives try to get to the bottom of what occurred.

This is a book with characters that are hard to connect with, but most still have some rooting value. I was hoping for the best for most of them, even when they made poor decisions. The book is very engaging and although the book is fairly long, it was a quick-moving, entertaining story. It switches back and forth between two timelines and different points of view. It starts out interesting and has a light, gossipy feel as you learn about the main characters and some of the affairs and scandals going on in the wealthy neighborhood of Big Elk Estates. However, as more things are revealed, the story gets darker. There are several suspicious characters and it takes a while to figure out everything that is going on. Some of the subject matter is disturbing because there are characters being manipulated and abused.

There really isn’t a “lying club” in the book, but there are a lot of lies! Detectives Beth Larson and Ken Bradley try to separate the truth from some of those lies to find out what happened at The Falcon Academy. I have mixed feelings about the ending. Parts of it are satisfying because most of the characters get what they deserve, either good or bad. Other parts of the ending require the reader to suspend disbelief, but I can get past that. What I didn’t like was the ambiguity of how things are left at the very end. Some readers will like the chance to make their own assumptions, but I prefer to have a more buttoned down ending. This is a suspenseful book and I recommend it as long as you know going into it that it isn’t a cozy mystery and some of the events that occur could be hard for some to read.

~ Christine

Oh wow I really enjoyed this mystery thriller read. So engaging from the beginning, so many drama and conflicts and twist and turns, everyone is lying, everyone has secrets, everyone has dark past, so yeah it's quite complex. This book is a multi POV story, so it's kinda upped the mystery and suspense for me, it makes me suspecting lots of people, and makes it fun to read.

It was started with a body found at an elite private school, then the story went back to the past where drugs, lots of alcohol and crazy messed up disturbing stuff happened. I love how the author keep me guessing who's the victims and who's the culprit the entire time, it keeps me turning page after page, when I think I figure it out there's always a new twist that makes me change my mind.
As for characters, this book is full of crazy characters, well some caused by drugs and alcohol but there's that someone that just pure evil. There are some characters that even though I hate them at the beginning, the more I read the more I invested with their story and in the end I totally understand why they did what they did and I sympathize with them and in the end I admire these people who will do anything to protect their family and to be a better person.

Love the story, love the plot, admire the main characters, so overall I really love this book and I highly recommended this book to anyone who's looking for a fast-paced page-turner mystery thriller that full of drama.

What a great book. Natalie, a admin assistant for an elite high-school wakes up in her car with no memory of the previous night, but gripping a mans tie. She has recently moved to the area to help care for her brother who has recovered from an accident.

Asha and Brooke are parents of 2 young girls who are soccer stars. We then meet Nick, the drop dead coach who Brooke and Natalie are vying their attention for.

This book takes you on a wild ride. I look forward to reading more by this author!