This was another revenge/get justice book and I loved it! Two in a row. I even dusted off my Kindle to read it (ebooks are not my favorite way to read). This isn't out until June 22, but put it on your list if you like psychological thrillers.
Julie Clark is an author I'm keeping a watch out for and will be buying all her books. Enough said!

All the stars for Meg! I loved this revenge story so so much!! Perfect binge worthy story with an awesome female lead. Put this one at the top of your summer pile!!

Wow! This one sucked me right in. I've come to love grifter/con-artist stories of late and this was no exception. The one thing about Meg is that she is somewhat of a Robin Hood of con-artists, taking from the rich and giving to the wronged. This one was so easy to binge. One of my favorites of summer so far.

I received an ARC of this book. This story will be on my mind for some time to come. Very complex suspense with characters that you can't help but admire even though their actions are not admirable. This author did a brilliant job of telling this story and I couldn't put it down.

This is a fast-paced, bingeable thriller that you'll want to finish in one sitting.

Con artist stories are popular right now, but The Lies I Tell is definitely its own unique story. It was a slow burn (no heart-pounding, edge-of-my-seat moments), but I truly could not figure out how the story was going to end, and I really enjoyed the conclusion!

I'm declaring this a perfect poolside read.

Read this if you liked I'll Be You or Never Saw Me Coming.

I haven’t been pulled into a story like this in so long. I binged the entire book in less than 24 hours and no regrets. Julie Clark is officially an auto buy author for me. Two slam dunk reads back to back. Well done!

This con tale is quite the journey and felt like it could have been multiple books…dare I say the perfect book for a tv series?!?!

I loved Meg and Kat and I absolutely loved how this one came together in the end.

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark
#thirtysixthbookof2022 #arc

CW: rape, revenge, con artistry, identity theft, homelessness, gambling addiction

“The difference between justice and revenge comes down to who’s telling the story.”

Meg is a con artist, and Kat is the journalist trying to expose her ten years after an incident in which Meg viciously harmed her. This book is told in dueling perspectives over two timelines, and at different points I didn’t know who to believe or sympathize with. Both women’s viewpoints are compelling and I was able to feel for them both. The cons described are interesting but not overly complicated in ways that didn’t make sense, which can sometimes happen in thrillers like this. The epilogue left open some possibilities that I’m intrigued by, and I’m curious how a book about that story would unravel.

Thank you to @netgalley and @bookmarked for the advance copy. (Pub date 06/21/22)

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

The Lies I Tell is a story about revenge. Revenge against men who take advantage of their positions of power to destroy lives, to take with they want without regard for those they hurt. It’s about Meg, a woman who’s life was destroyed as a teenager by a man who conned her and her mother out of their home, leaving them living in their car on surviving on little. Meg becomes a con artist herself, specializing in making powerful men pay and enacting her own form of justice.

Kat, a journalist looking to further her career, stumbles onto Meg’s con game and sees this as a way to finally make her big break. However, when something horrific happens, Kat believes Meg is to blame and makes it her life goal to expose Meg’s crimes. However, as Kat gets closer to Meg, she learns that the situation may not be what she had anticipated.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller! It was so smart. Clark clearly did her research in describing Meg’s cons, and cleverly laid out Meg’s intricate plot of self-delivered justice. Thrillers often have too many plot holes and are unrealistic, but I found myself nodding my head while reading and saying, “Yep, I can defiantly see how this could be pulled off.”

I also loved the way the two main characters came to become acquainted and how their lives and stories intersected with each other. Both POVs equally engaged me, and the pacing was consistent throughout the book.

The only reason this didn’t receive a full 5 stars from me is the writing style was a little simplistic. It’s very smooth and easy to read, but the books I love usually have a more descriptive and atmospheric style. But if writing style isn’t as important to you, I think you will love this book!

I’ve heard high praise about Clark’s last book, The Last Flight, and am even more eager to read it now. I’d highly recommend this book if you love con game plot lines, smart plotting and stories of revenge.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the digital arc.

I couldn't stop flipping the pages with The Lies I Tell. It was an entertaining tale of revenge although it didn't quite hit amazing read level. There wasn't really anything mind-blowing about the plot but other than that I got what I wanted from this book. It's not like a book has to be perfect in order to get enjoyment out of it.

Ten years ago, Kat Roberts had her life upended which put her on a different path. She wants nothing more to get everything back on track and opportunity comes a knockin' when she runs into Meg Williams. Kat is determined to expose con artist Meg to the world.

The story goes back and forth between the two women in the present day and you also get the background info of their lives. It's a deliciously evil read. In real life would I want to be caught in the middle of their drama? Absolutely not, but as a fly on the wall, I couldn't help but be drawn to their web of lies and deception.

This book has similarities with mindless reality tv shows. It's not going to necessarily fulfill you, but it hits the spot and that counts for a lot in my opinion.

I couldn’t put this book down!
This was a mystery that was more lies and deceit than actual thrills and suspense. I was a little worried the plot would be slow but the characters were so well developed and the plot so carefully created that I read this in one sitting.

The alternating points of view gave us a clear picture of what was happening. I loved how towards the end, the stories intertwined and made the story even more complex.

I loved how the author explored topics like privilege, trust and revenge in a unique and interesting way.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this one!

Kat has been searching for Meg for years. Finally, Meg has surfaced in Los Angelos and Kat plans to expose her to the world. You see, Meg ruined Kat's life years ago, and Kat is going to make sure that she pays.
Who knew when this book began, that Meg, a very good con artist would have me rooting for her by the end. She doesn't just pick people at random, and when you hear her reasons why, you might decide that while her actions were and are certainly questionable, her reasons are rock solid. Kat and Meg wind up playing a twisted game of cat and mouse. Just when Kat is certain that Meg is some kind of sociopath, everything is turned upside down.
That's it. That is all I am going to say because shark-infested spoiler waters surround these two women. Short chapters alternating between both characters, had me flipping the pages on my Kindle and doing extra time on my treadmill. I must have said “ what” at least a thousand times.
No question, The Last Flight was amazing, but I think I love this book even more.

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark is such a fantastic psychological suspense.
I absolutely LOVED "The Last Flight" by this author and I was very excited for this book, and it DID NOT disappoint.

The twists and turns in this cat and mouse game were excellent and left me shocked.

I enjoyed the alternating perspectives, and the ending was amazing!

“ Lies I Tell” by Julie Clark is about two women seeking retribution. Meg Williams goes by different names and different personalities depending on what she needs from the person she is with. She lost her mother at a young age after they were conned out of their family home and forced to live out of their car. Kat Robertson a reporter that has befriended Meg under false pretenses determined to expose her latest scheme, once she figures out what it is. Kat has never forgiven Meg for an incident that occurred when she was chasing a lead that Meg sent her after and thinks she may finally have her chance at payback.
The more time she spends with Meg, the more she finds she likes the woman and begins to wonder what motivations are behind the men she supposedly scammed. Is it possible that Meg is not the master manipulator Kat had thought?
This is a follow up to the authors debut “ The Last Flight” and this is just as good. This book was full of twists and turns and satisfying comeuppance for those who deserved it. There are places where you are left guessing who is the bad guy? This is sure to be one of the top thrillers of the year.

The Lies I Tell was a great read. I enjoyed the story line in The Last Flight better. Again this story had two woman at the center of it - both strong woman dealing with very different, difficult circumstances.

I admit that the first couple of chapters I wasn't sure where the story line was going. But very quickly we were made aware of most of the secrets that drove Meg to do what she was doing. Seeing all it all from both Kat's and Meg's perspectives made the story intense and move very quickly.

The ending was not what I was expecting and is still leaving me think... is this how it should end in real life? I like that I am still pondering it.

"I spend hundreds of hours on observation and research. Profiling the different people in your life, finding the ones I can befriend, the one who will lead me to you. When I'm done, I know everything I possibly can about you, and most of the people around you. By the time your saying nice to meet you, I've already known you for months. Does this worry you? It should."

Meg Williams and her terminally ill mother were left homeless when her mother's boyfriend finagled his way on the deed of their house and then tossed them out on the street. The house that had been in her family for generations. This gives Meg an idea. An idea that started back in high school.

In high school Meg was the invisible girl with hand me down clothes and her nose in a book. Kirstin, a very popular girl in school was always kind to Meg. When anyone made fun of her Kristin was always quick to chime in for her defense. One day when Meg asked why she always stood up for her, the answer was quick and simple: "It's the Girl Code. We have to look out for each other because no one else will."

Her anger for their home being stolen along with Kristen's comment set in motion a grifting scheme so intricate your head will be spinning. Meg is simply sick and tired of men getting away with using and abusing women with out any repercussions in the end. Hardly even a slap on the wrist. With her keen intelligence, wit, and charm Meg knows that she can right the wrongs that so many women have faced.

Kat, a reporter, came across Meg a decade previous and she has never forgotten how Meg tricked her into an experience that has upended her life in various ways. She has made it her mission to find Meg and make her pay. Imagine her surprise when she see's her at at an elite party for an upcoming senate candidate. Let the games begin.

"The difference between lies and revenge is who's telling the story."

This books isn't a thriller or a mystery but an intricate web of lies and deceit. I was absolutely glued to the pages in awe of what a fine storyteller Julie Clark is. This lady is smart as a whip and I was marveling at how she interwove and connected the storylines. Meg, our grifter, I was rooting for from the beginning. Yes, she's a criminal but one that is focused on helping women while bringing down the men that wronged them and if she made a couple million here or there by swindling all their money then that was just the cherry on the sundae. My only niggle, which is a very personal one, was all the real estate talk but that isn't Ms. Clark's fault that my real estate knowledge is nil. All in all this was a page-turner for this reader and I was left genuinely impressed. I never managed to read her debut The Last Flight but I plan to rectify that soon. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy.

First of all, I loved this book. Second of all, this was not a thriller, but an addicting cat-and-mouse mystery, so if you're afraid of spooky stories, you can still read this. THE LIES I TELL follows a con-artist, Meg, and Kat, the journalist who has been trying unsuccessfully for years to oust her. As she gets closer to Meg, Kat starts to wonder if Meg is actually a villain or a vigilante.

I could not put this book down, and I found the story extremely satisfying. If you love strong females quietly kicking ass, this one is for you. I don't want to say too much else because I don't want to spoil the story, but this is a book that will stick with me for a long time (and will probably get a reread!) Please be advised, there are some major trigger warnings in this, which I will list below.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for my advanced review copy! I can't wait to see what Julie Clark has in store for us next!

Trigger warnings: sexual assault, rape, drugging, gaslighting, gambling addition

I tried so hard to like this book. But I could just not get into this story. I am not fan of books told from different points of view. I found this book very confusing. It was hard for me to keep up with what was going on in the story. I am going to be honest I did not finish this because everytime I picked this book up I was lost. I am a huge fan of thrillers but this was just a thriller that was not for me.

Meg is a con artist who has used many aliases in the past. Now she is back in her home town for the ultimate con.

Kat is a reporter/writer who has been trying to track Meg for years. Kat was an indirect victim of one of Meg's previous cons.

Now they are tentative friends. Well maybe. Who is telling the truth? How much does each woman really know about the other? The book revolves around those questions.

Meg is intent on conning the one person who ruined her life years ago.
Kat is desperate for a great story that will revive the career she should have had.

The two main characters were great. Even though both women were not exactly honest, I found myself rooting for both of them at different times and sometimes at the same time.

This is my first book by Ms. Clark, but it won't be my last.

Thanks to netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc.

📖 THE LIES I TELL - REVIEW 📖

Julie Clark is back with another bingeworthy thriller!

Genre: Thriller
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (4.5/5 stars)
Goodreads rating: 4.35
PUB DATE: 6/21/22
💙Thank you @bookmarked & @netgalley for my eARC!💙

I read THE LAST FLIGHT last year and absolutely loved it- it was one of my 5 star thrillers in 2021! Ya girl is picky about her thrillers- so that's a big deal! As a result, TLIT was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022.

This one was a SUPER easy & quick read, coming in at well under 350 pages. I flew through this one.

🚨 GOOD NEWS - if you are interested in this one, like THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, this one is an option for June's BOOK OF THE MONTH! You can use the link in my bio to get your first box for $5, & snag a hard cover before this one even publishes! 😍 Check the highlight on my page titled “botm” for more info on your FAQs. 🚨

READ IF YOU LIKE:
💵 Con-artist plots
🕶 COVER STORY
👩🏻 INVENTING ANNA
💪🏼 Revenge stories
👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏻 Multiple POVs
⚡️ Fast pacing
🤫 Ulterior motives
🖤 Thrillers that are NOT violent/graphic
🐱 Games of cat & mouse
💋 Female MC vs. female MC
👏🏼 Plot AND character driven novels

In TLIT, we follow a con-artist named Meg that has been in the business for 10+ years. We also follow a second MC, named Kat, who is determined to bust Meg after her cons affect her personally. But as she gets closer to Meg, she discovers something different than expected.

I really enjoyed both characters' perspectives in this one. Oftentimes in multiple POV stories, I prefer one of the other(s), but I was equally fascinated with Meg & Kat. Both of their storylines are unique & interesting, & kept me wanting to know more.

I looooved the ending of this one! While quick & bingeworthy, I have to say, this one didn't really have many shocking moments for me... until the last couple sentences. That took this up from a 4 star to 4.5 for me!

THE LAST FLIGHT remains my fave Julie Clark novel, but I will read anything she publishes! Love her writing, & definitely recommend this one if you need something QUICK, & need a thriller that isn't dark or violent!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This book pulled me in from page one and was the ultimate page turner until the very last page. This was the first I've read from Julie Clark and I will definitely read more.
The characters were very well done, giving us just enough information to leave you questioning who was good vs. who was bad. I loved the dual POV and timeline. It was done very well, not leaving me confused, but rather quickly turning the pages to see what was happening next.
LOVED IT!