5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating
I think this is now my favorite book written by Tarryn Fisher! Rainy is such a likable character and her "disturbing past" is most intriguing. I don't want to give any spoilers on the book, but I will say the book deals with some very relevant current issues. I highly recommend this book to those who likes psychological thrillers.
I was given a copy of this book by netgalley and Graydon House. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve been a big fan of this author since her indie days and this book is just not working for me at all. I’m not feeling any kind of connection to the story or the main character. I even tried the audio and that still help.

I love Tarryn Fisher! I am a huge fan of all of her work!

While this book was a little slow in places, I couldn't put it down. Tarryn is a master of the craft and this book is no exception. Would definitely recommend for thriller lovers who are looking for a book that delves from the usual tropes!

Personally I did not love the wives or the wrong family so I thought I’d give tarryn one last shot. But honestly I wish I hadn’t there are so many good books out there I felt like this was kind of a waste of my time. I know people do absolutely love her books it just shows that one in its own we all have our own opinions. I thought this book was incredibly boring, and it’s so drawn out. The events of the synopsis don’t even occur until honestly is 75% way into the book. If you are interested in stories that follow cult members this may be the book for you personally it just wasn’t for me.

“I’m going to kill her. You’d better come if you want to save her.”

Lorraine—“Rainy”—lives at the top of Tiger Mountain. Remote, moody, cloistered in pine trees and fog, it’s a sanctuary, a new life. She can hide from the disturbing past she wants to forget.

If she’s allowed to.

When Rainy reluctantly agrees to a girls’ weekend in Vegas, she’s prepared for an exhausting parade of shots and slot machines. But after a wild night, her friend Braithe doesn’t come back to the hotel room.

And then Rainy gets the text message, sent from Braithe’s phone: someone has her. But Rainy is who they really want, and Rainy knows why.

What follows is a twisted, shocking journey on the knife-edge of life and death. If she wants to save Braithe—and herself—the only way is to step back into the past.




I really thoroughly liked this book. At first I thought it started out a bit slow and got confusing at some points but in the end I liked it and kept wanting to know more about Rainy's life in the cult. My favorite parts were the ending when the plot turned and it became more entertaining and the aspects of the cult she was in.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

After talking with some trusted sources who did not like this book, I started this one and I had a hard time getting into the book. It just wasn't grabbing me at the time, so I did not finish... I appreciate the consideration!

While I was excited for this premise - a girl's trip book with a deadly twist. The build up to that action was dreadfully slow. The pacing of the story did not work for me at all and I didn't even get to feel connected to the characters while waiting for the action to build up. And while I normally love flashback chapters, these ones felt a little too disconnected for me.

2.5 Stars rounded up to three.
I've been a Tarryn fan for many years but An Honest Lie may be my least favorite of all her books. The story has dual timelines and when it comes time for the two timelines to merge it wasn't done well in my opinion and the storyline felt rather unbelievable. The cult timeline was the more interesting part of the story. I will say the last part of the story has more action and I liked that part best. I thought it was pretty easy to figure out who was who and found the ending predictable. If you are looking to pick up a Tarryn Fisher book for the first time I would recommend with checking out one of her other books.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars

You can always count on Tarryn Fisher for an interesting story. I don't always *love* the stories but I don't think that's the point with her books. With this one, I was drawn into the characters and was trying to figure out where things were headed through the whole book. The story itself got a little far-fetched and it almost felt like started out as one story and ended with something totally different. It was this shift in storyline that really ruined this one for me.

Requested after publishing date so review was done after as well.

Whew, what can I say! I love me some Tarryn Fisher. She’s one of those mindception authors. I know when I pick up one of her titles that I am going to be in for a journey into a dark and deeply flawed person that also has such humanizing characteristics, that you can’t help but come away thinking about them for months to come. Her storylines are always twisty and bending and you never know where the journey is going to end up.

As always you don’t want to give too much of the plot away with her novels because they are best gone Into blind. Rainy has completely left her old life behind when she moves in with her boyfriend Grant. Trying to get to know his lifelong friends just doesn’t seem to be working out but she agrees to go on a girls trip to Vegas with them, against her better judgement. Part of the reason of not wanting to go there is because that is where her past lives. As we get to see her past thru her eyes and understand what exactly she’s running from we also have to deal with Braithe, a friend she went with, going missing. Rainy knows this is related to her and sets out to set her past right and rescue Braithe. The shocking things that follow will leave you turning back pages to read things you think surely you missed.

With some clapping hands I highly recommend this one, and all her previous novels.

High society housewives ✔️
Cults ✔️
Double lives ✔️

This book was a wild ride. Told in alternating timelines, we learn the backstory of Summer and the current story of Rainy. How they intertwine is told over time.

There were many aspects that kept me on my toes throughout, but at times it did seem to drag on a little bit, but by the end I realized how much all of the details mattered.

I like the housewife and cult plot lines. Two things I did not imagine I would read about in the same book. This was my first TF book so I’m looking forward to discovering some others.

An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher was… it was ok. Was it the best thing I’ve ever read? No. It wasn’t the worst either soooo…

So Summer and her mom move to the outskirts of Las Vegas after her dad dies. They are left high and dry and Summer’s mom does not want to go live with her parents so she does the next best thing in that situation-she joins a cult.

In the good ol modern day Rainy (who is Summer but all the modern day folk don’t know that) lives in Washington on a mountain filled with divas and mean girls and does not fit in, her boyfriend pushes the issue to be friends with these people who are his circle of people and she’s like “I really don’t want too but ok..” thus comes a girls trip to-you guessed it-Las Vegas, where Rainy/Summer’s past comes back to her and she’s ready for it.

Some parts were predictable. Some parts were not. It’s not a “bad book” and I finished it so it held my attention and it does get points for that.

*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion*

I couldn't get into this book. I didn't care about the characters, and the writing was so slow moving. Normally I am a fan of Fisher's work but this one fell flat for me. It was a DNF.

Reading Between the Wines book review #35/135 for 2022:
Rating: 4.5 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 📱 🎧: An Honest Lie
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: If you like flashbacks then this is the book for you. This book is told in a present/now and then narration. The blurb on this book does not do it justice. I really loved the premise of this book although it had me so mad and screaming at the characters. I felt like I was there in the throws with “Rainy” and wanted her to win so badly. Her frenemies in this book made me remember why my circle of friends are so small. Grab this book to add to your summer reads. It will read right nice on a beach or lake somewhere.

Cheers and thank you to @HarlequinTradePublishing, @GraydonHouse and @NetGalley for an advanced copy of @AnHonestLie.

#AnHonestLie #TarrynFisher #HarlequinTradePublishing #GraydonHouse #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

An intriguing thriller that alternates between timelines involving Rainy, the main character, and what in her past led her to the situation she was in today. There were several other characters who had their own motives as well that makes it for an interesting thriller. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.

What I liked: I really enjoyed the past timeline about the cult and the strong female lead of this story. What I didn’t: I found it tough to keep up with all the secondary characters and I wanted a little more from the ending.

This author writes with building strong intrigue with well-developed characters and meticulous detail. An Honest Lie was no different. Told from the view of Rainy, readers unpack a story that started in Vegas and has impacted a friend group to the core. By the title alone, I went in questioning each statement by each character and analyzing their actions. Some friends I could see gelling and others I didn’t buy. The non-linear plot line gave the book suspense and maybe some frustration to the reader when I got to the point of just wanting to know. Overall a good read for those who love mystery.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this. I absolutely loved it. I was sucked in from the beginning and couldn’t guess the ending. Will be recommending to everyone!

An Honest Lie is the first book I have read by Tarryn Fisher and I can’t wait to read more by her. An Honest Lie follows a reserved artist who escaped from a cult years earlier. Wanting to keep her past a secret she doesn’t let others into her life easily. While on vacation with a group of acquaintances , history unravels and things go awry. This is a story of perseverance, and overcoming obstacles and trauma. I love the writing style, going back and forth between present day and the past kept the story engaging. This book will keep you captivated, rooting for Rainy’s success and will leave you wanting more!

I loved this book! It was very well written and kept my attention from the beginning. My heart was beating so fast when I was reading the last few chapters! The suspense and twists were perfect! I would definitely recommend!