Review of I love it when you lie by Kristen Bird

I enjoyed this thriller. I really was invested in the female main characters and their stories. The women were such strong characters with a wonderful sisterly bond. I absolutely loved the mystery aspect.

Quick synopsis: The novel opens with Stephanie being interviewed by the town sheriff about a missing man. The reader isn’t aware of the identity. Stephanie’s three sister in laws are very close to one another and they all have very difficult relationships with their significant others. Is one of those men the missing man? Or is Stephanie’s own husband (the brother to the sisters) the missing one? And what happened to him?

Thank you to @_mira_books_ for the copy of this one. It is out tomorrow!

Kristen Bird’s intriguing novel I Love It When You Lie begins with Stephanie Williams, wife of the town mayor, answering questions in the sheriff’s office. Her three sisters-in-law- Tara, June and Clementine, along with Stephanie, are thought to be responsible for the disappearance of one of four men: “a preacher, a doctor, a professor and a mayor.”



The question to be answered is which one has disappeared and why. Tara is the oldest sister, the one who took care of her younger siblings when they spent a short time in foster care after the death of their parents. Their grandmother took the children in and lovingly raised them, and they are preparing for her funeral as the story begins.



Tara’s husband is the the town preacher, who spends most of his time tending to the needs of his parishioners rather than his wife and teenage daughter Lottie, who is rebellious. She is hiding a big secret from her husband and if it comes out, it could destroy their all their lives.



June is a nurse at the local hospital, married to a doctor from Peru. It took time for the townspeople to accept her husband, but he is well-respected now. June has had several miscarriages, and is despondent that they don’t have a baby. A tragedy with a patient becomes compounded when June does something desperate, something that her husband can never support.



Clementine is dating a much older married professor at her college, a man who is accused of sexual misconduct with his students. While she becomes wary of all of the signs that he is not the man she hopes he is, she knows that if she leaves him, he can destroy her career as a writer. When he accompanies her back home to her grandmother’s funeral, secrets are outed.



Stephanie catches her cheating husband during his grandmother’s funeral wake and decides she has had enough. Besides, she is the one who should be mayor of this small town, she has the brains and the drive to do it better than her husband.



The sisterly relationships are the core of this story. They protect each other, even if they are not always in agreement with the decisions each one makes. I liked the Alabama setting, and learning about the small town rituals, especially Decoration Day, when everyone gathers to honor those they lost with shared food, songs, and psalms.



So who disappears and who made him disappear? You’ll have to read to find out.

If you are a fan of the fantastic Apple TV+ series Bad Sisters, (as I am), put I Love It When You Lie on your TBR list.



Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Winter 2023 Mystery/Thrillers Blog Tours.

Meet the wild Williams women!

Set in Willow Gap, Alabama, Kristin Bird delivers a laugh-out-loud family saga of dark secrets and a cast of ruthless sassy Southern women in this highly entertaining domestic drama—I LOVE IT WHEN YOU LIE.

Pearl Williams is the matriarch of this highly dysfunctional family, and unfortunately, she died just days before her eightieth birthday!

Now the granddaughters will take over to keep the secrets buried and try and give their grandmother a proper send-off.

Meet the cast:
Tara, the eldest, has married the local Southern Baptist pastor. She is making a series of decisions that could scatter his flock.

June has become a nurse and has married a doctor. She will do anything to have a baby, even if her husband won't.

Clementine, the youngest, is still in college and having an affair with her professor and is blind to reality.

Their brother, now Willow Gap's mayor, has scandalized the townsfolk by marrying Stephanie, whose major crime is being a Northerner. She also knows all the family dirt.

Someone is DEAD. A slow burn mystery told from the POVs of the three sisters and the sister-in-law.

We know a crime was committed, but what happened?

The gals must bury a body and cover up a crime the weekend after their beloved grandmother dies. We don’t know who the body is until near the end. The drama alternates between the women’s lives and the unraveling leading up to the event.

Who is going to get what he deserves?

Intriguing. Different. A wicked blend of deeply buried family secrets, scandal, and lots of drama! A cracking Southern small-town suspense, crossing moral lines and landing smack in the gray areas.

A cast of strong women that will keep you entertained! For fans of author Alice Feeney and Mary Kay Andrews Will we see more of these ladies in the future?

Thank you to MIRA, the publisher, for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

AUDIOBOOK: Looking forward to the audiobook starring a full cast of stars who will further make this book come alive! Narrators: Susan Bennett, Megan Tusing, Ferdelle Capistrano, Karissa Vacker, Brittany Pressley (all favorites)!🎧 by Harlequin Audio

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDColins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Put Date: Mar 14, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
March 2023 Must-Read Books

I Love It When You Lie by Kristen Bird is a highly recommended domestic drama which is strong on character development and Southern small town ethos.

The three William sisters are gathering together in Willow Gap, Alabama, in the Appalachian foothills, to bury their grandmother, Pearl Williams. Tara, the oldest is married to the local Southern Baptist pastor. June is a nurse and has married a doctor. Clementine, the youngest, is still in college and is having an affair with her professor. Stephanie, a Northerner, is married to Walker, their brother, and Willow Gap’s mayor. The three sisters have learned some lessons from their grandmother. Stephanie has learned there family secrets and where the dirt is buried. They are all attending the funeral, but one of the men attending will also go missing before the funeral is over.

This is more of a character driven novel and study of the four women, secrets they have, and one man who will disappear before the weekend is through. Readers know right at the start that someone is dead, beyond their grandmother. Chapters alternate between the voices of the four women and each of them have a very unique voice and personality. The narrative is told in reverse chronology and each chapter provides more information about and development of the sisters.

These four women are portrayed as fully realized, singular individuals with their own concerns, secrets, and lives. They are all rooted in the customs and traditions, as well as revenge, of Southern women all handed down through the generations. As Stephanie says, "Justice would be great, but revenge is so much sweeter." The real question is which man deserves justice, because a case for revenge by the women can be made for each of them.

The writing is quite good and will hold your attention throughout. The enjoyment is found in the strong, well-developed characters and the tension found in the gradual revelation of what is really going on in this atmospheric character-driven thriller.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of MIRA Books.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Amazon.

I Love It When You Lie isn't what I expected when I picked it up. It's marketed as suspense, and there is an air of that about it, but it's really more women's fiction, in my opinion. That said, I can't say that I came away disappointed. I do feel like the blurb puts more emphasis on the bit of suspense than is warranted, but it is what it is. The book is very well written, and the characters drive the story forward. Speaking of characters, be prepared for the gray area that these women live in. That's kind of been the most consistent thing I've heard about this book: the women are morally gray. I suppose that's accurate, and I can see this book being a really good book club choice. There are so many elements perfect for a book club discussion. As for me, I found this one to be a fast-paced read, and I enjoyed the characters. It may not have been what I expected it to be, but it held on tight once it got a good grip on this reader.

I initially thought this one was a thriller but it’s more of a family drama / mystery. It’s a slow burn, which usually I don’t enjoy BUT this one was well paced and the slow burn fit well with this plot, so it really worked for me.

The book is full of varying POVs BUT the characters were so well developed that it was easy to keep everyone straight.

There are also time jumps, but the time jumps were well done, so that was easy to follow as well.

The Williams’ women have generations of secrets that were really fun to see play out. The body count just stacks up when you’re dealing with the Williams’ women.

The only things that I wanted more of was Coy. I liked the interaction with him and a certain sister when she came home. I think that would’ve added a bit more of chemistry and tension.

My favorite relationship/couple was Nic and June. That was an interesting storyline and their dynamic was so genuine. I was really rooting for them.

Susan’s part in the story added another layer which surprised me, her whole demeanor wasn’t what I expected. The manuscript would’ve made my stomach drop if I was in that position.

Overall, this book was a well laid out plot with excellent character development. Def worth the read

I Love It When You Lie is the story of three generations of women and the secrets they keep. The family’s grandmother Pearl has just died and there is another death being investigated. As the family gathers for the funeral, drama unfolds. More a family centered mystery then a thriller, fans of multigenerational family stories will enjoy this one.

When Gran, the matriarch of the family dies, it brings together the family to her home in a small Appalachian town. Each member of the family has their own secrets and a man connected to one of the William’s girls is missing.

This was an interesting mystery thriller that is told in 4 different POVs and different timelines. You will be trying to figure out who is missing, what happened, and what secrets are being hidden. This was my first book by @kristenbirdwrites but it will not be my last! I’ve already added her other book, The Night She Went Missing, to my TBR list!

Thank you @_mira_books_ and @netgalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

This was a pretty good read. There was something very special about how it all played out. The Williams family is present to bury their cherished Gran, but there are other graves being visited that weekend in addition to hers…
We were aware that police are investigating a missing person, but we were unsure of the details, including who, what, when, and how.

The story is told using multiple POVs such as the three Williams sisters and their sister-in-law. All I know is that you shouldn't mess with a Southern woman! I loved how funny these characters were, and their southern sayings made me laugh. Add to that the fact that they were unethical and morally dubious, and I was hooked.

I wouldn’t consider this book as an edge-of-your-seat suspenseful thriller, it's more of a character-driven mystery that you can watch unfold while relaxing. It did a good job of keeping my interest throughout. The lives and narratives of these women fascinated me. their advantages, disadvantages, and vulnerabilities. A quick, easy, and fun read all around!

I love a small town thriller with tons of family secrets and this was a unique one. You know someone is missing but do not find out who until the last parts of the book which is a plot I always enjoy. The characters were not perfect and at best were morally grey. I wish we learned more about Pearl as she sounded like a real spitfire and was my most liked character. The ending was a little *womp womp* for me which brought this down a notch. I have another one of Bird's books on my shelf which I will definitely be checking out soon.

First of all- big thank you to HTP Publishing for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this one was a bit underwhelming for me.
I think it's being marketed as a thriller, but it's definitely more of a domestic family drama with a bit of a mystery. It's not fast paced. The alternating timelines and POV's were, at times, pretty confusing to read.

One thing I really did enjoy though, was the setting. I absolutely loved that it was set in the south, in the Smoky Mountains, with mentions of Gatlinburg. I also loved the perspective of a Southern Baptist preacher's wife. It's not something you read very often at all.

All of the sisters had something to hide and I did like how they all tied in together at the end, but man, I had such an issue with June's character. All of the sisters were in dire need of therapy, but June was probably the one who needed it most. I found the entire storyline of her essentially stealing the baby after the mother died SO unrealistic. I work in a hospital, and it just would never happen in the way it was written. And there would be serious repercussions for June, and of course, in the book there weren't. It honestly just grated my nerves every time I had to read June's POV. I totally understand her trauma, I can't even begin to imagine the loss of a child and how that impacts your psyche, especially being a labor and delivery nurse and being around babies all the time. Like I said, homegirl needs therapy.

The ending being a cliffhanger just felt incomplete to me, and I was left with that "what the heck?" feeling. Not in the good way.
I have seen some rave reviews for this book, I just hated that it didn't work for me.

This is the third Appalachian set novel I’ve read recently. Here we have three generations of women, let by Pearl the grandmother, her daughters and a granddaughter. Gathering for a funeral this family drama unfolded quickly and I so enjoyed reading about these women, vividly and lovingly written. . We know from the start that there is another death going on and it’s fun to watch it all play out.

The Williams sisters and their sister in law are burying someone-but who? These four women all have both secrets and a man in their lives who is causing them trouble. Now that the family is together for their grandmother's funeral, things have come to a head. The reader knows that something has happened, someone has been killed and might think they know who and why but Bird does a nice job of shifting things around to keep you guessing. The characters, as annoying as they might be at times, are realistic (if morally challenged). Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Bird has good storytelling skills which make this a good read.

This story is told from four different points of view across the span of a weekend when the Williams sisters hold their grandmother’s funeral.

Meet Tara, the oldest of the Williams sisters and a preacher’s wife. Tara’s daughter, Lottie, is rebellious and all the things the town frowns upon. Tara has her own secrets as well and is tired of her absent husband.

June is the middle Williams sister and a labor and delivery nurse at a local hospital. June is married to an ER doctor and desperately wants a baby.

Clementine is the youngest of the Williams sisters and has moved out of town to pursue a literary career. In her pursuit she begins dating a professor.

Last, but certainly not least, is Stephanie, who is married to Walker, the Williams sisters’ brother. Stephanie has stood behind Walker and helped him launch his career as the town mayor, but will she stand behind the entire family?

In what is already a grief stricken and troubling weekend, either the preacher, the doctor, the professor, or the mayor go missing. What secrets are the Williams sisters hiding and who goes missing?

I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It was an excellent read and had me hooked from start to finish. I loved that the book changed from each perspective so that you could see how the story unfolded. I felt like I was actually in the story as I was reading it. Grab this one on pre-order NOW!

I Love It When You Lie by Kristen Bird is a tantalizing concoction of family secrets, sibling animosity, and small-town intrigue. If you're looking for a thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you. The story is richly atmospheric and brimming with tension, making it impossible to put down. As you delve deeper into the tale of deadly secrets and the fierce sisters who keep them, you'll find yourself devouring each unsettling reveal with relish.

Just days before her 80th birthday, Pearl Williams has the gall to up and die on everyone. Now her granddaughters must make plans for a proper send-off…all while their own lives unravel a little more each day. But Gran might not be the only one they’ll put in a grave this weekend. Because someone has gone missing in the dark Appalachian woods.


Tara, the pastor’s wife, makes a series of decisions that could scatter his flock. Then there’s June, who would do anything to have a baby of her own, even if her husband won’t. Clementine, the youngest, is entangled in an affair with her professor, desperate to ignore who he really is. Finally, there’s Stephanie, the sister-in-law—an outsider- who knows all the family dirt.

The saying "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" apparently was written for the ladies of the Williams family, who are all hiding some pretty big secrets behind their sweet Southern smiles. As they prepare for one of the hardest weekends of their lives, their worlds are crumbling down around them and they are trying to keep it all together, and do a pretty good job of it too, considering the circumstances. And as each new twist reveals itself, you just realize what circumstances they are. Hoo boy.

This is one of those stories that doesn't reveal its biggest mysteries until the very end, the victim, the killer, all of it, BAM! And I have to say that I didn't guess what was going to happen, but looking back, the author does a good job of setting everything up so that it's all there and it was slowly building up throughout the book. I mean, things could've gone several ways, which shows how talented the author is, but this ending made sense and was even capped. off with another couple twists...dun dun dun!

I just can't say enough about how throughly every little plot point was thought out and carefully placed un this story. It was magnificently done. I will absolutely be looking forward to more books from this author and cannot praise her storytelling enough.

When I read the blurb I expected a sort of Southern Gothic with dark humour. I got more than I bargained because I got a very entertaining story set if in the South, full of humour and featuring a cast of strong and morally gray women.
It's a sort of family story with a mystery part and I thoroughly enjoyed it as the characters are fleshed out and the tightly knitted plot flows.
A lot of fun and a gripping story. What's more ?
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to MIRA for this arc, all opinions are mine

After hearing amazing things about this book, I am afraid that this left me underwhelmed. The premise of the book immediate captured my attention and it started out strong. I enjoyed the setting and the southern Baptist aspect. With several morally grey characters to keep track of, I felt that the transitions between characters were disjointed and the transition between places and time were peculiar and curious at times within the chapters. I enjoyed the plot twist and the ending but for me this would not be considered a thriller, it’s more of a domestic drama. Based on the synopsis I was expecting more thrill than drama.

***** Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA, Kristen Bird, and NetGalley for the #gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.

I liked how this book started directly with the investigation and then when backwards. There was a lot to learn about many characters, so working backwards helped to get to know them.I could have benefited from a family tree somewhere in the beginning! I liked the womens stories and how it switched back in forth. I found each of their stories just as interesting.