Tara, June, and Clementine Williams are crushed when their gran, the woman who raised them dies. At least it was peacefully in her sleep. As they gather to put her to rest, all of these women and their brother’s wife, Stephanie, are hiding secrets. As we get a glimpse into each of their pasts, and what is happening now all I kept thinking was is this family an example of nature or nurture? Which ever side you land on by the end all I will say is that what happens is truly complicated.
We know that Sheriff Dean is determined to figure out what happened to an unknown missing man, and it’s someone with a history with one of these women. Each woman has a unique voice, so the fact that the story unfolded through four different POV‘s was not at all difficult to keep straight. Each of their problems/dilemmas seemed like it could very easily happen. I wasn’t a huge fan of how the story ended, but the journey was quite good.
One character who I think deserves some recognition,Sheriff Brady Dean, who could not manage to beat the Williams women. His part in the story isn’t funny, but it just struck me as so comical, since he just wouldn’t give up, but he just couldn’t beat these strong willed women.A lot of drama that kept me flipping through the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

This book was SO WOW! This book. Wow. I LOVE IT WHEN YOU LIE by Kristen Bird is exactly what I’ve been craving in crime fiction/thriller. It reads like a book club fiction - literary, suspenseful, and so many theories and secrets. The very end is ambiguous but in the best way. It’s not overly dark or violent, but just enough of everything to suck you in and keep you interested the whole ride through.
This story is told from the perspectives of the four Williams women: Tara, June, Clementine, and Stephanie. Each has their own unique voice and view of the world. All of them are strong and complicated and truly the heart of Southern women. I was so immersed in this Northern Alabama/Southern Tennessee setting that I felt like I was there. The author didn’t pull any punches when it comes to southern slang and culture and traditions. So, go ahead and do yourself a favor and get your hands on this one when you can!

I Love It When You Lie

Did you think of the Eminem and Rihanna song with that title? I know I did.

In preparation of Super Bowl and Rihanna’s half time show. I picked this as my morning read .

I know I shouldn’t have started something new when we would be hosting 40 plus people in just a few short hours but then again I’ve never been the complicit type.

With an hour to spare I finished !

I Love it When You Lie, is a deep root, family drama that will show you how far sisters will go to protect their own. There is no shortage of true southern charm with a side of biscuits and sass.

I wouldn’t necessarily consider this a thriller but more women’s fiction or family drama . Yes, there is a murder but I never felt scared or on edge as a thriller would have me.

This is a book that reads like a movie and I could easily see it being picked up for Netflix/Hulu .

Teaser :

The Williams women don’t just keep secrets…

They bury them.

The three Williams girls are as close as sisters can be, and they also share one special trait in common: each of them have a man in their lives that they could do without.

Tara, the pastor’s wife, has been stealing money from the church and would prefer that her husband stay out of it. Then there’s June, who would do anything to have a baby of her own, even if her husband is dead set against it. Clementine, the youngest, is entangled in an affair with her professor, a man whose behavior she's starting to seriously question. Their sister-in-law Stephanie, an outsider, knows all the family dirt and is watching the three of them—and the men in their lives—closely.

When the woman who raised them, their beloved Gran, dies on the eve of her eightieth birthday, the Williams sisters return home to the Appalachian foothills to bury her. But their grandmother won’t be the only one they’ll put in a grave this weekend…because now someone has gone missing in the dark Appalachian woods.

And if Gran has taught them anything, it’s how to get rid of a good-for-nothin’ man.

This was crazy good!! The writing in multiple POV was nicely done. The characters were enjoyable and ended up being a compelling story. Couldn't put it down.

Such a fun read, like Steel Magnolias with murder.

Quote: “You have no idea what it means to be a Southern woman, but you’re about to find out,” Tara said as she knelt next to the body. “It means fixing messes that the men make. It means running the Underground Railroad right under a husband’s nose, and it means rebuilding the South after fathers and husbands and brothers started the war with their stubborn pride. The women were the ones that fed and clothed and housed and had babies and buried and then got up the next morning and did it all over again.”

Clementine moved closer to Stephanie. “We can do this with or without you.” June moved in closer, and Tara stood, the three sisters forming a loose triangle around Stephanie.

“Okay.” Stephanie looked from woman to woman, sister to sister. After all this time, they were inviting her to be one of them. “I’m in.” (End quote)

Three Southern sisters and their northern sister in law have their very messy lives further entangled when they have to 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, as the story alternates between the women’s lives leading up to the event.

Well written and great fun.

I read a digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

I Just read "I Love it When You Lie by Kristen Bird". Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story follows the lives of three sisters and one sister-in-law. The three sisters were raised by their grandmother who lived a very interesting life in a small southern town. At her death, the sisters come together to say goodbye and secrets ae exposed through a narrative by all four main characters. In a way that I found fascinating, all the female leads are equally secretive and self-serving, but in the end put each other first to save their respective families and reputations. They all have somewhat sketchy pasts, and are somehow entertwined with each other to come together to resolve a 'missing person' case that affects them all.
I really enoyed the back stories of these fascinating women and found their stories to be compelling and worthy of reading. While the story unraveled slowly it was a great read to see how they would evolve throughout the story. The men in their lives are kind, but manipulative at the same time, and I think they find out just how strong and brave these women are. WHile I found some of their actions questionale, I found myself cheering them on and hoping they would find happiness.
What I liked about this book:: The strong connection of family and sisterhood and the unwavering loyalty these women had for each other. Their resilience to endure harship and protect each other from harm, no matter what the cost. Finally,, they way that they stood tall and proud against (or with) the med in their lives. I espeicially loved the way thay they came together to protect and support the young daughter of Tara, named Lottie. That was awesome.
What I didn't like. The ending was a little quick and some parts were quite ambiguous (especially Clementine). But I guess it made the end of the novel more thought provoking.
Overall, the author wrote a great book, well paced and filled with tough choices and a wonderful peak into the world of Southern pride and the whole Steel Magnolia feeling of women sticking together to protect their own. There were some surprises especially at the end, which definately gave the book an overall great ending.
Bravo to the author for writing such an interesting and entertaining book.
Happy reading everyone.

Seen this one all over my IG so was very excited to get to read it!!! This was a really good thriller. It kept my interest which books have had a hard time lately. It also wasn’t confusing. The cover is pretty and really enjoyed this authors writing.

If you enjoy a family drama with some suspense then this would be a great fit for you! I enjoyed reading about these sisters and found the plot to be very intriguing!

I always love a good story set in the South and this one was fantastic. It’s about sisters who love each other fiercely - they return home for their grandmother’s funeral, but end up burying someone else also. They will protect each other at all costs. So much cool history of the culture there is woven through the story. Def recommend.

This was an absolutely stunning story in the vein of a southern Big Little Lies. I was so sucked in to the setting and the characters, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, I didn't. This is going to be in a lot of top 2023 lists!

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This was such a fun character drama/suspense read, and it ended up being not at ALL what I expected when I started, but in the end, that wasn't a bad thing.

With intertwining POV and storylines from three sisters and one sister in law, in the days leading up to their beloved grandmothers funeral, each one gives a peek into the absolute destruction that is their personal lives. And with each chapter, you get a little bit closer to finding out which of their significant others is the one that they are secretly burying in the first chapter of the book.

This is one that you will benefit from going in totally blind so you can just let yourself sink into the story. But should be on readers lists for this winter/spring, as it is one that will totally satisfy.

Edge of your seat suspense. Really enjoyed this story! Twisty and unpredictable this book gripped me right from the start, I couldn't put it down and didn't know who to trust. Grab your copy today.

My very first book by this author and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Such a good book. Will be picking more up by this author.

Ahhhh I absolutely loved this book! Kristen Bird is an outstanding writer, and I love that it was set in my home state! Also loved the twists!

This was boring to me. I skimmed most of it. The characters were all flat and the plot felt overdone.

Whoa. Just whoa!
I am shook right now.
First, this story was full of suspense and moments that down right shocked me. The Williams family knows no bounds! Like, at all. This is a family that you never want to get on their bad side. If anything, you either don’t want to know them at all or you need to be on with the women circle within this family. From Gran, Tara, June or Clementine, these women are strong, smart and believe in the power of blood is thicker than water!
This story was way out there and also so weirdly relatable on some levels. And I mean only some strongly.
The points of view of all of the women, even the extended women of the family. If you’re married in, you can easily become a part of the circle. And that’s probably a better spot to be, better than standing on the outside.
Twists, turns, curveballs and all the crazy wrapped up in an amazing story of family strength. But I will say, the ending was a shock of a cliffhanger. So, I’m gonna need more. STAT!
Absolutely enjoyed this ride. But I'm also happy to be off the ride for a minute, I need to catch my breath!
4.5 crazy suspenseful stars ✨

Thank you Netgalley and Publishers for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I Love It When You Lie is an intriguing suspense full of family secrets. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and there were some good twists throughout which kept me turning the pages. I look forward to reading more from Kristen Bird.

This is a seriously dysfunctional family, but I loved the sisters.

There are three sisters (and one brother with a sister in law). Tara is the oldest sister and is married to a pastor and they have a daughter, Lottie. Tara isn't quite doing things in a Christian way. She and her husband haven't been close in a long time and their daughter is acting out. June is married and desperately wants to be a mom. She gave birth to a baby that had the cord around her neck. As this book starts, she just had a miscarriage at the start of her second semester. June works as a nurse at the hospital. Clementine is the youngest and actually moved away from their small town. She was a toddler when her parents passed away and she only knows her grandma as her mom. And Tara who took care of her a lot. Clementine is dating a much older man. She isn't sure if she loves him, but she's still with him. This man is married and now has accounts coming out from other students that he took advantage of. Walker is the oldest. He's the mayor, married to Stephanie (an outsider) and has three kids. Stephanie isn't really liked by any of the siblings. She's never fit in with them and they've kept her at a distance.

When their grandmother passes, everyone goes to the house to prepare. We find out early on that someone is missing, but not who. The police are questioning everyone, but we really just see Stephanie's interview. She has to decide if she'll keep all the family secrets and there are a lot of them. The siblings have questionable morals and some commit crimes. Their grandmother was accused of killing her own cheating husband. But they could never prove it enough to charge her. It seems that all the kids are very much like her.

This family is something. I did love how close they were. This was a family that came together for each other when needed, no matter what.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

Thank you HTP Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

3.5 rounded up

Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 3/5

SYNOPSIS

Four Williams women. One missing body. Generations of secrets.

MY OPINION

This book was like a darker version of The Graduate (novel) meets Rumor Has It (film)... with some other stuff added to it. I wouldn't classify this as a thriller, or really a suspense, it was definitely closer to women's fiction. The bulk of the book revolves around the women's issues faced by Clementine, Tara and her daughter Lottie, June, and Stephanie. The missing persons thingy is really left until the end and isn't important to the overall theme of the book which is: being a woman is an uphill battle LOL.

I really like the witty writing (although I wish the jokey jokes had been more consistent throughout, it definitely got less funny as it went along) and the small-town Alabama setting. I've lived and worked in Virginia and Georgia, so I'm familiar with the general attitudes and culture of the South. The author was definitely tryna give the South some good press by pointing out that not all religious Southerners are bigots.

Regardless of your standpoint, Bird does a fantastic job creating morally grey characters. It's interesting to read about a pastor's wife (Tara) struggling with her belief in God, June's disdain with the microaggressions agains her Peruvian husband, Nic, and Clementine's desire to "come up" in the world by moving to New York and pursuing academia. Stephanie, well ironically (or perhaps intentionally done by the author) was the most selfish and a mute bystander to her husband's casual racism everyday just so she could live vicariously through his political "success". Tbh my dog Nobu has more influence than her husband sooo was it worth it Stephanie???

While Tara, June, and Clementine said no to racism, they weren't perfect by any means. Each woman jumps head first into a moral grey area: pilfering from the church, stealing a baby, and dating a man accused of sexual misconduct. I can see the Williams' women inspiring a many good debates in book clubs. I'll just say it though: do NOT steal babies. Just... no. Adopt a puppy or something but do not steal a damn baby!!

The reason for 3/5 on the plot was because there wasn't much going on. It was really focused on the characters' inner thoughts and the events that shaped them versus the present. Like I said, the missing persons really only came front and center for about 10% of the book. I felt that Stephanie's police interview was unnecessary and really only there to fulfil a pillar of the thriller/suspense genre so it could be marketed as such. And the ending was quite abrupt too. I'm not sure if Bird plans on writing a second book, because the ending was quite ambiguous LOL. When I saw the acknowledgements header I was like AHT AHT, get your ass back here Bird and finish this off properly!!!! A cliffhanger with no series in sight is sooooo annoying (to me).

All in all, an interesting look at the lives of four Southern born and bred women and their personal struggles.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: well-written, solid wit (kinda tapers off though), interesting morally grey characters

Cons: no plot really, the missing persons ordeal felt like it was added just so this book could be marketed as a suspense/thriller...

I’ve done pretty-well on popular books this year, but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Pearl has died days before her 80th birthday. Now her three granddaughters must plan her send-off…all while their own lives being in turmoil. But when a body goes missing in the Appalachian woods – they begin to wonder if there’s going to be more than one burial this weekend…

I am the odd one out on this one so far. Most of the ratings I saw for this one gave it 4 or 5 stars, sadly I will not be contributing to those reviews. I found this one rather slow, and boring. I did give this one until 50% until giving up, because I had read that you did get sucked into it eventually – but that eventually never happened for me. The three points of view were nice, but I wouldn’t say they were done well. I did enjoy the personalities of all the sisters even if I thought they were horrible people. I also found the sheer number of characters to be overwhelming and added to the confusion I felt when reading this. Even though this one wasn’t for me, I am in the minority from what I’ve seen. So, I implore you to check this one out even though it wasn’t for me – it might be the five-star read you’re waiting for.

If you are looking for a suspenseful mystery full of southern charm, then you will enjoy this one. It’s out March 14th 2023. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Group, and @netgalley for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.