Trigger Warnings: Physical child abuse

Do we truly know what those who are closest to us are? Can we see everyones true self, especially when it is so easy and normalized to wear a mask to hide who we truly are?

"Everyone Here Is Lying" by Shari Lapena follows the disappearance of 9 years old, Avery Wooler. Unlike other mystery novels I have read recently, we are told the story from the viewpoint of the characters involved. This gave such a unique perspective to the story because there was so much more character development. As the story transitioned through the different characters, we were able to feel so many more emotions. Shari took us through an emotional rollercoaster from the scared and frantic family of the victim to the emotions of the individuals and their families being questioned or even arrested. I felt such deep emotion and heartbreak, especially with those who felt fault and guilt.

It's terrifying to imagine how quickly things can go wrong. I want to see the good people, and you should tell that the characters also wanted to see the good. But in the next breath, someone you are super close to or you may have never thought could can be capable of some of the darkest things. It is truly bone-chilling.

For those of you looking for a suspenseful read that will keep you guessing, the first half of the book will make you happy. But I must also let you know, the and half of the book, although not overly suspenseful, may just shake your trust of those around you. Sidenote: This would make an excellent book club read!

A thank you to Net Gallery for allowing me to review such a page turner. I couldn't put it down!

3.5 rounded up

William and Nora are neighbours who live down the street from each other, they’re also having a secret affair. But the day that Nora ends it with William, is also the day that William’s nine year old daughter, with behavioural problems, goes missing, and William is the last person to see her.

I felt like I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough during the first 2/3 of this book. I was so hooked! I needed to know what happened to William’s daughter. But once we found out what happened, it just went downhill a little for me.

I did like how all the neighbours were introduced at different times- it made the connections much more easy and was more straightforward.

Because I was so hooked at the beginning, I did give it a higher rating.

Shari wasn’t lying when she titled this book, “Everyone Here is Lying”



Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a DRC. Everyone Here is Lying is available July 25.

This book had a lot of twists and turns that kept me intrigued. Right up until the end, I was interested and wanted to know more. I must admit I did not like any of the characters, but that's what kept me reading because everyone here is lying

This is my first exposure to this author and I was not disappointed. Lapena has delivered a fast paced and deliciously wicked tale. The characters are well rounded and come across as believable, whether you love them or hate them. This provocative, somewhat dark and twisted story grabs you from the first page and keeps you guessing until the very end where the author inserts a deliciously wicked twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Shari Lapena never disappoints! This book grabbed me on the first page and took me on a wild ride. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Just went you think you've figured it out, you're dead wrong! 5 brilliant stars for one of my favorite authors.

Rounded up from 3.5
When Nora decided to end her affair with William, he got blindsided. When he got home, angry and longing for some alone time, he is upset to find out that his difficult 9 year-old daughter, Avery, walked home from school by herself despite the fact that she's been told to wait for her brother, Michael. He loses his temper before walking out. Mere hours later, Avery is nowhere to be found. But the neighborhood is a safe one... until it isn't.
This is a mystery, and although I loved other books by Shari Lapena, this one was not my favorite. I felt like the pacing was off. The first quarter got me really invested, but then it started dragging a lot and got a bit redundant. And then it picks up again in about the last third, but then it draws on again for a while after the twist, which came on pretty early and was pretty unbelievable. Almost none of the characters are likable, some of them are even despicable. As for character development, it felt very shallow as it's told in third person and we hop from one point of view to the other, we never get to really sink our teeth into any of them. I would have to get much more backstory on Avery. I liked that this book contains lots of very dysfunctional families with many secrets and lies. The author really had me suspecting everybody in the book and I had no idea what was going on. I have to give the author that: it takes a lot for me to really actually hate a character. IYKYK.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book caught me right from the start. I love when a good thriller does that!
9 year old Avery goes missing, a shocking event to happen in the subburbs of stanhope.
Throughout the novel I was kept guessing as to who the culprit was and what happened. There were so many suspects, so many lies and so many small truths. Kept me guessing!!
Domestic thrillers are becoming a favorite of mine.
Thank you netgalley and penguin random house for letting me read this ARC!

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!

I stared in awe at the cover of this book, my mouth agape when I was approved to read this ARC!

Lapena is one of my favorite authors!

And she hit it out of the park with this book! What a ride!

A butterfly flaps it's wings. Talk about chaos theory. A series of actions and events that contribute to a disaster is at the crux of this book.

I couldn't put this wild ride down! It has made its way to my favorites of 2023.

You will love this book!

Everyone Here Is Lying is the newest domestic thriller by Shari Lapena, and wow! What a book! It kept me glued to my chair from beginning to end, and that's been a difficult thing for a book to do for me lately.

It doesn't take long for the author to get us right into the heart of the story, within the first chapter we are already getting a feel for the dynamics of the Wooler family, and the scene is set for their nine year old daughter, Avery, to disappear.

I was fully immersed in this story of two families (and indeed their whole neighbourhood) intertwined in a potential tragedy. I had my suspicions about who the culprit could be fairly early on, but at about the halfway point the book took a turn, and although part of my theory was correct, I was also very surprised at what was revealed.

The book is told from many points of view so we get to see the thoughts of many of the characters, making you wonder if one or more of them is unreliable and was involved in the kidnapping and possible murder of Avery, or if they were indeed innocent. I just loved this approach.

I almost wish I could go back and read this again for the first time, I enjoyed it that much.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing a free copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

One thing about me, I will abandon my sleep schedule for a good thriller, and this was one of those occasions!

The story is about the Woolers - a nice family who live in a nice, safe neighbourhood. However, when William Wooler ends his affair (or rather, she ends the affair with him), and gets home early to his difficult 9-year-old daughter Avery home alone when she should be at school, a conflict occurs. Later that day, Avery is declared missing.

What follows is an engaging, suspenseful domestic thriller that had me guessing the entire time. There are several suspects, each with a story, and each with a reason to lie about what may have happened. I'm not a fan of books that end immediately after the satisfying moment, but I still thought it was a clever way to conclude the story. I will say that I had to keep reminding myself that Avery was 9 and that her behaviour and dialogue couldddd be possible for someone that young, but it maybe would have been more believable if she was 11 or so.

All in all, I really enjoyed this, devoured it in 2 nights, and already have my third Lapena novel on deck because she just knows how to write a quick, snappy, engaging novel that keeps you guessing and has good payoff! Solid 4-4.5/5.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I found myself wanting to know what happened to the Wooler Family and especially their daughter Avery.

Spoiler!!

How does a 9 year old go missing?

Avery father’s was the last to see her in the kitchen before he stormed out after their argument - and yes, he hit her.
He failed to mention any of this to the police.

Was it her friends oolder brother who lives across the street?
How about the boy that lives at the end of the road that got mixed up in drugs last year,… not to mention his mom is having an affair, but won’t say with who.

When the news fails to report who the eye witness is things really start to get heated in the small quite town of Standhope, NY.

The twist and turns in this suspenseful thriller will have you on the edge of your seat.

There is something about the way Lapena writes a suspenseful thriller that has me so hooked.I can’t put the book down until I know the whole story.

Shari Lapena is an outstanding writer when it comes to suspenseful thrillers!

ARC provided by NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say.. everyone really was lying.

This story follows the disappearance of 9 year old Avery Wooler, while her family and the families in the surrounding neighbourhood work with the police to try to track her down. As you go along, you discover that each of the families involved all has a stake in the game in one way or another. But who took Avery? At one point on another I think I suspected every different character in this book!

The only slightly negative thing I will say is that I wish the author held out on where Avery really was for a bit longer!

interesting story, only complaint is that the ending was a little rushed. i liked all the different characters/motivations

Lapena is one of my go-to suspense authors, and this, too, does not disappoint. I was intrigued from the beginning and read it over one day because I needed to find out why everyone was lying! And lie they do! Great mystery, suspenseful, and a twisty ending.

I received the ARC of Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #sharilapena #everyonehereislying

I Have just finished reading Everyone Here is Lying, my first book by Author Shari Lapena.

I have had several books on my want to read list by this Author for quite some time, but just never gotten around to read them.

Wow – Did I enjoy this book, and will be reading more works by this author very soon.

The story starts us off with William Wooler, who is a very popular doctor, having an affair with a co-worker.

He and his wife have a challenging life at home with two children. Their daughter Avery is very difficult with some disabilities.

Avery goes missing after coming home from school.

The story from this point just does not stop with page after page of events.

I really could not put this book down, and have already referred it to many friends.

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Shari Lapena, and Penguin Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada for my advanced copy to read and review.

#netgalley
#penguincanada
#sharilapena

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Wowwww another one that Shari Lapena has totally nailed. What a ride!

The premise of Everyone Here is Lying is fantastic - a missing child, panic, and numerous plausible suspects. Throughout the entire book I guarantee you think it's someone that it isn't.

Definitely some fantastic twists, and a must read if you are a thriller lover.

Love this style of writing where you are in everyone’s head. The constant change in storyteller really kept me engaged and turning the page wondering what the next person was thinking and their part in the plot.
Would have liked to see a bit more in character development but really enjoyed how the story came together.
Overall a great read!

The title tells the whole story, trust no one and believe nothing. When a young child goes missing the family's life is torn apart but so are many others, especially when neighbor turns against neighbor. Nine year old Avery goes missing one afternoon after school and everyone is a suspect but when some truths begins to come out the police aren't sure who to believe.
I got caught up in this story right away and thought I knew where it was headed but never guessed until the conclusion.

This book gets going right away, that is a big plus. One of the aspects I found very interesting was that the missing little girl isn’t exactly likeable. Most missing kid books, the child is an angel but not in this one. As the secrets are slowing revealed, almost everyone has something to hide. There’s definitely some people thrown in there I did not see coming! And slowly everyone becomes more unhinged as fingers get pointed at one another. There isn’t really a character to root for, that may be its biggest flaw. I wasn’t on anyone’s side really. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book overall.

If you like a good domestic thriller with neighbours who all have secrets, plenty of suspects & a surprise twist, this is a good beach/summer read.

I was hooked on this book from the start and couldn’t get through it fast enough. The plot kept me guessing what was going to happen next. The father was a wholly unlikeable character for me and his decision left me disliking him more and more as the book went on. I was guessing the whole way through. I think the ending was abrupt and left me wondering “what happens next”.

Thank-you NetGalley for the ARC.