4.5/5 loved this book! Huge thanks to Ashley Elston, Penguin Group Viking, Pamela Dorman Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book!

Evie Porter isn’t who she claims to be and her boyfriend, Ryan Sumner has no idea. They look like the perfect couple on the outside, but they’re both hiding secrets from each other.

This book is fast paced with lots of twists and turns along the way! Multiple timelines as well, which keeps you on your toes! I absolutely hope this is the first book of a series because it absolutely left me wanting more!

FIRST LIE WINS is one of the most unpredictable, fast-paced, deliciously twisty thrillers I've read all year. I was hooked into this cat-and-mouse chase from the very first page, knowing I was in for a battle of wits with Evie Porter, who clearly isn't who she says she is. What begins as the story of a con woman who happens to inconveniently like the new boyfriend who is also her mark evolves into a smart, layered look at how a "morally gray" character comes to be... and whether there's ever a way out. This was my first read from ASHLEY ELSTON, but it definitely won't be my last.

This is the story of Evie Porter, who doesn’t actually exist. The way that the story opens up held my attention from the very beginning, and I couldn’t wait to discover who this person really was. It goes back-and-forth between present and past, and various aliases. It got confusing a couple of times, but by the middle, I was hooked and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Recommended for anyone who likes a good cat and mouse thriller! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. 3.5 stars

This was a fun read! It starts with a young lady who is pulling a con on her boyfriend, but things turns serious quickly. And she has to adapt to save herself! I really enjoyed reading this!

She's had many different names and identities over the years and has never screwed up an assignment until that fateful day in Miami. Now her boss is testing her at every turn so she's not sure if this latest assignment is being paid for by a real client or if it is just another twisted test. A cross between James Bond, the man from U.N.C.L.E. and Oceans Eleven, "First Lie Wins" will keep you turning the pages. The only way to protect herself is to unmask the boss she's never met and be sure that she has enough political "favors" in her pocket to see that he gets what's coming to him. Messing up her plans is her latest assignment, Ryan. She's posing as his loving girlfriend to get insider information on the illegal business he's been conducting, however, she's also falling for him and so has been "doctoring" the information she's been passing on to her boss. When her cover is blown and she's on the run once again, can she trust Ryan to help her or is he a part of her mysterious boss's plans to bring her down?

If you are looking for a fast paced, fun thriller this might be for you.

You have to suspend belief reading this because there is no way our girl Evie would survive any of these situations in real life. She'd be shot dead 10x over let's be honest.

This wasn't the greatest thriller ever but it was entertaining and a fast read from an author I've already read and liked the work from before.

I don't wanna spoil any parts of the plot so I'd say go in blind because the twists start early.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy!

Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.

First Lie Wins is a fun, fast-paced, and surprising thriller! From the first line, I was pulled in and couldn’t put the book down. Evie is an intelligent, dynamic, and likable main character. This story is told both in present day and stories weaved throughout Evie’s past. I loved the “cat and mouse” premise of this book and that every chapter brought new twists. I truly didn’t know who to trust until the very end.

This was my first Ashley Elston novel and it certainly won’t be my last.

rating: 4.5/5⭐️
genre: thriller
pages: 352
pub date: Jan 9th, 2024

Thank you author,Ashley Elston,publisher,Penguin Group Viking and NetGallery for allowing me to read this ebook. I initially didn’t like the first several pages and thought I would not read it,then thought keep going and see if it gets better. I am extremely happy I did.The main character, Evie,really kept my attention to the very last page.The book was nonstop action full of disguises,aliases and plans for Evie to complete jobs given to her over several years by an unknown boss. It really kept me guessing who the boss was up to almost the very end. It was full of surprises. I would even like to read a sequel to see what happens to Evie. By the way,Evie is not her real name. LOL

This was an interesting read! Definitely some surprising twists and turns! I really enjoyed this book. And it was my first of this author. I will certainly be reading more from this author.

This started off a little slow for me, but turned into a gripping story with a lot of twists and turns. Our protagonist is unreliable from the start, as her profession depends on lies, but knowing that doesn't blunt the suspense or the surprises.

I have read two other books by this author and I loved those! This book was also a love! Their previous books I read were contemporary YA and I love the genre shift. did not expect such a fun and thrilling read. I finished this book in less than 24 hours.

Evie Porter seems to have it all with her boyfriend, Ryan. A meet cute where Ryan saves the damsel in distress from her flat tire? Pretty cute way to meet. They are happy, his friends seem to like her, and she is moving into his place. But here is the catch Evie Porter isn’t real and is just a fake identity. Question is who really is Evie Porter and what does she want with Ryan? Evie’s boss Mr. Smith gives her the nee identity and the target: Ryan. But she is starting to feel real feelings for Ryan. She wants to live a happy life with the charming Ryan and a dream garden in their backyard. Things don’t always go as planned and a new person’s arrival in town thrusts everything into chaos. Now Evie has to fight to keep her real identity clean, find out who Mr. Smith is, try to get out of the business and stay one step ahead. Will she be able to keep her past hidden? Can she escape her boss?

What I loved:
- this started off with a bam! 11% in and we were already thrown a heck of a curveball. This kep me interested and I couldn't put the book down
- The pacing was fast! I was able to read this in only a couple hours
- Evie (or whoever she may be) was a fun and interesting character. She is absolutely morally gray but you can't help root for her
- The twists! And the ending was perfection.
- A lot more but I don't want to spoil too much 🤭

Honestly, this thriller is just what I needed. I loved it all and thought the plot was unique in it's own way and interesting as heck. I really hope the author has another thriller planned because I will 100% read it. 4 stars out of 5! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First Lie Wins starts as a domestic thriller and turns into a deadly cat-and-mouse game of spies. Evie Porter feels the lull of the good life she is living - in a beautiful house with her caring, handsome boyfriend Ryan. It’s tempting to stay forever. But it’s all a lie. She’s only pretending to be Evie Porter. Ryan is her mark. And she goes where she’s sent.

Actually, she’s a private spy of sorts, planting a fake self into other people’s lives. And she’s good at these pretend lives. But the secrets she learns are not hers to keep, and her boss has no comfortable future in mind for her. Everything she really is comes into danger.

There turns out to be a lot more to her than just a person who’s playing pretend. There are surprises all along the way as the novel follows Evie. By the end, they hit one after another with almost physical impact.

I appreciate the delicate balance between unwrapping a great reveal and hiding things from your readers. Ashley Elston does a good job with this. I did wish for a better peek at Evie's mindset. I know she puts on a cool front to other characters, but I want to know how she really feels.

Five stars for this well-crafted story. I think it’s one that will stick with me and make me want to read it again. This may be Ashley Elston’s first novel for adult readers, but I think it fits with a wide audience, even YA readers.

First Lie Wins introduces us to Evie Porter, a woman with what appears to be the ideal boyfriend, a perfect home, and a seemingly flawless life. However, beneath this facade, Evie Porter is nothing more than a pawn in a grander scheme orchestrated by Mr. Smith, a mysterious figure shrouded in secrecy. As the narrative unfolds, it delves into a web of secrets, unexpected twists, and turns, culminating in a much larger and unforeseeable conspiracy. This book had me guessing, as its plot twists were so brilliantly crafted, catching me off guard when I thought I had it all figured out. It truly kept me on edge throughout the entire journey.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Ashley Elston for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
First Lie Wins introduces us to Evie Porter, a woman with what appears to be the ideal boyfriend, a perfect home, and a seemingly flawless life. However, beneath this facade, Evie Porter is nothing more than a pawn in a grander scheme orchestrated by Mr. Smith, a mysterious figure shrouded in secrecy. As the narrative unfolds, it delves into a web of secrets, unexpected twists, and turns, culminating in a much larger and unforeseeable conspiracy. This book had me guessing, as its plot twists were so brilliantly crafted, catching me off guard when I thought I had it all figured out. It truly kept me on edge throughout the entire journey.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Ashley Elston for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was such a fun take on a thriller! Part psychological thriller part action novel, I found myself unable to put this book down.

Evie Porter seems to have the perfect life - doting boyfriend, great job, fun at every turn. The only problem is that Evie isn't real! Someone in the town she has just moved to is the target of her boss, Mr. Smith, who sends Evie on these missions to get things accomplished for him. Evie is resourceful, smart, and savvy, but on this particular mission, she seems to have met her match.

This book was so clever and unique. If you are getting bored of the standard psychological thriller trope, this book is definitely one to check out. The characters are so well written and intriguing, you will find yourself thinking about this book long after you have put it down. The perfect escapism book, I would highly recommend for a vacation or beach read.

Special thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, Penguin Group Viking for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston will be released on January 9th, 2024.

Full review to come!

First Lie Wins was one of those books that I found difficult to put down. The story was centered around main character. Evie Porter/ Lucca Morino. Her real name was Lucca but her alter ego was Evie. She worked for a man named Mr. Smith who hired her to take down powerful men. Her latest mark was Ryan Sumner. Her job was to become his girlfriend and gather information about his smuggling enterprise. There were two other men in her life. One was George who worked for Mr. Smith. The other was Devon who was working with her behind the scenes.

All was going well with Evie and Ryan until she found herself having feelings for him. That was a complication she hadn't anticipated.

Evie and Ryan went to the Kentucky Derby. While there, they ran into one of Ryan's friends, James, who showed up with a woman who went by the name of Lucca Morino. She had the same backstory as the real Lucca. It turns out that Mr. Smith was getting paranoid about the fact that maybe Evie was getting emotionally involved with Ryan so he sent this woman to screw with Evie's head. His whole scheme was to keep her in line and to remind her that his reach ran deep. Ryan didn't really like James because he had taken advantage of him way too many times. But Evie invited him and the woman over for dinner. James had had too much to drink so when they left the woman drove. They ended up getting into an accident and being killed. It turns out Mr. Smith was behind their deaths.

All of a sudden, Evie was being accused of murdering. Amy Holden. The police had photos and a video of Evie with Amy the day her hotel room caught fire. Mr. Smith was behind this, as he thought Evie was double crossing him. Rather than killing her, he thought she should spend the rest of her life in prison. But Evie found a way around the accusation. She told the police that Lucca Morino was the person who had killed Amy. And since Lucca was dead, the police couldn't cross examine her. So they had to take Evie's word for it.

Well, things were heating up between Evie and Ryan, she overheard a conversation involving Ryan that changed everything. With Devon's help pieces of the puzzle started falling into place for Evie and she ended up leaving Ryan although I would love to tell all the juicy details, but that would spoil it. Suffice to say that it was a really good book and there was a bit of a twist ending.. I gave this book five stars.

Whaaaaaat did I just read?! Like…what?! This was so damn good! Every twist and turn had me literally yearning for more. I looked at my kids and essentially said, “I love you all, but you’re on your own until I see this through.” Evie, who really isn’t Evie, has so. many. aliases. Just so many. And so many different jobs to finish for her boss but who is her boss? What is the end goal here? Who can she trust? And what happens when you aren’t sure who is playing who and running schemes on who? Ughhh I am going to read this one again, it was so good!

This book was great! I could see this being turned into a movie or TV show.

There are twists from the start throughout the entire book! I can usually guess what is going to happen but I couldn't in this book and the twists were well explained so you could follow and not be confused.

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for an ARC

First Lie Wins was a roller coaster ride of numerous identities and close calls. Lucca takes on many different identities while trying to pull off "jobs" for a tyrant of a boss. Only, she has no idea who he really is and is constantly being watched by his operatives. This story moved fairly fast and had may twists and turns. I found the flashbacks in time to be rather distracting. It seemed the author tried to use them to build the backstory for the characters actions. There was a little romance sprinkled into the story which gave some hope for Lucca since she had been subjected to such a hard past. Overall, the book was enjoyable yet seemed a bit all over the place with the multiple jumps in time and place with the many identities and cons.

This book was an enjoyable turn of pace in that it was refreshingly different from other thrillers I have read. Lately, they seem to all have similar plots with similar characters. But First Lie Wins is original. The plot is a battle of wits and cunning between the main character and her unidentified "boss."

Many thanks to the Pamela Dorman books for an advanced read through Netgalley.