There is a lot going on in this book. The podcast interviews, Lucy and her toxic family, Lucy’s amnesia, flashbacks and lots of cheating (talk about getting around)! I wanted more investigating and less Lucy.

It was entertaining enough and I enjoyed the Texas setting and Lucy’s humor and witty comebacks!

I wasn’t sure what I expected here? Another twee podcaster novella? Listen for the Lie was a twisty page turner and I loved every minute of it!

Lucy has a very dark sense of humor, and I couldn’t help but smile at my Kindle as i read about her cutting veggies with a knife while her roommate/boyfriend questioned if she was a murderer. 😂🤌🏻 or quoting Beauty and the Beast when there’s a murder to be solved. because of her perspective, it was really fun to read what could have been really intense (but I want to stress that it didn’t take away from the story!!)

Throughout the whole story, I was rooting for Lucy. She’s so likable as a character, despite being so unlikeable as a human. Though, I don’t know if I was rooting for her to be deemed innocent, or rooting for her to actually be a murderer. Either way, I was Team Lucy.

Such a fun read, and perfect for fans of the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series!

If you are just as obsessed with true crime podcasts as I am, you have to check this one out! I loved the podcast episodes interspersed throughout and Lucy in general was a sarcastic and direct FMC in the best way possible. It was intriguing, seductive, full of unexpected twists and characters you can’t trust and I couldn’t put it down. Overall, a phenomenal thriller! 4.5⭐️

Years ago, Lucy’s best friend was murdered and the culprit was never found. Even worse most people think Lucy is responsible. She fled to LA, but now there is a podcast coming about the case. Lucy reluctantly returns home for her grandma’s birthday party, and finds herself helping Ben, the podcaster, investigate.

I really enjoyed this one! It was fast-paced, suspenseful, and had lots of clues and mystery. I did find the ultimate culprit maybe a little predictable (but I read a lot of thrillers so maybe it’s just me), but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it! I’d recommend if you are looking for a good thriller!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well written psychological thriller that I throughly enjoyed. It contains all my favorite tropes like unreliable narrator and she was truly unreliable, messy characters of which there are many. Add to that a true crime podcast and a pace that kept me glued to the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest review 4⭐️

This book was amazing. I loved the way the author developed the characters. The main character was so sarcastic and I loved it. There were twists that I did not see coming. Everyone felt like they weren't telling truth or they were twisting the truth about what happened. It felt like they all were keeping secrets. I loved Lucy's grandmother Beverly. She was funny. I liked her relationship with Lucy. I thought I knew how it was going to end but I was not even close. I highly recommend this one.



Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books for the digital e-arc.

How is it barely February and we already have, IMHO, a contender for book of the year?!

Five years ago, Savvy Harper was found dead along the side of the road; days later, her best friend, Lucy Chase was found wandering aimlessly along the same road covered in Saavy’s blood, with Savvy’s skin cells underneath her fingernails, and no memory of that night. But no charges were ever filed, and unofficially labeled the town resident murderer, Lucy fled to L.A. But she returns to attend her grandmother’s 80th birthday party, jobless and boyfriend-less, thanks to a new viral podcast recounting the still unsolved murder. Though Lucy has resolved never to talk about Savvy, she wonders if she should cooperate in hopes of finding out what really happened that night - even if the answer is something she doesn’t want to hear.

All I have to say about this book is WOW.

Not only was the murder mystery amazingly interesting and Lucy incredibly fascinating (I’ll let you read some of the details, it’s better to wander upon them yourself), this book was literally LAUGH OUT LOUD HILARIOUS. I seriously had to put down this book at times to finish absolutely cackling. (The birthday party scene is unforgettable. Simply perfection.)

And the twists and turns are just perfect for a good mystery/thriller. The humor and the mystery somehow blend perfectly. I can’t explain how it works so well, but it just does.

And the message of how quick people are to cast judgement, especially on a beautiful young woman, is really laid out nicely. It isn’t preachy, but it hits right. You see it in the media all the time, and this book shows it from the other side in an exaggerated way. It was done smartly. Kudos to the author for that.

So if you take anything away from this review: just buy this book. It’ll be worth your time. Trust me.

4.25 stars

This was one of the most fun thrillers I’ve read in a while! If you like true crime, find the court of public opinion appropriately horrifying, and can appreciate dark humor, definitely add this to your TBR.

A lot of the time when I read this genre I end up irritated with the characters acting unrealistic or dumb, but I really enjoyed Lucy as an FMC and a narrator. She’s canny, snarky, and knows who she is, but isn’t a cardboard cutout “strong woman who’s not like other girls”. She has a whole host of flaws that make her a relatable and compelling character, who you’re never quite sure you can trust. But that’s ok, because she’d advise you of the same thing.

Five years ago in their small Texas town, Lucy’s best friend Savvy was brutally murdered. Lucy was found in a daze, with no memories of what happened, and covered in Savvy’s blood. There was never enough evidence for their podunk police force to make an arrest, but everyone was so convinced of Lucy’s guilt that she fled to LA to start a new life. But now a popular true crime podcast has chosen Savvy’s case for their next season, and it’s not just the people she grew up with whispering behind their hands about Lucy. Fed up with not knowing, and finding herself back in her hometown at the same time as the podcast host, Lucy becomes determined to find out what happened to Savvy once and for all. Even if it means she’s guilty.

I loved the mix of dark humor and twists and turns in this, Lucy was hilarious, and so were Beverly (her grandma) and Ben (the podcaster). There were a lot of interesting dynamics between the characters and a good dose of small-town drama to keep you guessing. Plus, as everyone knows, I love a good podcast transcript inclusion in a book, and this had a bunch. I did guess a couple of things, but the layered and interesting characters really made this story, so I wasn’t even mad. Definitely pick this up if you like thrillers but are tired of the same old and want something a little more *fun*. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Celadon Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

A solid and fun debut. Wishing the author tons of success. If you like a great, twisty thriller, don’t miss this!

This is the first book I’ve read that’s very heavily all involved in a podcast. Ben has his own podcast called Listen for the Lie and he’s investigating a murder of Lucy’s best friend, Savvy. Did she murder her? If not, who did? Lucy can’t remember. This was very suspenseful all the way till the end. I enjoyed all the characters and how the podcast played into it. My only complaint is all the “f” bombs that were all over the place. I just don’t see why that’s necessary throughout the whole book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published March 2024.

I loved this book. It’s about a woman who everyone believes murdered her best friend. But she can’t remember it.
A handsome true crime podcaster comes around asking questions. Will he discover the truth?

When I say I'm in the mood for a mystery/thriller suspense novel this is exactly what I have in mind. Wow this book was intense but so compelling I couldn't put it down! All of the characters were interesting and were fleshed out very well. The writing style was fabulous and the story was one of the best I've read in awhile. The plot was so well done I might be in a bit of a book hangover after this one. (It's going to be hard to top it!)

The absolute worst time in Lucy Chase's life has come back to haunt her. Five years ago, her best friend, Savannah, was brutally murdered and Lucy was the prime, and only, suspect. She was never charged, but still convicted in the court of public opinion, especially in her small Texas hometown. Now, a true crime podcast is rehashing the whole thing, and Lucy's grandma is insisting she return to Texas for her birthday. To the town where everyone despises her. What could possibly go wrong?

I LOVED this book. The cover doesn't really represent what's inside, though. I was thinking I was about to dive into a gritty thriller because of it, but that's far from what I got. This is a top notch mystery with notes of comedy and romance. The banter and Lucy's sarcasm are my favorite part. Lucy's grandma is an amazing character and their relationship gave me the warm fuzzies. I probably laughed out loud way too much. The pages were flying, and so was I, after this delightful book reached the conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the chance to review this advance copy. Listen for the Lie will publish 3/5/24.

3.5 stars. This was a solid 4 star review for me throughout, but the ending was not my favorite. I was fully engaged in this story. I liked the snarkiness and attitude of the main character, there was a great cast of characters/suspects, and I didn't want to put the book down. The ending itself was fine as you get resolution to the mystery, but I'm not a fan of the way it played out. I will read more from this author in the future.

Lucy has returned to her hometown of Plumpton, TX with the shadow of the past lingering over her. Everyone, including her own parents, thinks she killed her best friend Savvy years ago, but there’s never been enough evidence to charge her, and she has no memories of what happened. Now true crime podcaster Ben Owens is in town to try to set the record straight.

As Ben interviews people in town and more details emerge, a fuller, more messy picture begins to take shape. Who’s telling the truth?

Well, if you take Lucy’s word for it: The truth doesn’t matter.

I wanted to love this, and I was absolutely sure I would before I headed into it. A snarky MC? Yes, please! A murder mystery? Always! Secrets and lies? Sign me up!

So why didn’t this click for me?

Characterization: To my utter surprise … I guess I don’t know myself as well as I thought … Lucy was TOO sarcastic and snarky for my taste, to the point of being mildly obnoxious, though it did tame somewhat over the course of the book. Unfortunately, other characters also shared that trait, so there wasn’t much of a break from it.

Repetition: The word “smug” is used 32 times. Please use a different word. Same thing for the variations on sweat trickling down Lucy’s back. I get it. She’s sweaty. Move on.

Plot Device: I’m pretty sure at this point that I dislike the amnesia trope. The three mysteries I’ve read that come to mind that use it got 2 or 3 stars from me. I just think it’s overused and a bit tired as a trope.

Pacing: There’s just not a lot going on in this book besides Ben’s interviews with people and Lucy wandering around trying to regain her memories. I take that back … there’s TONS of gaslighting and infidelity if you enjoy that in your stories! There were interesting parts that kept me engaged, but not enough to get me excited about flipping pages.

All that said, there were some bright spots. I liked the story well enough - I just didn't LOVE it like I wanted to! Amy Tintera is a talented writer and with a different story, I’d probably enjoy it more. Her characters are at least interesting, even if THESE particular characters weren’t my favorite. For a debut, I think it shows promise for the future, and I’d definitely try her again!

Thank you Netgalley. This was a great read! The storyline was captivating and had me from the first page and didn't let go. The podcast format was different but enjoyable. Great characters and lots of twisty dark turns.

I am so thankful to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, Netgalley, and Amy Tintera for granting me advanced audio access to this twisty, who-dunnit before publication day, March 5, 2024.

The entire world thinks Lucy has murdered her high school friend, Savannah, or Savvy for short, and to be quite brutally honest, Lucy has no idea if she did it or not, for she suffers from short-term amnesia after a head injury the night of the murder. To make matters worse, this entire case is being reopened by a smug podcaster, Ben of the Listen for the Lie podcast as he tries to get to the bottom of this small town’s most infamous case.

Some not so savory characters are re-introduced into Lucy’s life, including ex-husbands, boyfriends, friends, and nosy neighbors that just can’t take a hint. To settle scores, Lucy teams up with Ben and things get a bit steamy for some unsolved detective play, but the interaction helps Lucy recall suppressed memories of that night’s events that help solve the mystery once and for all.

I will say, the ending was a bit predictable, but it was a fun read nonetheless.

I'm so glad I decided to review this book. I don't often read mystery books, but the premise stood out and I was interested in seeing how the story was going to evolve. I loved the main character's dark and sarcastic sense of humor, and I enjoyed how she would lean into uncomfortable situations. It made for a fun ride and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Listen For The Lie was an easy read and quite enjoyable, The pacing was perfect. The twists and turns were artfully placed. All-around perfect thriller!

I have to say that this is definitely one of my favorite thrillers. The main character, Lucy, who doesn't remember what happened to her and her best friend, Savannah, 5 years prior at a wedding, had always been suspected of killing her best friend that night. There was not enough evidence to arrest Lucy. Five years later her grandmother reaches out and wants her to come home for her grandmother's birthday. I have to say I absolutely adore Lucy and her grandmother. Lucy is hilariously sarcastic and her relationship with her grandmother is everything! Her grandmother admits that she reached out to a true crime podcaster to try to solve the death of Savvy (Savannah). Lucy reluctantly agrees and much is uncovered about the true events that happened. I definitely recommend this book to thriller fans.