Round up to 3.5 stars! Decent book, it did keep me very interested almost the whole way through. It just felt like there are a bunch of books out currently with a similar concept and plot. The ending did fall flat for me! But like I said, I was hooked for 75% of the book, and I did listen to this on audiobook as well, which I actually enjoyed more than reading the physical book!

As an avid reader of the thriller genre, I often find it difficult to remain thrilled by new releases. After all, there are only so many twists, turns, and tropes to be explored before a story feels overly familiar. However, *Listen to the Lie* by Amy Tintera stands out as a refreshing and compelling debut, offering a masterclass in how to keep a reader engaged without relying on predictability or overused narrative tricks.

One of the novel's strongest features is its use of the unreliable narrator, a device that can be tricky to pull off. Tintera walks the fine line between withholding just enough information to keep readers on edge and revealing enough that we never feel completely bamboozled by the story's twists. This balance is key to maintaining suspense and tension, and Tintera executes it expertly. By the time the final revelations unfold, they feel earned rather than forced, leaving you with that satisfying "aha!" moment that a good thriller should provide.

Lucy, the novel’s protagonist, initially comes across as unlikeable, particularly in the first few chapters. She’s passive aggressive, distant, and makes decisions that are difficult to sympathize with. Yet, as the story progresses, I found myself more and more intrigued by her character. The deeper we delve into her backstory and motivations, the clearer her complexities become. Tintera skillfully reveals the layers behind Lucy’s actions and personality, transforming her from a character I almost wanted to hate, into one I genuinely cared about by the end of the book.

Overall, *Listen to the Lie* is a standout debut thriller that I would wholeheartedly recommend to both newcomers and long-time fans of the genre. Tintera’s deft storytelling keeps the suspense high, her character development is sharp and rewarding, and the twists are satisfying without feeling contrived. I’m excited to see what Tintera will come up with next and look forward to her future works. If you're a lover of thrilling, character-driven narratives, this book is certainly one to pick up.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me with an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this fast paced mystery featuring Lucy a young women who has no memory of her best friends murder (and the possibility of her committing the crime) and Ben, the pod caster on a mission to find out the truth.

The uncertainty and unreliability of the main character kept me turning the pages. Looking forward to future books by this author.

Any Tintera has a done an incredible job with this one, and I cannot believe I haven’t read it sooner.

When Lucy is accused of murdering her best friend, and a podcasted steps in with an attempt to solve the case, the situation at hand gets turned on its head. This mystery from Lucy’s perspective mixed with the podcast episodes kept me on my toes the entire time, trying to solve the case at the same time as Ben and Lucy. Tintera has done a fabulous job creating suspense, twists and turns, and propelling the mystery with quick wit and scenes that cracked me up throughout.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital arc!

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera was an entertaining and darkly humorous read that grabbed my attention right from the start. The premise—a woman accused of murdering her best friend, with no memory of the event—was compelling, and the true crime podcast angle really drew me in. Lucy was a great character, with sharp wit and sarcasm that made her fun to follow. The small-town secrets and drama kept me hooked, and the mystery, while not too complicated, was engaging enough to keep me guessing. I especially loved the dynamic between Lucy and her grandmother, Beverly—their banter was a highlight of the book. However, the story could have benefited from a little more depth, especially with the backstory of Lucy and Savvy's friendship, which felt underexplored. While the mystery wasn't the most mind-blowing, the humor, strong characters, and quick pacing made up for it.

Wow - What a book! Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera had me from the beginning. It has been months since I have read a 5 star book!

I loved the writing style, humor, suspense, thrill and more. I have never listened to a true crime podcast but am planning to now! Would also love to see this turned into a movie or TV show series!

The only thing that was a bit confusing is the amount of characters introduced throughout the book and in the Podcast, but they are relevant to the story. It would be helpful to have a notepad and make notes of who is who to refer back to.

I did not figure out the ending but also hate spoilers so I will be ending my review here. I could say plenty more but this might be fave read of the year. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the talented author for allowing me to read and review this awesome debut novel advanced reading copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! Listen for the Lie was such a fun, thrilling read. Not only thrilling but so funny. I can't think of another thriller that literally had me laughing out loud while flipping the pages to find out who did it. Which I also did not even come close to guessing. The ending was a complete surprise.
The podcast format was also fun & engaging. Highly recommend Listen for the Lie if you're looking for an engrossing, funny, page turner.

3 stars

The book was engaging enough that I read it quickly. It wasn't revolutionary, but it was decent.

Five years ago Lucy woke up covered in her best friend's blood, with no recollection of what happened. Her whole town thinks she did it. Some podcast guy gets interested in the story and decides he will solve this mystery regardless of the circumstances. Lucy ends up helping him at her grandmother's insistence.

Lucy was an ok character who made some very questionable decisions like jumping into bed with someone she barely knew. But Ive seen that a lot recently.

Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG!!! This book had me from page 1. I literally couldn't put it down. I was cackling out loud at the sheer wit of the main character. This was so well written. I am a lover of true crime podcast and this book showcases the way these podcasts unfold to perfection.
I had no idea how the mystery of who actually killed Savvy would turn out. I have so much to say but refuse to spoil this for anyone. If this was made into a TV show or movie I would be the 1st in line to watch it. I am recommending this book to everyone!

*Thank you so, so much Netgalley, the publishing house, and this wonderfully talented author for the ARC.*

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley- thank you!

I really enjoyed this one. I know some people are over the podcast format in books, but I think it worked well in this one. It kept me interested throughout, and I think the ending really worked. This one was a winner for me.

*gifted via Mac milliards auduo*

wow, this book was absolutely addictive! the town gossip was juicy, I couldn't get enough of Beverly, and I loved the podcast format. I have this book in all 3 formats, but I think the audio was my favorite format. really gave life to the podcast.

as for who did it? I was nowhere near correct. this one will truly keep you on the edge of your seat.

this book also had some romance and even a little spice, which I wasn't expecting but always welcome.

overall Highly reccomend!

This was great! It took a long time to get into it and I considered DNFing. I’m so glad I didn’t! There are a lot of twists and I didn’t predict the end. I loved Lucy’s grandmother so much! I’ve never listened to a true crime podcast, so that whole angle was foreign to me. There is subtle feminism in here along with some very frustrating situations happening toward some of the female characters, but overall I think Tintera’s points are effective.

A few weeks back, my book club was fortunate enough to receive an early look at Amy Tintera’s debut adult thriller “Listen for the Lie” and the votes are in—we loved it! Every single person enjoyed this read, and that even includes a few readers who wouldn’t normally lean to thriller genre.


🔪 This was everyone's first introduction to the author, who previously published two series in the YA fantasy/romantasy/dystopian genres. Tintera had us from the start with this darkly funny whodunnit.

🤐 I’ll be saying less here, to avoid spoilers, but this book had the snark and dark humor of “Bookworm”, the podcast excerpt format similar to “The Night Swim” or “The Butcher and the Wren”, and a side of social commentary like “Such a Pretty Smile” or “The Change”. If you enjoyed any of those reads, I’d recommend you check out “Listen for the Lie.”

📕 The short chapters alternating with podcast excerpts made the pacing quick and decadent. Truly a “one more chapter” kind of read. We loved the way it was laid out, the podcast components were aligned throughout so that we were uncovering the mystery as more information was being revealed.

And you know I love my thrillers with a side of social commentary and this delivered, without being heavy-handed.

🗣️ This read also lent to a good discussion about the ethics around true crime podcasts, how it can be harmful to victims and their families.

This was so much better than I expected it to be.
I had heard different POVs about this.
I loved the podcast element, and it felt like something different that what I normally read which really added a new fun perspective.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book to enjoy.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is an absolute treat! While the story doesn’t rely on jaw-dropping twists, it’s packed with sharp wit, hilarious dialogue, and a cast of characters that are just a joy to follow. Tintera’s writing keeps the pace lively, balancing mystery and humor so well that I found myself laughing out loud in one chapter and piecing together clues in the next.

The charm lies in the banter and the relatable, quirky characters who make every scene feel fresh and fun. If you’re looking for an entertaining mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this book is spot-on. I didn’t mind the predictability—it’s like hanging out with a friend who tells you a story you’re happy to hear all over again.

I liked this one! Kept me wondering the whole time. I liked the podcast episodes throughout- definitely fun to do on audio. Lots of different thoughts about how it all ended...

What a ride!!!! This duel timeline, whodunit is full of twists and turns. Highly recommend to readers looking for a suspenseful, small town mystery which leaves you turning pages well into the night.

The story unfolds through the main character, Lucy. Five years ago, her best friend, Savvy, was found murdered and Lucy was with her at the time of the murder, but has no recollection of what happened. Now in present time, Lucy, divorced from her husband and living in LA, comes back to her little hometown in Texas to celebrate her grandmother's birthday. Upon arriving, she learns that the true crime podcaster, Ben Owens, is in town to try to solve Savvy's murder. Lucy decides it's time for her to recall what happened, even it means she is the murderer (which everyone in town thinks is the case, but the police never had evidence to prove).

The tension and dynamics between all of the characters keeps readers on the edge of their seat. The witty, sarcastic voice of Lucy draws readers in right from the first page, holding onto them as they root for her even when it seems like all of the facts are against her. The author did a great job showing the love and friendship between Lucy and Savvy. The podcast scenes are very well-written and interwoven seemlessly adding a rich layer to the story and characters.

I loved the suspense of this book. It’s very well written and kept me coming back for more. The short chapters made it easy to get through - as a busy mom I love having lots of stopping points for when I’m interrupted. I will admit I put the book down a few chapters in and it took me a little bit to come back, but once I did I flew through it.

I could not put this one down! The podcast format along with Lucy’s point of view had me flying though this book to see whodunnit. Definitely one of my favorite thrillers of the year!

Listen for the Lie is hands down the best mystery/thriller that I have read this year, which is saying something because this is my favourite genre.

The usage of a podcast where you had insight into interviews, a very unreliable narrator and an even more unreliable supporting cast was a match made in heaven. The saying don't judge a book by it's cover was MADE for the characters in this book because they are complex and wild and thrilling.

AMY DO IT AGAIN!!!!