This look took over Bookstagram for a reason! I love a look that is so unapologetically female focused. Some men are, unfortunately, despicable, and I applaud Tintera for going there. I think feisty grandma stole every scene she was in. Cannot recommend this book enough.

It started out well but pretty soon I grew tired of all the characters making really stupid decisions. I didn't like anyone, so I didn't find myself caring about their stories. I had to skim the ending to find out how it resolved. Just not the thriller for me!

It has been a while since I read a book with a podcast element. I forgot how much I enjoy that particular style choice. Listen for the Lie is a thriller full of questions and twisty bits that never really let you guess who the killer is. If you want a cast of unreliable narrators, true crime podcasts, and a little bit of spice, definitely pick up Listen for the Lie!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this advanced reader's edition. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give it the time required to write a thorough review and will be unable to read it for this purpose.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is one of the better thriller books I have read in recent history. I still am in my true crime podcast era, and this one delivered.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

This book was fast paced and compelling, The twists and turns kept me hooked. This was a thriller that kept me on my toes, never once boring me. Five stars!

I wanted to enjoy this, analyzing each character and their stories as I tried to figure out whodunnit. Through most of the second half, though, I just wanted it to end and I was tempted just to skip to the final chapters (I didn’t). The “twists and turns” weren’t as intriguing as hoped.
And this may be showing my prude self but I didn’t appreciate the endless and frequent episodes of casual sex. Admittedly, this is just my personal preference.

Such a good thriller. Probably my favorite for the year. I would highly recommend this for anyone who is looking for something fast paced and just good.

Felt well paced. The podcast clips gave a nice break in the action and a different way to get the reader information. I was baffled by Matt and all of his bad decision making skills.
This would be a great mini series, especially with Savvy as Lucy's conscience.
Twists were effective and entertaining.

Amy Tintera’s Listen for the Lie is an electrifying dive into the world of small-town secrets, true-crime obsession, and the murky line between memory and reality. In her adult fiction debut, Tintera masterfully balances gripping suspense with dark humor, creating a story that’s impossible to put down.

The novel centers on Lucy Chase, who, five years ago, was found wandering her hometown covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, with no memory of what happened. Though she was never charged, the town’s suspicions drove her away. Now, a hit true-crime podcast has reignited interest in the case, forcing Lucy to return to her Texas roots and face both her past and the people who never stopped believing she was guilty.

Lucy’s voice is the highlight of this novel—smart, biting, and refreshingly bold. She’s a protagonist who keeps you guessing, walking the fine line between victim and unreliable narrator. Tintera cleverly weaves in podcast transcripts, which not only add a modern edge to the story but also heighten the tension as public opinion builds against Lucy in real-time.

The pacing is sharp, with twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 1/2 stars

Lucy chase has been the prime suspect in the murder of her best friend Savvy for five years. The police could never find enough evidence to charge her with the crime, but they’ve never given up, and the majority of the town has judged her as guilty. Now, with her grandmother’s intervention, a true-crime podcaster has decided to delve into the case to try to discover who might be behind the murder. Lucy’s grandmother finagles a way to get Lucy to come home to the small town of Plumpton, Texas from her current home in Los Angeles, so she can talk to the podcaster and give him her side of the story. Problem is that Lucy was injured the same night Savvy died, and she can’t remember anything about what happened.

Ben Owens is a successful true-crime podcaster. He’s helped solve a cold case or two, and he hopes to succeed in figuring ut what happened between Lucy and Savvy. He’s determined and thorough, but he’s also kind and likable. Will he be able to discover clues that the police missed?

I didn’t think I was going to like this book when I first started it. Lucy came across as someone less than likeable, but as I kept reading , she grew on me, and the other characters in the story added so much to the unraveling of what happened the night Savvy died. It becomes clear that Lucy feels guilty for Savvy’s death, even if she doesn’t think she did it, and she doesn’t remember anything that happened. Turns out that despite her belief that she’s capable of murder, complete with hearing voices in her head that urge her to do so, she’s actually a caring person. So did she do it, or is there another in the small Texas town responsible?

This is a story of friendship, family, traumatic amnesia, mental health, divorce, marital infidelity, betrayal, abuse, and romance. The book was well written and easy to read, and I was surprised to discover that it was believable. I don’t tend to listen to podcasts, but I could easily appreciate all that Ben did to unravel secrets and work to solve the case.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

I just finished reading Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, and I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you!

This book is a phenomenal page-turner that perfectly blends mystery, suspense, and heartfelt moments. Tintera has crafted a story that grips you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go.

One scene that really stood out to me is when the protagonist, Jace, finds a hidden journal in his sister’s room. The entries provide cryptic clues about her disappearance, and as he reads them, you can feel the tension and urgency build. The way Tintera weaves these clues into the narrative is masterful, making you feel like you’re solving the mystery right alongside Jace.

What I love most about Listen for the Lie is how it delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the lengths we go to protect the ones we love. The characters are incredibly well-developed, and their relationships are portrayed with such depth and authenticity. Jace’s determination to uncover the truth about his sister’s disappearance is both inspiring and heartbreaking.

If you’re a fan of gripping mysteries with well-drawn characters and plenty of twists and turns, Listen for the Lie is a must-read. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down!

I ended up immersively reading this book combining the book with the audiobook and this definitely a 5 star read for me. The character development was in depth and gave you a real look into small town life in Texas where there’s secrets, lies and relationships that both surprise, sicken and make you wonder about greater humanity.

I loved the premise of the true crime podcaster and that eventually exposed not only the truth but so many other truths about the people in this small town. I felt that Amy Tintera did an amazing job of keeping you guessing and changing your idea of who actually killed Savvy up until almost the very end.

I hope to read more books by this author as I enjoyed her writing and the way she structured this thriller. Amazing debut novel!

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The story follows a girl named Cally, who lives in a world where lying is literally illegal. She’s part of a secret government operation where people are trained to be perfect liars for a special mission. Cally gets tangled up in a dangerous game of deception, betrayal, and truth, and she has no idea who she can trust.

What I really loved about this book is how tense it is. Every chapter has you questioning who’s telling the truth and who’s hiding something, which makes it impossible to put down. Cally is a really strong, smart protagonist, and you’re right there with her trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not. The twists are insane, just when you think you know where the story is going, it completely flips on you.

There’s also some romance mixed in, but it doesn’t take over the story. It’s more about Cally finding out who she really is and navigating all the lies around her. The pacing is great, and it never slows down. It’s one of those books where you just keep turning pages because you have to know what happens next.

Lucy’s best friend Savvy is found dead and Lucy is found wandering with blood all over her. Lucy has no memory of the night but everyone has decided she killed her friend. Ben Owens is the host of a true crime podcast and was successful in solving a cold case during his first season. His next will be about Savvy’s murder.

I love books that involve podcasts and this one was well done! It’s told from Lucy’s pov, past and present, with podcast episodes scattered throughout. The chapters are short which kept the pace fast. I also enjoyed the dark humor. I would love to see this become a series with Lucy and Ben working on cases together.

The audiobook is narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the eARC of this book. I also bought a copy from BOTM. I both listened and read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera!

I flew through Listen for the Lie! The pacing is done phenomenally and the narrating kept you on the edge of your seat.

Amy Tintera's Listen for the Lie is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end. The novel follows a young woman who becomes entangled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a charismatic and manipulative man.

Tintera's masterful storytelling and ability to build suspense create a tense and atmospheric read. The characters are complex and morally ambiguous, making it difficult to determine who is truly trustworthy. The author's exploration of themes such as gaslighting, manipulation, and the blurred lines between love and obsession is both thought-provoking and disturbing.

Listen for the Lie is a page-turning thriller that will leave readers questioning their own perceptions of reality. It's a must-read for fans of psychological suspense. This was a fun time!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Lucy was the prime suspect in her best friend Savvy’s murder, but has no memory of that night. When a podcaster begins to investigate, it may finally be time for the truth to come to light…

I really enjoyed this one! It is a fantastic feminine rage book, which is frankly exactly what I needed this week (and always, who are we kidding) and I really appreciated both Lucy and Savvy’s characters and the flashback glimpses of their friendship. There were tons of twists and turns that kept me invested, and I thought the audio production was excellent and the perfect format to consume this book!

I also really appreciated the way this book handled important and difficult topics, and the nuanced exploration of victimhood and who makes a “good” victim. These are topics that are often deeply misunderstood and seeing them reflected and explored in literature is so meaningful!

CW: Death/violence/blood; domestic violence; misogyny

Oh my word, did I love this book. I found the main character's ability to live in the unknown and slowly but surely trust herself to test the waters and uncover what may or may not have occurred all those years ago is amazingly compelling. Each new character added brought a new dimension, although I am partial to the grandmother- she is the best. Highly recommend.