Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC!!

When Lucy Chase is found covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone instantly assumes Lucy is the killer. And because Lucy has absolutely no memories of that night, she can’t help but wonder – could she have been the one responsible for killing her best friend? Savvy, the beautiful, outgoing, social butterfly?

It’s been 5 years since Savvy’s murder and Ben Owens, a handsome, true crime podcaster is determined to find Savvy’s killer. He begins reaching out to Lucy, and soon she is forced to return back to her small, gossipy hometown in Texas to see if she can recall any memories from that night.

This book was SO good and so much fun!! There was truly never a dull moment. I loved the format of the past to present, the podcast conversations and interviews, and of course the pesky voice inside Lucy’s head. This was so great to read as it was a breath of fresh air. Finally, an original and suspenseful thriller, with sarcastic, snarky and sassy unreliable characters - jam packed with drama. I absolutely loved it!

thriller/suspense 🔪
memory loss 🧠
best friends 👭
romance ❤️

TW: domestic abuse, murder, sexual assault

#ListenfortheLie #NetGalley

🎧 BOOK / REVIEW 🎧

2 words - LOVED IT.

@amytintera - #listenforthelie was an absolute delight to read from start to finish. Thanks to #partner @celadonbooks, I got an #ARC and a finished copy, which will be making its way into the local #lfl in March 🫶. While I loved having a physical copy, I heard the #audiobook version is INCREDIBLE.

This book had it ALL - murder, mystery, romance, laughter ... you name it. This was one of the funniest #thrillers I have ever read - which seems insane, but somehow it really worked. The characters were so wonderful in this - Beverly was a hoot, Lucy was OUT THERE, and Ben was charming. We are also treated to "ghost Savvy" who had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. While the #podcast format of books seems to be overplayed in the #thriller category these days, it was very subtle here and added the perfect touch. 👌

This was truly the best mash-up of genres, and I don't know how else to convince you that you just need to read it. Prepare to be dazzled and entertained, all while solving a mystery. What a FUN book - this one publishes March 5th, 2024.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book was exactly what I needed! I'd been slogging through HOFAS the entire month of February and kept telling myself I should just pick up a mystery/thriller and break my slump. I don't know why I kept delaying but once I finally did it, I knew it was the right choice.

LISTEN FOR THE LIE was an incredibly engaging story that I never wanted to put down. I'm sure it'll end up on some of my best-of lists this year. Lucy's best friend was found murdered... and then Lucy was found wandering around with her friend's blood all over her. The town made assumptions while Lucy couldn't remember anything from that day/night. When she finally returns to town around the same time a new true crime podcast releases about the case, she ends up working with the podcaster to try to figure out what happened... even if that means she learns she's the guilty one.

As usual, I loved the mixed media elements of this story. I don't care what anyone says... I love a true crime podcast plotline still! There were a lot of interesting characters and connections that you learn throughout. I didn't see the ending coming but I wouldn't be surprised if other readers were able to.

The main character was super funny and sarcastic; she wasn't always likeable but she was very entertaining, which helps! I liked that Lucy made mistakes a lot because she felt real but she definitely could frustrate some readers.

I really loved this one and debated giving it five-stars. I can't really put my finger on why it's not a perfect favorite... There was a romance element here that I didn't really mind but also wasn't necessary in this kind of book. The characters and small town vibes were great and very fleshed out overall. Highly recommend adding this to your spring TBR!

Five years ago, Lucy Chase was found along a highway with her best friend ,Savvy’s , blood all over her dress. The whole town of Plumpton, TX thinks Lucy killed Savvy even though there isn’t enough evidence to convict her. Now she’s back for her grandmother’s 80th birthday party and is ready to delve in the past along while a true crime podcaster , Ben Owens, to find out what actually happened that night.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a dark , witty, well written, whodunit psychological thriller with relatable characters. A fun entertaining read.

I would like to thank Celadon Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

Really enjoyed reading an ARC for this book. I liked the tone of the book and Lucy's voice throughout it. I thought she had this perfect snarky sarcasm that she carried off well throughout the book. I like true crime podcast settings for books and I liked how certain chapters were a transcript of the actual podcast. Definitely some surprises throughout. I thought the author did a great job of showing how people make up their minds about something without knowing all the details. I loved how people's opinions changed throughout the book as more evidence was provided based on podcast research. A fun, solid read. Highly recommend.

As someone who's podcast que is 99% true crime, this book was right up my alley. This was a face paced story and I enjoyed the alternating chapters that were podcast episodes. Lucy who has no memory of the night that changed everything about her life as she knew it. Listen For the Lie was a dark, twisty, messed up family, small town gossip, slow-burn that kept me guessing and held my attention from the first page all the way through to the last. Listen for the Lie is worth adding to your TBR!
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Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I know that at this point, the podcast thriller set up has been played out. But just stick with me, because this book is worth it.

Listen for the Lie is a small town mystery about Lucy, who was accused of killing her best friend 5 years ago. Lucy is now living her not-so-best life in L.A. when her beloved grandmother asks her to return to celebrate her 80th birthday. (If this lady, Beverly, was my grandma, I would 100% make that trip.) Coincidentally, a podcaster has arrived in town to investigate the unsolved murder that the town decided Lucy committed. The problem is Lucy has no memory of the murder and does not know if she is the killed Savvy.

If you have not yet read a review for Listen for the Lie, let me tell you that it is getting rave reviews. You will surely see it all over whatever book-related social media you consume very soon.

I think the popularity of this book pre-release can be attributed to Amy Tintera’s writing and characters. Tintera structures the story in short, quick chapters that urge you to binge it. The narrative is interspersed with partial podcast segments as the episodes drop in the novel’s timeline. Essentially, readers are reading/listening to the podcast as the characters do. As a result, readers feel like the characters are reacting to the episodes in real time. This created an engaging story that I did not want to put down.

I also think Tintera’s writing style is a fun departure from the usual thriller/mystery faire. I was not expecting to read a book about murder that was as comedic as Listen for the Lie. The tone is consistent throughout the story and aided by the protagonist’s sassy comments. Lucy’s sarcasm was dripping off the pages. Have I mentioned the murderous voice in her head? That is not to say the writing was perfect. For example, the word smug was used over 30 times.

I must also mention that Tintera is spot on in her depiction of small town dynamics. If you think they are exaggerated after reading this, I promise you Tintera has this aspect correct. I can attest to as much as someone who grew up in a town even smaller than Plumpton.

Now do I think this was a brilliantly plotted mystery? No, not really. The book provides plenty of red herrings and suspects but does not bring any new, inventive twists to the table. But in the end, that did not matter because I had such a good time reading it.

I do have a few quibbles with the book beyond some repetitive language. There is a romance storyline that is completely unnecessary. I am going to chalk this up to the fact Tintera is a YA author making the pivot to adult fiction. In addition, Lucy continually denies something that very apparently happened throughout the book. I felt like we were never given a real explanation for why, and it stuck out as an odd choice for the character. Similarly, I thought Lucy ignoring, or at least failing to call out, all the male gaslighting was unacceptable. It is 2024; let women support other women unabashedly.

Overall, Listen to the Lie is a quick, fun mystery novel that highlights real issues while keeping a comedic tone. I definitely recommend it unless you are easily irritated by repetitive phrases, sarcasm, or the occasional immaturity.

Listen for the Lie is a contemporary mystery about a woman who returns to her hometown where everyone suspects her of murdering her best friend five years earlier.

Lucy is reluctant to return to her Texas hometown for grandma’s 80th birthday. She’s never shaken the suspicion that she murdered her best friend Savvy and because she lost her memory of that entire night she’s never been able to point the finger at anyone else. But now the popular true crime podcast Listen For The Lie is covering Savvy’s murder and everyone who knew the women is being interviewed. The podcast reveals secrets, misdeeds and motives that could point the blame away from Lucy. But she will need to recover her memory to either clear her name or to finally discover if she really got away with murder.

I really enjoyed this twisty and entertaining murder mystery. Lucy was a smart and funny protagonist and I liked her banter with everyone from Ben the podcaster to her grandmother. The mystery kept me guessing up until the end and I thought it was a satisfying conclusion.

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Audiobook notes: Listen For The Lie was narrated by married couple January LaVoy and Will Damron. Because this book features a podcast it’s the ideal audiobook experience and both narrators do an excellent job with the material and bring the characters alive.

WOW!! Thank you NetGalley and Celadon books for granting me access to this book in exchange for my honest review.

I think it might be best to go into this one knowing as little as possible, so I would say all you need to know is this: 5 years ago, something tragic happened in Lucy’s past. Her best friend, Savvy, was murdered and Lucy has no memory of that night. Everyone thinks she did it, and Lucy starts to wonder if everyone is right.

This truly was “unputdownable” which I don’t think I’ve ever said about a thriller so far! Lucy will definitely be a polarizing main character, but personally I loved reading from her perspective and hearing her internal thoughts. I somehow did not guess how this ends, and there were many twists and turns along the way. The podcast element/chapters were done so well, I would love to read this again via audiobook to see how the podcast element really comes to life.

Highly recommend and I will definitely be reading more by Amy Tintera in the future!

Lucy left town after her best friend was murdered. She doesn’t remember the event, but the entire town thinks she killed her. Now that a podcast about the murder has begun, the entire world will think that.

I have been seeing five star reviews everywhere for this one, and they are all so right. This is the perfect mystery/thriller. There’s a lot of darkness, but also a lot of humor. That mix isn’t always well done, but it’s perfect here. The characters are full of wit and sarcasm, even when they are doubting themselves. This may be the thriller of 2024!

“Listen, when the urge to murder someone strikes, sometimes you just gotta go with it.”

Listen for the Lie comes out 3/5.

I loved Listen for the Lie! Thrillers with podcast plots are always a must-read for me, and I could not put this book down. I loved Lucy as a protagonist - she had some excellent one-liners - but all of the characters in this book were memorable. The twists and turns in the plot were unpredictable, and the ending was very satisfying. I loved that Savvy had such a presence throughout the story. I would recommend the audiobook version as well - parts of the story were told in podcast format,

Absolutely brilliant "whodunnit."

Five years ago, Lucy was found wandering down a dark road, confused, looking a hot mess with her best friend's blood all over her. The town filled in the blanks like their own little game of adlib from there. Fast forward, and Lucy finds herself back in the spotlight when a podcaster makes her the main character of the second season of his hit show, "Listen for the Lie." Now with some prompting from her incredibly quirky and amazing grandmother (seriously I wish she was my grandma) Lucy finds herself investigating that night that changed her life forever.

Switching from first person POV to podcast interviews with townspeople "shedding light" on what happened all those years ago, this is one of those cases where every character you meet, you're thinking to yourself "wait it could be them!" and then you meet another one and the cycle starts over.

The characters are so loveable, if you're into sass, snarky comments and dark humor and somewhat inappropriate times, you will love Lucy. And honestly, I wish Beverly was my grandmother. I do wish we had gotten to know Ben and Paige a bit more but with as many time hops, interviews and twists the story took I think it was paced really well and overall I really enjoyed it.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6221219904

First off - thank you so much Netgalley & Celadon Books for giving me an arc copy of this one in exchange for an honest review!
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I love love love how this has two different perspectives from the main character - present and five years ago when she allegedly killed her best friend people think. The book goes into detail told by Lucy about her friendship with Savvy and her minimal recollection of that night. As the story keeps unfolding more and more Lucy gets her memory back and finally puzzle pieces what really happened on the night her best friend was killed, only once she gets all her memory back she finally finds out who really killed her and it’s not her - it’s someone she wouldn’t of thought from the beginning of all of this. I really enjoyed Ben’s character as well. His little romance going on with Lucy and also trying to investigate what happened to Savvy and solve her murder as a podcaster was so different and a cool little twist.
The writing style when the podcasts were highlighted were cool to read and made it interesting! I liked this writing style and thought this was a very well done book. I did find myself laughing at times because Lucy the main character would randomly hear Savvy say “let’s kill” in her brain and she’d just repeat it 😂 it was very odd and strange but made me laugh because I pictured this devilish voice 🤣 I mean in Savvy’s defensive she should want to kill the person that killed her and tried to kill her best friend Lucy. Overall a really well done thriller, I’ll definitely be on the look out for more books from this author! Catch this one in book stores March 5th!

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

**Make sure to grab yourself a copy when this one is released on March 5th!**

“Trust me, there’s no pleasing people. If they’re determined to think the worst of you, they will.”

Lucy was suspected of killing her best friend, Savvy, after she's found wandering a road covered in blood. They were last seen leaving a wedding together, but Lucy has no memory of that night. With little to no evidence, Lucy was never convicted. Five years later, a true crime podcaster comes to town resurfacing the case to find out what happened that night. Told through Lucy’s POV and transcripts from the podcast, the truth about that night may finally come out.

This was my very first ARC read (!!!!) and can I just say what a great first one it was?! Thank you so much to Amy Tintera, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the early access to this one!

Listen for the Lie had me hooked from the very beginning! Lucy’s POV paired with the podcast transcripts made for a very well-rounded, suspenseful storyline. Lucy’s sarcastic and flippant ownership of being a suspected killer had me literally chuckling out loud at some points. This twisty thriller kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t wait to see what happened!

👍🏻: main character’s sarcastic personality, story told through main character’s POV and podcast transcripts, secretive small town, missing memories, memory fragmentation turned full recollection moment, dual timeline

👎🏻: I wished that the piecing together of that night started having reveals just a tad earlier so it felt less rushed into the full reveal, the reveal of that night felt a little bit over the top for the reasoning behind it

What if the truth doesn’t matter?

It’s been five years since the mysterious murder of Savannah ‘Savvy’ Harper. Lucy is found with bruises and Savvy’s blood on her dress and absolutely no recollection of the night’s events. Most of the town of Plumpton, Texas assumes Lucy killed Savvy after a fight, but without a murder weapon and enough evidence, the case is never solved. Until a crime Podcast ran by Ben Owens shines new light on Savvy’s death. Resigned to be found guilty, Lucy comes back to town and slowly unravels what exactly happened that night.

This was such a fun ride, great mystery and witty writing. I really liked Lucy from that first chapter, silly and funny in that morbid humor way. Lucy’s internal monologue was really hilarious at times, the quick jokes and dark humor are a plenty!

All the different characters and fast paced chapters made this book, and the mystery, a huge page turner. I’m usually a big fan of the podcast plot, as well as true crime documentaries so this definitely checks those boxes. While some may find this theme overdone or too predictable, I did not see that in this debut - it was just the right amount of crime to mystery ratio, and I think many people will binge this book just like I did!

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the review copy.

Thank you Netgalley, Amy Tintera, and Celadon books for my advanced readers' copy.
I loved the writing style, and especially the bittersweet sarcasm of the main character, Lucy. She's a pretty unhinged female character, right up my alley.
Lucy left her hometown in central Texas a few years ago after she was accused of killing her best friend, Savannah. Shocked by her friend's tragic end, Lucy cannot remember anything from the night in question. But when true-crime podcaster Ben Owens brings up the incident years later and is adamant about finding out what really happened that night, Lucy’s world comes crumbling down again.
She wants to know if she really did kill her best friend as many still think, so she heads back down to Texas at her grandmother's request. Her relationship with her grandma is very special, which makes her return to the one place she wasn't planning on visiting ever again a bit more bearable.
Needless to say, she and Ben bond about the night in question, which adds some spice to the story.
The author narrates it from dual timelines: back then and now. I really liked how the transitions guided the reader to come to its own conclusions. At about two thirds of the book I had strong suspicions about what transpired the night Savvy was murdered, but I still enjoyed the way the author wrapped everything up.
A solid suspenseful mystery/thriller novel I highly recommend to anyone looking for something fresh to read from the genre. This was my first book by the author, but I will definitely read something else she writes in the future.

WHAT A FANTASTIC BOOK!

I've already said this recently, but I have just been struggling to find good thrillers lately so I was soooo happy to have gotten this as an ARC. There isn't a whole lot I can say besides gushing over how much I enjoyed reading this. The pacing was excellent, the characters were intriguing... All the recipes of a good thriller were here and the twist was executed perfectly. I can't wait to read more books by this author.

If you love thrillers, you MUST read this one!

BLURB :: Lucy is suspected of murdering her best friend…but she has no memory of that night. Everyone in her small hometown believes she did it. So when a hit true crime podcast begins investigating Savvy’s murder, Lucy returns to the town she vowed to never set foot in again, determined to solve her friend’s murder, even if she’s the one who did it.

THOUGHTS :: I’m obsessed with stories that have mixed media, (in this case - a podcast element) ESPECIALLY when the audiobook reflects it; sounding like I’m listening to an actual podcast. LISTEN FOR THE LIE lives up to the HYPE! 👏🏽 I DEVOURED this book, not wanting to stop listening. Fast paced and suspenseful, it’s a story you can easily binge in a day!

There’s dark humor, witty banter, a hint of romance and a protagonist whose SASS is unmatched. Lucy has an UNHINGED, sarcastic persona and I loved her. 🤣 This isn’t your typical predictable thriller; I was guessing until the very end…did she? Didn’t she? If not, who did? That’s a sign of a great unreliable character and a solid plot line. Also >>> Grandma Beverly is a showstopper. 🤭

The chapters alternate between Lucy’s POV and the podcast interviews of her friends, family and town locals who ALL had an opinion on what transpired that fateful night. **I HIGHLY recommend consuming this on audio for a full experience!!**

4.5 ⭐️

WOW I am at an absolute loss for words. I was so hooked to this book. Like I genuinely cannot tell you the last time I was so interested in a book. I sat this book down once and that was to run to the bathroom. This book did sort of remind me of Stacy Wilingham's All the Dangerous Places, but was even better.

Publication Date: March 5, 2024
#ListenfortheLie #NetGalley

The debut adult novel (she typically writes YA) from Amy Tintera is simply in a word engaging! I'm not typically a lover of the thriller genre but this book kept me up to the wee hours of the morning.

I was reeled in from the first line "A podcaster has decided to ruin my life, so I'm buying a chicken".
With a start like that you'd be expecting a funny book but this book deals with domestic violence, toxic relationships and dysfunctional families. Lucy, the main female character is the unreliable narrator, who hears voices telling her to kill people. It becomes clearer whose voice she's hearing as you get deeper into the story. Lucy can't remember what happened 5 years ago when she was found wandering around covered in her best friend's blood. She was never charged with Savvy's murder, but most of the people in the small town of Plumpton, including her parents and ex-husband were and still are convinced she's guilty.
Ben, who has a very successful true crime podcast, comes to town to try to figure out what happened. Unbeknownst to Lucy, her kick-ass grandmother Beverly has orchestrated the whole thing because she's never believed Lucy was the murderer. Lucy agrees to help Ben but only because her grandmother has asked her to.
There are many twists and turns and a lot of suspects, but the journey to get to the truth was never boring. I really enjoyed this book despite the subject matter.
This is a true "me too" movement book and a lot of good points are made about how a woman's version of the truth is completely dismissed in favour of the man's version.
A quote from the book "Men always believe each other".
5* + read and I'll be looking for more adult novels from this author.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.