I love a podcast style book and this one did not disappoint! It was the perfect whodunit with a witty MC and a cast of likeable and unlikeable characters. With an unreliable narrator, it was hard to tell who to believe. It all came together in the end, sort of. The truth doesn’t matter.

This book has some blurbs by some amazing authors (Stephen King anyone?) but I have to admit I downloaded this title because I'm familiar with Tintera's YA work and was curious to see how she jumped both genres (she's previously done either Sci-Fi/Dystopian or Fantasy) and age groups. And holy crap guys she knocked it out of the park. This 100% deserves all of the blurbs it's been getting and absolutely qualifies as a grade-A page turner. I did not want to put this book down and blew through this whole book in under two days. I kept telling myself "slow down, you have other books you need to read and you have more than enough time to finish this" but I didn't listen because I felt like I HAD to keep turning pages. First things first, this book is WILD. I have no doubt that there are going to be some people that read this book and scoff at some of the elements of it because at some points it almost reads like one of those Real Housewives shows what with all the drama, but man I did not care. And honestly I don't think it's unbelievable. Would it be something you would expect to see all the time? No. But I'm sure there have been crazier real-life cases out there, and it makes for a damn entertaining story. I also need to add three cheers for Lucy. She is a likeable unlikeable main female character and I couldn't imagine this story having anyone else as a main character. Shout out to her grandma though, because I love her. My only real complaints with this story were slight; first I didn't love the romantic subplot, it seemed a little unnecessary and a little silly, but I'm not shocked it was included. Second, the ending/reveal felt slightly rushed. But in a thriller I think that's not overly unusual, and especially one like this you can't draw it out too much or it becomes unrealistic. Even with those small faults I can't really complain, because I just had so much fun reading this. I will also admit pretty much every twist (save maybe...one or two) were complete surprises, so bravo to Tintera for that. The podcast element was wonderful, and added that extra little spark to the story. I can't wait for this book to hit shelves so I can recommend it to everyone looking for a new mystery/thriller to read, and I will 100% be writing a shelf-talker for it to go up ASAP. I sincerely hope Tintera continues writing adult mystery/thrillers, but I also wouldn't be upset to see her try her hand at YA mystery/thrillers (I also certainly wouldn't say no to her writing another YA sci-fi though). Basically anything Tintera wants to write I will read, but fingers crossed she writes more msytery/thrillers, because she's proved with this one that she could very well turn into a powerhouse of the genre easily.

This is an interesting mystery with a podcast element to add to the intrigue. While I found many of the characters to be quite unlikeable, Grandma was a gem. I’d read a whole book based on her character alone. If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced whodunnit, this is for you. And you’ll likely be surprised by the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy.

I loved this mystery! It hooked me from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. The main character, Lucy, is one of my favorite characters of all time. I loved her sarcasm and snarky attitude. Her grandmother, Beverly, had me laughing in almost every scene she was included. This book is a fresh take on a whodunnit. Amy Tintera led me on a wild goose chase wondering who the culprit could be.

I love it when mysteries/thrillers include elements of true crime podcasts within the book. It enhances my reading experience. Lucy also struggles a bit with intrusive thoughts throughout the book. This felt very Stephen King-esque (which I loved)!

I recommend Listen for The Lie if you loved None Of This Is True by Lisa Jewell and First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston.

Well first of all thank you so much Netgalley and Celadon Books for this ARC!!

Did I just get sucker punched ?? Because I am still processing what just happened , I did not see that one coming !!

Imagine being accused of killing your bestfriend , and having zero recollection of what happened that night , and now five years later a podcaster wants to dig up the story and find out the truth what really happened that terrifying night ??

Lucy has been living in misery and torturing herself every since the night Savvy was murdered , and her taste in men still has still not improved. Now she is being beckoned back to her small hometown in Plumpton TX all by the coercing of her grandmothers plan to connect her with Ben the infamous podcaster .

This is a gripping novel that was full of mystery , unlikeable characters , comedy, annoying boyfriends , podcasts , short witty chapters , murder and kept me guessing to the very END!! Honestly I kept trying to find "the Lie" I was duped 😲 Well Played Amy Tintera!!

The author did a fantastic job of laying out all the puzzle pieces. I really enjoyed the way the story was told between Lucy's thoughts and yes at times they were morbid ( those were my favorite LOL), and bounce between the podcasts , present time and the past.

If you like engrossing obsessive reads and were fans of None of This is True, Murder In the Family and Mother- Daughter Murder Night then you will inhale this novel!!

I was provided both the print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this. It is told in mixed media format in alternating chapters told from Lucy's point of view and through a podcast episode from Ben's eyes as the story unfolds. Similar books/audio performances in this format are Sadie, The Night Swim, and Dark Corners with the story unfolding in real time as well as via a podcast. If you liked those I think you really enjoy this, and I recommend them if you end up liking this book.

Lucy doesn't remember what happened on the night her best friend was murdered. Naturally everyone in her small town thinks she did it when there weren't any other suspects. Tired of the gossip and accusations, Lucy moved away to start over. When Ben Owens begins investigating Savvy's murder for his popular podcast, word gets out about Lucy's involvement and her life is once again turned upside down. She returns home to celebrate her hilarious grandmother's birthday and ends up meeting with the handsome podcaster. Ben convinces her to reconnect with old friends and places in an attempt to figure out what really happened that night and set the record straight despite years of avoiding those exact things. As Ben's podcast gains momentum, Lucy begins to understand that there is so much more that happened that night that what she's forgotten.

Tintera does an amazing job crafting this story. I was hooked from the beginning. Lucy is a bit of a sarcastic, no-nonsense character. She has developed a think skin and makes jokes to deal with the constant accusations and harassment. The story unfolds, her demeanor makes sense. While I enjoyed Lucy's chapters as she revisits her old stomping ground and works with Ben to figure out what happened, I was always so anxious for the podcast chapters to find out what Ben had uncovered about the case. Those chapters drove where the storyline was going to go next and kept things exciting and kept the pace moving. This had great pacing by the way. I had a hard time putting this down once I started. I could have done without the romance subplot. I don't think it really added anything to the book, but it didn't detract either.

If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, look no further. This is out March 5, 2024 and is going to be a huge hit!

Great debut into the adult book world by Amy Tintera! Some parts were a little slower than others but overall I did enjoy the plot. What kept me engaged was switching between the story and the podcast episodes. Give it a read! Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books and Amy Tintera for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication date, March 5, 2024.

4.75⭐️

Dark, twisty and surprisingly funny? The characters in this book were exquisite. Mystery aside, I was laughing out loud at the FMC and at how witty she was. The side characters, especially the grandmother also had me cackling. For a thriller about a woman’s murder in a small town, it was quite humorous. As for the mystery aspect of the book, it was a very gripping and twisty story. The ending left a bit to interpretation in my opinion and I wonder if that was on purpose or because the ending was slightly rushed. However, I couldn’t give this book anything lower than 4.75⭐️ because of how much I enjoyed every aspect of the book.

Thank you Celadon for sending me the physical copy and the audiobook for Listen for the Lie. I had a blast.

I've been on a thriller kick lately, and this one did not disappoint! I love the podcast storyline and format. It made for a fun read with the short chapters making for a fast-paced read that I couldn't put down. I highly recommend to anyone who likes suspense/thriller books!

From the moment I laid eyes on "Listen to the Lie" by Amy Tintera, I had a hunch it would be a captivating read, especially for enthusiasts of true crime podcasts. Much to my delight, the story surpassed my expectations, taking unexpected turns that defied my initial predictions. The protagonist, Lucy, with her sharp sarcasm, and the delightful dynamic with her grandmother became standout elements, making the narrative all the more engaging.

The book centers around Lucy, accused of her best friend's murder, but unable to recollect the events of that fateful night. Piecing together the puzzle through uncovering clues, twists, and flashbacks to the night of the crime. For those who relish a good whodunit, this book is a gem.

While I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, I must emphasize that opting for the audiobook version elevates the experience to a whole new level. The immersive quality of the audio adds an extra layer to the suspense, making it a must-listen if given the option. "Listen to the Lie" masterfully delivers on its promises, weaving a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

I've seen so many amazing reviews for Listen For the Lie and I was so excited to read it myself! I'm happy to report back that I really enjoyed this bingeable thriller. This book centers on Lucy Chase, who has been accused of murdering her best friend, Savvy, though she has no memory of it and has become the topic of a new podcast. This story grabbed my attention early on and held it right to the end. I wanted to know what really happened to Savvy and why, which made me want to keep reading this one. I loved the short chapters, Lucy as the MC even though I wasn't sure if she was ever telling the truth, the podcast element that led to interviewing many people and uncovering lots of information and lies, as well as the little bits of dark humor incorporated. The ending was not one that I predicted and overall, I felt satisfied with how things wrapped up.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and rated it 4 to 4.5 stars! If you are looking for a bingeworthy thriller with short chapters, dark humor, a small town setting with lots of characters keeping secrets and a podcast element, check out Listen for the Lies (out March 5)!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the advanced copy!

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK!

Do you ever read a novel and 30 seconds in you just think, "wow, I'm going to love this one"? Right off the bat, Listen for the Lie was that book for me. It was the PERFECT choice for an audio book - man I just love January LaVoy - and the way they aired the podcast was just icing on the cake.

This book kept me guessing from moment one. Five years after Savvy was murdered, her best friend Lucy is still the prime suspect but no one has been arrested. I was curious as to how all the circumstantial evidence kept Lucy free from custody and loved how everything played out. It was a great case for a podcaster and it was really fun suspecting everyone and trying to solve the mystery on my own - spoiler alert, I had no freaking clue until about 30 seconds before the reveal!

Lucy was such a stellar protagonist. I loved that she was kind of a bad B, smart, independent, unflappable, and totally her own person. She embodied that "I don't care what you think about me" persona and it totally worked. She was definitely too cool for school. Savvy was also the perfect victim. I loved that she wasn't the sweet, beautiful, innocent woman the media wanted to portray but that her being real and flawed didn't lessen the rosy effect the media put on her anyway.

The amnesia aspect of this book really worked. While it's not an entirely unique plotline, it felt so fresh and exciting in this book. It also added another layer for me to decide who and what I believed.

This book was perfection. I loved every minute, the audio was next level entertaining, and it's one I know I'll be recommending regularly. If it's not on your radar, it needs to be! And if you're new to audio or on the fence, this is the book to give it a go!

Thank you to Celadon Book and MacMillan Audio for the copy.

I absolutely loved this one! I listed to the audiobook because you get to hear actual bits of the podcast and it made it so fun and engaging. I also love the narrator.

This is one of this thriller's swore you never quite know what's going to happen or who to believe. I loved Lucy, I loved her personality, and I felt she was so relatable. I couldn't put this one down. I listened to it in two siting.

We follow Lucy as she goes back home to the scene of her best friends murder. Everyone thinks she did it, but she can't remember. Pair that with a sassy grandmother, a podcaster who won't rest until he knows the truth, and a whole cast of questionable characters and you've got a great mystery on your hands! Read it!

Happily, a 5-STAR read!!!

I AM OBSESSED WITH THE BOOK! I loved the balance of suspense, comedy, and serious issues. This book is about a woman named Lucy who is thought to have murdered her best friend, Savvy. Lucy is found wandering the street covered in her best friend’s blood but has no memory of what happened. Lucy moves away from her small town in Texas shortly after Savvy dies but travels back 5 years later for her grandmother’s birthday. A successful podcaster, Ben, is working on trying to solve Savvy’s murder and when Lucy’s grandmother sets her up with Ben, they both work together to figure out who killed Savvy. This story has humor, twists, love, redemption, and all the things a good thriller should have. It kept me guessing throughout and the writing is fantastic. I loved the format of telling the story but also including podcast interview transcripts- it added to the character development and painted a great scene for each chapter and character interaction. Amy Tintera nailed this one and needs to write more Adult novels!

Thank you Netgalley, Celadon Books, and Amy Tintera for allowing me to have access to an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fantastic. I loved the main character even when she seems unlikable. She had a sense of dark humor to help her through the situation of being accused of her best friends murder. I loved how the author combined podcast episodes and regular writing. I enjoyed that the chapters were short and easy to read. I had my guess along the way of what happened but didn't have it fully figured out- there were definitely lots of twists and turns along the way. Highly recommend. I look forward to reading more by this author and listening to this book next! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

This is Amy printers debut novel for adults, and it did NOT dissapoint.

I’ve come to enjoy thrillers with the “podcast trope” ( is that at thing😆) and really enjoyed how this story unfolded.

Lucy heads back to her her hometown 5 years after everyone accused her of murdering her best friend Saavy, a crime she was never charged with. To this day, Lucy can’t remember what happened the night that Saavy died. But now, a podcaster named Ben is dredging up the whole ordeal , bringing Lucy’s name back into the limelight. Will Ben uncover the truth about what happened that night?

I enjoyed how Lucy’s relationship with Ben evolved and played out, and the fact that he wasn’t scared of her like everyone else was.

LISTEN FOR THE LIE | Amy Tintera

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Format: 📖 thank you so much to celadonbooks for my #gifted ARC!
Pub Day: March 5th
Read if you like: true crime podcasts // dark humor // A GOOD GIRLS GUIDE TO MURDER // NONE OF THIS IS TRUE // THE NIGHT SWIM

YALL!

You are going to want to grab this book as soon as it hits shelves in a few weeks because it is GOOD!!! 👏🏼

Everyone thinks Lucy Chase killed her best friend Savvy after being found covered in her blood, but she can’t remember what happened and the police could never prove it. Years later a podcaster, Ben Owens, starts investigating Savvy’s murder and it brings to light everything a small town wished to leave behind.

Here is everything I loved (and nothing I didn’t becuase I loved it all) ✨

🎧 the humor from the very, very beginning! it is dark, but my goodness Lucy is a funny MC and I feel like her humor throughout makes it so easy to connect with her!
🎧 the podcast element was done SO WELL! this is one of those things that I feel like can either be really great or can take away from the story and that was absolutely not the case with this one. it added to the story perfectly!
🎧 it keeps you guessing! I kept asking myself who killed Savvy and I was wrong every time until it smacked me in the face 😆
🎧 I could read an entire book about just Lucy’s grandmother - she’s the real MVP
🎧 the way this story organically flows with POVs alternating between Lucy and parts of the podcast

I have seen so many rave reviews for this, and every time I say YES! It deserves the hype. Although I didn’t read via audio, I have heard that it was also amazing!

Listen for the lie follows Lucy, a woman who may or may not have killed her best friend, Savvy. No one knows. Even Lucy doesn’t know. Lucy doesn’t remember the night that Savvy died but no one believes that. Everyone is sure that Lucy killed Savvy. Years have passed since the night Savvy died and Lucy has long since escaped her hometown and started a new life as far away as possible. But a true crime podcaster named Ben has started poking around in her hometown. He’s interviewing people who knew Lucy and Savvy and trying to find out who really killed Savvy. So Lucy comes back to her hometown willing to face horrible memories and the people who despise her in order to discover for herself who really killed Savvy.

I thought this book was fun. That’s what I always look for in thrillers. Honestly I thought Lucy was… not very smart. I’ve noticed that that’s common in thrillers. A lot of thrillers don’t work if the main character isn’t just a little too trusting. And Lucy really was too trusting. In spite of that I was able to root for Lucy. I really really hoped that she hadn’t killed Savvy and the book kept me guessing right up until the killer was revealed. Listen for the Lie has the perfect number of twists. I’ve found that a lot of recently released thrillers have a few too many twists but I think Amy Tintera handled the twists in a ways that were surprising but never heavy handed. Every time I picked up the book I was interested in where the story was headed and fully engaged in what I was reading.

My complaint is based on my own personal taste: I HATE the recent trope I’ve found in thrillers where the main character is a woman who was involved in a crime in some way, a man shows up who is investigating the crime she was involved in, she (for god knows what reason) is willing to freely spill all the information she knows about the crime to this random man she’s just met, and then she and said random man fall in love. It’s wild to me how many thrillers in the past few years have used that plot. And I really really don’t like it. I don’t think it makes any sense. I think it reflects poorly on the main character’s intelligence and sense of self preservation. Also in my opinion the men in these books are never as charming as the reader is supposed to think he is. And at this point I just think it’s extremely uncreative. Really that’s my only complaint about Listen for the Lie but it’s such a core part of the plot that it’s a pretty big complaint.

So far I’ve seen nothing but good reviews of Listen for the Lie. And like I said I’ve been seeing it everywhere. If that little trope I described doesn’t bother you I recommend reading it!

4.5 stars! Now THIS is a thriller! I loved everything about this book. Smartly written, lots of suspicious characters, interesting plot, unreliable narrator, short chapters, just all the things.

I also loved this book because I couldn't figure out "who dunnit," so my brain didn't ruin the big reveal like it normally does 😂

I will definitely be reading more books by this author!

Thanks so much to Celadon Books for sending me a copy 😊

What do you do when your ride or die BFF turns up dead, & you’re covered in her blood but can’t remember a thing?

If you’re Lucy, you escape the little Texas town that this all went down in & hide out in L.A. Eventually five years have passed & naturally the inevitable happens: a successful podcaster picks Savvy’s murder to try & solve. At first Lucy ignores all attempted contact from this admittedly attractive podcaster (named Ben), but conveniently runs into him during her first visit back to the Lone Star state (her grandma convinced Lucy to come home for a birthday party but seems to have some ulterior motives). Lucy finally decides enough is enough & cooperates with Ben to see if his help is enough to get answers for Savvy; but this town has a lot more secrets than either of them could have predicted…

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It deals with a lot of serious topics, but the snarky & self-deprecating inner (& sometimes outer) monologue that is constantly running throughout this book is highly entertaining & definitely makes me want to be friends with Lucy. She has an awesome grandmother that I hope to be like someday, & I loved seeing bits & pieces of Lucy & Savvy’s friendship as the story unfolded & we got to see flashbacks of the past. I also enjoyed all of the podcast transcripts as they dropped timely revelations, which in turn caused ripples throughout the town since everyone has been listening. I also really liked that a couple of secrets stayed that way.

Thank you very much to NetGalley & Celadon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.