I liked this one ok. I think it runs more romance than thriller, which makes sense as Bowen has been a romance writer until now. It reminded me of the Nora Roberts thrillers that she writes under her own name (not JD Robb) - more romance-focused with the thriller elements underpinning that.

The thriller itself was all right. It was pretty predictable, but it kept the story moving. I loved the kid, I think he was my favorite character. I also enjoyed the fact that the whole story wasn't a helpless woman getting bailed out by men and that she was a glass blower which is such a cool art form to practice.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

The Five Year Lie is a smart, intense, and emotional story about secrets, betrayal, and redemption. Bowen’s writing keeps you hooked as the characters work through their pasts while facing tough truths.

What a ride this book was! I was hooked from the beginning. It was a little predictable, but I still really enjoyed it.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

I haven't read this author's romance books yet, so I'm not just a blind loyal fan. They are on my TBR though. That being said, I was so surprised by how good this book was! It is one of my 2024 favorite reads! I can't believe this is her first thriller (with a sprinkling of romance). Now, I hope she comes out with more thrillers, and I am okay if it has some romance with it because she did it well in this book.

I can still see the scenes from the book in my mind. She was also able to endear me to some of the characters. The plot twists and reveals were also good. The premise was what made me pick up this book. I was not disappointed because it was executed well. It was thrilling and suspenseful. I was at the edge of my seat, and I kept reading because I was too invested! I wanted the characters to be okay. The only reason why it took me 10 days to finish this was because of responsibilities. :D

This was amazing. Can't wait to get my hands on Dying to Meet You!

***Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing an e-arc of this book via NetGalley (no obligation to post a review).***

I'm a big fan of Sarina's romance books so I was excited to give this one a go and I'm so glad I did. It was fun, kept me guessing and I want more suspense from Sarina!

I really enjoyed this one, it was fast paced and kept me interested through the whole book. I loved the family dynamics and the romantic subplot that was happening.

This was a new author to me and i picked based on the cover. I love a bingeable book and read this in under a day! This was different then so many others that are out there, as a woman searches for the truth after receiving a text from her deceased ex.

Thanks so much for the gifted copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC! This was an easy read but I found myself
Bored at times.

I adore Sarina bowen this was a departure from hey usual romance books. It was exciting, riveting book. It was out of my comfort zone but definitely worth reading. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

Sarina Bowen takes a bold departure from her usual romance-centric novels with The Five Year Lie, a gripping, suspenseful thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story revolves around Ariel Cafferty, a woman who thought she had already lost everything she once held dear, only to find her world turned upside down when she receives a shocking text from a man she believed was dead—Drew, the love of her life.

Set in motion by this startling message, Ariel embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about Drew’s disappearance. What follows is an intricate web of deception, mystery, and danger as Ariel confronts the lies she's been living with for years. Her investigation forces her to question everything she thought she knew about the past, including her relationship with Drew, the secrets surrounding his death, and the people she once trusted. Along the way, she discovers unsettling truths that threaten not only her peace of mind but the safety of her son as well.

The heart of The Five Year Lie is Ariel's journey of self-discovery as she grapples with the devastating realization that her entire life, including her son's future, might be based on a lie. Bowen masterfully weaves together elements of romance, suspense, and personal growth, keeping the pace tight and the stakes high. Ariel’s emotional complexity makes her an incredibly relatable protagonist—she’s a mother driven by love and fear, willing to go to great lengths to protect those she cares about, even when it means risking everything.

The book is a page-turner, with twists that will leave readers questioning their assumptions at every turn. Bowen delivers a perfect balance of tension and emotional depth, ensuring that even as the thriller elements intensify, the emotional resonance of Ariel’s journey remains central to the story.

3.5 stars. I absolutely love this author. I have read every book and every series. This book was not my favorite however. The premise was interesting and I like a good thriller/mystery book. It had good characters and all the right pieces. I just personally didn’t love some of the way things happened. Overall, good book and I would still recommend.

I thought this book had such a fun premise. A five-year-old text sends a woman on an unsettling investigation about her dead boyfriend's cryptic message. This is one of those books where it's best to go in pretty blind and just see where the story takes you!

The ending was satisfying and the reader isn't left with any frustrating loose ends, which I appreciate. While some suspension of belief is required, as usual, I enjoyed the reveals and how it all came together.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and the author for the ARC of this book.

I loved this book. As a reader who particularly dislikes romance, I really did enjoy the love subplot to this thriller. Instead of competing with the mystery plot line it just strengthen my resolve to find out what happened and where Drew went.

I became super interested when realizing that Ariel’s family business may have influenced the disappearance of Drew. This is also an up-and-coming topic in society about how law-enforcement is allowed to tap into cameras: both public and private community knowledge.
The longer I read the more I realize I might actually like a dual point of view. The dual timelines between Drew and the past and Ariel in the present were very enjoyable for me to read. And I love a trope about there being more to meet the eye behind a husband, wife, boyfriend, family, member, or friend.

This was a super compelling read which I could not put down. It was easy to read and become very invested and Ariel and her confusion over getting a text from her ex five years after he disappeared. Reading in Drew’s perspective also made it hard to figure out how Drew is wrapped up in the potentially corrupt family business, since he seems like such a good guy. But who goes their girlfriend and then contacts her years later?

I loved The Last Thing He Told Me, so I was immediately interested in the Five Year Lie. And it completely lived up to my expectations. I will for sure pick up her next thriller.

As for my ratings :
Excitement level: 5
Ease of reading level: 5
Overall rating : 5

Entertaining domestic mystery thriller.

A woman whose boyfriend disappeared and then subsequently died receives a text message 5 years later asking her to meet him in the park they had frequented during their time together. Shocked but eager to see him again, Ariel Cafferty rushes to the location. But he never shows up. Ariel has never forgotten Drew and the explanation for the text has her doing a deep dive into everything she thought was true about their relationship, her relatives, and the family business.

This was fast paced and quite interesting as it involved the technology behind door cameras and the subsequent threats to privacy that they can create. Having access to the footage of those cameras can be used for good and also, as is discovered, for evil. As Ariel searches for the truth, she discovers more than she anticipated. She's been lied to and it's cost her everything.

I liked the main character and though some stereotypical trope friends gave me pause, the narrative played out as I expected with some surprises along the way. A bit of romance and a harrowing cross country bus trip kept me glued to the pages. The conclusion was a bit anticlimactic but anticipated.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. There were 3 narrators, a woman and two men. All did decent jobs for their related male and female spoken parts, but the voice for the child grated as did the instances where men spoke for women and vice versa. Overall, however, the production did enhance my appreciation of the book.

What a thriller!

This book had so many twists that I didn't see coming. The plot was original, and while I don't read a lot of thrillers, I am a fan of Sarina Bowen. And I think she can basically write anything.

Ariel Cafferty getting a text isn't unusual. But getting one from the only man she ever loved is. Because for the past five years, she's thought he's been dead. She goes to the place he tells her to, and of course, he's not there.

But getting that text changes everything for Ariel. She starts questioning what exactly happened to Drew. And not everyone is telling the truth.

A friendly coworker says he'll look into it for her. But can he be trusted?

All of this is bringing up the pain that Ariel went through long ago. But she wants answers.

I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Wow! I loved that this is different from the other books that I have read by Sarina Bowen. I absolutely could not turn the pages fast enough.

I highly recommend.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Interesting story, who wouldn’t be weirded out by a text from someone you know to be dead. But before long you are wondering what’s true and who can be trusted!

Struggled with the middle, it was draggy and slow for me. Skimmed some.

Last 30% made it better!

Liked Ariel and loved her son Buzz. All the characters were written with real qualities on good and bad sides.

Mild romance that went well with the suspense.

Mention of F2F romance/relationship several times. Also abusive parental/marital things but none of this is in depth.

Definitely would read more by this author.

Thanks to netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a page-turner! I loved the multiple viewpoints. It was well-written and easy to follow. this was suspenseful and kept me interested.

LOVED this one! A total page turner, A little big of everything- intrigue, suspense, romance. Multi point of view, lots of shocking reveals.