I went into this request because I love the authors writing. This did not disappoint. A big thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for letting me read an early copy.

I have only one complaint and I will say it first. There is a part of the plot not in the description, that shows up from page one, that is something that really creeps me out. Had I known, I would not have requested it, so I guess it’s good I didn’t know.

This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The dual timeline really revealed the story in a way that kept you guessing, not knowing what would come next. Even when I thought I knew who or what was going down, I was wrong. This was an amazing read despite it creeping me out.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

This is a fast paced thriller romance book. It takes place in Maine and that alone won my heart. I love the descriptions and specific places that anyone who has been there might recognize. We follow Ariel, a single mom living in Portland. There is a little bit of a dual timeline as we get glimpses of a relationship she had five years prior. She works for a company that is owned by her father and his brother. One day the man she is dating up and disappears without so much as a word. This starts us on a journey to discover what happened.
It is well written and kept my interest. If you like family drama and a thrill, this will be a fun read. There is a great romance involved as well. There is the occasional swear word but overall nothing too bad.

The Five Year Lie is a wonderful romantic thriller. Sarina Bowen shows off her fabulous writing chops in this new genre and it's a huge winner right from the start. I couldn't put down this mystery as a text message begins a wild adventure for Ariel Cafferty and the search for the truth about her son's father, Drew Miller. There are many missing pieces to a puzzle that Ariel had assumed was complete. As she gets deeper into the workings of her family's surveillance company, carefully woven threads unravel for her and the stagnant life she thought she'd be living forever. With each new chapter offering up increasing uncertainty and definite danger, when Ariel teams up with a fellow employee to find out exactly what transpired when Drew up and disappeared and was then presumed dead, that's when I knew I clearly had to hold on tight.

What a storyline. I had my suspicions about Ariel's father and uncle but Bowen very cleverly tries to throw the reader off the path over and over again with new revelations and a 5-year-old cell tower glitch that seems to be the impetus to uncovering the mystery of Drew Miller once and for all. I could feel the tension lurking at every turn as Ariel tried hard to keep her findings with the help of the innocent Zain a secret, knowing her first concern would always be her precocious son Buzz.

And who knew what and why? Although Ariel seemed somewhat convinced that Drew simply didn't want to be with her any longer after their short affair, what is ultimately revealed as the twists and turns keep coming with every turn of the page really did blow me away. There is clear gaslighting going on with those Ariel thought she knew best and I was as gobsmacked as she was as the race against time continues to speed up.

Even those characters who are less than noble add the right elements to this quest for the truth. While danger continues to lurk as Ariel and Zane get closer to the surprise of just who Drew Miller was and perhaps still is, I was impressed by this mother's drive to make sure she and Buzz were safe even when the last few chapters were wildly perilous. This is the edge-of-your-seat kind of storytelling and Bowen does a stellar job with keeping her characters and this reader on proverbial toes throughout.

My one small issue that I feel is worthy of acknowledging, is the use of the words white and black to describe the physical attributes of some of the people in this book. I'm not sure why it had to be pointed out because knowing their race did not change any part of the story. It simply felt out of place and kind of had me scratching my head as to why those words needed to be used. But that's just me I suppose.

All in all, however, Sarina Bowen combines all the elements of a well-written thriller with the right amount of romance to make us appreciate the hurt and pain of not knowing why the love of Ariel's life left so abruptly. She's a great heroine and all that she endures truly gives her a bit of Wonder Woman status. For both this reader and most definitely her son.

I am thrilled Bowen decided to step out of her usual and write this stellar story. From the dedication to one of my all-time favorite people to the intense and very gratifying conclusion, I'd say that this is only the start of what is to come, which is all kinds of fantastic..

5+ big stars!

This domestic thriller started off a little slow and I had trouble staying focused on it, but by about halfway through I got pulled in. The story focuses on Ariel, who suddenly receives a text message from her baby daddy who died 5 years previously. This sends her down a rabbit hole of trying to find out all she can about his mysterious death. I would have liked more in-depth characters to feel more connected, but still a great read and kept me on my toes until the end. Looking forward to more from this author! 3.5 stars rounded up!

When I tell you I am now fully convinced that I will read ANYTHING Sarina Bowen writes.....

I am NOT typically a reader of thrillers of any kind. I get too caught up in what I'm reading and those kinds of books stress me out/freak me out so I tend to stay away. However, when Sarina announced she was picked up by Harper to write a domestic thriller I thought....let's do this. I knew that even if I wasn't a fan of the story, I already love her writing so it wouldn't be that much of a burden to spend a few days reading The Five Year Lie.

Little did I know!!!!! I was about to be immediately hooked and sped-read this in two days. The mix of flashbacks in different (some of which were mysterious) POVs to the present where Ariel (FINALLY AN MC WITH MY NAME!) went from living life as usual to suddenly receiving a text from the father of her child that she thought had been dead for five years.

Even after finding out there had been a glitch with the telephone provider and that the text had been sent before he'd skipped town she couldn't let it go. Drew's ghost had been thrust back into her life and the further she dug into the past, it seemed that for every answer she dug up, three more questions were raised--which I LOVED.

GAHHHH!!! I typically pride myself on picking up who the suspect is in books that have this type of mystery and let me tell you, while I had my suspicions, I was still blown away by the magnitude of of the deception and plots that had been woven over the last 5/6 years.

I LOVED how everything was tied up, I loved the characters (and was heartbroken over one), and I am SO happy I gave this a chance. Highly recommend for those that have an established love for domestic thrillers and for those who have read and loved everything else that Sarina has written!

Huge thanks to Harper for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review ♥

The Five Year Lie is a brilliant thriller packed with heart racing suspense, twists and a little bit of romantic mystery. . In seamless transitions from past to present, Ariel is trying to make sense of what happened when she lost the love of her life, after receiving a text message from him when he has been presumed dead. The novel was fast paced and the closure was action packed. Such a great read! I am very picky with my thrillers, but I must say this one is on my recommendation list, I think I will have my book club check it out!

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, Net Galley and Sarina Bowen for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Cheers to release day! Best of luck!

Sarina Bowen’s ‘The Five Year Lie’ starts with a compelling hook that instantly grabs your attention: Ariel Cafferty receives a text from Drew, the love of her life who supposedly died five years ago. This shocking message sets Ariel on a twisting path of discovery that challenges everything she thought she knew about her past, Drew's death, and the dangers lurking in her present.

The narrative dives into a blend of romance and suspense, which keeps the pages turning. However, while the premise is intriguing and the plot full of potential twists, the execution doesn't quite reach the heights it promises. The story, at times, struggles to balance its romantic elements with the thriller aspects, leading to a pacing that feels uneven. The romance tends to overshadow the mystery, which could have been explored more deeply to enhance the suspense.

Character development is another area where the book could have been stronger. Ariel’s reactions and decisions sometimes lack the depth that would make her character truly resonate with the reader. This superficial character exploration makes the emotional stakes feel lower than they could be.

Despite these criticisms, Bowen does a commendable job of keeping the reader engaged with frequent cliffhangers and reveals. The settings are vividly described, and the writing style is accessible, making it easy to breeze through the story.

Overall, 'The Five Year Lie' is a decent read for fans of romantic thrillers who are looking for an easy and entertaining escape. It offers a good mix of intrigue and romance, even if it doesn’t delve as deeply into the thriller territory as some might prefer. A solid three-star read that hints at what Bowen could achieve in the genre with a tighter focus on suspense.

Sarina Bowen is on of my top five favorite authors. I've enjoyed over 20 of her romance novels over the past few years. The Five Year Lie is her first foray into the romantic suspense/thriller genre.

The premise is sound and I liked the main characters. Bowen's writing style is easy to read and gets you into the story quickly. The plot is a slow burn, mixing present day and past, in different pov's. I easily figured out a lot of the mystery aspects, but some additional thriller aspects kept me engaged to the end. The romance aspect is lower focus than the mystery/suspense. No real explicit romantic content. I feel there were some dropped plot threads, and other areas that lacked sufficient explanation. My takeaway is that this is a decent debut in the genre.

3.5 stars rounded up. I hope Bowen will continue to grow in this genre.

ARC received from Renegade Books via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Ariel receives a text from Drew asking her to meet him as soon as possible. There’s just one problem — her former boyfriend has been dead for five years. That text begins her search for the truth behind why Drew vanished, not just for herself but her five year old son too.

I picked this one up because I enjoy Sarina Bowen’s romance books and wanted to see what her debut thriller would be like. Well, it delivered!

Like The Last Thing He Told Me, The Five Year Lie is centered around the question of how well do you know the people love? The opening pages drew me in. The surprises throughout the book kept me turning the pages as fast as I could read. The technology angle along with Ariel and Drew’s love story made this story memorable.

The Five Year Lie is a great book to throw in your vacation bag. This fast-paced entertaining thriller with a touch of romance is the perfect escape read.

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: 5/7

Sarina Bowen's venture into the thriller genre with "The Five Year Lie" is a five-star success! I have been a big fan of Bowen’s steamy romance novels, and I couldn’t wait to see what she would do with a thriller.

From the moment Ariel's phone buzzed with a cryptic text from her dead boyfriend, Drew, I was hooked. From there, the story was a whirlwind of mystery, suspense, and romance that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

Described as a domestic thriller, this book reads like romantic suspense—one of my favorite genres! It’s full of heart-pounding suspense and deep character development, captivating me with its fast-paced narrative and compelling characters.

Ariel, a single mother grappling with the sudden reappearance of her long-lost love, is relatable and endearing. As she delves deeper into the past while trying to figure out what happened to Drew, she unearths shocking revelations and puts herself and her family in danger. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the story and rooting for her every step of the way.

Incorporating surveillance and AI technology adds a modern twist to the classic thriller formula, giving a sense of paranoia that makes it even more chilling.

Overall, this is one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year, and I can’t wait to see what Bowen comes up with next.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Perrenial for my advanced copy.

I found this to be very readable. It pulled me in very quickly and I was in for the ride. However, I don't know that I would call this a domestic thriller. I tend to avoid thrillers because they cause me a lot of stress and anxiety, but I never felt any sense of true danger. For me, it was more of a romantic suspense. I will point out that I think it's a very good romantic suspense.

My only real complaint is in the epilogue. Something happens that is completely unnecessary and really made me roll eyes.

I've enjoyed Sarina Bowen's romances for years and this is her first foray into the thriller category. It's not perfect, but it's very enjoyable and would definitely read another one by her.

I thank Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the ebook ARC of this title.

4 stars

I really like this side of Sarina’s writing! I’m so used to reading her fun romance books, this psychological thriller kind of threw me for a loop. In a good way though!

Sarina is a such a good author, I don’t think it matters what she’s writes. the Five Year Lie sucked me in immediately and there were times I didn’t want to eat dinner because I had to know what was going to happen next. She had me guessing for quite awhile,I did ultimately figure out what was happening and why, but the who is what keeps you guessing!

I definitely recommend this book to any Sarina Bowen fan and also anyone who just loves a good psychological thriller as well.

***Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC in return for an honest review***

I didn't love this like I thought I would. I generally like thrillers and have loved some of this author's romance books in the past but this just felt clunky and a bit boring to me. The premise was ok but I just found myself wanting the book to end because I wasn't into it. Hope you have better luck!!

The Five Year Lie comes out next week on May 7, 2024 and you can purchase HERE.

"Does Tara seem okay to you? Is she doing all right?"

"I thought so," Larri says. "But that's the thing about living with an addict. You second-guess every little thing. You're always waiting for the next disaster. Addicts lie. You're supposed to say— the addiction lies. But sometimes it doesn't matter who's betrayed you, right? I don't even know how to talk to her about this. I was, like, thirty seconds from packing up my stuff and leaving forever.

I have loved her since the ninth grade. But I don't think I can go through this again."

Based on my research, this is Sarina Bowen's *thriller* debut. She's historically more of a romance author (again, from a quick google, so I could be wrong). It makes sense that the romance aspect of this book was stronger than the rest.

It kept me engaged, but then we had a few chapters that felt like the world's longest bus ride. Literally. The book reached a true peak, and then hit a really low valley and struggled to return to normal.

I liked the corporate spy level of the book, but definitely think there was too much fluff in the book across the board. I'm not mad that I read it, but I am glad I didn't buy it. Would recommend picking it up on deal or from your local library.

You know the sign of a wonderful, interesting book is when the reader doesn't even go for a bathroom break while reading it. I certainly did this with this masterpiece and Sarina has written an absolute banger of a book. This story has so many emotions,twists and turns even to the last page that it will leave you with a massive book hangover. Ariel falls for Drew( Jay) but he leaves with no warning and she believes he's dead until she gets a text 5 years later from him. It starts off a tumultuous journey for herself, her son Buzz and Drew. You need to read this book as it's a definite must read.

Holy sh!@tballs Sarina Bowen!

When you move away from your usual genre, you do it amazingly!

I love a good mystery/thriller, and The Five Year Lie is a great one. I spent the whole time thinking this one did it. No, it was this one. I was messaging a friend who had already read the book with a stream of what the hells and oh heck nos haha.

There are lots of curve balls along the way, and all the while I had that hope, that Drew was out there somewhere.

Also, if this doesn't give you the icks about where AI could go, then, well, yeah.

As much as I love Sarina's hockey books and True North world, I definitely would not mind reading more romantic suspense in the future.

"Dead men don't send texts..." Ariel receives one from her boyfriend that ghosted her 5 years ago. She never told him they have a son because she saw an obituary of his death releasing any hope of finding out why he left.
The text "Something's happened. I need to see you. Meet me under the candelabra tree ASAP." A glitch on the internet 5 years ago left many texts unsent until now. She begins to investigate the company her family owns ...a camera security system... where she met Drew working. With the help from her friends, she begins to investigate and finds some sinister and dangerous events Drew had uncovered. She realizes boundaries have been crossed. As she dives deeper into a spiral of danger, she endangers her life, her friends and her son's life.
This is so fast paced and keeps you on the edge of the investigation. While some led to dead ends, it is the mountain of clues that will keep you racing to the end with Ariel. I loved it and loved the fight Ariel had in her becoming a tough character to contend with.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Paperbacks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've loved Sarnia Bowen's romance books so had to get my hands on this Thriller. It did not disappoint! This is a twisty mysterious ride that you will have to read as quickly as possible to get to the ending.

While the twist may be predictable, but the writing will keep you hooked!

Recommended!

I’m going to keep this vague and un-spoilery. This is a who-and-why-did-they-do-it story between past and present full of twists. It takes you on this rollercoaster of emotions, causes tension and anxiety, and sets off this search for answers to so many questions, suspicions, and mysteries bringing suspense, intrigue, and danger. I needed to know so badly that I almost cheated and looked at the end, but made myself take it all in, let it build, put the pieces all together, to find out how we ended up where we were in the prologue and what was going to happen after that.

This book pulls you into this situation with different points of view and time jumps and trickles of information coming out at a time as Ariel receives a text from her ex-boyfriend from five years ago who not only left her but was also reported dead.

It set off this whole personal investigation into what really happened to Drew. Along the way, she gets help from another coworker as they start trying to dig deeper and figure out more about Drew’s past and what he was doing while working for the company that they both worked for.

The time jumps in different points of view add to the complexity and the way that information is provided to us. And then mystery and discovery build to suspense and danger. I read half of the book the first day and I hated to have to put it down to go to bed, but I honestly had to talk myself out of not skipping to the end because I really wanted to know if one of my theories would pan out.

So this story pulled me in from the tension-filled prologue and it kept me invested trying to unravel how she got there. Even when I started getting some answers, I was just anticipating more and more of what was still coming and I was jonesing for the conclusion.

I really liked seeing Ariel grow and mature as she becomes more focused and confident throughout the story. I loved little Buzz. And I also got attached to her partner in her investigation, Zain. He is just one of those honest, straightforward, inquisitive, and helpful people who often are left in the background, but is right in the middle of this with her. And I was obsessed with Drew and figuring out his motivations and the truth about his situation. And determining if he was really good, bad, or somewhere in between. He was charismatic and complicated, and I really wanted Ariel to find out a truth she could live with. There are multiple possible antagonists and many different moving parts to the story giving it more depth.

By the time the book ended, I was glad I took this five-year journey with these characters. Some things made me sad or angry but others made me happy. And I could finally let out a breath after being so tense while reading it. So even though this is a genre change for Sarina Bowen, I think that she did a fantastic job creating a multi-layered, suspenseful, mysterious, intriguing story about lost love, secrets, lies, revenge, manipulation, and corruption.

This was an incredible book!! I love this author and I was looking forward to this book!! I found this to be a fabulous book! I loved the plot and characters. I would recommend to others.