It All Started With A Lie by Denise Brown is a great Teen/YA mystery that kept me intrigued and flipping the pages.
An engrossing and suspenseful story that was such an irresistible, fun and thrilling book to read.
It’s a well written, fast paced, compelling and gripping page turner from beginning to end. And the characters are outstanding.
I was immediately sucked in and devoured every single page of this wickedly entertaining book.

Thank You NetGalley and Hashtag Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

It took me some effort to get into this book—I knew it was a mystery but, at first, I struggled trying to understand what it was about. That the transition between the opening scene and the next chapter is a bit jarring, only added to my generalized confusion (I think the very British lingo didn’t help me either, but that one’s on me).

However, once I got into the story, things moved fast and I enjoyed this multilayered mystery enormously.

The book, both in style and subject matter is firmly anchored in its YA category. The overly dramatic teens, themes central to teen identity like pregnancy and romantic obsessions, not to mention wanting to be treated like an adult while still struggling with feeling unwanted by one’s family… it all plays perfectly into YA.

The story develops in two parallel timelines. A past one, involving two sisters, Bex and Boo, is presented as the text message exchange between them. There’s nothing else to explain this timeline, and yet we get enough—and cleverly delivered—information to start picking clues about the present time. I found this timeline intriguing but also a bit frustrating, mostly because I wanted to know more about the sisters. In general, the effect of that text-only narrative does add to the feeling of mystery that surrounds our main character, Pearl.

Pearl’s timeline represents the present time. Pearl has twin young brothers and a best friend and neighbor, Danny. Pearl has a mother that seems not to like Pearl very much but she also has a very supportive father. Or course, like in any good mystery, appearances are not to be believed.

When Pearl discovers a newspaper clip about her father founding an abandoned baby, she, like the overly dramatic teen she is, jumps to the conclusion that she is that baby and that her parents had been lying to her all her life.

And that’s how they—Pearl, Dany, Leon and Samantha—start investigating what happened in the days before that baby was found.

What follows is a twisty mystery involving lots more people that one would think are capable of keeping a secret. Yet, the story feels believable, and the ending is super satisfying.

Three-and-a-half stars. This one is a round-down to three stars, mostly because of how hard it was to get into it at the start.

The ARC I read was provided by Netgalley.

From this novel, you'll learn that lies are most certainly dangerous and have fatal consequences. Brown's narrative voice creates an exciting plot from page one, which doesn't disappoint. Would highly recommend.

I had the luck of being able to read this book before its publication date. (29.02.2024)
The book definitely caught me, and I read it in two days. If it gets the right publicity, I think it could definitely become the next famous YA book, as it reminds me a lot of A Good Girl's Guide To Murder, but in a good way.
Pearl is finding an old newspaper clipping in her dad’s study. Since the article involves her dad and a lost baby, it sparks her interest. She and her friends start digging and find out more than they signed up for, including a murder case.

I had a really tough time getting into this one, and ended up DNF at 30%. The premise sounded intriguing, but ultimately it couldn't keep me interested. What put me off the most was the language the author used in attempting to include more teen slang. It was too much and seemed more forced than natural.

This was such an easy and thrilling read!



Pearl accidentally stumbles across a newspaper clipping of her father holding an abandoned baby sixteen years ago. Pearl and her best friend Danny, go searching to find out if the baby is her. What unravels are some secrets that may hit too close to home. How far will Pearl go to uncover the truth of who she is?


Wow, I just finished this book and I did not want it to end!! I really enjoyed Pearls’ character and her clumsiness, the writing really made you feel like you were inside Pearls head trying to figure out the truth with her. This was a very interesting and captivating story. I really didn’t know where the story was going and was surprised with how everything tied up in the end!

Thanks to netgalley and Hashtag Press publishers for the Arc!!!

In Denise Brown's captivating novel, "It All Started With a Lie," the protagonist, Pearl, stumbles upon a newspaper clipping that unravels a web of betrayal, obsession, and murder. As Pearl delves deeper into the mystery surrounding her father's past, she uncovers a series of shocking truths that challenge her perception of reality. The story takes readers on a thrilling journey filled with twists and turns, leaving them on the edge of their seats. Brown's skillful storytelling keeps readers engaged until the very last page. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making their struggles and triumphs feel genuine. One of the standout aspects of the novel is Brown's exploration of the complexities of family relationships. Pearl's quest to uncover the truth about her father's past sheds light on the lengths people will go to protect those they love—even if it means resorting to lies and deception. The novel delves into themes of loyalty, forgiveness, and the consequences of one's actions. Brown's writing is crisp and engaging, drawing readers into the narrative from the very beginning. She paints a vivid picture of the setting and brings the characters to life through their interactions and emotions. The pacing of the novel is well-paced, with a steady build-up of suspense that keeps readers turning the pages. Overall, "It All Started With a Lie" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that explores the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of deception. Brown's skillful storytelling and well-developed characters make this novel a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense.

digital arc was provided by Netgalley and Hashtag Press

Surprisingly good read!

Synopsis
After finding a newspaper clip of her father with an abandoned baby, Pearl was torn. She believed the baby was her and enlisted helps from her neighbor/best friend Danny, while also accidentally inviting classmates Leon and Samantha to the mix. Pearl just didn't know that she opened a can of worm there that could endanger her life.

What I like
You know what, at first I was sceptic, the prologue did nothing and it all seemed juvenile and disconnected. BUT THEN, stuffs happened and Pearl, no matter how childish she was, had grown on me.
I had this feeling of A Good Girls' Guide to Murder, but without the heaviness writing. It All Started with a Lie was easy to read and somehow, the past and present merged into a coherent plot.
Every character was likeable, except the murderer. And Jed. Fuck Jed. But everyone served a point (even Jed) and I didn't complain (not that much) that I had reached 80% mark without a real answer to the mystery lol.
Pearl was only occasionally stubborn beyond believe, she was manageable and human. Her friends also stole my heart in their own way. I appreciate a little love plot there that didn't really overshadowed the mystery part.

What I don't like
It took long to unravel. Sometimes I felt like at some point I should knew something (more like, Pearl should found out about something), but she didn't so.

Last thought
Might snatch a digital edt of this later on because it was so good.

This ARC was addicting from the first page! Took me a second to figure out the flipping between the past and present every chapter, but I really like how this was set up!

The present is between 4 high schoolers and their families who are trying to unravel a story/murder from 16 years ago. The past is shown as text messages between 2 people Bex and Boo. So you’re along for the ride through this twisty addicting story! I had a hard time remembering who was who because some of the names were so similar like Bex and Boo, Sarah and Samantha; that I kept getting characters confused which made the story a bit more difficult for me to figure out, this could also be a me thing, because I did read this over the course of a few days instead of finishing in 1-2 days like I normally do. So picking it back up it always took me a few pages to remember what was happening and who I was reading about and their roles.

If you want a suspense twisty book with a few layers this one is definitely for you! I really enjoyed this book and the ending was great even all the way up to the very last page!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hashtag Press for an ARC of this book. Pearl is your average teenager with an interest in costume design and a life-long best friend living next door. When babysitting her younger twin brothers, Pearl finds a newspaper clipping of her Dad finding an abandoned baby near the hospital. The date is the same month she was born. Why has her dad never mentioned this? When she starts investigating with her friends, she sets off a domino effect of mystery and betrayal. I read this book in two days, and was heavily invested in the outcome. The characters were very real and their emotions were portrayed in a believable way. There were no “let’s go confront the suspects alone” type decisions. It felt realistic in their investigation and their relationships. I really enjoyed it and it reminded me of books by Holly Jackson and Karen McManus.

This was a short fast read for me and I couldn't put it down. The twist at the end was great! I had some of it figured out early on but the last few twists were a surprise. There were a couple details I would have liked explained more but overall a great read.

A big thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it is truly exceptional. The author skillfully keeps the reader in suspense for a significant portion of the narrative, gradually revealing information like droplets of water. It's a real page-turner right through to the end. The characters, vibrant young adults, are brilliantly depicted, embodying curiosity, adventure, and vulnerability. The story effortlessly transports readers back to their teenage years, evoking a sense of nostalgia. It's a captivating read that I wholeheartedly recommend to readers of all ages.
‘Goonies’ meets Agatha Christie.

I liked this one!

It was a slow start but wasn't painful. Once you get into it there is a lot that I think YA readers will enjoy.

It is a quick read and with the present day to flashbacks it makes it go even quicker.

Definitely more mystery than thrill but still enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review.

Thank you Netgalley and Hashtag Press for the ARC.

This story was so good! When I started to read this book, I didn’t saw all those things coming and that end??? WOW
If you like story’s like A Good Girls Guide To Murder, I really recommend this one because it’s SO GOOD. I’m gonna think about it all day now 😭
I need a second book right now.

4,5 ⭐️

The writing of this was SO juvenile. It read like the non-interrupted thoughts of a 12 year old, which would have been fine if this was middle grade. Even then though, I think the problems with the narration still would've been there. It was repetitive and non-sensical. There is no point in this story when any of these characters do the thing that real people would do. I was immediately so annoyed because Pearl just assumes, with no evidence, that she's the baby and everything about her life is a lie. I was mentally begging her to just ask her parents ONE question. PLEASE. It felt so ridiculous, because I firmly believe any real person would at least ask their parents SOMETHING.
The characters in this really read like middle schoolers. I have a very hard time believing any of these kids are 16. Adding cursing into the dialogue doesn't make me believe they're in high school. They are whiny and impulsive and have no respect for anyone's boundaries. The dynamics between all of them are weird. It's just such a 2D set of characters and they got on my nerves pretty much from the very beginning.
And the ending, despite having some fairly solid twists, made me so uncomfortable. Sarah is so clearly severely mentally ill, but they all act like it's just a quirky personality trait???? Why does she not end up having anything to do with the investigation or at the very least end up in some sort of therapy? The narrative barely even tells us that the whole thing is wrong. Pearl has one line about how it's sad that Sarah was so obsessed, and a couple lines about how the murder victim should've stood up to her more and told her that the relationship was inappropriate, but there is no mention of the fact that Sarah is a grown woman (WITH A CHILD SHE IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR) who is still very much obsessed. She needs help, not four teenagers who have no idea what they're doing.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Perhaps if this had been set in the 1980s it may have been believable, but in 2007 when we had DNA testing, CCTV, phone tracking etc? It didn't work for me, and the writing style felt very surface level.

3.5⭐️

⚠️ Expectations ⚠️
🫧Overdramatic Teenagers
🫧A murder mystery
🫧Discussions of teen pregnancy
🫧Discussions of the #MeToo movement
🫧Discussions of an inappropriate relationship (high school student & teacher)
🫧Discussions of stalking
🫧Difficult family dynamics
🫧Constant lying (mostly from the adults)
🫧A lot of secrets

📝Premise: 📝
One night, Pearl is asked, by both her parents, to babysit her twin brothers (Paz & JoJo) and her best friend, Danny, comes over to help. Some time during the night, Danny suggests that everyone should play a game within the house. Pearl, Paz, and JoJo all agree. So, while Danny is preparing for the game, Pearl finds herself traveling to her father’s study. Once in there, Pearl then stumbles across something sticking out of a drawer. Instead of ignoring said item, she decides to pull it out and read it. What she finds is a newspaper article with a picture of her father and a story, or multiple stories, about him and his past. Instead of confronting her father, Pearl informs Danny about her findings and together they decide to search for answers. Soon Pearl and Danny find themselves teaming up with friends Leon and Samatha and discover that their small town is full of lies, deception, misinformation, and a whole lot of betrayal.

🗯️My Thoughts: 🗯️
Oftentimes, I am hesitant to read books by authors from other countries because of how different some words are spelled. I find myself becoming self-conscious about my reading because I don’t know if I am pronouncing the word(s) correctly. But, the synopsis of this book had me curious, so as quickly as I could, I had to request it from NetGalley. And ooh how I was excited when my request was granted.

Even though this reads in the form of both middle school and the younger side of YA, the plot of this story was stupendous and amazing . It was face paced and EXTREMELY engaging. It had me on the edge of my seat. Honestly, this plot is what made this entire book worth reading. I found myself staying up until one o’clock in the morning to just read chapter after chapter. The plot was so well written that it was difficult for me to see any of the twists and turns coming. This is the type of book that murder mystery lovers will enjoy. No matter how hard said reader tries to figure out where this story is headed, they won’t see anything coming until the very last page. If not for my adult responsibilities during the day, I would have finished this book in one sitting.

As a HUGE lover for YA novels, I have had to learn to be very selective with it comes to the type characters I am willing to read about. I prefer my YA characters to be between the ages of 17-19. And one of my major concerns about any YA book is when an author fails to mention the main character(s) age(s) in the synopsis. Had I known that Pearl was 16 years old, I would have more than likely passed on this book. This is no shade toward the author. Just as a YA reader, I prefer my characters to show signs of maturity, gratitude, and growth. Unfortunately, the four main characters were either quite annoying, whiny, or just there. I felt like I was experiencing whiplash just by trying to keep up with the moods of these teenagers:

Pearl: the narrator of the story and the true definition of a drama queen. The amount of times she was either jumping to conclusions or regretting that she started looking into what she found in her father’s drawer became exhausting. I mean, people are allowed to change their minds but, not to the point where I want to give up on them after Chapter 5.

Danny: started out as a really great friend but, once Pearl told him about her discovery, it was like he didn’t know what to do or his role in her life anymore. One minute he is claiming that he and Pearl are going to figure things out together and she need not worry about anything. The next minute, he was running his mouth to both Samatha and Leon without Pearl’s permission. One minute he is known for being Pearl’s best friend and they tell each other everything. The next minute he is hanging with Samatha and having Samatha tell Pearl new information about him. I did not get it.

Samatha: Though Pearl called her blunt and outspoken, she was the main cause of my whiplash. Deciding to blatantly invite herself to join the group, she reads something over Danny’s shoulder and then has the audacity to ask questions, which Danny answers. Soon, I find her chastising Pearl for not seeking answers from her father. Samatha was either yelling at Pearl to go home and get the answers there or she inserted herself into the investigation. Ooh. And she was acting extremely thirsty for Danny.

Leon: Pearl’s crush and gatekeeper. Although he was Danny’s friend and the other person Danny ran his mouth to about Pearl’s discovery, Leon was just kind of there. I actually enjoyed him most of the time though he was always agreeable when it came to Pearl. I felt like I never really got to know him because he was either popping up randomly, silently standing in the background, or simply saying yes to whatever Pearl wanted. I wanted more of Leon and I am sad that I did not get that.

All in all, this book was really fun to read. It’s easy to follow along with, informative, and just pleasantly enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and Hashtag Press for granting my request for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!

Book Publication date: February 29, 2024

This book is absolutely brilliant!!! This is one of the best books that I read in 2024. I love books when they keep me in the dark, I can't guess what's gonna happen and how it's gonna end, and this book did those things to me. LOVED IT!

"It All Started With a Lie" is a story about Pearl who discovers a newspaper clipping showing a picture of her dad holding the baby he found abandoned outside a hospital. She thinks it is her so she investigates it with her three friends. But, instead of finding out who the baby is, she finds something else. A dark secret that her family buried for years.

I don't know how to explain it to you without spoiling it. What I can say is... just read it. You won't regret it, especially if you love murder mystery!

I received this book as an ARC and honestly I loved it! I’m a big fan of a good girl’s guide to murder and this was a similar vibe! The story was written well and still had a good plot twist. Especially the end I never expected! I completely thought of something else there. Denise did absolutely amazing with this book and I will definitely recommend it!

This was a slow start but once you start reading it does get better and I can see the teenage being who this will draw into the book.

While the main character is playing hide and seek with her siblings she finds an article and it talks about her father finding a baby. She comes to the conclusion after reading the article that she is adopted and she wants to find out what is going on. When she talks to her friends about this, they decide they will help her figure out what is going on.
I felt that this is all this story focused on and at times it got pretty boring. I felt the characters dont make you feel like you really care after a while and the book felt rushed to me.

Was ok but nothing gripping. Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.