Lucinda Berry is one of my favourite authors!! This story sucked me in from the very first page, I pretty much read it in one sitting!!!

A group of estranged campmates and friends reunite after decades of not talking after a threatening note is sent to all four women in If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry. Years ago, the close-knit friends would do anything for each other despite only sharing summers together at Camp Pendleton. The last summer they share ends in the death of a man, the coach of one of the girls, and they make a pact to never speak of the incident again. The note draws them together again and brings up all the turmoil they experienced, whether brought on by others or through their own close bonds. What will happen when the secrets come out and other ones take their place?

I thought the premise of this book sounded interesting, and I like the idea of a diverse group of women and how they each face their demons. You get multiple perspectives from each of the girls and other characters. Unfortunately, two of the women I had trouble distinguishing between because they seemed so similar even after they take very different paths after meeting up. I can't say that I connected with any other characters either. They weren't that likeable to me.

For some reason, maybe because of the summer camp setting and heartless murder that occurs that final summer, I kept getting horror movie vibes. It was hard to shake that off, especially with some of the violence and unnecessary gore that was described. It was hard to stomach for me, and I rarely read solid horror books. I tried to read a few Stephen King books and failed every time (except for stories that became the movies, The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me) even though I was encouraged by my husband, sister, and even son, along with a few friends, to give them a try.

As I moved through the story, I found the situations getting more and more preposterous. I couldn't understand some of the gullible and stupid actions by the characters. It was very far-fetched at times, and I had to just go with it. I did feel like many of the characters were somewhat one-dimensional. Some had no redeeming qualities, and I couldn't detect the motivations behind the actions that took place from the time before the coach's death up until the end of the book.

That's another thing. The ending is pretty abrupt. It's definitely a twist but not one that I liked although I wasn't totally dissatisfied. A few twists appear during the book, and maybe that's why I couldn't stop reading it. It kept me turning the virtual pages, and that's why I had to give this book three stars. Somehow the author cajoles you to keep going until you're deep into the mess that the characters created.

I had a mixed experience with this thriller. The pacing was a bit slow for my taste, and I didn’t really get hooked until I was about 85% of the way through the book. For most of the story, I felt like it dragged, and I struggled to stay engaged. However, once the plot picked up toward the end, the twists and tension made it a much more exciting read.

The characters were decent, but I wasn’t as invested in them as I hoped to be. The writing was solid, though, and the author definitely knows how to build suspense when the story finally starts to deliver. It wasn’t a bad read, but it took longer than I would have liked to reach the point where I could say I truly enjoyed it.

Not my favorite of hers. Lots of potential but it wasn’t fulfilling at all. It felt like she was leading somewhere but we never got there.

I couldn't put this book down! I loved the characters and how well developed they were. They each had their own story and I was conflicted in who I was rooting for. The plot twists just kept coming at the end and I loved it!!

A group of friends – Blakely, Meg, Gwen, Thera, Grace.
Phillip – husband of Blakely.
Regina – wife of Mr. Crosby.
Mr. Crosby – the good-looking counselor at Camp Pendleton where the group of friends met.
Claire – Meg’s wife.
We have the above group of friends who met at Camp Pendleton when they were young and every year they would stay in the same cabin. All coming from different backgrounds really set the stage of this group’s dynamics, at least for me. There was a hoity-toity rich one, one who would rather be by herself, one who was afraid to admit she liked girls, and a couple who came from the same neighborhood and were afraid to admit it. Interesting dynamics for sure. Oh, and the lies and the senior campers’ jokes - apparently a rite of passage their last year of camp. Some were harmless jokes, others not so much, especially the one these friends (some willingly, some not) tried to pull off. Years go by, they voluntarily lost touch with each other, or did they? It all started with a seemingly innocent letter years later.
The dual timeline was a bit much to keep up with at times, but overall I really liked the twists and turns in the telling of this tale. Again, I enjoyed the dynamics between these five friends and how they all intertwined, they each had something to hide that surfaced years later. The truth finally came out, but who got away with the most in the end? And why did some of these girls so willingly follow the one who was the leader of the pack, even when they knew it was wrong? Someone was certainly a good actress. There is also a bit of darkness as the secrets and lies unfold.

Lucinda does it again! There is a reason she is an auto buy author for me. I'm a sucker for different timelines and twisty twists. I can never quite tell where a Lucinda Berry story is going to end up and that's one of the things I love about her books.

Lucinda Berry can do no wrong by me. This had me hooked from begging to end. Never want to put book down. Very suspenseful
and the OMG moments? LOVED LOVED LOVED

Lucinda Berry's If You Tell a Lie is a chilling psychological thriller that delves into the dangerous world of peer pressure, secrets, and the devastating consequences of lies. The novel unfolds across two timelines, one set during the summer of 1999 at Camp Pendleton, where four gifted girls—Blakely, Grace, Meg, and Thera—make a reckless decision that leads to the murder of their tennis coach, Mr. Crosby. The girls swear themselves to secrecy, but their pact comes at a heavy cost, shattering their friendship.

Fast forward twenty years, and the secrets they thought were buried resurface when an anonymous note brings them back together. The mystery deepens as Blakely, the leader who always gets her way, manipulates the others once again, pulling them back into the web of lies and deceit. The tension builds as they are forced to confront the haunting reality of their actions and the repercussions they’ve been avoiding for two decades.

Berry masterfully explores themes of guilt, manipulation, and the devastating power of a lie, keeping readers on edge until the final, jaw-dropping twist. The suspense is relentless, and the characters are deeply flawed yet fascinating, particularly Blakely, whose charm masks her darker intentions.

If You Tell a Lie is a compelling and eerie page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful mysteries, this novel is a haunting reminder of how one lie can change everything.

A goal this year is to keep up with my NetGalley reads and to catch up on prior ones. So here we go with one from 2024.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eARC.

I love a dual timeline, and this gave us that, along with multiple narrators, which also added to the story.

Blakely, Thera, Grace and Meg attended Camp Pendleton, a summer camp for gift kiddos. They started as younger children and became friends, and it was a strong bond by senior year, their last.

They came into senior year camp expecting the best year of their life, but that's not what they got. They got involved in something that would up with a man dead and his family blasted apart. They vowed never to speak of it. That was 26 years ago. And they haven't spoken to each other since. Until now - when they get a note from the man's widow that sends them all scurrying to Blakeley's house to meet and plan.

What happens from here was twisty and wild. And the ending - some apparently hated it, but I found it fitting.

Another amazing read by the Queen. I will literally read anything by Berry. The twists! The turns! Everything keeps you engaged! Quite the page turner.

If You Tell A Lie by Lucinda Berry was an easy to follow story that still provided shocking twists! I am always impressed by Berry and how they use different POVs to further tell the story. At first it may be confusing, but it all makes sense as it encourages you to focus on the finer details. While this may not be their best work, I was still super engaged, and her ability to control the pacing of her storylines without making it feel dragged out is commendable. I couldn't put the book down!!

This was my second Lucinda Berry book and it may be my last. I just don’t think she is the writer for me. I felt like it had great promise but fell short at the end. It also felt a little bit like a grown up version of Pretty Little Liars. Again, I just don’t think she is the author for me.

I loved this book it was such a great read. Things the first from this author and I’ll be reading more in future.

If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry is a gripping psychological thriller that delves deep into the dark corners of secrets, manipulation, and the consequences of lies. From start to finish, this book kept me on the edge of my seat with its unpredictable twists and complex characters, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.

The story centers around a tragic event that takes place in a small town, where the lives of several people are altered forever by a lie. The central character, Melanie, finds herself caught up in a web of deceit that threatens not only her own well-being but the safety of those around her. As the story unfolds, we learn about the hidden motivations, secrets, and tangled relationships that form the foundation of the lie at the heart of the narrative.

Lucinda Berry does an excellent job of building tension throughout the novel. The pacing is fast and sharp, and every chapter seems to bring new revelations, making it nearly impossible to put down. The plot is cleverly constructed, with multiple twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. I found myself constantly questioning what was real, what was a manipulation, and how far people would go to protect themselves and their secrets. The author masterfully plays with the idea of unreliable narrators, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

One of the strengths of If You Tell a Lie is the way it explores the psychological toll of keeping secrets and telling lies. The characters are all deeply flawed, but they are well-rounded and believable. I particularly appreciated how the author handled Melanie's emotional journey, as she tries to reconcile the truth with her desire to protect herself and her loved ones. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the damage caused by lies, and it’s both unsettling and compelling to see how the characters navigate their guilt, shame, and fear.

The writing is sharp and evocative, and while the story deals with dark themes, it’s never gratuitous. There’s a real sense of emotional depth to the characters’ struggles, and while some of the events in the plot are extreme, they feel grounded in the real-world consequences of dishonesty and betrayal.

My only minor issue with the book is that some of the twists, while shocking, felt slightly over-the-top. At times, it bordered on melodramatic, which could pull me out of the otherwise tense atmosphere. However, the overall impact of the plot outweighed these moments, and I found myself thoroughly entertained.

Overall, If You Tell a Lie is an intense, suspenseful thriller that will appeal to fans of psychological drama and mysteries. Lucinda Berry once again proves her ability to craft a captivating story filled with twists, tension, and complex characters. If you're looking for a fast-paced, thought-provoking book that explores the power of secrets and lies, this one is definitely worth picking up.

**Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer, and the author Lucinda Berry, for the advanced copy of If You Tell A Lie.

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖:
Summer.....sleepaway camp.......teens ....... girlfriends..... remember the good old days?

My first Lucinda Berry book!
This book kept my interest and as I was reading through the twists, I tried to uncover what really happened that summer and who to believe!

Blakely, Thera, Meg, and Grace were best friends who saw each other every summer at camp. Their senior year, they pulled a “prank” that ended with someone dead, someone in jail, and a family ruined.

Now, 26 years later, they meet for a weekend because the one in jail has been released and Blakely summons them to her house to talk about it. Nothing goes as planned that weekend, and dark secrets are exposed.

This book shows how a psychopath/sociopath can seem so normal and have normal emotions when they actually have zero emotions. They can be the most convincing people when really they are conning you with every word they speak. Lucinda really knows how to surprise us.

I liked the book, but it's not Lucinda Berry's best. The ending seems abrupt, even though it isn't. The reading is engaging, and the reader becomes curious to see how the story will unfold.
Thank you NetGalley for making this work available!

I enjoyed the dual timeline of this one, shifting between the present and the past to uncover what happened all those years ago that led to a man’s death and a family being torn apart.

I also liked the way the multiple points of view layered the story, so we got a piece of the story from each of the characters as their stories were shared.

It felt like some of the characters were a little hollow and could have been utilized to create more tension. For example, the main characters didn’t really change much after twenty years, and the character voices didn’t feel particularly unique to each of the girls.

I really enjoy YA thrillers, which this read like, with most of the drama around the choices the girls made while they were at camp, but it felt like something was missing, and I was waiting for the big twist.

Overall an easy read, and the pace picked up toward the end. If You Tell A Lie is about peer pressure and the potentially lasting consequences of a big mistake. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NG & Thomas & Mercer for an eARC of If You Tell A Lie by Lucinda Berry. LB is one of my autobuy, favorite authors, so this is a tough review for me to write and it is ONLY because of the ending.

Friends are sworn to secrecy over events that happened years ago, at summer camp. Twenty years later, they get back together. What’s the worst that can happen?

I really enjoyed the dual timelines with this one, and was thinking it was going to be a hit until the book abruptly sort of ends. There are so many loose ends that I felt myself unhappy with becoming invested for everything to seemingly just fall apart. Maybe that was on purpose, but I really wanted more from this book. Regardless, LB is still an autobuy and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.