Four girls have been going to a summer camp for gifted children from early childhood until they are seniors in high school. During that last summer, something horrifying happens, leaving someone dead, someone in jail, and lotsssss of questions. Flash forward 26 years--they agreed to not have contact with each other after than final summer, until they all receive suspicious letters in the mail. What happens when they all come back together and their secrets, both past and present, get exposed along the way?

I personally am veryyyy picky about thriller reads. I’ve always loved Lucinda’s books because they feel different than the usual thriller plot. While this read was slightly predictable, it took me longer than usual to guess the ending. I don’t think any book will ever be as shocking to be as Saving Noah, but this one still had some twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting.

Much like many of Lucinda’s reads, this book includes multiple points of view (5) and dual timelines, splitting from present to 26 years ago. While I enjoyed having so many different POV’s, it did take me a little bit to remember/figure out which character had which storyline.

With that being said, I almost wish there was an additional POV (even if it was just a chapter) for the person who was killed that summer. I did feel like there were still some loose ends that I wish would have been addresses, but I know that Lucinda often leaves pieces of her books open to interpretation ◡̈

Of all the Lucinda Berry books I have read, this one is definitely the most recent. I absolutely love Lucinda Berry’s books, but this one just fell flat for me. There were so many characters involved that all of them felt two dimensional. There just wasn’t enough room in the story to flesh out all the characters properly.

The four main characters, Blakely, Meg, Grace, and Thera, are old friends from summer camp. I don’t want to give spoilers, but they discover a dead body while at camp and indirectly have something to do with the person’s murder. Sounds like a great plot to me. Unfortunately, the story is just messy and struggles to make any sense. I did, however, like how the ending wasn’t wrapped up in a perfect little bow.

I’m looking forward to Lucinda Berry’s next book and hopefully I will like it better than this one. This story just didn’t hit with me at all.

I received a free ARC of this book via NetGalley for my review. All opinions and reviews are my own.

If You Tell a Lie by Lucinda Berry. Pub Date: July 23, 2024. Rating: 3 stars. Set in past and present timeline format, this is the story about 4 women who were brought together one summer at a camp where a murder was committed. The 4 women are brought together with a note that presents 20 years later from that summer. All of the women come from different walks of life, have different insecurities and motives. Who was the murderer and what was the motive? Who covered up for whom? This book started off really strong and then lost some steam as the story progressed. I thought the premise was intriguing though. I love the fast paced nature of this author's books. Solid psychological thriller for the summer. Thanks to #netgalley and #thomasandmercer for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #ifyoutellalie

What I’m going to say feels weird. This was probably one of the most light hearted murder books by Lucinda. I would say it’s the perfect summer thriller. It was fun, it was dark, but not give you weird dreams for a week dark. The different perspectives of the 5 characters past and present kept the story flowing, and made me want to just read a little more. I’d fully recommend this to a brand new Lucinda reader, but maybe not to a long time fan.

This book was a great, quick read in true Lucinda Berry Fashion. When a teenager at camp develops an obsession over the new tennis coach, all hell breaks loose. Each character of the friend group were spotlighted to show their different backgrounds and personalities, and even how unlikely they were as friends.

In this dual time period book, you bounce back and forth between the girls as friends at a summer camp, and present day. The secrets they hold are brought to the surface and each girl must decide if they’ve grown up and apart or if they’re still blood sisters.

The nostalgia from the 90s came rushing back in the first few chapters. The description of camp was on point! I really enjoyed this story and always look forward to Lucinda’s books when they’re released!

Thank you NetGalley, Ms. Berry, and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

I am blown away! At the beginning I couldn’t figure out how everything was going to tie in. There were so many points of view but they were all necessary to the plot. Towards the end I thought I had it figured out and in true Lucinda fashion here comes another curve ball! I can’t get enough of her books! I’m always sad when I finish the latest book knowing I have to wait for the next book to be written!

Kept me interested and up all night reading, definitely a story of twisted teens. I would say it was an intense story with a fairly predictable plot.

A six-week long summer camp filled with girls who are never told no, what could possibly go wrong? So so many things. This book dealt with some HEAVY stuff, bringing a lot of important things to light, making it a bit more than a thriller. The storyline alternates POVs and is told in a fast-paced manner, so you definitely won't be bored!

Overall a fast-paced thriller that definitely has some shock value.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc, all opinions are my own

Review posted on Goodreads

If you put a bunch of trigger warning topics into a blender you could spit out this story.

Four summertime friends make a foolish decision that results in tragedy then come together 25 years later to make some more foolish choices.

Told from a Then and Now timeline with multiple points of view that made this a chaotic and incoherent story. The twists did nothing to redeem the plot.

I loved Lucinda Berry! Yet, this book was not one of my favorites. As an educator, I do not know what the drive is to write about authority figures having or being accused of having inappropriate relationships with minors they are in charge of. It is just a gross topic.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for an ARC of “If You Tell a Lie” by Lucinda Berry

This was quite a let down. It started off good and promising but fell flat! It’s told in multiple POV which I usually enjoy but these girls had nothing special about them so couldn’t remember who was who. It also alternated from past and present timelines. Some things seemed repetitive and parts of the back story weren’t necessarily as it never tied into the story. I kept pushing through to only get to a sloppy ending that was so abrupt!! I’m still like what did I just read??

This latest book by one of my favorite authors kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The suspense and mystery were perfectly crafted, drawing me in and making it impossible to put the book down. The storyline was gripping, with well-developed characters and a plot that had me guessing at every turn.

One thing that particularly stood out to me was the way the author builds tension. Each chapter ended on a cliffhanger, making me eager to keep reading to find out what happens next. The sense of unease and anticipation was palpable throughout the entire book, and I found myself completely immersed in the world the author created.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I have to admit that there were perhaps a few too many twists at the end for my taste. Each twist was unexpected and added a new layer to the plot, but by the time I reached the conclusion, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the rapid succession of surprises. That said, these twists are a hallmark of the author's style, and without them, the book might not have had the same impact.

This book stands out because of its expertly woven suspense and mystery. Despite my minor quibble about the abundance of twists, the ending was satisfying and fitting. The author’s ability to keep readers engaged with well-crafted tension and unexpected developments makes this story a standout thriller that captivates from beginning to end.

I did enjoy this book! It wasn’t groundbreaking but it kept me interested and overall, I liked it. It’s a quick summer read.

It was such a good book! Definitely kept me interested and not wanting to put it down! I love all Lucinda berry books but this is probably my new favorite!

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Lucinda Berry for an ARC of If You Tell a Lie. I was hooked from the beginning, intrigued by the prologue. The ending I felt left wanting more - it didn’t feel like I got closure. I loved the dual timelines and it was easy to tell which friend was talking (I’ve had some where I have to go back to figure out whose chapter it is, but this one it was clear each chapter). The twist I felt coming, but I was still pleasantly surprised. Looking past the ending, I did enjoy the book and will keep your attention.

Blakely, Thera, Grace, and Meg met when they were in grade school at Camp Pendleton and have been the best of friends since. They are able to be themselves there, when life back home is much more complicated at school. Each year they pick back up like no time has passed and now they are finally seniors. This is their last summer at camp and they plan to make a ton of memories and do senior pranks. Blakely is the head friend and they all follow her instructions and what she says goes. The camp a new tennis teacher, Mr. Crosby, and he winds up dead close to the end of camp. Blakely, Thera, Grace, and Meg are sworn to secrecy and that last day of camp is the last day they ever speak. Until 26 years later and the friends have been brought back together by a sinister note. The girls have to wonder if their future is at stake or can they trust Blakely this time around?

This story kept me interested but did not have me falling over myself to pick it up every day. As with most of Lucinda’s books it has great characters and a story that makes you feel slightly uncomfortable but this one just left me going Meh at the end.

This story started off so good but fell flat for me. The ending felt rushed & was missing something.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucinda Berry, and Thomas & Mercer for an E-Arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If You Tell a Lie follows 3 friends in high school, and 20 years later in an alternate timeline. People change and grow up after high school, right?
Or do they really? These 3 friends agreed to keep a secret as kids, but can they keep the secret as adults?

If You Tell A Lie kept me on my toes the entire time! I could not predict what was going to happen with the 4 girls who haven’t seen each other since summer camp over 20 years ago! Lucinda Berry knocked it out if the park with this one! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a review.

As I immersed myself in the world of this captivating tale, I found myself swept away by its richly drawn characters and intricate plotline. From the very first page, I was drawn in by the magnetic pull of the story, eagerly following the twists and turns as they unfolded before me. The pacing was just right, keeping me on the edge of my seat with each new revelation.

Yet, just as I thought I was settling in for a satisfying conclusion, I was blindsided by the abruptness of the ending. It felt as though I had been navigating through the darkness, only to suddenly stumble off a cliff without warning. The lack of resolution left me feeling disoriented, as if certain characters were left dangling in mid-air, their arcs unfinished.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.