What a deceptively twisty thriller that had me racing to the end! I loved the dual timelines between 1999 when the deaths take place, to now as all the lies and secrets begin to unravel. The book was full of unlikeable and unreliable characters, which added to the layers of deception. I was a little disappointed in the outcome, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Narration was also great.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest feedback!

This was such a clever storyline. I found myself drawn into this book almost instantly and turning the pages at a furious pace. It wasn't like it was the twistiest book I've ever read but it definitely had some good surprises. The character development was strong and I liked how the reader saw some of the characters change and become more aware of their situations during the course of the book.

The main character, Scarlett Russo has been carrying a secret for over twenty years about what happened the night of senior picnic. Now her old friend Pepper's daughter, Zoey has shown up with a letter to Scarlett that may blow up her life. And just who is Zoey's father? These people in this small town have many secrets and they aren't necessarily the nicest people either. It's hard to know who to trust and just when you think you might have figured out who the "nice guys" are, you might second guess yourself. This book keeps you guessing.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narration of the audio was done really well and kept me immersed in the story. I enjoyed being able to toggle between the ebook and audiobook . 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook.

I enjoyed the story and the twist at the end. I haven't gotten to my instagram review of it yet, but I will.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book was great and full of twists and turns. I loved how the story was set up with flash backs to the night of the senior party from different perspectives while Zoey was trying to find out who her father was. This book was a great read and was gripping. I could not wait to find out what would happen in the end. Pepper was a horrific character and was so happy to see what came to her in the end.

A Lovely Lie by Jaime Lynn Hendricks is an exciting thriller that reminded me of a grown-up Pretty Little Liars.
The night of the senior picnic Pepper Wilson and Scarlett Russo were involved in the death of two of their classmates. Pepper leaves town soon after leaving everyone to move on with their lives. 22 years later, her daughter shows up asking Scarlett questions about that night and asking who her father is.
There are a lot of twists and turns multiple timelines and POVs to follow. It is a fun read or listen as I have the audio book. I have to say listening to the ending while on a dark country road added to the mood. I enjoyed the narrator's tone of voice and the variances she added to each character.
This had me questioning teenage friendships and how intense they can be. How far would you go to protect your friends?
I like hearing Pepper's POV because she was so narcissistic, it was almost funny when she would get ready to manipulate someone. with "Lights, Camera, Action"
thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for this audiobook. I give this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own

“Can I get you a drink? Water, juice…*𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩*!?” 😂🤣😂

“Ugh. Being raised by a narcissist has rubbed off on me in the worst way.”

This is one of my favorite books of the year. A really fun domestic suspense mystery with tons of secrets.

The book was full of characters that were well developed. The book was full of flawed characters that you love to hate and protagonists that you’ll cheer for.

The story was so perfectly paced. There were twists & turns and they flowed so well. It felt like I was not reading at all, more like watching a movie play out in my head. It’s my fav thing when an author writes something where I’m THAT invested.

I did the audiobook of this one, it was very well done. However, I’m so glad that I pre-ordered a copy of this one for my shelf because the cover is gorgeous.

𝐉𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐋𝐘𝐍𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐒 has solidified her status on my #autobuyauthor list.

I loved this. I love the secrecy, the multiple POV and timelines. I don't want to give anything away, but I also love for a bit of revenge in a story. A very fast paced thriller with excellent narration!!!

A tragic accident the night of their senior fair left 2 people dead, and only a couple people know the truth.

Scarlett and Pepper were the best of friends who lost touch after the accident. Now 22 years later, Pepper's daughter Zoey finds Scarlett and gives her the devastating news that her mother has died and she wants to find out who her dad is. Zoey finds out there is much more to her mom's past that she even thought, and Scarlett will do anything to prevent her from finding out.

Throughout the story there are many twist and turns...which I did NOT see coming. The ending left my jaw on the ground.

I read this in 1 day it was soo good and could not stop reading it. Well done Jaime Lynn Hendricks!

This book was messy in the best way possible; not in writing, but in the way the characters acted! I had such a fun time on this messed up, fast-paced ride! I need to check out more from this author ASAP!! I really enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook as well.

4.5 stars

If you’re looking for a fun, twisty thriller that pieces itself together with dual timelines, police interviews and multiple POV’s this is the one for you! It’s one that captivates you from the beginning and is impossible to put down.

Scarlett and Pepper are best friends. They are involved in an accident that leaves 2 of their classmates dead at their big senior picnic. The police interview everyone there and Scarlett and Pepper lie to stay out of jail.

Shortly afterwards, Pepper takes off to NYC and is never heard from again. Until now. 22 years later her daughter shows up with shocking news. First, Pepper is dead. Second, she is looking for her dad and believes it is someone from their senior class.

Scarlett is living her life with her husband and son. Zoey, Pepper’s daughter, showing up looking for answers is turning her world upside down.

The suspense will keep you up reading, the character development is amazing. There are extremely likable characters among extremely unlikable ones.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for an audio copy of this book.

For more of Angie and Lauren’s book reviews, please follow us on Instagram: @BluejackBookGirls

5 out of 5 stars. This book was perfection. It’s one of those books I’m going to re-read in the future because it was so good. It made me feel all the feels and Pepper. Oooohhhh Pepper. The hatred I felt for her was unreal. You know it’s a good book when you think about it for days after and want to know more about the characters’ lives. Loveeeed this. I will be devouring everything by this author from now on.

I listened to Jaime Lynn Hendricks newest release A Lovely Lie in two days! Total binge worthy book with lots of great twist.

Book Blurb - 1999: The night of their senior picnic, Scarlett Russo and her best friend Pepper were involved in a car accident that left two of their classmates dead. Afterward, they lied to the police, protecting each other from the consequences. Then Pepper left town and Scarlett never heard from her again…

This is just the beginning of this gripping thriller! If you like novels with deceit, complex relationships, suspense, secrets, and unexpected twists, this is the book for you!! It will keep you captivated from beginning to end.

Love audiobooks? The narrator is fantastic!!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #RBMedia for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

Wow. Absolutely jaw-dropping wow. This was my first read from Jaime Lynn Hendricks, and it will not be my last. It is the perfect summer thriller!

Zoey wants to know who her father is, and she doesn't have a lot to go on. She is studying to be an investigative journalist, and she uses all that she has learned so far to search for answers. Zoey heads to Florida to talk to her Mom's high school best friend Scarlett.

Here is where I want to say so much, but the twists and turns in this book come so fast that you will almost miss them. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the story's main characters, and the chapters flashback between the present and senior year of high school for Pepper and Scarlett. Also, this story focuses on a car accident on the night of their Senior Picnic, and each chapter ends with an interview that tries to piece together what happened that night.

This book was a wild ride in the best way. There are so many secrets, and there is a twist in the middle that made me want to pull my car over to process. In addition to that twist in the middle, there are many more throughout the story. Just when you think that you have figured it out, something else happens. This is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. The chapters are fast and short, and the reader has very little time to catch their breath. I listened to the audiobook for this one, and I highly recommend it. Hillary Huber does a wonderful job not only with the story, but the voices of the characters. I loved every minute of this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the opportunity to listen to this one. It is out now, and as I have already said, it is the perfect summer thriller. I highly recommend this one!

Wow! I did not know where this one was going. Just when I through I had things figured out, Jaime Lynn Hendricks threw in another twist!

I thought this was a great twist on the classic “grad night” horror/thriller scenario. Not only are you, the reader, trying to figure out what happened all those years ago, but you’re also trying to understand how these MCs can live with themselves. Each one may have aged out of high school but they never really left it behind, which was so interesting.

I really liked the multiple POVs and thought that the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing each personality to life.

This was my first read by this author but it won’t be my last. I’m officially a fan!

Thank you to NetGalley, HighBridge Audio and Jaime Lynn Hendricks for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

I loved this book so much!!! Tons of suspense ! I couldn’t wait to keep reading! The narrator were great too!

OH MY GOSH! What a mess!! But In the best way!! Ahh -- such an addicting story!

Thank you #netgalley and #highbridgeaudio for the arc approval loved this audiobook sooo much only took me 2 days to finish, I couldn’t put it down!

When Scarlett and her husband are haunted by something that happened in high school, a drama fest develops lol!

This story took me by surprise, I wasn’t expecting to love it so much!
So much drama and secrets unfolded from present to past and my floor was constantly dropping in surprise.

So many different twists I never saw coming.🤯

A Lovely Lie had me from the start because I LOVE dual timelines and past/present storytelling. This one features two deaths in high school (once again, I feel pretty lucky my high school wasn't that murder-y), a cover-up and consequences. Oh, so many consequences 22 years after graduation.

As an audiobook this one was perfection. Hillary Huber is a talented narrator who knows how to move a story along without ever getting in the way. She voices young, old, man and woman with great believability.

Author Jaime Lynn Hendricks only has about half a dozen books in her catalogue, but this is my third of hers and she is becoming an auto buy writer.

Highly recommend A Lovely Lie, especially as a beach read which will keep you reading.

I liked this book, although most of the characters sucked, at least initially. It felt like the author stuck to her outline, which isn’t bad, because the main plot got wrapped up without outlandish twists or things just half done. There were some minor things mentioned in the book that I wished the author had explored more.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Lovely Lie by Jaime Lynn Hendricks was a masterful tale of never escaping your past and toxic friendships. 5/5 stars!!

After an accident the night of their senior picnic leaves two of their classmates dead, Scarlett Russo and her best friend Pepper vow to never tell anyone what really happened that night. Now, twenty-two years later, Scarlett’s world is thrown on its axis when Pepper’s daughter Zoey arrives on her doorstep, wanting answers.

I love a bingy fast-paced thriller and this one was definitely that. I found myself drawn into the story almost immediately, as the author slowly unravels both the secrets of the past and those of the present. And while I struggled to connect to the characters at times, mainly because they are all pretty awful, I felt invested enough in the story to want to push ahead. This would make a fantastic summer/poolside read.

🎧 I read this one primarily with my ears and have to say, I think audio is the way to go. Hillary Huber did a magnificent job of voicing this very large cast of characters while keeping each one unique. There was never a moment I found myself unable to discern which character was speaking, a truly remarkable feat.

Read if you like:
•domestic suspense
•psychological thrillers
•ensemble casts
•dual timelines
•unlikeable characters
•bingeable reads

Thank you Highbridge Audio for the gifted copy.