A great summer thriller that kept me guessing until the end. Sometimes it can be hard to follow different POV especially on audio but I was able to keep up. Kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

While it was definitely a quick read, “A Lovely Lie,” by Jaime Lynn Hendricks, did not exactly wow me. The characters were the main reason for this. I honestly can’t name one of them that I identified with or felt some kind of sympathy for. They were all pretty awful, which made it difficult to really appreciate the story or care how it ended. I also have a hard time believing that people really harbor intense feelings for a high school ex that they haven’t seen since they were 18 and are now 40. Not saying this wouldn’t happen but I don’t imagine it’s quite common. Overall, I would read another book of this author’s but I can’t say I’d necessarily recommend this book.

This audiobook was pleasant to listen to. I listen at a bit faster speed (1.25). The narrator was easy to listen to and did a good job with many different voices. Some characters had a fairly immature attitudes and it came across that way, from her tone of voice. The story, although interesting, was a bit drawn out. I felt like either the bulk of what happened in the past should have been hidden more until the end, or the book should have been over sooner...there weren't as many twists towards the end as I personally like. All in all, the story was well written and kept me intrigued throughout.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio!

WOW!!!! What a great thriller!! This book had me hooked from page 1! So many twist and turns!

I typically love JLH’s books, but this one didn’t captivate me like usual. I disliked the character of Zoey so much that I feel like it impacted my entire experience. The cover of this book is absolutely stunning and will draw in readers.

3 ⭐️. This was a fast and easy to binge read but the story was entirely predictable. Maybe I’ve read too many thrillers but I guessed every single twist, which made this feel very young adult. So if you’re a thriller novice, you might find this one fun. This story is about a high school accident that left 2 teens dead and the buried secrets of the past that unfold 22 years later. This was a very ‘summer popcorn thriller’ (think beach read) where I was actively engaged and interested, even if I thought I knew what was happening the entire time. I listened to the audiobook, which was an okay production. I did have a hard time at first with the multiple character POVs and the single narrator but I got the hang of it by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and Jaime Lynn Hendricks for the advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is out now.

This audiobook, narrated by Hillary Huber, was an easy listen without distraction.

Twenty years after a drunken post-senior-gathering, two students are found dead. What initially was ruled an accidental drunk driving incident, is now brought to the present in a clash of those involved. The twists in this story were great.

While the story itself was smooth and well executed, I wouldn’t consider this super suspenseful. There is a need/desire to understand what happened 20 years ago, but the story is also developing in current time too. It read like a popcorn thriller, lightly salted.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for this ALC.

This was a wild ride! The pacing of this book was comparable to lightning! It moved at a fast pace and kept me entertained. I listened to this one, and Hillary Huber did a great job with the narration. She really made the story come to life, and I flew through this audiobook.

This story develops through dual timelines, which I love. We get glimpses from 1999 when an accident kills 2 students and glimpses of life as it is now for the main characters, especially Scarlett. She was the only character I really liked, even though she frustrated me at times. There was too much detail woven into the characters at certain points, but I did like that they were well developed.

This was very fast paced and I breezed through the audio in just. few hours.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Happy release day to A Lovely Lie! I had a really fun time with this thriller. It was a solid 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4), which for me is a super solid rating for a thriller. I found it compulsively readable, to the point I pretty much listened to it in one siting. I liked how this had alternating timelines (high school - 20+ years prior vs. present day) and alternating POVs (bouncing between a bunch of different characters). Both the timelines and POVs created a suspenseful buildup as we tried to figure out what happened in the past and who could be trusted in the present. There were a lot of unlikeable characters but with some endearing ones sprinkled in that you wanted to root for. Even though the plot isn't similar whatsoever, this reminded me a lot of books like Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen and Only If You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham in the way it portrayed mother/daughter relationships and female friendships. I thought the ending wrapped up nicely and in a satisfactory way, but I wanted it to go a little harder at the end.

I had a great experience with the audiobook too. It has a singular narrator, but I thought she did a great job of capturing the personality/voice of each character.

My biggest takeaway though...what was so irresistible about Pepper that had people obsessed with her?! I mean come on, you're obsessed with someone named Pepper?!

All in all, I had a really fun time with this and would definitely read more from this author in the future!

Story: 3.5/5
Audiobook: 5/5 (narrated by Hillary Huber)
Length: 8h18min

A Lovely Lie by Jaime Lynn Hendricks kept me engaged and entertained. Even though I guessed the twist, it did take me a while to figure it out. It was an enjoyable book with a good narration. The characters were just so unlikable, I loved to hate them! Overall, I enjoyed it and I'd read more books by this author.

I can't believe how fast I finished this book! The suspense kept me wanting to know what would happen next and I just couldn't stop listening to the audiobook! This thriller has everything I want in this genre: betrayal, murder, manipulation, obsession, affairs, and even more!

I especially liked how this book featured a few POVs and a dual timeline: present and year 1999, the year after high school graduation. Scarlett and her closest friend Pepper were involved in a car accident that took the lives of two of their classmates in 1999, on the eve of their big senior picnic. They lied to the police to keep each other save. After Pepper left town, they lost contact with one another. Now Scarlett is married to Vince, parenting their son Luke, and working at a hotel. But when Zoey, Pepper's daughter, arrives in town, she finds out who her father is and learns that Pepper has passed away. Everything that they attempted to hide for so long is now becoming revealed.

There was a great mix of likeable and dislikeable characters that were crucial to the plot of this book. Each POV provides hints as to who did what, and everyone engaged was blaming the other. I really enjoyed how the supporting characters also played significant roles there.

Hillary Huber narrated this book, and she did an incredible job! She fit this book perfectly. I listened to this audio book in a flash and enjoyed every minute. It was such a pleasure to listen to her lovely voice! She was flawless in bringing out the right feelings in each character.

I highly recommend it for every fan of thrillers. I will absolutely keep a look out for this author's future works!

A Lovely Lie follows the story of Scarlett and Pepper as they play some sort of role in an accident that happened the night of their senior picnic. Fast forward 20 years and secrets start to surface. Will everything be exposed and the truth revealed?

As always, the author had me on a wild ride the whole time. I did not see the ending coming that did. The dual timelines and police interviews were a great storytelling model and it helped the story unfold perfectly. I was invested from the very beginning and was cheering on the Scarlett character. I'm proud of where the character ended. Somehow, Jaime Lynn Hendricks writes a mystery/ suspense novel that makes me hug it when I'm done like it is the highest literary fiction. Her characters are raw and real and, in this book in particular, reflections of the worst parts of ourselves and society. I'm so glad I read this book and can't wait for her next one!

A Lovely Lie is a slow-burn, twisty tale of high school passions gone wrong...but not for many years. Sometimes a full cast of unlikable characters can ruin a story for me, and this one almost did...but the dual timeline and some unexpected twists kept me engaged the whole time. I especially enjoyed this audio version with a well-known narrator adept at multiple cast members. At times the juvenile characters and excessive language were turn-offs, but if you're looking for a quick beach read mystery, this won't disappoint.
Thanks to NetGalley and Scarlet publishers for this ARC.

Pepper and Scarlett are best friends involved in a car accident in high school, leaving two dead. They lie to everyone about the accident and twenty one years later, Pepper’s daughter shows up. She tells Scarlett about Pepper’s death and she wants to know details about a letter she found in her mother’s things. What really happened that night?

I’ve read so many books about murderous teens, it’s hard to keep them straight. Multiple timelines. Fast-paced and interesting plot.

Thanks to Net Galley, Scarlet, HighBridge Audio, and Jaime Lynn Hendricks for the ARC. Out today 5/28/24!

Thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Scarlett Russo and her bestie Pepper were more involved in an accident that left two classmates dead the night of their senior picnic. Pepper takes for for NYC after graduation and never communicates with anyone from home. 22 years later Pepper's daughter, Zoey, comes to town saying Pepper is dead and she wants to find out who her father is. Zoey and Scarlett work to uncover what really happened. Told in multiple POV over multiple time lines, this is a solid mystery.

I enjoyed Hillary Huber's narration.

✨Pub Day Review✨

A Lovely Lie
Pub date: 5/28/24

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a wild ride!! I could not stop listening to this audiobook!! It was so good and filled with twists and turns that I didn’t see coming! Some twists were predictable but definitely still enjoyable! Scarlett and Pepper were best friends back in high school. They were involved in a car accident that left two people dead and changed their lives forever. So many secrets, lies and deception!
I really enjoyed the dual POV and timeline. This was my first book by Jamie Lynn Hendricks and won’t be my last! I highly recommend this bingeable thriller!!

Thank you @netgalley @penzlerpub and @jamielynnhendriks and RB media for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

In Jaime Lynn Hendricks' captivating novel, "A Lovely Lie," readers are taken on an intriguing journey through the complex web of friendship, secrets, and lies. This gripping tale revolves around the lives of Scarlett and Pepper, best friends who find themselves entangled in a series of events that alter their lives forever.

The story begins with an accident at a graduation party. As the events unfold, it becomes evident that things are not as they seem. Scarlett and Pepper, entwined in the incident, decide to lie to the police about what truly happened and make a pact to never discuss it again.

Pepper, unable to bear the weight of the secret, leaves town. Fast forward twenty-two years later, Pepper's daughter, Zoey, shows up unexpectedly and begins to question the identity of her father. Vince, Pepper's high school boyfriend who is now married to Scarlett, becomes the center of her inquiry. As Zoey digs deeper into her mother's past, it becomes evident that secrets don't stay buried forever.

One of the striking elements of "A Lovely Lie" is its pacing. The book starts out slow, leaving readers pondering where the narrative is headed. However, about forty percent into the book, everything changes. Hendricks takes the story, shakes it up, and turns it on its head. From that point onwards, the tale becomes riveting, making it impossible to stop reading until the very end.

The audiobook rendition of the novel, narrated by Hillary Huber, initially comes across as somewhat lackluster. However, as the story progresses, Huber's voice grows on the listener, adding an additional layer of intrigue to the narrative.

In conclusion, "A Lovely Lie" is a compelling tale of friendship, secrets, and the consequences of lies. It serves as a reminder of the power of truth and the destructive potential of secrets. I would like to extend my gratitude to Jaime Lynn Hendricks, High Bridge Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to listen to this audiobook ARC. For anyone in search of a gripping and thought-provoking read, I highly recommend "A Lovely Lie" by Jaime Lynn Hendricks.

❤️ Happy Reading!!! ❤️

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers, Scarlet Suspense and HighBridge Audio for the copies to review!

I love Jamie Lynn Hendricks’ books and this one was fantastic! Told in two timelines, 1999 and present day Twenty-two years later, Scarlett Russo has buried an incident from her past that comes back to the forefront, when her bff’s daughter shows up with a cryptic letter asking all kinds of questions about that night long ago. I loved the mess that Scarlett found herself in, and wasn’t sure how she was going to get herself out of it. I did guess a couple of twists but it did not take away anything from this book and I still did not see a few things coming. I loved this one, and having grown up in a small town, it was spot on and hit pretty close to home. The audio was great, it enhanced the story and really got me worked up on a couple of characters, which I always love. I definitely recommend this one, you need it on your summer reading list for sure!!

A Lovely Lie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Jaime Lynn Hendricks

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, Penzler Publishers and HighBridge Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: 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…

Now: Twenty-two years later, Scarlett has buried that deadly incident deep in her mind and built a comfortable life for herself, working in a hotel on the west coast of Florida and raising her teenage son with her husband Vince. Her peace is disrupted, however, when Pepper’s daughter shows up with news of Pepper’s death. Zoey is twenty-one and studying to be an investigative journalist. She has a cryptic letter from Pepper addressed to Scarlett that alludes to the events of that fateful night and Pepper’s initial intentions to get an abortion. Now Zoey wants answers about her mother’s past. Who is Zoey’s father? And what really happened after the senior picnic? As Zoey continues to dig into the past, all of Scarlett’s buried secrets threaten to rise to the surface.

My Thoughts: I am a HUGE fan of Hendricks works, having read all of them. In 1999, Scarlett and her best friend, Pepper, were at a senior picnic. They were involved in an accident that left two students dead, and then lied to the police to cover up their involvement. Pepper then left town, leaving Scarlett behind and Scarlett never heard from Pepper agin. Fast forward to the present, Scarlett is married to Vince and they have a teenage son. Life is comfortable until Zoey shows up. Zoey is Pepper’s daughter and has a cryptic note that Pepper left behind. The letter alludes to Pepper’s pregnancy and her initial thought of an abortion. Zoey wants answers to her mother’s past, primarily who her father is and what happened that faithful night. This follows the trope of college co-ed murder mystery.

This twisty psychological thriller from Hendricks is full of lies, betrayal, and scandalous characters. Initially, all of the characters are not likable. However, as the story unfolds, I can connect with Scarlett and Zoey. It is a cat and mouse game of finding out who the most scandalous, who is the biggest liar, who was cheating on whom, and who is the most despicable. By far, I think Pepper is the most scandalous of the characters. Pepper is definitely the mean girl with Scarlett being the follower. While I did connect with Scarlett, I was also yelling at her for staying with Vince, who was a piece of work. While some parts of the story are outlandish, I thought the plot was executed well.

The story is narrated by Scarlett and Zoey, with some other narrators, such as Vince, Chris, and Pepper. The story is an alternating time narrative, from 1999 to the present. Scarlett was, and still is to a degree, a people pleaser, a follower. Pepper was queen bee, the most popular kid in class, and down right mean to people. Vince was the star of the football team and loved Pepper, more than life itself. They broke up and got to together so many times, people lost track. Chris is Vince’e best friend and now business partner. Then Zoey just wants to know who her father was, which Pepper refused to tell her. The characters were well developed, fleshed out, were mysterious, secretive, and intriguing. The supporting characters really elevated the game on this book. The author’s writing style was complex, multilayered, twisty, suspenseful, and brilliant. The flow and pacing of the book was perfection. The plot was developed in twisty multifaceted layers with a conclusion that is explosive 💥.

Hendricks is a masterful storyteller and is able to spin twists from twists and times the twists at the most perfect moment. It was compelling, captivating, chilling, creepy, dark, disturning, and gripping, keeping you on the edge of your seat. I guessed some of the twists, but there were still a few unpredictable surprises. The narrator, Hillary Huber, was fantastic. The voice variation through character distinction was truly amazing. The pitch and flow was excellent, I had no issues listening at 2x speed, I was able to keep up. If you like Freida McFadden, John Marrs, Daniel Hurst, or Alex Finlay, you will love this novel. I highly recommend picking up today, or borrowing from the library.

I agree with some reviewers that the book had a YA feel to it—I actually assumed that it was that genre and surprised it wasn’t! It was still a good and entertaining read, nothing wrong with YA. I felt like the POV switched too much, I prefer two narrators or maybe three if one is a dark horse/part of the twist, but there were just so many perspectives.