Jaime Lynn Hendricks's latest, A LOVELY LIE, is a multi-layered twisty domestic thriller as the past and present collide— dark secrets, betrayal, manipulation, and murder are unraveled with jaw-dropping twists. #Covercrush

Is it better to believe a lovely lie or know the horrible truth?

Audiobook...
I read the book and listened to the audiobook narrated by one of my favorites, Hillary Huber, delivering an outstanding and entertaining performance for all voices. Unputdownable!

About...
With dual timelines, we visit the past/present.

PAST: 1999: Scarlett and her best friend Pepper, teens drunk after a party, are involved in a deadly car accident, leaving two of their classmates dead. Both lied to the cops, and no one was held accountable. Pepper moved on to New York to explore her acting career, and Scarlett in Florida, married to Pepper's old boyfriend. Now they have a son, Luke.

PRESENT: 22 years later
Scarlett is a hotel concierge. She is married to Vince and has a son, Luke. They reside in Florida, and she and her husband are not all that happy together. He still pines for his old flame, Pepper.

Zoey:
When Zoey, a young girl, shows up at the hotel with news that her mother, Pepper, is dead and she is looking for her biological father, things go a little crazy. Nothing or no one is as they appear.

She has a cryptic letter from Pepper addressed to Scarlett that refers to the events long ago and their secret. Pepper was pregnant back then but planned on having an abortion. Did she keep the baby? Is Vince the father?

Zoey starts digging into the past, and all the secrets start unraveling. What really happened that night years ago? Who was the real murderer?

My thoughts...
The past refuses to stay buried. A LOVELY LIE is INTENSE, twisty, and full of characters you will love to hate. (Pepper is the worst) and those she controls and manipulates from past to present. The author keeps you guessing as to the identity of the killer and the biological father of Zoey. Adults and teens behaving badly with a YA vibe.

A fast-paced psychological drama! From lies, secrets, and unlikable characters the author keeps you glued to the pages to see how all will unravel. I enjoyed the ending! My first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more.

Recs...
A LOVELY LIE is for fans of Megan Miranda, Wendy Walker, Stephen Amidon, Christina McDonald, and Michele Campbell.

Thanks to Penzler Publishers, Highbridge Audio, and NetGalley for gifting an ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
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I absolutely LOVED this one! Jaime’s books are always so captivating and I tend to finish them in just 2-3 sittings. This was no exception. A Lovely Lie was so entertaining from beginning to end and I really enjoyed this cast of characters. Easy five stars and I highly recommend!

I enjoyed this story, but found it to be pretty predictable. If the there were twists, they weren’t very “twisty” for me. The characters were fine. Overall, I’d say this is a fine domestic drama. I’d read more from this author based on her writing skill and the audiobook narration was good as well.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

There were no lovely lies. There were a lot of horrible lies. And a lot of very dislikable people. Some people do redeem themselves. SOme just make it through. Pepper is never a likable person. Not even when she is the narrator. She can’t even present herself well. Scarlet is pathetic and weak. Luke is OK, I guess. There is a certain amount of satisfaction with the end. What really happened on grad night isn’t that hard to figure out. Whether anyone will pay for it is less certain. This was a good Saturday in the hammock read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this audiobook for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I wasn't familar with Jaime Lynn Hendricks as an author, but after reading/listening to this audiobook, I can say I will definitely read more by her. One reason I picked this book is because I enjoy Hillary Huber as a narrator, and the second reason is the plot sounded very exciting. This book had so many twists and turns and I was hooked. I finished this book in under a day! I definitely recommend this book

Read if you like
Megan Miranda
Laura Dave
Shari Lapena

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This books started and I thought I immediately had it all figured out... I didn't

The book bounces through time following the lives of Scarlett and Pepper in 99 and again 21 years later with their kids and spouse. I thought it was a simple Whodunit? Like I usually really and there was always a little bit more to unravel. Pepper stands to be a true manipulative villain but it still remains complicated. Every character stands to be a little annoying, and albeit aggravating in a situation that has more layers to it than a wedding cake. In the end, all the loose ends were tied my questions were answered and I absolutely loved and vehemently hated at the same time, this book. I would without a doubt go back and read again!

My favorite character stands to be Zoey.
The formal release date is May 28th, 2024.
Thanks to NetGalley, and Jamie Lynn Hendricks for the ARC for this opportunity!

Thank you NetGalley and Jamie Lynn Hendricks for the chance to listen to this ARC!

A Lovely Lie has a duel timeline between now and 1999 after high school graduation and multiple point of views which I really enjoyed. It added and extra element to the novel and mystery. It did get a little confusing at times if you don't stay 100% focused though. It started a little slow for me but didn't take long to pick up and when it did there were several twists that kept you engaged and the story moving quickly and smoothly!

Wha....wait, what?? Did she, OH NO SHE DID NOT!
This is my brain on A Lovely Lie....

I was hooked from the very first sentence and the narrators reading was phenomenal.

Scarlet and Pepper are High School besties. Pepper is the manipulative, popular, and drop-dead gorgeous fireball that all the boys want and Scarlet is the pretty, nice, pushover, goody-two-shoes that just wants to be liked.

Twenty-two years ago, in 1999 there was a terrible accident, or was it? An accident? Many secrets have been kept since that fateful night of the senior picnic, but that won't be the case for much longer. Someone is about to pay Scarlet a visit that causes her world to change drastically.

Every time I thought I knew what happened there was another secret that came out, then I had to re-think everything I thought I knew!
I would highly suggest this book to anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller.
4.75
Thank you to NetGalley, HighBridge Audio, and the author for allowing me to listen this Audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
#ALovelyLie #NetGalley

I chose to read this for two reasons- the premise sounded interesting and the nostalgia. I was in high school in 1999. Unfortunately, this didn't deliver on either front.

Other than the year being stated, the portions about the past had absolutely nothing to pin them to a certain year. It could have happened yesterday. There are mentions of calling 911 from a remote area, so I suppose cell phones were alluded to. I did have a cell phone in 1999, but many people didn't. So even that information couldn't date the past.

As for the premise, I suppose a premise doesn't change. But the execution was predictable. There weren't any twists or surprises.

This book was full of awful people. They all sucked. Except maybe Chris. Even Luke, the teenager, sucked due to his chosen vocation. Unlikeable characters are necessary in books a lot of the time- especially books about lies. However, these people were truly terrible and had nothing redeeming. I wanted them all to die, lol.

Hillary Huber narrated the audiobook. I normally like her work, but didn't even take note. I was too busy hating all of the characters.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! The lies and the secrets harbored for 20 years!!! I definitely enjoyed this one from start to finish and could not put it down. Typically, in family drama mystery/thrillers, there's a lot of unlikeable characters. While Pepper was a narcissist, several of the other characters had really great redeeming qualities, which made you really root for them (for instance, sweet Luke and hottie Chris).

The audiobook narrator was great - it was easy to distinguish characters and the mixed media elements, in addition to past versus present.

I hope you decide to pick this book up when it comes out in the next few days (pub date: May 28, 2024). Thank you to NetGalley, Jaime Lynn Hendricks, and HighBridge Audio for the opportunity to listen to this Advanced Listener's Copy (ALC) in exchange for my honest opinion.

1999, best friends turn enemies, two deaths, a mystery, and 22 years later…

Jaime Lynn Hendricks newest novel, A Lovely Lie. I listened to this novel and while the story jumps back in time from 1999 to present day, and switches characters - the author and narrator do a great job to keep the story cohesive and not confusing.
I enjoyed the characters and while they were slightly whiny and stuck in highschool, I think that added to the suspense of the story. This story will keep you guessing until the end.

Publication date: May 28th, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, ScarletSuspense, and Highbridge Audio for this book in exchange for my honest review


TW: miscarriage, murder, car accident, underage drinking

This was the first book I have listened to by Jamie Lynn Hendricks, and it delivered! This book was 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

I am never quite sure what to expect from authors I am not familiar with (and sometimes even with authors I am) so I came into this with a little trepidation.

There was a little nostalgia, which never hurts, having been in high school at the time of the events having taken place when I was in high school. And I also lived in a small town, being a cheerleader, AND having a crazy party my last night of school- this book had me hooked.

Don't get me wrong, it was going to take a lot more than just those elements to get me to enjoy a book. My life in HS was enough of a psychological thriller that I needed a little more than those elements to get me to stay interested in this book. And between the writing, and my suspicions what I assumed actually happened, I had to stay 'til the end.

I am going to mention a few trigger warnings: there is gas-lighting, abortion, unplanned pregnancy, and abuse. It isn't graphic, but it is mentioned in the book, and I think I would be remiss to leave it out of my review.

The audiobook was quite good, and I highly recommend it!

I listened to about the first half of this on audiobook and read the second half or so in kindle form. I’m almost never patient enough to finish an audiobook if I have options (patience is far from my strong suit). I liked this book quite a bit. While I didn’t find the twists to be super twisty I loved the format and liked the wild turns even if I could see where we were going. I did think the characters were all a little flat (except Zoey, she got rounded out by the end) and fit into their trope with little else. Most of the characters weren’t likable in some way or another and I liked that there were no purely good or purely bad characters (well ok, a couple were pretty irredeemable). Scarlett is having a normal day at work when in walks Zoey and everything changes. Zoey introduces herself as Scarlett’s high school best friend Pepper’s daughter. Scarlett is blown away. She hasn’t seen Scarlett since a horrible night she’s tried to forget about, but all of them are about to learn that secrets don’t stay hidden forever.

A Lovely Lie, by Jaime Lynn Hendricks, is a captivating, fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing throughout the entirety of the story. This intriguing novel has characters you will love to hate, secrets a plenty, hidden motives and agendas, and manipulation at it’s finest.

This story has an intricate plot that weaves the various storylines into one toxic web that gradually unfolds. With multiple POVs and two timelines a story is told of a group of high schoolers, on the verge of graduation, who participate in a horrific event, a car accident that leaves two dead and others powerfully impacted. When two of the characters lie about the accident to protect their futures, unforeseen ramifications follow; some that show up years later!

A Lovely Lie is a gripping page-turner and an enthralling summer thriller. The audio-version, courtesy of HighBridge Audio, expertly narrated by the gifted Hillary Huber really builds the tension and brings the story to life!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penzler Publishers Scarlet, and High Bridge Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Jaime Lynn Hendricks and perfectly narrated by Hillary Huber. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

In 1999, on the night of their big senior picnic, Scarlett and her best friend, Pepper, were involved in a car accident that left two of their classmates dead. They lied to the police, trying to protect each other. Pepper left town and they never communicated again. Currently, Scarlett is working at a hotel, married to Vince, and raising their son, Luke. But Pepper's daughter Zoey comes to town with news that Pepper is dead and Zoey is investigating who her father is. Everything that they tried to suppress all those years ago is coming to light.

This story unspools in both past and present timelines, from multiple POV, including snippets of police transcripts. There are so many buried secrets among the characters, and the reader gets to see the character development from high school to present - of course, in some more than others. This was a very fast-paced novel that will have you second guessing what actually happened after that party so many years ago. I loved alternating between the audio and digital, especially when the narration is done by Huber. Pack this one along in your beach bag!

A Lovely Lie had me on the edge of my seat! Who can you trust? Your best friend? Your husband? Your child? You’ll find out! I love and multiple POV’s, the twists and all the jaw dropping moments. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good twisty thriller!

I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like this book at first, because almost all of the characters were so unlikeable. But, I changed my mind. What really hooked me was that some of them changed over the course of the book—I loved this character development. This dual timeline plot allows for the events of twenty years ago—when the principal characters graduated from high school and two classmates were killed in a car accident—to be brought up again and mined in excruciating detail. This creates a book full of drama, both in the past and the present. My high school days were definitely not like this! There are a few major twists, which I loved, and a very satisfying ending. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever read a book where you dislike ALL of the characters for some reason or another?
If you have not, read this.
They are all such a mess! Yet I couldn’t put it down!! 😮

A Lovely Lie by Jaime Lynn Hendricks.

We open up in 1999 where we have several friends who are HS Seniors. They are all at a party…and at the end of the night, two of them are left dead!

Scarlett and Pepper have been BFF’s for years. (Honestly, WHY is beyond me?!?!) Pepper is pretty, outspoken, and usually gets her way with
E V E R Y T H I N G !!! She leads the boys AND girls around like she has them on a leash…
Scarlett is more of a quiet person, but is very happy to follow Pepper’s lead. Pepper is a cheerleader. Her boyfriend Vince is a big football player (No surprise there…). Somehow, he is also under her spell.

We skip ahead to current day, and Scarlett and Vince are married and have a teenage son. Their marriage is far from perfect…

One day a young woman named Zoey shows up claiming she is Pepper’s daughter…and she looks just like her…

She is in school studying to be an investigative journalist.
And, this is when the sh*t hits the fan!!!
You see, she found an old note that Pepper wrote to Scarlett years ago…but never mailed…and now she wants to know WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED??

We bounce back and forth between present day and 1999 from varying POV’s… and the stuff in this one will make you CRINGE…

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HighBridgeAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review! This is due for release in just a few days on 5/28/24!

#ALovelyLie by #JaimeLynnHendricks and narrated beautifully by #HillaryHuber.

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GREAT LISTEN. A Lovely Lie was such a great audiobook! I throughly enjoyed the story line and all of the twists. Stories that tend to jump around in timelines can be confusing or take away from the story, but this one was laid out perfectly.

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for giving me access to the audiobook for A Lovely Lie in advance! I highly recommend this if you’re looking for something to hold your attention and keep you on the edge of your seat!

@jaimelynnhendricksauthor’s newest novel, A Lovely Lie, is hands down my favorite book that I have read this month! I bounced between reading the e-book and listening to the audiobook because I did not want to put it down! This thriller explores how lies can send ripples that may affect seemingly unrelated events. The villains in this story are truly deplorable. I seriously recommend adding this to your pre-order list so that you can read it this summer!

Thank you @highbridgeaudio and @scarletsuspense for allowing me to read and listen to this book/audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)