Member Reviews

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy.

I am definitely in the minority of the ratings I saw. This book took me forever to read. Started out strong for me and then just dragged on and I was getting bored and couldn’t wait to finish. I actually skimmed the last 35% of the book. I quickly began to even dislike Rowen after becoming pregnant. This book just wasn’t thrilling enough for me and repetitive.

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Twist and turns and just when you think you have figured it out another twist. I enjoyed this book and would read another by this author in this genre. It was an attention holder and I would recommend it to others.

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This book is well-written with interesting characters and various twists and turns.

I liked Ellie- though I feel we are perhaps not supposed to like her. I feel her POV being used at times really helped me to sympathise with her, particularly towards the end of the book.

Theo was a mysterious character as we do not get to see his POV, and that certainly worked for the story that was told.

I found Rowan a little annoying at times, but considering all she goes through over the course of the novel, and within her past, this all makes sense!

The twist was enjoyable, however felt a little rushed at the end and I found myself wanting a little more. That said, the book kept me gripped all the way through and I am glad I read it!

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Thriller, it certainly did that I couldn’t put it down, but also did not want to read it in the best of ways. A gripping novel which had me hooked, the twists and turns so unexpected. I would highly recommend this book.

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A well paced domestic thriller told by Rowan and her stepdaughter Ellie- two women who really dislike one another. Rowan is pregnant-yay! Not so much joy on Ellie's part but seriously, would Ellie like anything that takes attention away from her? And how far will she go? Rowan's having problems sleeping, probably because she's got some secrets from her husband Theo that are swirling in her head and which she fears Ellie will discover. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

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This is an impressive psychological thriller. The plot is superbly dark and twisty!

Rowan is the stepmother, having a fractious relationship with stepdaughter, Ellie. The relationship between the 2 definitely doesn’t improve following the surprise discovery of Rowan’s pregnancy. Married to Theo, Rowan is delighted by her pregnancy but also experiences panic attacks triggered by this that appear related to trauma in her childhood. The childhood plot unfolds as the novel progresses and this adds to the suspense and intrigue embedded in this novel.

A great ending - it won’t give to much of a spoiler to say that the stepdaughter isn’t the only one telling a lie or 2!

I would 100% recommend this well-written twisty novel!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this novel in exchange for an advance copy.

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FANTASTIC read - so many twists and turns. Edge of the seat and very chilling. I read this book in a day. Cant wait to check out more by Teri, so very talented.

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Wow! This book is a page turner! I could not put it down. As a stepmom, I knew I wanted to read it from just the title. Thank goodness I can’t relate to this stepdaughter though! I love how we got different perspectives throughout the book. I would feel sorry for each character when I heard their side of what was happening but I love when an author does that - who do you believe?? The technology of Vera seems all too real in today’s world - the idea of the system going down and not being able to get into your house seems terrifying to me! If you are looking for a wonderful psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes til the end, this book is for you!

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This was SO GOOD. what a journey!
4.5 stars!
So much happened in this book, It's about a character called Rowan who is married to her husband Theo and lives with their step-daughter Ellie and follows their journey as a family when Rowan gets pregnant, It is creepy, secretive and really keeps you guessing! and just when you think you've been hit with everything then oncoming something else and just goes somewhere else! I couldn't believe the amount of stories this follows in one book and doesn't get confusing either and just works so well. I honestly loved this, was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down towards the end.
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The ONLY reason for losing 0.5 star for me and missing out on it being a 5 star was I felt like Rowan/Grace going craaaazy had to have been more than sleep deprivation? I honestly thought that Theo was drugging her and I understand he was working overtime to make her not sleep, like why didn't she check the heating? wear earplugs? - I felt like allll the shit that went wrong over her not sleeping just felt like there had to be another reason. - for me anyway!
But overall, this was minor and I LOVED this so so much!!!

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Overall rating: 4.25 stars

This story follows Rowan and her stepdaughter, Ellie who, have a distant if not contemptuous relationship.
When Rowan finds herself surprisingly pregnant, her relationship with her husband suddenly becomes quite strained. Beyond that, she can’t seem to get any restful sleep… which never helps anything, does it?

In The Step Daughter’s Lie, we get to hear from both Rowan and Ellie as narrators. Despite a (imo) predictable overall story arc, I did find some elements of the story surprising along the way. This was a fast-paced read that kept me wanting to turn the page. Ellie’s perspective was interesting to read, and I thought the author did a good job capturing the perspective of a teenage girl (where every problem is someone else’s fault…). The technology of the house also added an interesting element to the story.

I would definitely read another thriller from Teri Terry in the future.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture Publishing, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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I really enjoyed Teri's debut The Patient, and found this twisty domestic thriller just as compelling. The dual narrators, haunted step-mum Rowan and her husband's damaged daughter, Ellie, were deftly drawn and the series of deceptions that fuel the plot keep the reader guessing at all times. What the Stepdaughter 's lies ultimately uncover is horrifying....

Another great thriller from this author!

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I loved Teri Terry's debut adult thriller The Patient so couldn't wait to read The Stepdaughter's Lie - another corker! Terry's use of multiple POV is incredibly effective, giving the reader glimpses and insights into different characters' emotions, memories and motivation, which help us gradually piece together the secrets and lies the family is keeping from each other in this incredibly intricately-woven plot - but still I didn't guess the ending! And what an ending! I was glued to the page, real world forgotten, breathless until the very end. Bravo Teri Terry - I can't wait to read more!

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4.5⭐️
The Stepdaughters Lie is a story about a family consisting of husband, wife and a teenage daughter.
This book mainly focuses on characters Rowan and Ellie (stepdaughter) who plots against her step mother to separate her father from Rowan (step mother)
While plotting against her step mother, Ellie finds out some past truth about her real mother and her father’s past. This book also focuses on the past of Rowan as well.
The only reason this book is not a 5⭐️ is because it seems a little bit stretched out in the middle and feels like the characters are not progressing. Takes too much time to get on the plot twist. Focused too much on Rowans character which was a bit unnecessary.
Overall this book stands out and i will definitely recommend it to psychological thriller genre audience.
Lastly, i would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read this ARC and give an honest review

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Rowan lives with her husband Theo and his daughter Ellie, who was abandoned by her mother when she was a baby. She dislikes her stepmother and is always trying to cause trouble.
Rowan tries her best to get on with Ellie but is often tipped to the edge and is haunted by her past. Things escalate when she becomes pregnant and is delighted, but also terrified as it brings back awful memories from her childhood.
This is a fast paced thriller with short chapters, told by Rowan and Ellie and I raced through the pages to find out how things would end.
I wish I could give half marks as this was a solid 3.5!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the first Teri Terry novel i have read in a while. i really enjoyed her previous books and this one didn't disappoint.

thank you for the opportunity to review

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The Step Daughters Lie

I really enjoyed this book! It definitely did not take the turn that I expected it to even tho I kinda guessed the twist. A step mom is doing her best, working, being a wife and being a step mother to a 17 year old who lost her mom when she ran away when Ellie was just a baby. Theo and Rowan had been married for a few years and she thought given her age and her past that she would never have a baby but she finds out she’s pregnant. Her step daughter does not take the news well and does several things to mess with her step mother. But how will it end? Highly suggest this read to find out. A solid thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-arc!

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

The Stepdaughter's Lie
By: Teri Terry
Release date: July 29, 2024

A Stepdaughter's Lie was a great read for me. I read mystery, thriller, and romance novels. I was pleasantly surprised how this book grabbed my attention from the beginning. I could not put it down as I NEEDED to find out how this story unfolded. I really enjoyed the plot! As much as I loved Ellie and Rowans POV, I had hoped to read some of Theo's.This however, probably won’t affect the majority of the audience, so it’s definitely not something that should deter anyone from reading the book. This is a fun, quick-paced story that will not disappoint. I would recommend this book to anyone who loved mystery and thrillers.

Thank you to Teri Terry and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

#netgalley #arcreview #teriterry

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I really liked this. Well written, short, fast paced chapters were easy to fly through but hard to put down. I kept thinking just one more chapter, and before I knew it, I was half way through. Lots of twists, ample intrigue and so many lies! Find a comfy spot and enjoy. I look forward reading other titles by Teri Terry.
Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Teri Terry for the opportunity to read and thoroughly enjoy this ARC.

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Definitely a 5 star book for me. This is my first experience reading this author and I was very pleased. I thought this was going to be a popcorn thriller but it was so much more. Pure psychological thriller at it's bets.

Rowan is married to Theo. Theo has a daughter Ellie who is not fond of her step mother, Rowan. When Rowan discovers she is pregnant, it makes Ellie even harder to live with. I read this book in 2 sittings and it was a nail biter. So many twists. So much deceit. Crazy. I loved it. It's hard to say much more about it without ruining the whole story. How far will Rowan go to keep her past hidden. How far will Theo go to keep his own past hidden. That is the question. This is a definite must read if thrillers are your thing.

Thank you to Nettttttttgalley and Bookouture for this ARC. I greatly appreciate it. I highly recommend this book.

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I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the editor for sending me an advance copy of this upcoming title. Your hard work and dedication to this project are truly commendable, and I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to review it before its official release.

The depth and quality of this work are a testament to your meticulous attention to detail and your passion for bringing exceptional stories to life. From the engaging narrative to the well-developed characters, it's clear that a tremendous amount of effort has gone into every aspect of this book.

I am genuinely excited about this title and eager to share my thoughts and insights. Having the chance to read it in advance has been a wonderful experience, and I am confident that readers will be just as captivated by it as I am.

Thank you once again for this incredible opportunity. Your support and trust in my feedback mean a great deal to me. I look forward to continuing to work together and witnessing the success of this fantastic book.

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