This book will make you rethink friendship – life long friendships – were they true? Did the other have something to gain? Wait? What? The more I read, the more nosy I was with each character. The twists, turns had me guessing each ones friendship. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #SoILied #ChelseaIchaso #NetGalley

Chelsea Ichaso never lets me down!

When three friends go on a girls only bachelorette trip to Europe, they get a bit more than they bargained for. Friends since high school, secrets, lies and deception follow them as does a strange couple, Magnus and Valentina. They pop up everywhere, no matter how many times the girls try to dodge them. The couple seems to know quite a lot about Jocelyn, Rowan and Cady and try to pit them against each other. But why? When Valentina goes missing, the girls know they’re no longer safe. Can they figure out why they’re being targeted and how to outrun him and their lies before one of them ends up dead?

This was fast paced and intriguing! The author has a way of writing that keeps you engaged and wanting to read until the very end. I read this in one sitting and I absolutely did not regret it. The storytelling was immaculate. Well thought out and told in a way that had revelation after revelation coming and egging you on to the finish line. The ending definitely had be boggled. This one is a must read thriller!

I love a mutli-POV thriller because it lets you into the minds of multiple characters as the plot unfolds. So I Lied did not disappoint in that sense because there were just so many secrets that this trio of "best friends" had kept from each other over the years.

The NOW sections take you through a current timeline investigation of a murder, and it's not until about 2/3 of the way through that you know who was killed. The POV chapters start a few days earlier and develop a few different layers of the friendships and give some insight into the flaws of each character, including some absolutely tragic decisions that altered the futures of each of them.

The end of the book took a bit away from me as it was a bit too convoluted, but all in all it was a solid 3 star read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advanced copy!

In this gripping tale of friendship and secrets, Jocelyn, Rowan, and Cadence head to North Wales for a bachelorette trip that’s supposed to be all about fun. But as the trip unfolds, the cracks in their friendship begin to show. Jocelyn is eager to escape her own problems, Rowan is burdened by her tragic past, and Cadence harbors secrets that threaten to unravel everything. As tensions rise, their unspoken truths become the only things that can save them—or destroy them. A suspenseful and emotional read that explores the complexities of female friendship.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this arc by Chelsea Ichaso. This book will be published 25 January 2025.

Three friends from highschool get together for a bachelorette trip to North Wales. Rowan, Cady and Jocelyn used to be best friends but cracks are starting to show in their friendship and everyone is hiding something.

Let me tell you this book took me for a spin. It had me guessing right from the start with the dual timelines. Every time I thought I cracked it, something happened and I had to think again.

This was a good read and I recommend it :)

I rated it 3/5 stars.

This book engaged me from the start. Joss, Rowan and Cody are three friends off for an adventure, at least on the surface. Beneath the surface they are all three keeping secrets from the others, very dark secrets for one of them. The pace is fast and the dialog is very engaging. The characters have plenty of depth and you become very immersed in their life. Plenty of plot twists to the very end of the book. Perfect for fans of darker suspense.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫- This book follows 3 friends (Jocelyn, Rowan, and Cadence) as they are on Jocelyn’s bachelorette trip in North Wales. Each of them have secrets they are hiding from the others and as the plot progresses they panic as they discover they have a stalker who’s slowly spilling the secrets each of them have covered up. Rotating between each of the girls as narrator and a fourth unnamed narrator for “Now,” this book shows the unraveling of friendships and how far they would go to hide from the truth. Ichaso has a knack for twisting plot lines that keep you invested and not knowing who to trust. The characters are developed and the plot keeps you hooked. It starts off a little on the slower side but once it gets going it flies by. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Chelsea Ichaso for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Talk about a bachelorette trip for the book? I am glad I am not part of this friend group! Very thrilling! Lies, Secrets, Secrets, and more Secrets!

What just happened?!? So I Lied by Jen Alvarez is definitely labeled a psychological suspense thriller. I feel like I was dropped down the rabbit hole and just managed to find my way out accidentally. Beware there is no way to fully review this novel with giving some spoiler to the twists and turns this book just provided me. Cadence, Joslyn, and Rowan are coming together for one last hoorah as bachlorettes and best friends, but what meets the eye with these three is far from what anyone would expect for "best friends". Alvarez drops you in the middle of this tangled web of lies and deceit disguised as comrade and loving support. Readers will embark on this journey while Alvarez masterfully unveils snapshots at the darkness and complication that surrounds the history of the three main characters. A foreign country, hidden secrets, and a few strangers later and you have web of deception and manipulation that readers will be just as desperate for answers as the characters of the story. I palpably felt every mysterious presence and unanswered manipulation as if I was living this journey, and the unraveling was as impossible as improbable. Alvarez masterfully and beautifully created this maze of unknowns so carefully that it was not even an ending that could have been anticipated or predicted. In the end, I find myself questioning everything including just what do you do when you feel even the victims are as broken and dark as the villains of the story.

This is a crazy, wild ride about three girlfriends who go to Wales when wealthy bachelorette, Jocelyn--engaged to Landon--convinces them she needs a weekend with her friends before her wedding. They plan to stay with her Aunt Helen in a cozy cabin away from everything where they can relax, hike, and just have a good time. But there are two other guests there, Magnus and Valentina who quickly come under the girls' scrutiny as seem to appear everywhere the girls go even when the girls aren't even sure where they themselves are going! Long-standing secrets, lies, and conspiracies all play a part in this novel that will have you gasping even on the last page!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This story revolves around three friends, one of which is now dead. The thing is you don’t know who is dead at the beginning. You wonder throughout the book and ponder about what happened. You get really invested in the story that you finish the book in three days (a real page turner that one). I loved that about the book, but it lost a star because of the relationships between the three girls. I could not believe that with all their secrets, they could actually be “best” friends. We get each one’s POV and they all have things to say about one another. I did not really get how they stayed friends after all these years. Overall, it was a fast paced book with all the things you need for a fun quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an ebook copy of this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5! So many unexpected twists in this book keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. You’ll think you have the twist figured out then another amazing twist comes along! This book is in the POV of 3 characters who all have their own crazy stories! This book is definitely worth the read!

Chelsea Ichaso's "So I Lied" is a gripping exploration of friendship, secrets, and the complexities of human relationships. Set against the moody backdrop of North Wales, this novel deftly weaves together the lives of three women, each carrying their own burdens and hidden truths.

Ichaso excels at creating multifaceted characters. Jocelyn, Rowan, and Cadence are richly drawn, each with distinct voices and compelling backstories. The author skillfully peels back their layers, revealing the intricate web of lies and unspoken truths that bind them together. The tension between the characters is palpable, creating a sense of unease that builds steadily throughout the narrative.

The plot is well-crafted, with enough twists to keep readers engaged without feeling contrived. Ichaso masterfully balances the present-day bachelorette trip with glimpses into the characters' pasts, gradually unveiling the events that shaped their current dynamics. The pacing is spot-on, maintaining suspense while allowing for moments of introspection and character development.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its exploration of grief, guilt, and the ways in which people cope with loss. The shared history of Jocelyn and Rowan, connected by the loss of Jocelyn's brother, adds depth to their relationship and provides a poignant backdrop to the unfolding drama.

Ichaso's writing style is crisp and atmospheric, effectively capturing both the physical setting of North Wales and the psychological landscape of her characters. The foreboding tone is well-maintained throughout, creating a sense of impending revelation that keeps pages turning.

While the novel excels in many areas, there are moments where the plot threads feel slightly tangled, and some readers might find certain revelations predictable. However, these minor issues don't significantly detract from the overall impact of the story.

"So I Lied" is a compelling read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and character-driven dramas alike. A twist within a twist within a twist.

Wow! A completely and totally absorbing read! Had me hooked from the beginning. Friend drama , secrets and tons of mystery A really good book! Would definitely recommend.

I’m a sucker for female-frenemies-go-to-a-bachelorette/hen-trip-to-a-remote-location stories. I’ve never read Chelsea Ichaso before, but enjoyed her writing. The book moved at a good pace and the characters were not so over-the-top annoying or shallow that I was rooting for the killer to take them all out. The antagonist was genuinely menacing and the twists worked for me. An easy, fun read!

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for letting me read an ARC of this book.

I am a bit on the fence about So I Lied. It was a decent enough thriller. I was interested throughout the whole thing but not exactly hooked.

The twists were well thought out but there were too many plotlines for my liking and some a little far fetched. The writing lacked a bit of variety in my opinion too.

All in all a good, easy thriller.

In this foreboding journey into the depths of friendship, three women spend a trip together covering up the secrets between them, but when one lie unravels, there’s no going back! Good book! This book had suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, and a few twists and turns! The story was interesting but it wasn’t one of my top favorites but still worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I really enjoyed this book. The author kept me engaged by throwing in red herrings throughout the story. I was engaged in the characters until the end. Looking forward to reading more of her books.

Rowan, Cadence, and Jocelyn have been friends since high school, best friends, but the kind of best friends that lie and keep secrets from each other. Eight years ago, Jocelyn’s twin broke up with Rowan and died, leaving her pregnant and alone. Today, they’re all together to celebrate Jocelyn’s upcoming wedding and travel to a remote place where her aunt runs a B&B. And yes, it’s that kind of away-from-the-world, no-signal kind of place, obviously. Things are tense, and they become really suspicious of the couple next door.

Bachelorette parties really are the best place for so-called friends to realize that they’re not that close in reality. And if we’re in a thriller, it also involves secrets and murders. None of the girls are very likable, to be honest. They pretend to be friends, but they don’t really treat each other as such. Yet they’re weirdly codependent and incredibly jealous of the girls’ other relationships. Dysfunctional at its best. I really enjoy seeing all the lies come out little by little, and while I did see someone’s involvement coming (one chapter name is a big red flag and I always start with the table of contents), many of the twists were actually surprising.

The author did a great job differentiating characters, which isn't always the case with multi-POV. It reads as a thriller/mystery for Women's Fiction readers, which is right up my alley! It's very readable, and the dialogue feels natural, which I also appreciated.