"So I Lied" is an adult thriller novel by Chelsea Ichaso. Three friends, Jocelyn, Candace, and Rowan were friends back in college and are now meeting up for a bachelorette trip to Wales. Each one has secrets they are hiding from the others that could end their friendship. When they are stalked by a couple that they meet at their B&B, their vacation becomes dangerous and secrets come to light. A quick read with characters that felt real. All of the characters were a bit unlikable, which was annoying at times, but the suspense and action will keep readers involved. The book switches between two of the main characters (though they are unnamed for awhile, so you do not know which ones are talking) being interviewed by the Wales police and the past. A recommended purchase for fiction collections where thrillers are popular.

This is my first time reading a book written by Chelsea Ichaso and I love her writing style! She really knows how to weave a tale of suspense. It's engaging and unputdownable. As for the story, this is the first time that an author has ever correctly depicted a specific psychological disorder. For that, I'm extremely thankful to the author!

So I Lied was the latest mystery thriller I read. I loved it. It was a twisty turny read that kept me charting pages until the very end.

read if you like:
👰🏻 bachelorette party stories
🤷🏻‍♀️ missing people
👯‍♀️ alternating POV’s

summary:
This book is about a group of three friends — Jocelyn, Rowan and Candace, who head to Wales for Jocelyn’s bachelorette party. Their lives are deeply intertwined from their pasts, and they all show up with secrets they desperately want to keep from each other. Over the course of the weekend, these secrets unravel, and they find themselves fighting to survive and make it home unscathed.

The POV alternates between all three girls, which made it hard to follow because they all sounded similar to each other. I also didn’t feel like any of them were particularly likable — they all had good qualities but dark underbellies that were hard to look past. Because of that, I really didn’t feel like I was “behind” anyone, and found myself struggling to root for any of them to come out of their catastrophic weekend on top. I also found the mystery with their other guests, Magnus and Valentina, confusing. It felt like we were going back and forth between problems between the three girls and problems between them and the other guests, which was hard to follow at times. That being said, the story moved quickly, and had a number of twists and turns that made it fun to read. The setting in Wales was also unique and different, and made for a good background for the story.

Overall it wasn’t really my cup of tea, but it definitely could be someone else’s!

Thanks to Thomas and Mercer and Net Galley for the advanced copy, and check this book out if you’re interested when it releases on January 28!

Three women set off on a life-changing journey to North Wales. Their friendship hangs in the balance, entangled with hidden secrets and unspoken confessions. Chelsea Ichaso skillfully blends suspense and emotion, leaving readers guessing until the climactic revelation. If you appreciate psychological thrillers with well-crafted characters, this book is a must-read. 🌟” 📚✨

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of So I Lied: A Novel by Chelsea Ichaso in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Wow, I loved this book so much! I stayed up late just to finish it as fast as I could because I had to know the ending. The brilliant writing made it so much fun. I love a book full of puzzles, intrigue, frenemies, and drama, and that's exactly what this is. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books like this from Chelsea Ichaso. If you're a fan of Lucy Foley or Alex Michaelides, I highly recommend adding this one to your list.

So I Lied is Chelsea Ichaso’s adult debut. I was immediately pulled into the story, a getaway off to a rough start, but it didn’t give me that intense, need to know what happens next, feeling. The whole story felt very superficial - intriguing, but not given enough depth to truly engage me in the story.

I loved the atmosphere of the Welsh countryside and the eeriness the missing girl provided. I think both that mystery and the setting could have been better utilized as part of the plot. I also felt disconnected from the characters, especially Jocelyn and Rowan. I couldn’t get past why Rowan would want to go on vacation with a woman, her daughter’s aunt, who we are told has zero presence in that daughter’s life. Despite this, the plot succeeded in keeping me guessing and I was compelled to read until the end. I think readers who enjoy slow burn plots will be interested in this story, but it just didn’t stand out for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a page turner! I couldn’t put it down. It’s rare for me to find a book that the ending isn’t obvious to me, but with this book I couldn’t have predicted anything. It was full of twists and turns and I absolutely loved it.

Three best friends set out for a peaceful, weeklong girls trip, Very quickly they realize it may not have been the trip they had in mind. As the friends start turning on each other you begin to see cracks in each woman’s individual friendships. When they realize someone may be playing games with them it doesn’t stop friendships from unraveling one by one. When murder takes place, the two remaining friends are quick to point the finger at each other.

I loved the dual timelines and the multiple pov’s. So many secrets were revealed and so much betrayal amongst a small group of friends. Rowan, Cady, and Jocelyn had so many secrets kept from each other that solving the murder was not only hard for the characters but for me as the reader. I had so many suspicions on who could have done what and I was still wrong in the end!

This literary work demonstrated potential but ultimately failed to fully meet my expectations. The narrative occasionally became perplexing, and I encountered difficulty in discerning whose perspective was being presented. Nevertheless, the book successfully maintained my curiosity until its conclusion, a quality I highly value in literature. Although it fell short of my ideal, I would eagerly anticipate reading another work by this author in the future.

2.5 stars rounded down

♰This book was just okay.

╰┈➤ There was no sign leading up to the plot twist which made the reveal very annoying

╰┈➤ I couldn’t distinguish the voices. I could be reading Rowan’s chapter and along the line I ask myself “wait who’s POV” and I have to scroll back. They all have the same voice. They feel like the same person.

╰┈➤ The drama was good enough to entertain you for the first 180 pages but after that you slowly start to wonder what the point of the book is

╰┈➤ Also I found the ending very all over the place. I couldn’t keep count of how many times I rolled my eyes

╰┈➤ anyways, Joss> Rowan> Cady

This thriller immediately grabbed my attention with its intriguing premise, and it did not disappoint. The fast-paced storyline and the unexpected twists kept me on the edge of my seat. The mysterious setting and the complex dynamics among the three friends were so relatable and captivating that I felt like I was part of the excitement. I was thoroughly engrossed, unable to put it down until I uncovered all the secrets. The ending was a fantastic surprise—I didn't see it coming at all.

However, some chapters lacking a clear POV made parts of the story a bit confusing. Additionally, there's a certain *something* missing that keeps it from being a perfect 5-star read for me. Despite these minor issues, it was an overall engaging and thrilling read. This is my first book by this author, and I'm definitely eager to explore more of her work. An outstanding read with twists and turns that kept me hooked until the very end!

So I Lied by new to me author C. Ichaso is a full length, stand alone thriller.
The book is published by Thomas & Mercer.
3 women together on a trip, 3 friends, but soon a crack in their friendship appears, leading to yeah.
Jocelyn is about to marry and plans a bachelorette trip with her friends.
Rowan is a single mom and the former wild child is all tamed up.
Cadence never fitted in and rather wants to be somewhere else.
An intriguing read, a bit confusing.
Blurb: Jocelyn is ready to get married—and more ready to have fun. She plans a bachelorette trip to North Wales, where she can forget about her strained relationship and focus on the tension among friends instead. It’s a welcome distraction.
Her friend Rowan used to be the wild child. But after having a kid of her own and losing the father in a tragic accident, she’s now the ever-responsible single mother, cautious in every way. Except one.
Cadence doesn’t want to be there. For as long as she’s known her friends, she’s always felt disparate. Maybe it’s because those two share a special Jocelyn’s brother was Rowan’s boyfriend, and they still feel his loss. Or maybe it’s because Cadence has secrets they can never know.
As the trip goes on, their friendship begins to crack under the pressure of all the things they leave unsaid…but those might be the only things that can save them.

I love Chelsea Ichaso's YA books, so I couldn't wait to start So I Lied. I hate to say that this one really disappointed me. Her previous books have such original plots and great twists, and this one missed both of those marks.

There are some great aspects to So I Lied, like the suspicious characters and the atmospheric setting. With such a great foundation, it's even more surprising that the author didn't do more with the story. Unfortunately, most of the reveals felt unexpected, cliche, or both. I also couldn't get behind any of the main characters, which made the mysterious interludes less effective.

While I'm bummed out by this book, I will absolutely read whatever Chelsea Ichaso publishes next. I think she's a fantastic writer, but this one just wasn't for me.

An edge of your seat story that dives into how secrets can impact friendships. So many twists along the way. Bravo Chelsea, for drawing me in and keeping me guessing, all the way to the end!

4.5🌟
This was sooooo goood.
It was a mystery that actually shocked me by the end.
It follows three (best) friends who have secrets. A lot of secrets.
The fact i loved the most was the way little plot twists kept coming throughout the entire book.
I wasn't bored at any point.
The only reason i didn't rate it higher is that it got a little slow in the middle for me even though i totally understand why it was that way.
Highly recommend.
One of the best arcs and mystery i have read.

This wasn't my first book by this author so I knew I liked the way they wrote and told stories but boy did I love the way they did it in this book. The characters development and pacing was phenomenAl.

To be honest that is the first time I pick up a thriller because of the premise and not because it was recommended.

I loved it.

The premise and the setting are mysterious, and everything in the relationship of those three friends is mysterious too.
That book litteraly absorbed me, I couldn't put it down until I knew, I needed to know.

This is my first book by the author but I will definitely be reading more by her !

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC.

Releases: January 28, 2025

THIS. BOOK.

I loved the dual timelines and the multiple pov’s. So many secrets were revealed and so much betrayal amongst a small group of friends. Rowan, Cady, and Jocelyn had so many secrets kept from each other that solving the murder was not only hard for the characters but for me as the reader. I had so many suspicions on who could have done what and I was still wrong in the end!

Such a good read!