I picked up The Hennessy Lie by Annette Masters purely based on the cover—something about it caught my eye—and I dove in completely blind. What followed was a gripping and twist-filled ride into a world of family secrets, deception, and identity.

The story kicks off with Piper Covington, a woman whose life is turned upside down when she discovers that her estranged father has died in prison and she is now the heir to the mysterious and once-prestigious Hennessy fortune—what's left of it, anyway. This revelation opens the floodgates to a past Piper never knew existed, and the truth that her entire life has been built on lies.

Annette Masters does an excellent job building tension as Piper starts to unravel the tangled web of her family’s secrets. If you’re a fan of slow-burn thrillers that explore twisted family dynamics and the question of identity, this one will definitely deliver. There's a great blend of suspense, betrayal, and emotional moments as Piper digs deeper into who she really is and what the Hennessy name truly means.

That said, Piper as a character was a bit of a sticking point for me. She often came across as overly whiny and indecisive, especially given that she’s meant to be an adult. Her constant need for approval from her mother—who clearly doesn’t deserve that pedestal—was frustrating at times. I found myself wanting to shake her and say, “You’re grown! Make your own choices!”

Despite that, the plot kept me hooked. There’s something so addictive about stories where the protagonist learns their life is a lie and must navigate a whole new reality. The thriller elements were well-paced, and the family secrets kept me turning the pages.

Overall, The Hennessy Lie is a compelling thriller perfect for fans of dark family dramas and shocking revelations. While Piper may test your patience, the story itself is worth the read.

I found this story surprising really good; the writing was not the best, but I had to finish it because the plot of the story was really good.

2.5 stars, rounded down.
Things I liked about this book:
-The premise.
- Mia's family.
-A lot of Mia and Piper's friendship (especially their version of sign language).
-The descriptions of Citrus Green.
-Hennessey
-Leo
Things I didn't like:
-pretty much everything else.
My biggest issue with this one is that it just tried to do too much in a limited space, so nothing felt like it was all complete. And it required the biggest suspension of disbelief I've experienced recently. Topher was obviously sketchy from the first mention. And maybe it's because I'm an adult reading YA, but at one point, Mia suggests talking to an adult, and Piper just shuts her down. But honestly? Mia was right.
This could have been so much better than it was, the potential was there, but it didn't reach it.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Book:
THE HENNESSY LIE by Annette Masters
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the EARC (Out Now!)

Review:
4⭐
THE HENNESSY LIE is a twisty, YA mystery filled with thrills that follows Piper. When she receives note that her dad is dead, and she has an inheritance, things take a turn for the worse. Soon she finds herself in the middle of a lawsuit and a fight with a long lost relative.
Going into THE HENNESSY LIE, I didn't know what to expect. From the title, and description, I knew I would absolutely devour it. And I did...after taking a break from reading it because it didn't immediately have me hooked.
From the mention of the father she didn't know about, I was interested, it took a few chapters to really get hooked, but once I was, I couldn't stop reading.
THE HENNESSY LIE was thrilling, and there were so many moments where I thought something bad would happen, or when something did happen and I would have never seen it coming. It was also super action packed, with so many pulse-pounding moments towards the middle and end. And there were so many twists and turns that I couldn't keep track of, but it really added to the story and brought the mystery together.

A really fun YA thriller that kept my attention and me engaged the entire time. I finished this book in one sitting because I HAD to know what the whole story was!

Absolutely recommend to all thriller lovers!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Amazing book. Love the character development and plot line will definitely recommend to friends and family

The Hennessy Lie is a wonderful YA Thriller that me feel as though I was in a Lifetime movie. I made it through this book in one sitting. I really enjoyed how easy of a read this book was. Annette took us on a roller coaster of emotions following where Pipers unexpected past and future tangled into a treasure hunt of everything she thought she ever wanted. We went with her when she found out the deep secretes behind her up bringing. We started with the confusion of learning about her father and the secrets behind her strained relationship with her "mother". We went along as we crush stalked our neighbor/ best friends boyfriends random roomie and found that sometimes people aren't who they appear to be. We learned a few life lessons like being less selfish and accepting our "family" isn't always a birth right. Sometimes, its those closest to us who choose to be apart of us. We learned sometimes those we trust most cant be trusted at all. Piper learned how to fight for herself and a place she never knew she needed with the help of another name sake to stand by her side through the thick of it.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to ready more from Annette Masters

The Hennessy Lie is a fun, though chaotic, book. It's a fast read with lots of twists, well-written characters, and great reveals. There were times I skipped over scenes because the dialogue felt a bit rambling and young (even for YA), and I wish certain plot points could have been tighter. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am curious to see what the author publishes next.

The book is twisted and full of unexpected twists. Eighteen years old Piper gets a devastating news of her father’s death from a stranger. While her mother always told her that her father died before she was born. She is in such a dilemma, If she should believe the version of story her mother told or she should believe the stranger? She not only gets to know about her father but also about her inheritance and everything her father left her. But she must figure out the truth and solve the mystery before it’s too late. It all seems to be a deceiving web of secrets, mystery, lies and twisted truth. Piper must find her way out of it.

Thanks to the Author and Publisher

This book masterfully blends thrilling suspense with emotional depth as Piper Covington unravels her family’s dark secrets. The story’s rich, atmospheric setting and sharp twists keep you guessing, while Piper’s journey of self-discovery and the enemies-to-lovers romance add a captivating layer of personal stakes. The author’s writing style pulls you into Piper's intense search for truth, making each revelation feel both gripping and poignant. It’s a thrilling ride that balances heart-pounding mystery with heartfelt moments, making it a must-read for fans of intricate family dramas and suspenseful plots.