Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where mysteries and thrillers are popular.

Laura Leffler’s debut isn’t what I would call a thriller—more like a story about a toxic friendship, what it means to be a young woman and finding power and fame. I found the art world background interesting and could definitely relate to the competitiveness of wanting to succeed as an artist. The background of New York and 9-11 felt realistic and brought me back to that time period. I loved the sharp prose and on the line level this definitely screamed literary but with a plot which I always appreciate!

There were times where it felt a little slow and a few plot points that were confusing but overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to this author’s next book.

I don't think this book was bad but it just wasn't for me. I was intrigued by the cover and description but not so much the actual story.

Wasn’t able to read this one digitally but I did order a copy of the book so will be reviewing it after I’ve read it. I’m really excited for it as I’ve only heard great things about it.

Tell Them You Lied - Laura Leffler
When Anna crosses paths with Willow, she can't help but be entranced by this spectacular human whose personality is completely opposite than hers. Since opposites attract, they quickly become best friends and are attached at the hip throughout their time at Art School. Anna comes from a small town and has grown up living a modest life, so when she gets a taste of Willow’s easy life where everything has been given to her, she can’t help trying to break out of her shell to become the person she thinks Willow wants her to be. As time continues to pass, Willow’s big personality is now a source of tension for Anna and she finds a way to knock her down a peg, scaring her into submission. But when her plan goes awry at the worst time, panic sets in. The whole city is reeling from the attacks on the twin towers, and while they wait for the smoke to clear, Anna is trying to figure out whether she crossed a line, or whether Willow bested her.
I’ve read so many thrillers that sometimes keeping the details straight after reading them becomes difficult. However, Tell Them You Lied has stuck with me since I read it in November. In some ways, it was stereotypical, innocent girl vs wild girl, until one snaps, but this captured the true deviousness that girls can bring to the table, the way they’re best friends on the surface, but aim to destroy each other behind closed doors. The use of 911 created a sense of panic as Anna felt completely helpless trying to find her friend. Best of all, the ending completely threw me for a loop. When the pieces finally came together, I only had one thought, genius. I have this book ⅘ stars, and cannot wait for any future books that Laura Leffler may write!

I loved the premise and the twists, loved the art scene and paintings mentioned. I thought this was going to be predictable but I was wrong! Will definitely read more by this author.

This was a very interesting setting for a mystery - I was dragged in by the "art friend" connection and stayed for the intricate and nuanced relationships and well-paced plot.

Tell Them You Lied by Laura Leffler is a gripping, psychological exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the consequences of seeking revenge. Set against the backdrop of the New York art world and the harrowing events of September 11, 2001, the novel weaves between Anna’s recollections of art school and her increasingly fraught present day.

The story begins with Anna’s awe and admiration for Willow, an enigmatic and alluring artist whose raw talent and confident aura draw Anna in. At art school, their bond grows, with Anna becoming both Willow’s muse and collaborator. But as the years pass, Anna’s admiration turns into resentment as she realizes that Willow has always been a self-serving artist, manipulating those around her, including Anna. The shift from idealism to disillusionment is palpable, and Anna’s feelings of powerlessness culminate in a cruel and dangerous act: she stages a mugging, hoping to shock Willow into confronting her selfishness.

However, the timing of Anna’s actions coincides with the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, and Willow disappears without a trace. The novel follows Anna as she wrestles with guilt, confusion, and the growing realization that she may have unwittingly played a part in Willow’s disappearance. As the city struggles to process the fallout from the attacks, Anna is forced to confront not only the secrets she kept from Willow but also the lies she’s been telling herself.

Leffler’s portrayal of Anna’s inner turmoil is deftly crafted, capturing the complexity of her emotions and the tangled nature of their friendship. The novel’s alternating timelines—the carefree art school days and the tense, uncertain moments following 9/11—create a compelling tension that underscores the themes of trust, self-deception, and accountability. The psychological depth of the characters, especially Anna’s slow unraveling as she tries to hold onto the idea of being in control, is one of the novel's strongest aspects.

At its core, Tell Them You Lied is about the difficulty of facing uncomfortable truths, the complexity of creative relationships, and the consequences of holding onto resentment and manipulation. It’s a haunting exploration of how betrayal can spiral out of control, and how, in the search for justice, the lines between perpetrator and victim can blur.

Leffler’s writing is both evocative and unsettling, capturing the tension between the artistic ideal and the dark reality of the New York art world. The novel is a layered, atmospheric meditation on friendship, guilt, and the shifting boundaries between self and other. Fans of psychological dramas with a strong emotional core will find Tell Them You Lied a deeply engaging and thought-provoking read.

I love this cover. Thank you to Netgalley for the arc. I enjoyed this book a lot. It was very entertaining and interesting. It had me hooked throughout the whole book.

[Snack-Size Review] Tell Them You Lied, by Laura Leffler

Quick Bite: The frenemy thing is way overdone, but this one surprised me.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

What It’s About: In art school, Anna is the quiet middle class girl deeply in thrall and deeply envious of wealthy, glamorous Willow. Willow who takes, uses, and discards whatever or whoever she needs to. But after school, living in New York City, Anna thinks she has found a way to even things out. What she couldn’t anticipate is that the day her trap will be sprung is September 11, 2001. And then Willow disappears.

A Word From The Nerd: This might be a big spoilery, but here goes: A big theme in this book is the ways in which women are used for art by men - that women are considered most valuable by artistic men when the women display pain that the men can exploit. I’m not arguing that point at all. But I feel like the writer did the same thing with 9/11. Although certain elements of the plot are affected by the terrorist act, it doesn’t actually play that big a role in Anna & Willow’s story. So in the end, the author kind of does what she is accusing others of doing - using other people’s trauma to add drama and color and tragedy to her own work, whether or not it belongs there. I’m not exactly sure how I feel about that one, because although it does feel like the author takes advantage of 9/11, it definitely did affect all of us in some way. Putting that aside, however, this was a fun, twisty mystery with a gut-punch ending that I devoured in a day. So even though I feel conflicted, it wasn’t ALL bad.

The Nerd’s Rating: THREE HAPPY NEURONS (and an overpriced bowl of tomato soup.)

Tell Them You Lied is a suspenseful thriller that bounces between the present (September 11th, 2001) and four years prior, from the day of Willow's mysterious disappearance to the day she first met Anna in college as art students. The characters of this story are not the easiest to like - they're immature, selfish, jealous, and lack redeeming qualities. The friendship between Willow and Anna is fatally-toxic at best (when you orchestrate a "prank" mugging to take your friend down a peg or two, there's really nowhere else for the relationship to go but downhill). Many times, I felt like screaming into the book, "Stop being friends with each other!"

The backdrop of this story was interesting. As someone from New York City, Leffler captures the chaos and horror of that day with haunting accuracy as well as the years prior. There's just something mystical about the time period between Y2k and 9/11 that hasn't quite been captured - the punch-drunk optimism that comes with the ushering of a new millennium, the buzz and excitement around the world wide web, the feeling that anything was possible until, suddenly, it wasn't anymore.

As a novel, I would have liked for the characters to be more well-rounded and mature. It became difficult to be immersed in the story when I felt like yelling at them or babysitting them on every other page.

This book was not my cup of tea. It wasn’t poorly written & the description of it really drew me in at first. Once I got started I couldn’t connect to the characters the way I wanted to.

I went into this one blind, with no expectations. I found myself having a hard time pushing through and connecting with the characters. I wish I had more to say about this book but it wasn’t my favorite.

I appreciate the opportunity to read an advanced copy from NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue.

4 stars.*

Wow. This book was bananas.

It is the story of a young woman just out of a fictional prominent art school who moves to New York City with her frenemy college roommate and colludes with the roommate's boyfriend to "prank" her by hiring someone to "Scare" her (threaten her with violence) after years of her manipulation. The morning of the prank dawns, and she watches in horror as the Twin Towers are brought down. When the roommate doesn't come home, she has to come to terms with the fact that the prank might have escalated, she may have been in the subway beneath the twin towers, and she might have joined colleagues for breakfast at The Windows of the World at the WTC.

As the search intensifies and NYC struggles, Anna has to figure out what is real and what is potentially crafted by her insane and highly manipulative roommate.

The twists in this were amazing. I loved the way the story was outlined and was believable FOR it taking place on 9/11.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Laura Leffler’s Tell Them You Lied is a suspenseful and engaging psychological thriller that grabs your attention from the very first page and keeps you hooked until the last. With its gripping plot, compelling characters, and unexpected twists, Leffler delivers a thrilling story that will resonate with fans of psychological suspense.

The novel follows the protagonist, who becomes entangled in a web of lies and deceit after a seemingly innocent situation spirals out of control. As the story progresses, Leffler masterfully builds tension, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and paranoia. The pacing is tight, and each chapter introduces new layers of intrigue, ensuring that readers are continuously hooked.

One of the strengths of Tell Them You Lied is Leffler’s ability to develop complex characters. The protagonist, in particular, is relatable yet unpredictable, making her journey both captivating and emotionally charged. The supporting characters add depth to the story, with motivations that are often shrouded in mystery, further enhancing the suspense.

The twists and turns throughout the novel are well-executed, keeping readers guessing about who can be trusted and what the true motivations of the characters are. While some of the plot twists may feel familiar to fans of the genre, Leffler does a commendable job of executing them in a way that feels fresh and satisfying.

However, there are moments where the story could have delved deeper into the emotional complexities of the characters, as some motivations and actions could have been better explored. Nevertheless, the novel’s strong pacing and engaging writing style help to keep the focus on the suspenseful elements of the plot.

In conclusion, Tell Them You Lied is an enjoyable and fast-paced psychological thriller that will keep readers on edge until the very end. Laura Leffler’s skillful writing and knack for building tension make this a solid choice for fans of thrillers and suspenseful stories. While it may not be groundbreaking, it’s a highly satisfying and entertaining read.

So atmospheric and told in multiple POV’s which I love. The writing was well done and the plot was very entertaining. I love the toxicity of friendship and the mystery.

I was 22 and living in NYC on September 11, and this book brought back so much of the feelings that era--both the the good and the bad. Leffler did a fantastic job making that horrible day a character in the book, one vitally important to the pacing of the story. Without the day being September 11, the story couldn't exist. Anna and Willow's on-again/off-again boyfriend decide to play a prank on Willow because they are so tired of her behavior. But the prank happens to be on the darkest, most chaotic day of NYC's recent history and all their plans go wayside. "Tell Them You Lied" is a masterful book in insecurity, manipulation, and toxic friendships.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Coming of age stories - it's tender, it's painful, especially about obsessive and toxic friendship. A cruel prank that one friend is trying to pull, to get even on her manipulative, glamorous, has-it-all friend, spirals out of control when it happened in New York on the morning of September 11, 2001. The book is about friendship, art, manipulation and it's perfect for fans of thriller, girl friendships and art scene.

I dare say this book is a masterpiece. It had everything I could want: toxic female friendships, morally grey characters, coming of age, New York, and art. It also had enough hints of a thriller to keep things exciting.

The writing had a dreamlike quality, which I love. Originally I wasn’t sure about the past chapters being in third person and the present in second, but it ended up working. It created distance from the “old” Anna and immediacy in the new. I was also skeptical of setting a large part of the book on 9/11 but it worked.

Recommended if you enjoy books where people behave badly.

4.7 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the advanced copy of this title.

This story has a great premise, and I enjoyed the dynamic between Anna and Willow. Anna (Willows' best friend in the loose sense) and Milo (Willows’ on-again, off-again boyfriend) have orchestrated this elaborate prank to scare Willow. Why? To put her in her place and show her that her friends aren’t objects to be used to work out your shit.

I can’t say that she didn’t have it coming. There’s no excuse for bad behavior; humans always have a breaking point so that this bubble will burst. The plan was going to be great, but it just so happened that said plan was to go down on September 11, and the events of that day would be something the world would never forget.
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New York is upside down. People are in search of loved ones and friends. Pooling their resources and trying to make sense of the devastation. This doesn’t change the fact that Willow is a narcissist. She’s played on everyone’s emotions, including her parents. You want to love her, you want to trust her, but she buries that knife in your back each and every time and will then say, “Babe, you're bleeding”.

Anna met Willow at Baldwin College, and Lizzie, Tom, and a few others were a close group. They were all art and photography students, and being one myself, I remember the beautiful relationships I had when everyone was hungry and lived for their art and creating. Nothing else mattered.

Willow has spun this fantastic tale that she’s just like everyone else, but she’s much more than that. Coming from money, her circumstances were different.

Anna was from a small town and is one of the thirstiest characters I’ve seen in a long time. A sheep in the herd. She tries so hard to emulate everyone that she’s lost herself. She wants to be famous, she want to be loved and adored…ok boo freakin hoo. ⛆ You have to get to a point (even in your young adulthood), where you stop being the flock.🐑

These characters are not despicable but immature. The story is about unraveling Willow and Anna’s relationship (and their group of friends). Oh, the manipulation. Once into the story, Anna drove me crazy. How many times does a dog have to bite you before you leave it alone? Even children know that if they touch the hot stove, they should not touch it again, but not this one.

I felt like screaming into the book. She wanted everything Willow had because she envied her. I’m not sure she wanted Willow's life, but just the attention. However, once you get it, what will you do with it?

One of the things I really love about this story is the depiction of New York during this time. It’s resilience. The grittiness and passion for New York lives in this story. That underbelly and fire of the art scene still burns hot to this day.

It's what we used to read about in our art textbooks. The clubs and dives where …if you know, you know. 😜 And it's one of the things I enjoyed about this story. People came together during 9/11, and this captured the beauty of the human spirit one frame at a time.

I love taking a break from my horror titles for this mystery-thriller novel. Great story! I highly recommend it.