I can honestly say that this book will stay with me for a while. Based on toxic friendships and a cut throat career, I love that Laura Leffler set Tell Them You Lied at the heart of New York City at the time of 9/11. It was literally tragedy layered on top of toxicity with every chapter. There are dual but continuous time lines (e.g. 4 years ago and present day) that crates the connection between Willow and Anna’s friendship and the events that enfold. I really liked the shift between first person (present) and third person POVs.

Real world events that took me back to that day in my own life. Not only were there constant Twists and turns throughout the book, I had my own vivid imagery of the 9/11 and the impact it had on my life. I feel like Laura Leffler had a unique idea in using world events (the tragedy of 9/11) to create a captivating story with an intricately designed plot. The characters were well developed and when it came down to it, no one was reliable, including the narrator.

I know that others have complained about the amount of details and “extra stuff” in the book that could have been left out. However, I felt that all info that was provided throughout the chapters were necessary for character and plot development.

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Tell Them You Lied will be available on May 27, 2025!

I really enjoyed this book, evidenced by the fact that I read it over a 16 hour period when I really should have spent more time sleeping. The story centers on Anna and Willow, who become fast friends their freshman year at a small college in Ohio. The story takes place over 2 timeframes, from when they started college to the current timeframe, 4 years later, on/about September 11, 2001 in NYC. The later timeline is told in the first person while the former timeline is told in the 3rd person. This seems jarring but totally works.

I was completely sucked into this story about these young girls who were back-stabbers and desperate for success (even with the focus on art, which is something I honestly know little about). It's easy to judge from my current vantage point but I can also put myself back at that age where everything felt so big and important and people did terrible and stupid things in order to get ahead. While neither protagonist was likable, I could at least understand their motivations (even if I disagreed strongly with them!). The mystery around where Willow went in the more recent timeline is expertly weaved into events that happened in the former timeline. The story moves at a fast clip the entire way through and there were more than a few surprise twists.

Overall, I thought this was a really good read that I couldn't put down. I have not read a 9/11 story written in a similar vein and thought the context just added to the overall feeling of anxiety. It was fascinating to me that the characters weren't focused on the overall horror of the 9/11 attacks but just how they affected their own personal lives; this is a perspective I had never considered previously. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Tell Them You Lied.

The premise sounded similar to other novels I've read before; a naive young woman is swept up by a charismatic, popular student who everyone is drawn to.

I liked the art school aspect to the narrative but the plot overall wasn't interesting or compelling; I guess I'm too old to read about young people boozing, sleeping around, and drugging. But in my defense, I wasn't into that stuff when I was young.

Anna and Willow and the cast of supporting characters are unlikable, which isn't a bad thing. But some unlikable people can have qualities you can admire or respect.

But no one does here.

Anna is incredibly immature and naive, typical of the character playing second banana to the showboating personality she's drawn to.

I was surprised at how easily Anna fell for Willow's lies, and some stuff she kept doing made no sense, especially the end when she asks Milo to plan a prank with her. The same guy who betrayed her to Willow just a few weeks ago. WTF?.

By the end, I started to lie Willow more for her deviousness and duplicity than Anna for her foolishness and desperation to be liked.

The narrative lacks suspense and urgency despite the backdrop of 9/11 and that Willow is missing.

Some readers might find the 9/11 setting triggering so be aware.

The dual timelines offers context and exposition leading up to the present day and how things came to be with Willow and Anna's present circumstances.

This wasn't compelling and interesting and I didn't care about anyone.

Wow, what a book!  I loved this page turner.  Every time I thought I knew what was happening, things changed. The narrator felt unreliable, and the characters made cringe decisions, but what else would I expect from two 22 year olds.

Anna and Willow just moved to New York City to pursue their art careers after graduating from college.  This story shows two timelines - the current one, which is 9/11/2001, and their college years.  

Laura Leffler kept me engaged throughout the whole novel.  I couldn't put this book down. I really enjoyed the art element of this novel, too. The complicated relationship between Anna and Willow, the art, and the themes about abuse of women are interwoven in this thriller.  

I would highly recommend this novel, especially if you love thrillers. 

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC! This novel will be published in May 2025.

A suspenseful exploration of how one lie can spiral into devastating consequences. When a woman's seemingly innocent deception about her past begins to unravel, she must confront both the truth she's hiding and the relationships she's built on false foundations. A taut psychological thriller about identity and the stories we tell ourselves.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

This was OK -- it kept my interest, had a few surprises that I didn't see coming, and was full of pretty unlikable, unsympathetic characters. I enjoyed the parts set at the college - they hit home for me more than the NYC scenes.

All in all, pretty entertaining. Would I read more from the author? Yes.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Okay, so this one is a total vibe. Written in two timelines, with the past written in third person and the present written in second person, which is a unique choice I have not often experienced in fiction. It's jarring, like having the finger pointed at you throughout the book. The story itself is super dark and tragic and filled with morally grey characters who will do anything, to anyone, to get what they want.

To be honest, all of the characters are very unlikable. Anna, the narrator, is naive, jealous, and desperate. She becomes obsessed with a very traumatized girl named Willow who has lost her grip on reality and pulls everyone into her dark, tortured web. While she's definitely a master manipulator, all of them are willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want - and that's to be known, to be famous, to be an artist.

While this is much darker than what I usually read and I was not entirely prepared for that, the pace moves quickly and doesn't overly linger on any one point except for one: who was Willow Whitman - really - and what did she want? It turns out, everything. And she's willing to die to get it.

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for an ARC of this novel.

I loved this dark story about friendship set around 9/11. I loved that I didn’t know what or who to trust.

I think I would call this rounded down from 3.25 stars. It was intriguing and addictive in the beginning. The obsession everyone around Willow seems to have with her, the secrets they all are hiding, the cutthroat nature of trying to make it as an artist… those aspects really sucked me in. But I had kind of a hard time feeling pieces slide into place at the end. I felt like we tried to wrap something into a neat little box that had become really convoluted from about 65% onward. I’m also still not sure what Anna’s motivations were for half of the choices she made or what she actually ever felt for Willow. Envy, I guess? I think maybe having this book be written from multiple perspectives would have made me like it more. But maybe the point was for us to never understand anyone’s motivations except Anna’s.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this one!! Days later and I’m still thinking about it!!
Anna and Willow meet at college and immediately become friends!
Anna is looking for her place in the world coming from a tragic at home and Willow seems older and more cultured and Anna wants what she has. Lies start unfolding and Anna starts questioning everything! What really happened to Willow? I loved how this story unfold.

read if you like:
📍 NYC in the early 2000’s
🎨 artist drama
💁🏻‍♀️ missing people

summary:
This book follows Anna, an aspiring artist in NYC at the beginning of the 2000’s, and her friend Willow, a mysterious photographer Anna met in art school. Anna finds herself drawn to Willow when they meet, a fascinating woman ready to expand Anna’s horizons and view of the world. The book goes back and forth in time between when they met in the late 1990’s, and 2001, when the two live together in NYC when planes strike the Twin Towers. Their relationship had been strained, and Anna and their friend Milo had arranged for someone to prank Willow that day, to try to put her in her place. The problem? No one knows where she is. As she worries that her prank caused actual harm, she starts to learn there was more to Willow than met the eye.

This book is a journey!! It starts fast, then slows down in the middle, and picks up at the end. It centers around the theme — who do you really know, and who can you trust? Anna is a flawed main character — she’s likable but petty, empathetic yet cold-hearted. It’s hard to tell if you really like her, even up until the end. None of the characters are relatable, which makes the story a little hard to get into, but it keeps you guessing on who you can trust, and who really is your “friend”. The overlay with 9/11 adds another interesting element — for those of us that lived through it, it feels raw and tragically accurate. The story drags out a little bit more than it probably needs to, but it spends a lot of time going deep in the art world and community, which is an area I didn’t know much about. The ending feels complete — again tragic, surprising but also a little expected (in a good way).

Thanks to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the ARC. For a different kind of page turner, I highly recommend checking this book out when it releases on May 27!

Review of Tell Them You Lie by Lauren Leffler:

Tell Them You Lie by Lauren Leffler is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the murky waters of truth, deception, and the lengths people will go to protect their darkest secrets. The novel follows the story of a woman named Emma, who is trying to rebuild her life after a traumatic event. As she navigates her new reality, she becomes entangled in a series of lies and manipulations that threaten to unravel everything she’s worked to protect.

What really stands out about this book is how expertly Leffler builds tension. The pacing is sharp and deliberate, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the plot twists and turns. As Emma’s past slowly comes to light, you’re forced to question the reliability of every character. Who can be trusted? And how far will Emma go to protect herself and her loved ones? The sense of paranoia and suspense is palpable throughout.

The central character, Emma, is complex and deeply layered. Her motivations aren’t always clear, and that ambiguity makes her both relatable and unpredictable. Leffler does a fantastic job of making you care about her, even when her actions are questionable, and the emotional depth of Emma’s journey is one of the novel’s strongest points. It’s a fine balance between sympathy and suspicion, which makes for a compelling narrative.

The writing itself is tight and focused, with just the right amount of detail to draw you into the story without overwhelming you. Leffler knows how to deliver just enough information to keep you guessing, without tipping her hand too early. The gradual unfolding of Emma’s past and the web of lies she’s caught in keeps you hooked until the very end.

The twists in this novel are satisfying, though they may not all be entirely unexpected for seasoned thriller readers. However, the way Leffler weaves them into the narrative feels fresh and engaging, especially as the stakes rise and Emma’s lies spiral out of control. The final resolution is tense and rewarding, providing a sense of closure without wrapping everything up too neatly.

Overall, Tell Them You Lie is a fast-paced, suspense-filled thriller that will keep you guessing and questioning what’s real. If you love psychological thrillers with unreliable characters, intricate plotting, and a sense of growing unease, this book will definitely deliver. It’s a great read for fans of domestic suspense who enjoy a strong, flawed protagonist and plenty of twists.

This was a quick and interesting read! Although non of the characters were likable to me, it was still interesting because of the backdrop of the 9/11 attacks. The characters were so invested in their own lives, it was as if they were living in their own bubbles! All in all - it was a good book

This type of book really isn’t my usual read so that could be why I struggled to get in to it. Personally I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, but I did enjoy the art aspect of the book.

This book has dual timelines, one being in 2001 during 9/11 (though that was just more background noise than an actual part of the book) and the other being 4 years earlier when the characters were in college. This books takes you through the highs and lows of toxic female friendships and what happens when you think you can manipulate the manipulator.

Thank you, Hyperion Avenue, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Tell then you Lied is quite the twisted tale of friendship between Willow and Anna. Anna comes from a very sheltered home life due to her brothers illness. Willow comes from a wealthy family in Chicago. The two friends meet in college along with the third member Lindsey. The three attend the prestigious art school and are all competing for the top awards as well as trying to be friends. Anna wants to be like Willow in college. The book goes back and forth between the college experience and present day which happens to September 11th. The girls all live in New York City and no one knows where Willow is and if she is alive as she was in the area where the towers fell. Overall, good read. A little wordy at times as it goes back and forth but the telling of the relationship between friends and how we see people is amazing.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the artist theme and learned many interesting things. The characters though - Willow, Anna, Boomer, Milo - all pretty horrible but Willow was by far the worst. She was dark and twisted and I almost stopped reading a few times.

The big miss for me was 9/11. If that was occurring as the one storyline evolved, their reactions just didn't make any sense. No one could have been that oblivious. I'm giving this 3 stars and hope that many others will enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you for the ARC.

I liked this book! It wad an easy read, I really didn't know what the ending would be until I got there. I did really dislike the some of the characters, which is probably by design. Definitely enjoyable.

Enjoyable read that still manages to artfully use a tragedy (9/11) as a frame story. The prose was excellent and put me right in the art world and in the general vibe of NYC at the turn of the century. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a taut suspense about friendship and the circumstances that can derail even the best of bonds.

I love a campus novel, I love a deranged female friendship novel, I love an art novel, and I love a NYC novel...and this delicious novel is all four in one so it was perfectly suited to my reading taste. Paired with beautiful prose and a structure that maximized the effect of the storytelling and this was a 5-star read for me.