Lizzie and Bex were absolutely inseparable during college, so it was heartbreaking to Lizzie when her friend abruptly ended their six year friendship with a nasty email. Fifteen years later Lizzie is surprised to get a DM from Bex, now know as Rebecca, offering her the chance to write a story chronicling her life as tradwife influencer at a huge conference called MomBomb. Initially excited by their reunion, things quickly go downhill when Bex’s husband Gray is found brutally slain and Bex is missing. Lizzie embarks on a quest to find her friend and uncover the truth of Gray’s murder.

I was a big fan of Jo Piazza’s last book, The Sicilian Inheritance, so I was so excited to be approved to read this ARC. The wait was worth it because this my first “I absolutely loved it/don’t miss” thriller of 2025. Told in the alternating perspectives of Lizzie and Bex, Everyone is Lying to You lays out an intriguing plot, seeds it with multi-layered, fascinating characters and the twists keep coming. Five very enthusiastic stars to this enthralling thriller.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

3 stars

Lizzie is a magazine writer, formerly with one of the big news weeklies, (or monthlies, I forget) but now she’s grateful to have a job with benefits at a women’s magazine and she’s praying it doesn’t fold before her husband finds a new job or finishes his book. In college she was BFFs with Bex who is now Rebecca Simmers, one of the most popular #tradwife influencers. They had a major falling out not too long after college so they haven’t spoken in years but Lizzie secretly stalks her on Instagram (not in a bad way, just like, you know, how you would if you were Lizzie.) Now Bex has contacted Lizzie, pitching her a big story she insists she can only share with Lizzie. They agree to meet at a conference for influencers.

Cut to swanky-ish hotel in the desert somewhere in the….I don’t know, Utah area? I can’t tell. It’s not important. I just like to situate myself. Lizzie meets with Bex and they reconnect over alcohol and cheeseburgers, the great equalizers. That same night Bex’s husband Gray is murdered at their ranch which is a few hours away and Bex is the number one suspect. And she has disappeared. However, she’s left some clues for Lizzie and has declared her innocence. Can Lizzie find Bex and figure out what is going on?

This is my second #tradwife thriller in the past month, and, just like in the first book, one of the first things that happens is that these videos (and these people’s lives) are all revealed to be a great big sham. Of course they are. These women don’t live on some godforsaken ranch fifty miles from everything with a husband who think it’s their job to wear dresses, (and these are always beautiful dresses, right? I’ve seen the dresses those LDS sister wives on the Jeff’s’ properties wear. THOSE are the Godfearin’ woman dresses that look like the Amish decided to start wearing Easter Egg pastels for Spring to change things up a little. Not these Scott McClintock for Gunne Sax (trust me, they were big in the day) beauties that have gorgeous full skirts that make your waist look tiny, but then a tight bodice that pushes your boobs up and out. That’s not what Jesus wants!) have babies with the same first initial, homemake everything (I mean, if you make a homemade angel food cake once you’ll curse yourself as an idiot then go buy the one at Kroger for $6.99 the next time and not spend $38 in ingredients plus use every bowl you have) and keep sweet.

Now, full disclosure. I am not above hate watching/reading. I hate watched the Duggars all the time. I hate watched an episode or two of that horrible Kate Gosselin woman with all the kids. Every “Housewives” show I’ve ever seen is a hate watching. Just looking at a photo of any Kardashian/Jenner is a hate watching/hate crime against me.

I got this book because I love to hate on the idea of #tradwives. But the shameful part is….I’ve only ever seen one #tradwife video and that was attached to a BuzzFeed story. You know, BuzzFeed. Where I get all my hard news. So, basically I’m just a hater. Is it because I feel bad about myself? Is it because I don’t really cook, don’t have six perfect children (or any imperfect children) and I’m taking it out on these women who have everything I cannot? Friends, I have searched my heart and the answer is…..no. Those things are facts, but it’s really that I don’t like the idea in ANY woman being submissive to ANY man for ANY reason unless you guys have some sex games thing going on that isn’t my business, but please have a safe word. And I hear your arguments, “well, that’s what the Bible says” and “isn’t feminism all about choice?”

As to point 1, um, fuck that. The Bible, while having a few lovely passages and some nice thoughts also advocates for the killing and rape of women, the killing of children, the killing of almost everyone, slavery (HUGE fan of slavery) and about a thousand other things that no decent person can support. It was written by men, and only men a long, long time ago. Point 2: I hear what you are saying, but nearly all of these women have children. Many children. Boat loads of children. What about their choices? For both the boys and the girls. If this is only type of relationship they see, how will the girls know they have the choice to have equality with their partner? And how will the boys know that very few women today are willing to submit to anyone? But I digress.

As a lawyer in the book notes, this is likely just a fad (except for those poor FLDS women,) soon the zeitgeist will move on. I generally avoid these “shocking twist” thrillers, as the twists generally aren’t all that shocking (notable exception, obviously: GONE GIRL). The book is fine, not terrible at all, except for the author confuses east and west at one point, which then made me wonder if _I_ was the one confused for a minute, like you do. So, read if you like reading about influencers.

I know I've said this before- "I couldn't put this down!". Therefore, at the risk of sounding redundant, I couldn't put this down! There is a blurb comparing this title to Gone Girl, and though I see the similarities, I actually think that I prefer this book. I've read a couple books by Jo Piazza in the past, and I've really quite enjoyed them, but I think this, by far, is my favorite in her catalog.
Yes, there is a horrible, graphic murder of a man- if we can call him that- but there are also a ton of women who are a lot stronger than they're given credit for. The world at large sees them as meek, prairie-living, submissive "trad wives", but they're so much more than that. They're intelligent and driven, able to parlay both the positive AND tragic occurrences in their lives into mega money-making opportunities. They're devoted- to their children and their adoring followers, not to the husbands the world expects them to simp over. They're always a step ahead- not willing to just accept what is given to them and shutting up with a smile, but to instead figure out a way to use what they're given to further themselves and their careers. I admire these women. Social media is a game, one that is, indeed, full of lies. Piazza has her finger on the pulse of that, and I really got a sense of that whole reading this book. In a market that seems to be oversaturated lately in all things "influencer"-related, the plot and characters of this book were a breath of fresh air. It was wonderful to read something with a well known trope, spun around and left lying on its head. Will I recommend this book? Obviously. As I've ALSO been known to say in my reviews, I cannot wait to see what Jo Piazza writes next- but I hope the success this book will surely see carries her right up to her next release date. A must read!

This was a one sitting kind of book because it's twisty and fast paced and once you start reading it, you don't want to put it down! I absolutely loved Everyone is Lying to You. The world of social media and influencers is impossible to avoid. I enjoyed the way that the author gave a glimpse into the behind the scenes of the influencer lifestyle and illustrates how staged everything really is as well as how huge the business side of it really is. There was quite a cast of characters, some likeable and some not. Olivia scares me just a bit but I'd love to read a book from her perspective! Lol! This was my first book by Jo Piazza but am ready to grab another one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

One of My Top 10 Reads This Year!

Jo Piazza knocked it out of the park with this one! From page one, I was completely hooked. The mix of influencers, journalism, and a gripping mystery made this such a unique and addictive read. The twists were shocking, the pacing was perfect, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another reveal threw me off. If you love thrillers that keep you guessing while also diving into the world of media and social influence, this one is a must-read!

Jo Piazza, creator of the Under the Influence podcast, brings you a gripping new thriller that peels back the perfectly curated layers of influencer culture—where filtered lives hide the darkest secrets.

Fifteen years ago, Lizzie and Bex were inseparable—best friends in college, bound by shared dreams and late-night confessions. But everything changed the day Bex sent a cruel message, ghosted Lizzie, and disappeared from her life without explanation.

Now, Bex is no longer just Bex—she’s Rebecca Sommers, a mega-influencer with millions of devoted followers who worship her every tradwife tip, her perfect family, her flawless, rustic ranch life. And out of nowhere, she’s reaching out. Rebecca is set to keynote an elite influencer conference and wants Lizzie there—offering her an exclusive on her next big business move.

Lizzie isn’t sure what to expect when they finally reconnect, but before she can get any answers—about the past, about what Rebecca really wants—tragedy strikes.

Rebecca’s husband is found murdered.
Her five children are missing.
And Rebecca herself has vanished.

Thrust into the heart of the story, Lizzie is in the perfect position to break the news—but can she also uncover the truth? What happened to Rebecca? And after all these years, does Lizzie really know her former best friend at all?

Dark, twisty, and unsettlingly relevant, Everyone Is Lying to You is a sharp, suspenseful thriller that proves behind every glossy post is a messy, dangerous reality.

#EveryoneIsLyingToYou #PenguinGroup #Dutton #JoPiazza #Tradwife #MurderMystery #InfluencerThriller

Absolutely amazing! This is my first book that I have read of Piazza's and will definitely not be the last. Her take on the tradwife influencer industry is brilliant and the end of the book actually had me in shock. A book that I will reread over and over and that I will recommend to everyone I meet.

This was so much fun! I learned a lot about the world of influencers through Jo's true but satirical take, and was on the edge of my seat to find out who did it.

I LOVED this book. I can't wait for it to be out in the world for other people to read. As a mom, it was so interesting to read about the world of social media where other mothers make everything look so easy, but it's ALL FAKE. It was empowering and entertaining, and then there was a high suspense action movie type of sequence toward the end. The author's insights were both wise and witty. The people seemed so real and relatable. I could not have enjoyed this book more.

I thought this was a fun book, even though it had a lot of elements of other thrillers. I could see the twist coming, but still thought it was fun. I thought Bex was an ingesting character and I liked her backstory a lot. Overall though it felt like there were one too many twists.

I just finished the ARC and I could not put it down, I read it in one day! The author did an incredible job with this story, the twists kept hitting and I didn’t see them coming but then looking back it all made sense. The writing was excellent, as was the knowledge base the author drew from - Jo Piazza is a talented journalist and culture commentator. Highly recommend!

In "Everyone Is Lying to You" by Jo Piazza, the dark side of influencer culture takes center stage. This explosive thriller follows two estranged friends, a grisly murder, and a sudden disappearance, revealing that everyone is hiding something. Piazza's master storytelling and razor-sharp insight into the world of social media make for a pulpy, juicy, and cleverly plotted read that will have you guessing all the way through.

This books is twisty and a little over the top in a way that I thought worked really well, I love a self aware thriller, and this one knew what it was trying to be and delivered. Anyone who is interested in influencers, or maybe just a little too online, will love the parade of characters we see at the "Mombomb" influencer conference that serves as the backdrop of this story. I had a good time speculating on what real life influencer or trend had inspired each of them. Thought this one was so fun, finished it in about 48 hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I don’t know if there’s an emerging Tradwife trend in thrillers or if I’ve just stumbled into a few coincidence amongst books lately, but based on how good these books are I certainly hope it’s not a coincidence! I am by no means into tradwifes in the aspirational way but I think that type of idea comes to life well in the hands of a good mystery and thriller author given there is so many intrigues to explore, and Everyone Is Lying to You is no exception. Looking behind the picture perfect wall that mega influencer Rebecca has put up for the world, Lizzie, her old college friend, quickly finds there is a lot that Rebecca has been up to since college, and none of it is particularly perfect.

The story takes place during MomBomb, a gathering of influencer moms in one location (if this doesn’t exist it should) and while I loved learning about all the different types of influencers at play (surely not real, I mean a Henfluencer?), we quickly see the conference end as Rebecca’s husband Grayson is brutally murdered at home and Rebecca and her kids go missing. Important to the story is that after college Rebecca had asked Lizzie to visit and then ghosted her and sent a scathing email which estranged them for years, and adds to the mystery as to whether Rebecca murdered her husband and what her motivation was for reaching out to Lizzie, and bringing her back into the fold, just before the murder. Told mainly from Lizzie’s point of view as she learns more about Rebecca and her influencer world as well as new mysteries from the people around her, we also get an occasional pivot to Rebecca and her parts are the most shocking.

A very well done story about a timely topic from a social media perspective, I enjoyed how well done the writing and the structure here were as everything was hard to guess at but easy to follow along with. To say the ending is delightful would be an understatement, I loved the new perspectives that closed this out!