Some Girls Lie by Amy Andrews is a delightful, emotional rollercoaster of a romance with plenty of heart and a touch of suspense. The story follows Jemima “JJ” Ericson, a pub owner who’s been secretly in love with her best friend, Ethan Weston, for years. Despite their close friendship, Ethan’s heart was never hers—he married someone else, and their complicated history makes it hard for JJ to move on. But when life throws them into a precarious situation, what starts as a protective arrangement spirals into something neither of them expected.

The chemistry between JJ and Ethan is undeniable, and Andrews does a fantastic job of building their connection from the ground up. The forced engagement between them—triggered by a desperate need to protect JJ from her abusive ex—adds a layer of tension and complexity to their relationship. While the premise sounds like a familiar trope, Andrews refreshes it with emotional depth and a great mix of humor and drama.

Ethan’s internal struggle as he navigates his feelings for JJ while trying to maintain his stoic, single-dad exterior makes for some truly compelling reading. JJ is no less compelling; she's tough, vulnerable, and deserving of more than just the friendship she’s always settled for. The stakes are high, and when JJ’s life is threatened, Ethan’s realization that he might love her more than he ever thought adds a satisfying twist.

While the plot can feel a bit predictable at times, the dynamic between the characters is what really keeps the pages turning. Some Girls Lie delivers a perfect blend of small-town charm, heartfelt romance, and moments of tension that will have readers rooting for JJ and Ethan until the very end. If you’re looking for a romance with heart, humor, and a dash of suspense, this one’s a winner.

I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This was a decent book. I got annoyed with Ethan a lot, and JJ for that matter, because it was obvious that Ethan was starting to have feelings for JJ but wanted to "stay friends" and not ruin their 30 year long friendship. And with JJ, she just needed to go for it and tell Ethan how she really felt. She let that go on for WAY too long and she wasn't living her life the way she wanted to. So when they were "engaged" I felt like they both just needed to say their feelings outloud and get it out in the open. I think once the shock wore off, things would have gone great and it would have been a much faster response than how they proceeded in the book.

Also, Shane? He can die for all I care. Of course I think he has a mental issue, so I shouldn't say that, but he's not a nice guy and he needs to take a hint. JJ and Ethan didn't stutter when they told him to leave town and leave them alone.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I'm glad I got a chance to read this eARC!

Can friends of 30 years become more and if so, what would it take? Both Ethan Weston and Jemima Jane Ericson – “JJ” – have been best friends for decades. Both have been married and divorced. JJ has always known she loved Ethan but Ethan has remained clueless…in more ways than one…until things begin to change.

This was a fun, easy to read book that did have the issues of child abandonment, marital abuse and child custody discussed within its pages. The writing was superb and made me feel as if I were there and oh so empathetic with JJ.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the copy of this book to read and review.

4.5 Stars

The fourth and last book in the Outback Heat series functions very well as a stand-alone. I did not have the privilege of being able to read the first three but thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This story focuses on chief of the police and single Dad, Ethan Weston and his best friend, Jemima Jane Ericson (JJ) who owns and runs the local pub.

She's been in love with him for more than twenty years, through his marriage and eventual divorce. Things come to a head when Ethan turns up one night determined to drown his sorrows. His ex-wife wants custody of their daughter. He drowns one too many, she hauls him up to her place so he can sleep it off then bam! A line is crossed.

Enter JJ's abusive ex, Shane.

Hey, let's solve both our problems...let's get engaged.

It isn’t easy to move from friends to lovers for JJ and Ethan. Love, life and others all get in the way of their best laid plans. Court cases, physical threats, a kidnapping! A roller coaster ride of emotions that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was definitely engaging on so many levels. Definite recommend.

I bought this on my kindle and will review it in the future on my blog.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

A bit predictable, but a great read. Ethan and JJ had been friends for practically their whole lives, so watching them come together was a lot of fun. There was drama thanks to some troublesome exes and quite a bit of steam thanks to "Dennis". Overall, a lot of fun. I have to go back and read some of the other Weston brothers' stories.