I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. This book is set in rural Va (near my hometown!) at an all girls boarding school and opens with a dead student. It then rewinds to introduce a new student with a mysterious past named Ash. Ash quickly makes friends and enemies as an unexpected death occurs at the school. Everyone here has secrets including the townie whose father murdered a student many years ago as well as the headmaster.
I very much enjoyed this book and will absolutely recommend it to my books clubs and friends. Thanks again to NetGalley!

Rich girls all huddled together at boarding school with dark secrets.  What could go wrong?

These girls are the elite of the elite.  Daughters of senators and other high profile families.  When a girl shows up from across the pond that nobody has ever heard of it peaks the wrong kind of curiosity.

Ash is trying to keep a secret, but you don't know what it is.  Which is why I thought it was interesting when the chapters alternated between her life at school, and her life before school.  While she is your typical rich girl, her life was anything but a fairytale.

Here come the secret societies.  One night Ash is tapped for one of them that only upperclassman are said to be allowed.  She is now a Swallow of Ivy Bound, and her first enemy at school is her Mistress/Falconer.  The night Ash was tapped, another person dies.  Was it murder or suicide?  All eyes are on Ash now now that the body count is up to two since she arrived.  Only the people she is in close contact with are dying, but it's not over yet.

This started out as a slow burn to me. I shouldn't have been surprised that this read like the other all female boarding school books I've read.  The twist is pretty easy to see coming, but it's the end that blew me away.  That made my rating of this book move up a glass.

This was my first J.T. Ellison book, and while I was not wowed by it, it's still an author on my watchlist now.

This is a suspense/mystery story about a young girl who worms her way into a posh boarding school for girls in Virginia.

Goode is a school for the daughters of the rich and famous. Here they get primed for success. Ash Carr flees from the tragic dead of her parents from England to Goode. Dean Westerhaven sees something in Ash and offers her all the help she needs. But something is off with Ash. She wants to lay low but soon she is in the center of all the attention. Soon she finds herself in the tangled web of the devious Becca and her secret society.

I love stories which are settled in schools or universities so this book was right up my alley. And I was drawn into the tangled story from page one. Although the book is not a page-turner it kept me interested and guessing. I loved the gothic atmosphere. Secrets, murder, unreliable narrators, secret societies, bad ass girls and a hint of sex – the book has all the necessary ingredients for a mesmerizing mystery story.

This was a cracking book set in a girl’s boarding school in America. Lots of twists and turns combined with a mystery made for a great read. Will be looking forward to reading other books by J T Ellison.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

What a twisty foray into an exclusive private school. The girls are all filthy rich, highly intelligent, and great at telling lies.

This was my first JT Ellison book, but I know it won't be my last. The story started twisty and just kept getting twistier. I didn't know who was who. I didn't know who to trust. There were so many variables and things to consider. And the ending!! I audibly gasped. I could not believe it but I loved it!! I did guess the big plot twist, but I wasn't sure I was right. This was just a rare time my hunch turned out to be correct!

I recommend this to any thriller lover. This has been the best YA thriller I have read. And as a bonus, I got to chat with JT with my book club and she was so nice and interesting! I love supporting super nice authors!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publishing house. Thanks! All opinions are my own.




Author: J.T. Ellison




Book Series: Standalone




Rating: 4/5




Publication Date: December 31, 2019




Genre: YA Thriller




Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, some mature content, and murderrrrr)




Publisher: MIRA




Pages: 384




Amazon Link




Synopsis: Goode girls don’t lie…

Perched atop a hill in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia, The Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond. But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous.

In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder. But when a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Rumors suggest she was struggling with a secret that drove her to suicide.

But look closely…because there are truths and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened.




Review: I liked the book pretty good. I used to enjoy reading boarding school books and this was right up the alley of them. The book had the annoying gossip that we all secretly crave and the characters were fairly well developed. The story was intriguing enough to keep my interesting and the pacing was spot on.




However, I did feel like there were too many tangents and not enough of a cohesive story. The book also focused a lot on the gossip and I think for a boarding school book you gotta show the balance of school and backstabbing equally.




Verdict: It was a decent thriller!

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison—This one was right up my alley. Ash Carr has led a highly privileged yet lonely life that has been filled with tragedy. When both of her parents die suddenly, starting her education at the exclusive Goode school half-way around the world seems like a good idea to start fresh. Her plan is to lie low, finish her education, and head off to college to start a new life. Unfortunately, the other girls at Goode have different plans. Bullying becomes rampant and the next thing you know, Ash’s roommate commits suicide, or did she? As the investigation continues, one thing is clear, despite the Honor Code, Goode girls definitely lie. This one has lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I truly enjoyed reading it. #GoodGirlsLie #NetGalley

Fantastic book, riveting story will grab you from the beginning and won't let go until the climatic ending.

A private school for girls, the privileged.. Ash Carr newly arrived from England after the tragic deaths of her parents. Ash is her new name a new identity forged: formerly Ashyln Carlisle.

Aa new identity to hide secrets.

She immediately runs afoul of the head girl, senior Becca Curtis who has taken seems to have it out for her..

Dean Ford Westhaven had been appointed dean after a scandal (the murder of a student) brought her mother's "reign"' to an end.

The girls who attend Goode school are personally chosen by the dean, there is an honor code all girls must strictly adhere to..

According to the terms of her father's estate Ash must attend Goode school then go on to college until age 25 before she can obtain her inheritance.

The discovery of a half sister is something Ash wants to keep hidden,, her half sister can get her half of the inheritance right away..

Ash's roommate Camille falls from the bell tower: either she fell or was pushed. After her death its discovered she was pregnant.

The dean' lover works at the town's coffee shop and procurs drugs and alcohol for the students. His father was the one who murdered the girl during Dean Ford's mother's tenure.. Photos surface of him and Camille but he is not the father of her baby her stepbrother is.

Becca is killed .and Ash discloses that her sister is the killer and that she killed her own parents and is blackmailing Ash.

A climactic ending you can't see coming , lies deceit blackmail murder hazing secret affairs abound in the book.

Lots of intrigue.

This book is the best book I've read by this author..

BOOK REVIEW⠀
BOOK: Good Girls Lie
AUTHOR: J.T. Ellison
@thrillerchick

I previously read another book this year, taking place at boarding school. The two don’t compare but still both are in my top 10 list for 2019. Although I was coming back to work on vacation with long hours, I pressed on to finish it. The characters were deep and complex.

I adored this book. Straight up from beginning to end, it kept me guessing, but still gave enough clues that the reveal didn’t come from nowhere. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Perched atop a hill in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia, The Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond. But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous.


I received this book for review purposes from NetGalley. ⠀

WOW...this book took me on such a wild ride. It was filled with lies, deceit, murder, and lots of suspense.
The plot centers around an all girls high school for the daughters of the elite and wealthy. But behind the walls of this school things are not at all what they seem on the outside., especially when one of the students is found dead. Was it murder or was it suicide? The characters and plot are extremely well developed and takes the reader back to the past to thoroughly understand the girls and the mystery surrounding this school.
Great book that had me guessing up until the last page. Cannot predict the ending.

I have been HIGHLY anticipating this book for quite sometime now, and I am ever so grateful to @publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read it early through @netgalley as I just could not wait ANY longer.

First of all. There is just something about a boarding school setting that fascinates me like no other. Is it because of Harry Potter? The near gothic vibe almost giving off a hint of magic, like the students are going to start practicing the occult under the next full moon? I don’t know but IT DOES IT for me.

In this novel we have an all girl boarding school filled with the best of the best (AKA the richest of the rich and very spoiled) Ivy League prep students, enrolled in a rigorous curriculum to prepare them for their future. And as long as they keep up their appearance they can pretty much get away with anything.... but at what cost?

As soon as Ash was on Goode School property I was hooked. Murder?? Long standing superstitions, secret societies, ghost stories and immediate drama between the head girl and the new girl on campus? Mix in some hazing and an extremely secretive past and you won’t be able to stop turning the pages, I promise!

From the beginning to the end, I can’t really think of a negative aspect to tell you guys about. I loved this book - don’t miss it!

I tore through this book so quickly, just like every other JT Ellison novel I have read. I am forever a fan.

Thanks to netgalley, Harlequin-Mira and J.T Ellison for the advance copy.
The setting is an all girl exclusive prep school. Prep schools are famous for their secret societies, mean girls, hazing and rich families. Think these girls have it all? Nope. This book gives lots of drama, lies and mystery. I loved this one.

Of course I loved this book it’s JT Ellison! The drama filled Goode School didn’t disappoint! Ash swept me right in and I couldn’t stop reading. There was a little of everything in this book. I enjoyed the concept and learning the inner workings of this al girls school.
Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

The events at a Virginia girls school turn deadly in Ellison’s latest thriller. Ash is a British student trying to fit in at the Goode School. But Ash has a secret that puts herself and those around her in peril.

I always enjoy Ellison’s quick-witted writing and loved the gothic feel of the private school setting. An overall fun and entertaining read.

Many thanks to Netgalley, MIRA and J. T. Ellison for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book is so good. Once you get going this book will keep you reading. Once the action starts you really can’t put the book down. What an amazing ending!

“Good Girls Lie” by J. T. Ellison is the story of a teenage girl who wants to remake herself at a private school, “The Goode School. “ The present tense, first person narrative makes the action, immediate, personal, and compelling; readers are in the moment along with characters. Ellison establishes the school and its position within society immediately, and keeping secrets is part of what “those” schools do. There are both nasty as well as good girls at The Goode School, and the school itself has a dark past, a terrible tragic past.
The girls excel because that is what “Goode” girls do. Of course, they also lie to themselves and to others as a way to look important, to be included, to belong. The characters are compelling not because of what Ellison tells readers about them but because of what readers are not told and discover themselves.
The Narrator is mysterious, cunning, manipulative, and secretive. Readers emphasize with her because Ellison designed her in the first person present. Readers know what she says to people and what they say to her, what she thinks about people and what they do and say. However, to whom is she speaking – herself? The reader? Or someone else?
“There are truths, and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened, which is where you and I will meet. My truth is your lie, and my lie is your truth, and there is a vast expanse between them.”
The book opens with a tragic scene, but narrator is unconcerned, unmoved. Chapters are labeled with dates, and the narrative alternates between different periods. Readers wonder how people got themselves into those very nonstandard situations, what influenced them, and more importantly, who is lying and about what. Hovering over all is that shocking first chapter. How does it fit into the whole picture?
“Good Girls Lie” is compelling because it is realistic and relatable. Ellison, herself, stated that she did not have to do a great deal of research for this book, and rather based much of her story her own experiences. Now that is a compelling mystery story. I received a copy of “Good Girls Lie” from J. T. Ellison and Harlequin - Mira Publishing. It is a rush of lies, lies, and more lies, and then the consequences…a spider waiting at the center of the web for the fly.

Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own


This isn’t a book where you’re on the edge of your seat, but it’s a nice book to lose yourself in for a couple of hours. I didn’t see the ending coming and I really enjoyed the book

Everything about the Goode School sounds intriguing! What a book! Ash is the daughter of a very wealthy family in the UK and comes to the boarding school in Virginia to prepare for college. This is not your typical boarding school novel although it certainly has all of the intrigue you would expect! The school is old, traditioned and somewhat haunted by its past. There are secret societies, incredible learning, hazing and a story so awesome you won’t know it hit you! I was really into the story and then all of the sudden – a huge gruesome twist that made the story EVEN better. The characters are relatable and well developed and the author does such a good job with her setting that you feel as if you’re in the school yourself in just a couple chapters! Good girls don’t lie but Goode girls certainly do and you will LOVE this book!

PS. I loved that the author built this story using her knowledge of boarding school. It makes it so much more real - but the thing is, you don't know this until you read the acknowledgements at the end! It just makes perfect sense!

The Goode School is an elite prep school in Marchburg, Virginia. Each class contains only fifty girls, hand-picked by Dean Westhaven herself. The school has been in the Dean's family for generations. The girls all go on to college--mostly the Ivies--and are the daughters of the rich and elite. Goode is filled with traditions, rumors, haunted tunnels and arboretums, and secret societies. Coming to Goode from England this year is Ash Carr, now Ash Carlisle. Ash's wealthy parents are dead and Goode gives her a chance to start over without the notoriety that follows in her home country. But soon, a student is dead at Goode. She apparently had a secret--and she isn't the only one.

I am a total sucker for a good boarding school mystery. Add in the fact that this one is set basically in my backyard, the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, and it's written by one of my favorite authors, J.T. Ellison: I'm all in. GOOD GIRLS LIE didn't disappoint. This was a captivating thriller that kept me frantically flipping the pages of my Kindle. I didn't know who to believe, what to believe, or what on earth was going on. And I loved it.

The book opens up with a death--a body is found hanging on the school's gates. From there, the story backs up, and you are left guessing, wondering if Ash is a reliable narrator or not. For a story that features teenage girls, it's surprisingly adult and dark.

"Of course, there are a few people who know exactly who is hanging from the school's gates. Know who, and know why. But they will never tell."

This is a mystery filled with juicy backstories and gossip. The town of Marchburg has a storied past, and I found myself caught up in all of it. The Dean and her mother--twisted past. An old incident at the school--twisted past. Ash and her family--twisted past. Do you see a pattern emerging? Around every corner, a new dramatic turn emerges. If you like your thrillers with lots of drama and surprises, you'll enjoy this book. It's different, dark and twisty, and quite good. 4.5 stars.

There is a mystic about boarding schools. Uniforms, dorms, secret societies....it's appealing when you are a girl growing up in a small town. I always wanted to go to a school like The Goode School. Exceptional women on a fast track to an Ivy League college.

BUT, not everything is as it seems. Cruel teasing, bullying, suicide, rumors, and the fact that everyone around Ash seems to die.... Good Girls Lie from J.T. Ellison is a perfect thriller. There are secrets. There are lies. There are questions. There are answers. The Goode girls are not so good.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.