This was an amazing thriller!

The narrative switched between first person and third person perspectives between chapters. At first, I was confused as to who was narrating. I prefer it when the chapters have the narrators labeled when it alternates. However, this was a clever way of telling the story. This narration style had a purpose in the story, and it couldn’t be told any other way.

There were so many twists throughout the story. I kept gasping at what was happening. I was surprised right until the last page. It was a fantastic thriller!

I loved this book! It’s a great thrilling read!

Thank you HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF

Unfortunately I was not able to finish this book. I will add it to the list and try again at a later date.

Ellison's novel is well-written with a twisting plot that keeps the reader's attention focused and keeps the pages turning. This is not only a who-dunnit, but also a who is who!

Good Girls Lie was an entertaining thriller that kept me reading and guessing throughout! I'm a sucker for books set in boarding schools - as soon as I heard about this one and that it featured a boarding school I was adding it to my TBR list. One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the fact that it was written in a way where I wasn't sure who to trust. It felt like everyone in this book had secrets or was hiding something. It really helped to add to the overall level of suspense that was present throughout the book. I also enjoyed the fact that Goode school had all of things that seem to come with a boarding school. Supposedly haunted buildings and mysterious deaths? Check. Secret societies? Check. A questionable past and a present where bad things keep happening? Check, check, check. How could I not enjoy a book when it had all of these things and more? All of these things combined into a suspenseful and atmospheric read that I really couldn't get enough of! I also really enjoyed the fact that I didn't see the end of this book coming whatsoever. I had plenty of guesses of what was going on but I was completely wrong. I can't help but appreciate a thriller that keeps me guessing and manages to surprise me with the ending!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a thrilling read! I've read previous books by this author (not her standalones but a couple in one of her series that she has written) and really enjoyed them as well. This book was a great reminder of how much I've enjoyed all of her books - I need to work on catching up on her backlist more in the new year! I really think that readers of suspense and thrillers will enjoy this book. Ultimately, this book was a great way to end my reading year in 2019 and also an easy book for me to recommend!

Bottom Line: A thrilling read that kept me guessing until the very end!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley and am participating in a blog tour hosted by the publisher. Honest thoughts are my own.

Imagine a crossover between Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars and you'll have a good starting point for the story held within the pages of J.T. Ellison's latest release, GOOD GIRLS LIE. Brilliantly crafted and wildly intelligent, this novel was the perfect way to set the tone for my 2020 reading.

On a hillside in the small town of Marchburg, Virginia sits The Goode School, an elite private school that accepts only the brightest daughters of the rich and influential. With only 200 students, the arrival of a new-comer is sure to make waves. When Ash Carr arrives from the UK in the wake of a family tragedy, she does more than cause ripples among the student body. She brings with her secrets that threaten all that Goode stands for. Secrets that could be deadly.

Without question, the element of this book that I most appreciated was the incredibly drawn cast of characters. Ellison somehow manages to strike a balance between characters that feel both larger than life and completely realistic in one breath. Even the secondary characters are so vivid and layered that they feel absolutely essential to the world Ellison has crafted. Readers will find themselves simultaneously hating and rooting for these girls, a balance that feels almost effortless. Without spoiling anything, I found myself so drawn to one particular set of characters and the story that exists between them that I felt their triumphs and failures as heavily as if they were my own. For me, that truly is the mark of expert writing.

Ellison also displays her masterful storytelling in the structure and pacing of this novel. GOOD GIRLS LIE crosses timelines and narrators so flawlessly that readers won't find themselves missing a beat, something that I've found quite difficult to accomplish in many books I've read with the same tactics. In using this tactic, the world that is built becomes incredibly realistic and all-encompassing. Personally, it made me feel immersed in the story even more strongly, as if I was experiencing every event described by each narrator alongside them, rather than simply learning about it.

As for the final twist, what a shock. While I was able to put some of the pieces together, I was absolutely blown away by the secrets revealed in the final chapters. But, as is the mark of any good crime novel, the reveal wasn't out of left field. Thinking back through the story and the narrators, the answers were there, but cleverly masked. And, the final chapter was an absolute gut-punch for me in the best way possible, with one line having the ability to tear at my heart-strings.

All in all, GOOD GIRLS LIE was an absolutely stellar read. It's one of those books that makes leaving the world behind incredibly difficult. For me, these characters and The Goode School will be staying with me for a long time. If you're in the market for a bingeable popcorn read that also manages to bring a great amount of depth to the table, GOOD GIRLS LIE absolutely deserves a place on your reading list.

Special thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review. All opinions my own.

Good Girls Lie was crazy amazing. I was hooked and enjoyed every minute of this story. So much so I was sad to get to the end and not follow the characters anymore. I am still thinking about them a few days after finishing it. Suspense, teenage/college girl drama. What is happening at the all-girls school? I was actually worried at the end, would it end how I think it will?!? Definitely a psychological thriller. The author did a great job with the character building and had me hanging on to every word. This story flowed perfectly.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 and can't wait to read more from J.T Ellison.

The Goode School for Girls is an elite prep school located in Virginia. The headmistress is Dean Ford Westhaven.

Ash Carlisle has arrived from Oxford England to attend the school starting as a sophomore. She has recently lost both of her parents and needs to get away from the sad memories in a new place. As she settles in, we learn about her talents and her background. She is an expert piano player, but with the passing of her parents, she is not inclined to play right now. She is also quite clever with computers and impresses her professor. Ash is a lovely girl who just wants to keep to herself.

When Ash’s roommate dies after falling off a roof, no one knows if she jumped or was pushed. The ensuing investigation into the girl’s death puts more scrutiny on Ash. Unfortunately, the school bully has zeroed in on her as well and opens up some things that even Ash doesn’t understand. But the tragedies don’t end there which leads to an explosive ending.

I admit that I had a little problem with keeping up with some different characters, but that simply means that the author has written a fabulous novel. I really loved every page of this book and look forward to reading even more by this truly amazing and talented author. Don’t miss this one!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

If you are a lover of YA thrillers from authors like Karen M. McManus - this is your next book!

Full of so many flipping twists and characters that will keep you guessing until the last page, this book was a freaking RIDE. Honestly, this is one of those books that the more I write, the more I will give away. But take my word for it - this book is killer!

I can tell you that the characters are fantastic, though! All of the Goode girls, including Ash, are fabulously complex and flawed. And wildly unreliable. And a special shout-out to Ford, the dean of Goode. An amazingly scripted character who steps away from the traditional roles of being a woman and an authority figure - she is full of ambition, responsibility, and a maternal instinct without the desire for a family.

After this book, I have already added Ellison's backlist to my TBR - I am ready for more!

Two in a half stars

I find this actually kind of hard to review because I didn't actually understand it...look, yes, I got the basic plot and the ending - I understood all of that, but something about the writing really boggled my brain. There was so many perspectives (they don't start with telling you who is talking), random side characters seem to even have their own chapters/perspectives. I had to flip back and forth so many times trying to figure out what I was reading. Maybe this was just me but it seemed so disorienting.

Also, I think because of this is was hard for me to really care about any of the characters. They all seemed a little flat to me - and while there were a ton of them it seemed like they were more or less all the same. I think the reason it was hard to tell whose perspective we were viewing was because all the characters voices sounded so much the same.

The mystery was okay but due to lack of feeling for the characters, it was hard to keep me interested. It was also very slow and just felt a little all over the place.

I probably wouldn't recommend but you might have better luck than I did, I just felt kind of lost .lol

Fabulous Mystery And Subdued Thriller!

There Is a boarding school which happens to be called The Goode Academy known for it's prestigious reputation of accepting only the most privledged and the brightest, talented and the most elite of teenage girls who will become the finest of young women and will be accepted into any university or Ivy League school of their desire before they graduate from Goode's doors. There will be one among their midst however, who may not belong and when the new sessions begin strange events start happening and there is tension and deception and a sense of darkness lingering in the halls and behind the walls of the academy that can be subtly felt by many students but unfortunately none of the girls or the faculty knows that there a real evil dwelling in the stately boarding school that will affect the lives of all before the first term is even finished.

Bravo, bravo to J.T. Ellison on her writing of this fabulous book! I was intrigued from the first page and was consumed by the flawless writing style and storytelling. I felt as if I was an invisible character listening and following the girls and wishing I could tell them to be careful and not so mean and spiteful. I was entrenched in the drama and the mystique of the school's underlying mysteries. This book had me from start to finish and I just wanted the story to continue and find out what would happen to many of the characters and their thoughts and feellings in the next chapters of their lives if they lived to tell their stories.

I want to thank the author J.T. Ellison and the publisher "Harlequin and Mira" (US and Canada) and of course Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this wonderful novel for an honest and unbiased review!

I highly recommend this book and I am giving a rating of 5 Privledged 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

This gave me Gossip Girls vibes. So if you enjoyed the TV series, I think you'll enjoy this one.

It had a great opener, but I found it slow through a good chunk of the book. At times I was even confused at timelines and who was speaking.

I think it may have just been me and the mood I was in at the time of reading this one. Overall, it was a decent read and would recommend it for those who enjoy the boarding school setting.

A special thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and Harlequin Books for the opportunity to participate in the Winter 2020 Mystery/Thriller Blog Tour!

“I thought lies had power until I saw what silence could do.”
Theres something about the allure of a boarding school that always intrigues me. I guess because I never went away for school or college so its interesting to live and go to class in the same place. And of course there is inevitably all the drama that comes along with it as well. Let’s just say that The Goode School wasn’t short on drama. From a new student with a secret, to hidden societies, to haunted parts of the campus that were said to have been the places of horrific murders and deaths.
I absolutely LOVED the spooky atmosphere to this book. The mystery behind what’s really going on kept me intrigued throughout. Its not technically a case of an unreliable narrator but it still has you questioning everything that’s going on and if its really accurate or just another version of the truth, which is ironic coming from a group of people who reside in a school where honesty and truth are the basis of the code of conduct. Still, I can’t think of anyone who has never lied and who doesn’t on a daily basis. Its a part of what makes us human and gives us the freedom we have as a species to be able to tell white lies here and there.
As a whole this book was really entertaining and pretty fast paced. I kept getting hung up on the prologue and wondering who was speaking at that part but as you go through the book things are revealed in due time, so just be patient on that aspect. There are so many different mysteries throughout as well that unfold as you dive deeper into the lives of all the poor souls residing in The Goode School. I think that this was another fun part of this book, that you really don’t know who is giving you the facts straight and who is elaborating for their own benefit. Because lord knows there were a lot of people in this book who had only their best interests at heart. Probably the result of so many bright minds in one place. Too many leaders and not enough followers.
This was a fun read and I highly recommend giving it a read! I think that it can speak to any number of people from any background, age or gender. It was mysterious, spooky, and just the right about of intriguing to keep me wondering exactly what was going on the whole time.

EXCERPT: The girl's body dangles from the tall, iron gates guarding the school's entrance. A closer examination shows the ends of a red silk tie peeking out like a cardinal on a winter branch, forcing her neck into a brutal angle. She wears her graduation robe and multicolored stole as if knowing she'll never see the achievement. The last tendrils of dawn's fog laze about her legs, which are five feet from the ground. It rained overnight and the thin robe clings to her body, dew sparkling on the edges.

There is no breeze, no birds singing or squirrels industriously gathering for the long winter ahead, no cars passing along the street, only the cool, misty morning air and the gentle metallic creaking of the gates under the weight of the dead girl. She is suspended in midair, her back to the street, her face hidden behind a curtain of dirty wet hair, dark from the rains.

Because of the damage to her face, it will take them some time to officially identify her. In the beginning, it isn't even clear that she attends the school, despite wearing the Goode School robes. But she does. The fingerprints will prove it.

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

ABOUT THIS BOOK: 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.

MY THOUGHTS: 'Lies will flow from my lips, but there may perhaps be some truth mixed up with them; it is for you to decide whether any part of it is worth keeping.' - Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

And lies certainly do flow from everyone's lips in J.T. Ellison's latest thriller, Good Girls Lie. The opening chapters had my pulse pounding and I voraciously flicked over the pages until my Kindle went flat. The pace does settle for a time before the climactic ending.

Ellison has written an atmospheric and creepy novel with cutting edge characters. These teenage girls are rich and privileged, cliquey and bitchy. They can be cruel and manipulative. They are adept at hiding their true feelings, preferring to be seen as 'cool', to be admired and emulated.
The culture of their school almost encourages their behaviour... until it all backfires and popular students start dying. Is it a coincidence, or perhaps just plain bad luck, that there is a new girl at the school. One whose entire family is dead...

Highly recommended.

😯😯😯😯.5

#GoodGirlsLie #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: J.T. Ellison began her career as a presidential appointee in the White House, where a nuclear physicist taught her how to obsess over travel itineraries and make a seriously good pot of Earl Grey, spawning both her love of loose leaf and a desire for control of her own destiny. Jaded by the political climate in D.C., she made her way back to her first love, creative writing. More than 20 novels later, she is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with thrillers published in 27 countries and 15 languages. She is also the EMMY-award winning cohost of A WORD ON WORDS, a literary interview TV show. She lives in Nashville with her husband and two small gray minions, known as cats in some cultures. She thinks they’re furry aliens.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin MIRA for providing a digital ARC of Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

Favorite Quotes:

Everyone lies. To themselves, to each other. It’s a way to belong, to be included. To look important.

I employ the only tool in my arsenal— silence. It only adds to the mystique. Who knew? I thought lies had power until I saw what silence could do.


My Review:

J.T. Ellison has mad word skills and is a master storyteller, her descriptive and emotive prose fully created each scene from the ground up with multiple textures, scents, sights, and sounds. I was sucked right in and fully present, sometimes, uncomfortably so. While it wasn’t an edge of your seat thriller, I was deeply invested in this twisted and tense hybrid tale that was part YA, part Women’s Fiction, part suspense, part family drama.

The main character of Ash was always taut with tension and anxiously on edge for fear of discovery and I found myself often nibbling on my cuticles with the extremely poor posture of my shoulders in my ears while clutching my Kindle with a vise-like grip. This was a long, complex, and cunningly paced tale with multiple layers and interesting textures. The storylines were rather ingenious, shrewdly plotted, and expertly populated with a cast of diabolical and oddly intriguing characters of all ages. The most heinous was, of course, the teenaged girls, who were especially vile and vicious as only teenaged girls can be. Although, and I know from personal experience, rich and privileged teenaged girls are the absolute worst of the breed.

A thriller set within an exclusive all girls boarding school? I'm so in! There's just something about sneaky, catty girls and sinister happenings that I find irresistible. Mix in some bad behavior, sexual surprises, secret societies, hazing and yes - murder and you have quite the page turner.

The book starts off with an unforgettable death scene that pulls you right in and and will have you needing to know what happened. Told in a flashback format, this death brings lies to the surface amidst The Goode School's elite students and faculty. Beneath its beautiful, rich and influential facade lurks a dark labyrinth of cruelty, secrets and murder. ⁣
⁣
I really enjoying the creepy, disturbing vibe this one had. The setting was wonderful and the plot moved at a quick pace. There were a few twists and even though some were predictable, I was pretty happy with most of the reveals. Overall this was a fast-paced, engrossing thriller.

I have been a fan of this author since the beginning. I was really looking forward to this book. It was a bit of a departure from the normal thrillers that Mrs. Ellison writes. When it comes to secret societies, the idea is intriguing. You can tell as there have been other books and movies made regarding secret societies.

The opening scene is what grabs readers. After that I was very intrigued by the school and the secrets that were hidden within the halls of the school. No one is innocent. Yet, the shine did falter some with a lot of build up of the dynamics between the girls. There was not a lot of other sinister things happening from the first scene for quite some time. I know that the build up was important but it kind of got to be too much after a while.

The latter half to last third of the story is where it all came together and my interest peaked up again. Just when you thought the ending was here, Mrs. Ellison threw in one or two more twists at the end.

I was so excited to receive an early copy of Good Girls Lie. This had several twists and turns and I was very surprised by the ending. The story takes place at an all-girls boarding school. There is plenty of drama within the school, but when one girl ends up not being who she said she was, the real mystery begins.

Another great read by J.T. Ellison

An engaging read that keeps you guessing. A solid addition to this author's novels. An enjoyable read for fans and a story that will create fans from first time readers.

Disclaimer: ARC provided via NetGalley in return for an honest review

Ah what a fun book. You know those books you read about ivy league private school boys and the stuff they get up to? This is kinda like that except with murder, and no pretence that teen girls are any more gentle or any less ambitious because of their gender. This book has it all: a mysterious protagonist, a dean of the school desperate to escape the entire damn town, petty hierarchy and elitism, secret affairs, lesbians, identity theft.

The start was a little slow, and the primary PoV character was just a little too adult-ish at times. But in retrospect I suppose that makes sense given that it is from her PoV and most teens think they are far more mature than they are. It really picks up its pace in the second half and after that it's just a freefall. The last two chapters weren't exactly necessary, but I enjoyed them none the less.

A perfect book for that picnic in the middle of a burnt down, abandoned brick building.

Good Girls Lie, a creative tongue-in-cheek title, follows Ash Carlisle, the newest member of the Good School, a prestigious boarding school set in the south for privileged, elite girls. It’s a creepy, mysterious boarding school with secret societies, mean girls who rule the roost, a dean with her own issues and secrets, ghost lore and a hidden dark past. Upon arrival, Ash immediately catches the attention of the head girl, finds her own notoriety, even while she struggles to maintain a low profile, and drama and chaos ensues. It’s soon clear there is something unusual about this girl.

As in all of J.T. Ellison’s books, Good Girls Lie has a writing style that is straightforward and fast-paced. The short chapters are captivating and compulsively readable, and each ends in a hook that makes you want to read just a little bit more. I also appreciate the chapter titles which are enticing, in and of themselves, and rather unique these days.

I found this entire story engaging and entertaining and a pleasure to read, though the conclusion fell a bit flat for me. The final twist wasn’t all that shocking, but it was satisfying on the whole. I love that Ellison did something a bit different with this story, and all-in-all, I think it was a success.