I didn't read the synopsis of this book before starting it, so I was curious to see where it went. It was a twisty novel, and at its center, an exploration into mental illness and post partum depression. As someone who is bipolar AND who has experienced PPD, much of this book really resonated with me. It didn't end as I expected, but the ending made sense. I will definitely be looking for books by this author in the future.

Each book is like an unopened gift. We might have some idea what's inside and if we're lucky the inside is better than what we imagined. The Better Liar kept surprising me as I got further inside the story. The characters were interesting as layer after layer was uncovered. There were dynamic twists that changed the plot in unexpected ways. How families can fail at rearing healthy children and the consequences of hidden mental instability are explored. The story is told from the points of view of two very different sisters and held my interest right up to the very last page.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Ballentine Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#TheBetterLiar #NetGalley

Creepy, scary, lonely....

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly did not figure out the full scope of the story until about 80% through the book.

The family dynamics, secrets and behavior lead you to several assumptions as to what is going on.
How well do you know your family. How trustworthy are your childhood memories.

Two sisters in a tale if love. Devotion and disappointment.

In this book, a desperate woman convinces a stranger to impersonate her dead sister in order to get their inheritance. I was really caught up in this story--both the writing and plot were engaging and I couldn't wait to get reading each night so see if the two women would be able to pull off of the deception. The whole story was so well done -- up to the end which seemed kind of rushed and just didn't have the same attention and believability as the rest of the book.

THis book started out with an interesting premise. The more I read, the more I struggled to stay with the story.

Woah, this book was great! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!! It was full of mystery and twist and turns you won’t see coming!

Really enjoyed this one because it was not too predicable. There was just the right amount of humor to elieviate the tension but the story still kept going at a good pace. I tried to figure out what was going to happen atthe end but was surprised. Yet, looking back, it all made sense.

truth is a figment of the imagination in The Better Liar by Tanen Jones. When Leslie is appalled to find her long lost sister Robin, dead, she serendipitously finds a stand in. Mary needs out of Vegas for her own reasons, so when Leslie offers her Robin’s share of the inheritance in exchange for well, becoming Robin for a week, the two women embark on a mutually duplicitous journey. What else is Leslie not telling Mary? What is Mary not saying? So many lies, abruptly shifting perspectives, and revelations to keep you guessing until the end. Cynical and darkly entertaining.

This was a well written, twisty thriller. I read through it rather quickly, and it kept me guessing through out. I’ll be looking for more from this author in the future. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
In order to claim the portion of her inheritance, Leslie needs her sister to sign on the dotted line. But after tracking her down, she finds Robin dead from an over dose. But Leslie is not one to give up. She schemes a stranger named Mary, into impersonating Robin. It all sounds simple...until it's not and things get complicated as lies breeds more lies. A solid read.

This was a great book to read! It kept me engaged and on my toes. The plot was written in multiple voices so it was hard to figure out who to trust and who not to. Every character felt unreliable. While the characters were very well developed they were also mutli-dimensional. I could relate to what each of them were going through. The only reason I cant give it 5 stars is because the ending was not something that set well with me. Overall very entertaining!

Written in first person, with multiple points of view, The Better Liar keeps a reader on their toes. It can be difficult to follow at times due to the shift in POV, and does jar the reader on more than one occasion as the voices of the characters are not well-defined. However, once you make it over that hump, there's a lot to appreciate. Full of psychological twists, this is a novel that will keep a reader guessing until the very end. I also recommend not skipping out on the Author's Note. The author's words shine a worthy light on the inspiration behind the book and manage to tie the novel up in a neat, well-intentioned package.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this Advance Reader Copy. This did not impact my review.

There were lots of unexpected twists in this suspenseful book but I really didn't like the ending. The writing was good and the plot held my attention but I didn't like the turn it took at the very end. But it's definitely a quick and suspenseful read.

Leslie has come to Las Vegas to track down her estranged sister, Robin. Their father has died and for Leslie to receive her badly needed inheritance, both sisters must be present according to the will. Leslie is just a little bit too late though, as Robin is dead. When Leslie meets a waitress named Mary who kinda, sorta reminds her of Robin, an idea is born. If Mary will impersonate Robin, Leslie will get her money and Mary can have Robin's share of the inheritance.
Sounds like a win/win right? What could go wrong? After all, Robin hasn't been home since she was a teenager, so the chance of the lawyer recognizing her are slim to none. The only thing missing from this picture is trust. Leslie and Mary each have their own agenda, and oh, “Ghost Robin” chimes in too. Told through these 3 distinct and possibly unreliable POVs, all the pieces come together in some unexpected ways.
I figured out one of the twists early on but was still perplexed regarding where this story was headed. Ultimately, I enjoyed the read and I think you'll be surprised to discover who is The Better Liar.
Another debut and another reason I am going to have to live forever(I will never get through my TBR pile if I don't)!
I received a DRC from Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine through NetGalley.

#NetGalley#TheBetterLiar#TanenJones
WOW-Can't say too much because I don't want to give away anything. Expertly plotted and written. A little slow at the start, but the pace picks up. Recommend

Leslie hasn’t seen or spoken to her sister, Robin, since her sister ran away from home as a teenager. Now, some years later, their father has passed away and in order to claim their inheritance, Leslie and Robin need to do it together. Leslie sets out for Las Vegas and discovers that Robin died by a drug overdose only hours earlier. Shortly after, Leslie meets Mary, who’s a waitress with an abusive ex-boyfriend. She looks almost like Robin, who no one has seen in forever. Leslie desperately needs the inheritance money, so she asks Mary to impersonate Robin for the week so they can get the papers signed. But as the week goes on, it seems like Leslie wasn’t being completely honest and Mary might not be completely trustworthy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller! It’s engaging and written very well. I found it easy to read and there’s enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. I liked how it was written in several perspectives (ghost Robin, Leslie, and Mary), which is isn’t too common in thrillers. It also made the narration very unreliable because you really have to sort out who you think is telling the truth. The characters were very three dimensional and interesting. As a reader, you really get to see into their heads and explore the dynamics of sisterhood.

The only thing I didn’t completely enjoy was the ending, which felt a bit rushed and didn’t fully sit well with me. I think seasoned thriller readers will be able to guess at what’s coming, but that doesn’t necessarily make the ride less enjoyable.

I also appreciate the note by the author at the end. The issue that was discussed is extremely important and I’m so glad to see it represented. I wish it had been discussed and reflected on a bit more in the book. The Better Liar was a really solid thriller and I’m looking forward to seeing what else Tanen Jones writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was CRAZY. That is my best description of it and I say that as in crazy in a good way, crazy in a mind bending what is going to happen next way. The book is told from three alternating POV and had me saying "wow" out loud over and over. Leslie is looking for her sister so they can claim their inheritance and finds Robin dead from a drug overdose. What happens next is something I can't deeply detail due to spoilers but just know you will not guess it. And that ending? Wow. Hurry out and get this book!

Thank you @Netgalley and @Randomhouse for the ARC of the better liar. This book was really good and deceiving. It is crazy to me how far people will go for money and even doing wrong to their own family. It was definitely a thrilling ride to read and I would recommend to all my thriller readers.

I typically enjoy stories about sisters, but I found this one difficult to relate to as the characters act unrealistically. There's so many points in the story where you can't imagine anyone making the choices that Leslie makes as they are not just reckless, but counter to what she's ultimately trying to achieve. I think the story would have been more believable if Leslie's motivations were revealed earlier on.

*SPOILER* Additionally, I just don't buy that she wouldn't recognize her own sister. That would require a significant psychological blockage and heaps of willful ignorance.

I thought The Better Liar was going to be a slow burn......but it turned out to just be slow. The plot & characters were not realistic or convincing and that just made the drag even more agonizing. This book really was not for me but I can definitely see it as something some of my friends would enjoy.