I read Where Secrets Lie in one sitting. Much like getting swept away by a current, I was swept right into the world of River Run.

Every summer, Amy Larsen lives with her grandparents in River Run, Kentucky. She loves her annual escape and the time she gets to spend with "her boys," cousin Ben and neighbor Teddy. The summer of 2018 ended with a dramatic falling out between the friends and summer 2019 is off to a rocky start, but the drama is cut short when tragedy strikes. Teddy's younger sister, 10-year-old Nat, goes missing, and the friends are unified in their search for the truth of Nat's disappearance. As the plot progresses, the reader learns exactly what went down last summer, as well as everything the trio uncovers while playing detective.

I enjoyed this fast paced mystery/thriller. While some of the twists were predictable, they weren't SO obvious that I wasn't excited when it turned out my prediction was correct. I thought the characters were well-developed and the alternating timeline was helpful both in building their backstories as well as keeping me invested in Nat. I liked that each chapter had the date at the top--I never had to ask myself which timeline I was in while reading.

Given all the challenging topics in this novel, I really appreciate the inclusion of a content warning in the beginning and the resources at the end of the book. From an educator standpoint, I would (and will!) comfortably recommend this book to students in 11th and 12th grade with the requirement that they read the content warning at the beginning of the book to help decide if they're up for it. I think mature 9th and 10th graders could handle this book with parental approval, but I wouldn't actively promote it in those grades due to the content and language.

Gibson, if you read this, I would definitely read a spin-off/prequel about Amy's and Ben's moms, Sam/Peter/June, and Noah!

Finally, thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Amy has been best friends with her cousin Ben and his friend Teddy for most of her life. She returns to River Run, Kentucky every summer while her parents travel for work, and she spends most of her time with Ben and Teddy. A horrible fight between them seems to end their friendship, but when Teddy's sister Natasha suddenly disappears, they put aside their differences and try to find her. What they uncover is several ugly secrets that have been lurking under the surface of the town and their families for years.

It was very hard to put this book down because the plot was so intense. All at once a mystery, thriller, and a commentary on domestic violence, this book made me feel physically ill at times because of the horrible topics it covered. I had an inkling of was really going on throughout the book, but the ending took my breath away in its scope. The plot and character seemed so realistic that I was immediately pulled into the story mentally. The content warnings are there for a good reason, and I didn't care for the excessive use of profanity and sexual innuendos. I do recommend this book to those who enjoy reading thrillers, but the content is such that I do so with caution, and a warning that there are many heavy subjects covered and triggers abound.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Amy Larson spends her summers in River Run, KY with her cousin (Ben) and friend (Teddy). This summer is different for oh so many reasons. Amy and Teddy's failed romance of last summer is hanging in the air with unresolved emotions and when Teddy's little sister comes up missing the three make a pact to get to the bottom of things. Putting their differences aside, they join together to retrace Nat's footsteps to uncover the killer.

Pros:
twisty turny plot
I wanted to find out what secrets the town was covering up
I was invested in Nat's fate and finding out who her killer was
I liked the story arch of finding the murder trinkets in the house and what that might mean
The adults were compelling. I wish we would have gotten more of a sneak peak into what was going on with them and how it translated into the relationships of the main characters.

Cons:
There was too much emphasis on the flashback of the year before and Amy and Teddy's romance
I dislike it when there are years given for chapters. This is 2018/2019. It's already old in the minds of HS students. I wish it was just labeled this summer and last summer.
I wanted to know more about the secrets that the adults were hiding. I figured Nat was a love child.
Maybe there were too many secrets - they did not flesh them out like I would have hoped
Ben was a character that was rough for me. He was an arrogant prick with very little empathy. I just cringed at times when he was the focus.

Overall -
I enjoyed the book. I was invested in the plot and characters. I wanted less flashback and more current time, but I really appreciated that it was told from one POV.

Thank you Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy.

Where Secrets Lie has a lot going on in a small novel. It just has too much side story going on to focus on what the author's message is for this book. It will find an audience, it was just too busy for me. The relationships are jumble and the missing person story should be more focused in on.

Full review to come on my blog but I LOVED this one. Spooky and atmospheric, full of complicated families and friendships, swoony and sexy from the jump. Don't miss this one when it comes out in April!

I heat blaring Switzerland a theme: here comes another let’s meet in the middle: it’s okay but not great reading experience.
Solid, twisty, thrilling young adult story including trigger warning, sensitive topics!

Ms. Gibson told a complex, heart pounding, action packed story via interwoven timelines: so we can gather the puzzle pieces about friendship trio’s relationship dynamics, their estrangement, their teaming up to solve the mystery behind the kidnapping of Teddy’s sister.

The heroine Amy Larsen spends her summer with River boys ( people call them with this name including her mother) : her cousin Ben and Ben’s best friend Teddy! Teddy and Amy’s sexual awakening, blooming intimacy ruined the untold rules of their threesome friendship.

Now their life changes with tragedy. Teddy’s sister is missing and the ex best friends come together to find her whereabouts even though it drags them into chaos because by digging up the mystery behind missing girl brings out the townies’ skeletons perfectly hidden in their closets. As the secrets come out, three of them finally realize they crossed the lines and put their lives in danger.

We are bombarded with so many triggering subjects during our read which may be a little compelling and exhausting. There are enough sensitive subject material in this book can be used for at least 3 books including mental health, child neglect, physical abuse, serial killer, domestic violence, homophobia , serial killer etc.

It could a little time for me to get into the story. I think the first %15 of the book was a little slow paced, you need to be patient enough not give up on this journey!

The characters are one dimensional and a little annoying to empathize with. Especially Amy acted like whining toddler/ spoiled brat : I want to scream at her face to shut the hell up too many times. River boys were okay. Neither I liked them nor I hated them.

Overall: after getting through first bump at the beginning, the book’s pacing gets better. The author dealt with so many sensitive topics at the same time which affected the credibility of the story a little bit but conclusion was well wrapped. I would give more stars if I feel a little sympathy for heroine.

It’s definitely solid three starred reading for me. I couldn’t connect with characters but mystery part of the story presented well and it was engaging. I still want to read more works of the author.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Simon&Schuster’s Children Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

this might just be a personal problem, but i literally could not get into this story. it was so boring and Amy was so dramatic and such a baby about everything that happened to her. which, honestly just got annoying after awhile.