“The difference between justice and revenge comes down to who’s telling the story.”
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I really enjoyed Julie Clark’s last book, The Last Flight, and rated it as one of my few five star suspense books of 2021. I think it’s safe to say she really outdid herself with this one because I loved it even more. I COULD NOT put this one down. I read 85% of it in 12 hours (no small feat with a toddler) and only stopped because I had to go to work and promptly stayed awake after night shift to finish this one. It is super fast-paced and the dual POVs were both alluring and mysterious.

The narrators are a con-woman and a reporter - both complicated pasts and linked together by traumatic events that had immensely altered the path both their lives have taken. We see them in a intriguing game of cat and mouse where you’re not quite sure which woman, both seeking their own form of justice, will come out on top. I think one of my favorite parts of this book is that, while you might not agree with their actions or their deceptions, you cannot help but root for both Meg and Kat. I found the ending super satisfying and can’t wait to see what Clark comes up with next!

I especially enjoyed the shout out to Reading, PA! I spent a lot of time there growing up so that was a neat little discovery for me.

Thank you @netgalley for the review copy!

This is a fast-paced, intriguing suspense novel that ranks among my favorite reads for the year!

Meg Williams changes her name as often as she changes her persona and location. She's a con artist, who has perfected her game over the decades. She chooses her marks carefully, and makes sure that their lives are in ruin before she moves on.

Kat Roberts, a journalist, encountered Meg years ago, and her life has never been the same since. Now Meg has popped up again, and Kat is determined to uncover her latest con, cause it to fail, and to see Meg taken into custody.

Both of these women are smart, strong, and cunning. They each have a laser focus, and excel at researching their subjects. As our understanding about these two complex characters grows, it is difficult not to cheer for each of them. As they learn more about each other, they find their views towards the other changing too.

A terrific read that you definitely don't want to miss!! My thanks to publisher Sourcebooks/Landmark for allowing me to read an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given. The book is scheduled for publication on 6/21/22.

The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark is a very highly recommended fast-paced, intriguing story of revenge. The narrative alternates between the point-of-view of two women, one which has used many aliases over the years.

Meg Williams has gone by many names as an adult. She carefully uses a different name and history in whatever new town she has moved to for each new con job she is pulling. Meg is very intelligent and meticulously plans out each long con job. She will mold herself to be exactly who she wants you to see and will tell you exactly what you want to hear. Now she has returned to Los Angeles and is posing as a real estate agent. Her target is Ron Ashton, the man who swindled her mother and stole their home forcing the two of them to live in a van.

Kat Roberts is a journalist who blames Meg for ruing her life. For the past 10 years she has been looking for Meg, wanting to expose her for her crimes. Kat tracks Meg, becomes close to her under an assumed name, and Meg offers her a job with her company. As Kat investigates, though, the lines begin to blur between revenge and justice.

This well-written narrative uses the altering points-of-view and flashbacks to develop the characters and their background while keeping the pace quick throughout the novel. This results in fully realized characters and an intriguing, compelling plot. Meg does lie. She is clever and believable as she spins her story but exactly who are her target victims and toward what final purpose? As more information is disclosed readers will be questioning everything and everyone, including Kat's vendetta against her.

The pages will fly by in The Lies I Tell and hold your attention throughout the entire novel. The chapters from the past and present work together to create complex characters, a credible backstory, and work seamlessly to develop the intricate plot. One you start reading it will be hard to put it down, but it won't matter because the pages will fly by. This domestic story of revenge is entertaining escapism and should please a wide variety of readers. 4.5 rounded up

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Sourcebooks via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, Google Books, and Amazon.

This book was so good. Twisty. Lots of turns. Kept you guessing every time you turned a page. Great, well-developed cast of characters.

Definitely the best thriller I’ve read in a while. I’d recommend this to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Meg is a con artist, setting up her biggest score yet. And this one is personal. Kat is a journalist who crosses paths with Meg again and decides to make her the subject of her next piece. The two women have a sort of cat and mouse game but with possible secret alliance outcome thing going on. If you like Julie Clark's previous book Her Last Flight, you will also like this.

I was lukewarm on this book that is not quite a thriller until the 75% mark. The last quarter of this book makes up for the rest and makes this one not to miss.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

5 ⭐️
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Thanks Netgalley, Sourcebookslandmark, and Julie Clark for this arc in exchange for a review!
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Meg Williams is whoever you want her to be. An experienced con-woman, she returns home to LA for her biggest con yet- revenge on the man who ruined her mother’s life and stole their home. Kat Roberts, a reporter who’s been obsessed with Meg since their lives intersected during a con 10 years ago, is focused on exposing Meg for good. As the women try to con one another, they also form an unlikely friendship. Who’s conning who? And who’s telling the truth? Revenge, justice, and perception blur the lines between right and wrong in this psychological adventure.
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💭 Thoughts 💭
This book reminded me so much of Inventing Anna! This was my first read by Julie Clark but now I definitely want to check out her other book. I really enjoyed both Kat and Meg’s characters… their friendship was believable and although they were both flawed the dual perspectives helped you understand where they were coming from.
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⌛️ Favorite Moment ⌛️
As an avid thriller reader, I loved the quote “reliable narrators don’t exist”. This is true I’m books but also in life. It’s a good reminder that everyone’s own perceptions color their version of events. Although Meg was a con artist, she had some strong values about how she selected her targets and what she did with her profits.

This book was fine. I liked it, but I would be hesitant to be like , “you HAVE to read this.”

This book is seriously a cat and mouse game. We have Meg, the con artist, and Kat, the journalist. Kat is trying to expose Meg, and to do so, she has to go undercover and try to become Meg’s friend.

We have a lot of little twists and turns. Who is conning whom?


I was pretty hooked for the first half, but it became a little tedious in the second half. Lots of business and real estate law stuff. It’s not bad—just not my jam.


I honestly did enjoy this book. And I am excited to read The Last Flight.

Another fun book from Julie Clark.

Seems like good timing with all the con stories that I’ve been watching recently. Hints of Inventing Anna, Tinder Swindler and a touch of Promising Young Woman (but much less dark).

I liked that there were two main women characters that we follow, just like her last book.

I’m not sure what genre to call it - suspense/drama?

I think I liked The Last Flight a little but better but this was still good.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-ARC.

The Lies I Tell will make you think. It's an eye-opening, fast-moving thriller that will keep you guessing. It's about two women, one a con artist and one a journalist, both on a mission for revenge and redemption, and rewrite their future.

I couldn't put the book down. It's the perfect bingeable summer read. If you've read The Last Flight, you will love The Lies I Tell. If you haven't read Julie Clark's first book, and you read The Lies I Tell, I can guarantee you will want to run out and read her first one. She's a definite auto-buy author for me now.

4.5/5 stars
Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the eARC!

This is my first Julie Clark book and will not by my last. I loved every minute of this twisty tale. The characters are well developed and the story kept me engaged from start to finish. I can't wait to read more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Meg ended up homeless with her terminal mother when they were removed from their home by Ron, a con man. Meg vowed revenge.
Kat is determined to follow and write Megs’trail of con jobs and list of aliases.
They become friends, Meg knows who Kat is and keeps her in the dark about what’s happening.
Kat is engaged to Scott after a terrible situation with ex - Nate that devastated her.
Scott is addicted to gambling . Lots of drama and twists. I enjoyed my reading journey through this story and even see room for a sequel. Due to the surprise ending.

I loved this book! Two great female characters, Meg and Kat, become friends with ulterior motives. One is a con artist while the other is a reporter hoping to tell the con artist’s story. Somehow you are rooting for both of them even though you think one may not deserve your sympathy. Is this true or are they both worthy? So much back and forth until the end when you have your answer and what a great ending!

4.5 ⭐️Pretty sure I haven’t been this pumped about a thriller since 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 (and yes, Julie Clark wrote that one also!) Instead of thin characters and implausible plotting, my usual opinion of thrillers, this book has two complex rich female leads, taut writing that builds tension, and a plot line that doesn’t have a hole anywhere that the author didn’t do on purpose. Damn, Julie Clark nailed it once again! A con artist, an investigative reporter, all set in Los Angeles - this book pulled me in from the very first page. And just when you think you have it all figured out…wait for it ‘cause you don’t. Twenty four hours later, when I turned the last page, I was sad it was over but completely and utterly satisfied. I will be first in line for her third books, that’s for sure:)

When paths cross lives can change. Meg Williams learned a long time ago that sometimes you must be someone else in order to get what you want in life. Kat Roberts is the woman who has been waiting to find Meg again for the last ten years. Both have stories to tell and while they have lived two very different lives, them crossing paths with lead them both on an unexpected journey.
I can not say enough how much I loved the ending of this book. Meg is just such a fun character. I love the fact that she brings Kat into her life and even though she knows who Kat is she supports her in such unexpected ways. Both women are just fun to read, and you really get to know who they are and what they stand for. This is just such a fun read for the summer. It is intriguing, fast paced, and really brings the reader in. If you are looking for strong willed and smart women, check out this book. It is quite fun, and you will love the ending.
Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

All the stars!!! I was hooked from the very beginning. I could not put this book down. I loved both Meg and Kat and their “friendship”. Who can you trust?? Girl code wins out! This book kept me guessing and I loved the way it turned out. I cannot wait to recommend this to others. I loved her first book and I love this one even more. Keep them coming!!
Thank you for the ARC!!

I really enjoyed this Clark's previous book, The Last Flight and this book was just as great and again have two strong female characters. The plot is just as twisty, dark and suspenseful as the first book but for different reasons. I was able to read this in a few sittings because it was so good and there was ZERO PREDICTABILITY. Climax? You will just have to read it, to find out. I am not spoiling a darn thing.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! I can see this being among the best thrillers/suspense of 2022. I am also getting this at publishing.

Thanks to Netgalley, Julie Clark and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

Available: 6/21/22

Wow, another fantastic book by Julie Clark. I was captivated by her first boom and when I discovered this follow up, I had to give it a shot. Thank you for the opportunity to spend some time with this one! Great book.

Well, that was so flipping good! I really liked The Last Flight and dang if this wasn’t even better. It’s hard to say much without spoilers, but I loved the con artist stories and the feminist undertones throughout the whole book. I also really loved both characters. So satisfying, and such a fast read!

What a book to get lost in, and not want to leave!
Beware this is a read that will grab you and not let go, twist and then more twists. Whom to believe.
Life’s snowballs thrown at a young age, make Maggie, Meg, Melody, a few of the names the main character uses, do what she does, but she is a very intelligent woman, always seems to be one step ahead in her thinking.
Enter Kat a woman who has been tragically hurt by Meg, and now has a chance to take revenge, by exposing her.
What happens when these two, a grifter and a reporter, get close? Well, again whom can you trust. Facts become reveled and lots of surprises, and in the end, I wanted to continue on in their lives.
Yes, I’ll be looking for more by Julie Clark!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and was not required to give a positive review.

I am LOVING all of the scammer stories lately - but this one was a cut above. I enjoyed both POV but absolutely loved Meg as a character. This one kept me on my toes and guessing throughout as I never quite knew who or what to trust. I thought the ending was absolutely perfect as well. I adored The Last Flight and this was even better! Julie Clark is definitely now a must read author for me.