A remote and moody psychological thriller. With a compelling MC that you root for, you keep on reading to find out what happens next.

While I was reading this, I was pretty engaged and wanting to find out what was going to happen next. When reflecting for this review, I realized the story requires a level of suspension of disbelief while also allowing for events that don't quite follow logic. However, I enjoyed it while I was in it! I would be willing to try another title from this author. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

I unfortunately did not connect with this story so after about 25% i decided to put it down. There was a slight disconnect between the writing, the characters and the plot and for that it just did not work for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review in exchange for an advanced copy.

This is a take on the classic storyline when your past comes back to haunt you. What happens when all the lies and your secrets from a past life come back and threaten the life you know today? Your friendships, your boyfriend, who will stand by you?

I liked the concept of this one but unfortunately the end result left me feeling just ok.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3 STARS

An Honest Lie delivers a suspenseful narrative, though the plot remains fairly predictable throughout. Rainy is a compelling protagonist, and you can't help but root for her, hoping she'll escape the suffocating grip of the cult and find peace. While the tension builds effectively, the story ultimately falls into familiar tropes that detract from its overall impact.

I have read Tarryn Fisher's back library so felt pretty good going into this one. With an excellent plot and several intriguing characters, the story was headed the right way but at some point, it took a few wrong turns. There's some inconsistent interactions between characters that caused a little disbellief. Overall, I enjoyed AN HONEST LIE, but it's definitely not Fisher's best.

An Honest Lie had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell short for me in several areas.

First, while the story promised a gripping psychological thriller, I found it to be rather slow-paced. The buildup felt tedious at times, and instead of being drawn in by suspense, I was left waiting for something impactful to happen. There were flashes of intensity, but they often fizzled out before truly taking hold.

The characters, particularly the protagonist, felt underdeveloped. Rain, as the main character, seemed detached, and it was difficult to connect with her on an emotional level. Her decisions often felt frustrating and irrational, which pulled me out of the story instead of immersing me further into it. There were moments where I wanted to root for her, but her behavior and the plot twists just didn’t feel cohesive enough.

Additionally, the cult subplot, while interesting, felt underutilized and lacked the depth I was hoping for. The tension surrounding it never fully materialized, and when it did surface, it was too late to salvage the overall plot. What could have been a compelling element to the story ultimately felt like a missed opportunity.

The dual timeline structure, while meant to add complexity, ended up feeling disjointed. Instead of complementing each other, the past and present narratives seemed to drag the pacing down, making it harder to stay engaged.

On a positive note, Fisher’s writing style is sharp, and there are some memorable lines and moments of introspection. However, the pacing and character issues overshadowed the potential.

While I appreciate Tarryn Fisher's creativity and ambition in crafting this novel, An Honest Lie simply didn’t work for me. Fans of slow-burn thrillers or psychological dramas might still find something to enjoy here, but it didn’t quite hit the mark in terms of tension or character development.

Although, the who dun it was pretty easy to guess, I still enjoyed the plot and the characters. I really enjoyed the past and present perspectives. The ending was a little sad, but satisfying. Looking forward to the next Tarryn Fisher novel!

This was a thriller packed with action. The last part of the book was on the edge of your seat action. Rainy grew up trapped in a cult by the monstrous cult leader and now is in the Pacific Northwest trying to build a new life with her new boyfriend. A girl trip to Vegas takes an unexpected turn. I liked how this book went back and forth between the past and the present. We got a well rounded view of Rainy.

Though media about cults has almost been done to death, Tarryn Fisher's "An Honest Lie" is anything but boring. The novel follow Summer/Rainy, a girl who grew up in a cult and finally escaped many years later. Like many thrillers, she is ultimately forced to confront her past, making her spiral on a harrowing trip down memory lane. Although predictable at times, Fisher keeps a neck-breaking pace throughout that makes for an entertaining read.

I really enjoyed this thriller! There were so many twists and turns, and I loved the cult-ish stuff. This entire book was a mystery until the very last few pages.

This is one that I wanted to love because I’ve enjoyed her other books. But this was a big disappointment it was so hard to stick it out and finish. Just ok!

I am a Tarryn Fisher stan. This was my first scary read by her, though. I've loved her comedies and her romances, I was not prepared for how thrilling this book would be!

A psychological thriller is hit or miss for me, usually, and this was a hit.

I DNF this title; I could not get into it, and could not foresee myself picking up more interest, based on trusted reviews from friends that weren't so positive. Deciding to DNF so I can move on to my other titles waiting for me!

This was a decent thriller with a solid premise (girls' weekend in Vegas gone bad). I was frustrated with the blatantly poor choices the characters kept making. I would have appreciated more story line to take in Vegas itself - I feel like the full potential of this city "as a character" was not utilized and too much of the book focused on the cult plotline. Overall a decent thriller for fans of the genre.

I've enjoyed a few of Fishers' past novels, and while An Honest Lie was entertaining enough to finish, it wasn't gripping.
It's told in dual timelines and from two characters' points of view. The characters and certain elements of the plot were interesting, but I also thought it was lacking in twists for a thriller.

[TW- cults; kidnapping]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher for me to preview.

I went into this expecting a generic domestic thriller but was immediately drawn in by the dual timeline and cult drama. Summer was an expressive and emotional character and I did find myself hoping she could find some happiness. True, the end was pretty predictable. Yes, the current timeline plot was a little tough to believe, but I was hooked and read this very quickly! Earth-shattering? No. Entertaining? Yes!

Probably my least favorite Tarryn Fisher books thus far. This was uneventful for a 'thriller'. I liked the cultish vibes, but I wanted more twists. It was told from an alternating timeline POV, and it felt disjointed.

This book was a great surprise of a read for me and I will definitely be reading more of Tarryn Fisher’s books! Wow!
I was drawn into the mc’s world instantly and loved the mean girls kind of buildup before finding out about the cult background. I was getting a definite “She’s All That” vibe, but the grown up version and this was a brilliant move by Tarryn Fisher.

Cult backgrounds are so freaking scary to me, and this book brought that creepy feel in the most well-written way. Send me all the Tarryn Fisher books!