Shari Lapena is the queen of Canadian thrillers! Make that North American thrillers. Her books have great twists, enjoyable plots, killer endings. This was no exception. This author is an auto buy for me. 100%
Now this may not be my favourite by this author it was still a book I devoured in 1 day. Couldn’t put it down.
Child psychopath may be my new fave thriller genre.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

The plot of Everyone Here is Lying includes a neighbourhood affair, a missing child, and -you guessed it- a whole lot of lies. Some come from those you’d expect, and others are more surprising.

Over the course of the investigation to find 9 year old Avery there are a number of theories, suspects, and red herrings. It was interesting to watch the story unfold from a variety of perspectives, especially as more truths (and lies) are uncovered. With that said, I was hoping for more character development beyond what was at the surface.

After reading a bunch of books recently that went back and forth in time and location, it was a nice change of pace to read a book that takes place over a short period of time in a small town. The book took a surprising turn about 2/3 way through and I found the ending to be simultaneously drawn out and abrupt.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) of Shari Lapena`s Everyone Is Lying. I really enjoyed the book. There was a lot of information given about each of the characters in the book. Some were introduced later than others adding to the plot. There was a lot of suspense throughout the book and the story continued to take twists and turns creating an ending that was twisted and creepy yet amusing as well. It was an entertaining read that i rated as 4 stars out of 5. I would recommend this book to others.

Rating: 2.8 / 5

***Received ARC from Netgalley for honest review.***

I got through this fairly quickly, so suffice to say that I am glad that I gave Shari Lapena a second chance. This book is...quite honestly, as tangled a web to unweave as the title AND the summary suggests, so in that I was not disappointed.

As the story goes, William and Nora are having an affair, but then Nora calls it off because she remembers that hey, they're both parents and both married to other people, and they should really put their families first. I mean, it's admirable and all, except that if someone really cared about their family, then they wouldn't cheat in the first place, no?

Anyway, William's not too happy about this, and so he goes home early one day and unexpectedly finds one of his kids here--the "problem child", Avery. William loses his temper and hits Avery as a result, and then....

...well, then story fast-forwards to Avery's brother, Michael, coming home and panicking because she's not anywhere that she's supposed to be, and so the panic of "who took Avery?!" begins from there.

Now, this is a story that...needs to be delicately woven. Like, first we'll suspect William (because she assume he was the last person to see Avery when he hit her, and that maybe he's done something worse and is just covering up for it?), and then we'll suspect someone else, and then someone else, and so on. Because we know from the title to expect that "everyone here is lying", it also makes it more compelling for us to go through the story and try to put together what parts may be true and what parts are lies--and for what reason those people may be lying.

Needless to say, quite a few things are uncovered, but the conclusions are pretty similar to what I've seen done in other mystery thrillers before: namely, that everyone is hiding a secret that makes them a secretly terrible person, and therefore people suck, and the psycho behind everything may actually be justified in being as fucked up as they are.

Ahem, pardon my language, of course.

But anyway, all this really leads up to something as we, the readers, keep coming to dead ends on our guesses and then have to backtrack and pick someone else as the real mastermind behind everything.

And...that's fine, except....

Well, I'm gonna ruin the ending here a bit, so spoiler mode:

{{{Even at the end, we never REALLY get a full explanation of what happened. Like...the last lines are LITERALLY asking the person to give the full story behind everything, but then it just...cuts off.

It couldn't have been more of a cliffhanger than if we, the readers, held this book in our hands and literally walked off a cliff that just sprang up out of nowhere whilst we were reading. THAT'S how sudden it is.

And...yeah, I don't appreciate it. In some books, I'll acknowledge that it does work, but...

...Let me put it this way, as direct advice to the author: The books that make that work are the exception, Shari, NOT the rule. Get me?

So...yeah, the ending takes off an entire star from my rating, and let's just leave it at that. }}}

All in all, I'd have to say that while this is definitely better in terms of writing style--which is the main reason I never really got into Shari Lapena's writing...EVER--I still wouldn't say that this puts Shari Lapena books on my to-read list. Just not my cup of tea, it seems, no matter how hard she tries. Sorry, I guess?

Secrets, suspects, lies. Everyone has them. And then there's Avery, the nine-year-old girl who disappears. Who took her? Why did an anonymous witness lie about what she saw on the fateful afternoon?

I loved the plot twists, the number of suspects, and the relationships between all the players on Connaught St. Young and old, their lives intertwined by the events surrounding Avery's disappearance.

Had I not started reading it late in the day, I would have finished it in one sitting. I was glued to the virtual pages in my quest to find out exactly what happened and who did it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The was a fast paced thriller. There were multiple points of view but it was still easy to follow. The writing kept my attention, most of the characters were awful (not written badly, just really unlikeable people) and I really love when I have characters to hate. It was a fun easy read.

The ending was a bit disappointing because I wanted more and it was pretty abrupt. But there is resolution and we do find out what happens.

Looking forward to my next read from Shari Lapena!

Thank you to Shari Lapena, Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for this e-ARC!

This novel cured my reading slump. I was given the opportunity to read this ARC thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House.
Stanhope is a small town that has always been safe… until it wasn’t.
Avery Wooler a nine year old girl, has vanished and everyone seems to be hiding something.
Her father William seems to be a perfect man on the outside but he’s far from it. He has been having an affair with a neighbour, Nora. He also has a temper geared towards his oppositional daughter and was the last person to have seen Avery alive.
Her Mother Erin is very caring but finds Averys behavioural challenges difficult and gives in more than not to avoid the outburst.
Her Brother Michael is jealous that Avery has all the attention all the time. He feels invisible to his parents and is sensitive.
The family reports Avery missing and the investigation into her disappearance begins.
It seems almost everyone on the street is unaware of any wrongdoing until a witness comes forward with information that may or may not be true and with that the ball begins to roll, everyone shares their thoughts and opinions with police. Leads or not they follow up. Everyone in the neighbourhood is starting to become unhinged and they begin to see each other as suspects.
Is it Averys only friend who deems her a liar? her brother who is jealous of the attention she gets? her parents who struggle with her behaviours? Nora’s husband getting back at her and William for their affair? a predator?or someone else? The suspect list is long but you will not see the twist coming and the motive behind it.
I finished this novel in 24hrs, I couldn’t put it down. It really kept me guessing the whole time as the possibilities were endless. A five star read that I highly recommend!

This is a twisted, creepy thriller that takes the toxic neighbourhood trope and runs with it. What a street! I wasn't a big fan of the quick pov changes and the over-the-topness of it all but I know that I'm in the minority. I did want to finish the book to see what happens but I was happy to be done with it at the end.

Hooo hooo hooo!!! This book kept me on my toes. Non stop action, so much information coming at you. Who was lying, who was telling the truth.

You’re reading and literally questioning everything that everyone is saying. I did not expect that twist- and the ending 😂 Everyone got what they deserved.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this in advanced. This was my first Shari Book and I will continue with her others. Very well written, and interesting.

How many scandals can be happening in one town? How about on one street? Everyone Here is Lying explores what happens to a neighborhood when a child goes missing- do they come together or crumble apart?

This was a page turner- one of the most unputdownable books I've read this year. Fast-paced, full of twists that will keep you guessing. Everytime I thought I had the plot figured out, Lapena hit me with new information that changed by perspective completely.

Bravo's Real Housewives meets Law & Order.

A relentlessly fast-paced thriller set in a small town where nothing bad happens – until it does. Dr. William Wooler has been cheating on his wife with Nora Blanchard, a volunteer at the local hospital. When his daughter Avery goes missing, suspicion falls upon William when he is found lying about his whereabouts on the afternoon she disappeared.

Told through the perspectives of all parties involved, we are able to get into their respective psyches. We are omniscient, while – as per the title – our cast of characters lie and manoeuvre to protect their secrets and their loved ones. As the Woolers' neighbours start to come forward with their own information, can anyone be trusted?

The multiple twists and reveals throughout the novel had me gasping! The ending was also incredibly satisfying. This was probably my favourite of Shari Lapena's novels thus far, and I highly recommend it for fans of tense domestic and psychological thrillers.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t read many thrillers but I was in the mood for one tonight and it did not disappoint. I read the book all in one sitting, and I loved the suspense. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what happened the whole time. I really enjoyed how we got so many different POV and got to know so much about all the different characters.

I love a good neighbourhood thriller and this one does not disappoint. Shari Lapena gives us a long list of characters, oops I mean suspects, in this kidnapping case. Who kidnapped the popular local doctor's daughter? As we read on we learn the nice family doctor is not as nice as we thought and this quaint little cul-de-sac is not so quaint.

This is multi-perspective tale so the reader thinks they are getting the true story throughout the book but don't forget that Shari Lapena likes to write a manipulative tale. Take everything you read with a grain of salt. Learning about the secrets about the neighbourhood makes the book a fun romp and finding out who the kidnapper is satisfying.

My only negative was the abrupt ending. It was unsatisfying in my opinion but it would not discourage me from recommending this book. Head to your local library or pick this book up at your local bookstore for a good summer read. Don't forgot to think about who is living beside you!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book.

Shari Lapena has long been one of my favourite aurthors and I impatiently await her new releases and Everyone Here is Lying is one of her best works!

Avery Wooler is missing, and it is completely unravelling the neighborhood. As different suspicious and accusations come to light, it's clear that no one is telling the truth. Will they find Avery in time? This one has a twist that I can honestly say I did not see coming!

I truly feel like I just visited the most screwed up neighborhood there ever was - and it has made me infinitely happy that I don't live in a suburban neighborhood!

When Avery, a 9-year-old girl, disappears one day after school, the whole community is put into a tailspin. Where could she have went? The race against time begins and everyone hopes they can find her alive and we’ll before something bad happens.
The people closest to Avery, her parents, may have to deal with secrets coming out if Avery is found, for instance the affair William is having with one of their neighbours or how he loses his temper sometimes with his behaviourally challenged daughter.
The neighbours are not as innocent as they seem and things threaten to escalate the longer Avery is missing.

I really enjoyed Shari Lapena’s newest novel and think it fits in nicely with her other domestic mysteries. At times the flow of the book seems to be a bit repetitive and the ending a bit rushed, which is the only reason this book is not getting 5 Stars.
If you have liked any of Lapena’s other novels, you are sure to like this one also!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Everyone Here Is Lying releases July 25, 2023

<i>“I love Avery, she’s my daughter—but I’m afraid of her. I’m not sure what she’s capable of.”</I>

This is your classic small town, suburban neighbourhood thriller where everyone's business is everyone’s problem and messy lies and secrets disrupt the harmony of the entire street.

The story starts out with the end of an affair between two married parents, William and Nora.
William is thrown off track when he comes home early to find his nine year old there when she wasn’t supposed to be. He gets angry, and with his history of lashing out, he hits his daughter.
Between the time of them both being at home, and roughly 1-2 hours later when the mother and son come home for the day, Avery has gone missing.

Everyone Here Is Lying is told in multi-pov, and at first I didn’t find it too overwhelming, but as more characters started being introduced, it really got to be too much (I lost count after a whopping 12 pov’s). You get the perspectives of most family members, neighbours, and detectives, and they frequently switch within chapters with no indications — this might be a deal breaker for some readers if you’re not able to read through it in one sitting.

I thought that the whereabouts of Avery was revealed too early in the story (65%) and having to read the word “molesting” over and over (even though nothing happened) wasn’t fun.

For context, it’s told that Avery has a learning disability, ADHD, and behavioural problems, but I think it was much more than that.
Reading about psychopathic/sociopathic adults is unsettling enough, but to read about such a calculating and unhinged nine year old who is still developing is another level. Big nope for me.
Which leads me to how this book ended: it did not add up for me considering the characteristics that were already established. I didn’t buy that she would suddenly slip up with her false story and it felt abrupt as a whole.

And to think, all of this would not have happened if cheaters didn’t exist!!!!! :)
ffs I hate the cheating trope/plot device and it seems to be following me in like 90% of the books I’ve read this year.


cw: physical abuse, cheating

Another twisty thriller from Shari Lapena! When a child goes missing, neighbourhood secrets come to the surface, threatening to destroy families. Fingers point at everyone, including the girl’s father and the son of the woman he is having an affair with.

Lapena’s crisp writing style makes for an easy read with a fast-paced plot to keep the pages turning. Told from multiple points of view, the story unfolds with an intimate look inside the lives of neighbourhood residents. More than one household has something to hide.

When the truth is revealed, the ending comes a bit abruptly. I found this to be an effective close to the main storyline, but would have liked an epilogue to see the aftereffects on the families involved.

All in all, a suspenseful mystery with plenty of neighbourhood drama, Everyone Here is Lying will keep you reading till the shocking end.

3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4!

Well I flew through this one! That being said, I still found it hard to rate. There were so many great things about the story AKA: The TWISTS though! 😱)

The only negative about this book for me seems to be the repetition. The problem is there was A LOT of it. It made the story feel like it was dragging on at certain points.

Besides that, I love the format in which it’s written; in 3rd person POV but seamlessly transitions from person to person as the events are directly happening so we’re getting everyone’s POV to the events in one sitting.

At the same time it’s written very simple. Short sentences, short chapters. Very to the point, easy, which could also be why it feels so repetitive.

Onto the characters: Avery was almost too smart/complex for a 9 year old… but damn reading about her character was wild and I actually enjoyed it because it made me feel lots of things (no spoilers here).

Also the culprits reasoning for doing what they do, sat with me a little weirdly cause it’s random but I definitely get it and it made everything in the story come together so smoothly!

Almost none of the characters were likeable (which actually was a positive in this case).

& just when you think you know whodunnit or what even happened, another character with a wild secret is exposed and it makes you question all of your judgment. This is what I love about Lapena’s books: they ALWAYS hit you (almost subtlety) with that OHHHHHH factor! I love seeing the crazy connections and the sneaky hints of the story.

Also, absolutely loved the ending. Loved, loved, loved!

Shari Lapena is an auto buy author for me & this book is no different! I would recommend Everyone Here is Lying if you love fast paced, secret-ridden, twisty suspense/thriller books!!

Thank you NetGalley, DoubleDay Publishing & Shari Lapena for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada as well as Shari Lapena for this eARC. I don't know what to say about this book. This book started off strong for me and then I felt it went nowhere. I dragged so much. When the twist came, I wanted to just throw my device down because it was exactly what I thought it would be. The book was not my favorite from Shari but I will still read more from here. As well, when the twist was presented, I felt the book could have ended right there as well.

The premise for this immediately hooked me: I am a sucker for stories with missing persons. Here, a "difficult" nine-year-old girl named Avery vanishes in a small neighbourhood, and soon people aren't sure who to trust.

I will say I struggled a bit with the writing and pacing. The first 50% felt very long and drawn-out, as we slowly learn all the major characters involved, and their reactions to Avery's disappearance. The short POVs and chapters kept me turning the pages, but I found the amount of characters and the way the narration constantly jumped between POVs a bit overwhelming. As a result, in the first chunk of the book, it was easy to lose track of characters' identities and relationships to one another. There was an overall lack of depth or characterization for most characters, since we follow so many different characters and spend so little time with most of them. I also have to say I didn't particularly like the way certain characters with autism or other perceived behavioural "difficulties" were handled.

The twist/reveal of Avery's disappearance was definitely unexpected. But, without giving away spoilers, it all felt rather rushed and unbelievable after a certain point, particularly regarding some of Avery's decisions and actions. Again, this may be due to a lack of overall characterization, but it wasn't enough for us to simply read about how difficult of a child she is and then somehow believe her outlandish plan. I was also shocked by the abrupt ending--I kept scrolling, assuming there would be more, like an epilogue. Unfortunately, it was not a satisfactory ending for me, and after loving NOT A HAPPY FAMILY, it didn't live up to my expectations of the author.