So I'm a little podcast book-ed out, so I went into this a bit hesitant, but also excited because it was my April book club read. WOW. This was so much better than the other podcast thrillers out there. I think the key was the main character being the accused, as opposed to the podcaster! And the characters were so likable - I mean how could you not love the grandmother!!!! She is an A+++ secondary character. I also truly appreciated how real the interactions and decisions were. I never once thought - wow that would never happen in real life. Everything was so relatable, despite it being about someone accused of murdering her best friend! That takes skill, folks! This is possibly my favorite read of 2024 so far. 100% worth it - even if you're skeptical of podcast books, like I am! Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and publisher for the ARC!

Very well thought out book! Solid 4-4 1/2 ⭐️. The main characters quirky banter to herself really made the story. The podcast format also added the who dun it effect perfectly!

Would recommend this book!

This book was so good! I really dug the humorous style it's written in and I liked how the podcast was written in. For a suspense book, it was a surprisingly light and refreshing read. I laughed out loud a couple times. Lucy is such a fun, sarcastic character and I loved that under her tough, armored exterior she really had a heart of gold. The book was definitely a page turner, but I did feel like the ending was a little anticlimactic for me. All-in-all, though, I really enjoyed this one and would love to read more by this author.

Thanks for the ARC!

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for an edge of your seat thriller then this isn't the book for you. But if you're looking for a really good mystery that unfolds at a good pace with a great main character then definitely read this book.

I loved Lucy as a character. Her sense of humor is amazing and her personality is fantastic. Also her grandma is either the best character in the entire book or a extremely close second.

I really liked going back and forth between the podcast transcript and Lucy's point of view. It was interesting to find out the brand new information in the podcast and then see the characters dealing with the aftermath in the next chapter.

It quickly became apparent that Lucy was going to be my kind ofFMC. Her savage and cutting sarcastic commentary *made* this book for me. Yes, she was technically an "unreliable narrator with memory loss," a trope I usually hate, but it was hard to get too mad at her when she was consistently giving the other characters her zero fox attitude.
Between Lucy and her likewise hilariously honest Grandma Beverly, I was thoroughly entertained — and then, add in the fun podcast element and a mystery plot that kept me guessing until the end, this was absolutely a 5 star read for me!

Lucy is anxious about returning to her hometown for her grandma’s birthday. Not only is her family dysfunctional (her parents seem to sleep with everyone but each other), but in the eyes of everyone in the small Texas town, Lucy is guilty of her best friend’s murder years ago. Granted, Lucy was found wandering the woods with her friend’s blood on her dress, but there just wasn’t enough evidence to bring the case to trial, and, conveniently for the plot of this mystery, Lucy can’t remember a thing. Further complicating her homecoming is the presence of the popular podcaster, Ben Owen, who is in town to solve the mystery of Savvy’s murder once and for all. But Ben seems to be on Lucy’s side, and like most people in town, the two hook up fairly immediately.

This thriller was entertaining, and the podcast components within the novel's structure moved the story along quite nicely. However, the attempts at humor fell flat for me, and the character’s were all unrealistically unlikeable. The eventual reveal of the murderer felt anticlimactic.

Those looking for a sardonic tone and a quickly moving story will likely enjoy this book, but it’s not particularly memorable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celandon Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book. My review is voluntary and reflects my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this novel, and am kind of kicking myself for waiting to read it.

I have read a few of these podcast reviewing a cold case books recently. This one honestly was the best version. The MC is easy to follow, she has some attitude and sarcasm and is a unreliable narrator. I love this version of an unreliable narrator. There were lots of really great parts of the book. I really enjoyed Lucy I liked her attitude and how she was sarcastic. I liked the little digs on herself here and there. This book made me laugh out loud multiple times. The story itself was good, the writing was wonderful, and the story sucked me in from the beginning.

10/10 out absolutely recommend.

So many twists and turns, an unreliable narrator. Small town gossips. Loved the podcast sections of the book. Couldn't stop reading it.

This was such a great thriller! I was skeptical about reading yet another true crime podcast that calls a suspect home to relive the events. But people, this one worked so well. The pacing was spot on, the banter well done, had very realistic characters and of course a super hot podcast host. Throw this one in your beach bag!

This was a good mystery that kept me guessing throughout. I enjoyed that it contained humor to offset the serious subject. The main character definitely did some questionable things, but I still found myself rooting for her. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy a good mystery and fictionalized true-crime podcasts.
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC.

I liked the quick pacing of listen for the lie, but the writing style just wasn’t for me. I find that pop culture references tossed into a novel that isn’t about pop culture, not only dates the book, but brings me out of the story that’s trying to be told. In this case the references were not only unnecessary, but weirdly dated the book even further back with the Arya stark comment that didn’t actually make sense. I did think the story moved quickly and I enjoyed the twists and turns but ultimately had to give it two stars because the writing just wasn’t for me.

I really liked this book! Good Thriller! I didn't figure it out! I liked the podcast parts of it.

I am so happy I read this book and sad to be done with it. I miss these characters and this town but I really miss Lucy. The mystery blended so perfectly with the podcast that I could not turn away from this book. I will be recommending it an irritating amount I'm sure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC!

This was right up my ally with the dark humor and wow I was thrilled. I laughed out loud many times which made me completely fall in love with this mystery!

I don’t typically read mysteries and am glad I was able to read Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera thru NetGalley! It’s an intriguing story involving best friends, dysfunctional family, amnesia and of course an unsolved murder. Heavier topics include abuse and charing for a few. Adding in the modern take of a podcast investigating the murder makes this is a Good Read. Great adult debut novel by this author,

I read all the time and this book has the distinction being the best book I’ve read in a very long time! It is incredibly well written, captivating, and utterly thrilling! I almost wish I could reread this book without knowing what happens, just to experience it agsin—- I loved it that much!

What. A. Book!! Loved the short chapters and the podcast element. So many theories throughout the story, all of them completely wrong. Enjoyed every minute of this spectacular whodunnit!

I desperately wanted to love this one — and there are so many parts I did love, like the main character and the overall voice. Unfortunately by the 30% mark, it felt like the plot was stuck in neutral, and I ended up DNFing. I still may return to this one at some point in time as I believe I am probably the issue, not the book. I have not shared any negative feedback on my socials.

Wow!! Fast paced and easy to read! The podcast element/mixed media format was fantastic and took this book up a notch! This was my first humorous thriller and now I’m on the hunt for more! Looking forward to seeing what Amy Tintera writes next!

I loved this book. Mysteries are an outlier for me, but I've heard such good things about this one that I wanted to read it. I was not expecting the snarky humor. I loved Lucy, the main character. And Ben, the podcast host also drew me in. Ben hosts a podcast that investigates unsolved murders, and this is his second season. He goes to Lucy's hometown and interviews all kinds of people, digging up all kinds of dirt, as he tries to figure out who killed Lucy's best friend, Savannah. Lucy happens to be home at the same time and seeing what they get up to together was fascinating. We also get to know a lot of the town's residents including Lucy's family. Many secrets were uncovered. I loved the formatting of the book as well as the overall mystery. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.