Sarina Bowen doing a thriller? Must read. Ariel receives a text from someone she thought was dead. This is the man she was in love with, but ghosted her. Leaving her alone and pregnant with his child. Five years later she receives a text from him. She thought he just sent it, but it turns out there was a glitch and texts from 5 years ago were just coming in, stirring up tons of new drama from the past.
Ariel knows Drew has died, but what if he didn't ghost her? What if he had been trying to get in touch with her all those years ago before he left? She is willing to do anything to uncover the mystery around him leaving and what is going on in the company she works for.
There have been multiple shady deaths and disappearances and things just don't add up anymore.
Ariel is determined to find out the truth, for herself and her son.
This one was twisty and I really loved all of the ways that Sarina brought new technology into this. It is scary to think about all of the ways that people can monitor and spy on one another and how they will use it for their own gains. This is told in duel POV from the present and the past and it was highly addictive.
Thanks to Harper, Netgalley and Sarina for an early copy.

What is The Five Year Lie about?

Imagine that the person you love breaks up with you suddenly over text. You try to reach him, but he never responds again. A few months later you learn he died in a motorcycle accident. A few months after that, you have his child. Four years after you were left raising a child single and heartbroken, you are at work and you receive a text:

“There’s trouble. I need to see you. Meet me in one hour under the candelabra tree. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going.”

The text is from him, Drew. The love of your life. How is it possible to receive a text from a dead man? This is the scenario Ariel Cafferty finds herself in. She leaves to go to the tree. She knows the exact one her deceased ex is referring to—the one by his former little rundown apartment. She waits there for hours, but he never shows.

What did I like?

I love when writers explore a story about someone who disappeared or died and then resurfaces. The troubling thing about this scenario is that it isn’t clear if Drew actually did resurface. A text can be faked, right? Especially in this case. Ariel is the daughter of a man named Edward Cafferty who co-owns a tech company with his brother Ray. The company specializes in cameras, particularly those to help law enforcement but also personal home security cameras.

Ariel worked as an office manager for her father when she met Drew, who worked as a programmer. Drew would know how to fake a text, but so would a lot of people in Ariel’s circle. Is someone trying to trick her? Ariel has gone to great lengths to never reveal her relationship with Drew nor the fact that he is her son Buzz’s father. But when the security manager at the office, Zain, approaches her and says he knew about their relationship and offers to help her, Ariel can’t say no.

The twists start early in this book, starting with more information about the source of the text message and then following Ariel and Zain as they track down more information about Drew and the months leading up to his death. In fact, from the moment he started at the company, Drew had a lot more going on than anyone realized.

Ariel’s story is told in the present time as she and Zain are following a trail of evidence through the system logs retained at the company. In the past, Drew narrates the months leading up to his disappearance. Though Ariel is convinced that Drew was using her, the reader gets a very different version of events from Drew. He fell for Ariel quickly, and mentions multiple times that he knows he shouldn’t get involved with her or it may mess up his agenda, but he can’t help it.

What didn’t work for me?

Only a romance writer like Sarina Bowen could weave such a deep and tortured love story into a thriller plot like this. I enjoyed Drew and Ariel’s relationship and wanted to know what happened to cause Drew to leave her, but I felt that too much time was devoted to hearing Drew pining for Ariel in the past and Ariel pining for Drew in the present. It disrupted the tension from the central mystery and slowed the book down substantially from about 15% to 60%. After that, the book speeds up and the rest flies by as the reader (and Ariel) gets a lot more information.

Personally I think those parts solely about how in love each person was could have been cut in half or even by two thirds. Bowen is talented at writing a love story, so the impact would have been the same and allowed more breathing room for the mystery. I also felt that too much time was devoted to Ariel mothering Buzz and to Ariel working in the glass blowing studio. Those are great character moments, but combined with the love story they detracted from the central story.

In general this is a good book with a fantastic premise, but it could have been tightened up. I think readers who love romantic thrillers will feel differently, though! I would guess many readers will love the balance of love story to mystery.

Final Thoughts

This is an engaging book with a clever premise that I greatly enjoyed. I wanted to understand what exactly happened and how it would all come together. Some parts are far-fetched but that didn’t bother me (though it may bother some readers who need more believability in their thrillers). Ariel is a great character, and Drew I liked as well though he was a bit slippery for my taste. Zain (the cybersecurity colleague and friend helping Ariel) is the breakout character of the book. I adored him!

The interesting premise is slowed substantially through the first half by too much time devoted to the love story between Ariel and Drew, particularly in the past. Those chapters I started skimming because they didn’t reveal anything related to the mystery. And the mystery was what kept me turning the pages! Romance readers will surely love that part of the story, though. The end of the book flies by as the timelines meet and a lot more is revealed.

I felt that this book had the opposite problem of many thrillers where it emphasized the character moments too much. The mystery was so compelling, but it felt like it kept pausing to follow parts of the plot that weren’t as essential, such as Drew’s feelings about Ariel, the glassblowing studio, and Ariel and Buzz’s mundane activities. I wanted the mystery to pick up because I was so invested, and when it finally did the ending was fantastic.

A perfect book for thriller fans who like a heaping side of romance!

Thank you Harper Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

My goodness. First time reading this Author and will not be the last. Run....don't walk....to get this amazing book!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital copy in exchange for a review.

Sarina Bowen is one of my favorite romance authors, and I also love suspense novels, so I was so excited about The Five Year Lie! It totally delivered and was such a page-turner. The technology and cybersecurity backdrop was so interesting and I thought the twists and reveal were so well done. I enjoyed the chapters alternating between the past and present- it really upped the suspense for me and kept me on the edge of my seat. I hope Bowen writes more in this genre for sure.

I don't read a lot of romantic suspense, but when I do it's from my favorite authors whom I already trust. :). Sarina has been a go-to author for me for a very long time so I didn't even blink to get this new genre from her. It still has her voice and so much of her style, but it's different enough to applaud her branching out. What happens when Ariel gets a text message from someone she thought was dead? It completely shakes her world. Was it real? What did it mean? Now she's curious and needs to know what it meant. She enlists the help of a friend to try to figure out why Drew left so unexpectedly and has her wondering if he's even really dead. It seems that every string they pull unravels something new and they can't stop looking. But as the picture becomes more clear it's hard to tell the good guys from the bad ones. Now Ariel needs to keep her son safe while she's looking for a dead man and the answers. She has to remember every little detail of what he said to her all those years ago when they were together. She has no other choice, it could save their lives. I really enjoyed the story. I was invested in the search for the answers and in Ariel and Drew's journey. I saw some of the twists coming, but a few snuck up on me. Overall, it had enough suspense to keep me interested, but not stress me out and the humor, snark and romance were perfect!

Thank you Net Galley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re into books that grab you and won’t let go, “The Five Year Lie” is your next must-read. It’s got everything—a mystery that keeps you on your toes, a romance that feels real, and characters that stick with you long after you’re done reading.

Ariel’s story starts with a text that flips her world upside down, and you’re right there with her, piecing together clues and racing towards the truth. It’s the kind of book that’s perfect for a night after a long day or a lazy weekend because once you start, you won’t want to stop.

Bottom line: Sarina Bowen nailed it with this one. It’s thrilling, it’s touching, and it’s totally worth the sleep you’ll miss because you had to read just one more chapter.

4.5 stars!

I loved this book. I read it over a 24 hour period and could not put it down. There were a few different times throughout the story that I thought I knew what was going on but it was flipped. This is a mystery/thriller well done. The characters are believable and well developed. Buzz is obviously the highlight of the whole story. I loved Zain's friendship with Ariel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I can’t believe that THE FIVE YEAR LIE by Sarina Bowen is a debut! This one had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

Semi-wealthy Ariel Cafferty works part time at the family business, Chime Co. She works for her easy-going Uncle Ray who was the co-founder of the business with her father Ed Cafferty. Ray and Ed couldn’t have been more different if they tried. As Ed ruled with an iron fist, Ray is much more laid-back. When Ed dies by a painkiller overdose, her mother eventually begins to date Ray and the business holdings will remain in the family.

Ariel met the love of her life five years ago at work. Drew Miller was everything she had ever dared dream of and they had three beautiful months together before Drew disappeared without a word. Ariel has spent the last five years remembering every detail of their time together and raising the son he never knew he had. When Ariel receives a text from Drew telling her to meet him at the specified place, she is over the moon. Has he returned? Where has he been? She races to the spot, however Drew is a no-show. Crushed… again!

Ariel begins to investigate what really happened with Drew who was not at all who or what he claimed himself to be. With help from cyber security engineer, Zain, she begins to put some of the pieces together regarding Drew‘s past. As she does so, she begins to receive threatening messages. Who is sending them and why?

I’m stunned that this is a debut. It is definitely a thriller but interwoven with a touch of romance as Ariel looks back over her time with Drew. The writing is clear and concise and had my pulse pounding and heart racing throughout. This was a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

Sarina Bowen delivers a captivating mystery with a hint of romance in 'The Five Year Lie,' a heart-pounding thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end. From the opening pages, Bowen skillfully sets the stage for a gripping tale of love, loss, and deception.

At the center of the story is Ariel Cafferty, whose world is turned upside down when she receives a mysterious text from her long-lost love, Drew, who she believed to be dead. As Ariel delves into the truth behind Drew's disappearance, she uncovers a web of lies and deceit that threatens everything she thought she knew. Bowen deftly navigates the twists and turns of the plot, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each revelation.

One of the standout elements of 'The Five Year Lie' is Ariel's unwavering devotion to her son and her determination to uncover the truth, even in the face of danger. Bowen expertly balances the emotional depth of Ariel's journey with the pulse-pounding suspense of the mystery, creating a compelling narrative that is both thrilling and heartfelt.

As a fan of Sarina Bowen's romance novels, I was pleasantly surprised by her foray into the mystery genre. While the book may differ from her usual fare, Bowen's trademark storytelling prowess shines through, making 'The Five Year Lie' a captivating read from start to finish.

In conclusion, 'The Five Year Lie' is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense, offering a riveting blend of intrigue and romance. Sarina Bowen proves once again why she is a master storyteller, delivering a thrilling page-turner that will leave readers eagerly anticipating her next literary venture. Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.25 STARS
This is the author’s first romantic suspense/thriller (I’ve read and loved her previous sports romance novels ) and I was intrigued throughout this story. It goes from five years past to present throughout as the story unfolds. It was easy to follow the time changes, I was riveted by the characters and the storyline. It takes a few very timely topics and spins a mystery that kept me guessing.
I like the characters a lot, I enjoyed the romantic aspects.
I enjoyed the character development as well as the mystery. The secondary characters add some warmth and depth to the main characters journey.
As things progress it gets more suspenseful, I was wary and suspicious of almost everyone. I was anxious waiting for the inevitable proverbial other shoe to drop. And, it does and in a big way.
Towards the end there is some brief action and the danger closes in.
It’s an enjoyable story with great characters. It’s evenly paced until the end. I feel like things ended a bit quickly and everything was tied up easily and without as much detail as I would have liked. Overall, it was a very entertaining read, I’m excited to see what the author writes next.

I enjoyed this thriller and read it mostly in one sitting. While I had figured out large portions of it there were a couple of bits where the twists caught me. It’s just a normal day at work but Ariel gets a disturbing text asking her to meet, but the text came from the love of her life who ghosted her and then turned up in an obituary robbing her of the chance to let him know he was a father. When she realizes it was a glitch where a bunch of text messages hadn’t gone through 5 years ago she starts to investigate and realizes that there was much more to the man she loved that she could have guessed. The mor she finds the more she realizes she didn’t know anything. There were some bits I liked more than others and some that confused me (I will never understand Ariel’s mother), but I really liked it. Of course Buzz definitely stole this show with his awesomeness. I liked that while there was romance in it, this book was a thriller all the way. The story is told in two timelines present tense and past tense which was mostly from Drew’s perspective.

Ariel is shocked one day to get a text message from her old boyfriend and the father of her son. It's out of the blue because he died about five years ago, but the text is asking her to meet him. I liked the interesting characters and how the pieces slowly fell into place as the story unfolded. There are plenty of twists and turns, especially as the dual POV has chapters from Ariel in the present and Drew's chapters are set in the past.

The Five Year Lie was an excellent read from Sarina Bowen. I am a big fan of her romance books and was excited to try this mystery/thriller. The story and characters hooked me from the very beginning, and I did not want to put the book down. I hope Sarina writes more in this genre!

Intriguing story.

This is an intriguing romance mystery suspense story and a first for Sarina Bowen. Overall, I enjoyed the intrigue and this one kept me guessing to try and figure out who was behind everything.

Ariel receives a text 5 years too late which sends her life in a spinning and somewhat nefarious direction. You see the text is from Drew who ghosted her five years ago and whom she thought was dead. Is he or isn't he?!?

Ariel discovers a mystery wrapped up in intrigue and it will lead to lies, deception, heartbreak, and more. I did enjoy the dual POV, so we got to see the modern day through Ariel's eyes and the past through Drew's.

Interesting characters and an interesting story. Enjoyable read.

I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy from the publisher via Net Galley.

I've read some other books by this author and this is a different feel from her others. Ariel's life took a turn in a different direction when she received a text from a deceased ex. The mystery of what happened to her ex started to unwind from there. The book had me questioning who you could trust. There were several unexpected twists that were surprising. The ending was well done. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen if the first thriller by this author and I loved it. A huge fan of her contemporary romances, I was excited to read this one and she did not disappoint. Here we have Ariel and her son. We know something is wrong right from the prologue and then we meet Ariel and the man that changed everything for her. She thought she met the love of her life and then he vanished. Just gone. Then five years later she gets a text from a dean man. Impossible, right? And so, begins our reading journey.

Ariel questions lead to a truth that destroys her and everything she believes in. Then as she begins to dig deeper, more questions arise. I truly enjoyed how the author gave us past/present to build on the story and what happened/is happening. In the midst of this, we learn Drew and Ariel’s story, which leads to her son. Not only is she trying to figure out what happened and why, we learn of their love and how everything unfolded between them. I was captivated from beginning to end and cannot wait to read more thrillers from this author.

Happy reading!

Despite having a trust fund, Ariel works part time at her overly critical Dad and uncle’s security company as an Admin. There she meets Drew and they fall into a secretive tryst only for him to disappear suddenly without saying goodbye and the only trace an obituary of his death a few months later. A text from him comes through 5 years later as part of a group of texts that got stuck in a server and were delayed saying there is trouble and to meet him. This launches Ariel headlong into a deep dive to find out more about him for herself and the son he never knew about. The search gets dangerous as breakins, thefts and even deaths occur around her as she gets closer and closer to the tangled web of truth on why he left suddenly and about her family and their company.

I loved this book - the characters, Ariel’s devotion to her son, and the twists and turns in the search for the truth! Sometimes you just have to go with your gut instinct!

Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

What a thrilling ride. This suspense storyline will captivate you from the beginning and the intrigue will keep you hostage until the end. Definitely worth the read

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. This was such a fun thriller. I feel like it could have cut a few pages while still telling the same story but overall it was super good. I’m glad the ending was tied up nicely too.

4 stars. This was a good book, despite it not being in my usual romance genre. The Five Year Lie is a stand alone mystery/suspense book with a dash of romantic element by Sarina Bowen. As I am a Sarina Bowen fan, I willingly stepped out of my comfort zone. The Five Year Lie is Ariel's story. Five years ago, her boyfriend Drew ghosted her, leaving her alone - and unbeknownst to her - pregnant, with no way to contact him. In the present, she receives a mysterious text from Drew and Ariel must unravel the mystery of what happened to him.

This was a good story and an interesting mystery. It was a fast paced, easy read that kept my attention. Ariel was a little hard for me to like at first, but she got better as the story went on. It was understandable after what she had been through that she would be bitter and it was good to see her growth. I also enjoyed the dash of romantic elements and appreciated that they was there. Overall, this was an enjoyable mystery and I am glad to have read it. I look forward to whatever Ms. Bowen comes up with next!

THIS. BOOK. I wish I could erase my brain and read this again for the first time. That’s how good it was. I love Sarina Bowen’s romances and her thriller debut didn’t disappoint.

It’s one thing to get a text from an ex boyfriend. Something else entirely to get a text from your dead ex boyfriend. So when it happens Ariel, she can’t help but dive deep into the mystery of Drew, the man she loved who just disappeared one day. And so begins one of the most compelling thrillers I’ve ever read, a book I literally could not put down.

There were so many twists and Bowen laid the groundwork every step along the way, so I bought in, 100%. The storytelling style of bouncing back and forth between the past and the present was done so seamless and perfectly done that despite the book being long, it doesn’t feel long. Every plot was meticulously thought out and I cannot wait for Bowen to write more thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an ARC of this book!