The Five Year Lie took off running with the prologue, and I never caught my breath. It was a suspenseful read and highlighted some of the scary things that could happen with artificial intelligence and “big brother is always watching.” Don’t let the mention of AI scare you off, as the story doesn’t go so deep in the weeds that the plot isn’t understandable. The love between the main characters Drew and Ariel is undeniable and gives the reader hope that they will find a happily ever after. After finishing the book, I still had a few lingering questions of how involved Ariel’s mom was, and there was definite foreboding vibes from warnings from Ariel’s best friends. There are heavy, heartbreaking topics and possible triggers, so make sure you do your research, if that is a concern. If you are looking for a love story filled with mystery, I would definitely recommend The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen.

Thank you to @netgalley, @harperperennial, and @sarinabowen for an ARC of The Five Year Lie, in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a big Sarina Bowen fan and would like to see her continue to try her hand at expanding into other genres, so I was curious about this one even though I'm super picky about domestic suspense since it's not a primary interest of mine. With that caveat, the initial set-up was handled well, but the core concept here is retreading ground a lot of other thrillers have gone over. Given that it's really difficult to come up with the kind of twists that work to keep it fresh--and in general, the kind of twists that make any thriller truly great--to begin with, for me the writing and execution need to be enough to make up for it with any thriller which isn't brilliantly sticking the landing... and realistically, that's the majority of them. So I'm not slamming THE FIVE YEAR LIE when I say I felt like this book didn't stand out as far as pulling that off either. (It also probably didn't help that I read it and Laurie Elizabeth Flynn's similarly positioned TILL DEATH DO US PART around the same time, but the writing there was doing something more literary in Flynn's case, which made the read more interesting to me personally.) However, the characterization and romance and everything I already like about Bowen were very much in evidence here, and that made for an enjoyable enough reading experience that I don't regret the time spent and would definitely recommend to readers who consume a lot more of this type of book than I normally do.

I have really enjoyed Sarina Bowen's other series - Brooklyn Hockey, Bruisers and True North are really wonderful- so I figured I would give her latest novel, The Five Year Lie a chance even though it's a domestic thriller instead of a romance. Ultimately it fell flat for me.

Ariel has been raising her son, Buzz, alone for four years since her boyfriend, Drew, suddenly left town and she finds out later he died when a telecom glitch sends out texts five years late. Her text is from Drew and makes it seem like he was trying to see her before he left. This text sends her on a wild ride that uncovers terrible secrets about her family, the family business and Drew.

I really thought the premise of the story was interesting- getting a belated text that could have changed your whole life but I was really bored after that. I wasn't invested in the main characters and all the invasion of privacy from the Chime Co Ariel's family owned was creepy but probably too close to true life for me. I did enjoy the different POV's but thought the pace was off - slow in some parts then wrapped up in a rush.

I will definitely read her other series but will avoid her domestic thrillers from now on.

I don’t know that I’ve ever even tried to make a secret of my Sarina Bowen fandom. There are very very few authors who are such a sure thing for me. Even so, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from Bowen’s first mystery/thriller.

But y’all.

Ohmygosh.

Sarina Bowen continues to reign supreme as one of my (very few) sure thing authors.

This was SO good!!!

And, I’m not a mystery/thriller reader. Sometime over the last several years I started chasing the romance high, and eventually that overtook all other chases. These days I find that a mystery/thriller has to be just perfectly written in order to hold my attention and not keep me from dropping it in search of that romance high. And when I tell you that Bowen delivered…

The Five Year Lie was so compulsively readable. It kept me guessing. I actually felt like I knew exactly how things were going to play out very early on. And then it flipped. And then it flipped again. And then the ending had my head spinning and my heart filling to bursting and I literally could not put the book down. I found myself in that space that every reader encounters from time to time: not wanting to put the book down, but also not wanting it to end. It was that kind of good.

This is still the Sarina Bowen I’ve come to know and love. The storytelling is top tier, the writing is smart and relatable, and the feels – they’re all there, they just present a little differently in this story. I absolutely adored it and enthusiastically recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so close to earning 5 stars! If you haven't read the book yet, I will say that the first 75% or so was amazing. I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen next. I was constantly guessing about possibilities and trying to piece things together. That part of the book alone would have earned 5 stars! Unfortunately, the book took a nose dive. I felt like the rest of the book was very rushed when it was written and didn't match the rest of the book. Ariel went from being an amazing character that questioned everything to being someone who just accepted whatever was thrown at her.

The rest of my review may not make complete sense to someone who hasn't read the book, but I am trying to avoid too much detail/spoilers. When they were dropped off in a town by a helpful woman, Ariel must have left all self worth behind. She didn't demand answers like her character should have. Five years of being haunted by a ghost deserves to much more than what she got in a way of emotion and answers. She allowed things to get swept under the rug and just went with the flow. I don't know if the author was running out of time to get this story published or what, but I expected so much more from the last 25% of the book. There was a scene where she acted very brave, but other than that she was lacking depth. I didn't mind the overall outcome of the story, but I think that there should have been more emotion and details along the way after the drop off. A good fight or two, more emotion between her child and the other characters, etc. This part of the book earned 3 stars, if I am being generous.

've read a number of Sarina Bowen books before. I've loved them. I was given an opportunity to read an advance copy of this book so I jumped on it. I was surprised that this one is a story about corporate and family intrigue, but with a love story right in the center of it.

Arial's family is very well off. Her father and her uncle founded a company in Maine that took off like a rocket. Arial works for the company part time, but she pursues her love of glass blowing, while raising her son. He's 4 now and his father left and then died before the boy was born. But a strange text has Arial wondering if he's still alive. Also, some events cause her to be concerned about how the company works.

Sarina Bowen can really write a great story. In this book, the tension grows and grows. I was reading on a Kindle and I noticed that I was reading more and more quickly toward the end of the book. I had planned to stay up to finish it, no matter what, but I finished it earlier than expected because the ending grabbed me.

I used to live in Portland and I worked in Westbrook, so I got an extra kick out of reading this story.

Single mum Ariel has a young son. She loved his father Drew very much, but he abandoned her, and then died. At least that’s what she’s always believed…

It’s what she’s always thought until one morning a text comes through which could only have been sent by him. Are they words from beyond the grave? Is Drew really out there?? Somewhere?? After all these years?? Ariel is determined to find out why she’s just received a text from Drew. And what really happened to Drew five years ago…

The Five Year Lie is incredible. It’s an absolute page turner, part romance and part thriller, I was invested in this story from the very beginning. There was suspense, and twists and turns I never expected or saw coming. And to me that makes it the perfect thriller!

I am a long time fan of Sarina Bowen and this has shown she can clearly write in any genre she decides to turn her hand to writing.

"The Five Year Lie" by Sarina Bowen is an absolute rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue. From the very first page, I was hooked by Ariel's journey to uncover the truth about her deceased ex-lover, Drew.
The tension is palpable, and every twist and turn kept me on the edge of my seat. The author’s writing effortlessly draws you into Ariel's world, making you feel every shock and revelation right alongside her. I couldn't put it down, racing through the pages to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the surface. With its heart-stopping romance and spine-tingling suspense, this domestic thriller is a must-read for fans of the genre.
I devoured it in one sitting and was left eagerly anticipating her next venture into the world of thrillers.
If you're looking for a gripping read that will keep you guessing until the very end, look no further than "The Five Year Lie".

Very grateful to the publisher for this copy, opinions are my own.

I really did enjoy the premise of this novel, and the first half had me fully captivated. I felt the beginning was perfectly balanced between the tech thriller as the driving force with the romantic element intertwined. If I was grading just the first half, this was a 4.5/5-star novel for me. However, about halfway through, the pace jumped erratically and I really lost focus about what was happening. By the time Ariel left home and got on the bus to Michigan, I could no longer suspend disbelief - I simply couldn't imagine a single mom dragging her toddler through all of that rigamarole. The way she just... fell back in love with the man who abandoned her and their child was so far-fetched and all of the sudden they're back in Maine living happily ever after. Just unbelievable and dropped my rating down to about 3.5 stars. For a first time thriller, I think this is pretty good but I'll be eager to read more and see her Bowen's thriller style develops as she continues to explore this genre.

I know we're not necessarily supposed to comment on edits, but there were some glaring typos and mistakes that were hard to read past - I felt like the author got really sloppy in the second half. Incorrect names, referring to reveals before the reveal even happened (which was kind of a spoiler at times!), and generally spelling all needs to be combed through with a fine-toothed comb before publication.

I was so excited to open The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen.
This romance/thriller was utterly fascinating.
The writing was sharp and at a perfect pace that kept me interested.
This author does an excellent job of creating an atmospheric setting that adds to the tension of the story.
The writing itself is well done, and the pace keeps you turning pages.
The author's ability to create suspenseful settings and well-written characters makes this book worth reading. The setting & descriptions really put the reader in the action.
The Five Year Lie is one I found myself pulled into quickly and unwilling to put down.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

EXCELLENT! What a great book! It kept me on my toes! The Five Year Lie is full of mystery, lies, fraud, betrayal, potential murder, romance and love. It also poses questions about the allure of power, the influence of money and what can happen when advanced technology gets into the wrong hands. Just how safe are those personal doorbell cameras that so many people have today? What about all the other technological devices that people carry with them or have in their homes? How about workplace technology? This book was thrilling, tense, gripping and had me rooting for Ariel, the main character, the whole way. 4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the digital ARC.

I absolutely loved this thriller from Sarina Bowen. It had the touch of romance that IS Sarina however with a mysterious twist. I have to say, I had no idea what was going to happen until it happened. It literally kept me on my toes and turning pages. I couldn’t stop reading!

I thoroughly enjoyed the flashbacks of Ariel and Drew and l their budding, secret romance. Receiving that text message from Drew, who had been dead for several years, completely upended her and her son, Buzz, life.

I really hope this is not the last of this genre book we get from Sarina. I hope more are planned for the future.

I'm always a little hesitant when an author writes a different genre than what they are known for. Some do it well, and others aren't quite as successful. Sarina Bowen knocked this out of the park with this one, in my opinion. While parts of the mystery were easy to figure out if you read enough domestic thrillers, this story was absolutely about the twisted journey to the conclusion. Ariel has always tried to be strong, but she truly grows into her strength when she now has someone other than herself to protect. Sarina throws enough subterfuge your way to change your focus while keeping you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the conclusion.

Ariel has mourned and accepted the death of her one true love five years ago, but when she receives a text from Drew telling her that something has happened and to meet her under the candelabra tree, she doesn’t hesitate because he may be alive! When she arrives at the tree and he doesn’t show, all her memories of Drew come flooding back. Did Drew really die in that motorcycle crash five years ago? Ariel stars digging into his personal life, and his work life when he was employed at her father’s company, Chime Co. where they met. Her discoveries could put her life in danger, but she needs to figure out the puzzle of Drew’s secret life.

This book kept my nerdy side engaged with the introduction of Zain. His technology knowledge of cracking cybersecurity codes gave me major spy vibes. Throughout the book, I was rooting for Ariel and Zain to put their minds together and figure out Drew’s mysterious disappearance for the sake of Ariel’s five year old son, Buzz, who Drew never knew about.

This book was INTENSE! I love a good romance thriller with shocking twists, lovable characters, and an unforgettable ending. This book was long, but it was a very fast read with the chapters bouncing back and forth between the past and present. If you love an action packed book, this one is for you.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks/Harper Paperbacks for providing me an advance copy of Sarina Bowen’s #domesticthriller, The Five Year Lie, in exchange for an honest review.

Title: A Riveting Blend of Mystery and Romance: "The Five Year Lie" by Sarina Bowen

Rating: ★★★★☆

In "The Five Year Lie," Sarina Bowen delivers a captivating tale that seamlessly blends elements of mystery and romance. For Ariel, a 30-year-old single mother in Maine, life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a mysterious text from Drew, the father of her four-year-old son Buzz, who left her without a word years ago and tragically passed away soon after. As Ariel grapples with the shock of this unexpected message, she finds herself drawn into a web of intrigue and uncertainty.

Bowen's narrative unfolds with skillful pacing, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Ariel navigates the complexities of her past and the uncertain future that awaits her. The tension builds steadily as Ariel seeks answers, unsure if she's the victim of a cruel prank or if something more sinister is at play.

What sets "The Five Year Lie" apart is Bowen's ability to infuse the story with genuine emotion and depth. Despite its thrilling premise, the novel is grounded in the very real struggles and triumphs of its characters, particularly Ariel as she grapples with the complexities of motherhood, love, and loss.

While the romance in the story may not be the typical go-to genre for some readers, Bowen's deft touch ensures that it feels organic and heartfelt, adding an extra layer of depth to the narrative. The relationship between Ariel and Drew is portrayed with authenticity and tenderness, making it a compelling centerpiece of the story.

Overall, "The Five Year Lie" is a captivating read that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. With its blend of mystery, romance, and genuine emotion, Sarina Bowen's latest novel is sure to leave a lasting impression.

This was compulsively readable...I could not and did not want to put it down. Don't pick this one up until you are ready to binge read it in one setting!

The story has a very interesting premise. "On an ordinary Monday morning, Ariel Cafferty's phone buzzes with a disturbing text message. Something’s happened. I need to see you. Meet me under the candelabra tree ASAP. The words would be jarring from anyone, but the sender is the only man she ever loved. And it's been several years since she learned he died."

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed many of the authors hockey romance stories and I was excited to see that she was writing a mystery novel. The chilling message that Ariel receives from Drew has her looking to the past to find the truth as what she thought was the truth was a lie. The point of view of the story alternates between Ariel in the Present and Drew 5 years in the past. I found Ariel to be a very strong protagonist that was well developed and most readers will be able to relate to her inner thoughts and emotions. I thought there was a nice mix of romance in the mystery aspect of the story. I felt like there were a couple plot holes but that aspect did not diminish my enjoyment of the book. As Ariel delves further in the past more clues come to light that lead the readers on a very thrilling ride to the final reveal.

Thank you Net galley for this advanced reader copy.

4.5/5

I loved this book.
You go through the current times and the past times with Amelia, Drew, and the bad guys perspectives. The story twists and turns. It’s a little predictable but I loved it. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to keep knowing what was happening!

Ariel met Drew at the office, her father and uncle's company. He was a new programmer, and she was there because it was job and to appease her family. They kept their relationship away from the office, though. Soon, it ended when Drew left town and ghosted her, unknowingly leaving her pregnant.

Five years later, Ariel receives a text from Drew asking her to meet him. But how can that be? She has since found out that he died in a motorcycle accident. Is someone impersonating him? Ariel HAS to find out what happened to him.

This story is told in Ariel's present POV and Drew's POV from five years ago. It was pretty fast paced and kept me guessing. It is romantic suspense but leaned more towards suspense for most of the book.

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own .

Ariel gets a text, five years late, from a man in her past who mysteriously disappeared. For years, Ariel has moved forward raising her son with zero closure and no answers. However, the text triggers a deeper dive into the series of suspicious events that occurred five years ago, and what she finds out changes everything. This was full of fun twists and turns, so I’d recommend to thriller lovers!

The beginning was very intriguing and captivating. I found myself immediately interested in Ariel’s story, personal family ties, and relationship past. I was compelled from the start! I really enjoyed the changes in timeline / narrator. From the reader’s perspective, this created a fun change in pace throughout the story.

I was very intrigued by the web of a story the business & her family ties brought into the mix, but I thought the romance almost distracted a bit from the main story. I loved some of the subplots, but there was a lot going on, so sometimes felt like too much to fit in. While certain areas were extremely detailed in the beginning and felt a bit slow, other areas were moved on from quite quickly and I felt they deserved more focus.

Overall, I enjoyed this thriller and would recommend!