I'm a fan of Lucinda Berry's novels and writing, but this one was mid for me. I almost wish this story just stuck to the past and followed the girls at Camp Pendleton. The switch in timeline from 26 years in the past to now was fine, but the stories didn't make sense to me. The only thing I got out of both stories is that Blakely is a little cuckoo. Other than that I'm not sure what they had to do with each other. But if you're interested in a quick read with a twist then I would say pick this up and give it a try!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

I absolutely love Lucinda Berry! I have absolutely enjoyed all the books I’ve read! This one is definitely no exception!

Dark, toxic teenage friendships between 4 girls. Blakey, Meg, Thera and Grace meet at a summer camp. One dark secret haunts them 26 years later.

This book is from 4 different perspectives jumping from now and then. The twists… so good!!

I would definitely recommend this book!! I can’t wait for the next one Lucinda Berry releases!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC!

Another book by Lucinda that I couldn’t put down ! 4 camp friends reunite all sworn to secrecy over something that happen years ago at summer camp. As usual there are some heavy topics and an ending that’ll make your jaw drop.

You Tell a Lie" by Lucinda Berry is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark and twisted consequences of deception and betrayal. The novel follows the lives of three women—Charlotte, Samantha, and Ellie—whose fates become intertwined after a tragic accident changes everything. As secrets are unearthed and lies are exposed, the women must confront their pasts and the lies they've told in order to survive. With its tense atmosphere, complex characters, and unpredictable plot twists, "If You Tell a Lie" is a riveting read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end

Whoa! I am a sucker for books that bring us into the past and the present time and switches points of view. And this one delivered.

4 best friends from camp did a really terrible thing when they were teenagers and ruined a man’s life. Now they are 40 some year old women and they get a letter in the mail. They think Regina, the man’s wife is released and coming after them.

This story has so many layers and it was like a delightful onion as I was peeling them all back.

I loved every chapter and the ending. Oh my gosh.
My only wish was that there were more details at the very end but true Lucinda fashion, she leaves the ending open to interpretation.

WOW. Wild, wild book. Who has friends like these? I’m glad I don’t.

Thanks, NetGalley for the chance at an early read!

When teen girls bond over their smarts at a summer camp, but also over a tragic murder influenced by the leader of their friend group. Flash forward to the present day, will those friendships still stay bonded in their promises when presented with another deep dark secret?

Such a fun read

I was really excited to receive an ARC of a Lucinda Berry book. She quickly became one of my favorite authors after reading a few other books of hers. However, this one was disappointing for me. I really did not like this story, found it really far-fetched and unrealistic and the characters were all disgusting to me. I will, however, continue to read any books released by Lucinda as she is an amazing author.

Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

IF YOU TELL A LIE absolutely captured me from the start. I felt the title suited this book perfectly. Once you tell a lie you may not even realize how things can spiral out of control. I enjoyed the alternating timelines and the different POV's, Regina's was the one that will be forever stuck in my mind. With that being said, the story had some parts that were difficult to read. However, I thought the author handled the subject matter rather well. About halfway through, the story took a turn that I didn't see coming and I definitely didn't hate it! Overall, this was one heck of a story. The ending left me pondering if there could possible be a second book. We will see.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication date.

Lucinda Berry books never disappoint and If You Tell A Lie was no exception. Told from the past to the present from 4 different view points, a story of 4 friends who meet at a sleep away camp where a tragic incident occurs . Years later they come together again when one of the four friends calls them back together.

While I really enjoyed the book and storyline, I do wish the characters were each a bit more developed and the ending fell flat for me. But I do like books wrapped up in the end like a nice package!

When four misfit girls become friends at a summer camp, trouble tags along.
When a counselor is murdered, his wife is the one that pays the price for that, but did she do it? Did one of the girls?
NO ONE tells a story like Lucinda Berry!!!! Loved it!
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The beginning had me intrigued but half way through I wanted to pull my hair out and if I had given in, I would have been bald by the end. Not only are none of the characters likeable, but they're also incredibly stupid. The story is told, past and present, from four female characters. They all sounded the same and I had a hard time remembering who was who. Their 40 year old selves sounded just as juvenile as their teenage selves. The story was implausible at times and filled with plot holes. I just had the hardest time believing the characters' actions and honestly, having seven girls lie about sexual abuse and write it off as social contagion? Gross.

2.5⭐️
Let me start off by saying Lucinda Berry is one of my favorite authors…BUT this one fell a little flat for me. It was much slower than her other books until maybe the last 20%. The characters were extremely unlikable and I feel like the ending was rushed and more time could’ve been put into fleshing out what happened after the plot twist.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

A fast paced suspense read about a terrible secret four friends share from sleep-away camp. I enjoyed this even though at times it felt super implausible. The ending let me down a bit but overall it was still a decent read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This book was disappointing. I’ve read a lot of her other books and this book was nothing like them. Yes there is a twist at the end but the whole book just felt like some regular mystery story and didn’t really have that much going on till the last 20%. I’m used to dark and twisted with her and this just wasn’t that.

I love Lucinda Berry's thrillers! This one was fairly short and so suspenseful! Berry utilized multiple POV and a dual timeline to organize this plot and it unfolded seamlessly! A plot built on lies and revenge--the best kind of thriller.

I was so excited to be blessed with this ARC as I am a huge fan on the author. While reading, however, I realized that I was not as engaged as I have been in her previous books. It is written in a past/present style, and it does flow well. But I found it to be very predictable and lacked the twists that previous books have had. I will always be a fan, there are always books we don't like as much at times.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

I do not know where to begin with this book…. Have I ever read a Lucinda Berry book and be disappointed? NO! The way she takes situations that could be reality and makes them the readers own, this book keeps you reading u til you have consumed the book in one sitting

Page turner, dual timeline, multiple POV's, a book that will mess with your psyche, which Lucinda Berry is a master at! This is about 4 friends who met at camp when thye were really young, and hang out every year there, but their last year will be one that they will NEVER forget! This book has twists you won't see coming. Secrets get revealed. Kept me captivated and wanting to keep reading until the very end, so I could find out what was happening.

pretty decent thriller, but definitely not my favorite from Berry. it’s told from the perspectives of 4 girls in 2 timelines: one from summer camp, and one from current day 26 years later where they are reconnecting for the first time. we know from the beginning they are harboring a SECRET bc they won’t shut up about it.

it was pretty fine, not as twisty or surprising as previous books by this author and I feel like we didn’t need all 4 girls trading off narrations because they weren’t different enough.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an advanced e-copy for an honest review.

I am such a huge Lucinda Berry fan and this book I ate it up!

This book is duel time line, different points of view for each chapter and fast paced. I loved the setting of the “past”. Four girls at camp and a murder has happened. Throughout the book we learn if/how involved they were to the murder. And in the “now” they reunite after 20+ years when the truth of the past catches up to them.

I have read a lot of Lucinda’s books and this one is in the middle for me. Sorry to say.