A kind of twisty story of three friends away in the country, with secrets between them being revealed as they are stalked , lied to, and are in danger. Didn’t really like this one,,,,skimmmed a lot and didn’t really like the ending.

What I liked

Tension & atmosphere
The setting (isolated Welsh countryside, quaint but remote B&B) adds a claustrophobic feel. There’s an undercurrent of unease from early on that grows steadily. Ichaso uses the landscape well to heighten mood.

Layered secrets & twists
The book builds slowly, peeling back layers of each woman’s life. There are enough red herrings that you’ll think you know the direction, but the reveals are often surprising. It keeps the suspense well.

Complex friendships
The relationship dynamics are messy, believable, and emotionally raw. The flaws, envy, guilt, longing—all that adds real depth and tension. Even though characters aren’t always likable, they feel human because their mistakes come from understandable places.

Narrative structure
The alternating timelines and POVs work for a thriller: the “NOW” chapters (after something bad has already happened) interspersed with the lead-up creates anticipation. It’s a puzzle you piece together, rather than one linear build.

I was totally hooked on this one from the start. Three old friends, a creepy Welsh B&B, and a bachelorette trip that goes completely off the rails. The secrets and betrayals kept piling up, and every time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. The pacing is just right—you get tension, drama, and unexpected twists that stick with you.

One thing I noticed other readers mention, and I agree with, is that a few of the twists feel a little far-fetched. But honestly, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride. Some characters are pretty unlikable, but that just made it more interesting. I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

This wasn’t a bad read at all, it just wasn’t particularly my favourite book from this author.

However I loved the suspense and the atmosphere of this book and I think it would be a fantastic read for those who are wanting to venture into the Thriller Genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I found this story a little unbelievable by the time I got to the end. Lots of separate stories going on that leaves it a little far fetched that they would end up tied up in a neat little bow - there was a lot of potential though...

This wasn't a bad read, but it was just way too predictable for me so it is hard to give it more than two stars. Also felt a bit too over the top for me.

One of the challenges was that the characters really blended together and did not have unique voices. this made things difficult with the chapters from different POVs and I had to keep going back to see who's POV it was. Literally all felt like the same person. Speaking of the characters, I did not like any of them and did not connect.

Again, this is an okay read but there are much better out there!

I've enjoyed this author's work before and I am happy to report that this one kept me hooked as well. There were parts where I'd lose interest but all in all, still somewhat entertaining.

If you are fan of thrillers with toxic friendships and lies, you will love this one! Even though it is quite short, it is quite an interesting one.
Different POVs are written for each of three friends and there are pov from a stranger as well which is mysterious.
The premise was promising but honestly I got bored in the middle which was sad as i try to read it again. It was a no for me.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

So I Lied By Chelsea Ichaso
Publication Date: January 28, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer| Amazon Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing, and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

So I Lied is a brilliantly twisty psychological domestic thriller that captivated my attention immediately in its opening chapter and had me HOOKED until the final twist was revealed in its last pages. This unputdownable suspense-filled read was fast-paced and gave me massive locked-room vibes.

**PS: am I the only one that can never quite remember the difference between a domestic thriller and a psychological thriller?! And what do you say if a book could be both?! I call it a psychological domestic thriller. 🤷🤣

Shared in dual timelines, this story has alternating chapters told from the multiple POVs of three high school besties: Rowan, Cadence, and Jocelyn. To celebrate Jocelyn's upcoming wedding, the girls travel for a week-long bachelorette party getaway to a Bed & Breakfast in a remote area of Wales, owned by Jocelyn's aunt and uncle. Each friend is carrying the burden of a secret that has forever changed the trajectory of one of the other's lives -- but secrets can't stay buried forever. Throw in a stalker, a menacing gardener, a mysterious couple who keep inviting themselves to spend time with the girls, and creepy Welsh tales about a beast that hunts female travelers on the remote rural roads... and you've got a good idea of what you can expect from this book.

The start of this read revealed that something terrible happened and one of the girls was dead, but Ichaso was careful not to reveal which girl until nearly the end of the book. Each narrator's chapters shared secrets that made me believe every one of them was unhinged at some point and could possibly be the unreliable mastermind of the dubious happenings on this trip. But I did NOT see the final twists coming and was satisfyingly shocked with how this one came together!

If you're a fan of unhinged reads full of secrets and betrayals, toxic friendships, remote settings, and locked room vibes -- you're gonna want to add So I Lied to your TBR immediately. I couldn't put it down, and I don't think you'll be able to either. Out now!

#SoILied #ChelseaIchaso #ThomasAndMercer #amazonpublishing #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #domesticthriller #psychologicalthriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a mostly fun, twisty novel centered on female friendships. I didn't particularly like the main characters, except for Rowan at times, but that sort of added to the fun. It wasn't exactly a ground-breaking thriller, but it was solid for what it was. It held my attention and kept me guessing. I only had it partially figured out in the end, so that was a plus.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thoroughly enjoyed this read and thought the characters were well-rounded and believable. Will definitely recommend this in the future to friends!

So I Lied is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The plot is full of twists and surprises, and the main character’s journey of self-discovery and dealing with deception is both emotional and relatable. The pacing is fast, and the writing is sharp, making it hard to put down. With lots of suspense and drama, this book will keep you guessing until the very end.

If you're a fan of thrillers with mystery and unexpected turns, this is definitely worth a read!

This one was alright, a lot of unlikeable characters, but fast paced and enjoyable enough. I’ve already forgotten the details though, so not memorable.

Get ready to have your world turned upside down with "So I Lied" by Chelsea Ichaso! This isn't just a book; it's a high-stakes game of deception, where every truth is a lie waiting to be unraveled. Ichaso masterfully crafts a web of intrigue so intricate and compelling that you’ll be hooked from the very first page, desperately trying to separate fact from fiction.

The story unfolds with a delicious sense of mystery, each chapter peeling back another layer of carefully constructed falsehoods. The characters are shrouded in secrets, their motivations as slippery as shadows in the night. You'll find yourself questioning everything, everyone, as the tension mounts and the stakes get higher. Ichaso’s writing is sharp and electrifying, pulling you into a world where trust is a luxury no one can afford.

"So I Lied" is a masterclass in suspense, a thrilling rollercoaster of twists and turns that will leave you breathless. The atmosphere is thick with anticipation, and the sense of impending danger is palpable. This is a book that will keep you guessing until the very last moment, and even then, you might find yourself wondering if you’ve truly discovered the truth. If you crave a read that will challenge your perceptions and keep you on the edge of your seat, "So I Lied" is an absolute must-read. Prepare to be captivated, thrilled, and utterly deceived.

"𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐. 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔. 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆."

Special thanks to @chelseaichaso @amazonpublishing & @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my 2nd @chelseaichaso book and I love her writing. This one gave me so many character thoughts that run rampant in my brain:
Valentina and magnus , super creeptastic.
Helen and Paul seem to be oblivious and living their best life running this b&b
Jocelyn- bitch full of herself
Cadence - anxious and terrified to challenge Jocelyn.
Rowan - along for the ride

This starts out slow for the first third then really starts to pick up w the creepy vibes from the traveling couple.
Next thing you know I'm like holding my blanket to my chin, trying to remember to breathe. So unputdownable and bingeable.

DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING
😱😱😱😱😱
𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
January 28, 2025

ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Have you ever traveled abroad? Any creepy tourist vibes you got? Anywhere you'll never travel again?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #chelseaichaso #adultthriller #soilied #amazonpublishing
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This was such a quick read. I was so disappointed in how easily I guessed all of the plot twists. Also I didn’t care for a single character which made it less enjoyable as well.

This book was good! I liked it but didn’t love it. I definitely see potential in it and look forward to seeing what else the author does.

I finished this book in one day because I just could not stop reading! This was my first book by this author and I will definitely be checking out her others.

It was a twisty thriller that had me audibly gasping because I couldn’t believe some of the twists. This was definitely a book about toxic friendships and it was a little scary to think about.

I really enjoyed So I Lied. It was full of drama, mystery, suspense, betrayal, and crazy twists.

Chelsea writing style drew me in immediately, I couldn't put it down, I read it in one sitting.
The storyline was compelling and complex. It kept me guessing the whole way through. I definitely didn't see the twists coming at all.

I liked Rowan and Cady straight away, but I took a lot longer to warm to Jocelyn. I loved that the story was told from the three ladies' perspectives.
This is the first book I've read from Chelsea Ichaso, but it definitely won't be the last.

I highly recommend it.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Chelsea Ichaso for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Special thank you to NetGalley, Chelsea Ichaso and
Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this incredibly twisty thriller. Although I initially found it difficult keeping track of the characters and did not feel totally engaged, this completely changed around the middle of the book. Things just continued to spiral and the twists did not stop twisting! I was pleasantly surprised. Very much enjoyed this book and I would recommend to others.