"So I Lied" by Chelsea Ichaso is a masterfully crafted thriller that delves into the complexities of friendship, secrets, and betrayal. The narrative follows three women—Rowan, Joss, and Cady—whose seemingly unbreakable bond is tested during a trip to Wales. As layers of deception unravel, the story takes readers on a suspenseful journey filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Ichaso's ability to create an atmosphere of tension and intrigue is remarkable. The dual timelines and multiple perspectives add depth to the characters, making their motivations and vulnerabilities palpable. The portrayal of "messy women" navigating the consequences of their actions is both realistic and compelling, offering a fresh take on the thriller genre.

The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter revealing new secrets that keep the reader on edge. The intricate plot is tightly woven, leading to a climax that is both shocking and satisfying. Ichaso's exploration of the dark side of love and friendship is unrelenting, making this novel a standout in its genre.

In conclusion, "So I Lied" is a twisty, unrelenting gem that will captivate fans of psychological thrillers. Ichaso's adult thriller debut is a testament to her storytelling prowess, delivering a richly satisfying read that lingers long after the final page. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a gripping and thought-provoking thriller.

So I Lied 4⭐️
Secrets, drama, lying, toxic friendships, and murder… oh my!

3 friends travel to Wales to celebrate Jocelyn’s upcoming wedding. Jocelyn, Rowan, and Cadence have been friends since high school, although their relationships with each other have ebbed and flowed. High school friendships don’t always translate to adulthood. These three seem to force the friendship when they don’t really even like each other, but nothing an international trip won’t fix, right? They arrive at a small bed and breakfast (owned by Jocelyn’s aunt and uncle). The B&B is secluded and only hosts 2 other couples, but the women can’t shake the suspicious vibes of the other guests.

Chapters are told from Jocelyn, Rowan, and Cadence’s POVs, with chapters in the present interspersed. The ‘Now’ timeline chapters are short and mysterious with an unknown narrator. One of the friends is found dead, but the reader is unsure who it is.

While this was a bit over the top at times, it pulled me in and was entertaining. The characters were well rounded and distinct. I found myself feeling very strongly about one of the characters and secretly hoping she may be the one to meet her demise 🫣 I liked the suspense that came from getting bits and pieces from each POV and the mystery from the chapters in the Now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jan 28 2025

“The scream rings out beside me, piercing my ears, tearing through the whistling wind. ”
Here are reasons to read the Thriller book:

Welsh getaway - Jocelyn, Rowan, and Chelsea are having a Welsh getaway to celebrate Jocelyn’s upcoming wedding
Couple - They check into Jocelyn’s Aunt and Uncle’s bed and breakfast, and find themselves next door to a couple who will not leave them along
Unalive - As we go between the present, and what actually happened in the past, it’s clear that at least one person does not make it out alive.

This author is one I will pick up over and over, and I always love a thriller that takes place during a vacation. And while this book pops between 2 timelines, it also pops between 3 different points of views, being the 3 women on this trip. The real problem is that these characters are all hiding something and all unlikeable to a certain extent. The ending was pretty apparent to me, but don’t let that keep you from just enjoying the ride and the suspense.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It started quickly and kept up the same pace throughout the whole book. While, I wouldn't say it was extremely fast paced, the writing kept me engaged throughout the entire novel.
The idea of reading another book about 3 girl friends on a trip and they ask have secrets, was a little unappealing at first. I've read plenty of books with that M.O. but this one was definitely my favorite of the sub genre. The characters were flawed. I wouldn't say they were all unlikable, but a couple of them were the worst. So there was a huge chance for great character development and I think the author nailed it. The twists were unexpected, but not so much that they didn't make sense. The whole story flowed so naturally, I just really enjoyed this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the early release of So I Lied. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I did not connect very well with the characters or plot. That being said I feel like it was more of a me issue than a book issue. I am planning on reading more of this authors work because I do feel like I would enjoy her other books and that this one was just not for me.

Told from multiple points of view of three old friends who reunite for one of their bachelorette parties. Uncover old secrets and lies that some thought would be taken to the grave.

This book was mysterious and had multiple unreliable narrators which I love in a thriller.

This was fun!! A short, twist read! I own a couple other hooos by this author and this was definitely the push i needed to read them asap!

I struggled with this one. I am not sure why because secrets and lies and scandal are my go to's in thrillers. Maybe it was because I didn't like any of the characters. I found myself zoning out throughout the book unfortunately. It could just be me not being in the right mood for this book. I seem to be in the minority though so if you're feeling inclined to read it, do pick it up and don't listen to my review as it seems many others loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an arc of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

This was an enjoyable adult debut by the author. I really like Chelsea Ichaso's YA books, and it's always fun to see author's dipping their toes into other age ranges. You can definitely see some glimpses of YA writing in this, but overall, it is a really good adult mystery/thriller book!

The characters were very unlikable and unreliable, but it's also very clear that they are written that way on purpose. I really liked that element in this. The NOW chapters were a really fun add-on to the book, and they kept me constantly guessing about who ends up dead in the end.

The twists and turns were fun and fitting, and I didn't see most of them coming at all!

I would recommend this especially to those who have only read YA mysteries and want to try out an adult mystery for the first time, but this would work well for regular mystery readers as well!

So I Lied is a gripping, can't-put-down thriller. Three friends have traveled to North Wales for a bachelorette party. With the stress of her upcoming wedding, Jocelyn needs a relaxing weekend with her girls. While Rowan used to be the life of the party, she has quickly had to become the responsible one of the group since having her own child and losing the father in a terrible tragedy. She hopes to be able to let loose on this trip. Cadence simply does not want to be a part of this weekend, but she couldn't not go, since Jocelyn is one of her closest friends. With all three women hiding dark secrets, tensions could not be higher. When two strangers insert themselves into the bachelorette weekend, events take a drastic turn. Who are these two strangers, and why are they showing up everywhere?

So I Lied is fast-paced and exciting. There were so many twists that I absolutely did not see coming. The story is told through multiple POVs with the author really developing each character. There were plenty of times that I had thought I had figured everything out and was completely mistaken. I had no idea who to trust. The author also did a great job describing the remote bed and breakfast and the northern Welsh countryside. If it wasn't for all of the drama and tension, I would totally be wanting to visit. I will absolutely be recommending this book to anyone looking for an excellent thriller!

Three friends travel to another country on a bachelorette trip, but their adventure quickly turns sinister.

I really enjoyed this read! It was fast paced and kept me eager to turn each page. The chapters were a nice length and I always enjoy multiple POV. The synopsis doesn’t give away much into the full story, so I encourage going in pretty blind! I didn’t know what to expect but I didn’t mind, it was a fun & fast read.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

Chelsea Ichaso is so good at creating a great, suspenseful and twisting novel. I was so attached to the book, just waiting to see what happened next, because I felt like anything could happen next.

The plot revolves around three women who have been friends for years- Jocelyn, Rowan, and Cadence - and they’re celebrating Jocelyn’s bachelorette party at her aunt’s isolated Welsh B&B. But as the week progresses, not only does the group find themselves creeped out by some fellow guests, but they begin to feel cracks in their own friendships, as secrets begin to surface. And boy are they going to test the limits of even these lifelong relationships.

The book is set up so that we know something does eventually goes horribly wrong, but the who’s, what’s, why’s are what the rest of the book fills in, and I definitely didn’t guess what was going on before it was revealed! There were enough twists and suspects to give plenty of options, so anything was possible.

And it really did feel like the next chapter could have anything happening - because there was so much craziness going on, but in a good way. Lots of lies, secrets, and strangeness going on, there’s a little bit of everything! And I loved it. The atmosphere was full of suspense and the setting - a Welsh inn, surrounded by woods filled with ancient standing stones used in ancient rituals- was perfect.

When the ending was revealed, I was very satisfied with the outcome. It’s a good one. It felt complete, and wrapped up things nicely.

Chelsea Ichaso is a great author and I’ll be putting her on my list of must-reads for tge future!

Following a group of friends on a bachelorette trip in Wales, Jocelyn, Rowan & Candace are all holding secrets from each other… while potentially running from a killer who might be out to get them.
In this twisty adult thriller debut from YA sensation, Chelsea Ichaso, So I Lied is a multi-perspective rollercoaster of a novel. Nowhere in this book did I anticipate the ending, though Ichaso has always been one of the only thriller authors I’ve always deemed authentically unpredictable in a captivating way.
When the girls meet traveling companions, Magnus & Valentina, the story morphs into something that had me on the edge of my seat with heart palpitations and anticipation watching as their journey unfolded.
Ichaso’s characters are all unreliable narrators with secrets they hold from the rest of the group. Not a single character in this story was regularly likable, but somehow seemed emotionally relatable to the reader in the same capacity.
Time and time again, I’m impressed by Ichaso’s narrative, and I’m always wrong about, “who done it” in a shocking turn of events.
This book will keep you up all night long, hanging onto the edge of your seat. My nails were chewed off entirely as I watched the destruction unfold between the group leading up to an unexpected ending.

Chelsea Ichaso’s writing style is unique in voice with a chilling edge & a promising need for more, more, more. Fans of Stacy Willingham would love this debut from Ichaso, and I’m looking forward to reading more of her adult thrillers!

Ummmm I feel like I just went on the wildest ride. In a good way for sure - but the characters in this story are awful. This twisty, turny story definitely was worth the read and pretty captivating.. I will say I never was bored and didn’t have a difficult time picking it back up. Worthy of a 4 star review but not my favorite at the same time. Will definitely recommend to friends!

Solid thriller with good twists and kept me guessing where it was headed. I liked the multiple POV and that we got to see everyone's motivations for their actions. I would recommend for sure 3 stars, I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solidly entertaining book. Lots of characters with secrets, and a lot of twists. I certainly wasn’t able to guess how it was going to all come together. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jocelyn is excited to get married. She plans a bachelorette trip to North Wales with her two best friends. Rowan is a single mother spending time away from her young daughter for the first time. Cadence is going on the trip, but she does not want to. She’s always felt like the third wheel regarding her two best friends. During the trip, stress from all the things they have left unsaid throughout their friendships begins to wreak havoc on their trip and their relationships with one another. Will their friendships survive the trip?

Chelsea Ichaso has done it again! She has delivered another twisty thriller that you won’t be able to put down! Told through alternating points of view of each of the three best friends, you will feel like you are there in Wales with them. Their secrets are jaw-droppingly juicy. The ending twist was completely unexpected. I highly recommend this one to anyone that enjoys thrillers! I give it 4.5/5 stars.

So I Lied by Chelsea Ichaso is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its twists and dark secrets.

Jocelyn is ready to get married—and more ready to have fun. She plans a bachelorette trip to North Wales, where she can forget about her strained relationship and focus on the tension among friends instead. It’s a welcome distraction.

Her friend Rowan used to be the wild child. But after having a kid of her own and losing the father in a tragic accident, she’s now the ever-responsible single mother, cautious in every way. Except one.

Cadence doesn’t want to be there. For as long as she’s known her friends, she’s always felt disparate. Maybe it’s because those two share a special Jocelyn’s brother was Rowan’s boyfriend, and they still feel his loss. Or maybe it’s because Cadence has secrets they can never know.

As the trip goes on, their friendship begins to crack under the pressure of all the things they leave unsaid…but those might be the only things that can save them.

Loved it.

This author has been on my radar for a while now, but this was the first book I’ve read by her!

SO I LIED is a dark tale of friendship, lies, and deception.

Three women spend a week together on a bachelorette trip in North Wales. Sounds fun, right? Wrong. The secrets they’ve been keeping from each other are bound to unravel — and when they do, there’s no going back.

Told in multiple POVs from the three friends, I was constantly trying to figure out each character’s agenda. None of the characters were likable, but that was only cemented once the lies started unraveling.

I had a hard time believing the friendships between these women. It was truly difficult to imagine them staying in touch when none of them seemed to like each other. Then you add in their secrets… yikes.

This landed around 3 stars for me. It kept me hanging on, but I wanted to be more invested in the characters.

I will be reading Ichaso’s next YA book, WE WERE WARNED soon, and I can’t wait to see how that one stacks up to this one!

One of my favorite thriller writers normally does YA fiction, but with So I Lied she has ventured into her first adult thriller. Three friends since college Cadence, Jocelyn, and Rowan are headed to a B&B out in the middle of nowhere for Jocelyn's bachelorette party. The three haven't spent a lot of time together over the past eight years but this is about to change and soon this weekend of what was supposed to be fun and games will end in murder and death. This weekend not only will blood be spilled, but dark secrets and it looks like these friends are hiding dark secrets that if they got out - would have ruined their relationships from the get-go. To top it off this weekend, the girls are about to encounter a stalker as well and someone who might just be a murderer and not just the murderer within their group of friends. At college, Cadence was set to be valedictorian and was meant for great things, but Rowan's dark secret caused Cadence to miss out and from then on, Cadence's life just spiraled out of control. Rowan's daughter is the daughter of Jocelyn's dead brother Jake who supposedly died of a drug overdose and just before he died, Jocelyn told him a lie about Rowan which caused him to break up with her just before he died and ultimately led to his death. Cadence is in love with Jocelyn's fiance and will do anything to prove to him that he shouldn't marry Jocelyn. So I Lied was a very twisted read and kept you guessing right to the end. I have to say, I did not see the ending twists coming. If you love thrillers and dark secrets and lies bubbling to the surface then "So I Lied" by Chelsea Ichaso is one of those reads you need to add to your 2025 reading lists.