For anyone who has been a young student moving away to college, moving into the dorms wondering if you’ll get along with your roommate, wondering if you’ll be able to make something of yourself, wondering if you can do this…this book will bring you back to those days. At least, it did for me - especially as much of this book is set in the late 1990s, when I was in college also. This took me back to smoky bars, finding that perfect Grateful Dead shirt at a thrift shop, making a group of friends in the dorms, and even having a psycho roommate.

Anna started art school a meek, broken girl who was used to being ignored for her handicapped brother. Then she met Willow, and the click was instant. Around Willow, Anna felt more brave, more confident, more beautiful. Willow, with her devil-may-care attitude and her seeming lack of self consciousness, made Anna believe that they would both be able to conquer the New York art scene. As time goes on though, secrets come out. Betrayals are made. Anna starts to see something dark in Willow, and after a final straw, comes up with an idea to get back at her now frenemy.

It was meant to be a harmless joke, just something to scare Willow and knock her down a peg. She and their mutual friend decided to pay someone to “mug” Willow. Not literally, just to scare her on her way to work. That day was Tuesday, September 11, 2001, and as Anna wakes up to the news that morning, she starts to get worried. Where is Willow? Did the prank go off as planned? Surely she wasn’t near the World Trade Centers…but as the days go on and nobody can find her, Anna realizes she may be responsible if Willow is dead.

The book is written in the past, when they were in school together, and in the present (2001). The chapters from 2001 read like a letter from Anna to Willow, but the chapters from the past are in third person (a small thing that bothered me, as well as never hearing Willow’s voice). This isn’t just a mystery/thriller; this is also the story of a friendship gone wrong, of the terrible things people justify in their minds, of what competition can do to people, and it’s a reminder of 9/11 and how people living in the city were feeling after the attacks. I was surprised that this is a debut novel, as the writing was fantastic and loaded with imagery. I’d definitely read a book by this author again! Four stars.

(Thank you to Hyperion Avenue, Laura Leffler and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 27, 2025.)

A really interesting concept: Anna is just discussing the fact that planned a bizarre prank on Willow, her friend/frenemy but it's the morning of September 11, 2001. So why is Willow missing???

This narrative is interspersed with flashbacks to Anna and Willow in college in the late 1990s, as their friendship evolved in a fierce rivalry.

This is a very interesting exploration of female friendship that reminded me of Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering. Readers who like a linear plot may not enjoy it but I found it creative and engaging!

This was unhinged in the best way—a messy, juicy psychological drama with lipstick-stained chaos. The cover lured me in, but the twisty storytelling kept me feral ‘til the last page. If you’ve ever wanted to fake your own death just to win a breakup, congrats—this book gets you.

Anna’s friendship with Willow hasn’t always been fraught. At the beginning of their time in art school, they were best friends, with Willow taking shy, sheltered Anna under her wing. But now, post-graduation, they’re roommates in New York City and their relationship is tense, to say the least. Bold, brash Willow has crossed too many lines and Anna deeply resents her. So Anna plans a slightly cruel prank, a staged mugging, just to shake Willow up a bit. That same morning, the planes hit the Twin Towers. With cell service down throughout the city, Anna is unable to get in touch with Willow, and the hours stretch into days. Is Willow in hospital somewhere after the attacks? Is she camping out at a friend’s place? Or did Anna’s prank go horribly wrong?

I ate this book up. It had everything: complex female friendships, stunning Y2K aesthetics, and a tense, twisty plot. This book combines the intense relationship dynamics and deeply developed characters of literary fiction with the edge-of-your-seat feel of a thriller. Art world aficionados and New Yorkers will surely get even more of a kick out of it. I have a feeling this one’s going to be huge!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Tell Them You Lied.

The premise sounded similar to other novels I've read before; a naive young woman is swept up by a charismatic, popular student who everyone is drawn to.

I liked the art school aspect to the narrative but the plot overall wasn't interesting or compelling; I guess I'm too old to read about young people boozing, sleeping around, and drugging. But in my defense, I wasn't into that stuff when I was young.

Anna and Willow and the cast of supporting characters are unlikable, which isn't a bad thing. But some unlikable people can have qualities you can admire or respect.

But no one does here.

Anna is incredibly immature and naive, typical of the character playing second banana to the showboating personality she's drawn to.

I was surprised at how easily Anna fell for Willow's lies, and some stuff she kept doing made no sense, especially the end when she asks Milo to plan a prank with her. The same guy who betrayed her to Willow just a few weeks ago. WTF?

By the end, I started to lie Willow more for her deviousness and duplicity than Anna for her foolishness and desperation to be liked.

The narrative lacks suspense and urgency despite the backdrop of 9/11 and that Willow is missing.

Some readers might find the 9/11 setting triggering so be aware.

The dual timelines offers context and exposition leading up to the present day and how things came to be with Willow and Anna's present circumstances.

This wasn't compelling and interesting and I didn't care about anyone.

We've all had them. Friends we are awestruck by, obsessed by, who treat us as if we are equals - but yet are constantly pulling the rug out from under us, making us feel like we are being ridiculous.
Wednesday, the first week of college classes, in an art class with the professor she chose this college to learn from, a girl with careless style and wild hair bursts into the classroom late, and Anna is awestruck. Willow is cool, rich, and carelessly cruel. Anna is driven, ambitious, and vulnerable to Willow's toxicity like a moth to a flame. Anna and Willow become inseparable, the foundation of a group of friends who will weather many highs and lows together, sometimes at the expense of one another.
Five years later, Anna is finally ready to do something about it. They're still together, living in an apartment in NYC, and Anna plans a prank to scare Willow, maybe shake her resolve, and give Anna back some of her own. But on the morning of the prank, September 11, 2001, the world went wrong, Willow went missing, and Anna is again left wondering what is happening.
I read this book in big gulps, immersed in the late 90s vibes, the fashion, the art, and the ongoing discussion of women as muses and the artists who used them. I recognized the emotions, the personalities, and the electric buzz that ran through the well-written prose. It is one of my favorite reads so far this year.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story had me on the edge of my seat until the very end!!! The dual timeline helped to explore context and build suspense. The characters were three-dimensional and only slightly annoying (what can you expect with art students?). The pace is steady enough to keep interest, while also written with enough emotional depth to develop a strong attachment to the protagonist. Lots of moments made my jaw drop in surprise and horror. Fantastically thrilling read!

Gorgeously suspenseful and a slow burn that’s worth the dedication. I wouldn’t call it a gasp-worthy twist, but I loved the language so much that I highly recommend it for anyone who is I interested in quality writing without the pretentiousness (I really wanted to love All the Colors of the Dark, but it felt too esoteric to me). You’ll live and hate everyone by turns, which is what makes the characters so believable. My only issue was that the author uses names where pronouns would be just as clear—could be a personal issue, so don’t let that deter you.

(3.5) this is a twisty, character-driven thriller with a fairly unique premise- I love reading about female artists and the idea of a prank-gone-horribly-wrong always gets me like a wreck I can't look away from. there are a lot of things to love about this book! the characters, especially the two main female characters, were complex and well fleshed out. they had such a toxic, yet heartbreaking but convincing relationship- even though I kind of hated them it was easy to see how the art world and the men in their lives had damaged them and broken them down so many times that they were led down the path that they were. I loved that way we switched between voices see we switched between timelines. it definitely helped to differentiate the two, especially as there wasn't much of a gap in time between the two, and it also helped to both reveal and hide the perfect amount of information. this book's biggest weakness was definitely in its pacing- the first half was very slow and definitely could have been shorter, and while things sped up by the second half, things began moving almost too quickly, leaving a lot of details unexplained. by the end, I was also a little confused as to what exactly the book was trying to say thematically. I think it's possible that the author may have tried to cover a little too much here, and the pacing didn't help with that. the ending seemed a little rushed and convoluted (the initial "twist" made more sense to me than the actual ending within the grand scheme of the book). overall though, this is a page-turner and quite an immersive read! if you love "who's afraid of little old me?" by taylor swift, there's a good chance you'll love this book. ;)

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc!

Love me a book set in the cutthroat world of art, place it in New York I’m already in love.

I love books about female friendships and after this latest season of White Lotus I can see this book becoming very buzzy, IYKYK.

Anna and Willow were fascinating to follow. It’s complex, nuanced and at times very juicy and toxic, the longest friendships always are. But when Willow goes missing Anna is perplexed. There is alot of small pieces at work in this novel it borders on thriller but it’s more vibes and mixes with modern contemporary.

Leffler does an excellent job at creating angst and atmosphere but it did need a little tightening however the plot holds this one up.

A great summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Set in the art scene, this one was just okay for me. A bit drawn out, but still a twisty read about friendship.

⭐️⭐️Review⭐️⭐️
📖 Title: Tell Them You Lied
🧍‍♀️Author: Laura Leffler

About?

Two female art students. Anna - who wants to be an artist and does have raw talent but comes from a middle class family and is weighted down by guilt and shame. And Willow - she’s cool and beautiful and charismatic - a muse - who comes from money and is cruel and manipulative. Willow is magnetic - and even though she treats everyone around her terribly they can’t help but want to be close to her anyway.

Makes you feel?
This book is full of the college art scene and the New York art scene and is written so well it feels like you’re there and a part. It also is a reminder of that person you’ve known in your life that you knew was nothing but trouble but your attraction to them for whatever reason couldn’t be ignored. I know I knew someone like that, did you?

The themes discussed are friendship, shame, guilt, ambition, art, rape, & objectification of women.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to @Netgalley & @lauraleffler for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where mysteries and thrillers are popular.

Laura Leffler’s debut isn’t what I would call a thriller—more like a story about a toxic friendship, what it means to be a young woman and finding power and fame. I found the art world background interesting and could definitely relate to the competitiveness of wanting to succeed as an artist. The background of New York and 9-11 felt realistic and brought me back to that time period. I loved the sharp prose and on the line level this definitely screamed literary but with a plot which I always appreciate!

There were times where it felt a little slow and a few plot points that were confusing but overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to this author’s next book.

I don't think this book was bad but it just wasn't for me. I was intrigued by the cover and description but not so much the actual story.

Wasn’t able to read this one digitally but I did order a copy of the book so will be reviewing it after I’ve read it. I’m really excited for it as I’ve only heard great things about it.

Tell Them You Lied - Laura Leffler
When Anna crosses paths with Willow, she can't help but be entranced by this spectacular human whose personality is completely opposite than hers. Since opposites attract, they quickly become best friends and are attached at the hip throughout their time at Art School. Anna comes from a small town and has grown up living a modest life, so when she gets a taste of Willow’s easy life where everything has been given to her, she can’t help trying to break out of her shell to become the person she thinks Willow wants her to be. As time continues to pass, Willow’s big personality is now a source of tension for Anna and she finds a way to knock her down a peg, scaring her into submission. But when her plan goes awry at the worst time, panic sets in. The whole city is reeling from the attacks on the twin towers, and while they wait for the smoke to clear, Anna is trying to figure out whether she crossed a line, or whether Willow bested her.
I’ve read so many thrillers that sometimes keeping the details straight after reading them becomes difficult. However, Tell Them You Lied has stuck with me since I read it in November. In some ways, it was stereotypical, innocent girl vs wild girl, until one snaps, but this captured the true deviousness that girls can bring to the table, the way they’re best friends on the surface, but aim to destroy each other behind closed doors. The use of 911 created a sense of panic as Anna felt completely helpless trying to find her friend. Best of all, the ending completely threw me for a loop. When the pieces finally came together, I only had one thought, genius. I have this book ⅘ stars, and cannot wait for any future books that Laura Leffler may write!

I loved the premise and the twists, loved the art scene and paintings mentioned. I thought this was going to be predictable but I was wrong! Will definitely read more by this author.

This was a very interesting setting for a mystery - I was dragged in by the "art friend" connection and stayed for the intricate and nuanced relationships and well-paced plot.

Tell Them You Lied by Laura Leffler is a gripping, psychological exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the consequences of seeking revenge. Set against the backdrop of the New York art world and the harrowing events of September 11, 2001, the novel weaves between Anna’s recollections of art school and her increasingly fraught present day.

The story begins with Anna’s awe and admiration for Willow, an enigmatic and alluring artist whose raw talent and confident aura draw Anna in. At art school, their bond grows, with Anna becoming both Willow’s muse and collaborator. But as the years pass, Anna’s admiration turns into resentment as she realizes that Willow has always been a self-serving artist, manipulating those around her, including Anna. The shift from idealism to disillusionment is palpable, and Anna’s feelings of powerlessness culminate in a cruel and dangerous act: she stages a mugging, hoping to shock Willow into confronting her selfishness.

However, the timing of Anna’s actions coincides with the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, and Willow disappears without a trace. The novel follows Anna as she wrestles with guilt, confusion, and the growing realization that she may have unwittingly played a part in Willow’s disappearance. As the city struggles to process the fallout from the attacks, Anna is forced to confront not only the secrets she kept from Willow but also the lies she’s been telling herself.

Leffler’s portrayal of Anna’s inner turmoil is deftly crafted, capturing the complexity of her emotions and the tangled nature of their friendship. The novel’s alternating timelines—the carefree art school days and the tense, uncertain moments following 9/11—create a compelling tension that underscores the themes of trust, self-deception, and accountability. The psychological depth of the characters, especially Anna’s slow unraveling as she tries to hold onto the idea of being in control, is one of the novel's strongest aspects.

At its core, Tell Them You Lied is about the difficulty of facing uncomfortable truths, the complexity of creative relationships, and the consequences of holding onto resentment and manipulation. It’s a haunting exploration of how betrayal can spiral out of control, and how, in the search for justice, the lines between perpetrator and victim can blur.

Leffler’s writing is both evocative and unsettling, capturing the tension between the artistic ideal and the dark reality of the New York art world. The novel is a layered, atmospheric meditation on friendship, guilt, and the shifting boundaries between self and other. Fans of psychological dramas with a strong emotional core will find Tell Them You Lied a deeply engaging and thought-provoking read.