I couldn’t put this down, which is few and far between these days. A constant scrunching up and unraveling of characters and plot. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 5/26

This book is an insidious spiral of art and academia and twisted friendships. Following Anna, Willow, and an ever expanding cast of characters through college studying art and endeavoring to become art in the process as well as Anna in the aftermath of 9/11 NYC while Willow is missing, Tell Them You Lied is complex and infuriating and just genuinely very good.

The relationship between artist and muse, the way that the artistic process has a habit of breaking the women it claims to love, all of it comes together in the story of Anna and Willow. I cannot tell you the rage I felt for some of these characters and how they treated each other. Genuinely, I wouldn’t want to be friends with any of them. None of them were villain caricatures, though, they had their own issues and lives moving within the story and often very murky motives from Anna’s perspective. I have a lot of feelings about all of this, but I’m refraining from spoilers to the best of my ability.

If I were to pick out one problem with this book, it’s that the pacing at the start is incredibly slow. It didn’t hook me nearly as quickly as it could have, especially for how invested I was by the end. It felt like it was trying to be mysterious and a thriller and it wanted me to be at the edge of my seat, but I genuinely didn’t care for far longer than I’d like to admit. If I wasn’t given an ARC, I might have DNF’d it, which would have been a massive shame because somewhere around the 50% mark it fully picked up into an absolute whirlwind.

This book reminds me of Bunny, but less mind bending, and The Secret History, but less pretentious. It’s straightforward despite being told in two time lines and the plot itself being very twisty and turny. If you’re into stories about art or academia or complex and often infuriating relationships, this one’s for you.

Thank you to Hyperion and NetGalley for this eARC given in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings here are my own.

This gave me flashbacks to My Year of Rest and Relaxation which probably would have been fine if I'd enjoyed that book in the first place. Capitalizing on similar themes of privilege, identity, and of course, 9/11 era New York Citiy, Leffler attempts a stirring commentary on the art world that doesn't fully land. I have weirdly specific beef with 9/11 narratives in edgy women's fiction because they always end up being steeped in naval-gazing cynicism masking as commentary on class and self and alternative lifestyles a la Girls without the dry self-awareness. This novel is perhaps toying with a similar concept - playing up character's insufferable traits in the service of a meta-narrative - but it is so inconstantly executed that all the characters just come across as obnoxious and self-absorbed.

In a fast paced story of toxic friendships, pretentious characters Anna and Willow meet. Competiting artists, freshman in school, and giving early on vibes of real frenemies. Willow didn't come across as any cooler but Anna was immediately obsessed and jealous. Told in dual timelines, when a prank goes wrong, the reader gets flashbacks on what this “friendship” really is. This book is for people who are wanting similar vibes to “the girls are all so nice here” or “a simple favor”

As someone who can get tired of reading stories of bad female friendships, how badly women can treat each other, this was pretty enjoyable. The fast pacing was a good choice and kept things intriguing. Willow never really have a reason to be so revered, she just had that aura, she just was. We all know that girl.

The character set up was great - the feeling of that friend group you’re stuck in, as you had all known each other since freshman year, the how did we get here feeling, why are we still here?

The present timeline, set September 11 2001, was a good idea to keep the reader guessing and Anna at the edge of her seat but those chapters tended to drag a little more and feel repetitive as we are in Anna’s guilty mind at first. It would benefit from being edited down some. The ending did fall a little flat, as the story didn't quite reach the depths it could have. The story doesn’t give itself enough credit for it’s dark academia vibes.

Wow! Truly had no idea what was coming with this one. Very suspenseful and not at all predictable. The ending was a bit of a letdown, but otherwise really enjoyed this one!

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

I really enjoy novels set in the dark underbelly of the art world, so when I read the premise of Tell Them You Lied, I knew I had to read it. There’s just something addictive and dark about the ruthless ambition between art students and teachers alike. Set against the backdrop of 9/11, this novel surprised me in ways I didn’t expect. A solid debut filled with secrets and lies!

The dual timeline added so much tension to both the plot and character relationships, especially between Willow and Anna. The past answering all the questions in the present. Their friendship felt so complex and relatable, especially for two teenagers who are desperate to fit in, while also being fiercely competitive with each other. The plot developed so organically, unfolding steadily with each reveal. And when the end crime was finally revealed, it still came as a surprise. I devoured this book in two days! The characters weren’t all likable, but that’s an element in the genre I love. The tension gripped me immediately, pulling me through to a very satisfying ending. There were so many scenes that stuck with me, but if I had to pick one it would be of Anna and Prof. Kape at the party hosted by Lizzie’s parents at their house. It was so shocking.

For readers who enjoy stories about unlikely friendships, dark secrets, and missing persons.

I was a little unsure how to feel about 9/11 being used as a backdrop for a psychological thriller. But at the same time, we use all sorts of tragedies for different storytelling purposes so I guess.. why not.

Anyway, the story itself was dark and kind of twisted and I couldn’t put it down. Willow is pretty hard to root for, she was pretty awful, and at times, so was Anna. But I felt a certain empathy for her.

Usually when I read books set in the past, they go back further than I can remember/was alive for. So this one was a little nostalgic in that I was only a few years younger than the characters in the time the story takes place. It certainly makes me feel a little old, but there’s something about being in on it, having been there too, that felt kind of nice.

While a definite slow burn, Tell Them you Lied was a well paced story about two toxic women as they go back and forth hurting each other until we reach the final climax.
I was a little disappointed by the ending (I had hoped it would go the way that it teased that it would) but over all I enjoyed this story and i'll look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Passive aggressive women and art talk. That’s both a trope that’s starting to get old and a major part of this book.

This one starts out with a lot of great places to go and eventually decided to go to the least interesting place. The ending was disappointing as was much of the book. I love unlikeable characters, but these weren’t even interesting enough to be unlikeable.

This just didn’t work for me. At all.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, all
Opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This book really grasped me and pulled me in quickly. I don’t think I’ve read a mystery/thriller like this before! I didn’t even have a chance to try and make guesses as to what was happening next or what I thought WOULD happen because I just kept reading.

Using 9/11 as the backdrop to a missing person's story was unnecessary and honestly distasteful. This story could have been told without using this real life tragedy.

Thank You NetGalley for the free e-galley.

A solid 3.5 scorcher in my book.

This felt like a whirlwind of frantic energy -- weaving together a story of twisted admiration and the dark hunger for acknowledgement. Much of the backdrop of the novel centered around New York City during 9/11, adding to the confusion, fear, and perhaps the 'end of innocence' that was deeply embedded throughout this thriller.

A sign of a great popcorn thriller is the reader being stumped or surprised by each twist and turn and that was certainly the case here for me. What started slow quickly ballooned and with each chapter, new information was peppered in -- new suspects, new developments, new confusion. Oftentimes, I found myself wondering what was true and what was a lie -- Anna (and Willow) were both great unreliable narrators here, both so morally grey.

Elements of this novel reminded me both of Jessica Knoll's 'Luckiest Girl Alive' (one of my absolute favorites!) and R.F. Kuang's 'Yellowface'. If you are a fan of the breakneck pace and biting tone of either novel, you will perhaps enjoy this as well.

This is nonstop girl on girl toxicity and I could not put it down. Willow and Anna have a beautifully horrible friendship that most teenage girls at least encounter once. Fortunately for most teenage girls it doesn't end like this. I read this book in nearly one sitting, I was on the edge of my seat! The interactions between these girls felt so real, at times I felt like I was overhearing someone at the table next to me! This book will pull you in and keep you wanting more glimpses of Willow and who she really is, and make you want to see Anna through her eyes.

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!