Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Publishing for providing me with an ARC of Everyone is Lying.

Jen just woke up from a coma. She has no idea who she is or where she is. Eventually, her sister tells her she has been in a bad accident and the baby and husband she thought she had doesn't exist.

Throughout this book, Jen questions everyone and everything because she has no clue about anything without her memory. She doesn't know a friend or foe, lie or truth.

Holly Down definitely has everyone questioning their own minds as they read this. Some authors lay breadcrumbs for you, and you eventually get an inkling about what is happening. I questioned everyone and everything said up until she laid it out on a platter for me. I gave it 4.5 rounded to 5 because there were a few things that seemed a little far-fetched to me in the story but overall an enjoyable read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I need more from this author asap.

Was this review helpful?

HOLY COW, This was an amazing read.

I never though I would had fly this book so fast.

to put on your TBR

Was this review helpful?

A new author for me and was not disappointed although I have read a few books with the amnesia theme

I found it a bit slow at first but it then 'picked' up and I soon got involved in the storyline. It wasn't exactly a page turner for me but a good read overall

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read for me, keeping me guessing the whole way through. The author wrote in a way where it was nearly impossible to guess what was happening. The main character, Jen spent just about the entire book questioning who was being honest with her and who was "good" and "bad" and so did I. I was drawn in from the beginning and couldn't wait to get answers and the twists continued right until the very last page. Looking forward to reading the author's other book soon!

Was this review helpful?

This book had me totally confused and I didn't have a clue who was lying, who was telling the truth, and who knew what was going on. I must admit that I didn't see the plot twist coming, but I'm not disappointed at all. I binged this book because I wanted to know what truly happened and it did not disappoint.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Most times an author will give you enough foreshadowing that you can predict 90% of the upcoming pages in a book, this one did not fit into that category. Holly Down did an incredible job at making me scratch my head more than once but in a way that I really enjoyed. There were twists I didn’t see coming and I couldn’t wait for all the pieces of the puzzle to come together. I thought the storyline was developed well and if the author wanted me to still be gasping with surprise in the last couple chapters, she succeeded. Great read!

Was this review helpful?

If you’re looking for a book that will give you all the feels then look no further. From the prologue to the end of the story this books was captivating. The plot twist were well written and entertaining. The characters were well thought out and strategically placed. There were moments within the story that I felt were slow but as the story continued on it picked up, played its part and helped to ensure the story was a good one.

Was this review helpful?

I requested this one because it really had my interest with the amnesia trope, as I've only read one other book with that as the main plot point before. This one was quick and a fast domestic thriller! It ended up being just okay for me though, but I will say at least one twist took me by surprise. The beginning was kind of slow, but I get it was to build suspense and probable frustration. (TRUST me, the frustration was real). I wanted to get through it to find out who and what was going on, and I had to suspend disbelief a lot. I don't want to say what or why because the book isn't out yet. I just had so, so, many questions the entire time. Mainly, why would your family all be in on something like that, and then, would my own family do something that insane? I will say, I thought it was just going to be the one girl keeping her prisoner for the insurance money but I was wrong, so the author did something right because after that I had to keep going. If you like amnesia tropes, domestic thrillers, or locked room style thrillers, this will be for you because it's a blend of all three. I do plan to try other books from this author as well because this was my first.


Thank you to Author, Netgalley, and Publishers for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc copy of this book.
i requested this book because of the synopsis of it, and it was really intriguing. to be honest, i enjoyed reading this book, the pacing of the book was nice, had me hooked as the way it was dropping hints for the plot, also it was not really easy to find the answers.

i wasn't able to put this book down anyhow, i just wanted to reachat the end of this. each of the characters were very secretive, and plot was plotting. i was suspicious of everyone including JEN. i knew even bryce was hiding something and i was damn correct omg but that was not what i expected.

it was good, like really, but the ending could've been better. it felt rushed, suddenly everything was cleared and sorted, and i thought there would be something more but i was wrong.

but anyway, it's a good one for someone who needs a quick read!

Was this review helpful?

This book started off a little slow for me, as I found details around Jen’s heath a bit implausible. However, one the story picked up pace it was really engaging and the author did well in making me question who could and could not be trusted, there are more than a few morally dubious characters in this one. I really liked the ending -without giving any spoilers, it was a satisfying conclusion!

Was this review helpful?

This book was fast paced and suspenseful which I love in a thriller. The story started out very strong, but as pieces of the puzzle were being put together, I felt like there were just some parts that didn't make as much sense as I hoped they would. To have everyone around you in on something so terrible made for quite the interesting plot. The story did redeem itself at the end with what Jenn did (I will not say to save spoilers). Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I found this book quite chilling - imagine waking up from a coma and not knowing who you are or who to trust?
I enjoyed learning about Jen's life along with her, and the twists and turns kept me on my toes!
I found myself questioning everything and everyone and I was completely taken aback by the ending - perfect!
A very clever and exciting read I'll be recommending to others.

Was this review helpful?

Jen wakes up after being in a coma, absolutely terrified as she has no memory of what has happened to her or who she is but she feels in her heart that she is married and has a child.

Soon she hears a voice from a woman who says she is her sister Rachel, but Jen still cannot remember anything and has a strong sense from the beginning that she should not trust this woman, she is not sure why but that is what her gut is telling her so she decides to believe in this even though she has no facts to support it. She is being looked after by a nurse called Bryce and his appearance only confuses her more but one thing she is determined to do is discover the truth.

This is a very exciting story, you are kept on edge as you are not sure yourself as to who is telling the truth and I found myself questioning everything. More characters are introduced and that only increased the thoughts I was having as to who was really who and what their true intentions were regarding Jen.

Very cleverly put together I highly recommend this book, a great plot that will have you turning the pages looking for more clues as you try to decipher the mystery that is now Jen’s life.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book, I found it a little fat fetched but I enjoyed every second. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Couldn't figure out who to trust. Five stars.

Was this review helpful?

Wow.
Mind blowing the ending was just perfect. I was not expecting it at all !
A gripping thriller which will leave you on the edge of your seat . Fantastic characters so complex and interesting this is was intense and captivating

Was this review helpful?

I want to start by saying thank you NetGalley for the AMAZING ARC! it kept me on the edge of my seat! It’s definitely a WILD RIDE! Can you imagine getting into a wreck and not remembering anything? Who is lying? Who is telling the truth!

FANTASTIC THRILLING BOOK!

Was this review helpful?

A gripping psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It is incredibly past paced and twisty and as the title says everyone is lying making it impossible to know who is reliable and which story is true. I enjoyed reading this book, the pacing of the book was nice, had me hooked as the way it was dropping hints for the plot, also it was not really easy to find the answers.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

EVERYONE IS LYING BY HOLLY DOWN.
Release date set for the 26th of February 2025.
Well this one had me HOOKED.
I thought it was really good and had me gripped from fairly early on.
Parts of this book had me on the edge of my seat.
Its deffo a page turner.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fast-paced psychological thriller that is interesting despite some things that annoyed me. Jen wakes up from a coma with no memory except that she had a husband and daughter. But her sister Rachel tells Jen she has neither. Rachel eventually tells Jen that she was in a terrible car crash and insinuated that Jen may have caused the crash on purpose. The novel, told only from Jen's point of view, follows Jen's determination to find out exactly what happened, and retrieve her lost memories. There are lots of twists and turns, and I have to admit, I didn't guess the major one -- perhaps because it made no sense to me at all.

It's an nteresting premise, although amnesia plots are nothing new; Jen is a tough, likeable character, and the reader roots for her to get well. I read the book very quickly, because I wanted to find out what happened as much as Jen did.

The fact that Jen suffered serious brain and bodily injuries, yet she is recuperating at home with only her sister and a male caregiver named Bryce to take care of her, is ridiculous. She should at least have been in a nursing facility. Rachel tells Jen that a doctor checks on her regularly, but the one time we witness this doctor's visit, she comes across as inept and suspicious. Bryce also is a question mark. He is a great cook and very attentive, but there is something about him that just doesn't ring true. Jen would have needed more care than she is given -- I would think at least brain/memory specialists, physical therapy and visits to rehab and medical clinics.

I also had trouble with the fact that Jen couldn't find out the truth, despite coming into contact with townspeople, who surely would have heard of the crash, since it is a small town -- the type where everyone knows everyone's business.

I don't want to give anyting away, but there were other plot issues that were a bit far-fetched. Still, as I already mentioned, I kept reading! I would rate it 3.5 stars if the rating was available.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Bookouture Publishing for the E-ARC and the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Was this review helpful?

The author, Holly Down, sets the stage for Everyone is Lying, with that enticing title and the prologue that made me wonder where in the world she would go with this.

It was easy for me to get caught up in the story and wonder about who wasn't telling the truth and why would anyone lie. It seems like the prologue made it all pretty straightforward. Holly Down's led me along with a little red herring here, a somewhat frightening encounter there until everything was finally revealed in the end.

Good job.

Was this review helpful?