The cover of this book is lovely and the synopsis sounded interesting. However, the execution fell flat. The characters were not particularly interesting or well developed. There wasn't much plot either.

It took me weeks to read these 260 pages because I found it very easy to put this book down and pick up something else. Ultimately, I forced myself to stick with it so that I could check it off my Netgalley shelf.

There is not much of a thriller here. The premise for the reunion is a stretch as is the whole plot. Who the killer is was very obvious from the start.

Though I did not enjoy the story I muddled my way through but I hated the epilogue and it made me feel like I had wasted my time fighting through the book.

Ultimately, this book was not for me. Others have had a better response to the story so this may be my issue not the book's.

First, let’s talk about this gorgeous cover for a second—it stopped me mid-scroll. Moody skies, windswept dunes, and that perfect hint of foreboding? Obsessed. Lie in the Tide totally delivered that salty, coastal drama I was craving.

Holly Danvers absolutely nails the vibe of the Cape—you can practically feel the ocean breeze and smell the briny air. The way she weaves in little nods to other parts of Massachusetts made the whole setting feel rich and lived-in, not just a backdrop but a character in its own right. Like… I’m one foggy scene away from booking a weekend in Chatham.

The plot centers around four women reuniting after twenty years, and listen, the potential for juicy drama? Immaculate. Danvers knows how to pace a thriller. The story moves fast, the secrets run deep, and the twists? Sprinkled in just right to keep you turning pages past bedtime.

If you’re looking for a quick, atmospheric thriller with stormy beach town energy and secrets bubbling just under the surface, Lie in the Tide is a great summer pick. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies with a little extra New England edge.

Big thanks to Severn House and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for the advanced copy—I’m officially hooked on Holly Danvers now.

I started this last night thinking I’ll read a bit today so I can have it finished before publication. It did not go as planned. I wound up finishing the book around 3am. I couldn’t put the dang thing down! It was an odd coincidence that this is the second book I read this week with 4 women having a reunion and one of them has a secret. And it was the same secret! But luckily that was the only similarity.
I was really liking the characters at the beginning of the book. By the end I didn’t like a couple so much. More secrets came out. Some twists popped up. It got a little crazy there. I did guess whodunnit but for a while I was doubting myself.
The ending though. Hours later I’m still WTH just happened? I have questions. Does the ending mean what I think it means? That was a twist I never saw coming.
I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

this is a get your popcorn out and come away with me type of mystery thriller. a quick read and pages that make you want to turn them quicker. its juicy, its mystery and its got our characters who come together after 20 years of not knowing anything about eachother. why would you do this!? sound like my worst night mare. but come together they do. they are all very different people now, and some are coming to the holiday with things left unsaid and things they definitely dont want to be said.
there is of course the teen tiny small point that one of them will die. oh yes, that thing. that very "whaat!" thing just went and happened. and so then its about wanting to know what happened but also not wanting to become someone in the line of fire. but then who is the suspect?who is the killer?and is anyone else in danger?
there is secrets and drama to come and an awfully large receipt totting up for wine.
the Cape makes a great setting for this one and only adds to the feel of the plot. it feels lush and pristine and totally at odd with whats going on. but what bias does that bring a reader? it certainly managed to charm me a fair few times.
Holly gives us a welcome book for the genre. i was truly swept into these pages, characters and scenery and didnt want to leave until the end.

The Book:
Four friends are reuniting after years of not having seen each other. They haven't even really kept in touch, other than seeing updates on social media, but Remi, Avery, Mori, and Calista are meeting at a luxe beach house on Cape Cod in honour of Calista's 40th birthday.
The four friends all have so many secrets they're hiding and as their weekend turns deadly, which secrets will be revealed?

My Thoughts:
I found this book more mystery or suspense than thriller, which I was okay with - I still really enjoyed the book (since I also like those genres), although there were some moments that did feel thriller-like.
I liked that the book was third person multi-POV, so we were in on their individual secrets when the other characters weren't. There were some really fun moments with the friends and I liked the mystery aspect of the story and how different each of the characters was.
I also really loved the setting - Cape Cod and the beach house where they were staying.
Potential Trigger Warning for some re: fertility issues and pregnancy loss.

Four friends plan to reunite after a 20 year break, but one of them ends up dead. This tragedy sparks a spilling of secrets and lies of epic proportions.

I enjoyed the addictive nature of this book. It reminded me of a Beverly Hills 90210 twenty year reunion. I will say at some times the dialog seemed a bit off, for example, too light hearted during intense stressful situations

Thank you Severn House for a digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Four friends plan to meet for a reunion/birthday weekend celebration. They haven't seen each other since they graduated 20 years ago. But one of them goes missing.

This is told from each of the women's POV. Avery, the Midwest farmer, wife and mother was my favorite. This book is full of secrets and suspense.

You Think You Know Me. I fully cop to being one of those people that avoids my hometown in my adult life (other than visiting family members who continue to live there) specifically because high school was hell and I don't care to catch up with pretty well anyone from that era of my life. (To be fair, the feeling is largely mutual. :D)

So for me, a group of former HS friends deciding to catch up by spending a weekend together to celebrate the upcoming 40th birthday of one of them is... weird.

And yet... Danvers absolutely makes the idea work. The first part of the tale is largely "establishing shots", with each of our four friends introducing themselves and where they currently are in life as they begin to travel to the meeting point on Cape Cod. This section is admittedly slow... but then, so is this section in many of the best thriller/ horror/ disaster movies or stories.

Once everyone begins catching up, the action begins to pick up - including a scene that reminded me of a long ago college Service Spring Break incident, but to reveal that tale here would get into spoiler territory for the book. Hell, I didn't even connect it until I began writing that last sentence. ;) From here, the tale goes less introspective and, eventually, more into "what the hell is going on" / "who can we trust" territory, with a fair amount of exploration of the common theme of "who we are on social media isn't always who we are in real life" that has been explored so much over the last decade. While Danvers doesn't really add much to that particular discourse with this tale, she does use it to add a touch of depth to her own story.

I will note that the mystery, once it arrives, was perhaps given away a touch too early with one particular detail that one of the characters revealed in her opening monologue. So for those that just cannot stand solving the mystery before the author reveals it... well... "you think you know me". In other words... there may yet be more to this tale...

The epilogue in particular offers a stinger that takes this seeming one-off tale and offers the possibility that it could in fact become a series, which those of you who pick this book up with the "Book 1" on its title would already know. (I had received an Advance Review Copy of the text months before publication, though I only read the book about 2 weeks before due to other ARC commitments.)

Ultimately, this actually has a blend of the approaches used in say the "Widows" series by Kimberly Belle, Cate Holahan, Layne Fargo, and Vanessa Lillie - where each author seemingly takes one of four widows and they combine to craft an intriguing and rompy series - and the meta-publishing discussions of say Romantic Friction by Lori Gold - among others - and yet still manages to be fairly uniquely its own thing even with those similarities. It will be interesting to see where Danvers takes this budding series and how long she intends to have it run.

Very much recommended.

3.5 stars.

Twenty years after drifting apart, four former friends reunite on Cape Cod for a 40th birthday celebration—but each arrives carrying a devastating secret. As old tensions resurface and hidden truths unravel, one small lie threatens to shatter not only their friendship but their lives.

I was immediately drawn to this gorgeous cover, and as a Massachusetts local, and a sucker for any story set on Cape Cod, I knew I had to read Lie in the Tide. Holly Danvers does a fantastic job capturing the moody, windswept charm of the Cape, and I appreciated how she wove in details from other parts of the state—it made the setting feel layered and authentic. I could practically smell the salt air and feel the grit of sand underfoot, and now I’m itching to plan a trip down there myself.

The premise of four old friends reuniting after two decades had so much potential, but I struggled to buy into their connection. The group dynamic felt cold and fractured, with dialogue that didn’t quite flow or reflect any shared history. I wanted more insight into what had once bonded these women and what ultimately pulled them apart.

That said, Danvers knows how to build suspense. The atmosphere hums with tension, and the twists land at just the right moments to keep the pages turning. While I saw the ending coming, I still devoured the book in a day. The epilogue delivers a final jolt that, though somewhat predictable, will catch many readers off guard. If you’re in the mood for a quick, bingeable thriller packed with secrets, lies, and long-buried betrayals, this one’s a solid pick—especially for a summer beach read.

Thanks to Severn House and Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for an advanced copy and putting this book on my radar.

ARC copy. While the story started out with a fun concept, the characters are flat and dumb, not to mention, the writing is horrendous. The over use of adverbs, punctuation and obvious, awkward dialogue left me often putting the book down mid chapter. ‘Nonverbal nods’? Oy. At times, I’d turn the page and think, ‘did I skip a page?’ as the flow was choppy at best. Cliches galore, women who are late 30’s, early 40’s are all considering divorce, cheating on husbands, and hiring hot chefs, right? And of course, tossing personal items everywhere to leave the perfect trail of evidence.

Mori, Avery, Remi, and Calista tell this reunion story. It's a reunion to celebrate a 40th birthday that turns out to be a chance for secrets to be revealed. This felt quite trope-y but I kept reading because who doesn't like a story about four friends who really aren't. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

Four old friends. One coastal reunion. And enough secrets to sink a sailboat. ⛵

Shoutout to #ThrillerBookLovers and #HollyDanvers for an early copy of this juicy thriller. ☀️🕶️ "Lie In The Tide" is a mix of mystery, coastal charm, and twisty drama. This gem belongs in your beach bag. 🏖️

Danvers has this enchanting way of wrapping you up in a world filled with dreamy sunsets and refreshing ocean breezes. Picture it: great food, even better drinks, and that tantalizing undercurrent of something darker lurking beneath the surface.

Each character brings their own unique flavor (some sweet, others a bit salty), and when you think you’ve got it all figured out, there’s a plot twist that hits harder than a rogue wave! 🌊💥

This book is packed with sass, tension, and that 'who can you trust?' vibe that had me flipping pages faster than a seagull swooping down for a snack. It's a rollercoaster of emotions you won't want to get off! Can you feel the sand between your toes? 🏖️😉

Mark your calendars for June 3, because you won't want to miss the thrill of getting swept away by this coastal mystery!

Thank you to Severn House for providing this eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Lie In The Tide By Holly Danvers
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Publisher: Severn House

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Severn House, Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, and NetGalley for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Everybody at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse has been so excited about reading this upcoming release from Holly Danvers! Lie in the Tide is the story of four high school friends who get together for a week-long vacation after twenty years to celebrate the 40th birthday of one of them -- and it quickly becomes clear the women are all hiding "little white lies" from one another...which are actually pretty big secrets. When one of the friends is found dead, can the women's friendships remain strong or will they turn on one another before the mystery of their friend's death can be solved?

This story is told from multiple POVs of the women: Mori, Avery, Remi, and Calista. I enjoyed being able to read each woman's perspective as the story came together and their secrets were revealed. I enjoyed the overall premise of the book and the intended path of the plotlines. Unfortunately, there were some issues that kept this one from being a hit for me.

I struggled with the lack of depth in character development, as the friendships of the women came across at times as disjointed and distrusting, yet loyal to a fault at other times -- and I didn't get enough context to understand the conflicting dynamics. I also struggled with some of the cheesy dialogue - almost cringey at times - and there were times it took away from my enjoyment of the deepening mystery.

But my biggest struggle with this book involved a trigger warning that will be a spoiler, so if you don't want a spoiler, I'll give you a minute to exit my review now...
.
.
.
Okay, deep breath. Trigger Warning: this book contains a storyline about a pregnancy loss that was handled in an incredibly disappointing manner. As someone who has experienced the devastation of pregnancy loss and is committed to educating others about this lifelong grief, the way this subject was written in this book both stunned and angered me. The friends were dismissive and said the character had time to grieve overnight, so she should be fine if they confronted her about other things the next morning. And during a chapter from the POV of the woman who experienced the pregnancy loss, SHE indicated her pregnancy was a "huge error in judgment" anyway and wondered if "a part of her instinctively understood this and that's why her body miscarried in the first place." 😳😳 Come again?! Reading this was brutal and unexpected, and I nearly stopped reading at that point. The pregnancy loss was not a crucial part of the plotline, and if it's not going to be included with even a modicum of sensitivity, maybe don't include it at all. #sorrynotsorry I get it, I'm one person and my personal experience affects me differently than the experiences of other readers. However, miscarriages and pregnancy losses happen so often, I'm certainly not the only reader who may have been impacted by this depiction. I've seen this subject referenced briefly AND sensitively in other reads, so I know it can be done -- but it sure wasn't in this book. #rantover #wecandobetter

Considering my thoughts above, it's obvious this wasn't a book for me. However, I really did like the premise and its intended focus on female friendships across the years. If you're a fan of books about female friendships and how little white lies can become bigger betrayals -- and if you don't share the same triggers that I do -- you may really enjoy this one.

#LieInTheTide #HollyDanvers #SevernHouse #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARCs #thrillerbookloversthepulse #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

The cover of the book is very enticing, and I was very excited to get approved for an ARC of this book. Holly Danvers is just not the author for me unfortunately. I very rarely DNF a book, but I really struggled to get to the 20% mark. I didn't feel drawn to any of the characters, and I didn't enjoy the writing style. I read a few other reviews that said they got more invested as the book progressed, and they were glad they stuck with it. I just couldn't get into it. However, there are loads of positive reviews as well so definitely worth having a read through them and deciding if you think this one might be for you.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a twisty turvy thriller that still has me thinking of the ending days after I've finished the book. I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. Totally held my attention and was a quick read.

The premise of Lie In The Tide sounded interesting and I liked the cover picture, so I was excited to check it out.

This story had a Desperate Housewives feel. The four main characters were interesting and I liked their dynamic. I enjoyed that each woman had her own secret coming into the reunion. It was interesting getting to know each of them leading up to it. There was a lot at stake, especially for Calista, whose secret had the potential to destroy a friendship and already destroyed her marriage. When she didn't show up to the reunion right away, a lot of thoughts went through my head.

While there were a lot of mysterious and suspenseful elements, I felt it was somewhat easy to guess at what might be going on. However, I was surprised at other times. The ending threw me for a loop and felt kind of confusing too. I found myself turning the pages quickly to see where things were going and to also see if my guess was correct or not.

Overall, an entertaining story. I feel like it's being set up as part of a series, so I hope we can either revisit with these characters or meet some new ones in future novels.

Movie casting suggestions:
Calista: Torrey DeVitto
Remi: Meredith Hagner
Avery: Jessy Schram
Mori: Jessica Parker Kennedy
Gabe: Michael Cassidy
Kirk: Christopher Lowell
(Trigger warnings below.)


Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.
*



*



*



*



*



*



*

TW: Miscarriage, infidelity, blindness

I’m afraid this one wasn’t for me. The story was interesting but obvious- but then I hated the epilogue which made the whole read seem pointless. But honestly the writing was so bad it was virtually unreadable. I’m not sure if it was a translation - it very much read like a poor one, but the grasp of English wasn’t great and the flow and language was awful. Honestly I wouldn’t recommend and it needs a good edit.

Who doesn't love a reunion story? I so wanted to like this book but unfortunately it was underwhelming for me. I struggled to connect with the characters, and it dragged on in certain places.

Lie in the Tide

4 friends haven’t seen each other in 20 years, and decide to get together for a beach reunion. Things are great until one dies. Was it one of them? Or an individual from their own lives?

Well, this one was interesting. I enjoyed the differences of the four friends and their storylines were well developed.

Honestly didn’t like the ending, and really didn’t love the epilogue. The “big twist” was predicted in the beginning, and then the epilogue left me feeling disappointed.

Lie in the Tide by Holly Danvers is a thriller featuring a reunion of friends who are gathering to celebrate the 40th birthday of one of the group. Unfortunately, before the end of the weekend, one of them turns up dead, and everyone is a suspect because they all have something to hide.

I am going to keep this review rather short.

I didn't care much for any of the characters none of them was particularly likeable, and yet I liked the book, mostly. The story was interesting, and kept my attention. While some of the decisions the characters made didn't make sense to me, it did keep things interesting. My biggest problem came at the end of the book. I'll be honest, I hated the ending, it made me feel cheated, like I had wasted my time with the rest of the story.

Lie in the Tide is a quick read and I think lots of people will enjoy it, what really spoiled it for me was the ending.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.