Monday, April 16, 2018

Review: The Lies They Tell by Gillian French

Title: The Lies They Tell
Author: Gillian French
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Published By: HarperTeen (May 1, 2018)
Source: ARC Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!


Book Description:
Everyone in Tenney’s Harbor, Maine, has heard of the Garrison tragedy. A mysterious fire. A family of five reduced to one. For people like Pearl Haskins—whose dad was the caretaker of the Garrison property when the house went up in flames—the whispers about that night are more than upsetting. They hurt. With her disgraced father now trying to find steady work in between booze benders, Pearl is stuck waiting tables at the town’s country club where the rich townspeople come in the summer to flaunt their money and gossip about one another.

This year, a group of privileged boys has made a point of sitting in Pearl’s section—throwing careless insults her way while also attempting to flirt. Though she’s repulsed by everything they stand for, she’s drawn to the quiet leader of the pack, Tristan—the last surviving Garrison. He wasn’t home the night a blaze took his entire family, and the sadness coming off him in waves is hard to ignore. Befriending the summer boys might irk her to her core, but inside their fold of elite parties and reckless whims could be answers to what happened the night of the fire. And that’s just what she finds.


Hidden beneath the glittering façade of wealth and luxury, Pearl discovers a dark and twisted web of lies and betrayals that, once untangled, will leave no life in Tenney’s Harbor unchanged. That is…if it doesn’t take Pearl’s first. 












It's been a really long time since I've read a YA mystery that has kept me on the edge of my seat, not only guessing at what was about to happen, but with what did happen as well. The magical whodunit.

I usually figure these things out and yet this time, I think I didn't want to be right. I didn't want to feel something for the bad guy. I didn't want it to be who it was and more importantly, because of it, I didn't see it coming as well as I should of and because of that, this had me turning the pages rapidly towards the end, eager to be wrong, eager to be right and most of all, wanting to know it all either way.

French craftily wove a tale riddled with darkness, deceit and lies. Something full of hate and prejudice. Of being wronged and unforgiving. Something oh so addicting and delicious in all its horribleness.

Needless to say, I loved every minute of it. A must read for everyone.







*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

55 comments:

  1. Yay! I love a good YA mystery. Adding this one for sure. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ahh! So glad you enjoyed this, Ali! It sounds right up my alley and I really love that cover. I haven't read a good YA mystery in a while too, so adding this to my list! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Woot! It really is hard to come across a good one that keeps my attention in this genre anymore for some reason so definitely check it out.

      Delete
  3. That's great you loved this one. I do love a good mystery, and they can be hard to find in YA sometimes.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! More so than lately I think so it was a nice surprise for sure. ;)

      Delete
  4. I love it when a book keeps me on the edge of my seat! Great review!
    Simply Angela

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oooh it's been so long since I read a darker YA thriller, and I'm definitely intrigued. Awesome review!

    - Aimee @ Aimee, Always

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Aimee, it really was fun. I tend to like the darker mysteries when it comes to this genre.

      Delete
  6. I had my eyes on this one but read a couple reviews that said the mystery was predictable. Your thoughts renew my interest. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There were some parts that were, I won't lie but it was so intriguing and interesting still.

      Delete
  7. This sounds good and I kind of shy away from YA mystery but this sounds steller.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a lot lately as well so I totally get it.

      Delete
  8. Love a good mystery, too. And it's so rare in YA. Adding this to my list!

    Lovely review, Ali!

    ReplyDelete
  9. yay! I finished one I loved so much as well with Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

    ReplyDelete
  10. I didn’t know about this one.I need to check it out. I am all for a great mystery> adding it to the list.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sometimes YA thrillers fall flat for me. But dang! You've grabbed my attention with this one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do for me a lot of the time as well Tyler so I completely get it.

      Delete
  12. oh very cool that this really got to you kindlemom

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm reading more mystery so I'm definitely going to check this out. Glad you enjoyed it and it kept you guessing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been too this year and late last year and I'm loving it so let me know if you have any other recommendations too!

      Delete
  14. That sounds quite good. Not my usual type of read but if I feel in the mood for something different I'll keep this in mind.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This sounds exciting. I love a good mystery so I will be looking out for this one. Thanks for the recommendation.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I LOVE a good YA thriller and I've been looking forward to this one since I heard about it. Plus I liked her first book. :) And wow you've sold this one! Can't wait now with a rec like that! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! Thanks Greg and I truly hope you love it as much as I did!

      Delete
  17. Nice review! I'm adding this one now. I love books that keep you guessing, and also books that make you love the bad guy. It sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing this one and bringing it to my attention.

    Following you via Bloglovin'! I thought I was before, but I'm making a point to check has I hop around and comment tonight. So glad I did!

    Do You Dog-ear?

    ReplyDelete
  18. This YA genre can be such a hit or miss for me, so it's always nice to discover a good one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same. It was pretty good, still somewhat predictable at times but enough mystery still to keep reading for sure.

      Delete
  19. Ooohhh sounds so good. I don't know though-I don't want to like the bad guy. And the guys sound like snotty snobs. Or something like that. Still I bet it's a good one!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This sounds so good. I have not read this genre in a while but adding this to my list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you are adding it, hope you like it as well!

      Delete
  21. Oh cool. Love when they can get ya feeling twisty over some characters.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I haven't read much YA mystery lately and my! I am really curious of this one!

    xx
    Vanessa @ Blushing Geek

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't either but I'm so glad I picked this one up.

      Delete
  23. You had me at delicious horribleness. :D I admit you have me curious about this one. Brilly review!

    ReplyDelete
  24. have seen this all over my GR feed recently, did not realize it was a YA or a thriller o.o great to hear it was told really well, exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love YA mystery which was why I was so excited to start this. Unlike you, I wasn't a fan. I wish she made us work for the whodunit some more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was predictable at times but most of these are.

      Delete
  26. Interesting to read a Gillian French YA book, i think authors underestimate teens ability to reason which makes these books more predictable! Great Review!
    Tori @ In Tori Lex

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think your right for sure, which is too bad because so many of them have so much potential to be truly great mysteries if the author would just put a little more mystery into it. ;)

      Delete