What do you think?
Rate this book
Count My Lies
A read-in-one-night suspense thriller narrated by a compulsive liar whose little white lies allow her to enter into the life and comfort of a wealthy married couple who are harboring much darker secrets themselves. For the millions of us still chasing those gone girls, this is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Lucy Foley, and Laura Dave.
Sloane Caraway is a liar.
Harmless lies, mostly, to make her self-proclaimed sad, little life a bit more interesting.
So when Sloane sees a young girl in tears at a park one afternoon, she can't help herself—she tells the girl's (very attractive) dad she's a nurse and helps him pull a bee stinger from the girl's foot.
With this lie, and chance encounter, Sloane becomes the nanny for the wealthy, and privileged Jay and Violet Lockhart. The perfect New York couple, with a brownstone, a daughter in private school, and summers on Block Island.
But maybe Sloane isn't the only one lying, and all that's picture-perfect harbors a much more dangerous truth. To say anything more is to spoil the most exciting, twisty, and bitingly smart suspense novel to come out in years.
The thing about lies is that they add up, form their own truth and a twisted prison of a world. And in Count My Lies, Sophie Stava spins a breakneck, unputdownable thriller about the secrets we keep, and the terrifying dangers that lurk just under the images we spend so much time trying to maintain.
Careful what you lie for.
Sloane Caraway is a liar.
Harmless lies, mostly, to make her self-proclaimed sad, little life a bit more interesting.
So when Sloane sees a young girl in tears at a park one afternoon, she can't help herself—she tells the girl's (very attractive) dad she's a nurse and helps him pull a bee stinger from the girl's foot.
With this lie, and chance encounter, Sloane becomes the nanny for the wealthy, and privileged Jay and Violet Lockhart. The perfect New York couple, with a brownstone, a daughter in private school, and summers on Block Island.
But maybe Sloane isn't the only one lying, and all that's picture-perfect harbors a much more dangerous truth. To say anything more is to spoil the most exciting, twisty, and bitingly smart suspense novel to come out in years.
The thing about lies is that they add up, form their own truth and a twisted prison of a world. And in Count My Lies, Sophie Stava spins a breakneck, unputdownable thriller about the secrets we keep, and the terrifying dangers that lurk just under the images we spend so much time trying to maintain.
Careful what you lie for.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2025
4308 people are currently reading
155079 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Stava
2 books852 followersSophie Stava received her BA in English literature from UC Santa Barbara. She currently resides in Southern California with her family. COUNT MY LIES is her debut novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,019 reviews
March 9, 2025
This was craaaazy, I really thought I had some stuff figured out there for a minute but NOPE! I had so much fun with this! Perfect thriller to binge on a weekend.
Read
July 17, 2024I started this ARC, got about twenty pages in, and felt like with everything else going on in the world I just didn’t have it in me to read a book about a pathological liar.
March 9, 2025
3.5 Stars
“Count My Lies” – A Twisty, Unputdownable Debut
Sophie Stava delivers an impressive debut with Count My Lies, a character-driven thriller that keeps readers on edge, constantly questioning what is true and what is fabricated.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Sloane Caraway, who makes it clear from the start: the truth is dull, so she embellishes it. Lying isn’t just a habit—it’s her way of making life more interesting. Living on the outskirts of wealth and privilege, Sloane longs for a lifestyle she can’t quite reach, and her boundary issues become apparent early on. Her compulsive lying, layered with hints of a troubled past, immediately places her in the realm of the “unreliable narrator,” adding to the novel’s intrigue.
At the start of the novel, Sloane is working at a nail salon while supporting her mother in Brooklyn. During a lunch break in the park, she notices a handsome man, Jay, with his young daughter. When the girl is stung by a bee and starts screaming, Sloane swoops in, claiming to be a nurse. From that moment on, her lies snowball. She simply cannot help herself. Some of her deceptions are unsettling; others are outright alarming. Stava forces the reader to consider the morality of lying—when is it harmless, and when does it become dangerous?
Determined to become part of the Lockhart family’s world, Sloane orchestrates a meeting with the girl’s mother, Violet, and soon worms her way into a nannying job. Stava crafts Sloane’s character with precision, making her both fascinating and deeply flawed. The tension builds as the reader wonders: is she a harmless fabulist or a calculated manipulator? And then the twists begin.
Deception is at the heart of this novel, making it an addictive page-turner where every character’s motives are suspect. Stava masterfully explores the gap between public personas and hidden realities. What we show the world isn’t always the truth—so what is?
Just as the reader starts to understand Sloane, the perspective shifts. Violet takes over as narrator, revealing her own reasons for crafting a carefully curated life. On the surface, she has everything Sloane wants—wealth, status, a seemingly perfect marriage. But as her story unfolds, it becomes clear that her privilege allows her to manipulate reality just as much as Sloane does, albeit in a more socially acceptable way.
At its core, Count My Lies is an exploration of trust—who can you believe when everyone is lying? As Sloane receives conflicting information from Jay and Violet, the reader is forced to re-evaluate everything previously assumed to be true. The cracks in the Lockharts’ picture-perfect marriage widen, exposing a tangled web of deceit.
Jay eventually gets his turn as narrator, adding even more complexity to the story. But in the end, it is Sloane who closes the book, cementing her place as one of the most compelling unreliable narrators in recent thrillers.
This debut is filled with so many twists that it becomes a compulsive read. Is it entirely believable? Probably not. Did I care? Not one bit—I was completely entertained.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Emily Tremaine, Devon Sorvari, and Andrew Eiden. Their performances added depth to the characters, making the nearly 11-hour experience even more immersive.
Count My Lies is an electrifying debut that will leave readers questioning the nature of truth itself.
“Count My Lies” – A Twisty, Unputdownable Debut
Sophie Stava delivers an impressive debut with Count My Lies, a character-driven thriller that keeps readers on edge, constantly questioning what is true and what is fabricated.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Sloane Caraway, who makes it clear from the start: the truth is dull, so she embellishes it. Lying isn’t just a habit—it’s her way of making life more interesting. Living on the outskirts of wealth and privilege, Sloane longs for a lifestyle she can’t quite reach, and her boundary issues become apparent early on. Her compulsive lying, layered with hints of a troubled past, immediately places her in the realm of the “unreliable narrator,” adding to the novel’s intrigue.
At the start of the novel, Sloane is working at a nail salon while supporting her mother in Brooklyn. During a lunch break in the park, she notices a handsome man, Jay, with his young daughter. When the girl is stung by a bee and starts screaming, Sloane swoops in, claiming to be a nurse. From that moment on, her lies snowball. She simply cannot help herself. Some of her deceptions are unsettling; others are outright alarming. Stava forces the reader to consider the morality of lying—when is it harmless, and when does it become dangerous?
Determined to become part of the Lockhart family’s world, Sloane orchestrates a meeting with the girl’s mother, Violet, and soon worms her way into a nannying job. Stava crafts Sloane’s character with precision, making her both fascinating and deeply flawed. The tension builds as the reader wonders: is she a harmless fabulist or a calculated manipulator? And then the twists begin.
Deception is at the heart of this novel, making it an addictive page-turner where every character’s motives are suspect. Stava masterfully explores the gap between public personas and hidden realities. What we show the world isn’t always the truth—so what is?
Just as the reader starts to understand Sloane, the perspective shifts. Violet takes over as narrator, revealing her own reasons for crafting a carefully curated life. On the surface, she has everything Sloane wants—wealth, status, a seemingly perfect marriage. But as her story unfolds, it becomes clear that her privilege allows her to manipulate reality just as much as Sloane does, albeit in a more socially acceptable way.
At its core, Count My Lies is an exploration of trust—who can you believe when everyone is lying? As Sloane receives conflicting information from Jay and Violet, the reader is forced to re-evaluate everything previously assumed to be true. The cracks in the Lockharts’ picture-perfect marriage widen, exposing a tangled web of deceit.
Jay eventually gets his turn as narrator, adding even more complexity to the story. But in the end, it is Sloane who closes the book, cementing her place as one of the most compelling unreliable narrators in recent thrillers.
This debut is filled with so many twists that it becomes a compulsive read. Is it entirely believable? Probably not. Did I care? Not one bit—I was completely entertained.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Emily Tremaine, Devon Sorvari, and Andrew Eiden. Their performances added depth to the characters, making the nearly 11-hour experience even more immersive.
Count My Lies is an electrifying debut that will leave readers questioning the nature of truth itself.
March 16, 2025
Just like the title says, lots of lies will happen.
I enjoyed the first 60% and when the POV changes, it took a dive for me. I was listening so I still wanted to finish and see how the end would go (wasn't a fan).
A bit too far-fetched, but entertaining enough if you are looking for a mindless little popcorn book.
10 hours/ 45 min on Audible
I enjoyed the first 60% and when the POV changes, it took a dive for me. I was listening so I still wanted to finish and see how the end would go (wasn't a fan).
A bit too far-fetched, but entertaining enough if you are looking for a mindless little popcorn book.
10 hours/ 45 min on Audible
March 8, 2025
Why did they talk about Taylor swift so much? It was bizarre.
January 9, 2026
2⭐️ I’m pretty sure I’ve read this same plot twice before.
I absolutely hate to rain on a debut author’s parade but I honestly don’t understand how this storyline continues to get published. Sure, this isn’t a copy and pasted rewrite and I actually felt like the first half of the book reminded me of a more sophisticated (but still totally bingeable) version of an author I’m comparing this book to. But then, a big twist happens…
This story is about a pathological liar who meets a wealthy couple and becomes their nanny. Of course, the perfect couple is far from perfect and things get very out of hand.
Again, this isn’t a complete rip off (of two previous bestsellers) and I know a lot of these popcorn thriller tropes are frequently recycled, but the parts of this book that were unique are pretty outlandish and the ending is just plain silly.
Obviously, this was not the book for me but I think if you haven’t read a ton of thrillers OR if you just love an entertaining story with a bit of an insane plot and can suspend disbelief this could be a hit for you.
🥳PUB DAY: MARCH 4th
Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! Clearly all thoughts are my own.
I absolutely hate to rain on a debut author’s parade but I honestly don’t understand how this storyline continues to get published. Sure, this isn’t a copy and pasted rewrite and I actually felt like the first half of the book reminded me of a more sophisticated (but still totally bingeable) version of an author I’m comparing this book to. But then, a big twist happens…
This story is about a pathological liar who meets a wealthy couple and becomes their nanny. Of course, the perfect couple is far from perfect and things get very out of hand.
Again, this isn’t a complete rip off (of two previous bestsellers) and I know a lot of these popcorn thriller tropes are frequently recycled, but the parts of this book that were unique are pretty outlandish and the ending is just plain silly.
Obviously, this was not the book for me but I think if you haven’t read a ton of thrillers OR if you just love an entertaining story with a bit of an insane plot and can suspend disbelief this could be a hit for you.
🥳PUB DAY: MARCH 4th
Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! Clearly all thoughts are my own.
May 31, 2025
Hot damn! What a twisted, twisted tale. From the very beginning of Count My Lies, I was drawn in by the deliciously unhinged premise that just got better with each and every page. Told in four increasingly shocking parts that turned everything inside out and upside down, the pile of lies grew right along with the page count. The truth, though, was what made this book sing. You see, thanks to a Gone Girl-esque vibe, I was positively hooked by the unbridled deceit, underhanded manipulation, and well-hidden secrets that made this book into a multilayered treat for yours truly as they exploded into view.
As for the storyline, it was both fast-paced and addictive. Told in chunks by multiple POVs, the story twisted and turned with each additional persona as they lended their individual perspectives. Giving an unguessable edge to this somewhat but pleasingly over-the-top plot, I happily held on for dear life as I flew through the pages. Did I predict some of these jaw-dropping twists? Well—yes. But that is most likely down to my incessant inhalation of anything and everything thriller. Even I, though, didn’t foresee that downright perfect conclusion. Both smile-inducing and triumphant, it just couldn’t have been better.
All said and done, this debut tale of domestic suspense was packed full of plenty of morally gray characters in a well-plotted storyline that had no lack of sharp turns. Complete with distinct voices that filled out their personas as I read along, I was captivated by their individual dilemmas which only grew more complex with each passing page. It was the full picture, however, that had me at an utter loss for words. Now I’m on pins and needles to see what Ms. Stava comes up with next. Bingeable, head-snapping, and with a near pitch perfect plot, this masterclass in suspense will keep you riveted for sure as you fly through the pages in no time at all. Rating of 4.5 stars.
P.S. Just a little forewarning that you should be prepared to not be able to put this book down. In fact, I read it in only a matter of hours without a single break to be seen. So you just might want to have all of your errands completed and a long stretch of free time in your future—otherwise you might just end up with a stack of unfinished chores as you ignore even your children.
SYNOPSIS:
Sloane Caraway is a liar.
Harmless lies, mostly, to make her self-proclaimed sad, little life a bit more interesting.
So when Sloane sees a young girl in tears at a park one afternoon, she can’t help herself—she tells the girl’s (very attractive) dad she’s a nurse and helps him pull a bee stinger from the girl’s foot.
With this lie, and chance encounter, Sloane becomes the nanny for the wealthy, and privileged Jay and Violet Lockhart. The perfect New York couple, with a brownstone, a daughter in private school, and summers on Block Island.
But maybe Sloane isn’t the only one lying, and all that’s picture-perfect harbors a much more dangerous truth.
Thank you to Sophie Stava and Scout Press Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 4, 2025
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling list of triggers.
Content warning: stalking, infidelity, gun violence
As for the storyline, it was both fast-paced and addictive. Told in chunks by multiple POVs, the story twisted and turned with each additional persona as they lended their individual perspectives. Giving an unguessable edge to this somewhat but pleasingly over-the-top plot, I happily held on for dear life as I flew through the pages. Did I predict some of these jaw-dropping twists? Well—yes. But that is most likely down to my incessant inhalation of anything and everything thriller. Even I, though, didn’t foresee that downright perfect conclusion. Both smile-inducing and triumphant, it just couldn’t have been better.
All said and done, this debut tale of domestic suspense was packed full of plenty of morally gray characters in a well-plotted storyline that had no lack of sharp turns. Complete with distinct voices that filled out their personas as I read along, I was captivated by their individual dilemmas which only grew more complex with each passing page. It was the full picture, however, that had me at an utter loss for words. Now I’m on pins and needles to see what Ms. Stava comes up with next. Bingeable, head-snapping, and with a near pitch perfect plot, this masterclass in suspense will keep you riveted for sure as you fly through the pages in no time at all. Rating of 4.5 stars.
P.S. Just a little forewarning that you should be prepared to not be able to put this book down. In fact, I read it in only a matter of hours without a single break to be seen. So you just might want to have all of your errands completed and a long stretch of free time in your future—otherwise you might just end up with a stack of unfinished chores as you ignore even your children.
SYNOPSIS:
Sloane Caraway is a liar.
Harmless lies, mostly, to make her self-proclaimed sad, little life a bit more interesting.
So when Sloane sees a young girl in tears at a park one afternoon, she can’t help herself—she tells the girl’s (very attractive) dad she’s a nurse and helps him pull a bee stinger from the girl’s foot.
With this lie, and chance encounter, Sloane becomes the nanny for the wealthy, and privileged Jay and Violet Lockhart. The perfect New York couple, with a brownstone, a daughter in private school, and summers on Block Island.
But maybe Sloane isn’t the only one lying, and all that’s picture-perfect harbors a much more dangerous truth.
Thank you to Sophie Stava and Scout Press Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 4, 2025
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling list of triggers.
Content warning: stalking, infidelity, gun violence
March 25, 2025
2 stars. RTC
I apparently forgot I put a hold on this one and it just dropped into my Libby queue this morning. Honestly lol perfect timing - I could use a good, fast paced, popcorn thriller right about now!
🕵🏻♀️Con Artist
🗝️Compulsive Liar
🔪Deceptive Plot
👀Unhinged x Stalking
🕵🏻♀️Morally Gray Characters
🗝️Psych Thriller
🔪Family Drama
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
I apparently forgot I put a hold on this one and it just dropped into my Libby queue this morning. Honestly lol perfect timing - I could use a good, fast paced, popcorn thriller right about now!
🕵🏻♀️Con Artist
🗝️Compulsive Liar
🔪Deceptive Plot
👀Unhinged x Stalking
🕵🏻♀️Morally Gray Characters
🗝️Psych Thriller
🔪Family Drama
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
April 12, 2025
One thing I gotta give Sloane is I'm with her on this one: The truth is hella boring. Honestly, I’d lie all the time too if I wasn’t so crappy at it. I was fully ready to see her unravel and keep unraveling as the story went on, but then… she kinda lost her spark.
As for the plot? Mmm I don’t knoooowww. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I predicted most of it. The ending did catch me off guard, but even that felt a little flat. The whole story just gave me déjà vu—it seriously felt like something I’ve read before. In fact, a certain super popular mystery by a super popular author kept popping into my head the whole time.
I don’t really have much to say because, well, the book didn’t give me much to work with.
As for the plot? Mmm I don’t knoooowww. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I predicted most of it. The ending did catch me off guard, but even that felt a little flat. The whole story just gave me déjà vu—it seriously felt like something I’ve read before. In fact, a certain super popular mystery by a super popular author kept popping into my head the whole time.
I don’t really have much to say because, well, the book didn’t give me much to work with.
February 18, 2025
Very disappointed to see this twist being a trope that was already done before and then already taken by another author and done again. I’m giving it 2/5 because it was excellent before the reveal.
January 3, 2026
This is the most fun I’ve had reading a psychological thriller since ‘too old for this’. Snarky, conniving characters with hidden agenda’s, a spiraling plot that just drags you with it if you want it or not, and some very original and truly mind-blowing twists. I lapped it all up thirstily and hope the author will continue to make books like this. It will probably be a long time before my thrillaholic mind is satisfied like this again.
March 13, 2025
I think it annoys me more that this book was almost a complete copycat of The Last Mrs Parrish. Maybe if you haven’t read Parrish, you may enjoy this one? Who knows. The whole story is now following this Parrish “trope” that apparently authors think is a good idea to copy. Verity and The Housemaid has the same vibe.
Giving it 1 star felt too harsh. So one star for the author for finishing writing her book and one star to me for finishing it.
Giving it 1 star felt too harsh. So one star for the author for finishing writing her book and one star to me for finishing it.
May 15, 2025
What makes a compulsive liar? It’s complicated.
Sloane is a liar. Mostly white lies, nothing that would hurt anyone. Right?
But "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"
Sloane’s playing fuzzy with the truth leads her to tell a lie that draws her into a web of deception that has devastating consequences.
She’s lost a few jobs, but circumstances leads her to becoming nanny to a wealthy couple. She has her eye on the hunky husband and she envies his wife and wants to be just like her. She’s soon drawn into their lives and the reader is taken on a wild ride.
The tension builds as Sloane worms her way into the family’s life. Just when you think you know what’s coming, you discover there’s much more to the story. It’s not what you think!
A crazy fun twisty thriller! I found this bonkers in all the best ways. If you can suspend disbelief and roll with it, it’s fun. Sometimes bonkers reaches a tipping point for me, but this one did not - who knows why? I just read it for the fun popcorn thriller it is. Maybe the timing was right and I was in a good mood.
The multi-cast narrators added to my enjoyment.
Sloane is a liar. Mostly white lies, nothing that would hurt anyone. Right?
But "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"
Sloane’s playing fuzzy with the truth leads her to tell a lie that draws her into a web of deception that has devastating consequences.
She’s lost a few jobs, but circumstances leads her to becoming nanny to a wealthy couple. She has her eye on the hunky husband and she envies his wife and wants to be just like her. She’s soon drawn into their lives and the reader is taken on a wild ride.
The tension builds as Sloane worms her way into the family’s life. Just when you think you know what’s coming, you discover there’s much more to the story. It’s not what you think!
A crazy fun twisty thriller! I found this bonkers in all the best ways. If you can suspend disbelief and roll with it, it’s fun. Sometimes bonkers reaches a tipping point for me, but this one did not - who knows why? I just read it for the fun popcorn thriller it is. Maybe the timing was right and I was in a good mood.
The multi-cast narrators added to my enjoyment.
May 23, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ Compulsively readable, gloriously soapy, and twisty fun from start to finish!
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava is an immersive, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining domestic thriller with a juicy premise, a narrator you’ll love to side-eye, and a cast full of secrets I couldn’t wait to unravel.
This one hooked me right from the get-go with a bold and irresistible setup. Sloane, a compulsive liar with a flair for drama, inserts herself into the glossy world of a wealthy couple, and what unfolds is a messy, mayhem-filled spiral of deception and jaw-dropping revelations.
I had so much fun with this one. It held my full attention from beginning to end. Not once did my mind drift to my next book and that never happens. It was completely unhinged in the best way.
Confession time. After all these years of reading, I’ve never been able to finish a book in one sitting. It usually takes me about seven hours to read a 350-page novel. So even though this one was absolutely unputdownable, I still had to come up for air. And I’ll admit, I had to look up what a popcorn thriller even was before I started. Once I figured it out, I thought, oh yes, this is exactly that. Salty, addictive, and impossible to stop once you dig in.
Knowing Sloane was an admitted liar made everything more delicious. Sometimes she’d confess to a lie, sometimes not, and the not knowing added a brilliant layer of tension. I never fully trusted her and that made the whole story even better. Sure, a few things might have felt a little too convenient, but this is a thriller and I expect a little extra drama. I’m here for it.
And the shocks? Absolutely. Let’s just say my jaw dropped, I gasped out loud, and then immediately reread more than one scene to make sure I hadn’t imagined it. The ending especially had me flipping back and grinning in disbelief. I didn’t figure it out until it happened, but looking back, the clues were definitely there. It was explosive, wild, and completely satisfying.
I wouldn’t say it reinvented the genre, but the energy, tension, and sheer thrill ride it delivered were worth every page.
This is the kind of story that makes you question who’s really playing who and how far you’d go to belong.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: A stylishly layered design that pulls you right in, like you’re spying on secrets you shouldn’t be hearing. The direction of the title text goes every which way, perfectly matching the delicious chaos of the story.
Title: Initially felt a bit familiar, but it surprised me with how much depth and originality it brought to the theme of truth and identity.
Writing/Prose: Breezy, sharp, and addictive. I found myself turning pages effortlessly.
Plot: Scandalous, entertaining, twisty, emotionally charged, and full of well-placed drama.
Ending: I didn’t catch on until it hit, but once it did, everything fell into place. Loved the boldness and final execution.
Overall: If you’re in the mood for an easygoing but thrilling psychological escape with a narrator you’ll love to second-guess, this one delivers in all the right ways.
Give me chaos and an unreliable narrator and I am happy.
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava is an immersive, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining domestic thriller with a juicy premise, a narrator you’ll love to side-eye, and a cast full of secrets I couldn’t wait to unravel.
This one hooked me right from the get-go with a bold and irresistible setup. Sloane, a compulsive liar with a flair for drama, inserts herself into the glossy world of a wealthy couple, and what unfolds is a messy, mayhem-filled spiral of deception and jaw-dropping revelations.
I had so much fun with this one. It held my full attention from beginning to end. Not once did my mind drift to my next book and that never happens. It was completely unhinged in the best way.
Confession time. After all these years of reading, I’ve never been able to finish a book in one sitting. It usually takes me about seven hours to read a 350-page novel. So even though this one was absolutely unputdownable, I still had to come up for air. And I’ll admit, I had to look up what a popcorn thriller even was before I started. Once I figured it out, I thought, oh yes, this is exactly that. Salty, addictive, and impossible to stop once you dig in.
Knowing Sloane was an admitted liar made everything more delicious. Sometimes she’d confess to a lie, sometimes not, and the not knowing added a brilliant layer of tension. I never fully trusted her and that made the whole story even better. Sure, a few things might have felt a little too convenient, but this is a thriller and I expect a little extra drama. I’m here for it.
And the shocks? Absolutely. Let’s just say my jaw dropped, I gasped out loud, and then immediately reread more than one scene to make sure I hadn’t imagined it. The ending especially had me flipping back and grinning in disbelief. I didn’t figure it out until it happened, but looking back, the clues were definitely there. It was explosive, wild, and completely satisfying.
I wouldn’t say it reinvented the genre, but the energy, tension, and sheer thrill ride it delivered were worth every page.
This is the kind of story that makes you question who’s really playing who and how far you’d go to belong.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: A stylishly layered design that pulls you right in, like you’re spying on secrets you shouldn’t be hearing. The direction of the title text goes every which way, perfectly matching the delicious chaos of the story.
Title: Initially felt a bit familiar, but it surprised me with how much depth and originality it brought to the theme of truth and identity.
Writing/Prose: Breezy, sharp, and addictive. I found myself turning pages effortlessly.
Plot: Scandalous, entertaining, twisty, emotionally charged, and full of well-placed drama.
Ending: I didn’t catch on until it hit, but once it did, everything fell into place. Loved the boldness and final execution.
Overall: If you’re in the mood for an easygoing but thrilling psychological escape with a narrator you’ll love to second-guess, this one delivers in all the right ways.
Give me chaos and an unreliable narrator and I am happy.
March 7, 2025
I was unable to count ALL the lies in this book.
CAN YOU???????
From start to finish, this masterfully crafted thriller probes deep into the psyche of three mendacious, manipulative, and unhinged protagonists without missing a beat.
It's fast-paced, compelling, twisty, unpredictable, and gasp-worthy.
WARNING:
This is NOT your typical wife/husband/nanny popcorn thriller.
Unfolding from the POVs of three unreliable narrators, this book was absolutely, positively jaw-dropping and impossible to put down.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Andrew Eiden, Devon Sorvari, and Emily Tremaine.
I always enjoy multi-cast narrations, and all narrators did an outstanding job.
It's a special treat to discover a talented new author, and it's easy to see why this impressive debut is Good Morning America's Book Club pick for March.
One of my besties of 2025.
All the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 23, 2025
3.5⭐️ When compulsive liar, Sloane Caraway, works her way into the acquaintance of the wealthy Jay and Violet Lockhart, and subsequently becomes a nanny to their young daughter, she has no idea that this family has quite a few secrets of their own.
Overall, I would say I liked this one. It reads very fast, is easy to follow, has pitch-perfect pacing, and has a fun cast of characters who I was endlessly curious about as the story opened. Because of the entertainment factor (it is the epitome of the popcorn thriller), this book is perfect for rainy-day reading or as a palate cleanser when you have read a few denser, emotionally heavy reads.
While there are quite a few positives to Sophie Stava’s debut, I didn’t love that it’s yet another take on a book that keeps being recycled. I won’t name the book because of the spoiler factor, but it is clearly the inspiration here. However, there were a few twists that made it different enough for me to enjoy it even still. However, my biggest criticism is how over-the-top the conclusion is, a Swiss cheese of plot holes if you will, and yet everything ends tied up in the most pristine bow ever.
I would give this book two ratings: one for the first half (4.5⭐️) and one for the second (2.5⭐️), which ultimately gets me to the 3.5 stars I have rated it. If you have not read the book this one is inspired by, you will love it, at least until the final chapters (DM me for the title if you’d like to know).
🎧 The audio narration is terrific, and another reason this one is so bingy and easy to follow. The three narrators, Andrew Eiden (aka Teddy Hamilton), Devon Sorvari, and Emily Tremaine, do an absolutely dynamite job bringing these characters and this story to life. I highly recommend checking this one out on audio if it’s been on your radar.
Read if you like:
▪️debut novels
▪️psychological thrillers
▪️domestic suspense
▪️twisty books
▪️multiple POVs
Thank you Gallery Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies. And thank you to my Golden Girls crew for such a fun buddy read.
Overall, I would say I liked this one. It reads very fast, is easy to follow, has pitch-perfect pacing, and has a fun cast of characters who I was endlessly curious about as the story opened. Because of the entertainment factor (it is the epitome of the popcorn thriller), this book is perfect for rainy-day reading or as a palate cleanser when you have read a few denser, emotionally heavy reads.
While there are quite a few positives to Sophie Stava’s debut, I didn’t love that it’s yet another take on a book that keeps being recycled. I won’t name the book because of the spoiler factor, but it is clearly the inspiration here. However, there were a few twists that made it different enough for me to enjoy it even still. However, my biggest criticism is how over-the-top the conclusion is, a Swiss cheese of plot holes if you will, and yet everything ends tied up in the most pristine bow ever.
I would give this book two ratings: one for the first half (4.5⭐️) and one for the second (2.5⭐️), which ultimately gets me to the 3.5 stars I have rated it. If you have not read the book this one is inspired by, you will love it, at least until the final chapters (DM me for the title if you’d like to know).
🎧 The audio narration is terrific, and another reason this one is so bingy and easy to follow. The three narrators, Andrew Eiden (aka Teddy Hamilton), Devon Sorvari, and Emily Tremaine, do an absolutely dynamite job bringing these characters and this story to life. I highly recommend checking this one out on audio if it’s been on your radar.
Read if you like:
▪️debut novels
▪️psychological thrillers
▪️domestic suspense
▪️twisty books
▪️multiple POVs
Thank you Gallery Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies. And thank you to my Golden Girls crew for such a fun buddy read.
April 21, 2025
This review is FULL OF SPOILERS. Not casual spoilers. Full on full of them. Just wanted to add that extra warning.
I was so with this book for 75% of it. Really into the mid-stream twist that Violet knew who Sloane was and had specifically picked her out. She has a plan involving a gun, cool. But then when it’s revealed her plan is to kill Sloane, frame her husband, and take Sloane’s identity and keep her daughter, that seemed SO far-fetched to me.
But that wasn’t even the end of it. No, turns out she misses and so Sloane and she concoct a plan ON THE FLY for Violet to fake her own death to frame Jay and then she and Sloane will live happily ever after with Harper. This plan relies on SO MANY convenient turns—Violet’s childhood sweetheart is an EMT who will go along with this! The coroner happens to be a drunk so the best friend can switch the tags so it looks like Violet’s corpse got cremated!
Look, I’m willing to suspend disbelief to a certain extent. But this all is SUCH a stretch. And the fact that there’s a last minute pivot and it still all works out so easily? It was just too much. Such a bummer because I was so excited about this one and was with it for so long. But there are certain realities about DNA testing and evidence that make it very hard to fake a crime this way.
I was so with this book for 75% of it. Really into the mid-stream twist that Violet knew who Sloane was and had specifically picked her out. She has a plan involving a gun, cool. But then when it’s revealed her plan is to kill Sloane, frame her husband, and take Sloane’s identity and keep her daughter, that seemed SO far-fetched to me.
But that wasn’t even the end of it. No, turns out she misses and so Sloane and she concoct a plan ON THE FLY for Violet to fake her own death to frame Jay and then she and Sloane will live happily ever after with Harper. This plan relies on SO MANY convenient turns—Violet’s childhood sweetheart is an EMT who will go along with this! The coroner happens to be a drunk so the best friend can switch the tags so it looks like Violet’s corpse got cremated!
Look, I’m willing to suspend disbelief to a certain extent. But this all is SUCH a stretch. And the fact that there’s a last minute pivot and it still all works out so easily? It was just too much. Such a bummer because I was so excited about this one and was with it for so long. But there are certain realities about DNA testing and evidence that make it very hard to fake a crime this way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2025
I was hooked in the first few minutes but much too quickly the story began to just crawl along. I needed just a bit more tension and suspense to fully capture my interest. When the twists came, I was more engaged and definitely entertained, but ultimately the implausible ending left me feeling let down. It's just not thrilling when you can't see it happening that way in real life. 🫤 2.5 stars rounded up.
February 7, 2025
This is one of the better thrillers I’ve read lately, I had the best time reading it. It was batshit, unhinged and a total popcorn thriller that held my attention the entire time. I was totally engrossed and read it in a sitting, once I started I couldn’t stop. Knowing Sloane is an admitted liar made things fun, sometimes she would admit things were a lie but never trusting her added an extra layer of deception that was delicious. You will need to suspend disbelief, there are plenty of coincidences and things working out just so, but that usually doesn’t bother me and it sure didn’t here, again it was too fun! As captivated as I was things really take off in the last half and the ending was explosive and wild. If you like domestic thrillers with lots of insanity and plenty of twists I freaking loved this one and think you will too
February 27, 2025
** honest review time 🫣 **
I don’t get the hype with this one. It has over 4⭐️ rating on Goodreads, but I felt like this book was just meh. I almost DNFd it 3 times, but I kept hearing about an awesome twist… 🫠
I also feel like it could have been about 100 pages shorter. The author went into a ton of unnecessary detail of some minor things, lots of Taylor Swift song references but it was done in a weird way, where it was kind of annoying. Idk.
I hate being mean, because I know authors work so hard on their books and everyone has different tastes, so please give this book a try if it’s been on your tbr. Like I said, it has over 4⭐️s on goodreads, so it may just be a me thing!
I don’t get the hype with this one. It has over 4⭐️ rating on Goodreads, but I felt like this book was just meh. I almost DNFd it 3 times, but I kept hearing about an awesome twist… 🫠
I also feel like it could have been about 100 pages shorter. The author went into a ton of unnecessary detail of some minor things, lots of Taylor Swift song references but it was done in a weird way, where it was kind of annoying. Idk.
I hate being mean, because I know authors work so hard on their books and everyone has different tastes, so please give this book a try if it’s been on your tbr. Like I said, it has over 4⭐️s on goodreads, so it may just be a me thing!
February 25, 2025
I received an ARC of this book.
This book is about a young woman who LIES ALL THE TIME, FOR NO REASON, as well as the people around her who are lied to, lied about, and who lie themselves. If you don't mind a book full of characters with no redeeming qualities and events that are preposterous, then go ahead and read this one. If you like your books to have compelling characters with organic motivations that contain actions and events that MAKE SENSE, then I would skip this one. I almost DNF this book right at the beginning, because of the fact that all of the COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY lies that Sloane/Caitlin was telling were just getting on my nerves, to say the least. But this book had so many good reviews that I forced myself to keep reading. I should not have bothered.
Sloane's multitude of lies, combined with the lack of explanation or reason of why she constantly felt compelled to lie made her incredibly unlikable (she moved a lot and had no dad? I needed more). I think I was supposed to be rooting for her, but I just felt pity and disgust for her. THEN when the book switched POVs to Violet, the book got worse. There was a HUGE info-dump that "explained things" but came at the expense of building Violet as a character. There was waaaaay too much telling and not showing. That meant as the reader I felt no connection to Violet, other than what Sloane had built in the first part of the book (which, mild SPOILER ALERT, had been blown to pieces). And then when we switch to Jay things just got ridiculous. I just have no words--in what world would ANY of that happen in reality?!
I think this was supposed to be a taut psychological thriller full of shocking twists. To me it read like a high school senior's Creative Writing project inhabited by two-dimensional characters doing nonsensical and totally unbelievable things to the point that it just got bizarre and ludicrous.
This book is about a young woman who LIES ALL THE TIME, FOR NO REASON, as well as the people around her who are lied to, lied about, and who lie themselves. If you don't mind a book full of characters with no redeeming qualities and events that are preposterous, then go ahead and read this one. If you like your books to have compelling characters with organic motivations that contain actions and events that MAKE SENSE, then I would skip this one. I almost DNF this book right at the beginning, because of the fact that all of the COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY lies that Sloane/Caitlin was telling were just getting on my nerves, to say the least. But this book had so many good reviews that I forced myself to keep reading. I should not have bothered.
Sloane's multitude of lies, combined with the lack of explanation or reason of why she constantly felt compelled to lie made her incredibly unlikable (she moved a lot and had no dad? I needed more). I think I was supposed to be rooting for her, but I just felt pity and disgust for her. THEN when the book switched POVs to Violet, the book got worse. There was a HUGE info-dump that "explained things" but came at the expense of building Violet as a character. There was waaaaay too much telling and not showing. That meant as the reader I felt no connection to Violet, other than what Sloane had built in the first part of the book (which, mild SPOILER ALERT, had been blown to pieces). And then when we switch to Jay things just got ridiculous. I just have no words--in what world would ANY of that happen in reality?!
I think this was supposed to be a taut psychological thriller full of shocking twists. To me it read like a high school senior's Creative Writing project inhabited by two-dimensional characters doing nonsensical and totally unbelievable things to the point that it just got bizarre and ludicrous.
April 19, 2025
Wow! This one was good. At one point I felt like it was going to be predictable and then *boom* the twists just kept coming!!
•Fast paced
•Twisty
•Debut
•Unreliable narrator
•Multiple POV
4/5 stars.
•Fast paced
•Twisty
•Debut
•Unreliable narrator
•Multiple POV
4/5 stars.
April 6, 2025
Eventually your lies will catch up with you
Sloane Calloway is a compulsive liar. Baby girl be lying for the most pathetic reasons to try and spice up her mundane life. When she encounters the wealthy Lockhart family in the park, she befriends them, they enjoy her company, and she soon finds herself being a nanny for their young daughter. But Sloane is not the only one who likes lying and she’s going to find out soon enough that picture perfect family might not just be so perfect after all.
DUN DUN DUN... 😮 😮 😮
Ok the FOMO I was getting over this book after seeing the hype all over my TIKTOK had me bumping this read up higher on my TBR and I couldn’t wait to see what the kerfuffle was all about.
The book starts of nice and strong, and we are getting a good outlook on Sloane and her compulsive lying ways. Her mindset was enjoyable to read although a little confusing as to why she felt so compelled to lie all the time but nonetheless I was enjoying the story. #
As we move further into the story and got to another characters POV I was getting a little bored and side tracked at this point. I don’t know it felt like something I had read before (probably a Freida McFadden book) and wasn’t in a hyped ‘oh what’s going to happen next’ mood.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Quick Easy read
➽ Unreliable Narrators
➽ Entertaining enough
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Plot has been done a few times
➽ Far Fetched
Admittedly I had to read the ending twice because I was somewhat confuzzled but when I got it, I just felt ‘meh’. This is not a bad book by any means, and I think it would absolutely slap for a novice thriller reader. It read like a McFadden book, but the writing is way better. A quick easy read but not memorable in my opinion.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OK the hype on TIKTOK has finally convinced me!
This better be really good as everyone is claiming!
Fingers Crossed its a winner!
🤍💙🤍
Sloane Calloway is a compulsive liar. Baby girl be lying for the most pathetic reasons to try and spice up her mundane life. When she encounters the wealthy Lockhart family in the park, she befriends them, they enjoy her company, and she soon finds herself being a nanny for their young daughter. But Sloane is not the only one who likes lying and she’s going to find out soon enough that picture perfect family might not just be so perfect after all.
DUN DUN DUN... 😮 😮 😮
Ok the FOMO I was getting over this book after seeing the hype all over my TIKTOK had me bumping this read up higher on my TBR and I couldn’t wait to see what the kerfuffle was all about.
The book starts of nice and strong, and we are getting a good outlook on Sloane and her compulsive lying ways. Her mindset was enjoyable to read although a little confusing as to why she felt so compelled to lie all the time but nonetheless I was enjoying the story. #
As we move further into the story and got to another characters POV I was getting a little bored and side tracked at this point. I don’t know it felt like something I had read before (probably a Freida McFadden book) and wasn’t in a hyped ‘oh what’s going to happen next’ mood.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Quick Easy read
➽ Unreliable Narrators
➽ Entertaining enough
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Plot has been done a few times
➽ Far Fetched
Admittedly I had to read the ending twice because I was somewhat confuzzled but when I got it, I just felt ‘meh’. This is not a bad book by any means, and I think it would absolutely slap for a novice thriller reader. It read like a McFadden book, but the writing is way better. A quick easy read but not memorable in my opinion.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OK the hype on TIKTOK has finally convinced me!
This better be really good as everyone is claiming!
Fingers Crossed its a winner!
🤍💙🤍
March 11, 2025
The initial part of this book felt quite tedious, and I found myself forcing my way through it. It's clear that the author is a big fan of Taylor Swift, but the sheer number of references felt excessive. There were many details that seemed unnecessary.
I found this book to be overly praised, and unfortunately, the ending really let me down. I can't help but think that there were other paths the story could have taken that would have felt more logical and believable.
I found this book to be overly praised, and unfortunately, the ending really let me down. I can't help but think that there were other paths the story could have taken that would have felt more logical and believable.
January 5, 2026
Fantastic DEBUT novel for Sophie Stava! Wow!
This was a such well thought out, off the cuff sorta book! With such intricate detail, the author cleverly weaves a world of secrets and lies. The pure amount of forethought that went into designing such a manipulative story like this is shocking. And the characters… perfectly created and delivered. Just wow! Honestly, I could not have predicted a story like this or the amount of twists and turns that reveal themselves on these pages. It’s a lot… but so good!
I loved the characters! Absolutely fantastic. The book has an easy flow to it. I especially like when the story stops at the 1/2 way mark from being narrated by Sloan and her point of view, and flips to the other main character, Violet who starts narrating and revealing her perspectives of it all. Completely eye opening! Like what on Earth is happening? Then to Jay, and again back to Sloan. Sincerely clever! Truthfully… a book that is so different than my usual go to and so right up my alley at the same time!! Like who would figure? Twists and more twists! Such a fantastic read!
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when this book was recommended to me. It is not the typical thriller or mystery that I am accustomed to reading or that you might pick up -it is completely in its own category, in my opinion. It’s a feel good mystery, one with likable characters-crazy but sooo good, and a crazy plot that transforms as you read! A very fun novel. It was an easy novel to read and it completely takes you by surprise (the ending…omg!). I really enjoyed it!!!
A 4.5 star read, but rounded up for engagement and surprise, unique storyline, and intrigue! It had all of this! I really LOVED this book!
(Edited review 12/12/25)
This was a such well thought out, off the cuff sorta book! With such intricate detail, the author cleverly weaves a world of secrets and lies. The pure amount of forethought that went into designing such a manipulative story like this is shocking. And the characters… perfectly created and delivered. Just wow! Honestly, I could not have predicted a story like this or the amount of twists and turns that reveal themselves on these pages. It’s a lot… but so good!
I loved the characters! Absolutely fantastic. The book has an easy flow to it. I especially like when the story stops at the 1/2 way mark from being narrated by Sloan and her point of view, and flips to the other main character, Violet who starts narrating and revealing her perspectives of it all. Completely eye opening! Like what on Earth is happening? Then to Jay, and again back to Sloan. Sincerely clever! Truthfully… a book that is so different than my usual go to and so right up my alley at the same time!! Like who would figure? Twists and more twists! Such a fantastic read!
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when this book was recommended to me. It is not the typical thriller or mystery that I am accustomed to reading or that you might pick up -it is completely in its own category, in my opinion. It’s a feel good mystery, one with likable characters-crazy but sooo good, and a crazy plot that transforms as you read! A very fun novel. It was an easy novel to read and it completely takes you by surprise (the ending…omg!). I really enjoyed it!!!
A 4.5 star read, but rounded up for engagement and surprise, unique storyline, and intrigue! It had all of this! I really LOVED this book!
(Edited review 12/12/25)
May 4, 2025
Lies, lies, and more lies. There are too many to count. I don’t even know that I have it in me to go through a synopsis. As other reviewers have said, this is very similar to other thrillers. You could see what’s happening a mile away. I’m giving this one three stars because it was fast paced and I finished it in roughly 24 hours. Other than that, it was a mediocre read.
If you like slightly unhinged liars this might be for you.
If you like slightly unhinged liars this might be for you.
April 13, 2025
Sloane is a liar. She makes things up to make life more exciting and to feel seen. So when she sees an incredibly hot dad at the park dealing with his daughter’s bee sting, she tells them she’s a nurse. It turns out he and his wife have been looking for a nanny with a medical background…which is how Sloane lands her new job. She genuinely loves kids, but the best part of the gig is her budding friendship with the handsome, successful dad, Jay, and his glamorous wife, Violet. But her new life just might be too good to be true…because Sloane isn’t the only one who’s been lying.
This book is ridiculous and I absolutely loved it. It was so unputdownable that I basically inhaled it. If you like Frieida McFadden and Liv Constantine, you’ll probably enjoy this one as well. Yes, some of the plot points involved suspending disbelief. This is a heightened, dramatic thriller, not a true-to-life crime story. But it was just so much fun. This is the perfect beach read!
This book is ridiculous and I absolutely loved it. It was so unputdownable that I basically inhaled it. If you like Frieida McFadden and Liv Constantine, you’ll probably enjoy this one as well. Yes, some of the plot points involved suspending disbelief. This is a heightened, dramatic thriller, not a true-to-life crime story. But it was just so much fun. This is the perfect beach read!
April 5, 2025
3💫
not bad, but not great. a slow story and a bit of a predictable plot. im glad i switched to audio booking this one. story was definitely entertaining but felt like a combination of popular thrillers. gives the housemaid and the perfect marriage vibes very much.
march botm✨
not bad, but not great. a slow story and a bit of a predictable plot. im glad i switched to audio booking this one. story was definitely entertaining but felt like a combination of popular thrillers. gives the housemaid and the perfect marriage vibes very much.
march botm✨
April 14, 2025
I just finished the audiobook, and I genuinely don’t think I’ll ever recover from this story. It’s gripping, emotionally intense, and absolutely unrelenting — I was hooked until the very last second, jaw on the floor. The level of storytelling is unreal. I can’t get over how ridiculously good this book is.
March 9, 2025
I couldn't keep track of all the absurd lies in this book, but I did keep track of the amount of times Taylor Swift was referenced (10), which was ten times too many.
My full review is at my blog.
My full review is at my blog.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,019 reviews