Give the gift of reading this holiday season!J.T. Ellison’s pulse-pounding new psychological thriller examines the tenuous bonds of friendship, the power of lies and the desperate lengths people will go to in order to protect their secrets.Goode girls don’t lie… Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond.
But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous.
In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder.
When a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Rumors suggest she was struggling with a secret that drove her to suicide.
But look closely…because there are truths and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened.
Don’t miss this fast-paced suspense story from New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison!
more
Terrific, twisty psychological suspense with a wonderfully Gothic vibe. Couldn’t put it down.
Now this was a fantastic read. I devoured Good Girls Lie by JT Ellison in about 3 hours yesterday afternoon. I set out to read this thriller, released in December 2019, assuming I’d finish about 25% before bed… nope, I couldn’t put it down. What a great story that pulls you in, keeps you guessing, and drives you a little batty. While I loved it, there were a few flaws that had me scratching my head, but overall, I definitely recommend it.
Ash Carlisle has been dropped off at a Virginia all-girls school after her parents die tragically. She’s British and just arrived from her hometown to finish school. She’s 16 and precocious but also emotionally challenged after everything she’s gone through. The very first day, Becca, the head girl, tortures her. Later on, she wants to become best friends. Meanwhile, Ash’s roommate and next door neighbors try to be friends. Then they turn somewhat evil. Which group of friends should Ash trust? We know in the beginning, one of these girls is found hanging (dead) at the school entrance. You won’t find out who until closer to the end, but you will keep guessing until you figure it out. And you will, because it becomes obvious in a necessary way… but you probably won’t figure out why!
The suspense and thrills are top notch. A few reliances on over-the-top silliness. Teenage girls are truly awful sometimes. Really, I think if I had any of them as friends, I’d never speak again. Does this really happen? I don’t know for sure, nor do I understand whether schools like the Goode one exist… if they do, please destroy them now! But these are all good reactions to the book because it means the author has done a superb job at pushing her readers to get angry and feel something.
This is a psychological read. You know you’re being led down the wrong path. I’m fine with that. I get that someone is lying. I also know there’s a missing character. We can’t tell who (s)he is, but there are a number of options that will have readers smacking themselves upside the head each time a new twist arrives. While I loved this about the book, in a few scenes, I kept thinking… that’s such a vague way to write this scene. In the end, you realize why… so… because of this, I felt a little used as a reader. I think it could’ve been done a little differently with another POV and thoughts from surrounding character… that’s the only reason I couldn’t knock this one up to a five star read.
That said… it’s one of my faves in the last few months. I adore Ellison’s writing style and plots, so this was a perfect read for me. I find she’s growing quite high in my ‘must-read’ list, and I definitely recommend her books to someone with an open mind who doesn’t set out to look for problems when they read. Live a little. Get lost in an author’s imagination. Don’t be too picky. And you might find the balance in a story like this one is quite phenomenal.
Sinister secrets at an elite and mysterious boarding school–well, of course I’m instantly hooked. JT Ellison is brilliant, and her newest twisty thriller will have you glued to your chair. JT is the master of manipulation and misdirection, and this riveting and cleverly plotted page-turner–with its well-developed characters and non-stop atmosphere– will have you dazzled by her skill. Fair warning: Clear your schedule!
GOOD GIRLS LIE was a smart, twisty, absolutely riveting read — deeply involving from page one. Don’t miss it!
GOOD GIRLS LIE by J.T. Ellison is a standalone suspense/thriller that kept me turning the pages quickly until the very last page. I would think I knew what was going on and then, BAM, I was so wrong and another tiny reveal would send me off on another tangent.
The Goode School is a premier private boarding school for females only in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia. It is for the best, brightest, elite daughters of the rich and prestigious. All the girls are prepared for brilliant futures and all the girls must follow the school’s code of honor and never lie.
There is a new girl this year from Oxford in the sophomore class, Ash Carr. Recently orphaned, Ash is still being admitted by the dean, Dr. Ford Julianne Westhaven on scholarship as she waits for her settlement. Ash learns many of the girls know how to pretend to follow the rules and secret societies add to the potential of tripping Ash up and her personal secret being discovered.
When a student is found dead, rumors spread and it becomes increasingly difficult to tell who is telling the truth and who is telling a lie. How far will girls from the Goode School go to hide their secrets?
This is a tightly plotted and fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing. I do not normally read YA books, but this has so many threads of murder, sex, hazing and secrets that I was just pulled into the story and kept forgetting how truly young the characters were. The characters are fully fleshed out and memorable as the story progresses and you learn their secrets. I loved the epilogue which was another great twist to the story.
I highly recommend this thriller and will be looking for more books by this author!
This is a deliciously devious page-turner with stunning world building and high suspense that will keep you awake long into the night.
This is one of those books that you really need to just set aside time to read it straight through. I did not do that and now I want to read it again to look for all of the awesome foreshadowing that the author uses so expertly. This is the story of a private girls’ school in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Since that is where I am from originally, I was instantly drawn into the story. The drama! Oh, the drama! Put a group of teens together and of course, you expect drama, a lot of gossip and some mean girls. This book has it all, plus murder! This is a mystery and thriller and the more you read, the more thrilling it becomes. Ash Carr has arrived at the very exclusive Goode School and is instantly targeted by senior Becca to be one of her groupies. Ash’s roommate Camille is snooty, but when Ash hears her crying at night, she does offer her help. What would make a sophomore who is already accepted into the “in crowd” sob into her pillow at night? That’s one of the mysteries that keeps the reader involved in the story. There is also Dean Ford Westhaven, a woman with an attitude of entitlement and a lot of secrets about her love affairs. This book will transport the reader into the fictional world of a private girls’ school and will not let you go until the last satisfying page. The strengths of the book are in the well-developed characters and the intricately woven plot. At the end, I was left with a sense of awe at how everything came together. Readers of suspense and psychological thrillers will thoroughly enjoy this latest book by J.T. Ellison!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
An all-girls high school where daughters of the powerful and rich are being boarded; where they are taught that they are the best and brightest and that they must succeed because it is expected of them. Secret societies that are tolerated. A dean who dreams of what she wants to do, rather than this responsibility that was thrust upon her. And Ash, a new student who tries to be very careful that no one learns about her background. What could go wrong?
Good Girls Lie is one of those books that will have you staying up later than you should, trying to figure out what is truth and what is lie. And who is actually telling either.
The school and town are well described so you can easily imagine them, somewhat spooky despite the 200 girls, various faculty, numerous staff. The characters are well developed. It is hard to decide who you should like and who you shouldn’t, because you think you have things and people figured out, then surprise! Maybe not. There are enough mean girls to keep you guessing!
I am one of those readers who jump to the last chapter if the book starts to lag by the middle, then may or may not go back and finish it. I never wanted to do that on this one. In some books, most of the last chapter seems to be a wrap-up to tie everything up in a nice bow. The last chapter of this book keeps you guessing until the end. You may want to start it earlier in the day or on a Friday night, though. As I mentioned, it is hard to put down.
“Good Girls Lie” is a book you don’t want to put down once you start it. It kept me up late at night and every ‘free time’ I had, I read a page or two. I have been reading Ellison for a number of years through the Taylor Jackson series, Samantha Owens series and most of her stand-a-lones. The one I read before this one (The Endarkening) almost kept me from picking another; however, I’m glad I read more reviews and decided “Good Girls” was something I would enjoy.
Quick review of book itself: An all-girls boarding school (200 teenagers) from the rich, political, and influential parents and each had their own quirks. Add to that mysteries from the past girls, headmistresses, scandals and murders, and you get quite the storyline. If you are female and had to encounter ‘mean girls’ in high school, then this book will keep you glued to the pages while you figure out who are the “Good” and who are the “Bad” ones. It’s told from many alternating points of view which just increased the suspense of figuring out of what was true, what was false, and who would be the next mystery. The ending ….well I won’t tell you that, but I will tell you to get this book NOW.
Thank you Ms. Ellison for a great time spent in Marchburg, VA.
JT Ellison surprises me with each new book, bringing more unpredictable but tasty characters and plots to life. This one you’ll want to savor…if you can stop yourself from digesting in one big yummy bite by staying up all night to find out if what you suspect really …wait, what? No! She didn’t…oh yes, she did! Such bad bad girls, and such a wonderful story. Bravo!
JT Ellison has done it again. A twisty, roller coaster of a ride!
A boarding school for the daughters of the wealthy and elite, secret societies that can make or break your future, and a new girl that seems to be catching everyone’s attention. Good Girls Lie takes readers into The Goode School, a private prep school shrouded in mystery that offers its all female student body a path to success. The girls follow a strict honor code, but that doesn’t mean secrets and lies aren’t spilling from their sugary-sweet smiles. This school year is unlike any other year, there’s some rumors that can’t be ignored and there’s the truth simmering under the surface, just waiting to bubble up.
Good Girls Lie had everything I could want in a thriller; secret societies, murder, and a seductive storyline. The setting, a school known as a Silent Ivy in the small, forested town of Marchburg, Virginia, promised haunting tales and the perfect location for secret societies to run amok. More than the gothic setting, the novel opens with death, a student has been found dead and the rumors behind her death have nothing on the truth. The sweet Goode girls have grown up with wealth, privilege, and have plenty of experience in lying; it creates a culture, one that the younger and new students have no power against.
Like all teenage girls, the Goode girls have dreams, but unlike your normal teens, these girls will cheat, lie, steal, and push you until you’ll consider what your life is worth. With one main character to follow, our narrator Ash, J.T. Ellison takes readers on a journey into The Goode School, a place where even the Dean has secrets she’d do anything to keep buried. Ash is the sort of character you can’t spoil for other readers, you’ll just have to meet her for yourself. Good Girls Lie is a complex tale filled with intriguing characters and a fast-paced storyline that’ll have you turning the pages as quickly as you can. The cult-like atmosphere and twisted events makes for one fantastic, sinister thriller.
I now question every girl I went to school with and wonder what they were really up to. This book had me questioning all the characters. They lie, they cheat, they’re sweet, and they’re definitely up to no good. And the suspense! It’s as thick as their lies. What a fantastic read!
I really enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful and had plenty of twists. The author kept me guessing right up to the last page.
Wow. What a brilliantly disturbing and beautifully-written gothic boarding school novel. I was snared from the first pages with the image of the body hanging off the iron gates and the eerie descriptions of the school grounds. (I read this novel in two sittings.)
The Goode School, a female powerhouse isolated in the mountains of Virginia, is an elite silent ivy for the gifted and the privileged. But it’s more that just a place where bodies pile up: it’s a beautiful, terrifying character with ghosts, secret societies, tunnels, a hidden staircase, creepy attics, and an unsafe bell tour.
Everything in the story is about contradictions: beauty versus horror; truth versus lies; the honor code versus hazing and bullying. And when Ash arrives from England, eager to escape her past, she goes from being revered to being reviled. Every character around her has secrets, even the young dean who runs the school as a matriarchal legacy, while dreaming of life as a novelist. As Ash says, “Everyone lies.”
So friggin’ good!
I have two types of catnip when it comes to books; Witches coming into their powers and Secret Societies. Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison is filled with secret societies and teen drama, just like the shows I watch on CWTV. Don’t judge! Legacies, Nancy Drew, and Charmed, yup, some people think it’s trash TV, but I love it.
This is the second book I’ve read by Ellison, the first being Lie to Me. I really enjoyed that one, so I was excited to give this one a read. Good Girls Lie is filled with one twist after another. Many of them you knew were coming with the foreshadowing and clues Ellison weaved into the story. But this didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book. And there was still some surprises that I didn’t see coming.
It’s told from multiple points of view, with the main one being Ash’s. I thought this worked well to keep the reader a bit off balance. Right when you’re starting to get into Ash’s head, Ellison switched to another character, one of them being a menacing voice that the reader may not be sure who it is.
There is plenty of character development. You will root for some of the characters, feel sorry for some, and perhaps hate a few. Ellison also does a fantastic job with the descriptive elements of the school and town. You can feel how lonely and isolated the school is, and how the town is dead only to come partial alive when the students go into town.
As with any good secret society book there are secrets, some deadly, hazing, and the questioning of one’s sanity. And of course, with an all girls school, you’re going to have some questioning of one’s sexuality. I thought Ellison did a good job of combining hormones with not being sure of your place in the world yet.
There are two reasons I’m giving Good Girls Lie four stars instead of five. The first being I felt the story could have been tightened up a bit, and that would have given it a more frantic feeling that would have enhanced it as a thriller.
The second is because of the very, very ending. If Ellison would have left it at the first ending, I might have given the book five stars, but the second ending was a bit too far-fetched for me, and it felt like a horror movie when they add on the last jump scare so there can be a sequel.
If you enjoy thrillers, secret societies, or all girl boarding school novels then you should give this one a read. I know I’ll be reading even more of Ellison in the future.
This one was…weird. I read The Swallows earlier this year. I’ve read Prep and Magic for Liars and Old School. I get it. Boarding school is ROUGH. This one started out as strongly as all of those – but somewhere near the beginning of the end, it got just plain odd and it started losing me…
There’s a lot of good stuff here. The characters are well developed, as is the setting – and in an atmospheric novel like this one, the school is almost a character in and of itself. Ellison did a great job establishing the creepy environment early on and that, coupled with our protagonist’s disdainful dismissal of all the ghostly mumbo-jumbo, sets the stage nicely for the bizarre twists and turns that unfold. For the most part, throughout the majority of the book, the stage and the twists/turns follow a pattern that makes sense – a pattern that I enjoyed following along its windy, twisty way. But then, as things finally reach a head and actual (as opposed to red herring) revelations start trickling in, things shifted and the pattern felt hinky and I started rolling my eyes and skimming a bit…
I saw the major twist coming. Early on. But that’s not the issue I had. I read A LOT of thrillers, and it’s getting increasingly difficult to *really* throw me for a loop in this type of story. It happens, and I love when it does, but even if it doesn’t, I often still enjoy reading them. These are escapist stories for me, and when they’re written by someone who clearly knows what they’re doing (as Ellison does), the pattern feels comfortable, like snuggling in your favorite sweater or watching your favorite movie yet again. The twists can be a fun diversion, but even they have to follow some kind of logic – even if only the internal logic already established in the book. I think that’s where this one lost me – something about the runaway train of revelations and lies uncovered felt like it took a sharp left turn at Albuquerque (yes, I went with a Bugs Bunny reference) and that’s where it started losing me.
On the whole I still enjoyed the story. It’s got a VERY dark underbelly, but the writing is solid and so is the vast majority of the plot/pacing. Ellison is good at writing this particular brand of darkness. It’s a compelling tale and you’ll want to read it through to see what on earth it all means/was about. Just don’t be surprised if it hiccups a little as you near the end…
Thank you to the author and publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison is a riveting novel of suspense. The Good School is a prestigious prep for young ladies that resides in Marchburg, Virginia. This boarding school is for the intelligent daughters of the rich and powerful. They will receive a superior education that will get them into an Ivy league school and prepare them for a brilliant and influential future. But not everything is at it seems at this school. A new student arrives from Oxford, England who causes quite a stir. One student ends up dead and the truth must be uncovered. J.T. Ellison’s writing drew me into this engaging story. I enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing which allowed me to visualize the scenes. Virginia sounded beautiful in the fall. I thought the characters were thought out and developed. There are alternate points-of-view which I liked (Ash, Becca Curtis, and Dean Westhaven for example). It allows readers to view the events from different perspectives plus it keeps the tension up. Details are revealed a little at a time to keep readers guessing. Good Girls Lie is packed with secrets and deceptions. I kept trying to guess what is true and what is false. I just loved the fabulous twist. I thought the creepy aspects enhanced the story. There is a great ending where all the loose ends are wrapped up. Good Girls Lie has tradition, secret societies, hazing, deceits, clandestine relationships, jealousy and murder. As you can tell, I enjoyed reading this thrilling suspense tale. Good Girls Lie is a book that will keep you riveted until you finish the very last word.
“Good Girls Lie” by J. T. Ellison is the story of a teenage girl who wants to remake herself at a private school, “The Goode School. “ The present tense first person narrative makes the action, immediate, personal, and compelling; readers are in the moment along with characters. Ellison establishes the school and its position within society immediately, and keeping secrets is part of what “those” schools do. There are both nasty as well as good girls at The Goode School, and the school itself has a dark past, a terrible tragic past.
The girls excel because that is what “Goode” girls do. Of course, they also lie to themselves and to others as a way to look important, to be included, to belong. The characters are compelling not because of what Ellison tells readers about them but because of what readers are not told and discover themselves.
The Narrator is mysterious, cunning, manipulative, and secretive. Readers emphasize with her because Ellison designed her in the first person present. Readers know what she says to people and what they say to her, what she thinks about people and what they do and say. However, to whom is she speaking – herself? The reader? Or someone else?
“There are truths, and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened, which is where you and I will meet. My truth is your lie, and my lie is your truth, and there is a vast expanse between them.”
The book opens with a tragic scene, but narrator is unconcerned, unmoved. Chapters are labeled with dates, and the narrative alternates between different periods. Readers wonder how people got themselves into those very nonstandard situations, what influenced them, and more importantly, who is lying and about what. Hovering over all is that shocking first chapter. How does it fit into the whole picture?
“Good Girls Lie” is compelling because it is realistic and relatable. Ellison, herself, stated that she did not have to do a great deal of research for this book, and rather based much of her story her own experiences. Now that is a compelling mystery story. I received a copy of “Good Girls Lie” from J. T. Ellison and Harlequin – Mira Publishing. It is a rush of lies, lies, and more lies, and then the consequences…a spider waiting at the center of the web for the fly.
4 stars
Huh?! This book is so good and confusing I am still not quite sure who did what. I do know, damn girls be crazy b’s! I loved the gothic boarding school background, and am now very glad I didn’t attend one. This was my first book by J.T. and it probably will not be my last.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.