“A compulsive page-turner with a shocking twist–get ready to stay up all night!” –Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars“This conversation-starting page-turner is…Fatal Attraction meets Big Little Lies.” –Kirkus ReviewsGabe and Elyse have never met. But they both have something to hide.Quiet, shy Elyse can’t believe it when she’s cast as the lead in her … Elyse have never met. But they both have something to hide.
Quiet, shy Elyse can’t believe it when she’s cast as the lead in her Portland high school’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Her best friend, Brynn, is usually the star, and Elyse isn’t sure she’s up to the task. But when someone at rehearsals starts to catch her eye–someone she knows she absolutely shouldn’t be with–she can’t help but be pulled into the spotlight.
Austin native Gabe is contemplating the unthinkable–breaking up with Sasha, his headstrong, popular girlfriend. She’s not going to let him slip through her fingers, though, and when rumors start to circulate around school, he knows she has the power to change his life forever.
Gabe and Elyse both make the mistake of falling for the wrong person, and falling hard. Told in parallel narratives, this twisty, shocking story shows how one bad choice can lead to a spiral of unforeseen consequences that not everyone will survive.
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Lies You Never Told Me by: Jennifer Donaldson is an upcoming YA title that is not at all juvenile. This novel is a meaningful glimpse into the lives of 2 teen narrators in which the novel alternates between. The story, in all its heartbreak and tragedy, focuses on the decisions we all make in the search for love, friendship, family, acceptance, a bright future, and the escape from the painful chapters of our lives that we desperately try to move on from. Unfortunately, even though we make decisions based on everything bigger, brighter, better, and glittering with promise… that does not mean we will be rewarded with success in these endeavors. Much of the time,in fact, we can go through the complete opposite: when everything we thought we wanted isn’t what it seemed to be, and when things seen one way are really another. Donaldson’s novel is a cautionary tale of how dreams can lead us down a road that fate has different plans for.How the harsh ,sometimes cruel, realization that the price paid for these dreams or mistakes, or lack of experience, can be all too high.Often times painfully and regretfully irreversible…. Un-fixable in the worst ways. Yet… In this story you also see how although things may never be the same, there is still light and hope at the end of the tunnel. Life is nothing if not a never ending onslaught of experiences; good and bad decisions, wether right or wrong…. , every one of them leads somewhere. Every tragedy has a beauty to be found within it, if we just push through our worst nightmares and let fate deliver not what we thought was our dream, but the real dream awaiting us that we were oblivious to.This novel is highly relatable, honestly human, wholey tragic, and partly cruel. It is also deep, real, brazen, and unapologetic. In truth, it is actually utterly terrifying in a sense – As you fall into the reactions and consequences of the decisions characters made just out of the sheer hope of being happy and/or loved, and when you witness that the reality of the prices paid for for these actions are painfully high and utterly irreversible. In the beginning, had felt like I was reading a completely different kind of book until the inhabiting twist came through and changed the dynamic altogether. Jennifer Donaldson did an amazing job of weaving in one of societys most brutal, and most crucial current events, in the form of one of the narrators dealing with a family member with an opioid addiction. It really is helpful to people when the things happening in their lives are acknowledged.Especially in the form of literature since, some of the things that help us, we carry with us, or are a huge comfort to us (in one way or another), are the things that make us relatable and/or understood; and are a definitive part of what we read or a story we love.
This book is absolutely amazing, with an ending that will blow you away! Elyse is a shy teen living with a mom who is addicted to painkillers, so she hasn’t been much of a caregiver. Elyse gets the lead in the new school play, “Romeo and Juliet” and immediately develops a crush on the drama teacher. Gabe, the other main character in the book, is dealing with a girl who is obsessed with him and will do anything to keep him. The story of these two teens is told realistically and in a way that the reader wants to reach out and help them in some way. The book is fast-paced, drawing the reader into a story that is so complex that you will never see the ending coming. This teen novel is well-written, with excellent character development and short chapters that make it easy to read and fascinating.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have 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 Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Lies You Never Told Me is an addicting and twisty young adult thriller. I think this book is perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars or One Was Lost. I was instantly hooked by this book from the first chapter and the moment I was introduced to these characters. I poured over every word of this book until there were none left. The wide range of characters in this book only made the story more enjoyable and realistic. My twisty mind was able to predict the twist at the end, but I still enjoyed this ride as if I’d been completely blindsided by it. I think I may just be adding Lies You Never Told Me to my list of favorite psychological thrillers!
I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
WOW! This book certainly kept your attention. A real page turner and a Twist with a capital “T” at the end. The lives of two teenagers, Gabe and Elyse, seemingly unconnected, both in dangerous love relationships. This story takes you on their journey through life. Gabe with Sasha and Catherine and Elyse with Aidan. Struggling and scary through adventures and heartaches. They never met but their lies will some how keep them going delving deeper and deeper into the ride and story. A thrill of a read. The author did a marvelous job of weaving the stories together in a very reader predictable way. It left you thinking at the end. I certainly would recommend. This was a very enjoyable read.
This book literally blew my mind. It was a page-turner with an awesome plot and characters. I cannot believe I did not see the plot twist coming. One of the best YA thrillers I have ever read.
Lies You Never Told was much different than I imagined when I first bought the book. Reading the description and some of the reviews by other authors made this book seem like a twisted, young adult thriller. In reality though, it’s more of a high school drama novel that deals with social issues. There is certainly a big twist towards the end, and I enjoyed it immensely, but being so unexpectedly different than the description made me feel a little let down. It was like I kept WAITING for the thrills to show up and they never did.
Now, while I did feel let down in a sense this book does have some fantastic pieces to it. First and foremost, the “mashup” at the end BLINDSIDED me in the best of ways. It was unexpected, thrilling, and absolutely GENIUS. I won’t say WHAT happens but if you’re feeling let down yourself when reading I implore you to keep going. The ending truly makes this book. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a horrible novel, it’s just not what many readers thought it was going to be. There’s a lot going on in the story between the two characters; student/teacher relationships, drug abuse, stalking and other forms of abuse etc. but it’s not THRILLING like the description makes it seem. That’s honestly what gets me the most. I don’t like being deceived and in some sense, I felt like the description of this one did deceive me.
Anyway, this is a solid read despite some of the things that bothered me about it. I would recommend it to those who enjoy young adult novels, especially those on the dramatic side. It’s an easy read (I read it in 24 hours), fast paced, and the type of book that will keep you turning the pages at record speeds.
I haven’t read a YA book in a long time. I don’t even remember having YA thrillers when I was a young adult, so this was a true treat for me.
Centered upon 4 different high schoolers, Gabe, Elyse, Catherine and Sasha, and told from the perspective of Gabe and Elyse, this book gives the reader the typical life of the modern high school student. There’s backstabbing, social media bullying, spying, jealousy, raging hormones, parental issues, and everything else that comes with growing up today.
Gabe is one of the more popular kids, dating Sasha, the most popular girl. She’s terrible, and he wants to leave her. Especially after meeting Catherine. But Sasha seems dangerous and he has to tread lightly. For good reason.
Elyse is a shy girl, raising herself while her junkie mother nods off on the couch. She gets the lead in the play, which awakens feelings in her she didn’t know she had. Further attributing to that awakening is the school’s young drama teacher. Her life is about to get messy, as she confuses raising herself with being an adult.
While the buildup was pretty slow, the end of the book is worth it. There are twists and turns along the way, with one big ultimate shocker. I tore through the pages, wondering what would happen next. how would Gabe handle his psycho ex? How would Elyse handle her new role as Juliet in the school play (and in real life)?
Thank you to the publisher, the author, and Bookishfirst for this free copy.
Told through the eyes of Gabe and Elyse, Lies You Never Told Me alternates chapters in their views to align their lives together. Elyse has made the lead in the school play, and while her best friend Brynn has given her grief, thinking the part should have been hers instead, Elyse takes the role and runs with it. Her drama teacher, Mr. Hunter has taken quite the interest in her, perhaps too much of an interest.
Gabe has had enough of his girlfriend Sasha, the popular girl with all the snark, she rules his life and he’s unhappy. But breaking up with her might just cause more problems than staying together with her.
Donaldson has done a superb job of creating a suspenseful story in Lies You Never Told Me. Just when I thought I was onto the plot, she threw the readers for a massive loop. It’s a fast-paced, impossible to put down read that is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat with your jaw dropped with each new twist.
What a tale Ms. Donaldson wove with this story! There is Elyse, who beats out Brynn as Juliet in the school play. She is starving for attention since, when she is home, she is taking care of her drug-dependent mother. Elyse gets involved with someone she should not and sacrifices things and people she loves for that someone. Then you have Gabe, who no longer wants to be with his socially popular girlfriend, Sasha. When Gabe finally breaks it off, Sasha becomes unglued and begins to do the unthinkable. The book is written in Gabe and Elyse’s points of view so there is some bouncing around but, as a reader, I appreciate the way everything came together in the end. A page-turner that covers some current social issues.
Incredible and masterful. Some novels stay with the reader and have such an impact on them with their excellent writing. Lies You Never Told Me is one of those novels. The most significant challenge this novel has is the fact that it is writing two stories here. There are two stories about two different characters with two different set of problems and lives in two very different places in the United States. These characters have nothing to do with one another, and yet they both fit together so perfectly. That is due to the tone of the novel. There is an overarching tone of the novel, a premise about toxic relationships, that covers both perspectives of the novel, bridging both together into one unifying story, even while both exist as separate entities.
Moreover, it is incredible how the story functions because both characters are so different and come from very different types of lies. Gabe has no worry in the world; he has a happy home and a happy family whereas Elyse comes from a broken home with a parent who has just checked out. Their lives are so different, and yet, despite that, the reader is not distracted or pulled out of the story. It is clear that Donaldson put her heart into structuring this novel so that it flowed, moving between characters and telling each story to it’s fullest, developing the characters impeccably. Each persona is fully developed and grown out excellently, blossoming at the end and becoming better through everything they have learned and endured.
However, the undeniably captivating part of this novel is how it broaches the subject of “toxic relationships.” They are not cut and dry and can look like any relationship. Gabe is in a relationship with a cheerleader and Elyse, well hers is much different, but both are dangerous. Both relationships function differently and in different ways. Moreover, it is essential for young readers, or any reader, to be able to identify what forms a toxic relationship, how does it become toxic. It is not always about controlling the other person; it is about manipulating the other person, about putting the person in precarious situations, about putting oneself first, and more. This novel explores all of those details and more. It’s essential for the reader to connect with the characters in this aspect because everyone should be in healthy, happy, and safe relationships, and to be able to identify the dangers of a bad one is paramount, to connect with the character and see the danger they don’t, that is what makes an impact. That is what makes the novel gripping and thought-provoking.
The novel is amazing. While some of the characters are unlikable, and even some may make the reader gasp, there’s a connection between the reader and the story. It is a gripping novel that shifts between perspective beautifully without losing sight of the big picture and without losing sight of the story. ( | A)
I really like this young adult novel. It was written so well, with two parallel stories. Elyse is a sixteen year old girl, living with her addicted mother in Portland Oregon, who is just living to survive her existence if school, work and her love of the theatre.
In the parallel story, there is Gabe, a young skateboarder, living in Austin Texas, his diabolical girlfriend, Sasha and a new girl in school Catherine, who he’s drawn to.
Lots of action in both of their stories and an ending that I didn’t see coming.
A debut novel by Jennifer Donaldson, that was well written, characters that I liked and disliked and plenty of suspense. I received this ARC from Penguin Random House, for my honest review.
Teens (Gabe and Elyse) risk it all for love.
Told in alternating narratives, Lies You Never Told Me followed Gabe as he made the momentous decision to break up with Sasha, his long time, popular, and controlling girlfriend, and Elyse as she earned the leading role in her school play and learned how to command the spotlight. By the end of this dark, twisty, and shocking tale, however, Gabe and Elyse learned the hard way that “everything worth doing has the possibility of ending in pain.”
I found this debut so engrossing that I read it in one sitting! I highly recommend it and look forward to more from this author.
I won an advance copy in a BookishFirst giveaway. All opinions are my own.
Location: Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon
I couldn’t put this book down – literally, I read about 85% in one sitting. The book starts with seemingly normal high school students who begin to get pulled into the orbit of really unstable people, and what starts as low-grade dread and unease builds slowly and steadily throughout the book with each bad decision. It’s this gradual amping up, along with the realistic details of the characters’ lives, that makes the explosive ending seem a bit less out-there and somewhat in the realm of possibility. I do think that everything was wrapped up a bit too quickly and conveniently for the two protagonists, but overall this was a really good read.