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Every Word A Lie
Two friends plan revenge on their prankster friend by catfishing her as her crush. They only mean to do it for a day or two - but then she ends up dead. And the catfish continues to strike others - who is in control of the catfish, and who is telling the truth?
315 pages, Paperback
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642 people want to read
About the author
Sue Wallman
11 books269 followersFrom eight to eighteen years, I lived in Highcliffe, Christchurch, on the south coast of England. Before that we lived in various places, including a hospital in York where my dad was a psychiatrist.
After Oxford Brookes University (I was one of the first people to do their publishing degree), I became a magazine journalist. A couple of years later, I went to live in Paris where I was editorial assistant for an American newspaper. Eventually, I returned to England via travelling around South America. I now live near Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
I love words. I've been a sub-editor, letters page editor and deputy features editor. In my spare time I've always written different types of fiction. In January 2007 I decided to stop faffing about and take seriously the one thing I'd wanted to achieve all my life. Five books and eight years later, I signed a book deal. Then, in May 2016, Lying About Last Summer, my debut novel, was published.
After Oxford Brookes University (I was one of the first people to do their publishing degree), I became a magazine journalist. A couple of years later, I went to live in Paris where I was editorial assistant for an American newspaper. Eventually, I returned to England via travelling around South America. I now live near Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
I love words. I've been a sub-editor, letters page editor and deputy features editor. In my spare time I've always written different types of fiction. In January 2007 I decided to stop faffing about and take seriously the one thing I'd wanted to achieve all my life. Five books and eight years later, I signed a book deal. Then, in May 2016, Lying About Last Summer, my debut novel, was published.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 31, 2023
—📱3.5 stars📱—
“I’d thought we’d all be best friends for ever.
Someone took that away from us and I wanted to know who.”
————about the book————
Age: YA
Genres: thriller, mystery,
Writing: 7/10
Quotes: 8/10
World building: n/a
Characters: 6/10
Romance: n/a
My rating: 7/10
TRIGGER WARNINGS: death and grief, violence, stalking, blood and gore, murder, knife violence, etc.
———my thoughts———
Friends Amy and Stan want to get revenge on their prankster friend, Hollie.
So they begin sending her fake messages from her crush.
But then Hollie is murdered.
And the killer is just getting started.
Amy is determined to stop them, to avenge Hollie and stop any more deaths.
But as the plot thickens, Amy comes to the terrifying conclusion that she might be next...
This was unlike any thriller I’ve read before.
Well, actually it was like every other thriller.
If you were using the murder mystery as the basis.
But if you used the messages? The emotions?
Then it’s not.
I’ve never read a thriller that handled the emotional, the feelings as well as this.
Because while (as always) people die, but you get to see the pure emotional torment that’s brought.
Hollie was Amy’s best friend.
And when she died, Amy was as upset and angry and scared as normal person would be.
In YA thrillers, the dead people tend to be forgotten about.
They’re the dead bodies, the objects by the end.
But not Hollie. Hollie stayed a person, a person everyone missed, but still a person.
And I admire the author for that.
If felt like this book was using all the thriller tropes and showing them in a bad light.
For example, other people wanted to remember Hollie as a saint, someone who did no wrong.
But Amy doesn’t want that. She wants to remember Hollie in all her mischievous, butter-wouldn’t-melt glory.
There were also so many meaningful messages in the book itself.
It may not have been written that way, but I read it as a warning against the social media of now.
And I agree.
It’s terrifying that anyone could pretend to be someone else.
It’s terrifying that even if you think you know somebody, you didn’t.
There was an underlying current of feminism to it all, which I greatly appreciated.
But then there’s the writing.
The quotes were beautiful, but some of the rest of it? Not so much.
The characters had a tendency to say “lol” (when they’re speaking, not texting) and it annoyed the hell out of me.
It also felt childish at times, and the true mystery itself was by no means a masterpiece.
The reveal at the end was a little anticlimactic, but all in all the story was good.
————quotes————
“I’m going to stick my neck out and say that the murderer is a man who hates women.”
“I don’t think you’d be sticking your neck out. It’s the obvious conclusion, and it’s always ‘Take care when you’re out at night’ and never, ‘We need to do more to protect women.’”
“I understood, suddenly, why I liked doing jigsaws. I liked the neat way everything slotted together, the way that order emerged out of chaos.”
“I didn’t recognise these versions of Hollie They hadn’t been saints—they’d been real people who had died.”
“One of the kindest things you can do for a person was to make them feel less alone.”
———random extra thoughts———
I need to read the author’s back catalogue ASAP...
Thanks for reading! ❤️
“I’d thought we’d all be best friends for ever.
Someone took that away from us and I wanted to know who.”
————about the book————
Age: YA
Genres: thriller, mystery,
Writing: 7/10
Quotes: 8/10
World building: n/a
Characters: 6/10
Romance: n/a
My rating: 7/10
TRIGGER WARNINGS: death and grief, violence, stalking, blood and gore, murder, knife violence, etc.
———my thoughts———
Friends Amy and Stan want to get revenge on their prankster friend, Hollie.
So they begin sending her fake messages from her crush.
But then Hollie is murdered.
And the killer is just getting started.
Amy is determined to stop them, to avenge Hollie and stop any more deaths.
But as the plot thickens, Amy comes to the terrifying conclusion that she might be next...
This was unlike any thriller I’ve read before.
Well, actually it was like every other thriller.
If you were using the murder mystery as the basis.
But if you used the messages? The emotions?
Then it’s not.
I’ve never read a thriller that handled the emotional, the feelings as well as this.
Because while (as always) people die, but you get to see the pure emotional torment that’s brought.
Hollie was Amy’s best friend.
And when she died, Amy was as upset and angry and scared as normal person would be.
In YA thrillers, the dead people tend to be forgotten about.
They’re the dead bodies, the objects by the end.
But not Hollie. Hollie stayed a person, a person everyone missed, but still a person.
And I admire the author for that.
If felt like this book was using all the thriller tropes and showing them in a bad light.
For example, other people wanted to remember Hollie as a saint, someone who did no wrong.
But Amy doesn’t want that. She wants to remember Hollie in all her mischievous, butter-wouldn’t-melt glory.
There were also so many meaningful messages in the book itself.
It may not have been written that way, but I read it as a warning against the social media of now.
And I agree.
It’s terrifying that anyone could pretend to be someone else.
It’s terrifying that even if you think you know somebody, you didn’t.
There was an underlying current of feminism to it all, which I greatly appreciated.
But then there’s the writing.
The quotes were beautiful, but some of the rest of it? Not so much.
The characters had a tendency to say “lol” (when they’re speaking, not texting) and it annoyed the hell out of me.
It also felt childish at times, and the true mystery itself was by no means a masterpiece.
The reveal at the end was a little anticlimactic, but all in all the story was good.
————quotes————
“I’m going to stick my neck out and say that the murderer is a man who hates women.”
“I don’t think you’d be sticking your neck out. It’s the obvious conclusion, and it’s always ‘Take care when you’re out at night’ and never, ‘We need to do more to protect women.’”
“I understood, suddenly, why I liked doing jigsaws. I liked the neat way everything slotted together, the way that order emerged out of chaos.”
“I didn’t recognise these versions of Hollie They hadn’t been saints—they’d been real people who had died.”
“One of the kindest things you can do for a person was to make them feel less alone.”
———random extra thoughts———
I need to read the author’s back catalogue ASAP...
Thanks for reading! ❤️
May 5, 2023
This was exciting twisty well wrote YA THRILLER. I read in 2 days.. was so addictive and hard to put down! Very good. 5 stars ♡ good characters. Really shocked by ending. Brilliant .
August 4, 2024
this was a shitshow on so many levels. it’s a no from me
January 23, 2024
I read this book so quickly as there are so many twists and turns. I did not in a million years expect the ending!! It's quite an easy read but I found it so intense and loved watching the characters grow.
July 2, 2023
I saw this book in a small bookstore and wanted to give it a try, I'm happy I did. It was a really good and fast read with a good plot twist.
The Book is written in Amy's POV and follows the death of teens from her school. Everyone is following the investigation and you get suspicious of almost everyone around Amy in her age group.
I really liked the book itself but why only 4 Stars? Simply put: It was good book but nothing I would remember in 2 months with great detail.
The Characters were well written but I couldn't quite picture them all the time, Hollie was described in great detail but I wouldn't be able to picture Amy as perfectly as I can picture Hollie.
And as much as I liked the book, I barely put any sticky tabs in it, close to none to be really honest. There were only a few notable paragraphs and I didn't get any thoughtful deep Quotes out of it.
The world building however was really great, you could easily imagine the neighborhood and locations, which I loved. I also loved how everyone's struggles were told and all the emotional moments were portrayed.
I can savely recommend this book because it's a nice read. It may not be a masterpiece in my eyes but maybe someone else thinks it's breathtaking.
The Book is written in Amy's POV and follows the death of teens from her school. Everyone is following the investigation and you get suspicious of almost everyone around Amy in her age group.
I really liked the book itself but why only 4 Stars? Simply put: It was good book but nothing I would remember in 2 months with great detail.
The Characters were well written but I couldn't quite picture them all the time, Hollie was described in great detail but I wouldn't be able to picture Amy as perfectly as I can picture Hollie.
And as much as I liked the book, I barely put any sticky tabs in it, close to none to be really honest. There were only a few notable paragraphs and I didn't get any thoughtful deep Quotes out of it.
The world building however was really great, you could easily imagine the neighborhood and locations, which I loved. I also loved how everyone's struggles were told and all the emotional moments were portrayed.
I can savely recommend this book because it's a nice read. It may not be a masterpiece in my eyes but maybe someone else thinks it's breathtaking.
April 20, 2024
Content warnings: murder, death of a friend, catfishing
I wanted to love this because the premise was fantastic. But unfortunately, the vibes were very solidly off. There was just something about this that didn't work for me, from the characters to the fairly slow pace of the story. It should have been gripping - the main character catfishes one of her friends who literally turns up dead the next day! - but unfortunately it just.........wasn't.
I honestly can't pinpoint what the issue was. And, like, there was nothing WRONG with it. It just didn't grab me. Sigh.
I wanted to love this because the premise was fantastic. But unfortunately, the vibes were very solidly off. There was just something about this that didn't work for me, from the characters to the fairly slow pace of the story. It should have been gripping - the main character catfishes one of her friends who literally turns up dead the next day! - but unfortunately it just.........wasn't.
I honestly can't pinpoint what the issue was. And, like, there was nothing WRONG with it. It just didn't grab me. Sigh.
August 20, 2023
•Cutting it short: Someone is catfishing to kill
I really liked it, especially the feelings. You have to know I loveee feelings. And I really enjoyed the doubt (I mean doubting someone who u trust and love) and the quarrel ahh. Yeah, I would eat that up.
To the characters:
•Hollie: why is everyone in love with Hollie? People coming and saying things like I always hoped it could be more than friendship blabla. She isn’t even THAT nice!
•Stan: AND WHY IS NOBODY IN LOVE WITH HIMM? EXCUSE ME. (I’m not in love with him)
•Amy: and you… why Dom? When you have Stan
Why am I talking so much about love when the genre is thriller
Right,Amy, I really liked that she COMMUNICATED and didn’t do everything on her own.
•Aden: the first page is the reason why I kinda didn’t like you. But you did a great job ‘til the end. Well…
Nvmmm
the end was gooood, clever, but for someone so "bright" was that a really stupid move to make, catfisher -.-
I really liked it, especially the feelings. You have to know I loveee feelings. And I really enjoyed the doubt (I mean doubting someone who u trust and love) and the quarrel ahh. Yeah, I would eat that up.
To the characters:
•Hollie: why is everyone in love with Hollie? People coming and saying things like I always hoped it could be more than friendship blabla. She isn’t even THAT nice!
•Stan: AND WHY IS NOBODY IN LOVE WITH HIMM? EXCUSE ME. (I’m not in love with him)
•Amy: and you… why Dom? When you have Stan
Why am I talking so much about love when the genre is thriller
Right,Amy, I really liked that she COMMUNICATED and didn’t do everything on her own.
•Aden: the first page is the reason why I kinda didn’t like you. But you did a great job ‘til the end. Well…
Nvmmm
the end was gooood, clever, but for someone so "bright" was that a really stupid move to make, catfisher -.-
August 19, 2023
I really, really liked this book. I only started yesterday and it was so intriguing that I had to keep going. Praise to Sue Wallman - excellent book. Really enjoyed it. Totally recommend.
October 9, 2023
WOOOOW 3 days??? It was quite short tbh hahaha
Now, at the start, I was convinced it was Stan, there was no one else I could think. With the access to the social accounts and his mild obsession over Hollie and Amy, it was possible. He acted weird as well. I also thought it could have been Aden as he was guilty about things but he was more guilty about not walking her to the fake date, which I think is fair. I THEN thought it may have been Cooper as he was misogynistic at the best of times. I jokingly thought it was Harry….. turns out it was haha!
I found the characters were well developed, the story was well written and it did keep you guessing. The only reason it’s 4 stars for me is because the reveal of it being Harry isn’t really that dramatic - felt quite lacklustre. And then the last chapter felt so rushed. Like a narration of ‘where are they now?’ which can get super boring quickly. I do want to read her other books though so watch this space!
Now, at the start, I was convinced it was Stan, there was no one else I could think. With the access to the social accounts and his mild obsession over Hollie and Amy, it was possible. He acted weird as well. I also thought it could have been Aden as he was guilty about things but he was more guilty about not walking her to the fake date, which I think is fair. I THEN thought it may have been Cooper as he was misogynistic at the best of times. I jokingly thought it was Harry….. turns out it was haha!
I found the characters were well developed, the story was well written and it did keep you guessing. The only reason it’s 4 stars for me is because the reveal of it being Harry isn’t really that dramatic - felt quite lacklustre. And then the last chapter felt so rushed. Like a narration of ‘where are they now?’ which can get super boring quickly. I do want to read her other books though so watch this space!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2023
YAY!! The cure to my reading slump!! This book took me 3 days and I’ve loved it, it keeps you on your toes, providing so much suspense!! It’s a fast paced book aswell, just generally fun to read, I recommend!
June 4, 2023
I finished this one in less than 24 hours, so one could say that I really enjoyed it. Loved the story, the twists, and the "I have no clue who's the murderer" kind of feeling. Only 4/5 because the story's end is a bit weird imo.
June 27, 2023
I didn't have massive expectations for this but turned out to be a very enjoyable YA thriller with a good twist at the end. It set up lots of different people to be the killer and it did have me guessing. The person who turned out to be the killer I had suspected earlier in the book but the way it was written I had changed my mind later on so I was impressed I was fooled! 😄
September 20, 2024
Got me on the edge of my seat
October 8, 2024
The ending is so good. My favourite of all her books I’ve read.
July 16, 2023
Read this book literally in about 2 hours, and it’s definitely got me out of my reading slump.
February 4, 2024
Have to think about this one
April 29, 2024
Honestly, I did not think I’d enjoy this book.
I had to read it for a school book club and I found it so slow up until chapter 23 or something, I was kind of bored and to be honest, I was so close to DNFing it.
BUT THANK GOD I DIDN’T!!!
This is one of the best mysteries I’ve read, maybe because it’s quite relatable?
I think everyone’s got a close friendship group who you consider family - or I do anyway - and sometimes people fall out, and I think this book highlighted that in a good way.
I can’t even begin to imagine what the characters in this book were feeling. I felt so bad for everyone after Hollie and Kristen died, and then RORY???
I already felt bad enough for Aden as something was clearly up between him and Hollie before she died (which wasn’t expressed until later) and then his BROTHER HAD TO DIE?!?! My heart broke for him. For them all…
But that plot twist! I was fully convinced it was Stan - I didn’t want it to be, so then I tried convincing myself it was Cooper, and then Amy found the bracket and badge in Harry’s jacket and I was praying that Harry was trying to cover up for Cooper. Then he tried to kill her?!?! I literally loved Harry the whole way through, but omg I actually cried during those final chapters…
The way I felt at the end of the book reminded me a lot of how I felt after reading Dead Fine by Emma Smith. You know when a plot twist is so unbearably unbelievable? Yeah, that feeling
All in all, four stars :)
I had to read it for a school book club and I found it so slow up until chapter 23 or something, I was kind of bored and to be honest, I was so close to DNFing it.
BUT THANK GOD I DIDN’T!!!
This is one of the best mysteries I’ve read, maybe because it’s quite relatable?
I think everyone’s got a close friendship group who you consider family - or I do anyway - and sometimes people fall out, and I think this book highlighted that in a good way.
I can’t even begin to imagine what the characters in this book were feeling. I felt so bad for everyone after Hollie and Kristen died, and then RORY???
I already felt bad enough for Aden as something was clearly up between him and Hollie before she died (which wasn’t expressed until later) and then his BROTHER HAD TO DIE?!?! My heart broke for him. For them all…
But that plot twist! I was fully convinced it was Stan - I didn’t want it to be, so then I tried convincing myself it was Cooper, and then Amy found the bracket and badge in Harry’s jacket and I was praying that Harry was trying to cover up for Cooper. Then he tried to kill her?!?! I literally loved Harry the whole way through, but omg I actually cried during those final chapters…
The way I felt at the end of the book reminded me a lot of how I felt after reading Dead Fine by Emma Smith. You know when a plot twist is so unbearably unbelievable? Yeah, that feeling
All in all, four stars :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2025
Writing a review of this about 2 months after finishing it.
This book has a consistent plot and idea which I thought was great. However, I despised the writing. I just did not think it was YA level. I have so many pages of annotation where I think plot twists could have been revealed with better writing or, big points in the story could’ve been revealed with better writing. I really think that the ending could’ve been predicted by some, but wasn’t by me surprisingly. I love how the writer led you into thinking a culprit was one person, then completely twisting it.
Overall, unlike some over 3 star books I’ve read, I actually do recommend this book, but don’t recommend it whatsoever as much as I do with MANY other books. If someone asked me for a good ya book for a beginner reader, this would not be one I would recommend straight up on the spot.
This book has a consistent plot and idea which I thought was great. However, I despised the writing. I just did not think it was YA level. I have so many pages of annotation where I think plot twists could have been revealed with better writing or, big points in the story could’ve been revealed with better writing. I really think that the ending could’ve been predicted by some, but wasn’t by me surprisingly. I love how the writer led you into thinking a culprit was one person, then completely twisting it.
Overall, unlike some over 3 star books I’ve read, I actually do recommend this book, but don’t recommend it whatsoever as much as I do with MANY other books. If someone asked me for a good ya book for a beginner reader, this would not be one I would recommend straight up on the spot.
May 29, 2023
MAJOR SPOILERS!!!!!!!
I AM SHOCKED. I CANT BELIEVE IT. I feel so betrayed by her brother right now. But this book is so good. I read it in 3 days which I don't normally manage as I am a slow reader, but this book was just jawdropping and I never got bored.
Hopefully this book makes it to booktok because it definitely deserves to and this is definitely in my top 5 books of all times 😭🫶🏻
I AM SHOCKED. I CANT BELIEVE IT. I feel so betrayed by her brother right now. But this book is so good. I read it in 3 days which I don't normally manage as I am a slow reader, but this book was just jawdropping and I never got bored.
Hopefully this book makes it to booktok because it definitely deserves to and this is definitely in my top 5 books of all times 😭🫶🏻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2023
I received a review copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
EVERY WORD A LIE is a tense thriller about a killer impersonating others to strike - and Amy might very well have enabled them.
I really like how it all started with a prank gone wrong, and spiralled into something deadly. It was a great way of highlighting how catfishing is so insidious, how there's always a victim. The anonymity of social media and other people's profiles makes the killer a spectre behind a mask.
There's then a flip in the tone of the threat once the catfish starts talking to Amy - she knows and the catfish knows she knows it's a catfish, and that. You still don't know who it is, but the fact they're willing to talk to people who know they're not who they say they are just adds this really unsettling, dangerous confidence to the villain. I really, really enjoyed that.
This is a slim book but packs so much into the narrow spine - multiple murders and suspects, not to mention the growing unease and tension of the catfish showing off how much they know about Amy. It also delves into the friendship issues it causes within Amy's formerly tight-knit group as the death - and who blames whom - breaks them apart. I really liked that the murders didn't just affect them through fear of who was next but also broke the support structures around them, making it harder to fight onwards.
This was a gripping read, and I've now got a backlist to investigate before Sue Wallman's next book.
EVERY WORD A LIE is a tense thriller about a killer impersonating others to strike - and Amy might very well have enabled them.
I really like how it all started with a prank gone wrong, and spiralled into something deadly. It was a great way of highlighting how catfishing is so insidious, how there's always a victim. The anonymity of social media and other people's profiles makes the killer a spectre behind a mask.
There's then a flip in the tone of the threat once the catfish starts talking to Amy - she knows and the catfish knows she knows it's a catfish, and that. You still don't know who it is, but the fact they're willing to talk to people who know they're not who they say they are just adds this really unsettling, dangerous confidence to the villain. I really, really enjoyed that.
This is a slim book but packs so much into the narrow spine - multiple murders and suspects, not to mention the growing unease and tension of the catfish showing off how much they know about Amy. It also delves into the friendship issues it causes within Amy's formerly tight-knit group as the death - and who blames whom - breaks them apart. I really liked that the murders didn't just affect them through fear of who was next but also broke the support structures around them, making it harder to fight onwards.
This was a gripping read, and I've now got a backlist to investigate before Sue Wallman's next book.
May 14, 2023
I really ended up enjoying this book more than I initially thought I would. The beginning was a little slow, however the story and tension really picked up the further I read along. This book is definitely worth the read!
This story follows Amy, who’s best friend Hollie loves to play pranks. After being on the receiving end of one too many pranks, Amy and Stan decide to get their own back on Hollie, and decide to catfish her as revenge. However, after setting up a date one night Hollie ends up dead, and Amy begins to receive messages from the catfish killer.
I loved the premise of this book and felt that it was executed really well. I will say that at times I found some of the dialogue to be a bit cringey and unnatural, however everything else about the book was great.
I liked how we saw the whole story from just Amy’s point of view, and how it allowed us to follow what was happening in real time and try to figure out who the killer was along with her, and with what facts she thought were true.
I was completely blindsided and did not see the identity of the killer coming at all. This was such a great twist and that I was really shocked by.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable 4 star read x
This story follows Amy, who’s best friend Hollie loves to play pranks. After being on the receiving end of one too many pranks, Amy and Stan decide to get their own back on Hollie, and decide to catfish her as revenge. However, after setting up a date one night Hollie ends up dead, and Amy begins to receive messages from the catfish killer.
I loved the premise of this book and felt that it was executed really well. I will say that at times I found some of the dialogue to be a bit cringey and unnatural, however everything else about the book was great.
I liked how we saw the whole story from just Amy’s point of view, and how it allowed us to follow what was happening in real time and try to figure out who the killer was along with her, and with what facts she thought were true.
I was completely blindsided and did not see the identity of the killer coming at all. This was such a great twist and that I was really shocked by.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable 4 star read x
Read
June 26, 2025Title: Every Word a Lie
Author: Sue Wallman
Genre: Thriller
Summary: The book “Every Word a Lie” talks about a group of friends that decided to take revenge on their bold friend Hollie who pranked them a week before. The plan was to text Hollie with a fake message from her crush and arrange a fake meeting. Though when Hollie arrived to the meeting point something tragic happened, Hollie was murdered. The terrible incident broke the friend group apart. The next few days everything felt unreal and weird with one friend missing. During the next week there were investigations going though there was nothing found. After one more week another teenager had been murdered. The murderers set everyone off guard. The police where still running the investigation though there was nothing found.
Favourite Character: Hollie. I really liked Hollie because she was the one holding the whole friend group together. She was also very smart and was really entertaining to be with. Hollie was also really energetic and very mindful of everyone.
Personal Reflection: I really enjoyed reading the book because there were a lot of twists in the book. It was really intriguing to read and interesting.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Reviewed by: Agatha Zaitceva
Author: Sue Wallman
Genre: Thriller
Summary: The book “Every Word a Lie” talks about a group of friends that decided to take revenge on their bold friend Hollie who pranked them a week before. The plan was to text Hollie with a fake message from her crush and arrange a fake meeting. Though when Hollie arrived to the meeting point something tragic happened, Hollie was murdered. The terrible incident broke the friend group apart. The next few days everything felt unreal and weird with one friend missing. During the next week there were investigations going though there was nothing found. After one more week another teenager had been murdered. The murderers set everyone off guard. The police where still running the investigation though there was nothing found.
Favourite Character: Hollie. I really liked Hollie because she was the one holding the whole friend group together. She was also very smart and was really entertaining to be with. Hollie was also really energetic and very mindful of everyone.
Personal Reflection: I really enjoyed reading the book because there were a lot of twists in the book. It was really intriguing to read and interesting.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Reviewed by: Agatha Zaitceva
November 24, 2023
As a big fan of YA books, I always know I'm in for a treat reading one of Sue's books
💄
This was so cleverly written, but not to the point where it is confusing.
The book is based around a group of 5 sixth formers, one of which is the prankster of the group. When Amy and Stan turn the tables and prank her back by pretending to be her crush, messaging her via social media, it goes terribly wrong when she is found murdered, and two other victims soon follow ...
💄
As always, you'll find no spoilers here, but I was so confident from the start of the book that I knew who it was, and imagine my shock when I was wrong! It was right in front of me the entire book, but I never connected the dots!
💄
Obviously the book is focused on catfishing and social media, and it's sad to say in this day in age, how careful we need to be, and how easy it is for people to be manipulated and targeted.
💄
If you're a YA fan, I highly encourage you to grab a copy of this book.
Just remember, it's gross to leave bagged cat poo on a welcome mat!
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This was so cleverly written, but not to the point where it is confusing.
The book is based around a group of 5 sixth formers, one of which is the prankster of the group. When Amy and Stan turn the tables and prank her back by pretending to be her crush, messaging her via social media, it goes terribly wrong when she is found murdered, and two other victims soon follow ...
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As always, you'll find no spoilers here, but I was so confident from the start of the book that I knew who it was, and imagine my shock when I was wrong! It was right in front of me the entire book, but I never connected the dots!
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Obviously the book is focused on catfishing and social media, and it's sad to say in this day in age, how careful we need to be, and how easy it is for people to be manipulated and targeted.
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If you're a YA fan, I highly encourage you to grab a copy of this book.
Just remember, it's gross to leave bagged cat poo on a welcome mat!
November 27, 2025
Wow what a book and I mean this in a positive note. This is the perfect 3 star YA thriller read that gave me everything I wanted out of it. Was it written well ? erh probably not, was the character development done well ? nah not really but was it entertaining ? yes it's most certainly was.
And honestly I really enjoyed the plot twist at the end it wasn't like super obvious but wasn't completely out of no where which I appreciated. There were a few red herrings that could have been a little more subtle but they worked for what this is. Speaking of the murder I appreciated how the author has made a character choice that I thought was a little interesting and then it is kind of explained by who the murder is which I appreciated if it hasn't been like that I would have ranted about it in my review lol
If you are a YA lover would be the book for you and also good to get you out of a reading slump :)
And honestly I really enjoyed the plot twist at the end it wasn't like super obvious but wasn't completely out of no where which I appreciated. There were a few red herrings that could have been a little more subtle but they worked for what this is. Speaking of the murder I appreciated how the author has made a character choice that I thought was a little interesting and then it is kind of explained by who the murder is which I appreciated if it hasn't been like that I would have ranted about it in my review lol
If you are a YA lover would be the book for you and also good to get you out of a reading slump :)
May 16, 2023
This book was SO GOOD - it follows two teenagers whose catfish prank goes horribly wrong and ends up in their dear friend being murdered. Then as their whole world is imploding, the catfish killer starts to seek out new victims...
I was honestly so hooked on this story, there were so many twists and turns and different suspects in the mix. I loved how the leading lady Amy didn't hide any information from her parents or the police, letting the plot unfold in a really unexpected way that didn't rely on miscommunication. Every time I thought I'd worked out what would happen next, Amy would do the opposite!
I also really felt the pain and guilt of these characters accidentally luring their friend into a dangerous situation and felt it was a very powerful cautionary tale for teens. Even though this is fiction, catfishing pranks in real life can so easily lead to young people being endangered and this will definitely make readers stop and think before impersonating someone else online.
It was definitely a 5 star read for me, really entertaining and pacey - recommended for all YA thriller fans, especially if you love authors such as Holly Jackson or Kathryn Foxfield!
I was honestly so hooked on this story, there were so many twists and turns and different suspects in the mix. I loved how the leading lady Amy didn't hide any information from her parents or the police, letting the plot unfold in a really unexpected way that didn't rely on miscommunication. Every time I thought I'd worked out what would happen next, Amy would do the opposite!
I also really felt the pain and guilt of these characters accidentally luring their friend into a dangerous situation and felt it was a very powerful cautionary tale for teens. Even though this is fiction, catfishing pranks in real life can so easily lead to young people being endangered and this will definitely make readers stop and think before impersonating someone else online.
It was definitely a 5 star read for me, really entertaining and pacey - recommended for all YA thriller fans, especially if you love authors such as Holly Jackson or Kathryn Foxfield!
May 12, 2023
One thing I really don't like about Sue Wallman's books is that you cannot trust anyone.
I'm closing to have finished reading Sue's entire catalogue now, and this book did not disappoint. I was so grateful to receive an early copy, and devoured it in several sittings. I loved the drama, the suspense, the way you never see what's coming next. And I loved how quintessentially British it felt. That's one of my favourite things about UKYA.
You will not see the ending coming, so be warned. Trust no one. Believe nothing you see or hear.
Every word will be a lie.
I'm closing to have finished reading Sue's entire catalogue now, and this book did not disappoint. I was so grateful to receive an early copy, and devoured it in several sittings. I loved the drama, the suspense, the way you never see what's coming next. And I loved how quintessentially British it felt. That's one of my favourite things about UKYA.
You will not see the ending coming, so be warned. Trust no one. Believe nothing you see or hear.
Every word will be a lie.
April 8, 2025
A book to keep you guessing who the murderer is and someone you would least Suspect. The plot twist is nearer to the end of the book.
Amy has to figure out who is killing her friends at school. After receiving Numerous messages on her phone she thinks its someone close to her. What started off as an Innocent prank to her friend for pay back of a litter pick prank by her friend leads to Hoillies death which shocks the community, but will Amy manage to find the right killer after thinking it was Stan when it wasn't.
Amy has to figure out who is killing her friends at school. After receiving Numerous messages on her phone she thinks its someone close to her. What started off as an Innocent prank to her friend for pay back of a litter pick prank by her friend leads to Hoillies death which shocks the community, but will Amy manage to find the right killer after thinking it was Stan when it wasn't.
June 26, 2023
This is probably my favourite of Sue Wallman's books so far. Every Word a Lie really kept me guessing and trying to work out who was catfishing and murdering characters. Such a tense but thrilling read, and I did not see that twist coming at the end! Fantastic and a brilliant read for fans of Thrillers. Also loved by my Thriller loving 13-year-old who also had great fun trying to work out the mystery.
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