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Behind Her Lies

A second chance romance meets forced proximity as these two exes become neighbors.

Josie Marten is ready for this fresh start. If anyone needs one, it’s her. Nobody understands why she is moving her and her three-year-old daughter so far away, especially after the accident that changed their lives forever. But she doesn’t expect them to understand. How could they? She’s perfected the art of lying to those around her.

She’s hoping to leave the past behind and start over, but when she arrives at her new home, she finds her ex-boyfriend, Drew Warren, living next door. Drew is everything Josie remembers: handsome, charming, and kind. But he’s also the man who broke her heart eight years ago. What is he doing here? And why does his grin send tingles through her heart?

It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t have time for the past. Josie is determined to resist Drew’s charms, but it’s hard when he’s so close. Her focus needs to be on the future, one without lies. But Drew is relentless with his chiseled jaw, good heart, and eyes that she could get lost in. Her head says to keep her distance, but her heart wants to let him in. Can she trust him after he hurt her? Will he still want her once he knows what she’s been hiding? It’s been a long and lonely road living with secrets, but she isn’t sure she’s ready to share the truth.

382 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2023

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Bella Perry

6 books17 followers

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Community Reviews

5 stars
65 (27%)
4 stars
93 (39%)
3 stars
49 (20%)
2 stars
20 (8%)
1 star
10 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Lina.
182 reviews
September 26, 2023
Really good book, did not see the ending coming at all, but other then the exiting ending the book was boring, nothing really happened, and there was sooo much detail that it was to much, because of the fact there was a lot of detail there were not a lot of dialogue, I unfortunately ended up skipping a lot of chapters because there were no dialogue and a lot of details.
Profile Image for Natalie.
187 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2023
I really did enjoy this book but I have some notes.

First: Trigger warnings should have been included. There is spousal abuse that is a large factor and it could have easily triggered readers with that in their current or past life.

Second: “whenever” was used often and most of the time didn’t make sense. I found myself changing it to “when, at first, after, then, next, etc.” while reading sentences.

I had an inkling the entire book and it came true at the end. No spoilers but it was interesting.
Profile Image for HopeGloria.
338 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2024
The basis of the story was overall very sweet. Exes becomes lovers trope, one of my favorites. But the pace was way too slow. Drew and Josie did not admit their new feelings until the very end of the story. And the twist? It's not shocking, just predictable and boring.
Profile Image for Imogen.
153 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I love a good second chance romance and forced proximity book.
The whole concept was a little far fetched and cheesy hence only 4 stars. Like Josie moving into the house next door to her college ex that she never really got over?? That’s a little on the nose
I love the debth that this book holds. The detail of the characters. It really makes the reader care about them and therefore what happens to them. It make you route for them.
Although I did see the end coming from a mile off, with how long it was left until the end I was left wondering if it was ever going to happen or not. So when it did I was still shocked and on the edge on my seat.
Also I really like Beccas role through the book, how much she developed to trust and how her and Drew’s relationship grew so he put her first just like Josie would want. It was just so precious.
I loved this book so much, and to think I never would have found it without stuff your kindle day! Would deffo reccomed!
Profile Image for Sian R Books.
239 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2026
Josie is ready for a fresh start and as she moves her three-year-old daughter to a new neighbour hood nobody can understand why, especially after the accident that changed their lives forever. She doesn’t expect them to after she’s lied to those around her.
What she doesn’t expect is her new neighbour to be Drew, her college sweetheart that broke her heart. But she’s determined to resist his charm as she is set on a future without lies.

This was a good second chance romance with a great little suspenseful twist. And whilst the miscommunication frustrates me a little, I did understand it and I’m pleased it was cleared up.

The characters were enjoyable and it was nice watching them grow throughout the story.

Whilst Josie’s story was tough to read I couldn’t help but cheer her on as she set her boundaries and fought for what she wanted and the freedom she deserved.
108 reviews
June 10, 2024
Strong plot but...

Great storyline. I liked the characters. The book held my interest up until Josie and Drew gave into their need to be together. I'm all for them rekindling their relationship, but I did not need CHAPTERS UPON CHAPTERS of love scenes. I skipped over 10% of the book because of it. I was not aware that this was a romance. I would not have picked the book. I almost stopped reading, but I wanted to see what Henry would do because we all know he did not die in the accident.
Profile Image for Anne OK.
4,225 reviews559 followers
October 11, 2023


A repackaged ho-hum second chance plot void of anything new or surprising. A mediocre cast of characters along with lots of boring details that grew monotonous and clearly page-filler.

A predictable ending from the get-go that left no room for surprise – been there, done that plenty of times before – nothing new here, folks.

Sputtered, flatlined and buried before it started.

Profile Image for Jen Yates.
Author 24 books39 followers
March 11, 2024
Should be 4 stars but...

This story drew me in steadily page by page. I would have liked the finale to be with Drew and Josie together but he doesn't even feature. But my major annoyance from the constant use if 'whenever' when it should have been 'when'. Nearly stopped me reading. It needs a good edit.
Profile Image for Keishea.
172 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2025
This book was an engaging read, featuring a compelling second chance romance with forced proximity. The storyline was captivating, and the characters were well-developed. While the concept was a bit far-fetched, I appreciated it. Nevertheless, I was disappointed with the book's format, which did not provide clear distinctions between past and present or narrative perspectives.
Profile Image for Megan.
78 reviews
April 2, 2026
Mediocre. The writing was bland and frequently switched POV's in a way that was hard to follow. I did end up rooting for the couple by the end but in the beginning I just couldn't get into it or see why they belonged together. Plus the end drama was a little too much but I guess it added to the sub plot. I considered DNF'ing this but I'm not that kind of person.
Profile Image for Kori Clevenger.
111 reviews
November 13, 2023
(TW: domestic violence). This book is SO BORING. Nothing happens at all until after 85% the rest is just HOURS of mundane detail. The title really had me thinking she had some salacious lies and secrets, but don’t be fooled. Her only “lie” is not telling the world about her DV experience.
2 reviews
January 7, 2024
LMN!

It’s a romance I guess. There’s a spicy scene and a lot of build up. A lot of flirting. There’s also a bunch of trauma, DV. It reminded me of a lifetime movie and an episode of snapped rolled into a book.
Profile Image for Kaylyn.
67 reviews
June 20, 2024
Dnf at page 125. I just couldn't anymore too much to sort through for the storyline.
Profile Image for Karen Williams.
235 reviews
March 9, 2025
romantic suspense

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a romantic suspense and I really enjoyed this book. Perfect amount of spice and the twist… OMG
Profile Image for Virginia.
9,263 reviews25 followers
March 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews