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Heart-Shaped Lies
John Tucker Must Die meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder in this tongue-in-cheek thriller about three feuding exes of a social media prank star who are forced to work together to solve the mystery of his death when his deactivated account resurfaces online with claims that one of them murdered him.
Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh have nothing in common—except they just found out that they’re all dating Tommy Harding, the internet’s most famous teen prank star.
KIARA is the girlfriend who the cameras know and love, the academic star who Tommy parades around in public to keep his image in check.
PRISCILLA is Tommy’s co-star. As a beauty influencer and an accomplice to Tommy’s notorious antics, she’s always known that the two of them could be the Internet’s power couple—if only he would confess to his girlfriend what really goes on during their ‘rehearsals’.
And NEVAEH is the good girl, the pastor’s daughter who’d never dream of dating a boy who’s already taken.
When a viral post from Tommy’s social media account exposes his cheating ways during their high school class trip to Florida’s biggest theme park, the girls are crushed—and furious. Tommy claims his account was hacked. Now, Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh want him out of their lives. Forever. After all, Tommy doesn’t just hold their hearts—he holds their secrets, too.
But when Tommy’s body is found the next morning, their so-called wish becomes a twisted reality. Because Tommy may be gone, but the internet is forever. And the girls are about to go from strangers to suspects….
Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh have nothing in common—except they just found out that they’re all dating Tommy Harding, the internet’s most famous teen prank star.
KIARA is the girlfriend who the cameras know and love, the academic star who Tommy parades around in public to keep his image in check.
PRISCILLA is Tommy’s co-star. As a beauty influencer and an accomplice to Tommy’s notorious antics, she’s always known that the two of them could be the Internet’s power couple—if only he would confess to his girlfriend what really goes on during their ‘rehearsals’.
And NEVAEH is the good girl, the pastor’s daughter who’d never dream of dating a boy who’s already taken.
When a viral post from Tommy’s social media account exposes his cheating ways during their high school class trip to Florida’s biggest theme park, the girls are crushed—and furious. Tommy claims his account was hacked. Now, Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh want him out of their lives. Forever. After all, Tommy doesn’t just hold their hearts—he holds their secrets, too.
But when Tommy’s body is found the next morning, their so-called wish becomes a twisted reality. Because Tommy may be gone, but the internet is forever. And the girls are about to go from strangers to suspects….
384 pages, Hardcover
First published November 26, 2024
34 people are currently reading
6306 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
November 30, 2024
every time i find a thriller by an author of color i scream it from the rooftops bc the thriller genre is just full of yt everywhere. this is elizabeth agyemang’s first ya novel and it is SO GOOD. it’s a thriller featuring the john tucker must die-esque death of a social media star and it takes place at an amusement park. it’s taut and timely and i couldn’t stop reading it. and the audiobook is fantastic too.
November 30, 2024
This was a YA novel but surprisingly it was a good suspenseful time.
Synopsis:
John Tucker Must Die meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder in this tongue-in-cheek mystery about three feuding exes of a social media prank star who are forced to work together to uncover the truth behind his death when his deactivated account resurfaces online with claims that one of them killed him.
Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh have nothing in common—except they just found out that they’re all dating Tommy Harding, the internet’s most famous teen prank star.
KIARA is the girlfriend who the cameras know and love, the academic star who Tommy parades around in public to keep his image in check.
PRISCILLA is Tommy’s co-star. As a beauty influencer and an accomplice to Tommy’s notorious antics, she’s always known that the two of them could be the Internet’s power couple—if only he would confess to his girlfriend what really goes on during their ‘rehearsals’.
And NEVAEH is the good girl, the pastor’s daughter who’d never dream of dating a boy who’s already taken.
My Favorite Line
The saint. The sinner. The girlfriend. Each of them had a reason to want him dead. Don’t believe the lies in their interviews.
This story was very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. I couldn’t wait to find out who killed Tommy, the serial cheater, the jerk! So many suspects and I couldn’t guess who was the killer until the very end. Elizabeth Agyemang did such amazing job capturing the personalities of each character and making you either love them or hate them, but showing them vulnerable underneath. I loved Nevaveh’s character the most. She was labeled as the “Good Girl” and she was just trying to be a teenager under the umbrella of being the Pastors daughter. So everyone expected her to be little miss perfect. But that too much pressure. I love how the author developed her character to show the negative side to social media and the harm it can cause in one’s life. I feel like this story is for ages 13 and up and many lessons will be learned from reading it, but in a reachable for teens.
Thank you @tbrbeyondtours & @toldyaso.narratives for the ARC copy of the book please follow the book tour below
https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/
Synopsis:
John Tucker Must Die meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder in this tongue-in-cheek mystery about three feuding exes of a social media prank star who are forced to work together to uncover the truth behind his death when his deactivated account resurfaces online with claims that one of them killed him.
Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh have nothing in common—except they just found out that they’re all dating Tommy Harding, the internet’s most famous teen prank star.
KIARA is the girlfriend who the cameras know and love, the academic star who Tommy parades around in public to keep his image in check.
PRISCILLA is Tommy’s co-star. As a beauty influencer and an accomplice to Tommy’s notorious antics, she’s always known that the two of them could be the Internet’s power couple—if only he would confess to his girlfriend what really goes on during their ‘rehearsals’.
And NEVAEH is the good girl, the pastor’s daughter who’d never dream of dating a boy who’s already taken.
My Favorite Line
The saint. The sinner. The girlfriend. Each of them had a reason to want him dead. Don’t believe the lies in their interviews.
This story was very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. I couldn’t wait to find out who killed Tommy, the serial cheater, the jerk! So many suspects and I couldn’t guess who was the killer until the very end. Elizabeth Agyemang did such amazing job capturing the personalities of each character and making you either love them or hate them, but showing them vulnerable underneath. I loved Nevaveh’s character the most. She was labeled as the “Good Girl” and she was just trying to be a teenager under the umbrella of being the Pastors daughter. So everyone expected her to be little miss perfect. But that too much pressure. I love how the author developed her character to show the negative side to social media and the harm it can cause in one’s life. I feel like this story is for ages 13 and up and many lessons will be learned from reading it, but in a reachable for teens.
Thank you @tbrbeyondtours & @toldyaso.narratives for the ARC copy of the book please follow the book tour below
https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/
November 26, 2024
4.25 ⭐️
Heart-Shaped Lies is a gripping thriller romance that delves into the chaos of young love and the destructive grip it can have on our very souls. The story follows Nevaeh, Priscilla, and Kiara—three young women who all find themselves entangled with the manipulative Tommy Harding. Tommy, with his obsessive need for control, uses each of them as stepping stones for his own gain. When Tommy ends up dead, the three girls become prime suspects, and a mysterious hacker starts wreaking havoc on their lives.
I spent the latter half of this book constantly switching my guesses about who killed Tommy, and the second first eagerly (and somewhat gleefully) waiting for his inevitable demise. Tommy’s toxic presence brought out the worst in every character, making some scenes difficult to stomach while keeping me hooked nonetheless.
One of the highlights of the book is its nuanced commentary on social media stardom. It does a great job exploring how proximity to fame affects the development of each character, adding a layer of depth to an already intense story. The pacing, character dynamics, and unexpected twists made this a solid and enjoyable read.
Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CAWPILE Rating
Characters: 8 – Complex and flawed, each character felt realistic, even when frustrating.
Atmosphere: 8 – The tension and chaos were palpable, drawing readers into the drama.
Writing Style: 7.5 – Engaging and sharp, though some moments felt overly dramatic.
Plot: 7.5 – Twisty and unpredictable, keeping me guessing the entire time.
Intrigue: 8 – I couldn’t stop turning the pages to uncover the truth.
Logic: 7 – Some choices by the characters were frustrating but believable in the context of their age and emotions.
Enjoyment: 8 – A solid thriller that balanced suspense with emotional depth.
Heart-Shaped Lies is a gripping thriller romance that delves into the chaos of young love and the destructive grip it can have on our very souls. The story follows Nevaeh, Priscilla, and Kiara—three young women who all find themselves entangled with the manipulative Tommy Harding. Tommy, with his obsessive need for control, uses each of them as stepping stones for his own gain. When Tommy ends up dead, the three girls become prime suspects, and a mysterious hacker starts wreaking havoc on their lives.
I spent the latter half of this book constantly switching my guesses about who killed Tommy, and the second first eagerly (and somewhat gleefully) waiting for his inevitable demise. Tommy’s toxic presence brought out the worst in every character, making some scenes difficult to stomach while keeping me hooked nonetheless.
One of the highlights of the book is its nuanced commentary on social media stardom. It does a great job exploring how proximity to fame affects the development of each character, adding a layer of depth to an already intense story. The pacing, character dynamics, and unexpected twists made this a solid and enjoyable read.
Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CAWPILE Rating
Characters: 8 – Complex and flawed, each character felt realistic, even when frustrating.
Atmosphere: 8 – The tension and chaos were palpable, drawing readers into the drama.
Writing Style: 7.5 – Engaging and sharp, though some moments felt overly dramatic.
Plot: 7.5 – Twisty and unpredictable, keeping me guessing the entire time.
Intrigue: 8 – I couldn’t stop turning the pages to uncover the truth.
Logic: 7 – Some choices by the characters were frustrating but believable in the context of their age and emotions.
Enjoyment: 8 – A solid thriller that balanced suspense with emotional depth.
April 11, 2024
4⭐️
Publisher: Random House Children's
Publication Date: Nov 26, 2024
Tommy was not a nice guy. He was borderline abusive to his girlfriend and those around him. He was stringing other girls along. He was a much loved internet sensation. He is dead.
My Thoughts
I know a lot of people dislike chapters in books written as social media posts, but I'm here for it!!! I think it's a fun new writing style and get enjoyment out of it. That being said, you can absolutely skip the into social post page and still get the whole story. Just start at chapter One Kiara.
This book is not for the short chapter lovers, but...... if you don't mind long chapters that engage you with different characters' mindsets, then dive right in. That's exactly what I did.
I LOVED this read. I was engrossed from the very first page. YA is not my normal read, yet I found myself hurtling back in time to when I was a teen. The author has done a magnificent of capturing the raw emotions of teenagers. The impulsiveness and naivety. Thinking they are making smart choices when really that don't have the ability to see they are walking straight into harms way.
The book is perfect for anyone over 13. Teens will completely relate, and adults will remember. It is all so well written.
Kiara was my favorite character. She represents us all. Trapped without being able to see the way out of a bad relationship. Worried about the repercussions of just walking away. How easily her whole life ended up revolving around a guy who was nothing but wrong.
I related the most to Neveah. Totally innocent and clueless. Walking around in a world she knew nothing about and unable to navigate. A sheltered church girl who thought she had found Mr. RIGHT. I think we all find ourselves ourselves in deep water sometimes. It is how we swim through it that counts. She swims with courage while trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be.
Priscilla is THAT girl. The one we all love to hate. Self-serving and self-centered. The one you don't trust with your boyfriend. The last person you trust or expect to come through. At times, she surprised me.
Just read the book. I can't recommend it enough.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the free ACR for review. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Publisher: Random House Children's
Publication Date: Nov 26, 2024
Tommy was not a nice guy. He was borderline abusive to his girlfriend and those around him. He was stringing other girls along. He was a much loved internet sensation. He is dead.
My Thoughts
I know a lot of people dislike chapters in books written as social media posts, but I'm here for it!!! I think it's a fun new writing style and get enjoyment out of it. That being said, you can absolutely skip the into social post page and still get the whole story. Just start at chapter One Kiara.
This book is not for the short chapter lovers, but...... if you don't mind long chapters that engage you with different characters' mindsets, then dive right in. That's exactly what I did.
I LOVED this read. I was engrossed from the very first page. YA is not my normal read, yet I found myself hurtling back in time to when I was a teen. The author has done a magnificent of capturing the raw emotions of teenagers. The impulsiveness and naivety. Thinking they are making smart choices when really that don't have the ability to see they are walking straight into harms way.
The book is perfect for anyone over 13. Teens will completely relate, and adults will remember. It is all so well written.
Kiara was my favorite character. She represents us all. Trapped without being able to see the way out of a bad relationship. Worried about the repercussions of just walking away. How easily her whole life ended up revolving around a guy who was nothing but wrong.
I related the most to Neveah. Totally innocent and clueless. Walking around in a world she knew nothing about and unable to navigate. A sheltered church girl who thought she had found Mr. RIGHT. I think we all find ourselves ourselves in deep water sometimes. It is how we swim through it that counts. She swims with courage while trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be.
Priscilla is THAT girl. The one we all love to hate. Self-serving and self-centered. The one you don't trust with your boyfriend. The last person you trust or expect to come through. At times, she surprised me.
Just read the book. I can't recommend it enough.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the free ACR for review. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 29, 2024
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
We love a good revenge arc, but Heart-Shaped Lies isn't only about revenge. It's a story about taking our own voice, our own narrative, our own power back. For Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh their stories are stolen away from them. With the emotional manipulation of Tommy and the power of social media, they can't trust anyone. And no one really knows the truth about them. Is Kiara really a heart-broken girlfriend? And was Priscilla only Tommy's co-star? Is Neveah really as innocent as she says? Agyemany delivers a story where we aren't sure who we can trust.
We love a good revenge arc, but Heart-Shaped Lies isn't only about revenge. It's a story about taking our own voice, our own narrative, our own power back. For Kiara, Priscilla, and Nevaeh their stories are stolen away from them. With the emotional manipulation of Tommy and the power of social media, they can't trust anyone. And no one really knows the truth about them. Is Kiara really a heart-broken girlfriend? And was Priscilla only Tommy's co-star? Is Neveah really as innocent as she says? Agyemany delivers a story where we aren't sure who we can trust.
November 21, 2024
This was a fun and thrilling read! I totally got the “John Tucker Must Die” vibe (I love that movie). The author has done a magnificent job of capturing the raw emotions of teenagers. The impulsiveness and naivety. Thinking they are making smart choices when in reality it couldn’t be further from the truth. This is a YA book, I feel it would be appropriate for ages 12/13 and up. Teens will completely relate, and adults will remember *sigh*. It is very well written, I was turning pages and making so many assumptions! The chapters are long, but it didn’t bother me.
November 16, 2024
Okay so I hated everyone at one point or another but it ended pretty well. The guy just DID NOT die soon enough sorry not sorry. I read because I love the narrator Soneela Nankani, and she was as great as expected.
I received an ALC from PRH Audio. All opinions are honest and my own.
I received an ALC from PRH Audio. All opinions are honest and my own.
July 13, 2025
#️⃣3️⃣3️⃣9️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 🏩🌷🦩
Date :💮 Saturday, July 12, 2025 🌸🌸
Word Count📃: 96k Words 🧼💒
🦑 ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 🍧
⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ ♡ My 23th read in "Why is Kesha's latest album so good" 🩷 July
3️⃣🌟, what in the Freida McFadden twist ending was that 😭😭😭😭 bumping you from five stars to three stars.
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
So this book is just about the three (or even more like that dipshit has) GARLFRIENDS of the most assholest asshole in the entire world of assholes 🥰 TOMMY
Tommy is THE DEFINITION of a fuckboy loser, because... Yeah i think that's what his a character is actually supposed to be. He's so ass that you're actually proud that he fucking dies 🫶🫶🫶✨ ✨ 🙏 🖕. He has three (or even more) relationships all happening at the same time with different girls cuz he just cant commit and cant be content just with one damn person.
Idk about you but if you really ROOT for a character to die, that means that the author wrote the character really well. Tommy is such a hate character that even no matter what background you're on, you will eventually hate Tommy. Tommy is meant to be hated and is executed pretty perfectly. It highly encapsulates the shittyness of the types of men (if you can even call him that). All the three other characters as well which are the girlfriends of Tommy are such unique and have their own story and personality to show all throughout the story. Everytime the character pov changes its like you're actually seeing a whole new perspective of the world through the lens of each of the characters. The plot is so well written and the INTENSITY AND THE DRAMA AND THE TENSION AND JUST THE CRAZINESS OF THE EVENTS are just what made this book shine the most.
It could have been the absolute perfect book. Up until whatever the hell that plot twist was coming.
Gurlllll what in the Freida McFadden was that 🙄🙄🙄. It really tries to stretch the entire thing so that you'll be very shocked about the nonsensical and obscure plot twist that leaves many plot holes.
(Can you already predict the oh so very "shocking plot twist?") yep, that's the twist 😒😒😒
Date :💮 Saturday, July 12, 2025 🌸🌸
Word Count📃: 96k Words 🧼💒
🦑 ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 🍧
⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝ ♡ My 23th read in "Why is Kesha's latest album so good" 🩷 July
3️⃣🌟, what in the Freida McFadden twist ending was that 😭😭😭😭 bumping you from five stars to three stars.
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
So this book is just about the three (or even more like that dipshit has) GARLFRIENDS of the most assholest asshole in the entire world of assholes 🥰 TOMMY
Tommy is THE DEFINITION of a fuckboy loser, because... Yeah i think that's what his a character is actually supposed to be. He's so ass that you're actually proud that he fucking dies 🫶🫶🫶✨ ✨ 🙏 🖕. He has three (or even more) relationships all happening at the same time with different girls cuz he just cant commit and cant be content just with one damn person.
Idk about you but if you really ROOT for a character to die, that means that the author wrote the character really well. Tommy is such a hate character that even no matter what background you're on, you will eventually hate Tommy. Tommy is meant to be hated and is executed pretty perfectly. It highly encapsulates the shittyness of the types of men (if you can even call him that). All the three other characters as well which are the girlfriends of Tommy are such unique and have their own story and personality to show all throughout the story. Everytime the character pov changes its like you're actually seeing a whole new perspective of the world through the lens of each of the characters. The plot is so well written and the INTENSITY AND THE DRAMA AND THE TENSION AND JUST THE CRAZINESS OF THE EVENTS are just what made this book shine the most.
It could have been the absolute perfect book. Up until whatever the hell that plot twist was coming.
Gurlllll what in the Freida McFadden was that 🙄🙄🙄. It really tries to stretch the entire thing so that you'll be very shocked about the nonsensical and obscure plot twist that leaves many plot holes.
"Who Killed Tommy?, choose between the following characters:"
(Can you already predict the oh so very "shocking plot twist?") yep, that's the twist 😒😒😒
June 4, 2025
i know they say not to speak ill of the dead but tommy DESERVED what happened to him (don’t yell at me!).
to be honest, literally every person in this book sucks. literally everyone. our three main characters: one was getting with someone she KNEW was in a relationship and somehow painted herself as a martyr??? One was naive and had a long distance relationship with the dude and honestly had me screaming with how gullible she is. And let’s not even bring up the girlfriend, who BEFRIENDS THE GIRL WHO GOT WITH HER MAN???
And that’s just the stuff i can say in a spoiler free review. Read this if you like teenage drama and angst.
to be honest, literally every person in this book sucks. literally everyone. our three main characters: one was getting with someone she KNEW was in a relationship and somehow painted herself as a martyr??? One was naive and had a long distance relationship with the dude and honestly had me screaming with how gullible she is. And let’s not even bring up the girlfriend, who BEFRIENDS THE GIRL WHO GOT WITH HER MAN???
And that’s just the stuff i can say in a spoiler free review. Read this if you like teenage drama and angst.
February 15, 2025
1.5
This was another of my random library picks that I regret. It was just so petty and silly.
I didn’t like anyone on this book at all. Listen, I judge people by the company they keep. And the author did such a good job of building up the character Tommy as a total asshole that I simply couldn’t abide all these people who coddled him. I think the notion was supposed to be they didn’t quite realize he was an asshole or something, but over the course of the novel we the reader are discovering all this stupid and horrible stuff he did to people for the views “as a prankster”. He’s clearly a really shitty person, and they all excused his behaviour. So I had no sympathy for any of them.
Also, I was so irritated by this “prankster” business. I keep using quotes because multiple things he did were not pranks. Like, the notion of getting the senior class into the amusement park after dark as “the ultimate prank”. How is that a prank? That isn’t what pranks are.
I was also confused about how famous this guy was. It was described that he’s a teenager with 3 million followers, but then it seems like he’s a national celebrity. They’re not even in their hometown, and multiple strangers in the airport are recognizing his girlfriend? The reporter, who has a job AS A REPORTER, is trying to ride on Tommy’s fame? What? Idk. I follow some YouTubers who have around that many followers, and they mention being shocked any time they’re recognized in the wild.
I dunno, I’m sure I would be more forgiving of this stuff if all the characters weren’t so irritating. But here we are. Definitely a “do not recommend” from me.
This was another of my random library picks that I regret. It was just so petty and silly.
I didn’t like anyone on this book at all. Listen, I judge people by the company they keep. And the author did such a good job of building up the character Tommy as a total asshole that I simply couldn’t abide all these people who coddled him. I think the notion was supposed to be they didn’t quite realize he was an asshole or something, but over the course of the novel we the reader are discovering all this stupid and horrible stuff he did to people for the views “as a prankster”. He’s clearly a really shitty person, and they all excused his behaviour. So I had no sympathy for any of them.
Also, I was so irritated by this “prankster” business. I keep using quotes because multiple things he did were not pranks. Like, the notion of getting the senior class into the amusement park after dark as “the ultimate prank”. How is that a prank? That isn’t what pranks are.
I was also confused about how famous this guy was. It was described that he’s a teenager with 3 million followers, but then it seems like he’s a national celebrity. They’re not even in their hometown, and multiple strangers in the airport are recognizing his girlfriend? The reporter, who has a job AS A REPORTER, is trying to ride on Tommy’s fame? What? Idk. I follow some YouTubers who have around that many followers, and they mention being shocked any time they’re recognized in the wild.
I dunno, I’m sure I would be more forgiving of this stuff if all the characters weren’t so irritating. But here we are. Definitely a “do not recommend” from me.
September 30, 2024
Thomas Harding has earned my #1 spot for most hated MMC
June 3, 2025
"'...this time, it's not about him. not anymore'"
— three stars.
would i recommend this book? maybe? yes? no?
trigger warnings: violence, murder, slut shaming, death threats, harassment, etc.
chat... i don't know how i felt about this.
in theory, this should have been a good book. agyemang is a great writer and there were many instances where that great writing was really allowed to shine in this book. the plot was interesting enough: a social media star dies after it's revealed he's cheating on his girlfriend with not one but two girls? hooked. absolutely. the characters were also pretty cool in the sense that, a. it was a very diverse cast, which is rare in the mystery and thriller genre, and b. they were all flawed characters, which made it easier to both relate to and root for them. (and tommy deserved to die for what he put those girls through #noteanoshade.)
but still, with all of that, it kind of missed the mark for me, and i'm still having trouble putting my finger on what exactly didn't really hit. i think one of my biggest issues with the book was the pacing. getting to the actual murder dragged, and the investigation scenes all felt as though they were spinning in circles with no real payoff. i also personally didn't like the murderer reveal, but as to hide people from spoilers i won't mention my issue with it so that people can read and decide for themselves.
i think i'll settle on a solid middle ground rating, because i appreciate what the book was trying to do, and there were aspects i liked along with the aspects i didn't, but for the most part, it kind of fell a little flat for me. i do think i would read another book from agyemang again, though. definitely a writer i want to watch out for, even if this book wasn't really my cup of tea.
— three stars.
would i recommend this book? maybe? yes? no?
trigger warnings: violence, murder, slut shaming, death threats, harassment, etc.
chat... i don't know how i felt about this.
in theory, this should have been a good book. agyemang is a great writer and there were many instances where that great writing was really allowed to shine in this book. the plot was interesting enough: a social media star dies after it's revealed he's cheating on his girlfriend with not one but two girls? hooked. absolutely. the characters were also pretty cool in the sense that, a. it was a very diverse cast, which is rare in the mystery and thriller genre, and b. they were all flawed characters, which made it easier to both relate to and root for them. (and tommy deserved to die for what he put those girls through #noteanoshade.)
but still, with all of that, it kind of missed the mark for me, and i'm still having trouble putting my finger on what exactly didn't really hit. i think one of my biggest issues with the book was the pacing. getting to the actual murder dragged, and the investigation scenes all felt as though they were spinning in circles with no real payoff. i also personally didn't like the murderer reveal, but as to hide people from spoilers i won't mention my issue with it so that people can read and decide for themselves.
i think i'll settle on a solid middle ground rating, because i appreciate what the book was trying to do, and there were aspects i liked along with the aspects i didn't, but for the most part, it kind of fell a little flat for me. i do think i would read another book from agyemang again, though. definitely a writer i want to watch out for, even if this book wasn't really my cup of tea.
July 14, 2025
Heart-Shaped Lies has what must count amongst the most unlikeable characters ever. Top of the list is Tommy Harding, the prankster who’s building up his social media following and who winds up dead (albeit not soon enough for my liking).
Tommy is obsessed with his followers and everything in his life - even his girlfriend - is seen in terms of how it will be regarded by others. He is behind the plan to carry off a senior prank like no other, by arranging for his class to spend the night in a theme park. What he didn’t account for is that at the same time he plans this prank, his life implodes.
Tommy has always been linked to Keira, the girlfriend. His co-host - and girl on the side - is Priscilla, another influencer desperate for followers. There’s also Neveah, the churchgoer who’s been in contact on line with Tommy and who’s desperate to meet him in person.
Ignoring the seriously unlikeable main character, the others around him are sycophants who could have walked away at any point. I don’t understand why nobody called him out.
When his body is discovered it becomes a race against time to work out who actually killed him. There’s the obligatory ‘twist’ but I felt all of them would have been justified in playing a part. By the time we get our answers I really wasn’t fussed. I’m sure many teen readers will lap this up, but I just could not see the point.
Tommy is obsessed with his followers and everything in his life - even his girlfriend - is seen in terms of how it will be regarded by others. He is behind the plan to carry off a senior prank like no other, by arranging for his class to spend the night in a theme park. What he didn’t account for is that at the same time he plans this prank, his life implodes.
Tommy has always been linked to Keira, the girlfriend. His co-host - and girl on the side - is Priscilla, another influencer desperate for followers. There’s also Neveah, the churchgoer who’s been in contact on line with Tommy and who’s desperate to meet him in person.
Ignoring the seriously unlikeable main character, the others around him are sycophants who could have walked away at any point. I don’t understand why nobody called him out.
When his body is discovered it becomes a race against time to work out who actually killed him. There’s the obligatory ‘twist’ but I felt all of them would have been justified in playing a part. By the time we get our answers I really wasn’t fussed. I’m sure many teen readers will lap this up, but I just could not see the point.
September 13, 2024
The description of Heart-Shaped Lies really intrigued me, and I hoped that this would be a great addition to the murder mystery genre. Unfortunately, I felt that the characters in the novel weren't developed enough for me to even care about what was happening to them. It took way too long for Tommy to meet his fate and took way too long for the girls to realize that Tommy was a prick.
I'm not really sure what some of the scenes had to do with the actual story line; it just all felt too heavy and cumbersome to finish, but I eventually did finish. Readers won't stay engaged enough to see this one to the end. **sigh**
I'm not really sure what some of the scenes had to do with the actual story line; it just all felt too heavy and cumbersome to finish, but I eventually did finish. Readers won't stay engaged enough to see this one to the end. **sigh**
May 2, 2025
I was not the intended audience for this book. The social media nonsense was too over the top. The boyfriend was an abusive cheater. He should have died a lot sooner!
The killer is Chelsea, she works at the theme park and is a super fan who runs Tommy’s fan club. Chelsea gets Tommy’s burner phone and leaves him to die when he falls off the scaffolding. She then points the finger at Tommy’s girlfriends because they lie about Tommy and his true character. Chelsea ends up falling off the same scaffolding but lives.
The killer is Chelsea, she works at the theme park and is a super fan who runs Tommy’s fan club. Chelsea gets Tommy’s burner phone and leaves him to die when he falls off the scaffolding. She then points the finger at Tommy’s girlfriends because they lie about Tommy and his true character. Chelsea ends up falling off the same scaffolding but lives.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2025
described as a modern day John Tucker Must Die, but they actually murder him.... yikes
it is a mystery and kind of gives hints as to whodunnit but makes you second guess yourself, so bravo.
the social media components, while sad, touch on modern day issues people face
it is a mystery and kind of gives hints as to whodunnit but makes you second guess yourself, so bravo.
the social media components, while sad, touch on modern day issues people face
July 8, 2025
This book was good but I didn't like how they introduced the murderer halfway through the book. 3 stars
February 2, 2025
i hate a murder mystery where they spend the whole book trying to cover up things that might make them look bad except that by covering it up they just make themselves look worse and you just want to tell them to stop doing anything bc as long as you didn’t actually commit the crime you probably won’t go to jail for it as a privileged teenager with no history of violence
June 28, 2025
Uggghhhh. Could not finish...the Tommy character is so rotten, and no one can see this until now? Are they all blind? No, they are all smart and successful teen influencers! This book feels like it was written by a high school sophomore daydreaming in study hall. I hope they all die in this book.
March 22, 2025
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Random House Children's Books and Delacorte Press.
Described as John Tucker Must Die meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder I figured Heart-Shaped Lies was something right in my wheelhouse. Unfortunately, not. Every character is extremely unlikeable, especially Tommy. I would have to suspend disbelief to allow myself to believe that any girl would like him, better yet three different ones. He is a prime example of a walking red flag and has no redeeming qualities. I didn't even care who murdered him for this reason. But as someone who does not understand how to DNF (its probably my biggest fault), I pushed through to the end even though the book struggled to keep my attention.
The pacing was incredibly off in my opinion. Tommy took way too long to die! How are you going to have a whodunit and the murder doesn't happen until almost 50% into the book??? Nothing happens for sooooooooooooooooo long.
Like I brought up earlier, Tommy is a Grade A asshole. Most of his "pranks" if you can even call them that, were not pranks. It was just him abusing his friends, girlfriend, strangers etc. And none of them were funny so I found it hard to grasp him being an influencer and anyone caring to follow him. How he continuously managed to have supportive "friends" and fans, I will never understand.
I could maybe see teenagers who are embedded in influencer culture enjoying this YA thriller, but it was a miss for me.
Described as John Tucker Must Die meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder I figured Heart-Shaped Lies was something right in my wheelhouse. Unfortunately, not. Every character is extremely unlikeable, especially Tommy. I would have to suspend disbelief to allow myself to believe that any girl would like him, better yet three different ones. He is a prime example of a walking red flag and has no redeeming qualities. I didn't even care who murdered him for this reason. But as someone who does not understand how to DNF (its probably my biggest fault), I pushed through to the end even though the book struggled to keep my attention.
The pacing was incredibly off in my opinion. Tommy took way too long to die! How are you going to have a whodunit and the murder doesn't happen until almost 50% into the book??? Nothing happens for sooooooooooooooooo long.
Like I brought up earlier, Tommy is a Grade A asshole. Most of his "pranks" if you can even call them that, were not pranks. It was just him abusing his friends, girlfriend, strangers etc. And none of them were funny so I found it hard to grasp him being an influencer and anyone caring to follow him. How he continuously managed to have supportive "friends" and fans, I will never understand.
I could maybe see teenagers who are embedded in influencer culture enjoying this YA thriller, but it was a miss for me.
November 25, 2024
A twisty YA murder mystery in the vein of John Tucker must die (which I gotta say was a fav movie from the 2000s!). While I applaud the clever plot, a toxic social media prankster dies after dating multiple girls and treating them all badly. The girls team up in the aftermath to try to protect themselves from suspicion while also ending up blackmailed to confess to his murder. A bit convoluted and dramatic, this was good on audio narrated by Soneela Nankani and perfect for fans of the Good girl's guide to murder series by Holly Jackson. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
January 12, 2025
*2.5
messy and fun!
messy and fun!
February 26, 2025
the real villains are Tommy and neveah
March 5, 2025
I really liked it. I did guess one of murders and it was okay thought out but I wish we got more Jason
July 2, 2025
i wish i could unread this
July 20, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for a chance to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
Phew this one was a tough read, it says young adult but honestly might even be younger than that. No likeable character, I found all to be naive or annoying to read about. I can’t say I cared about what happened to ANY of them.
The writing style was not for me, I found myself bored and yet the story continued with what I found excessive details.
Chester’s trope for this one, which I’m also not the biggest fan of. Overall honestly wouldn’t recommend and happy to have it off my NetGalley list.
Phew this one was a tough read, it says young adult but honestly might even be younger than that. No likeable character, I found all to be naive or annoying to read about. I can’t say I cared about what happened to ANY of them.
The writing style was not for me, I found myself bored and yet the story continued with what I found excessive details.
Chester’s trope for this one, which I’m also not the biggest fan of. Overall honestly wouldn’t recommend and happy to have it off my NetGalley list.
dnf
June 11, 2024DNF @ 14%
*Sigh* in all my years as a bookstagrammer, you have to do something really out there to get me to DNF your book
The premise was interesting but I’m sorry, the girl-on-girl hate is really getting to me.
We have 3 girl stereotypes: the A+ student who is really uptight, the superstar fashionista/beauty influencer and (didn’t read long enough to have met her) the goody-two shoes church girl who is being *corrupted*. Like no, that’s feeding into purity culture and sets a bad precedent for your girls who are discovering teen love for the first time. stop with this bullshit. at the end of the day, there is no *corruption* for things like dating despite being a church-goer, the only true corruption is if you k!ll someone or commit any other awful crime. exploring dating is a normal part of life, girls shouldn’t be shamed for it.
In the middle of that triangle, we have a man-child (he’s a teen but like still) named Tommy who is emotionally abusive and manipulative, he is a world famous prank star. Reader, I hated him the moment he appeared on page. I usually despise the pranksters on tiktok (it was very much giving tiktok prankster from like early-day tiktok) because their pranks are never funny and usually someone ends up getting hurt, sued, or worse, killed. Need I say more?
There is clearly some girl-on-girl hate and this story would not help any teen that reads it with navigating girl friendships and their social circle (i do hope that the teens that read this take this book and its content with a grain of salt. alas, media literacy is not some teens’ strongest suit)
this has none of the charm of it’s comp title a good girl’s guide to murder and is a poor attempt at a modern version of pretty little liars.
A prime example, however, of how putting your whole, entire life on social media can ruin not only your life but also the lives of those around you. Please be careful on social media and the internet in general, friends, I beg you.
Tommy is not only emotionally abusive towards Kiara, his actual girlfriend but also manipulative and does not give two shits about her. If I was her, I’d go to the fans with my own account and tell them everything. No way in hell is someone gonna be an asshole to me and I’ll let them get away with it, reputation be damned. Additionally, Tommy is a CHEATER! If there’s anything I hate more than tropes such as the pregnancy trope or miscommunication, it’s cheating! OH! And the girl he’s cheating on Kiara with? She knows. and she’s hoping that this POS will keep his promise and will break up with Kiara and will get with her instead because he loves her. Girly pop, wake the fuck up please, for the love of gods. Oh AND, Alex, Tommy’s best friend (I’m guessing) and videographer for both Priscilla’s and Tommy’s social accounts, knows that Tommy is cheating on Kiara. He is just as compliant.
I do want to say that this book doesn’t have to teach anyone anything, it could be read as a fun (or shitty!) YA mystery/thriller but I think that certain aspects of the book, we could have gone without. I was not comfortable at all with reading the abuse that Tommy inflicts upon Kiara and also with the cheating aspect, especially with a third person in the know. Even if Alex and Kiara aren’t best of friends (well, they aren’t bffs but they interact often), I can’t believe that Alex would let Tommy get away with it.
Alright, rant over, more or less - if anyone has read and finished the book, please tell me who the culprit is and now I’m wondering if it’s Alex lol
Mila
*Sigh* in all my years as a bookstagrammer, you have to do something really out there to get me to DNF your book
The premise was interesting but I’m sorry, the girl-on-girl hate is really getting to me.
We have 3 girl stereotypes: the A+ student who is really uptight, the superstar fashionista/beauty influencer and (didn’t read long enough to have met her) the goody-two shoes church girl who is being *corrupted*. Like no, that’s feeding into purity culture and sets a bad precedent for your girls who are discovering teen love for the first time. stop with this bullshit. at the end of the day, there is no *corruption* for things like dating despite being a church-goer, the only true corruption is if you k!ll someone or commit any other awful crime. exploring dating is a normal part of life, girls shouldn’t be shamed for it.
In the middle of that triangle, we have a man-child (he’s a teen but like still) named Tommy who is emotionally abusive and manipulative, he is a world famous prank star. Reader, I hated him the moment he appeared on page. I usually despise the pranksters on tiktok (it was very much giving tiktok prankster from like early-day tiktok) because their pranks are never funny and usually someone ends up getting hurt, sued, or worse, killed. Need I say more?
There is clearly some girl-on-girl hate and this story would not help any teen that reads it with navigating girl friendships and their social circle (i do hope that the teens that read this take this book and its content with a grain of salt. alas, media literacy is not some teens’ strongest suit)
this has none of the charm of it’s comp title a good girl’s guide to murder and is a poor attempt at a modern version of pretty little liars.
A prime example, however, of how putting your whole, entire life on social media can ruin not only your life but also the lives of those around you. Please be careful on social media and the internet in general, friends, I beg you.
Tommy is not only emotionally abusive towards Kiara, his actual girlfriend but also manipulative and does not give two shits about her. If I was her, I’d go to the fans with my own account and tell them everything. No way in hell is someone gonna be an asshole to me and I’ll let them get away with it, reputation be damned. Additionally, Tommy is a CHEATER! If there’s anything I hate more than tropes such as the pregnancy trope or miscommunication, it’s cheating! OH! And the girl he’s cheating on Kiara with? She knows. and she’s hoping that this POS will keep his promise and will break up with Kiara and will get with her instead because he loves her. Girly pop, wake the fuck up please, for the love of gods. Oh AND, Alex, Tommy’s best friend (I’m guessing) and videographer for both Priscilla’s and Tommy’s social accounts, knows that Tommy is cheating on Kiara. He is just as compliant.
I do want to say that this book doesn’t have to teach anyone anything, it could be read as a fun (or shitty!) YA mystery/thriller but I think that certain aspects of the book, we could have gone without. I was not comfortable at all with reading the abuse that Tommy inflicts upon Kiara and also with the cheating aspect, especially with a third person in the know. Even if Alex and Kiara aren’t best of friends (well, they aren’t bffs but they interact often), I can’t believe that Alex would let Tommy get away with it.
Alright, rant over, more or less - if anyone has read and finished the book, please tell me who the culprit is and now I’m wondering if it’s Alex lol
Mila
September 22, 2024
Heart-Shaped Lies follows three girls with nothing in common except for the fact that they’re all dating the same guy. Tommy is an internet heartthrob and popular prank creator. Kiara is the official girlfriend who keeps his image in check and is starting to get fed up with his antics. Priscilla is a beauty influencer and Tommy’s co-star, but she wants to be more. She knows if they get together officially—which he keeps saying he’ll do—they can be an internet power couple. Nevaeh is a pastor’s daughter and a good girl who is dating Tommy online while not knowing who he truly is. When their lives all collide at Sunny World, more than just hearts and reputations are broken. Tommy winds up dead and the pointing fingers all go to three women scorned who claim they had nothing to do with his death.
I personally loved the concept of this book. It’s unique and layered with drama and intrigue, but unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of the execution. The plot is interesting, but I felt the build up to Tommy’s death was too long. Once his death happens, though, the plot picks up and I enjoyed the ending. I personally didn’t see the twist coming and I thought it was well done.
I wasn’t overly fond of any of the characters, but of the three POVs, I liked Kiara the best. Priscilla I found to be a bit annoying and her obsession with Tommy was tiring. I felt bad for Nevaeh because she really had no idea who Tommy was and her storyline is so sad. Whereas I enjoyed that Kiara was starting to pull away from Tommy and realize how toxic and truly awful he was. Once all of the girls are disillusioned about Tommy, I found them all more bearable.
I think there’s a lot of valuable lessons for teenagers in this novel, but especially girls. Some of the topics discussed are very real and prevalent and teens should hopefully get some life lessons out of it. Especially Nevaeh’s storyline with online dating and sending pictures of yourself to people.
Overall, while this wasn’t for me, I think there’s a lot others will enjoy and I think teens will really relate to the characters and love this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I personally loved the concept of this book. It’s unique and layered with drama and intrigue, but unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of the execution. The plot is interesting, but I felt the build up to Tommy’s death was too long. Once his death happens, though, the plot picks up and I enjoyed the ending. I personally didn’t see the twist coming and I thought it was well done.
I wasn’t overly fond of any of the characters, but of the three POVs, I liked Kiara the best. Priscilla I found to be a bit annoying and her obsession with Tommy was tiring. I felt bad for Nevaeh because she really had no idea who Tommy was and her storyline is so sad. Whereas I enjoyed that Kiara was starting to pull away from Tommy and realize how toxic and truly awful he was. Once all of the girls are disillusioned about Tommy, I found them all more bearable.
I think there’s a lot of valuable lessons for teenagers in this novel, but especially girls. Some of the topics discussed are very real and prevalent and teens should hopefully get some life lessons out of it. Especially Nevaeh’s storyline with online dating and sending pictures of yourself to people.
Overall, while this wasn’t for me, I think there’s a lot others will enjoy and I think teens will really relate to the characters and love this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2025
Unbelievable..so many times I just shook my head over the complex plot that read older than the characters. The characters were supposed to be high schoolers but ….. in one scene they acted their age and the next scene, they were adults it was mind boggling and in the end unbelievable. I really, really wanted to live this book but…..
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