The Girl Who Couldn't Lie

by Radhika Sanghani

A fresh, funny story about white lies, brutal honesty and a bangle with special powers, from award-winning journalist and author Radhika Sanghani.


Priya Shah lies. A lot. She pretends everything in her life is perfect, so she doesn't disappoint anyone.


But when she puts on a bangle left to her by her Ba - the one person she was always honest with - she finds herself unable to tell a lie.


Priya is mortified. She tells her dad she hates his cooking, she tells Dan Zhang about her huge crush on him, she shares her best friends' secrets at school. She can't get the bangle off, and she can't stop the truths pouring out of her.


As more things go wrong, and Priya's truth-telling spirals out of control, can Priya learn to be honest without hurting the people she loves?

Genres: Middle Grade, Family, School, Magic, Grief, Romance, Humor

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 2024

About the author

I'm an author, journalist and screenwriter. My latest novel THIRTY THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MYSELF is coming out in January in the UK and US. I've also written two YA novels VIRGIN and NOT THAT EASY.
I'm a freelance journalist for publications like the Telegraph, Daily Mail, Grazia and Glamour. I'm also a body positive campaigner and founded the #sideprofileselfie movement. In my spare time, I also teach yoga and created a volunteer initiative to paint elderly ladies' nails for Age UK.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an AD/PR copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Kaleidoscopic book tours.

The Girl Who Couldn't Lie is a funny, sweet, and inclusive read about friendship, family, life-lessons, keeping up pretences, and a magical bangle.
Priya tells lies. Alot. But what's the harm when she does it to keep the peace, spare people's feelings, and make everyone think everything in her life is perfect? When she is given a broken bangle from her beloved Ba, Priya loves it, and its sentimental value is priceless to her. But after she wears it, she can not stop telling people the truth.
She blurts out that she hates her father's cooking, spills her best friends secrets (at school!), and tells her crush she fancies him, and that's just the beginning. When her truth telling begins to upset and hurt those around her and causes her friendships to start to unravel, Priya needs to learn how to use this magical truth telling to be honest without hurting others before it's too late.
This was such a humerous, relatable, and thought-provoking, inclusive read, and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. The characters are likeable and relatable, and I loved the neurodivergent and cultural representation included, which was sensitively handled for the ages the book is aimed at.

[Priya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book seemed interesting but there was too much negative stereotyping of Asians and Asian parents in particular.

The plot revolves around 12 yo Priya who is a champion gymnast prone to telling lies. Her lies are the kind that are meant to be helpful by never letting people know anything sad or bad. She doesn't let her dad know his cooking is horrible or let on that her parents constantly arguing is really hurting her. However she also takes on too much and doesn't open up to anyone and this leads to a lot of stress. Finding a magic bangle her grandmother gave her before she died forces her to tell the truth no matter what, and gets her into trouble when the truths she blurts hurt people and isolates her. Now she has to put things right.

My thoughts :
If you are going to show the parents as overly invested in their child's success you can't also show them as utterly clueless about what is going on in said child's life to the point of not even reading disciplinary emails from her coach! The child just says she's horribly sick with something contagious and the parents go on with their lives. That doesn't happen! Also, there is no logic in Priya thinking her parents want her to succeed and earn prize money so she can continue gymnastics because they're not financially well off and then they don't even know or care that she's constantly missing practice!

This is set in an unspecified Western country from all the details of the setting and the Asian kids constantly lament that Asians don't do this or that. Some of those things are very dated for 2024 and frankly don't even serve any purpose in the context of the story. The fact that the author is Asian makes this even more weird.

Apart from all this, the kids in the story speak and behave in ways that are unbelievable for their age which is supposed to be 12/13. Also, everything gets resolved in a very very simple and convenient way.

It could have been a good story about learning to be honest and stand up for yourself but there are too many issues with the telling. There were some positives like the cute friendships and the lesson on fixing mistakes and prioritising relationships but these were overshadowed by all the other problematic things.

[Sheereen Iqbal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book... was so good. I thought it was based on like 16-17 year old characters not 12-13😭😭 but either way it was such a good read! I felt so relatable with Priya just as I started reading and it made me realise in some parts of life telling the truth is pretty much necessary or someone or something else will do it for u😭. I felt so happy for Priya, telling Dan she likes him, opening up to her parents and her best friends, even standing up to her bully like even I wouldn't even be able to do that. I was annoyed that Priya had just messed up everything knowing she had Pinkie, like there was also me underestimating her too. I'm so happy she was able to get herself back on the team, get her bestfriends back and even be with Dan. This was so wholesome and I never expected the outcome. At some point, I felt like Katie being nice to Priya was just an act because she had no friends, hearing about her life made me think deeply about her life but atleast they are all friends and she apologised. This was so fun to read genuinely going to miss reading it❤️ Priya and Dan forever!💕

[rina dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story about family, friendship and the power of being honest. I absolutely loved The Girl Who Couldn't Lie by Radhika Sanghani!

Priya Shah lives at home with her mum, Dad, and younger sister Pinkie. Her parents should really get divorced as they are always arguing, but they don't as they don't want to ruin their reputation in the Indian community. Pinkie has Adhd and is always getting on Priya's nerves, but to the outside world, her life is perfect. Yes, Priya lies, little white ones, big ones she doesn't want to disappoint anyone so she tells people everything is fine. The one person she could be honest with isn't here anymore. Her Ba (grandmother) was the best, and Priya could tell her everything. Since she passed away, nobody talks about her anymore, and Priya misses her dreadfully.
When Priya is upset one evening, she is looking at the bangle her Ba left her. The one with the broken clasp. She puts it around her wrist, and it closes. It's stuck, and she can't get it off. Imagine her surprise the next morning where honesty is pouring from her. She's told her Dad his cooking his generally terrible, She tells the boy she fancies at school she secretly likes him, and she tells her best friends the truth about life at home. She can't stop being brutally honest, but when it all goes a little too far and she hurts her friends' feelings, can she find a way to have some kind of balance?

An inclusive and diverse story I loved how strong the friendships were in this novel. Sami and Mei truly have Priya's back and help her realise the importance of authenticity. It's funny and magical, and I loved the character development of Priya and her family. I highly recommend this book.

[Carli · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This is a quick read, presumably set in Canada or the UK. Twelve-year-old Priya is a competitive gymnast and an all-around good kid, with two solid best friends. However, things at home aren’t great since her Ba passed away; her parents are arguing nonstop, nobody will mention Ba, and money is tight. When Priya finds a bangle that her Ba left her, she vaguely remembers Ba telling her that it was once owned by an Indian princess. Shrugging that right off, she struggles to get it open and once it’s on, realizes she cannot lie. What follows is a sometimes disastrous, occasionally helpful period where Priya learns to stand up for herself, but also causes problems when she is TOO honest and blunt. Good for tweens feeling the same, but there are quite a few cultural stereotypes that could be portrayed differently. Recommended for grades 5-7. #mglit #librarian #librariansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a warm, funny, and thoughtful read about 12-year-old Priya, who suddenly loses the ability to lie after putting on a magical bangle from her late grandmother. Radhika Sanghani does a beautiful job capturing what it feels like to be a kid and trying to keep everything together. The story touches on big topics such as mental health, cultural identity, and honesty in a way that’s easy to relate to and full of heart. It’s perfect for young readers but also a meaningful read for adults! Thank you Usborne Publishing and Radhika Sanghani for sharing this book with me!

[Charlotte Nally · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was funny, witty and easy to understand and get into. I read most of the book in one go and thought the writing style was great. Overall this is a great book!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of a charmed bracelet making truth-telling mandatory and lying impossible for the main character may remind junior high readers’ parents of the older Jim Carey movie, Liar Liar, but in execution, there are few similarities.

Priya has always tried to please those around her, keep the peace and never rock anyone’s boat but the gift of a bejeweled bangle bracelet from her late grandmother, Ba, has her blurting out truths right and left and causing all sort of trouble. How is she going to fix the harm done to best friends Mei and Sami when she over-truth tells and spills some secrets to former bully/maybe new friend Katie? And what about telling her gymnastics coach that she is stressing out over the upcoming competition and its implications for making the Teen Olympics team? Did she really tell her parents that their constant fighting was keeping her from sleeping? How can she avoid her crush so she doesn’t tell him how she feels? Detention, embarrassing moments, hiding in the bathroom…It’s a nightmare and the stupid bracelet just won’t come off!

Priya and her friends and family are dealing with so many of the things that all families and eighth graders do and learning how to share your truth but in productive ways is a lesson needed by everyone. Author Rashida Sanghani gives 5th-8th grade readers totally relatable scenarios, a little romance, friend drama, and family angst that will keep them turning pages, learning some practical tips and wondering all the way until the final scene how everything will work out for Priya.

Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. THE GIRL WHO COULDN’T LIE is filled with diversity and done in a way that does not feel forced. Priya and her family are Indian, Mei and Katie are Chinese-American, Sami is Jewish, sister Pinkie has ADHD and her experience is incorporated neatly into the storyline, in a minor sub plot Mei determines she is a lesbian and finds a possible girlfriend in Priya’s gymnastics teammate Rachael, and families are various configurations including traditional 2 parent and divorced.

Thanks for the print arc, Lerner & Carolrhoda Books.

[Randi Vengelen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot take: this is a better version of "Liar, Liar". Although it lacks the antics of Jim Carrey in all his mid-90s glory, The Girl Who Couldn't Lie takes the concept and dives into the underlying reasons why lying can become such an easy thing to do. Priya's life appears perfect on the outside. She's a good student, she has great friends, she's got supportive parents, and she's on track to make the Teen Olympic Gymnastics team. However, as hard as she tries to pretend that everything is fine, she can't sleep at night because her parents are constantly arguing, and she keeps falling asleep in math, and she has been stressing about making sure her routines are perfect for regionals, and that means she almost never gets to see her friends. Things have just been so difficult since she lost her grandmother last year and Priya doesn't know how to tell anyone. When she ends up with her grandmother's bangle stuck on her wrist, she is unable to continue telling everyone that things are fine. In fact, she is unable to tell anyone anything except the cold hard truth.

This toed the line between humor and deep emotion so well, Radhika Sanghani handles topics of cultural and generational expectations in a way that readers from many backgrounds can find a connection to. She is able to weave themes of loneliness and isolation that occurs when children are expected to protect their family's secrets into the importance of knowing when a truth is or is not yours to share. There is a lot to love about Sanghani's novel. It's a text that would be a strong addition to a middle school curriculum. There are a lot of topics that can provide interesting discussion and writing prompts, several universal themes and character development. Students will also find Priya as well as the other characters and events deeply relatable.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent story about being honest with others and with yourself. The main character always lied about her feelings to make life easier for everyone else. A “magic” bangle bracelet her grandma gave her just before she died helped her to learn to be honest with people. In many ways it brought her closer to her friends and family, but in other ways her new-found honesty backfired and made things worse for her, especially with her friends. The big takeaway from the book is to realize that it’s okay to not be okay and that honesty can help improve your own mental health, especially by admitting that you’re not okay. Great life lesson, but an average plot to get there. This would be good for 10-13 year olds to read if that is a lesson they need to learn, especially high-achieving kids.

[Tasneem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an entertaining book with so many twists and turns! It was great!

[Grockle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this - read with my 8 year old who also loved it. Great book, about being truthful to yourself.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Priya Shah has a lot going on in her life, but she has to make sure that she doesn't let anyone know that there are a lot of things that are unpleasant, because her parents think that "not airing one's dirty laundry in public" is very important. Her parents fight so much that Priya doesn't get much sleep at night, so is often tired for gymnastic practice in the morning, and has even fallen asleep in Mrs. Lufthausen's math class! Her best friends Mei and Sami help her out when they can. When things get bad, Priya thinks about the one person who helped her, her recently deceased grandmother, Ba. Ba had given Priya a gold bracelet just before she died, but Priya has never worn it because it was broken. Her grandmother had told her that it was lovely when you can't tell people the truth. Upset and clutching the bracelet one night, Priya hears it click open and puts it on. The next morning, she tells her father that she doesn't much care for the eggs he cooks, and finds as the morning progresses that she tells the truth every time someone asks her a direct question! This becomes a big problem. She takes her lunch to eat in the bathroom because she's afraid of offending Mei and Sami, and is approached by the mean and popular Angela and Katie. WHen Katie, who has been shaking down Priya to do her homework for half the year, asks about the assignment, Priya tells her she doesn't want to do it, but will. At gymnastics, she tells Coach Olaf that she doesn't want to work with Dan Zhang because she has a crush on him. Coach Olaf makes her work with him anyway, and Dan is a little put off when Priya won't tell him why she doesn't want to work with him. She finally has to tell her best friends about her parents fighting, and they come clean with truths of their own, including Mei's news that she is a lesbian. It's hard to spend the entire day telling the truth, and Priya eventually comes clean to Dan about her feelings for him, and he reciprocates. It's a little more difficult for her friends to believe that her bracelet is magic, and this leads to some troubles. She also runs afoul of Mrs. Lufthausen, and ends up spending a week in detention... with Katie. The two bond over a number of things, and become friends. When Priya tells her coach that she's not that interested in gymnastics, he kicks her off the team ahead of a big competition. This will enable her to go to Sami's Bat Mitvah, which is a big deal, but when the team needs one more person, Priya finds herself drawn back in. Being honest with her parents leads to some interesting conversations, but she finds her little sister Pinkie to be a big help in navigating the difficult juggling of the competition and celebration. Will Priya be able to figure out how to get the bracelet off, or will she spend the rest of her life being bluntly honest?
Strengths: Middle school can be hard, but imagine how hard it would be if you had to tell the truth all of the time! Priya never really lies; she just does what most people do, and puts a good face on things. She doesn't tell Dan how she feels because it's scary, and she does homework for Katie because it's easier than fighting about it. I particularly liked her somewhat conflicted feelings about gymnastics, especially in light of her perception that her parents were having financial difficulties and needed prize money that she could win. This is on trend with the current philosophy that you should tell your friends the truth or they will feel disconnected from you, but also throws in that even if you have problems, you still need to check in on your friends, because they have problems, too. The way the magic unfolds makes sense, and it's nice to think of Priya's grandmother caring for her from beyond the grave. My favorite part was probably Pinkie stepping up to save the day, when Priya has previously dismissed her as unhelpful. When Priya's parents finally announce their divorce, she is fairly happy, and this will resonate with readers who have been in a similar situation.
Weaknesses: It's not only an Indian desire to keep family issues under wraps, so I had a lot of sympathy for the elder Shahs, even though their fighting was bothering Priya so much! This was a bit on the long side; it was interesting to see all of the ways that telling the truth got Priya in trouble, but at a certain point, I wanted the story to move on.
What I really think: This is an interesting magical realism title that will be popular with fans of Mlynowski's Best Wishes series or Kelkar's equally magical and somewhat goofy That Thing About Bollywood.

[Steph Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this is a middle-grade book and I am an adult, I still found I couldn’t put this story down once I started it!

I found it really easy to identify with Priya’s struggles to appear perfect and non-problematic to everyone, sometimes to impress them, sometimes so as not to worry them, but always at a subtle cost to her own comfort and happiness. So when a magic bangle takes away her ability to tell even the whitest of fibs, I felt her pain! Add to that her parent’s secret marital issues, her younger sister’s ADHD, the pressure of intensive gymnastics training, keeping high grades at school, hiding her crush on Dan Zhang, and dealing with bullying (from a teacher as well as other students) and poor Priya has A LOT she doesn’t want to talk openly about.

I love that we see that her forced truth-telling can have both pluses and minuses, as some people appreciate her sudden honesty and feel closer to her, while others are hurt and offended, and the whole experience feels like a wild rollercoaster ride through the plot until she finally finds a balance in speaking her OWN truth.

Imagine something like the Jim Carrey film Liar Liar, but aimed at a younger audience and with more inclusive representation in terms of race, gender and sexuality. There are some really good lessons about the dangers of sacrificing your own wellbeing to keep others happy, but carried lightly in a plot more focused on whether Priya can survive each day with her family, friendships and reputation intact.

The only bit of the story I wasn’t so keen on was the big reveal scene, as it felt a bit like Priya making her friend’s special day all about herself – I’m sure she could have reached the same revelations but more privately. Still, this was a gripping and touching read for me and I would definitely recommend it to my Minishine and other tween readers.

[Theresa Sandifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book. Fairly ordinary but well written, with well developed characters. The story follows Priya, a 12 year-old girl, who lies almost constantly. The thing is, she doesn’t do it for personal gain or to be devious, but really to spaer people she loves from being hurt or disappointed. The anxiety associated with this behavior is starting to wear where down and she really misses her grandmother, the only person she never lied to,. A father putting on a bracelet that her grandmother left her she finds that she cannot lie, and she cannot get the bracelet off. After some fairly painful truths are spoken, her best friends Sami and Mei help Priya learn to tell the truth in a thoughtful way, not just blurting it out, and wounding people in the progress. Things start to go really well until they suddenly don’t and Priya is faced with losing everything she has gained by telling the truth.
The story was enjoyable and the characters likable. I liked how much things got worse and left you wondering what, if anything, could be resolved and saved.. It is nice to read a book for this age group that isn’t a gimmick or overdone trope.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC in return for a fair and honest review.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the intended audience will enjoy this - the adults are self-contradictory, clueless, irresponsible, and easily manipulated, while the main character and her friends are sophisticated, chic, self-aware, and philosophical.

Priya is not doing well, and she is in the habit of covering up what bothers her, since her parents believe that they should put on a positive public face. This belief is attributed to their culture - Indian, and the philosophy is later shared by a Chinese family.

Her life changes dramatically when she puts on a bangle from her grandmother which mysteriously forces her to only speak the truth - and then she is unable to remove it. This is probably a secret fantasy of the majority of 12- to 14-year-olds; certainly those who want to soothe their friends and family members, who like to solve problems, and who avoid conflict.

It's painful to watch the inevitable unfold, and it made me cringe over and over to hear the author attribute character traits to identity groups. But certainly many readers will be happey enough to hear about a kid who is an expert at gymnastics, high-achieving and smart, and her quirky, clever friends and sibling.

[Donna Metler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Priya's parents fight. A lot. She feels pushed and pulled in many directions, by her parents, at school, at gymnastics, by the bully who makes her do her homework, by her sister who's ADHD makes her hard to handle, by her friends, and most of all by her parent's rules that you don't share any struggles outside family. And her one family confidante, her grandmother, died last year. So, Priya lies. A lot.


All this changes when she puts on her grandmother's final gift to her, a bangle said to be enchanted-and it won't come off. Now, Priya can't lie. Not to the teacher who hates her. Not to her bully. Not to her friends. Not to her parents. Not to her coach. And that doesn't always go well.

Everyone who feels trapped will relate to Priya's story, both the ups and downs. This is an excellent middle grade book that will have a wide appeal to many students. It deserves a place in libraries and classrooms.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know the phrase "honesty is the best policy." Main character Priya Shah is certainly learning this through a unique turn of events. She has spent her life lying to those around her in order to not make waves, but these lies are not necessarily what she thinks or feels. When Priya puts on a bangle to feel closer to her grandma, she finds herself saying things she normally wouldn't-- the truth. Sanghani creates a well-developed, unique main character who tries to balance so many different responsibilities. Even with the magical-truth-bangle element, the character's voice feels authentic--voicing confidence at times and doubt at others, just like any person. I appreciated that Priya had to address multiple challenges (school, family, friends, and sports) along with the truth bracelet. The story has wonderful themes of honesty and identity. I look forward to sharing this with my students.
Thank you Lerner Publishing Group, Radhika Sanghani, and Read Your World for gifting this book.

[Moon Belly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully gentle handling of what can be quite a painful topic, and set in a world specifically designed to get Priya to take (and enjoy the fruits of taking) her Ba's advice. Adults may find this to be extremely confronting, with themes relating to how far you'll go to people-please and why, Some may also find this to be incredibly relatable (and triggering), especially those of us who are struggling to tell the truth and commit to actions in line with our truth. To them (and me), I'd say the best way to get through it - is to get through it. And, don't worry, Sanghani has our back, and, at times, it feels like she holds our hand and guides us step-by-step to the other side.

Multiple moving parts in Priya's life push her more and more to be a truth-teller and enjoy the consequences that come with it. Could be treated as proof for why honesty works. Perfect for guided journaling and meditations, reading on a crowded bus, and on a rainy day.

[Rebecca R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priya is so used to bending the truth to suit those around her that she doesn't realise that she's living a lie and hiding herself from everyone around her. Until the day that she tries on a bracelet given to her by her grandma, and suddenly she can only tell the truth. This can only go badly as Priya is compelled to tell her parents that she can't sleep due to their fighting, to tell her dad that she hates his cooking and to tell her longtime crush, Dan Zhang, that she likes him. Can Priya learn how to tell the truth without destroying her relationships with her friends and family?

I loved this concept and Priya does get herself into a terrible tangle before she figures out how to deal with her new enforced truthfulness. A heartfelt, funny and engaging coming-of-age story - perfect for the teen category.

[Jenny Ashby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Priya has been living for everyone else, stuffing all her own feelings inside to keep things calm. How many of us have done that in so many areas of our lives? I like the idea of a magical bangle forcing her to finally tell everyone how she really feels, and the happy consequences of that. Obviously, there has to be a downside to all the honesty, and some personal accountability as well, which is less fun. :-) But Priya's discovery of not only herself but also all her friends is a fun journey. The only quibble I have is the family's celebration about getting a divorce. I get that the fighting is a problem, but I think that there would still be quite a lot of angst from kids and parents about divorcing.

[Elo-Oghene Oghre · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6 of 5 stars

This was like a children's book.
I loved how easy it was to read and how relatable the main character was, it is very easy to get carried away and think you are the main character of life forgetting others around you.
I also loved how the book showed how hurt people take their hurt out on others and how it tackled family dynamics and divorce in a very easy way to understand.

There was no major surprise and no stand out moment, but just a simple story with simple characters you can relate to

[Anne Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was such a lovely read, best enjoyed with a cup of hot beverage in a cosy setting. The plot was immaculately written and addressed. It was so relatable and the message was beautifully placed. I could already imagine it to be on big screens scripted as top grossing teen movie. (I couldn't lie after reading this book)

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book has a good moral, but I found it more simple than I think it should’ve been. I like the idea of the book and how the friendship of the main characters is so strong, happy and healthy. It clearly reflects the life of a nearly teenage girl that has many problems on her hands that she has to learn to handle.

I would recommend this book for readers 9+.

[Melissa Rapson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun premise for middle school. Magical? inherited bracelet locks itself onto girls arm and after that she speaks only the truth. Also does a very real job of examining the emotions of a girl navigating an unhappy family dynamic, pressure to be a certain way, and struggling with friendships. Deals with first crushes, secrets, sports performance, divorce.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is HONESTLY 😂 one of my favourites I can't explain it, it just really is the best 5 stars! ( what else could I give it?! ) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Isabelle Bates-Nicholls · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthralling and dramatic novel about overcoming anxiety but also a heart-warming tale of friendship and kindness.I loved it!

[Year 5 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny 🤣

[Victoria Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️, but if you are a middle school girl, it might become your next favourite book 😊

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

It an inspiring book to not lie but the truth. I loved it!