What do you think?
Rate this book
The Water Lies
Internationally bestselling author Amy Meyerson takes readers on a harrowing journey where two mothers—one of a woman who drowned and the other of a toddler who might know what happened to her—are the only ones searching for the truth.
Heavily pregnant with her second child, Tessa Irons has enough on her mind without her toddler throwing tantrums at the local coffee shop. The boy is inconsolable, shouting “Gigi!” to a woman Tessa’s never seen before—and never will again. The next morning, the woman’s body is dredged up from the canal outside the Ironses’ posh Venice Beach home, and Tessa’s gut tells her it’s no coincidence.
Barb Geller refuses to believe that her daughter’s death was just some drunken accident. She heads to California for answers, where she crosses paths with Tessa. Together they hunt for the truth, certain they’ll find a connection between their children.
But the police don’t believe them. Tessa’s husband dismisses her worries as pregnancy jitters, and even though people are always watching along the canals, no one saw a thing. Tessa and Barb only have each other, their intuition, and the creeping sense of danger that grows with every shocking revelation.
Heavily pregnant with her second child, Tessa Irons has enough on her mind without her toddler throwing tantrums at the local coffee shop. The boy is inconsolable, shouting “Gigi!” to a woman Tessa’s never seen before—and never will again. The next morning, the woman’s body is dredged up from the canal outside the Ironses’ posh Venice Beach home, and Tessa’s gut tells her it’s no coincidence.
Barb Geller refuses to believe that her daughter’s death was just some drunken accident. She heads to California for answers, where she crosses paths with Tessa. Together they hunt for the truth, certain they’ll find a connection between their children.
But the police don’t believe them. Tessa’s husband dismisses her worries as pregnancy jitters, and even though people are always watching along the canals, no one saw a thing. Tessa and Barb only have each other, their intuition, and the creeping sense of danger that grows with every shocking revelation.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2026
4712 people are currently reading
13467 people want to read
About the author
Amy Meyerson
7 books1,163 followersAmy Meyerson is the internationally bestselling author of The Water Lies, The Bookshop of Yesterdays, The Imperfects, and The Love Scribe. Her books have been translated into eleven languages and are frequently chosen for best-of lists, including lists from Good Morning America, People Magazine, Publishers Weekly, The Christian Science Monitor, Library Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Texas Library Association’s Lariat List, among others. Meyerson completed her graduate work in creative writing at the University of Southern California, where she now teaches in the writing department. Her next suspense novel, The Chaperones, will be published by Thomas & Mercer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
December 20, 2025
I have barely read over the past 2 months as I have struggled with a huge slump. When I started this book, I was only reading a couple pages at a time not having any faith I would enjoy it. Finally, last night I sat down and gave it a real chance and I was not able to put it down.
It wasn’t just the murder, the lies, and the mystery that made this so good. It was the writing style. It really painted a picture in your mind of everything that happened. It was so realistic.
I wish I had read this even sooner! Don’t want to give too much away as far as plot points, but this is definitely worth the read.
Thank you to Amazon for this free advance copy.
It wasn’t just the murder, the lies, and the mystery that made this so good. It was the writing style. It really painted a picture in your mind of everything that happened. It was so realistic.
I wish I had read this even sooner! Don’t want to give too much away as far as plot points, but this is definitely worth the read.
Thank you to Amazon for this free advance copy.
January 2, 2026
From the very first chapter of this slow-boiling tale of domestic suspense, The Water Lies had me completely under its thrall. With two compelling POVs and a propulsive feel to every single page, I was easily glued to this story of dark secrets and even darker lies. Exploring love, loss, and the idea of mother’s intuition, there was a definite sense of poignancy to this deeply human story. You see, not only could you feel Barb’s grief roll off of her in waves, but the emotion and paranoia of pregnancy was oh so very true-to-life when reading Tessa’s side. Add in the claustrophobic setting, layers of mysteries, and the ratcheting pace, and I was seriously impressed by this character-driven tale of two mothers unrelenting drive to find out the truth.
All said and done, despite being just a tad predictable and over-the-top, I had a blast getting to know these two brave, determined women. From the riveting start until the realistic conclusion, the perfectly timed twists delivered shocking revelations that I absolutely didn’t see coming. Yes…I know I said that it was somewhat predictable, but that was one when I looked back at it with twenty-twenty vision. You see, the many suspicious characters and well-written red herrings made me second-guess myself over and over. So if you love amateur sleuths that make up an unlikely duo or page-turning reads that sneak up and bite you, you needn’t look any further, because you’ve found it right here. Trust me, this is one book you’re going to want to read. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Heavily pregnant with her second child, Tessa Irons has enough on her mind without her toddler throwing tantrums at the local coffee shop. The boy is inconsolable, shouting “Gigi!” to a woman Tessa’s never seen before―and never will again. The next morning, the woman’s body is dredged up from the canal outside the Ironses’ posh Venice Beach home, and Tessa’s gut tells her it’s no coincidence.
Barb Geller refuses to believe that her daughter’s death was just some drunken accident. She heads to California for answers, where she crosses paths with Tessa. Together they hunt for the truth, certain they’ll find a connection between their children.
But the police don’t believe them. Tessa’s husband dismisses her worries as pregnancy jitters, and even though people are always watching along the canals, no one saw a thing. Tessa and Barb only have each other, their intuition, and the creeping sense of danger that grows with every shocking revelation.
Thank you Amy Meyerson, Thomas & Mercer, and MBC Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 1, 2026
Content warning: pregnancy, alcoholism, familial estrangement, domestic abuse, gaslighting, violence, knife violence, mention of: infertility, drug overdose
All said and done, despite being just a tad predictable and over-the-top, I had a blast getting to know these two brave, determined women. From the riveting start until the realistic conclusion, the perfectly timed twists delivered shocking revelations that I absolutely didn’t see coming. Yes…I know I said that it was somewhat predictable, but that was one when I looked back at it with twenty-twenty vision. You see, the many suspicious characters and well-written red herrings made me second-guess myself over and over. So if you love amateur sleuths that make up an unlikely duo or page-turning reads that sneak up and bite you, you needn’t look any further, because you’ve found it right here. Trust me, this is one book you’re going to want to read. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Heavily pregnant with her second child, Tessa Irons has enough on her mind without her toddler throwing tantrums at the local coffee shop. The boy is inconsolable, shouting “Gigi!” to a woman Tessa’s never seen before―and never will again. The next morning, the woman’s body is dredged up from the canal outside the Ironses’ posh Venice Beach home, and Tessa’s gut tells her it’s no coincidence.
Barb Geller refuses to believe that her daughter’s death was just some drunken accident. She heads to California for answers, where she crosses paths with Tessa. Together they hunt for the truth, certain they’ll find a connection between their children.
But the police don’t believe them. Tessa’s husband dismisses her worries as pregnancy jitters, and even though people are always watching along the canals, no one saw a thing. Tessa and Barb only have each other, their intuition, and the creeping sense of danger that grows with every shocking revelation.
Thank you Amy Meyerson, Thomas & Mercer, and MBC Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 1, 2026
Content warning: pregnancy, alcoholism, familial estrangement, domestic abuse, gaslighting, violence, knife violence, mention of: infertility, drug overdose
August 6, 2025
I picked Amy Meyerson’s “The Water Lies” because it sounded like it had an interesting premise. This was my first book by her.
The story is set in Venice Beach (California).
Tessa Irons is alarmed when her young son, Jasper, yells to a woman in a local coffee shop. Tessa does not recognize the woman. Jasper does seem to know her.
The next day, someone is found dead. But what happened and is reality what it seems like?
This book is a haunting and and well-written novel that explores the boundaries between memory, grief, and identity. The characters are well written and i felt a connection with them, as a reader.
----------
Thank you to NetGalley and author Amy Meyerson for providing an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The story is set in Venice Beach (California).
Tessa Irons is alarmed when her young son, Jasper, yells to a woman in a local coffee shop. Tessa does not recognize the woman. Jasper does seem to know her.
The next day, someone is found dead. But what happened and is reality what it seems like?
This book is a haunting and and well-written novel that explores the boundaries between memory, grief, and identity. The characters are well written and i felt a connection with them, as a reader.
----------
Thank you to NetGalley and author Amy Meyerson for providing an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2026
Thank you to @mbc_books @amazonpublishing and @amy.meyerson for the #gifted copy.
Tessa is pregnant with her second child as her and her son are out one day. Her little boy shouts “Gigi” at a strange woman she’s never seen before. The next day, she is discovered dead from a drowning. Tessa is dying to find out why her son obviously knew her and how?
Barb Gellar is the mother of the drowned woman. She knows her daughter could swim and had been sober for 7 years. How could she possibly drown?
Tessa and Barb are brought together in their search for answers. What really happened to Barb’s daughter and was it really murder?
This starts as a slow burn mystery but picked up halfway through. There are shocking twists I never saw coming. I definitely enjoyed the story and recommend giving it a read.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tessa is pregnant with her second child as her and her son are out one day. Her little boy shouts “Gigi” at a strange woman she’s never seen before. The next day, she is discovered dead from a drowning. Tessa is dying to find out why her son obviously knew her and how?
Barb Gellar is the mother of the drowned woman. She knows her daughter could swim and had been sober for 7 years. How could she possibly drown?
Tessa and Barb are brought together in their search for answers. What really happened to Barb’s daughter and was it really murder?
This starts as a slow burn mystery but picked up halfway through. There are shocking twists I never saw coming. I definitely enjoyed the story and recommend giving it a read.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 4, 2025
The Water Lies by Amy Meyerson
If you love twisty, emotional thrillers that get under your skin from page one, The Water Lies delivers in every possible way.
The story follows two mothers—Tessa, heavily pregnant and barely holding her life together, and Barb, grieving and desperate for answers—who find themselves connected by a chilling mystery along the Venice Beach canals. When Tessa’s toddler starts screaming “Gigi!” at a stranger he’s never met, she chalks it up to toddler imagination… until that same woman’s body is pulled from the water outside their home the very next day.
Barb refuses to believe her daughter’s death was accidental, and when her path collides with Tessa’s, the two women become the only people willing to look beyond the surface—into the secrets, lies, and unsettling truths no one else wants to confront.
What makes this book shine is how Meyerson layers tension with raw emotion. The claustrophobic setting of the canals, the gaslighting from Tessa’s husband, the eerie feeling of being watched—it all combines into a story that’s both gripping and deeply human. A mystery, a mother’s intuition, and a powerful exploration of what we’re willing to risk to protect the people we love.
If you’re looking for your next binge-worthy thriller, this is it.
#TheWaterLies #AmyMeyerson #Bookstagram #BookReview #ThrillerBooks #MothersAndMysteries #CanalThriller #PsychologicalThriller #ReadersOfInstagram #ThrillerTok #BookishLove #BookstagramReels #BookRecommendations #MysteryLovers #CurrentlyReading #BookAddict #BookCommunity #MustReadThriller #NewReleaseBooks
If you love twisty, emotional thrillers that get under your skin from page one, The Water Lies delivers in every possible way.
The story follows two mothers—Tessa, heavily pregnant and barely holding her life together, and Barb, grieving and desperate for answers—who find themselves connected by a chilling mystery along the Venice Beach canals. When Tessa’s toddler starts screaming “Gigi!” at a stranger he’s never met, she chalks it up to toddler imagination… until that same woman’s body is pulled from the water outside their home the very next day.
Barb refuses to believe her daughter’s death was accidental, and when her path collides with Tessa’s, the two women become the only people willing to look beyond the surface—into the secrets, lies, and unsettling truths no one else wants to confront.
What makes this book shine is how Meyerson layers tension with raw emotion. The claustrophobic setting of the canals, the gaslighting from Tessa’s husband, the eerie feeling of being watched—it all combines into a story that’s both gripping and deeply human. A mystery, a mother’s intuition, and a powerful exploration of what we’re willing to risk to protect the people we love.
If you’re looking for your next binge-worthy thriller, this is it.
#TheWaterLies #AmyMeyerson #Bookstagram #BookReview #ThrillerBooks #MothersAndMysteries #CanalThriller #PsychologicalThriller #ReadersOfInstagram #ThrillerTok #BookishLove #BookstagramReels #BookRecommendations #MysteryLovers #CurrentlyReading #BookAddict #BookCommunity #MustReadThriller #NewReleaseBooks
December 3, 2025
3.5 Stars
A fun and suspenseful novel told from two POVs: Tessa, the pregnant wife of a fertility doctor whose young son seemed to have recognized a young woman, Regina, later found dead in the canal outside their home and Barb, Regina’s mother, who doesn’t believe her death was an accident. Together, Barb and Tessa embark on an amateur investigation to find out what really happened to Regina.
While I struggled with Barb at times, I found Tessa to be a sympathetic character who felt real and nuanced. I enjoyed following them through their investigation as they sought the truth and uncovered more than they realized they would.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
A fun and suspenseful novel told from two POVs: Tessa, the pregnant wife of a fertility doctor whose young son seemed to have recognized a young woman, Regina, later found dead in the canal outside their home and Barb, Regina’s mother, who doesn’t believe her death was an accident. Together, Barb and Tessa embark on an amateur investigation to find out what really happened to Regina.
While I struggled with Barb at times, I found Tessa to be a sympathetic character who felt real and nuanced. I enjoyed following them through their investigation as they sought the truth and uncovered more than they realized they would.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
December 7, 2025
It was okay, glad it was free. I wanted to know what happened but more from curiosity than investment.
January 9, 2026
With an 18-month-old son and a daughter who she will give birth to in less than a month, Tessa Irons has a pretty busy life.
Her life becomes even more chaotic when she learns that a woman was found dead in the canal just outside of her home.
Things become weirder when she realizes that the woman is a stranger who her son recognized at a coffee shop the previous day.
Barb Geller is divorced and retired in New Jersey.
Her life is pretty quiet until she is suddenly informed that her adult daughter drowned in California.
When she gets the news, she immediately suspects something far more nefarious than an accidental drowning.
Her daughter was a former lifeguard and excellent swimmer.
How could she drown in a very shallow canal?
Getting very little help from the local police, these two women attempt to solve the mystery themselves and form a strong bond in the process.
This was an Amazon First Reads selection, and I’ve found that they can be very hit or miss.
Fortunately, this one was more of a hit for me!
Although it does pick up some towards the end, this is definitely a slow burn mystery.
They don’t always work for me, but this one did.
I found both of the FMCs to be relatable and enjoyed the Venice Beach setting.
I used to live in LA and reading books that take place there make me feel like I’ve gone back for a visit.
I’m glad that I chose this as a monthly selection because I may not have otherwise come across it.
Her life becomes even more chaotic when she learns that a woman was found dead in the canal just outside of her home.
Things become weirder when she realizes that the woman is a stranger who her son recognized at a coffee shop the previous day.
Barb Geller is divorced and retired in New Jersey.
Her life is pretty quiet until she is suddenly informed that her adult daughter drowned in California.
When she gets the news, she immediately suspects something far more nefarious than an accidental drowning.
Her daughter was a former lifeguard and excellent swimmer.
How could she drown in a very shallow canal?
Getting very little help from the local police, these two women attempt to solve the mystery themselves and form a strong bond in the process.
This was an Amazon First Reads selection, and I’ve found that they can be very hit or miss.
Fortunately, this one was more of a hit for me!
Although it does pick up some towards the end, this is definitely a slow burn mystery.
They don’t always work for me, but this one did.
I found both of the FMCs to be relatable and enjoyed the Venice Beach setting.
I used to live in LA and reading books that take place there make me feel like I’ve gone back for a visit.
I’m glad that I chose this as a monthly selection because I may not have otherwise come across it.
November 20, 2025
3.5 stars - aside from not feeling connected to the characters, this was very good. I could see it turned into a short tv series
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/
January 21, 2026
This one surprised me—in a good way. I went in blind, having never read Amy Meyerson before, and The Water Lies turned out to be a strong, compelling murder mystery. Meyerson takes readers on a tense, emotional journey centered on two mothers: one grieving a daughter who drowned, the other protecting a toddler who may know what really happened. When no one else seems interested in the truth, these two women press on alone, and the story builds with quiet intensity and growing unease. A thoughtful, well-crafted mystery that stays with you.
January 28, 2026
I must really be feeling POV these days, because here's another author who blew me away with her skill with two very different voices. One woman is an affluent young mother who's heavily pregnant and wrangling a toddler when a woman is found dead outside her California house...a woman her son recognized the day before. The other is an aging East Coast retiree who shies away from neither the complications of loving her estranged daughter nor the anger of grieving for her when she's found dead. I enjoyed the evolution of their relationship as much as I did the mystery of this suspense.
May 21, 2025
This book!! Intuition, murder, familial bonds with a backdrop of the canals in Venice Beach made this story entirely unique. I trust my instincts telling me this will be a best seller! Amy Meyerson kept me engaged from beginning to end, so hard to put down, very well done~ Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, it is a sure thing.
January 7, 2026
Interesting start but the rest was mostly boring. The ending was bland and I wish I would’ve DNF’d.
December 31, 2025
The Water Lies by Amy Meyerson. Thanks to @mbc for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Tessa finds it odd when her toddler starts yelling “Gigi” to a stranger. The next day that stranger is found dead in the canal outside their house. Tessa knows in her gut it’s not a coincidence and starts helping the victim’s mother investigate.
While a domestic suspense, it was unique and went in a different direction than one would think. Definitely avoid synopses of this one. I read one that gave weight to a term, which helped me figure out what was going on much sooner than I would have without that prior knowledge. I loved how Barb and Tessa worked together and how maternal instinct played a huge role.
“This is how mysteries work - the ones that feel truest to life, anyway. The killer has been lurking in the background all along.”
Read this if you like:
-Domestic thrillers
-Medical thrillers
-Mother/daughter relationships
-Twisty suspenses
The Water Lies comes out 1/1.
Tessa finds it odd when her toddler starts yelling “Gigi” to a stranger. The next day that stranger is found dead in the canal outside their house. Tessa knows in her gut it’s not a coincidence and starts helping the victim’s mother investigate.
While a domestic suspense, it was unique and went in a different direction than one would think. Definitely avoid synopses of this one. I read one that gave weight to a term, which helped me figure out what was going on much sooner than I would have without that prior knowledge. I loved how Barb and Tessa worked together and how maternal instinct played a huge role.
“This is how mysteries work - the ones that feel truest to life, anyway. The killer has been lurking in the background all along.”
Read this if you like:
-Domestic thrillers
-Medical thrillers
-Mother/daughter relationships
-Twisty suspenses
The Water Lies comes out 1/1.
January 6, 2026
The Water Lies by Amy Meyerson is an action packed thriller from the very first page. Lies, secrets, deceit .. I could not put this book down! I loved it! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. It is out in publication right now.
December 6, 2025
(ARC) I really enjoyed this one! It didn’t feel super original, which maybe took some of the excitement away for me, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The characters were seriously easy to hate, and I thought that was incredible because it shows how well Meyerson can write to get under your skin.
The story’s Venice Beach canal setting adds a moody, claustrophobic vibe, with Tessa (one of our MCs) navigating pregnancy paranoia while Barb (the other MC) relentlessly searches for the truth. The tension between these two mothers chasing hidden connections was amplified by their flawed dynamics and the creeping sense of danger, and I loved that because that was what locked me in! But these secrets-and-betrayal plot just felt way too familiar.
By the end of it, I felt indifferent - like I enjoyed the ride but probably won’t remember it for long, since, like I mentioned, the plot is one I’ve seen a dozen times before.
If you’re looking for a casual read with tangled family secrets, emotional drama, and the elements you’d expect in psychological thrillers, this one should be right up your alley.
***
Shout out and many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The story’s Venice Beach canal setting adds a moody, claustrophobic vibe, with Tessa (one of our MCs) navigating pregnancy paranoia while Barb (the other MC) relentlessly searches for the truth. The tension between these two mothers chasing hidden connections was amplified by their flawed dynamics and the creeping sense of danger, and I loved that because that was what locked me in! But these secrets-and-betrayal plot just felt way too familiar.
By the end of it, I felt indifferent - like I enjoyed the ride but probably won’t remember it for long, since, like I mentioned, the plot is one I’ve seen a dozen times before.
If you’re looking for a casual read with tangled family secrets, emotional drama, and the elements you’d expect in psychological thrillers, this one should be right up your alley.
***
Shout out and many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
December 16, 2025
This was a 5-Star book...until the final 50 or so pages. It just got ridiculous, and downright laughable. I finished because I was already so close to the end, but it's a shame how unbelievable and impossible everything became. Timelines were off and there were mistakes an editor should have caught as far as plot errors.
dnf
January 1, 2026This isn’t a bad book by any means, but it feels like a fairly typical thriller, and I’m over it.
It started off interesting with Tessa’s toddler calling out to a random woman in a coffee shop. When the woman ignores the baby, Tessa brushes it off until the woman’s body is found in the water the next day. Tessa pairs up with the woman’s 70 year old mother to figure out what happened.
It seems to be full of those thriller coincidences that you need to accept, like Tessa and the mother meeting. I also felt no connection to the characters after 50+ pages. I’m also kind of over the plot where a person’s death is ruled an accident but a friend or family member can’t accept it so they need to investigate themselves.
Overall, I think this one is better for someone who hasn’t read so many thriller books already.
It started off interesting with Tessa’s toddler calling out to a random woman in a coffee shop. When the woman ignores the baby, Tessa brushes it off until the woman’s body is found in the water the next day. Tessa pairs up with the woman’s 70 year old mother to figure out what happened.
It seems to be full of those thriller coincidences that you need to accept, like Tessa and the mother meeting. I also felt no connection to the characters after 50+ pages. I’m also kind of over the plot where a person’s death is ruled an accident but a friend or family member can’t accept it so they need to investigate themselves.
Overall, I think this one is better for someone who hasn’t read so many thriller books already.
January 6, 2026
The Water Lies
By: Amy Meyerson
Pub Date: Jan 1, 2026
Publisher: Thomas @ Mercer
Tour: MB Communications
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My first book but this author and she will be an author I read more by.
Two moms brought together by a tragedy. Tessa is at a local
Coffee shop with her toddler. The little one starts shouting out to another woman whom Tessa does not know. How could her child know this woman.
When the mystery woman shows up dead, things start to get intriguing. Their paths crossed for a reason and I was quickly invested in this story. Beautiful and haunting.
Thank you to the author at MB for having me on tour.
By: Amy Meyerson
Pub Date: Jan 1, 2026
Publisher: Thomas @ Mercer
Tour: MB Communications
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My first book but this author and she will be an author I read more by.
Two moms brought together by a tragedy. Tessa is at a local
Coffee shop with her toddler. The little one starts shouting out to another woman whom Tessa does not know. How could her child know this woman.
When the mystery woman shows up dead, things start to get intriguing. Their paths crossed for a reason and I was quickly invested in this story. Beautiful and haunting.
Thank you to the author at MB for having me on tour.
December 27, 2025
3.5 stars. Did not expect the book to go the way it did. Would have been 4 if it didn’t not take so long in some spots. Great read though!
December 17, 2025
It was ok, I wasn’t invested in the characters but wanted to see how it all ended.
September 22, 2025
Thanks to Thomas and Mercer for having sent me a early copy of The Water Lies by Amy Meyerson. This was my first book read by this author and I thought she did a good job with her writing. You get two POV's. Tessa and Barb who both have a role in the death of a lady who was murdered just outside of Tessa's home.
They both were on the hunt to find who killed Barb's daughter. And Supposedly Tessa's little boy who still a toddler knew this girl who died, but how??
There's a lot of mystery and questions on who could be the killer.
Overall it was good. i give it 3.5 stars!
They both were on the hunt to find who killed Barb's daughter. And Supposedly Tessa's little boy who still a toddler knew this girl who died, but how??
There's a lot of mystery and questions on who could be the killer.
Overall it was good. i give it 3.5 stars!
January 30, 2026
I read THE WATER LIES by Amy Meyerson with my IRL book club this month, and it was enjoyed by the majority of us. We weren’t necessarily blown away by the conclusion or how some of the details were pieced together, but it entertained us all for the most part. Here’s a quick synopsis:
𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘮𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴—𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳—𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩.
Motherhood is a strong and constant theme throughout this story, so that was a major plus for me. Pregnancy, infertility, new motherhood, and mothering long after your child has grown up and flown the nest are all explored. A mother’s intuition, protective instincts, intense fierceness, and constant loyalty are all on full display.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Domestic suspense
- Neighborhood drama
- Dual POVs
- Venice Beach setting
- Motherhood and marriage
- Murder mysteries
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Family drama and dynamics
- Secrets, lies, and deceit
Overall, I found this novel entertaining and engaging, but the twists just didn’t grab me enough. Some things were a little too predictable. However, the writing was strong, the pace was steady, and the characters were very well crafted. This was my first time reading Meyerson’s work, and I would like to try something from her backlist. Any suggestions?
THE WATER LIES is available now! I’m going with 3.5/5 stars.
𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘮𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴—𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳—𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩.
Motherhood is a strong and constant theme throughout this story, so that was a major plus for me. Pregnancy, infertility, new motherhood, and mothering long after your child has grown up and flown the nest are all explored. A mother’s intuition, protective instincts, intense fierceness, and constant loyalty are all on full display.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Domestic suspense
- Neighborhood drama
- Dual POVs
- Venice Beach setting
- Motherhood and marriage
- Murder mysteries
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Family drama and dynamics
- Secrets, lies, and deceit
Overall, I found this novel entertaining and engaging, but the twists just didn’t grab me enough. Some things were a little too predictable. However, the writing was strong, the pace was steady, and the characters were very well crafted. This was my first time reading Meyerson’s work, and I would like to try something from her backlist. Any suggestions?
THE WATER LIES is available now! I’m going with 3.5/5 stars.
January 27, 2026
This book started off fairly okay but it dragggggedd. I just got out of a reading slump but I think this book put me back into one. It seemed chaotic but not in a good way. I finished because I already started it and needed to see it through. Two stars mainly because I feel bad giving one.
January 19, 2026
The story had me hooked but the twist didn't hit
January 16, 2026
The first half was so interesting and I was so excited to see where it was going, and then the second half happened.
This book gave me heartburn. I’ve never been pregnant before but the author described it so well that I felt like I was.
I found it a bit too preachy at times.
I didn’t like the way the story of the murders unfolded.
I didn’t really like Regina.
This book gave me heartburn. I’ve never been pregnant before but the author described it so well that I felt like I was.
I found it a bit too preachy at times.
I didn’t like the way the story of the murders unfolded.
I didn’t really like Regina.
December 27, 2025
I could not stop reading this book. For a first reads book, this was great. I know I don’t write the best reviews but I read this in 4 days during my busiest time at work, so what does that tell you!
November 3, 2025
Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read this eARC
3.5 stars
A woman, Regina, drowns in Tessa's tourist ridden street in the Canals. Tessa soon realizes that she has seen this woman before and doesn't believe this was a random event. Even more concerning for Tessa, her 18 month old son KNOWS this woman and just the day before reached out to her at a coffee shop, calling her "Gigi"
Barb, Regina's mother, flies to CA to find out the truth of what happened to her. Having just recently started to repair her relationship with her daughter, Barb feels that this was no accidental death and will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of her death.
Barb and Tessa team up to investigate the mysterious drowning after both having suspicions that there's something darker surrounding Regina's death. The police are reluctant to hear the women out and Tessa's husband, Gabe, attributes her unsettling claims as pregnancy-related stress/anxiety.
I really enjoyed this book and it was fast-paced and captivating. I liked the relationship Tessa and Barb formed and their relentlessness to find out the truth of what happened to Regina.
I had a hard time with the donor egg scheme. I guess I didn't understand Regina's attachment/obsession to an egg she donated but having never been in that situation, I guess i can't speak to it. The majority of action/twists occur in the last 25%, some was predictable but I can say I wasn't expecting to see who the true villain was.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a fast-paced, women-led mystery.
3.5 stars
A woman, Regina, drowns in Tessa's tourist ridden street in the Canals. Tessa soon realizes that she has seen this woman before and doesn't believe this was a random event. Even more concerning for Tessa, her 18 month old son KNOWS this woman and just the day before reached out to her at a coffee shop, calling her "Gigi"
Barb, Regina's mother, flies to CA to find out the truth of what happened to her. Having just recently started to repair her relationship with her daughter, Barb feels that this was no accidental death and will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of her death.
Barb and Tessa team up to investigate the mysterious drowning after both having suspicions that there's something darker surrounding Regina's death. The police are reluctant to hear the women out and Tessa's husband, Gabe, attributes her unsettling claims as pregnancy-related stress/anxiety.
I really enjoyed this book and it was fast-paced and captivating. I liked the relationship Tessa and Barb formed and their relentlessness to find out the truth of what happened to Regina.
I had a hard time with the donor egg scheme. I guess I didn't understand Regina's attachment/obsession to an egg she donated but having never been in that situation, I guess i can't speak to it. The majority of action/twists occur in the last 25%, some was predictable but I can say I wasn't expecting to see who the true villain was.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a fast-paced, women-led mystery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Oh my goodness where to begin with this book because it ended up being the adventure of a lifetime! Normally I am not big on modern day mysteries but The Water Lies managed to change my perspective on that and I am super glad! Let's just say it got to the point where I literally thought every character was the enemy but thankfully it all got sorted out in the end.
We are introduced to Tessa who is a mother and believed to have the perfect husband and life. One day the body of a woman is found in their neighborhood. What's even more strange is that the day before she and her son encountered the woman in a coffee shop who her son referred to as "Gigi". She thinks that there is more to the case but soon her hyperfixation with a mix of pregnancy hormones starts making her paranoid of everything else around her.
The only other person interested in helping Tessa is Barb who is the mother of the deceased Regina. But Barb has her own suspicions of who is responsible for the death of her daughter and over the years had a strained relationship with her child that the more she finds out the less she feels like she knew her child. Will these two women be able to find the answers they desire before it is too late
We are introduced to Tessa who is a mother and believed to have the perfect husband and life. One day the body of a woman is found in their neighborhood. What's even more strange is that the day before she and her son encountered the woman in a coffee shop who her son referred to as "Gigi". She thinks that there is more to the case but soon her hyperfixation with a mix of pregnancy hormones starts making her paranoid of everything else around her.
The only other person interested in helping Tessa is Barb who is the mother of the deceased Regina. But Barb has her own suspicions of who is responsible for the death of her daughter and over the years had a strained relationship with her child that the more she finds out the less she feels like she knew her child. Will these two women be able to find the answers they desire before it is too late
December 24, 2025
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and MBC Publishing for the ARC!
First, the setting for this story was an incredible backdrop for this slow-burn mystery. When Tessa’s young son recognized a woman that Tessa doesn’t know, it’s unsettling enough - but then that woman ends up dead in the canal outside their Venice Beach home. Meanwhile, the woman’s mother, Barb, comes to Venice Beach looking for answers. Tess and Barb’s unlikely friendship not only uncovers an incredibly messed up secret but shows that DNA alone isn’t what bonds a family together. I love a story with strong female main characters!
“The Water Lies” released January 1, 2026. This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly.
First, the setting for this story was an incredible backdrop for this slow-burn mystery. When Tessa’s young son recognized a woman that Tessa doesn’t know, it’s unsettling enough - but then that woman ends up dead in the canal outside their Venice Beach home. Meanwhile, the woman’s mother, Barb, comes to Venice Beach looking for answers. Tess and Barb’s unlikely friendship not only uncovers an incredibly messed up secret but shows that DNA alone isn’t what bonds a family together. I love a story with strong female main characters!
“The Water Lies” released January 1, 2026. This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews