Read Between the Lies

by Jesse Q. Sutanto, Mindy Kaling (Introduction)

In this claustrophobic psychological suspense from USA Today bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto, the line between victim and villain blurs with every chapter. Because in the end, everyone has their own version of the truth—but only one will make it onto the page.

Fern’s dream of becoming a published author is finally coming true. After years of rejection, her debut novel has sold, and she’s ready to join the supportive online community of fellow debuts. But when she discovers her high school bully, Haven, has landed a major book deal and will be debuting alongside her, old wounds reopen.

As the pandemic forces everyone online, tensions escalate in their writing community. While Haven seems to succeed effortlessly, Fern watches her own career crumble. Yet beneath their polished personas lies a darker truth about their shared past—one involving a lost friend, Dani, and secrets neither wants revealed.

Fern isn’t the same person Haven bullied all those years ago. She’s learned that the best revenge stories aren’t written—they’re lived. And she’s been plotting this one for years.

What begins as online rivalry escalates into dangerous obsession. Because neither woman is telling the whole truth about what really happened to Dani…or about who’s the real victim in this story.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Books About Books, Ebooks, Adult

287 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2026

About the author

Jesse Q Sutanto grew up shuttling back and forth between Jakarta and Singapore and sees both cities as her homes. She has a Masters degree from Oxford University, though she has yet to figure out a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. She is currently living back in Jakarta on the same street as her parents and about seven hundred meddlesome aunties. When she's not tearing out her hair over her latest WIP, she spends her time baking and playing FPS games. Oh, and also being a mom to her two kids.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published February 3, 2026.

2 stars

I’m a sucker for author/writing stories and that’s why I wanted to read this one. But, alas, it was disappointing. Fern, our main character was so ridiculously child-like and naive it was frustrating to read about her. The book was definitely written for adults, since it’s about publishing, but some of the tone was YA in nature.

Fern is finally getting a book published. She is thrilled to be a first-time author and writing serves as a great antidote to her dead-end job as assistant for a pre-wedding photographer (it’s New York. I guess this is a thing.).

Fern eagerly seeks an invitation to a social media group for authors who will debut their works during the same season as Fern. Note that there does not seem to be one male in the entire group. Fern is then devastated to learn that her junior high/high school bully, Haven, has received an enormous publishing deal and is also in the debut group. Much pettiness ensues.

Oh, and there’s a completely unnecessary secret. There was some interesting stuff about the way books are published and I wish there had been even more of that. For the rest, ugh.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm behind on reading books written by author Jesse Q. Sutanto. I've enjoyed those I read, mostly about interfering aunties and parents, so I expected to enjoy Read Between the Lies. But I was surprised as it's about authors and social media, and the extent to which someone will lie. What a tough subject to tackle, as while most authors don't usually write about their own experiences (minus a few hilarious real-life moments and memoirs), it's the kind of book that makes you wonder what really goes on behind the scenes in a famous person's life. Social media can destroy them in an instant, and it makes you think more deeply, is it all worth it? Love the characters in this book... I could relate with the inner monologues and feelings, tho I haven't had a bully in my life. I enjoyed the drama, which was on the light side, more about build-up and the reality of whether someone is truly doing things to hurt you or you're just imagining it. Great read~

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taut, complex, and messy in the best possible way, Read Between the Lies was quite the addictive genre-bender of a tale. Winding together suspense and women’s fiction with just a touch of dark humor, Sutanto executed the ultimate look at the dark side of both cancel culture and publishing. As much as I loved the storyline, however, the characters were what made this book sing. With a fully fleshed out protagonist who was as flawed and morally gray as she was root-for-able and compelling, I easily saw things from both sides as my alliances waffled back and forth the entire time I was reading. You see, while her behavior was at times cringe-worthy in the extreme, the flashbacks developed a persona that drove home her difficult childhood. And while I didn’t experience heavy bullying as a teen like Fern, every single girl has had a taste of a nemesis or two at some point in her life.

All in all, despite a slow-burning first half and a few unlikeable characters, I couldn’t have been more obsessed with this one—especially when the sedate, inner monologue-filled pace turned deliciously unhinged. Not only that, though, but the serious themes were both timely and needed. Exploring guilt, trauma, and envy through the lens of intense bullying, it made me think long and hard about my own younger years. On top of the incisive and thought-provoking nature of this one-sitting read, however, was a suspense-laden plot that had me flying through the pages. From the desperate acts to the shocking reveal at the end, the gossip-fueled drama, epic online takedowns, and believable scandals made me a fan. So if you’re looking for a read that keeps you guessing, give this one a try. After all, it was hard to say who was the victim and who was the villain. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Fern’s dream of becoming a published author is finally coming true. After years of rejection, her debut novel has sold, and she’s ready to join the supportive online community of fellow debuts. But when she discovers her high school bully, Haven, has landed a major book deal and will be debuting alongside her, old wounds reopen.

As the pandemic forces everyone online, tensions escalate in their writing community. While Haven seems to succeed effortlessly, Fern watches her own career crumble. Yet beneath their polished personas lies a darker truth about their shared past―one involving a lost friend, Dani, and secrets neither wants revealed.

Fern isn’t the same person Haven bullied all those years ago. She’s learned that the best revenge stories aren’t written―they’re lived. And she’s been plotting this one for years.
What begins as online rivalry escalates into dangerous obsession. Because neither woman is telling the whole truth about what really happened to Dani…or about who’s the real victim in this story.

Thank you Jesse Q. Sutanto and Mindy’s Book Studio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: February 1, 2026

Content warning: bullying, panic attacks, COVID pandemic, stalking, suicide

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In a world where you can be anything, be kind, it's a beautiful thing."

Read Between The Lies is following Fern whose dreams of becoming a published author finally happens. But her happiness comes to a halt when she her high school bully, Haven, has landed a major book deal and will be debuting alongside her. We are about to read that some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word

Grrr why did this take so long to get good. For me the 60% mark is when the book really takes off and gets so juicy and is uber drama filled. The book started off slow and there was A LOT of talk about the publishing world, but it read more ‘speechy’ than ‘storytelling’. I wasn’t bored but I did find myself zoning in and out at times.

When the real unhinged-ness of it all finally unraveled my jaw was on the floor eating it all up!

Following Fern as a narrator was annoying to say the least. She was so whiny and had something so unlikeable about her. This feeling did not let off, and I finished the book still feeling irked by her.

The book heavily highlights the consequences of bullying which I appreciated, and how it can affect some in later years.

The book needs more pizazz in the beginning and less cringey juvenile behaviour from so called adults.
I commend the narrator for also doing a brilliant job.

I will definitely continue reading this authors work as she writes about unhinged women so well.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
When I am craving unhinged women
This author is always a go to
So excited to read the madness
🤍❤️🤍❤️

Thank you to Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for approving the audiobook arc of this book. All views and opinions are entirely of my own.

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Full of suspense, paranoia, unhinged FMC.. had a very good time with this one

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a kindle copy of this book as part of Amazon's First Reads. I'm struggling with whether to rate the book or not. I read it but I had a visceral negative reaction to the main character and I think we are to like her, root for her, feel sorry for her. But even though her story is she was bullied in high school and she keeps tabs on her key nemesis, competing with her, I think she needs to take ownership of her own behaviors. And she needs to really assess her home life and the lack of love, care and attention she received from her parents. Instead, she 100% faults the high school nemesis.

So, I struggled to read the book when it turns out that being an author is what both the main character and nemesis are doing, during COVID, and our main character does some OTT actions to hurt the nemesis and her family.

I really disliked the ending too.

So, perhaps this book was just not for me? I'm not the right audience? That's why I'm struggling because if I rate it, it will be very low but not based on writing skills per se. She is a good writer. This story just was not at all a fit for me.

[Angie Miale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Woof- I have complicated feelings about this book.

First- Jesse Q Sutanto is one of my absolute favorite authors- see my 5 star review of the Vera Wong books, 5 star review of Next Time Will Be Our Turn and the Mulan re-telling Worth Fighting For.

Second- this book literally says "Goodreads is full of trolls," yikes, as a "top goodreads reviewer" I am hurt. But I won't take it personally. It is hard to be an ARC reviewer- part of you wants to give every book 5 stars because you know as an early reviewer your review (even if it is softly critical) has the potential to really swing a title. On the other hand if you are too positive your reviews become meaningless so you need to maintain an objective viewpoint. I've been challenged for being both "too mean" and "too nice" so this kind of goes along with the territory.

Third- This is a classic "cat fight" girl vs girl "mean girl" story and I find those to be unfortunate and somewhat misogynistic. I personally don't love this trope because I think it perpetuates stereotypes. Stories like this make me want to not be close to another woman, ever.

Lastly- I think this will be very successful, just because I am a sensitive baby does not mean others won't love it. I could not put it down although I was reading while covering my eyes. It's a great - BUT DARK - story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mindy's Books Studio for the ARC. Book to be published 2/3/26

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about authors.. sign me up!

This was a much darker and intense read than previous books by this author, so don’t go into it expecting the humour from the Aunties books. Don’t get me wrong, there some lighter moments but overall this is heavy read. Set mostly during COVID lockdown in 2020, it was at times very uncomfortable to read.

Fern was so frustrating!! I wanted to like her but she made so many bad decisions. Still nobody deserves to be treated the way that she was by Haven, her high school bully. What awful people, fuelled by jealousy and hatred.

I loved the behind the scenes look at debut writers, with their facebook page and community, comparing manuscripts and feelings about becoming published for the first time. As an avid reader this was what I was there for. I didn’t expect the emotional response.

Thanks to Mindy’s Book Studio for my early copy of this book to read. An eye opener. Published on February 1st.

[Melody McNamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Amazon First Reads for January 2026. The book addresses the complicated issues of obsession, the long-term traumatic effects of bullying, and the positive and negative aspects of social media. Fern has tried to work through her issues but backslides when the past comes back to haunt her. Dealing with self-hatred, she is constantly trying to convince herself that she's a good person. But when confronted by her childhood nemesis, she makes some really bad decisions that have unforeseen tragic consequences. I have mixed feelings about Fern, whose character is relatable, yet frustrating. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the world of publishing and becoming a debut author but didn't enjoy that a good part of the story took place during the pandemic (not my favorite topic). I found the ending to be satisfying but still unsettling, because although the past can be addressed and somewhat managed, it can never be changed.

[Gie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.1/5

I adore Jesse Q. Sutanto. Her books are always effortless to read, with references that are always funny and relatable to me. This book is a bit different compared to "Dial A for Aunties" and "Vera Wong," because it's a lot darker, but I enjoyed it more than I expected.

If you’ve ever been a bully or experienced bullying, this book might stir up some of your worst memories. It vividly captures the toxic dynamics of trio friendships, where one person is perpetually left out, and the sting of jealousy and gossip in social groups. While the story opens with a character’s death, that’s surprisingly the least gripping part. Instead, it’s the social interactions filled with insecurity and anxiety that will make you sweat. I felt uncomfortable yet couldn’t stop turning the pages.

The book hooks me with a strong prologue, pulling me into the story immediately. Our main character, Fern, is a doormat, an underdog whose high school bully, Haven, is the Regina George, the queen bee of this story. I was addicted to the book immediately.

Fern’s complex feelings toward Haven, both equal parts hatred and obsession, are pathetic yet painfully relatable. Watching your high school bully outshine you in every aspect of life stirs jealousy and the bitter thought that they don’t deserve their success. The interactions between Fern and Haven are intentionally unsettling. Imagine being an overly eager people-pleaser forced to act friendly with a former bully you both loathe and admire. It’s excruciating, and Sutanto nails it.

The social tension and plot feel so real that they’re almost unbearable. Fern is deeply flawed and unlikable, but Haven is downright scary. At times, I questioned whether Fern was paranoid or an unreliable narrator, as Haven seems charming to everyone else. There were moments when I wondered if Fern was imagining the whole conflict.

The story intensifies when the pandemic hits, trapping Fern and other writers in a confined space. With their online writing group as their only social outlet, Fern and Haven are stuck together. Haven is the adult Regina George, charismatic, beautiful, popular, and successful. This makes her a terrifying villain, as real-life bullies often share these traits, making them hard to confront.

Fern, on the other hand, is insufferable and constantly playing the victim, craving external validation, and bending over backward to please others. Yet, as the book aptly puts it, “You can love her or hate her, but you can’t stop relating to her.”

This fast-paced, popcorn thriller is scary because people like Fern and Haven exist in our own social circles. I was both uncomfortable and entertained by this chilling yet fun read. That said, some parts felt repetitive and could have been trimmed for a tighter narrative. The ending, both realistic and dramatic, brilliantly captures how publicity can upend someone’s life.

I recommend this book to readers who loved Yellowface by R.F. Kuang and are craving a similar binge-worthy experience. Sutanto has crafted a main character who is insufferable yet undeniably relatable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mindy’s Book Studio for providing the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Mandy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Between the Lies 4⭐️

This was a psychological spiral! Fern has struggled since middle school when new girl Haven enters her life. Even now, about a decade since graduation, when Fern is finally making her dreams come true and feeling confident, Haven returns and steals the spotlight.

Fern made me cringe as I read, but she also had a relatability to her. Don’t we all have moments where our emotions overtake logic and we give in to inner tantrums? Seeing everything from only Fern’s POV had me feeling anxious right along side her. I wanted to know Haven’s perspective so badly. I was honestly unsure if I should actually dislike Haven. The writing evoked such a roller coaster of emotions. I always felt on the edge of my seat waiting for the next thing to go wrong for Fern. Like her character, I felt like the universe was against her (but at the same time feeling frustrated that she spent so much time in her “woe-is-me” bubble and being her own biggest barrier).

Other notes: this takes place in 2020/COVID time. I know it’s not everyone’s favorite theme, but I felt it was well done. It was realistic and necessary for the story timeline.

I just recently read the author’s book “I’m Not Done With You Yet” and was a bit distracted at the beginning because it seemed to have similar parallels (obsession, time passing and being reunited through the writer sphere, dual timelines, the “perfect” character and the spiraling character…), but with time I was able to better separate the two books and the characters and ended up enjoying this one more.

Pub Date Feb 01 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Mindy's Book Studio for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

[Mathilde Banville-Chénier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows Fern, an insufferable author. She lives mainly online and struggles, even ten years later, with memories of middle and high school bullying. The book starts as Fern gets an offer for her debut novel and joins a authors’ online forum. However, her high school bully also becomes a author and joins the same group. From there starts an obsession and a competition between the two women.

I have to say that this book was very addicting. I always wanted to know what would happen next and I was making guesses about what it would be. However, the main character and the ending were not satisfying. As I said before, I could not stand Fern, she had a pick me attitude that was very irritating and the ending fell flat for me. Everything seemed to perfect for my liking.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

[Randi A · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m unsure how this book is being marketed as adult because it reads completely like YA, and not even good YA. Fern is simply unredeemable as a character and needs serious therapy. Instead of the flashbacks (why do I care what happened at age 12), I would’ve appreciated dual POV with Haven as I think that would’ve amped up the suspense around unreliable narration. Instead, we are left in Fern’s painfully awkward and childish head. The last 1/4 had some promise, but it did feel a bit like a Yellowface ripoff. I’ve enjoyed this author in other books but this was a big miss for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Between the Lies by Jesse Q. Sutanto was immediately catnip for me thanks to its behind the scenes look at the publishing world. I always love novels about authors, debut culture, and the quieter anxieties that come with trying to break into a creative industry, and this delivered a sharp, often uncomfortable peek behind the curtain. Set largely during the pandemic, the story does occasionally transport you back to a very specific and claustrophobic time, but I was so invested in Fern’s unraveling that I didn’t mind lingering there longer than expected.

Fern is not an easy character to root for, and honestly, that’s part of what makes this book so compelling. She’s cringey, obsessive, and deeply flawed, but endlessly fascinating to watch as her unresolved trauma, grief, and jealousy begin to consume her. Her relationship with Haven is the definition of toxic, built on old wounds, power imbalances, and a shared past that neither of them has truly reckoned with. The novel does an excellent job exploring how obsession can warp memory and truth, blurring the line between victim and villain in ways that feel unsettling and intentional.

Fast paced, unhinged, and darkly entertaining, Read Between the Lies leans fully into the messiness of a woman spiraling, and I was absolutely there for it. Sutanto keeps the tension tight and the perspective slippery, making this a psychological suspense that’s as much about ambition and resentment as it is about revenge. If you enjoy morally gray characters, toxic dynamics, and stories that make you question every version of the truth you’re being told, this one is a wild, addictive ride.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My prime first read for January 2026 and what a disappointment.
The story is told from the perspective of Fern, an aspiring author, as she goes through the process of publishing her debut novel. Fern is a deeply unlikeable character, she comes across as petty and is obsessed about her high school bully despite having graduated a decade earlier. For most of the book you find yourself questioning her age as it reads like teenage angst rather than actual adult emotions.

Fern has no real life friends or relationships so all of the dialogue takes place online as emails and slack messages. This often breaks the flow of the story and doesn't make for a satisfying read.

I found myself constantly wanting to tell Fern to grow up and get on with her own life whilst also wanting to hear Haven's story as it is increasingly obvious that Fern is an unreliable narrator. The book would have greatly benefitted from including hearing her take on events, if nothing else than to give the reader a break from having to listen to Fern.

[Danielle B · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ BETWEEN THE LIES was a hit for me! Five stars all the way! Jesse Sutanto is now becoming one of my favorite authors too, because everything I have read from her has been fantastic. The depth of the main character in this one was something very unique to me. You get the perfect view into how she thinks and reacts to her environment. The twists were unpredictable and I was kept guessing the whole time. Another great thriller from Jesse Sutanto!

Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.

[rosemary oconnor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly book

So silly. Could not get into reading. Even forwarded to end, still silly. Deleted the whole thing from my kindle.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was completely enamored with this book. Fern is a mess but man is she relatable. She is holding onto trauma from her childhood bully and when their paths cross as soon to be published authors the claws come back out. Cancel culture, toxic female relationships, and the downside of social media be prepared to pick this one up and not be able to put it down.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

This is a review of the ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is performed by Eunice Wong.

The main character is Fern. She is a photographer’s assistant. And she has just written her first book. The story is mostly told in the present from Fern’s POV. But there are also some chapters showing what happened in her teen years.

This book is a bit hard to rate. I found most of the book made me anxious. It was dark and depressing and I didn’t love it.

The book focuses a lot on the problems with social media, bullying and cancel culture. The pandemic is also a major part of the book, which I didn’t love.

A big focus of the book is the publishing industry. And that was so interesting.

Eunice Wong, who is also the voice of the author’s Vera Wong series, is an amazing audiobook performer. She is really good as Fern. I was so excited to listen to this audiobook because I love her voice so much!

The last part of the book was really a different experience. It was hopeful and so good. And I ended up with a good feeling when I finished the book

Thanks to Mindy’s book studio for the ebook and Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook.

[Ty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took a bit for me to get into. It wasn’t until about half through that I finally started to feel invested, but once I did, I was hooked. I have a lot of mixed feelings about Fern. In the beginning she was slightly annoying, I felt like she overthought everything, but by the end I felt sorry for her while also wishing she took more accountability for some of her actions. I liked that the book focused on publishing and gave some behind-the-scenes insight into what it takes to get published. There was a secret shared between Fern and Haven that I wished played a bigger role. It explained some of Fern’s behavior, but the reveal was a bit of a let down. Overall this ended up being just okay for me, but I do want to check out more from this author.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. I went back and forth between 2 stars and 3 stars for this book. I finally settled for 3 stars because I am sitting her, digesting this book after having read the end a bit ago. It does get points for a book that will stick with me for both good and not so good reasons.

Thank you to Prime First reads for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I was so excited to see Jesse Q Sutanto having another book out as Next Time Will be our turn was one of my Favorite reads of 2025. Like this book, Next time was a book that also really stuck with me but for better reasons.

Read between the Lies Centers around the story of Fern, who was badly bullied in High School by Haven, who ended up who bullied and gaslit Fern through Junior High and High School. When their mutual friend, Dani ends up dead as a result of an accident; Haven gaslights Fern into believing it was her fault.
Their paths now cross again when Fern and Have both have books that are soon to be published on the heels of the COVID outbreak. Their paths cross in a writers forum and the past feelings Fern has rush to the surface. Also some Random things start happening to Fern and she wonders if Haven is to blame for these.

I am no stranger to being a victim of Bullying and I had no issue with the dark tone of this book. I feel Ferns healing journey wasn't documented well enough in this book or the steps she had/was taking to move on with her life. This made her character difficult to like or have empathy for. I did pout through the book hoping it would get better but it did not. I feel this book would have been better if it had been a Dual POV book or more time was spent on what Fern went through in High School. Another thing that might have helped the book would have been scenes of Fern at the Therapists office.

I do like how Bullying and Internet Culture were shown on here but the lack of empathy for the main character as well as the lack of both POV's/Character growth caused me to give this book 2 stars. There was potential in this book but I feel it was missed. With that said I will continue to read this authors books but this one was not for me.

[Kelly Osborne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Woof okay lol. I’m genuinely confused by this novel: the protagonist was so unlikable as to be verging on parody— was this on purpose?? Are we, as the reader, meant to harbor anything but contempt for this person? Are we meant to champion her for her unhinged behavior simply because she was “writing her truth”? Are we meant to believe that she is all of a sudden a “one in a million voice” after the entire narrative leading up to the end hinges on the notion that she is, at best, a mid writer?

The number of times the word “whiny” was used to describe the protagonist’s tone (in a first person POV Novel nonetheless lol!!!) was quite something. I think this novel could have benefitted from a dual-POV perspective.

I did appreciate the sections about the publishing industry, but if you want to read a novel about the complexities of the publishing industry I would just recommend you go read Yellowface instead.

[Meryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's giving Yellowface but written in a juvenile tone, with less redeeming values. The ladies in this book are toxic, catty, and seem like they're stuck in high school.

Fern is not likeable, and I didn't find any moment where I was rooting for her. She's very anxious, much in her head, always second guessing herself, obsessed with Haven. She sees herself as a victim, but really, she's part of the problem.

Haven gives mean girl energy in the flashbacks and duplicity in the current timeline. Kinda reminds me of the lead lady villain in the K-drama Glory on Netflix.

Book mostly covers bullying, gossiping, and messy, abusive and toxic relationships, both in high school and in adulthood.

I wish I liked this enough to give it at least three stars, but I feel like I rage read it in one sitting. 😅

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s be clear: this is not a comfort read, but it is compelling whilst testing my patience—and somehow still won.

I think I accidentally set myself up for disappointment after peeking at other reviews and seeing people complain that this wasn’t a “typical” book for the author. I braced myself for a letdown. Instead, I got pulled in completely.

I can be hit or miss with unreliable narrators, and for a solid 70% of this book I truly did not like the FMC. I low-key wanted to slap her. And yet… she felt authentic in the messiest way possible, which I actually appreciated. When I say authentic, that’s coming from my background as a social worker—though to be clear, she is absolutely not a typical, well-adjusted person you’d meet in everyday life.

This story does take place during the pandemic, which is usually an automatic no for me. I generally avoid books set during that time. Surprisingly, I didn’t mind it here at all. In fact, I’m glad I didn’t know going in, because I probably wouldn’t have picked it up—and I would’ve missed out.

I do love a redemption arc, but I’ll be honest: it’s hard to fully root for either the FMC or her nemesis, because they are both pretty awful people. The Discord-style group chats gave strong middle-school energy and genuinely made me question whether grown adults are actually behaving like this.

Still, I recommend giving this one a chance. It might frustrate you. It might make you angry. But it’s emotionally compelling in a way that sticks.

Messy, frustrating, and oddly satisfying—enter at your own risk.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Mindy’s Book Studio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Amazon First Reads and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC/ALC!

“Why can’t we live in a world where evil people get what they deserve?"

I love Jesse Q. Sutanto’s ability to craft deeply flawed, yet deeply relatable female main characters. My heart went out to Fern. Still troubled by the death of her best friend from high school, she is finally on the verge of her dream to become a published author. When it seems too good to be true, it simply is because guess who else has written a book? A book that comes with a six-figure salary and is making much more of a splash. It’s no other than Haven, the girl who tormented Fern all throughout school. It seems like more than a coincidence, and Fern becomes obsessed with letting others know just how much of a mean girl Haven truly is.

This was such a complex, layered story - aside from bullying/mean girl energy, the book also tackled cancel culture - to the extreme - and the effect it has on everyone involved. I related SO much to Fern - thankfully never dealt with mean girls to this extent, but that feeling of someone constantly there, doing whatever they could to make your life miserable and never paying for it made me sad. Sutanto also explored the theme of the Covid 19 pandemic, as this story started beforehand, and continued straight on through. She accurately depicted what the world (specifically, New York City) was like during that strange period of time. All the while, she never lost the momentum of the psychological mystery she was building. On Audio, Eunice Wong brought these characters to life beautifully. I can’t imagine any other voice!

“Read Between the Lies” releases February 3, 2026! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[Kendra Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Such a different take on the thriller genre! This book revolves around the social media aspect of publishing and tackles big themes like bullying, obsession and revenge.

I’ve read a couple of this author’s books and the range of her writing across different genres is astounding! She not only tackles many genres but she does it well! 10/10 recommend!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Eunice Wong did a phenomenal job!

Releases February 1st!
Thank you Brilliance Publishing for an ALC!

[Antonea Nabors · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt like being trapped inside the mind of an emotionally immature 30-year-old, stretched across one long complaint. The first-person perspective only amplified the frustration. Fern shares every single thought that passes through her head, and as a reader, it quickly becomes exhausting rather than insightful.

The central premise is hard to take seriously. A woman in her thirties who is still deeply consumed by her high school bully feels unrealistic to the point of absurdity. That disbelief only grows when the bully conveniently reappears in her adult life as a fellow author, also published, and somehow landing in the exact same debut group. The odds are laughable, and the coincidence feels more like a contrivance than a meaningful narrative choice.

At best, this might work as a cautionary story for teenagers about the lasting effects of bullying. For an adult audience, it feels emotionally stuck in adolescence, with no growth or perspective to justify the fixation.

Another major issue was the lack of visual grounding. There were almost no scenes for my imagination to build from. Nearly everything unfolded through screens, whether that was a computer, a phone, text messages, or Slack DMs. The result was a flat reading experience that felt more like scrolling through someone else’s notifications than inhabiting a story world.

Overall, this was a genuinely painful read as a 30-year-old adult. The voice, the stakes, and the execution all felt misaligned with the age and emotional maturity the book seemed to expect from its reader.

[Jaclyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where to even start with this one.

I hated everything and every minute about this book.
The only suspenseful thing was the incident with Dani & the police that was chapter 1 or 2.

This book was written extremely childish and was flat out boring. There was no plot, I was extremely confused the entire book. At one point is became painful to read due to how bad it was but I kept reading just to finish it.

For as old as Fern was, you would think that she would have been more healed or worked harder in therapy to overcome what happened to her in her youth. Yes, we have all been bullied by the "mean" girl or boy at school, it's what you do to overcome that trauma and how you fix yourself. The nitpicking of what Haven did vs. what Fern did was getting so annoying. Not to mention Fern all of a sudden became the "hero" & got a new book deal because she was the "victim".

I think it needed to be more realistic vs. fiction. I understand this was a fiction book, but it just was not great. I'm questioning reading another book from this author even though her RomComs come highly recommended.

[Katie White · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVED this author’s previous release and was hoping to love this one but it fell a little flat for me. Yeah, Haven was a mean girl, but Fern was literally living in high school — come on, you’re thirty and messaging adult women with families about how she was mean to you in high school? Don’t get me wrong, I know that stuff sticks with you, but it just felt like endless buildup about how mean Haven was for about half the book, then boom it’s a pandemic (which plays not a huge role but oddly is focused on a lot), then we finally get some interaction between haven and fern…. And then fern does the most crazy sh*t on earth and then is shocked when there are repercussions…. And then of course she wins at the end despite her lowkey becoming a bully in the process??? Idk. Not for me. And again, I’ve historically loved this author!

[Diane Dubay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really any likeable main characters. This was disappointing, as I liked her previous books. More Vera Wong and Aunties, please!