Lies Between Us

by Jessica Goodman

The New York Times bestselling author of The Counselors delivers a razor-sharp murder-mystery set during the summer when a local teen's suspicious death exposes the devastating secrets three sisters keep.

Do you ever really know the people you love?

For the Gold sisters and Silver brothers, life has been idyllic, growing up in side-by-side waterfront mansions in a town where doors are never locked and the police do little more than issue speeding tickets. The Golds and Silvers have known each other their entire lives, as neighbors, as friends, as family.

But one carefree summer takes a dark turn when a beach party ends in tragedy and their perfect world cracks wide open. Suddenly, the bonds that tie these families together are strained by suspicion and fear. Painful secrets surface, revealing the fragile truths they've all been hiding.

Lucy, the oldest Gold girl, harbors a crushing secret from her boyfriend, one of the Silver boys. Millie, the middle sister, quietly yearns for the one person she can't have. And the youngest, Frankie, uncovers something that could blow their island apart.

From New York Times bestselling author Jessica Goodman, comes a gripping novel about the lies friends tell, the façade siblings build, and how one summer tests—and breaks—the bonds of family.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Summer, Fiction, Thriller Suspense

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 2, 2026

About the author

Jessica Goodman is the New York Times bestselling author of young adult thrillers They Wish they Were Us, They’ll Never Catch Us, The Counselors, and The Legacies.

She is the former op-ed editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, and was part of the 2017 team that won a National Magazine Award in personal service. She has also held editorial positions at Entertainment Weekly and HuffPost, and her work has been published in outlets like Glamour, Condé Nast Traveler, The Cut, Elle, Bustle, and Marie Claire.

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“There are three of us, and we are never whole unless we are together.”

What struck me most after I finished reading was how unlikeable the three sisters actually were. True, the very pointed emphasis at the start was how the bond of sisterhood is unbreakable and devoid of secrecy, and what follows pretty much proves the opposite. But, when all was said and done, despite not walking away unscathed, I felt next to nothing for their satisfied feeling that they'd sustained their lost relationship. 😐

It was even odder for me that, at the end, I felt sorry for the victim, Billy. He was a jerk, but he was still human. And no one deserves to die the way he did. 😔 Perhaps that unfairness left me colder still, seeing the inconclusive way his murder mystery was resolved. For as much as I appreciated the twists of viable suspects and misdirected clues, ultimately it did not reach a satisfying ending -basically, there has to be an answer - which, was unfortunate.

“I love when they put out old books like this but make them new. It's like seeing something you've seen your whole life but in a totally new light, you know?”

I wasn't particularly fond of either of the Gold sisters - Lucy, Millie, and Frankie, despite them behaving as teens do. The drama, the hopes, the fears - the lies between them that served as a breaking point for their close-knit bonds. 😥 Yet, it was strange how self-centered their thoughts were at times, even regarding their friendship with their neighbors - the three Silver brothers - who also have their fair share of burdens and troubles kept at bay.

The sisters weren't entirely innocent, either. 😒 I couldn't help but be annoyed by how they closed themselves off entirely from Pelican Island at the end; almost as if they felt above the lies and deceit that had engulfed its residents. 🙎🏻‍♀️ Or perhaps this tragedy was always intended for them to break free of this ideal image they had falsely created within their sheltered walls. To see the darkness that dwells within the façade of perfection and luxuries they take for granted.

“No one really knows each other. We pretend to. But there are some things we keep hidden.”

It was a fast-paced and readable read, I'll give it that. I didn't have any issues with the alternating povs, and I liked watching the layers peel back as dirty laundry was aired and possible motives emerged. Yet, with no real threat or danger, the final reveal is rather anticlimactic, making the entire experience feel for naught and land flat as a YA suspenseful thriller.

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for and honest review

2.75

“No one really knows each other. We pretend to. But there are some things we keep hidden.”

i think i'm destined right now to read vaguely not good books with extremely unlikeable characters. because while i greatly enjoyed the mystery and the overall vibe of this book every single character i couldn't stand. ironically i liked billy who is a character portrayed as a jerk and who was a jerk but what happened to him was awful.

the three gold sisters and the three silver brothers all got on my nerves. all six of them were truly insufferable and felt like they just were there being all jerky. silver and gold but make it from shein because i can't. how they all treated people they supposedly cared about was like i pretend to care about when people say their favorite food is eggs because i can't stand eggs and i don't want to hear about it.

it was fast paced sure but the wrapup and the reason for the murder was like we stuck a finger in an electrial socket and let it pick the reasoning. and dont get me wrong, i like a good open ending but everyone just ended up happy ever after and the lies that arose between all six of our characters could put a cheating man to shame because wth.

not my favorite but still enjoyable for a fast paced ya thriller.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy From NetGalley


Jessica Goodman never fails to keep you guessing. When I got the ARC for What Lies Between I was ecstatic. Her books never disappoint and this one is yet another amazing read. The turns this story took were wild and unexpected yet it made me want to keep reading I was disappointed when it was over.

By the end of the story you feel compelled to feel bad for the victim and may not end up liking any of the Gold sisters because of how the story unfolds but really it’s a journey of life. Navigating being a teenager amongst a murder and finding yourself is important and the journey they take is built on the foundation that you don’t truly know each other as well as you may think. People are full of surprises and tend to do unexpected things.

The story was amazing and I can’t wait to read another.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m the first one to give Jessica’s books a one star, so I get why it’s already below a four, but she’s been getting so much better recently! I really enjoyed this one.

I DID think the thing that it ended up being was definitely a cop out and I’m kind of tired of authors doing this particular thing, BUT the other twists and the tense vibes and the drama more than made up for it. It wasn’t NOT good. I definitely recommend it if you want to give her another chance, it’s one of her best ones.

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

This complementary ARC from G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers via NetGalley had me in a very familiar headspace…because somehow, I keep ending up right back in my Jessica Goodman era.

If you’ve read her before, you already know the vibe: elite settings, layered relationships, and a premise that sounds absolutely irresistible. And once again, I was pulled in by exactly that. The difference this time? I actually walked away satisfied…eventually.

Getting there, though, took some patience. The first half was a slow burn in the most frustrating way—I found myself picking at it over the course of a week, never fully hooked. Goodman tends to pack in a lot of interpersonal dynamics, but it often leans heavily on telling rather than showing, which makes it tough to feel truly connected to the characters or their stakes.

But somewhere around the midpoint, something clicked. I started forming my own theories about the central murder and the surrounding secrets, and suddenly, I needed to know if I was right. And…yeah. I was. Almost eerily so.

That said, I wouldn’t call it outright predictable. It feels more like the kind of mystery where readers are invited to play along, testing different scenarios as they go. There’s a definite nod to Agatha Christie in that structure, even if the execution doesn’t fully lean into the depth it could have reached.

If Goodman had trusted the story enough to show more instead of explaining it, this could have been something truly standout. As it is, it’s a layered, intriguing read that requires a bit of investment before it pays off, but when it does, it’s genuinely engaging.

For the target audience, I think this will land well. Would I recommend it? Yes—with a little context about what to expect going in.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman. This is the first book that I have read by Jessica Goodman.

As a teacher-librarian at a public school that has all reading levels --from emerging readers to university bound students--I am constantly looking for appropriate content that will interest my readers. Currently, my students are into mysteries and romance novels. At first glance, this novel appears to be both.

Let me describe the book to you: 3 sisters--the Golds, 3 brothers-the Silvers next door. These teenagers are of a similar age. Of course, there is some pairing off between the two families and of course, they live in fancy houses on an island. I was wondering while I read this if this type of setting was a little over-done. Don’t things happen to real, middle class people? Why do the characters always need to be rich? The book gave me a similar vibe to We Were Liars.

Having said that, I did enjoy it and found myself making time to finish it.

Lies, lies, lies. Each sister has a secret that they are keeping. While the Golds are a close family, these secrets are driving them slowly apart. The relationship between the Gold and Silver families is also tested when one of their teenage friends ends up murdered. How will these relationships survive? Who is involved in the murder? Is anyone telling the truth?

There were many twists in the plot and you are kept guessing right until the end about the murder.

I plan to purchase this for my library collection and recommend it to my mystery-lover patrons.

[Michael Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A teen murder mystery in a wealthy waterfront town. The Gold sisters and the Silver brothers grew up in swanky mansions next door to each other. Then the suspicious drowning death of Billy, a young man in the friend group of the six Gold sisters and Silver brothers, creates tension among the families and everyone in town. Everyone has been keeping secrets. Told in alternate points of view, the lies friends tell are revealed, spinning a who-dunnit that keeps unwinding until the very last page.
I expect this will be a hit with teens in my high school library and will add at least a couple copies for new book displays for the fall of 2026.

[Beth Riggs]

The Gold Sisters and Silver Brothers have grown up together in their beachfront mansions. The summer before the eldest siblings, Lucy and Ethan are set to go to college, tragedy strikes. Ethan's best friend, Billy, is found dead after one of his famous beachside parties.

Suddenly, their worlds are torn apart, and their longtime friendship with one another is tested to the limits. Who is keeping secrets? Are they all keeping secrets?

Mystery, yes. Twists, yes. Maybe young adult fiction, probably. Not my normal read, however it was good.

[Melanie Duke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
The Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman is easily my favorite book she’s written so far. From the very first chapter, the story pulls you into an intense web of secrets, privilege, betrayal, and complicated family dynamics. Goodman does such a great job creating an atmosphere where no one feels fully trustworthy, and every reveal makes you rethink everything you thought you knew.

The relationships between the teens were messy, emotional, and realistic, especially as hidden truths started surfacing. Every chapter added another piece to the puzzle without giving too much away too early.

Jessica Goodman’s writing continues to shine in the YA thriller genre, but this book felt darker, sharper, and more emotionally impactful than her previous novels.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Courtney McGhee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads for finally winning a free copy of a book that’s not out yet!! 🙌

On paper, this should’ve worked. A wealthy island, two intertwined families, and a murder after a beach party that unravels everything? I’m in. The entire story centers around the boy who died, how it happened, what really went down that night, and ultimately who killed him. It should have been gripping.

But I just could not buy into any of it.

The Golds and the Silvers? Really? Living next door to each other? Each family with three kids one all boys, one all girls and somehow perfectly matched in age? It felt so overly constructed that I never got lost in the story. I was constantly pulled out of it thinking about how unrealistic it all was.

That said, I will give it this: the flashbacks to the night of the party were probably the strongest part of the book. Those moments slowly dropped little clues and built some intrigue. I did like being fed pieces of the truth bit by bit instead of getting everything dumped at once.

There’s also that lingering question throughout: did Olivia actually hear him drowning and choose to ignore it, or did she truly not realize what was happening? That ambiguity had potential and kept things somewhat interesting.

But even with that, the twists overall felt like too much. Every character has some secret, and instead of making it more intense, it made everything feel overdone and less believable.

And honestly, the same issue shows up in the relationships. It felt like the story was trying too hard to include every possible dynamic instead of letting things unfold naturally, which again made it harder to stay invested.

By the time everything comes together, it’s supposed to feel like this big emotional reveal but I just didn’t care. Not about the victim, not about the friendships, not about the relationships.

That’s really what it comes down to: I didn’t believe these people, and I didn’t care about them.

[Jade Odoms · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh.. I was interested at first! Multiple POV always makes for a quick read but I just didn’t feel fully invested in any of the characters? And I did not care about Billy or Erica or who the murderer was. And I feel like the Lucy/ethan/millie/olivia drama was silly and unrelated to the mystery?! I was not into it. This had potential to be good but it wasn’t suspenseful or thrilling… more of a YA drama? Idk. Not my fav!

[Kaeleigh Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from Penguin Random House

This face paced murder mystery follows teenage sisters Millie, Frankie, and Lucy Gold as they navigate the death of Billy Godwin, who appears to be the local jerk. Their ties to Billy are mostly due to their neighbors, Ethan, Alex, and Trevor Silver, who all seem to have some sort of odd connection to Billy.

The book jumps back and forth from the POVs of each sister. I don’t mind the jumping POVs, although I did feel there was some continuity errors going on. Sometimes it felt as though ancillary characters just appeared in a scene with no introduction. It was also hard to tell how much time had passed between each chapter.

While I felt the twists were predictable, I found them enjoyable. Once I sat down and really dove in, this was a quick and entertaining read while it lasted.

[Sterling · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one given the "Gold vs. Silver" family dynamic, but it ended up falling flat for me. While the setting was interesting and it was a relatively quick read, the "big twist" didn't actually feel like a twist at all—it felt rushed. Because of that, the whole plot felt a bit unnecessary and like it was stretching a simple mystery further than it needed to go. It’s a decent choice if you want something fast and atmospheric, but if you're looking for a thriller that actually shocks you, this probably isn't it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

[Christine D’Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Jessica Goodman book and I was skeptical at first but it kept me intrigued. I thought the ending and the twist was expected but not at the same time. I knew the kids had something to do it with it but I couldn’t figure out which one. Oh and I don’t like to post spoilers but just venting. Lucy was annoying and self absorbed! Had me angry the entire time!

[Nicole Auerbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did, but I found that the plot and its “twists” just weren’t big/interesting enough to make me care. I expected more from the final resolution, and the author didn’t make me care about the relationships between the three sisters enough to rely on them so heavily at the end. Just underwhelming overall.

Thank you the NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Gina Malanga · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this author is an automatic read and request. I find all of her books are super fast paced and interesting and this one was no different. I literally read it in a couple of hours and was thoroughly engaged. We meet these two families, the goals, and the silvers, whose lives are so intertwined. It’s hard to tell where one family ends, and the other begins. And for that reason, the three brothers and the three sisters, naively believe that they don’t have secrets from each other. However, when tragedy strikes on their small island, they realize that everybody has secrets and sometimes we don’t see who people really are we see who we want them to be. There were lots of red herrings in this book that had me convinced. I had all the answers only to learn that I definitely did not and I think that this will definitely be a book. My students will want to read in class. As always, this author has knocked it out of the park.

[Fred II · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my SPOILER-FREE review of Jessica Goodman’s Young Adult Mystery novel The Lies Between Us. I may or may not be doing a more spoiler-heavy review once the book is published on June 30, 2026.


The story is told from three points of view: those of Lucy, Millie, and Frankie Gold, respectively the oldest, middle, and youngest teenaged sisters in the eminently wealthy Gold family. The Gold sisters have all grown up on Pelican Island, an exorbitantly wealthy and idyllic New York island town in side-by-side waterfront mansions with the similarly aged Silver brothers: Alex, Trevor, and Ethan. The Golds and Silvers have known each other for their entire lives as neighbors, as friends, as family. Their island community is a paradise of safety and pleasure where doors are never locked, money is never an object, and the police do little more than issue speeding tickets.


But all that changes on one carefree summer morning, when the lifeless body of another privileged but troubled teenager is found floating in the water and when all signs point to murder as the cause of death. Suddenly, the bonds that tie the Golds and Silvers together are strained by suspicion and fear. Painful secrets surface, revealing fragile truths that the sisters and brothers have all been hiding.


Lucy has been holding back a major secret from Ethan, who is her boyfriend. Millie quietly lusts for Ethan. And Frankie uncovers evidence indicating that Trevor and Alex may’ve had their own motives to murder the victim.


REVIEW


I approached this book expecting an entertaining beach read that’d occupy several hours of my time but that wouldn’t leave any lingering impressions, and that’s what I got. I’ve been following Jessica Goodman since her debut with They Wish They Were Us. And one pattern I've noticed is that Jessica is a strong writer of characters and relationships—particularly regarding rich or rich adjacent teenaged girls—but a mediocre mystery writer. She also tends to undercook the endings of her books in favor of delivering final feel-good moments between characters, whether or not those moments are earned. Be it her first book or her latest (The Meadowbrook Murders), the main characters always sing. The murder mystery premises themselves are also always intriguing, but the execution is always lacking. And while the endings tend to tug at the heart strings, they always feel underdeveloped and at least a little undeserved.


The same is more-or-less true of The Lies Between Us.


Jessica does an outstanding job of portraying the distinct personalities, fears, secrets, hopes, and general life grinds of the Gold sisters, who narrate most of the book in alternating chapters. Each sister undergoes a solid and complete character arc. And the fact of Jessica’s pulling that off is made even more impressive by just how hard it can be to properly service even two, much less three, main characters in a single novel. The Gold sisters are presented as sheltered one percenters, living in luxury on their utopian private island town. Nevertheless, any disconnect that readers might be tempted to feel regarding them and their lifestyle of excess is obviated by the masterfully grounded and real way that Jessica humanizes them as three sisters whose differing personalities and tics and subtleties of interaction collide with each other and spill over into the world. Most people (particularly girls) who've ever had sisters will definitely relate to the Gold girls in their collective drama as it unfolds. Basically, readers will feel like these girls could be real people who live on the island next door.


However, while the central mystery's premise is interesting, that mystery itself is tolerable at best and underwhelming at worst. It is essentially a series of coincidences, poor choices, obvious misdirects, and aimless plot threads that never truly comes together as a satisfying or sensible whole. The ultimate solution will be the peak of disappointment for anyone who picks up this book looking for a traditionally defined murder mystery—that is a story in which there is a murder, a victim, a culprit, a motive, and a trail of plausible clues tying them all together.


The book's ending felt good, but the author evidently skipped plenty crucial steps and emotional beats to get there. And again, this is par for Jessica's course. She delivers major interpersonal twists and turns, doesn’t appropriately pay them off in story, then drops an ending usually set some time after the main narrative revealing that the resolution has occurred one way or another off page.


TRIGGER WARNING/CONTENT ADVISORY


The Lies Between Us is definitely for mature teenagers and new adults. It may be a turn-off for younger kids and/or those with religious sensibilities.


There is abundant foul language, one crucial subplot involves a gay courtship, and said courtship is consummated rather graphically on page.


Alcohol and other drugs are present.


Major storylines revolve around tragic accidental death and child abuse/neglect.


Toxic behavior in romantic relationships is a theme.


One major storyline revolves around teenage pregnancy—and it gives rise to some rather cringey and on-the-nose coverage of the abortion debate.


MY OVERALL RATING


I give The Lies Between Us 3 of 5 cronuts.


Basically, it’s a fun read that’ll keep you hooked for a few hours but that won’t make any sweeping or lasting impression.


**Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jessica Goodman delivers another sharp, fast-paced YA mystery with “Lies Between Us,” a story that thrives on secrets, shifting loyalties, and the complicated bonds of sisterhood. Set in a wealthy waterfront community where nothing bad is supposed to happen, the book proves that perfection is often just a carefully maintained illusion.

The story is told through the alternating perspectives of the three Gold sisters, and each voice is clear, distinct, and emotionally grounded. Lucy, the oldest, is quietly pulling away from her boyfriend Ethan and coming to terms with her own future. Millie, the middle sister, is harboring a devastating secret of her own: she’s in love with Ethan. And Frankie, the youngest at fifteen, feels perpetually sidelined as she is shown to be too young to be taken seriously, yet observant enough to sense that something is deeply wrong. Each sister is lying to the others, convinced their secret is the one that must stay buried.

When a teen boy they all know is found dead after a party in what first looks like a drowning that soon becomes a murder the fragile balance holding their world together begins to crack. The death sends shockwaves through the tightly intertwined Gold and Silver families, who have grown up side by side in adjacent mansions, blurring the lines between friendship, loyalty, and entitlement. As suspicion mounts, it becomes increasingly clear that Ethan and the Silver brothers are at the center of something dangerous, and whatever the truth is, it’s going to destroy lives.

Goodman skillfully layers the mystery with occasional flashback chapters from the victim’s perspective, slowly revealing what really happened the night of the party. These chapters add tension and context, while also showing how deeply everyone is implicated, whether through action, silence, or self-preservation. The mystery itself is well constructed, with plenty of red herrings and twists where some are predictable while others are genuinely surprising, but it’s the character dynamics that give the story its real bite.

Frankie’s amateur sleuthing can feel immature at times, but her behavior rings true for a fifteen-year-old desperate to matter. Millie is often the hardest sister to like, particularly because of her choices regarding Ethan, yet her flaws are painfully human. Lucy, meanwhile, carries the emotional weight of the story, torn between loyalty, honesty, and the realization that growing up sometimes means letting go of who you thought people were.

The story’s greatest strength is the relationship between the sisters (as well as the brothers). Despite jealousy, betrayal, and resentment, their bond ultimately becomes the emotional core of the story. Watching them finally work together to uncover the truth is both satisfying and cathartic, reinforcing that the real mystery isn’t just who killed Billy but how far people will go to protect themselves and each other.

The ending is bittersweet rather than triumphant. While the truth does come out, not everything is neatly repaired, and the cost of those lies lingers. Still, the final pages emphasize growth, accountability, and the enduring power of sisterhood.

Overall, “Lies Between Us” is a compulsively readable YA thriller that explores murder and social politics with messy, believable relationships. Jessica Goodman’s razor-sharp pacing, layered character work, and emotionally grounded twists make this a standout. This book is perfect for fans of fast, twisty summer thrillers where the biggest secrets are the ones we keep from the people we love most.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 3 out of 5]

As soon as I saw a new YA mystery from Jessica Goodman, I immediately got excited. I’ve enjoyed some of her previous books, and she usually delivers those glossy, drama-filled stories about wealthy teens hiding messy secrets. So of course I jumped at the chance to read this one, expecting another addictive summer mystery.

The story takes place on a seemingly perfect island where two families—the Gold sisters and the Silver brothers—have grown up side by side in waterfront mansions. Their lives look idyllic from the outside: endless summers, beach parties, lifelong friendships, and the kind of small-town comfort where everyone thinks they know everyone. But one night at a party changes everything when a local teen dies under suspicious circumstances, and suddenly that shiny, picture-perfect world begins to crack.

At the center of the story are the three Gold sisters—Lucy, Millie, and Frankie—each dealing with their own secrets, relationships, and complicated emotions as the investigation slowly unfolds. The tragedy forces old tensions to surface, and it quickly becomes clear that everyone on the island is hiding something.

I will say the premise had a lot of potential. I’m always drawn to stories about tight-knit communities where secrets slowly unravel, and the idea of exploring sisterhood alongside a murder mystery sounded especially promising. The setting also had that classic “rich kids with problems” vibe that usually works well for YA thrillers.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite deliver the way I hoped it would.

One of the biggest issues for me was the number of perspectives. The story shifts between multiple points of view, mainly the three sisters, but instead of adding depth, it sometimes made the narrative feel a bit cluttered. Their voices often blended together, which made it harder to feel fully connected to any one character.

And speaking of the characters… I struggled to care about most of them. The Gold sisters are meant to be the emotional center of the story, but I found them difficult to relate to. Their relationships and personal struggles are explored throughout the book, yet I never felt truly invested in their journeys. At times, the drama between them felt repetitive rather than revealing something new.

The mystery itself also didn’t fully hook me. While the story drops hints and secrets along the way, I found the overall suspense a little lacking. I kept waiting for the plot to take a sharper turn or deliver a truly shocking twist, but the revelations felt more subdued than I expected. By the time the truth started coming out, the impact just wasn’t as strong as I had hoped.

That said, the book is still a quick and readable story. The pacing moves along easily, and the short chapters make it the kind of book you can breeze through fairly quickly. I can definitely see it appealing to readers who enjoy messy friendship drama and complicated sibling relationships wrapped in a light mystery.

Overall, this wasn’t a terrible read—it just didn’t live up to my expectations. The premise was intriguing, but the characters and the mystery didn’t quite pull me in the way I hoped they would.

I’m giving this one 2.5 stars. While it had an interesting setup and some entertaining moments, it ultimately left me wishing for stronger character development and a more gripping mystery.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sharing this intriguing mystery with me in exchange for my honest feedback.

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[Ashley Reindeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, let's talk about Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman because I have thoughts.

Goodman has been an auto-buy author for me since her very first release—I’ve genuinely loved everything she’s put out. Her books usually hit that perfect mix of messy teens, sharp drama, and actually shocking twists. But this one? It didn’t quite land the same way for me.

That said, it is a super quick, beachy mystery read—like the kind you’d throw in your bag for vacation and finish in a day or two. It just felt like it was missing that punch her other books usually have.

So here’s the spoiler-free vibe:

The story follows the Gold sisters—Lucy, Millie, and Frankie—who’ve grown up in this ridiculously wealthy idyllic waterfront town alongside their neighbors, the Silver brothers. Think: big houses, no locked doors, everyone’s known each other forever, and nothing ever really goes wrong… until it does.

One summer night, a beach party ends in a teen’s suspicious death, and suddenly that perfect, picture-postcard life starts to crack. What makes it juicy is that everyone is connected—these families are basically intertwined in every way possible—so when things go bad, it’s not just a mystery, it’s deeply personal.

Each sister is dealing with her own mess:
• Lucy, the oldest, is hiding a major secret from her boyfriend (who, of course, is one of the Silver boys), and her storyline is very much about pressure, expectations, and control.
• Millie, the middle sister, is stuck in that quiet, aching kind of longing for someone she absolutely shouldn’t want, which adds a lot of emotional tension… in theory.
• Frankie, the youngest, is the one who starts pulling at threads and uncovering things that could completely blow up both families—and honestly, she had the most interesting perspective for me.

As the investigation unfolds, all these buried secrets start coming to the surface, and you realize just how fragile their whole “perfect life” really is. It’s very much about privilege, denial, and the lies people tell to protect themselves and each other.

Now here’s where it didn’t fully work for me:

There was just too much filler and not enough real suspense. The pacing felt uneven—like we spent a lot of time circling the same tensions without the stakes really escalating. And the twists? They were fine, but not nearly as shocking or hard-hitting as I was expecting. The reveals didn’t have that “OH” moment I usually get from Goodman's books.

Also… I didn’t really love any of the characters. They were interesting on paper, but I never fully connected with them, and I wasn’t actively rooting for anyone. That made it harder to feel invested when everything started unraveling.

Because of all that, I landed at 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. It’s still enjoyable, still super readable, and definitely worth picking up if you like fast-paced YA mysteries—but it just didn’t hit like her previous books for me.

This one releases June 2, 2026, so definitely grab it then if you’re in the mood for a lighter, drama-filled mystery.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, G.P. Putnam’s Sons for Young Readers, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off of an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way.

[Autumn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the first three books Jessica Goodman had released and I have been meaning to catch up on her newer works so I was so excited when I received this Netgalley ARC. Unfortunately this book really disappointed me.

One of my favorite things about Jessica Goodman’s previous novels is how she creates a strong connection between the murder victim and the reader but that did not happen with Billy in this book. Even other characters like Billy’s parents, his cousin, and his friends seemed relatively unbothered by Billy’s death. Even if Billy was considered an asshole by many people around him doesn’t mean his own family and friends would completely lack remorse for him. That aspect of the book made zero sense to me. The reveal of everything that happened with Billy at the end was pretty predictable given how certain people were acting throughout the book. This book pretty obvious about everything.

Lies Between Us was primarily not about Billy’s death and more about the Gold sisters and the Silver brothers which is now unsurprising to me given the fact that Billy’s name isn’t even mentioned in the book’s description. It very much felt like this book was heavily inspired by The Summer I Turned Pretty and We Were Liars. Even if you are a fan of those books I would not recommend it because it’s not worth it for the lack of plot this book had despite being a mystery novel.

The Golds and Silvers are insufferable characters. The only one I didn’t find as annoying as the others (but still had his moments) was Alex Silver. I was supposed to believe that Millie Gold and Trevor Silver were the best of friends but we rarely actually had them interact on page and other characters would say “you two are super close right?” as a way of telling us they were close rather than showing us. I understand they were not getting along at the point in time that the book was taking place but I think having Millie reflect on specific times her and Trevor spent together and having her think about how much she misses her friendship with him would have gone a long way. Frankie Gold was supposed to be 15 but genuinely felt like an 11 year old on a sugar high most of the time. Her POV was the hardest part of this book to get through. All the characters reek of pretentiousness and privilege that occasionally gets acknowledged but only for them to come across as being not like other rich people AKA Billy’s family.

As much as I really wanted to like this book the only thing that this book had going for it was the dynamic of how the brothers treated each other versus the sisters. I would have loved to see that expanded on more. It sounds ridiculous to say since this was a murder mystery but I think Billy’s death essentially being put on the back burner in favor of the Golds and Silvers was a mistake. The author either needed to commit to Billy’s death being the center of the story or remove Billy’s death entirely and have the Golds and Silvers work through another mystery or conflict so their relationships could be expanded on to their fullest potential.

I still would like to catch up on the other Jessica Goodman books I’ve missed but I will not be recommending this book to others like I did with They Wish They Were Us, They’ll Never Catch Us, or The Counselors.

Once again, thank you Netgalley for providing me with this free ARC.

[Liberty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.25 stars.

Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Lies Between Us follows two neighboring families--the Silvers and the Golds (very fitting for two extremely wealthy families living in waterfront mansions). The Gold sisters and the Silver brothers have had an idyllic life in a town where doors are never locked and the police do little more than issue speeding tickets. But their carefree summer takes a dark turn when a beach party ends in tragedy. Suddenly, the bonds that tie these families together are strained with suspicion and fear. Does anyone ever really know the people they love? Lies Between Us comes out on June 2nd and is available for preorder now.

This was such a quick read for me. There was something about the pace of this book that just made it so easy to keep going. I blame the show Revenge for putting this into me but I just love reading/watching "rich people problems/drama." There is something so fascinating to me about being able to peek behind a door I've never been able to enter before. The richness of these characters isn't thrown in the reader's face but it is very obvious that these people are wealthy. And that they're used to their wealth being able to solve their problems. These kids are sheltered and it's so obvious to the reader that that's the case. Especially given the hijinks they get up to. I also love the idea of the Northeast coastal city where everyone knows everyone and the sense of safety and belonging it can bring. It felt like such a summery read which I don't typically love (Fall and Winter own me), but the author actually managed to find a way to also remind the reader of the nights in the summer when it can get a bit chilly out if you're up late sitting around a dying fire. It felt surprisingly cozy. I know some people are talking crap about them being the Silvers and the Golds and being two rich families living right next door to each other. But...you guys realize this is fiction, right? It's a metaphor for money and how even if you have money, bad things can still happen to you/your family/your closest friends. One thing I was surprised by was the way the author managed to explore the different dynamics in these two families and between these two families. I know it's hinted at in the synopsis, but the exploration felt more thorough than I expected and came out strong at the end.

The author used a writing method/style that I don't really enjoy. They tried to hook the reader into the mystery by dropping a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter. It doesn't work because 90% of the time those are just red herrings that get dispelled later on (sometimes in the very next chapter). I never got hooked on the mystery itself. The things that kept me reading were the setting, the characters, the "rich people problems" of it all. The mystery itself never felt like it needed solving to me. Which is bad when there's supposed to be a murderer on the loose I guess. I didn't love the conclusion of the whole mystery. I wasn't very invested in it for most of the book but the ending felt like an author pulling their punches. I wish the last theory we had on the mystery had been exactly what had happened. It would have made the book darker, but I think it would have made me like it more.

Overall, I think this is a good summer Mystery for anyone looking for something to take to the beach or the pool.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

At around 80% in, Ethan lands the biggest insight of the entire book: “Who am I?” To each person he is something different, but the deeper question lingers—does he really know himself? And in reality, do any of the main characters truly know themselves, or each other, when they’re all guarding secrets, telling lies, and manipulating one another?
This is the story of a group of teens who grew up together thinking they knew everything, only to discover that sometimes you don’t—and that even the people you trust most can surprise you. Billy’s death becomes the devastating catalyst that slowly crumbles their friendships and forces harsh realities to the surface. Each of the boys is scared and facing challenges they never expected; the aftermath reveals how profoundly his death has affected them in ways that weren’t obvious at first.
What stood out most to me was Ethan’s introspection. He realizes he has no real control over his life, that he’s just a scared kid who has no idea who he is or what to do. Unlike the others, he’s more introspective and kinder in his reactions. His actions feel rooted in genuine emotion rather than performance, and his strong sense of brotherly loyalty—especially being pulled into this mess because of it—made him incredibly compelling. The party moments with Ethan were some of my favorites; they showed a lighter, more vulnerable side of him while highlighting how lost he truly feels beneath the surface.
Lucy comes across as pretentious and hypocritical (exactly as Ethan observes), and Olivia’s constant manipulation of everyone around her really left a bad taste. I didn’t connect with either of them the way I did with Ethan.
The book explores heavy themes of identity, loyalty, grief, and the masks we all wear for the people closest to us. It leaves you quietly wondering about Billy’s story—accident or deliberate?—and pondering how well we can ever truly know the people we call friends.
What I loved (in a quiet, lingering way):

Ethan’s deep introspection and the raw moments where he confronts the fact that he has no idea who he really is.
His kinder, more genuine reactions compared to the rest of the group, and the strong brotherly loyalty that got him tangled in everything.
The party moments that felt both fun and heartbreakingly revealing.
The slow, painful crumbling of friendships and the way Billy’s death ripples through every character’s life.
The central question the story asks: How well do we actually know ourselves and the people we love?
I’d recommend this to fans of YA murder mysteries with strong emotional depth, especially those who enjoy character-driven stories about friendship, grief, secrets, and self-discovery. It’s ideal for readers who like books that stay with you and make you reflect long after the final page.
One-sentence review:
Lies Between Us is a somber, gripping YA murder mystery that peels back the layers of a seemingly perfect friend group after a tragic death, forcing every character—and the reader—to question how well we truly know ourselves and the people closest to us.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Jessica Goodman is a little hit and miss for me, but I *loved* Meadowbrook Murders, so I was super excited to be approved for her newest book. I’d file this one under “good not great.” I enjoyed it, and it’s a compelling read, but sadly kind of forgettable. I finished it a couple of days ago and I’m already having trouble remembering specifics.

The Golds (sisters) and Silvers (brothers) have grown up side by side on the idyllic Pelican Island. Their families are best friends, the two oldest siblings are dating, and their whole lives have just been perfect. This is their last summer before the two oldest siblings (Lucy and Ethan) leave for college. Middle sister Millie is trying to cling to every last moment together before everything changes (all while harboring the world’s worst-kept secret crush on Ethan). Of course, Millie’s perfect summer is pretty much immediately thrown into chaos when she spots a dead body floating in the surf on her first (I think?) day as a lifeguard. Turns out, Ethan’s terrible best friend Billy has drowned…or has he? We follow all three sisters throughout the summer (as well as flashing back to the night of Billy’s party that the Silver boys claim not to have attended…or did they?) as they try to put the pieces together.

The premise here is ripe for yet another “yeah…but what are the adults up to?” outing, but really the adults are almost an afterthought here. Other than the fact that all six siblings still live at home, it’s kind of easy to forget they even *have* parents for a majority of the narrative. So we have Frankie (youngest) trying to investigate with youngest Silver brother Alex, Millie trying and failing to not be in love with Ethan, and Lucy keeping her actual college plans a secret from her boyfriend, while also suspecting her best friend may have murdered Billy. It’s a lot. I found Millie kind of tiresome, and while I liked Frankie, she’s basically just here to be an amateur investigator (case in point, I’ve written this entire review without realizing her name is Frankie not Frannie). The party flashbacks were definitely the most compelling part of the story, as each one gives you a little piece of the narrative on the night Billy died. And as others have already pointed out, the Silver boys are all pretty underbaked. Is Ethan actually a controlling asshole? Hard to say - he has some sinister vibes that aren’t really explored. But the other two Alex and…Trevor? barely register at all.

This has vibes of both We Were Liars and somehow the second(?) season of 13 Reasons Why (when it inexplicably became a murder mystery for a while). It’s entertaining, but not all that memorable.

[Rebeccah Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, thank you to NetGalley, Penguin, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC! The opinions below are my own.

The Gold girls have known the Silver boys their entire lives. The families live side by side in beachfront mansions in an idyllic east coast town, where the worst crime you can commit is speeding.

Until a standard teenage beginning of summer party turns tragic in the wee hours of the morning. Suddenly, their quiet town is rocked by reporters, investigations, and questions that no one wants to answer.

Lucy, the eldest Gold, has been waiting for a moment to drop a bombshell on her boyfriend, the eldest Silver brother, but decides to hold back amidst the brewing scandal. Millie, the middle sister, is finally hoping that the one person she can’t have will finally *see* her. And Frankie, the youngest, finds that some people will go to great lengths to keep secrets buried.

Secrets, lies, and facades are tested in ways neither of these families expect, putting the sisters’ relationships with each other (and the people around them) on the line.

Another Jessica Goodman ARC I have the pleasure of reading?! Yes please! I was so thrilled at the book announcement and cover reveal, so this was a no brainer request.

This book feels more in line with the other book of hers I had the chance to review prior to release: “The Legacies”. The three protagonists, each with their own POV, and the events of the murder played out in pieces sprinkled through the book in a third person voice. Goodman does such a great job with these sorts of elements in her writing, and I was happy to see she brought them back. Especially the third person pieces; we get to learn the details slowly, and we see the things we learn come into play with each chapter.

The Gold sisters are each more than different enough that they don’t feel like the same character, which I love. Jessica crafts tension between the sisters so well that I felt myself choosing sides.

The romantic aspects of the book are prominent enough without turning the story into a rom com; I also like that the romantic relationships played into certain factors and created/contributed to plot points within the story without overpowering it.

The book itself was fantastic, and I definitely would recommend this as a great summer read, whether you’re at the beach, or home on a rainy day.

[Haley Sparks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jessica Goodman used to be pretty hit or miss for me, her last few especially. Unfortunately, this was another miss. I did not connect with any elements of the story or the “mystery” or the characters. The characters all felt the same to me, no one was fully fleshed out at ALL and the few distinguishing characteristics they did have (eldest daughter being “perfect,” one daughter loving to read, idk what the youngest daughter’s thing was tbh) felt so overdone and tired.

Beyond a lack of connection or care, my biggest problem with the story was how much telling there was vs showing. We are told SO much and shown so little about practically every element of the story. The Golds and Silvers are best friends, spend every Shabbat together etc etc, but we barely see that. Millie loves to read, but she’s never actually reading. I guess we are shown how much of an asshole Billy is, which made me care next to NONE about who killed him. I was not invested in finding out at all and though the book told me over and over that there was a dangerous murderer out there roaming freely, there’s nothing shown to the reader that suggests anyone in the community is in any kind of danger. There were also a few plot elements that just felt half baked to me—the parents were weird and sucky for no good reason, Frankie wanted to solve the murder and I’m not really sure why, and Millie was sad about everyone leaving. Olivia and Lucy’s arc was somewhat interesting, but also again we are TOLD so much about their past relationship and shown so little present that I just didn’t give much of a shit about them being together or how the book ended.

I feel kind of like a bitch for how hard I’m dragging this book because I actively chose to read an advanced copy. It also wasn’t unreadable—I did finish it and I DNF a LOT of books so that has to count for something. I read YA thrillers the way some people read smut to disassociate and escape, and it did achieve that intended purpose ! I’ll probably keep reading Goodman’s books even though I’m just not jiving with them, and I follow her on social media and really like her as a person so I hope she never sees this. I mean, she’s the published author and I’m not so at the end of the day, what do I know?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was excited when I saw this book was a Read Now, because this publisher never approves me. anyway, I have read other books by Goodman, and Lies Between Us is one of my favorite books by this author. I really enjoyed it, especially the first half or so on the plane with no interruptions or distractions.

The Gold sisters live next to the Silver brothers on an island by Long Island sound. They are not only neighbors but best friends. Lucy dates Ethan, both the eldest of their siblings. They are headed to college in the fall. Only Ethan thinks Lucy is going with him to Cornell, but she got off the wait list at Penn, her dream school. And middle sister Millie, 17 has a crush on Ethan, not Trevor. and Frankie, 15 is best friends with Alex. school has just ended for the summer, and they all have summer jobs. Only Friday night after dinner, they are playing cards as they always do on Shabbat, and Ethan decides to go to his friend Billy's party.

The next day, Millie is starting her lifeguard shift at the beach with Ethan. She sees a body in the water and races out there, pulls in a body that is cold to the skin. Billy has been dead a few hours, and he has scrapes and bruises.

Each sister gets a point of view, and they are all hiding secrets. Frankie just wants to fit in with her older sisters. Lucy finds out Ethan is lying about something, and Millie is hiding her crush on her sister's boyfriend. Billy's ex Erica, Lucy's best friend, is hiding a secret and local sort of bad boy is a suspect. Everyone plays a role in how Billy dies with flashbacks to the night of the party.

I really enjoyed how this book played out with trying to guess who was responsible. I felt badly for Frankie feeling left out. also enjoyed the Jewish representation. 4.25/5☆ available June 2, 2026.

[Posipi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up (jk it was an accident, i just dunno how to change the star rating 😭)

The Lies between us was to me a fairly well written YA murder mystery, however a little simple. I enjoyed the writing and the story, and found all the characters very interesting.

The Characters:
-Lucy: She´s the oldest sister, and annoyed the hell out of me. I found her to be an entitled, hypocritical brat, yet she puts herself on a pedestal, which is only more annoying. No, you didn´t sacrifice many things for your sister. Explaining your sister how to do a maths exercise is not a sacrifice, and if you think it is, that just proves how rich you are and spoiled

-Millie: She had the personality of stale bread 😊She was obsessed with her older sisters, Lucy, boyfriend. Well that was about her whole personality 🤩 You know how some people joke that the middle child is always forgotten? This was the case here. She was 100% forgotten :)

-Frankie: No, you are not a genius. You can solve that beginner level crossword that´s meant for 10 year olds 🫨!!! Stop trying to be a wannabe Hercule Poirot.

-Billy: He died
-Ethan: Lucy´s boyfriend, Millie´s crush
-Alex: Ethans younger brother, whose gay and best friends with Frankie
-Trevor: Alex´s older brother, younger than Ethan, the middle child. He too got the same middle child treatment as Millie :)
-Erika: Lucy´s best friend, used to date Billy
-Olivia: Billy´s cousin

The World:
I enjoyed the setting, it was basically a sea side town with a bunch of rich kids, which was fun to read about.

The plot:
This rich kid, who´s described as a douche, Billy, is found dead in the sea. MURDER!! I can´t reveal anymore other than the ending was really predictable :)

The Writing:
The writing was honestly great :) I found it smooth and easy to follow, and really enjoyable, not too flowery

Verdict:
If you have time and want an easy read, then this ones great :)

[Ella Droste · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had me fully in my messy teen drama thriller era and I wanted to love it way more than I actually did. We’ve got rich waterfront families, siblings who swear they are super close, neighbors who are basically glued together by history and secrets, and then boom, a tragedy hits a summer beach party and everything starts unraveling in the most dramatic way possible. Think locked doors emotionally, but like, everyone still somehow knows everything about everyone anyway.

I do love a good “everyone is hiding something” setup, and this definitely delivered on that front. There are secrets popping up left and right, and for a bit I was very invested in trying to piece together who knew what and who was lying through their teeth. It also has that very glossy YA thriller vibe that makes it easy to keep turning pages even when you are side-eyeing half the cast.

And speaking of the cast… yeah. I struggled here. The characters felt more like walking plot devices than actual people sometimes, and I never really warmed up to any of the sisters or the brothers. Even when things got intense, I kind of stayed emotionally at a distance, which made the big reveals land a little flatter than they should have. I also wished the resolution had more weight because it all wrapped up in a way that left me blinking at the page like wait, that’s it?

There were moments where I thought it was going to really dig into something deeper about loyalty, privilege, and how easily friendships can rot under pressure, but it never fully committed to that sharper edge. It stayed entertaining, just not as impactful as it wanted to be.

Overall, it’s a readable, twisty YA mystery with plenty of secrets and betrayal energy, but it didn’t quite stick the landing for me. I enjoyed the ride in the moment, just didn’t leave it thinking about it after.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Collyn Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

read if you like:
🌊 beach communities
👯‍♀️ YA thrillers
🏡 sisters and family dynamics

summary:
My favorite YA of 2026 so far! I’ve LOVED Jessica Goodman’s past books - THE COUNSELORS and THEY’LL NEVER CATCH US, and I was so excited to get a chance to read this ARC. This book follows three sisters — Lucy, Millie, and Frankie Gold — whose family is deeply intertwined with the rich Silver family next door while living on the Pelican Island. Their lives have always revolved around summers on the island, their friendships, and prestige of their exclusive community. But when a local teenager’s death shocks everyone living on the island, the perfect facade begins to crack.

Each sister has a secret - Lucy is keeping secrets from her boyfriend, one of the Silver brothers, Millie has a crush on someone she shouldn’t, and Frankie begins to uncover information about Billy’s death. As suspicion spreads, the Gold sisters are forced to decide how far they’ll go to protect the people they love.

This book explores the intensity of a small town and of teenage relationships, and the pressure of living in a community where everyone knows each other. The author does a great job of painting a detailed picture of the island, and you can almost feel yourself with them on the beach, with not a care in the world, until Billy’s death brings them back to reality. The dynamic between the sisters is intense but thoughtful, and anyone with siblings can relate to the fierce loyalty — and betrayal — they have with one another. The coming of age is compelling, but heartbreaking, but it wraps up in a satisfying — and somewhat validating — way.

If you love stories about friendship and family loyalty, you’ll finish this in one sitting. Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the advanced copy, and make sure you preorder this before it releases on June 2!