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Sweet Dreams Don't Lie
When Harriet Vaughn’s body is found in the woods behind her house–with no possessions except a mysterious gold necklace–the quiet town of Ashford Vale is shaken. Her two best friends take the news the hardest; Harvey Lakeland is miserable and horrified.
But Florence McAllister is heartbroken and angry.
Desperate to know what happened to her friend that night, she puts herself in Harriet’s shoes, trying to understand what led her to end up in those woods. With nothing to go off except the last CCTV footage of Harriet on the high street, Florence refuses to stop scheming, and her empty theories start to gain purchase. She predicts when the case takes unexpected turns. She sees through some of the suspects’ lies. Gradually, the puzzle of that fateful night starts to piece together, and Florence comes painstakingly closer to uncovering the truth.
Until evidence leads to an outcome nobody foresaw.
One which Florence will stop at no end to undo.
But Florence McAllister is heartbroken and angry.
Desperate to know what happened to her friend that night, she puts herself in Harriet’s shoes, trying to understand what led her to end up in those woods. With nothing to go off except the last CCTV footage of Harriet on the high street, Florence refuses to stop scheming, and her empty theories start to gain purchase. She predicts when the case takes unexpected turns. She sees through some of the suspects’ lies. Gradually, the puzzle of that fateful night starts to piece together, and Florence comes painstakingly closer to uncovering the truth.
Until evidence leads to an outcome nobody foresaw.
One which Florence will stop at no end to undo.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2025
1 person is currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Gray
2 books40 followersKatherine Gray is a corporate writer, indie author, and content creator from the UK. She published her debut, A Silent Curse, in August 2022, and her second novel, Sweet Dreams Don't Lie, followed in October 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 29, 2025
I've seen people compare Sweet Dreams Don't Lie to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder...and I can see that, but I'd venture to say that SDDL is actually better. I love Florence as the protagonist: her fury and grief feel so raw and realistic. The three-dimensional friendships in SDDL heighten the stakes of the murder mystery even more. It's heartbreaking to see how Florence's determination to uncover the truth permanently changes her personal relationships. The betrayal of trust is a major theme: I tried to predict the plot twists, but I was completely blindsided by the ending!
Sweet Dreams Don't Lie is by far one of the best YA mysteries I've ever read. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves angry/stubborn/intelligent female main characters, beautiful writing, and fast-paced plots! Another 5 star read from this author.
Sweet Dreams Don't Lie is by far one of the best YA mysteries I've ever read. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves angry/stubborn/intelligent female main characters, beautiful writing, and fast-paced plots! Another 5 star read from this author.
August 17, 2025
4.5 stars - I finished this book last night at 3 am, and no, I am not okay.
The characters are beautiful, and the writing flows so well! I really appreciate how grounded and realistic this feels, like the characters could step right off the pages and I could hug or punch them accordingly. A very detailed mystery with a steady thriller pace, kept me scribbling notes and pondering over clues until the very end! I did correctly vibe check many of the characters though. Highly recommend this, and I will be dreaming a happy future for my main ship (if you know, you know).
Thank you to the author for trusting me with this absolute masterpiece. I would definitely recommend it.
The characters are beautiful, and the writing flows so well! I really appreciate how grounded and realistic this feels, like the characters could step right off the pages and I could hug or punch them accordingly. A very detailed mystery with a steady thriller pace, kept me scribbling notes and pondering over clues until the very end! I did correctly vibe check many of the characters though. Highly recommend this, and I will be dreaming a happy future for my main ship (if you know, you know).
Thank you to the author for trusting me with this absolute masterpiece. I would definitely recommend it.
September 24, 2025
Finished reading this last night & AHHHH this book was so so good.
⭐️4.5
When Flo & Harvey’s best friend, Harriet, is found dead in the woods near her house, they decide to not rely on the narrow-minded police and discover what they can about Harriet’s murder.
There were so many twists & turns, it had me changing my mind on who the killer was all the time (although I will say I did actually guess right first time 😋 but that’s my writer brain haha, but the twists made me question myself a lot). Flo is a good narrator & main character, I really felt like I was in her head. This book also has lesbian rep with Flo & I loved how it wasn’t a plot point, just a part of who she is. 👩❤️💋👩 I also loved that we got some of Harvey’s POV & Harriet’s POV too!!
Each chapter had me hooked; I mean, I read it in 5 days & I’m typically a slow reader!! I NEEDED to know what happened next.
SDDL perfect for fans of Holly Jackson & Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 🔍💎
Alsoooo….im in the acknowledgments?!? (For context, I beta read one of the author’s unreleased books😌). I can’t wait to get my hands the physical copy when it releases in October.
Thank you to the author for sending me an e-ARC of this novel! I am forever grateful!!
⭐️4.5
When Flo & Harvey’s best friend, Harriet, is found dead in the woods near her house, they decide to not rely on the narrow-minded police and discover what they can about Harriet’s murder.
There were so many twists & turns, it had me changing my mind on who the killer was all the time (although I will say I did actually guess right first time 😋 but that’s my writer brain haha, but the twists made me question myself a lot). Flo is a good narrator & main character, I really felt like I was in her head. This book also has lesbian rep with Flo & I loved how it wasn’t a plot point, just a part of who she is. 👩❤️💋👩 I also loved that we got some of Harvey’s POV & Harriet’s POV too!!
Each chapter had me hooked; I mean, I read it in 5 days & I’m typically a slow reader!! I NEEDED to know what happened next.
SDDL perfect for fans of Holly Jackson & Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 🔍💎
Alsoooo….im in the acknowledgments?!? (For context, I beta read one of the author’s unreleased books😌). I can’t wait to get my hands the physical copy when it releases in October.
Thank you to the author for sending me an e-ARC of this novel! I am forever grateful!!
December 18, 2025
as the author i’m not leaving this rating for how “good” this book is - because that’s up to all of *you* - i’m leaving it for how important it is to me. this book will forever and always be the one that got me back on my feet. everyone give it a huge thank you, and hold it close to your heart.
October 27, 2025
wow. wowzer. wowie.
this was incredible. that twist broke my little heart. i’m struggling to write multi-clause sentences rn. i love everything about this. katherine gray has given us this gem of a small-town murder mystery that weaves in the small-town part just as well as the murder-mystery part - i love the so stereotypically-british (as flo would say) setting of ashford vale, but also of these interactions between best friends that are so intimate and realistic it’s like they’re jumping out of the page at you. waiting (impatiently) for agggtm fans to find this.
this book is so one hundred percent katherine that it made my cheeks hurt from smiling at all the little references she put in this. you are incredible. this was incredible. every single one of you needs to read this. now.
(also, not ashamed to say i cried a tad at the acknowledgements. forever in awe of you. love you long time)
this was incredible. that twist broke my little heart. i’m struggling to write multi-clause sentences rn. i love everything about this. katherine gray has given us this gem of a small-town murder mystery that weaves in the small-town part just as well as the murder-mystery part - i love the so stereotypically-british (as flo would say) setting of ashford vale, but also of these interactions between best friends that are so intimate and realistic it’s like they’re jumping out of the page at you. waiting (impatiently) for agggtm fans to find this.
this book is so one hundred percent katherine that it made my cheeks hurt from smiling at all the little references she put in this. you are incredible. this was incredible. every single one of you needs to read this. now.
(also, not ashamed to say i cried a tad at the acknowledgements. forever in awe of you. love you long time)
December 18, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Holy moly wow.
I actually don't think there are enough stars to rate this book. It was the perfect ya mystery that had the reader just as confused as the fmc, Flo. I had my guesses throughout but they KEPT CHANGING CONSTANTLY. The pacing was just incredible and the characters so real.
I genuinely cannot wait to see what Katherine publishes next. The growth from her debut (which was already amazing) to this was just insane and I am so, so excited! Katherine, please never stop writing, like ever.
Also, those acknowledgements... girl, I love it and I am so proud of you for everything you've powered through.
Holy moly wow.
I actually don't think there are enough stars to rate this book. It was the perfect ya mystery that had the reader just as confused as the fmc, Flo. I had my guesses throughout but they KEPT CHANGING CONSTANTLY. The pacing was just incredible and the characters so real.
I genuinely cannot wait to see what Katherine publishes next. The growth from her debut (which was already amazing) to this was just insane and I am so, so excited! Katherine, please never stop writing, like ever.
Also, those acknowledgements... girl, I love it and I am so proud of you for everything you've powered through.
February 11, 2026
an enthralling modern-day murder mystery, and very cleverly written
the rather authentic and lifelike personalities to the characters added realism to the plot, and made it feel almost like a true story. just like the debut novel before this one, the narrative has a brilliant twist at the end which you could never expect. retrospectively it makes the subtitle seem obvious! the plot overall had great depth and kept it exciting
the rather authentic and lifelike personalities to the characters added realism to the plot, and made it feel almost like a true story. just like the debut novel before this one, the narrative has a brilliant twist at the end which you could never expect. retrospectively it makes the subtitle seem obvious! the plot overall had great depth and kept it exciting
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews