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Lies Between Us
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26The 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.
“A gripping, unputdownable read." —Veronica Bane, USA Today Bestselling Author of Difficult Girls
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.
“A gripping, unputdownable read." —Veronica Bane, USA Today Bestselling Author of Difficult Girls
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.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 2, 2026
29 people are currently reading
21395 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Goodman
6 books2,206 followersJessica 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
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.
“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.
March 9, 2026
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.
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.
November 24, 2025
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.
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.
March 18, 2026
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!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.**
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.**
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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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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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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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 :)
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 :)
March 13, 2026
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!
🌊 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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Pelican Island is a small yet affluent town full of mansions, an elite country club, and a gorgeous beach on the Sound. It's also a place where secrets upon secrets are hidden between every unlocked door, as the town is perceived to be so safe to leave it so.
For the most part everyone gets along with each other, especially The Gold's and The Silver's, neighboring families with three children each. Frankie (15) is precocious and loves solving puzzles with her bestie and Silver counterpart Alex. Millie (16) is close to her Silver counterpart Trevor, but while he holds a secret crush on her (see, secrets already), she yearns for the eldest Silver brother, Ethan. Yet, he just so happens to be her older sister's Lucy's (17) boyfriend.
The book is split into four different perspectives, the three Gold sisters, and the night of the party where everything and everyone changes in Pelican Island. Secrets by omission, backstabbing and betrayal. It's a teenage whodunnit that has the entire island in a tizzy. Once you think you know who may be the culprit, other clues are presented to you, which I love because I'm a mystery fan.
Alas, the ending wasn't very clear cut to me. I speculated what really happened, and I was partly right. Nevertheless, you can make your own conclusion and accept things as written. I'm giving this book a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2, but it's not because of bad writing. It's a YA book and I'm an older adult who loves reading them. They're just as good, if not better than most adult fiction. I just would have liked it a little darker. But I'm glad it's not, because it's not meant to be. Regardless, I'm sure an audience of any age will enjoy this book as much as I did!
Special thanks to NetGalley, the author Jessica Goodman, and the Penguin Young Readers Group, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
For the most part everyone gets along with each other, especially The Gold's and The Silver's, neighboring families with three children each. Frankie (15) is precocious and loves solving puzzles with her bestie and Silver counterpart Alex. Millie (16) is close to her Silver counterpart Trevor, but while he holds a secret crush on her (see, secrets already), she yearns for the eldest Silver brother, Ethan. Yet, he just so happens to be her older sister's Lucy's (17) boyfriend.
The book is split into four different perspectives, the three Gold sisters, and the night of the party where everything and everyone changes in Pelican Island. Secrets by omission, backstabbing and betrayal. It's a teenage whodunnit that has the entire island in a tizzy. Once you think you know who may be the culprit, other clues are presented to you, which I love because I'm a mystery fan.
Alas, the ending wasn't very clear cut to me. I speculated what really happened, and I was partly right. Nevertheless, you can make your own conclusion and accept things as written. I'm giving this book a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2, but it's not because of bad writing. It's a YA book and I'm an older adult who loves reading them. They're just as good, if not better than most adult fiction. I just would have liked it a little darker. But I'm glad it's not, because it's not meant to be. Regardless, I'm sure an audience of any age will enjoy this book as much as I did!
Special thanks to NetGalley, the author Jessica Goodman, and the Penguin Young Readers Group, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 23, 2026
This was such an addictive read! I genuinely needed to know what happened so I found myself not being able to put the book down. This book was a great mixture of mystery, family drama but also highlights how even when you think you know everything about someone, another bomb will drop out of nowhere.
I loved the dynamics between the Gold sisters (they kind of reminded me of the Covey sisters) and when that dynamic broke down things got even more interesting. On the other side of that coin, I also loved the dynamic between the Silver brothers. And it was fun watching all six of them be together. As the book progressed the dynamic of the six started to fracture and it was interesting to see how their loyalties changed. But never, did the bond between the siblings break - except on one instance which I think is completely valid and I too would be furious. But in the end I think they all ended up where they needed to be.
I however, found that the actual mystery itself a bit underwhelming. In the end, The anticipation had been building throughout the entire book only for that reveal to fall flat for me. But all things considered this book really wasn't about the tragedy that took place in their small town, but rather about how it was their lies that got between the Gold sisters and the Silver boys. In my head, however, eventually they all move on and they find their way back to each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the dynamics between the Gold sisters (they kind of reminded me of the Covey sisters) and when that dynamic broke down things got even more interesting. On the other side of that coin, I also loved the dynamic between the Silver brothers. And it was fun watching all six of them be together. As the book progressed the dynamic of the six started to fracture and it was interesting to see how their loyalties changed. But never, did the bond between the siblings break - except on one instance which I think is completely valid and I too would be furious. But in the end I think they all ended up where they needed to be.
I however, found that the actual mystery itself a bit underwhelming. In the end, The anticipation had been building throughout the entire book only for that reveal to fall flat for me. But all things considered this book really wasn't about the tragedy that took place in their small town, but rather about how it was their lies that got between the Gold sisters and the Silver boys. In my head, however, eventually they all move on and they find their way back to each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Net Galley for the advance copy!
While Jessica Goodman has proven to write compelling stories of rich, northeastern teen murder mysteries, this one really missed the mark for me. While the three Silver sisters had some distinguishing characteristics, there was nothing particularly interesting about their characters or their individual dramas. The male characters were largely one-note stereotypes, especially the victim, who is so unlikable it is hard to care if anyone actually does solve how he died.
However, the main reasons where the book seems to fall flat is, first, there is never any sense of real tension or danger. The book falls more into the trap of “telling” the reader that there is a dangerous murderer lurking around the community, without actually showing the potential of this by having tense scenes. The second main issue is that the book seemed a bit sloppy in its organization. There seemed to be moments where a new chapter begins and a character still is investigating
old knowledge that has been debunked in their presence, yet, they continue to operate as if that possible outcome will still explain the murder. This is especially problematic as the book cycles through suspects at the end of the book quickly, without really setting up their potential involvement, only so they can then be quickly discarded as suspects.
Overall, this one was a bit of a letdown given how much I enjoyed some of her previous books.
While Jessica Goodman has proven to write compelling stories of rich, northeastern teen murder mysteries, this one really missed the mark for me. While the three Silver sisters had some distinguishing characteristics, there was nothing particularly interesting about their characters or their individual dramas. The male characters were largely one-note stereotypes, especially the victim, who is so unlikable it is hard to care if anyone actually does solve how he died.
However, the main reasons where the book seems to fall flat is, first, there is never any sense of real tension or danger. The book falls more into the trap of “telling” the reader that there is a dangerous murderer lurking around the community, without actually showing the potential of this by having tense scenes. The second main issue is that the book seemed a bit sloppy in its organization. There seemed to be moments where a new chapter begins and a character still is investigating
old knowledge that has been debunked in their presence, yet, they continue to operate as if that possible outcome will still explain the murder. This is especially problematic as the book cycles through suspects at the end of the book quickly, without really setting up their potential involvement, only so they can then be quickly discarded as suspects.
Overall, this one was a bit of a letdown given how much I enjoyed some of her previous books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this wonderful YA thriller.
Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman is about two sets of children, the Gold sisters and the Silver brother, who grew up next to each other in the quiet town. They would spend summers together, not hiding any secrets from each other, working their summer jobs together, sneaking into each other’s yards and more.
Their lives turned upside down when ne of their other close friend turned up dead. This challenged their relationship with each other. They started questioning their loyalty to each other, and doubting on who is hiding something and what are they hiding.
Lies Between Us was actually such an enjoyable, fast read. This is a book that is very twisty and would keep you guessing. I really enjoy summer thrillers and this definitely delivered. I enjoyed that this book also tapped in to the POV of the sisters and their role in the family (Lucy being the oldest, being a leader. Millie, the middle child who is sort of torn about her relationship with her older and younger sister. She enjoyed having a close relationship with Lucy and having a deeper connection with her compared to Lucy and Frankie’s relationship. Frankie, the youngest. She felt like the whole family doesn’t take her abilities into consideration because she is the youngest, and possibly not capable of a lot ). I would definitely recommend this book, if you want a fast, thriller read.
Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman is about two sets of children, the Gold sisters and the Silver brother, who grew up next to each other in the quiet town. They would spend summers together, not hiding any secrets from each other, working their summer jobs together, sneaking into each other’s yards and more.
Their lives turned upside down when ne of their other close friend turned up dead. This challenged their relationship with each other. They started questioning their loyalty to each other, and doubting on who is hiding something and what are they hiding.
Lies Between Us was actually such an enjoyable, fast read. This is a book that is very twisty and would keep you guessing. I really enjoy summer thrillers and this definitely delivered. I enjoyed that this book also tapped in to the POV of the sisters and their role in the family (Lucy being the oldest, being a leader. Millie, the middle child who is sort of torn about her relationship with her older and younger sister. She enjoyed having a close relationship with Lucy and having a deeper connection with her compared to Lucy and Frankie’s relationship. Frankie, the youngest. She felt like the whole family doesn’t take her abilities into consideration because she is the youngest, and possibly not capable of a lot ). I would definitely recommend this book, if you want a fast, thriller read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you PenguinTeen and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Like all Jessica Goodman mysteries this one had me hooked! Lucy, Millie, and Frankie are the Gold sisters. They’re so close and do almost everything together. And they also have the Silver boys, Ethan, Trevor, and Alex. Their parents are best friends and the six have grown up together even living next door to one another. But like all sisters they have secrets. Lucy is keeping one from them as well as from Ethan, her boyfriend. Millie hides the fact that she is in love with her sister’s boyfriend. Still the six are excited but sad to spend the last summer together before Lucy and Ethan head to college. That is until a summer party brings unexpected tragedy and a death takes its toll on their small island town. Soon Lucy, Millie, and Frankie are left wondering what happened. As they discover clues they will realize that they don’t know everything about each other nor do they know everything about the Silver boys. Could one of them have been responsible? And soon somewhat is threatening them that if they keep looking someone else could get hurt. Is knowing the secrets of those you love really so important, especially if it means death? I loved all of the Gold girls, though admittedly Frankie is my favorite! This one is a thrill ride that was unputdownable! And left me a little broken! I love a fast paced twisty mystery, especially when there are queer characters, and this book delivers!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jessica Goodman’s Lies Between Us is a young adult thriller that explores friendship, loyalty, and the consequences of secrets. Set in the high-pressure world of an elite society, the novel follows a group of teenagers whose lives become tangled in lies that grow increasingly dangerous.
The story centers on a group of close friends who appear to have the perfect lives—wealth, status, and promising futures. But beneath the surface, each of them is hiding something. When a shocking incident occurs, their carefully maintained image begins to crumble. As suspicions rise and the truth slowly unfolds, the characters are forced to confront the lies they’ve told each other and themselves.
Goodman builds tension through secrets and shifting perspectives. As the plot moves forward, new information constantly changes the reader’s understanding of the characters and their motivations. The suspense keeps readers engaged, making it difficult to put the book down.
The novel also explores themes such as privilege, social pressure, and the complexity of teenage friendships. Goodman portrays how competition, jealousy, and fear of losing status can push people to make questionable decisions.
While the book delivers several intriguing twists, readers may find a predictably and familiarity within the YA thriller genre. However, the engaging and well written narrative helps to maintain the excitement.
The story centers on a group of close friends who appear to have the perfect lives—wealth, status, and promising futures. But beneath the surface, each of them is hiding something. When a shocking incident occurs, their carefully maintained image begins to crumble. As suspicions rise and the truth slowly unfolds, the characters are forced to confront the lies they’ve told each other and themselves.
Goodman builds tension through secrets and shifting perspectives. As the plot moves forward, new information constantly changes the reader’s understanding of the characters and their motivations. The suspense keeps readers engaged, making it difficult to put the book down.
The novel also explores themes such as privilege, social pressure, and the complexity of teenage friendships. Goodman portrays how competition, jealousy, and fear of losing status can push people to make questionable decisions.
While the book delivers several intriguing twists, readers may find a predictably and familiarity within the YA thriller genre. However, the engaging and well written narrative helps to maintain the excitement.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
It's my first time reading a book by Jessica Goodman, but I'm already sure that it won't be the last. (especially since I'm almost positive that I own the copy of They Wish They Were Us and it's somewhere in my room, in the box with few other ya thrillers, that I didn't unpack after changing rooms).
I couldn't really connect with any of the characters and while it wasn't much of a problem for the plot itself, it stopped me from being invested in the whole drama. (I have a hunch that the fact, that we constantly jump between the points of view of the three sisters from the very start, it felt pretty easy to get lost with who is who, what's going on and and so on at the beginning... and then it was largely harder to get a grip on it). Out of all the characters we came across in the book, the one that brought out the most feelings out of me, surprisingly turned out to be the victim himself. Despite the fact that Billy was both a jerk and a bully, I couldn't help but feel a bit bad for him, especially when we did get a bit more insight on his character.
The ending left me conflicted and while I usually love , here, I felt sort of disappointed. I don't think that my feelings are tied to the ending itself, but rather the fact, that it seemed completely anticlimactic and the whole mystery part turned out flat.
It's my first time reading a book by Jessica Goodman, but I'm already sure that it won't be the last. (especially since I'm almost positive that I own the copy of They Wish They Were Us and it's somewhere in my room, in the box with few other ya thrillers, that I didn't unpack after changing rooms).
I couldn't really connect with any of the characters and while it wasn't much of a problem for the plot itself, it stopped me from being invested in the whole drama. (I have a hunch that the fact, that we constantly jump between the points of view of the three sisters from the very start, it felt pretty easy to get lost with who is who, what's going on and and so on at the beginning... and then it was largely harder to get a grip on it). Out of all the characters we came across in the book, the one that brought out the most feelings out of me, surprisingly turned out to be the victim himself. Despite the fact that Billy was both a jerk and a bully, I couldn't help but feel a bit bad for him, especially when we did get a bit more insight on his character.
The ending left me conflicted and while I usually love , here, I felt sort of disappointed. I don't think that my feelings are tied to the ending itself, but rather the fact, that it seemed completely anticlimactic and the whole mystery part turned out flat.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: Lies Between Us
Author: Jessica Goodman
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Publisher: Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam’s
Sons Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: June 2, 2026
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 304
This story is about a teen murder that happened in a wealthy waterfront town.
The Gold sisters and the Silver brothers grew up in swanky mansions next door to each on a seemingly perfect island.
Story is told from the POV of the three Gold sisters—Lucy, Millie, and Frankie—each dealing with their own secrets and relationships.
This story is about when one of their friends died. Was it murder?
The emotions seem real, but the investigation seems slow.
It becomes clear that everyone on the island is hiding something.
I had read Jessica’s Goodman’s The Meadowbrook Murders and really enjoyed it. That story was an academic setting in a boarding school - both settings have always interested me. This one was more rich kids and their behavior at a summer party. I was expected more!
I do want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 2, 2026.
Author: Jessica Goodman
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller
Publisher: Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam’s
Sons Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: June 2, 2026
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 304
This story is about a teen murder that happened in a wealthy waterfront town.
The Gold sisters and the Silver brothers grew up in swanky mansions next door to each on a seemingly perfect island.
Story is told from the POV of the three Gold sisters—Lucy, Millie, and Frankie—each dealing with their own secrets and relationships.
This story is about when one of their friends died. Was it murder?
The emotions seem real, but the investigation seems slow.
It becomes clear that everyone on the island is hiding something.
I had read Jessica’s Goodman’s The Meadowbrook Murders and really enjoyed it. That story was an academic setting in a boarding school - both settings have always interested me. This one was more rich kids and their behavior at a summer party. I was expected more!
I do want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 2, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman got me with the cover. I love a neon text on a scary looking piece of nature. Also throw in a beach, and I'm there. While I was reading I enjoyed the chapter endings that often ended on a hook and the intricate relationships between the Gold Sisters and the Silver Brothers. I felt like it was giving Hardy Boys with a family thriller. The Brady Bunch esque structure of the two families made it fun to keep track of which character was the oldest/middle/youngest in each family. The reason I recommend reading What Lies Between Us is the exceptional bisexuality representation. The ability to write about a character who is attracted to different genders without making one romantic relationship seem "normal" or expected and the other being a surprise or a plot twist was very much appreciated. I loved the romantic scenes between the two young queer women who were finding their way back to a previous intimacy. The scenes were the perfect amount of sultry instead of spicy like you would see in a romance. This would be a great get for a book club. There are lots of little clues and a whodunnit mentality that I enjoyed immensely. I will absolutely be adding Jessica Goodman to my "want to read all this author's books" list. Shoutout to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman
A glossy, picture perfect summer turns deadly in this slow burning, secrets soaked mystery where nothing is as perfect as it looks. Set between two wealthy families who have grown up side by side, this story unravels after a beach party ends in tragedy and suddenly… everyone is hiding something.
What makes this one stand out is the layered sister dynamic. Each of the Gold sisters is carrying her own secret, and watching those truths slowly unravel alongside the central mystery was my favorite part. It is less about one shocking twist and more about how lies stack, collide, and eventually explode. The tension builds quietly until everything starts to crack.
🖤 Tropes & Vibes
🌊 wealthy families with dark secrets
🖤 sister dynamics and hidden truths
🔪 summer murder mystery
🏡 small town with a perfect facade
💔 forbidden feelings and messy relationships
⚡ slow burn tension
🕵️♀️ everyone is a suspect energy
🌅 idyllic setting turned sinister
📚 Read this if you like…
🔪 twisty YA mysteries with secrets everywhere
🌊 summer thrillers with rich people drama
🖤 character driven stories over fast action
💔 messy relationships and emotional tension
🕵️♀️ trying to figure out who is lying the whole time
#JessicaGoodman #YAMystery #SummerThriller #BookstagramReads #MysteryBooks @penguin
Thank you for the ARC!
A glossy, picture perfect summer turns deadly in this slow burning, secrets soaked mystery where nothing is as perfect as it looks. Set between two wealthy families who have grown up side by side, this story unravels after a beach party ends in tragedy and suddenly… everyone is hiding something.
What makes this one stand out is the layered sister dynamic. Each of the Gold sisters is carrying her own secret, and watching those truths slowly unravel alongside the central mystery was my favorite part. It is less about one shocking twist and more about how lies stack, collide, and eventually explode. The tension builds quietly until everything starts to crack.
🖤 Tropes & Vibes
🌊 wealthy families with dark secrets
🖤 sister dynamics and hidden truths
🔪 summer murder mystery
🏡 small town with a perfect facade
💔 forbidden feelings and messy relationships
⚡ slow burn tension
🕵️♀️ everyone is a suspect energy
🌅 idyllic setting turned sinister
📚 Read this if you like…
🔪 twisty YA mysteries with secrets everywhere
🌊 summer thrillers with rich people drama
🖤 character driven stories over fast action
💔 messy relationships and emotional tension
🕵️♀️ trying to figure out who is lying the whole time
#JessicaGoodman #YAMystery #SummerThriller #BookstagramReads #MysteryBooks @penguin
Thank you for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a fairly solid little YA thriller.
Lucy, Millie, and Frankie are sisters who grew up next to a family of three boys. When the friend of one of those boys turns up dead, they start to look into what could have happened. I loved the beach/summer vibes, and the story kept me interested enough to read it quickly.
However, a few things didn't work for me. It's written in multiple first-person POVs and to be honest, they all sounded the same. I could often only tell who was narrating based on their use of others' names. I did enjoy the third-person Billy POVs sprinkled in, and I appreciated how they dripped clues throughout to keep the reader guessing. I also must say I appreciated that even though there were definitely "teens solving crimes" vibes, they weren't magically right all the time.
The other issue I have is the sort of twist at the end. For one, I don't feel like I cared enough about a certain character for it to be that meaningful of a reveal. For another, I'm not rich but I'm not sure the trust fund aspect felt super realistic. The idea of the administrators sending an email saying "Just a reminder, now that you're 18 if one of you dies the other gets the money!" seemed... unlikely.
But overall, still a fun, beachy read.
(I received a free advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Lucy, Millie, and Frankie are sisters who grew up next to a family of three boys. When the friend of one of those boys turns up dead, they start to look into what could have happened. I loved the beach/summer vibes, and the story kept me interested enough to read it quickly.
However, a few things didn't work for me. It's written in multiple first-person POVs and to be honest, they all sounded the same. I could often only tell who was narrating based on their use of others' names. I did enjoy the third-person Billy POVs sprinkled in, and I appreciated how they dripped clues throughout to keep the reader guessing. I also must say I appreciated that even though there were definitely "teens solving crimes" vibes, they weren't magically right all the time.
The other issue I have is the sort of twist at the end. For one, I don't feel like I cared enough about a certain character for it to be that meaningful of a reveal. For another, I'm not rich but I'm not sure the trust fund aspect felt super realistic. The idea of the administrators sending an email saying "Just a reminder, now that you're 18 if one of you dies the other gets the money!" seemed... unlikely.
But overall, still a fun, beachy read.
(I received a free advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The secrets we keep and the trouble that follows is a major thread in Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman.
The setting is an affluent seaside town. The characters are two families the three Gold sisters and the three Silver brothers, neighbors and lifelong friends. However when a neighborhood friend is killed, the innocent relationships of these two families are put to the test. Secrets and lives are exposed placing these young people on a course of suspicion and regret. Noteworthy is Goodman's ability to show the perspectives of the different characters. Each character had their own idea of who was guilty and it was interesting how the individual personalities played into their opinions.
Lies Between Us is wonderfully written. The story flows well and the characters are well defined. I would go back and forth on who was guilty and was wrong right up until the end. These are my favorite mysteries, when they continue until the last chapter. I would recommend Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman to readers that are drawn to who done it mysteries with quality characterizations. This will be great in the teen scene.
.I received this advanced copy from the Penguin Random House through a Goodreads giveaway. This review is my honest opinion.
The setting is an affluent seaside town. The characters are two families the three Gold sisters and the three Silver brothers, neighbors and lifelong friends. However when a neighborhood friend is killed, the innocent relationships of these two families are put to the test. Secrets and lives are exposed placing these young people on a course of suspicion and regret. Noteworthy is Goodman's ability to show the perspectives of the different characters. Each character had their own idea of who was guilty and it was interesting how the individual personalities played into their opinions.
Lies Between Us is wonderfully written. The story flows well and the characters are well defined. I would go back and forth on who was guilty and was wrong right up until the end. These are my favorite mysteries, when they continue until the last chapter. I would recommend Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman to readers that are drawn to who done it mysteries with quality characterizations. This will be great in the teen scene.
.I received this advanced copy from the Penguin Random House through a Goodreads giveaway. This review is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read 'Lies Between Us' by Jessica Goodman, as I am always down for a YA murder-mystery, and that is exactly what this is advertised as. Unfortunately, that just doesn't feel like an apt description. Though many aspects of the book (the ages of the characters, the subject matter, the relationships, the murder) felt appropriate for young adults, the writing style read much more like a middle grade novel in its immaturity. This isn't inherently a bad thing. I suspect a younger audience would have fun with the silly, unrealistic language, and the constant pop culture references, but it does not at all feel mature enough for a young adult audience.
Beyond the writing style, I also found it very difficult to connect with any of the characters, as I disliked nearly every one of them. Honestly, if they had all gone missing and that had been the mystery, I would have been perfectly fine with it. They were very flat and one-dimensional, and unfortunately, very annoying.
I looked up this author's other books, and I see she has quite the following, so there must be a big audience for these books. I'm glad for that. This just isn't for me.
I was excited to read 'Lies Between Us' by Jessica Goodman, as I am always down for a YA murder-mystery, and that is exactly what this is advertised as. Unfortunately, that just doesn't feel like an apt description. Though many aspects of the book (the ages of the characters, the subject matter, the relationships, the murder) felt appropriate for young adults, the writing style read much more like a middle grade novel in its immaturity. This isn't inherently a bad thing. I suspect a younger audience would have fun with the silly, unrealistic language, and the constant pop culture references, but it does not at all feel mature enough for a young adult audience.
Beyond the writing style, I also found it very difficult to connect with any of the characters, as I disliked nearly every one of them. Honestly, if they had all gone missing and that had been the mystery, I would have been perfectly fine with it. They were very flat and one-dimensional, and unfortunately, very annoying.
I looked up this author's other books, and I see she has quite the following, so there must be a big audience for these books. I'm glad for that. This just isn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quick and enjoyable YA mystery--not twisty, just more who done it with a side of teen secrets. After a party, Billy, who is known as not always being very nice, is found dead floating in the water. What happened at the party?
The story is told from three points of view: Lucy, Millie, and Frankie Gold, sisters. Lucy will embark to college after the summer and has yet to tell anyone that her school choice has changed, especially Ethan, who she has been dating for 2 years and their families have been friends before they were in the womb. Millie, secretly in love with her sisters boyfriend and best friends with Ethans brother. Frankie, who wants to solve the murder that has shaken the summer island. She begins to suspect many people and in doing so reveals other secrets each person is hiding. Between the three POVs are party flashbacks, and just when you think you know how he died, more evidence is unearthed. This was a clever way to slowly provide the details of the party while each POV unearths more information needed to know what happened to Billy and also what kind of person he was. The teen angst with a side of secrets was delivered well. And Goodman keeps the reader guessing in the details of Billy's death as well as the real feel of the results of secrets revealed.
The story is told from three points of view: Lucy, Millie, and Frankie Gold, sisters. Lucy will embark to college after the summer and has yet to tell anyone that her school choice has changed, especially Ethan, who she has been dating for 2 years and their families have been friends before they were in the womb. Millie, secretly in love with her sisters boyfriend and best friends with Ethans brother. Frankie, who wants to solve the murder that has shaken the summer island. She begins to suspect many people and in doing so reveals other secrets each person is hiding. Between the three POVs are party flashbacks, and just when you think you know how he died, more evidence is unearthed. This was a clever way to slowly provide the details of the party while each POV unearths more information needed to know what happened to Billy and also what kind of person he was. The teen angst with a side of secrets was delivered well. And Goodman keeps the reader guessing in the details of Billy's death as well as the real feel of the results of secrets revealed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of LIES BETWEEN US by Jessica Goodman in exchange for my honest review.***
Full disclosure, I’ve enjoyed all of Jessica Goodman’s previous books and she’s an automatic preorder for me. I’m a huge fan and I try to be as unbiased as I can in my reviews, though I go in *knowing* I’m going to love it.
The childhoods of the three Gold sisters and the three Silver brothers are linked together by proximity. As adolescents, they’re also linked by the drowning of Ethan Silver’s best friend Billy. Soon his death is deemed murder and nobody is telling the truth about Billy or what happened that night.
Jessica Goodman has fine-tuned the art of pacing mysteries that move quickly without feeling rushed. Her wordbuilding sometimes makes me pause at the beauty of the sentences. When I enjoy a book as much as LIES BETWEEN US, I hesitate to say anything to spoil one word of the plot.
LIES BETWEEN US is one of those books I’ll immediately reread to see what I missed because Goodman’s breadcrumbs are easy to overlook the first time.
I preordered the audiobook of LIES BETWEEN US to enjoy another dimension of the story.
Full disclosure, I’ve enjoyed all of Jessica Goodman’s previous books and she’s an automatic preorder for me. I’m a huge fan and I try to be as unbiased as I can in my reviews, though I go in *knowing* I’m going to love it.
The childhoods of the three Gold sisters and the three Silver brothers are linked together by proximity. As adolescents, they’re also linked by the drowning of Ethan Silver’s best friend Billy. Soon his death is deemed murder and nobody is telling the truth about Billy or what happened that night.
Jessica Goodman has fine-tuned the art of pacing mysteries that move quickly without feeling rushed. Her wordbuilding sometimes makes me pause at the beauty of the sentences. When I enjoy a book as much as LIES BETWEEN US, I hesitate to say anything to spoil one word of the plot.
LIES BETWEEN US is one of those books I’ll immediately reread to see what I missed because Goodman’s breadcrumbs are easy to overlook the first time.
I preordered the audiobook of LIES BETWEEN US to enjoy another dimension of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a great murder mystery about friends, family, and who you can really trust. The three Gold sisters, Lucy, Millie, and Frankie, have lived next door to the Silver brothers, Ethan, Trevor, and Alex, since they were very little. They've shared memories, fun times, and secrets over the years, but now Lucy and Ethan are headed off to college. Ethan assumes they are going off to Cornell together, but Lucy has other ideas. She's hiding a secret from her own boyfriend, who may be keeping an even bigger one of his own. Millie has a major crush on her sister's boyfriend, so as their relationship becomes rockier, she steps up to be Ethan's support. Frankie is dead set on solving the mystery of who killed Billy Godwin, as Millie fished him out of the water and tried to save his life. Turns out, a few of the Silver boys were at the party the last time Billy was seen alive, and it's hard to determine the truth. Some of the major suspects? The boy seen fighting with Billy, the boy dating his ex-girlfriend, the cousin who stands to inherit, or an unknown quantity? And, what happens when the bonds you considered unbreakable...get broken?
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