A Beautiful Lie

by Sabrina Black

“Please just remember the good things. Not this.”

Rose Parker is now Rose Alexander, blissfully married to tech billionaire Robert Alexander. That is until the police arrive with shocking news: Rob is being arrested for the murder of his first wife, Amelia Thompson Alexander.

Amelia was beautiful, enigmatic, and unforgettable. She’s the shadow that has always loomed over Rose’s life. Officially, she was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Sam Sinclaire. But as Rob’s trial unfolds, the truth proves far darker than anyone imagined.

As secrets unravel, Rose must confront the lies, obsession, and hidden darkness beneath her seemingly perfect marriage.

A Beautiful Lie, the second book in the Free Me series, is a gripping psychological thriller and twisted love story where nothing and no one is as they seem.

434 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 9, 2026

About the author

Sabrina Black is an Austin-based author of dark romance and psychological thrillers. She is the creator of the gripping series that begins with Free Me From the Girl I Used to Be, followed by A Beautiful Lie and Guilty as Sin.

Reviews

[Beckreadz25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as ARC free of charge and am leaving this review voluntarily.

****TRIGGER WARNINGS****
This book shows SA, extreme BDSM, drug abuse, animal abuse/death. It is not an easy read.

I will preface this review by saying this genre is generally not my cup of tea, but I went into the reading with an open mind.

I am glad I read this even though it was a hard read. It was the story that detailed emotional and physical abuse and smiling depression. The characters are not good people, but they are humans with a lot of flaws and baggage.

Every wants to believe in love, but some people are so desperate for it that they invent fairytale scenarios that aren't real. Acting becomes normal but behind the curtain is pain. Sone people fight, some endure, and others look for a way out.

The author depicted a hard subject very well. My heart broke while I was reading this, and the ending had me questioning everything.

[Salina Casabona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This book was an absolute emotional whirlwind. Sabrina has an incredible gift for inviting readers into a deeply tormented mind and somehow making that darkness feel beautiful rather than overwhelming. Each character pulls you into their own emotional journey, and each perspective adds another layer to the story.
The twists and turns are relentless—in the best way. Just when you think you’ve pieced everything together, the story shifts and leaves you reeling once again. Nothing feels predictable, and the tension keeps you fully engaged right up until the final page.
This book didn’t just tell a story; it took a piece of me with it. It lingered long after I finished reading, and that’s the mark of something truly special. I cannot recommend it enough. This book is very dark and touches on multiple sensitive subjects. Please check the trigger warnings as your mental health is very important.
I want to say thank you to Sabrina Black for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this amazing book!

[SmuttyRunner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow! That was heavy!
Let me start by saying, PLEASE check your trigger warnings, and take them seriously.
I would characterize this as dark thriller, following Rob and Rose through a difficult trial- both in reality and their relationship. Through a journal, we learn about Amelia, Rob's previous wife who died shortly before meeting Rose. We learn of her life both before and during her marriage to Rob, and her death. This book feels like a, "what not to do if you (or someone you know) has experienced extreme trauma", especially childhood SA. The first chapter was especially difficult for me to finish (a TW i don't touch, so almost a dnf), and the pain is constant throughout the book.
the ending feels Gatsbyesque. A true testament to the importance of making yourself the priority in your life before making space for others. In the end, this felt, unfortunately, very true to what I imagine happens far too often in real life.

[Kristen Serbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is very heavy and will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. With that being said, it was wonderfully written and a deep dive into the minds of emotionally charged people. It has several twists and turns throughout the book, and in the end, you can form your own opinion of whether you think Amelia and Rob are justified in their actions throughout the book, and if Rose should continue to support Rob.

If you are not a fan of dark themes, please beware. This is not a light, happy love story that ends in a HEA for all. I plan to read the last installment to see where the story takes me and how it all ends. All in all, I am glad I got the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. Thank you, Sabrina, for trusting me with your book. I really enjoyed it!

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first want to thank the author for the opportunity to read this book before the publish date! My first ARC read for 2026!

This book was a lot darker than what I normally read.

This book does not have a HEA and from the very beginning, my heart broke and continued to break. But I didn’t hate it! There was a lot to unpack in this story but it was a quick read and easy to follow! The writing helped the reader to connect and feel deeply for characters. I didn’t want to put the book down until I could finish although I still don’t know how to feel about that ending! I look forward to the next in this series!

I will say that if you have been through anything similar, (read the trigger warnings) this may offer some insight to other perspectives and maybe in a way, some sort of healing!

[Conchetta Oglesby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Beautiful Lie absolutely destroyed me—in the best way.

This book is dark, intense, and emotionally brutal. The plot is phenomenal, packed with twists that had me saying “what the f**k” out loud more times than I can count. It’s outside my usual read, but once I settled in, I was hooked.

Think Fifty Shades vibes, but much darker and way more psychological. The FMC will break your heart, and the MMC will take you through every emotion imaginable. The writing is so strong I genuinely questioned my own perception at times—which tells you how immersive this story is.

This is not a light read. It’s heavy, it’s messy, and it will wreck you.

And somehow… I loved every second of it.

[Countryluv23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly went into this blinded. I know I may have seen a description possibly, but honestly if I did I don't remember.
The first 2 chapters I was like OMG what the crap! A lot of information was given and it hit a little heavy for me, but after that the story NEVER fell it kept you wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved characters then hated them and then I don't really know how I felt at the end of the story! There are parts that made me tear up because of overwhelming feelings it gave me, and there were parts that had me laughing. It was an all around book that kept my interest throughout, and I was a little sad when it ended quicker than I wanted!

[Bailey Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was emotionally heavy from page 1, but pulled me in immediately (read it in less than 24 hrs). Readers should check their trigger warnings before deciding to read.

I have a background in criminal justice and am an avid consumer of true crime. Education, awareness, and advocacy for marginalized groups in the criminal justice arena are essential. As such, I found A Beautiful Lie to be a profound example of the trauma many women face, and the distortion of reality many survivors experience. Sabrina does a phenomenal job outlining this tragic story while weaving suspense throughout. Though I personally wished for a different ending, I appreciated the reality of it nonetheless.

[Melissa Sleeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Beautiful Lie" is the 2nd book in the "Free Me" series. Reading it as a standalone, I was never completely lost which I appreciated. While reading, I wondered how everything was going to play out and the ending had me guessing what is next to come! I plan on going back and reading book one while I patiently (or not so patiently) wait for book three to be released! I can't wait to see where Rose and Rob's relationship goes from here.

Check your trigger warnings. There are some heavier themes throughout the book that may make some uncomfortable (ie. animal death, suicide, drug use, SA, torture, DV to name a few).

[Syrena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a trip. It’s packed with heavy twists and turns from start to finish, and the author does an incredible job pulling you deep into the minds of the characters. I especially loved reading Amelia’s diary entries and uncovering more about Rob’s past — those pieces added so much emotional weight and tension. Every time I thought I had the story figured out, another twist hit and proved me wrong. Honestly, I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about everything… I need the next book to see what happens next.

[Jill McBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc read review:

after the 1st book I had to immediately pick this book up. I needed to know Amelia's pov and what actually happened to her. I could not put this book down.

Amelia went through so much more than you are aware of. my heart hurt for her. seeing how her and Robs relationship was explains so much. I wanted him to be a good guy so bad. but unfortunately you see his true side in this book.

highly recommend this entire series. especially if you like books that are going to make you question absolutely everything you know.

[Emmalee Doriott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal! The author did such a great job on hard topics; check trigger warnings. This was such a page turner that telling myself one more chapter was an instant lie. Everyone wants the magical love story but that's not what everyone gets. there were some points where I had to close one eye and read like when you watch a scary movie, with that being said I think about this book a lot and the different . I want to thank Sabrina Black for the ARC and I cannot wait to read more from her.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! This book will leave you dying for the third installment of this series. As much as I enjoyed the first book, I have to say that I enjoyed this one even more.

I loved being able to see Amelia’s full story now after wondering so much during the first book what actually happened. Be warned… you WILL learn it all during this book!!!

Now the only question is… what’s gonna happen next and how will this series come to an end? I can’t wait to find out!!!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read from this author and it definitely won't be the last. What an amazing read this was. There were so many twists and turns i wasn't expecting at all, once I started this read it was really hard to put it down. This read deals with some really sensitive topics, but I thought it was very well written. Poor Amelia has been through such a tough life, from childhood to adulthood, there were so many times i felt her sadness through the pages.

[Krysta Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wild ride. Dark. Very dark with multiple potential triggers. Animal abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, drug use … I struggled to put the book down though. Well written, the story grabbed me by the collar strait away and didn’t let go of me.