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When You Tell: Gripping psychological suspense about friendship, fame, and fierce love.
Old friends. New lies. Deadly consequences.
Bree Wagner has spent her life behind the scenes—as a ghostwriter, an aunt, and a woman scarred by tragedy. When her former best friend Miranda, now the wildly popular lifestyle influencer Randi F. Alexander, begs for help with her next book, Bree reluctantly agrees. It’s a chance to reconnect after eighteen years of silence following a devastating accident in Amsterdam.
But just as Bree steps back into Randi’s world, a viral misstep sends the influencer’s career into a tailspin. While Bree tries to steer clear of the spotlight and the toxic whirlwind of cancel culture, old secrets begin to surface—ones that make her question everything she thought she knew about Miranda and their shared past.
As tensions rise and lines blur, Bree is forced to make an impossible choice—stay hidden, or risk exposing everything to protect her orphaned nephew.
When You Tell is a gripping psychological suspense about friendship, fame, and fierce love.
2026 by Steena Holmes. ℗ 2026 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Bree Wagner has spent her life behind the scenes—as a ghostwriter, an aunt, and a woman scarred by tragedy. When her former best friend Miranda, now the wildly popular lifestyle influencer Randi F. Alexander, begs for help with her next book, Bree reluctantly agrees. It’s a chance to reconnect after eighteen years of silence following a devastating accident in Amsterdam.
But just as Bree steps back into Randi’s world, a viral misstep sends the influencer’s career into a tailspin. While Bree tries to steer clear of the spotlight and the toxic whirlwind of cancel culture, old secrets begin to surface—ones that make her question everything she thought she knew about Miranda and their shared past.
As tensions rise and lines blur, Bree is forced to make an impossible choice—stay hidden, or risk exposing everything to protect her orphaned nephew.
When You Tell is a gripping psychological suspense about friendship, fame, and fierce love.
2026 by Steena Holmes. ℗ 2026 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
- GenresMystery Thriller
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2026
About the author
Steena Holmes
61 books1,627 followersSteena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with nearly 3 million copies of her titles sold worldwide, including The Patient, The Forgotten Ones, and Sister Under the Stairs.
Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.
One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author
LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:
SHE TOOK MY BABY
THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT (follow up to The Sister Under the Stairs)
THE TWIN
ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER
THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS
THE PATIENT
THE FORGOTTEN ONES
SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY
THE WORD GAME
Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep
The Memory Child & The Memory Journal
FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope
Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.
One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author
LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:
SHE TOOK MY BABY
THE GIRLS IN THE BASEMENT (follow up to The Sister Under the Stairs)
THE TWIN
ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER
THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS
THE PATIENT
THE FORGOTTEN ONES
SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY
THE WORD GAME
Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep
The Memory Child & The Memory Journal
FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 11, 2026
When You Tell by Steena Holmes follows the story of Bree and Miranda, women in their late 30’s who were childhood friends from different backgrounds. Miranda comes from wealth and privilege, while Bree does not. This important detail affects their future in ways neither of them could predict. The nonlinear timeline seamlessly moves between Bree and Miranda in their late 30’s, and the foundational events from 20 years earlier that rocked the foundation of their friendship.
I requested this title expecting gripping psychological suspense, but it completely missed the mark for me. The one thing that did work is the structure. The nonlinear timeline is a high point in an otherwise underwhelming story. I didn’t connect with Bree or Miranda; both women still read incredibly immature, which was a major sticking point. The women are part of a few imaginative setups, but their reactions (or lack there of) felt wholly unrealistic. Even shocking events had no immediacy, no tension, no surprises.
For a book marketed as a domestic thriller, I was waiting for jaw-dropping plot twists, but it didn’t happen for me. I figured out early on what was going to happen, but persevered. Sadly, the book only became interesting to me in the last 30 pages. Touted as an adult thriller, When You Tell failed to deliver anything that made me want to keep reading. This book might potentially be better received by a younger audience and/or hardcore fans of Freida McFadden.
Thank you to author Steena Holmes, Oceanview Publishing, and Edelweiss+ for the opportunity to read this book.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I requested this title expecting gripping psychological suspense, but it completely missed the mark for me. The one thing that did work is the structure. The nonlinear timeline is a high point in an otherwise underwhelming story. I didn’t connect with Bree or Miranda; both women still read incredibly immature, which was a major sticking point. The women are part of a few imaginative setups, but their reactions (or lack there of) felt wholly unrealistic. Even shocking events had no immediacy, no tension, no surprises.
For a book marketed as a domestic thriller, I was waiting for jaw-dropping plot twists, but it didn’t happen for me. I figured out early on what was going to happen, but persevered. Sadly, the book only became interesting to me in the last 30 pages. Touted as an adult thriller, When You Tell failed to deliver anything that made me want to keep reading. This book might potentially be better received by a younger audience and/or hardcore fans of Freida McFadden.
Thank you to author Steena Holmes, Oceanview Publishing, and Edelweiss+ for the opportunity to read this book.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 11, 2026
When You Tell by Stina Holmes, I listened to the audiobook with Jennifer Jill Araya narrating and thought she did a really great job my problem isn’t with the narrator but with the book. I know in every book people react in ways that real people do not react but these characters were so over blown and overdone I mean when she hears that a stranger gave her nephew a note she starts crying as if the nephew was kidnapped and every time she thinks of it she almost wants to cry and her and her sister both act like that. not only that as a teenager the girl Miranda who now goes by Randy at that time wanted to go as Mer, which to me just sounds like someone desperately grasping to invent a new nickname because that just sounds horrible. These people went to some great lengths for nonsensical reasons but what made me the angriest was that everyone kept trying to warn Bree that Randy was dangerous and she was in dangerous territory and she’s just like Randy is my friend flowers and balloons float around my head as I say it she’s my friend and I’m not going to abandon her. They say when people show you who they are believe them and Randy showed her exactly who she was when they were teenagers because something tramatic happened to Bree on a vacation to Amsterdam and after the vacation Randy was no longer her friend but not just not her friend but made it sound like Bree was a while child and it was all her fault. Lo and behold however Bree wasn’t the one to bring souvenirs home from Amsterdam that wind up staying until the showdown of this book and OMG that was such a twist but not one that shocked me because the time that happened I was just over this book. The narrator was great there’s some really interesting chapters in the book but just they overreact to the silliest things and it causes me not to care what happens to them. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, myHonestReview
October 12, 2026
Bree Wagner is “the book whisperer,” a ghostwriter who deals with authors only through an agent. But Randi Alexander is a childhood friend and pulls that friendship marionette string for Bree directly to ghostwrite and promote her books. Bree had “learned early on in our friendship that boundaries are only a suggestion” for Randi.
Darin Peters is “a New York shark” who owns a marketing firm that protects clients’ interests for a high fee. His special client is Randi, a phoenix perpetually rising from the ashes of dumpster fires of her own creation. She has never faced the consequences of her reckless actions. Now she repeatedly has committed the publishing world’s most egregious breach: plagiarism. And it’s not just phrases but verbatim entire pages that Bree recognizes as the work of other authors.
Periodic time travel back 18 years to Amsterdam, before Miranda became Randi, is beneficial backstory that melds into the present for Bree and especially Randi, whose “life is one big merry-go-round of craziness; the only way to get off the ride is to destroy your own career.”
A vehicle crash had killed Bree’s mother and older sister, leaving her and younger sister, Kori, to care for a six-year-old traumatized nephew. Jude's two aunts create code words for him to use to let them know that he’s in distress or for alternative pickup at school. But Jude is used as a pawn in a nefarious ruse to end the social media obliteration of Randi.
Selecting the least destructive option, Bree chooses a venue best suited for Jude and to get off Randi’s carousel of craziness without demolishing her own career.
Steena Holmes is the bestselling author of more than 55 books, including several series. WHEN YOU TELL is a tale of manipulation, deception and catastrophic consequences. A shocking plot arc defines psychological suspense.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Darin Peters is “a New York shark” who owns a marketing firm that protects clients’ interests for a high fee. His special client is Randi, a phoenix perpetually rising from the ashes of dumpster fires of her own creation. She has never faced the consequences of her reckless actions. Now she repeatedly has committed the publishing world’s most egregious breach: plagiarism. And it’s not just phrases but verbatim entire pages that Bree recognizes as the work of other authors.
Periodic time travel back 18 years to Amsterdam, before Miranda became Randi, is beneficial backstory that melds into the present for Bree and especially Randi, whose “life is one big merry-go-round of craziness; the only way to get off the ride is to destroy your own career.”
A vehicle crash had killed Bree’s mother and older sister, leaving her and younger sister, Kori, to care for a six-year-old traumatized nephew. Jude's two aunts create code words for him to use to let them know that he’s in distress or for alternative pickup at school. But Jude is used as a pawn in a nefarious ruse to end the social media obliteration of Randi.
Selecting the least destructive option, Bree chooses a venue best suited for Jude and to get off Randi’s carousel of craziness without demolishing her own career.
Steena Holmes is the bestselling author of more than 55 books, including several series. WHEN YOU TELL is a tale of manipulation, deception and catastrophic consequences. A shocking plot arc defines psychological suspense.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
When you’ve read eleven books by an author, I think it’s safe to say you’re going to keep coming back. Steena Holmes is definitely that author for me. Even though this wasn’t one of my favorites of hers, I was still entertained. I really appreciate how different her books are and the variety of topics she writes about. No two ever feel the same.
I was also drawn to the fractured friendship, psychological tension, and never quite knowing who to trust. I especially enjoyed the past and present storylines in Amsterdam since my husband and I lived there for a while, so those parts were fun for me to read. Unfortunately, the pacing felt uneven and the story was way too long. Some of the dramatic dialogue also got a little too catty for me.
I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrator’s voice and intonation for the main character, but the voices she used for the other characters really annoyed me. I actually think this one would have worked much better with multiple narrators.
Thank you to Brilliance Audio for the ALC! I really appreciated the opportunity to listen to Steena Holmes’ newest release in advance in exchange for my honest review. Although this wasn’t one of my favorites by her, I’m always grateful for the opportunity to read her work early.
When you’ve read eleven books by an author, I think it’s safe to say you’re going to keep coming back. Steena Holmes is definitely that author for me. Even though this wasn’t one of my favorites of hers, I was still entertained. I really appreciate how different her books are and the variety of topics she writes about. No two ever feel the same.
I was also drawn to the fractured friendship, psychological tension, and never quite knowing who to trust. I especially enjoyed the past and present storylines in Amsterdam since my husband and I lived there for a while, so those parts were fun for me to read. Unfortunately, the pacing felt uneven and the story was way too long. Some of the dramatic dialogue also got a little too catty for me.
I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrator’s voice and intonation for the main character, but the voices she used for the other characters really annoyed me. I actually think this one would have worked much better with multiple narrators.
Thank you to Brilliance Audio for the ALC! I really appreciated the opportunity to listen to Steena Holmes’ newest release in advance in exchange for my honest review. Although this wasn’t one of my favorites by her, I’m always grateful for the opportunity to read her work early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am normally a huge fan of psychological thrillers so I was looking forward to this one but it fell kind of flat for me. It wasn’t bad by any means but I just didn’t find it to be gripping and struggled to stay interested.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Solid Suspense With A Lot Of Real-World Commentary. This is one of those fun tales where the author says this and that and that other thing were inspirations, and they are absolutely in there (including the Amsterdam tour she led a bit ago and some specific places they went)... but it also feels at times that she is venting her frustrations about general real world booklandia controversies while fictionalizing everything enough so that nothing is specifically tied to any actual real world issue (at least none that I'm currently aware of).
Which actually combines for a *really* fun book - one where being able to appreciate trauma, neuroses that can develop from the trauma, and a touch of "inside baseball" at times helps "liven it up" a bit at times but isn't strictly necessary to truly enjoy the tale as written. (And, to be clear, there is probably at least a fair amount even I missed here.) Similar to what Jeremy Robinson does with his more allegorical books ala TORMENT, APOCALYPSE MACHINE, or UNITY wherein on the surface you get a really kick ass scifi action tale, but if you happen to understand Christian/ Biblical teaching reasonably well (both the text and the various teachings over the millennia), you get a much *deeper* tale than just the words on the page give you.
As is typical of Holmes, a couple of real-world author friends and some of their own books get mentioned, and yes, you should absolutely read those books too. I've actually read both of the books referenced and have reviews of them most likely wherever you encounter this review, and certainly on either my own site or the various book review sites I am on.
This is not the creepiest tale Holmes has written, and I actually appreciate that as it shows yet again that she is equally adroit at a variety of tales and can pivot to give a wider audience a chance to experience her greatness. Instead, this is a return to a more purely psychological suspense where yes, some things happen, but a lot of the tension here is in how various people respond to the events as much as the events themselves. Which again can have a deeper message... or just be read straight and enjoyed simply as a suspense tale. :)
Overall truly a really fun book that it is clear Holmes both worked quite a bit of magic to get this exactingly right and that she had quite a bit of fun doing it... certainly on the "research trip" side of it. :D
Very much recommended.
Which actually combines for a *really* fun book - one where being able to appreciate trauma, neuroses that can develop from the trauma, and a touch of "inside baseball" at times helps "liven it up" a bit at times but isn't strictly necessary to truly enjoy the tale as written. (And, to be clear, there is probably at least a fair amount even I missed here.) Similar to what Jeremy Robinson does with his more allegorical books ala TORMENT, APOCALYPSE MACHINE, or UNITY wherein on the surface you get a really kick ass scifi action tale, but if you happen to understand Christian/ Biblical teaching reasonably well (both the text and the various teachings over the millennia), you get a much *deeper* tale than just the words on the page give you.
As is typical of Holmes, a couple of real-world author friends and some of their own books get mentioned, and yes, you should absolutely read those books too. I've actually read both of the books referenced and have reviews of them most likely wherever you encounter this review, and certainly on either my own site or the various book review sites I am on.
This is not the creepiest tale Holmes has written, and I actually appreciate that as it shows yet again that she is equally adroit at a variety of tales and can pivot to give a wider audience a chance to experience her greatness. Instead, this is a return to a more purely psychological suspense where yes, some things happen, but a lot of the tension here is in how various people respond to the events as much as the events themselves. Which again can have a deeper message... or just be read straight and enjoyed simply as a suspense tale. :)
Overall truly a really fun book that it is clear Holmes both worked quite a bit of magic to get this exactingly right and that she had quite a bit of fun doing it... certainly on the "research trip" side of it. :D
Very much recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m kind of mixed with this one. I liked Bree a lot. Miranda/Randi… not so much.
Bree is a ghost writer. She’s done multiple books and enjoys what she does!
So, when she runs into an old friend, who also happens to be an old enemy… well, it’s kind of a mixed bag. She fiercely loves her, and hates her at times too.
BUT… she is now in charge of her sweet nephew who is totally dependent on her.
So when Randi asks Bree to ghost wrote for her, I’m screaming in my own head…DON’T DO IT!!! She is definitely not worth the trouble! But Bree seems to be ever soft, and gives in… every time.
And Randi’s agent/sidekick is NO GOOD at all… and I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him…
And then there’s the fact that Bree is getting threats… and some of them are aimed at her nephew. Not. Cool!
So, there was a lot of stuff that I loved… as you can see. But there were also so many parts that I didn’t love! And questioned over and over…why???
That being said, I’m giving this one 3 1/2 solid stars! (Rounded up to 4)
#WhenYouTell by @SteenaHolmes and narrated nicely by @JenniferJillAraya.
**** This one has not been released yet, but please look for it SOON on 10/6/26!! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @BrillianceAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Bree is a ghost writer. She’s done multiple books and enjoys what she does!
So, when she runs into an old friend, who also happens to be an old enemy… well, it’s kind of a mixed bag. She fiercely loves her, and hates her at times too.
BUT… she is now in charge of her sweet nephew who is totally dependent on her.
So when Randi asks Bree to ghost wrote for her, I’m screaming in my own head…DON’T DO IT!!! She is definitely not worth the trouble! But Bree seems to be ever soft, and gives in… every time.
And Randi’s agent/sidekick is NO GOOD at all… and I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him…
And then there’s the fact that Bree is getting threats… and some of them are aimed at her nephew. Not. Cool!
So, there was a lot of stuff that I loved… as you can see. But there were also so many parts that I didn’t love! And questioned over and over…why???
That being said, I’m giving this one 3 1/2 solid stars! (Rounded up to 4)
#WhenYouTell by @SteenaHolmes and narrated nicely by @JenniferJillAraya.
**** This one has not been released yet, but please look for it SOON on 10/6/26!! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @BrillianceAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
October 3, 2026
This is why you don’t mix business with friendship, oh and don’t rekindle with terrible people.
Based on the description, I thought this was going to be a scandalous and exciting listen, but I found it a bit slow. The narrator was good, so that helps, but I just wasn’t really invested in the characters.
We have Bri, a ghostwriter who seems to be doing well financially in her super quaint hometown called Harmony Falls. And she just happens to run into her former, now super famous friend, Randy, formerly Miranda, aka “Mir,” who just happened to move back. Naturally, the only way forward is to ghostwrite her next book.
Well, nothing really happens after this. Nothing exciting, that is. It’s not a single major scandal. It’s just this slow reveal that makes me question how Randy even got as far as she did with her career to begin with. We get a sprinkling of throwbacks that hint at whatever the big thing was that caused their friend breakup, but the throwbacks are so infrequent and they weren’t suspenseful enough that I cared that much.
By the time we finally find out what happened in the past, we’re about 80% in and all it really does is validate the feeling that Bri shouldn’t have agreed to work with her in the first place.
I kept waiting for some kind of twist, but even when we actually get some action, it’s a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, others may enjoy this one more than I did and the narrator makes it an easy listen, but it just never delivered the suspense, scandal, or payoff I was expecting from the description.
Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advanced listening copy.
Based on the description, I thought this was going to be a scandalous and exciting listen, but I found it a bit slow. The narrator was good, so that helps, but I just wasn’t really invested in the characters.
We have Bri, a ghostwriter who seems to be doing well financially in her super quaint hometown called Harmony Falls. And she just happens to run into her former, now super famous friend, Randy, formerly Miranda, aka “Mir,” who just happened to move back. Naturally, the only way forward is to ghostwrite her next book.
Well, nothing really happens after this. Nothing exciting, that is. It’s not a single major scandal. It’s just this slow reveal that makes me question how Randy even got as far as she did with her career to begin with. We get a sprinkling of throwbacks that hint at whatever the big thing was that caused their friend breakup, but the throwbacks are so infrequent and they weren’t suspenseful enough that I cared that much.
By the time we finally find out what happened in the past, we’re about 80% in and all it really does is validate the feeling that Bri shouldn’t have agreed to work with her in the first place.
I kept waiting for some kind of twist, but even when we actually get some action, it’s a bit anticlimactic.
Overall, others may enjoy this one more than I did and the narrator makes it an easy listen, but it just never delivered the suspense, scandal, or payoff I was expecting from the description.
Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the advanced listening copy.
October 25, 2026
I don't really know how to review this book. It was good but miss the point of being a really good domestical thriller.
So many questions left unsaid.
I loved the Amsterdam storyline and I would of love to know more about this than the actual storyline of Randi's downfall.
The last 25% was good and there was finally some action, but 75% of the book was a rambling of always the same things chapter after chapter.
But I loved that it was a story based on the book universe as a book lover myself.
It was ok, but it could have been so much more in my opinion.
So many questions left unsaid.
I loved the Amsterdam storyline and I would of love to know more about this than the actual storyline of Randi's downfall.
The last 25% was good and there was finally some action, but 75% of the book was a rambling of always the same things chapter after chapter.
But I loved that it was a story based on the book universe as a book lover myself.
It was ok, but it could have been so much more in my opinion.
October 7, 2026
Steena Holmes is an auto-read author for me now, so of course I had to pick this one up!
It was a slow burn, psychological suspense that had me questioning everyone (even Bree herself). I loved the split timeline, although I definitely wish we had gotten a little more of the past.
This one didn’t top my favorite Steena book (She Took My Baby), but I still really enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it!
Bonus points for the Archie comic reference + the Kimberly Belle mention! 🖤
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, NetGalley + Steena Holmes for this ALC!
It was a slow burn, psychological suspense that had me questioning everyone (even Bree herself). I loved the split timeline, although I definitely wish we had gotten a little more of the past.
This one didn’t top my favorite Steena book (She Took My Baby), but I still really enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it!
Bonus points for the Archie comic reference + the Kimberly Belle mention! 🖤
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, NetGalley + Steena Holmes for this ALC!
October 7, 2026
This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I don’t think it will be my last one either; I’m always excited to discover new-to-me Canadian authors!
I read most of this book with a knot in my stomach as I was continuously waiting for the metaphorical shoe to drop. I just knew more bad things were coming, but I didn’t know what exactly.
I question a lot about the friendship between Bree and Randi, as I view much of it as quite toxic. Randi is a highly unlikable character, in my opinion, a rich girl who cries and lies when things don’t go her way and readily blames others for her mistakes. Bree, on the other hand, is gullible and naive, who for the life of me, refuses to acknowledge what is in front of her. It frustrated me so much when women close to Bree warned her about Randi, and she chose to ignore their concern. Having not been in contact with someone for eighteen years, why would she suppose she knows Randi best?!
I enjoyed the suspense that built throughout, and the dual timelines, as well as the switch between first- and third-person voice. I am, however, very surprised that a revealed secret near the end, which I suspected all along, is quickly brushed off and not much is done with this bombshell. I wanted more from this moment!
While I think Bree is a loving and protective aunt, her unwillingness to say no to Randi doesn’t align with her commitment to her family (and the many safety precautions surrounding her nephew), and even in the epilogue, it seems as though she hasn’t quite learned her lesson.
Overall, I enjoyed elements of this suspense thriller quite a lot; it’s just that the ending fell a bit flat for me, and Bree was too much of a pushover for my liking.
Huge thank you to BookSparks and their Fall 2026 After Dark Reading Challenge for my advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I read most of this book with a knot in my stomach as I was continuously waiting for the metaphorical shoe to drop. I just knew more bad things were coming, but I didn’t know what exactly.
I question a lot about the friendship between Bree and Randi, as I view much of it as quite toxic. Randi is a highly unlikable character, in my opinion, a rich girl who cries and lies when things don’t go her way and readily blames others for her mistakes. Bree, on the other hand, is gullible and naive, who for the life of me, refuses to acknowledge what is in front of her. It frustrated me so much when women close to Bree warned her about Randi, and she chose to ignore their concern. Having not been in contact with someone for eighteen years, why would she suppose she knows Randi best?!
I enjoyed the suspense that built throughout, and the dual timelines, as well as the switch between first- and third-person voice. I am, however, very surprised that a revealed secret near the end, which I suspected all along, is quickly brushed off and not much is done with this bombshell. I wanted more from this moment!
While I think Bree is a loving and protective aunt, her unwillingness to say no to Randi doesn’t align with her commitment to her family (and the many safety precautions surrounding her nephew), and even in the epilogue, it seems as though she hasn’t quite learned her lesson.
Overall, I enjoyed elements of this suspense thriller quite a lot; it’s just that the ending fell a bit flat for me, and Bree was too much of a pushover for my liking.
Huge thank you to BookSparks and their Fall 2026 After Dark Reading Challenge for my advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 27, 2026
thank you @booksparks for providing me a copy of my the when you tell by steena holmes as part of the fall reading challenge -- booksparks after dark !
📚✍🏻🖤
my rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
i needed some time to think about how i wanted to phrase my review on this one. i'll be honest, it was kind of boring to start ! i didn't get really invested until about 60% of the way through.
bree is a ghostwriter who reconnects with her childhood friend randi after 18 years of silence following an accident abroad, which seemed friendship-ending at the time. randi is one of those influencers who loves to be at the center of everyone's conversations, whether good or bad. you'll hate her the entire time you're reading.
randi asks bree to help ghostwrite her most recent book, but obviously bree can't out herself, so in order to spend time around rando, she is randi's "assistant", kind of. randi slowly digs herself into a hole and is being accused of plagiarism with her previous books and courses, which puts bree in an uncomfortable position. the entire time i was reading, i wish bree would have just jumped ship and let randi sink on her own, but it shows how loyal bree is to those she cares about.
to top it off, bree's mom and sister died in a recent accident so bree and her sister are coparenting their nephew and care very much about his safety. while the randi ship is sinking, someone starts threatening her nephew.
while the first chunk of the book was a little slower, it didn't stop me from wanting to read it. the last half -- i could not put the book down. overall, it was a good thriller that didn't result in any on-page deaths, which is always a win.
📚✍🏻🖤
my rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
i needed some time to think about how i wanted to phrase my review on this one. i'll be honest, it was kind of boring to start ! i didn't get really invested until about 60% of the way through.
bree is a ghostwriter who reconnects with her childhood friend randi after 18 years of silence following an accident abroad, which seemed friendship-ending at the time. randi is one of those influencers who loves to be at the center of everyone's conversations, whether good or bad. you'll hate her the entire time you're reading.
randi asks bree to help ghostwrite her most recent book, but obviously bree can't out herself, so in order to spend time around rando, she is randi's "assistant", kind of. randi slowly digs herself into a hole and is being accused of plagiarism with her previous books and courses, which puts bree in an uncomfortable position. the entire time i was reading, i wish bree would have just jumped ship and let randi sink on her own, but it shows how loyal bree is to those she cares about.
to top it off, bree's mom and sister died in a recent accident so bree and her sister are coparenting their nephew and care very much about his safety. while the randi ship is sinking, someone starts threatening her nephew.
while the first chunk of the book was a little slower, it didn't stop me from wanting to read it. the last half -- i could not put the book down. overall, it was a good thriller that didn't result in any on-page deaths, which is always a win.
October 12, 2026
Bree and her former bff, Miranda, are were inseparable once upon a time. Now as adults Bree is ghost writer while Miranda changed her name to Randi Alexander, reinventing herself as an influencer. Bree had went through family losses and had a challenging upbringing compared to Randi.
Years later, they rekindle their friendship since Randi needs assistance writing a new book. Randi is now a big-time influencer who has been on a bad luck streak and is on the verge of getting herself canceled. Bree has always been in the background and doesn’t like the limelight she’s getting from Randi’s negative press. They are navigating their friendship as well as the bad situation Randi got herself in.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and learning about the friendship between Bree and Randi. There are dual timelines from past and present that I enjoyed as well. However, as a domestic thriller, I definitely think this felt flat and anticlimactic. The plot felt like it was repeating itself over and over again, and there was no major advancements with the characters. I couldn’t grasp why Bree kept wanting to help Randi with the book while there was so much negativity surrounding her and safety issues regarding her family. If you enjoy die-hard friendships with a glimpse into influencer culture this may be for you.
Thank you BookSparks for the ARC.
Years later, they rekindle their friendship since Randi needs assistance writing a new book. Randi is now a big-time influencer who has been on a bad luck streak and is on the verge of getting herself canceled. Bree has always been in the background and doesn’t like the limelight she’s getting from Randi’s negative press. They are navigating their friendship as well as the bad situation Randi got herself in.
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book and learning about the friendship between Bree and Randi. There are dual timelines from past and present that I enjoyed as well. However, as a domestic thriller, I definitely think this felt flat and anticlimactic. The plot felt like it was repeating itself over and over again, and there was no major advancements with the characters. I couldn’t grasp why Bree kept wanting to help Randi with the book while there was so much negativity surrounding her and safety issues regarding her family. If you enjoy die-hard friendships with a glimpse into influencer culture this may be for you.
Thank you BookSparks for the ARC.
October 12, 2026
i really enjoyed the dual timelines from past and present because you really got learn about the friendship between Bree and Miranda (now Randi) from their young adult age to now as adults. this was essentially Bree giving Miranda a new shot at a friendship between them after what happened in Amsterdam (although she really shouldn’t have) now that she is basically an influencer and author going by Randi. SOOOO many times i wanted to scream at Bree because i felt like she was such a pushover😅 forgiving and finding excuses for Randi’s behavior and i just wanted to knock some sense into her🤣🥲
Overall this was a really entertaining read and I enjoyed how the story progressed and unfolded. For being based around fame and friendship, i devoured the drama and secrets. The only part that I disagree with is this being called a psychological thriller because at most there was only some suspense in it, mostly being in the last 20% of the book when the twists and final parts of the story were revealed💙
Overall this was a really entertaining read and I enjoyed how the story progressed and unfolded. For being based around fame and friendship, i devoured the drama and secrets. The only part that I disagree with is this being called a psychological thriller because at most there was only some suspense in it, mostly being in the last 20% of the book when the twists and final parts of the story were revealed💙
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a great book! From the beginning I was drawn into the story and the lives of Bree, a ghostwriter, and Randi, an influencer. They were previously best friends and when Randi asks for help Bree agrees. She’s just not ready for all the weird things that happen and the threats made against her and her family. The story is told in 2 timelines, one the present and the other when they were high school seniors visiting Amsterdam. There was no telling what was going to happen next or how Randi would handle a particular situation. If you like books with lots of drama and intrigue I think you’ll like this book.
October 10, 2026
Overall, I found this audiobook to be interesting and suspenseful. However, many of the characters annoyed me with their contradictory behavior. Early on, I felt tension, and while this is a mark of a good thriller, I realized it was because the actions of the characters were irritating me. I also felt that the story included multiple scenes where the characters made unreasonable decisions and it ended with some aspects left hanging. So, an intriguing story, but it felt a bit too long and could have used some editing. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.
October 11, 2026
When You Tell by Steena Holmes sadly didn’t work for me. The premise was intriguing, and I enjoyed the dual timelines, but the story lacked the suspense, mystery, and scandal I was hoping for. Instead, the plot dragged on, and I found myself counting down the pages until it was over. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and their questionable decisions often left me baffled.
The audiobook narration by Jennifer Jill Araya was excellent and helped salvage the experience for me.
Thank you to NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for letting me read this ARC.
The audiobook narration by Jennifer Jill Araya was excellent and helped salvage the experience for me.
Thank you to NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for letting me read this ARC.
October 12, 2026
I listened to the Audio book and just loved it. I drove from MD to NY listening and then had to finish when I got to my destination. I had to find out what was going to happen. There are so many twists and turns you won't know who did what. The story is told in 2 timelines, one the present and the other when they were high school seniors visiting Amsterdam. There was no telling what was going to happen next or how Randi would handle a particular situation. I just love Steena's books and can't wait for the next one.
October 26, 2026
WHEN YOU TELL is a story of friendship, secrets, and lies. I enjoyed the suspense while trying to figure out what would happen between Bree and Randi. I also, liked the dual timelines! I could really get an insight on what the girls were like when they were younger. I thought Bree's nephew and his dog, Chad, were a cute addition to the book. Overall, I think this was a great book and I would recommend adding it to your TBR list.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
October 25, 2026
"When You Tell" started out difficult for me since the characters are in a different stage of their lives, but the passion and anxiety experienced by Bree really grabbed my heart and I had trouble putting the book down. I enjoyed the book and found it very well written and suspenseful.
I want to thank Oceanview Publishing as well as GoodReads and Steena Holmes for the opportunity to read and review "When You Tell." It was a wonderful psychological thriller that I highly recommend to others.
I want to thank Oceanview Publishing as well as GoodReads and Steena Holmes for the opportunity to read and review "When You Tell." It was a wonderful psychological thriller that I highly recommend to others.
Review of advance copy
4/5 stars. I enjoyed “When You Tell” it was a super fast read and I didn’t find myself losing interest at any point. Only reason I can’t bring myself to give it 5 stars is because it didn’t really make me feel any type of way. Despite thoroughly enjoying it, it didn’t provoke any intense emotions or my make my heart race. Would totally recommend though
September 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing /Brilliance Audio for the ARC. I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as others by her. It was entertaining. I thought a bit caddy. Lots of secrets and friendships that probably shouldn’t exist. Some good twists but just didn’t hit the mark completely for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I haven't read anything by this author before. I enjoyed the writing style and the narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya, was great! I didn't find this book overly suspenseful as advertised and was pretty far-fetched in parts. Overall, I was a little disappointed and wanted more based on the premise. 3.5 stars
Thank you to the author, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!
Thank you to the author, Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for this ALC!
October 14, 2026
What a great book! There’s a bit of everything in this one! Bree is raising her nephew with her sister after they lose their Mom and other sister. Bree reconnects with an old friend and her life is turned upside down. She no longer knows who she can trust or who to turn to and her family is in danger. This will have you listening all night! Great narrator!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In WHEN YOU TELL, Steena Holmes delivers yet another twisty ride. Filled with secrets, greed, toxic relationships, and buckets of betrayal, with friends like these, who needs enemies? A thrilling page-turner that’ll keep you on your toes.
October 1, 2026
ALC provided by NetGalley
3/5 ⭐️
I enjoyed certain aspects of the story as well as the writing. However, despite Steena Holmes being a new author for me, I found the storyline very predictable.
3/5 ⭐️
I enjoyed certain aspects of the story as well as the writing. However, despite Steena Holmes being a new author for me, I found the storyline very predictable.
October 12, 2026
WOW!!!! Couldn't put it down!!! It drew me in from beginning and kept me glued to the very end! Surprising twists and turns! This story will blow your mind!
Very good book. Intriguing characters!!
Very good book. Intriguing characters!!
October 19, 2026
An easy read, but not as thrilling as advertised to me.
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