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10 copies available
U.S. only
From the author of the Good Morning America Book Club pick Count My Lies, soon to be a Hulu series starring Lindsay Lohan and Shailene Woodley, comes a sharply addictive novel about a woman desperate to infiltrate an exclusive circle of mothers—until she realizes their magnetic ringleader has a dangerous game of her own
Mallory Greene is drowning in her new new house, new coast, young kids, and a husband who’s become increasingly distant. Which is why the Sweet Hill moms are so important.
Mallory’s heard the rumors—they’re exclusive, ruthless, and powerful enough to make or break anyone in town. So when their charismatic leader, Natalie, finally takes notice of her, Mallory is thrilled. For the first time in months, she feels seen.
Mallory soon learns that the Sweet Hill moms play a private game they call “confessions” at their evening gatherings, each woman revealing a secret the others could destroy her with. It’s intoxicating. And cruel. Mallory, with secrets of her own, must decide who she can trust and what she should reveal, including the real reason she wanted to join the Sweet Hill circle.
But as her friendships with the women deepen, Mallory begins to suspect she wasn’t invited into the circle at random. Someone wants her right where she is, and what she thought was a game is something far more deadly. Mallory will have to choose where her loyalties lie—and what she’s willing to do to prove it.
Mallory Greene is drowning in her new new house, new coast, young kids, and a husband who’s become increasingly distant. Which is why the Sweet Hill moms are so important.
Mallory’s heard the rumors—they’re exclusive, ruthless, and powerful enough to make or break anyone in town. So when their charismatic leader, Natalie, finally takes notice of her, Mallory is thrilled. For the first time in months, she feels seen.
Mallory soon learns that the Sweet Hill moms play a private game they call “confessions” at their evening gatherings, each woman revealing a secret the others could destroy her with. It’s intoxicating. And cruel. Mallory, with secrets of her own, must decide who she can trust and what she should reveal, including the real reason she wanted to join the Sweet Hill circle.
But as her friendships with the women deepen, Mallory begins to suspect she wasn’t invited into the circle at random. Someone wants her right where she is, and what she thought was a game is something far more deadly. Mallory will have to choose where her loyalties lie—and what she’s willing to do to prove it.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 6, 2027
About the author
Sophie Stava
2 books1,160 followersSophie Stava received her BA in English literature from UC Santa Barbara. She currently resides in Southern California with her family. COUNT MY LIES is her debut novel.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed Sophie Stava’s debut, so I was excited to pick this one up, and it definitely lived up to my expectations! This was such a well-written, clever, and entertaining read. I especially loved the way the author gives her female characters both sass and heart. They have plenty of personality and attitude, but there’s also an emotional depth to them that made me really invested in their stories.
One of my favorite things was watching the main female characters shift from seeming like the villains to being the vindicators. I loved that evolution and how naturally the story unfolded around them. The pacing worked really well for me, and I appreciated that it never felt redundant or way too drawn out. It kept the tension going with plenty of twists along the way… many of which I genuinely didn’t see coming.
I also really enjoyed the girl-power aspect and all the sneakiness and scheming. There’s something especially satisfying about watching these women outsmart their way through things!
Overall, this is a really great read with strong female characters, plenty of suspense, and just the right mix of humor, mystery, and emotional vulnerability. I’ll definitely be looking forward to whatever Stava writes next!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! **
I really enjoyed Sophie Stava’s debut, so I was excited to pick this one up, and it definitely lived up to my expectations! This was such a well-written, clever, and entertaining read. I especially loved the way the author gives her female characters both sass and heart. They have plenty of personality and attitude, but there’s also an emotional depth to them that made me really invested in their stories.
One of my favorite things was watching the main female characters shift from seeming like the villains to being the vindicators. I loved that evolution and how naturally the story unfolded around them. The pacing worked really well for me, and I appreciated that it never felt redundant or way too drawn out. It kept the tension going with plenty of twists along the way… many of which I genuinely didn’t see coming.
I also really enjoyed the girl-power aspect and all the sneakiness and scheming. There’s something especially satisfying about watching these women outsmart their way through things!
Overall, this is a really great read with strong female characters, plenty of suspense, and just the right mix of humor, mystery, and emotional vulnerability. I’ll definitely be looking forward to whatever Stava writes next!
** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! **
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sophie Stava really knows how to make a group of seemingly ordinary suburban moms feel like the most dangerous people in the room. And honestly? I would absolutely pull up a chair, grab a glass of wine, and listen to their drama… preferably from a safe distance.
Girls Will Be Girls was such a deliciously entertaining surprise! I went in expecting a juicy domestic mystery, but the deeper I got into this story, the more I found myself questioning everyone’s intentions. Because apparently, making friends as an adult isn't complicated enough without secret agendas, suspiciously perfect social circles, and women who might know enough about you to destroy your entire life.
Mallory Greene is trying to find her footing in a new town while juggling motherhood, a marriage that feels increasingly lonely, and the unsettling realization that the life she imagined for herself doesn't quite resemble the one she's living. So when Natalie and her exclusive circle of Sweet Hill moms finally welcome her in, it's easy to understand why Mallory becomes so invested. Who wouldn't want to feel seen, included, and part of something when everything else feels a little broken?
But oh, these women. The conversations, the carefully guarded truths, the unspoken rules… and their little game of confessions? Let's just say I would be choosing my words VERY carefully. There is something deliciously uncomfortable about watching people reveal their secrets while knowing those same revelations could eventually become weapons. Nobody is entirely innocent, nobody is telling the whole truth, and trust becomes a very dangerous luxury.
What I particularly appreciated was the way Sophie Stava lets the mystery simmer rather than throwing every possible revelation at us immediately. The suspense builds gradually, with lies and hidden motives emerging at a satisfying pace. Each new piece of information changes the way you look at the relationships, and I loved watching the characters reveal different sides of themselves as the story progressed. The character development adds substance to all the social maneuvering, making the conflicts feel more personal than simply a collection of shocking secrets.
And the ending? OH, THAT ENDING. ❤️
I love when a mystery makes me reconsider what I thought I understood, and this one delivers a final twist that feels genuinely well served by everything that comes before it. The groundwork is there, the tension has been quietly building, and when the pieces finally come together, the payoff feels satisfying. I had my suspicions along the way, but the final revelations gave me enough to chew on that I finished the book feeling thoroughly entertained.
Beyond the mystery, I also enjoyed the complicated dynamics between women who are trying to navigate their own disappointments, ambitions, friendships, and frustrations. The story understands that relationships can be both a lifeline and a battlefield, sometimes with the very same person. And while the characters don't always make choices I would personally applaud, their imperfections make the drama all the more compelling.
If I have one weakness for books like this, it's that I can never resist trying to figure out what's REALLY happening before the author is ready to tell me. But this slow-burn approach worked well here because there was enough happening beneath the surface to keep me invested, even when I thought I had figured out a few things.
Overall, Girls Will Be Girls is a juicy, twist-filled domestic mystery with complicated women, dangerous secrets, evolving relationships, and a conclusion that makes the journey worthwhile. It kept me curious, entertained, and happily suspicious of practically everyone. Four stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Special thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for sharing this juicy mystery with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
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Girls Will Be Girls was such a deliciously entertaining surprise! I went in expecting a juicy domestic mystery, but the deeper I got into this story, the more I found myself questioning everyone’s intentions. Because apparently, making friends as an adult isn't complicated enough without secret agendas, suspiciously perfect social circles, and women who might know enough about you to destroy your entire life.
Mallory Greene is trying to find her footing in a new town while juggling motherhood, a marriage that feels increasingly lonely, and the unsettling realization that the life she imagined for herself doesn't quite resemble the one she's living. So when Natalie and her exclusive circle of Sweet Hill moms finally welcome her in, it's easy to understand why Mallory becomes so invested. Who wouldn't want to feel seen, included, and part of something when everything else feels a little broken?
But oh, these women. The conversations, the carefully guarded truths, the unspoken rules… and their little game of confessions? Let's just say I would be choosing my words VERY carefully. There is something deliciously uncomfortable about watching people reveal their secrets while knowing those same revelations could eventually become weapons. Nobody is entirely innocent, nobody is telling the whole truth, and trust becomes a very dangerous luxury.
What I particularly appreciated was the way Sophie Stava lets the mystery simmer rather than throwing every possible revelation at us immediately. The suspense builds gradually, with lies and hidden motives emerging at a satisfying pace. Each new piece of information changes the way you look at the relationships, and I loved watching the characters reveal different sides of themselves as the story progressed. The character development adds substance to all the social maneuvering, making the conflicts feel more personal than simply a collection of shocking secrets.
And the ending? OH, THAT ENDING. ❤️
I love when a mystery makes me reconsider what I thought I understood, and this one delivers a final twist that feels genuinely well served by everything that comes before it. The groundwork is there, the tension has been quietly building, and when the pieces finally come together, the payoff feels satisfying. I had my suspicions along the way, but the final revelations gave me enough to chew on that I finished the book feeling thoroughly entertained.
Beyond the mystery, I also enjoyed the complicated dynamics between women who are trying to navigate their own disappointments, ambitions, friendships, and frustrations. The story understands that relationships can be both a lifeline and a battlefield, sometimes with the very same person. And while the characters don't always make choices I would personally applaud, their imperfections make the drama all the more compelling.
If I have one weakness for books like this, it's that I can never resist trying to figure out what's REALLY happening before the author is ready to tell me. But this slow-burn approach worked well here because there was enough happening beneath the surface to keep me invested, even when I thought I had figured out a few things.
Overall, Girls Will Be Girls is a juicy, twist-filled domestic mystery with complicated women, dangerous secrets, evolving relationships, and a conclusion that makes the journey worthwhile. It kept me curious, entertained, and happily suspicious of practically everyone. Four stars from me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Special thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for sharing this juicy mystery with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
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September 30, 2026
Loved this one! So twisty and unexpected! Mean Girls meets Desperate Housewives. A must read and pre-order!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a fun one! I loved the idea behind it and really enjoyed the twists (a lot which surprised me). I do wish the author had gone deeper into some of the storylines instead of throwing so much at us, but it was a good read... and kudos for the gorgeous cover! 4.25 stars
October 5, 2026
Girls Will Be Girls
By Sophie Stava
Release Date 04/06/2027
5⭐️
By day, Mallory is a burnt-out mom barely holding it together who’s just discovered her husband is cheating on her.
By night? She doom-scrolls and borderline stalks the women in her neighborhood she’s become obsessed with.
Natalie, Gemma, Ivy, and Lila are the beautiful moms Mallory has been trying to befriend for months, so when she finally gets invited for drinks, she’s IN. The women start sharing confessions with one rule: whatever is said stays between them. No matter how bad it is.
Then Mallory finds out Natalie and her husband Graham have known each other literally since birth. Their mothers were best friends, and Natalie has had a thing for Graham since childhood.
And Graham? He plays their friendship WAY down.
🚩🚩🚩
Mallory knows something is off, but somehow she still likes Natalie. Honestly, it’s hard not to. Natalie might give mean-girl energy and she’s absolutely an eye-for-an-eye kind of woman, but dig a little deeper and you start understanding exactly why she is the way she is.
And the TWIST.
If you guess it, my hat 🎩 is off to you because I was feeling REAL smug at both 60% and 80%, convinced I had this thing figured out.
I did not. 😂
This was SO good. Told through Mallory and Natalie’s POVs, you’re basically trapped between two women who are both capable of being dangerous for completely different reasons. One has her reasons.
The other suspects absolutely everyone.
And apparently I suspected all the wrong damn people. 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#sophiestava
#girlswillbegirls
#duttonbooks
#penguinrandomhouse
#5starbook
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Maybe, if you think about it, I'm not the deer. Maybe I'm the hunter. It wouldn't be the first time.
The thought makes me smile."
This story was wild and entertaining, engrossing and captivating, and a fantastic way to spend a rainy weekend on your couch with some hot coco.
On the surface level, there's so much about girl power and friendships, and that popular "Bad Moms" energy but on closer inspection it's also a story about standing up for yourself and finding your voice, even if sometimes that means surrounding yourself with the right people first.
Sophie Stava's writing has such an easy and effortless flow to it, weaving chapters together one after another until you realize she's pulled you so deep into her world of mischief that you start questioning your own mom friends.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the chance to read this ARC. I'm looking forward to reading Count My Lies next!
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The thought makes me smile."
This story was wild and entertaining, engrossing and captivating, and a fantastic way to spend a rainy weekend on your couch with some hot coco.
On the surface level, there's so much about girl power and friendships, and that popular "Bad Moms" energy but on closer inspection it's also a story about standing up for yourself and finding your voice, even if sometimes that means surrounding yourself with the right people first.
Sophie Stava's writing has such an easy and effortless flow to it, weaving chapters together one after another until you realize she's pulled you so deep into her world of mischief that you start questioning your own mom friends.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the chance to read this ARC. I'm looking forward to reading Count My Lies next!
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really good book that I had trouble putting down. It centers on Mallory, who has recently relocated from the West Coast to her husband’s hometown on the East Coast. She is feeling lonely and isolated (and her husband certainly isn’t helping) when she becomes obsessed with befriending a group of chic, popular moms. She is thrilled when they finally notice her, but she quickly senses a darkness beneath what they show on the outside. It turns out Mallory has some ulterior motives of her own, so what looks like a new friendship on the surface turns into more of a cat and mouse game underneath.
This story was very clever because there was a deeper reason behind everything that was happening, and it took a while to figure out. It was a slow burn that initially seemed like a typical mean-girls-in-the-neighborhood story (which, don’t get me wrong, I also love), but it turned out to be so much more than that. Once the reasons behind the characters’ actions were exposed, it flipped everything I thought I knew on its head. Mallory was well characterized and definitely grew throughout the story, though some of the things she did early on made it seem like she hadn’t considered the consequences. Natalie was also a well-built character, and she’s the one who most had me rethinking everything she said and did once the truth came out. I do wish the other moms had been more fleshed out; they seemed a little surface-level compared to the two primary characters. The ending was great and pulled it all together. I almost want to go back and read it again now that I know everything I know.
Overall, this is a much deeper (and dare I even say feel-good) story than it seems on the surface, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story was very clever because there was a deeper reason behind everything that was happening, and it took a while to figure out. It was a slow burn that initially seemed like a typical mean-girls-in-the-neighborhood story (which, don’t get me wrong, I also love), but it turned out to be so much more than that. Once the reasons behind the characters’ actions were exposed, it flipped everything I thought I knew on its head. Mallory was well characterized and definitely grew throughout the story, though some of the things she did early on made it seem like she hadn’t considered the consequences. Natalie was also a well-built character, and she’s the one who most had me rethinking everything she said and did once the truth came out. I do wish the other moms had been more fleshed out; they seemed a little surface-level compared to the two primary characters. The ending was great and pulled it all together. I almost want to go back and read it again now that I know everything I know.
Overall, this is a much deeper (and dare I even say feel-good) story than it seems on the surface, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Couldn’t put this one down!!
September 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this ARC.
This was so good! I finished it in less than 24 hours because I could not put it down. Very addictive writing style and it wasn’t repetitive at all, which I feel like a majority of “thriller” books are. Unexpected twists and an ending that I loved.
This was so good! I finished it in less than 24 hours because I could not put it down. Very addictive writing style and it wasn’t repetitive at all, which I feel like a majority of “thriller” books are. Unexpected twists and an ending that I loved.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was definitely one of my favorite suspense novels, and I’ve read MANY! It was very different from the rest for me. I flew through this and loved how twisty it was. There were so many unexpected turns and it kept me hooked from beginning to end. I also really enjoyed all of the women in this book, even the ones who seemed unlikable at first. I loved watching their stories unfold and seeing how everything came together. I feel like this book was almost perfect and I really loved it!
September 7, 2026
I loooved this one! Sophie Stava’s sophomore book didn’t disappoint. It was giving big little lies in the best way possible. Can’t wait to see what she writes next.
Thanks NetGalley and Dutton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks NetGalley and Dutton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 25, 2026
I support women!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
4.5 stars!
I loved this one. It kind of took me a little bit of time to get into it, not because I was bored, but because I didn’t really like any of the characters. I did not like Mallory because she didn’t seem like a great person, and at first I thought Natalie was so mean!
I really thought all of those girls were crazy, but in a fun way that I like to read about.
As the book went on, I could tell there was more than met the eye with those girls. Slowly I started to like them more and more. I really loved Natalie by the end of it! The other girls didn’t stick out to me very much, but I didn’t really dislike them. They just weren’t as fleshed out. I didn’t really connect to Mallory as a main character, but I liked her enough to side with her for most of the beginning. By the ending I took Natalie’s side, even if we were supposed to kind of be suspicious of her, I knew there was something to like.
I am a feminist, so if you are too, you will love this book. As always with these types of books, it is hard because I hate reading about how terrible men are, especially when sadly this does happen in real life. But I love to see women fight back and seeing them stick together and help each other out.
Everything that happened in this book was deserved to the men!
One thing I loved about this book was the breaking of the fourth wall. That was so fun. When done well I love it, and it worked really well in this book.
What was revealed at the end of this book was so sad, my heart was breaking. You could see something horrible was going to happen and nothing you could do was going to stop it.
I liked that the end was open ended, but you also know what Mallory is going to do. It lets you decide what you want to happen. I of course would go with Natalie’s plan.
I absolutely loved the ending! I didn’t expect what happened, but I love how it all came together so nicely. I was cheering at the end.
I loved the title of this book too. At first I thought it was just fitting in general, but at the end of the book I put it together on why it was named that and thought it was perfect.
I didn’t like the one mention of the use of AI. It just didn’t need to be in there. But that was my only complaint.
If you liked the author’s first book, you absolutely need to read this! I really liked her first book too, but this one was the better of the two. I listened to the audiobook for that one and read this one physically!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
4.5 stars!
I loved this one. It kind of took me a little bit of time to get into it, not because I was bored, but because I didn’t really like any of the characters. I did not like Mallory because she didn’t seem like a great person, and at first I thought Natalie was so mean!
I really thought all of those girls were crazy, but in a fun way that I like to read about.
As the book went on, I could tell there was more than met the eye with those girls. Slowly I started to like them more and more. I really loved Natalie by the end of it! The other girls didn’t stick out to me very much, but I didn’t really dislike them. They just weren’t as fleshed out. I didn’t really connect to Mallory as a main character, but I liked her enough to side with her for most of the beginning. By the ending I took Natalie’s side, even if we were supposed to kind of be suspicious of her, I knew there was something to like.
I am a feminist, so if you are too, you will love this book. As always with these types of books, it is hard because I hate reading about how terrible men are, especially when sadly this does happen in real life. But I love to see women fight back and seeing them stick together and help each other out.
Everything that happened in this book was deserved to the men!
One thing I loved about this book was the breaking of the fourth wall. That was so fun. When done well I love it, and it worked really well in this book.
What was revealed at the end of this book was so sad, my heart was breaking. You could see something horrible was going to happen and nothing you could do was going to stop it.
I liked that the end was open ended, but you also know what Mallory is going to do. It lets you decide what you want to happen. I of course would go with Natalie’s plan.
I absolutely loved the ending! I didn’t expect what happened, but I love how it all came together so nicely. I was cheering at the end.
I loved the title of this book too. At first I thought it was just fitting in general, but at the end of the book I put it together on why it was named that and thought it was perfect.
I didn’t like the one mention of the use of AI. It just didn’t need to be in there. But that was my only complaint.
If you liked the author’s first book, you absolutely need to read this! I really liked her first book too, but this one was the better of the two. I listened to the audiobook for that one and read this one physically!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
* thanks to Dutton for the NetGalley review copy (pub date: April 5, 2027)
I hadn’t read anything by Sophie Stava before this, but just downloaded a copy of Count My Lies that I’ll be reading soon because I enjoyed this fast-paced, lightly twisty thriller so much.
Was this groundbreaking or mind-blowing? No, but I was in the mood for something quick and vengeful and easy to digest, and this delivered. i loved the dual perspectives that gave some clues about what was going on without giving the whole thing up from the get-go — I feel like this style is what FMcF *tries* to do, but has been done so much better here.
I will say that the “confessions” part was weird and felt kind of unnecessary— ladies, you can just have a drink with your friends and do some chitchatting and let it all out without getting all culty, but you do you. Definitely will be recommending we stock this in the store and will be pointing my thriller lovers to it (especially next summer because this is a perfect vacation/beach/poolside read).
I hadn’t read anything by Sophie Stava before this, but just downloaded a copy of Count My Lies that I’ll be reading soon because I enjoyed this fast-paced, lightly twisty thriller so much.
Was this groundbreaking or mind-blowing? No, but I was in the mood for something quick and vengeful and easy to digest, and this delivered. i loved the dual perspectives that gave some clues about what was going on without giving the whole thing up from the get-go — I feel like this style is what FMcF *tries* to do, but has been done so much better here.
I will say that the “confessions” part was weird and felt kind of unnecessary— ladies, you can just have a drink with your friends and do some chitchatting and let it all out without getting all culty, but you do you. Definitely will be recommending we stock this in the store and will be pointing my thriller lovers to it (especially next summer because this is a perfect vacation/beach/poolside read).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The twists and turns in this book were sooooo good! Each character had secrets and plans, and I loved getting to unravel them along with Mallory and Natalie. Sophie Stava did an amazing job using alternating perspectives without giving anything away. She dropped hints and tiny clues throughout the novel, and the breadcrumbs led perfectly to the ending. Feminist, funny, and dramatic, this hit every mark for me. 4.8/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Want to Read
September 9, 2026I loved Count My Lies! Can't wait to read this one! Pub date: 04/2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ABSOLUTELY a new favorite. Wow!
September 14, 2026
Girls Will Be Girls was so messy and twisty in the best way. Wealthy neighborhood moms, complicated friendships, dark secrets, and revenge? Yes please. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something else was revealed. Such a fun, addictive thriller!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Girls Will Be Girls was a really good read! I went into this book thinking it was going to be one thing, and it ended up being completely different—in the best way.
There were lots of twists and turns, and the story kept surprising me as it went along. Every time I thought I knew where things were headed, something changed and had me questioning what I thought I knew.
I really enjoyed that this wasn’t the book I expected it to be. It kept my attention and made for a fun, unpredictable read. Definitely one to pick up if you enjoy books that keep you guessing!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
There were lots of twists and turns, and the story kept surprising me as it went along. Every time I thought I knew where things were headed, something changed and had me questioning what I thought I knew.
I really enjoyed that this wasn’t the book I expected it to be. It kept my attention and made for a fun, unpredictable read. Definitely one to pick up if you enjoy books that keep you guessing!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sophie Stava, you got me again.
Her debut, Count My Lies, was utterly gripping, and Girls Will Be Girls was every bit as addictive. I binged this one in a day. I couldn’t look away from the absolute mess unfolding in front of me. The messier it got, the more I wanted to keep reading.
I love how diabolical and deceiving Stava’s characters are. Everyone is flawed. Everyone has an agenda. Everyone feels just unreliable. The chaos made me constantly question their motives, and I had the hardest time trying to figure out what everyone was really up to.
Twists, secrets, messy female relationships, toxic friendships, complicated motherhood, psychological manipulation, female revenge…this had SO much of what I love in a thriller and more. And the deeper I got into the story, the more twisted it became.
This was such a fun, bingeable story of power, privilege, friendship and revenge, with unforgettable characters and a story that completely sucked me in. Highly recommend!
A BIG thank you to Dutton for the advance reader copy. I appreciated the opportunity to read Stava’s brilliant sophomore novel in return for sharing my honest opinion.
Her debut, Count My Lies, was utterly gripping, and Girls Will Be Girls was every bit as addictive. I binged this one in a day. I couldn’t look away from the absolute mess unfolding in front of me. The messier it got, the more I wanted to keep reading.
I love how diabolical and deceiving Stava’s characters are. Everyone is flawed. Everyone has an agenda. Everyone feels just unreliable. The chaos made me constantly question their motives, and I had the hardest time trying to figure out what everyone was really up to.
Twists, secrets, messy female relationships, toxic friendships, complicated motherhood, psychological manipulation, female revenge…this had SO much of what I love in a thriller and more. And the deeper I got into the story, the more twisted it became.
This was such a fun, bingeable story of power, privilege, friendship and revenge, with unforgettable characters and a story that completely sucked me in. Highly recommend!
A BIG thank you to Dutton for the advance reader copy. I appreciated the opportunity to read Stava’s brilliant sophomore novel in return for sharing my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, it truly kept me guessing the entire time. Is Natalie a villain? Is she the hero? Is Mallory the villain? Is there even a villain at all?!
Mallory, married 5 years, moves to her husband’s hometown after his mother unexpectedly dies and he inherits her house. She desperately wants to make friends. She’s a stay at home mom to two little ones, and has lost herself, somewhat since becoming a mom. Her marriage is less than satisfactory, and she suspects her husband is having an affair.
The Sweet Hill moms seem to have it all, and she badly wants into their clique. Surprisingly, Natalie invites her into the group, but there is a price to pay. Mallory is shocked at Natalie’s apparent bad behavior, and the group’s willingness to tolerate it, but nothing is quite what it seems.
I couldn’t put this one down. I love a good, twisty suspense, and this did not disappoint. I believe there is also a movie in the works, starring Lindsay Lohan and Shailene Woodley.
This is the best girl power plot twist I’ve read since the Last Mrs. Parrish.
Mallory, married 5 years, moves to her husband’s hometown after his mother unexpectedly dies and he inherits her house. She desperately wants to make friends. She’s a stay at home mom to two little ones, and has lost herself, somewhat since becoming a mom. Her marriage is less than satisfactory, and she suspects her husband is having an affair.
The Sweet Hill moms seem to have it all, and she badly wants into their clique. Surprisingly, Natalie invites her into the group, but there is a price to pay. Mallory is shocked at Natalie’s apparent bad behavior, and the group’s willingness to tolerate it, but nothing is quite what it seems.
I couldn’t put this one down. I love a good, twisty suspense, and this did not disappoint. I believe there is also a movie in the works, starring Lindsay Lohan and Shailene Woodley.
This is the best girl power plot twist I’ve read since the Last Mrs. Parrish.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
I really enjoyed this one! It had me hooked from the very beginning and I flew through it. Female friend groups, lots of tea, revenge plots; all things I love. Lots of small twists that had me guessing what was really happening.
The only flaw in this is I feel like a lot of info was given in the last 20% which I thought could’ve been given throughout the book and with more detail. Overall this was extremely entertaining and I’ll be looking for more books from this author.
Will definitely be picking up a physical copy of this when it’s out in April.
I really enjoyed this one! It had me hooked from the very beginning and I flew through it. Female friend groups, lots of tea, revenge plots; all things I love. Lots of small twists that had me guessing what was really happening.
The only flaw in this is I feel like a lot of info was given in the last 20% which I thought could’ve been given throughout the book and with more detail. Overall this was extremely entertaining and I’ll be looking for more books from this author.
Will definitely be picking up a physical copy of this when it’s out in April.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't want to say too much about this book because I liked going into it kind of blindly and letting the secrets unfold.
What I liked:
multiple povs
dirty secrets
revenge
women standing up for other women
What I didn't like:
nothing. This book was a ton of fun!
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
What I liked:
multiple povs
dirty secrets
revenge
women standing up for other women
What I didn't like:
nothing. This book was a ton of fun!
Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh yes!!! Recommend!
Loved this mysterious, twisty story! 4.25 stars from me. Sometimes moving back home isn’t the best idea. Especially if you’re going back to hidden secrets and revenge! I really enjoyed this thriller. It was very suspenseful and had me questioning what was about to happen.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC to read and give my honest review on.
Loved this mysterious, twisty story! 4.25 stars from me. Sometimes moving back home isn’t the best idea. Especially if you’re going back to hidden secrets and revenge! I really enjoyed this thriller. It was very suspenseful and had me questioning what was about to happen.
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC to read and give my honest review on.
Read
October 10, 2026Loved all of the twists in this! I liked how the author never let us fully know what Natalie was up to until the end. I also really enjoyed the sense of sisterhood in this. It felt like exactly what Mallory needed after the move! This was a fast read for me because I literally could not put it down. Definitely read this when it’s out next April!!!! Thank you, Net Galley, for the advanced reader copy to this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 Why do girls need to be girls? Because “boys will be boys.”
This is a really fun suspense that feels relatable. It has strong female characters who don’t just let things happen to them. There are quite a few twists that change the meaning of everything that’s happened. Lots of female rage. Better straighten up, fellas.
“‘Well, you know boys,’ said Virginia dismissively. ‘She should get used to it.’ I did know boys. That was the problem. And I would never let my daughter get used to their bad behavior.”
I wanted to read this based on the title and cover alone. So glad I did!
Thanks NetGalley and Dutton!! Pub date April 6, 2027.
This is a really fun suspense that feels relatable. It has strong female characters who don’t just let things happen to them. There are quite a few twists that change the meaning of everything that’s happened. Lots of female rage. Better straighten up, fellas.
“‘Well, you know boys,’ said Virginia dismissively. ‘She should get used to it.’ I did know boys. That was the problem. And I would never let my daughter get used to their bad behavior.”
I wanted to read this based on the title and cover alone. So glad I did!
Thanks NetGalley and Dutton!! Pub date April 6, 2027.
September 15, 2026
WOW. this one was just as gripping and twisty as Stava's debut, Count My Lies. the recurring theme that i love most in both of these binge-worthy domestic thrillers is how Stava's "evil" female characters are slowly revealed to be working in tandem and are on the right side of history –– even when they outwardly appear to be pitted against each other over a man's affections, in reality, they're far more aligned than the reader even realizes. when i first had an inkling that something fraught happened to natalie's brother jude, i worried i'd ruined the "surprise" for myself, but this plot twist ended up being the most obvious among so many good ones! i should've known i couldn't be outsmarted :)
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book grabbed me right away and never let go! I loved the multiple POVs and story timelines - it's a story within a story within a story that kept me flipping pages to see how all the pieces fit together. The Sweet Hill moms are intoxicating and cruel, and I was hooked on every twist. It's also a total girl power read which I loved every second of it! Mark your calendars for April 2027 and add this one to your TBR! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Dutton Books, Penguin Random House and Sophie Stava for this ARC.
September 20, 2026
*Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
This book is the culmination of supporting both women's rights and women's wrongs. Told from multiple PoVs with plenty of flashbacks, this book easily kept my attention. I couldn't put it down! You've got intrigue, revenge, sex - It's giving Desperate Housewives in the best way. This cemented Sophie Stava as a thriller queen for me!
This book is the culmination of supporting both women's rights and women's wrongs. Told from multiple PoVs with plenty of flashbacks, this book easily kept my attention. I couldn't put it down! You've got intrigue, revenge, sex - It's giving Desperate Housewives in the best way. This cemented Sophie Stava as a thriller queen for me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mallory, an overwhelmed stay at home mother of two children 4 and 2 years old, is sleep deprived and is responsible for all the care of the home, the kids and has recently moved across the country to live in the house her husband Graham inherited after his mother passed away a few months ago. She’s grappling with loneliness and while she absolutely loves her children and would walk to the ends of the Earth for them, she doesn’t feel the same way about her husband. She has found out he’s been having an affair and has been checked out of their life, marriage and family for years.
Sweet Hill, the area in Massachusetts that’s an affluent town and ideal place to raise her kids also has a group of moms that she’s been following on Instagram and has been planning methodically how to make her way into their perfectly curated lives and tight foursome for months. When she receives a message from Natalie, the one clearly the leader of the group, she responds to her invite for drinks with an ecstatic yes. All four of the original Sweet Hill women are beautiful, have an effortless style that’s always impeccable and on point, their nails manicured and polished veneer that’s draws everyone around them towards them but it seems they never let anyone in. Mallory has her own underlying reasons for wanting to infiltrate the friendship between Natalie, Gemma, Ivy and Lila. What she doesn’t know is that they too, have their reasons for inviting her in. Although she is warned by a friendly mother from her son’s school to steer clear from the Sweet Hill moms, the warnings of their cruelty and savage nature towards other women and their children falls on deaf ears. She’s too invested in getting closer to the one whose been keeping her husband’s cellphone blowing up every night. Convinced of an affair between them, she’s determined to take from this woman what’s most important, which is this friendship between the women. As she begins to know them better, she finds out that what she thought she knew was completely wrong and the truth is even worse than she could’ve imagined. As she makes her decisions about her future and if she’ll still be a part of this group that she’s come to know and understand much better now knowing the truth and answers to the manipulative and cruel behavior that she had been warned about and had even witnessed herself on multiple occasions directed towards others, she will be forced to ask herself if she is like the Sweet Hill moms and could she trust to bring them into her personal life, with her secrets and children. With Wednesday night “Forgive me Father for I have sinned” confessional nights, all their secrets and sinful retribution towards those who may have slighted themselves or their children or anyone they love are told with unabashed satisfaction and glee. Some of these confessionals are wicked and sound unhinged to Mallory in the beginning but with her renewed clarity and revelations she discovers in a locked box in Natalie’s office she will find her answer regarding her marriage, her allegiance and where she’ll choose to go once the dust settles.
I was enthralled by the intensity of Mallory’s and Natalie’s interaction with one another and both of the clever cunning methodical personalities that were extremely different yet very much the same on various levels specifically in regard to revenge and retribution when they or their loved ones have been wronged. Their ability to hold on to and feed their grudges and long memory mirror one another’s in the intensity and obsessive nature that rivaled none. As the anticipation ramps up and these women circle one another, each with an end goal in mind that doesn’t seem like it will bode well for either of them I couldn’t read quick enough. I was completely invested in the outcome and I was also genuinely attached to all four of the women and their devotion to one another. Not sure if the devotion was surface level or actually as deep and genuine as it appeared was a question I was in dire need to know and made the plot twists and slow burning revelations that more compelling each time more of the plot played out. The lead up to the climatic events that will answer all the mysterious questions about the Sweet Hill four now five with Mallory joining the group is delightful and deliciously entertaining. With five women who all have individual personalities and fearless personalities when banded together there’s bound to be explosive bombshells being dropped regularly and this book doesn’t disappoint and has the bombshells at the ready.
Totally fell in love with these women, their personalities and clever wit. While their vengeance was beyond the extreme, one can’t help to cheerlead their efforts and wish those with targets on their back their very best luck as they will need it and a whole lot more if they’ve any hope of surviving the fall out from these women. They are ruthlessly cut throat and don’t bat an extended eyelash when delivering their rapid fire responses to those foolish enough to get in their line of sight let alone fire.
Such a fun experience and highly recommend!
Thank you to #Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy, to #SophieStava for such a brilliant book and clever insight into the wrath of a scorned women and for sharing #GirlsWillBeGirls with us readers! Thank you also to #Dutton Publishers for the ARC.
Sweet Hill, the area in Massachusetts that’s an affluent town and ideal place to raise her kids also has a group of moms that she’s been following on Instagram and has been planning methodically how to make her way into their perfectly curated lives and tight foursome for months. When she receives a message from Natalie, the one clearly the leader of the group, she responds to her invite for drinks with an ecstatic yes. All four of the original Sweet Hill women are beautiful, have an effortless style that’s always impeccable and on point, their nails manicured and polished veneer that’s draws everyone around them towards them but it seems they never let anyone in. Mallory has her own underlying reasons for wanting to infiltrate the friendship between Natalie, Gemma, Ivy and Lila. What she doesn’t know is that they too, have their reasons for inviting her in. Although she is warned by a friendly mother from her son’s school to steer clear from the Sweet Hill moms, the warnings of their cruelty and savage nature towards other women and their children falls on deaf ears. She’s too invested in getting closer to the one whose been keeping her husband’s cellphone blowing up every night. Convinced of an affair between them, she’s determined to take from this woman what’s most important, which is this friendship between the women. As she begins to know them better, she finds out that what she thought she knew was completely wrong and the truth is even worse than she could’ve imagined. As she makes her decisions about her future and if she’ll still be a part of this group that she’s come to know and understand much better now knowing the truth and answers to the manipulative and cruel behavior that she had been warned about and had even witnessed herself on multiple occasions directed towards others, she will be forced to ask herself if she is like the Sweet Hill moms and could she trust to bring them into her personal life, with her secrets and children. With Wednesday night “Forgive me Father for I have sinned” confessional nights, all their secrets and sinful retribution towards those who may have slighted themselves or their children or anyone they love are told with unabashed satisfaction and glee. Some of these confessionals are wicked and sound unhinged to Mallory in the beginning but with her renewed clarity and revelations she discovers in a locked box in Natalie’s office she will find her answer regarding her marriage, her allegiance and where she’ll choose to go once the dust settles.
I was enthralled by the intensity of Mallory’s and Natalie’s interaction with one another and both of the clever cunning methodical personalities that were extremely different yet very much the same on various levels specifically in regard to revenge and retribution when they or their loved ones have been wronged. Their ability to hold on to and feed their grudges and long memory mirror one another’s in the intensity and obsessive nature that rivaled none. As the anticipation ramps up and these women circle one another, each with an end goal in mind that doesn’t seem like it will bode well for either of them I couldn’t read quick enough. I was completely invested in the outcome and I was also genuinely attached to all four of the women and their devotion to one another. Not sure if the devotion was surface level or actually as deep and genuine as it appeared was a question I was in dire need to know and made the plot twists and slow burning revelations that more compelling each time more of the plot played out. The lead up to the climatic events that will answer all the mysterious questions about the Sweet Hill four now five with Mallory joining the group is delightful and deliciously entertaining. With five women who all have individual personalities and fearless personalities when banded together there’s bound to be explosive bombshells being dropped regularly and this book doesn’t disappoint and has the bombshells at the ready.
Totally fell in love with these women, their personalities and clever wit. While their vengeance was beyond the extreme, one can’t help to cheerlead their efforts and wish those with targets on their back their very best luck as they will need it and a whole lot more if they’ve any hope of surviving the fall out from these women. They are ruthlessly cut throat and don’t bat an extended eyelash when delivering their rapid fire responses to those foolish enough to get in their line of sight let alone fire.
Such a fun experience and highly recommend!
Thank you to #Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy, to #SophieStava for such a brilliant book and clever insight into the wrath of a scorned women and for sharing #GirlsWillBeGirls with us readers! Thank you also to #Dutton Publishers for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am apparently VERY easy to entertain when you give me rich women, questionable friendships, secrets nobody should be sharing after two glasses of wine, and one charismatic woman everyone is inexplicably willing to follow straight into bad decisions.
Sweet Hill is basically my nightmare socially and my dream setting for a thriller.
The thing I liked most here was how quickly the friendships stopped feeling like friendships and started feeling like tiny psychological contracts nobody bothered to read before signing. Mallory wants in SO badly, and I completely understood why. Natalie makes belonging feel like a prize, and once someone makes you feel chosen, common sense has a funny way of slipping quietly out the back door.
Very cult-adjacent behavior.
No robes required. Just expensive houses and emotional blackmail. ♡
The whole "confessions" game is exactly the kind of idea that sounds fun for approximately thirty seconds before I start wondering whether these women have ever heard of boundaries.
Because handing a group of wealthy suburban mothers mutually assured destruction and calling it bonding is INSANE.
I loved it.
✧✦✧
Mallory is messy in a way I appreciated because she isn't standing outside these women judging them while remaining morally spotless herself. She wants something from them. She has her own reasons for being there. She makes choices that had me mentally grabbing her by the sleeve like, *girl...perhaps let's NOT.*
That made her much more interesting to me than a perfectly innocent outsider stumbling into a nest of vipers.
She willingly walked toward the snakes.
Respectfully, babe, wear boots.
Natalie was even more fascinating because women like her are ALWAYS more interesting than the actual murder mystery to me. The kind of person who can make grown adults crave her approval while also being slightly terrified of her deserves to be studied in a lab.
I wanted to know what made her tick.
I wanted her psychological records.
I wanted to sit three tables away at brunch and take notes.
This is normal behavior on my part.
The social power games were honestly more compelling to me than some of the thriller mechanics. Sophie Stava is very good at that slow shift where something that initially feels exclusive and exciting starts feeling controlling, and you can see how easily "these women really like me" becomes "these women know WAY too much about me."
That progression felt believable, which made the nastier parts hit harder.
I also liked that the book has a sense of humor about these women without turning them into caricatures. They're ridiculous sometimes, but they're also lonely, competitive, insecure, angry, and desperate to be seen. There is actual meat underneath the designer handbags.
♡ women supporting women...with possible extortion ♡
A couple of the twists were easier for me to sniff out than others, and there were places where I wanted the psychology pushed even further instead of racing toward the next reveal. Give me five women weaponizing friendship and I am going to want a full dissertation on every single one of their issues.
This is who I am.
The final stretch gets appropriately MESSY, though, and by then I was far too invested in who was manipulating whom to behave like a normal person and put the book down.
Four stars because I had a really good time, the female dynamics were deliciously toxic, and apparently my favorite type of fictional friend group is one I would cross the street to avoid in real life.
✦ rich moms + secrets + manipulation + revenge = absolutely none of my business and yet HERE I AM ✦
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ♡
Sweet Hill is basically my nightmare socially and my dream setting for a thriller.
The thing I liked most here was how quickly the friendships stopped feeling like friendships and started feeling like tiny psychological contracts nobody bothered to read before signing. Mallory wants in SO badly, and I completely understood why. Natalie makes belonging feel like a prize, and once someone makes you feel chosen, common sense has a funny way of slipping quietly out the back door.
Very cult-adjacent behavior.
No robes required. Just expensive houses and emotional blackmail. ♡
The whole "confessions" game is exactly the kind of idea that sounds fun for approximately thirty seconds before I start wondering whether these women have ever heard of boundaries.
Because handing a group of wealthy suburban mothers mutually assured destruction and calling it bonding is INSANE.
I loved it.
✧✦✧
Mallory is messy in a way I appreciated because she isn't standing outside these women judging them while remaining morally spotless herself. She wants something from them. She has her own reasons for being there. She makes choices that had me mentally grabbing her by the sleeve like, *girl...perhaps let's NOT.*
That made her much more interesting to me than a perfectly innocent outsider stumbling into a nest of vipers.
She willingly walked toward the snakes.
Respectfully, babe, wear boots.
Natalie was even more fascinating because women like her are ALWAYS more interesting than the actual murder mystery to me. The kind of person who can make grown adults crave her approval while also being slightly terrified of her deserves to be studied in a lab.
I wanted to know what made her tick.
I wanted her psychological records.
I wanted to sit three tables away at brunch and take notes.
This is normal behavior on my part.
The social power games were honestly more compelling to me than some of the thriller mechanics. Sophie Stava is very good at that slow shift where something that initially feels exclusive and exciting starts feeling controlling, and you can see how easily "these women really like me" becomes "these women know WAY too much about me."
That progression felt believable, which made the nastier parts hit harder.
I also liked that the book has a sense of humor about these women without turning them into caricatures. They're ridiculous sometimes, but they're also lonely, competitive, insecure, angry, and desperate to be seen. There is actual meat underneath the designer handbags.
♡ women supporting women...with possible extortion ♡
A couple of the twists were easier for me to sniff out than others, and there were places where I wanted the psychology pushed even further instead of racing toward the next reveal. Give me five women weaponizing friendship and I am going to want a full dissertation on every single one of their issues.
This is who I am.
The final stretch gets appropriately MESSY, though, and by then I was far too invested in who was manipulating whom to behave like a normal person and put the book down.
Four stars because I had a really good time, the female dynamics were deliciously toxic, and apparently my favorite type of fictional friend group is one I would cross the street to avoid in real life.
✦ rich moms + secrets + manipulation + revenge = absolutely none of my business and yet HERE I AM ✦
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ♡
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