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The Lying Woods
Owen Foster has never wanted for anything. Then his mother shows up at his elite New Orleans boarding school cradling a bombshell: his privileged life has been funded by stolen money. After using the family business, the single largest employer in his small Louisiana town, to embezzle millions and drain the employees' retirement accounts, Owen's father vanished without a trace, leaving Owen and his mother to deal with the fallout.
Owen returns to Lake Cane to finish his senior year, where people he can barely remember despise him for his father's crimes. It's bad enough dealing with muttered insults and glares, but when Owen and his mother receive increasingly frightening threats from someone out for revenge, he knows he must get to the bottom of what really happened at Louisiana Frac--and the cryptic note his father sent him at his boarding school days before disappearing.
Owen's only refuge is the sprawling, isolated pecan orchard he works at after school, owned by a man named Gus who has his own secrets--and in some ways seems to know Owen better than he knows himself. As Owen uncovers a terrible injustice that looms over the same Preacher Woods he's claimed as his own, he must face a shocking truth about his own past--and write a better future.
Owen returns to Lake Cane to finish his senior year, where people he can barely remember despise him for his father's crimes. It's bad enough dealing with muttered insults and glares, but when Owen and his mother receive increasingly frightening threats from someone out for revenge, he knows he must get to the bottom of what really happened at Louisiana Frac--and the cryptic note his father sent him at his boarding school days before disappearing.
Owen's only refuge is the sprawling, isolated pecan orchard he works at after school, owned by a man named Gus who has his own secrets--and in some ways seems to know Owen better than he knows himself. As Owen uncovers a terrible injustice that looms over the same Preacher Woods he's claimed as his own, he must face a shocking truth about his own past--and write a better future.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2018
318 people are currently reading
9183 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Elston
9 books7,523 followersAshley Elston worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons. Elston has written six young adult novels. FIRST LIE WINS, her adult debut, was a number one New York Times bestseller and was selected as a Reese’s Book Club pick.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 861 reviews
October 4, 2022
I went into this book expecting a light, mysterious read, based on Elston's fierce following, but I had no clue it would be THAT good. Seriously, how have I not come across her books before now? I need to immediately scour her backlist and catch up on all her other books that I've missed thus far. When I saw the description for this one pop up on NetGalley, it was one of those moments where I hit the button based on a pretty cover and a vague, angsty synopsis. *bats eyes* Weirdly enough, the tree on the cover didn't play into the story quite like I had expected, and this my friends was a very good thing.
Owen Foster is in the middle of a prank war with his best friend Jack when he's called into the principal's office of his highly esteemed boarding school and is informed that his father has committed a modern day Ponzi scheme and left his mother and he to face the tumultuous aftershock, while dad escapes relatively unscathed and millions of dollars wealthier. As expected, Owen has to return back to his hometown with his mother in the wake of losing all of their worldly possessions, and this return includes harassment of all kinds, such as death threats and flaming bricks through windows. Did I mention his father's business going under affects nearly every single person in the town? Naturally, no one is welcoming to Owen and his mother, except a recluse named Gus who offers to hire Owen and pay him in exchange for services rendered in renovating his house and working in harvesting the pecan crop this year. As Owen works on the farm, he comes to learn that his father spent a summer working on this very farm, and we slowly get the back story into why Owen's father has done what he has done.
I left out a few key plots, such as the letter that Owen receives from his father the day before he leaves Sutton (the fancy pants boarding school), because I want you to experience that part for yourself, and while the tension of that meeting does build over the course of the novel, it's not the main focus. I was blown away by how complex and multi-faceted this book was; it had present day storytelling and flashback moments told at the end of each chapter, explaining what happened that fateful summer in 1999 when Owen's father worked at the farm. There is a bit of budding romance included (past and present), but again, it's not the main focus or done in a way to overshadow all the important elements here. I don't want to say too much, other than just read the book, but it was the type of read that checked all my boxes.
The Lying Woods was a mystery that kept me grappling between various outcomes, included emotional depth not typically found in YA contemporary mysteries, and featured a platonic male relationship that was everything I could have hoped for and more. This book was incredibly satisfying, compulsively readable, and included many lessons that are relevant for teens and adults alike. Highly recommended!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.
Owen Foster is in the middle of a prank war with his best friend Jack when he's called into the principal's office of his highly esteemed boarding school and is informed that his father has committed a modern day Ponzi scheme and left his mother and he to face the tumultuous aftershock, while dad escapes relatively unscathed and millions of dollars wealthier. As expected, Owen has to return back to his hometown with his mother in the wake of losing all of their worldly possessions, and this return includes harassment of all kinds, such as death threats and flaming bricks through windows. Did I mention his father's business going under affects nearly every single person in the town? Naturally, no one is welcoming to Owen and his mother, except a recluse named Gus who offers to hire Owen and pay him in exchange for services rendered in renovating his house and working in harvesting the pecan crop this year. As Owen works on the farm, he comes to learn that his father spent a summer working on this very farm, and we slowly get the back story into why Owen's father has done what he has done.
I left out a few key plots, such as the letter that Owen receives from his father the day before he leaves Sutton (the fancy pants boarding school), because I want you to experience that part for yourself, and while the tension of that meeting does build over the course of the novel, it's not the main focus. I was blown away by how complex and multi-faceted this book was; it had present day storytelling and flashback moments told at the end of each chapter, explaining what happened that fateful summer in 1999 when Owen's father worked at the farm. There is a bit of budding romance included (past and present), but again, it's not the main focus or done in a way to overshadow all the important elements here. I don't want to say too much, other than just read the book, but it was the type of read that checked all my boxes.
The Lying Woods was a mystery that kept me grappling between various outcomes, included emotional depth not typically found in YA contemporary mysteries, and featured a platonic male relationship that was everything I could have hoped for and more. This book was incredibly satisfying, compulsively readable, and included many lessons that are relevant for teens and adults alike. Highly recommended!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via NetGalley.
June 16, 2025
The Lying Woods follows teen, Owen Foster, in the aftermath of his Dad being outed as a white-collar criminal.
Mr. Foster stole millions of dollars from his company, the largest employer in town, and then left Owen and his mom to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
As you would imagine, people in the town are furious. It is widely believed that Owen’s Mom knew what was going on, even though she vehemently denies it.
Forced to leave his posh private school, because they can no longer afford the tuition, Owen returns to his hometown public school, where he finds it impossible to fit in.
A great number of the students come from families directly effected by his Father's crime.
Luckily, Owen is able to rekindle a relationship with his old friend and neighbor, Pippa. Through her guidance, Owen begins to understand the destructive scope of his Dad's actions.
Angry and confused, Owen vows to learn the truth about what happened. How can the Father he knows and loves actually have done this?
Owen is having a hard time grappling with what seems to be a secret side of his Father's personality. The situation seems hopeless.
Needing to make some money now that he and his Mom are on their own, Owen secures a job on a local pecan farm.
Once there he learns that his Dad worked there as well, when he was young and even lived on the property.
The owner of the farm, Gus, was not only his Dad's employer, but also his mentor.
Owen can't believe his luck. Perhaps if he sticks around the farm long enough, he may be able to piece together his Father's past; he hopes this will help him to understand his present.
This story reads like a hard-hitting YA Contemporary, but there is a strong Mystery element as well.
The format was great because you get half of the book from Owen's, present-day perspective, and the other half from his Dad's perspective as he was working on the pecan farm. You get to see the relationship between him and Owen's Mom from the very beginning.
You learn about the obstacles they fought to be together. I liked this structure a lot, as I felt it was a very creative way to reveal the truth at the heart of this story.
Elston’s writing is smooth and organic. She is really a fantastic storyteller. You sit down to read a few pages and the next thing you know hours have gone by.
![](https://media.giphy.com/media/kC7kHTQ2qSFZrE1vN6/giphy.gif"/><br%20/><br%20/>I%20truly%20felt%20drawn%20into%20these%20characters%20and%20story.%20I%20needed%20to%20know%20how%20Mr.%20Foster%20could%20have%20done%20what%20they%20said%20he%20did.%20It%20seemed%20so%20out%20of%20character%20with%20the%20person%20you%20meet%20through%20his%20own%20perspective.%20<br%20/><br%20/>The%20major%20twist%20in%20this%20gave%20me%20chills.%20It%20was%20completely%20unexpected%20and%20then%20everything%20unraveled%20to%20the%20truth%20very%20quickly.<br%20/><br%20/><img%20src="https://media.giphy.com/media/2yKXIJyTDdsTm/giphy-downsized.gif"/><br%20/><br%20/>This%20is%20a%20story%20of%20first%20love,%20redemption,%20self-discovery%20and%20priorities.%20<br%20/><br%20/>I%20loved%20the%20dual%20perspectives%20and%20also%20thought%20it%20was%20interesting%20to%20explore%20white-collar%20crime%20as%20a%20topic%20in%20YA.%20I%20don)
Elston has very quickly become one of my 'autobuy' authors and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for giving me the opportunity to read this book early and provide my opinion.
I cannot wait for more readers to get their hands on this, so I can finally discuss it with some of my book buds!
This is definitely going on my favorites list for the year.
Mr. Foster stole millions of dollars from his company, the largest employer in town, and then left Owen and his mom to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
As you would imagine, people in the town are furious. It is widely believed that Owen’s Mom knew what was going on, even though she vehemently denies it.
Forced to leave his posh private school, because they can no longer afford the tuition, Owen returns to his hometown public school, where he finds it impossible to fit in.
A great number of the students come from families directly effected by his Father's crime.
Luckily, Owen is able to rekindle a relationship with his old friend and neighbor, Pippa. Through her guidance, Owen begins to understand the destructive scope of his Dad's actions.
Angry and confused, Owen vows to learn the truth about what happened. How can the Father he knows and loves actually have done this?
Owen is having a hard time grappling with what seems to be a secret side of his Father's personality. The situation seems hopeless.
Needing to make some money now that he and his Mom are on their own, Owen secures a job on a local pecan farm.
Once there he learns that his Dad worked there as well, when he was young and even lived on the property.
The owner of the farm, Gus, was not only his Dad's employer, but also his mentor.
Owen can't believe his luck. Perhaps if he sticks around the farm long enough, he may be able to piece together his Father's past; he hopes this will help him to understand his present.
This story reads like a hard-hitting YA Contemporary, but there is a strong Mystery element as well.
The format was great because you get half of the book from Owen's, present-day perspective, and the other half from his Dad's perspective as he was working on the pecan farm. You get to see the relationship between him and Owen's Mom from the very beginning.
You learn about the obstacles they fought to be together. I liked this structure a lot, as I felt it was a very creative way to reveal the truth at the heart of this story.
Elston’s writing is smooth and organic. She is really a fantastic storyteller. You sit down to read a few pages and the next thing you know hours have gone by.
Elston has very quickly become one of my 'autobuy' authors and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for giving me the opportunity to read this book early and provide my opinion.
I cannot wait for more readers to get their hands on this, so I can finally discuss it with some of my book buds!
This is definitely going on my favorites list for the year.
January 21, 2019
While I do wish we had gotten a little bit more of a concrete resolution in the end, this was WILD and I really, really enjoyed it! I think I've come to find that I just really love contemporary books set in the south. Need more nowwwwwww.
January 18, 2019
ashley elston is becoming one of my favourite authors for YA thrillers (is that a thing?? it totally should be)
i read her previous book, This is Our Story (can we just appreciate how the covers match so well?? even though they aren't connected or related, i totally LOVE it) and was so impressed with how she crafted the mystery and created the characters and played with my mind, ugh so good
anyways, so going into this book, my hopes were, very HIGH and let. me. tell. you. it was INCREDIBLE
the story is about our main character owen, who is residing in his fancy boarding school when he hears from his mother that his father, the owner of a VERY big company - responsible for employing most of the people in his town, has drained money from all the accounts and ran
this, as you can imagine, results in chaos.
owen's mother can no longer afford to send him to the boarding school, bc his dad didn't leave them any money either (major jerk, i know) so he comes back home and has to deal with glares, insults, and threats from the townspeople who think him and his mom were in on the dad's plan
ANYWAYS, along with that SUPER interesting plot, there's some other secrets that have been hiding in this small town for tooooo long and are going to get unraveled very soon
i thought the way ashley elston constructed the story was PURE GENIUS
it flips between two perspectives and two time frames, owen and noah, present and past and as we hear more and more about their lives, more and more isn't making sense
the setting is so well written. i love reading about small towns but i just found this one to be so atmospheric and realistic. the audiobook made it come to life and the narrators were fantastic.
i LOVED listening to noah's story. at first, it took time to adjust to him but the more we learned about him, the more i loved his character and his conflict. the relationship between him and maggie was so pure (and yes im a total sucker for the whole 'the whole world and our families are against us being together' trope)
AND THE PLOT TWIST, it was so incredibly set, i wasn't expecting it at all and i totally had to stop and scream and rewind so i could take in what was just revealed bc DAMN I WASN'T READY (am i hyping it up too much,,,,,,,probably)
the only issue i had with it was that the beginning was slow and it took me some time to adjust between the two narrations. i kept getting lost between the names and time periods we were in and that is never fun to figure out
to conclude, this is a v good thriller that doesn't have scary, freaky parts (yay!) but is still incredibly entertaining and wholesome and very satisfying
4.5 stars
i read her previous book, This is Our Story (can we just appreciate how the covers match so well?? even though they aren't connected or related, i totally LOVE it) and was so impressed with how she crafted the mystery and created the characters and played with my mind, ugh so good
anyways, so going into this book, my hopes were, very HIGH and let. me. tell. you. it was INCREDIBLE
the story is about our main character owen, who is residing in his fancy boarding school when he hears from his mother that his father, the owner of a VERY big company - responsible for employing most of the people in his town, has drained money from all the accounts and ran
this, as you can imagine, results in chaos.
owen's mother can no longer afford to send him to the boarding school, bc his dad didn't leave them any money either (major jerk, i know) so he comes back home and has to deal with glares, insults, and threats from the townspeople who think him and his mom were in on the dad's plan
ANYWAYS, along with that SUPER interesting plot, there's some other secrets that have been hiding in this small town for tooooo long and are going to get unraveled very soon
i thought the way ashley elston constructed the story was PURE GENIUS
it flips between two perspectives and two time frames, owen and noah, present and past and as we hear more and more about their lives, more and more isn't making sense
the setting is so well written. i love reading about small towns but i just found this one to be so atmospheric and realistic. the audiobook made it come to life and the narrators were fantastic.
i LOVED listening to noah's story. at first, it took time to adjust to him but the more we learned about him, the more i loved his character and his conflict. the relationship between him and maggie was so pure (and yes im a total sucker for the whole 'the whole world and our families are against us being together' trope)
AND THE PLOT TWIST, it was so incredibly set, i wasn't expecting it at all and i totally had to stop and scream and rewind so i could take in what was just revealed bc DAMN I WASN'T READY (am i hyping it up too much,,,,,,,probably)
the only issue i had with it was that the beginning was slow and it took me some time to adjust between the two narrations. i kept getting lost between the names and time periods we were in and that is never fun to figure out
to conclude, this is a v good thriller that doesn't have scary, freaky parts (yay!) but is still incredibly entertaining and wholesome and very satisfying
4.5 stars
November 7, 2018
November 2018 finished copy read:
I am a huge fan of Ashley’s words, so I was all over the chance to read this story as a beta reader last year and I was especially excited to revisit the finished copy.
Owen is a great MC. He’s confused and rightfully angry and hurt and I enjoyed being in his head while he was navigating a new life. The flashback chapters with Noah are great and I loved seeing the same setting in different times. There’s a small cast of characters, but they pack a mighty punch. Everyone is fleshed out and known.
Plot wise it was so satisfying. I loved the slow reveals and the dual POV. It was a slow build up, but it completely works and I was captivated from the beginning. And yes, I’m being vague on purpose.
Overall, it was a another fantastic mystery with fabulous imagery. I’m always here for a book from Ashley and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
**Huge thanks to Hyperion for providing an early finished copy free of charge**
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2017 beta read: This was amazing. Captivating storyline, characters who were easy to root for, and some really satisfying reveals.
I can’t wait to read this one again.
I am a huge fan of Ashley’s words, so I was all over the chance to read this story as a beta reader last year and I was especially excited to revisit the finished copy.
Owen is a great MC. He’s confused and rightfully angry and hurt and I enjoyed being in his head while he was navigating a new life. The flashback chapters with Noah are great and I loved seeing the same setting in different times. There’s a small cast of characters, but they pack a mighty punch. Everyone is fleshed out and known.
Plot wise it was so satisfying. I loved the slow reveals and the dual POV. It was a slow build up, but it completely works and I was captivated from the beginning. And yes, I’m being vague on purpose.
Overall, it was a another fantastic mystery with fabulous imagery. I’m always here for a book from Ashley and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
**Huge thanks to Hyperion for providing an early finished copy free of charge**
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 2017 beta read: This was amazing. Captivating storyline, characters who were easy to root for, and some really satisfying reveals.
I can’t wait to read this one again.
December 31, 2019
It’s 8:30 p.m. on the 31st of December and I’ve completed my last book for my reading challenge. This is living on the edge.
November 10, 2018
Guys. I rarely read anything outside of fantasy and science fiction but I loved this book. It was absolutely riveting and had me feeling all sorts of emotional and questioning everything. Despite being a mystery, this was a totally atmospheric book that had me feeling some serious Raven Cycle vibes. You don't want to skip this one!
This story follows Owen Foster, who discovers his father has vanished and embezzled millions from his company and its employees. After Owen is pulled from his boarding school, he is thrust back into small town life and must face the people whose lives his father ruined.
The Lying Woods has so many captivating elements but most of all is the alternating timeline. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story shifts from present day Owen to the summer of 1999, when Owen's parents meet. I found myself questioning every little bit of information we gather between timelines - most of all, how could the young man we see falling in love with Owen's mother become so terrible in present day? Don't worry folks, you'll get your answer and you will not see it coming . I was shook! Seriously, all I wanted to do was get home from work so I could finish this, it had me that enthralled!
Additionally, I really appreciated the growth we see in Owen and his characterization throughout the book. From his fierce protectiveness of his mother, to his growing relationship with Pippa, to his compassion for those his father harmed. Owen just wants to fit in again and find answers to his father's actions, but to do so he must let down his own barriers and accept the truth of what has happened.
There were so many emotional scenes for me in this book. Namely: Gus' grief, Noah's love for Maggie and selflessness, Owen and Pippa after the auction and the whole diner scene was just SO MUCH.
The Lying Woods is delightful and mysterious. As someone who tends to stick within her SFF bubble, this was a pleasant derailment from
Review copy provided by Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley and Storygram Tours in exchange for an honest review
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This story follows Owen Foster, who discovers his father has vanished and embezzled millions from his company and its employees. After Owen is pulled from his boarding school, he is thrust back into small town life and must face the people whose lives his father ruined.
The Lying Woods has so many captivating elements but most of all is the alternating timeline. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story shifts from present day Owen to the summer of 1999, when Owen's parents meet. I found myself questioning every little bit of information we gather between timelines - most of all, how could the young man we see falling in love with Owen's mother become so terrible in present day? Don't worry folks, you'll get your answer and you will not see it coming . I was shook! Seriously, all I wanted to do was get home from work so I could finish this, it had me that enthralled!
Additionally, I really appreciated the growth we see in Owen and his characterization throughout the book. From his fierce protectiveness of his mother, to his growing relationship with Pippa, to his compassion for those his father harmed. Owen just wants to fit in again and find answers to his father's actions, but to do so he must let down his own barriers and accept the truth of what has happened.
There were so many emotional scenes for me in this book. Namely: Gus' grief, Noah's love for Maggie and selflessness, Owen and Pippa after the auction and the whole diner scene was just SO MUCH.
The Lying Woods is delightful and mysterious. As someone who tends to stick within her SFF bubble, this was a pleasant derailment from
Review copy provided by Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley and Storygram Tours in exchange for an honest review
Follow me!
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May 12, 2019
I'm so sad to say this bored me to death.
The premise was very intriguing, I'm a huge fan of Ashley Elston and I really enjoyed This Is Our Story so I admit I went into this with great expectations. However, I found myself incredibly disappointed by the lack of suspense and the predictable twists.
The premise was very intriguing, I'm a huge fan of Ashley Elston and I really enjoyed This Is Our Story so I admit I went into this with great expectations. However, I found myself incredibly disappointed by the lack of suspense and the predictable twists.
March 15, 2021
Bu kadın, okuduğum 2 kitabından sonra alışveriş listesi yazsa, koşa koşa alırım🤩🤩 Çok seviyorum😍😍 Büşra sayesinde (asla şiddet, tehdit, zorlama yok🤭) Bu Bizim Hikayemiz’i okumuş ve bayılmıştım. Günlerce kitabın karakterleriyle, alıntılarla yatıp kalkmıştım. Büşra’dan aldığım bayrakla, etrafta kim varsa -asla şiddet, tehdit yoktu🤭- herkese kitabı okutmaya çalışmıştım. Shep ve Kate hâlâ favori tatlişlerimdendir💙💙
Bir yazarın, okuduğunuz kitabını çok sevince ister istemez sıradaki kitapları için beklenti çok daha fazla oluyor. Bu Bizim Hikayemiz’i çok sevince, Yalancı Orman’ı deli gibi beklemiştim. Sonunda okuduğumda ise, Yalancı Orman’da yazar beklentimi karşılamakla kalmadı, daha bitirmeden delirmenin eşiğine getirdi😱🤯
Bir ara, keşfettiğim şeye, hem şaşırıp hem ağlıyordum. Bazı şeyleri tahmin ettiğimde kitabın neredeyse sonuna gelmiştim. Tüm merakıma rağmen hemen devam edemedim. Yaşadığım şaşkınlığı üstümden atmak için bir süre geçmesi gerekti resmen. Son sayfasını kapattığımdaysa, yüzümde hem şapşik mutlu bir sırıtış, hem gözümde bir damla yaş vardı.
Polisiye, gizem, gerilim türlerinde tek isteğim mantıklı, temelleri sağlam atılmış bir kurgu ve açık kapı-acabalar-bilinmezler kalmayan, tatmin eden bir sondur. Temeli oturmamış kurgulara, şaşırtan sonlar yazmak beni asla tatmin etmez mesela. Yalancı Orman, benim için her açıdan şahaneydi. Kurgunun temeli sağlam atılmış, üstüne bütün olay örgüsü ilmek ilmek işlenmiş ve hem şaşırtan, hem hüzünlendiren, hem gülümseten çok güzel bir son yazılmıştı. Tek bir açık kapı kalmamasının yanında, sadece polisiye-gizem türünde kitap yazmakla kalmamış, bir sürü aile-aşk-arkadaşlık duygusunu da çok güzel yansıtmıştı🥺😍
Kitabın ne konusunu yazacağım, ne karakter isimlerini. Yazabileceğim her şey neredeyse spoiler olabilecek ya da okuma zevkini azalatabilecek şeyler. Tek söyleyebileceğim hikaye geçmiş ve günümüz olarak ilerliyor. Owen’ın ağzından günümüz ve yaşadıklarını okuyoruz. Noah ağzından da geçmişi. Ben iki karakteri de çok sevdim. Özellikle Owen’a bayıldım. Kitabın başından sonuna bağrıma basıp, sarıp sarmalamak istediğim bir karakter oldu. Yazarın benim için en büyük özelliği, iki kitabında da kurguyla birlikte karakterlerini de çok çok sevmemdi.
Hafif polisiye tarzda, entrika-gizem-sır dolu kitapları seviyorsanız; kafa dağıtmalık, akıcı, sürükleyen, merak ettiren bir şeyler arıyorsanız; ‘genç yetişkinden bıktım’ diyorsanız bile, yazarın iki kitabını da, ama özellikle Yalancı Orman’ı mutlaka tavsiye ederim. Türleri çok denemediyseniz bile denemek için çok iyi birer başlangıç olacaklardır. Şiddetle, tehditle, gerekirse zor kullanarak okumanızı öneriyorum. Çünkü ÇOOOOOOOOOKK GÜZELLER!😁😍💚🖤
October 30, 2018
I love a good mystery, especially one that is shrouded in family secrecy and lies.
The Lying Woods was so much fun. Great characters that were hard to resist and a storyline that flashed back and forth from present day to the past that was just as captivating and shrouded in mystery as the present day mystery.
I loved how not only the stories but the characters themselves intertwined and came together. With shocking discoveries and revelations, this one kept me turning the pages and on my toes.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
The Lying Woods was so much fun. Great characters that were hard to resist and a storyline that flashed back and forth from present day to the past that was just as captivating and shrouded in mystery as the present day mystery.
I loved how not only the stories but the characters themselves intertwined and came together. With shocking discoveries and revelations, this one kept me turning the pages and on my toes.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
November 9, 2018
I really loved this book. That’s about as eloquent as I’m capable of being after that emotional rollercoaster.
October 7, 2018
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
3.5/5 Stars
*Thank you to the publishers for the copy in exchange for my honest review*
Owen Foster has everything he's ever wanted but, one day it's all taken away when he discovers that his father skipped town after stealing all of the money from the employees working for the oil company he owns. Now, Owen must face the after math of his father's actions, moving back to the small town he grew up in. People aren't exactly happy to have him back and his mother begins receiving threats. That's when Owen stumbles onto Preacher Woods and meets Gus, who offers him a job helping to harvest pecans. As time goes on, Owen learns more secrets about the small town, his father and where he may have run off to.
The book was extremely slow for the first half, but as the story progresses and you slowly discover things along with Owen you can't put the book down. I really liked Owen as a main character, I honestly didn't think I would end up liking him as much as I did but I found him to be very relateable. I loved the dual narrative between Noah and Owen. I enjoyed the flashbacks to Noah during the summer he met Maggie the most and found myself wanting more of his perspective. The way everything came together was amazing and so well done. I definitely did not see the big twist coming and it had my jaw dropping on the floor.
3.5/5 Stars
*Thank you to the publishers for the copy in exchange for my honest review*
Owen Foster has everything he's ever wanted but, one day it's all taken away when he discovers that his father skipped town after stealing all of the money from the employees working for the oil company he owns. Now, Owen must face the after math of his father's actions, moving back to the small town he grew up in. People aren't exactly happy to have him back and his mother begins receiving threats. That's when Owen stumbles onto Preacher Woods and meets Gus, who offers him a job helping to harvest pecans. As time goes on, Owen learns more secrets about the small town, his father and where he may have run off to.
The book was extremely slow for the first half, but as the story progresses and you slowly discover things along with Owen you can't put the book down. I really liked Owen as a main character, I honestly didn't think I would end up liking him as much as I did but I found him to be very relateable. I loved the dual narrative between Noah and Owen. I enjoyed the flashbacks to Noah during the summer he met Maggie the most and found myself wanting more of his perspective. The way everything came together was amazing and so well done. I definitely did not see the big twist coming and it had my jaw dropping on the floor.
February 4, 2021
Okuması zevkli bir kitaptı ama son düzlükte türk filmi tadında çözümledi olaylari yazar ve ben bunu sevmedim ...o yüzden 2,5 tan 3 veriyorum, keşke yeşilçam a bağlamadan çözeydi ...
January 10, 2019
I’ll be completely transparent with you, friends: the entire reason that I decided to read The Lying Woods was because of my friend Kristin (who constantly champions Elston’s other novel This Is Our Story). She convinced me that it should be my next read on a quiet Friday night, and I’m glad she did because I ended up binge reading the entire novel in one sitting. The Lying Woods is about Owen Foster who discovers that his lifestyle has been funded by stolen money. His father has stolen money from the many residents of the small town that are employed by his company, and left the entire town suffering the consequences. Owen moves back to his hometown for his senior year, navigating the fallout of his father’s choices, the way the town treats both him and his mother and trying to figure out what actually happened. Now, I somehow thought that this one was going to be more mystery/thriller, but it’s actually more of a contemporary with a bit of mystery thrown in. It took me more than a couple of chapters to get into this one, but once I was in, I was in. It was compelling, and I really wanted to know what would happen next. And man, Ashley Elston really knows how to lay out the pieces of a puzzle in a way that readers won’t easily pick up on but will definitely recognize once everything falls into place, and I totally admired that. I’m really glad I read The Lying Woods, and I’m looking forward to reading more from Ashley Elston.
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Find me (and more bookish thoughts) online:
Blog | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter
January 22, 2024
What a pleasant surprise this one turned out to be. This has two story lines and I was pulled in by both.
This was solid 4 stars for me. The ending almost brought it up to 5 because it was a series of unexpected events. It felt satisfying to see things come together (and then some.)
I enjoyed all the characters. It was refreshing to see how the author let them be who they were to their core....at all times. I think sometimes authors are tempted to soften the blows and I'm glad she didn't fall into that trap.
So I think I'll round up to 5 just for the ending.
This was solid 4 stars for me. The ending almost brought it up to 5 because it was a series of unexpected events. It felt satisfying to see things come together (and then some.)
I enjoyed all the characters. It was refreshing to see how the author let them be who they were to their core....at all times. I think sometimes authors are tempted to soften the blows and I'm glad she didn't fall into that trap.
So I think I'll round up to 5 just for the ending.
June 10, 2024
"I awoke to the news with a Post-it note stuck to my forehead." This is how Owen Foster, a high school senior, first learns the unsettling news concerning his father and begins to learn the truths that will unsettle his known world, with his father disappearance.
Owen Foster has been sheltered for most of his young life and especially so in his ritzy, upscale New Orleans boarding school. He can barely comprehend the shocking news his mother has told him... that his father has been embezzling money for years and now he has simply disappeared, leaving his company and his employee's lives, as well as Owen's and his mother's...in complete shambles.
Owen returns home only to find himself the target of the town’s utter outrage. Threatening and unnerving messages accusing himself and his mother of collusion and other nasty, unbelievable things. He tries to escape the endless demands to know where his father and the money are by working in an orchard that seems to house the only nonjudgmental, undemanding person in the entire town...a local pecan farmer. Soon we learn that Owen has been keeping a secret of his own... a secret that he has not shared with one solitary person. He had received a letter from his dad shortly before he disappeared, suggesting that they should meet over Thanksgiving....but Owen doesn't know why his dad had made this suggestion, but now he can only guess.
If you have read this author before you know how good she is at creating and carrying out the tension in most any situation with double narratives, all combined to create an enthralling mystery. None of that has changed with this one and you will not be disappointed. The story alternates between the past and the present with several different character's perspectives.... all setting the stage for a shocking ending reveal. Owen’s fall from a life that he never knew or suspected was funded by stolen money is almost heartbreaking as he negotiates the relearning and acceptance of everything that he ever thought he knew about his father and himself.
Owen Foster has been sheltered for most of his young life and especially so in his ritzy, upscale New Orleans boarding school. He can barely comprehend the shocking news his mother has told him... that his father has been embezzling money for years and now he has simply disappeared, leaving his company and his employee's lives, as well as Owen's and his mother's...in complete shambles.
Owen returns home only to find himself the target of the town’s utter outrage. Threatening and unnerving messages accusing himself and his mother of collusion and other nasty, unbelievable things. He tries to escape the endless demands to know where his father and the money are by working in an orchard that seems to house the only nonjudgmental, undemanding person in the entire town...a local pecan farmer. Soon we learn that Owen has been keeping a secret of his own... a secret that he has not shared with one solitary person. He had received a letter from his dad shortly before he disappeared, suggesting that they should meet over Thanksgiving....but Owen doesn't know why his dad had made this suggestion, but now he can only guess.
If you have read this author before you know how good she is at creating and carrying out the tension in most any situation with double narratives, all combined to create an enthralling mystery. None of that has changed with this one and you will not be disappointed. The story alternates between the past and the present with several different character's perspectives.... all setting the stage for a shocking ending reveal. Owen’s fall from a life that he never knew or suspected was funded by stolen money is almost heartbreaking as he negotiates the relearning and acceptance of everything that he ever thought he knew about his father and himself.
January 11, 2019
Initial Impressions 9/9/18: This was an interesting read! At first it read a little more realistic fiction than mystery/thriller but the end was really packed with punches! There were some clues and the mystery along the way but it wasn't really about investigating and discovering like a lot of mystery/thrillers are, so when reveals and twists started popping up, it was a huge surprise!
The ending was really interesting and I loved how it all came together. I love those moments where facts are presented and you realize you should have known them the whole time.
Full review posted on The Book Addict's Guide 11/13/18: I’ve been a fan of Ashley Elston’s since her debut novel, THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING and I’ve enjoyed every book of hers since then! I jumped at the chance to read and review THE LYING WOODS when Disney-Hyperion presented me with the opportunity and I really enjoyed it!
THE LYING WOODS was an interesting read! At first it read a little more realistic fiction than mystery/thriller, taking its time to get into the story. There was always and underlying mystery, slowly being put together, but I did feel like this one took a little bit longer to get more into the mystery and investigation side of things. It was an interesting change of pace and really allowed readers to spend more time getting to know the main characters and their backgrounds. The history is a big part of this book and was important to keep it developing.
The end was really packed with punches! There were some clues and the mystery along the way but it wasn’t really about investigating and discovering like a lot of mystery/thrillers are, so when reveals and twists started popping up, it was a huge surprise! I loved how fast-paced it got towards the end and it was really exciting! The ending was really interesting and I loved how it all came together. I love those moments where facts are presented and you realize you should have known them the whole time. It’s so much fun to look back and see all the things that were there the whole time!
I’m definitely interested in everything that Ashley Elston writes and THE LYING WOOD was another enjoyable novel! It was an interesting and unique mystery/thriller that had some elements that I didn’t expect!
The ending was really interesting and I loved how it all came together. I love those moments where facts are presented and you realize you should have known them the whole time.
Full review posted on The Book Addict's Guide 11/13/18: I’ve been a fan of Ashley Elston’s since her debut novel, THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING and I’ve enjoyed every book of hers since then! I jumped at the chance to read and review THE LYING WOODS when Disney-Hyperion presented me with the opportunity and I really enjoyed it!
THE LYING WOODS was an interesting read! At first it read a little more realistic fiction than mystery/thriller, taking its time to get into the story. There was always and underlying mystery, slowly being put together, but I did feel like this one took a little bit longer to get more into the mystery and investigation side of things. It was an interesting change of pace and really allowed readers to spend more time getting to know the main characters and their backgrounds. The history is a big part of this book and was important to keep it developing.
The end was really packed with punches! There were some clues and the mystery along the way but it wasn’t really about investigating and discovering like a lot of mystery/thrillers are, so when reveals and twists started popping up, it was a huge surprise! I loved how fast-paced it got towards the end and it was really exciting! The ending was really interesting and I loved how it all came together. I love those moments where facts are presented and you realize you should have known them the whole time. It’s so much fun to look back and see all the things that were there the whole time!
I’m definitely interested in everything that Ashley Elston writes and THE LYING WOOD was another enjoyable novel! It was an interesting and unique mystery/thriller that had some elements that I didn’t expect!
January 10, 2019
This was a pleasant surprise! This story took so many turns I wasn’t expecting, and it kept me guessing til the very end. The last 80 pages or so had me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to read more from Ashley Elston in the future!
December 4, 2020
https://birumuthayal.blogspot.com/202...
Şu an kitabın son sayfasını da kapatmış ve şaşkın şaşkın kurguya bak be diyorum.
Şu an kitabın son sayfasını da kapatmış ve şaşkın şaşkın kurguya bak be diyorum.
October 23, 2020
"Eğer bir şeyi farklı yapacak olsan bu ne olurdu?"
Derin bir nefes verdi ve bir an duraksadı. "Daha cesur olurdum."
•
#busunkitapligiyorumluyor
Bu yıl okuduğum 59 kitap içinde çılgınlar gibi severek okuduğum kitap sayısı 8 ve bu kitap daha ilk 150 sayfasında, ilk 3'e girdi dersem sanırım bu birçok kişi için kitabı sepete atmaya vesile olacaktır. Ne kadar zor beğendiğimi bilmeyen yok. Bu durumdan bir yandan memnunum, bir yandan da sevecek kitap bulmakta zorlandığım için muzdarip ama böyle harika kitaplar okuduğumda ilk kısım hep ağır basıyor. Yazarın bizde çevrilen ilk kitabı Bu Bizim Hikâyemiz'i de çılgınlar gibi sevmiş, tanıdığım herkese aldırmak için elimden geleni yapmış, bir sürü kişiye de hediye etmiştim. Sanırım yeni önerim, hediyem ve darlamam Yalancı Orman için olacak.
Owen Foster, lise sona giden -aramızdaki 9 yaşa rağmen şak diye düştüğüm hayali, hayatımın erkeği part 37437437478, tamam sakinim- esas karakterimiz. Annesinin okuluna yaptığı beklenmedik ziyaretin ardından hayatı tepetaklak olur ve geriye birçok soru işareti kalır. Yatılı okulunu bırakıp annesiyle birlikte yaşadıkları kasabaya dönmek zorunda kalır ve burada hayatının hiç de bildiği gibi olmadığını, çözmesi gereken bir sürü sorun olduğunu öğrenir. Böylece aile sırlarının peşine düşer ve olaylar, olaylar, olaylar.
Açıkçası Ashley'nin kitapları hakkında yorum okumak çok tehlikeli. Kitapla ilgili ne söylense, buna karakter isimleri de dahil, spoiler olur. O yüzden kimin yorumunu okuduğunuza dikkat edin derim ben çünkü birçok okuyucu, yorumla kitap özeti arasındaki farkı bilmiyor. Ben de spoiler vermemek için olabilecek en geniş kapsamda kitabın konusunu vermeye çalıştım size. Sadece şunu söyleyeyim: Genç kurgu, hafif polisiye, tatlış düzeyde aşk ve birtakım sırlar ve entrikalar üzerine akıcı bir kitap okumak ister misiniz? O hâlde neyi bekliyorsunuz? Hemen koşup alın ve harika bir 342 sayfa okuyarak mutlu olun. İçindeki aşk, aile bağları ama en çok da Owen ve arkadaşları arasındaki bağ... O kadar güzeldi ki...
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November 9, 2018A quick aside: I had no idea what this book was about and don't think I've read Ashley Elston before. So if that also describes you, I want to say that this is NOT a paranormal/ghost story/spooky story. Clearly those of you familiar with the author knew what to expect but I did not...
It's a good story. It's like a "character who returns to a small town and unravels family secrets" story. Which is a kind of story that I really like, but it just took me a bit to shift my expectations to the right place.
Okay, onward with my thoughts on this story that was good, just not what I expected.
Owen's dad defrauds the small town where he and Owen's mom met and then vanishes, leaving Owen and his mom broke and confused. They have to return to the town, move in with a relative and face the scorn hatred of seemingly everyone.
There's a mystery in the present: where is Owen's dad and is he guilty? But there's also a mystery (and a narrative) in the past. I wasn't sure about that aspect of the story at first and it took me some time to warm up to the second narrative. If you're not a regular reader of mysteries you may need to have some patience, because the entire story takes some time to set up.
But in the end, I think it's worth it. The characters are interesting and well-written, and the mysteries well-crafted. Owen shows a lot of growth (at the outset, he's kind of a typical teenager - resentful about what is happening to him and telling everyone who will listen that he's a victim too.) He grows a lot over the course of the story, which was great. The small-town atmosphere was good, too.
Definitely recommend to mystery fans!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Check out my Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
.
It's a good story. It's like a "character who returns to a small town and unravels family secrets" story. Which is a kind of story that I really like, but it just took me a bit to shift my expectations to the right place.
Okay, onward with my thoughts on this story that was good, just not what I expected.
Owen's dad defrauds the small town where he and Owen's mom met and then vanishes, leaving Owen and his mom broke and confused. They have to return to the town, move in with a relative and face the scorn hatred of seemingly everyone.
There's a mystery in the present: where is Owen's dad and is he guilty? But there's also a mystery (and a narrative) in the past. I wasn't sure about that aspect of the story at first and it took me some time to warm up to the second narrative. If you're not a regular reader of mysteries you may need to have some patience, because the entire story takes some time to set up.
But in the end, I think it's worth it. The characters are interesting and well-written, and the mysteries well-crafted. Owen shows a lot of growth (at the outset, he's kind of a typical teenager - resentful about what is happening to him and telling everyone who will listen that he's a victim too.) He grows a lot over the course of the story, which was great. The small-town atmosphere was good, too.
Definitely recommend to mystery fans!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Check out my Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
.
November 29, 2018
All I can say is the ending saved this book for me.
“The Lying Woods” begins with Owen’s life falling apart after he learns that his dad ran off after stealing millions of dollars leaving him and his mom to pick up the pieces. As they try to rebuild he finds himself working on a farm where his dad once lived and as past and present collide he learns there’s more going on than just the mystery surrounding his father.
So this book was pretty average and really slow with the only parts I really looked forward to reading were the flashbacks to Owen’s parents and seeing their love story blossom as the boy from the wrong side of the tracks fell hard for the debutante queen. Even the moment with Gus and his late wife were so sweet making the return to the present all the more frustrating because there were a lot of moments where it was the same few beats every couple of chapters making the book for the most part rather boring but that doesn’t mean it was necessarily predictable.
As for the mystery I think it was a wise choice to play it out they way that they did because once you figured it out you had that aha moment and the devastation that follows but until then the temptation to cheat and skip ahead is strong.
This isn’t a bad book it just suffers from having a better backstory than a current one and for that I can’t rate it any higher than the generous 3 stars.
“The Lying Woods” begins with Owen’s life falling apart after he learns that his dad ran off after stealing millions of dollars leaving him and his mom to pick up the pieces. As they try to rebuild he finds himself working on a farm where his dad once lived and as past and present collide he learns there’s more going on than just the mystery surrounding his father.
So this book was pretty average and really slow with the only parts I really looked forward to reading were the flashbacks to Owen’s parents and seeing their love story blossom as the boy from the wrong side of the tracks fell hard for the debutante queen. Even the moment with Gus and his late wife were so sweet making the return to the present all the more frustrating because there were a lot of moments where it was the same few beats every couple of chapters making the book for the most part rather boring but that doesn’t mean it was necessarily predictable.
As for the mystery I think it was a wise choice to play it out they way that they did because once you figured it out you had that aha moment and the devastation that follows but until then the temptation to cheat and skip ahead is strong.
This isn’t a bad book it just suffers from having a better backstory than a current one and for that I can’t rate it any higher than the generous 3 stars.
January 22, 2021
En kısa zamanda tekrar, her şeyi bilerek okurum bunu.
Son sayfada mutluluktan gözlerim doldu😢.
Owen sen muhteşem bişeysin❤️❤️❤️
Son sayfada mutluluktan gözlerim doldu😢.
Owen sen muhteşem bişeysin❤️❤️❤️
August 18, 2018
I believe this officially makes Ashley Elston my favorite Young Adult Thriller writer. Possibly favorite YA author period. Not only are her mysteries twisted and surprising every time, her teenage characters are so real and it always surprises me.
My number one pet peeve in YA mysteries is teenage characters who act like they’re 35 and totally capable of anything, screw adults and the police. Elston’s characters are not like that. They do they’re best but they do get help when they’re in over their heads, and because of that her stories can be more complex and adult which puts them on par with adult thrillers in terms of how well written they are.
Also, with the teens getting help when needed, they are still refreshingly mature. Not even just the main characters, but the side characters as well.
When it was revealed Owen would be returning to the public high school in his hometown, which is filled with people whose lives were ruined by Owen’s dad, I audibly groaned along with Owen because I was prepared to read a whole bunch of stereotypical bullying scenes where our narrator gets shoved into lockers or tripped in the hallways everyday.
Sure Owen doesn’t get welcomed back to the school with open arms, but these teens are going through extreme hardships that are very relevant to our real world. They’re watching their parents go into financial crisis and they’re scared and they need to put their anger towards something, but they still try. They try to control themselves and they try to be understanding.
That’s how teens are, and Elston choosing to write them in such a realistic way makes her books instant buys for me.
Also, yeah there’s a fantastic mystery going on as well. I flew through this book in a day and there’s some stellar plot twists, one of which had me putting the book down and saying, “oh my god.” out loud. What more can you ask for?
My number one pet peeve in YA mysteries is teenage characters who act like they’re 35 and totally capable of anything, screw adults and the police. Elston’s characters are not like that. They do they’re best but they do get help when they’re in over their heads, and because of that her stories can be more complex and adult which puts them on par with adult thrillers in terms of how well written they are.
Also, with the teens getting help when needed, they are still refreshingly mature. Not even just the main characters, but the side characters as well.
When it was revealed Owen would be returning to the public high school in his hometown, which is filled with people whose lives were ruined by Owen’s dad, I audibly groaned along with Owen because I was prepared to read a whole bunch of stereotypical bullying scenes where our narrator gets shoved into lockers or tripped in the hallways everyday.
Sure Owen doesn’t get welcomed back to the school with open arms, but these teens are going through extreme hardships that are very relevant to our real world. They’re watching their parents go into financial crisis and they’re scared and they need to put their anger towards something, but they still try. They try to control themselves and they try to be understanding.
That’s how teens are, and Elston choosing to write them in such a realistic way makes her books instant buys for me.
Also, yeah there’s a fantastic mystery going on as well. I flew through this book in a day and there’s some stellar plot twists, one of which had me putting the book down and saying, “oh my god.” out loud. What more can you ask for?
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November 15, 2021finally got around into reading this!
it was a good solid YA mystery!
it was a good solid YA mystery!
November 16, 2018
Review also found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...
Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for my eARC copy of this book.
Forced to leave the elite boarding school he has attended for the past several years, Owen has no choice but to withdraw from the school and return to the family home with his mother. Owen and his mother are shunned from the members of their community as a result of the crimes his father has committed.
I enjoyed the story overall in the book. The story is told from Owen’s point of view in the present but also from Noah’s point of view in the past, who is Owen’s Dad, which made it interesting to read from the two different timelines and from their different perspectives. Another character I quite enjoyed reading about was Gus whom Noah and Owen worked for.
It was interesting reading Owen’s point of view as it is refreshing to see things from a child’s perspective. I enjoyed his personality and his determination to uncover the truth about what really happened.
Reading from the views of the past as told by Noah was interesting as well, and we get glimpses into his life and when he first met Owen’s mother. We read about their love story which was nice to get a glimpse into.
Overall, I found that the two different timelines of Owen and his father Noah tied together nicely to tell the story of what truly happened.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for my eARC copy of this book.
Forced to leave the elite boarding school he has attended for the past several years, Owen has no choice but to withdraw from the school and return to the family home with his mother. Owen and his mother are shunned from the members of their community as a result of the crimes his father has committed.
I enjoyed the story overall in the book. The story is told from Owen’s point of view in the present but also from Noah’s point of view in the past, who is Owen’s Dad, which made it interesting to read from the two different timelines and from their different perspectives. Another character I quite enjoyed reading about was Gus whom Noah and Owen worked for.
It was interesting reading Owen’s point of view as it is refreshing to see things from a child’s perspective. I enjoyed his personality and his determination to uncover the truth about what really happened.
Reading from the views of the past as told by Noah was interesting as well, and we get glimpses into his life and when he first met Owen’s mother. We read about their love story which was nice to get a glimpse into.
Overall, I found that the two different timelines of Owen and his father Noah tied together nicely to tell the story of what truly happened.
August 18, 2021
A good YA novel of mystery and suspense without any brutality. That's refreshing! If I had a YA of my own, I would most definitely recommend that he or she read it. Lots of characters and a good plot line. Quite a few twists that I didn't see coming.
It was good to read this with my mini-mystery group friends at Novel Ideas.
It was good to read this with my mini-mystery group friends at Novel Ideas.
October 9, 2018
4.5 STARS
I immensely enjoyed this book, as my first Ashley Elston book, it blew me out of the water! Ashley truly has a craft for flawlessly combining overlapping story lines, tangled emotions, and complex characters into a cohesive story that hooks the reader and leaves you captivated and wanting more. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down. I was hypnotized by the endless questions, when one was solved, not only would another pop up but there were at least five others floating around in my mind.
This is what I believe makes for an excellent mystery story, when I am in a constant state of questioning and suspense. But not so much suspense that the whole narrative is revolving around a build up you know is going to let you down. Ashley brings in romance, family drama, high school drama, and family friends to graph a compelling plot that I want to know it all...at once! Give me the answers!
All the characters are multidimensional but none top Owen, who is trying to navigate high school, scandal, betrayal, and secrets. Oh the secrets in this book gave me whiplash, and left me utterly speechless. But while all this is going on, Owen is surprising relate-able and I think this is Ashley's ability to portray the emotional struggle of her characters. I was drowning in the shock and revelations right along side Owen, I felt his frustration and struggle for answers and in return I sympathized for him and wanted to cheer him on in his search for the truth.
The mystery is thick and when everything was revealed, I had to actually pause for a moment because WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! I did not see that coming, I was left reeling while desperately clinging to hope. No, no, this isn't your typical gruesome, murder mystery. This is the type of mystery that has you trying to piece together clues but the puzzle piece that holds solution is elusive. I was left guessing how everything was going to play out till the very end. And in all honesty, as I closed the book, I was left a sh*t eating grin on my face because d*mn that was a good book. I will definitely be re-reading it down the road!
I immensely enjoyed this book, as my first Ashley Elston book, it blew me out of the water! Ashley truly has a craft for flawlessly combining overlapping story lines, tangled emotions, and complex characters into a cohesive story that hooks the reader and leaves you captivated and wanting more. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down. I was hypnotized by the endless questions, when one was solved, not only would another pop up but there were at least five others floating around in my mind.
This is what I believe makes for an excellent mystery story, when I am in a constant state of questioning and suspense. But not so much suspense that the whole narrative is revolving around a build up you know is going to let you down. Ashley brings in romance, family drama, high school drama, and family friends to graph a compelling plot that I want to know it all...at once! Give me the answers!
All the characters are multidimensional but none top Owen, who is trying to navigate high school, scandal, betrayal, and secrets. Oh the secrets in this book gave me whiplash, and left me utterly speechless. But while all this is going on, Owen is surprising relate-able and I think this is Ashley's ability to portray the emotional struggle of her characters. I was drowning in the shock and revelations right along side Owen, I felt his frustration and struggle for answers and in return I sympathized for him and wanted to cheer him on in his search for the truth.
The mystery is thick and when everything was revealed, I had to actually pause for a moment because WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! I did not see that coming, I was left reeling while desperately clinging to hope. No, no, this isn't your typical gruesome, murder mystery. This is the type of mystery that has you trying to piece together clues but the puzzle piece that holds solution is elusive. I was left guessing how everything was going to play out till the very end. And in all honesty, as I closed the book, I was left a sh*t eating grin on my face because d*mn that was a good book. I will definitely be re-reading it down the road!
November 12, 2018
The synopsis of this was definitely one that sounded good, but concerned me as one I wasn't quite sure how much I would like it. However my doubts were definitely misguided, because I really enjoyed this one. The author did a great job in throwing in lots of hints and clues throughout the story, including chapters from Owen's father's viewpoint. Obviously those chapters were there to help you figure things out, or to at least add details to the story that would have been just an info dump from characters in Owen's present day. Even with those additional details, I was still surprised at some of the twists and what exactly Owen's father was guilty of, as well as why he did the things he did. It was hard to see just how his mother could be so believing of his father being guilty, based on the entries from his father, and how much they seemed to be in love. But then when you find out just what really was happening, it all clicked into place. A lot of "A-HA!" moments for me.
This was very hard to put down as I was reading. Each chapter gave just enough new drama or clues that I had so much trouble putting it down when I wanted to know the answers to whatever new question had arisen, or figure out where those clues could take the case. I always get irritated with characters being treated poorly for something someone else in their family did, like in this case, Owen getting pushed around because of what his father did. I liked how the author did bring in the other teens and their opinions and feelings, and how some of them did understand that about him, even if it took them a bit to come to the realization. And of course I enjoyed all the New Orleans and Louisiana tidbits in the story, since it is one of my favorite places!
This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
This was very hard to put down as I was reading. Each chapter gave just enough new drama or clues that I had so much trouble putting it down when I wanted to know the answers to whatever new question had arisen, or figure out where those clues could take the case. I always get irritated with characters being treated poorly for something someone else in their family did, like in this case, Owen getting pushed around because of what his father did. I liked how the author did bring in the other teens and their opinions and feelings, and how some of them did understand that about him, even if it took them a bit to come to the realization. And of course I enjoyed all the New Orleans and Louisiana tidbits in the story, since it is one of my favorite places!
This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature.
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