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Young Love #3
The Lies We Tell
He’s rude
He’s annoying
He’s a nerd
He’s my project partner
Getting paired with Felix Northcott is not the ideal way to start my senior year
The boy wears thrift shop clothes, rides a bike and works in a local cafe.
Oh, and did I tell you he openly despises me?
Yeah, he thinks he knows me,
he sees my apartment with beach views, my racy convertible, my limitless credit card
It looks like I have it all
But there’s a lot I hide.
And Felix, I find, he’s hiding something too.
The lies we tell…they’ll catch up with us eventually
He’s annoying
He’s a nerd
He’s my project partner
Getting paired with Felix Northcott is not the ideal way to start my senior year
The boy wears thrift shop clothes, rides a bike and works in a local cafe.
Oh, and did I tell you he openly despises me?
Yeah, he thinks he knows me,
he sees my apartment with beach views, my racy convertible, my limitless credit card
It looks like I have it all
But there’s a lot I hide.
And Felix, I find, he’s hiding something too.
The lies we tell…they’ll catch up with us eventually
Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2019
46 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 22, 2025
DNF at 54%
Im disappointed 😢 came across a gay side character in the book 😖😩
like whyyyyy
but yeah DNF-ed for that reason.. I was liking it-ish?? It was okay. I wanted to like the characters but didn’t feel connected to them at all, like I felt with Dominique and Malachi in the last book.
I don’t know if I’ll finish the series now.. it’s weird that I’ve read a few books by Kylie Key and never have come across lgbtq content and the fact that it started in the third book in the series is annoying cuz I was enjoying the friend group and sweet romances 🙄🙄😐😑
October 27, 2023
G rated, YA novel with an anti-hero, female protagonist
Trieste (Tree) and Felix are 17-year-old high school seniors who are in forced proximity during a computer design class, in which the teacher pairs them up for class projects multiple times.
This YA novel is told solely from the first-person point of view of Tree, so we never get to know Felix. The entire book, until the last few pages, Tree is unwillingly attracted to Felix, and is constantly insulting him, both to his face and in her thoughts. She comes from a wealthy family, and she assumes until the very end of the book that Felix is poor. According to her warped values, because Felix does not wear designer clothes and hang out with the social elites at school as she does, it would be a degrading embarrassment for her to be friends with him, let alone ever date him. Her whole life is dedicated to keeping up superficial, elitist appearances, and someone like Felix, no matter how tall, handsome and well built he is, does not measure up.
I really struggled with this protagonist. She is, throughout the book, constantly rude and condescending to Felix, to such a degree that I can't even imagine why he would ever be attracted to her, other than physically. Tree is proud of the fact that she constantly wears slinky, revealing clothing everywhere she goes, including to class in the public schools.
The most important aspect of Tree's life, which she has never confided about to any of her friends, is codependently propping up her mentally ill mother and simultaneously desperately wishing for her mother's attention and approval. There are several mentions in the novel that her mother sees a therapist, but no indication that she is taking medication for what seems to be a case of poorly managed bipolar disorder.
Unfortunately, the author has chosen to advertise this novel as a romance. It would be more accurate to designate it as a family drama. Most of the novel, as well as its epilogue, focuses on her relationship with her mother rather than her non-romantic, rudely abrasive, entirely school-based relationship with Felix.
Trieste (Tree) and Felix are 17-year-old high school seniors who are in forced proximity during a computer design class, in which the teacher pairs them up for class projects multiple times.
This YA novel is told solely from the first-person point of view of Tree, so we never get to know Felix. The entire book, until the last few pages, Tree is unwillingly attracted to Felix, and is constantly insulting him, both to his face and in her thoughts. She comes from a wealthy family, and she assumes until the very end of the book that Felix is poor. According to her warped values, because Felix does not wear designer clothes and hang out with the social elites at school as she does, it would be a degrading embarrassment for her to be friends with him, let alone ever date him. Her whole life is dedicated to keeping up superficial, elitist appearances, and someone like Felix, no matter how tall, handsome and well built he is, does not measure up.
I really struggled with this protagonist. She is, throughout the book, constantly rude and condescending to Felix, to such a degree that I can't even imagine why he would ever be attracted to her, other than physically. Tree is proud of the fact that she constantly wears slinky, revealing clothing everywhere she goes, including to class in the public schools.
The most important aspect of Tree's life, which she has never confided about to any of her friends, is codependently propping up her mentally ill mother and simultaneously desperately wishing for her mother's attention and approval. There are several mentions in the novel that her mother sees a therapist, but no indication that she is taking medication for what seems to be a case of poorly managed bipolar disorder.
Unfortunately, the author has chosen to advertise this novel as a romance. It would be more accurate to designate it as a family drama. Most of the novel, as well as its epilogue, focuses on her relationship with her mother rather than her non-romantic, rudely abrasive, entirely school-based relationship with Felix.
January 5, 2021
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This was a great book. I loved the moral and how friendship left such a deep impression. This book was so strong. It was well connected and transitioned well. I love Trieste. She had many secrets that she had kept hidden. Her love interest, Felix, was also a great character. They were both portrayed as not completely perfect no matter what they showed. I loved that Trieste grew throughout the novel as she uncovered many more secrets. She cared and wasn’t snob that everyone thought her to be. I didn’t like her much the last novels but this story really opened my eyes.
This story follows Trieste. She is named after a city in Italy. She has many secrets. Stuff that she has kept hidden from her friends because she is simply embarrassed. She believes they would judge. She doesn’t know what she wants to be when she is older. All of her friends do. She joins a graphic design class just because she feels like it. SHe’s a bit nervous at first because she doesn’t know anyone. There, she is sat besides Felix who at first glance is rude and downright arrogant. As the class goes on, she learns more. She starts liking him. But he also has a secret. “But the lies we tell…they’ll catch up with us eventually.”
I wrote this voluntary review in exchange for an ARC copy.
This was a great book. I loved the moral and how friendship left such a deep impression. This book was so strong. It was well connected and transitioned well. I love Trieste. She had many secrets that she had kept hidden. Her love interest, Felix, was also a great character. They were both portrayed as not completely perfect no matter what they showed. I loved that Trieste grew throughout the novel as she uncovered many more secrets. She cared and wasn’t snob that everyone thought her to be. I didn’t like her much the last novels but this story really opened my eyes.
This story follows Trieste. She is named after a city in Italy. She has many secrets. Stuff that she has kept hidden from her friends because she is simply embarrassed. She believes they would judge. She doesn’t know what she wants to be when she is older. All of her friends do. She joins a graphic design class just because she feels like it. SHe’s a bit nervous at first because she doesn’t know anyone. There, she is sat besides Felix who at first glance is rude and downright arrogant. As the class goes on, she learns more. She starts liking him. But he also has a secret. “But the lies we tell…they’ll catch up with us eventually.”
I wrote this voluntary review in exchange for an ARC copy.
June 22, 2021
20th chapter
This book was 20 chapters and a very short epilogue and the couple didn't get together until the very end of the 20th chapter and not in the epilogue at all. By the end all I felt was sad. For all that waiting them finally getting together was a let down. The book was filled with misunderstandings. Which all could have been resolved much quicker and lead to a much more enjoyable getting together. It makes me sad because I really liked Trieste and Felix which is the only reason I rated it a three. I won't be reading the next to and will only read the last because of Domi and Malachi. I also think there should have been a trigger warning for something that was discussed that may be triggering to some.
This book was 20 chapters and a very short epilogue and the couple didn't get together until the very end of the 20th chapter and not in the epilogue at all. By the end all I felt was sad. For all that waiting them finally getting together was a let down. The book was filled with misunderstandings. Which all could have been resolved much quicker and lead to a much more enjoyable getting together. It makes me sad because I really liked Trieste and Felix which is the only reason I rated it a three. I won't be reading the next to and will only read the last because of Domi and Malachi. I also think there should have been a trigger warning for something that was discussed that may be triggering to some.
August 20, 2021
I’ve been a little upset with Tree in this series, but I came around to looking forward to her book. It was definitely a ride. I really enjoyed it. I love how each of these books really has a different feel. I can’t wait for the next boxset!!
July 26, 2020
Sweet story
Great book, full of intriguing story lines. Happy ending reminds us you dont know what others go through. Be kind.
Great book, full of intriguing story lines. Happy ending reminds us you dont know what others go through. Be kind.
April 24, 2021
Good read
This book was so good . This series has me emotional af . I’ve cried a few times because of this book / series. Especially when the shocking secrets come out.
This book was so good . This series has me emotional af . I’ve cried a few times because of this book / series. Especially when the shocking secrets come out.
April 5, 2023
Sweet story
I have enjoyed this sweet heartfelt adventure of young lady that finds out that lies we tell can effect what we think of people.
I have enjoyed this sweet heartfelt adventure of young lady that finds out that lies we tell can effect what we think of people.
August 11, 2019
This is the story of Trieste and Felix, in the Young Love series of books. Trieste finds herself stuck sitting next to Felix, in the front row of all places, for her media class. She finds him rude, a total computer geek, really annoying and now she is paired with him for her media project! This is the start of their senior year and the stories of a few of her friends have already been told in previous books. They are a close knit group, but as their final year begins, they start to move apart, some becoming couples and not being quite as involved with their friends anymore, or concentrating on getting into college, or just growing apart.
Trieste judges Felix for his awful dress sense, saying he must have bought his clothes from a thrift shop, but admires his sports shoes, which she can’t figure out how he can afford. He doesn’t drive to school, using a bike and also has a job before school in a bakery, jess believes as a cleaner. She believes that he hates her and all she and her friends stand for – well-off, flash car, unlimited credit card spending and a flat on the beach. The only problem is that Jess is hiding a lot of things, the main one being that she lies about everything! Who her parents are, especially who her father is, is the main one. Some lies are more from embarrassment, some just to make her life easier. Felix is also hiding something, but what his secret is, she can’t figure out.
The title says it all, the lies we tell, they will always catch up with you and usually leave you in more of a mess than you started with! Jess is stuck with Felix for a number of media projects and needs his help with the Photoshop and computer side of things, something she is not very good at. They work on a charity poster and this leads to Jess helping to make some for her friends concert. Felix keeps bringing her cupcakes from the best cupcake bakery in the town! At first it was to apologise for leaving his bag on her chair in class, then it seemed to become a habit. She lied and made matters more difficult for him.
Jess is insecure about a lot of things, one that she has never been kissed, nor had a boyfriend. She lives with her mother and loves her a lot, but has a distant father, who has retired to warmer climes! Once she lied to her friends in junior school, she just kept on telling lies. How she will get herself out of the mess she has made for herself and tell Felix her true feelings, is for the reader to find out. This is another good tale of young love and the intense feelings that can accompany it. I didn’t feel there was as much to this tale as perhaps with Dom and Malachi or Ella and Damon, but it was a good tale of the pressures of youth and high school and first love. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Trieste judges Felix for his awful dress sense, saying he must have bought his clothes from a thrift shop, but admires his sports shoes, which she can’t figure out how he can afford. He doesn’t drive to school, using a bike and also has a job before school in a bakery, jess believes as a cleaner. She believes that he hates her and all she and her friends stand for – well-off, flash car, unlimited credit card spending and a flat on the beach. The only problem is that Jess is hiding a lot of things, the main one being that she lies about everything! Who her parents are, especially who her father is, is the main one. Some lies are more from embarrassment, some just to make her life easier. Felix is also hiding something, but what his secret is, she can’t figure out.
The title says it all, the lies we tell, they will always catch up with you and usually leave you in more of a mess than you started with! Jess is stuck with Felix for a number of media projects and needs his help with the Photoshop and computer side of things, something she is not very good at. They work on a charity poster and this leads to Jess helping to make some for her friends concert. Felix keeps bringing her cupcakes from the best cupcake bakery in the town! At first it was to apologise for leaving his bag on her chair in class, then it seemed to become a habit. She lied and made matters more difficult for him.
Jess is insecure about a lot of things, one that she has never been kissed, nor had a boyfriend. She lives with her mother and loves her a lot, but has a distant father, who has retired to warmer climes! Once she lied to her friends in junior school, she just kept on telling lies. How she will get herself out of the mess she has made for herself and tell Felix her true feelings, is for the reader to find out. This is another good tale of young love and the intense feelings that can accompany it. I didn’t feel there was as much to this tale as perhaps with Dom and Malachi or Ella and Damon, but it was a good tale of the pressures of youth and high school and first love. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
November 19, 2019
The Lies We Tell is the third book in the Young Love series. I easily finished this book in a day! These stories just keep getting better and better.
I was glad to see a different side of Trieste. She seems like the popular one with everything going for her. The “Queen Bee” as she gets called later in this story. In reality though she has things she is hiding and tells lies because it’s easier than the truth. She definitely has good character development in this story though which was nice to see.
Felix was an interesting character to me. He seemed like a geek and a nice guy but at times he was really rude. I loved the cupcake aspect of this story and Mooki’s sounds like a great little cafe. I kinda started predicting things towards the end though because of the little hints that the author gave out.
I enjoyed this story but I wish they had more of a romantic aspect; they seemed to fight and not really like each other throughout this whole book until the last chapter it seemed like. Also I wish the author had gone into a little more detail about Trieste’s mom and her trip back to the Ukraine.
I was glad to see a different side of Trieste. She seems like the popular one with everything going for her. The “Queen Bee” as she gets called later in this story. In reality though she has things she is hiding and tells lies because it’s easier than the truth. She definitely has good character development in this story though which was nice to see.
Felix was an interesting character to me. He seemed like a geek and a nice guy but at times he was really rude. I loved the cupcake aspect of this story and Mooki’s sounds like a great little cafe. I kinda started predicting things towards the end though because of the little hints that the author gave out.
I enjoyed this story but I wish they had more of a romantic aspect; they seemed to fight and not really like each other throughout this whole book until the last chapter it seemed like. Also I wish the author had gone into a little more detail about Trieste’s mom and her trip back to the Ukraine.
August 10, 2019
When I started reading The Lies We Tell, I wasn’t sure I was going to like the main character, Trieste. But within a few pages, I was hooked and read the book in one sitting. Trieste's spoiled rich-girl exterior hides a long list of insecurities that echo through the story. But in reality, Trieste is a compassionate, talented and intelligent young woman.
The Lies We Tell is knitted tightly with the rest of the books in the series, which tell the love stories of Trieste’s inner circle of high school friends. At times, I found the crossover stories—though interesting—a little distracting from the main plot.
Trieste became a character I was really rooting for, by the end, but I wish I’d had opportunity to get to know the real Felix once the truth was out about him. Overall, this is a sweet love story, with a fun set of characters and an interesting plot. I highly recommend it.
The Lies We Tell is knitted tightly with the rest of the books in the series, which tell the love stories of Trieste’s inner circle of high school friends. At times, I found the crossover stories—though interesting—a little distracting from the main plot.
Trieste became a character I was really rooting for, by the end, but I wish I’d had opportunity to get to know the real Felix once the truth was out about him. Overall, this is a sweet love story, with a fun set of characters and an interesting plot. I highly recommend it.
August 4, 2019
This book dealt with so many truths. Yes the lies we tell, and why? Trieste loves her mother and wants her attention, but it seems nothing she does or attempts is appreciated.
Felix is a geek, but sweet, and a jerk. He keeps bringing Trieste wonderful cupcakes .
The insecurities we all face at times. How do we deal with them?
Malachi helps to inspire those around him. He’s had such a tough time, but tries to get stronger and isn’t negative.
Things aren’t always as they seem. It’s best to not judge, as you probably don’t know all that’s going on.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Felix is a geek, but sweet, and a jerk. He keeps bringing Trieste wonderful cupcakes .
The insecurities we all face at times. How do we deal with them?
Malachi helps to inspire those around him. He’s had such a tough time, but tries to get stronger and isn’t negative.
Things aren’t always as they seem. It’s best to not judge, as you probably don’t know all that’s going on.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 8, 2019
3rd book in this amazing YA romance series. We get to catch up with previous characters and hear of their story from a different perspective. In this story we get to know Trieste and Felix. They both form a dislike for each other. But over time those lines start to blur, behind it all though are the secrets they hide. Not just from each other but from their whole circle of friends. Like all secrets and lies eventually they find away to come to the surface. Will these two survive the fallout .
I received this as an arc and I am giving my honest review voluntarily
I received this as an arc and I am giving my honest review voluntarily
August 8, 2019
Can two completely different personalities find enough commonalities to lead to love?
This book has plenty of teen angst as the protagonists work out their relationship in and out of the classroom.
She covers her insecurities and desire to be close to her mother with make-up, spending and attitude.
He hides behind his geek persona, keeping people at just the right distance not to reveal his big secret.
As they are forced to work together, can they each begin to see beyond the mask to the real person beneath?
This book has plenty of teen angst as the protagonists work out their relationship in and out of the classroom.
She covers her insecurities and desire to be close to her mother with make-up, spending and attitude.
He hides behind his geek persona, keeping people at just the right distance not to reveal his big secret.
As they are forced to work together, can they each begin to see beyond the mask to the real person beneath?
August 12, 2019
This was such a great book with a lot of circumstances that both Trieste and Felix goes through. It shows that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Trieste wants her mothers attention and Felix is there to help her through the ruff times.
This book is the third book in the series and I think I liked it the best. Have fun reading this series and as you read them think about what each one of them is trying to tell you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is the third book in the series and I think I liked it the best. Have fun reading this series and as you read them think about what each one of them is trying to tell you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 10, 2019
I love this series. They're sweet and clean and this book follows right along with that theme. Each book seems to teach a life lesson also and The Lies We Tell teaches a good one ...it two. The characters are amazing in each book and I grow to love them more with each book. I wouldn't hesitate to let my daughter read these and she's a pre-teen. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 9, 2019
A very realistic look at how difficult life in high school can be. Everything has an impact on your day to day life. What clothes you wear, what friends you have, what table you eat lunch at, the list goes on and on. I love the way Kylie Key is able to write the characters to be very realistic as well as the different classroom and social situations.
August 15, 2019
Enjoyed this story and learning about Trieste’s perspective from the earlier books in this series. I didn’t feel her romance with Felix was as well formed as the others though. There wasn’t enough of actual interaction between them to show a growth in feelings, more of insta-attraction and that’s not my favorite, but still well done.
August 22, 2019
This was a sweet high school romance which had deeper issues. Trieste is rich and seems a bit snobby. Felix is poor and a geek. They don't get on and are paired up for a class project. But things aren't what they seem and appearances can be deceptive. This story had moments of fun and humor, but also had me shed a few tears.
September 4, 2019
This is the 3rd book I've read written by Kylie Key; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
August 8, 2019
White lies. Why??? A nerd boy and a girl with deep hidden issues. She is different than it looks. He has his own things to hide. Well written and composed book. Enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 8, 2019
The book is a good teen and young adult sweet romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 12, 2019
Live has problems
Miscommunication, lies, secrets lead to peoblems for Felix and Tree. You never know intil the end if they will believe in each other and themselves. You want to laugh and cry at them and for them
Miscommunication, lies, secrets lead to peoblems for Felix and Tree. You never know intil the end if they will believe in each other and themselves. You want to laugh and cry at them and for them
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February 13, 2021*Author note* I loved writing this book, Trieste surprised me, I grew to love her so much and I loved the push-pull relationship between her and Felix. Just remember, things are not always what they seem...!
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