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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Prepare to be swept away on a journey of love, betrayal, and redemption that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
"The Five Year Lie" by Sarina Bowen is a gripping tale of love, loss, and deception that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. With its seamless blend of romance and thriller elements, you won't be able to put this book down.
What sets "The Five Year Lie" apart is its expertly crafted dual timelines, which heightened the tension and deepen the mystery surrounding Drew's disappearance, whilst slowly bringing more facts into the light. Despite my initial reservations about this technique, I found myself fully immersed in both the present-day drama and the events leading up to Drew's disappearance. Sarina's skillful storytelling ensures that each timeline is equally compelling, making it easy to connect with the characters and follow their journeys.
Some twists are foreshadowed early on, but the novel still manages to deliver several unexpected surprises that will leave readers gasping for breath.
I loved the tale's accessibility as a technology thriller. The incorporation of the camera doorbells added an extra layer of realism and relevance to the story. It made the story more relatable and unnerving
"The Five Year Lie" by Sarina Bowen is a gripping tale of love, loss, and deception that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. With its seamless blend of romance and thriller elements, you won't be able to put this book down.
What sets "The Five Year Lie" apart is its expertly crafted dual timelines, which heightened the tension and deepen the mystery surrounding Drew's disappearance, whilst slowly bringing more facts into the light. Despite my initial reservations about this technique, I found myself fully immersed in both the present-day drama and the events leading up to Drew's disappearance. Sarina's skillful storytelling ensures that each timeline is equally compelling, making it easy to connect with the characters and follow their journeys.
Some twists are foreshadowed early on, but the novel still manages to deliver several unexpected surprises that will leave readers gasping for breath.
I loved the tale's accessibility as a technology thriller. The incorporation of the camera doorbells added an extra layer of realism and relevance to the story. It made the story more relatable and unnerving
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Would I call this a mystery/thriller? Or a tale of a woman who couldn’t get over a fling she thought was love? There is the “why did he disappear with no trace” and “mysterious text message years later” that need answering, but honestly, if I was Ariel and this happened to me, I’d have moved on and ignored the text, even if he was my baby daddy. I guess this is the crux of the issue for me: I don’t care about Drew and this supposed love and mourning Ariel had for him that was probably just lust.
If you can get past that much of it is Ariel obsessing over who and where Drew is, then you do get a mystery that needs unraveling. This is actually a good plot (sub-plot?). Ariel’s family owns Chime Co (think Ring) and Ariel stumbles onto some possibly illegal activity that may be connected to Drew vanishing five years ago. It’s intriguing, and I enjoyed uncovering the truth with Ariel; however, much of this is overshadowed by her constant thoughts, longing, mourning of a three month relationship she and Drew had.
The twists are decent, but the ending ridiculous and eye-rolling to me. I think if you are a fan of Bowen’s writing, then this will be an enjoyable read for you.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
If you can get past that much of it is Ariel obsessing over who and where Drew is, then you do get a mystery that needs unraveling. This is actually a good plot (sub-plot?). Ariel’s family owns Chime Co (think Ring) and Ariel stumbles onto some possibly illegal activity that may be connected to Drew vanishing five years ago. It’s intriguing, and I enjoyed uncovering the truth with Ariel; however, much of this is overshadowed by her constant thoughts, longing, mourning of a three month relationship she and Drew had.
The twists are decent, but the ending ridiculous and eye-rolling to me. I think if you are a fan of Bowen’s writing, then this will be an enjoyable read for you.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
“Even as the young woman shuffles toward the door, breathing diesel fumes, the software is measuring the geometry of her face. ”
Here are reasons to read the Thriller book:
Text Message - Ariel receives a text message that causes alarm, but not just because of the message
Dead Boyfriend - It’s that it comes from her dead boyfriend and father of her child
Dive Deeper - It causes her to dive deeper into who he really was, why he disappeared without saying goodbye and what might have caused his death
I originally picked this up because of the dead boyfriend/ text message premise. And when you get down to it, it was a quick read, but also something I feel like I have read before. The ending was not really a surprise and for most of it I just wanted to know what happened to the boyfriend because he seemed like a good guy. You follow through his perspective in the past as well and the mystery is pretty disturbing overall. It’s a medium thriller for me, and I just wish it had been more memorable.
Here are reasons to read the Thriller book:
Text Message - Ariel receives a text message that causes alarm, but not just because of the message
Dead Boyfriend - It’s that it comes from her dead boyfriend and father of her child
Dive Deeper - It causes her to dive deeper into who he really was, why he disappeared without saying goodbye and what might have caused his death
I originally picked this up because of the dead boyfriend/ text message premise. And when you get down to it, it was a quick read, but also something I feel like I have read before. The ending was not really a surprise and for most of it I just wanted to know what happened to the boyfriend because he seemed like a good guy. You follow through his perspective in the past as well and the mystery is pretty disturbing overall. It’s a medium thriller for me, and I just wish it had been more memorable.
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Five years ago, Ariels life changed. Her boyfriend died and she was left with a son he never even knew about. But thats not all. A strange text arrives five years too late and turns everything she thought she know on its head. Who was Drew really? What has her families door bell company really been up to? As her and fellow employee Zane dig in to tje mystery, truths are revealed that will put them all in danger. It's mysterious, thrilling and action pact, full of emotion and heartache and most important of all, a satisfying conclusion!
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A text from her ex Drew, who supposedly died years ago, propels Ariel into a labyrinth of lies. Betrayal stalks her and her son as she unravels the truth. Can she discover Drew’s fate before danger engulfs them all?
This is a tense story that kept me guessing until the end. I especially enjoyed Ariel’s relationship with her son.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a tense story that kept me guessing until the end. I especially enjoyed Ariel’s relationship with her son.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I love mysteries and this sounded like it would be right up my alley, so I was stoked to receive an arc for this book.
I found the premise of the story to be very intriguing. Ariel receives a mysterious text from her dead boyfriend's old number, asking her to meet him. Confused and shocked by this message, Ariel sets out to uncover what’s going on, and the story takes off from there.
Unfortunately, it didn’t really deliver though, imo. The beginning was slow and a bit messy, which made it kind of hard to get into. I was still interested to find out what happened to Drew and where the story was going, but the pacing was so slow, I kept getting bored. Also, I just never really cared about any of the characters, they felt one-dimensional, and therefore the stakes were kind of low for me.
All in all, it was an easy read once I got past the first few chapters, but I think this story would have benefitted from being way shorter, 432 pages weren’t necessary to tell this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I found the premise of the story to be very intriguing. Ariel receives a mysterious text from her dead boyfriend's old number, asking her to meet him. Confused and shocked by this message, Ariel sets out to uncover what’s going on, and the story takes off from there.
Unfortunately, it didn’t really deliver though, imo. The beginning was slow and a bit messy, which made it kind of hard to get into. I was still interested to find out what happened to Drew and where the story was going, but the pacing was so slow, I kept getting bored. Also, I just never really cared about any of the characters, they felt one-dimensional, and therefore the stakes were kind of low for me.
All in all, it was an easy read once I got past the first few chapters, but I think this story would have benefitted from being way shorter, 432 pages weren’t necessary to tell this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read some of the authors romances and enjoyed them and I’m always super interested when an author switches genres so this was a must for me. The premise was also super unique, receiving a text message five years too late is crazy but also sorta believable too. As things progress the plot does seem far fetched at times but it was such a compelling read I didn’t mind. I was engaged with the story the whole time and curious to see what happened next and the author threw a couple of curveballs my way. I really liked Ariel and found her to be a sympathetic and likable character and her relationships with her son and best friend were really sweet. Really impressive thriller debut and I would love to see what the author comes up with next!
medium-paced
arc review
The Five Year Lie is an entertaining read! It has the tension and unknowns of a thriller without being too dark. I appreciate Ariel, the main character, is a fierce mama bear while maintaining her own identity with strong friendships and passions like glass blowing.
This could be a good fit if you like:
- strong female characters
- thought provoking reads (technology & privacy)
- some romance in your thrillers
Overall, I had an enjoyable reading experience! This one does clock in on the longer side around 430+ pages. I think it could have been a bit shorter, but there was a lot going on that deserved attention. I have seen comparisons to The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, and they fit in my opinion. Like with Dave's book, this could be recommended to readers who enjoy a variety of genres.
Rating: I liked it! (3.5)
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for early access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The Five Year Lie is an entertaining read! It has the tension and unknowns of a thriller without being too dark. I appreciate Ariel, the main character, is a fierce mama bear while maintaining her own identity with strong friendships and passions like glass blowing.
This could be a good fit if you like:
- strong female characters
- thought provoking reads (technology & privacy)
- some romance in your thrillers
Overall, I had an enjoyable reading experience! This one does clock in on the longer side around 430+ pages. I think it could have been a bit shorter, but there was a lot going on that deserved attention. I have seen comparisons to The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, and they fit in my opinion. Like with Dave's book, this could be recommended to readers who enjoy a variety of genres.
Rating: I liked it! (3.5)
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for early access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Ariel receives a text from Drew asking her to meet him as soon as possible. There’s just one problem — her former boyfriend has been dead for five years. That text begins her search for the truth behind why Drew vanished, not just for herself but her five year old son too.
I picked up this book because I enjoy Sarina Bowen’s romance books and wanted to see what her debut thriller would be like. Well, it delivered!
Like The Last Thing He Told Me, The Five Year Lie is centered around the question of how well do you know the people love? The opening pages drew me in. The surprises throughout the book kept me turning the pages as fast as I could read. The technology angle along with Ariel and Drew’s love story made this story memorable.
The Five Year Lie is a great book to throw in your vacation bag. This fast-paced entertaining thriller with a touch of romance is the perfect escape read.
I received an early copy of this book.
I picked up this book because I enjoy Sarina Bowen’s romance books and wanted to see what her debut thriller would be like. Well, it delivered!
Like The Last Thing He Told Me, The Five Year Lie is centered around the question of how well do you know the people love? The opening pages drew me in. The surprises throughout the book kept me turning the pages as fast as I could read. The technology angle along with Ariel and Drew’s love story made this story memorable.
The Five Year Lie is a great book to throw in your vacation bag. This fast-paced entertaining thriller with a touch of romance is the perfect escape read.
I received an early copy of this book.