Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

89 reviews

juliaureads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 Talk about a page turner! Tintera’s conversational style and frankly hilarious main character kept me entertained throughout the story. I loved the Texas setting and the little nods toward Texas culture, and really didn’t guess the ending until it was right in front of me. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ree333's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

namestaken's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

twinkle_flavored's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

A great thriller, with a well done podcast element, and of course… I’m always down for an  unreliable narrator ☺️🤙.  I enjoyed the way she fleshed out the characters, twisting the likable ones into their true ugly shapes, giving you pause with those you initially found not so palatable, showing you things aren’t always so black-and-white in a very skilled way. Also- grandma was my favorite. She’s really just the best. If you’re looking for a well done thriller/small town murder mystery, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I will certainly be picking up more work by this author!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

notlikethebeer's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

A new addition to the "thrillers based around crime podcasts" genre: aka one of my favourite genres! What I'll say first of all is that Lucy isn't a likeable protagonist. She's blunt, her sense of humor is darker than my coffee, she's often very unsympathetic. And yet, honestly? She's certainly one of my favourite protagonists of 2024, and she may well have won a place in my heart long-term. Maybe that's because I also have a sense of humor as dark as the longest night... 

I also really liked that the book explored the ongoing risks posed by an abusive partner after the fact, such as the risk of reputational harm, and really clearly illustrated the devastating impacts even just the thought of risking this can bring. As well, there were some interesting reflections on the ethics of the podcast - and the podcaster. With that in mind, it does have quite an ambiguous ending, so if you like certainty and answers, this might not be for you. Otherwise, rock on.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bookdragonkatie's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I enjoyed this a lot. I didn’t expect to finish it in a day, but it definitely peaked my interest. I got a little confused trying to keep track of the some of the characters, especially if they were really only used for the podcast portions of the story, but overall I thought this was well done. I think I’ll probably pick it up again to see if I can find the clues; I definitely suspected just about every character at some point in the book! I recommend this one if you’re looking for an interesting who-done-it, particularly as an audiobook to really get the podcast vibe!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

spellbindingtomes's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

thatswhatiloveaboutreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s been five years since Savvy was murdered. Her best friend Lucy, who has amnesia about that night, was the primary suspect, but without any evidence she was never arrested. Now a true prime podcast is taking on the story, and Lucy returns to her hometown to find out the truth. Did she kill her best friend? Or are the memories she can’t recall hiding something else? 

I enjoyed this thriller a lot! It’s kind of crass and the characters are sarcastic and a bit twisted at times, but I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mmitch10's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

A few too many tropes for me. The story and plot twists were okay.
Lucy getting her memory back was a bit too convenient. It would’ve been better if the podcast itself revealed what happened.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

minimicropup's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark funny hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I went into this expecting formulaic and predictable. It was so good - wit, darkness, and heartbreaking moments, all with a fun cast of characters. 
 
Energy: Diverting. Defiant. Expressive. 
Scene: 🇺🇸 Fictional town of Plumpton, Texas.
Perspective: Our main character is in their late twenties, with a string of failed relationships and job losses. A new podcast exploring their role in the death of their best friend five years ago isn’t helping things. They return to the town where it all happened and where the podcast is taking place at their beloved grandmother’s urging.  
 
🐩 Tail Wags: The characters and their dynamics. How the podcast element is handled. The slightly unhinged romances. Fine-tuning the plot so it’s like a popcorn thriller, but then it hits in the feels.
 
🤔 Random Thoughts: 
The podcast felt like a real one – like a CBC investigation or Wondery style production
 
I love diverse settings in books, like a tiny house! I love when we just get normal middle class homes in books too.  
 
An amnesia trope that works! I don’t really like amnesia tropes, but I think because it doesn’t take itself so seriously (like, other characters are skeptical) while acknowledging what trauma-related amnesia really is and what it looks like. 
 
Short chapters and perfect pacing. 
 
You know how mysterious cold cases irl have those details that could mean absolutely nothing, or could be a major clue? This story captured that dynamic. Both from the investigative/podcast side and from our MC trying to recall what happened.
 
----
🤓 Reader Role: Insider to Lucy’s thoughts, almost like she’s talking to us directly. Also the podcast audience. As we get snippets of the podcast investigation, we get ahead of or behind the other characters’ knowledge, depending on when they’ve listened to the episode. 
🗺️ World-Building: Immersive and set not just with detail but with dialogue that is witty and sarcastic but also real-sounding (including the podcast snippets and interviews).
🔥 Fuel: Did Lucy kill her friend, Savvy? If so, why? If not, who did? Can Lucy trust those who seem to support her? Is she unhinged, mentally ill, or overstressed? 
📖 Cred: Plausible realism. 
 
Mood Reading Match-Up:
  • Beer. whiskey. AC cold. Crickets. TV and laughter downstairs. Podcast intro music. Summer heat. Humidity. Dirt roads. 
  • Amnesia + whodunnit cold case
  • Romantic suspense and who to trust
 
Content Heads-Up: Murder. Potential false accusation. Intrusive thoughts. Infidelity. Domestic abuse (mental, physical). Violence (brawl, rage). Sexual content (consenting, role-playing, intoxicated). Misogyny. Gaslighting. Traumatic memory loss, blackouts. Sexual assault. Alcohol use. Alcoholism.
 
Rep: Latina, White, and Black American. Dark, pale, and ambiguous skin tones. Cisgender. Heterosexual. Lesbian.
 
📚 Format: Library Digital
 
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
Expand filter menu Content Warnings