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riannonsbookishera's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The premise is intriguing, centered on characters whose lives are intertwined with secrets and lies. The plot was rich with tension, and characters were well-developed, each hiding layers of truths and lies that made them as deceiving as the narrater seems.
While this book is marketed as a thriller, it often feels more like a domestic drama with suspenseful elements rather than a full-fledged thriller. The pacing is steady, but I found myself wishing for more high-stakes moments and twists that every thrill seeker is looking for in a "thriller". The plot builds slowly, and though it is well-crafted, it lacks the heart-pounding intensity that you might be expecting when picking up this book.
Despite this, the conclusion is satisfying and delivers a powerful punch that ties up the story beautifully. It's a solid read for those who enjoy character-driven stories with an undercurrent of suspense. While I would have appreciated more thrills, the strong ending makes it a worthwhile read. If you go in with the right expectations, you'll likely find it a rewarding experience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
missbitiz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Torture
tayreads10's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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 flew through this book! I was so sucked into the plot of her shady employment dilemmas and how that played out. Thoroughly enjoyed and hoping there is a sequel to continue where it leaves off!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Finished reading: August 23rd 2024
“There's an old saying: The first lie wins. It's not referring to the little white kind that tumble out with no thought; it refers to the big one. The one that changes the game.”
Part of me was a bit hesitant to read First Lie Wins, as we all know how hyped books and me tend to get along... But there was something about the premise I wasn't able to resist, and I ended up giving in. I'm so glad I did now, because I ended up having SUCH a great time reading book! Things can be said about the credibility, but I personally didn't care as the entertainment level was through the roof. First Lie Wins reads like a Hollywood action movie with a similar vibe as Mr. And Mrs. Smith, and the premise had me fully hooked. The story is told through Evie Porter's POV, and switches back between different time in her past and the present. There was something about Evie that made it easy to start rooting for her despite her flaws, and the flashbacks worked perfectly to start revealing certain information and twists. The building up of tension and suspense was really well done, and it had me turning page after page as I HAD to know how it would all end. And while I guessed some of the twists, others came as a total surprise. The writing itself is extremely engaging and the heist/spy elements really made this story stand out. The ending itself was perfect for this story, and the journey itself was a blast as well. If you enjoyed fast-paced, engaging and cleverly plotted thrillers with a spy/heist vibe and don't mind suspending your disbelief, I can highly recommend First Lie Wins.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
anniesbooknook's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
rochelleisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Classism
dilani's review against another edition
mysterious
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
3.0
it was aight. very twisty and the ending set this book up for a sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Car accident, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction and Cancer
katekatiekait's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer
theinstabookworm's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I fear this is another case where I feel like I read a different book than everyone else. I tried reading the physical copy but couldn't get into it, so I switched to the audiobook, which I did like more. It was bingeable and I listened to it in two sittings over one day. But, I can't say I get the hype. It was a slow-burn and maybe this is a case of "all vibes, no plot" because I feel like nothing really happened. I didn't care about the characters and felt very underwhelmed by the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
savleigh3's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Alcohol