Amanda Searcy

A psychological thriller from a debut author that follows two teen girls: one from a Texas border town hoping to outrun her past and another from Washington state who fears for her future in a public housing complex. When their worlds collide, only one girl will make it out alive. 5 1/2 x 8 5/16.

The Truth Beneath the Lies

Tiffany Robinson

Another book that I was excited for but it fell flat. This book was just so predictable you could see everything coming from a mile away.

Mayra Melo

Vivid storytelling, effortlessly told. Fast-paced, emotional, intelligent, gritty and raw. Searcy, I'm now a fan.

Paige Green

Rating: 3.5/5

Genre: YA Thriller

Pages:336

Amazon

Author

I was provided an arc of this book by KidLitExchange. All opinions are my own.

Flight. 
All Kayla Asher wants to do is run. Run from the government housing complex she calls home. Run from her unstable mother. Run from a desperate job at No Limits Food. Run to a better, cleaner, safer life. Every day is one day closer to leaving. 
 
Fight. 
All Betsy Hopewell wants to do is survive. Survive the burner phone hidden under her bed. Survive her new rules. Survive a new school with new classmates. Survive being watched. Every minute grants her another moment of life. 
 
When fate brings Kayla and Betsy together, only one girl will survive. - Amazon.com

If you ever wanted a YA book that didn't have typical dimwitted female characters then this is the book for you. I felt the characters of this book were phenominally well written and the writing style as a whole was amazing. I also thought that the pacing was very well done. Thrillers have been my hit or miss spot this year and for the most part this book really did the right things for me as a reader.

But there were a couple of things that I had issues with that definitely lowered the rating for me. The first part of this book was horribly confusing. The first part of the book really did make me want to just put it down and walk away, but I persisted. The first part is also kind of choppy as well, but the writing and the plot do get better as you progress throughout the book. I do think that the book could have been structured better and that the tension could have been built up better in the beginning of the book.

Verdict: I think this book was a good thriller, but the beginning made me question how much I really wanted to read this book. If you like thrillers this is a definite must read, but if you're a fairweather reader then this may not be for you.

Belle Ellrich

I read this book back when it first came out, and after seeing it on a shelf at my workplace, I knew I had to pick up the final edition and reread it.

This book was just as I remembered it. The plot was phenomenally put together in a way that had you guessing for the outcome right up until the very end. I also really loved how this was set in the year the book came out, and how it focused on quite a few issues those living on government funds face. It gave some insight into a life a lot of us have never had to experience, while also putting it into a big picture for those who have.

Our main characters, Betsy and Kayla, are girls that I found myself really feeling for. Kayla is just trying to get by and pave her own way without people feeling like they *have* to help her out, and Betsy is just trying to survive every day while running from a past we readers aren't exposed to until near the end.

This book absolutely PROPELLED the mysterious factor, and then when we thought that was over, another scene was added in! It took us on a whirlwind ride of emotions and thoughts that I've still yet to fully come to terms with.

This book is one of my favorites for a reason, and I can't wait to read more from Amanda Searcy.

Jessica 

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review for the blog tour. You can find my post here.  

 Amanda Searcy pens an explosive thriller with The Truth Beneath the Lies. Gripping, mysterious and utterly compelling, the story follows an uniquely dark plotline that keeps readers on their toes. You will never guess where it leads you, until you find yourself straight at the center--it's one of the most intriguing YA novels in recent memory and will keep you in questions for the duration. 

For fans of thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat and lovers of an unreliable narration, The Truth Beneath the Lies is a solid release through and through. From typical coming-of-age qualities, to the tackling of various elements of life's darkness, Kayla and Betsy are unforgettable from the beginning. Their story is shocking, an unexpected twist in the gut, and left me breathless by the time we reach the climax. 

I was not expecting that twist. I was constantly questioning what the connection was between the two girls and when it hit me, I flailed a bit. How she ties Kayla and Betsy together is incredible. Simple and painful and jaw-dropping, I couldn't let go and even now, days later, I'm still thinking about their story. 

As readers, this is our first experience with Amanda Searcy's work, as this is her debut novel, but her prose is one that features the most riveting of qualities. It's pure suspense. She nails the horrible truths of life and growing up. There was this entire vibe to The Truth Beneath the Lies that kept your mind turning, turning, turning and curious. You feel uneasy. You feel suspicious. Trusting no-one, except the narration, and even that makes you hesitant. 

Searcy is definitely an author to look out for. The Truth Beneath the Lies is proof of that.

I really adored the bleakness to the novel, it leans towards dark and mysterious and never lacks in the emotional punches of life. The Truth Beneath the Lies is such an appropriate title, because the layers to Kayla and Betsy are striking. Each time you think you have something figured out, you're left with your jaw hanging open in frustration and awe. When I say that this novel is shocking, I mean it. You are always on the edge. 

Perfectly crafted and surprising in its endgame, this brilliant book is a can't-miss for fans of Megan Abbott, Gillian Flynn and Abigail Haas. The Truth Beneath the Lies is a spellbinding release and the epitome of thrills.

The Truth Beneath the Lies

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