Reviews

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering

Only show reviews with written explanations

tealeavesandroses's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

taylor_broek's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 ⭐️ didn’t really get the whole point of the Macey Peterson through-line, to show that Stephan was the next level of fucked up sociopath than Lucy & her therapist/everyone thought? That part was a little too dark for me and I didn’t feel like it was needed.

The story is about how he’s fucked up and a manipulative narcissist but that people aren’t just all good/bad and it’s not that Lucy doesn’t deserve more but she’s done some fucked up shit too and it’s not as bad as long as you’re aware?? The eye opening realization and subsequent “I love yous” doesn’t make it less toxic but it’s a better relationship for both of them than what he had with Diana or Alice IMO.

Bottom line is that this book it’s relatable in the worst way for a lot of people I think. It touches on a lot of ‘young’ adult issues. The push pull of their toxic relationship and the effects it had on everything around them, I just can’t believe that it was Stephan who ended it. I never saw that coming. I think a lot of people have the desire to self sabotage but just at different levels, Stephen and Lucy being on the extreme end. Life is hard and NYC seems to make it a lot tougher. I also liked how it showed the importance of communication and that you don’t always get your way with manipulation. If Lucy would have just talked to her mom, if she would have been honest with her friends her life would have been so different. It’s easier to assume, keep up easy bad habits, vicious cycles, and “wait for death” as Stephan would say. I was pretty happy with the ending although it felt a bit forced, hopefully she can stay apathetic for ever, turns out her therapist was right, they always come back.

jessica_burns's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

gabrielarias's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 ⭐️

the first half was slow but once the second half came in, it got so much better! i didnt know if lucy and stephen were going to end up together at the end but overall i really enjoyed how the book wrapped up. i got a bit emotional at the end

gepersico's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

tupelomagnolia's review against another edition

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1.0

DNF at 9 pages. Cover was cute because it gave Valentines Vibes™️ but i have no room in my personal life for cheap, cliché, and tired anti fat bias from our so called protagonist, or the thin person she was written by. returning to b&n tomorrow.