In the privileged world of Manhattan’s elite Dearborn Academy, three mothers—Abby, Kara, and Hollis—form an unlikely bond. Until a student is murdered on a class trip their teenagers attended, and every parent has something to hide.
Artistic single mom Abby and career-challenged Kara have always felt like outsiders among Dearborn’s rich, powerful families. When glamorous, enigmatic Hollis arrives with her son and a picture-perfect life, they take her under their wing—despite nagging doubts about her past.
Their friendship only deepens after tragedy strikes on a school retreat. But as a determined detective edges closer to the truth of what happened in the woods that night, cracks begin to show—in their stories, their alliances, and their trust.
Each woman is keeping secrets. And so are their children.
Now, with everything at stake, Abby, Kara, and Hollis must decide how far they’ll go to protect their families—even if it means turning on one another.
Because everyone has a reason to lie.
And someone will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.
Reasons to Lie is a slow-burn, character-driven domestic crime thriller that will appeal to anyone who loves complex female relationships, juicy suburban drama, and an intricate murder mystery—all set against the backdrop of an elite Manhattan private school. The book also has some really compelling themes, including the lengths mothers will go to to protect their children and the impulsive (sometimes selfish) nature of privileged teens—and their tense generational divide that adds suspense and drama!
The story follows three mothers—Abby, Kara, and Hollis—whose lives become deeply entangled after a junior class trip ends in tragedy and a student connected to their children at Dearborn Academy is found dead. As the investigation unfolds, long-buried secrets begin to surface—about the teens, about the women’s pasts, and about the fragile foundations of their friendships. When Abby begins a relationship with a new teacher at the academy, it places her even closer to the center of the school’s growing scandal, raising questions about trust and judgment.
The real highlight of the book is the shifting POVs between the three mothers—Abby, Kara, and Hollis. Each is relatable and engaging, allowing readers to delve into their fears, flaws, and motivations—and the secrets they’re hiding from each other. Abby is navigating single motherhood while grappling with long-buried questions about her daughter’s father; Kara is dealing with a reckless, troubled daughter who could wreck the family; and Hollis, the polished newcomer, is trapped in an unhealthy marriage with a ruthless husband and family secrets that could destroy her. The story also has a large cast of secondary characters—including numerous Dearborn students who are intertwined in the murder mystery—it’s important to pay attention early on to names, connections, and loyalties in order to grasp who’s telling the truth and who is hiding something, because in this book, almost everyone is!
This is a slow-burn thriller that rewards patience, with most of the big reveals and dramatic twists coming in the final 30 percent as story threads start to converge. One of the most engaging aspects is the juicy, relatable dialogue between the mothers as they confide in each other about their marriages and children—and become defensive and emotionally charged when their kids are questioned by the police and give conflicting statements. Fans of suburban thrillers will likely enjoy this one the most, but the murder mystery itself is intricate enough to keep even seasoned thriller readers guessing. There’s also a romance (triangle) subplot that gets quite heated, though the resolution doesn’t quite match the intensity of the build-up. By the end, the emotional arcs of all three women are emphasized, but some of the quick/tidy resolutions will require readers to suspend their disbelief!
Overall, Reasons to Lie is a binge-worthy domestic thriller that stands out for its exploration of friendships under pressure, elite school secrets, and moral questions about motherhood and loyalty. If that sounds intriguing, it’s definitely worth checking out—and the audiobook is a real treat, expertly narrated by three talented performers who bring Abby, Kara, and Hollis vividly to life!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Reasons to Lie is performed by a talented trio of narrators: Abigail Reno, Carly Robins, and Alex Picard, each bringing distinct vocal skills and emotional depth to create a truly immersive listening experience!
Abigail Reno brings Abby to life with a dynamic performance that highlights both her strength—as a protective mother—and her vulnerability, as she struggles to prevent buried secrets from destroying her reputation and relationships. Her chemistry with Elliot, a teacher at the elite academy, feels immediate and compelling, and Abby’s excitement about opening up to someone again comes across as entirely authentic. Reno also convincingly conveys Abby’s conflicting emotions when an ex unexpectedly reappears, using well-timed pauses and expressive delivery to make the tension resonate.
Carly Robins portrays Kara with a warm, intelligent voice layered with just the right amount of uncertainty, perfectly capturing an ambitious, self-assured woman who is struggling with her rebellious and deceitful teenage daughter, Olivia. For Olivia, Robins uses a youthful, moody, and mistrustful tone, making the dramatic interactions between mother and daughter gripping and unpredictable. Robins’ delivery keeps listeners constantly on edge, eager to know what Olivia is hiding.
In contrast, Alex Picard gives Hollis a polished, controlled voice with an undercurrent of anxiety that becomes especially pronounced during her inner dialogue, as she reveals her secrets and her deep concerns for her son. As the story progresses, Picard skillfully escalates the tension in Hollis’s voice to nearly a breaking point, perfectly reflecting the mounting troubles that Hollis and her son Daniel face.
This book has plenty of juicy, suburban-mom dialogue, especially between Abby and Kara, and their long-standing friendship and deep connection shine through. Both Reno and Robins add subtle inflections to convey the closeness between the women, even as tensions and drama with their children escalate. All three narrators do an excellent job giving distinct voices to the large cast of secondary characters, with the male voices in particular sounding convincing—a feat that’s not always easy in multi-narrator audiobooks. They also transition seamlessly between POVs, making the chapter shifts feel smooth and keeping listeners fully engaged, even during some of the slower midsection moments of the story. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy domestic thrillers with multiple POVs, intricate mysteries, and multi-narrator productions with nuanced, compelling performances.
Narrator Performance
The audiobook of Reasons to Lie is performed by a talented trio of narrators: Abigail Reno, Carly Robins, and Alex Picard, each bringing distinct vocal skills and emotional depth to create a truly immersive listening experience!
Abigail Reno brings Abby to life with a dynamic performance that highlights both her strength—as a protective mother—and her vulnerability, as she struggles to prevent buried secrets from destroying her reputation and relationships. Her chemistry with Elliot, a teacher at the elite academy, feels immediate and compelling, and Abby’s excitement about opening up to someone again comes across as entirely authentic. Reno also convincingly conveys Abby’s conflicting emotions when an ex unexpectedly reappears, using well-timed pauses and expressive delivery to make the tension resonate.
Carly Robins portrays Kara with a warm, intelligent voice layered with just the right amount of uncertainty, perfectly capturing an ambitious, self-assured woman who is struggling with her rebellious and deceitful teenage daughter, Olivia. For Olivia, Robins uses a youthful, moody, and mistrustful tone, making the dramatic interactions between mother and daughter gripping and unpredictable. Robins’ delivery keeps listeners constantly on edge, eager to know what Olivia is hiding.
In contrast, Alex Picard gives Hollis a polished, controlled voice with an undercurrent of anxiety that becomes especially pronounced during her inner dialogue, as she reveals her secrets and her deep concerns for her son. As the story progresses, Picard skillfully escalates the tension in Hollis’s voice to nearly a breaking point, perfectly reflecting the mounting troubles that Hollis and her son Daniel face.
This book has plenty of juicy, suburban-mom dialogue, especially between Abby and Kara, and their long-standing friendship and deep connection shine through. Both Reno and Robins add subtle inflections to convey the closeness between the women, even as tensions and drama with their children escalate. All three narrators do an excellent job giving distinct voices to the large cast of secondary characters, with the male voices in particular sounding convincing—a feat that’s not always easy in multi-narrator audiobooks. They also transition seamlessly between POVs, making the chapter shifts feel smooth and keeping listeners fully engaged, even during some of the slower midsection moments of the story. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy domestic thrillers with multiple POVs, intricate mysteries, and multi-narrator productions with nuanced, compelling performances.
The audiobook of Reasons to Lie is performed by a talented trio of narrators: Abigail Reno, Carly Robins, and Alex Picard, each bringing distinct vocal skills and emotional depth to create a truly immersive listening experience!
Abigail Reno brings Abby to life with a dynamic performance that highlights both her strength—as a protective mother—and her vulnerability, as she struggles to prevent buried secrets from destroying her reputation and relationships. Her chemistry with Elliot, a teacher at the elite academy, feels immediate and compelling, and Abby’s excitement about opening up to someone again comes across as entirely authentic. Reno also convincingly conveys Abby’s conflicting emotions when an ex unexpectedly reappears, using well-timed pauses and expressive delivery to make the tension resonate.
Carly Robins portrays Kara with a warm, intelligent voice layered with just the right amount of uncertainty, perfectly capturing an ambitious, self-assured woman who is struggling with her rebellious and deceitful teenage daughter, Olivia. For Olivia, Robins uses a youthful, moody, and mistrustful tone, making the dramatic interactions between mother and daughter gripping and unpredictable. Robins’ delivery keeps listeners constantly on edge, eager to know what Olivia is hiding.
In contrast, Alex Picard gives Hollis a polished, controlled voice with an undercurrent of anxiety that becomes especially pronounced during her inner dialogue, as she reveals her secrets and her deep concerns for her son. As the story progresses, Picard skillfully escalates the tension in Hollis’s voice to nearly a breaking point, perfectly reflecting the mounting troubles that Hollis and her son Daniel face.
This book has plenty of juicy, suburban-mom dialogue, especially between Abby and Kara, and their long-standing friendship and deep connection shine through. Both Reno and Robins add subtle inflections to convey the closeness between the women, even as tensions and drama with their children escalate. All three narrators do an excellent job giving distinct voices to the large cast of secondary characters, with the male voices in particular sounding convincing—a feat that’s not always easy in multi-narrator audiobooks. They also transition seamlessly between POVs, making the chapter shifts feel smooth and keeping listeners fully engaged, even during some of the slower midsection moments of the story. This audiobook is perfect for listeners who enjoy domestic thrillers with multiple POVs, intricate mysteries, and multi-narrator productions with nuanced, compelling performances.
