Tell Me No Lies

September 1, 2022
Estranged sisters uncover the mystery behind a star football player's disappearance. Analytical Nora and social butterfly Sophie alternate narrating chapters--with Nora giving a "confession" regarding the events leading to the disappearance of Sophie's boyfriend, Garrett, a rich, popular football player; and Sophie investigating what happened after he was gone. It all started when Garrett cheated by copying one of Nora's essays--and his word was given equal credibility to Nora's due to his social status (the narrator sisters are fully cognizant of the various privileges they have). Nora is at first determined to protect her Ivy League ambitions by finding definitive proof of his cheating, but instead she finds a mystery that is much bigger and more dangerous. The manipulated timeline--alternating the discoveries made before and after Garrett's disappearance to paint a cohesive picture--is expertly paced and managed, balancing plot tensions with each sister's emotional arc. Though the romantic relationships are rife with attraction and suspicion, female friendships are presented positively as a source of strength: The most important relationship is that of the sisters despite their mostly having separate scenes. Aside from the complexity of the sisters' relationship, their distinct personalities make them entertaining foils. Refreshingly, each sibling's strengths are presented as equally important. The exciting climax is satisfying, answering readers' questions. Main characters are White; diversity is plentiful among secondary characters. A twisty, impeccable mystery with dynamite heroes. (Thriller. 13-18)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 3, 2022
Distant sisters Nora and Sophie Linden collaborate to find Sophie’s disappeared boyfriend in this gripping mystery by Contos (Out of the Fire). After the school administration accuses academically inclined Nora of plagiarizing an essay submitted by Sophie’s popular boyfriend, Garrett Packard, Nora confronts him and demands he confess to cheating off her. Garrett can’t risk his reputation, and worries what Sophie will think of him if he comes clean, so he and Nora strike a deal: Garrett will write a new essay if Nora swears she won’t tell Sophie that he cheated. Sophie nevertheless becomes mistrustful of Garrett and Nora when she sees them leaving a party together. The sisters’ relationship becomes even more strained after Garrett suddenly goes missing and Nora becomes the prime suspect—until Sophie finds a disturbing note in her backpack, seemingly from Garrett, spurring the duo into a begrudging truce to investigate his disappearance. While occasionally disorienting, the sisters’ dual perspectives—Nora’s reads as a confessional, detailing the events leading up to Garrett’s disappearance, while Sophie’s portrays her investigation into the mysterious message—provide intrigue and urgency that culminate in a gratifying resolution. Most characters are white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Chelsea Eberly, Greenhouse Literary.

October 15, 2022
Grades 8-12 Two sisters, Nora and Sophie, used to be inseparable, but lately Nora has been avoiding Sophie and refusing to answer any of her questions. Sophie's boyfriend, Garrett, has gone missing, and the rumors are starting to spread. Some think he ran away; others think he was murdered. There are also those who think Sophie may have had something to do with it, and while Sophie claims innocence, she has been keeping a secret from the police. Before Garrett disappeared, Sophie spotted Nora with him at a party--Nora, the straight-A student who would rather study than go to a party. Things start taking a sinister turn when Sophie receives an ominous text from Garrett's phone. Sophie doesn't know what all this means, but she intends to find out, even if it's the last thing she does. Contos slowly unravels this story in alternating points of view between the two sisters, and she keeps readers guessing all the way to the unpredictable end of this haunting thriller.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2022

Gr 9 Up-Sophie Linden's boyfriend, Garrett Packard, is missing, and Sophie saw him with her sister, Nora, just before he disappeared. But Sophie didn't tell the police that, and now her guilt, along with her anger at both Garrett and Nora, is propelling her into investigating what really happened to Garrett. Nothing makes Nora angrier than cheating, so when Garrett steals her paper, getting both of them in trouble, Nora is determined to find out why, and prove her innocence (she can't let anything jeopardize her chances of getting into Brown). Her investigation, however, reveals much more than she expected and sets off a string of dangerous events that will change the lives of many. This novel is told in alternating chapters from the Linden sisters' points of view. Nora is confessing to the events that led up to Garrett's disappearance, and Sophie's chapters are present tense, showing the aftermath of his disappearance. This choice highlights the sisters' tenuous relationship, and the way in which someone's actions are interpreted is often different from the intention. While the mystery behind Garrett's disappearance is compelling and makes for an exciting, fast read, the high point of this novel is the exploration of Sophie and Nora's relationships. The Linden sisters are white, and Nora reads as bisexual. Secondary characters are diverse. VERDICT Not your average thriller, this is an exploration of sisterly bonds, and rediscovering yourself.-Mariah Smitala

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.