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Two Truths and a Lie
A group of teens are trapped in an old motel with a murderer in this chilling YA mystery by New York Times bestselling author April Henry.
Nell has always wanted to be an actor, but doubts her ability. As a member of her school’s theater program, she prefers working backstage. On the way to a contest, an unexpected blizzard strands her acting troupe in a creepy motel. Soon they meet a group of strangers from another high school—including the mysterious and handsome Knox, who insists they play the game Two Truths and a Lie. When it’s Nell’s turn, she draws a slip of paper inked in unfamiliar handwriting:
I like to watch people die.
I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve killed.
Suddenly a night of harmless fun turns into a matter of life and death. As guests go missing, it becomes clear that a murderer is hiding in their midst ready to strike again. In a room full of liars and performers, the truth is never quite what it seems. Nell is going to have to act like her life depends on it—because it does.
Nell has always wanted to be an actor, but doubts her ability. As a member of her school’s theater program, she prefers working backstage. On the way to a contest, an unexpected blizzard strands her acting troupe in a creepy motel. Soon they meet a group of strangers from another high school—including the mysterious and handsome Knox, who insists they play the game Two Truths and a Lie. When it’s Nell’s turn, she draws a slip of paper inked in unfamiliar handwriting:
I like to watch people die.
I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve killed.
Suddenly a night of harmless fun turns into a matter of life and death. As guests go missing, it becomes clear that a murderer is hiding in their midst ready to strike again. In a room full of liars and performers, the truth is never quite what it seems. Nell is going to have to act like her life depends on it—because it does.
275 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2022
151 people are currently reading
7,916 people want to read
About the author
April Henry
32books3,271followersI write mysteries and thrillers. I live in Portland, Oregon with my family.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 27 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller lists, gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into seven languages, been named to state reading lists, won the Anthony award and won the Oregon Book Award.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 27 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller lists, gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into seven languages, been named to state reading lists, won the Anthony award and won the Oregon Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 526 reviews
February 20, 2022
Bunch of theater and so called geeky kids stranded during blizzard in a haunted hotel where two unsolved brutal murders have taken place and probably one of them is a killer who plays mind games with them during their � Two Truths- A lie� game!
Firstly this one is quick, gripping, riveting read!
Secondly, the first half of the book seemed like full of cliches: combination of everything what horror movies consist: claustrophobic vibes of being trapped in a place reminds of us Overlook Hotel (even the room number is closer Shining’s number 237) without bathing naked scary lady and Grady twins ( and Jack Torrence chases you with an axe), references of Christie novels including Mousetrap, Ouija board help the characters connect with spirits, a haunted murder story, bad boy reminds us of Edward Cullen flirting with our main shy, smart, handy, blonde character Nell and bad girl Maeve at the same time.
I have to admit: I was planning to give this book three stars when I’m reading the first half which looked like teen parody but after the twist which was well played, the second half picked up the pace and give us more logical, action packed chapters.
I hated most of the characters, especially second group of pretentious kids who think they are way too much cool, insist they’re preparing for state robotic competitions. At the second half team Adam and Nell are most likable and tougher kids than the other characters who are mostly self absorbed, irritating ones!
The conclusion of the story which also is a tribute to another Agatha Christie book was satisfying enough!
It’s fast, interesting, claustrophobic popcorn read which made me round up 3.5 stars to 4!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Firstly this one is quick, gripping, riveting read!
Secondly, the first half of the book seemed like full of cliches: combination of everything what horror movies consist: claustrophobic vibes of being trapped in a place reminds of us Overlook Hotel (even the room number is closer Shining’s number 237) without bathing naked scary lady and Grady twins ( and Jack Torrence chases you with an axe), references of Christie novels including Mousetrap, Ouija board help the characters connect with spirits, a haunted murder story, bad boy reminds us of Edward Cullen flirting with our main shy, smart, handy, blonde character Nell and bad girl Maeve at the same time.
I have to admit: I was planning to give this book three stars when I’m reading the first half which looked like teen parody but after the twist which was well played, the second half picked up the pace and give us more logical, action packed chapters.
I hated most of the characters, especially second group of pretentious kids who think they are way too much cool, insist they’re preparing for state robotic competitions. At the second half team Adam and Nell are most likable and tougher kids than the other characters who are mostly self absorbed, irritating ones!
The conclusion of the story which also is a tribute to another Agatha Christie book was satisfying enough!
It’s fast, interesting, claustrophobic popcorn read which made me round up 3.5 stars to 4!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
May 20, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
One of my reading challenges for this month, June 2023, was to give an author a second chance. After careful thought, I decided to give April Henry my second try.
I've only read from Henry once before, her 2019-release The Lonely Dead. I gave it 2-stars and upon completion, really had no desire to read more. It wasn't a great experience.
Henry writes a lot of books and since The Lonely Dead was released, she's had quite a few that do sound interesting to me. This book is one of them.
I am so glad that I picked this up. It's not perfect, but it was so quick, fun and easy. I had a great time with it!
In this story we follow Nell, a high school girl who is traveling with her acting troupe to a competition when they get stuck in a blizzard. Seeking shelter from the storm, their troupe coach, and only chaperone, finds an aging motel for them to stay at.
She warns the kids to be good and then she retires to her room. The driving was stressful and she needs rest. How much trouble can they get in anyway?
As the kids settle in and begin to explore the motel, they discover they aren't the only travelers caught there. Amongst the other guests are a robotics team from another school.
The teens gather together in the common room and decide to play a game to pass the time: two truths and lie. The perfect way to get to know one another.
As the game escalates, it seems their night of harmless fun has turned into something much more sinister, even deadly.
It appears a murderer hides in their midst. Will they all be able to make it through the night alive?
I enjoyed Nell a lot as a main character. Also, I listened to the audiobook and the narration was fantastic. The narrator, Christine Lakin, was Nell to me.
This had a lot of tropes I enjoy. Examples being, the team getting stranded at a creepy motel due to inclement weather; I always love that sort of set-up. The strangers they meet being a little odd and possibly dangerous. The motel having a dark and brutal history and the gaming element.
I felt the whole package was incredibly intriguing.
There were some directions it took with the plot that I wasn't as crazy about, but I feel like overall, it is an engaging and entertaining YA Thriller.
I walk away a happy girl. I'm so glad that I gave this a shot and had such an enjoyable experience with it. I am going to be comfortable now sifting through Henry's backlist and picking up more of her work.
This is a perfect example of why you should always give authors another chance. Especially if they have only had one book that didn't work for you. We all deserve a second chance, don't we?
One of my reading challenges for this month, June 2023, was to give an author a second chance. After careful thought, I decided to give April Henry my second try.
I've only read from Henry once before, her 2019-release The Lonely Dead. I gave it 2-stars and upon completion, really had no desire to read more. It wasn't a great experience.
Henry writes a lot of books and since The Lonely Dead was released, she's had quite a few that do sound interesting to me. This book is one of them.
I am so glad that I picked this up. It's not perfect, but it was so quick, fun and easy. I had a great time with it!
In this story we follow Nell, a high school girl who is traveling with her acting troupe to a competition when they get stuck in a blizzard. Seeking shelter from the storm, their troupe coach, and only chaperone, finds an aging motel for them to stay at.
She warns the kids to be good and then she retires to her room. The driving was stressful and she needs rest. How much trouble can they get in anyway?
As the kids settle in and begin to explore the motel, they discover they aren't the only travelers caught there. Amongst the other guests are a robotics team from another school.
The teens gather together in the common room and decide to play a game to pass the time: two truths and lie. The perfect way to get to know one another.
As the game escalates, it seems their night of harmless fun has turned into something much more sinister, even deadly.
It appears a murderer hides in their midst. Will they all be able to make it through the night alive?
I enjoyed Nell a lot as a main character. Also, I listened to the audiobook and the narration was fantastic. The narrator, Christine Lakin, was Nell to me.
This had a lot of tropes I enjoy. Examples being, the team getting stranded at a creepy motel due to inclement weather; I always love that sort of set-up. The strangers they meet being a little odd and possibly dangerous. The motel having a dark and brutal history and the gaming element.
I felt the whole package was incredibly intriguing.
There were some directions it took with the plot that I wasn't as crazy about, but I feel like overall, it is an engaging and entertaining YA Thriller.
I walk away a happy girl. I'm so glad that I gave this a shot and had such an enjoyable experience with it. I am going to be comfortable now sifting through Henry's backlist and picking up more of her work.
This is a perfect example of why you should always give authors another chance. Especially if they have only had one book that didn't work for you. We all deserve a second chance, don't we?
May 16, 2022
Hic etiam sumus. Hic etiam occissor est.
If you have had any Latin instruction, you might be able to translate the above phrase: We are still here. And so is the killer. How's that for a message from the beyond when you are stranded in a blizzard? This new mystery from April Henry had many a nod to Agatha Christie. Ten high school kids, their chaperones, and a handful of other guests spend the nigh in a rundown hotel out in the boonies. All have been stranded by a midwestern blizzard. There was an unsolved double homicide committed in the very same hotel twenty years ago. While I am not a fan of ouija boards (and neither is one of my favorite characters), Henry does use said board as an opening to a new layer of chills and thrills. Points to our author for including a likable character who has biblical knowledge and is faithful to his beliefs.
Thanks to Christy Ottaviano Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
If you have had any Latin instruction, you might be able to translate the above phrase: We are still here. And so is the killer. How's that for a message from the beyond when you are stranded in a blizzard? This new mystery from April Henry had many a nod to Agatha Christie. Ten high school kids, their chaperones, and a handful of other guests spend the nigh in a rundown hotel out in the boonies. All have been stranded by a midwestern blizzard. There was an unsolved double homicide committed in the very same hotel twenty years ago. While I am not a fan of ouija boards (and neither is one of my favorite characters), Henry does use said board as an opening to a new layer of chills and thrills. Points to our author for including a likable character who has biblical knowledge and is faithful to his beliefs.
Thanks to Christy Ottaviano Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2022
This was a fun YA thriller! I love books with a winter setting. It was creepy and atmospheric. The writing style wasn’t my favorite but I enjoyed the premise. It also dragged for awhile, but once the action picked up I was hooked!
A group of kids on their way to a theater contest decide to spend the night at a creepy hotel because of an impending blizzard. This motel is old school with metal keys to open the door. Nell and her group of friends meet another stranded group of kids from another school. There is no cell service at the motel so Knox suggests they all play a game, two truths and a lie.
Nell draws a paper with unrecognizable handwriting. It says “I like to watch people die�. “I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve killed�. To make matters worse, the group discovers the horrendous history of the motel. One by one the guests begin disappearing and they realize that a murderer is on the loose.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
A group of kids on their way to a theater contest decide to spend the night at a creepy hotel because of an impending blizzard. This motel is old school with metal keys to open the door. Nell and her group of friends meet another stranded group of kids from another school. There is no cell service at the motel so Knox suggests they all play a game, two truths and a lie.
Nell draws a paper with unrecognizable handwriting. It says “I like to watch people die�. “I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve killed�. To make matters worse, the group discovers the horrendous history of the motel. One by one the guests begin disappearing and they realize that a murderer is on the loose.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 13, 2022
Review coming soon.
September 25, 2022
This young adult mystery was a fun ride. I really liked the several nods to Agatha Christie’s stories. I thought the story was pretty predictable but it was fun. It was in many ways a typical locked room mystery. Nell and her friends are on the way to state acting championships when the snow storm turns into a blizzard and they are forced to pull into a creepy hotel. Another group of teens joins and says they were on their way to a robotics competition. They are all stuck in the hotel and one of the robotics players suggests they play two truths and a lie but with a twist they write their answers onto a slip of paper and guess both who wrote it and which is the lie. But when one of the slips has a very creepy message things start to take a very dark turn.
May 31, 2022
While this is a quick read, there is just too much happening. The teens felt wildly immature, and so did the adults, if I'm being honest. I felt they weren't really present during much of the story except for when it was convenient for them to speak. The pacing was not consistent, which caused the story to drag in places where it shouldn't have. Don't get me started on the end of the story, how many huge topics were casually thrown in, and it was all rushed. I wanted a good thriller when I started this but sadly that is not what I ended up reading.
April 6, 2022
Two truths and a lie was a pretty typical locked room thriller . The characters were pretty interesting and it was easy to figure out who the killer was, but it still was an entertaining book.
February 7, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I had a hard time putting this one down. I love an isolated murder mystery, and I've always had an obsession with Agatha Christie. This one was a compelling story. The short chapters made it so easy to just "one more chapter" this one late into the night, and the setup was riveting.
Unfortunately for me, the ending fell a little flat. It was kind of predictable, as I guessed the solution really early. And while I know this one was YA, I never really felt like the stakes got high enough.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5, and I'll round up for the amazing start and the way it held my attention enough to read it so quickly in two sittings. I also really liked the main character, so that bumped it up too.
I had a hard time putting this one down. I love an isolated murder mystery, and I've always had an obsession with Agatha Christie. This one was a compelling story. The short chapters made it so easy to just "one more chapter" this one late into the night, and the setup was riveting.
Unfortunately for me, the ending fell a little flat. It was kind of predictable, as I guessed the solution really early. And while I know this one was YA, I never really felt like the stakes got high enough.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5, and I'll round up for the amazing start and the way it held my attention enough to read it so quickly in two sittings. I also really liked the main character, so that bumped it up too.
June 12, 2022
Hmm. I was entertained by this book, and I finished it in less than a day. It wasn't anything spectacular, but I could tell the many characters apart, which is always a good thing. I loved the setting of a creepy, isolated motel, and I would definitely visit. When the reveal came around, though, I was a bit confused. Because what was the point of the Ouija board if GIVE ME ANSWERS.
2.5 stars. Might have been four if not for the unexplained things.
2.5 stars. Might have been four if not for the unexplained things.
August 23, 2022
This was so bad 😂 I’m giving it 1.5 stars (close to 2, which to me means “it was okay�) just because it was a fun read and a suuuuuuper quick one. Otherwise I definitely would have given this one star. It was all over the place. No single character felt like a real person at any point in time. Some of the “twists� just made the story feel cheap and stupid. There were some incredibly insensitive things said by multiple characters throughout the story that just really rubbed me the wrong way. The weird love triangle thing with Knox was incredibly stupid and made 0 sense and also completely disappeared at some point and was never resolved. Overall the stakes just weren’t nearly as high as I expected them to be. And the ending was incredibly jarring and felt rushed.
August 5, 2022
Yikes.
I feel like I just read a bad first draft of an episode for Are You Afraid of the Dark? I mean, I loved that show, but it was mega cheese. Just like this.
The characters are flimsy, no one is likable, the plot is paper thin, the killer is predictable and stupid, and there wasn't a single thing I liked in here.
Didn't like it at all. The end.
I feel like I just read a bad first draft of an episode for Are You Afraid of the Dark? I mean, I loved that show, but it was mega cheese. Just like this.
The characters are flimsy, no one is likable, the plot is paper thin, the killer is predictable and stupid, and there wasn't a single thing I liked in here.
Didn't like it at all. The end.
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 11, 2022This is NOT A YA thriller- it reads closer to middle grade.
July 25, 2024
The story kept my attention, but there were too many characters to keep them all straight. I did like the audiobook narrator.
July 17, 2022
Two Truths and a Lie
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 5/24/22
Author: April Henry
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Pages: 275
ŷ Rating: 3.36
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Little Brown Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: A group of strangers were stranded at a creepy hotel and decided to play the game Two Truths and a Lie. When it’s Nell’s turn, she draws a slip of paper inked in unfamiliar creepy handwriting. Suddenly a night of harmless fun turns into a matter of life and death. As guests go missing, it becomes clear that a murderer is hiding in their midst ready to strike again. In a room full of liars and performers, the truth is never quite what it seems. Nell is going to have to act like her life depends on it—because it does.
My Thoughts: I have really been in love with YA books lately, mystery, thriller, and romance. This mystery takes some inspiration from other famous mysteries and legendary mystery writers. The story is narrated by Nell, in her perspective. The first half to the book was a bit slower, but necessary to build characters and set the scene. The second half of the book flew by. The characters were well developed for the most part, some were superficial, while others had layers of depth, they were mysterious, creative, and kept me engaged. Most of the supporting characters were immature and self-absorbed. However, Nell and Adam were not only relatable, but also likable, especially starting towards the second third of the book. Henry’s writing is complex, more so towards the second half of the book, creative, and she does a fantastic job of setting the scene, I mean a creepy abandoned hotel?? Love this setting. However, the con, other than the first half being slow, is the end, there was too much dropped in at once and overall felt rushed. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend to anyone looking for a fresh YA thriller.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 5/24/22
Author: April Henry
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Pages: 275
ŷ Rating: 3.36
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Little Brown Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: A group of strangers were stranded at a creepy hotel and decided to play the game Two Truths and a Lie. When it’s Nell’s turn, she draws a slip of paper inked in unfamiliar creepy handwriting. Suddenly a night of harmless fun turns into a matter of life and death. As guests go missing, it becomes clear that a murderer is hiding in their midst ready to strike again. In a room full of liars and performers, the truth is never quite what it seems. Nell is going to have to act like her life depends on it—because it does.
My Thoughts: I have really been in love with YA books lately, mystery, thriller, and romance. This mystery takes some inspiration from other famous mysteries and legendary mystery writers. The story is narrated by Nell, in her perspective. The first half to the book was a bit slower, but necessary to build characters and set the scene. The second half of the book flew by. The characters were well developed for the most part, some were superficial, while others had layers of depth, they were mysterious, creative, and kept me engaged. Most of the supporting characters were immature and self-absorbed. However, Nell and Adam were not only relatable, but also likable, especially starting towards the second third of the book. Henry’s writing is complex, more so towards the second half of the book, creative, and she does a fantastic job of setting the scene, I mean a creepy abandoned hotel?? Love this setting. However, the con, other than the first half being slow, is the end, there was too much dropped in at once and overall felt rushed. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend to anyone looking for a fresh YA thriller.
October 25, 2024
Sehr gute idee aber irgendwie langweilig ausgeführt
March 20, 2022
Nell and her high school acting troupe are on their way to a competition when a snow storm forces them to stay the night at a run-down hotel. When another group of students shows up, they decide to have some fun in the common room with a game of Two Truths and a Lie. The slip of paper Nell draws turns out to be a murder confession, and the night suddenly turns grim as guests begin to go missing. Trapped by the snow, Nell and her friends are going to have to figure out who is lying in a group where everyone is good at it, and everyone has something to hide. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Little, Brown. Trigger warnings: character death, suicide, human trafficking, fire, injury, blood, racism, slurs, threats, underage drinking.
I'm fond of YA thrillers, so I'm happy to read variations of the same stories over and over again, but the truth is that most of them are about average, and this one doesn't really stand out. I guessed the killer and the first major plot twist, and while there are a couple small surprises near the end, it's all a bit obvious. Regardless, I had fun following the characters as they tried to unravel what was going on, although I didn't much care for the attempts at blending the paranormal with human monsters. There's some unexplained weirdness with a Ouija board early on, and then the novel seems to forget that it ever tried to invoke the supernatural at all.
None of the characters particularly stand out, and even Nell is an almost blank slate as a narrator. It's interesting that half of them are actors though, who are always a particularly dramatic bunch, and they have their own little culture and language of the stage. I didn't enjoy Nell's cocky love interest, Knox, or the jealous girlhate between her and Maeve over him. Ladies, I promise you, any guy who encourages that doesn't deserve you. I liked her quieter friendship with Adam more, and I wished they had more page-time together earlier in the book.
I think the hotel is meant to be creepy, but I found it really cool with its abandoned Tiki bar and various other charming details you'd never find in a chain. There are some attempts to distract from the real killer when pretty much every guest is some variation of Terrible Person, but in my opinion, there was only ever one option. The ending is a bit bonkers, with stakes that seem quite a bit higher than they would be in real life, but it's fun for fans of the genre.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
I'm fond of YA thrillers, so I'm happy to read variations of the same stories over and over again, but the truth is that most of them are about average, and this one doesn't really stand out. I guessed the killer and the first major plot twist, and while there are a couple small surprises near the end, it's all a bit obvious. Regardless, I had fun following the characters as they tried to unravel what was going on, although I didn't much care for the attempts at blending the paranormal with human monsters. There's some unexplained weirdness with a Ouija board early on, and then the novel seems to forget that it ever tried to invoke the supernatural at all.
None of the characters particularly stand out, and even Nell is an almost blank slate as a narrator. It's interesting that half of them are actors though, who are always a particularly dramatic bunch, and they have their own little culture and language of the stage. I didn't enjoy Nell's cocky love interest, Knox, or the jealous girlhate between her and Maeve over him. Ladies, I promise you, any guy who encourages that doesn't deserve you. I liked her quieter friendship with Adam more, and I wished they had more page-time together earlier in the book.
I think the hotel is meant to be creepy, but I found it really cool with its abandoned Tiki bar and various other charming details you'd never find in a chain. There are some attempts to distract from the real killer when pretty much every guest is some variation of Terrible Person, but in my opinion, there was only ever one option. The ending is a bit bonkers, with stakes that seem quite a bit higher than they would be in real life, but it's fun for fans of the genre.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
February 4, 2022
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE by April Henry in exchange for my honest review.***
Trapped in a blizzard at a run down hotel, a group of high school thespians encounter a group of Robotic competitors from another school and settle in for a game of TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE.
Filled with a diverse cast of characters, I devoured April Henry’s latest ya thriller in one sitting during an ice storm, the perfect backdrop for the story. I liked that TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE included a group of friends and a group of strangers, which added to the mystery of who narrator Nell could trust as well as opened the possibility of new flirtations.
I guessed one bad guy right away, but there were enough other twists that I still had some surprises.
Mystery and thriller lovers will enjoy TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE.
Trapped in a blizzard at a run down hotel, a group of high school thespians encounter a group of Robotic competitors from another school and settle in for a game of TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE.
Filled with a diverse cast of characters, I devoured April Henry’s latest ya thriller in one sitting during an ice storm, the perfect backdrop for the story. I liked that TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE included a group of friends and a group of strangers, which added to the mystery of who narrator Nell could trust as well as opened the possibility of new flirtations.
I guessed one bad guy right away, but there were enough other twists that I still had some surprises.
Mystery and thriller lovers will enjoy TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE.
June 1, 2022
I didn't know anything about this book before I read it, except that it was a mystery/thriller. Some of my friends were reading it so I decided to jump in and see how it went. It was fun going in blind and I liked the setting of an old hotel and wondering which of the guests or employees was the killer.
There was a twist I didn't see coming at all, so big praise to the author for that! I also appreciated that the main character Nell didn't fall for the aloof jerk like I thought she would. I get sick of girls falling for guys that treat them poorly. The ending was a bit rushed and could have played out a bit better. It didn't make complete sense to me, but I did like the ramp up in tension.
The audiobook narrator did a pretty good job and this is a quick mystery story.
There was a twist I didn't see coming at all, so big praise to the author for that! I also appreciated that the main character Nell didn't fall for the aloof jerk like I thought she would. I get sick of girls falling for guys that treat them poorly. The ending was a bit rushed and could have played out a bit better. It didn't make complete sense to me, but I did like the ramp up in tension.
The audiobook narrator did a pretty good job and this is a quick mystery story.
September 20, 2024
� 3.25 � ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
╰� ”look where you want to go.�
this was definitely interesting!
it was quick and suspenseful and i wanted to see what happened but i also felt like the pacing was a little funky and i couldn’t really connect to any of the characters
the villain monologue and the fourth-wall-break of the last chapter and the random romance were all just a little cliche and i feel like this book felt like a caricature of other thrillers
i enjoyed the theater aspect and as a theater kid it was super fun to have the central characters all be theater kids!! 🤭
but yeah the first half was really good but then it was kind of anticlimactic after that. still a fun, fast read but not my favorite mystery!!
� ‧₊˚ 🍓 � �
╰� ”look where you want to go.�
this was definitely interesting!
it was quick and suspenseful and i wanted to see what happened but i also felt like the pacing was a little funky and i couldn’t really connect to any of the characters
the villain monologue and the fourth-wall-break of the last chapter and the random romance were all just a little cliche and i feel like this book felt like a caricature of other thrillers
i enjoyed the theater aspect and as a theater kid it was super fun to have the central characters all be theater kids!! 🤭
but yeah the first half was really good but then it was kind of anticlimactic after that. still a fun, fast read but not my favorite mystery!!
� ‧₊˚ 🍓 � �
July 23, 2022
A fast-paced and readable teen thriller that leans into classic horror/thriller tropes and reads like a stage play. Fittingly the cast of characters is largely a high school theater troupe, including a naive heroine, the alluring but enigmatic love interest, a drama queen (or three), the confused jock, and a femme fatale type. The typically unsettling location for the story (with a dark past, naturally) also features the strange handyman, the worried motel owner, and the other guests who grow more and more sinister as the mysteries start to pile up.
In a nice update from the classic versions, the cast is diverse in race, religious tradition, and sexuality, and the handyman's mental health and disability is treated with kindness rather than fear.
A good read for those who enjoy theater and scary situations that are not all they seem to be.
-Callen
In a nice update from the classic versions, the cast is diverse in race, religious tradition, and sexuality, and the handyman's mental health and disability is treated with kindness rather than fear.
A good read for those who enjoy theater and scary situations that are not all they seem to be.
-Callen
December 1, 2022
This book was so confusing but it was a really quick read. I got halfway through and FLEW through it, I really like how April Henry writes. The characters were a little confusing and kinda hard to keep track of because there were so many of them, and this was definitely not the most deep as far as books go but very entertaining
January 16, 2023
This was a little hard to get into � if I hadn’t read and enjoyed a book by this author before that probably would have DNFed it around 50 pages in. But it does get exciting about 100 pages in, and then the rest is truly a wild ride (SO much happens, arguably way too much) that no one could predict.
April 19, 2025
3.5 starssss
I read this all yesterday.......
I honestly..... did.....not.... guess that ending.. like WHATTTT
I read this all yesterday.......
I honestly..... did.....not.... guess that ending.. like WHATTTT
February 22, 2022
In my years as a reader I’ve read quite a few April Henry books, especially when I was younger and when I heard there was a new book coming out by her I knew I had to read it. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and dove straight into it.
Two Truth and a Lie gives the reader exactly what it promises: a good YA Mystery-Thriller. It was well executed and I always thought April Henry’s prose was very accessible and I enjoyed reading it again.
If you have read some of my reviews you’ll know that I LOVE whodunits. There are so many great books out there with this trope and it never seems to bore me. And so it’s no wonder I liked it in this book as well. There aren’t many big reveals or twists, at least I thought it was very obvious where the story was going BUT still it was a very enjoyable read.
I liked most of the characters, Nell especially, she didn’t bore me or get on my nerves, even though I didn’t really understand her penchant for Knox. The characters were a little flat and could have been a little more flashe out for me though.
Two Truth and a Lie gives the reader exactly what it promises: a good YA Mystery-Thriller. It was well executed and I always thought April Henry’s prose was very accessible and I enjoyed reading it again.
If you have read some of my reviews you’ll know that I LOVE whodunits. There are so many great books out there with this trope and it never seems to bore me. And so it’s no wonder I liked it in this book as well. There aren’t many big reveals or twists, at least I thought it was very obvious where the story was going BUT still it was a very enjoyable read.
I liked most of the characters, Nell especially, she didn’t bore me or get on my nerves, even though I didn’t really understand her penchant for Knox. The characters were a little flat and could have been a little more flashe out for me though.
September 26, 2024
Y’all, I had a hard time with rating this book. Because I liked it but I also hated it at the same time. It’s not terrible, its actually very well wrote and stays interesting and engaging from start to finish, but the bad outweighs the good and definitely tanks what could have been such a great book.
I enjoyed the first half or so of the book a lot. It starts out with a wild blizzard that traps Nell and her fellow drama club friends/classmates in a hotel in the middle of nowhere. They are accompanied by a slew of characters, from another group of high schoolers, truck drivers, business men, and a handyman. When Nell and her friends discover alongside with the other group of high schoolers, that a double murder occurred at the hotel some decades ago, a fun night of two truths and a lie turns scary to the group. When two kids go missing and one ends up dead, the teens can’t decide if it’s a ghost, a haunted hotel, or a madman out to get them. Trapped inside a hotel with strangers, no electricity, and no phones, with a crazy snowstorm keeping them from getting help or help getting to them, the teens start to fear for their lives and fear each other. So the first half is kind of good right, like it sets up a story, it has twists and turns, it’s spooky, it’s fast paced and interesting.
Then the second half of the book starts and it gets blah. Like there’s racism, sexual assaults brought up, blackmail about outing a gay character, immigrants in the back of a truck, and kind of really terrible treatment of the handyman character known as Travis. Travis is suffering from a very bad head injury and isn’t fully functioning in the head, but this book pretty much makes fun of him and writes down on his character making him seem weird and creepy and stupid for having a TBI head injury. I know it’s just a book but it was kind of like a low blow to read. So much stuff is thrown in that none of it makes sense to the story and it all just adds to make it a dumb mess. Up until about half way through, I was enjoying this book, but like I said this all pretty much ruins it.
I’ve read a bunch of other books from the author and this was definitely in my opinion the worst one I’ve read from her so far. It had so much potential, but definitely falls short of being as good as it could have been. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a book to read.
I enjoyed the first half or so of the book a lot. It starts out with a wild blizzard that traps Nell and her fellow drama club friends/classmates in a hotel in the middle of nowhere. They are accompanied by a slew of characters, from another group of high schoolers, truck drivers, business men, and a handyman. When Nell and her friends discover alongside with the other group of high schoolers, that a double murder occurred at the hotel some decades ago, a fun night of two truths and a lie turns scary to the group. When two kids go missing and one ends up dead, the teens can’t decide if it’s a ghost, a haunted hotel, or a madman out to get them. Trapped inside a hotel with strangers, no electricity, and no phones, with a crazy snowstorm keeping them from getting help or help getting to them, the teens start to fear for their lives and fear each other. So the first half is kind of good right, like it sets up a story, it has twists and turns, it’s spooky, it’s fast paced and interesting.
Then the second half of the book starts and it gets blah. Like there’s racism, sexual assaults brought up, blackmail about outing a gay character, immigrants in the back of a truck, and kind of really terrible treatment of the handyman character known as Travis. Travis is suffering from a very bad head injury and isn’t fully functioning in the head, but this book pretty much makes fun of him and writes down on his character making him seem weird and creepy and stupid for having a TBI head injury. I know it’s just a book but it was kind of like a low blow to read. So much stuff is thrown in that none of it makes sense to the story and it all just adds to make it a dumb mess. Up until about half way through, I was enjoying this book, but like I said this all pretty much ruins it.
I’ve read a bunch of other books from the author and this was definitely in my opinion the worst one I’ve read from her so far. It had so much potential, but definitely falls short of being as good as it could have been. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a book to read.
June 11, 2022
Yet again April Henry writes an amazing book. All I have to say for this book was it kept me on my feet the whole time and it definitely scared me multiple times but I think this has be one of my favorite books from her now it’s was just so good, I definitely was not expecting the book to be like this.
October 11, 2022
I wanted to like this, but I feel like this book pulled a bait and switch on me. And since I figured out most of the plot twists super early on, it made the rest of the read boring and disappointing.
June 20, 2022
A fast-paced thriller that plays on some of our worst fears, deftly playing on our assumptions before veering in another direction.
This would, I’m pretty sure, have to go down as the school trip from hell though the worst elements of it stem from what is anticipated.
A group of theatre students are travelling to a competition when a heavy snow storm derails their plans. They have to seek refuge in a rundown motel, which has clearly seen better days. Another school group and a couple of extras are also forced into this environment, and our stage is set for a tense experience.
Naturally, the hotel was the site of a gruesome murder. As they learn the details of the story from the creepy caretaker, we can’t help but feel something bad is on its way.
An innocent game of Two Truths and a Lie quickly exacerbates the unease. A note claiming to enjoy watching people die and stating someone will be killed scares them…but not as much as finding the body of one of the group the next morning.
All I will say is that nothing is what it first appears. Henry manipulates her characters (and us) with delight as she forces them into a desperate bid for survival. I was more than ready to find out who was behind this, and while it might not exactly take you by surprise it was good fun to watch events unfold.
This would, I’m pretty sure, have to go down as the school trip from hell though the worst elements of it stem from what is anticipated.
A group of theatre students are travelling to a competition when a heavy snow storm derails their plans. They have to seek refuge in a rundown motel, which has clearly seen better days. Another school group and a couple of extras are also forced into this environment, and our stage is set for a tense experience.
Naturally, the hotel was the site of a gruesome murder. As they learn the details of the story from the creepy caretaker, we can’t help but feel something bad is on its way.
An innocent game of Two Truths and a Lie quickly exacerbates the unease. A note claiming to enjoy watching people die and stating someone will be killed scares them…but not as much as finding the body of one of the group the next morning.
All I will say is that nothing is what it first appears. Henry manipulates her characters (and us) with delight as she forces them into a desperate bid for survival. I was more than ready to find out who was behind this, and while it might not exactly take you by surprise it was good fun to watch events unfold.
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