I just finished reading Count My Lies by Sophie Stava, and oh my god! This book totally had me hooked from page one. It's a thriller, but the type that doesn't involve blood and gore (which isn't my thing anyways). Instead, it's all about lies, secrets, and just how muddled life becomes when you start mixing up the truth with what actually is. I'll give you my thoughts, without too many spoilers, so you can decide if this could be your next read.
Sloane: The Best Liar (But Somehow Charismatic)
Sloane: The Best Liar (But Somehow Charismatic)
The main character, Sloane Caraway, is a compulsive liar. Not the terrible kind who is just plain cruel to people, but the type who embellishes to make her life more thrilling. She calls herself a "sad, little" woman who has a boring existence, so lying prevents her from being in this state of mind. Basically, making other people delulu. Not the kind of person I would ever want to befriend if I met her in real life, but somehow Sophie Stava makes Sloane so endearing.
The novel starts when Sloane, on a lunch break in a park, meets a little girl who is crying because she was stung by a bee. Sloane tells the father, Jay, that she is a nurse (she is not) and helps remove the sting. That little white lie is a big deal when Sloane ends up being the nanny for Jay and his wife Violet, who are rich and live in an expensive brownstone in New York.
What I appreciated about Sloane is that even though she's a compulsive liar, you kind of get the impression that she's just trying to get by and figure out where she fits in. The way the author does her thinking and feeling, you get the impression she's real, albeit someone with a broken moral compass, not some villain out to hurt people. I found myself wanting to root for her even when she made some pretty questionable choices.
Quick-Read That Will Keep You Guessing
Quick-Read That Will Keep You Guessing
One of the things that truly surprised me was how fast the story moved along. The book never slowed down or got boring. There are so many surprises in the plot that I was constantly second-guessing myself about who was lying and who wasn't. I did not want to put it down because I was constantly saying to myself, "Wait, what happened?!"
The book is written in multiple points of view. Not just Sloane's but also Violet's and Jay's. This made it all the more interesting because all of the characters have a secret and a justification to lie. It's like pulling an onion apart and each layer has something new and unexpected.
I'm being honest, some of it made me have to use my imagination a bit because the plot turns were pretty far-fetched. If you're the kind of person who enjoys super realistic thrillers where everything absolutely has to make perfect sense, then this might not be for you. But if you enjoy a book that's more suspense and drama than realistic, then you will likely love it. Which is right up my alley.
Characters That Appear Real
Characters That Appear Real
I liked how the novel illustrates that we all lie once, but for different reasons. Sloane lies because of her troubled past and need to escape her life. Violet, the wealthy wife, likewise has a secret and is not as perfect as she appears to be. Jay, the husband, even has his moment to tell his side, and it has even more turns.
The author did a fantastic job of making all of the characters human. The story and the plot may not have always been realistic, but thankfully the people were. There isn't a single one that is purely evil or purely good, they all have flaws and something you want to solve. That made the book so much better than an easy good vs. evil thriller.
Since the novel is written with portions from each person's perspective, you are able to see how each of them keeps his or her true self hidden beneath a facade. It struck me how we all put on a "perfect" mask to the world but possess dark secrets beneath.
Why You Should (Maybe) to Read This Book
Why You Should (Maybe) to Read This Book
If you prefer a thriller with less gore and more mind games that humans play, then this book is for you. The female protagonist is witty and intelligent, and the novel is full of twists and turns. And it is not too gory or violent, so if gore or graphic horror is not your thing, then this is a good choice.
A lot of reviews that I read online mentioned that the audiobook was great. The narrators were good at bringing the characters to life and making the book even better. I am not much of an audiobook person, but if you are, you should definitely try it out.
One caution, though: once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down! I read it within a few hours because I just couldn't let go. So make sure you have some free time ahead of time, or you'll be missing all your work like I did!
The one thing I wasn't fully sold on was some of the plot twists. But in all honesty, that didn't stop me from adoring the book. There are times when you need a book that's just fun and exciting, and Count My Lies delivered that in spades.
Final Thoughts
Sophie Stava's Count My Lies is an excellent first-time thriller that will have you glued to the book. It's a tale of lies, trust, and how the truth doesn't always appear to be as it seems. The characters are multifaceted and human, the action is quick, and the surprises are breathtaking. If you like novels that make you question who to believe, this is worth the read. I rated it 4 stars because it's hardly perfect, but it's a wild ride that I loved. I'm already thinking about what Sophie Stava will do next!
Ah!! Thanks for saving my time. Although my ex showed me trailer of this when we were together. 🤣
I am still in the comic manga reading phase. I struggle with the manga when it gets to wordy. Now a book full of words, maybe someday, not today for sure though. 😅
Haha, fair enough! 🤣
I never knew there was a movie!
And hey, comics and manga totally count as reading. You’re just getting your stories with extra visuals. 📚✨
Maybe one day you’ll cross over to the “book full of words” side… I'll save you a seat!
Hahaha, I meant my time with her. There isn't a movie as far as I know.
As for me, getting into reading full-fledged novels and books.
Omggggg!!! I dint see that coming 😂🫢 Since you are laughing about it now, Id love to know the story someday (idk how though...write a post maybe 🙈)
Sure, maybe someday.
I will put a little spice and sweetness to the story to balance out the bitterness. LOL!!.
I have a question for you: how do you manage to read so many books and then review? I mean, if I watch a movie, I would stay in that movie for days to come. And I am talking about the effect of a 3-hour-long movie. How do you stay motivated to finish it?
I'll be waiting with bated breath 🫣
To answer your question: It takes me about 2-3 days to finish a book (sometimes 1 day, sometimes 1 week. I'm very much of a mood reader). And I usually jot down my thoughts as I read. Then once done I compile all of it and make it make sense!
I'm used to writing reviews actually 😅 I have plenty written on Goodreads as well.
And mostly because these days I'm free. Got a lot of time to read. Once I'll get busy with my studies, the reading will go down drastically 😭
I enjoyed your review!
Sloane being a liar, that’s a kind of book Ive never read before.
Hmm, I’ll check it out. Thanks for sharingg
Yes! It's definitely an interesting concept.
Hopefully you like it ❤️
Nice review! The story seems compelling and it's always very engaging where flawed characters seem real and relatable.
Thanks for talking about this book 😁
Oh! And I like the descriptive "tags" you had on the cover image. Really helps people to decide wether or not they're interested in the book.
Thank you so much! 😄 I’m glad the tags were helpful. I figured they’d make it easier for people to know right away if the book is their cup of tea. And yes, flawed characters are always my favorite to read about, they just feel so real. 💛
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