Review: The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen


Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by HarperCollins Publishers.

Sarina Bowen does romance, and she does it well; so when I found out that she was venturing outside the proverbial box, there was a mix of a lot of anticipation with a hint of apprehension on my end. In my years of reading fiction--romance, in particular--I've seen a number of authors try their hand at a different genre and not have the same impact. But in Bowen's case, that anticipation was well rewarded and any apprehension quickly fizzled away within the first couple of pages of the prologue, thanks to her fantastic storytelling in her new standalone, The Five Year Lie. After all, experience has taught me that I can trust in this author's writing because she hasn't disappointed me yet.

The Five Year Lie is the story of Ariel Cafferty, a woman who receives a text from the only man she's ever loved on what should have been just another Monday. The thing is, it's been five years since Ariel was informed that Drew Miller was dead. One text message leads to her questioning everything connected to what happened to Drew and beyond. But the deeper Ariel tries to find answers, the more precarious her situation. She doesn't have only herself to worry about. What is Ariel willing to risk, and what will the truth, especially about Drew's disappearance, cost her--and her son--when all is said and done?

I went into this book thinking I would be able to read a few chapters just to temporarily satiate my curiosity, but I should have known better than to start a Sarina Bowen novel when I have errands pre-scheduled. I had to shuffle things around because I was just like female main character Ariel, needing answers to the increasing number of questions and trying to distinguish what were the lies and what were the long buried truths. Bowen delivered a good balance of romance and suspense in this domestic thriller, and with twists and turns that had left me with bated breath, I was a more than willing hostage by this gripping story and its characters. The truth is, The Five Year Lie is a five-starred read.

Release Date: 07 May 2024

Date Read: 01 May 2024

Learn more about Sarina Bowen.

Purchase The Five Year Lie on HarperCollins Publishers | Amazon | Apple Books | B&N | Google Play | Kobo.

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