book review - every single lie: rachel vincent

!!  S P O I L E R S   A H E A D  !!

Every Single Lie

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: Nobody in sixteen-year-old Beckett's life seems to be telling the whole story. Her boyfriend Jake keeps hiding texts, which could mean he's cheating on her. Her father lied about losing his job and so much more before his shocking death. And everyone in school seems to be whispering about her and her family behind her back. But none of that compares to the day Beckett finds the body of a newborn baby in a gym bag-Jake's gym bag-on the floor of her high school locker room. As word leaks out, rumors that Beckett's the mother take off like wildfire in a town all too ready to believe the worst of her.

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My thoughts:

Holy freaking Moly

This book… I couldn’t put it down. I bought it a few weeks ago because I read the summary and was hooked. But I didn’t pick it up until today, and despite being a usual audiobook girl who struggles to get through physical copies, I could NOT put it down. I took maybe 3 breaks but I finished it in 12 hours. Actually, more like 7 in terms of reading time lol.

I'll dive into this a bit later, but I wanna point out that contrary to popular mystery novels, this novel only had 5 questions to be answered. In my opinion, it takes a damn talented author to have a mystery with only those few questions.

1.  Who are Lullaby Doe's parents?

2. What is Jake hiding?

3. Who runs the Crimson Cryer?

4. How does the Crimson Cryer get their information?

5. How did the baby get in Jake's bag with Penn's shirt?

I am so glad that we actually *knew* who it was who parented Lullaby Doe. Rather than it being revealed that it was a background character who was mentioned twice, we got to actually see who out of all of the people it was and guess along the way. Not every story has that. And I hate to say it but I was so excited when I guessed correctly (and then realized how horrible that was of me given the circumstances). There was one specific moment in Chapter 15 where I just dropped the book because I knew. And my heart broke for Landry. I had a feeling all along that it would be her. I considered others like Penn, but given that the investigation turned to Penn and Amira halfway through, I knew it couldn't be them. I knew in my heart it was Landry, I will say however, I was NOT expecting Fletcher to be involved. I kinda forgot he even existed.

And secretly? Part of me really hoped it wouldn't be what they thought it was — Beckett's dad's baby. But what a reveal to find out who it really was!

Having had both of my parents struggle with addiction made this book hit closer to home. ESPECIALLY Beckett’s internal battle about choice vs. disease. I’ve seen it both way. I have a dad who actively chooses to get high on as many drugs as possible because he loves it. I have a mom who chose to get sober and fight as hard as she can. So just like Beckett, I’ve always been walking that thin tightrope that is understanding addiction and it’s base of being a choice of a disease. It was nice to see some representation there and see how it can really go both ways.

What I love most about this book is Julie Bergen. She will go down in my personal history of top 10 fictional moms because she is fierce. Yes, she was struggling. Yes, she missed some very very big things - a BARELY teenage pregnancy. But she is a fighter. She is a lover. And her parenting style is comforting. Sure, problematic things happened under her watch but she’s still the mom who always hugs her kids at the end of the day. She is the mom who doesn’t judge her kids and I LOVE that. 

My favorite part of this book is that it isn’t hard to get through. Some books are just so beefy, but this book was like watching an enthralling tv series. I think some people take the term “easy to read” the wrong way and instead make it about quality - or lack of. This book lacks nothing in quality for sure and yet it’s still easy to read. 

Also? Speaking of tv series, can someone please read this book to Netflix? I can literally see it all playing in my head, I wanna see it on my tv!!

I hope one day Landry can come out with the truth and be honest, but I guess she did in a way. Still, no mama should ever have to grieve in silence. 

In my opinion, this book reminds me of two other books. In terms of writing style, it reminds me of The Love Hypothesis. In terms of plot and overall vibe, it reminds me of Ace of Spaces. Two of the best books ever written, making that list expand by one more because this book? It’s on my top faves now. 

I am so glad I read this book. I don’t think I’ll ever stop recommending it. I applaud Miss Rachel Vincent for conveying such an amazing story without having to add to much to the mystery that it ends up leaving plot holes. It was one secret after another, but not so many that you lose track. Not every author can pull that off. She nailed the “hidden in plain sight” style that the mystery element that this story has. No rock left unturned. 

Bravo to her. 

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Should you read it? Hell Yes.

Are there plot-holes? None.

Is it hard to get through? No.

Would I read it again? Absolutely