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Rachel Hanes's Reviews > First Lie Wins
First Lie Wins
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by
Rachel Hanes's review
bookshelves: book-of-the-month, books-i-own, reese-witherspoon-book-club-pick
Jan 22, 2024
bookshelves: book-of-the-month, books-i-own, reese-witherspoon-book-club-pick
Here I am again on outlier island 🏝️…
I went into this book with extremely high expectations after seeing all the raving reviews, with the majority of them being five stars. But once again, I am left completely underwhelmed and wondering what I missed? I think this book is way over hyped, and people are falling into the hype unfortunately.
In fact, for the first time ever- I’m at a loss for words as I’m not even sure how to review this book. I mean what did I just read? Was this a secret agent/ undercover spy novel? 🕵️ Was this a woman running from her past? Was this about falling in love while finding yourself? I’m so confused?! All I know is that what started off as a strong book with a few great twists in the beginning, it soon went downhill with some over the top moments that were so unbelievable and unbearable to read. If this was a television show, I would have changed the channel with a quickness.
And what I found absolutely implausible about this story was the fact that no matter what job assignment “Evie” was assigned to, her friend Devon was able to assist her. No problems ever came about there. That was so outlandish, I had to roll my eyes at every section that he occurred. Just wondering if anyone else found that odd? 🤔
Please read other’s reviews before deciding whether or not to read this book, as I seem to be quite alone in my opinion. Also keep in mind that this is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for January, 2024 (which is very popular). I also chose this book for my BOTM pick for January, 2024.
(2.5 stars- rounding down)
I went into this book with extremely high expectations after seeing all the raving reviews, with the majority of them being five stars. But once again, I am left completely underwhelmed and wondering what I missed? I think this book is way over hyped, and people are falling into the hype unfortunately.
In fact, for the first time ever- I’m at a loss for words as I’m not even sure how to review this book. I mean what did I just read? Was this a secret agent/ undercover spy novel? 🕵️ Was this a woman running from her past? Was this about falling in love while finding yourself? I’m so confused?! All I know is that what started off as a strong book with a few great twists in the beginning, it soon went downhill with some over the top moments that were so unbelievable and unbearable to read. If this was a television show, I would have changed the channel with a quickness.
And what I found absolutely implausible about this story was the fact that no matter what job assignment “Evie” was assigned to, her friend Devon was able to assist her. No problems ever came about there. That was so outlandish, I had to roll my eyes at every section that he occurred. Just wondering if anyone else found that odd? 🤔
Please read other’s reviews before deciding whether or not to read this book, as I seem to be quite alone in my opinion. Also keep in mind that this is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for January, 2024 (which is very popular). I also chose this book for my BOTM pick for January, 2024.
(2.5 stars- rounding down)
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Reading Progress
November 9, 2023
– Shelved
November 9, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 1, 2023
– Shelved
(Kindle Edition)
December 1, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
(Kindle Edition)
January 19, 2024
–
Started Reading
January 22, 2024
– Shelved as:
book-of-the-month
January 22, 2024
– Shelved as:
books-i-own
January 22, 2024
– Shelved as:
reese-witherspoon-book-club-pick
January 22, 2024
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 332 (332 new)
message 1:
by
Teres
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Jan 20, 2024 07:39PM
Oooh, look forward to your review, Rachel. Just got notified my hold is available at the library. Excited!
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Teres wrote: "Oooh, look forward to your review, Rachel. Just got notified my hold is available at the library. Excited!"Thanks Teres! I hope you enjoy this one too! :)
I enjoyed this one. It’s one I still thought about the next day. It did get a little slow in the middle but stick with it because it picks up again in the final few chapters. I’d definitely read a book from this author again.
Jade wrote: "I enjoyed this one. It’s one I still thought about the next day. It did get a little slow in the middle but stick with it because it picks up again in the final few chapters. I’d definitely read a ..."Thank you for this tip Jade! I have found that it’s getting a little slow in the middle, but I am looking forward to the pick up in the final chapters! :)
I have seen so many mixed reviews for this one BUT most of my friends on here have given it three stars or less. Terrific review, Rachel. I hope your next book is much better. 🤗💕
Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "I have seen so many mixed reviews for this one BUT most of my friends on here have given it three stars or less. Terrific review, Rachel. I hope your next book is much better. 🤗💕"Thank you, Shelley! 💗 I’ve seen so many high reviews for this book, I thought there was something wrong with me. I’m hoping my next read is better too! 🤗
No book is for everyone! Hope you love your next! ❤️
Exactly how I felt about this one! While I do believe some people genuinely loved it, I also get the feeling it gets high ratings because it's a Reese's book club pick....grrrr....Anyway, better luck with your next one and a great and honest review!
Watch it get turned into a movie like ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ 🤣🤣🤣I agree with a lot that you said! Love an honest review, Rachel!
I think your outlier island may be more crowded than you think. It’s a 3 for me, also.
Nikki wrote: "Watch it get turned into a movie like ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ 🤣🤣🤣I agree with a lot that you said! Love an honest review, Rachel!"
Nikki, I thought that one was overhyped too and not that great either! As for the movie/series...I couldn't finish it and I love Jennifer Garner!
Sorry this didn't work for you, Rachel! I guess I was better prepared fore the OTT stuff because all contemporary thrillers are OTT. Anyway, I hope you have much better luck with your next read. Appreciate your honest opinion! 💚
Jayme wrote: "No book is for everyone! Hope you love your next! ❤️"Thank you, Jayme! 💗
Tina wrote: "Exactly how I felt about this one! While I do believe some people genuinely loved it, I also get the feeling it gets high ratings because it's a Reese's book club pick....grrrr....Anyway, better lu..."Thank you, Tina! Glad we agree on this one! And like you, I believe this book is getting high ratings because it’s a Reese book club pick. I hope my/our next reads are better too! :)
Nikki wrote: "Watch it get turned into a movie like ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ 🤣🤣🤣I agree with a lot that you said! Love an honest review, Rachel!"
Nikki, it’s so funny that you said that because I kept thinking about “The Last Thing He Told Me”, while reading this book. That book was terrible and everyone loved it (like this book), and then they made it into a series!! Lol! 😂 I’m sure we’ll be seeing “First Lie Wins” on the big screen soon 🤦🏻♀️😬
Wendy wrote: "I think your outlier island may be more crowded than you think. It’s a 3 for me, also."Wendy, so glad we are on the island together!! I’m actually being generous with my rating, because this book is more like a two star for me (in fact, I may go back and change it).
Rosh (is busy; will catch up soon!) wrote: "Sorry this didn't work for you, Rachel! I guess I was better prepared fore the OTT stuff because all contemporary thrillers are OTT. Anyway, I hope you have much better luck with your next read. Ap..."Thank you, Rosh! 💗 I usually enjoy OTT in my books, as I like to be entertained- but this book just had me rolling my eyes. I really tried to like this book, but it just didn’t work out for me. I’m glad that you enjoyed it though. :)
Great review Rachel, we can’t love everything. Hope your next is a winner 💜
I’m sorry this didn’t work for you. I hope your next book is more satisfying. This one is on my TBRL. I might be joining you on Outlier Island 🏝️ I appreciate your honesty!! I will adjust my expectations accordingly. Fantastic review, Rachel! 💜
I agree with your review. I thought it was okay. I didn't understand all the 5 star reviews, though.
Maureen wrote: "Great review Rachel, we can’t love everything. Hope your next is a winner 💜"Thank you so much, Maureen! 💗
Tara ( I am trying to catch up. I am recovering❤️🩹 at home.) wrote: "I’m sorry this didn’t work for you. I hope your next book is more satisfying. This one is on my TBRL. I might be joining you on Outlier Island 🏝️ I appreciate your honesty!! I will adjust my expect..."Thank you, Tara! 💗 Hopefully this book will work out better for you than it did for me. I honestly do not understand all the five star reviews for this book. I hope your next reads are satisfying as well! :)
I don't think you are an outlier Rachel! So many varying reviews. Excellent review Rachel.
Jessica's wrote: "I agree with your review. I thought it was okay. I didn't understand all the 5 star reviews, though."Thank you, Jessica! Like you, I don’t understand all the five star reviews… I think the book is hyped up because it is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.
Barbara wrote: "I don't think you are an outlier Rachel! So many varying reviews. Excellent review Rachel."Thank you, Barbara!! It seems so many of my GR friends have loved this book, so I did feel like an outlier. However, I am seeing that many people have agreed with me. :)
Lol well I admire you for reading the whole book and I think 3 stars is generous for this book. I totally share your view that this book is hyped up too much. 🤨
I am excited to read this one but I am always so leery about books that everybody seems to love because those are the ones I usually don't like!!
I really enjoyed it, but we can't love them all! Hope your next is a winner Rachel! 🤞🥰
A fair review, Rachel! Tina also said in her review that the book takes a nosedive, so you're not the one one who feels this way. :)
Sorry to hear that it didn't work for you . Hope the next read is better.I am so done with the domestic psychological thriller filling the market that this one felt different than the crowd.
Dusk wrote: "Lol well I admire you for reading the whole book and I think 3 stars is generous for this book. I totally share your view that this book is hyped up too much. 🤨"Dusk, 3 stars is very generous for this book and I think I’m going to change it to 2 stars. I should have put this book in the DNF pile.
Emily wrote: "I am excited to read this one but I am always so leery about books that everybody seems to love because those are the ones I usually don't like!!"Emily, hopefully you enjoy this book more than I did. Everybody seems to love it, but I sure didn’t…
Holly wrote: "I really enjoyed it, but we can't love them all! Hope your next is a winner Rachel! 🤞🥰"Holly, I’m glad that you enjoyed this book! It seems that many of my GR friends have. I hope my next book is a winner too! 🤗💗
Melissa wrote: "A fair review, Rachel! Tina also said in her review that the book takes a nosedive, so you're not the one one who feels this way. :)"Thank you, Melissa! This book certainly took a nosedive- I can tell you that!! I’m glad I am not the only one who feels this way.
Neha wrote: "Sorry to hear that it didn't work for you . Hope the next read is better.I am so done with the domestic psychological thriller filling the market that this one felt different than the crowd."
Neha, I’m glad that you enjoyed this book better than I did. I was really hoping to enjoy it more since it was different, but it just didn’t work out that way…
Is it nice and warm on your island though? I’ll be back to read your review after I’ve read it.
Zayna wrote: "Same thoughts!"Thanks, Zayna!
Heather Adores Books wrote: "Is it nice and warm on your island though? I’ll be back to read your review after I’ve read it."Lol! Actually it’s cold, snowy, and rainy where I’m at. However, I’ll be curious to see your thoughts on this one Heather! :)
Sorry it was disappointing. Great review, Rachel!
Debra wrote: "Sorry it was disappointing. Great review, Rachel!"Thank you, Debra!
SO many great points in this review, Rachel! 💞I also agree that in some respects it didn't seem like it knew what it wanted to be...and that was so frustrating! Good news is the drinks are free and always flowing on Outlier Island...so glad to have your company, friend! 🌞🤗
Wonderful review, Rachel💗!!!!!!! I'm so sorry this book fell flat for you, onto the next and better!!!!!!!
Rachel - I DNF’d this at 21%. It was too far fetched for me even at that point. Thanks for your review! It solidifies my decision
Catherine wrote: "SO many great points in this review, Rachel! 💞I also agree that in some respects it didn't seem like it knew what it wanted to be...and that was so frustrating! Good news is the drinks are free and..."Thank you so much, Catherine! 💗 So glad we have each other’s company on outlier island, and the drinks are free and always flowing! 🤗
Cara wrote: "Wonderful review, Rachel💗!!!!!!! I'm so sorry this book fell flat for you, onto the next and better!!!!!!!"Thank you, Cara!!! 💗 Not every book is a winner unfortunately. Onto better reads for both of us!!! 🤗
Lindsay L wrote: "Rachel - I DNF’d this at 21%. It was too far fetched for me even at that point. Thanks for your review! It solidifies my decision"Lindsay, you are welcome!! You are definitely smarter than I am- because I kept hoping and waiting for this book to improve, but it never did!
Oh no! Sorry this one didn’t work for you Rachel! Excellent review!💗
Kaceey wrote: "Oh no! Sorry this one didn’t work for you Rachel! Excellent review!💗"Thank you, Kaceey! 💗 And that’s okay, not every book is for everyone unfortunately.
Nothing wrong with being an outlier, Rachel..If you ever read Backman's. "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry" its theme is 'it's GOOD to be different" an ideology I've embraced since childhood. At the end of the day, writing is art and as a result, individual tastes vary..after all, variety IS the spice of life!
