Count My Lies is one of those books that left me slightly conflicted. For about the first half, I wasn’t entirely convinced. Sophie Stava’s writing style immediately grabbed me - with its quirky, slightly off-centre analogies, and gives the story a unique voice that feels different from the average domestic thriller. I was intrigued by Sloane from the start, a compulsive liar who stumbles into the seemingly perfect world of Jay and Violet Lockhart after a chance encounter in a park. The premise is fantastic, and I loved the uncomfortable tension created by watching Sloane lie her way deeper into their lives.
That said, the second half of part one felt much slower than I expected. There were long stretches where I felt like I was waiting for something to happen, and I found myself pushing through details that, at the time, seemed repetitive (and honestly, kind of lack luster and boring). Looking back, I can appreciate that Stava was carefully laying the groundwork, but while reading, the pacing definitely dragged for me.
Then Part Two happened.
Suddenly it felt like someone hit the NOS button. The story shifted gears, secrets started unraveling, perspectives changed, and I went from casually reading a chapter or two at a time to not being able to put the book down. Every time I thought I had figured out where the story was heading, Stava pulled the rug out from under me. And just when I thought the book was wrapping up, there was a Part Three… and then a Part Four. Each section added another layer to the deception, making me question everything I thought I knew about the characters.
What I enjoyed most was that none of the characters felt entirely innocent or entirely villainous. Everyone is lying, everyone wants something, and everyone’s version of the truth is slightly warped. The book explores identity, reinvention, and the stories we tell ourselves just as much as it explores deception.
Was it a perfect thriller? No. The pacing in the first half stopped this from being a 4- or 5-star read for me. But the twists were clever, the final act was wildly entertaining, and Sophie Stava’s distinctive voice kept me invested even when the plot slowed down. If you’re willing to stick with the slow burn, the payoff is absolutely worth it.
A solid 3-star read that finished much stronger than it started.