Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena review: What happened to Avery?

Small towns have big secrets. That’s certainly the case in Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena. Is it worth reading when it comes out?

Disclaimer: I got an advanced copy of this book for free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Let it be known that Shari Lapena is on my list of authors to keep an eye out for. Ever since reading The Couple Next Door, I knew she’d be an author to fill my need for suspenseful and twisty thrillers. Everyone Here Is Lying did not disappoint.

The only thing I wanted was more of it at the end. Let’s dive into what to expect for this later release.

What is Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena about?

The book starts with one basic storyline: Nine-year-old Avery Wooler has gone missing.

We actually pick up just before that. William Wooler is having an affair, but that affair ends despite him not wanting it to. When he gets home, he just wants to be alone, but his daughter is there, home early from school.

The next thing we know, Avery is missing. Nobody knows where she’s gone, and it seems like everyone in the small town has secrets. When an anonymous tip comes in to say that she was seen getting into 18-year-old Ryan Blanchard’s car, the police think they have their suspect. Of course, Ryan’s father, Al, thinks that Avery’s father did it.

One thing that is certain is that secrets don’t stay hidden. But what other secrets are in this small town?

Everyone Here Is Lying book review

It’s hard not to give away spoilers for this book. You see, there’s so much going on and it all connects in some sort of way. That anonymous tip is made for a reason, and it turns out that Al may know more of what William has been up to when it comes to activities outside of his marriage.

The only two who don’t seem to be lying in this town are Erin and Michael Wooler. Erin just wants to know what happened to her daughter, but has to deal with her husband’s secrets coming out. Michael is terrified for his sister and shares what he knows, but how much does a 12-year-old actually know?

We get to hear the stories of various people in this small town. Some of them come up as suspects, but is this just to lead us down a rabbit hole? Some of the characters are brought up to show just how people in small towns look at each other. If you’re different, you’re an outcast, and it hurts for some of the kids on the street.

However, it’s important to be careful about who you trust. Everyone learns that the hard way.

What I will say is that while the book is fast-paced (I read it all in a day), it’s just too short. The ending feels rushed, and I would love to know more of what comes next as a certain secret comes out at the very end. Can we have a sequel, please?

Stars: 4.5 out of 5.

Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena is out on Tuesday, July 25.