Welcome to my review of a book that will mess with your head more than a caffeine-fueled all-nighter—I’m talking about ‘Tell Me Lies’. If you’re into drama, complicated love, and questionable life choices, you’re in for a treat. And if you’ve ever had a crush on someone who was bad for you, grab a snack and keep reading, because this review will lay it all out—both the juicy parts and the parts that made me roll my eyes so hard I almost saw my own brain.
In a nutsheel
Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering is a messy, addictive ride through young adult drama and modern romance. This book sits right in the contemporary fiction and new adult genre, so expect a fair bit of wild nights, sweet talk, and cringe-worthy mistakes.
The story follows Lucy, a college student figuring out her life, and Stephen, the charming disaster everyone says to avoid (but no one does). Themes of obsession, toxic love, self-discovery, and the chaos of growing up pop up at every corner. Expect to feel awkward, nostalgic, and maybe a bit stressed. No spoilers here—I’ll just say, if you like complicated feelings and even more complicated people, this one might suck you in for a few nights.
Character Relationships and the Art of Toxic Romance in ‘Tell Me Lies’
Let me just say, if you love watching people make terrible decisions in love (and who doesn’t?), then ‘Tell Me Lies’ has your ticket. You don’t just read about Lucy and Stephen—you feel like you’re a reluctant friend stuck listening to their drama at 2 am. Lucy is the “maybe he’ll change” type, and Stephen is the charming, well-dressed tornado your mother warned you about. When I read this with my book club, we all agreed: these two have chemistry, but it’s the kind that sets your kitchen on fire.
The book nails the on-again, off-again energy. Every time Lucy starts to get her life together, Stephen shows up with a text, and she’s back in the quicksand. You know that feeling when you’re watching someone flirt with disaster and you want to yell, “No, don’t do it?” That’s every chapter in ‘Tell Me Lies.’ The author, Carola Lovering, really knows how to show the rollercoaster of a toxic romance—jealousy, lies, and all. The relationships are messy, realistic, and sometimes painful to watch. I found myself rooting for Lucy to block Stephen’s number more than once, but then I’d remember all the dumb things I’ve done for love. Hey, no judgment, Lucy.
On the downside, sometimes the drama goes a bit overboard. There were moments when I rolled my eyes and thought, “Okay, we get it, they’re bad for each other!” But honestly, that’s part of the fun. If you’re in the mood for a wild story of obsession and heartbreak, this book brings it.
Now, as everything crashes and burns, let’s see if the pacing and story structure are as wild as the romance—grab your popcorn for the next section!
Pacing and Story Structure in ‘Tell Me Lies’: Does the Book Keep You Turning Pages?
If you’ve ever tried to eat an entire pizza by yourself, you’ll know that sometimes things go too fast and sometimes you need to slow down and breathe. That sort of sums up how I felt reading Tell Me Lies. The book’s timeline jumps back and forth between past and present, which threw me off at first. I had to check the chapter headings to remember where I was, and as someone who once got lost in his own neighborhood, that says a lot. The story burns slow—sometimes real slow. If you’re looking for car chases and fireworks, you’ll want to read something else. But if you want to see characters mess up their lives in ways that make you yell at the book, the slow build really pays off.
Now, don’t get me wrong—the pacing works for all the drama and secrets. I actually found myself turning the pages just to see what dumb thing Stephen would do next. Still, there are a few stretches in the middle where I wondered if the author’s keyboard broke and only wrote words about parties and feelings. But when the timeline lines up near the end, it’s very satisfying. Everything sort of snaps into place, like when you finally find the TV remote after looking for an hour.
Next, I’ll let you know how real the college life in Tell Me Lies feels—so get ready for some messy group projects, cheap pizza, and questionable decisions!
How Tell Me Lies Nails (and Fails) the Realism of College Life
Let me tell you, reading Tell Me Lies took me straight back to my own chaotic college days. The book paints campus life with a broad and mostly accurate brush—late-night hangouts, weird house parties, and all the poor decisions that seem like a great idea after one too many cheap beers. Lucy and her friends bounce from classes to cottages to questionable choices, capturing the freedom (and the mess) of being barely twenty and thinking you know it all.
There’s a lot of truth in how Tell Me Lies portrays the way college friendships shift like Jenga towers in a windstorm. One day, you’re besties. The next, you’re not talking because of some epic drama involving text messages or a guy who definitely isn’t worth it. The book does a nice job showing that not everyone you meet in college is your soulmate—or even particularly nice. Professors are mostly background noise, which, if I’m honest, is exactly how I remember them, unless you count that one semester I accidentally called mine “mom.”
But, at times, the book lays it on a little thick with the wild drama. Not everyone’s college years play out like a soap opera. Trust me, my biggest crisis was once choosing between two-for-one pizza or doing my laundry. Still, the constant buzz of possibility and bad judgment that Tell Me Lies captures is pretty spot-on. Up next, I’ll talk about how this story punches you right in the feelings—get your tissues ready, because emotional impact and relatability are coming!
Emotional Punches and How ‘Tell Me Lies’ Hits Home for Readers
Let me tell you, Tell Me Lies packs quite the emotional wallop. This book slaps you with feelings and doesn’t even say sorry. From the first chapter, I felt myself remembering my own (painful and ridiculous) situationships from my younger years. You know the ones: too many texts, not enough self-respect, and a lot of questionable late-night choices. Yikes.
One thing I really liked was how the book doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable emotions. You get inside Lucy’s head and, honestly, sometimes it’s like looking in a messy mirror. She second-guesses, obsesses, and makes poor decisions—just like most twenty-somethings I know, myself included (no shame!). I laughed at her sometimes, but also winced, because ouch. That’s real.
The relatability isn’t limited to just Lucy, either. The book shows us friends you outgrow, family drama that lingers, and the way someone can haunt your thoughts long after they’re gone. I even found myself wanting to warn Lucy about Stephen, as if she would listen to me… which, let’s be honest, she wouldn’t.
If you want a book that makes you feel seen—warts and all—Tell Me Lies delivers. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it’s cathartic. Usually, it’s both. It’s not always an easy read, but if you like stories that reflect real, messy young adulthood, this one is worth a shot. I say go for it—but maybe keep some tissues and chocolate handy, just in case.
Conclusion
So that’s a wrap for my review of Tell Me Lies! If you like your romance with a strong side of chaos, this book is for you. Carola Lovering hits the nail on the head with her take on messy relationships and those wild years at college. Sure, it can drag a little and sometimes feels a bit too over the top, but that’s kind of what you signed up for, isn’t it? I laughed, cringed, and maybe even texted an ex (not my smartest move). If you want a read that makes you remember your own questionable choices, give this one a go. Thanks for sticking with me—see you in the next review!
