Review: Please Don't Lie (Crystal River, #1) by Christina Baker Kline & Anne Burt

    

Print Length: 259 pages

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (September 1, 2025)

From Goodreads.com: 

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My Rating: DNF @ 47%

I made it to about the halfway point before finally throwing in the towel. Honestly, I just couldn’t justify wasting any more time on something that dragged endlessly and was so painfully predictable.

The plot, if there even was one, was buried beneath a mountain of red flags. The main character didn’t help matters either. Hayley was not only annoying, but also incredibly unlikeable. It didn't help that she made one bad decision after another, usually at the expense of everyone around her. Watching her stumble through the story was less entertaining and more frustrating.

And then there were the constant self-help and motivational quotes sprinkled throughout. If I wanted a self-help book, I’d pick one up. Instead, I found myself slogging through page after page of hollow affirmations that did nothing but suck the life out of the atmosphere. Worse, it didn’t even feel like they were helping the character, more like she was twisting them into excuses to justify her actions (or inaction, as the case may be).

By the time I closed the book, I felt more irritated than anything else. This one just wasn’t worth the effort for me.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.