Tell Them You Lied

This is a fast-paced thriller about a toxic female friendship. When Anna and Willow meet in art school, they grow close immediately. Willow is moody, mysterious, cool, and chic… while Anna is more earnest and hardworking. Anna grows to worship Willow, as Willow takes her under her wing, opening her world up to new opportunities, art’s great secrets, money, and excitement. Five years later, the young women are living together in Brooklyn, Anna is waiting tables, and Willow is a gallery girl. Without enough money to buy art supplies, Anna barely survives off her tips, while Willow is immensely privileged and seems to get whatever she wants.. When Anna feels like Willow is pulling away, she does the unthinkable. She stages a mugging for Willow, with the intent that Willow will come running back to her. But the mugging isn’t on any day. It’s on September 11, 2001. As the city reels from the day’s events, Willow does not come home. And Anna is left to wonder if her prank is to blame for Willow’s disappearance. The book alternates between art school and life in New York. There is a trigger for sexual abuse. It’s very dark and twisty. I liked but did not love this book, and I can’t say I found it to be enjoyable to read!