Sultry and evocative, Lie to Me transports you straight back to the glamorous heyday of European rally driving — and with a sizzling slow-burn psychological plot to boot. This debut author is one to watch!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review honestly.

Lie to Me by Olivia Gavoyannis is basically what happens when you mix a postcard-perfect Greek island, 1960s glamour, and a whole bunch of secrets you really shouldn’t poke at… but can’t help yourself.

We’ve got Jean, 18, shy, kind of bored with her life, until she meets Vivienne Fenwick — a woman who literally races cars, has a Parisian haircut, and oozes the kind of “I have a yacht and my life is perfect” energy that makes you suspicious. Jean ends up working for her, and before you know it, she’s in the middle of champagne-soaked parties, late-night drives, and way too much drama between Vivienne and her husband, Robert.

On the surface, it’s all sun, sea, and fast cars. Underneath? The vibes get darker the longer you stay. Think The Talented Mr. Ripley meets The Great Gatsby, but everyone’s sweating in linen. The writing nails that slow-burn, “something’s not right here” tension while still making you want to live on the island (just… maybe in a different neighborhood). It’s moody, it’s twisty, and the characters are the perfect mix of glamorous and a little bit unhinged.

If you like summer reads with bite, morally messy people, and stories where you’re not sure who’s lying to who — this one’s worth packing in your beach bag.

Really good book which I will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

If one step forward three steps back were a book, this would be it. Jean is working for a woman named Vivienne, a racing driver, as her navigator. Throughout the story, Jean gets to know Vivienne and her husband Robert ona more intimate level as they spend every day together. As the days go by, Jean slowly becomes more aware of what is really going on around her.

This book was definitely worth the read and I enjoyed it. I thought the way it wrapped up was truly genius! The characters were all very interesting in their own ways and kept you enthralled in what was going on in their journey.

The story takes place in 1960s Greece and follows Jean, a young woman who takes a job for Vivienne, a rally racer. As Vivienne pulls her into her world Jean quickly learns that she's in the middle of a game between husband and wife. This is a beautifully written story however I thought it was a bit slow and not what I was expecting as a thriller.

A psychological thriller which is more on the literary fiction side with developed characters and a slow burn plot.

Set in 1960’s Greece in the world of rally driving, it’s a perfect beach read.

Eighteen year old Jean is travelling around Europe with glamorous Vivienne and her husband, acting as Vivienne’s navigator. Vivienne draws her into something that Jean finds it hard to get out of and Jean finds herself wondering how she can get away.

Overall an entertaining read.

This was a quick and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.

This book was a total surprise. I enjoyed it very much. I encourage people to give it a chance. I look forward to reaching more from this author.

I did not finish this book. I didn’t not like the style of writing and could not get on board with it. Gave up at 30%

Lie to Me is a seductive, sun-soaked suspense thriller set in 1960s Greece. The story centers on Jean, a young and impressionable woman working in a Stables, whose life takes a sharp turn when she’s swept up into the glamorous, dangerous world of rally racing.

Her guide into this new world? Well, that would be Vivienne – a stunning, enigmatic driver, with a rakish husband, and a tendency to collect people like trophies.

When Vivienne recruits Jean as her new navigator, it seems like a dream come true but under the Greek sun those dreams curdle quickly. The more entrenched Jean becomes in this group of daredevil drivers and their entourage, the more blurred the lines between mentorship and manipulation, attraction and control, become between Vivienne and Jean.

As the summer days become more stifling, the racing becomes more dangerous, and so does the ouzo-drenched seduction of Jean in the cat and mouse game being played, on and off track, by both husband and wife.

The plotting is so sharp it never takes a wrong turn. The narrative feels as precise as a navigator’s rally map filled with misdirection's, hairpin twists, and a relentless pace towards an unforgettable finish line.

As a fan of historic motorsport, especially from this era, I was blown away by Olivia’s attention to detail. Her respect for the sport, and for the pioneering women racers of the time radiates off the page. The story pulses with the thrill of high-speed chases on cliffside roads, the roar of the engines, and the sting of female betrayal.

Even without the psychological thriller elements in the book I would have been enthralled following these reckless, daredevil women, carving up Greece in their cars. But the layered tension, slow burn seduction, and the creeping sense of danger both on and off track elevate this to my new favourite destination thriller.

If you’re a fan of The Talented Mr Ripley (as I am – forever a favourite) and loved the glamour-meets-chaos vibe of Daisy Jones & The Six, this book absolutely belongs in your beach bag, or on your kindle summer reading TBR.

Absolute banger, podium finish.

Thank you to the Embla Books and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for my thoughts.

This book was dark compelling made you think sad but it was a good book overall thank you for this copy I will recommend

Jean has left her home where she lived with her father and worked in the stables to be the navigator for Vivienne, a glamorous racer. Vivienne's husband Robert is also a racer and they take on Jean, paying for everything and telling her she'll get her share at the end of the season.

The characters were well developed, but the story itself was too slow for me. We jump in to Jean working for Vivienne when I think starting with her life with her father could have probably made them "saving" her feel more monumental. The storytelling felt monotonous and I never felt suspenseful for Jean. I kept waiting for that moment to make the book worthwhile and never got it.

Lie to me is one of those slow-burn psychological thrillers that totally transports you. It follows Jean, a quiet teenager whose life takes a sharp turn when she gets swept up in the glamorous, chaotic world of a racing couple on a Greek island in the 1960s. The setting is gorgeous, the tension builds beautifully, and the sense that something is just slightly off keeps you hooked. If you're into moody summer reads with dark undertones and complicated characters, this one delivers.

We follow teenage Jean as she leaves behind her stifling summer job and troubled relationship with her father to embark on what should be an exciting opportunity: assisting the enigmatic Vivienne and her husband on their trip to Greece. The setup promises intrigue, escapism, and transformation—all set against the stunning backdrop of 1960s Greece.

One of the novel’s strongest elements is undoubtedly the setting. The descriptions of Greece are atmospheric and transportive. The author clearly put thought and care into immersing the reader in the Mediterranean environment, which was a highlight of the reading experience for me. The characters, particularly Jean and Vivienne, are also very well developed.

However, despite these strengths, I found the pacing to be a major drawback. The story unfolds at a sluggish rate, often weighed down by excessive and mundane details that don’t meaningfully move the plot forward. Additionally, the twists and turns of the plot were disappointingly predictable.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this eARC.

This book was way too slow, it lacked depth and character development. The premise sounded intriguing but it did not live up to anything mentioned. It had so much potential but it unfortunately did not live up to it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for my review.

Young Jean leaves her boring summer job when she is asked to join Vivienne and her husband as an assistant during their trip to Greece. Lots of expensive toys and more secrets and gossip than you can believe are the ingredients for this one. But for me, the story was slow, and difficult to really get into.

3 stars. If the publishers description sounds good, give it a try, maybe this just wasn't the book for me.

Shy eighteen-year-old Jean gets swept away from her boring summer job at her dad’s stables when the glamorous, fast-living Vivienne and her husband Robert invite her to join them on a whirlwind trip through Greece as their assistant. Between the racing cars, luxury yachts, and secrets simmering beneath the surface, it had all the ingredients for a great summer read. But for me, the story moved a little too slowly. While the character development was detailed, I found myself wishing for a faster pace and more momentum to really bring the drama and excitement to life.

this had that sepia tone to it. i couldnt help feeling the same way i did when i was enjoying the Ripley. i could picture it being the same essence to a feature film too.
its a creeping book. your not sure. your not sure of the people. of the secrets of just what you might or might not be reading into it.
but these are people with flaws. and people with success. and people with power. and power comes with and at a cost.
so who is the vulnerable one here. the young girl that gets taken up by two glowing and successful racing drivers. or is she hiding something darker that she needs to get away from?
its a character building story and i was there from start to finish. i read this quick and enjoyed every minute. it wasnt shock round every turn. but sometimes that is even better. we are learning. we are reading. and we are thinking all the way through this one. just what is going on and where will it go as some dark secrets come to light. not all that glitters is golden...

Jean is 18 and becomes the assistant for Vivienne and Robert during the summer of 1960. They are glamourous and on the racing circuit. Jean has a a big secret. There are other things that come to light. This was a slow book kind of like a summer stretched out before you. It is somewhat short though. If you like character novels more than plot this is for you.

It is 1960 and Jean is a reticent 18 year old with a dark secret. An unexpected opportunity to work with the glamorous Robert and Vivienne Fenwick allows her to escape to a very different world on the racing circuit.

And Jean gradually realises that she also has the opportunity to reshape her identity and be someone different But as she discovers, this apparently golden life also has its darker side...

This book was a little too slow moving for me, although the premise had potential. Less attention to character development and more effort on pacing might yield a better balanced story.