07 July 2026

Ruth Ware is one of those authors who always manages to surprise me. For some reason, I never go into her books with huge expectations, and then I finish one and wonder why I do not read her more often.

The Lying Game is a gripping thriller filled with twists and secrets. Four women attended the same boarding school and, at fifteen, played a game built around lies and deception—until things spiralled out of control.

Years later, they are still bound by a shared secret. But when a body is discovered, they are forced to come together once again, knowing they may finally have to face the consequences of what happened all those years ago.

I loved what Ware did with these women reflecting on their younger selves, re-examining not only the choices they made but also how they viewed the world at fifteen and how those perceptions shaped their actions. She explores the vulnerability and uncertainty of adolescence brilliantly, showing how easily misunderstandings and assumptions can influence decisions.

Their friendship, built on loyalty but clouded by deception, becomes even more compelling as long-buried truths begin to surface and they are forced to confront what really happened.

This was a quick and addictive read that kept me hooked throughout. It is packed with twists and features an ending I genuinely did not see coming. Ware does a brilliant job of convincing you of one character’s guilt and another’s innocence, only to turn the tables at exactly the right moment. It is a clever reminder of how easily we form opinions when we do not have all the facts.

I only have one more Ruth Ware book left on my TBR pile before I complete her backlist, and I am very much looking forward to digging into that one.