Book Summary and Reviews of First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

First Lie Wins

Reese's Book Club: A Novel

by Ashley Elston

  • Readers' Rating (13):
  • Published:
  • Jan 2024, 352 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

Evie Porter has everything a nice Southern girl could want: a doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, a tight group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn't exist.

The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she's given a name and location by her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.

Evie isn't privy to Mr. Smith's real identity, but she knows this job isn't like the others. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she's starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can't make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time.

Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there's still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge... .

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
  1. Identity plays a significant role in First Lie Wins. Evie assumes various aliases for her jobs and ultimately allows her Lucca Marino identity to take the fall for crimes she didn't commit in order to protect her future. Why is the name Lucca Marino so important to her? Do you think your name is essential to your identity? Why or why not? And will she be happy as Evie Porter?
  2. Evie and Ryan are both morally gray characters. Despite her life of crime, there were lines Evie wouldn't cross: not leaving Miles unattended after his mother was injured, giving financial advice to Tyron, changing critical information about Ryan's business so Mr. Smith wouldn't be able to take it from him. Do you think this behavior redeems Evie in some ...
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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Ingeniously plotted... Elston whips up plenty of suspense and delivers a satisfyingly serpentine finale. This promises more good things from Elston to come." —Publishers Weekly

"A savvy thriller with intrigue and momentum... from the first twist of Lucca's arrival right up until the final showdowns. Evie is a smart and engaging protagonist, and her time on the run is anything but predictable." —Kirkus Reviews

"Buckle up. First Lie Wins features some of the best cat and mouse suspense I've read in years, while serving up plenty of heart along this wild ride. I'm still breathless." —Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Step Too Far

"What a box of tricks! First Lie Wins flickers past like a shadow-play: just when you think you've worked out what you're seeing, the shapes shift, the scene transforms, and — hold on — maybe you had it wrong a moment ago? Cool and clever and full-on fun, the sort of slippery high-stakes now-you-see-me-now-you-don't thriller that few novelists are bold enough to attempt these days. Pick it up, please. This is a good one." —A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window and End of Story

"First Lie Wins is a high-stakes thriller that brilliantly explores identity and love, truth and deception. Smart and sharp, fast-paced and twisty, this book kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the very last. Ashley Elston has crafted a truly unpredictable, unforgettable story. I loved it!" —Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Survivors

This information about First Lie Wins was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

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Author Information

Ashley Elston

Ashley Elston worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. She lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons. Elston has written six young adult novels; First Lie Wins is her adult debut.

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