After a few heavier reads, I was craving something lighter yet still gripping, and Count My Lies fit the bill perfectly. A debut novel from Sophie Stava, this psychological thriller invites readers into a world of obsession, deception, and manipulation, where everyone has something to hide.
Plot Summary
At the centre of the story is Sloane Caraway—a compulsive liar whose talent for deception lands her a job as a nanny for the wealthy and glamorous Lockhart family. It all starts with a seemingly random encounter in a park, where Sloane jumps in to help Jay Lockhart and his daughter Harper, pretending to be a nurse. From there, her lies snowball, weaving her ever deeper into the lives of Jay and his wife, Violet. But Sloane isn’t the only one hiding secrets—beneath the glittering surface of the Lockhart household lurk truths far darker than she anticipated.
Told from multiple perspectives, the novel keeps readers guessing as the layers of deceit peel away, revealing shifting alliances, hidden motives, and plenty of flip-the-script twists.
Themes
ThemesThis novel plays heavily with themes of infiltration and deception—Sloane’s lies start small but escalate until her entire existence within the Lockhart family is fabricated. The story also examines obsession, particularly in the way Sloane fixates on Jay and his life, wanting to insert herself into his world by any means necessary. There’s also a strong focus on toxic female friendships, with “pick-me” energy and power struggles woven into the relationships that drive the narrative.
What Worked for Me
- Sloane’s POV was my favourite. She’s deeply flawed, yet self-aware enough to be compelling. The first half of the book offers a sharp character study, making it easy to get drawn into her psyche, despite knowing she’s unreliable.
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The tug-of-war effect on reader loyalties was fantastic. You never quite know who to trust, and the novel plays with your sympathies in clever ways.
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The breezy, casual writing style made this an effortless read, even as the suspense built.
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The entertainment factor—while the story isn’t exactly groundbreaking in the thriller genre, it’s undeniably fun. I devoured this book in one sitting, mostly because I wanted to see how everything fell into place.
What Didn’t Quite Work
What Didn’t Quite Work-
The ending—it killed it for me. The logic fell apart, and my suspended disbelief turned into “there’s no way this would happen in reality.” I dislike plots that rely on “perfect plans” that only work if the villain is psychic, but somehow, Count My Lies managed to keep me invested despite that flaw.
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Predictability—for seasoned thriller readers, some of the twists won’t come as much of a surprise. While this kept the book from being a five-star read for me, the journey was still enjoyable.
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Too many things could be easily disproven—a little more realism in how the lies unravelled would’ve added to the believability.
Who Would Enjoy This Book?
If you love fast-paced psychological thrillers packed with obsession, set-ups, and mind games, you’ll have a great time with Count My Lies. It’s a popcorn thriller—quick, entertaining, and perfect if you’re in the mood for drama rather than deep suspense. Fans of love triangles, domestic drama bombs, and unreliable narrators will find plenty to sink their teeth into here.
Conclusion
Was Count My Lies a masterpiece? No. Was it an addictive, fun ride? Absolutely. If you’re willing to suspend disbelief and let yourself, get pulled into Sloane’s twisted world of lies and manipulation, it’s an undeniably entertaining read. While the ending may not have landed for me, the journey there was unputdownable.
A solid debut from Stava, and I’m curious to see what she writes next.
Thank you to Penguin Random House SA for the chance to read this book.
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