Title: Two Perfect Lies
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Publication: March 17, 2026
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Thrillers, Suspense, Teens, YA Fiction
Pages: 352

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SYNOPSIS (From Goodreads)

The first lie made Lily a savior. The second framed Clara for murder. If it weren’t for Lily, Clara would still be a total outcast, shunned for her role in an incident that gave her a criminal record and ruined another girl’s life. She’s spent the past two years trying to escape that night, and ever since Lily Dalton befriended her, she’s almost succeeded. After all, Lily’s the golden girl of the high school―smart, popular, beloved by all―and as her best friend, Clara’s now the bright, hard-working chemistry whiz.

But is Lily really just the good-hearted friend who saved Clara from the past? Because lately Lily has been talking about certain classmates and teachers―about wanting revenge. Do you ever think about making them pay? she asks. How would you do it? Lily has to be joking. At least that’s what Clara thinks, until she finds a folder that outlines a deadly plan, including detailed steps and a list of targets in their school.

Shockingly, there’s even more to Lily’s plan, and it has everything to do with Clara. After all, everyone already knows what she did two years ago. Suddenly all the evidence has been turned against her, and there’s no way she can prove her innocence. And the people on that list of targets? One after the next, they’re meeting terrible fates, and Clara’s looking guiltier by the second. It’s up to Clara to find the truth and clear her name, before it’s too late.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

If you’ve read many of my previous reviews, you probably already know that I am a HUGE fan of Natalie D. Richards! I have read so many of her books over the years, and she is one of those authors I can almost always count on for a good YA thriller. Her stories are twisty, suspenseful, and full of secrets, but what I love most is her writing style. Everything flows so smoothly, and she has this incredible ability to keep you completely invested in what is happening. Two Perfect Lies was no exception! The story follows Clara, a teenager who has spent the last couple of years trying to move past a mistake that nearly ruined her life. Her best friend Lily helped her rebuild her reputation, but when Clara discovers that Lily may be planning something dangerous, everything starts to unravel. Suddenly, Clara finds herself being framed for things she didn’t do, and the one person who helped save her reputation might be the same person determined to destroy it. I thought the premise was fantastic, and I loved the mystery surrounding Lily and what she was really planning.

One of my favorite things about Richards’ books is that she knows exactly how to build suspense without making the story feel unnecessarily complicated. There are plenty of secrets, suspicious characters, and moments that make you question what is really happening. I especially liked the complicated friendship between Clara and Lily. There is something incredibly unsettling about realizing that someone you trust might not be who you think they are, and Richards does a great job exploring that dynamic. I also appreciated how the story slowly revealed pieces of Clara’s past while everything in the present continued getting more complicated. It kept me interested and wanting to know more, which is exactly what I look for in a good mystery!

While I really enjoyed this book, I wouldn’t say it was my absolute favorite from Richards. There were a few moments when I wanted a little more explanation behind some of the characters’ decisions, and I think certain parts of the story could have benefited from a little more development. However, those were relatively minor issues compared to how much I enjoyed the overall story. I’ve read plenty of mysteries where the author seems to throw in twists just for the sake of surprising the reader, but Richards has a way of keeping the story moving while still making you care about what happens. Even when things get a little dramatic, I find myself wanting to keep reading rather than putting the book down.

With that being said, Natalie D. Richards continues to be one of my favorite YA thriller authors! I love her storytelling, her smooth writing style, and the way she keeps readers guessing. Two Perfect Lies was a solid four-star read for me, and it reminded me why I keep coming back to her books. I especially enjoyed the suspense surrounding Clara and Lily’s friendship and the way the truth slowly came to light. If you enjoy YA mysteries filled with secrets, betrayal, complicated friendships, and plenty of twists, I absolutely recommend giving this one a try. And if you haven’t read anything by Natalie D. Richards yet, you are seriously missing out! I would definitely encourage you to check out some of her other books as well. She’s an author I will continue picking up without hesitation!