First Lie Wins – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

First Lie Wins

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2025

84%

WISE Score

A high-stakes game of identity theft where the protagonist's biggest threat isn't getting caught—it's actually wanting the life she's stealing.

First Lie Wins

book

2025

84%

WISE Score

A high-stakes game of identity theft where the protagonist's biggest threat isn't getting caught—it's actually wanting the life she's stealing.

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Screenwise Verdict

First Lie Wins is the definition of a 'popcorn thriller' with a brain. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it doesn't treat the reader like an idiot. If you’re looking for a book that will actually get your phone-addicted teenager to sit still for three hours, this is a very strong candidate.

It avoids the 'misery porn' that bogs down a lot of modern domestic thrillers. Instead, it leans into the heist-like mechanics of the con. It’s a Reese’s Book Club pick for a reason: it’s highly readable, socially relevant, and has just enough edge to feel modern without being exhausting.

Age Fit

This is an adult thriller, but it’s a perfect 'crossover' book for mature teens (15+) who have outgrown YA but aren't ready for the really grim, nihilistic side of adult crime fiction. It’s smart, fast, and relatively clean.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The protagonist is a professional con artist living a total lie, which isn't exactly 'wholesome' in the traditional sense. However, the emotional core—her desire for a real life and the genuine connections she forms—gives it more heart than your average cold-blooded thriller.

Imaginative

Ashley Elston crafts a brilliant, multi-layered puzzle. The way the 'jobs' are structured and the cat-and-mouse game with the mysterious Mr. Smith shows a high level of narrative creativity and clever plotting.

Safe

As an adult thriller, it's very safe for its intended audience. There's tension and some mild violence, but it avoids the extreme gore or gratuitous 'shock' content found in darker corners of the genre.

Enriching

It's a masterclass in perspective and critical thinking. It forces the reader to constantly re-evaluate what they know, which is great for developing a sharp, analytical mind—even if the subject matter is identity theft.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Masterful pacing that makes it a true 'one-more-chapter' experience.
Complex female lead who is incredibly sharp and capable without being a stereotype.
The 'Mr. Smith' mystery provides a compelling overarching puzzle that keeps you guessing until the final pages.
Southern setting is rendered with enough detail to feel like a character itself, adding flavor to the standard thriller tropes.

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What to Watch For

The plot revolves entirely around deception and fraud, which might lead to some interesting (or awkward) conversations if read by younger teens.
There is moderate profanity and some romantic tension, though it stays well away from being 'erotica.'
The nonlinear timeline can be a bit of a mental workout—great for some, but maybe frustrating for a casual reader looking for a straight line.

Conversation Starters

"If you had to disappear and start a new life tomorrow, what’s the one part of your real identity you’d miss the most?"
"Do you think Evie is a 'good' person doing bad things, or is that just another lie she tells herself?"
"How much of what we see of people online or in public is just a 'character' they've created, like Evie's identities?"
"Would you rather be the one running the con or the 'mark' who has no idea what's happening?"

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