Book review: The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent
Genre: Psychological thriller
Release date: August 25, 2026
Goodreads rating: 4.11
My rating: 5
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This is my favourite psychological thriller of 2026 so far! I loved Liz Nugent’s previous book, Strange Sally Diamond, which was a five-star read for me, and The Truth About Ruby Cooper has made it official: Liz Nugent is an auto-buy author for me!
I can't say too much about this story without revealing some of its key secrets, but it follows sisters Ruby and Erin, whose lives are changed forever after an incident when Ruby is sixteen. The story moves between Boston and Dublin as the fallout of that day is slowly revealed over the years.
I was immediately drawn into this book and loved the way Nugent slowly uncovers the true nature of her characters (and their story!). The story is told primarily through the POVs of the two sisters but toward the end, we also get added perspectives from some of the supporting characters, which adds even more layers to the story.
One of the things I found especially clever was the subtle way Nugent gently plays with the idea of the unreliable narrator. As you are reading, you often wonder if you are seeing the full picture.
This is the kind of thriller that stays in the back of your mind when you’re not reading it, quietly pulling you back in.
A warning that some difficult topics are woven into the story, so readers with specific triggers may want to check the content warnings. Otherwise, I recommend going in knowing as little as possible
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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