Summary:
I had a life anyone would kill for.
Then someone did.
The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.
Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?
From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.
Let the lying game begin.
Then someone did.
The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.
Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?
From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.
Let the lying game begin.
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 307
Source: NetGalley
Review:
Before reading this book, you have to ascertain something about yourself. If you are not a fan of Shephard's Pretty Little Liars series (I'm not, however, I have not read past the first book in that series), you have to decide if reading about spoiled rich high school girls with nothing better to do than play malicious, hurtful, dangerous games offends you. If not, then The Lying Game is for you. If you are offended thinking about popular mean girls playing spiteful games, which include breaking the law, on each other and unsuspecting victims, then stay away from this new series.
I enjoyed this book because I liked the fast pace and I liked being in the dark as to the mystery right along with Emma. The book is narrated by Sutton, who is dead. I have to admit that I was not very sorry Sutton was dead. Sutton is the penultimate mean girl. She is the leader of the clique and the inventor of The Lying Game. Emma discovers that she and Sutton are long-lost twins (who hasn't wished for a long-lost twin at least once in their lives?) and plans to meet with her sister. However, Sutton never shows up and Emma is thrust into Sutton's life. She pretends to be her sister in order to discover the truth about Sutton's disappearance.
The mystery of who killed Sutton and who knows that Emma is not really Sutton is what kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed figuring things out along with Emma. The ending leaves things wide open for a second book, which I will read if I can get it for review or at the library.
Just One Gripe:
This book is probably most appropriate for high school age teens. I felt a little too old for it.
This book is probably most appropriate for high school age teens. I felt a little too old for it.
The Best Thing About This Book:
The mystery.
The mystery.
Appropriate for a younger audience:
Maybe---there are scenes of teen drinking and an allusion to premarital sex.
Maybe---there are scenes of teen drinking and an allusion to premarital sex.
Score:
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Setting/Imagery: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Ending: 3/5
Total Score: 15/25
O sounds like one where the mystery would propel me too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! I was on the fence about this one but now I know it's not for me.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds awfully like PLL, doesn't it? I enjoyed PLL though, so I'll probably still give it a go. Great review, Kelli! :)
ReplyDeleteNice review. I really loved this one.
ReplyDeleteI love her work so ill be looking forward to this one, hope you girlies are doing good! :)
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a fun read - not the greatest book ever, for sure, but a nice guilty pleasure!
ReplyDeleteNice review Kelli! I really enjoyed this one, I thought the mystery element was really well done too and I'm definitely going to pick up to because I have to know what happened! I have to say I wasn't sad Sutton was dead either, though I liked repentant ghost Sutton:)
ReplyDelete