Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes [Review]

 4 out of 5 Robots!

Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Release: March 24, 2015
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
My Copy: Publisher
Reviewer: Shannon

Book Summary:

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? In a story that Kirkus Reviews called "Captivating to the very end," Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters.

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

Liars, Inc is a very twisty-turn thriller.  I never knew who to trust or what to believe!  I was very entertained through-out this quick read.

Here is what I liked:
**The twists and turns!  It totally kept me on toes.  I knew I could really trust anything or anyone.  I didn't even guess the mystery.

**I liked Max and his background.  I thought the relationship he has with his foster parents and foster sister was interesting.  He has a fairly tragic background, but I like that it didn't get him down.

**I also liked Max's relationship with Parvati.  I mean, it was weird and something seemed off almost, but I also kind of dug it.  It definitely added an interesting layer to the story.

Here is what I didn't like:
**The writing is a little dry.  There isn't a lot of "fluff" and it is pretty to the point.  I liked Max's wry narration, but I wish it had a bit more oomph.

**Considering this book is titled "Liars, Inc", the Liars Inc plays a fairly small role.  I would have liked to have seen more come out of it.  It seemed pretty superfluous otherwise.

Overall:

If you like thriller, fast paced mystery type novels, then Liars, Inc fits right into that genre pocket.  I also loved it was a male narrator, something we don't get a lot of in YA.  Max had a fun, wry sense of humor, but I wished the writing wasn't so matter-of-fact.  But overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book and devoured it in one day.


Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes [Review]

4 out of 5 Robots!

  

The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes
Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction
Release: May 20, 2014
Paperback:  384 Pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
My Copy: Publisher (Edelweiss)
Reviewer: Shannon
Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be?

(Courtesy of the Publisher)

Shannon's Thoughts:

I wasn't sure how this book and I were going to get along.  At the beginning, Lainey is a popular girl who gets dumped by her popular boyfriend.  She and her friends devise a plan to use the techniques found in The Art of War to win him back.  Part of this plan involves faking dates with coworker Micah and generally trying to appear unavailable.  In all honesty, I was not such a fan of this premise.  I don't relate very well to the popular girl mentality and the desperation of "getting the guy" back.  Luckily, once Lainey starts going on her dates with Micah, my feelings started to turn around. 

I found Lainey and Micah adorable together.  They are that couple that have a really good rapport with each other and I enjoyed watching their showmance turn into real romance.  Lainey comes a long way from the beginning of the book and by the end I was really rooting for her. 

Overall, The Art of Lainey is fun, fluffy romance.  I enjoyed Lainey's ability to overcome her desperation over winning Jason back and realize there is more to life than having a popular boyfriend.  I especially enjoyed the relationship between Micah and Lainey and found them quite adorable together.  I think this is a fun, easy book.

Disclosure:  I reviewed a copy free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.