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The Liar Society #1
The Liar Society
"A page-turning, pearl-clutching mystery!"—Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead "One killer novel."—Lee Nichols, author of the Haunting Emma series "The moment you finish, you'll start writing your fan letter, begging for more."—Adele Griffin, National Book Award Finalist and author of The Julian Game and Picture the Dead Since when do the dead send emails? Kate Lowry's best friend Grace died a year ago. So when she gets an email from her, Kate's more than a little confused. KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu (no subject) Kate, I'm here… sort of. Find Cameron. He knows. I shouldn't be writing. Don't tell. They'll hurt you. Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace's death was more than just a tragic accident. She teams up with a couple of knights-in-(not-so)-shining armor—the dangerously hot bad boy, Liam, and her lovestruck neighbor, Seth. But at their elite private school, there are secrets so big people will do anything to protect them—even if it means getting rid of anyone trying to solve a murder...
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2011
91 people are currently reading
6538 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Roecker
5 books288 followersLisa and Laura Roecker are sisters-turned-writing-partners with a love of all things Young Adult. Some call it arrested development, but the sisters claim it keeps them young. Plus, its cheaper than Botox. Lisa and Laura live in Cleveland, Ohio in separate residences. Their husbands wouldn't agree to a duplex. THE LIAR SOCIETY is their first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews
November 18, 2018
I guess my expectations were too high and I think I'm too old for this...
The characters were empty. The plot was kinda messy and it looked like the whole world was a box.
Everything goes around the "dead" BFF who was never really developed! Not even in flashbacks!
I was expecting a strong main character.
I got... Something disappointing instead...
April 19, 2011
I've seen this book touted as a fun prep school mystery featuring a sassy, snarky protagonist. The book is actually much darker in tone than I would consider "fun" and Kate herself is neither very sassy nor snarky--she spends most of her time grieving and obsessing over her dead best friend.
The school, Pemberly Brown, is a marvelous setting, indeed a very exclusive preppy sort of private academy with its own hallowed legends and traditions. It felt like a real, solid location, well-grounded and well-rounded, with a real history behind it. The same, alas, cannot be said of most of the characters.
Despite being the first-person narrator, Kate is curiously vague as a character. She has no other friends (though she used to), her parents are absent and out of the way (except to occasionally pop up to generically scold her for being depressed and obsessive), and the book touches upon no other interests, talents, hobbies, or quirks (other than overstated repetitive pearl-clutching and token mentions about dying her hair pink). Every single thing Kate does in this book is related to the mystery of Grace's death--either she's speculating about it or out digging up clues or flashbacking to the incident in question. Her entire life and the entire story revolves around her grief for Grace and her obsessive desire to find out what really happened to her, which could have been powerful and moving but, because Kate lacks tangible personality or history, the emotion and drive toward the goal feels almost perfunctory. The story is definitely more about solving the mystery than Kate herself; Kate's friendship with Grace and subsequent grief are more tools of backdrop and motivation than having any emotional draw.
(Also, Grace herself is hardly developed either, even in flashbacks. She's pretty and popular and has been BFF with Kate for a long time, but other than that I’m hard-pressed to understand why Grace was so spectacular, since her background and character are sketchy. Many of the other characters also seemed a little sketchy--not stereotypical and not cardboard-cutouts, but like we were only given enough information to form a surface picture.)
It is a very fast read--the chapters are quite short, varying in length between two and maybe six or eight pages--and the pace was fairly steady and moved along more quickly toward the end. I was not raptly engaged because I didn't know Kate and found it hard to connect with or care about her on a deeper level, but I was curious to know what was going to happen next. Some of the clues were pretty obvious and occasionally circumstances/clues were rather contrived, but overall it was fairly well-done.
Except for the end. Don't worry, no spoilers will follow.
The ending is what bumped the book down from 3-ish stars to 2. I'll boil the ending down to two parts: 1) Solving the Mystery/The Big Reveal and 2) Conclusion/Resolution.
1) The details of the Big Reveal are, if you're reading fast, satisfactory. BUT if you read more carefully, there is a rather important plot hole that fails to be resolved, and there are revelations that super-fast-glossed over—and glossing over important details in a mystery is never okay. Saying something along the lines of, "Oh, but then s/he found out anyway" doesn't cut it, nor does giving vague descriptions of "and then s/he did this"—when, where, why and how did they do this? And some of the very important details seem to contradict each other and left me confused as to why x couldn't happen if they'd just said y because of z.
2) There is a conclusion, but there is no resolution. You heard me. The book ends very unsatisfyingly, leaving the door wide open for a sequel, but there is no emotional or circumstantial resolution. The Mystery is solved, but everything else dangles. I had absolutely no sense of satisfaction or pleasure upon reaching the ending, although it doesn't leave off on a cliffhanger. More than anything it left me with a sense of unfairness, which further dampens any desire to read the sequel.
The school, Pemberly Brown, is a marvelous setting, indeed a very exclusive preppy sort of private academy with its own hallowed legends and traditions. It felt like a real, solid location, well-grounded and well-rounded, with a real history behind it. The same, alas, cannot be said of most of the characters.
Despite being the first-person narrator, Kate is curiously vague as a character. She has no other friends (though she used to), her parents are absent and out of the way (except to occasionally pop up to generically scold her for being depressed and obsessive), and the book touches upon no other interests, talents, hobbies, or quirks (other than overstated repetitive pearl-clutching and token mentions about dying her hair pink). Every single thing Kate does in this book is related to the mystery of Grace's death--either she's speculating about it or out digging up clues or flashbacking to the incident in question. Her entire life and the entire story revolves around her grief for Grace and her obsessive desire to find out what really happened to her, which could have been powerful and moving but, because Kate lacks tangible personality or history, the emotion and drive toward the goal feels almost perfunctory. The story is definitely more about solving the mystery than Kate herself; Kate's friendship with Grace and subsequent grief are more tools of backdrop and motivation than having any emotional draw.
(Also, Grace herself is hardly developed either, even in flashbacks. She's pretty and popular and has been BFF with Kate for a long time, but other than that I’m hard-pressed to understand why Grace was so spectacular, since her background and character are sketchy. Many of the other characters also seemed a little sketchy--not stereotypical and not cardboard-cutouts, but like we were only given enough information to form a surface picture.)
It is a very fast read--the chapters are quite short, varying in length between two and maybe six or eight pages--and the pace was fairly steady and moved along more quickly toward the end. I was not raptly engaged because I didn't know Kate and found it hard to connect with or care about her on a deeper level, but I was curious to know what was going to happen next. Some of the clues were pretty obvious and occasionally circumstances/clues were rather contrived, but overall it was fairly well-done.
Except for the end. Don't worry, no spoilers will follow.
The ending is what bumped the book down from 3-ish stars to 2. I'll boil the ending down to two parts: 1) Solving the Mystery/The Big Reveal and 2) Conclusion/Resolution.
1) The details of the Big Reveal are, if you're reading fast, satisfactory. BUT if you read more carefully, there is a rather important plot hole that fails to be resolved, and there are revelations that super-fast-glossed over—and glossing over important details in a mystery is never okay. Saying something along the lines of, "Oh, but then s/he found out anyway" doesn't cut it, nor does giving vague descriptions of "and then s/he did this"—when, where, why and how did they do this? And some of the very important details seem to contradict each other and left me confused as to why x couldn't happen if they'd just said y because of z.
2) There is a conclusion, but there is no resolution. You heard me. The book ends very unsatisfyingly, leaving the door wide open for a sequel, but there is no emotional or circumstantial resolution. The Mystery is solved, but everything else dangles. I had absolutely no sense of satisfaction or pleasure upon reaching the ending, although it doesn't leave off on a cliffhanger. More than anything it left me with a sense of unfairness, which further dampens any desire to read the sequel.
June 7, 2011
The 5 Things I Loved About:
THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa & Laura Roecker
1. THE VOICE. I adored Kate, and not just because we share the same fashion when it comes to plaid skirts and pearls. Her voice had just the right mix of both contemplative interiority and the savvy wit that I've come to expect from Team Gemini (aka the Roeckers), while still preserving a sense of
2. MYSTERY. I frakking love the Whodunnit genre. After a long day of writing about gods and goddesses and other paranormal things, I usually wind up thirsty for something totally different--more often than not, twisted, winding mysteries in which danger lurks everywhere and nowhere provides sanctuary, even within the hallowed halls of
3. PEMBERLY BROWN. The private school in THE LIAR SOCIETY practically comes alive as its own character, thanks to all the embellishments the Roeckers have dreamed up for it: the Latin phrases, the "Stations," and of course its secret societies. Speaking of which,
4. IT FILLED THE VOID left in my heart after reading two fantastic other campus mysteries--THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU BANKS by E. Lockhart and Melina Marchetta's ON THE JELLICOE ROAD. Of course it had a secret weapon that neither of those two books had:
5. SETH. I think the Roeckers were spying on my high school years when they wrote his character. But seriously--I think a convincing friendship is every bit as difficult to write as a romance. In this case, Lisa and Laura never let Kate's steadfast friend vanish in the shadow of the love interest.
THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa & Laura Roecker
1. THE VOICE. I adored Kate, and not just because we share the same fashion when it comes to plaid skirts and pearls. Her voice had just the right mix of both contemplative interiority and the savvy wit that I've come to expect from Team Gemini (aka the Roeckers), while still preserving a sense of
2. MYSTERY. I frakking love the Whodunnit genre. After a long day of writing about gods and goddesses and other paranormal things, I usually wind up thirsty for something totally different--more often than not, twisted, winding mysteries in which danger lurks everywhere and nowhere provides sanctuary, even within the hallowed halls of
3. PEMBERLY BROWN. The private school in THE LIAR SOCIETY practically comes alive as its own character, thanks to all the embellishments the Roeckers have dreamed up for it: the Latin phrases, the "Stations," and of course its secret societies. Speaking of which,
4. IT FILLED THE VOID left in my heart after reading two fantastic other campus mysteries--THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU BANKS by E. Lockhart and Melina Marchetta's ON THE JELLICOE ROAD. Of course it had a secret weapon that neither of those two books had:
5. SETH. I think the Roeckers were spying on my high school years when they wrote his character. But seriously--I think a convincing friendship is every bit as difficult to write as a romance. In this case, Lisa and Laura never let Kate's steadfast friend vanish in the shadow of the love interest.
April 5, 2011
A lot of creepy suspense, an interesting heroine - who I in spite of the first-person-narration never really got to know - and a certain Veronica-Mars-in-Private-School feel, but a not so very unexpected mystery, a lot of repetitive scenes, a half-hearted boy-girl friendship, a half-hearted romance and a half-hearted, truly deflatingly unsatisfactory ending, which I really didn't like.
February 2, 2011
You know, I don't really read a lot of YA mystery. None, actually...which is weird. Because I love mysteries. It's the mystery part of every novel that really sucks me in, that entertains by challenging me to think. I used to devour Nancy Drew books as if they might disappear before I could finish reading them--and my first reading love was Encyclopedia Brown. So what the heck happened? Is it because there aren't a lot of straight up mysteries in YA that I don't read them any more? Did I get sidetracked by Romance and my unquenchable hormones? Um. Perhaps. It may also be the flash of vampires and dragons and falling-apart future worlds that beckons me like tiny gym shorts for Richard Simmons. Who can say for sure? But I do know one thing: if I can find any more YA mystery books like THE LIAR SOCIETY, I'll be reading every single one of them--and I can't wait for the next one by the Roecker sisters'...
THE LIAR SOCIETY is like Nancy Drew, but way cooler, sassier, and a thousand times funnier--with language that is reflective of REAL teenage voices. And Kate Lowry is the girl we all wish we could be--good looking with a biting wit, razor sharp intelligence and mega attitude. Nobody rocks a set of pearls quite like Kate Lowry. The only problem is she's an outcast forced (by necessity and pity) to rely on the biggest nerd in the school (who nearly pooped his pants at one point, which OHMYWORD, had me cracking up so badly, I nearly po...well.) And the setting couldn't get any cooler either: Pemberly Brown, an elite private school set in...Cleveland. Not Beverly Hills, not Boston. But freaking Cleveland. Now how refreshing is that? You should see what Kate thinks about it...
Which reminds me. Let's get back to Kate for a minute. I mean, the mystery was great. LOVED the whole premise--the clues, the twists, the danger, and the who-dun-it-what's-gonna-happen questions that drive you forward hunting for answers. There's also a romantic element that adds a lovely degree of tension and intrigue. But I'll be honest--Kate totally made this book. Her voice is so distinct and appealing. She's one of those people you wish you had in your life, just because she would make everything sparkle a little bit brighter...the kind of person that makes you laugh until you pee at everything you probably shouldn't laugh at simply by stating her slightly slanted, unfiltered view of the world. I laughed in much the same way that I laughed reading ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS or even WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON--both of these being stories that were taken to the next level of AWEsome by the voices of the protagonists.
But Kate's voice is one that alters, too--not the sarcasm or the wit, which is just a natural part of her--but her view of those around her as well as her self-confidence. It's seeing this progression and subtle maturation that keeps her dynamic and fluid, a being capable of change, and thus someone we can care about beyond the laughs. And for me, a book is all about the characters. But lucky for you, THE LIAR SOCIETY has a plot that will leave you guessing and reguessing as well, just as any fabulous mystery should.
THE LIAR SOCIETY is like Nancy Drew, but way cooler, sassier, and a thousand times funnier--with language that is reflective of REAL teenage voices. And Kate Lowry is the girl we all wish we could be--good looking with a biting wit, razor sharp intelligence and mega attitude. Nobody rocks a set of pearls quite like Kate Lowry. The only problem is she's an outcast forced (by necessity and pity) to rely on the biggest nerd in the school (who nearly pooped his pants at one point, which OHMYWORD, had me cracking up so badly, I nearly po...well.) And the setting couldn't get any cooler either: Pemberly Brown, an elite private school set in...Cleveland. Not Beverly Hills, not Boston. But freaking Cleveland. Now how refreshing is that? You should see what Kate thinks about it...
Which reminds me. Let's get back to Kate for a minute. I mean, the mystery was great. LOVED the whole premise--the clues, the twists, the danger, and the who-dun-it-what's-gonna-happen questions that drive you forward hunting for answers. There's also a romantic element that adds a lovely degree of tension and intrigue. But I'll be honest--Kate totally made this book. Her voice is so distinct and appealing. She's one of those people you wish you had in your life, just because she would make everything sparkle a little bit brighter...the kind of person that makes you laugh until you pee at everything you probably shouldn't laugh at simply by stating her slightly slanted, unfiltered view of the world. I laughed in much the same way that I laughed reading ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS or even WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON--both of these being stories that were taken to the next level of AWEsome by the voices of the protagonists.
But Kate's voice is one that alters, too--not the sarcasm or the wit, which is just a natural part of her--but her view of those around her as well as her self-confidence. It's seeing this progression and subtle maturation that keeps her dynamic and fluid, a being capable of change, and thus someone we can care about beyond the laughs. And for me, a book is all about the characters. But lucky for you, THE LIAR SOCIETY has a plot that will leave you guessing and reguessing as well, just as any fabulous mystery should.
September 4, 2014
I liked the idea of a mystery set at an exclusive prep school. And it starts off strong, with an email from a dead friend. But it kind of stagnates after that.
The biggest stumbling block is our protagonist, Kate. Despite narrating the entire book, she never really emerges as more than a sketch of a character. Neither does anyone else, really. Worse, most of her girl detective stuff comes from being directed to specific places at specific times by the mysterious person emailing her from her dead friend's account. Which, incidentally, she never really considers might be anyone but, something I had a really hard time swallowing from a character of her age. It should have been her theory all along.
Like I said, the other characters are flat and interesting as cardboard. I only kept reading to find out what happened in the end. And I was disappointed. There's a lack of resolution that's really unsatisfying. The basic idea isn't bad, but it needed more interesting characters, a protagonist who doesn't need quite so much nudging, and a more satisfying ending.
The biggest stumbling block is our protagonist, Kate. Despite narrating the entire book, she never really emerges as more than a sketch of a character. Neither does anyone else, really. Worse, most of her girl detective stuff comes from being directed to specific places at specific times by the mysterious person emailing her from her dead friend's account. Which, incidentally, she never really considers might be anyone but, something I had a really hard time swallowing from a character of her age. It should have been her theory all along.
Like I said, the other characters are flat and interesting as cardboard. I only kept reading to find out what happened in the end. And I was disappointed. There's a lack of resolution that's really unsatisfying. The basic idea isn't bad, but it needed more interesting characters, a protagonist who doesn't need quite so much nudging, and a more satisfying ending.
March 31, 2011
The Liar Society had a promising start, but ultimately didn't work for me. It's the story of Kate Lowry, who begins to investigate her best friend's death after receiving an email from her.
The main problem for me was that I felt no connection to the characters. They all seemed peripheral even though they were supposed to be important. We're told over and over that Grace and Maddie were Kate's best friends, and Kate was really broken up about losing them, but during the numerous flashbacks the friendship between all three girls seemed shallow to me. We're told over and over that Liam is dangerous and has a dark past, but he's little more than a wimp when Bethany, one of the book's mean girls, comes around. In every scene that Kate shared with Liam, he never came off like a bad boy, or dangerous, or even a little bit rebellious. He wore his hair long and kept his shirt unbuttoned to reveal t-shirts with rock bands on them. Except for the fact that he didn't babble about conspiracy theories and wasn't always eating, and was "hot", Liam could have been interchangeable with Kate's nerdy neighbor Seth. The depiction of Kate's parents was also frustrating. They make a few appearances, but I never had a true sense of who they were or how they felt about their daughter losing her best friend. Kate's father is disappointed in Kate - her behavior has changed since Grace's death and he wants the daughter he remembers back.
The Reynolds brothers and the Farrow siblings (wealthy legacies at the school) verged on being interesting, but there just wasn't enough of them to make full-on interesting happen. Alistair Reynolds and Bradley Farrow were especially creepy because they clearly knew something and were very good at hiding it.
I thought the book would have been better served if Kate had figured out there was a mystery to be solved on her own instead of receiving text messages that sent her after her next clue. More time spent cleverly "interviewing" all of the suspicious characters would have elevated this story and possibly rounded the characters out.
There have been a lot of teen novels that sell the idea of the bad boy love interest as if all a boy needs to be is cute and bad to be interesting and fall-in-loveable without taking into consideration that there should also be chemistry between the characters and the boy should have more to him than looks and a mean streak. In some cases, not only is there a lack of chemistry, but the boy is so bad, even his good looks shouldn't make him attractive to any girl, let alone reader. The Liar Society has the opposite problem. Kate is told by Seth and Bethany to stay away from Liam because he's dangerous, but Liam's actions never indicated that he was tough, strong, angry, rebellious, snarky, sarcastic, or any of the other hundred things a person needs to be to be labeled "dangerous" or bad. He's actually kind of boring. There's never one moment when Liam does something that would make our heroine (or us) believe he's trouble.
One hilarious aspect of The Liar Society is the mean girls' refusal to get Kate's name right. They call her Cade, Cape, Kathy, etc., when they address her and they do it in such a way that anyone listening might not realize they're purposely getting her name wrong. It made them a little more interesting to me and I wished we could have learned why they chose that particular method to taunt her.
The main problem for me was that I felt no connection to the characters. They all seemed peripheral even though they were supposed to be important. We're told over and over that Grace and Maddie were Kate's best friends, and Kate was really broken up about losing them, but during the numerous flashbacks the friendship between all three girls seemed shallow to me. We're told over and over that Liam is dangerous and has a dark past, but he's little more than a wimp when Bethany, one of the book's mean girls, comes around. In every scene that Kate shared with Liam, he never came off like a bad boy, or dangerous, or even a little bit rebellious. He wore his hair long and kept his shirt unbuttoned to reveal t-shirts with rock bands on them. Except for the fact that he didn't babble about conspiracy theories and wasn't always eating, and was "hot", Liam could have been interchangeable with Kate's nerdy neighbor Seth. The depiction of Kate's parents was also frustrating. They make a few appearances, but I never had a true sense of who they were or how they felt about their daughter losing her best friend. Kate's father is disappointed in Kate - her behavior has changed since Grace's death and he wants the daughter he remembers back.
The Reynolds brothers and the Farrow siblings (wealthy legacies at the school) verged on being interesting, but there just wasn't enough of them to make full-on interesting happen. Alistair Reynolds and Bradley Farrow were especially creepy because they clearly knew something and were very good at hiding it.
I thought the book would have been better served if Kate had figured out there was a mystery to be solved on her own instead of receiving text messages that sent her after her next clue. More time spent cleverly "interviewing" all of the suspicious characters would have elevated this story and possibly rounded the characters out.
There have been a lot of teen novels that sell the idea of the bad boy love interest as if all a boy needs to be is cute and bad to be interesting and fall-in-loveable without taking into consideration that there should also be chemistry between the characters and the boy should have more to him than looks and a mean streak. In some cases, not only is there a lack of chemistry, but the boy is so bad, even his good looks shouldn't make him attractive to any girl, let alone reader. The Liar Society has the opposite problem. Kate is told by Seth and Bethany to stay away from Liam because he's dangerous, but Liam's actions never indicated that he was tough, strong, angry, rebellious, snarky, sarcastic, or any of the other hundred things a person needs to be to be labeled "dangerous" or bad. He's actually kind of boring. There's never one moment when Liam does something that would make our heroine (or us) believe he's trouble.
One hilarious aspect of The Liar Society is the mean girls' refusal to get Kate's name right. They call her Cade, Cape, Kathy, etc., when they address her and they do it in such a way that anyone listening might not realize they're purposely getting her name wrong. It made them a little more interesting to me and I wished we could have learned why they chose that particular method to taunt her.
May 11, 2010
I LOVED this! Nancy Drew + Hilarious Snark + Hot Boys = LIARY SOCIETY.
I simply couldn't put it down.
Liar Society features Kate Lowry, a snarky, troubled teen unable to get over the death of her best friend just a year before. When she receives an email from her BFF's email account-- an account only she knew existed--she's launches a mission to discover the truth about her friend's death. Toss in a couple of boys, a trail of breadcrumbs and some serious secrets, and you have LIAR SOCIETY.
Laura and Lisa expertly weave together a cast of suspects, a slew of clues, and a protagonist to rival Veronica Mars, and the result is a suspenseful, page-turning read. To say I raced through the pages would be an understatement-- I couldn't wait to find out the truth!
Now I just want to know.... When can I read book 2?
I simply couldn't put it down.
Liar Society features Kate Lowry, a snarky, troubled teen unable to get over the death of her best friend just a year before. When she receives an email from her BFF's email account-- an account only she knew existed--she's launches a mission to discover the truth about her friend's death. Toss in a couple of boys, a trail of breadcrumbs and some serious secrets, and you have LIAR SOCIETY.
Laura and Lisa expertly weave together a cast of suspects, a slew of clues, and a protagonist to rival Veronica Mars, and the result is a suspenseful, page-turning read. To say I raced through the pages would be an understatement-- I couldn't wait to find out the truth!
Now I just want to know.... When can I read book 2?
January 26, 2011
My Thoughts: We are introduced to Kate Lowry who has lost her best friend Grace. She's confused, she misses her, she's devastated. Grace died in a fire and Kate just knows theres more to the story than what anyone thinks. She doesn't think it was a accident like it was ruled. She thinks it was set up or a part of a bigger plan. When Kate starts getting emails from Grace, she wonders how its possible, saying dead girls can't use computers.
Kate teams up with her nerdy but cute neighbor Seth and the school bad boy Liam to figure out what is going on. Both boys had a place in my heart from the start.
There is more to the school Pemberly Brown than Kate realizes at first. There are secret societies. There are truths that need to be uncovered. There are hidden doorways. There are mysteries that she needs to solve!
Kate was the perfect narrator, she was just like Nancy Drew putting her heart and soul into solving the case. I also liked the flashbacks to before the fire. We get to learn more about Kate and Grace's friendship. We get to know Grace more as a person and what she was like.
I also liked all the side characters, even if some of them were jerky. They made Kate want to dig deeper and find out the truth and what happened that night.
The Liar Society was a quick mysterious read. It had all the right ingredients of a true mystery novel.
I never saw the ending coming, and I couldn't believe all the secrets we found out throughout the book. All the pieces of the puzzle started to come together and I understood exactly what happened.
Overall: I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the fast pace and how easy it was to read. The words flowed right along.
Cover: Really like the cover. Pink hair is cool!
What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
Taken from Princess Bookie
Merged review:
My Thoughts: We are introduced to Kate Lowry who has lost her best friend Grace. She's confused, she misses her, she's devastated. Grace died in a fire and Kate just knows theres more to the story than what anyone thinks. She doesn't think it was a accident like it was ruled. She thinks it was set up or a part of a bigger plan. When Kate starts getting emails from Grace, she wonders how its possible, saying dead girls can't use computers.
Kate teams up with her nerdy but cute neighbor Seth and the school bad boy Liam to figure out what is going on. Both boys had a place in my heart from the start.
There is more to the school Pemberly Brown than Kate realizes at first. There are secret societies. There are truths that need to be uncovered. There are hidden doorways. There are mysteries that she needs to solve!
Kate was the perfect narrator, she was just like Nancy Drew putting her heart and soul into solving the case. I also liked the flashbacks to before the fire. We get to learn more about Kate and Grace's friendship. We get to know Grace more as a person and what she was like.
I also liked all the side characters, even if some of them were jerky. They made Kate want to dig deeper and find out the truth and what happened that night.
The Liar Society was a quick mysterious read. It had all the right ingredients of a true mystery novel.
I never saw the ending coming, and I couldn't believe all the secrets we found out throughout the book. All the pieces of the puzzle started to come together and I understood exactly what happened.
Overall: I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the fast pace and how easy it was to read. The words flowed right along.
Cover: Really like the cover. Pink hair is cool!
What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
Taken from Princess Bookie
Kate teams up with her nerdy but cute neighbor Seth and the school bad boy Liam to figure out what is going on. Both boys had a place in my heart from the start.
There is more to the school Pemberly Brown than Kate realizes at first. There are secret societies. There are truths that need to be uncovered. There are hidden doorways. There are mysteries that she needs to solve!
Kate was the perfect narrator, she was just like Nancy Drew putting her heart and soul into solving the case. I also liked the flashbacks to before the fire. We get to learn more about Kate and Grace's friendship. We get to know Grace more as a person and what she was like.
I also liked all the side characters, even if some of them were jerky. They made Kate want to dig deeper and find out the truth and what happened that night.
The Liar Society was a quick mysterious read. It had all the right ingredients of a true mystery novel.
I never saw the ending coming, and I couldn't believe all the secrets we found out throughout the book. All the pieces of the puzzle started to come together and I understood exactly what happened.
Overall: I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the fast pace and how easy it was to read. The words flowed right along.
Cover: Really like the cover. Pink hair is cool!
What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
Taken from Princess Bookie
Merged review:
My Thoughts: We are introduced to Kate Lowry who has lost her best friend Grace. She's confused, she misses her, she's devastated. Grace died in a fire and Kate just knows theres more to the story than what anyone thinks. She doesn't think it was a accident like it was ruled. She thinks it was set up or a part of a bigger plan. When Kate starts getting emails from Grace, she wonders how its possible, saying dead girls can't use computers.
Kate teams up with her nerdy but cute neighbor Seth and the school bad boy Liam to figure out what is going on. Both boys had a place in my heart from the start.
There is more to the school Pemberly Brown than Kate realizes at first. There are secret societies. There are truths that need to be uncovered. There are hidden doorways. There are mysteries that she needs to solve!
Kate was the perfect narrator, she was just like Nancy Drew putting her heart and soul into solving the case. I also liked the flashbacks to before the fire. We get to learn more about Kate and Grace's friendship. We get to know Grace more as a person and what she was like.
I also liked all the side characters, even if some of them were jerky. They made Kate want to dig deeper and find out the truth and what happened that night.
The Liar Society was a quick mysterious read. It had all the right ingredients of a true mystery novel.
I never saw the ending coming, and I couldn't believe all the secrets we found out throughout the book. All the pieces of the puzzle started to come together and I understood exactly what happened.
Overall: I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the fast pace and how easy it was to read. The words flowed right along.
Cover: Really like the cover. Pink hair is cool!
What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
Taken from Princess Bookie
July 27, 2011
While I was reading this book, I was all set to give it a four-star, maybe even five-star, rating. But then I got to the end, and... :(
I love mysteries. The only TV shows I watch are British murder mysteries, like Agatha Christie's Poirot and (my favourite) Midsomer Murders. I guess, coming from those shows, which can be incredibly complex, THE LIAR SOCIETY may just have been too juvenile for me.
The positives first, though. I finished the book in a matter of two days or so, which is really good and fast for me. The pace was really fast, and I loved how short the chapters were. I liked Kate, even though I never really felt like I got to know her.
Okay, now some negatives. The "mystery" was way too convoluted and vague. Even at the end, during the supposed "big reveal," I never figured out exactly what the secret societies did. What was their purpose? Exactly what secrets were they hiding, and what lies were they telling? The book goes on and on about the secrets and the lies, but we never got to find out what the heck they were actually hiding. That was kind of infuriating. And the characters... while I liked Kate all right and I loved Seth, I had a hard time keeping track of some of the others. I straight-up forgot who Alistair was for most of the book, and Liam and Bradley kept mixing up in my head. Speaking of characters, the romance? Completely half-hearted, with no chemistry whatsoever. I had no freaking idea why Kate and Liam even liked each other.
Well, I say that I liked Kate, but in reality there were a few things that really bugged me about her. Calling the bigger girl Beefany was one of them. I don't care if Bethany isn't very nice or whatever, but that nickname is horrid. Coupled with Kate's remarks about "slutty" girls and her random distain for Seth, her judgemental tone and general holier-than-thou attitude towards a lot of things really rubbed me the wrong way.
Then there's the whole thing with Grace. If she turned out to be dead the entire time, who was the "ghost"? Who was that black-haired figure Kate kept seeing everywhere, if it wasn't a ghost? If it was supposed to be a ghost, why was that whole paranormal angle completely neglected? And I had a problem with Grace, to begin with. Even when Grace was alive in the flashbacks and whenever Kate thought or spoke about her, I didn't like her at all. I never got a sense of genuine friendship between her and Kate. She felt like a mean, manipulative person, and I kept waiting for the novel to have a giant twist and have Grace be the bad guy. That felt like the direction the plot was going to take, and when, instead, it completely fizzled out in a big non-confrontation, I was pretty disappointed.
So, two stars. A lot of things I liked (oh, I really liked the setting!), but the things I hated overshadow them. Too bad, because I really wanted to like this one.
ETA: Oh, and where the heck was Cameron during the whole book?!?! Where did he conveniently disappear to? So confused by this.
I love mysteries. The only TV shows I watch are British murder mysteries, like Agatha Christie's Poirot and (my favourite) Midsomer Murders. I guess, coming from those shows, which can be incredibly complex, THE LIAR SOCIETY may just have been too juvenile for me.
The positives first, though. I finished the book in a matter of two days or so, which is really good and fast for me. The pace was really fast, and I loved how short the chapters were. I liked Kate, even though I never really felt like I got to know her.
Okay, now some negatives. The "mystery" was way too convoluted and vague. Even at the end, during the supposed "big reveal," I never figured out exactly what the secret societies did. What was their purpose? Exactly what secrets were they hiding, and what lies were they telling? The book goes on and on about the secrets and the lies, but we never got to find out what the heck they were actually hiding. That was kind of infuriating. And the characters... while I liked Kate all right and I loved Seth, I had a hard time keeping track of some of the others. I straight-up forgot who Alistair was for most of the book, and Liam and Bradley kept mixing up in my head. Speaking of characters, the romance? Completely half-hearted, with no chemistry whatsoever. I had no freaking idea why Kate and Liam even liked each other.
Well, I say that I liked Kate, but in reality there were a few things that really bugged me about her. Calling the bigger girl Beefany was one of them. I don't care if Bethany isn't very nice or whatever, but that nickname is horrid. Coupled with Kate's remarks about "slutty" girls and her random distain for Seth, her judgemental tone and general holier-than-thou attitude towards a lot of things really rubbed me the wrong way.
Then there's the whole thing with Grace. If she turned out to be dead the entire time, who was the "ghost"? Who was that black-haired figure Kate kept seeing everywhere, if it wasn't a ghost? If it was supposed to be a ghost, why was that whole paranormal angle completely neglected? And I had a problem with Grace, to begin with. Even when Grace was alive in the flashbacks and whenever Kate thought or spoke about her, I didn't like her at all. I never got a sense of genuine friendship between her and Kate. She felt like a mean, manipulative person, and I kept waiting for the novel to have a giant twist and have Grace be the bad guy. That felt like the direction the plot was going to take, and when, instead, it completely fizzled out in a big non-confrontation, I was pretty disappointed.
So, two stars. A lot of things I liked (oh, I really liked the setting!), but the things I hated overshadow them. Too bad, because I really wanted to like this one.
ETA: Oh, and where the heck was Cameron during the whole book?!?! Where did he conveniently disappear to? So confused by this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2016
I didn't love the characters in this, but they were okay.
This was an okay read, although there were quite a few times where I started to feel a bit bored. It didn't drag too badly though thankfully.
Overall, An okay read.
This was an okay read, although there were quite a few times where I started to feel a bit bored. It didn't drag too badly though thankfully.
Overall, An okay read.
January 29, 2018
Aweful. Characters were very annoying. Really cringy. DONT READ.
June 8, 2011
A number of reviewers have pointed out that the most obvious influences for The Liar Society are Veronica Mars and Nancy Drew. This is true. Unfortunately, this book won't be supplanting Veronica or Nancy in my affections anytime soon.
For one thing, the parallels between VM struck me as awfully... numerous. If they were accidental, so be it, but if they were intentional, it's a whole lot of homage.
- The main character, Kate Lowry, has become a loner after the death of her best friend, Grace.
- Flashbacks to the period before Grace's death include lines like, "I've got a secret." (NB: the secret was NOT, "I'm banging Aaron Echolls and have videos.")
- Kate has a male friend (very firmly "friend zone") who conveniently works in the office at their prep school, and has access to tardy slips and keys.
- Kate pursues the mystery behind her friend's death doggedly, despite threats and ominous pronouncements like, "You're close. Probably too close."
While the authors did do a good job with atmosphere, particularly at tense moments in the narrative, I found the mystery rather predictable.
While Kate herself is likable, several of the secondary characters seemed flat to me. It's one of those cases in which characterization consists largely of saying the same thing about a character over and over again. I lost track of how many times Maddie's weight was brought up: a year before the book opens, Maddie was chunky. We know this because Kate points it out about 40 times. Maddie's clothes were too tight. Maddie is self-conscious. Maddie likes ice cream. Maddie's pants split once at a dance. In the present-day narrative, Maddie's swung in the other direction and lost too much weight, which Kate notices just as often. (Maybe she dropped ya 'cause you're obsessed with her weight, Kate! Okay, okay, kidding.)
Seth, Kate's office-working friend, has frizzy red hair, harbors a not-so-secret love for Kate, and is a conspiracy theory freak. I think his conspiracy penchant is supposed to be quirky in a dorky but endearing way, but it's brought up so frequently that he just sounds like a blossoming nutjob instead. A loyal nutjob, but a nutjob nonetheless. There's also a potential love interest for Kate who gets brought in on the sleuthing; he seems nice but otherwise just kind of generic. He's the bad boy who's not actually bad at all; he just likes music and wears t-shirts with band names on them.
I do applaud the writers for coming up with a fun concept for a YA novel. I really hoped I would like this one more than I did, and I know it will be much-loved by a number of readers (especially those who are actually in the target YA audience.) For me, it was an enjoyable read, but not one I'll be trying to talk everyone I know into picking up.
For one thing, the parallels between VM struck me as awfully... numerous. If they were accidental, so be it, but if they were intentional, it's a whole lot of homage.
- The main character, Kate Lowry, has become a loner after the death of her best friend, Grace.
- Flashbacks to the period before Grace's death include lines like, "I've got a secret." (NB: the secret was NOT, "I'm banging Aaron Echolls and have videos.")
- Kate has a male friend (very firmly "friend zone") who conveniently works in the office at their prep school, and has access to tardy slips and keys.
- Kate pursues the mystery behind her friend's death doggedly, despite threats and ominous pronouncements like, "You're close. Probably too close."
While the authors did do a good job with atmosphere, particularly at tense moments in the narrative, I found the mystery rather predictable.
While Kate herself is likable, several of the secondary characters seemed flat to me. It's one of those cases in which characterization consists largely of saying the same thing about a character over and over again. I lost track of how many times Maddie's weight was brought up: a year before the book opens, Maddie was chunky. We know this because Kate points it out about 40 times. Maddie's clothes were too tight. Maddie is self-conscious. Maddie likes ice cream. Maddie's pants split once at a dance. In the present-day narrative, Maddie's swung in the other direction and lost too much weight, which Kate notices just as often. (Maybe she dropped ya 'cause you're obsessed with her weight, Kate! Okay, okay, kidding.)
Seth, Kate's office-working friend, has frizzy red hair, harbors a not-so-secret love for Kate, and is a conspiracy theory freak. I think his conspiracy penchant is supposed to be quirky in a dorky but endearing way, but it's brought up so frequently that he just sounds like a blossoming nutjob instead. A loyal nutjob, but a nutjob nonetheless. There's also a potential love interest for Kate who gets brought in on the sleuthing; he seems nice but otherwise just kind of generic. He's the bad boy who's not actually bad at all; he just likes music and wears t-shirts with band names on them.
I do applaud the writers for coming up with a fun concept for a YA novel. I really hoped I would like this one more than I did, and I know it will be much-loved by a number of readers (especially those who are actually in the target YA audience.) For me, it was an enjoyable read, but not one I'll be trying to talk everyone I know into picking up.
February 14, 2011
The Liar Society follow Kate Lowry, living in a prestigious boarding school in the aftermath of her best friend Grace’s death. Kate is confused and lost, wondering what could possibly have turned life so horribly upside down when she receives an email from Grace, saying that she needs Kate to figure out what happened to her – and to be careful. Up until now, Kate was certain that dead girls didn’t send emails, but now Kate has the chance to prove that Grace’s death was more than the accident it seemed. Teaming up with the cute and nerdy neighbor, Seth, and the ultimate bad boy at school, Liam, Kate is determined to find the truth once and for all.
I’ve been reading Lisa and Laura Roecker’s blog forever, and when I say forever, I mean since the day I started my blog. Literally. Debut authors, Lisa and Laura are a sister duo, self-described as “The Hilton sisters – spray tans + brains – 4 inches + 20 (ok, 30) pounds / Cleveland, OH.” Seriously witty and original, the sisters have created a mystery story in The Liar Society that’s equal parts adventure, mystery and intrigue. Throw a little pinch of oh-so-cute romance into the mix, and The Liar Society is, essentially the epitome of a slam-dunk debut.
The Liar Society presents one of the most likeable heroines I’ve ever read. Kate has these hilarious one-liners that are so fresh and fantastic that I want to slap myself for ever having read books with whiny little female MCs. Kate, Liam and Seth perfectly complement one another and add a dynamic of intrigue and fun to their already-developed personalities. Furthermore, I am pleased to say that, though set in a boarding school, The Liar Society is NOT rife with your stereotypical mean girls/rich students with all their baggage. Rather, the mystery fuels the plot, and the flashbacks that let us experience the friendship between Kate and Grace give us even more depth. You know what? Kate is like Veronica Mars – full of snark and sass, but with a mushy marshmallow interior hiding beneath her resilient personality.
I am going to sing the praises of The Liar Society from here until the sequel, so help me God. A twist between Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars, The Liar Society is fresh and fabulous, leaving us hanging just a little with an ending I truly did not expect. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I want the sequel. Now. I would recommend this books to all YA fans, especially those who like mysteries and contemporary fiction.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
I’ve been reading Lisa and Laura Roecker’s blog forever, and when I say forever, I mean since the day I started my blog. Literally. Debut authors, Lisa and Laura are a sister duo, self-described as “The Hilton sisters – spray tans + brains – 4 inches + 20 (ok, 30) pounds / Cleveland, OH.” Seriously witty and original, the sisters have created a mystery story in The Liar Society that’s equal parts adventure, mystery and intrigue. Throw a little pinch of oh-so-cute romance into the mix, and The Liar Society is, essentially the epitome of a slam-dunk debut.
The Liar Society presents one of the most likeable heroines I’ve ever read. Kate has these hilarious one-liners that are so fresh and fantastic that I want to slap myself for ever having read books with whiny little female MCs. Kate, Liam and Seth perfectly complement one another and add a dynamic of intrigue and fun to their already-developed personalities. Furthermore, I am pleased to say that, though set in a boarding school, The Liar Society is NOT rife with your stereotypical mean girls/rich students with all their baggage. Rather, the mystery fuels the plot, and the flashbacks that let us experience the friendship between Kate and Grace give us even more depth. You know what? Kate is like Veronica Mars – full of snark and sass, but with a mushy marshmallow interior hiding beneath her resilient personality.
I am going to sing the praises of The Liar Society from here until the sequel, so help me God. A twist between Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars, The Liar Society is fresh and fabulous, leaving us hanging just a little with an ending I truly did not expect. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I want the sequel. Now. I would recommend this books to all YA fans, especially those who like mysteries and contemporary fiction.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
April 2, 2013
Wow. Totally not what I expected! Like seriously so much better than what I hoped for. I thought this was going to be another normal YA contemporary romance but no...I was mind blown. It's actually a thriller/mystery read.
I mean with that title and that cover...It's so deceiving and I meant that in a good way. I love the simplicity of the plot yet Roecker was able to stretch it so much further. I love how it went from simple to super duper mysterious. It has that creepy and thrilling factor that makes it unputtdownable. I love the latin phrases and how it really does make a lot of sense to the book overall.
I love the concept of Pemberly Brown, the history, the tradition, the structure it makes me want to go there! I think Roecker was able to make the school really come to life. I love all the secrets, the finding, the clues, the chasing and the answers. (Though I find of guessed it!) But still, it's gripping and engaging.
I absolutely love the characters. I love Kate, Liam and Seth. I love that duo and I love how everything is so unexpected. The pace goes quick but good, not too much, not too little. It makes sure to drop all these clues while it's happening. I love how Roecker makes you think that you have the answer but no. She has something more in her sleeves! It's a never-ending man hunt.
I love Kate's personality, she's funny, sarcastic, full of humor and just so fun to read. Despite being a dark and mysterious novel, she never fails to make the reader laugh and I think that's really a good combination. Gosh, I love Seth's nerd/geek-ness because hey, they're proven very helpful in the love. I love Liam's super dark and sexy personality that just ohhh so swoon-worthy.
I think that Roecker's writing does add up to the mysteriousness of the book. I think that she's written it well, with the pacing and the secrets. She has a wild variety of characters with different and unpredictable personalities. She lays out a lot of things for the readers to enjoy and every chapter is a cliffhanger I tell you.
Dark but funny. What a perfection combination!
I mean with that title and that cover...It's so deceiving and I meant that in a good way. I love the simplicity of the plot yet Roecker was able to stretch it so much further. I love how it went from simple to super duper mysterious. It has that creepy and thrilling factor that makes it unputtdownable. I love the latin phrases and how it really does make a lot of sense to the book overall.
I love the concept of Pemberly Brown, the history, the tradition, the structure it makes me want to go there! I think Roecker was able to make the school really come to life. I love all the secrets, the finding, the clues, the chasing and the answers. (Though I find of guessed it!) But still, it's gripping and engaging.
I absolutely love the characters. I love Kate, Liam and Seth. I love that duo and I love how everything is so unexpected. The pace goes quick but good, not too much, not too little. It makes sure to drop all these clues while it's happening. I love how Roecker makes you think that you have the answer but no. She has something more in her sleeves! It's a never-ending man hunt.
I love Kate's personality, she's funny, sarcastic, full of humor and just so fun to read. Despite being a dark and mysterious novel, she never fails to make the reader laugh and I think that's really a good combination. Gosh, I love Seth's nerd/geek-ness because hey, they're proven very helpful in the love. I love Liam's super dark and sexy personality that just ohhh so swoon-worthy.
I think that Roecker's writing does add up to the mysteriousness of the book. I think that she's written it well, with the pacing and the secrets. She has a wild variety of characters with different and unpredictable personalities. She lays out a lot of things for the readers to enjoy and every chapter is a cliffhanger I tell you.
Dark but funny. What a perfection combination!
March 10, 2017
This book did not have to be as long as it did, for the amount of story that is told to us, it was simply unnecessary.
None of the characters are likable, Kate is borderline a bitch if you consider about the way thinks and the way she treated Seth. The romance was random and completely superficial, the only reason why Kate liked Liam was because he was hot. Full Stop.
The twist isn't much of a twist, the mystery was more complicated than it needed to be. Halfway through the story I realised the title eludes to secret societies, which is just stupid to me.
I like my murder mysteries to be one killer with one penultimate goal, whilst Alistair's was just fucking stupid. The way he does it was imbecilic, I'm surprised Kate couldn't figure it out sooner.
I slogged through this book, and only because I had a book count to think about.
Bottom line, it's not worth the effort considering the utter bullshit ending.
None of the characters are likable, Kate is borderline a bitch if you consider about the way thinks and the way she treated Seth. The romance was random and completely superficial, the only reason why Kate liked Liam was because he was hot. Full Stop.
The twist isn't much of a twist, the mystery was more complicated than it needed to be. Halfway through the story I realised the title eludes to secret societies, which is just stupid to me.
I like my murder mysteries to be one killer with one penultimate goal, whilst Alistair's was just fucking stupid. The way he does it was imbecilic, I'm surprised Kate couldn't figure it out sooner.
I slogged through this book, and only because I had a book count to think about.
Bottom line, it's not worth the effort considering the utter bullshit ending.
December 7, 2014
I love mysteries. It's the mystery part of every novel that makes me want to keep reading. It entertains me to read mysteries because they challenge me to think. The liar society is like Nancy Drew, but way cooler 27 times funnier. the way Lisa Roecker makes the characters sound like real teens. Kate Lowry is the girl i wish i could, be good looking, super smart, extremely cool, and have sassy attitude. Kate is like half detective half outcast. she tries to find out who or what killed her bestie. With secret sisterhoods and brotherhoods, you will never get bored well reading the liar society. I LOVE THIS BOOK
Read
September 13, 2016DNF @ 5% - this is really boring and I'm already skimming a bunch. Calling it now.
January 12, 2018
The "secret society" aspect was executed in a spooky kind of way (for example, with the tunnels). I found the middle slow-moving and repetitive. Also, I didn't like how she used Seth to further her own ends in finding out what happened to Grace. It was obvious she was leading him on for her own gain. She does get better by the end, though.
The ending was kind of unsatisfactory because things don't get wrapped up nicely, but at the same time it provides a stepping stone for the sequel. I found it a little anti-climactic because the secret societies weren't as ruthless as I thought they would be.
The ending was kind of unsatisfactory because things don't get wrapped up nicely, but at the same time it provides a stepping stone for the sequel. I found it a little anti-climactic because the secret societies weren't as ruthless as I thought they would be.
August 27, 2020
Pros:
1) The setting. I love prep schools especially when they have creepy histories and lots of traditions.
2) The pace. This was a quick read, with short chapters and a fairly engrossing story.
3) The overall theme of secret societies and wealthy evil people.
Cons:
1) How undeveloped all the characters were. I never got a sense of ANY of the characters’ motivations or anything.
2) The ending. Conclusion but not resolution and it left me dangling. Not a fan. It was extremely unsatisfactory.
3) Plot holes.
4) How the MC treated one of the supporting characters, a nerdy boy who was clearly besotted with her. She used him and that behavior was and remained acceptable throughout the book.
1) The setting. I love prep schools especially when they have creepy histories and lots of traditions.
2) The pace. This was a quick read, with short chapters and a fairly engrossing story.
3) The overall theme of secret societies and wealthy evil people.
Cons:
1) How undeveloped all the characters were. I never got a sense of ANY of the characters’ motivations or anything.
2) The ending. Conclusion but not resolution and it left me dangling. Not a fan. It was extremely unsatisfactory.
3) Plot holes.
4) How the MC treated one of the supporting characters, a nerdy boy who was clearly besotted with her. She used him and that behavior was and remained acceptable throughout the book.
February 12, 2013
Posting this on both this book's page and The Lies That Bind's since this is more of a series review.
Originally reviewed on reutreads, a young adult book blog.
I am very conflicted about this series. On one hand, the books are enjoyable reads. They are quick paced and the writing flows nicely. (More on this later.) On the other, there are some problematic things about the books I did not enjoy.
- forced quirkiness and "cool" voice
Kate is... interesting. She is obviously a damaged character who never quite recovered from her best friend's death. Deep down, she has always believed there was more to the fire that killed Grace, and when she is given the chance to find out what this is, she jumps at it. The thing is, I don't think that after a year, Kate should sound quite so mean and offputting. I've heard that other readers found Kate to be a HBIC role model and this is pretty troubling to me. For one thing, she is really, really judgmental. Taylor, the "mean girl" of the novel (can you tell I hate having to use that term?) barely ever speaks in the first book and Kate is quick to write her off as a typical high-school teen queen. Taylor's henchwoman, Bethany, who seems pretty awesome to me, is described as big boned. She is referred to by Kate as Beefany for the rest of the novel. I'm serious.
Kate also has all these characteristics and "quirks" that are probably supposed to make her seem "cool." Instead they just ended up alienating me. There is precisely zero reasoning as to why she has pink and later, blue hair. Yes, it's symbolic of a change, I suppose. But seriously? The pink hair thing does not make me connect to her. Also, she constantly makes these cracks about bikes and how much she hates bikes and how much biking is uncool. Sometimes she unbuttons some extra buttons in the hopes of getting information, and she also calls her boobs "the girls." It was just plain weird, not to mention disturbing.
- no reason for romance
Cheese and rice, it's a mystery novel! There is absolutely no reason why Kate needs a romance storyline. This book also contains one of my most hated tropes, where the heroine is a self-described "loner" and "outcast" but then has three love interests. Ain't nobody got time for that.
But there are some beacons of light to the novel. As I mentioned above, the book is pretty fast paced which is aided by the writing style. The mystery itself did keep me guessing even if I was a little disappointing with its revelations, and I liked the atmosphere of Pemberly Brown. Boarding schools fo' life.
Originally reviewed on reutreads, a young adult book blog.
I am very conflicted about this series. On one hand, the books are enjoyable reads. They are quick paced and the writing flows nicely. (More on this later.) On the other, there are some problematic things about the books I did not enjoy.
- forced quirkiness and "cool" voice
Kate is... interesting. She is obviously a damaged character who never quite recovered from her best friend's death. Deep down, she has always believed there was more to the fire that killed Grace, and when she is given the chance to find out what this is, she jumps at it. The thing is, I don't think that after a year, Kate should sound quite so mean and offputting. I've heard that other readers found Kate to be a HBIC role model and this is pretty troubling to me. For one thing, she is really, really judgmental. Taylor, the "mean girl" of the novel (can you tell I hate having to use that term?) barely ever speaks in the first book and Kate is quick to write her off as a typical high-school teen queen. Taylor's henchwoman, Bethany, who seems pretty awesome to me, is described as big boned. She is referred to by Kate as Beefany for the rest of the novel. I'm serious.
Kate also has all these characteristics and "quirks" that are probably supposed to make her seem "cool." Instead they just ended up alienating me. There is precisely zero reasoning as to why she has pink and later, blue hair. Yes, it's symbolic of a change, I suppose. But seriously? The pink hair thing does not make me connect to her. Also, she constantly makes these cracks about bikes and how much she hates bikes and how much biking is uncool. Sometimes she unbuttons some extra buttons in the hopes of getting information, and she also calls her boobs "the girls." It was just plain weird, not to mention disturbing.
- no reason for romance
Cheese and rice, it's a mystery novel! There is absolutely no reason why Kate needs a romance storyline. This book also contains one of my most hated tropes, where the heroine is a self-described "loner" and "outcast" but then has three love interests. Ain't nobody got time for that.
But there are some beacons of light to the novel. As I mentioned above, the book is pretty fast paced which is aided by the writing style. The mystery itself did keep me guessing even if I was a little disappointing with its revelations, and I liked the atmosphere of Pemberly Brown. Boarding schools fo' life.
You can read a guest post from Lisa and Laura about secret societies here.
Full disclosure: Paige's review is very similar to mine in terms of things we both did not like; it's no intention of mine to use her ideas or words as my own.
December 30, 2010
When I first sat down to read this book yesterday, I only expected to read a few pages and then put it down until it was closer to its March release date, but before I knew it I was halfway done, and once you're that far, you can't put it down, right? Especially if it's as amazing as The Liar Society was? So, before I knew it, I was done with the book and dying to read the next, because if The Liar Society isn't one of the most thrilling and unique books out there, I don't know what is.
The Liar Society tells the story of Kate Lowry, a girl who hasn't felt the same since her best friend Grace died last year. Kate feels there was more to Grace's sudden demise than told, but after a year of seeing a shrink, Kate's learned to be quiet about her theories. Well, until an e-mail from Grace appears in her inbox, telling her to contact Cameron, Grace's some-what boyfriend, so she does, and before she knows it, she's hooked on the case and finding out the truth, even if means finding out disturbing secrets about her crush Liam and recruiting her nerdy neighbor Seth to be her side-kick. But is Kate prepared for the truth? Especially if it means uncovering more than she ever expected? Only time will tell in this thrilling mystery!
One of the things I loved most about this book were the characters, especially Kate. Kate is like a new Nancy Drew in the way that once she finds a mystery, she has a hard time stopping herself from seeking the truth, which is one of the main reasons why I loved Kate's character so much. Because with this trait, it was easy to see Kate was a fearless, smart, and witty character, one you not only didn't want to mess with but couldn't help but to root for. Along with Kate, came several other great characters, such as the charming and secretive Liam, a boy who's after Kate's heart if she'll let him close, and Seth, Kate's sidekick who managed to steal the show with his dweeby yet adorable antics time and time again.
Another high point of The Liar Society was the plot at hand. The plot of this contained so many mysteries, twists, and turns, that even the most truth-seeking of readers won't be able to figure out just what happened until the very last pages- a very, very good thing, in my opinion. Better yet, I loved how Lisa and Laura Roecker put the perfect touch of romance in this, one that leaves you eager for more of it in future sequels.
And this review wouldn't be complete if I didn't say at least once how amazing of authors Lisa and Laura Roecker are! They created such a great and believable world in this, one I hope readers, like myself, will be able to visit time and time again in the future.
Wit, romance, suspense, and action- this book has it all! I seriously can't express in words just how much I LOVED this book. Lisa and Laura? You've kind of created a fan-girl in me with this- one who can't wait to read more books involving Kate, Liam, and Seth and anyone else you two dream up.
Grade: A+
The Liar Society tells the story of Kate Lowry, a girl who hasn't felt the same since her best friend Grace died last year. Kate feels there was more to Grace's sudden demise than told, but after a year of seeing a shrink, Kate's learned to be quiet about her theories. Well, until an e-mail from Grace appears in her inbox, telling her to contact Cameron, Grace's some-what boyfriend, so she does, and before she knows it, she's hooked on the case and finding out the truth, even if means finding out disturbing secrets about her crush Liam and recruiting her nerdy neighbor Seth to be her side-kick. But is Kate prepared for the truth? Especially if it means uncovering more than she ever expected? Only time will tell in this thrilling mystery!
One of the things I loved most about this book were the characters, especially Kate. Kate is like a new Nancy Drew in the way that once she finds a mystery, she has a hard time stopping herself from seeking the truth, which is one of the main reasons why I loved Kate's character so much. Because with this trait, it was easy to see Kate was a fearless, smart, and witty character, one you not only didn't want to mess with but couldn't help but to root for. Along with Kate, came several other great characters, such as the charming and secretive Liam, a boy who's after Kate's heart if she'll let him close, and Seth, Kate's sidekick who managed to steal the show with his dweeby yet adorable antics time and time again.
Another high point of The Liar Society was the plot at hand. The plot of this contained so many mysteries, twists, and turns, that even the most truth-seeking of readers won't be able to figure out just what happened until the very last pages- a very, very good thing, in my opinion. Better yet, I loved how Lisa and Laura Roecker put the perfect touch of romance in this, one that leaves you eager for more of it in future sequels.
And this review wouldn't be complete if I didn't say at least once how amazing of authors Lisa and Laura Roecker are! They created such a great and believable world in this, one I hope readers, like myself, will be able to visit time and time again in the future.
Wit, romance, suspense, and action- this book has it all! I seriously can't express in words just how much I LOVED this book. Lisa and Laura? You've kind of created a fan-girl in me with this- one who can't wait to read more books involving Kate, Liam, and Seth and anyone else you two dream up.
Grade: A+
March 7, 2011
In a Sentence: A fun-filled debut with a heroine that could be Nancy Drew's sarcastic younger sister.
My Thoughts
I've heard several people (like Melissa @ I Swim for Oceans) mention that The Liar Society felt kind of like a mix between Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars. I think I'd probably agree with that description. The Liar Society is the story of a girl searching for answers in a world that does its best to keep those skeletons locked firmly in the closet. However, locked doors and question marks are no match for Kate Lowry. Fueled by the grief and confusion caused by the mysterious death of her best friend, Grace, Kate is canvassing town, trying to piece together the events that led to Grace's death.
First off, I really liked the way that the authors provided the details surrounding the night of Grace's death. Instead of doing a few chapters at the beginning when the incident occurs, The Liar Society begins after Grace's death, and later flashes back to the event as Kate remembers them. These flashbacks appear in the book every few chapters, which reveals the information to the reader gradually, allowing him or her to piece together the parts of the mystery as Kate is doing so herself. The flashbacks not only helped to tie together the story overall, but they also provided variety throughout the book, which helped to keep things interesting.
I also liked that the romance wasn't the main focus of the book. Not that there wasn't any, because there was, but it's refreshing to see a young adult book that isn't conforming to every single categorical stereotype that's popular at the moment (aka: head-pounding, heartbreaking, knee-knocking, head-over-heels puppy "love" between characters that have barely hit puberty). The main focus of the book is the mystery and Kate's struggle to come to terms with what happened to her best friend. Her love life is on the back-burner, but there's enough thrown in to attract those of you die-hard romantics out there as well.
My only problem with the book at all is a pretty small one, and it's that the mystery wasn't much of a mystery for me. I had it figured out from pretty early on in the book. From the other reviews I've read in the blogosphere, I seem to be in the minority though, so don't let this stop you from picking up The Liar Society. Though it didn't completely blow me out of the water, The Liar Society was a fun, enjoyable read that appears to be the start of a promising career for sisters Lisa and Laura Roecker!
My Thoughts
I've heard several people (like Melissa @ I Swim for Oceans) mention that The Liar Society felt kind of like a mix between Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars. I think I'd probably agree with that description. The Liar Society is the story of a girl searching for answers in a world that does its best to keep those skeletons locked firmly in the closet. However, locked doors and question marks are no match for Kate Lowry. Fueled by the grief and confusion caused by the mysterious death of her best friend, Grace, Kate is canvassing town, trying to piece together the events that led to Grace's death.
First off, I really liked the way that the authors provided the details surrounding the night of Grace's death. Instead of doing a few chapters at the beginning when the incident occurs, The Liar Society begins after Grace's death, and later flashes back to the event as Kate remembers them. These flashbacks appear in the book every few chapters, which reveals the information to the reader gradually, allowing him or her to piece together the parts of the mystery as Kate is doing so herself. The flashbacks not only helped to tie together the story overall, but they also provided variety throughout the book, which helped to keep things interesting.
I also liked that the romance wasn't the main focus of the book. Not that there wasn't any, because there was, but it's refreshing to see a young adult book that isn't conforming to every single categorical stereotype that's popular at the moment (aka: head-pounding, heartbreaking, knee-knocking, head-over-heels puppy "love" between characters that have barely hit puberty). The main focus of the book is the mystery and Kate's struggle to come to terms with what happened to her best friend. Her love life is on the back-burner, but there's enough thrown in to attract those of you die-hard romantics out there as well.
My only problem with the book at all is a pretty small one, and it's that the mystery wasn't much of a mystery for me. I had it figured out from pretty early on in the book. From the other reviews I've read in the blogosphere, I seem to be in the minority though, so don't let this stop you from picking up The Liar Society. Though it didn't completely blow me out of the water, The Liar Society was a fun, enjoyable read that appears to be the start of a promising career for sisters Lisa and Laura Roecker!
March 19, 2011
I heard so much positive buzz surrounding The Liar Society that I was a little afraid it wouldn't live up to all they hype. Quickly after starting the book, I knew I was a total fool for waiting so long to pick it up. This book is flat out amazingly entertaining and was so much more than I ever hoped for!
Seriously, what more could anyone want in a book than an elite Private School, an unsolved murder, a nerdy best friend and a hot guy fending for your attention!? I loved that for a second I'd be a hundred percent sure that a character was the murderer, than in the next chapter my feelings did a complete one-eighty! The clues added up so perfectly and I adored getting transported into the secrets of Pemberly Brown.
Kate is definitely one of my all time favorite main characters. She's witty, sarcastic and quirky. I admire that she always what's on her mind and is willing to do anything to prove that her best friend's death wasn't an accident.
The supporting characters where just perfection! All of their personalities were so unique from one another, but came together to make this amazingly crazy student body. I loved when reading that I could clearly relate the characters to people I went to high school with. I constantly found myself going, "Wow, we had a Beefany too!"
Liam and Seth were totally amazing! They were polar opposites of each other, Seth being the nerdy best friend and Liam, a mysterious bad boy with a past. Seth was so easy to like and feel compassion for. I adored that he stuck by Kate's side even though she was constantly turning him down. Liam was just plain hot! He was chivalrous and just had an all around great personality. Definitely a swoon worthy guy!
I never saw the ending coming! I don't want to say too much in fear of giving anything away, but it definitely left me wishing I had book two sitting next to me!
Characters: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Impact: 4/5
Overall: 5/5
The Liar Society is a stand out book in the young adult genre, I honestly haven't read anything like it. It had me staying up late at night to find out what happened to Kate and her crew. It was the perfect modern teen murder mystery that had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. You must pick up this book as soon as possible, I promise that you won't regret it!
Seriously, what more could anyone want in a book than an elite Private School, an unsolved murder, a nerdy best friend and a hot guy fending for your attention!? I loved that for a second I'd be a hundred percent sure that a character was the murderer, than in the next chapter my feelings did a complete one-eighty! The clues added up so perfectly and I adored getting transported into the secrets of Pemberly Brown.
Kate is definitely one of my all time favorite main characters. She's witty, sarcastic and quirky. I admire that she always what's on her mind and is willing to do anything to prove that her best friend's death wasn't an accident.
The supporting characters where just perfection! All of their personalities were so unique from one another, but came together to make this amazingly crazy student body. I loved when reading that I could clearly relate the characters to people I went to high school with. I constantly found myself going, "Wow, we had a Beefany too!"
Liam and Seth were totally amazing! They were polar opposites of each other, Seth being the nerdy best friend and Liam, a mysterious bad boy with a past. Seth was so easy to like and feel compassion for. I adored that he stuck by Kate's side even though she was constantly turning him down. Liam was just plain hot! He was chivalrous and just had an all around great personality. Definitely a swoon worthy guy!
I never saw the ending coming! I don't want to say too much in fear of giving anything away, but it definitely left me wishing I had book two sitting next to me!
Characters: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Impact: 4/5
Overall: 5/5
The Liar Society is a stand out book in the young adult genre, I honestly haven't read anything like it. It had me staying up late at night to find out what happened to Kate and her crew. It was the perfect modern teen murder mystery that had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. You must pick up this book as soon as possible, I promise that you won't regret it!
March 23, 2011
Pink hair! Pink Hair! Pink hair! I love the pink hair!
So this book was not at all what I was expecting.... for some reason I was thinking more along the lines of a fluffy read... I know the best friend is "dead" and that would probably suggest a more serious tone... but for some reason it didn't come across that way to me. But WOWZA this book was so much more than a fluffy mystery. Actually I wouldn't use the word fluffy to describe it at all. (And I don't mean to imply that fluffy reads are bad, because I do LOVE them!)
Who would have thought that I wouldn't be able to stop turning the pages, that it would be a constant guessing game.... I had lots of WHAT!?! moments... and I can't forget to mention the awesomeness of the main character Kate.
I don't pick up many YA mysteries I'm not really sure why.... actually I can't even think of any YA mysteries off the top of my head, well besides Y.S. Lee's Agency series (which I love) I don't really go out of my way to find them, but I can remember a point in my life when mysteries were my favorite genre! I mean I think I've read every Boxcar Children mystery book..... if there are more YA mysteries like The Liar Society you can guarantee I'll be picking them up as well. And if the MC is as cool as Kate... well then, it'll be an even bigger treat.
Kate has an awesome voice. You can't help but be drawn into her story. She's smart and stubborn.... infinitely cool in her own way without really trying to be (although she doesn't know it) I wish I would have been more like her. She seems very realistic and it only adds to the appeal of the story.
The story itself was a big guessing game. Whenever I thought I had something figured out, I didn't. And the ending totally threw me for a loop. I guess I was expecting the "obvious" ending and I should have known better. Start reading this book when you have plenty of time to dedicate to it, because you won't be able to stop turning the pages until you find out what exactly is going on.
The Liar Society was face paced, awesomely written, with great characters and an ever greater story-line. I can't wait to see what is in store for our dear Kate next!
Those Roecker gals made a fan out of me!
So this book was not at all what I was expecting.... for some reason I was thinking more along the lines of a fluffy read... I know the best friend is "dead" and that would probably suggest a more serious tone... but for some reason it didn't come across that way to me. But WOWZA this book was so much more than a fluffy mystery. Actually I wouldn't use the word fluffy to describe it at all. (And I don't mean to imply that fluffy reads are bad, because I do LOVE them!)
Who would have thought that I wouldn't be able to stop turning the pages, that it would be a constant guessing game.... I had lots of WHAT!?! moments... and I can't forget to mention the awesomeness of the main character Kate.
I don't pick up many YA mysteries I'm not really sure why.... actually I can't even think of any YA mysteries off the top of my head, well besides Y.S. Lee's Agency series (which I love) I don't really go out of my way to find them, but I can remember a point in my life when mysteries were my favorite genre! I mean I think I've read every Boxcar Children mystery book..... if there are more YA mysteries like The Liar Society you can guarantee I'll be picking them up as well. And if the MC is as cool as Kate... well then, it'll be an even bigger treat.
Kate has an awesome voice. You can't help but be drawn into her story. She's smart and stubborn.... infinitely cool in her own way without really trying to be (although she doesn't know it) I wish I would have been more like her. She seems very realistic and it only adds to the appeal of the story.
The story itself was a big guessing game. Whenever I thought I had something figured out, I didn't. And the ending totally threw me for a loop. I guess I was expecting the "obvious" ending and I should have known better. Start reading this book when you have plenty of time to dedicate to it, because you won't be able to stop turning the pages until you find out what exactly is going on.
The Liar Society was face paced, awesomely written, with great characters and an ever greater story-line. I can't wait to see what is in store for our dear Kate next!
Those Roecker gals made a fan out of me!
March 11, 2011
The Liar Society is one of those books that must be compulsively read. I’m talking up until 2AM, can’t sleep, can’t stop until the last page is turned, kind of read. The story moves along rapidly, with the undeniably awesome Kate Lowry searching for clues into her best friend Grace’s death. Kate is a spitfire, with a sarcastic nature, hardened shell, and an affinity for sleuthing. But above all that, she is a girl desperate to find out exactly what happened to her best friend. A piece of her was lost with Grace and Kate just wants to know why – the real reason why.
Lies abound in the book and each clue Kate unearths just leads to another mystery. To help her out is Seth, the adorkable ginger next door who is crushing on Kate hard, and Liam, the possible bad boy with a more than charming personality. I was drawn into Kate’s story from the very first page and I was just as desperate as her to find out what really happened to Grace.
Kate’s school, Pemberly Brown, is awash in history and private school lore. There are secret societies and hierarchies, mean girls and rich boys, fires, death, and sword fighting. Then there’s Kate Lowry, a normal girl on a mission. Lisa and Laura (LiLa) Roecker’s writing is quick-witted, sharp and had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion, but they never let you forget that Kate lost someone and she is hurting. Kate’s hunt for the truth kept me glued to each and every page, but I was never quite sure what would happen. The mystery of it is perfect and the ending is satisfying, but left me wanting more at the same time.
The Liar Society is a fast-paced, fun read with a strong lead in Kate and a cast of infinitely interesting and complex supporting characters. Not knowing who to trust and what version of the story is the real truth is half the reason the book is so addicting. The other half is a combination of the wonderful characters, the intelligent and oftentimes hilarious writing, and Kate. I’ll read this one over and over while I anxiously anticipate Kate’s next move and LiLa’s next story.
Lies abound in the book and each clue Kate unearths just leads to another mystery. To help her out is Seth, the adorkable ginger next door who is crushing on Kate hard, and Liam, the possible bad boy with a more than charming personality. I was drawn into Kate’s story from the very first page and I was just as desperate as her to find out what really happened to Grace.
Kate’s school, Pemberly Brown, is awash in history and private school lore. There are secret societies and hierarchies, mean girls and rich boys, fires, death, and sword fighting. Then there’s Kate Lowry, a normal girl on a mission. Lisa and Laura (LiLa) Roecker’s writing is quick-witted, sharp and had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion, but they never let you forget that Kate lost someone and she is hurting. Kate’s hunt for the truth kept me glued to each and every page, but I was never quite sure what would happen. The mystery of it is perfect and the ending is satisfying, but left me wanting more at the same time.
The Liar Society is a fast-paced, fun read with a strong lead in Kate and a cast of infinitely interesting and complex supporting characters. Not knowing who to trust and what version of the story is the real truth is half the reason the book is so addicting. The other half is a combination of the wonderful characters, the intelligent and oftentimes hilarious writing, and Kate. I’ll read this one over and over while I anxiously anticipate Kate’s next move and LiLa’s next story.
April 27, 2011
There are many books that begin with a bang, and then by the end, they fizzle out and have merely transformed into a throbbing headache. "The Liar Society" by Lisa and Laura Roecker is NOT such a book. In fact, it is the kind of book that begins with a bang, and ends in a grand finale of amazing fireworks, with a complete bandstand playing in the background. And all of this coming from a reader who is a COMPLETE skeptic when it comes to books like "The Liar Society".
From the very first page, and the very first few lines, "The Liar Society" sucks you right into the whirlpool of secrets and mysteries that are abound within the novel. I love that beneath the humorous narrative, the quirkiness of the characters, and the funny dialogue is a simple story of how far a friend will go for another friend. How secrets can compound and hinder so much of your life. Kate Lowry lost her best friend Grace to a fire on a night that still does not make any sense to her. When she finds an email written to her by Grace, it sends her spiraling into a quest for clues to her friend's death, and to find closure for a wound that never quite healed.
I love the world that Lisa & Laura Roecker have created. Pemberley Brown goes beyond being merely an uppity private school - it happens to be a world within a world. And although we see some stereotypes which are a given among any high school crowd, the authors have made sure that all the characters, even the minor ones, are truly multi-faceted. Just when you think you know all about a character, this book reveals to you a side of them you never thought was possible. This mastery of characterization, the wonderful mystery that kept me hooked until the very end of the novel and left me begging for more, along with the beautiful way in which friendship was portrayed in this book made this book truly an exceptional read. I would recommend it to all YA lovers who also enjoy mystery - just make sure you take a flashlight to bed, I know I did, I just could not put it down! :)
From the very first page, and the very first few lines, "The Liar Society" sucks you right into the whirlpool of secrets and mysteries that are abound within the novel. I love that beneath the humorous narrative, the quirkiness of the characters, and the funny dialogue is a simple story of how far a friend will go for another friend. How secrets can compound and hinder so much of your life. Kate Lowry lost her best friend Grace to a fire on a night that still does not make any sense to her. When she finds an email written to her by Grace, it sends her spiraling into a quest for clues to her friend's death, and to find closure for a wound that never quite healed.
I love the world that Lisa & Laura Roecker have created. Pemberley Brown goes beyond being merely an uppity private school - it happens to be a world within a world. And although we see some stereotypes which are a given among any high school crowd, the authors have made sure that all the characters, even the minor ones, are truly multi-faceted. Just when you think you know all about a character, this book reveals to you a side of them you never thought was possible. This mastery of characterization, the wonderful mystery that kept me hooked until the very end of the novel and left me begging for more, along with the beautiful way in which friendship was portrayed in this book made this book truly an exceptional read. I would recommend it to all YA lovers who also enjoy mystery - just make sure you take a flashlight to bed, I know I did, I just could not put it down! :)
man-overboard
May 15, 2011I had to call it quits on this one. Something tells me if I looked up Lisa Roecker's facebook page I might find Veronica Mars listed under favorite TV shows:
a)Dead BFF with intense, scary boyfriend. Oh, and she's "got a seeeeecret." (Hi Lily and Logan!)
b)New BFF works in the attendance office and can find out school records and hand out tardy slips. (Hey Wallace!)
c) There's some angst with the most popular guy in the school. (Hi Duncan!)
And while I enjoy the occasional hat tip or tribute to an awesome predecessor, when it's so similar it invites a direct comparison? Well:
Turns out I wasn't in the mood.
a)Dead BFF with intense, scary boyfriend. Oh, and she's "got a seeeeecret." (Hi Lily and Logan!)
b)New BFF works in the attendance office and can find out school records and hand out tardy slips. (Hey Wallace!)
c) There's some angst with the most popular guy in the school. (Hi Duncan!)
And while I enjoy the occasional hat tip or tribute to an awesome predecessor, when it's so similar it invites a direct comparison? Well:
Turns out I wasn't in the mood.
September 7, 2010
I LOVE this book! The mystery is totally engrossing and will have you guessing until the final chapters. The main character, Kate Lowry, is charming, witty, and endearing--you'll be frightened for her when she's in danger, angry when things don't go her way, and, ultimately, proud of who she becomes. I can't wait for more in the series!
March 15, 2011
Loved this one! I really liked Kate's voice and how real her grief and loss was. It also brought back my own memories of being a teenager and seeing adults through a teen's eyes. I enjoyed the Latin and the different stations and how both secret societies had deep roots in time and society. Can't wait for the sequel!
Contains moderate swearing.
Contains moderate swearing.
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