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Little Blue Lies
Two teens discover the true danger of love in this gripping novel from Printz Honor–winning author Chris Lynch.
Oliver loves Junie Blue. That’s true. Pretty much everything else is a lie. Both known for their deceit, Junie and O’s relationship was the only honest thing they had. But now that’s over. Oliver’s been dumped, and he’s miserable. Junie says they’re done. Unless she’s lying?
Junie’s father works for One Who Knows, the head of an organized crime family. He won’t tell O where Junie is, not even after O hears a rumor that Junie’s won the lottery—and that One Who Knows expects to be given her ticket. O fears Junie’s in danger, and he’s determined to come to her rescue. But is there honestly anything he can do?
Oliver loves Junie Blue. That’s true. Pretty much everything else is a lie. Both known for their deceit, Junie and O’s relationship was the only honest thing they had. But now that’s over. Oliver’s been dumped, and he’s miserable. Junie says they’re done. Unless she’s lying?
Junie’s father works for One Who Knows, the head of an organized crime family. He won’t tell O where Junie is, not even after O hears a rumor that Junie’s won the lottery—and that One Who Knows expects to be given her ticket. O fears Junie’s in danger, and he’s determined to come to her rescue. But is there honestly anything he can do?
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2014
11 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
About the author
Chris Lynch
61 books161 followersChris Lynch is the Printz Honor Award-winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including KILL SWITCH, ANGRY YOUNG MAN, and INEXCUSABLE, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. He is also the author of FREEWILL, GOLD DUST, ICEMAN, GYPSY DAVY, and SHADOWBOXER, all ALA Best Books for Young Adults; EXTREME ELVIN WHITECHURCH, and ALL THE OLD HAUNTS.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 9, 2014
Personally, I'd give Little Blue Lies 3 stars. But bigger picture, I think it definitely does have teen appeal (and it's a teen book, so bingo) so I'm giving it 4 stars. I don't know... it's pretty short, so I read it nearly overnight. I had one of those nights where you're sick and not asleep so you read a YA book. Maybe that's making me more "meh" about it than I should be.
Little Blue Lies follows two teens, Junie and Oliver, who are kind of dysfunctional. Like, Junie knows that her dad works for the local mob boss and she's heard of this mob boss (known only as One Who Knows) has hurt people in the past, but she still insists on standing up to him. That seems pretty dangerous for a teenage girl. And O? He just DOES NOT have it together. He's the only kid in a rich-rich family and he has absolutely no goals or motivations in life. He graduated high school but he doesn't have a job or plans or college applications out. He's just OBSESSED with getting Junie Blue back as his girlfriend.
So this book is told stream-of-consciousness from Oliver's mind. So it's a little rambling at points and definitely has some laugh-out-loud moments. I kept finding it really hard to remember that Oliver is 18; his thoughts and perceptions read much younger. Also, since the whole book is from his perspective, I imagine we miss out on some information.
My problem with the book is that about 2/3 through a WHOLE BUNCH of stuff happens that would never ever happen in real life. Like, the mob boss is out to get Junie so Oliver decides it's ok to let her go walk dogs, unaccompanied, in the mob boss's neighborhood? Junie's mom is getting beat down emotionally (and sometimes physically) by her husband on a regular basis so she leaves and goes to Oliver's house and the husband is just cool with that? Oliver needs to get away, so he takes his mom's car and his dad's gold card and checks in to the swankiest hotel in town, and none of the hotel employees question it? They just hand over the penthouse keys?
It was just a really well-written book (once you get used to the stream-of-consciousness) and pretty funny but then near the end all the pieces start falling in place way too conveniently. Way too many characters turn out to be 180 degrees different than you thought. Too unrealistic for realistic fiction. But hey; I can see plenty of teens (guys and girls!) reading this and laughing a little and enjoying it. Nothing wrong with leisure books!
Little Blue Lies follows two teens, Junie and Oliver, who are kind of dysfunctional. Like, Junie knows that her dad works for the local mob boss and she's heard of this mob boss (known only as One Who Knows) has hurt people in the past, but she still insists on standing up to him. That seems pretty dangerous for a teenage girl. And O? He just DOES NOT have it together. He's the only kid in a rich-rich family and he has absolutely no goals or motivations in life. He graduated high school but he doesn't have a job or plans or college applications out. He's just OBSESSED with getting Junie Blue back as his girlfriend.
So this book is told stream-of-consciousness from Oliver's mind. So it's a little rambling at points and definitely has some laugh-out-loud moments. I kept finding it really hard to remember that Oliver is 18; his thoughts and perceptions read much younger. Also, since the whole book is from his perspective, I imagine we miss out on some information.
My problem with the book is that about 2/3 through a WHOLE BUNCH of stuff happens that would never ever happen in real life. Like, the mob boss is out to get Junie so Oliver decides it's ok to let her go walk dogs, unaccompanied, in the mob boss's neighborhood? Junie's mom is getting beat down emotionally (and sometimes physically) by her husband on a regular basis so she leaves and goes to Oliver's house and the husband is just cool with that? Oliver needs to get away, so he takes his mom's car and his dad's gold card and checks in to the swankiest hotel in town, and none of the hotel employees question it? They just hand over the penthouse keys?
It was just a really well-written book (once you get used to the stream-of-consciousness) and pretty funny but then near the end all the pieces start falling in place way too conveniently. Way too many characters turn out to be 180 degrees different than you thought. Too unrealistic for realistic fiction. But hey; I can see plenty of teens (guys and girls!) reading this and laughing a little and enjoying it. Nothing wrong with leisure books!
February 21, 2014
It took me a while to get used to the writing style of this book but as soon as i did, i enjoyed it very much.
Oliver is such a interesting character. This is the first time a character is so obsessed with his love interest and yet he doesn't seem pathetic, i mean he is just a little bit because he was stalking June throughout the book but he was also very very funny considering the fact that his was sulking because June dumped him.
Junie was also a good character, in Young Adult books usually the heroine spends most of her time getting rescued by her boyfriend/love interest so it's really refreshing to see a dynamic girl who tries to survive by herself.
It was such a fun story to read and the ending was so good, it was exactly what those two needed.
December 29, 2022
I read this book for the 52 books in 52 weeks reading challenge. I used the 2019 reading challenge prompt read a book involving the mob or orgainized crime. I thought it was kindof dumb overall, but i did enjoy parts of it. It did have quite a few cuss words in it, more than i would have suspected from being located in the teen department.
May 25, 2018
I feel like I this book is a popular joke and I am the only one that doesn't get the punch line.
January 17, 2015
Oliver has just been dumped by Junie Blue, his long-time girlfriend, with whom he has been in the habit of playfully trading lies. They live in an area that is controlled by a crime boss, known as One Who Knows, and one of the things he insists on is that if anyone wins the lottery in his area, they give him the ticket in exchange for a large cash payout and payments and favor for the rest of their lives. Junie’s father is an abusive bully, and she defies him and leads everyone to believe that she has a winning lottery ticket that has disappeared. Oliver finds himself in the middle of the furor until he comes up with a way to save her from her situation, in the process learning about the way things really are.
I liked this book. It’s a good fast read, the characters (especially Oliver’s parents) are excellent, the big “A-hah!” at the end is well constructed, and the ending is satisfying. Lynch is a good writer, and knows what teens want. I got tired of the masturbation jokes for the first half of the story, but teens will be amused by them. This felt a little slick, like Lynch was trying to write a story that would flow well rather than a story that he wanted to tell, but it is well written and teens who like Lynch’s books (and realistic, slightly gritty modern fiction) will enjoy it.
I liked this book. It’s a good fast read, the characters (especially Oliver’s parents) are excellent, the big “A-hah!” at the end is well constructed, and the ending is satisfying. Lynch is a good writer, and knows what teens want. I got tired of the masturbation jokes for the first half of the story, but teens will be amused by them. This felt a little slick, like Lynch was trying to write a story that would flow well rather than a story that he wanted to tell, but it is well written and teens who like Lynch’s books (and realistic, slightly gritty modern fiction) will enjoy it.
December 30, 2015
Normally I love Lynch’s books, but this one left me cold. Oliver, known as O to his family and friends, is completely besotted with Junie. They work well together because they’re both liars. So when Junie breaks up with him, he thinks it’s a joke, a lie. But when it proves to be true, O stops short of nothing to get her back. He talks to her awful father, who tells him she’s dating someone new. Soon, he learns that Junie may have won the lotto. She should’ve given the money to the One Who Knows, but she may have kept it for herself, which could result in bad things.
Too many things happen in this book with no followup. Who is the One Who Knows? Why do Junie and O lie all the time? What is it about her that drives O wild? I thought this book could be a good pick for reluctant readers because of its short length, Ellen Hopkins-like cover and intriguing premise - mob involvement in lotto winnings with two lying teenagers. But ultimately the book fell flat. Too much dialogue, little character development, and no action.
Too many things happen in this book with no followup. Who is the One Who Knows? Why do Junie and O lie all the time? What is it about her that drives O wild? I thought this book could be a good pick for reluctant readers because of its short length, Ellen Hopkins-like cover and intriguing premise - mob involvement in lotto winnings with two lying teenagers. But ultimately the book fell flat. Too much dialogue, little character development, and no action.
August 14, 2014
It was okay. I loved the voice and the fantastic prose, but I didn't like Oliver himself all that much. He made me very nervous, actually. I constantly felt like shouting at him, "That's a mistake, dumba**! Why are you doing that?" Junie annoyed me to some extent, too. She was kind of a bitch. Also, nothing really happened in the book, you know? Plus, Oliver and Junie didn't even lie all that much! At least, not on a regular basis, just about big stuff that a lot of people would lie about! I feel misled. However, I could appreciate the romance, which was sweet, and the story was entertaining, so three stars.
Some time later...
Hey! I just realized they never said who was beating up Junie! I mean, we can assume it was her father, but...God, the whole book didn't really tie together. I still love the voice, but I'm knocking my rating down to two stars.
Well, actually, not the voice, just the prose.
Some time later...
Hey! I just realized they never said who was beating up Junie! I mean, we can assume it was her father, but...God, the whole book didn't really tie together. I still love the voice, but I'm knocking my rating down to two stars.
Well, actually, not the voice, just the prose.
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December 31, 2014Here's the summary from the catalog:
Two teens discover the true danger of love in this gripping novel from Printz Honor–winning author Chris Lynch.
Oliver loves Junie Blue. That’s true. Pretty much everything else is a lie. Both known for their deceit, Junie and O’s relationship was the only honest thing they had. But now that’s over. Oliver’s been dumped, and he’s miserable. Junie says they’re done. Unless she’s lying?
Junie’s father works for One Who Knows, the head of an organized crime family. He won’t tell O where Junie is, not even after O hears a rumor that Junie’s won the lottery—and that One Who Knows expects to be given her ticket. O fears Junie’s in danger, and he’s determined to come to her rescue. But is there honestly anything he can do?
Cannot. Wait.
Two teens discover the true danger of love in this gripping novel from Printz Honor–winning author Chris Lynch.
Oliver loves Junie Blue. That’s true. Pretty much everything else is a lie. Both known for their deceit, Junie and O’s relationship was the only honest thing they had. But now that’s over. Oliver’s been dumped, and he’s miserable. Junie says they’re done. Unless she’s lying?
Junie’s father works for One Who Knows, the head of an organized crime family. He won’t tell O where Junie is, not even after O hears a rumor that Junie’s won the lottery—and that One Who Knows expects to be given her ticket. O fears Junie’s in danger, and he’s determined to come to her rescue. But is there honestly anything he can do?
Cannot. Wait.
December 22, 2013
This is what I am loving about the young adult books I've read this year (well, some of them...but enough to notice a bit of a trend): they are witty, challenging, deal with hard topics in an honest and vulnerable way, and they never once make me feel as if I am reading something that is dumbed down for a younger generation. Chris Lynch's Little Blue Lies is another check in all of those categories. From the outset, Lynch establishes himself as an author who is not about to avoid big words simply because they are big words. He uses his words wisely and they fit. He sets the tone. And, most importantly, he maintains it throughout this book.
Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Dec. 26, 2013.
Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Dec. 26, 2013.
December 29, 2014
O and June have built their relationship on playful banter, jokes and… lies. When June abruptly ends their relationship O struggles to cope with his newfound single-dom while teetering on the edge of adulthood. In an attempt to win June back, and save her, O discovers that he may lack the white knight quality and still does not know what he wants to be when he grows up. Hurdling through an array of fun characters ranging from his hovering, mean-to-do-well mother to June’s father, an unapologetic enforcer for the local mafioso, we embark on a modern romance/ coming of age tale with the jagged edge of American classism.
Read the rest of the review at Becoming Books.
Read the rest of the review at Becoming Books.
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December 26, 2014From the first couple of pages, I was immediately reminded of Looking for Alaska by John Green. And the more I read, the more I was reminded of Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns. The writing style reminded me of John Green's style. The male protagonist reminded me of main characters from John's books. The female lead reminded me of John's characters.
And no matter how I tried, I just couldn't move past that and enjoy the story.
I can't give this book a rating because I feel like the reason I didn't like this book is all on me. I don't think this is a "bad" book by all means, it just wasn't for me.
And no matter how I tried, I just couldn't move past that and enjoy the story.
I can't give this book a rating because I feel like the reason I didn't like this book is all on me. I don't think this is a "bad" book by all means, it just wasn't for me.
May 26, 2015
Oliver and June lie to each other all the time. When June breaks up with O, did she really mean it? In a teen romance that actually reminded me of some of John Green's books, the characters of Junie Blue and Oliver are at times serious, then funny, then tense as the story progresses. Junie is dealing with an abusive family and may even be involved in something illegal and dangerous. It's up to Oliver to decide if she's really that important to him.
A brief tale, a quick read that's a good example of what's great about YA fiction these days -- likeable characters, snappy dialogue, an unpredictable plot. Fun!
A brief tale, a quick read that's a good example of what's great about YA fiction these days -- likeable characters, snappy dialogue, an unpredictable plot. Fun!
December 21, 2013
This is an incredibly weird book. Not weird in a bad way. I mean, I really enjoyed it. Weird in the way that I'm not really sure how to describe it. It's sort of a mystery/romance/cult fiction deal. One of the things I really love about young adult fiction is that genre is not really a thing for that age group. However, I normally can sort of narrow it down. Not so much with this one. However, it is awesome, so if you love books like I Am the Messenger or The Downside of Being Charlie, this one's for you.
December 2, 2016
3.5 Stars
I went into this book with no ideas about the plot and no expectations what so ever! I really enjoyed the plot and definitely reccomend this book to people who like books where breakups turn into renewed relationships, however I didn't enjoy the main character at all. I found the book a bit hard to read because I was so much more interested in ither characters but the first perosn point of view meant constantly being annoyed by the main character I didn't like. A bit unfortunate for me, but otherwise such a good book!
I went into this book with no ideas about the plot and no expectations what so ever! I really enjoyed the plot and definitely reccomend this book to people who like books where breakups turn into renewed relationships, however I didn't enjoy the main character at all. I found the book a bit hard to read because I was so much more interested in ither characters but the first perosn point of view meant constantly being annoyed by the main character I didn't like. A bit unfortunate for me, but otherwise such a good book!
November 25, 2015
Junie Blue suddenly dumps her boyfriend Oliver O’Brien immediately after high school graduation. When rumors start flying that she won the lottery and is being pursued by the mob, Oliver goes into action to save her even though she doesn’t want his help. Since the two of them constantly lie to each other, what is the truth? I realize that this author is well-regarded and most reviews are positive, but I couldn’t see the attraction to these characters at all.
March 24, 2014
It took me some time to get sympathetic toward the girl in this story, the damsel-who-won't-allow-herself-to-be in distress. I struggle with books that are written in present tense; it makes them feel immediate and tense and nerve-wracking, and sometimes that feeling isn't justified through the pacing of the story.
I also dislike when teens in books are smarter and quicker-witted than real life kids could ever be.
I also dislike when teens in books are smarter and quicker-witted than real life kids could ever be.
December 29, 2015
At first, when I started reading this book, I was like, "this book has a bad plot", but then, as the story began developing, I realized I had misjudged this book. To be honest, this had a very good theme "relationships cannot build off of lies". O and Junie were two stupid, careless teens, however, O was the one who wanted to do everything, despite Junie's feelings. At the end, I ended up loving this book. I highly recommend to everyone who reckons a good book.
July 23, 2014
This book was great. Definitely a good summer read to occupy your time. I tend to skim through some chapters if they get too lengthy but with this book I found it was difficult to follow unless you read every single word due to the slightly confusing narrating. Other than that it's a nice length. Long enough to occupy your time and short enough to keep the interest. Nice book.
February 2, 2014
An odd story of two liars destined and bound to be together, but when Junie drops Oliver, he just can't take it and tries to get her back, Trouble is she's from a mob-like family and on the run.
All's well that ends well as Junie comes back in a hot Corvette to whisk Oliver away.
It's just enough odd and easy and screwy to be likeable, as are most of Lynch's stories.
All's well that ends well as Junie comes back in a hot Corvette to whisk Oliver away.
It's just enough odd and easy and screwy to be likeable, as are most of Lynch's stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2014
I had no idea what was going on. The plot was weak, there were unnecessary characters, there was no arc or development, and the ending was disappointing. I felt like I was let down when I finished the book.
July 27, 2015
This was a good book. It is very well written but I just found the main character to be very annoying. He kept complaining about how much he wanted his ex girlfriend and kept asking why they broke up. He just really got on my nerves because he was being super clingy.
August 5, 2013
Neither as ambitious nor as well designed as Pieces (or several other Lynch books), but still a cut well-above your average YA romance.
Want to read
September 9, 2016Free to read on pulsit.com right now.
March 9, 2014
My first Chris Lynch book so not sure how it compares, but it's not your run of the mill YA love story. And I found it to be charming and pretty funny.
April 23, 2014
snapy dialogue. good for john green fans
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May 9, 2014It was really good, but the girl in it was a little bit of a jerk. She seemed too harsh and this is why i didn't understand why he liked her. Overall it was a funny book.
November 4, 2014
I loved this book! I have not been a big fan of Lynch in the past, so this book really surprised me. The characters were so well defined and fun. A great little romance.
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May 28, 2015Both blue in the title and a blue cover.
Find it at JMRL: http://aries.jmrl.org/record=b1306922~S9
Find it at JMRL: http://aries.jmrl.org/record=b1306922~S9
March 16, 2016
Interesting plot.
December 8, 2013
Read for review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews