Beautiful Lies

by Jessica Warman

Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins-so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they've lived with since their parents passed away, can't tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong-especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself?

Master storyteller Jessica Warman will keep readers guessing when everything they see-and everything they are told-suddenly becomes unreliable in this page-turning literary thriller.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary, Paranormal, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

432 pages, Hardcover

First published August 7, 2012

About the author

Jessica Warman is the author of Breathless, which received three starred reviews and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and Where the Truth Lies. The idea for Between came from an incident in her childhood, when a local boy went missing after a party on a yacht (he was eventually found, alive).

Reviews

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

let me just come right out and say what you are all thinking: worst title ever. i know, i know, titles are haaard, but so is writing a book. this title is lazy and it doesn't even seem appropriate for the story. i already ranted on this review about these "dime a dozen" titles, so i am not going to repeat myself, but dayuuuum...

and, no, i don't have any suggestions. because i am not a writer. i would probably have called it monochorionic monoamniotic ginger twins: the scariest kind!! which is probably worse. but at least it is memorable.

okay, enough about that. because i liked this one, even though i have some missed-opportunity-regrets, and some pretty serious questions and complaints.

my four stars are for the journey. i read this in a day when my nook* broke in the middle of a book i was reading, and i had to grab something before work. i had read Between by this author, and it as fine, and i was in the mood for something quick that i could read while i was waiting for nook-replacement. why should you care? you shouldn't - this is just how i write book reports. i ease in. you may skip ahead.

and this one was also fine, but better than Between, so it gets an extra star, is my method of star-rating. i enjoyed reading it, it was a definite page-turner, and i got really caught up in all the twists and turns. i had some problems, which i will go into in probably too much detail, but overall, i thought this was a fun ride.

long-winded caveat over.

right-o, so, as i have mentioned, this book is about monochorionic monoamniotic twins. which means, in the strictest scientific terms, they are creeeepy. and also that they shared, in the womb, one amniotic sac and one placenta. and that they shared, in the outside-life, physical manifestations of each others' pain. so when one twin goes missing, and the remaining one starts waking up with black eyes and shackle-burns on her wrists, and a big bloody gash on the back of her head, she knows her sister is probably in a really bad place.

and she has to find her, because no one else seems to be trying too hard, honestly. their parents both died long ago, and the twins have been living with their aunt and uncle and slow-but-sweet cousin charlie. but the adults don't seem overly concerned about her bleeding head-wound, either. her aunt just tells her to go take a shower and then she will disinfect it for her. which, i don't know - showering unsupervised with a bleeding head wound of unknown origin doesn't seem like the best course of action. fortunately, she disobeys and instead steals her uncle's car to go look for her sister. danger averted! (this all takes place before page 60 of a 400-page book, so don't get all squirrelly on me)

and it continues from there.

this seems to be a book-version of "don't ask, don't tell." don't ask too may questions when things seem unclear or confusing; don't tell the ending.

and i can certainly obey the one, but i can't not ask questions.because i have questions.

the inclusion of the metaphysical in this story seems to be an opportunity to write a lot of shit that doesn't really go anywhere, plot-wise, or goes too far and is too convenient. it works well as imagery, but a lot of it just seems to make the situation more complicated than it needs to be.

for example: that whole episode with the $10,000 and the "oh no, maybe she was killed because i took this money and i hate mr. hahn and i suspect him because he is kind of a jerk and - oh, wait - that is fake money? very OBVIOUSLY fake money? and i didn't even notice because i guess my abducted sister was clouding my eyes and brain so i would remember the sub-basement and use that memory to find her in another sub-basement?? even though i took it long before she was abducted, and i claim to have looked at it many times over the past few weeks and never noticed it was so obviously fake before??"

it just doesn't wash.

and why did sean keep rachel alive for so long? did i miss a point there? i may have, but that is confusing to me. he had no problem killing that other girl, but with rachel and officer epilepsy, he just ties them up?? and gives a series of long confessional speeches to alice and then kicks her a few times?? and related to that - how did alice die, really?? i assume all the kicks to the tummy and the head were bad, but she was able to summon enough strength to go down into that sub-basement, and then up out of the house and down the street before succumbing to her injuries? this is like one of those deaths in olde timey novels, where the woman just... dies. mysteriously. just as a plot-point, not because it is medically plausible. i mean, alice has been tied up in that sub-basement all that time and she's fine??

what gives??

i thought i was done there, but i'm not. so - how convenient was that ending, though?? it galls me when criminals are that chatty. "i am going to itemize all my crimes for you, out loud, but it is okay, because you will never escape my clutches because i am so sinister!!"

which is, technically, true, but STILL!!

sub-rant: so, and if all the stuff TJ was saying about rachel wanting to get away from alice and not liking her very much and having all these seeecrets is true - what does that do to the story? first of all, it makes alice/rachel a completely unreliable narrator. which i suppose she is already if she is having tea with ghosties and having visions, but more importantly - what does that do to the fact that she did indeed find alice? because it seems to be one-way-intuition; alice has been saving rachel her whole life - from choking, from hornets, from the car accident. so if she is attuned to her sister, but her sister is not attuned to her, that is fine. but if rachel was sending twin-signals to alice, how messed up is that?? "i grow weary of you, sister, but before i take off with the neighbor-boy, would you mind saving my life and...um...dying for me before i go?? but it is okay, you will be reunited with your ghost-lover, so it is cool, right? and can i wear your clothes after you die?? we cool??"

very impolite.

because this is kind of what i was hoping for. in the scene where she is recounting the car accident that killed her parents, she says:

I'm not sure how anyone else might have reacted in the same situation. A small part of me understood what had happened, but it was like my mind wouldn't allow me to fully grasp the reality. Maybe I was in shock. I didn't cry or scream or get out of the car. I just sat back down, waiting for someone to find us. I stared at my sister, who was still unconscious, and it occurred to me that she wouldn't remember any of this once she woke up. But I would...Even that night, as I lay in bed at my grandmother's house, I stared at the ceiling and mouthed the same phrase, until the rhythm of the words on my breath finally put me to sleep. I thought of Rachel in the next room, the fact that she hadn't woken up until an EMT held smelling salts beneath her nose, and repeated the words like they were a prayer: I wish I were you. I wish I were you.I wish I were you.

and so

i would have been totally fine with this book being nothing more than the coma-dreams of the twin-who-saw having forced herself in her sister's body. quasi-convenient, and maybe not completely original, but it would have been perfectly satisfying for me to realize it was all a dreeeeam.



it would have made the other bits make more sense, be more palatable. because you know what they say: "what happens in coma stays in coma." in that reality, anything goes. or so i assume. i have never been in a coma, but i can speculate that it is not all realism.

but noooooo, she went in another direction, and it kind of makes the parts that are problematic for me stand out more than they would otherwise. but - again - i did enjoy reading this, and if you want a really fast-paced mystery novel with lots and lots of reversals and twists, this is a good one. but don't sit down afterwards and pick it apart. it is a diversion, not a perfectly-constructed book with no authorial oversights.


*totally my fault and not any indication of the fragility of the product, which i got replaced for free and everyone was happy again. team BN!

come to my blog!

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely an odd story. One that will keep you on edge and defintiely thinking what the heck is happening here along the way.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off excuse me for a minute *shudders* okay nope not done *full body shudders*
I umm...well...just let me say....OMG I have no words for this book!! I don't even know how to begin this review because I am still in shock and my heart is in pieces. There are only a few books that have managed to take my breath away and this one is right at the top of that list. I honestly couldn't breathe throughout this book and I am still struggling to even after finishing it several days ago. Bare with me while I try to create some form of a review for you.

Alice and Rachel are identical twins and like all twins they share a special bond except their bond goes much deeper than most. I won't spoil it and tell you how deep their bond is because I think that reveal is awesome. I will say that what you think you know is not even the beginning. The story is basically about one sister being kidnapped and the other trying to save her. That is all you get, yup that's it. If I say anything more then it will spoil everything and I don't even know how to tell a piece of the story without ruining it and going on and on. Believe me this story is so so much more and you won't want to miss it.

The author did an amazing job with both Alica and Rachel. I was totally swept into their lives and I never knew what was real and what wasn't. I am realy becoming a fan of the creepy and Beautiful Lies had some very spooky moments. I would have loved to have seen more back story or really a prequel would be fantastic starring Rachel and Alice's mom. There is still so much that I want to know and I am just not ready to let these characters go. I totally felt that the sister looking for redemption got it and I am so proud of her for doing what needed to be done. This isn't an easy story to get through by any means but it is so worth it.

This story has to have some of the best twists I have ever read and there are definitely plenty of them in there. It sorta felt like a mind spin after awhile but in a good way. I just cant seem to get over how everything played out! Talk about your total shockers!! This is my first book by Jessica Warman and I can definitely tell you it won't be my last!! Amazing book!

This review and an interview with the author can be found here...

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the absolute FUCK?

I don't know what to say to be honest. Is there anything you can say after an ending like that?

This story kept me guessing the entire way through. BUT, I didn't fully understand what happened even at the end? It seemed to me like Rachel suffered the more severe injuries yet she pulled through and Alice died. SHE DIED.
I can't believe it. What the fuckedy fuck?

My head is so screwed right now. Everyone lied to her, she lived In her own world which she thought only her twin could ever be a part of and understand.

And I don't think I ever found out why Sean took Alice? Was there a reason? Or was he just a perverted sicko of a man? And in that case it wasn't Alice's fault that Rachel was taken?

Oh I just don't know. This book was too much of a screw up for me. Really didn't enjoy it!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't bring myself to give this less than 4 stars, even though there were some things (especially at the end) that I didn't like/didn't think made sense.
YA suspense is not my genre of choice, but the reviews on this book were so overwhelmingly good that I thought I'd give it a chance. I'm glad I did, because this is the first book in a while that I've actually stayed up late to finish.

(For Parents)
This is definitely not a young Young Adult book. Lots of drug and alcohol use without any 'Moral of the Story' to go with it. I thought it was realistic in the way it portrays their casual use of things like pills and weed. After all, I don't personally remember having any After School Special talks with my friends about the dangers of substance abuse. Also, even though they were still in high school, the twins were 18.

The blurb does a good enough job describing what you're getting into as far as the story line goes, and part of the enjoyment of Beautiful Lies is how the rest of it unfolds. I'd hate to accidentally ruin it for anyone by letting something slip.

That being said...

Please DO NOT read this unless you have already read the book!!!
*MAJOR SPOILER*
My only real complaint is that I didn't get why Alice died at the end. Rachel was the one this guy had kidnapped and tortured for days, right? I know he had beaten her up pretty badly, but then she ran for help, so it seemed like she was in better shape than her sister. Maybe if the author had explained what exactly killed her in the epilogue? You know, he got in a really good kick to the head or something...?
There were also a few loose ends like the cop with epilepsy that I would have liked to have seen tied up, but like I said, I don't read much in this genre, so maybe that's normal.

[Elif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vay canına sayın seyirciler. Bu tarz birkaç kitap okudum. İkizler var, biri kayboluyor falan filan. Ama bunda yazar daha değişik kurgulamış. Bir parça fark katmış.
Aynı amniyotik keseden doğan Alice ve Rachel özel bir bağla birbirine bağlıdır. Bir gün Alice ortadan kaybolur. Rachel bir an önce onu bulmak zorundadır.
Sadece şimdiki zamanla yazılmış olması canımı sıktı. Okurken baydı. Onun dışında gayet güzeldi. Sürprizler, ters köşeler ve final güzeldi. Sonunu az çok tahmin ettim. Tavsiye ederim, güzeldi.

[cissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just wow brilliant, plot twist after plot twist and the ending was beautiful through reading this I was always trying to guess what the hell was going on and I was never right. This book was so powerful and crazy and I loved it so so much, I didn't see anything of it coming. It broke me, the ending, everything, I don't have enough words to tell how much i loved this.

[Nefeli Galanou · Rating 3 out of 5]

In het begin was ik echt totaal niet mee en vond ik het echt niks. Na een tijd was ik wel mee en begon ik het leuker te vinden. Het einde is hartverscheurend en had ik echt totaal niet zien aankomen….
Nu heb ik 73649292 dagen nodig om hiervan te bekomen denk ik…..

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

3.75 out of 5

Beautiful Lies is one of those mysteries with a great premise: twins, a special bond, an abduction, and an unreliable narrator to spin the whole tale, making both the readers and the characters unsure of what exactly is going on. Certain segments in this novel were executed in a deliciously creeeeepy and uncertain manner, and while other areas lacked that atmosphere and level of execution, overall, this is a pretty good read, and a well-written mystery. There are several twists, surprises that I did not see coming -- a fact that is all to rare when I venture into the YA mystery/thriller genre and is greatly appreciated when it does manage to happen. I was occasionally confused by the shifts, changes in the direction of the story, but the author always managed to reel me right back in. Jessica Warman impressed me for the majority of this longish novel, and I will be on the lookout for her other books.

This is far more of a character-driven novel, though the plot holds its own for the most part. Thankfully for a less than actiontastic novel, the characters of Beautiful Lies are usually the best part of it, specifically the two protagonists of Rachel and Alice. For a novel that stalls in momentum occasionally, these two characters often pick up the slack and keep the reader engaged and curious about their uncertain fate. I wouldn't say I was completely invested in these characters the way I am with other protagonists (like Sophie Quinn from If I Lie, etc.) but they are dynamic, and interesting in their connection and possible mental issues. Rachel and Alice's unique/psychic affinity for one another, their rare condition --monochorionic monoamniotic twins -- help to add up to create two very similar, but different and dynamic characters as well as an original storyline. Identity and the self are two very big themes within Beautiful Lies, and the author explores these ideas with her two almost codependent main characters. As Warman repeatedly shows through the changing nature of the twins' relationship, Rachel and Alice learn that you can be extremely close to someone else and still not really know them completely.

I had a few issues with the pacing in the novel, most notably as the mystery wore on and red herrings kept popping up. This clocks in at about 420 pages in the final edition, and while the majority of the narrative kept the tension high and the atmosphere on point, several sections lacked the pull of others. A little editing/excising would do well to make the entire novel as riveting as the first two seventy-five and the last fifty pages are. (The whole sidestory of the cats? Felt especially random and ill-suited for the rest of the novel.) Though the final antagonist became clearer to me the more I read, I really appreciated how much work the author put into occluding who was behind Rachel's disappearance and Alice's phantom injuries. The twins identity switcheroo, the MacGuffin of the "$10,000", the unreliable narrator, the new uncovered secrets and deceptions -- all were deftly handled to make the mystery harder to solve. Far too many novels telegraph twists and the big bad too early on -- and this is NOT one of them. I may have figured it all out before the big reveal and Alice herself, but it wasn't until the late 300's that I did.

My last note is on the ending: for such a longwinded and twisty novel, I found the end to be rushed and slightly anticlimactic. The antagonist gives himself away quite easily to Alice, and I was pretty surpised the author gave it up that quickly in the final pages. The clues add up and are figured out so slowly, and then it seems like the book enters a headlong rush just to get to the end. With so much time and prose spent executing the set-up and rising action, the lack of real resolution, and that with more than a few unanswered loose ends (like.... how is it that Rachel survived? Why didn't the killer just off the cop so he'd have more time with the twins and to getaway?), felt like a misstep to me. Like I said earlier, this wasn't a perfect read, and outside of the pacing issues, those dangling questions are a large majority of the reason why I can't rate this higher than a 3.75/5.

I really liked Beautiful Lies, though it wasn't a perfect read for me. The author impressed me with her skill, her storytelling, the mystery, and her ability to craft well-rounded characters. If you're looking for a well-done, character-driven mystery with a genuine air of creepiness, look no further than here. I am becoming a large fan of the unreliable narrator for novels -- as long as it is handled as easily and smartly as it is here. I have to note that the cover is absolutely perfect -- like the cover of What's Left of Me -- the hint of a second person in the negative space fits in with the novel and with the twins' life of mobile identity.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We are essentially the same, she and I. Her and me. My sister, myself. When she takes off her makeup and brushes out her hair—when we first wake up in the morning, or right before we go to bed in the evening—nobody in this world can tell us apart just from looking at us. Only we know who is who. Knowledge like that, shared with only one other person in the world, can feel exhilarating. It's like we own a secret that nobody else will ever hold the key to, for as long as we both live."



Twins are so awesome—they have POWERS. *thinks fictional* I mean, Jessica Warman has really given us the true insight of having a person who shares the same birthday, age and looks as you. It's crazy to even think about what an interesting pair twins can be, and what happens when a part of you is missing.

I've read all of Jessica's books from the start. Every single one of them. She always changes her subjects (and they get better every time around) but the concept is the same—psychological thrillers and mysteries. I normally hate mystery, but this is such a contemporary kind of mystery. No detectives that can fly over here. This is pure realism and awesomeness.

Rachel and Alice are redhead identical-twins that are both similar and total opposites in likes and personalities. When "Alice" goes missing, the real Alice covers up for her sister but needs to find out what really happened—since her instinct is that something horrible occurred...

In the beginning, the book sucked. It was practically screaming, "COME TO ME! I DON'T BITE, I'M PURE AWESOMENESS!" But then I shut it away because I was disappointed.

This was an average 4 starred book. It was great, but average at the same time. I love Jessica's writing, but her other books actually surpassed my expectations more and managed to hit the 5 star rating. (2 of them.. actually.) The writing was fast-paced and intriguing, but at the same time, I found that it wasn't all spotty perfect. Cushions weren't filled up and I missed the importance of some of the events.

So basically, I began this book was mixed expectations. I haven't really paid attention to the reviews, positive or negative, but my 'instincts' were telling me different things each time. I actually finished this in one sitting, so I'm patting myself on the back for not having to go through some agonizing moments without the book, because I fear and have a feeling in my guts that that would've happened.

There were so many moments where I'd just shut my eyes and let the emotions and tragedy sink into me. This book was so powerful and moving, I'd never in a-million-years doubt or regret reading anything from Jessica Warman. She never has failed to disappoint me and I trust that she never will.

The plot was almost a masterpiece. The characters were left touched too many times and I felt like they were practically fake. We've all met at least a few fake-like people in our lives, and this whole book was full of them. The twin's aunt, uncle and cousin were all messed-with and it looked like their actions were made to "change the plot up a little." Aren't we supposed to be looking for characters who simply either care, or don't care at all? They were imbalanced and their personalities didn't suit the book's events at all.



THEN YOU'RE WRONG. That ending just made me scream and I was so shocked. You'll never see it coming...

And that's why I really don't know what to say in a sentence, so how about one word? Crazinessblowminding.

[Kayla Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of young adult mystery/thriller type books this year, but I think this might be one of my favourites. You see, the problem with most of these books is that they're either really, REALLY predictable or they're filled with plot holes that drive me INSANE! This one wasn't perfect, but it was a really crazy read and I really enjoyed it!

What drew me in right away about this book is that it's about twins and what happens when one of them goes missing. Since it's the bad, rebellious twin that disappears no one really looks for her. The other twin thinks that whatever happened to her twin was really meant for herself though. That's about all I can say without giving away too much. SERIOUSLY, I think the best thing you can do when going into this book is to not even read the description on the back of the book. It gives away too much. It would be better to just go into it knowing absolutely nothing and letting things unfold naturally. Seriously, the description gives away something MAJOR that doesn't get revealed until later and I was annoyed to see that one of the "twists" is just a detail on the back of the book...

After that major twist happened though, things got INTENSE! I absolutely love books that have lots of twists and surprises, and this one was filled with them! Also, the narrator is quite unreliable which made things even more crazy. I had some guesses on what was going to happen but I was never quite sure with this book. Something would happen therefore putting me on edge and wondering what was really going on. I have to say though, I did guess WHO was going to be involved in all this shenanigans from the very first time we saw them. I just wasn't sure with everything that kept getting thrown at me. It was still a really exciting read finding out what exactly was happening. I really had no idea until the last 50 pages, and even then I wasn't quite sure! This novel definitely plays and "LIES" to it's reader, which was a lot of fun to be honest! I really like books that constantly keep you on your toes, and I'd really recommend this book to anyone else who can appreciate a book like that, especially in the young adult genre.

Still, this book was no where near perfect. It had some flaws, and it definitely could get slow in parts. Nonetheless, it kept me on my toes and I really liked reading it therefore I'll be giving it 4 stars here on goodreads. If you go in just expecting a fun and crazy read, this one is perfect. It keeps you guessing until the very last page.

[Jeanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish it. The portrayal of the aunt and uncle, when the girl is missing and the twin is convincing them to act, was too unbelievable to me. I know parent figures in YA lit need to be drawn in a passive way to carry the YA heroines through the story, but I didn't care that a cat having kittens trumped a missing niece.

[shady boots · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This book is difficult to review. Cause I feel like I'd be in a minefield of spoilers, and just one step could make everything blow up.

But, to put it shortly, this book was absolute mindfuck.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful Lies is perhaps one of the best YA mystery novels I've ever read. Filled with fast-paced mystery and a tinge of paranormal, Beautiful Lies was a book I'm not likely to forget. However, there were some elements in this book that could've been better.

I was pulled in from the very beginning of the book. Jessica Warman introduces her two main characters, Alice and Rachel, in a very interesting way--which gets even more intriguing (not to mention confusing) as the book progresses, because there are tons of amazing twists inside that keeps you on the edge of your seat, begging for more.

Confusion and mistrust are two big themes in Beautiful Lies, and this makes the book all the more juicier. There are times, though, when everything becomes extremely confusing and vague from the way the main character describes the things that are happening. I had to go back and reread paragraphs over and over again just to understand what was taking place.

One thing I really liked about this book was the story itself: it kept you guessing. There were so many unanswered questions that you just had to continue reading to find out more. Of course, the suspense and the way the main characters' pasts were revealed did nothing to ease the tension I felt. Extra points to the author for managing to creep me out, too!

Despite all this, though, I felt that the background characters were quite shallow. The story mainly focused on Alice and Rachel, and who the kidnapper was, leaving the other characters behind to fade into the background. Then again, the story was just so fast-paced and brimming with mystery that I can't really blame Warman for not developing her other characters more.

Overall, Beautiful Lies was an amazing YA thriller. I found myself tapping the screen of my eReader so fast that I thought the whole eBook application would shut down. Though I do wish that Jessica Warman had cleared things up at the end, I still enjoyed reading this. Full of huge twists and intrigue, I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves mystery with a little bit of paranormal in it!

3.5 stars.

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[Ruby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review was first posted on http://rubysreads.com.

I’ve told you about my Bookish Preference for twins, so I imagine you know (or can guess) that Beautiful Lies was an auto-read for me. The story goes like this: identical twins Rachel and Alice are ” ‘monochorionic, monoamniotic twins,’ which means [they] are identical twins who grew in the same amniotic sac and shared one placenta” (p.18). It’s a real thing. I Googled it. Yet, despite this rare closeness, in the recent months, Rachel and Alice have grown apart. Rachel has become the “good twin,” while Alice has begun acting out in the usual ways–drinking, wearing heavy makeup, hanging out with lowlifes (one in particular) and getting arrested. Okay, maybe the latter isn’t “usual.” Then one of the twins goes missing, and nobody believes it when the other twin insists that her sister is in danger.

I haven’t read any of Jessica Warman’s books before, so I approached this one with few expectations–just a pleasurable hum of anticipation. And I’m happy to report that it was a solid read. Except…the description gives a few of the twists and turns away. Personally, I think unreliable narrators work best when we’re not told up front that he or she is unreliable. It’s a tool that’s effective when we are left to discover it for ourselves…not when we are told that it’s going to happen. Then, the narrator isn’t unreliable because I never relied on them in the first place. You know what I mean?

It’s hard for me to review this book without giving away some of the important elements, so I’m going to keep things as brief as I can. The writing here is good, but not inspired. I didn’t particularly like the narrator, and I didn’t really sympathize with her. I felt that she was selfish. SPOILER: Particularly in her decision to keep quiet about her sister when she first went missing. She knew that if she told her aunt and uncle who she really was, they would have called the police right away. So why did she keep quiet? I also would have preferred to hear the story from the other twin’s perspective. And don’t get me started on the ending. It was abrupt and too unresolved. Beautiful Lies doesn’t make me want to go glom Jessica Warman’s backlist, but I won’t reject anything she wrote out of hand, either.

[Annie Li · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although many people seemed to enjoy this, it was not my cup of tea. The journey was interesting for the most part, but I despise that Alice was such an unreliable narrator; it spoiled the book for me. For everything to be nothing but mere imagination doesn't float my boat, and it seems like a sad excuse to end the book. I will not criticize the writing style, itself, because I'm 13 and clearly not a writer. I felt that I could put the book down at anytime and not look back, but I didn't because I didn't want to leave the book hanging. The only part I really wanted to keep reading was the end. There are still some parts of the book, I don't completely understand; I'll list them below.
-TJ and his comment referring to Rachel. He said that Rachel basically hated Alice's guts and wanted to leave her as soon as possible. Was this true? She seemed happy to see her sister, and even in the epilogue, she didn't seem to feel anything.
-I reread the beginning, and it really did seem like she was talking in Rachel's perspective, and that confuses me.
-This next part I probably just confused myself, but it was the epilogue. It sort of implied that Rachel died, when she said that 8 murder cases were solved, and Rachel's was part of that?? Again, it's probably just me because I rushed the ending.
-I don't completely understand how Alice even died.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I’ve read from author, Jessica Warman, and I have to say that after her last book, Between, I was a bit scared to try it. I loved that book so very much that I was certain Beautiful Lies wouldn’t be able to measure up, and that always scares me. Twists and turns abound in this novel, setting the pace for a whirlwind mystery that you’ll think you understand, only to realize it’s nothing like you expected after all. With a breakneck speed, Beautiful Lies takes every single one of your preconceived notions, your character perceptions and your “understanding” and makes you reconsider it all. Equal parts mystery, anguish and spine-tingling suspense, you’re in for one heck of a ride.

View the full review here:
http://www.iswimforoceans.com/2012/08...

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is one of the best books I've ever read, and I haven't even finished it yet. Jessica Warman the author, sets a strong scene in the beginning. The first incident mentioned, that happened between the girls when they were really young is really foreshadowed by the back cover of the book. And all of the incidents after that aren't something normal, the girls have a special psychic connection.

[MsCrowshaw]

4 stars
This book hurt my brain. The narrator is deliciously unreliable. The story is great... Well paced, a good plot and fantastic twists.

I just need someone to help me sort the ending out for me! There is too much I'm struggling to untangle!

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book because I needed to know what happened. But this book really messed with my head mentally.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great until the rushed ending

This book was spooky, but it seemed like the author got tired and hit a deadline or something and gave up.

[Sibel Gandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 / 5

[Ria K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tamam, gerizekalı olduğumu kabul ediyorum ama hiç bir şey anlamadım. Robin'le Rachel'a ne oldu şimdi?

[Shaela Valeros · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main characters of “Beautiful Lies” by Jessica Warman are twin sisters, Alice and Rachel Foster. They are significant within the story because Rachel is the sister that goes missing, while Alice is determined to solve the mystery throughout the entire novel. Alice can sense when Rachel is in trouble because they share a special connection with one another. Alice has two main objectives. One, to find her sister. And two, to find the person whose hurting her sister. She manages to maintain hope that her sister is still out there alive waiting to be found.
Other notable main characters within the story are Robin Lang, a mysterious 21 year old who has a complicated relationship with 18 year old Alice Foster. Robin and Alice mutually love each other but Robin is very guarded when letting people get to know him, which makes him seem untrustworthy. Then there’s Kimber Shields. She’s a close friend to Rachel and Alice. She assists Alice when she needs help in finding Alice. Kimber is the first to know Alice’s secert and also helps Alice realize reality. Sean Morelli is a neighbor of Alice and Rachel. He’s known for being a good guy but in actuality, he’s a completely different person behind doors. He’s actually the person who kidnaps Rachel. The guardians of Alice and Rachel are Aunt Sharon and Uncle Jeff. Alice and Rachel’s grandmother, claims to have special pathological powers that she and Alice share. Officer Martin is the police officer that believes Alice when everyone else doesn’t. He watches out for Alice. David Munroe, aka Homeless Harvey, is an undercover police officer that comes to the rescue when the hostage call goes off. Charlie, Alice and Rachel’s cousin, is the one who sends the hostage alert to the police office. And finally, TJ is Rachel’s boyfriend and neighbor. He tells Alice’s secret that she’s been keeping from everyone.
This novel falls under the mystery category. The time period is set during the early 20th century. The setting takes place in Pennsylvania at night, when two twin sisters attend a carnival. In the beginning, it appears to be Rachel Foster’s point of view. However, as I read on, it became clear that it was really Alice Foster’s perspective. Before they arrive at the carnival, Rachel offers to switch places with Alice so she doesn’t feel uncomfortable around Rachel’s friends. When they reach the carnival, Alice gets an alarming feeling that something terribly wrong is about to happen. Then Rachel goes missing. Her usual strong connection with Rachel seems to be gone. Alice is frantic and searching around for her sister at the carnival. When Alice goes home in hopes that Rachel will be there, she finds that Rachel is nowhere to be found. When she tells her aunt that her sister is missing, they don’t react urgently because they think Alice is the one missing, unaware that Alice and Rachel switched places. Her aunt and uncle aren’t alarmed because Alice has a reputation of being a runaway. They wait 24 hours until they call the police. Alice is the only one who feels the urgency to find where her sister is, so she goes every place she can think of that Rachel might be. When Alice sleeps, she gets nightmares, which turns out to be clues and hints from Rachel that will lead Alice to her. Kimber, one of Rachel’s friends, assists Alice in finding Rachel. In this process, they end up spending so much time together that Kimber ends up being the first person to figure out that Alice is pretending to be Rachel. Tj, Rachel’s boyfriend, is the second person to figure this secret out. With this information, Tj tells Alice’s aunt, uncle and Sean Morelli, their neighbor from across the street. Then while her aunt and uncle are out searching for Rachel, they leave Sean Morelli in charge of Alice and Charlie, Alice’s cousin. This was a bad decision because Sean takes them back to his place. Just before Sean beats up Alice, he forces Charlie to go back to his own house. Charlie I alarmed and goes home and sends out the hostage code to the police. In the meantime, Alice finally finds her sister beaten but still holding onto life, in Sean’s basement. Rachel goes to get help while Sean is occupied with talking to Officer Martin. When Alice gets her neighborhood’s attention, the police arrives just in the nick-of-time. Alice ends up dying but Rachel lives and Sean Morelli was caught trying to leave town.
My final thoughts on ‘Beautiful Lies’ is that it’s a very thrilling book with lots of twists in it. I enjoyed putting all the pieces together as I read along and understanding everything that happened by the time I finished reading the book. The one thing I wasn’t too fond of was the fact that the author killed off Alice and that I found out that Alice was actually going crazy. It kind of made the story a little confusing. From this novel, I learned that everyone has their own reality and the way they perceive things differently. I would recommend this book to anyone because overall it was written well enough to keep me captivated.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5*

With Where The Truth Lies, Jessica's second book and the first one I've read of hers, I fell head over heals in love with her storytelling ability. Her ability to craft characters and plot was fascinating. Then with Between, Jessica's '11 release and my second book of hers, that statement was seconded all the more. Now with Beautiful Lies, her latest release, I have a strong feeling I'll be a lifelong fan of Jessica's because this one was EXCELLENT! It was mysterious. It left me unsettled but dying to find out more. It was the perfect blend of paranormal and contemporary mystery. And most importantly, the twists and turns and even the ending caught me off guard.

Beautiful Lies begins the story of Alice and Rachel, identical twins so similar that no one- not even their family nor their closest friends- can tell them apart physically. However, their personalities tell a different story all together. Alice has always been the bad girl in the family. If she's not getting in trouble for drinking or sneaking out late, it's her attitude and temper that does. Rachel, however, is the good girl. She gets perfect grades. Never causing trouble or chaos, she always stays under the radar except when it comes to helping her sister Alice. Even with their differences Rachel and Alice are incredibly close...almost like the same person, but when one twin goes missing, everything changes. Suddenly, everyone becomes a suspect to the remaining twin, and with nowhere to turn and no one to turn to, she sets out to find her sister and even piece together the past as well as herself in ways she could have never imagined.

Beautiful Lies is a hard book to review. Not because I don't know what to say, but because I don't want to say too much. Beautiful Lies is the kind of book you want to experience all on your own...one where knowing just one little twist may ruin it all. Therefore, I'm going to keep this as brief and simple as possible.

First of all, I loved the characters! Jessica Warman did a fantastic job of crafting Alice and Rachel. I really got to know them throughout this book, and to tell the truth, I was fascinated by them. I've always wanted to have a twin...I think it would be so cool, and this book should such an interesting take on twins. The bond between Alice and Rachel was unbreakable and breakable all at the same time if that makes sense. They loved each other but also sometimes hated as well as envied the other. It was a complicated relationship but it made for interesting reading material...let me tell you. I also enjoyed the wide variety of secondary characters introduced in this. Kimber was a favorite of mine simply because while her story was heartbreaking, she was such a sweet and nice girl. I also enjoyed finding out more about Alice and Rachel's family and various other connections.

With a Warman book, you always go in knowing you're going to end up with an incredibly well written book, and that was just the case with this one. I love the way in which Warman crafts the plot because she always gives you just enough information that while you're happy enough with it you're also dying to know what's going to happen next. Plus she also keeps everything such a jumbled mess...in the best way possible of course. Beautiful Lies especially knocked me off my feet. Page after page I was constantly surprised, and even when things were out in the open, I was constantly second guessing them, waiting for something to come out of the blue yet again. I also loved the mix of paranormal aspects, because they added the perfect little spark to it.

The only aspect I didn't particularly enjoy was how rushed the ending was. I was a little confused at the end and had to re-read a few pages because of how quick everything went down. However, once I pieced it all togehter, I did feel it was the perfect ending in the long run-- even if it wasn't the one I was expecting.

In all, Beautiful Lies is the perfect end of summer read, especially on a dark, rainy day. It's mysterious. It keeps you on your toes. And most importantly, it's incredibly well written...basically I can't suggest it highly enough.

Grade: A-

[Dorine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story- Alice and Rachel are twins, and nobody can tell them apart, which helps whenever they trade places. They also have a very close connection. When one of them is hurt or injured, the other fills the pain or gets the bruise. Personality wise, the twins are totally different, with Rachel being the good twin.

The twins attend a local carnival, and the twists begin. One of them is kidnapped, and it is up to the other to find her. The one twin knows terrible things are happening to her sister, because she can feel the pain. The problem is that nobody seems to want to help, and even if they did, could they be trusted?

My Thoughts-(PART 1) If you are looking for a twisty turny YA thriller, this is it. The author does an amazing job at creating a fast paced, action filled, tense story. The sub plots pretty much melt away, and the focus is on the twin sister relationship. You can't put the story down, personally, I read it in one night because I just had to get to the end.

While you’re reading you never know if what you’re reading is true, plus, several red herrings are thrown into the mix. Because the sisters switch places, this leads to many questions as you read, but the author does a good job keeping things straight, because I didn't get confused.

And now the ending, wow. Very dramatic and filled with emotion.

MY Thoughts- (PART 2 w/SPOILERS) I finally decided that I couldn't review this book justly without getting deep into the story. So, spoiler alert.

First, The author does an amazing job letting the reader get to know Rachel. I mean she isn't even in most of the book, but because of Alice's portrayal of her, you get to know her intimately. It is an amazing journey Alice makes as she learns the truth about Rachel, that she's not the perfect sister, has a real problem with her twin, and is in love with Tony. Alice's shock at knowing they aren't as close as she thinks is crushing.

Next, the author throws in so many different elements, you often don't know what is real. Me, I think it was all real, (except the money bag, can't figure out her delusion about that). The bond between the twins is true. When one is injured, it happens to the other. However, Alice is special beyond that bond. I believe that she is gifted, able to perceive things, have visions, and yes, talk to ghosts. She seems just like her grandma, unfortunately, we see that path also leads to going insane. I liked that Kimber is able to show Alice the truth, and I feel that in the future, Alice would have been able to get help.

The author's ability to foreshadow is a real technique. I believe (but could totally be wrong) that the couple at the beginning of the book, leaving the fair, is actually kidnapping the little girl. Why? Because the little girl seems terrified, and just wants to go home. She looks back at the twins begging for help. Also, the guy has an unkempt appearance, that Alice picks up on right away, smelling the rot of his teeth. Later in the book we know that her sense of smell is a good indicator of right and wrong.

This book is a real masterpiece. The more I think about it, the more I'm amazed at how the story was woven together. This is a must read YA book.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would it be like to be a twin? What would it be like if you felt everything your twin felt? I mean everything! This is the case with Alice and Rachel. They can feel if something is not right with one another or if one is hurting even if they are not even in the same room, it is like a sixth sense. They have had it all their lives and some of their relatives believe in it and some of them don’t. Only with Alice and Rachel it goes beyond just feelings, it actually becomes physical. If one gets hurt, the other twin will get marks on their body even if they were not even in the same vicinity. If one gets scratched, the other twin will get an identical scratch mark just because she is the twin and it will appear out of nowhere. Weird, yes! Alice and Rachel are so much alike that not many people can tell them apart and their parents who were one of the few with that ability have died and now the twins live with their aunt and uncle. At school, the twins switch their identity around to compensate for their individual talents and no one has caught on to their little scam. This seems to work to their advantage and all seems to be going along just fine in that part of their world until one of the twins ends up missing. The problem is twofold: the connection between the twins is disturbed and which twin went missing. Who is missing: is it Alice the twin who has been having issues the past couple months, who is not the sweet girl she used to be. Or is it Rachel? Rachel, the sister who seems to have it all together and tries so hard. There are the typical issues with being a teenager for both girls to handle and the trauma of their parents dying and having to live with relatives but we also have the genetic issues that have plagued the family for years. All these issues come into play as we try to understand what exactly the pieces of the puzzle are and boy, are they twisted!! I loved the way it was not all laid out for me but it was so twisted and layered that I was so wrapped up in this book, I couldn’t put it down. I, like Alice in the book, was not sure what I was seeing as she tried to uncover what was happening before her. And Charlie, what a great character to add. I wanted to give Alice’s aunt a talking to, telling her to give Charlie more freedom and more responsibility, my heart went out to him. The issue of mental illness is danced around as they talk about their family and it isn’t until the pieces start to fall into place that they start to understand the implications of this disorder. It was a fantastic read and Jessica Warman does another terrific job keeping me so engaged!! I have read all her books and I have loved them all.

Sex and drugs in this book: no. There is a bit of alcohol in this book but nothing out of hand. There is some violence in this book so this book should be for older, mature reader and again this book deals with the issue of mental illness so readers should be able to handle that topic.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysteriously alluring and boldly intriguing, Beautiful Lies is sure to mystify reader's. Exciting and full of suspense, Jessica Warman delivers, yet again, another young adult novel that will keep reader's guessing as they flip the pages. Delving further below the surface of a normal bond shared between identical twins, Beautiful Lies is a gripping runaway mystery full of so many amazing twists and turns. Filled with extreme boiuts of emotional trauma and pain that seems to manifest itself physically in ense moments of distress, this story of two twins closer than most is one of the most beautifully written pieces of young adult drama in my personal opinion. Jessica Warman wastes no time doing what she's become best known for, as she weaves a story so personally touching, full of fear and despair, that is sure to ensnare the hearts and attention of many who embark on the journey with these two twins.

Beautiful Lies builds layer upon layer of misplaced trust, unexpected intrigue and mystery, as well as danger filled pages sure to keep reader's captivated and guessing. The devastating sorrow and the fact that this chillingly suspenseful story isn't spun from shiny rainbows and gold dust, makes it all the more terrifying and real. There is heart shattering sorrow born out of overwhelming sacrifice sure to knock the breath out of anyone. The gripping tension filled pages of this amazing novel are well written and can be, on occassion, a little bit confusing to readers. This same confusion seems to run along the thread of a theme developed throughout, Beautiful Lies .

From start to finish it is interesting getting to know both of the twins, experiencing the confusion along with Alice, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Her pain and sorrow is real and manifests itself in the most peculiar way, as she experiences what her twin (Rachel) experiences, and her frantic search and disillusion at trusting just anyone when they could be a suspect. These characters are real and they come to life on the pages, most are enjoyable and likable, while few other's fan be complex and not as likable. If reader's have enjoyed Jessica Warman's prior young adult novels, such as Breathe and Between , they will surely enjoy this one as well. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys true young adult mysteries, as this will stump and mystify them while delivering one interesting unexpected twist at the end.

[Alexis Maurer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful lies is about two identical twin sisters, Rachel and Alice. Since birth, they have shared what they believe to be is a "psychic" bond. Whenever one of the two would get hurt, or even before danger occurred upon one, the other could either sense it or experience the same thing without even moving. Rachel and Alice live with their Aunt, Uncle, and cousin in a small town with several close neighbors. One day, the two sisters decide to go to the fair with some friends but find it fun to "swap" places and see if anyone notices. With Alice, being "Rachel," and Rachel, being "Alice," the real Rachel goes missing. Alice suddenly feels like the bond she has forever felt connecting her with her twin is gone. Alice immediately needs to find her sister without actually letting those she has fooled know she isn't the opposite twin. When bad things start to happen out of the blue to her, Alice realizes Rachel is in real danger. As the search begins to find Rachel, or so who everyone believes is "Alice," the real Alice realizes that not everyone is who they seem to be, good or bad. Read to find out where Rachel has disappeared to and to uncover the hidden secrets of those who don't seem to be in hiding in this mysterious, yet intriguing book!

I really enjoyed reading this book, despite it being a genre that I don't typically read. However, in reading the book, I not only found out that I like mystery books, but it left me realizing that not everyone is who they seem to be in life. There were so many little themes throughout reading the text that truly spoke to me and helped me deepen my understanding on life's good and bad moments. The book also taught me to never take those around you for granted because they all have a place and an impact in your life after all. Furthermore, I especially liked that the different events throughout the book got more and more interesting and hooked me, as a reader, right away. Throughout the mystery of upcoming events and the spooky, yet so very intriguing, ending, I am happy to say this may have been one of the best books I have ever came across! One thing, however, that I did not like about Beautiful Lies was that the book ended on a cliff hanger, leaving the main event of the book unfinished!

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading about mystery, suspense, paranormal activities, and family drama.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grade: C-

Alice and Rachel, monochorionic, monoamniotic twins (identical, who share one amniotic sac and one placenta) can feel each other's pain. When one is bruised, a mark appears on the other. When one twin goes missing, the other is determined to find her. But which sister is actually missing? Rachel, the smarter, "good" twin, or Alice, the more troubled sister. Is the missing sister dead, and is the twin left behind okay, or mentally ill like her mother and grandmother?

BEAUTIFUL LIES is my fourth Jessica Warman novel I've read this week, any my least favorite. I read each of her other novels in one day, this one took two. For the first third of the book, I had to pause to remind myself how to differentiate the twins, since many of their traits were similar, at lease according to whichever twin narrated the novel. At various points, I wondered if perhaps the twins were one person with a split personality, if one twin had died with their parents nine years before, if the twin narrating was delusional, something didn't feel right. Whichever twin was left behind, narrating the story. I felt empathy for her, hoped, but doubted, her sister was okay, and rooted for a positive resolution. The backstory of twins, orphaned at nine, now living with their aunt, uncle and intellectually disabled cousin. Like many people, twins have always fascinated me, particularly identical ones.

I enjoy Warman's writing style, though BEAUTIFUL LIES lacked the quicker pace of her other books, bogged down with excess description. BEAUTIFUL LIES also lacked the interesting minor characters of her other novels as well. The resolution lacked luster and could have gone any number of ways, almost like a toss up.

I can't really recommend or not recommend BEAUTIFUL LIES, which might seem like a copout. After reading reviews I expected an okay read. I was neither disappointed nor pleasantly surprised.