Hoax

by Lila Felix

She's spent a long time in a bubble. In an odd turn of events, Corinne is taken out of boarding school and plunged into high school where bullies reign and nice guys come in last.

But this is after she's already fallen in love with Abel over the summer.

Abel is trapped, with friends he secretly hates, but has chosen to stay with the status quo. It's just high school, right?

What do you do when the person you love sees the very worst part of you? And how do you help them when they discover their life is a hoax?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, High School, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Crime

170 pages, ebook

First published December 30, 2012

About the author

Lila Felix is full of antics and stories. She refused to go to Kindergarten after the teacher made her take a nap on the first day of school. She staged her first protest in middle school. She almost flunked out of her first semester at Pepperdine University because she was enthralled with their library and frequently was locked in. Now her husband and three children have to put up with her rebel nature in Louisiana where her days are filled with cypress trees, crawfish, and of course her books and writing. She writes about the ordinary people who fall extraordinarily in wild, true love.

Reviews

[Shelly Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just WOW.

This is the 4th book I've read from this author. I thought, "It'll be good. Her books are always good." But honestly, I loved Emerge so much that I thought it was just going to be that. Good.

Lila, you continue to raise the bar and make me proud to know you, as an author and as a great lady.

Not only was the book AMAZING with an amazing message, but the girl can write a freaking book. Her wording is beautiful. Her characters are flawed in the best way, because they long to be better and go to great lengths to make it so. Her men are not just swoon-worthy (Though they are extremely swoon-worthy) they are maxed out with sweetness and good hearts.

The girls in her books, honestly, drive me crazy! :) They are usually the ones who push the guys away, but they have a good reason because Lila's girls have been through the worst kinds of hell. She has a knack for making me want to seriously jump in a book and slap people. Lila's parents... ugh...

The book's flow was good. It's a shorter read, but it was packed with constant angst and sweetness. It has enough going on that I never felt bored, but I never felt rushed either. When they met, the attraction was instant, but there was no insta-love. They progressed slowly and believably. But when they did get together...it was pretty hot.

Abel, Abel, Abel. We met him with him painting a house. Sweating and being hot and sweet. *Sigh* And though he had his flaws, like I said, when everything was brought to light, he accepted his involvement and blame, never tried to pawn off blame to anyone else, was wracked with guilt and did everything he could to make it right.

I will own the paperback. No doubt.

5 sweet, loving, redeeming stars from me.

[Belen (f.k.a. La Mala ✌)]

No-recomendado por Kari Ramírez



Me propongo leer de principio a fin libros considerados "malos". Mi intención es encontrar al menos UNA cualidad buena en ellos y reseñarlos objetivamente siguiendo 20 puntos a desarrollar brevemente. (Los puntos varían según el género del que se trate.)

Si tienen ganas de No-recomendarme otros libros
pueden comentar acá o ACÁ. ¡Cualquier género es bienvenido! Cuanto más variado, mejor :)

[♥ Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah, I didn't "get" it.

1. Entirely forgettable
2. No build up of relationship
3. Weak climax (was there even one?)
4. Weak plot overall
5. Needs major editing
6. Should have developed the bullying aspect & the *issue* with Corinne's dad.
7. Little to no character development
8. BORING

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't surprised at how much I loved this book.. I've read all of Lila Felix's books and loved each one! This was no exception. In fact, it may be my favorite one yet! This author has a knack for writing great ya books. A fantastic story with a beautiful message and some amazing characters!

Seventeen year old Corrine's life is changing. She is pulled out of a boarding school she has called home since she has been six years old, and she has been informed that her family who has always been well off is downsizing. She will be going to a public school for her senior year of high school and she is working all summer housesitting. This is fine with Corrine, she is not a stereotypical rich and spoiled girl.
There is another person hired to work at the house for the summer to paint and mow the lawn while she house sits... his name is Abel. When Abel and Corrine meet, it is instant attraction. Neither one can get the other off their mind. They start out with some friendly flirting, then in progresses at a nice pace. Corrine's flirting cracks me up...
I am the lamest at flirting ever. I'm so incredibly lame at it that he probably thought I was insane. Screw it. I quit. I'm just going to be me. It he doesn't like it, well, its just gonna suck. Love her!

They spend a lot of time together hanging out, taking on the phone, going on dates... They have a lot in common, from the relationship with their parents (mostly non existent) to their love of zombie movies. The more time they spend together, it becomes pretty evident that they are both falling for each other.
Something inside me fell into place. A puzzle piece not pushed in all the way. It was there, waiting for the right person to see it's folly and return it to the place where it fit. She found it and with her kiss, emotions and feelings were unlocked and connected to each other. I was hers. For as long as she had me, I belonged to her. Swoon, Able... swoon ;-)

They have the perfect summer together. Both of them have their absent parents(some people really just shouldn't reproduce...) They grow closer as the summer goes on. If only the summer could last forever. When school starts back up, things change. Corrine see's Abel with his friends (one who is a huge bully) and though he isn't a participant, she sees a side of him that she doesn't like. When she sees his friend bullying someone, she stands her ground and doesn't tolerate it.
But to stand there and watch, while someone, anyone, was treated like they were less than? I don't know which was worse, being a party to it or being the audience. Maybe they were equal. The devil was in the complacency.

With everything going on at school, and many problems at home with Corrine's parents(more twists and turns)- her life is crazy, and she doesn't want to drag Abel into the drama... She is used to handling all her problems alone. Can they get past all the issues and learn to lean on each other?

Abel... He was such a sweetheart! He was super swoony at times (be mine...) and he really did have a good heart. When things came up at school, he owned his mistakes and did what he could to make things right.
Corrine...Even though she had crap parents, she had values. She stuck to her guns and chose to do what was right, not easy. I loved her for that. She has a lot of character. And she was funny at times! On the flip side, she doesn't want to burden anyone with her issues and when she needs someone, she pushes them away- which got frustrating at times.

I loved Abel and Corrine's relationship. It was so sweet and fun, and the epilogue was perfect! The only negative I had was I didn't want it to end! It was short, but it didn't feel rushed. Great story, read & enjoy!

[Chu · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2013 keeps on getting better and better.

What happens when a girl who spent her life inside an exclusive boarding school suddenly found herself in a public school where bullies reign and good guys are scarce commodity? What happens when one of these bullies, or at least a part of this group was someone you fell in love with over the summer?

Was all of it a HOAX ?

Corrine found herself out of the exclusive school she's been attending for as long as she can remember. They moved out from their house and transferred into a smaller one. She was given a brief explanation for it, and she didn't ask what was happening. She simply went with the flow. Her parents wanted her to house-sit for a family who was going on vacation. It was where she met, Abel. How can she possibly deal with this gorgeous hunk who is in charge with painting the house and mowing the lawn without any experience in dealing with the opposite sex?

Abel I was almost, almost in love with you! And then bam! I wasn't in love with you any longer, and then you did something that was completely amazing and I fell in love with you all over again!!! (roller coaster, right?) That's exactly how I felt knowing in Abel as the story goes. He was friends with people he considered assholes and I always wonder why. He didn't do relationship and wish to keep what he has with Corrine between the two of them. He didn't want to ruin it, and he didn't want to lose her. But as the school starts, he's afraid that their summer romance wasn't strong enough to face reality.

Sean I like his character. He was kind to Corrine, and a friend to Abel despite the fact that his friends weren't kind to him. He's very responsible, not just to his family but as well as for the both of them. Despite the fact that he has a lot of tasks at home, and his family depended on him a lot, he still finds time to help the both of them when he's needed.

Abel and Corrine are just perfect for each other. Exactly what the other one needed. Both of them are alone, being ignore and put aside by both their parents, they found home in each other's arms. But secrets and revelations could tear what they built over the summer. Can they get past through it? Can Abel turn back on his friends and stop the cycle? Can Corrine, after a very long time of being independent, accept help?

HOAX, more than just a summer romance. It's a love story between two people who found exactly what they needed from each other. It's a story that withstood trials thrown by fate. It's more than just a story of bullying - it's a story when someone finally stood up and stop the cycle from happening all over again. It's about not being afraid of asking someone for help and being ready to accept it when needed.

My first Lila Felix book and she didn't disappoint. Thank you Jas for recommending this book to me. Indeed, it was good and I had a great time reading it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now the 3rd book by Lila Feliz that I have read and I have to say she never disappoints. I will for sure be reading anything she releases. I love her stories. Yes they are YA but I enjoy the fact that there isn't all that other outside drama. She truly focuses on the main couple. Abel and Corinne were really good for each other. They were both broken in some way but together there were whole. I have to say the parents in this story were just horrible...no child or children should have to go through what Abel and Corinne went through. Eventhough they both had a rough childhood they came out stronger in the end :) I loved their relationship, yes there was instant attraction but they still built it over time...they didn't rush anything. This was an amazing book....I have to say that I think this one is by far my favorite of all her books so far. Lila Felix truly outdid herself with this story. I would definitely recommend this book and this author. This is a MUST READ book !!!!!!!

[tinyteaplots · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoax was a sweet, endearing and romantic read. I couldn't help but to smile as I read about this new young love blossoming.

All that sweetness was intermingled with the realities of highschool, the pain of feeling that you are alone in this world and perhaps unloveable, and the learning to trust when you just want to run screaming for the hills so you can hide away from those dificult to manuver situations.

Considering the subject matter within this story I do feel that there could have been more. More depth to the story as well as to some of the characters. There were a number of oppertunities to beef up the plot, to enhance the dialogue and to extend the angst and drama to perhaps a more realistic level. It was a bit to neatly wrapped up at the end there.

Over all this was an enjoyable read. Good for a quick fix before jumping into a new series.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer love stories are the best! Abel is the boy next door and Corinne is the sweet girl with no filter. These two were perfect for each other and got what they lacked from each other.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOUL MATES

Corinne had been dropped off at boarding school by her parents, when she was six years old. From then until the day when the headmistress asked her to leave. When she was seventeen. Corinne had always looked after herself. Her parents had never had her home for holidays leaving her alone to remain at school.

Returning to her parents house she was to find them in the process of moving. Her father informed her they were down sizing, and he had found her a summer job house sitting for the Stevens. She was also to attend her final year of high school, at a public school. So with her expensive car taken and replaced by an older car, and just over 300$ to see her through the summer, that was the end of her fathers instructions. As usual she was then ignored.

The Stevens were going on holiday, leaving her with a whole list of instructions. A guy was coming to paint the out buildings and tend the lawn, this turned out to be Abel. He was young and gorgeous. Corinne had never had much to do with boys, and initially felt awkward in his company. But it wasn't long before they started to become closer. But when high school began. The Abel she had grown to know and care about. Was somebody different at school, Corinne doesn't understand how she could be so fooled by him.

First read by this author for me. I liked the story. The author built the relationship between Abel and Corinne gradually. It was nice reading how they got to know one another. Towards the end, the story totally changes pace, as the drama builds. Secrets are revealed leaving Corinne shocked and feeling abandoned. Wondering if her whole life had been a lie. Abel's behaviour faltered somewhat, once they started school, but I hoped that he would get it together. He was faced with finding the courage to do the right thing. A sensitively written story. I really enjoyed.

[Heather Gunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is on rare occasion that you find a book with such a strong female lead. A lead that possesses a lot of qualities such as kindness, courage and bravery just to name a few and NEVER ever boring. She's feisty & funny to boot. She stands up for what she believes in and doesn't back down. That is what started my love for this book initially.

Corine is yanked out of private school with no explanation whatsoever by her parents and who have a few unscrupulous things going on themselves...

Then you meet Abel her summer love who has a hard time saying no to the "bad" crowd once school starts & distancing himself and quickly learns that it is not something that Corine is willing to back down from.

Sean is a lovable sweet guy who gets bullied and tormented at school by the "group" and Corine comes to the rescue and befriends him. They have an innocent "friend" relationship and he made the book all the better...

Here is what I absolutely adore & have come to always expect from Lila's books. You can always expect a constant flowing dialogue, she is always true to her characters, never compromises and ALWAYS makes it relatable. Lila has a way with words. They flow seamlessly and makes you feel like you are a spectator in her story.

This is a book about choosing right from wrong and not going with the populous. Seeing a couple progress from friends to a relationship worth fighting for and watching it blossom.

The only complaint I have, is that I wasn't ready for it to end. I always look forward to another Lila Felix book!!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty soon Lila Felix is going to have to get a restraining order against me because I am gushing over her awesomeness!!!!

Best Part of Book: This story begins a little strange (in my opinion) Corinne is told to leave her boarding school because her parents haven't paid. Then when she goes home her family is moving out of her home and "downsizing" is the excuse. Well, that is not even the icing on the cake! Her dad sends her off to house sit for the summer. Isn't that just "great"? However, the summer starts to look up when Abel comes into the picture. Oh, Abel! You sexy fictional man! I love you! His sweetness just shines through so much! It does not take long for a relationship to bloom. Nonetheless, Lila Felix knows how to twist a story. Brett, the school bully (and a big jerk) is added into the mix. Let's not forget the strange behavior of her parents! Lila Felix does a great job of pulling everything together at the end! Like I doubted her mad author skills.

Not so great about the book: I think Lila is scared to write a book with more than 200 pages. Not that her stories are rushed, by any means. She just writes shorter stories. I finished this book within a few hours because its around 130 pages or so. I think that she is so talented that I would not even blink if she wrote a 300-400 page novel!

Nonetheless, I am completely over the moon for this book! Lila Felix has another masterpiece!!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What I ~ A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E.L.Y.~ loved about this book:
1. Corinne did NOT act like all the other leading ladies.
- no head games
-says it like it is
-eats what she wants
-isn't self conscience in a bathing suit
2. Corinne STANDS FOR THE RIGHT!
-she stick up to the bullies
-she sticks up to her boyfriend
3. The way Abel and Corinne's relationship unfolds.
4. How Corinne is strong for those who need her.

What I didn't like:
1. Corinne sometimes held back when she should have held on.

Abel's a good guy deep down and this is proven over the summer with his budding romance with Corinne. This school year he has Corinne to hold his hand as she leads him on the right path. Alls he needed was for that one person to show him the light. Now can he be there for her when she needs a strong hand to hold during the school year when her own life tilts on its head?

This was a good YA love story that built up so sweetly over the summer. It was cute, sweet, had some laughs, and just a good all around YA read.

I love this author's work so far and every time she ends her books they end on the perfect note.

[✿ℎazℯℓ - thℯ ℛock Cℎick ℱairy✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and mysterious.

I was wondering why the title is HOAX when I first added this to my tbr list. Now I know, and boy was I surprised.

Corinne is one of those pretty proper girls from a strict boarding school. She's the type of girl who's not used to other people helping her. She gets by, even without her parents' attention. While Abel on the other hand, is sweet and attentive, however, he is also that boy who's in a typical high school -- he's a typical spectator to those guys who're typical bullies.

This is one of the teen insta-attractions that's okay with me. Corrine and Abel are so cute together. The plot is good, kinda light and sweet. Abel's dilemma seemed silly when compared to Corinne's real problem. I was shocked when I found out about it. I didn't see that coming. I was intrigued, yes, about Corrine's barely-there parents.. but I didn't imagine that they'd be like that! Oh well! Anyway, it all worked out well in the end. Corrine finally accepted help from Abel. And they lived happily ever after. ;)


I wish it was longer though.

Still, it's a good, sweet read. ^_^

[Adriane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoax was a wonderful story about hope, trust and love. Corrine has a hard time trusting people, mostly because no one has ever been there for her. Not her parents, not anyone. Not until Abel. Spending the summer with Abel taught her the meaning of trust, faith. friendship, and love. But, when Corrine sees Abel sitting on the sidelines watching while his "friends" terrorize someone she cares about, she snaps and loses the faith that she had in Abel during their summer romance. Corrine loses further control of her life when things come to light about her family. However, with the damage done, she internalizes and refuses to let anyone in. Even Abel.

I feel like, looking back, what Hoax was missing was a deeper bond for Corrine. I feel like if she'd had another person to lean on, someone who could help her heal, it would have been better. Please don't misunderstand, I'm not saying that Corrine's character was underdeveloped, I'm saying that this book needed something more.

All in all. I would recommend this book to friends. It really is a good book, and it may not be missing something for other readers. Give it a chance. You may find something that I didn't.

[Cathlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Lila Felix's stuff, I really do. I just wish there was a little bit more- more character development, more sustenance. Parts of the book felt choppy and rushed, but the potential for an amazing story is there.

[justwant2read · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this one was as good as the other books. It was a good story, only took me a couple of hours to read it. Everything just happened so fast, and it was too short.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just didn't do it for me. The story was ok but never really went anywhere, and to me was more unrealistic the some of the science fiction influenced books I've read.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corrine & Abel's story was sweet.

[Ellelou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Lauren ♥ Inked in Chapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read this and other reviews at Madisonsays

3.5 Stars

I’m not really sure what I expected when I picked up Hoax. Well, I guess that’s not entirely true. Lila Felix spoiled me with Love and Skate and the sequel How It Rolls. Now I tend to expect every book she writes to be a master piece. While this book was enjoyable, it just didn’t leave me feeling completely satisfied.

Corrine Novak has spent her life away at boarding school. Her parents are anything but parents. For Pete sake they don’t hug her or kiss her goodbye when it’s time to return to school after breaks. Come to think of it they don’t even show up to say goodbye at all. Corrine has had no one to turn to. No one who cares. She’s been on her own in life. It’s funny how one summer can change everything.

House sitting for a rich family for the summer doesn’t seem like a tough job, especially when you’re parents have just sold their house and are downsizing your life. Oh, surprise! While you’re house sitting a really sexy guy around your age will be fixing up the joint. Doesn’t sound too bad at all. That’s exactly how Corrine meets Abel Collins and a romance is born.

“When Angela said there’d be a boy working here for the summer, I’d pictured a boy whose mom dropped him off in the morning and who sat on the porch eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches out of a spiderman lunchbox and drinking juicy juice. She lied. No-this was no boy.”

Abel is trying to escape some pretty shady friends. It’s tough to turn your back on your “friends” when you’ve known them most of your life. You’d think it would be simple to go against the bullying, but laying low and keeping your nose out of things just seems to be easier. That is until Corrine. Now it’s time for Abel to face up to what he’s been doing (or not doing) and decide exactly what type of guy he intends to be.

“He wasn’t participating, but standing there while it happened meant he was on the team but sitting on the bench. It made everything that happened during the summer seem like a lie, like deceit, like artifice. The Abel that I knew and fell in love with-it was all a hoax.”

Just when things begin to look up for Corrine she’s faced with some mind blowing news. If changing schools and moving to a new house weren’t bad enough, this new information is enough to rock her world completely. Will she let Abel hold her hand through the hard times or is it just simply easier to push him away and revert back to being alone?

The first half of this novel focuses on Corrine and Abel as they meet and fall in love. Because the book is written from both characters POVs, we’re able to get inside their heads. This simple fact helps us understand the choices they make later on in the book when faced with some pretty tough decisions. In the second half of the book reality hits. It’s time to go back to school and face the music or rather the bullying friends.

If I’m to be honest I really enjoyed the first half of the book, but felt that the second was a bit rushed. I like to have some time with the characters after a conflict has been resolved. This is the second book by this author that has left me feeling this way. I just feel like it ends so abruptly. There is an epilogue. You do find out what happens a couple years later, but again it’s short and sweet.

Over all, I think this was an awesome idea for a story. It was well paced and a very easy read. It kept my attention… I just came away wishing for something more. Don’t go and write this book off. Like I said earlier, I did enjoy it and it’s worth your time to read it. I just wouldn’t move it up on your TBR list.

[*Book Euphoria * · Rating 3 out of 5]

***

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corinne just got the news...she is no longer enrolled in boarding school and will have to attend public school as soon as summer is over. Her parent’s only excuse is the economy. Ooook? No 'how was school sweetheart?’….no 'everything will be ok as long as we are together'. Nope, just give her some money and send her on her way to her summer job house sitting for some family friends. Last thing Corinne expected this summer was to fall for the boy who is hired to paint the house and mow the lawn. But that is exactly what happens.

Abel cannot believe his eyes when he first notices the gorgeous girl with hair the color of honey. Soon she is all he can think about and he looks forward to the time they start spending together. And after a magical summer of spending practically every waking moment together…they both realize they have fallen for each other. But once school starts, Corinne sees a different side of Abel and his horrid friends. Now Corinne questions everything...and this summer romance could end as abruptly as it started.

Just seeing this puppy sitting in my email inbox had me giddy and eager to read it. And let me tell you…it was everything I knew it would be: well developed characters, writing that flows wonderfully, and romance that curled my toes. I mean for crying out loud…Abel asks Corinne to ‘be mine’. Oh my heart...it leaped in my chest when I read that line. *sigh* Felix you know how to make a reader swoon with just a couple words. It was greatness and it was beautiful.

I loved watching the relationship grow between these two characters throughout the summer. It was a sweet thing to see and reminded me of some summer romances I had when I was younger. (Long, long, long ago.) But aren’t stories about summer love the absolute best? What is it exactly about it that has people longing for it? I am not sure what it is, but I do know that Felix nailed it and had me flustered and grinning like an idiot. And no, I will not be belting out lyrics of Summer Nights from Grease. Well, ,maybe.

HOAX is one of those perfect reads you don’t want to put down. I finished it today within a few hours because it was just that good. Only had one teeny tiny problem….not near long enough. Come on Felix, could you not have added a few more scenes of Abel painting…sweating…glistening? So yeah, I recommend it and hope that you will give it a chance…as well as the rest of her books!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can view more of my reviews at The Alternative Kryptonite.

*Book was given to me for an honest review*

Short book equals short review……

HOAX is the fourth (well, fifth) book by Lila Felix I've read. Her beautiful characters and addictive stories have enraptured me from the first page of every book I've read by her, and HOAX was no exception. The emotional roller coasters she is able to create is awesome, and the characters glue you to your seat with their raw emotion and their brilliant love. HOAX was a quick, but fulfilling read that is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

As short as the novel is I didn't feel like I was lacking anything from the story or that it wasn't complete. Corrine is a great lead female character. She was independent, strong, and also caring. Throughout the book she has to get over many obstacles that turn her life upside down, but she is able to overcome them and grow as a person. Along with Corrine, Abel was a very interesting character to read because of the ongoing inner conflict. He was incredibly caring and protective of Corinne, but also is conflicted about his friends being jerk faces, but still “friends”. I loved how (especially in the end) the two main characters clashed a lot when it came to the bullying and how stubborn they both were. They had to work it out in the end and I really loved that about this book.

The story was fast paced and overall a really great, quick, Valentine’s Day read. I tried to guess the ending, but Lila Felix somehow always finds a way to surprise me in the sequence, emotions, and eventually outcomes of her books. That’s what I really love about Felix’s books. No matter how I thought they would turn out there’s always that curve ball that throws everything on its axis! Lila Felix is truly a great author and should continue to write breathtaking and wonderfully romantic novels.
5 out of 5 stars
-M

P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!! <3

[Genea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an excerpt of Hoax, just one chapter and I couldn't wait for it to be released. Now that I finally got to read it, I really liked it, just wished it were longer.

Hoax is one of those books that I might give away too much in a review so I'm gonna keep it short and not say or rather write too much about the plot.

Corinne is a sweet, confident, real girl. She's not fake and is as honest as can be. I really appreciated and was surprised how frank, and witty she was when she finally had someone to converse with. Which brings us to Abel, who was a caring, laid back kinda guy. He was such a romantic and sweet boyfriend, always putting Corinne first and making sure she was safe. They were a couple of really great protagonists.

Corinne is used to taking care of herself and prefers to sulk and suffer alone, she believes it means she's weak to ask for help. While Abel thinks not getting your hands dirty and just being a spectator to bullying is okay and doesn't want to mess with the status quo. I guess this book could also be called Alone since that was how Corinne and Abel felt, even though they were surrounded be people.

I really made a judgement on this one before I really knew what was going on. I thought I knew the characters motives, specifically speaking of Corinne's parents, but I was so wrong. Sometimes we can get an impression of a person and it's not what it all seems. Sometimes we try to protect those we love and think we can shield them from the bad stuff but life has a wicked sense of humor and can destroy the facade of thinking everything is okidory.

This was such an interesting well thought out story with an unexpected revelation when I found out what was the ultimate Hoax. Very good short and sweet story. So much for keeping it short.

[Scott-robert Shenkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the main reason was because of Corinne. She’s cool, she’s tough, she doesn’t give a shit about other people’s opinions, she eats what she wants and best of all, she isn’t afraid to get into the middle of a pack of bullies to protect a friend. She doesn’t do stupid things (well, something towards the end, but her entire upbringing has taught her to act this way). I liked Abel a bit less, obviously for not breaking it off with his “friends” (the ringleader, Brett, is essentially Satan).

Why 4 stars? The parents. Yes, both sets of parents were beyond horrible and the only reason they shouldn’t have been sterilized is because then Corinne and Abel wouldn’t be born. I understand distant parents. I’ve seen it with some of my friends. But I can’t imagine that these people could exist in real life – never cooking a meal, never going to a school conference, etc. I think it was a bit exaggerated.

[Beverly Mieling · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think my favorite part about this book was, of course, reading about Abel and Corinne falling in love. But.... the dual narration really didn't feel like it worked here. Especially when we would sometimes switch narrators and have to replay a part of a scene; the fact that this didn't happen every time was confusing and I had to retrace my steps and read ahead to figure out what part of the story we were at. It felt like taking one step back, two steps forward and made the story drag a little as well. Corinne's character flaw of not being able to ask for help also bothered me. Paired with her nearly perfect personality, it didn't feel like she had a big enough obstacle to overcome for the reader to relate to her struggle and rejoice when she overcame it. There were also just a few gaps in the narration where we would jump from one big part to the next and it felt like part of the story was missing--the transitions weren't smooth. Overall it was a quick read, but not my favorite.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story, sometimes hard to get my mind around it. I dont have a whole lot to say bout it really. Corrine had been in private school since the age of 6. All of a sudden her senior year, she learns her parents have withdrawn her from it, downsized to a smaller house, downgraded her car. All of this without so much an explanation. For the summer, she house sits for a wealthy family and meets Abel. He's there to work around the house. They are going to go to the same school. Abel hates his friends (weird) and doesnt want Corrine to know them. Both their parents are absent. His act like he is a burden on their time to spend "alone" and hers act as though she doesnt exist. Very werid. Anyway, they have some school issues with meshing Corrine in with his friends. Corrine was also dealt a hardship when she finds out the truth about her parents. But Abel is able to be her rock and they get a HEA.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. It sent out a good message and showed that taking a stand may be hard but its right. Now what tripped me out is that Corrines dad was a drug mule. Out of all the senarious that went through about what he could be doing that wasnt one of them. But im glad she found someone she could put her trust and love in cause she didnt recieve it like how she was supposed to. I really liked Abel hes a great guy but when i found out he just sits back and lets his frenemies beat up on people and do nothing about he lost my respect but he gained it back when he reached out to Sean and dropped his "friends" to the curb so he could keep the girl he loved in his life.

[Awa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was SOO excited to start this and it disappointed me, the writing is very good but the plot not so much. It’s a book for someone who likes to read about happily ever after’s and if you are a person who wants to go through a roller coaster of emotions then don’t read this. It’s been a while since I’ve written a review but after reading Hoax I absolutely have to. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy reading the book, I did but in all honesty that was the most hollow read I’ve had for a while. I did not connect at all with Corinne, I didn’t find her real at all. Anyway, do as you please I guess, it’s not the best (at all) but not the worst either.

[Periwinklepsyche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this beautiful love story of Corinne and Abel.Genuine and adorable.having a strong and beautiful heroine was something I really enjoyed.Corinne was down to earth inspite of her lavish upbringing.A woman who has a sweet spot for those who are in need.she's lovely inside out.Abel was a charmer.A very loyal and loving boyfriend to Corrine,I'm happy that he brave himself to fight for the right and detached himself from all his bully friends.So sweet how their love for each other made them strong together and win their struggles.a perfect ending for a beautiful love story!