What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets, Lies, and Scandals
Nothing ruins summer vacation like a secret…especially when it involves a dead teacher.
Ivy used to be on top of the social ladder, until her ex made that all go away. She has a chance to be Queen Bee again, but only if the rest of the group can keep quiet.
Tyler has always been a bad boy, but lately he’s been running low on second chances. There’s no way he’s going to lose everything because someone couldn’t keep their mouth shut.
Kinley wouldn’t describe herself as perfect, though everyone else would. But perfection comes at a price, and there is nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her perfect record—one that doesn’t include murder charges.
Mattie is only in town for the summer. He wasn’t looking to make friends, and he definitely wasn’t looking to be involved in a murder. He’s also not looking to be riddled with guilt for the rest of his life…but to prevent that he’ll have to turn them all in.
Cade couldn’t care less about the body, or about the pact to keep the secret. The only way to be innocent is for someone else to be found guilty. Now he just has to decide who that someone will be.
With the police hot on the case, they don’t have much time to figure out how to trust each other. But in order to take the lead, you have to be first in line…and that’s the quickest way to get stabbed in the back.
Ivy used to be on top of the social ladder, until her ex made that all go away. She has a chance to be Queen Bee again, but only if the rest of the group can keep quiet.
Tyler has always been a bad boy, but lately he’s been running low on second chances. There’s no way he’s going to lose everything because someone couldn’t keep their mouth shut.
Kinley wouldn’t describe herself as perfect, though everyone else would. But perfection comes at a price, and there is nothing she wouldn’t do to keep her perfect record—one that doesn’t include murder charges.
Mattie is only in town for the summer. He wasn’t looking to make friends, and he definitely wasn’t looking to be involved in a murder. He’s also not looking to be riddled with guilt for the rest of his life…but to prevent that he’ll have to turn them all in.
Cade couldn’t care less about the body, or about the pact to keep the secret. The only way to be innocent is for someone else to be found guilty. Now he just has to decide who that someone will be.
With the police hot on the case, they don’t have much time to figure out how to trust each other. But in order to take the lead, you have to be first in line…and that’s the quickest way to get stabbed in the back.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2016
36 people are currently reading
1640 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
July 4, 2016
Secrets, Lies and Scandals was a book I wanted to pick up because it reminded me a bit of The Secret History by Donna Tartt when I read the synopsis. Sadly, I wasn’t able to love that book so I was hoping I could read this one and enjoy it even more than that one! Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be… Although I did really like this book at the beginning, it fell kind of flat for me at the end.
I just want to clarify that although this book does share the same premise as The Secret History, it’s also noticeably different. For starters, it’s a YA book and that’s already a pretty big difference. As well as that, this one is a group of five students who aren’t friends being involved in a murder, instead of a number of friends who are. And I think it’s just that much harder to trust people who aren’t your friends to not turn you in.
This book deals with multiple points of view – all five of the friends. I wasn’t too worried about this because you managed to get a good taste for each of the characters and the way in which they acted. I never felt a lack of depth due to the switching of points of views.
There’s Ivy, the popular girl who has fell from her pedestal. Mattie who is gay and has a long distance boyfriend he feels he can’t trust when he isn’t there. Kinley is a confident, goody-two-shoes with a big family reputation to live up to. Tyler is a juvenile delinquent and Cade is the rich kid.
All of them are very different and have different attitudes. But more importantly, each of them has a secret they are protecting or worried about protecting that is separate from the murder. I found those secrets to be incredibly interesting and I love how the author dragged out the suspense in those cases. And quite a lot of the discoveries were pretty scandalous, actually. And I was impressed.
The blame game going on, when they all agreed to keep the murder the secret but then were going crazy from paranoia was so interesting! It made things all the more suspenseful and the anticipation built as I wondered who would take the fall.
But I have to be honest. This book was building up to be a strong four stars, which was watered down to a three stars because of the flop of an ending. It’s not terrible, but for the level of suspense the book was arousing – it was pretty disappointing. I wish it could have ended in another way. What a shame >.>
Gif summary:
This review and others can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
I just want to clarify that although this book does share the same premise as The Secret History, it’s also noticeably different. For starters, it’s a YA book and that’s already a pretty big difference. As well as that, this one is a group of five students who aren’t friends being involved in a murder, instead of a number of friends who are. And I think it’s just that much harder to trust people who aren’t your friends to not turn you in.
This book deals with multiple points of view – all five of the friends. I wasn’t too worried about this because you managed to get a good taste for each of the characters and the way in which they acted. I never felt a lack of depth due to the switching of points of views.
There’s Ivy, the popular girl who has fell from her pedestal. Mattie who is gay and has a long distance boyfriend he feels he can’t trust when he isn’t there. Kinley is a confident, goody-two-shoes with a big family reputation to live up to. Tyler is a juvenile delinquent and Cade is the rich kid.
All of them are very different and have different attitudes. But more importantly, each of them has a secret they are protecting or worried about protecting that is separate from the murder. I found those secrets to be incredibly interesting and I love how the author dragged out the suspense in those cases. And quite a lot of the discoveries were pretty scandalous, actually. And I was impressed.
The blame game going on, when they all agreed to keep the murder the secret but then were going crazy from paranoia was so interesting! It made things all the more suspenseful and the anticipation built as I wondered who would take the fall.
But I have to be honest. This book was building up to be a strong four stars, which was watered down to a three stars because of the flop of an ending. It’s not terrible, but for the level of suspense the book was arousing – it was pretty disappointing. I wish it could have ended in another way. What a shame >.>
Gif summary:
This review and others can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
Want to read
August 14, 2015A YA How to Get Away with Murder??
GIMME.
GIMME.
August 9, 2016
...that's it?
I'm stuck between hating this book for its characters, the instalust that took precedence, and the effortless convenience of all the shit that happened versus the ending that was sort of redeeming (but also not really).
One thing's for sure: while I understand why HTGAWM is a comp title, the execution of this story is far from it.
Derp.
I'm stuck between hating this book for its characters, the instalust that took precedence, and the effortless convenience of all the shit that happened versus the ending that was sort of redeeming (but also not really).
One thing's for sure: while I understand why HTGAWM is a comp title, the execution of this story is far from it.
Derp.
February 13, 2017
At a Glance:
Oh, hey! This book reminds me of How to Get Away With Murder? Don't you think?
Cover:
I love red, black and white... just like the book. I really like the cover. It's simple, yet mysterious and it's gives you that vibe of a thriller book. Such a great cover.
Action:
This is a thriller book, filled with mystery... not much of a packed action. Yet these five characters will have you on edge ;)
Romance:
Not really. There are fiver characters, we all get to know them in third person. Each have their own voice but no romance.
Something I loved:
I really enjoyed that fact that I was able to distinguish each characters. Usually when there is more than two perspective, things begin to blur. Not with the way Amanda wrote this book. She was able to give a voice to each of the characters, even if it is in third person. They were all witness to their awful teacher and they each told their story.
Something I didn’t like:
Even though the story is suspenseful, the ending is a bit predictable. Yet, I was able to enjoy the story no matter what. Then again, we learned what REALLY happened and you get the, really??? Nothing bad but boy, this could've saved them a lot of trouble.
Would I recommend it?
Despite the ending, I really enjoyed this story. Secrets, Lies, and Scandals is similar to How to Get Away With Murder with a touch of Pretty Little Liars, so if you are a fan of the shows, then you should definitely give this a try. Any fans of mysteries, thrillers, and/or suspense would enjoy this read.
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2017...
Oh, hey! This book reminds me of How to Get Away With Murder? Don't you think?
Cover:
I love red, black and white... just like the book. I really like the cover. It's simple, yet mysterious and it's gives you that vibe of a thriller book. Such a great cover.
Action:
This is a thriller book, filled with mystery... not much of a packed action. Yet these five characters will have you on edge ;)
Romance:
Not really. There are fiver characters, we all get to know them in third person. Each have their own voice but no romance.
Something I loved:
I really enjoyed that fact that I was able to distinguish each characters. Usually when there is more than two perspective, things begin to blur. Not with the way Amanda wrote this book. She was able to give a voice to each of the characters, even if it is in third person. They were all witness to their awful teacher and they each told their story.
Something I didn’t like:
Even though the story is suspenseful, the ending is a bit predictable. Yet, I was able to enjoy the story no matter what. Then again, we learned what REALLY happened and you get the, really??? Nothing bad but boy, this could've saved them a lot of trouble.
Would I recommend it?
Despite the ending, I really enjoyed this story. Secrets, Lies, and Scandals is similar to How to Get Away With Murder with a touch of Pretty Little Liars, so if you are a fan of the shows, then you should definitely give this a try. Any fans of mysteries, thrillers, and/or suspense would enjoy this read.
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2017...
July 12, 2016
3.5/5
I was drawn to the mystery and thrill of this book. I would think about it when I wasn't reading it, trying to come up with endings ad to predict it. It was a quick read and I was eager to flip pages it so time passed by quickly while I was lost in murder and plots.
The writing flows well and is light enough that the book seemed more humorous about the characters' situation. Even when murder made characters do shady things, it never felt really dangerous. This worked because they're teenagers, and I imagined I would act fairly the same way if I were their age and killed someone. This helped make it relatable and easy to understand, so falling into the book is that much easier.
No character was who they seemed. Not really, anyway. They deceived each other, tried to kill each other, and revealed things about their character you wouldn't have thought of on your own. They were mysterious and devious and it was great!
Overall, Secrets, Lies, and Scandals is a devious, dangerous book that goes by quickly.
*A huge thanks to FFBC for providing me with an eARC in order to participate in this tour:)
March 5, 2017
2.5
The ending ruined the whole book really.
The ending ruined the whole book really.
December 13, 2021
i really enjoyed the book lalo na nung palapit na sa ending pero hindi ko inexpect 'yung ending napaka anticlimactic.
July 3, 2016
'Secrets, Lies, and Scandals' is a taut young adult thriller that will have readers devouring each page. The plot isn't wholly original - a horrid teacher dies after a night summer school class, and five students witness it all. Each has their own reason for taking the course, for being at the school that late, for not wanting to be connected to the death in any way. What happens after that is what really gets the story moving - you don't know who is lying or who to trust - who might band together or turn on each other. Each of the students has something big going on in their lives that could be ruined by a mere few minutes - but can they all keep their secret?
I'm a huge fan of thrillers, so I was definitely excited to read this book. I was eager to see how things would happen and play out during the after-effects of the death of their teacher - and I wasn't disappointed in the least. There were lots of unanswered questions, lies, and not quite knowing what was going to happen - which kept me on the edge of my seat until I had finished the entire book (which ended up with a binge read that lasted only a few hours). The author did a fantastic job with every aspect of the story - the plot was intriguing and kept you guessing, the characters were all rounded with their own distinct personalities and issues, and the writing seemed to flow naturally. One thing that I both loved and hated (weirdly enough) was the author's writing style. The book is told from the five students perspectives, but it's written in the third person point of view. I absolutely loved that we got to see everything that happens from multiple characters - it really helped to build the suspense and kept dropping little twists and turns that came back up in the story later on. The only thing that could've made this better was if it had been done in the first person POV. I'm a huge advocate for using that writing style - mainly because of the deep personal connection that forms between the reader and the narrator. If the author would've written the book in the same style - but using the first person POV - this would have been a home run for me. I think the idea of using multiple narrators was smart and definitely added to the suspense, but it was dampened a bit because of the detached feeling of the writing. I hope that makes sense - it feels like I'm just rambling and not getting my point across. In essence, if everything had been exactly the same - except written in the first person point of view from each character's unique perspective - this book would be nothing short of amazing. It would have had me guessing until the end and would've added genuine thrills to the story - it would have been one of the best books I've read this year. Don't get me wrong - I really liked this book! It's just my personal issue with the whole point of view thing that hung me up a bit. This novel is great just as it is and I know that it'll be a big hit, especially for fans of the genre. I definitely highly recommend reading this book - for fans of mysteries, thrillers, suspense, contemporary fiction and even just readers looking for an overall well written book.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a huge fan of thrillers, so I was definitely excited to read this book. I was eager to see how things would happen and play out during the after-effects of the death of their teacher - and I wasn't disappointed in the least. There were lots of unanswered questions, lies, and not quite knowing what was going to happen - which kept me on the edge of my seat until I had finished the entire book (which ended up with a binge read that lasted only a few hours). The author did a fantastic job with every aspect of the story - the plot was intriguing and kept you guessing, the characters were all rounded with their own distinct personalities and issues, and the writing seemed to flow naturally. One thing that I both loved and hated (weirdly enough) was the author's writing style. The book is told from the five students perspectives, but it's written in the third person point of view. I absolutely loved that we got to see everything that happens from multiple characters - it really helped to build the suspense and kept dropping little twists and turns that came back up in the story later on. The only thing that could've made this better was if it had been done in the first person POV. I'm a huge advocate for using that writing style - mainly because of the deep personal connection that forms between the reader and the narrator. If the author would've written the book in the same style - but using the first person POV - this would have been a home run for me. I think the idea of using multiple narrators was smart and definitely added to the suspense, but it was dampened a bit because of the detached feeling of the writing. I hope that makes sense - it feels like I'm just rambling and not getting my point across. In essence, if everything had been exactly the same - except written in the first person point of view from each character's unique perspective - this book would be nothing short of amazing. It would have had me guessing until the end and would've added genuine thrills to the story - it would have been one of the best books I've read this year. Don't get me wrong - I really liked this book! It's just my personal issue with the whole point of view thing that hung me up a bit. This novel is great just as it is and I know that it'll be a big hit, especially for fans of the genre. I definitely highly recommend reading this book - for fans of mysteries, thrillers, suspense, contemporary fiction and even just readers looking for an overall well written book.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2018
Secrets, Lies, and Scandals es un libro que llevaba en mi lista mucho tiempo. La premisa del libro es bastante buena y por eso nunca lo borré, porque sonaba prometedor.
Trama/Desarrollo: La historia es acerca de cinco jóvenes que cometen un crimen contra su maestro de psicología, la cual es una clase que están llevando en verano para obtener créditos extra. En la descripción del libro se encuentra, valga la redundancia, la descripción de los cinco personajes y como puede arruinar su vida.
El desarrollo es bastante bueno al principio. Sin embargo, nos damos cuenta que todo parece salir tan perfecto y la policia simplemente sigue sin seguir la pista, que a veces te hace pensar un poco en qué tan creíble es la situación. Me parece que en las últimas treinta páginas el libro comienza a decaer bastante y debo decir qué, lamentablemente, toda la expectación, secretos, mentiras y escándalos de los jóvenes no son relevantes en la historia para la resolución del tema.
Personajes: Como la mayoría de los YA de misterio, los personajes son clichés y me parece que ese no es el problema. Por ejemplo, Mattie, es un personaje que algunas reseñas califican como homosexual pero yo lo clasificaré como bisexual debido a que expresa tener sentimientos por hombres y mujeres. El problema con él es que juega con el factor "fui infiel porque estaba dolido" o "Si mi novio miente, yo también", pero jura querer a su novio. Eso me parece bastante fuera de lugar.
Otro problema que encuentro con los personajes es que nos plantean los secretos de todos ellos, inclusive es sumamente interesante ver como entre ellos mismos planean hacer complots para tratar de culpar a una sola persona, pero al final, ninguna situación resulta efectiva o es utilizada para crear drama.
Final: Arruina el libro en su totalidad. Debo decir que ya me disgustaban las escenas finales, pero el final terminó por decepcionarme. Me pareció que la resolución fue sumamente rápida, se fue por un camino sencillo y además, deja una duda en su última página que al final del día, salía sobrando. Quizá es un final para un segundo libro, pero no creo haya sido efectivo.
Escritura: Tiene una escritura sencilla, lo recomiendo para aquellos que apenas se atreven a leer en inglés. En algunas situaciones me fue difícil entender cuando pasaba de un escenario a otro pues era muy abrupto y no se avisaba.
Género: Misterio. Recomedable para principiantes y salir de un bloqueo. Bastante predecible y un misterio que da muchas vueltas en la cima y termina en el precipicio.
Trama/Desarrollo: La historia es acerca de cinco jóvenes que cometen un crimen contra su maestro de psicología, la cual es una clase que están llevando en verano para obtener créditos extra. En la descripción del libro se encuentra, valga la redundancia, la descripción de los cinco personajes y como puede arruinar su vida.
El desarrollo es bastante bueno al principio. Sin embargo, nos damos cuenta que todo parece salir tan perfecto y la policia simplemente sigue sin seguir la pista, que a veces te hace pensar un poco en qué tan creíble es la situación. Me parece que en las últimas treinta páginas el libro comienza a decaer bastante y debo decir qué, lamentablemente, toda la expectación, secretos, mentiras y escándalos de los jóvenes no son relevantes en la historia para la resolución del tema.
Personajes: Como la mayoría de los YA de misterio, los personajes son clichés y me parece que ese no es el problema. Por ejemplo, Mattie, es un personaje que algunas reseñas califican como homosexual pero yo lo clasificaré como bisexual debido a que expresa tener sentimientos por hombres y mujeres. El problema con él es que juega con el factor "fui infiel porque estaba dolido" o "Si mi novio miente, yo también", pero jura querer a su novio. Eso me parece bastante fuera de lugar.
Otro problema que encuentro con los personajes es que nos plantean los secretos de todos ellos, inclusive es sumamente interesante ver como entre ellos mismos planean hacer complots para tratar de culpar a una sola persona, pero al final, ninguna situación resulta efectiva o es utilizada para crear drama.
Final: Arruina el libro en su totalidad. Debo decir que ya me disgustaban las escenas finales, pero el final terminó por decepcionarme. Me pareció que la resolución fue sumamente rápida, se fue por un camino sencillo y además, deja una duda en su última página que al final del día, salía sobrando. Quizá es un final para un segundo libro, pero no creo haya sido efectivo.
Escritura: Tiene una escritura sencilla, lo recomiendo para aquellos que apenas se atreven a leer en inglés. En algunas situaciones me fue difícil entender cuando pasaba de un escenario a otro pues era muy abrupto y no se avisaba.
Género: Misterio. Recomedable para principiantes y salir de un bloqueo. Bastante predecible y un misterio que da muchas vueltas en la cima y termina en el precipicio.
December 25, 2016
Five students are sharing a secret. Mattie, Ivy, Tyler, Kinley and Cade are all taking a summer course for their own reasons. When something awful happens to the teacher they are the only witnesses. They make a risky decision, they will keep their secret and the punishment for telling will be severe. Only one of them crossed the line, but somehow they are in this situation together anyway. Will they be able to keep their mouths shut or will one of them talk? Will they be found out or will they be able to get away with what happened?
Secrets, Lies and Scandals is an compelling story about five completely different teenagers who only have in common that they're taking the same class. Tyler has a record, but he isn't as guilty as people think he is. Ivy used to be the perfect popular one, but she's recently lost her position. Mattie is from a small village and he's staying with his aunt for the summer to be able to take the course, which is leading to problems with his boyfriend. Kinley is the smart one who has the most fantastic grades, she's the girl who seems well-behaved, but actually has a lot to hide. Cade is ignoring something that has always been inside him and he's under constant pressure from his father, who is worried about it. The teenagers have enough problems already and don't like dealing with the mean comments of their hateful teacher. That's when something goes wrong and I couldn't wait to find out what the implications were. I liked reading about everyone's lives and Amanda K. Morgan managed to keep me curious. Together the students form a fascinating group with turbulent lives and big problems.
Amanda K. Morgan switches between the five main characters and I loved reading a story with so many different points of view. The characters have such distinct personality traits and I was equally captivated by each of them. I love stories about intriguing secrets and Secrets, Lies and Scandals has them in abundance. I can't say I liked the majority of the main characters, but the fact that they are human with plenty of flaws made me enjoy the story even more.
Secrets, Lies and Scandals is a fantastic book that managed to keep me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It's a gripping story with many unexpected twists and turns. I loved the idea behind it. One unlucky moment can put so many different things in motion. Amanda K. Morgan describes that skillfully. For me the consequences of everyone's actions were even more interesting than what happened at the disastrous moment itself. While the situation itself is chaotic I always felt like there was order. Amanda K. Morgan is keeping a tight grip and there are no real emotional excesses. This leaves room for plenty of drama. The last scene is fabulous and the ending is surprising, I loved the chosen direction. I liked everything about this story and highly recommend it.
Secrets, Lies and Scandals is an compelling story about five completely different teenagers who only have in common that they're taking the same class. Tyler has a record, but he isn't as guilty as people think he is. Ivy used to be the perfect popular one, but she's recently lost her position. Mattie is from a small village and he's staying with his aunt for the summer to be able to take the course, which is leading to problems with his boyfriend. Kinley is the smart one who has the most fantastic grades, she's the girl who seems well-behaved, but actually has a lot to hide. Cade is ignoring something that has always been inside him and he's under constant pressure from his father, who is worried about it. The teenagers have enough problems already and don't like dealing with the mean comments of their hateful teacher. That's when something goes wrong and I couldn't wait to find out what the implications were. I liked reading about everyone's lives and Amanda K. Morgan managed to keep me curious. Together the students form a fascinating group with turbulent lives and big problems.
Amanda K. Morgan switches between the five main characters and I loved reading a story with so many different points of view. The characters have such distinct personality traits and I was equally captivated by each of them. I love stories about intriguing secrets and Secrets, Lies and Scandals has them in abundance. I can't say I liked the majority of the main characters, but the fact that they are human with plenty of flaws made me enjoy the story even more.
Secrets, Lies and Scandals is a fantastic book that managed to keep me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It's a gripping story with many unexpected twists and turns. I loved the idea behind it. One unlucky moment can put so many different things in motion. Amanda K. Morgan describes that skillfully. For me the consequences of everyone's actions were even more interesting than what happened at the disastrous moment itself. While the situation itself is chaotic I always felt like there was order. Amanda K. Morgan is keeping a tight grip and there are no real emotional excesses. This leaves room for plenty of drama. The last scene is fabulous and the ending is surprising, I loved the chosen direction. I liked everything about this story and highly recommend it.
July 2, 2016
It took me one episode to get hooked on How to Get Away with Murder so a book that was compared to the show and the movies I Know What you Did Last Summer, which I also loved, had some high expectations to overcome. It did take me longer than one chapter to get hooked on the book. It took two.
The book was told in the POVs of the five students who were involved in their teacher's death. Mattie was an instant favourite but all the characters were easy to either like or feel for. I didn't feel a strong connection to Cade or Kinley but I still didn't want to see them hurt or worse and I still enjoyed reading their POV. All five were so different that it was easy to tell their POVs apart. Mattie was sweet and shy, Ivy was the former school queen looking for redemption, Tyler was a bad boy trying to change his ways, Kinley was the constant teacher's pet, and Cade was the rich boy whose father tried to organize every inch of his life. It was a Breakfast Club group of characters who normally would have barely spoken to each other and who now had to trust each other to keep their mouths shut.
I thought there was a really good balance between the death plot and how it was affecting each character, and showing that their every day problems that they had before the death didn't go away. Everything they were struggling with before was still there. It was interesting to see how the dynamics were playing out between the group; who was bonding with who, who was willing to turn against who, who was willing to protect who.
The whole book took place in the matter of about a week but it felt like no time at all with how addicting it was to read. It was fun, enjoyable, and I definitely got the same can't-stop-watching/reading vibe as I do when I'm watching How to Get Away with Murder. I am definitely hoping for a sequel.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The book was told in the POVs of the five students who were involved in their teacher's death. Mattie was an instant favourite but all the characters were easy to either like or feel for. I didn't feel a strong connection to Cade or Kinley but I still didn't want to see them hurt or worse and I still enjoyed reading their POV. All five were so different that it was easy to tell their POVs apart. Mattie was sweet and shy, Ivy was the former school queen looking for redemption, Tyler was a bad boy trying to change his ways, Kinley was the constant teacher's pet, and Cade was the rich boy whose father tried to organize every inch of his life. It was a Breakfast Club group of characters who normally would have barely spoken to each other and who now had to trust each other to keep their mouths shut.
I thought there was a really good balance between the death plot and how it was affecting each character, and showing that their every day problems that they had before the death didn't go away. Everything they were struggling with before was still there. It was interesting to see how the dynamics were playing out between the group; who was bonding with who, who was willing to turn against who, who was willing to protect who.
The whole book took place in the matter of about a week but it felt like no time at all with how addicting it was to read. It was fun, enjoyable, and I definitely got the same can't-stop-watching/reading vibe as I do when I'm watching How to Get Away with Murder. I am definitely hoping for a sequel.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
When the blurb said that it was in the vein of I know what she did last summer, I was hooked. I love that kind of stories and I wanted to try out this book.
The author is new so I didn't know what to expect from her writing. The starting was very simple. The background was set and the characters were introduced one by one. The story was told in the POVs of the 5 main characters. It was interesting and intriguing getting to know them. Each one had a different backstory and it was fascinating and easy to follow.
The author was meticulous in threading the plot in various directions. She had also done a great job of keeping up the pace. I was constantly biting my nails trying to figure out what was going to happen next. The story was a page turner through and through. The backstabbing among the characters and the way they panicked were given a genuine touch and a delicate hand. The way the author has handled it was classy. It didn't take me long to read the book at all.
The only things which I didn't like was the way the author has stereotyped the characters and the way the romance developed fast between Tyler and Kinley. And also the way Mattie and Ivy kind of get attracted. All in all, it was a very good read and the ending totally rocked.
My rating : 4.5/5
When the blurb said that it was in the vein of I know what she did last summer, I was hooked. I love that kind of stories and I wanted to try out this book.
The author is new so I didn't know what to expect from her writing. The starting was very simple. The background was set and the characters were introduced one by one. The story was told in the POVs of the 5 main characters. It was interesting and intriguing getting to know them. Each one had a different backstory and it was fascinating and easy to follow.
The author was meticulous in threading the plot in various directions. She had also done a great job of keeping up the pace. I was constantly biting my nails trying to figure out what was going to happen next. The story was a page turner through and through. The backstabbing among the characters and the way they panicked were given a genuine touch and a delicate hand. The way the author has handled it was classy. It didn't take me long to read the book at all.
The only things which I didn't like was the way the author has stereotyped the characters and the way the romance developed fast between Tyler and Kinley. And also the way Mattie and Ivy kind of get attracted. All in all, it was a very good read and the ending totally rocked.
My rating : 4.5/5
June 4, 2018
Have you ever had a secret that no one could find out? The book Secrets, Lies, and Scandals by Amanda K. Morgan is a realistic fiction novel about five teenagers who accidentally murdered their college professor. Throughout the whole book you watch them dispose of the body, and try to keep each other quiet. I enjoyed this book because it was a mystery that you, the reader, knew the answer to but you watched the whole town try to find out, and watch the characters pin each other up against one another. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a suspenseful, intriguing read.
June 28, 2020
Full review: https://theantagonistdiaries.wordpres...
As I run out of the Serials to watch during the quarantine, I decided to pick up some old ones with a high rating that I’ve never had the chance (or the time) to watch. So I started watching How to Get Away With Murder and I got hooked. Then I saw Five Little Liars in NatGalley and checked it out in Goodreads. You can understand my excitement after I saw that it is compared to the aforementioned series. As a result, I wanted to read it straight away and I was so happy when Simon&Schuster granted me a copy of this book to read in advance.
Who will sign for a summer class voluntarily? Not me. But who knew that the boring psychological summer class will turn into the worst summer class ever for a group of 5 college students.
As I run out of the Serials to watch during the quarantine, I decided to pick up some old ones with a high rating that I’ve never had the chance (or the time) to watch. So I started watching How to Get Away With Murder and I got hooked. Then I saw Five Little Liars in NatGalley and checked it out in Goodreads. You can understand my excitement after I saw that it is compared to the aforementioned series. As a result, I wanted to read it straight away and I was so happy when Simon&Schuster granted me a copy of this book to read in advance.
Who will sign for a summer class voluntarily? Not me. But who knew that the boring psychological summer class will turn into the worst summer class ever for a group of 5 college students.
Want to read
March 8, 2018My friend (I know in real life) who's called Sam gifted me with this book in 2017 a year before she left for a different school. Thank you and I hope to see her soon.
April 9, 2019
It was great and I didn't know it was about a murder until I reached the plot. I recommend you this book if you are into mystery and thriller.
December 15, 2019
A great book for fans of One of Us is Lying.
March 13, 2017
GRADE: B-
3.5 stars
Five students in a summer psychology class accidentally kill their horrible professor. Chaos ensues.
SECRETS, LIES AND SCANDALS, while not a comedy, has a campy feel to the writing, which was my favorite part of reading this novel. Amanda K. Morgan drew me in with her delightful descriptions of the five main characters. Broken into short chapters from the 3rd person points of view from each character, we learn the secrets they harbor beneath their carefully orchestrated veneers. None of the characters was particularly likable, but they all had sympathetic aspects to their stories.
Plot wise, SECRETS, LIES AND SCANDALS was somewhat flimsy. The method of the killing seemed weak for the lengths the teens when to cover up their involvement. They could have just as easily concocted a plausible explanation for an accident trip and fall. Even the ending felt like a letdown, although the last chapter caused me intrigue. I wanted to know more about the five students' disposition.
Don't read SECRETS, LIES AND SCANDALS if you're expecting a taut mystery, read it because is a fun, fun book.
3.5 stars
Five students in a summer psychology class accidentally kill their horrible professor. Chaos ensues.
SECRETS, LIES AND SCANDALS, while not a comedy, has a campy feel to the writing, which was my favorite part of reading this novel. Amanda K. Morgan drew me in with her delightful descriptions of the five main characters. Broken into short chapters from the 3rd person points of view from each character, we learn the secrets they harbor beneath their carefully orchestrated veneers. None of the characters was particularly likable, but they all had sympathetic aspects to their stories.
Plot wise, SECRETS, LIES AND SCANDALS was somewhat flimsy. The method of the killing seemed weak for the lengths the teens when to cover up their involvement. They could have just as easily concocted a plausible explanation for an accident trip and fall. Even the ending felt like a letdown, although the last chapter caused me intrigue. I wanted to know more about the five students' disposition.
Don't read SECRETS, LIES AND SCANDALS if you're expecting a taut mystery, read it because is a fun, fun book.
November 20, 2017
"Secrets, Lies, and Scandals" is about five main character named Ivy, Tyler, Kinley, Mattie, and Cade. All five of these characters are taking a psychology course taught by the rude, stubborn, Dr. Stratford. The students' summer is completely ruined when they find out that Dr. Stratford is dead. The whole town is wondering, who is the killer? The suspense continues to build up throughout the whole novel. I loved the beginning of the story. However, the ending was a cliffhanger that didn't actually give me the suspense and thrill I wanted. I wouldn't recommend this book if you are looking for a thrilling and spectacular resolution.
October 5, 2017
Ever been involved in a murder that was an accident, and the person who died happens to be your professor? Well Tyler, Kinley, Mattie, Cade and Ivy has, it's not like they meant for it to happen. Or did they? This is a realistic fictional book, because this could always happen in someone's life. I recommend this book to readers who are into dramatic mystery.
July 5, 2016
This book is told from the point of view of five students who are all taking a class over the summer at a college level. The professor is extremely difficult and he doesn't really care to much for his students. He has no problem speaking his mind. The 5 students are having a difficult time in his class and after the first test things get even worse for the kids.
I really enjoyed how the book was told from the different perspectives. We got a look at each of the kids before the teacher incident and then how they were coping after. Each of the characters was also experiencing some sort of personal issue so that was interesting to read about too. I think that really kept the story moving with the sides stories and kept me more interested in the book.
I would have to say my favorite character was Ivy she had a lot of issues that she was going through, but I felt like she was really growing on me during the book. Ivy was very popular and then giving up her virginity to a guy who broke up with her took her popularity from her. Ivy seemed the most high school girl. I also really enjoyed how Ivy tried to help out Mattie that she could see he was struggling. I felt like from the beginning to the end of the book you could just see a complete 180 in Ivy and I love that in a character.
Things I just couldn't find realistic was sort of the whole thing going down the way it did. I feel like 5 people to be involved in a murder is a lot of different people and also just how two people tried to help him and the others kind of just watched it seemed more like I am shocked one of them didn't instantly call 911 and somehow they all agree to this crazy plan.
Also, the ending is amazing! You think one thing and then the last page changes everything! I love how the author used the dates when writing the chapters it really helped to put timing in perspective.
I would suggest this as a nighttime read. It was a very fast read and easy to follow along. The book has a lot of suspense so you are going to want to know what happens next, but it does have points in which you could easily put the book down and start again.
I received a copy of this book from The Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion of this book.
I really enjoyed how the book was told from the different perspectives. We got a look at each of the kids before the teacher incident and then how they were coping after. Each of the characters was also experiencing some sort of personal issue so that was interesting to read about too. I think that really kept the story moving with the sides stories and kept me more interested in the book.
I would have to say my favorite character was Ivy she had a lot of issues that she was going through, but I felt like she was really growing on me during the book. Ivy was very popular and then giving up her virginity to a guy who broke up with her took her popularity from her. Ivy seemed the most high school girl. I also really enjoyed how Ivy tried to help out Mattie that she could see he was struggling. I felt like from the beginning to the end of the book you could just see a complete 180 in Ivy and I love that in a character.
Things I just couldn't find realistic was sort of the whole thing going down the way it did. I feel like 5 people to be involved in a murder is a lot of different people and also just how two people tried to help him and the others kind of just watched it seemed more like I am shocked one of them didn't instantly call 911 and somehow they all agree to this crazy plan.
Also, the ending is amazing! You think one thing and then the last page changes everything! I love how the author used the dates when writing the chapters it really helped to put timing in perspective.
I would suggest this as a nighttime read. It was a very fast read and easy to follow along. The book has a lot of suspense so you are going to want to know what happens next, but it does have points in which you could easily put the book down and start again.
I received a copy of this book from The Fantastic Flying Book Club in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion of this book.
January 22, 2019
On a stormy June night, Kinley, Cade, Tyler, Ivy, and Mattie make a pact for a murder they unintentionally commit. From the beginning of the book, the author had me intrigued by the astonishing events that occur. Because the book is in each person's perspective, I believe the reader can understand and connect to the book from a variety of outlooks on each situation. I would recommend this book to readers who love mysteries/thrillers, realistic fiction, and sensational dramas.
Read
July 5, 2016When it's summer, I turn to two specific types of books: thrillers and what used to be called "chick lit." Those are my two favorite genres for "vacation books," whether or not I am actually lucky enough to be on vacation.
This one is a suspense novel, something that reads like I Know What You Did Last Summer. It's about a group of classmates who accidentally kill their teacher (no big loss; that guy was a complete jerk) and who manage to get away with it---they think.
There are a lot of twists and turns with this and I couldn't wait to see what happened and who was behind everything.
I am not sure how I feel about the ending but I very much enjoyed everything else.
This one is a suspense novel, something that reads like I Know What You Did Last Summer. It's about a group of classmates who accidentally kill their teacher (no big loss; that guy was a complete jerk) and who manage to get away with it---they think.
There are a lot of twists and turns with this and I couldn't wait to see what happened and who was behind everything.
I am not sure how I feel about the ending but I very much enjoyed everything else.
July 13, 2016
Five students are sharing a secret – Kinley, Mattie, Ivy, Cade, and Tyler. Each chapter is told from one of the character’s points of view, and it goes around in a circle, giving them each a turn. If you don’t mind having that many points of view to go off of, it’s pretty easy to get hooked. Also, the ending is amazing! You think one thing and then the last page changes everything!
October 23, 2016
This is a lovely, quick and easy read and I wish it was serialized. Once the hook is delivered in the beginning,the suspense, mischief and mystery, always leaves you wanting to know more. And with characters like Cade, Ivy, Kinley, Tyler and Mattie that offer pleasant and surprising memories, it almost felt like a good time cut short. Which in hindsight, made it even sweeter :)
August 18, 2016
Whoa! I was looking for some story like this for so long. It reminded me a little "I know what you did last summer" but obviously this one is better.
Thrilling story, strong characters. That's what a reader needs.
I hated those little two bastards; Kinley and Cade.
Thrilling story, strong characters. That's what a reader needs.
I hated those little two bastards; Kinley and Cade.
July 11, 2016
I liked! It's like HTGAWM
October 2, 2023
so good and easy to read , gave how to get away with murder vibes. that ending tho……anticlimactic
December 5, 2024
The book was very reminiscent to One Of Us Is Lying, but it wasn’t a terrible storyline and the plot twist at the end leaves a lot up to the reader’s imagination.
November 9, 2021
Secrets, Lies, and Scandals was a hard book to put down after I got it from my school library. We were assigned to read this book in six weeks, and the twists and turns in this story made it very difficult to stop reading. It went back and forth between five teens who committed a crime and the tricky tactics used to cover it up. Who knew a book could make a boring summer school class in a town where nothing ever happened so entertaining?
The story begins with a description of the five main characters. Kinley, an intelligent perfectionist with tricks up her sleeve. Tyler, the bad boy with a worse reputation and a fake substance problem. Ivy, the ex-queen bee. Mattie, the guilt-ridden good guy. And lastly, Cade, the one who has to take down everyone so he can get his way. The five teenagers accidentally killed their psychology professor and very neglectfully covered it up. This story switches between their points of view. Throughout the entire book, they battle through their emotions, and a few times with each other, until the police rule out that Stratford, the professor, died from a brain aneurysm. Or did he?
Tyler and Kinley decide to work together to turn the other three teenagers in for the murder of Stratford. Using Kinley's earpiece, they record an argument between the five of them. In this recording, Tyler and Kinley sound innocent, but everyone else seems incredibly guilty. The couple sends this recording, which is now on a flash drive, into the police station. At the same time, Mattie is far too anxious to pretend nothing is wrong, so he decides to turn himself in. As he approaches the police station, he notices a lot of people lined up around the station. Mattie then learns that the police did an autopsy on Stratford and ruled that Stratford died from a brain aneurysm. Mattie left the station with hope, as he believes he and the four other teenagers are officially off the hook. Then, the detective who was head of the case receives mail. On his desk is the flash drive that Tyler and Kinley used to frame the others. My favorite part of the ending is how Tyler and Kinley are soon to be the ones who make it out safe. The reasoning behind this is Tyler and Kinley are the most creative and logical about the situation, and I favored them over the other characters.
This book was a great choice, and I found it very entertaining. If you are into murder mysteries, this book would be a good choice for you. This book was hard to pace myself on, and I would recommend it to anyone.
The story begins with a description of the five main characters. Kinley, an intelligent perfectionist with tricks up her sleeve. Tyler, the bad boy with a worse reputation and a fake substance problem. Ivy, the ex-queen bee. Mattie, the guilt-ridden good guy. And lastly, Cade, the one who has to take down everyone so he can get his way. The five teenagers accidentally killed their psychology professor and very neglectfully covered it up. This story switches between their points of view. Throughout the entire book, they battle through their emotions, and a few times with each other, until the police rule out that Stratford, the professor, died from a brain aneurysm. Or did he?
Tyler and Kinley decide to work together to turn the other three teenagers in for the murder of Stratford. Using Kinley's earpiece, they record an argument between the five of them. In this recording, Tyler and Kinley sound innocent, but everyone else seems incredibly guilty. The couple sends this recording, which is now on a flash drive, into the police station. At the same time, Mattie is far too anxious to pretend nothing is wrong, so he decides to turn himself in. As he approaches the police station, he notices a lot of people lined up around the station. Mattie then learns that the police did an autopsy on Stratford and ruled that Stratford died from a brain aneurysm. Mattie left the station with hope, as he believes he and the four other teenagers are officially off the hook. Then, the detective who was head of the case receives mail. On his desk is the flash drive that Tyler and Kinley used to frame the others. My favorite part of the ending is how Tyler and Kinley are soon to be the ones who make it out safe. The reasoning behind this is Tyler and Kinley are the most creative and logical about the situation, and I favored them over the other characters.
This book was a great choice, and I found it very entertaining. If you are into murder mysteries, this book would be a good choice for you. This book was hard to pace myself on, and I would recommend it to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews