What do you think?
Rate this book
Eleanor Ames #1
Chasing Truth
"An enjoyably twisty, romantic, and thoughtful prep-school mystery." -Kirkus Reviews
At Holden Prep, the rich and powerful rule the school—and they’ll do just about anything to keep their dirty little secrets hidden.
When former con artist Eleanor Ames’ homecoming date commits suicide, she’s positive there’s something more going on. The more questions she asks, though, the more she crosses paths with Miles Beckett. He’s sexy, mysterious, arrogant…and he’s asking all the same questions.
Eleanor might not trust him—she doesn’t even like him—but they can’t keep their hands off of each other. Fighting the infuriating attraction is almost as hard as ignoring the fact that Miles isn’t telling her the truth…and that there’s a good chance he thinks she’s the killer.
At Holden Prep, the rich and powerful rule the school—and they’ll do just about anything to keep their dirty little secrets hidden.
When former con artist Eleanor Ames’ homecoming date commits suicide, she’s positive there’s something more going on. The more questions she asks, though, the more she crosses paths with Miles Beckett. He’s sexy, mysterious, arrogant…and he’s asking all the same questions.
Eleanor might not trust him—she doesn’t even like him—but they can’t keep their hands off of each other. Fighting the infuriating attraction is almost as hard as ignoring the fact that Miles isn’t telling her the truth…and that there’s a good chance he thinks she’s the killer.
400 pages, ebook
First published September 27, 2016
92 people are currently reading
1641 people want to read
About the author
Julie Cross
24 books1,701 followersJulie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin's Press). She's also the author of Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
April 9, 2018
Chasing Truth by Julie Cross is the first book in the Eleanor Ames series. This series is a bit of a young adult mystery/thriller mixed with some romance.
Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Ames is a teenage reformed con artist now living with her older sister. Ellie has never known any other life than that of a grifter since that is how she was raised by her parents with them using her in their cons. But now she’s doing her best to go straight and fit into her school and sister’s life.
Ellie had made one friend since beginning her new life, Simon. But when Simon was found a victim of an apparent suicide Ellie has had a hard time letting go and believing the findings. She was the last person to see him alive and Simon was happy that night. So now Ellie has decided to get the answers to what happened herself, that is if she isn’t too distracted with her new neighbor, Miles.
For the most part this was a fun young adult mystery with one heck of a snarky leading lady. From the opening pages I couldn’t help but chuckle and like Ellie with her responses so I knew I would enjoy the book. My only concern with this one was it seemed to go on a bit too long making it drag in parts leaving me to rate at 3.5 stars. I think if it had been edited down a bit the story would have flowed a lot better but with book two seeming to be shorter I’m certainly willing to see what happens with Ellie next.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Ames is a teenage reformed con artist now living with her older sister. Ellie has never known any other life than that of a grifter since that is how she was raised by her parents with them using her in their cons. But now she’s doing her best to go straight and fit into her school and sister’s life.
Ellie had made one friend since beginning her new life, Simon. But when Simon was found a victim of an apparent suicide Ellie has had a hard time letting go and believing the findings. She was the last person to see him alive and Simon was happy that night. So now Ellie has decided to get the answers to what happened herself, that is if she isn’t too distracted with her new neighbor, Miles.
For the most part this was a fun young adult mystery with one heck of a snarky leading lady. From the opening pages I couldn’t help but chuckle and like Ellie with her responses so I knew I would enjoy the book. My only concern with this one was it seemed to go on a bit too long making it drag in parts leaving me to rate at 3.5 stars. I think if it had been edited down a bit the story would have flowed a lot better but with book two seeming to be shorter I’m certainly willing to see what happens with Ellie next.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 22, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley.)
This was a YA mystery story about a girl whose best friend had died in mysterious circumstances.
Ellie was quite a curious character, and certainly liked to poke her nose into other people’s business. She did seem to put her skills as an ex-con-artist to good use, but she also got herself into some sticky situations as well.
The storyline in this was about Ellie trying to work out what had happened to her best friend Simon, as she didn’t believe that he had really committed suicide. The major problem I had with this book though was the pace, and the book seemed to really drag because of it.
The ending to this was okay, and I’m sure other people will enjoy it, it just didn’t really do it for me.
6 out of 10
“Maybe trust isn’t a part of my life because I don’t want it to be.”
This was a YA mystery story about a girl whose best friend had died in mysterious circumstances.
Ellie was quite a curious character, and certainly liked to poke her nose into other people’s business. She did seem to put her skills as an ex-con-artist to good use, but she also got herself into some sticky situations as well.
The storyline in this was about Ellie trying to work out what had happened to her best friend Simon, as she didn’t believe that he had really committed suicide. The major problem I had with this book though was the pace, and the book seemed to really drag because of it.
The ending to this was okay, and I’m sure other people will enjoy it, it just didn’t really do it for me.
6 out of 10
March 5, 2018
Julie cross is quite easily becoming one of my favourite authors. Chasing Truth is my 3rd book by her and it was really good. Now is the time to read this book as the sequel Hiding lies is out in April 2018.
Eleanor is living with her sister after her life got turned upside down. Her normal is totally different to everyday life. She had just settled into a new school, Holden Prep when her best friend dies. They say it was suicide but Elenor isn't convinced.
Eleanor's past gives her skills. The kind found in the movies like oceans 11. She knows how to charm, dig for juicy dirt and identify a listening device. What she doesn't know is how to be herself but she's trying to work it out. Now BFF, Simon has gone and there is a hot new guy next door Eleanor can't help but get creative. She starts to dig into the Holden Prep's most elite. She uses her skills to befriend them. What she finds is more than she could expect. Maybe Simons death wasn't an accident? Maybe there is a possibility to make a new true friend and even an ally.
Bret, Dominic, Chantel, Jacob and justice are her new rich, powerful and dysfunctional friends. Together they hold more secrets and lies than Eleanor can sift through. Luckily for her the new hot neighbour, Miles may also have a habit of snooping.
Miles is Eleanor's opposite and equal. To him, everything is black and white while Eleanor's more in the grey. He's military sharp and she's streetwise. This duo makes the perfect team and an interesting romance. I loved this book and can't wait for more.
5 stars out of 5. The thing I like most about this author is her unpredictability and it really shines in this book.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you like your character edgy this author will be for you.
Eleanor is living with her sister after her life got turned upside down. Her normal is totally different to everyday life. She had just settled into a new school, Holden Prep when her best friend dies. They say it was suicide but Elenor isn't convinced.
Eleanor's past gives her skills. The kind found in the movies like oceans 11. She knows how to charm, dig for juicy dirt and identify a listening device. What she doesn't know is how to be herself but she's trying to work it out. Now BFF, Simon has gone and there is a hot new guy next door Eleanor can't help but get creative. She starts to dig into the Holden Prep's most elite. She uses her skills to befriend them. What she finds is more than she could expect. Maybe Simons death wasn't an accident? Maybe there is a possibility to make a new true friend and even an ally.
Bret, Dominic, Chantel, Jacob and justice are her new rich, powerful and dysfunctional friends. Together they hold more secrets and lies than Eleanor can sift through. Luckily for her the new hot neighbour, Miles may also have a habit of snooping.
Miles is Eleanor's opposite and equal. To him, everything is black and white while Eleanor's more in the grey. He's military sharp and she's streetwise. This duo makes the perfect team and an interesting romance. I loved this book and can't wait for more.
5 stars out of 5. The thing I like most about this author is her unpredictability and it really shines in this book.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you like your character edgy this author will be for you.
July 28, 2016
This is a long(er) book for a YA novel, but it was so good that I dropped everything I had to do, or at least pushed it aside until later, to read this novel in pretty close to one sitting. It's so compelling and the story keeps you guessing (and turning pages) well beyond the normal amount of time.
It's perfect for Veronica Mars fans with an MC who, unlike the rest of the people she goes to school with, isn't filthy rich and who finds it hard to make/keep friends because it involves keeping a big part of who/how she grew up a secret. Best of all, she's super tough with snark for days and the new guy in her apartment complex, Miles, is hot as hell. Seriously.
If you love Julie Cross' books, Veronica Mars, or ya thrillers, then you don't want to miss this one!
It's perfect for Veronica Mars fans with an MC who, unlike the rest of the people she goes to school with, isn't filthy rich and who finds it hard to make/keep friends because it involves keeping a big part of who/how she grew up a secret. Best of all, she's super tough with snark for days and the new guy in her apartment complex, Miles, is hot as hell. Seriously.
If you love Julie Cross' books, Veronica Mars, or ya thrillers, then you don't want to miss this one!
April 16, 2018
Every time I think I’m getting too old for YA, a book like this sucks me in. I was hesitant the first few pages when our main character, Ellie, waxes poetic about the new boy next door, Miles. But once that finished, a fun, fast-paced, twisty little YA mystery began. It reminded me a bit of Jennifer Barnes’ The Fixer series (which I loved).
Ellie and Miles had great chemistry and a strong supporting cast of characters which made for some good scenes. I was constantly guessing Miles intentions in beginning and I liked how his story slowly unfolded. Since we were in Ellie’s POV her character was more open to us from the start and it was interesting seeing her character growth from an ex-conartist to someone who was open to having friends and trusting people.
The story revolves around the apparent suicide of Simon, a high school student and friend of Ellie’s. As it unfolds we get glimpses and ideas of what may have really happened that night but there is enough mystery and suspicion to make it difficult to know the truth.
This was a fun and adventurous book that I devoured. Cross is becoming one of my go to authors for entertainment and I’m eager to start book 2 of this series.
Ellie and Miles had great chemistry and a strong supporting cast of characters which made for some good scenes. I was constantly guessing Miles intentions in beginning and I liked how his story slowly unfolded. Since we were in Ellie’s POV her character was more open to us from the start and it was interesting seeing her character growth from an ex-conartist to someone who was open to having friends and trusting people.
The story revolves around the apparent suicide of Simon, a high school student and friend of Ellie’s. As it unfolds we get glimpses and ideas of what may have really happened that night but there is enough mystery and suspicion to make it difficult to know the truth.
This was a fun and adventurous book that I devoured. Cross is becoming one of my go to authors for entertainment and I’m eager to start book 2 of this series.
September 20, 2016
4.5 stars!
I really love Julie Cross’s writing so I was super excited to see that she was writing a mystery, suspense YA series! First of all, you have to know that I am obsessed with crime and suspense stories. I could watch Investigation Discovery 24/7… Dateline, I think I’ve seen every episode. I love this genre when it’s done well, and I think that Cross did an amazing job with the first book in the Eleanor Ames series! Cross certainly delivers with Chasing Truth.
I’m going to admit up front that this book is a bit long for a YA story, but when I think back, I can’t think of a way it could have been shorter! Which just means that it needed to be this long, but please don’t let the size of it keep you from picking it up!
Eleanor Ames has a past she’s not proud of… she grew up only knowing the next con and the next job. Her family isn’t one she can depend on, except her sister Harper. On the straight and narrow now, she’s enrolled at Holden Prep, brushing elbows with the rich and powerful and none of them know who she used to be. After attending Homecoming with her best friend Simon, he commits suicide but she’s convinced that’s just not true.
The more Eleanor digs, the more questions arise and then she meets her new neighbor Miles Beckett. He’s mysterious and arrogant and he sees things in only black and white… but things with him aren’t exactly as they seem either.
Cross did an amazing job building the suspense with this story, and I can admit that I had no clue who did what and who was doing what and I loved every second of it. Also, I just have to mention the UST between Miles and Eleanor because holy crap there is so much and it’s delicious and I want so much more of it. These two clicked on so many levels, but they are also keeping major secrets from each other and that really puts a crimp in them trusting each other and working together to find the truth about what happened to Simon.
I also enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters here and they were all a big part of the story! From Justice and Bret to Dominic and Aidan they all had major parts in this and really rounded out the story.
I’m super excited for the rest of this series and I can’t wait to see what happens in the second book, I have some hopes as to what we’ll see, but I know I’ll love it no matter what Julie writes.
Fans of Veronica Mars are going to love this! Grab this one as soon as possible!
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!
I really love Julie Cross’s writing so I was super excited to see that she was writing a mystery, suspense YA series! First of all, you have to know that I am obsessed with crime and suspense stories. I could watch Investigation Discovery 24/7… Dateline, I think I’ve seen every episode. I love this genre when it’s done well, and I think that Cross did an amazing job with the first book in the Eleanor Ames series! Cross certainly delivers with Chasing Truth.
I’m going to admit up front that this book is a bit long for a YA story, but when I think back, I can’t think of a way it could have been shorter! Which just means that it needed to be this long, but please don’t let the size of it keep you from picking it up!
Eleanor Ames has a past she’s not proud of… she grew up only knowing the next con and the next job. Her family isn’t one she can depend on, except her sister Harper. On the straight and narrow now, she’s enrolled at Holden Prep, brushing elbows with the rich and powerful and none of them know who she used to be. After attending Homecoming with her best friend Simon, he commits suicide but she’s convinced that’s just not true.
The more Eleanor digs, the more questions arise and then she meets her new neighbor Miles Beckett. He’s mysterious and arrogant and he sees things in only black and white… but things with him aren’t exactly as they seem either.
Cross did an amazing job building the suspense with this story, and I can admit that I had no clue who did what and who was doing what and I loved every second of it. Also, I just have to mention the UST between Miles and Eleanor because holy crap there is so much and it’s delicious and I want so much more of it. These two clicked on so many levels, but they are also keeping major secrets from each other and that really puts a crimp in them trusting each other and working together to find the truth about what happened to Simon.
I also enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters here and they were all a big part of the story! From Justice and Bret to Dominic and Aidan they all had major parts in this and really rounded out the story.
I’m super excited for the rest of this series and I can’t wait to see what happens in the second book, I have some hopes as to what we’ll see, but I know I’ll love it no matter what Julie writes.
Fans of Veronica Mars are going to love this! Grab this one as soon as possible!
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!
August 8, 2016
I love crime shows. My mom and I are either bingeing a new drama on Netflix or watching episodes of Elementary on Hulu. This was a combination of both.
Eleanor Ames’s entire life was a con. She had no real identity and picked a name that reminded her of the life and family that she knew. Then her date to the school dance and best friend committed suicide and she met Miles. Ellie switched back and forth between the part that she had played her entire life and the girl underneath so often that I didn’t get to know the real her from the get go. It took some digging and patience.
Oh, the sass! Ellie had a mouth on her and quick wit to combat even the most awkward of situations. Even moments where she wasn’t likeable, she was relatable. I found myself thinking, “I would’ve said that!” I’m not sure if I should be glad or terrified that my sarcasm is similar to a seventeen-year-old con artist’s.
Miles made things interesting. There’s not much I can say about him (no spoilers from me!), other than I really liked him. Ellie couldn’t deny their attraction, and trying to work together and ignore it all played a central role to the story.
I needed the sequel, like, last week. I’m not sure I can wait until 2017 for the next one. My heart can’t take it—especially with that ending. Don’t even get me started. It left so much undetermined besides a few sparing sessions.
At the beginning, I had some confusion. Eleanor doesn’t open up to the reader immediately. I would have liked to have some more clarity, as I thought she might be a spy, not a con artist. Or, this could have been one of those books I was so excited to read I didn’t really read the blurb.
It’s unputdownable at the end. It will be one of those books that you ignore the world for. One more chapter! Just let me finish this page! You’ll be shouting it all, along with a few “one moment, please” hand signals. Sherlock Holmes meets James Bond for this thrilling beginning to the Eleanor Ames series by Julie Cross.
Eleanor Ames’s entire life was a con. She had no real identity and picked a name that reminded her of the life and family that she knew. Then her date to the school dance and best friend committed suicide and she met Miles. Ellie switched back and forth between the part that she had played her entire life and the girl underneath so often that I didn’t get to know the real her from the get go. It took some digging and patience.
Oh, the sass! Ellie had a mouth on her and quick wit to combat even the most awkward of situations. Even moments where she wasn’t likeable, she was relatable. I found myself thinking, “I would’ve said that!” I’m not sure if I should be glad or terrified that my sarcasm is similar to a seventeen-year-old con artist’s.
Miles made things interesting. There’s not much I can say about him (no spoilers from me!), other than I really liked him. Ellie couldn’t deny their attraction, and trying to work together and ignore it all played a central role to the story.
I needed the sequel, like, last week. I’m not sure I can wait until 2017 for the next one. My heart can’t take it—especially with that ending. Don’t even get me started. It left so much undetermined besides a few sparing sessions.
At the beginning, I had some confusion. Eleanor doesn’t open up to the reader immediately. I would have liked to have some more clarity, as I thought she might be a spy, not a con artist. Or, this could have been one of those books I was so excited to read I didn’t really read the blurb.
It’s unputdownable at the end. It will be one of those books that you ignore the world for. One more chapter! Just let me finish this page! You’ll be shouting it all, along with a few “one moment, please” hand signals. Sherlock Holmes meets James Bond for this thrilling beginning to the Eleanor Ames series by Julie Cross.
October 7, 2016
4.5 Stars
'Chasing Truth' is the explosive first installment in a new young adult thriller series. I've read several of the author's other books and really enjoyed them, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed. This novel lived up to my hopes and expectations - and then some. Everything about the story is incredibly well done - from the characters and plot to the setting and writing style. Eleanor is a fantastic main character for the book. She's smart, determined, down to earth, realistic, and a force to be reckoned with. I loved watching her figure out the mystery behind the death of her date and overcome all the difficult situations she comes face to face with.
Another part of the book I really enjoyed was Eleanor and Miles. I liked seeing their relationship with one another change and grow throughout the story. The romance aspect was a great addition to the plot, but it didn't overshadow the real story line. Speaking of the plot - I thought it was great. Just the right mix of mystery, thriller, suspense and romance. There were lots of twists and turns I didn't expect - which doesn't usually happen anymore. The pace was quick and had me drawn in from the very beginning of the book. I ended up reading the novel in a few hours because I couldn't put it down. I'm so excited that this is just the first book in a new series! I can't wait to see where Eleanor ends up next and what kind of trouble she'll get into. Very highly recommended to fans of thrillers, mysteries, suspense, and even romance - there's a bit of something for everyone to enjoy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'Chasing Truth' is the explosive first installment in a new young adult thriller series. I've read several of the author's other books and really enjoyed them, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed. This novel lived up to my hopes and expectations - and then some. Everything about the story is incredibly well done - from the characters and plot to the setting and writing style. Eleanor is a fantastic main character for the book. She's smart, determined, down to earth, realistic, and a force to be reckoned with. I loved watching her figure out the mystery behind the death of her date and overcome all the difficult situations she comes face to face with.
Another part of the book I really enjoyed was Eleanor and Miles. I liked seeing their relationship with one another change and grow throughout the story. The romance aspect was a great addition to the plot, but it didn't overshadow the real story line. Speaking of the plot - I thought it was great. Just the right mix of mystery, thriller, suspense and romance. There were lots of twists and turns I didn't expect - which doesn't usually happen anymore. The pace was quick and had me drawn in from the very beginning of the book. I ended up reading the novel in a few hours because I couldn't put it down. I'm so excited that this is just the first book in a new series! I can't wait to see where Eleanor ends up next and what kind of trouble she'll get into. Very highly recommended to fans of thrillers, mysteries, suspense, and even romance - there's a bit of something for everyone to enjoy.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2018
The main character is Eleanor Ames - or that’s what she’s known as at the moment! She’s a student at Holden Prep, but only started going there after moving to live with her older sister, Harper, and her boyfriend, Aiden. Before that she lived with her parents who are both renown con artists and Eleanor has been taught all the tricks of their trade but, like her sister, wants a more honest future for herself - and going to school is part of her attempted reformation. She initially struggled to make friends but when her best friend and homecoming date, Simon, apparently commits suicide straight after the event, she just doesn’t believe it and is determined to discover the truth.
A handsome new teen neighbour moves in, Miles Beckett, and they’re the same age and both go to Holden Prep. Unfortunately he keeps catching Ellie doing things which make him suspicious and Ellie annoyed!. Add in that he’s an obsessive rule follower and you just know these two are going to clash. Despite such inauspicious initial encounters, the two are seriously attracted to each other but both try to resist temptation. However, both are suspicious of Simon’s death . . . should they investigate it together or go it alone?
I’m not going to say any more about the plot or I’ll end up giving away spoilers. What I will say is that I really enjoyed this teen story because of the great characters and the skilfully woven plot lines which only come together to reveal the whole picture in the end. If you can think of an acronym for a government agency, they’re probably involved in this story - yes, I mean organisations like the FBI, CIA and Secret Service - there are even special military schools! There are plenty of twists, turns and surprises along the way and I really couldn’t wait to read the sequel as soon as I finished this, it just has to be packed with more trouble for these two.
I requested and was given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.
A handsome new teen neighbour moves in, Miles Beckett, and they’re the same age and both go to Holden Prep. Unfortunately he keeps catching Ellie doing things which make him suspicious and Ellie annoyed!. Add in that he’s an obsessive rule follower and you just know these two are going to clash. Despite such inauspicious initial encounters, the two are seriously attracted to each other but both try to resist temptation. However, both are suspicious of Simon’s death . . . should they investigate it together or go it alone?
I’m not going to say any more about the plot or I’ll end up giving away spoilers. What I will say is that I really enjoyed this teen story because of the great characters and the skilfully woven plot lines which only come together to reveal the whole picture in the end. If you can think of an acronym for a government agency, they’re probably involved in this story - yes, I mean organisations like the FBI, CIA and Secret Service - there are even special military schools! There are plenty of twists, turns and surprises along the way and I really couldn’t wait to read the sequel as soon as I finished this, it just has to be packed with more trouble for these two.
I requested and was given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.
August 22, 2017
As soon as I saw the possible hate-to-love vibe from the synopsis I immediately went searching and picked up the book.
Another thing that intrigued me about this book is the fact that it’s a bit longer than your typical YA which I LOVE because sometimes I feel like books in the YA genre are a lot shorter so with this I felt like there was definitely going to be an actual story. I honestly can tell you that there was no way this book could’ve been any shorter and I can’t wait for book two!
Okay so our main character is Eleanor Ames with an incredible past that she’s not proud of but when you’re being raised by your parents who are major con artists, it’s kinda all you know and you start to blur the lines between morality. However, Eleanor all knew that it was wrong but what do you do? When she’s finally able to leave and start fresh it’s something she keeps very hidden from anyone. Because of that Eleanor keeps people at a distant in general except one person and when that one person decides to commit suicide well things get harder for her to try to be “normal”, fit in and trust people. How can someone who is so good at reading people not know her best friend is in a crisis and ends up dead?
Enter new guy next door. Miles Beckett, super good looking and annoying for Eleanor. So she does all she can to annoy the heck out him. However, as much as he is as arrogant to her as she is to him there is something off about Miles and mysterious that Eleanor is determined to find out.
When Eleanor gets word that something about the night her best friend supposedly killed himself she decides to use her past skills to work in order to solve a possible mystery behind his death and why the heck is Miles interested in it too?
I LOVED this story and LOVED the chemistry between Eleanor and Miles. I love sassy characters and male characters who give it right back! YES! It was all super fun and I found myself unable to put the book down.
I also loved the constant “who done it” guessing game going on in my head and in the head happy to see where it all went and super fun and exciting mystery that is but isn’t solved.
I loved the secondary characters that helped bring the story to life and add more to the over all big picture. YES!
Overall I am so glad I picked it up and look forward to the next book in this series. This being my first of Julie Cross’s books I’m definitely going to check out her other ones!
Sexual Content: moderate
Language: moderate/heavy
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate/heavy
Violence: moderate/heavy
LGBT+: yes
Another thing that intrigued me about this book is the fact that it’s a bit longer than your typical YA which I LOVE because sometimes I feel like books in the YA genre are a lot shorter so with this I felt like there was definitely going to be an actual story. I honestly can tell you that there was no way this book could’ve been any shorter and I can’t wait for book two!
Okay so our main character is Eleanor Ames with an incredible past that she’s not proud of but when you’re being raised by your parents who are major con artists, it’s kinda all you know and you start to blur the lines between morality. However, Eleanor all knew that it was wrong but what do you do? When she’s finally able to leave and start fresh it’s something she keeps very hidden from anyone. Because of that Eleanor keeps people at a distant in general except one person and when that one person decides to commit suicide well things get harder for her to try to be “normal”, fit in and trust people. How can someone who is so good at reading people not know her best friend is in a crisis and ends up dead?
Enter new guy next door. Miles Beckett, super good looking and annoying for Eleanor. So she does all she can to annoy the heck out him. However, as much as he is as arrogant to her as she is to him there is something off about Miles and mysterious that Eleanor is determined to find out.
When Eleanor gets word that something about the night her best friend supposedly killed himself she decides to use her past skills to work in order to solve a possible mystery behind his death and why the heck is Miles interested in it too?
I LOVED this story and LOVED the chemistry between Eleanor and Miles. I love sassy characters and male characters who give it right back! YES! It was all super fun and I found myself unable to put the book down.
I also loved the constant “who done it” guessing game going on in my head and in the head happy to see where it all went and super fun and exciting mystery that is but isn’t solved.
I loved the secondary characters that helped bring the story to life and add more to the over all big picture. YES!
Overall I am so glad I picked it up and look forward to the next book in this series. This being my first of Julie Cross’s books I’m definitely going to check out her other ones!
Sexual Content: moderate
Language: moderate/heavy
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate/heavy
Violence: moderate/heavy
LGBT+: yes
January 28, 2021
** Edit: Jan 2021
Reading this for the fourth time... Still very much IN LOVE with it!
‐---------------------------
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
GIVE ME MORE MILES.
Reading this for the fourth time... Still very much IN LOVE with it!
‐---------------------------
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
GIVE ME MORE MILES.
April 16, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Eleanor had recently abandoned her past as a con artist to reunite with her sister. Just when she seemed to be settling into her new life, her only friend allegedly committed suicide. I say allegedly, because Ellie doesn't believe Simon would kill himself, and she was determined to get to the bottom of his death.
At first glance, I thought I was getting a simple prep school murder mystery, but there was a lot more going on in this book, and I loved every delicious moment of it.
From the very beginning of this book, I got a Veronica Mars vibe, and incase you're wondering, that's a very good thing. Eleanor had this fabulous voice. I loved her snark and wit, and couldn't get enough of the banter between her and the other characters. But I also really liked getting inside Ellie's head. She was quite a complicated character. She struggled with many things, and one thing she had trouble with was leaving her past in the past. As she was searching for answers to Simon's death, she would often leverage some of those skills she acquired as a con artist, and that would lead to these flashbacks, which gave us some insight into Ellie's past life. It was quite a fascinating world she left, and I really enjoyed those peeks into her past.
I also enjoyed the side characters. Harper, Ellie's sister, and Aiden, her sister's boyfriend, were both quite wonderful. They undoubtedly loved Ellie, and I enjoyed all the time they shared together on page. But the character, who won my heart was Miles. You know the author did the romance well, when you fall for the hero, and I fell pretty hard for Miles. He was quite mysterious, and I really liked how Ellie chipped away at him, layer by layer, piece by piece.
Speaking of Miles, I was all about the romance in this book. There was a lot of push and pull, hate to love sort of stuff going on, but once it got going, it was all sorts of swoony. Cross did a great job blending the romance into this story without it distracting me from the mystery, and as far as I'm concerned, every story could use a little romance.
As for the story, I loved the way each reveal gave way to something bigger, and enjoyed sitting back as Miles and Ellie worked to untangle all the lies as they searched for the truth. And who doesn't enjoy spending time with the young and rich prep school crowd? Prep school on of my favorite settings, and I really appreciated all the peeks into this world that Cross gave us. We went to parties, a dance, and even to class, which was a lot of fun. And the ending! I was pleased.
Overall: A fabulous mystery filled with action, suspense, intrigue, and swoons.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Eleanor had recently abandoned her past as a con artist to reunite with her sister. Just when she seemed to be settling into her new life, her only friend allegedly committed suicide. I say allegedly, because Ellie doesn't believe Simon would kill himself, and she was determined to get to the bottom of his death.
At first glance, I thought I was getting a simple prep school murder mystery, but there was a lot more going on in this book, and I loved every delicious moment of it.
From the very beginning of this book, I got a Veronica Mars vibe, and incase you're wondering, that's a very good thing. Eleanor had this fabulous voice. I loved her snark and wit, and couldn't get enough of the banter between her and the other characters. But I also really liked getting inside Ellie's head. She was quite a complicated character. She struggled with many things, and one thing she had trouble with was leaving her past in the past. As she was searching for answers to Simon's death, she would often leverage some of those skills she acquired as a con artist, and that would lead to these flashbacks, which gave us some insight into Ellie's past life. It was quite a fascinating world she left, and I really enjoyed those peeks into her past.
I also enjoyed the side characters. Harper, Ellie's sister, and Aiden, her sister's boyfriend, were both quite wonderful. They undoubtedly loved Ellie, and I enjoyed all the time they shared together on page. But the character, who won my heart was Miles. You know the author did the romance well, when you fall for the hero, and I fell pretty hard for Miles. He was quite mysterious, and I really liked how Ellie chipped away at him, layer by layer, piece by piece.
Speaking of Miles, I was all about the romance in this book. There was a lot of push and pull, hate to love sort of stuff going on, but once it got going, it was all sorts of swoony. Cross did a great job blending the romance into this story without it distracting me from the mystery, and as far as I'm concerned, every story could use a little romance.
As for the story, I loved the way each reveal gave way to something bigger, and enjoyed sitting back as Miles and Ellie worked to untangle all the lies as they searched for the truth. And who doesn't enjoy spending time with the young and rich prep school crowd? Prep school on of my favorite settings, and I really appreciated all the peeks into this world that Cross gave us. We went to parties, a dance, and even to class, which was a lot of fun. And the ending! I was pleased.
Overall: A fabulous mystery filled with action, suspense, intrigue, and swoons.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
December 20, 2016
Eleanor goes to school with the rich kids, but she isn't one of them. She's magnificent at pretending though. At Holden Prep many of the students are keeping secrets. When her best friend Simon dies Eleanor doesn't trust the outcome of the police investigation. Something doesn't add up and she owes it to her friend to find out the truth. She needs answers and she's prepared to do whatever it takes to get them. She's a skilled deceiver, but she can't keep secrets from everyone.
Miles is the new guy at Holden Prep. He's there for a short time and even though Eleanor knows he will leave again soon she can't stay away from him. When she finds out more about him she learns he's even more interesting than she initially thought. It isn't safe to get attached though and Eleanor isn't used to vulnerability. Miles seems to be after the same thing she is, they both need information and as two know more than one it might be smart to work together. Will this lead to anything good or are they in over their heads?
Chasing Truth is a terrific gripping story. I immediately loved Eleanor. She's smart, she knows herself through and through and she isn't afraid to take risks. She's pretty, bold and fierce. I admired the way she handles tricky situations, she always knows a way out. Julie Cross has given her characters a lot of thought and Eleanor is a fantastic heroine. Her actions are surprising and they're always believable, which makes her a fascinating person to read about.
Miles is a good guy. He wants to follow the rules, even when breaking them would help him with his hidden agenda. I loved that he's so honorable. He and Eleanor are a great team. They complement each other perfectly. I was intrigued by Miles's secrets from the start and couldn't wait to find out what they were. I loved his interactions with Eleanor, they are fabulous together and I enjoyed reading about both their plans and their sparkling chemistry. They're an amazing combination.
Julie Cross has a vivid writing style and I liked her combat and spy scenes very much. She kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I love the irony she uses to make the interaction between Miles and Eleanor lively and light, which perfectly balances the darker topic of the story and the seriousness of Miles and Eleanor's investigation. Chasing Truth is a fantastic captivating story. It has unique main characters and there are plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I absolutely loved the adrenaline rush this thrilling story gave me.
Miles is the new guy at Holden Prep. He's there for a short time and even though Eleanor knows he will leave again soon she can't stay away from him. When she finds out more about him she learns he's even more interesting than she initially thought. It isn't safe to get attached though and Eleanor isn't used to vulnerability. Miles seems to be after the same thing she is, they both need information and as two know more than one it might be smart to work together. Will this lead to anything good or are they in over their heads?
Chasing Truth is a terrific gripping story. I immediately loved Eleanor. She's smart, she knows herself through and through and she isn't afraid to take risks. She's pretty, bold and fierce. I admired the way she handles tricky situations, she always knows a way out. Julie Cross has given her characters a lot of thought and Eleanor is a fantastic heroine. Her actions are surprising and they're always believable, which makes her a fascinating person to read about.
Miles is a good guy. He wants to follow the rules, even when breaking them would help him with his hidden agenda. I loved that he's so honorable. He and Eleanor are a great team. They complement each other perfectly. I was intrigued by Miles's secrets from the start and couldn't wait to find out what they were. I loved his interactions with Eleanor, they are fabulous together and I enjoyed reading about both their plans and their sparkling chemistry. They're an amazing combination.
Julie Cross has a vivid writing style and I liked her combat and spy scenes very much. She kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I love the irony she uses to make the interaction between Miles and Eleanor lively and light, which perfectly balances the darker topic of the story and the seriousness of Miles and Eleanor's investigation. Chasing Truth is a fantastic captivating story. It has unique main characters and there are plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I absolutely loved the adrenaline rush this thrilling story gave me.
September 27, 2016
Chasing Truth was an exhilarating read chock-full of action, suspense, intrigue, and a smattering of swoon-worthy romance. I loved every intense, pulse-pounding, heart-clenching second of it!
Jason Bourne has met his match in sharp, feisty Eleanor Ames. What a fantastic leading lady! Ellie is a superb heroine; struggling to be good, she really wants to do the right thing, to be a good person, even though it's often hard to let go of her past. She isn't opposed to cutting corners or breaking rules but it's all in the interests of uncovering the truth and she would do everything and anything to protect those she loves. It has to be said, she isn't always likeable - she is dishonest and she tells lies a lot, but her heart is in the right place so I was able to forgive her. I actually found her character to be refreshingly different from the norm.
Miles was an immediate addition to my very-very long book boyfriend list. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling the story, but he had all the qualities I admire and covet in a man. He was the perfect match for our heroine.
Voice and characterization were superb in this book, and I also loved the witty banter between our couple. But what really stood out for me was the whole mystery and intrigue and it had a real "whodunnit" vibe. I constantly changed my mind over the guilty party and I ADORE when books have me second guessing myself. The plot was well thought out and executed.
The last quarter of the book had me on the edge of my chair, frantically biting my nails, and gasping for air (okay, I'm being overly dramatic but you get the gist) - it was intense with a capital I. I would have challenged anyone to pry my Kindle from me at that stage - there was no way I was parting with that sucker until I had devoured the rest of the book. It didn't disappoint.
The romance, while well-written, was a little on the light side for my liking, but it isn't a major complaint. The story was mainly resolved in this book but there are elements left hanging. I'm totally invested in this couple now, and I eagerly anticipate the next instalment.
In summary, this is a superb read and I highly recommend it.
Actual rating 4.5 stars. Thanks to Entangled Teen for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This review will appear on my blog in due course: http://myyanabookobsession.com
Jason Bourne has met his match in sharp, feisty Eleanor Ames. What a fantastic leading lady! Ellie is a superb heroine; struggling to be good, she really wants to do the right thing, to be a good person, even though it's often hard to let go of her past. She isn't opposed to cutting corners or breaking rules but it's all in the interests of uncovering the truth and she would do everything and anything to protect those she loves. It has to be said, she isn't always likeable - she is dishonest and she tells lies a lot, but her heart is in the right place so I was able to forgive her. I actually found her character to be refreshingly different from the norm.
Miles was an immediate addition to my very-very long book boyfriend list. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling the story, but he had all the qualities I admire and covet in a man. He was the perfect match for our heroine.
Voice and characterization were superb in this book, and I also loved the witty banter between our couple. But what really stood out for me was the whole mystery and intrigue and it had a real "whodunnit" vibe. I constantly changed my mind over the guilty party and I ADORE when books have me second guessing myself. The plot was well thought out and executed.
The last quarter of the book had me on the edge of my chair, frantically biting my nails, and gasping for air (okay, I'm being overly dramatic but you get the gist) - it was intense with a capital I. I would have challenged anyone to pry my Kindle from me at that stage - there was no way I was parting with that sucker until I had devoured the rest of the book. It didn't disappoint.
The romance, while well-written, was a little on the light side for my liking, but it isn't a major complaint. The story was mainly resolved in this book but there are elements left hanging. I'm totally invested in this couple now, and I eagerly anticipate the next instalment.
In summary, this is a superb read and I highly recommend it.
Actual rating 4.5 stars. Thanks to Entangled Teen for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This review will appear on my blog in due course: http://myyanabookobsession.com
September 30, 2016
Thanks so much to Entangled Teen via Netgalley for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
By now I've read a few of Julie Cross's books, and I've enjoyed them all, so I figured I was in safe hands by requesting this title. I was pretty confident I would enjoy "Chasing Truth", but I didn't know it would completely blow my expectations out of the water! I loved every moment of this book, if I'm being honest. The suspense was literally keeping me awake at night! You think I'm kidding, but I'm absolutely telling the truth. One night, I woke up to use the washroom. The next thing I knew, I was tossing and turning, going through all the evidence I remembered, totally convinced that I knew who the killer was. And I was so wrong, it's not even funny! But I'm glad I was wrong, because I would have been sooooo mad if I was right. That probably makes no sense whatsoever, but you'll just have to read this book, then we can compare notes without spoiling anything. I will say that this reading experience was a complete mind screw, in the best possible way!
I also need to comment on how fantastic Julie Cross is at writing these characters that just feel so real to me. Ellie Ames is a completely flawed character, but she is so honest and upfront about her flaws, at least with us readers - I could not help but be drawn to her. And Miles? Ooooeee! That guy is a smokin' enigma! One minute I loved him, the next I didn't trust him, and I was always wondering what the heck he was up to. But he's kind of adorable at the same time, and the heat between him and Ellie was cooking up my iPhone! Scorching! There are also a few minor side characters who I wouldn't mind getting to know more about, so I'm happy to see that this is a series - I think you can tell by my enthusiasm that I will be picking up the next Ellie Ames book as soon as possible!
If you are looking for some action, danger, hot times, and a twisty plot in your next YA read, you should absolutely pick up "Chasing Truth" - I guarantee you won't regret it!
By now I've read a few of Julie Cross's books, and I've enjoyed them all, so I figured I was in safe hands by requesting this title. I was pretty confident I would enjoy "Chasing Truth", but I didn't know it would completely blow my expectations out of the water! I loved every moment of this book, if I'm being honest. The suspense was literally keeping me awake at night! You think I'm kidding, but I'm absolutely telling the truth. One night, I woke up to use the washroom. The next thing I knew, I was tossing and turning, going through all the evidence I remembered, totally convinced that I knew who the killer was. And I was so wrong, it's not even funny! But I'm glad I was wrong, because I would have been sooooo mad if I was right. That probably makes no sense whatsoever, but you'll just have to read this book, then we can compare notes without spoiling anything. I will say that this reading experience was a complete mind screw, in the best possible way!
I also need to comment on how fantastic Julie Cross is at writing these characters that just feel so real to me. Ellie Ames is a completely flawed character, but she is so honest and upfront about her flaws, at least with us readers - I could not help but be drawn to her. And Miles? Ooooeee! That guy is a smokin' enigma! One minute I loved him, the next I didn't trust him, and I was always wondering what the heck he was up to. But he's kind of adorable at the same time, and the heat between him and Ellie was cooking up my iPhone! Scorching! There are also a few minor side characters who I wouldn't mind getting to know more about, so I'm happy to see that this is a series - I think you can tell by my enthusiasm that I will be picking up the next Ellie Ames book as soon as possible!
If you are looking for some action, danger, hot times, and a twisty plot in your next YA read, you should absolutely pick up "Chasing Truth" - I guarantee you won't regret it!
November 8, 2016
Thank you to Andye from readingteen.net for letting me read this!!!
The cast the cast the cast THE CAST! I want to either be Eleanor's best friend. Or BE her. She was wonderfully sarcastic and manipulative, I loved her development. I also liked that Ellie was a bit of an unreliable narrator. She didn't see how she truly affected people because she had such a harsh view of herself from her conning past. She's a reformed con artist and is on the hunt to discover who murdered her best friend...which some people think she did. Some of the cons and shows she put on were so amazing that I'm pretty sure she coined the Bend and Snap.
And the in comes wannabe Aquaman who seems to be mirroring Eleanor's investigation while still maintaining his goody-two-shoes persona (it's kinda adorable and refreshing on the subject of YA boyfriends, kinda annoying on the subject I just wanted him to break some rules). Miles is a wonderful human being who has strong inclinations to rule books, tuna casserole, and, well, Ellie (INSERT AN ARMY OF THE WINKY FACES).
The rest of the characters are all unique and interesting to get to know. I especially love Ellie's living situation and the roomies that come with it.
Maybe my Nancy Drew sleuthing skills need some severe brushing up (highly unlikely), but the mystery that Julie Cross weaved was full of many twists and confusing characters that had me unsure of the culprit until the end of the book.
There's everything you need in a modern mystery involving senator's sons. Car takeovers, an obscene amount of listening devices, picking locks, flushing drugs, almost drowning...the usual.
It's also a solid length of a novel, which was perfect because I didn't want it to end!
Happy Reading!!!
The cast the cast the cast THE CAST! I want to either be Eleanor's best friend. Or BE her. She was wonderfully sarcastic and manipulative, I loved her development. I also liked that Ellie was a bit of an unreliable narrator. She didn't see how she truly affected people because she had such a harsh view of herself from her conning past. She's a reformed con artist and is on the hunt to discover who murdered her best friend...which some people think she did. Some of the cons and shows she put on were so amazing that I'm pretty sure she coined the Bend and Snap.
And the in comes wannabe Aquaman who seems to be mirroring Eleanor's investigation while still maintaining his goody-two-shoes persona (it's kinda adorable and refreshing on the subject of YA boyfriends, kinda annoying on the subject I just wanted him to break some rules). Miles is a wonderful human being who has strong inclinations to rule books, tuna casserole, and, well, Ellie (INSERT AN ARMY OF THE WINKY FACES).
The rest of the characters are all unique and interesting to get to know. I especially love Ellie's living situation and the roomies that come with it.
Maybe my Nancy Drew sleuthing skills need some severe brushing up (highly unlikely), but the mystery that Julie Cross weaved was full of many twists and confusing characters that had me unsure of the culprit until the end of the book.
There's everything you need in a modern mystery involving senator's sons. Car takeovers, an obscene amount of listening devices, picking locks, flushing drugs, almost drowning...the usual.
It's also a solid length of a novel, which was perfect because I didn't want it to end!
Happy Reading!!!
November 1, 2016
Find this review and more at
kimberlyfaye reads.
So, mystery/suspense isn't one of my go to genres, but when I heard one of my favorite authors was writing a series that was Veronica Mars-esque, I knew I had to read it. It was a long book, so I was slightly intimidated in the beginning, but it was interesting and engaging enough that it was a quick read regardless.
I'm not even gonna lie, I totally read Chasing Truth picturing Kristen Bell as Eleanor. She had the same type of sass, smarts and strength, and it was easy to picture the storyline as one that would've happened on Veronica Mars. I think that's part of what engaged me most in the book — well, that and the fact that I just plain love Julie's writing. Eleanor was totally likable. Miles was hot and mysterious. The romance? Totally swoony. I loved the chemistry between Eleanor and Miles.The mystery kept me guessing and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way as well. I won't say much more than that because I don't want to spoil anything for you.
In short, Chasing Truth was a little bit Veronica Mars, a little bit Pretty Little Liars and a whole lot awesome. I can't wait for more books in the Eleanor Ames series!
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
So, mystery/suspense isn't one of my go to genres, but when I heard one of my favorite authors was writing a series that was Veronica Mars-esque, I knew I had to read it. It was a long book, so I was slightly intimidated in the beginning, but it was interesting and engaging enough that it was a quick read regardless.
I'm not even gonna lie, I totally read Chasing Truth picturing Kristen Bell as Eleanor. She had the same type of sass, smarts and strength, and it was easy to picture the storyline as one that would've happened on Veronica Mars. I think that's part of what engaged me most in the book — well, that and the fact that I just plain love Julie's writing. Eleanor was totally likable. Miles was hot and mysterious. The romance? Totally swoony. I loved the chemistry between Eleanor and Miles.The mystery kept me guessing and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way as well. I won't say much more than that because I don't want to spoil anything for you.
In short, Chasing Truth was a little bit Veronica Mars, a little bit Pretty Little Liars and a whole lot awesome. I can't wait for more books in the Eleanor Ames series!
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 20, 2018
4.5/5 stars!
I am a huge fan of veronica mars and when the author of this book offered me an ARC of the second book in this series I became interested and decided to pick up this book when it was on sale. BEST DESITION EVER!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK! The author said that as a fan she wanted to write a story that was a mix of all the elements she loves in veronica mars and let me tell you this book gave be all the veronica feels!! The heroine is in many ways like veronica but she was also very different so this is not plagiarism it's more like a homage to that great show and I really appreciate it! So if you are a fan of Veronica Mars or mysteries or romance then you will probably like this book!
I am a huge fan of veronica mars and when the author of this book offered me an ARC of the second book in this series I became interested and decided to pick up this book when it was on sale. BEST DESITION EVER!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK! The author said that as a fan she wanted to write a story that was a mix of all the elements she loves in veronica mars and let me tell you this book gave be all the veronica feels!! The heroine is in many ways like veronica but she was also very different so this is not plagiarism it's more like a homage to that great show and I really appreciate it! So if you are a fan of Veronica Mars or mysteries or romance then you will probably like this book!
April 2, 2018
Momentan bin ich wieder bei so einer Phase angekommen, in der ich vor allem locker leichte Romane lesen möchte. Schwere Sachen breche ich hingegen (auch wenn ich sowas eigentlich nicht mag) meist schnell wieder ab. Als ich daher Kisses & Lies auf der Buchmesse in Leipzig entdeckt habe, wusste ich nicht so recht ob das momentan das passende Buch für mich ist. Allerdings hatte ich es schon vor einer Weile ins Auge gefasst und musste es deswegen kaufen und sofort lesen. Aber wie das manchmal leider so ist, nicht alle Bücher die einen ansprechen sind immer gut...
Eleanor Ames will endlich ein neues Leben beginnen, weg von den Betrügereien ihrer Eltern. Da bietet es sich an, das ihre Schwester sie zu sich holen will. Schnell gewöhnt sie sich ein und findet sogar einen neuen Freund an ihrer Schule. Als dieses jedoch Selbstmord begeht, weiß Eleanor schnell, dass da etwas nicht stimmt. Niemals hätte Simon sich das Leben genommen. Sie beschließt selber ein paar Nachforschungen über den Fall anzustellen und kommt dabei hinter einige Geheimnisse ihrer Mitschüler und ihrem neuen Nachbarn gefährlich nahe.
Wisst ihr was meist das Todesurteil für ein Buch ist? Wenn man die Protagonisten nicht leiden oder zu ihnen keinen richtigen Draht aufbauen kann. Und leider war genau das auch bei Kisses & Lies der Fall. Ein Glück, hielt das allerdings nicht bis zum Ende des Buches. Sagen wir einfach, ich hatte so meine Startschwierigkeiten.
Eleanor Ames, was kann ich euch über sie sagen? Sie ist ein Mädchen, das wahrscheinlich mehr Gesichter hat, als sie in diesem Buch gezeigt hat. Sie kann lügen und betrügen, ihren Körper und ihren Charm für ihre Ziele einsetzten und noch so vieles mehr. Aber was soll man auch erwarten wenn sie in ihrer eigenen Version von Ocean's 11 aufwächst. Ich wusste zu Beginn der Story nicht so recht, wie ich mit all ihren Seiten zurecht kommen soll. Alles an ihr fühlte sich einfach zu unecht und aufgesetzt an. Erst als sie ein wenig lockerer, und damit auch unglaublich witzig und sarkastisch, wurde und sich nicht ständig über ihre Vergangenheit definiert hat, wurde es etwas besser. Trotzdem bleibt Eleanor eine Protagonistin, die mich nicht wirklich zu 100% von sich überzeugen konnte.
Auch Miles war so ein Fall. Und ich muss ehrlich sagen, er ist der erste männliche Held seit langem, der ersten den Namen Held wirklich verdient, den ich aber auch nicht wirklich leiden konnte. Auch er hatte für meinen Geschmack viel zu viele Geheimnisse und wirklichte zu aufgesetzt. Zudem kam noch, dass Miles mir zu verschlossen und kalt war an einigen Stellen. Was sich stark auf andere Teile der Geschichte ausgewirkt hat.
Nämlich auf die Beziehung zwischen Eleanor und Miles. Ich weiß, dass das Buch eine Mischung aus Thriller und Young-Adult sein soll. Doch so sehr die Autorin probiert hat, die Beziehung der beiden auch ihren Raum zu geben in der Story, es passte einfach nicht. Man fühlte die Chemie zwischen den Protagonisten einfach nicht wirklich. Und wenn sie dann doch einmal zusammen waren, waren diese Szenen eher halbgar. Nur zum Ende des Buches hin, wurde es dann deutlich besser. Als die beiden sich geöffnet und ihre Geheimnisse gelüftet haben. Das sprang dann tatsächlich ein winziger Funke über. Und der war es auch, dass ich das Buch überhaupt als Liebesroman/Young-Adult ansehe.
Denn so spannend die Thriller-Elemente des Buches auch waren, sie überlagerten die anderen Handlungsstränge oft viel zu sehr. Und das war für mich ein wirklich großes Problem, da diese Elemente nicht einmal wirklich spannend waren, sondern eher sehr vorhersehbar. Man hätte da einfach noch deutlich mehr aus den Ideen der Autorin rausholen können.
Alles in allem ist Kisses & Lies ein gutes Buch, welches womöglich eher für eine jüngere Leserschaft geeignet ist, da es für mich zu seicht und zu vorhersehbar war um mich wirklich zu begeistern. Trotz allem, gab es einige wirklich gute Ansätze, die man hätte noch ein wenig ausbauen können.
Eleanor Ames will endlich ein neues Leben beginnen, weg von den Betrügereien ihrer Eltern. Da bietet es sich an, das ihre Schwester sie zu sich holen will. Schnell gewöhnt sie sich ein und findet sogar einen neuen Freund an ihrer Schule. Als dieses jedoch Selbstmord begeht, weiß Eleanor schnell, dass da etwas nicht stimmt. Niemals hätte Simon sich das Leben genommen. Sie beschließt selber ein paar Nachforschungen über den Fall anzustellen und kommt dabei hinter einige Geheimnisse ihrer Mitschüler und ihrem neuen Nachbarn gefährlich nahe.
"Es gibt Vertrauen und es gibt Vertrauen. Normalerweise lasse ich beides nicht zu, aber Miles werde ich zumindest mein 'Vertrauen' schenken. Aber nicht mehr. Mein Herz bekommt er nicht."
Wisst ihr was meist das Todesurteil für ein Buch ist? Wenn man die Protagonisten nicht leiden oder zu ihnen keinen richtigen Draht aufbauen kann. Und leider war genau das auch bei Kisses & Lies der Fall. Ein Glück, hielt das allerdings nicht bis zum Ende des Buches. Sagen wir einfach, ich hatte so meine Startschwierigkeiten.
Eleanor Ames, was kann ich euch über sie sagen? Sie ist ein Mädchen, das wahrscheinlich mehr Gesichter hat, als sie in diesem Buch gezeigt hat. Sie kann lügen und betrügen, ihren Körper und ihren Charm für ihre Ziele einsetzten und noch so vieles mehr. Aber was soll man auch erwarten wenn sie in ihrer eigenen Version von Ocean's 11 aufwächst. Ich wusste zu Beginn der Story nicht so recht, wie ich mit all ihren Seiten zurecht kommen soll. Alles an ihr fühlte sich einfach zu unecht und aufgesetzt an. Erst als sie ein wenig lockerer, und damit auch unglaublich witzig und sarkastisch, wurde und sich nicht ständig über ihre Vergangenheit definiert hat, wurde es etwas besser. Trotzdem bleibt Eleanor eine Protagonistin, die mich nicht wirklich zu 100% von sich überzeugen konnte.
Auch Miles war so ein Fall. Und ich muss ehrlich sagen, er ist der erste männliche Held seit langem, der ersten den Namen Held wirklich verdient, den ich aber auch nicht wirklich leiden konnte. Auch er hatte für meinen Geschmack viel zu viele Geheimnisse und wirklichte zu aufgesetzt. Zudem kam noch, dass Miles mir zu verschlossen und kalt war an einigen Stellen. Was sich stark auf andere Teile der Geschichte ausgewirkt hat.
Nämlich auf die Beziehung zwischen Eleanor und Miles. Ich weiß, dass das Buch eine Mischung aus Thriller und Young-Adult sein soll. Doch so sehr die Autorin probiert hat, die Beziehung der beiden auch ihren Raum zu geben in der Story, es passte einfach nicht. Man fühlte die Chemie zwischen den Protagonisten einfach nicht wirklich. Und wenn sie dann doch einmal zusammen waren, waren diese Szenen eher halbgar. Nur zum Ende des Buches hin, wurde es dann deutlich besser. Als die beiden sich geöffnet und ihre Geheimnisse gelüftet haben. Das sprang dann tatsächlich ein winziger Funke über. Und der war es auch, dass ich das Buch überhaupt als Liebesroman/Young-Adult ansehe.
"Wir alle wünschten, wir könnten die Zeit zurückdrehen. Eine zweite Chance für diese Nacht bekommen. Aber manchmal gibt es keine zweite Chance."
Denn so spannend die Thriller-Elemente des Buches auch waren, sie überlagerten die anderen Handlungsstränge oft viel zu sehr. Und das war für mich ein wirklich großes Problem, da diese Elemente nicht einmal wirklich spannend waren, sondern eher sehr vorhersehbar. Man hätte da einfach noch deutlich mehr aus den Ideen der Autorin rausholen können.
Alles in allem ist Kisses & Lies ein gutes Buch, welches womöglich eher für eine jüngere Leserschaft geeignet ist, da es für mich zu seicht und zu vorhersehbar war um mich wirklich zu begeistern. Trotz allem, gab es einige wirklich gute Ansätze, die man hätte noch ein wenig ausbauen können.
September 28, 2016
4.5 “Veronica Mars + Hot Teen Spy” Stars
ARC via NetGalley
Thank you, Entangled Teen!
This. Freaking. Book. I loved it so much. Which isn’t really a surprise since I knew I’d enjoy the heck out of it from the moment I joined the cover reveal tour. It even made my Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year.
How could it not? We have a con artist MC, a sexy, mysterious and arrogant LI and Veronica Mars written all over it. It had to be amazing, and it was.
Our MC, Ellie is phenomenal and I blame my love for this book on her. Ellie, who reminds me of another character I fell head over heels for -- Ella from Paper Princess – is pretty much perfection in the form of a main character. Dude, she’s a freaking former con artist going to a school full of Gossip Girl-type characters and using her abilities to investigate the suicide of her only friend in a Veronica Mars-style. All the cool shows reference (even though they’re not mentioned in the book) makes this story extra special for those of us who are old enough to have followed these shows.
Ellie’s struggle with her new life as a reformed criminal made me instantly like her. The way she still used the skills she was supposed to have left behind to go after the truth behind her friend’s death just increased my love for her. Ellie was smart. The kind of smart that made me feel dumb at times (but not too often because that would’ve been jarring) and she had a great sense of humor (all sarcasm and wit). She was also flawed in a way that makes it impossible for you not to want to hug her and get to know her better. I loved Ellie. Really, really love her. I wanted to be friends with Ellie. I still do.
And then there was Miles. The mysterious neighbor and new student who was on to Ellie. He always ended up catching her when she was doing something suspicious, and being the follow-the-law-at-all-costs soldier he was, he probably couldn’t have imagined falling for a girl like Ellie. But they’re animosity turn into friendship and soon something else because opposites do attract. I can’t say I was surprised at Miles’ little secret (was it even supposed to be a secret?). It was pretty clear from all the clues that he was not the “normal” new guy he wanted Ellie to believe him to be. But knowing the truth didn’t make the story less pleasant to follow for me. On the contrary, I was anxious to see how that plot would develop, and I loved it.
I can’t get too deep into the plot because of spoilers, but I can say I loved the whole investigation aspect. Things made sense in the end and they didn’t come as the kind of surprise that makes you think: “Did the author think this through or was it a last minute decision?” I could see all the ways the story led to that answer, which is always a plus in books like this.
The romance aspect was pretty phenomenal. I loved the whole should-we-or-shouldn’t-we vibe between Ellie and Miles. Loved how she tried to convince herself she didn’t deserve it, and how he tried to stay away from her but couldn’t. Just loved. Loved. Loved.
I’m super curious to see how the author will develop this series because with all the mentions of CIA, FBI, NSA, Secret Service and special schools, I’m more than ready for what Ellie and Miles will find next. It’s guaranteed to be trouble. A lot of it.
August 29, 2016
This review can also be found at http://fortheloveofbooksreviews.blogs...
I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.
Eleanor is dealing with a lot in her life, including her family's past as con artists and the suicide of her best friend. She believes that Simon didn't actually kill himself, and she meets Miles, the new guy at school, who believes the same thing.
As she struggles to keep her past a secret, and to use her secret skills acquired from past ventures to get to the bottom of things, she begins to investigate people whom she never would have suspected as potential killers. But Miles might be suspecting her as well, and tensions rise. Will she be able to keep her past a secret? Will she ever find out who killed Simon?
This was definitely an impressive read. While it started out a bit slow and was occasionally hard to follow, it picked up pace very quickly and things were explained in detail later on in the book. I think my favourite part about this novel was the ending when all is revealed. I appreciate that everything ended up having a fairly believable explanation and I don't feel let down by the ending in any way.
As I've noticed with many other thrillers and mysteries, the guessing game the characters were playing during the whole book was incredibly well executed. However, this one stood out to me because it didn't feel overshadowed by romance or shrouded by paranormal events. Often I find that thrillers with paranormal happenings can get old very fast and that it can be super easy to guess what's going to happen. So finding a thriller that kept me hooked without any paranormal elements was a very welcome change. As for the romance, there was lots of romantic tension but it didn't take over the plot or seem forced.
I really liked the main character, Eleanor. I like that she wasn't squeaky-clean, that she wasn't some pure heroine or damsel in distress. While she seemed grateful to have escaped from living her life carrying out con after con, she still participated in morally questionable activities and she lied a lot, which I found added even more thrills to the story because I was always wondering if she might get caught.
Miles was a good love interest for Eleanor, in my opinion, because of how different they both were. While I can't say much without possibly spoiling some parts of the book, I will say that their families are very, very different. With Eleanor hiding her secrets from Miles and his family, this brought about some serious dilemmas for Eleanor which were interesting to read about. I thought it was great that I found myself hooked on the overall plot along with Eleanor's personal issues.
However, I find that Miles was a bit stereotypical at times. He displayed the whole 'arrogant, cocky, overconfident YA male' trope which I found annoying, especially since besides these qualities, he was actually a fairly complex character, considering his past and all. I like when characters have flaws, but these flaws didn't add to the novel or Miles's characterization at all.
I think that it's important to note that there are a few steamy scenes. I have no problem with them, including the fact that they are in a YA book, but some people might so I thought that I should mention this just in case.
Overall, this was an awesome read and I can't wait for the sequel! I'm so glad that I downloaded this book off of NetGalley. If you like YA thrillers or mysteries this is a must read!
I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley.
Eleanor is dealing with a lot in her life, including her family's past as con artists and the suicide of her best friend. She believes that Simon didn't actually kill himself, and she meets Miles, the new guy at school, who believes the same thing.
As she struggles to keep her past a secret, and to use her secret skills acquired from past ventures to get to the bottom of things, she begins to investigate people whom she never would have suspected as potential killers. But Miles might be suspecting her as well, and tensions rise. Will she be able to keep her past a secret? Will she ever find out who killed Simon?
This was definitely an impressive read. While it started out a bit slow and was occasionally hard to follow, it picked up pace very quickly and things were explained in detail later on in the book. I think my favourite part about this novel was the ending when all is revealed. I appreciate that everything ended up having a fairly believable explanation and I don't feel let down by the ending in any way.
As I've noticed with many other thrillers and mysteries, the guessing game the characters were playing during the whole book was incredibly well executed. However, this one stood out to me because it didn't feel overshadowed by romance or shrouded by paranormal events. Often I find that thrillers with paranormal happenings can get old very fast and that it can be super easy to guess what's going to happen. So finding a thriller that kept me hooked without any paranormal elements was a very welcome change. As for the romance, there was lots of romantic tension but it didn't take over the plot or seem forced.
I really liked the main character, Eleanor. I like that she wasn't squeaky-clean, that she wasn't some pure heroine or damsel in distress. While she seemed grateful to have escaped from living her life carrying out con after con, she still participated in morally questionable activities and she lied a lot, which I found added even more thrills to the story because I was always wondering if she might get caught.
Miles was a good love interest for Eleanor, in my opinion, because of how different they both were. While I can't say much without possibly spoiling some parts of the book, I will say that their families are very, very different. With Eleanor hiding her secrets from Miles and his family, this brought about some serious dilemmas for Eleanor which were interesting to read about. I thought it was great that I found myself hooked on the overall plot along with Eleanor's personal issues.
However, I find that Miles was a bit stereotypical at times. He displayed the whole 'arrogant, cocky, overconfident YA male' trope which I found annoying, especially since besides these qualities, he was actually a fairly complex character, considering his past and all. I like when characters have flaws, but these flaws didn't add to the novel or Miles's characterization at all.
I think that it's important to note that there are a few steamy scenes. I have no problem with them, including the fact that they are in a YA book, but some people might so I thought that I should mention this just in case.
Overall, this was an awesome read and I can't wait for the sequel! I'm so glad that I downloaded this book off of NetGalley. If you like YA thrillers or mysteries this is a must read!
April 25, 2018
This was almost too easy. Here I thought Miles might provide a real challenge for me, given his no-bullshit approach to every situation. I mean, I’m pretty much 90 percent bullshit.
Why have I put off reading this for so long?? I honestly have no idea why it took me forever to finally read this book when it had been on my wishlist since it came out. AND it is listed for anyone who loves Veronica Mars, which is me! I am so in love with this story, it is exactly what I wanted it to be! It has the feel, heart and humor of Veronica Mars without being fan-fiction, instead it is a complete world unto itself and all I wanted to do since I first started reading it was to stop real life and escape into the pages. I have read lots of other books by Julie and really enjoyed them, but this is hands down my absolute favorite. There is nothing I would change; the writing, the pacing, the character development, the plot, the relationship dynamics- it was all just so perfect. And now I have a strong urge to re-watch Veronica Mars for the 4th time...
I liked that while there was an underlying mystery of the death of Ellie's best (and only) friends Simon, we also have a few side mysteries or "cases" (jobs?) that Ellie gets involved in that have nothing to do with Simon but helped to make the story more well-rounded and create the side characters so much better. The extras also were like happy little tangents that kept me focused on the book because I had no idea what Ellie would do next or what trick was up her sleeve.
Getting in would be easier than a lot of other break-ins I’ve done. But no, I’m gonna ring the bell and ask to be allowed in. Thanks for making my job hell— I mean challenging—Miles.
Ellie is the main character and narrator of the book, but I feel like I was able to get to know her as well as some of the other important characters just as well through her eyes. Keep in mind that Ellie grew up in the life of a conman, she knows how to read people like a pro, can set up her own con in her sleep, usually can manipulate situations to her advantage way better than a 17 year old should ever, and lies spill from her mouth just as easy as the truth- heck, probably easier since she has to work hard to be honest. I love how pieces of her previous life poked through and she had to fight them, such as hacking Aidan's phone and her deciding on where her new morals will lead her. She in no way was a bad guy, regardless of her upbringing and skills, but instead she was sweet and wanted to help others, even if it meant $1000 paycheck to help her on her way to being kind.
Ellis's pseudo parents, her older sister Harper and Harper's Secret Service boyfriend Aidan were such a great support system for Ellie. They understood her in a way nobody else could, they backed her when she needed it, they gave her companionship when she tried to wallow, and especially Aidan, challenged her to test herself for the better (the girl has got some mad skills with her memory). Simon was not even alive during this book but based on the snippets and Ellie's feelings I really feel like I know and understand him. And that brings me to Miles. Miles was a really fun character, pretty much the complete opposite of Ellie with his strict rules, no lies, and his love of starch. The two of them butted heads constantly, the dynamic was the best. But strangely, they complimented each other as well and worked like a well oiled machine when teamed up. This was not a romance story, but man did I root for it to be. There were a handful of other well developed side characters scattered throughout the book, all important for the plot and Ellie's life in general and I wonder who will come back later.
Miles points a finger—aggressively, I should note— at a vacant chair, ordering me to sit.
Though I think it’s more of a “keep your mouth shut and stay out of my way” command. I laugh under my breath. It’s nice seeing him flustered for a change.
I highly recommend anything by Julie Cross, but for sure this start to the Eleanor Ames series, full of mystery, lies, truths and the most amazing of characters. I am so excited that there is another book out in the series because I need more Ellie in my life.
August 20, 2018
Engaging story. It kept my mind off the real world and was just what I needed. You have to be able to turn a blind eye to the improbability and just go with the flow and have fun with the story or you won't enjoy it.
It's about a girl who comes from a con family background. She's trying to find her place in the world outside of all of that. She meets a choir boy type training for some type of special service. Sparks fly as they investigate the possible murder of a friend and try to decide if they can trust each other. Like I said, don't go in expecting something that feels like it could really happen. Go in looking for a fun read.
I did like all of the grey this book explores. Even the rich prep kids who populate the background characters manage to defy usual stereotypes and fall the grey zones. That was nicely done.
It's about a girl who comes from a con family background. She's trying to find her place in the world outside of all of that. She meets a choir boy type training for some type of special service. Sparks fly as they investigate the possible murder of a friend and try to decide if they can trust each other. Like I said, don't go in expecting something that feels like it could really happen. Go in looking for a fun read.
I did like all of the grey this book explores. Even the rich prep kids who populate the background characters manage to defy usual stereotypes and fall the grey zones. That was nicely done.
December 5, 2018
3.5 Sterne
Ehrlich gesagt kann ich meine Bewertung gar nicht wirklich begründen. Das Buch war sehr gut geschrieben, zugegeben manche Sachen waren vorhersehbar, aber ansonsten hätte mich Kisses & Lies eigentlich begeistern müssen.
Nur habe ich das Buch mehrmals ohne Probleme zur Seite gelegt und etwas anderes gelesen 😅. Zwischenzeitich habe ich sogar überlegt es abzubrechen, weil ich nicht so richtig von der Handlung gefesselt war... Bzw. eigentlich schon, nur.... Kennt ihr das, wenn ihr mehrere Bücher lest, eins zur Seite legt, erstmal keine Lust drauf habt, nur um dann beim erneuten reinlesen festzustellen, dass es eigentlich echt gut ist? 🤔 So ging es mir hier und das mehr als einmal 😅😅😅.
Ehrlich gesagt kann ich meine Bewertung gar nicht wirklich begründen. Das Buch war sehr gut geschrieben, zugegeben manche Sachen waren vorhersehbar, aber ansonsten hätte mich Kisses & Lies eigentlich begeistern müssen.
Nur habe ich das Buch mehrmals ohne Probleme zur Seite gelegt und etwas anderes gelesen 😅. Zwischenzeitich habe ich sogar überlegt es abzubrechen, weil ich nicht so richtig von der Handlung gefesselt war... Bzw. eigentlich schon, nur.... Kennt ihr das, wenn ihr mehrere Bücher lest, eins zur Seite legt, erstmal keine Lust drauf habt, nur um dann beim erneuten reinlesen festzustellen, dass es eigentlich echt gut ist? 🤔 So ging es mir hier und das mehr als einmal 😅😅😅.
October 6, 2016
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Chasing Truth is the first book in the young adult mystery suspense series, called Eleanor Ames by Julie Cross. I have read 3 or 4 books by Julie now, and I have to say, not a single one of them was the same. She is a very diverse author. I love that she has no problem changing genres and writing such unique and different books. Chasing Truth is a book that will have you engrossed and wondering what is going to happen next until the very last page. I think this book is perfect for fall and the month of October. This is the time of year that I like to transition into some suspense and horror books. And you all know that I love a prep/boarding school setting. For some reason, I think it lends itself really well to mysterious atmosphere rife with secrets. What could be better than that?
Chasing Truth a book better left for you to discover on your own. I am not going to spoil it for you, but I will say that the characters are my favorite part about the book. The suspense and atmospheric writing are all excellent as well, but I really loved the characters. Eleanor is super interesting because she is a former con artist. The lines between good and bad get all kinds of blurred in this story, which is what makes it so fascinating to me.
If you are like me and you like prep school secrets and mysteries. , this is a great book for you to check out. There is romance in Chasing Truth, but it is a little light so far. It might pick up in the books to come. Another thing I loved about Chasing Truth is that it is going to be a series! I love series that are named after/follow a character. Like the Robert Langdon series, or the Sharpe series, because you can follow that character through different places, situations and adventures. I cannot wait to see what Eleanor Ames has in store for us next. This series might be my very favorite read from Julie Cross. 
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Chasing Truth is the first book in the young adult mystery suspense series, called Eleanor Ames by Julie Cross. I have read 3 or 4 books by Julie now, and I have to say, not a single one of them was the same. She is a very diverse author. I love that she has no problem changing genres and writing such unique and different books. Chasing Truth is a book that will have you engrossed and wondering what is going to happen next until the very last page. I think this book is perfect for fall and the month of October. This is the time of year that I like to transition into some suspense and horror books. And you all know that I love a prep/boarding school setting. For some reason, I think it lends itself really well to mysterious atmosphere rife with secrets. What could be better than that?
Chasing Truth a book better left for you to discover on your own. I am not going to spoil it for you, but I will say that the characters are my favorite part about the book. The suspense and atmospheric writing are all excellent as well, but I really loved the characters. Eleanor is super interesting because she is a former con artist. The lines between good and bad get all kinds of blurred in this story, which is what makes it so fascinating to me.
If you are like me and you like prep school secrets and mysteries. , this is a great book for you to check out. There is romance in Chasing Truth, but it is a little light so far. It might pick up in the books to come. Another thing I loved about Chasing Truth is that it is going to be a series! I love series that are named after/follow a character. Like the Robert Langdon series, or the Sharpe series, because you can follow that character through different places, situations and adventures. I cannot wait to see what Eleanor Ames has in store for us next. This series might be my very favorite read from Julie Cross. 
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
October 20, 2020
https://celebrityreaders.com/2016/10/...
4 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
So I think I requested this book from NetGalley because it was touted as being for fans of Veronica Mars, and since I am a fan this intrigued me. And I can wholeheartedly say that it really did remind me of that beloved TV series! I mean, Ellie gets her smarts in a completely different way, but she is sassy, somewhat damaged, resourceful just like Veronica. And then there's the whole trying to solve the mystery of a friend's death thing. Yup, definitely shades of VM season 1. So if you enjoy that show, I would definitely give this book a shot.
What's really great is that it was also a TINY bit outside my wheelhouse in that I don't read a lot of mystery type novels, but there was definitely a mystery to solve in this book! And you know what? It was super fun to come up with theories as the story went along! I will say that I called one of the bad guys from pretty early on, and didn't waver too much from that position -- yay me! Not sure if that was good hinting on the author's part, or if I'm just SMRT. But I had a lot of fun with it, and in general I thought the mystery was laid out well and there were no big plot holes or anything like that (which is where I tend to get frustrated with mystery books).
As for my favourite part of all books I read, the characters in this book were generally super solid. Ellie was a great heroine to read from, as I said she was both sassy and vulnerable and it made it easy to love her and feel for how she grew up and how she sees herself now. I was a little disappointed that she didn't guess certain things about Miles. I mean, I totally guessed things about Miles, though I can happily say that what I guessed wasn't completely correct, so I was nicely surprised with who he was. But for a con artist and people reader like Ellie, I really thought she would have at least made a guess about him at some point.
Miles was an interesting foil for Ellie, with his need for strict rule following. I liked that even though we never got anything from his POV, I feel like I knew who he was. And their chemistry was awesome, both in their friendship/partners type way and in a romantic type way. I enjoyed where their relationship went, and felt like it was true to both of them.
And this book was actually pretty packed with secondary characters, from Ellie's sister Harper and Harper's boyfriend Aiden (both of whom I adored, and can't help but want to see their backstory -- prequel novella anyone?). To Miles's parents (even if they only made a brief appearance) and Uncle Clyde. To the memory of Simon. To even Justice, Dominic, Bret (I know he's bad), and Jacob. Will be interesting to see how all these characters come into play in the next novels.
All in all I'm totally sold on the series, and will definitely be looking forward to Ellie's next adventure.
4 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
So I think I requested this book from NetGalley because it was touted as being for fans of Veronica Mars, and since I am a fan this intrigued me. And I can wholeheartedly say that it really did remind me of that beloved TV series! I mean, Ellie gets her smarts in a completely different way, but she is sassy, somewhat damaged, resourceful just like Veronica. And then there's the whole trying to solve the mystery of a friend's death thing. Yup, definitely shades of VM season 1. So if you enjoy that show, I would definitely give this book a shot.
What's really great is that it was also a TINY bit outside my wheelhouse in that I don't read a lot of mystery type novels, but there was definitely a mystery to solve in this book! And you know what? It was super fun to come up with theories as the story went along! I will say that I called one of the bad guys from pretty early on, and didn't waver too much from that position -- yay me! Not sure if that was good hinting on the author's part, or if I'm just SMRT. But I had a lot of fun with it, and in general I thought the mystery was laid out well and there were no big plot holes or anything like that (which is where I tend to get frustrated with mystery books).
As for my favourite part of all books I read, the characters in this book were generally super solid. Ellie was a great heroine to read from, as I said she was both sassy and vulnerable and it made it easy to love her and feel for how she grew up and how she sees herself now. I was a little disappointed that she didn't guess certain things about Miles. I mean, I totally guessed things about Miles, though I can happily say that what I guessed wasn't completely correct, so I was nicely surprised with who he was. But for a con artist and people reader like Ellie, I really thought she would have at least made a guess about him at some point.
Miles was an interesting foil for Ellie, with his need for strict rule following. I liked that even though we never got anything from his POV, I feel like I knew who he was. And their chemistry was awesome, both in their friendship/partners type way and in a romantic type way. I enjoyed where their relationship went, and felt like it was true to both of them.
And this book was actually pretty packed with secondary characters, from Ellie's sister Harper and Harper's boyfriend Aiden (both of whom I adored, and can't help but want to see their backstory -- prequel novella anyone?). To Miles's parents (even if they only made a brief appearance) and Uncle Clyde. To the memory of Simon. To even Justice, Dominic, Bret (I know he's bad), and Jacob. Will be interesting to see how all these characters come into play in the next novels.
All in all I'm totally sold on the series, and will definitely be looking forward to Ellie's next adventure.
November 6, 2016
Ellie is a girl with a checkered past. Raised by her con-artist parents, she now lives with her older sister and her sister’s boyfriend who just happens to be a member of the Secret Service. When the sister’s boyfriend pulls some strings, getting Ellie into an exclusive prep school, she only manages to make one good friend who kills himself shortly after dropping Ellie off at home. Devastated, Ellie believes there’s more to the story than a simple suicide. Her friend, Simon, the son of the California Senator, wasn’t depressed.
When hot newbie, Miles, moves in across from Ellie, she fights a physical attraction and an emotional hatred of him. Miles is full of his own secrets and the two torment each other both consciously and subconsciously. Chasing Truth is pure Julie Cross — lots of angst, beautiful character development, and this time around a fun mystery.
Plot
The story centers on Ellie’s pursuit of the truth — what really happened to Simon. With her background, she’s able to follow the clues with relative ease, using her ability to con people to gain information. The only thing really complicating her efforts is Miles. I had Miles pegged from early on, even though the author managed to make me second-guess my conclusion more than a few times. Even so, the back and forth between Ellie and Miles is great — lots of that unresolved sexual tension Julie Cross is famous for.
The Characters
Ellie is fascinating. She had the potential to become annoying, but she never fell into that trap. Her background made her unique, resourceful, loveable. Miles was equally interesting, always one step ahead of Ellie, or so it seems. The rest of the characters are well-rounded and enhance the story. Ellie’s sister, Harper, is great as the nanny to a set of toddler twins of a wealthy couple, and her boyfriend, Aiden, is as sympathetic as he is hot. Some of Ellie’s classmates crossed the line into spoiled rich teen territory, but they all had more depth to them than the stereotype.
Top Five Things I Loved About Chasing Truth
1. The mystery. I love when I spend an entire book trying to figure out what really happened right along with the protagonist.
2. Ellie. She’s feisty, confident, and smart. Three things that make an excellent young adult protagonist.
3. Angst. I loved the romance aspect in this story. She had such control over almost every other aspect of her life, it was fun to watch Ellie squirm.
4. The writing. The pacing is perfect and the writing is tight, making this a fun, fast read.
5. The ending. It wrapped up giving me enough satisfaction while leaving me wanting more of Eleanor Ames and crew!
Bottom Line
Chasing Truth is a fast-paced teen mystery wrapped up in a romance that is hard to put down.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
When hot newbie, Miles, moves in across from Ellie, she fights a physical attraction and an emotional hatred of him. Miles is full of his own secrets and the two torment each other both consciously and subconsciously. Chasing Truth is pure Julie Cross — lots of angst, beautiful character development, and this time around a fun mystery.
Plot
The story centers on Ellie’s pursuit of the truth — what really happened to Simon. With her background, she’s able to follow the clues with relative ease, using her ability to con people to gain information. The only thing really complicating her efforts is Miles. I had Miles pegged from early on, even though the author managed to make me second-guess my conclusion more than a few times. Even so, the back and forth between Ellie and Miles is great — lots of that unresolved sexual tension Julie Cross is famous for.
The Characters
Ellie is fascinating. She had the potential to become annoying, but she never fell into that trap. Her background made her unique, resourceful, loveable. Miles was equally interesting, always one step ahead of Ellie, or so it seems. The rest of the characters are well-rounded and enhance the story. Ellie’s sister, Harper, is great as the nanny to a set of toddler twins of a wealthy couple, and her boyfriend, Aiden, is as sympathetic as he is hot. Some of Ellie’s classmates crossed the line into spoiled rich teen territory, but they all had more depth to them than the stereotype.
Top Five Things I Loved About Chasing Truth
1. The mystery. I love when I spend an entire book trying to figure out what really happened right along with the protagonist.
2. Ellie. She’s feisty, confident, and smart. Three things that make an excellent young adult protagonist.
3. Angst. I loved the romance aspect in this story. She had such control over almost every other aspect of her life, it was fun to watch Ellie squirm.
4. The writing. The pacing is perfect and the writing is tight, making this a fun, fast read.
5. The ending. It wrapped up giving me enough satisfaction while leaving me wanting more of Eleanor Ames and crew!
Bottom Line
Chasing Truth is a fast-paced teen mystery wrapped up in a romance that is hard to put down.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2016
4-1/2 stars.
Julie Cross writes one of my favorite characters of all time, so I was legit jumping up and down when I got the advanced copy of Chasing Truth, the first book in her brand new suspense Eleanor Ames series.
Ellie has a past that she isn't proud of and is turning over a new leaf, attending an elite prep school and going on the straight and narrow. When her BFF commits suicide after the homecoming dance, Ellie can't believe there isn't more to the story than what they're told, and she's determined to find out what's going on. Throw in a mysterious hottie, Miles, and what you've got is non-stop action and a mystery to solve.
What I Liked: Can I say everything? From the out-of this world chemistry between Ellie and Miles to all the feels they made me feel, I loved every second of this book. Ellie totally kicks ass, and I loved the other characters, too. Miles is easily a favorite. Dang, this boy!
[image error]
One of the things I loved the most about this book was the fact that it made sense for Ellie to be on the self-imposed mission she was on. Most of the time, I'm practically screaming at the MCs in YA books, begging them to tell their parents or some other adult that could help. This time, I understood why Ellie made the choices she did, and that made this book feel all the more authentic.
This book feels kind of long but doesn't drag on at all. Of course I wanted more at the end. It's unpredictable and amazing and just...gah.
My only complaint really is that I want the next book right now! Ugh!!!
With heart-pounding chemistry, tons of action, and swoons all around, you aren't going to be able to put down Chasing Truth by Julie Cross.
--
Julie Cross writes one of my favorite characters of all time, so I was legit jumping up and down when I got the advanced copy of Chasing Truth, the first book in her brand new suspense Eleanor Ames series.
Ellie has a past that she isn't proud of and is turning over a new leaf, attending an elite prep school and going on the straight and narrow. When her BFF commits suicide after the homecoming dance, Ellie can't believe there isn't more to the story than what they're told, and she's determined to find out what's going on. Throw in a mysterious hottie, Miles, and what you've got is non-stop action and a mystery to solve.
What I Liked: Can I say everything? From the out-of this world chemistry between Ellie and Miles to all the feels they made me feel, I loved every second of this book. Ellie totally kicks ass, and I loved the other characters, too. Miles is easily a favorite. Dang, this boy!
[image error]
One of the things I loved the most about this book was the fact that it made sense for Ellie to be on the self-imposed mission she was on. Most of the time, I'm practically screaming at the MCs in YA books, begging them to tell their parents or some other adult that could help. This time, I understood why Ellie made the choices she did, and that made this book feel all the more authentic.
This book feels kind of long but doesn't drag on at all. Of course I wanted more at the end. It's unpredictable and amazing and just...gah.
My only complaint really is that I want the next book right now! Ugh!!!
With heart-pounding chemistry, tons of action, and swoons all around, you aren't going to be able to put down Chasing Truth by Julie Cross.
--
August 9, 2016
Absolutely amazing! I already love mystery books so that made me already kinda love this book! Main character is an ex-con artist? Very interesting perspective! So unique! Definately for fans of the Pretty Little Liars tv show!
July 4, 2017
If Veronica Mars were a con artist, she would be Ellie. She is just as smart, sassy, and quick-witted. She is a gem of a character who retains her intelligence even while falling in love. She never gets stupid over the guy. And Miles is actually worthy of her. He's an intelligent, decent guy. They clash and mistrust each other, but they fit together perfectly right from the start. They are just so fun together. I was laughing at Ellie's first impressions of him, and they had some great banter.
There is a mystery at the center of this story, and I thought it was well done. It is about more than discovering how the crime was committed and by whom. The process of searching for the truth provides the drama, fascination, and excitement. It reveals these characters to us, and it also sets in motion the romance. There are sparks and humor along with some real emotional maturity. Miles doesn't just want Ellie. He wants her to be a better person. He won't settle for less just because she's beautiful. I absolutely love that!
There is a mystery at the center of this story, and I thought it was well done. It is about more than discovering how the crime was committed and by whom. The process of searching for the truth provides the drama, fascination, and excitement. It reveals these characters to us, and it also sets in motion the romance. There are sparks and humor along with some real emotional maturity. Miles doesn't just want Ellie. He wants her to be a better person. He won't settle for less just because she's beautiful. I absolutely love that!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews