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The Color of Lies
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author CJ Lyons comes The Color of Lies, a world drenched in color and mystery.
High school senior Ella Cleary has always been good at reading people. Her family has a rare medical condition called synesthesia that scrambles the senses—her Gram Helen sees every sound, and her uncle Joe can literally taste words. Ella’s own synesthesia manifests itself as the ability to see colors that reveal people’s true emotions…until she meets a guy she just can’t read.
Alec is a mystery to Ella, a handsome, enigmatic young journalist who makes her feel normal for the first time in her life. That is, until he reveals the real reason why he sought her out—he wants to learn the truth behind her parents’ deaths, the parents that Ella had always been told died in a fire. Alec turns Ella’s world upside down when he tells her their deaths were definitely not an accident.
After learning her entire life has been a lie, Ella doesn’t know who she can trust or even who she really is. With her adoptive family keeping secrets and the evidence mixing fact and fiction, the only way for Ella to learn the truth about her past is to find a killer.
Perfect for fans of Caroline B. Cooney, Ally Carter, and Jennifer Brown, The Color of Lies blurs the lines between black-and-white facts and the kaleidoscope of reality.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2018
254 people are currently reading
3257 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Lyons
80 books896 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels, former pediatric ER doctor CJ Lyons has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge Thrillers with Heart.
Two times winner of the International Thriller Writers coveted Thriller Award, CJ has been called a "master within the genre" (Pittsburgh Magazine) and her work has been praised as "breathtakingly fast-paced" and "riveting" (Publishers Weekly) with "characters with beating hearts and three dimensions" (Newsday).
Learn more about CJ's Thrillers with Heart at www.CJLyons.net
Two times winner of the International Thriller Writers coveted Thriller Award, CJ has been called a "master within the genre" (Pittsburgh Magazine) and her work has been praised as "breathtakingly fast-paced" and "riveting" (Publishers Weekly) with "characters with beating hearts and three dimensions" (Newsday).
Learn more about CJ's Thrillers with Heart at www.CJLyons.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 393 reviews
December 12, 2018
This is a very ambitious book. Synesthesia, mental illness, identity theft, war refugees, teen angst, race, murder... It's a smattered smattering.
This author has a talent for describing things. Lyons's descriptions of color and auras and eyes are done well. She clearly is a medical doctor that knows what she is talking about when it comes to procedure.
But that's about it. The story and reactions seem inappropriate for coming-of-age young adults and teens. They act like their pasts are storied and experienced (the incredibly vivid memories they share are from age 3); they act like their present is high stakes in their careers and ambitions (they are high school seniors and one college freshman)... While storied pasts and high stakes are technically true by the time the plot is resolved, it is highly unbelievable that 18 year olds would actually take things this seriously with very little to go on. They've barely graduated high school. I expect this sort of bland, dramatic, and frankly paranoid behavior from someone much older with a lot more life established (and more at stake).
This takes place over 3 days in the year 2011. I was suspicious of how little the teenage characters are using their phones - as well as the fact that at some point a character texts from their pocket without looking (I assume this is only possible because she still has a phone with actual buttons). Placing this in rural, central Pennsylvania just after the recession also helps to set the grey landscape that could excuse the tone of the characters' attitudes.
The characters are flat. Just because the author gives them hobbies and established this very hard and very early on, doesn't mean they are well rounded. We are told that they like or feel things, instead of being shown, which is ironic given the main character's synesthesia as an opportunity to really paint people as they are. The synesthesia, the details of which are explained repeatedly, feels like it is forgotten by the author as a tool to set the tone for a lot of scenes. At some point, Ella can see the aura of words on paper and lines from a movie... What are the limits? I'm not even going to complain about the overused trope of that "special someone" immune from the main character's powers.
I find it also pretty bold of this author to write from the perspective of a young man of color. While the effort is commendable to be inclusive, I'm just not sure Alec's thoughts or actions are realistic for a young black man of a presumably blended family from South Carolina. He wanted to wave to everyone on the street in a strange, predominantly white town in 2011? While I am no more inclined than the author to provide a genuine point of view, I highly doubt this. There are so many potentially unexplored layers to this character that it is a shame he was grossly oversimplified. At the very least, perhaps he shouldn't have been written in first person.
The fact that some characters are briefly mentioned as adult war refugees with no discussion whatsoever on the impact of that heavy experience on their lives is a grievous oversight and distasteful as a plot point.
* A Note on the Audiobook Narrator *
Good grief. The way she makes each character pronounce "ident-tit-ty" is straight out of drama class and akin to a knife scraping a plate. Accents came and went. Every character sounded bored. Some sounded bratty. And the breathlessness she breathed into Rory made her a caricature of a teenage bimbo instead of the supportive, optimistic friend I have a feeling she was meant to be. (At one point, I wouldn't have been surprised if the voice chosen for Joe started chanting "Red Rum. Red Rum!")
I'm just generally grumpy and annoyed about this book overall. Because I see so much potential in it, I am disappointed by the execution. I do not recommend this to young adult readers at all. I hesitate to recommend it to adults.
This author has a talent for describing things. Lyons's descriptions of color and auras and eyes are done well. She clearly is a medical doctor that knows what she is talking about when it comes to procedure.
But that's about it. The story and reactions seem inappropriate for coming-of-age young adults and teens. They act like their pasts are storied and experienced (the incredibly vivid memories they share are from age 3); they act like their present is high stakes in their careers and ambitions (they are high school seniors and one college freshman)... While storied pasts and high stakes are technically true by the time the plot is resolved, it is highly unbelievable that 18 year olds would actually take things this seriously with very little to go on. They've barely graduated high school. I expect this sort of bland, dramatic, and frankly paranoid behavior from someone much older with a lot more life established (and more at stake).
This takes place over 3 days in the year 2011. I was suspicious of how little the teenage characters are using their phones - as well as the fact that at some point a character texts from their pocket without looking (I assume this is only possible because she still has a phone with actual buttons). Placing this in rural, central Pennsylvania just after the recession also helps to set the grey landscape that could excuse the tone of the characters' attitudes.
The characters are flat. Just because the author gives them hobbies and established this very hard and very early on, doesn't mean they are well rounded. We are told that they like or feel things, instead of being shown, which is ironic given the main character's synesthesia as an opportunity to really paint people as they are. The synesthesia, the details of which are explained repeatedly, feels like it is forgotten by the author as a tool to set the tone for a lot of scenes. At some point, Ella can see the aura of words on paper and lines from a movie... What are the limits? I'm not even going to complain about the overused trope of that "special someone" immune from the main character's powers.
I find it also pretty bold of this author to write from the perspective of a young man of color. While the effort is commendable to be inclusive, I'm just not sure Alec's thoughts or actions are realistic for a young black man of a presumably blended family from South Carolina. He wanted to wave to everyone on the street in a strange, predominantly white town in 2011? While I am no more inclined than the author to provide a genuine point of view, I highly doubt this. There are so many potentially unexplored layers to this character that it is a shame he was grossly oversimplified. At the very least, perhaps he shouldn't have been written in first person.
The fact that some characters are briefly mentioned as adult war refugees with no discussion whatsoever on the impact of that heavy experience on their lives is a grievous oversight and distasteful as a plot point.
* A Note on the Audiobook Narrator *
Good grief. The way she makes each character pronounce "ident-tit-ty" is straight out of drama class and akin to a knife scraping a plate. Accents came and went. Every character sounded bored. Some sounded bratty. And the breathlessness she breathed into Rory made her a caricature of a teenage bimbo instead of the supportive, optimistic friend I have a feeling she was meant to be. (At one point, I wouldn't have been surprised if the voice chosen for Joe started chanting "Red Rum. Red Rum!")
I'm just generally grumpy and annoyed about this book overall. Because I see so much potential in it, I am disappointed by the execution. I do not recommend this to young adult readers at all. I hesitate to recommend it to adults.
October 19, 2018
I love it when a YA thriller doesn't read TOO YA. There's some romance but it's so limited it doesn't prove to be a huge part which is nice. Thank the lord for no love triangles. (Ok, so there's a little bit of instalust but hey, it's a YA book after all....) What we get is a story about a girl who lost her parents at a young age to a fire. Her world gets turned upside down when Alec shows up on her 18th birthday with questions about her parents murder.... **screechy brakes** excuse me? MURDER?!
Ella and her family are gifted with synesthesia - Ella's particular "talent" are seeing people's auras - or the colors they emit as they emote. How interesting would THAT be? There's always good with the bad... but when you meet someone who has no color... how do you know if he can be trusted?
YA thrillers are surprising me more and more these days. I'd say this reads more contemporary for me over thriller/suspense. A fast, enjoyable ride. Nothing convoluted.. but a great read in its simplicity as well. I found it a bit easily predictable and the ending seemed to out pace the first half. While the book did read fast, I was surprised to notice that halfway through, we're still only into day two of the entire timeline. Just something I noticed, not something that took away from the enjoyment.
Those who like the lighter side of a thriller and the YA genre - will take a liking to this.
3.5 stars rounding to 4 for GR.
Ella and her family are gifted with synesthesia - Ella's particular "talent" are seeing people's auras - or the colors they emit as they emote. How interesting would THAT be? There's always good with the bad... but when you meet someone who has no color... how do you know if he can be trusted?
YA thrillers are surprising me more and more these days. I'd say this reads more contemporary for me over thriller/suspense. A fast, enjoyable ride. Nothing convoluted.. but a great read in its simplicity as well. I found it a bit easily predictable and the ending seemed to out pace the first half. While the book did read fast, I was surprised to notice that halfway through, we're still only into day two of the entire timeline. Just something I noticed, not something that took away from the enjoyment.
Those who like the lighter side of a thriller and the YA genre - will take a liking to this.
3.5 stars rounding to 4 for GR.
November 11, 2018
“The world is filled with magic. You just have to look and listen”
The Color of Lies is a novel whose story is as alluring as its eye-catching cover and title. Although the mystery isn’t particularly original, I love the use of synesthesia in the plot, and how it shapes the way Ella perceives the world. She uses this rare medical condition as a crutch to decipher people’s true intentions, regardless of what lies they may conjure. Essentially, she can read the auras, and associates the colors that arise, with vivid emotions and feelings. Romance between Ella and Alec is sprinkled throughout, but it refuses to overpower the mystery – to my delight! While the conclusion is fairly predictable, it’s enjoyable to witness unfolding, nevertheless!
The writing is flowery, but certainly beautiful. Lyons’ poise is captivating and draws you in, without feeling too poetic and forced. I personally love writing styles that aren’t excessively metaphorical, and Lyons’ perfectly balances this line, especially when describing the auras Ella interprets. Reading from her first perspective is quite fascinating, and makes it simple for the reader to place themselves in her shoes. It displays her on a more humanized level. She’s a merely a young girl, who is susceptible to confusion and indignation – emotions not very challenging for us to relate to.
Lovely side characters, who should’ve been present more. Oh, how I love Alec and Ella’s two closest friends, Max and Rory. On a completely unrelated matter, I’m quite fond of the name, Rory. I’m not necessarily sure why, but I’ve always found it to be lovely. This held true for Rory in The Color of Lies. She’s a remarkably loyal and compassionate friend, who is far stronger than most presume. Her devotion to Ella is wonderful, and the utter oblivion she has about Max’s feelings for her is amusing. Though Max is awfully stubborn, he’s also kind and willing to wound his pride if it means helping Ella. Alec is a precious little bean, whose thoughtful nature is adorable in every regard. Sure, he may have an issue with speaking more than he should at times, but I love him all the more for it.
The mystery behind Ella’s mother’s murder is neat, but easily foreseen. Overall, I didn’t consider the novel to fall victim to many tropes prevalent in YA literature, but wish the mystery could’ve delved through more unpredictable paths. Perhaps, a few more characters or elements could’ve been introduced to create a wider pool of individuals to suspect. The Color of Lies is a fun thriller with enough tensity to have you biting your nails and scratching your scalp, and is perfect for those scouring for a light mystery!
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review!
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December 4, 2021
Frustrating. Nor a realistic depiction of synesthesia AT ALL, not that this was the book's biggest flaw by any means. I put this book down months ago and then picked it back up to power through in the hopes that it would redeem itself. I was disappointed. Cheesy dialogue, predictable storyline, annoying characters. It did get exciting at times, but the pacing was too weird to sustain any interest.
November 12, 2018
I am a big fan of this author's YA books: Broken and Watched. And I am also very intrigued by the whole synesthesia thing. I even have a really good friend who has the condition. I remember first reading about synesthesia when I was in college. Studying to be a science teacher, I had a subscription to Discover magazine, which I would read cover to cover. That story on people who always thought of certain numbers having a specific color, or sometimes words had a taste to them, that story stuck with me. This story was a really good one that used a few different types of synesthesia symptoms for characters in a family, since it is considered to be genetic. I feel like this author with her medical background is able to be very realistic about things like this disorder, the same as she was with the genetic heart defect in Broken. But we also had at the heart of this story a very good mystery. To me, this book is right up there with many adult mystery titles that have a medical aspect to them. It reminds me in a way of the good old fashioned Robin Cook novels. Less complicated and conspiracy theory-ish, but definitely as good of a mystery with things you know are coming, but don't always see completely until the bad guys begin giving their plots away. I guess that makes sense since the author does write those same books for adults. In this case I guess my point is that she does this well within the YA genre as well.
Now I had a few questions about how it all wrapped up, and if there was more faking going on than just identities. And maybe those things were actually touched upon, but I was at the exciting action point of the book and probably reading faster to get to find out how we could keep both Ella and her friends and family safe. Other questions I pondered when I had to put the book down to go back to work included wondering if schools have synesthesia as something they might use to put a student on an IEP, or Individualized Education Plan, so that they could get help from the special education teachers. Because it seems to me that it could cause some learning environments to not be the best suited in some cases. At some point I mean to reach out to those types of teachers in my school just to find out for myself about this very topic.
Highly recommended book, one I will be ordering for my school library with future budget money.
This review originally posted on my blog, Lisa Loves Literature.
Now I had a few questions about how it all wrapped up, and if there was more faking going on than just identities. And maybe those things were actually touched upon, but I was at the exciting action point of the book and probably reading faster to get to find out how we could keep both Ella and her friends and family safe. Other questions I pondered when I had to put the book down to go back to work included wondering if schools have synesthesia as something they might use to put a student on an IEP, or Individualized Education Plan, so that they could get help from the special education teachers. Because it seems to me that it could cause some learning environments to not be the best suited in some cases. At some point I mean to reach out to those types of teachers in my school just to find out for myself about this very topic.
Highly recommended book, one I will be ordering for my school library with future budget money.
This review originally posted on my blog, Lisa Loves Literature.
January 30, 2022
This was not a good book. The idea itself seemed interesting but it wasn’t executed good. The main character seemed like she couldn’t decide her personality. She had trust issues and then suddenly decided to trust this guy after one meeting a n d after he said something to upset her??? And it was so obvious who the killer was, I was able to guess within the first sixty pages. I got through like half of this book and had to skim through the rest of the book just because I couldn’t get through it. It never takes me this long to get through a book, especially only a three hundred or so page book. So as a birthday present to myself, I skimmed it and am starting a book I actually have hope will be good!!
November 5, 2018
I received a complimentary NetGalley copy of The Color of Lies from JustRead Tours and a positive review is not required.
Oh. My. God. I was not prepared for the whirlwind that was The Color of Lies. I don’t think I’ve read a thriller quite like this one. There a tad bit of YA-ness in some of the language and character building, but the storyline is completely out of the ordinary. So buckle your seatbelt for this one.
The Color of Lies follows Ella, a girl with synesthesia, who lost her parents in a fire when she was a toddler. So Ella basically sees people’s emotions through the color of their aura. Pretty cool, huh?
Ella’s world is turned upside down when she meets a guy named Alex who tells her that her parents’ deaths may not have been an accident at all.
I won’t lie, the book starts off a bit slow. A lot of the characters annoyed me at first and Ella’s best friends, Max and Rory, were pretty one dimensional. But then the mystery slowly starts to unravel and all of a sudden tryout caught up in a story you can’t put down. Seriously, I didn’t even want to take a sip out of my water glass.
My brain was like “I gotta know what happens next”.
I was completely caught off guard with the resolution. Pretty shocked. I had to reread a couple of passages because I couldn’t believe it. C.J. Lyons does an amazing job at building the suspense in this novel, which makes up for some of the one-dimensional characters. She weaves a story that is both fascinating and horrific.
If you’re looking for an awesome thriller that’s out of the ordinary, pick up a copy of The Color of Lies!
Oh. My. God. I was not prepared for the whirlwind that was The Color of Lies. I don’t think I’ve read a thriller quite like this one. There a tad bit of YA-ness in some of the language and character building, but the storyline is completely out of the ordinary. So buckle your seatbelt for this one.
The Color of Lies follows Ella, a girl with synesthesia, who lost her parents in a fire when she was a toddler. So Ella basically sees people’s emotions through the color of their aura. Pretty cool, huh?
Ella’s world is turned upside down when she meets a guy named Alex who tells her that her parents’ deaths may not have been an accident at all.
I won’t lie, the book starts off a bit slow. A lot of the characters annoyed me at first and Ella’s best friends, Max and Rory, were pretty one dimensional. But then the mystery slowly starts to unravel and all of a sudden tryout caught up in a story you can’t put down. Seriously, I didn’t even want to take a sip out of my water glass.
My brain was like “I gotta know what happens next”.
I was completely caught off guard with the resolution. Pretty shocked. I had to reread a couple of passages because I couldn’t believe it. C.J. Lyons does an amazing job at building the suspense in this novel, which makes up for some of the one-dimensional characters. She weaves a story that is both fascinating and horrific.
If you’re looking for an awesome thriller that’s out of the ordinary, pick up a copy of The Color of Lies!
June 2, 2023
THE COLOR OF LIES
CJ Lyons
All Rightly then! This is a very, very busy book with lots of things and moving parts. It is supposed to have happened over 3 days, but WOW... everyone must have fallen over in a dead sleep with those days were done.
I had a hard time with all of the issues, but I did really like the synesthesia, but some of the other issues just whizzed by... for example identity theft, refugees from the war, all that distress and emotion, race, and everything else... just on and on.
My major issue with this story was the unrealistic pressure of taking over family businesses while the characters are only actual children. I mean who is ready to cast control to someone at 18, that means the parents are still in early middle age and would be at their peak. I ain't giving up my business to some child! I mean think about Queen Victoria and Prince (King) Charles, what is he? 70? I have noticed this in several books lately...
This just sort of came off the rails for me because the pressure was more appropriate for late 20s to 30s...So there is Ella who has the ability to see colored auras around people that give her insight into who and what they are... there is Alex with beautiful eyes... and Ella's mother is at the center of the story.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
CJ Lyons
All Rightly then! This is a very, very busy book with lots of things and moving parts. It is supposed to have happened over 3 days, but WOW... everyone must have fallen over in a dead sleep with those days were done.
I had a hard time with all of the issues, but I did really like the synesthesia, but some of the other issues just whizzed by... for example identity theft, refugees from the war, all that distress and emotion, race, and everything else... just on and on.
My major issue with this story was the unrealistic pressure of taking over family businesses while the characters are only actual children. I mean who is ready to cast control to someone at 18, that means the parents are still in early middle age and would be at their peak. I ain't giving up my business to some child! I mean think about Queen Victoria and Prince (King) Charles, what is he? 70? I have noticed this in several books lately...
This just sort of came off the rails for me because the pressure was more appropriate for late 20s to 30s...So there is Ella who has the ability to see colored auras around people that give her insight into who and what they are... there is Alex with beautiful eyes... and Ella's mother is at the center of the story.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
October 13, 2019
The Color of Lies is a very clever mystery, in which Ella had to re-learn everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. When Alec showed up in her life, she got a big shock, but her family and her best friends are there right beside her.
Well-written, and with exemplary character growth, this story is one I can't wait to share with my students.
Well-written, and with exemplary character growth, this story is one I can't wait to share with my students.
January 8, 2019
I received a copy of THE COLOR OF LIES on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.
Five stars and here's why:
This book is riveting. I simply couldn’t put it down. The pacing is fantastic, the concept is unique, and the suspense nearly killed me. I had to drop everything to finish this story in one night!
Ella has a special gift called synesthesia. I had no concept this was a real thing until I Googled it! She can read people and this ability is both a benefit and detriment to any relationship she encounters because of her gift. Ella sees right through people and their intentions; either bad or good. Ella is not the only one gifted in her family as her uncle can taste every word and her grandmother can see every sound.
Until one day, Ella meets Alec. He’s an enigma to Ella because she can’t read him for some reason. This makes Alec intriguing and for the first time ever, Ella wants to get to know him better. After all, he’s a hella-hot, young journalist who wants to learn everything about Ella. Soon after meeting Alec, Ella discovers that her whole life has been a big whopper of a lie. She doesn’t know whom she can trust. Ella doesn’t even know who she really is as her life has been upended after her discovery. What happens next had my head spinning and I dropped everything until I read the very last word.
C.J. Lyons does not disappoint. If you love fantastic writing, a plot splattered with color and infused with mystery, then this book is for you. Highly recommend.
Five stars and here's why:
This book is riveting. I simply couldn’t put it down. The pacing is fantastic, the concept is unique, and the suspense nearly killed me. I had to drop everything to finish this story in one night!
Ella has a special gift called synesthesia. I had no concept this was a real thing until I Googled it! She can read people and this ability is both a benefit and detriment to any relationship she encounters because of her gift. Ella sees right through people and their intentions; either bad or good. Ella is not the only one gifted in her family as her uncle can taste every word and her grandmother can see every sound.
Until one day, Ella meets Alec. He’s an enigma to Ella because she can’t read him for some reason. This makes Alec intriguing and for the first time ever, Ella wants to get to know him better. After all, he’s a hella-hot, young journalist who wants to learn everything about Ella. Soon after meeting Alec, Ella discovers that her whole life has been a big whopper of a lie. She doesn’t know whom she can trust. Ella doesn’t even know who she really is as her life has been upended after her discovery. What happens next had my head spinning and I dropped everything until I read the very last word.
C.J. Lyons does not disappoint. If you love fantastic writing, a plot splattered with color and infused with mystery, then this book is for you. Highly recommend.
July 13, 2021
It had a well thought out plot/crime that I thought was very interesting. I think it had cool moments that focused on Ella's character arc. However, I felt the book went in circles with no real driving force while waiting for the plot to unravel. Also the prologue was set too soon for her to have completely recovered, but overall, I would recommend this book.
November 25, 2018
Fast and addictive while keeping me on my toes...just how I like my mysteries!
December 5, 2018
YA mysteries and thrillers are still relatively new territory for me, mainly because I still always seem to gravitate towards my safe fantasy territory. Which is why, when the opportunity to review a book like The Color of Lies presents itself, I'll happily oblige. This story in particular caught my attention because our protagonist had synesthesia. How CJ Lyons planned to incorporate that into Ella's story intrigued me, because it seemed to me that the ability to read auras would really come in handy in the event of a thriller. Ah, how right I was.
It should be noted that I don't have a lot of background knowledge of synesthesia, and I always assumed that it revolved around colors. So it was so fascinating to me to meet Ella's family members, each with their own unique way of experiencing the world. In particular, Ella's uncle Joe had the ability to taste words. How cool is that? I just kept imagining what that would be like, to be able to taste the things that you say. Absolutely fascinating, if I do say so myself.
I also really enjoyed Ella as a main character. She was enough of an adult to keep the teen angst to a minimum, but enough of sheltered child to make this whole mystery really flow. Her love for her family and friends made me fall for her pretty quickly, but her love of art really sealed the deal. Had this book only been from Ella's point of view, I think I would have been completely smitten.
Unfortunately, this is a dual POV book. I normally am not a fan of dual POV anyway, but I really felt Alec's portion took away from some of the growth that we could have seen from Ella. I'll admit, Ella does get a fair bit more time in the limelight than Alec does. However since Alec starts out the story holding all the cards, and Ella has to play catch up, it makes her seem a little weak. I knew she wasn't. CJ Lyons has written a strong character who, despite her whole life being turned upside down multiple times, pushes through. I just wanted more of that, and more of her.
As for the plot line, I'm of the opinion that it was actually pretty easy to unravel. My inkling about how the book was going to end started around the 1/3 mark, and the further the read the more I knew that I was absolutely right. I know that Lyons was trying to lay a trail of breadcrumbs. In fact, I think that some of that actually was done well. However there is a lot in the first half of the book that all but lights a neon sign pointing to what will happen at the end. As I said, I don't read a ton of mystery and I was able to unravel it. I'm not sure how die hard readers of this genre will feel.
All in all, this was a pretty solid read. The Color of Lies drew me in with its premise, and kept me reading because I fell in love with the characters. Although the plot wasn't quite as twisty as I hoped for, that didn't stop this from being a book I all but flew through. I know this will be a satisfying read for a lot of you out there, and so I'll happily recommend you adding it to your reading list.
It should be noted that I don't have a lot of background knowledge of synesthesia, and I always assumed that it revolved around colors. So it was so fascinating to me to meet Ella's family members, each with their own unique way of experiencing the world. In particular, Ella's uncle Joe had the ability to taste words. How cool is that? I just kept imagining what that would be like, to be able to taste the things that you say. Absolutely fascinating, if I do say so myself.
I also really enjoyed Ella as a main character. She was enough of an adult to keep the teen angst to a minimum, but enough of sheltered child to make this whole mystery really flow. Her love for her family and friends made me fall for her pretty quickly, but her love of art really sealed the deal. Had this book only been from Ella's point of view, I think I would have been completely smitten.
Unfortunately, this is a dual POV book. I normally am not a fan of dual POV anyway, but I really felt Alec's portion took away from some of the growth that we could have seen from Ella. I'll admit, Ella does get a fair bit more time in the limelight than Alec does. However since Alec starts out the story holding all the cards, and Ella has to play catch up, it makes her seem a little weak. I knew she wasn't. CJ Lyons has written a strong character who, despite her whole life being turned upside down multiple times, pushes through. I just wanted more of that, and more of her.
As for the plot line, I'm of the opinion that it was actually pretty easy to unravel. My inkling about how the book was going to end started around the 1/3 mark, and the further the read the more I knew that I was absolutely right. I know that Lyons was trying to lay a trail of breadcrumbs. In fact, I think that some of that actually was done well. However there is a lot in the first half of the book that all but lights a neon sign pointing to what will happen at the end. As I said, I don't read a ton of mystery and I was able to unravel it. I'm not sure how die hard readers of this genre will feel.
All in all, this was a pretty solid read. The Color of Lies drew me in with its premise, and kept me reading because I fell in love with the characters. Although the plot wasn't quite as twisty as I hoped for, that didn't stop this from being a book I all but flew through. I know this will be a satisfying read for a lot of you out there, and so I'll happily recommend you adding it to your reading list.
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
The Color of Lies is a mystery/thriller with a synesthesia twist! Ella has spent her whole life being able to “read” the people around her. When she talks to people, she doesn’t only hear their words, she sees them. She experiences the world as a rainbow—and the colors tell her much more than mere words ever could: she can sense emotions, suss out lies and understand hidden meaning much better than the average person can. But when she realizes that her whole life might have been built on a lie, she’s shaken to her core. She discovers that her parents’ deaths when she was three may not have been accidental. That revelation alone could be enough to break her, but as the truth unravels, she finds that the reality might be far more painful than she imagined.
This thriller kept me guessing. I had some ideas about what might be happening, but I was never quite sure, and there were quite a few surprises. I did have to suspend disbelief on a few details in the end, but I definitely enjoyed the journey!! I recommend this one if you’re a fan of YA mystery/thrillers or want to read a book through the eyes of someone who experiences the world differently than the average person.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (but then ended up listening to the audiobook from the library). No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
The Color of Lies is a mystery/thriller with a synesthesia twist! Ella has spent her whole life being able to “read” the people around her. When she talks to people, she doesn’t only hear their words, she sees them. She experiences the world as a rainbow—and the colors tell her much more than mere words ever could: she can sense emotions, suss out lies and understand hidden meaning much better than the average person can. But when she realizes that her whole life might have been built on a lie, she’s shaken to her core. She discovers that her parents’ deaths when she was three may not have been accidental. That revelation alone could be enough to break her, but as the truth unravels, she finds that the reality might be far more painful than she imagined.
This thriller kept me guessing. I had some ideas about what might be happening, but I was never quite sure, and there were quite a few surprises. I did have to suspend disbelief on a few details in the end, but I definitely enjoyed the journey!! I recommend this one if you’re a fan of YA mystery/thrillers or want to read a book through the eyes of someone who experiences the world differently than the average person.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (but then ended up listening to the audiobook from the library). No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
August 4, 2019
I'm really impressed with this publisher. All of the books I've read from them have been stunning! Blink is the YA division of Zondervan (Harper Collins Publishers) dedicated to bringing quality and clean literature to the teen market. So, while not Christian Fiction, definitely the kind of clean reads I enjoy. Honestly, I'd buy a book without knowing anything else about it other than it was published by Blink. A brilliant collection of books that span all genres.
This mystery has a fascinating edge to it because of the synesthesia angle. Makes for a frenzied-read-in-one-gulp suspense. And there are so many surprising twists in-store for the unsuspecting reader. The kind that have you gasping out loud.
Ella's world is turned upside down as she attempts to sort the truth from the lies. (Brilliant title tie-in, by the way, and the cover art is perfection!) Her two best friends get caught up in the drama as they try to figure out whether Alec is friend or foe.
An angsty romance brews alongside unraveling clues while the specter of danger hovers over them all. A truly spellbinding read!
This mystery has a fascinating edge to it because of the synesthesia angle. Makes for a frenzied-read-in-one-gulp suspense. And there are so many surprising twists in-store for the unsuspecting reader. The kind that have you gasping out loud.
Ella's world is turned upside down as she attempts to sort the truth from the lies. (Brilliant title tie-in, by the way, and the cover art is perfection!) Her two best friends get caught up in the drama as they try to figure out whether Alec is friend or foe.
An angsty romance brews alongside unraveling clues while the specter of danger hovers over them all. A truly spellbinding read!
March 5, 2019
2 STARS
Ella, whose parents died when she was three, meets college freshman Alec, who was present when her parents died and is now investigating the deaths. Soon they realize Ella’s life is based on lies.
Ella has synesthesia, a real neurological condition, which allows her to see people’s auras. The hereditary condition is a central theme throughout this mystery/thriller.
The plot kept me interested in the story, but I was so turned off by one of Ella’s friends, Max, I almost stopped reading. Max was a bossy guy, but written as Ella’s protector and a good guy, despite his the way overprotected her and tried to control whom she saw by bullying Alec and telling him not to contact her. None of this was romance related, but if it was, they’d be red flags for potentially abusive boyfriends. I hate that C.J. Lyons chose to write this as “normal” behavior. I rated down for this.
I loved Alec’s character and tolerated, empathized with Ella and enjoyed Ella’s friend Rory.
The resolution of THE COLOR OF LIES was preposterous, yet satisfying to readers like me who don’t necessarily need happy endings.
Despite its many flaws, THE COLOR OF LIES was a pleasant reading experience.
Ella, whose parents died when she was three, meets college freshman Alec, who was present when her parents died and is now investigating the deaths. Soon they realize Ella’s life is based on lies.
Ella has synesthesia, a real neurological condition, which allows her to see people’s auras. The hereditary condition is a central theme throughout this mystery/thriller.
The plot kept me interested in the story, but I was so turned off by one of Ella’s friends, Max, I almost stopped reading. Max was a bossy guy, but written as Ella’s protector and a good guy, despite his the way overprotected her and tried to control whom she saw by bullying Alec and telling him not to contact her. None of this was romance related, but if it was, they’d be red flags for potentially abusive boyfriends. I hate that C.J. Lyons chose to write this as “normal” behavior. I rated down for this.
I loved Alec’s character and tolerated, empathized with Ella and enjoyed Ella’s friend Rory.
The resolution of THE COLOR OF LIES was preposterous, yet satisfying to readers like me who don’t necessarily need happy endings.
Despite its many flaws, THE COLOR OF LIES was a pleasant reading experience.
February 23, 2019
I just had a lot of issues and questions with this book from the very beginning to the very end. I also highly question the author’s research when it comes to synesthesia and how she portrayed its symptoms in the main character. I have a hard time believing that if you have this then you will be able to “see” that someone has dyslexia just by their aura alone. I also felt this book was extremely predictable and not in a good way. There were so many instances where I questioned people’s actions, thoughts, and words to lead me to realize that in my opinion the writing was just not good.
I listened to this book which lead to a whole bunch of issues in itself, the main one being why would a character speak in a southern accent, but not think in one?
I listened to this book which lead to a whole bunch of issues in itself, the main one being why would a character speak in a southern accent, but not think in one?
November 6, 2018
'The Color of Lies' is an intriguing young adult thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seat to the very end. There were several things I really enjoyed about this book and instead of trying to explain them in an order to make sense, I'm just going to list them.
Characters: I really liked both of the main characters - Ella and Alec. They were both complex and rounded with unique qualities and traits. They had their strengths and weaknesses, which made them feel realistic for me. I loved learning about Ella's amazing gift (her synesthesia) and was amazed that things like this actual exist. It was fascinating and made me want to learn more about it after I finished reading. Alec was a great character too and I really liked watching Ella meet him and then seeing their friendship begin and then grow into something more.
Writing Style: The story is told from both Ella and Alec's perspective, in alternating chapters. What I especially loved about this book was the author used the first person for each of the main characters. If you've read any of my other reviews, you know how important point of view is to me and can make or break a book in my opinion. This was fantastic and I loved that the author chose to do both characters in the first person in alternating chapters so we really got to know each of them. Normally with the first person you have one narrator who you get to know on a deeply personal level, but the author managed to make that happen with two characters with this story - which can't be an easy thing to do. I really enjoyed getting to know Ella and Alec both on a personal level - their hopes, fears, dreams, memories, and everything else in between were there. The reader has the chance to really get to know them both and connect with them early on in the story.
Plot: I'm a huge fan of mysteries and thrillers, so this was an easy choice for me to read. Like I mentioned, I loved the way the author made the story her own with Ella's synesthesia and the alternating narrators. I can't say much about the plot because I don't want to accidentally give anything away, but I will say that it kept me guessing most of the way through the book and the ending had me on the edge of my seat reading as fast as I could to see what was going to happen.
I highly recommend this book to fans of YA, mystery, thrillers, contemporary fiction, and even romance.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Characters: I really liked both of the main characters - Ella and Alec. They were both complex and rounded with unique qualities and traits. They had their strengths and weaknesses, which made them feel realistic for me. I loved learning about Ella's amazing gift (her synesthesia) and was amazed that things like this actual exist. It was fascinating and made me want to learn more about it after I finished reading. Alec was a great character too and I really liked watching Ella meet him and then seeing their friendship begin and then grow into something more.
Writing Style: The story is told from both Ella and Alec's perspective, in alternating chapters. What I especially loved about this book was the author used the first person for each of the main characters. If you've read any of my other reviews, you know how important point of view is to me and can make or break a book in my opinion. This was fantastic and I loved that the author chose to do both characters in the first person in alternating chapters so we really got to know each of them. Normally with the first person you have one narrator who you get to know on a deeply personal level, but the author managed to make that happen with two characters with this story - which can't be an easy thing to do. I really enjoyed getting to know Ella and Alec both on a personal level - their hopes, fears, dreams, memories, and everything else in between were there. The reader has the chance to really get to know them both and connect with them early on in the story.
Plot: I'm a huge fan of mysteries and thrillers, so this was an easy choice for me to read. Like I mentioned, I loved the way the author made the story her own with Ella's synesthesia and the alternating narrators. I can't say much about the plot because I don't want to accidentally give anything away, but I will say that it kept me guessing most of the way through the book and the ending had me on the edge of my seat reading as fast as I could to see what was going to happen.
I highly recommend this book to fans of YA, mystery, thrillers, contemporary fiction, and even romance.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2018
I've always been interested in books where a character has synesthesia, and this book was a thriller that had multiple synesthetes! I just knew I had to pick it up.
Ella is the only one in her family who seems to have a form of synesthesia that allows her to still live a normal life. Her grandmother and several others live their lives as recluses, avoiding sounds and words that might make them physically ill. Ella knows that her parents died in a fire when she was three, but then a boy named Alec comes along and turns her whole life upside down. He claims that her parents did not die in an accidental fire, that they were murdered. He says that he met Ella when she was younger, but Ella says that she was never at the scene of the fire. She must decide whether to trust Alec or to go back to believing her version of her parents' death.
Alec was trying to work with Ella to figure out the truth. It was definitely awesome to have a diverse group of characters in this story. I found that I didn't quite connect with him at certain parts of the story, but I was with him by the time that I reached the end.
The way that I would describe this story would be with the letter A. There are a lot of things going up the slope to build to the climax, and it seems a little bit slow climbing up the steep slope. Then, there is the top. The climax is abrupt, and almost out of nowhere. Lastly, there is a huge downward fall, where everything seems to happen all at once. And then we have a time skip at the end, and an almost "where are they now" with the characters, which I really enjoyed.
The story was good and had a lot of suspenseful details leading up to the climax, but because the ending felt so rushed, I still lost track of things. But I really enjoyed the book up until that point!
Ella in particular also went through a lot of character development as she started to remember things that she had forgotten over the years. I really loved her character, and how much she cared about her family. She was never a spoiled teenage brat, even if she didn't have the best circumstances.
Overall, this was an addictive thriller, and I enjoyed my time reading it! I hope you enjoy this novel as much as I did!
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new YA mystery-suspense novel.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
Ella is the only one in her family who seems to have a form of synesthesia that allows her to still live a normal life. Her grandmother and several others live their lives as recluses, avoiding sounds and words that might make them physically ill. Ella knows that her parents died in a fire when she was three, but then a boy named Alec comes along and turns her whole life upside down. He claims that her parents did not die in an accidental fire, that they were murdered. He says that he met Ella when she was younger, but Ella says that she was never at the scene of the fire. She must decide whether to trust Alec or to go back to believing her version of her parents' death.
Alec was trying to work with Ella to figure out the truth. It was definitely awesome to have a diverse group of characters in this story. I found that I didn't quite connect with him at certain parts of the story, but I was with him by the time that I reached the end.
The way that I would describe this story would be with the letter A. There are a lot of things going up the slope to build to the climax, and it seems a little bit slow climbing up the steep slope. Then, there is the top. The climax is abrupt, and almost out of nowhere. Lastly, there is a huge downward fall, where everything seems to happen all at once. And then we have a time skip at the end, and an almost "where are they now" with the characters, which I really enjoyed.
The story was good and had a lot of suspenseful details leading up to the climax, but because the ending felt so rushed, I still lost track of things. But I really enjoyed the book up until that point!
Ella in particular also went through a lot of character development as she started to remember things that she had forgotten over the years. I really loved her character, and how much she cared about her family. She was never a spoiled teenage brat, even if she didn't have the best circumstances.
Overall, this was an addictive thriller, and I enjoyed my time reading it! I hope you enjoy this novel as much as I did!
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new YA mystery-suspense novel.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.
May 6, 2021
The Color of Lies was a random pick from my library. It involves Ella who has a condition called synesthesia which causes her senses to be scrambled. She essentially sees the world in a different way. She has been raised by her grandmother and uncles after the death of her parents. On her 18th birthday, she learns that her parents death might not have happened the way she had been told her whole life.
I thought this was an fairly enjoyable YA mystery. The reveal was a bit predictable if you pay attention early on. I really enjoyed the characters. I'm not sure how synesthesia really works and whether or not it allows you to see "auras" that give away people's emotions. I was able to suspend some disbelief for the sake of the book. Ella was an interesting character. I liked her loyalty to her family and her willingness to find out the truth. I also liked Alec. I wasn't sold on the slight romance. The story takes place over 3 days. If it had been left out, I would have been fine with it. I also loved Ella's friends and their fierce loyalty to her.
I listened to the audiobook and I wouldn't recommend it. The story is told through both Ella's and Alec's perspective. The narrator did not distinguish between the two very well. When Alec was speaking out loud, he had a southern accent. However, when he was telling narrating his perspective, he sounded like Ella. I found it easy to forget whose point of view I was listening to. This would have been better with dual narrators. So read a physical copy instead.
I thought this was an fairly enjoyable YA mystery. The reveal was a bit predictable if you pay attention early on. I really enjoyed the characters. I'm not sure how synesthesia really works and whether or not it allows you to see "auras" that give away people's emotions. I was able to suspend some disbelief for the sake of the book. Ella was an interesting character. I liked her loyalty to her family and her willingness to find out the truth. I also liked Alec. I wasn't sold on the slight romance. The story takes place over 3 days. If it had been left out, I would have been fine with it. I also loved Ella's friends and their fierce loyalty to her.
I listened to the audiobook and I wouldn't recommend it. The story is told through both Ella's and Alec's perspective. The narrator did not distinguish between the two very well. When Alec was speaking out loud, he had a southern accent. However, when he was telling narrating his perspective, he sounded like Ella. I found it easy to forget whose point of view I was listening to. This would have been better with dual narrators. So read a physical copy instead.
March 19, 2022
I dont really read YA but thought i'd try a YA thriller and it did not disappoint.
Easy to read and fast paced- hell yeah!!
Quite early on I thought I caught a continuity error. It really bugged me and I thought my copy might've been an early edition and that they'd fixed the issue.
But turns out, it was a clue!!!
Which makes me wonder if I missed any others.
Also funny is that at about page 270 I wrote my thoughts down and said " like in a horrir movie want to scream to the girl to not.go down in the basement" (metaphorical basement) and like 10 pagea later, the MC says the same thing 🤣
This story is so unique with the addition of synesthesia.
Easy to read and fast paced- hell yeah!!
Quite early on I thought I caught a continuity error. It really bugged me and I thought my copy might've been an early edition and that they'd fixed the issue.
But turns out, it was a clue!!!
Which makes me wonder if I missed any others.
Also funny is that at about page 270 I wrote my thoughts down and said " like in a horrir movie want to scream to the girl to not.go down in the basement" (metaphorical basement) and like 10 pagea later, the MC says the same thing 🤣
This story is so unique with the addition of synesthesia.
March 23, 2023
I had a lot of high hopes for this book, and it was good but it wasn’t as great as I had hoped. Synesthesia is super interesting and I normally really like reading about it, but it felt really fake in this book. Like the colors matched what you would actually think they should be like, but normally it’s more randomized, not that it couldn’t be like pink, for love or orange/red for anger, but it felt really fake/forced. I really liked Rory and Max as friends but I wish at the beginning we were given more background information because they didn’t feel like truly close friends until the end. I wish that the first third of the book wasn’t spent on the same day, because it was a very slow start to this book. Also the ending was pretty easy to guess, and I was hoping for a little bit more mystery. OTHERWISE, the characters were really great, I loved the backstory to the fire and I like the fact that synesthesia was included, and overall I did really enjoy this book.
August 5, 2020
I finished this book in less than 12 hours, only stopping for dinner. It's been a long time since I read a mystery, but this intriguing book makes me crave more. It took a little while for the story to pick up, but it was worth it. Once you get pulled in, this book will not let go.
September 3, 2018
This was a fast moving story. Told by both Ella and Alec. A mystery to be solved after Ella learns the truth of her parents death when she was a toddler. Seeing people the way Ella does with her synesthesia is a unique perspective. And to have friends as loyal as Max and Rory is a blessing.
January 5, 2019
A little disappointing in terms of a cliched yet at the same time improbable plot but I did like the characters
May 12, 2019
This book was absolutely incredible, all of the plot twists were so well thought out and really left me shocked. Also, I still cannot believe the ending! I highly recommend this book and am even considering reading it again, I'm so glad I picked it up.
June 7, 2018
4 1/2 stars. Thriller, Middle Grade.
This came to me through Book Expo. Of all the books that I acquired, this had the most intriguing synopsis. Never heard of synesthesia, but a terrific idea to build a story around.
Starts strong, finished strong. Couple extra chapters in the middle that don't move the story, where the leads seem a little redundant in their conversation, but solid writing otherwise.
I particularly liked how information about the characters and environment are slowly parsed in the beginning rather than through a specific back story.
Well done.
This came to me through Book Expo. Of all the books that I acquired, this had the most intriguing synopsis. Never heard of synesthesia, but a terrific idea to build a story around.
Starts strong, finished strong. Couple extra chapters in the middle that don't move the story, where the leads seem a little redundant in their conversation, but solid writing otherwise.
I particularly liked how information about the characters and environment are slowly parsed in the beginning rather than through a specific back story.
Well done.
November 12, 2018
Ella Cleary has lived her life trusting in her instincts about people and her ability to read their emotions. Ella has synesthesia, a medical condition that scrambles the senses and for Ella, allows her to see the emotions of others in colors that swirl and surround everyone she comes in contact with, that is everyone except for Alec. Alec is a complete mystery to Ella, a stranger that comes into her life with secrets that will change Ella's world.
As usual, this author will take you on a trip of words into a world of mystery and suspense and one totally transformed by a condition most of us probably have never heard of. The characters she writes about will tug at your heart and the ending will totally be a surprise!
A big Thumbs up CJ! Loved It!
As usual, this author will take you on a trip of words into a world of mystery and suspense and one totally transformed by a condition most of us probably have never heard of. The characters she writes about will tug at your heart and the ending will totally be a surprise!
A big Thumbs up CJ! Loved It!
April 1, 2019
Quality of Writing: 4/5 : CJ Lyons is a master of description and intricate plot. She presents Ella's synesthesia through a mind-boggling collection of color analogies and names. Her characterizations are unique and filled with believable strengths and flaws. At times, the descriptions and internal dialogue dragged during high action scenes, but this may be a personal preference.
Turn Paging Effect: 4/5: Careful planning and research went into the structure of this novel as Lyons did a masterful job of planting seeds and tying up loose ends along the way. I was expecting to have myself gripped for the entire story, given the "thriller" genre, but this was a more subtle mystery that required internal reflection on the part of the characters. It was amazing how the events occurred over two days, yet the relationships felt deeper than the time allowed. The climax, although somewhat predictable, was definitely high action and kept me reading until the end.
Attributes of Hope: 4/5: I loved how the themes were more subtle in this novel. There was definitely an element of hope that emerged in the end, and without giving it away the ending was satisfying, leaving the characters with greater purpose and more wholesome passions.
Turn Paging Effect: 4/5: Careful planning and research went into the structure of this novel as Lyons did a masterful job of planting seeds and tying up loose ends along the way. I was expecting to have myself gripped for the entire story, given the "thriller" genre, but this was a more subtle mystery that required internal reflection on the part of the characters. It was amazing how the events occurred over two days, yet the relationships felt deeper than the time allowed. The climax, although somewhat predictable, was definitely high action and kept me reading until the end.
Attributes of Hope: 4/5: I loved how the themes were more subtle in this novel. There was definitely an element of hope that emerged in the end, and without giving it away the ending was satisfying, leaving the characters with greater purpose and more wholesome passions.
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