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Lies Like Wildfire
The monsters have known each other their whole lives. This is their final summer before college - time to hang out, fall in love and dream about the future.
Until they accidentally start a forest fire which destroys their hometown and leaves death in its wake.
Desperate for the truth to remain hidden, the group make a pact of silence.
But the twisted secret begins to spin out of control and when one of the friends disappears they all become suspects.
We know how it starts but where does it end?
Secrets and lies are everywhere in this compulsive page-turner, perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying .
Until they accidentally start a forest fire which destroys their hometown and leaves death in its wake.
Desperate for the truth to remain hidden, the group make a pact of silence.
But the twisted secret begins to spin out of control and when one of the friends disappears they all become suspects.
We know how it starts but where does it end?
Secrets and lies are everywhere in this compulsive page-turner, perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying .
372 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2021
105 people are currently reading
9353 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
14 books511 followersI am the author of two thrillers, FRIENDS LIKE THESE and LIES LIKE WILDFIRE from Delacorte Press. I also write middle-grade fantasy stories, THE GUARDIAN HERD and RIDERS OF THE REALM from HarperCollins Children's Books. THE PET WASHER is my indie novel.
Praise for LIES LIKE WILDFIRE
"Consider this a must-have thriller." School Library Journal
"Five Fiery Stars for this bingeable, edge-of-your-seat, twisty thriller." NATASHA PRESTON, New York Times bestselling author of The Lake
"Twisty and fast-paced and visceral. I couldn't put this one down." KATIE COTUGNO, New York Timesbestselling author of 99 Days
"A twisty, fast-paced thriller about accountability, guilt, jealousy, and survival." Kirkus
Praise for The Guardian Herd Series
“Chock-full of adventure and twists, making it difficult to put down.” School Library Journal
“Filled with fantastical action, and rich with description. A well-paced and engrossing story. Alvarez has created a series that will be beloved by readers.” Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"Alvarez's world is lush with description and atmosphere, and her premise has much to offer." Publishers Weekly
"The clever resolution will get kids psyched for more tales from the Guardian Herd." Booklist
"This epic adventure is richly developed. Compelling." Kirkus Reviews
“From page one, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez weaves an epic tale of a doomed black Pegasus foal named Star, whose race against time will lift the reader on the wings of destiny and danger, magic and hope. It’s a world I did not want to leave, and neither will you.” (Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author in the 39 Clues series and of the Seven Wonders series)
Praise for LIES LIKE WILDFIRE
"Consider this a must-have thriller." School Library Journal
"Five Fiery Stars for this bingeable, edge-of-your-seat, twisty thriller." NATASHA PRESTON, New York Times bestselling author of The Lake
"Twisty and fast-paced and visceral. I couldn't put this one down." KATIE COTUGNO, New York Timesbestselling author of 99 Days
"A twisty, fast-paced thriller about accountability, guilt, jealousy, and survival." Kirkus
Praise for The Guardian Herd Series
“Chock-full of adventure and twists, making it difficult to put down.” School Library Journal
“Filled with fantastical action, and rich with description. A well-paced and engrossing story. Alvarez has created a series that will be beloved by readers.” Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"Alvarez's world is lush with description and atmosphere, and her premise has much to offer." Publishers Weekly
"The clever resolution will get kids psyched for more tales from the Guardian Herd." Booklist
"This epic adventure is richly developed. Compelling." Kirkus Reviews
“From page one, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez weaves an epic tale of a doomed black Pegasus foal named Star, whose race against time will lift the reader on the wings of destiny and danger, magic and hope. It’s a world I did not want to leave, and neither will you.” (Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author in the 39 Clues series and of the Seven Wonders series)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 667 reviews
April 25, 2022
Web of lies, love triangles, toxic friendship bond is doomed to fail eventually as the fire breaks out and destroys the lives of entire town!
This is a quick, capturing, fast paced, twisty young adult thriller! Five teenagers called themselves monsters( and eventually they are turned into real ones) , growing up together, remaining as friends for years: now they’re eighteen: three girls will leave to town for college, two boys start working in town, pursuing their own dreams for better futures.
They already planned spending their last summer, chasing new adventures and lots of fun! But gathering around their local meeting place Gap Mountain of California in the fire season turns into the worst decision of their lives. Wouldn’t they wish to take back the reckless choices behind their actions? But now it’s too late!
Hannah Warner,sheriff’s daughter whose life defined by laws: including sending his own wife to the prison where she died in two years from breast cancer, leaving their daughter motherless, all alone.
Hannah wanted to go to Stanford just like their friend Violet who mostly spends her time at their Santa Barbara house, joining their group in summer while she’s visiting her grandmother’s house. She’s beautiful, wealthy, having it all, outsider of their group. She doesn’t have any idea how to fight so hard to reach her goals.
Hannah got rejection from Stanford and focused on second choice: studying criminology at Santa Diego State College, becoming a law officer like her father.
Her long time crush Drummer flirts with Violet in front of her eyes which hurts like hell because their group has a rule: monsters don’t date with another monster!
Drummer seems like using her to clean his mess and Hannah slowly feels like she is his backup girl, who is always devoted and loyal to him.
And let’s meet with the other two gang members: Luke, throwing stones to the house, coming from troubled house and peacemaker, friendly, caring Mo is coming from middle class family, chasing her dream to become a nurse.
Their gathering at Gap Mountain ruins when the boys decide to get stoned along with Violet. Hannah screams at Luke to stop but he doesn’t listen to her. She is out of her patience lately. She reacts fast, hitting his hand and as Luke drops the pipe, a small quarrel ends up with putting entire town on fire.
There are incredibly realistic depicted parts of the book: telling us how the blaze roars through town and towards the Yosemite National Park! I read those parts as if I was watching a movie IMAX with Laser : animals on the road, the fire is erupting, smoke blasting out, covering the field of vision, mad drivers honking their horns, maneuvering their cars, townies are on the road running as they are carrying supplies, children, animals on their arms! It’s the realistic picture shows how all hell breaks loose! Those images seem like popping out from screen and moving directly to you as you cover your eyes and keep screaming.
Five friends swear to protect each other by lying. But at the beginning we also find out Violent is missing! How those two tragedies connect with each other! Did one of the monsters sell the others? Could be the one of them responsible for kidnapping of Violent? Or is she really kidnapped? Could some of them be violent enough to do something to her?
So many questions, twists, lies!
Overall: well executed, exciting, mysterious, riveting thriller keeping you on your toes till the end!
I have to admit: all of the characters are so much dislikable, flawed, irritating! But you still want to know how their story will end. The structure of the story is well developed, keeping your attention intact!
I’m giving four liars pants on fire, I’m addicted to you, don’t you know that you’re toxic stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/ Delacorte Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
This is a quick, capturing, fast paced, twisty young adult thriller! Five teenagers called themselves monsters( and eventually they are turned into real ones) , growing up together, remaining as friends for years: now they’re eighteen: three girls will leave to town for college, two boys start working in town, pursuing their own dreams for better futures.
They already planned spending their last summer, chasing new adventures and lots of fun! But gathering around their local meeting place Gap Mountain of California in the fire season turns into the worst decision of their lives. Wouldn’t they wish to take back the reckless choices behind their actions? But now it’s too late!
Hannah Warner,sheriff’s daughter whose life defined by laws: including sending his own wife to the prison where she died in two years from breast cancer, leaving their daughter motherless, all alone.
Hannah wanted to go to Stanford just like their friend Violet who mostly spends her time at their Santa Barbara house, joining their group in summer while she’s visiting her grandmother’s house. She’s beautiful, wealthy, having it all, outsider of their group. She doesn’t have any idea how to fight so hard to reach her goals.
Hannah got rejection from Stanford and focused on second choice: studying criminology at Santa Diego State College, becoming a law officer like her father.
Her long time crush Drummer flirts with Violet in front of her eyes which hurts like hell because their group has a rule: monsters don’t date with another monster!
Drummer seems like using her to clean his mess and Hannah slowly feels like she is his backup girl, who is always devoted and loyal to him.
And let’s meet with the other two gang members: Luke, throwing stones to the house, coming from troubled house and peacemaker, friendly, caring Mo is coming from middle class family, chasing her dream to become a nurse.
Their gathering at Gap Mountain ruins when the boys decide to get stoned along with Violet. Hannah screams at Luke to stop but he doesn’t listen to her. She is out of her patience lately. She reacts fast, hitting his hand and as Luke drops the pipe, a small quarrel ends up with putting entire town on fire.
There are incredibly realistic depicted parts of the book: telling us how the blaze roars through town and towards the Yosemite National Park! I read those parts as if I was watching a movie IMAX with Laser : animals on the road, the fire is erupting, smoke blasting out, covering the field of vision, mad drivers honking their horns, maneuvering their cars, townies are on the road running as they are carrying supplies, children, animals on their arms! It’s the realistic picture shows how all hell breaks loose! Those images seem like popping out from screen and moving directly to you as you cover your eyes and keep screaming.
Five friends swear to protect each other by lying. But at the beginning we also find out Violent is missing! How those two tragedies connect with each other! Did one of the monsters sell the others? Could be the one of them responsible for kidnapping of Violent? Or is she really kidnapped? Could some of them be violent enough to do something to her?
So many questions, twists, lies!
Overall: well executed, exciting, mysterious, riveting thriller keeping you on your toes till the end!
I have to admit: all of the characters are so much dislikable, flawed, irritating! But you still want to know how their story will end. The structure of the story is well developed, keeping your attention intact!
I’m giving four liars pants on fire, I’m addicted to you, don’t you know that you’re toxic stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/ Delacorte Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
September 12, 2021
3.75
all the characters were so infuriatingly unlikeable but damn this was entertaining. it’d make a fantastic tv series methinks
all the characters were so infuriatingly unlikeable but damn this was entertaining. it’d make a fantastic tv series methinks
January 11, 2023
2.5 Stars
I'm too old for this type of story. Probably because I'm old school with my views on being held accountable for your actions. The actual description of the wildfire's spread and destruction was intense and well written. Then the 'monsters' went for the big cover up and my need for justice had me hoping their plans would be foiled. The thing is, I don't think we were meant to like these characters, just to be along for the trail of lies and deceit. It does, however, mean you don't care about any of the characters. It was very formulaic and therefore totally predictable. Lastly Just saying.
CW:
I'm too old for this type of story. Probably because I'm old school with my views on being held accountable for your actions. The actual description of the wildfire's spread and destruction was intense and well written. Then the 'monsters' went for the big cover up and my need for justice had me hoping their plans would be foiled. The thing is, I don't think we were meant to like these characters, just to be along for the trail of lies and deceit. It does, however, mean you don't care about any of the characters. It was very formulaic and therefore totally predictable. Lastly Just saying.
CW:
October 6, 2023
It’s probably concerning that my comfort reads are literally about murder 🥰
August 12, 2021
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion as part of an upcoming tour hosted by The Write Reads, with thanks to them and the publisher.
Hannah and her friends, the Monsters as they are affectionately called, are due to have a summer they will never forget as they all head off to college in the Fall. Hannah's dad is the town sheriff and she is set to follow in his path as a criminology major. However, what they don't predict is it all going up in flames. Literally. The issue with California is that it is prone to wildfire, and it is a felony. When her friend Luke drops his matches and a fire rages out of control, consuming trees, building, animals, people, the Monsters make a pact not to tell anyone what they did. They could never be found...could they? When the police start to close in, their friendship becomes tighter and tighter with lifelong bonds being challenged by not only the fire but also the secrets they have withheld from one another. Hannah is in love with Drummer, but Monsters don't date Monsters so why is he sleeping with Violet? Luke, the only kid in the group with a record, is freaking out. And things only get worse when Violet threatens to go to the police. When Violet goes missing and Hannah wakes up in the hospital with trauma-related amnesia, can she figure out what happened to her best friend the night of her accident? Or are some things better left for the flames?
This book held so much promise. SO MUCH PROMISE. This author is clearly incredibly talented, they were able to paint a picture of chaos and anger and mystery. But, and there is a big but here, the characters are the most unlikable group of people I have ever come across. These kids are honestly some of the worst characters I have ever come across and I suppose in some ways that may have been a deliberate device employed by the author but I'm a person who wants to root for the main character. Hannah was intolerable. I can't think of another word to describe her. She was selfish, annoying, and downright just an idiot. I couldn't have cared less if she was arrested or not for her part in all of this. Ultimately, my dislike for Hannah made me grow to be a little bored by this book and that really upsets me.
Hannah and her friends, the Monsters as they are affectionately called, are due to have a summer they will never forget as they all head off to college in the Fall. Hannah's dad is the town sheriff and she is set to follow in his path as a criminology major. However, what they don't predict is it all going up in flames. Literally. The issue with California is that it is prone to wildfire, and it is a felony. When her friend Luke drops his matches and a fire rages out of control, consuming trees, building, animals, people, the Monsters make a pact not to tell anyone what they did. They could never be found...could they? When the police start to close in, their friendship becomes tighter and tighter with lifelong bonds being challenged by not only the fire but also the secrets they have withheld from one another. Hannah is in love with Drummer, but Monsters don't date Monsters so why is he sleeping with Violet? Luke, the only kid in the group with a record, is freaking out. And things only get worse when Violet threatens to go to the police. When Violet goes missing and Hannah wakes up in the hospital with trauma-related amnesia, can she figure out what happened to her best friend the night of her accident? Or are some things better left for the flames?
This book held so much promise. SO MUCH PROMISE. This author is clearly incredibly talented, they were able to paint a picture of chaos and anger and mystery. But, and there is a big but here, the characters are the most unlikable group of people I have ever come across. These kids are honestly some of the worst characters I have ever come across and I suppose in some ways that may have been a deliberate device employed by the author but I'm a person who wants to root for the main character. Hannah was intolerable. I can't think of another word to describe her. She was selfish, annoying, and downright just an idiot. I couldn't have cared less if she was arrested or not for her part in all of this. Ultimately, my dislike for Hannah made me grow to be a little bored by this book and that really upsets me.
August 30, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Lies Like Wildfire is a YA novel by author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. The plot follows a group of teenagers who have been friends since they were little and call themselves ‘The Monsters’.
Whilst enjoying the day out together the friends accidentally start a wildfire, rather than own up to their mistake they agree to stay silent, but as the fire rages on destroying homes and killing people cracks begin to show in their friendship and their pact.
As the net begins to close in on them one of the teens disappears after stating they were going to the police, the new question is did one of the group go to extreme measures to keep their secret?
This is a book that is bang up to date and covers a subject that affects many, is often in the news, and happens around the world – wildfires.
The group of friends have been keeping secrets since they were little and have a code of honour between them but they have never encountered anything as serious as starting a wildfire and so keeping shtum about it comes easier for some than others.
Our main protagonist is the daughter of the local sheriff and thinks she knows a lot about evidence and fingerprints on items found in fires but it turns out she isn’t quite as clever as she thought, although she is pretty ruthless and is the one holding the group together.
The story is fast-paced and I rushed through it. The book opens with a search party for one of the teens and then goes back in time to show you how we got to this point. For most of the way through I was engaged and gripped to the pages. I enjoyed the feelings and emotions that played out as well as the police trail that lead them to some of the members. However, I found the ending a little bleak, especially when the rest of the book had been a unique and creative YA thriller.
This last 1% didn’t ruin my enjoyment though. If you are after a YA thriller that is well-written and takes you on a journey, plus is an emotional rollercoaster, then grab yourself a copy of Lies Like Wildfire today.
Lies Like Wildfire is a YA novel by author Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. The plot follows a group of teenagers who have been friends since they were little and call themselves ‘The Monsters’.
Whilst enjoying the day out together the friends accidentally start a wildfire, rather than own up to their mistake they agree to stay silent, but as the fire rages on destroying homes and killing people cracks begin to show in their friendship and their pact.
As the net begins to close in on them one of the teens disappears after stating they were going to the police, the new question is did one of the group go to extreme measures to keep their secret?
This is a book that is bang up to date and covers a subject that affects many, is often in the news, and happens around the world – wildfires.
The group of friends have been keeping secrets since they were little and have a code of honour between them but they have never encountered anything as serious as starting a wildfire and so keeping shtum about it comes easier for some than others.
Our main protagonist is the daughter of the local sheriff and thinks she knows a lot about evidence and fingerprints on items found in fires but it turns out she isn’t quite as clever as she thought, although she is pretty ruthless and is the one holding the group together.
The story is fast-paced and I rushed through it. The book opens with a search party for one of the teens and then goes back in time to show you how we got to this point. For most of the way through I was engaged and gripped to the pages. I enjoyed the feelings and emotions that played out as well as the police trail that lead them to some of the members. However, I found the ending a little bleak, especially when the rest of the book had been a unique and creative YA thriller.
This last 1% didn’t ruin my enjoyment though. If you are after a YA thriller that is well-written and takes you on a journey, plus is an emotional rollercoaster, then grab yourself a copy of Lies Like Wildfire today.
September 16, 2021
4☆ A Gritty and Compulsive Read
Lies Like Wildfire is a gripping Thriller that is made all the more scary because Wildfires are real and cause so much destruction and devastation it's heartbreaking.
One Summers day The Monsters, a group of best friends, start a Wildfire in innocence, that very quickly becomes out of hand, leaving behind a trail of destruction and heartache as many people were effected by the fire.
But rather than coming clean for what the group had done, they vowel never to reveal their secret.
But secrets have a way of catching up with you and so does guilt.
Can the group keep something so huge quiet or will the truth come out!
Lies Like Wildfire is a really Gritty and Compulsive read, there some really cleverly plotted twists along the way to keep you on your toes.
I really liked the suspense of watching the story unravel, trying to work out who would crack first.
So if you love YA, New Adult, Gripping Thrillers, then I highly recommend you grab a copy of Lies Like Wildfire you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to The Write Reads Blog Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
Lies Like Wildfire is a gripping Thriller that is made all the more scary because Wildfires are real and cause so much destruction and devastation it's heartbreaking.
One Summers day The Monsters, a group of best friends, start a Wildfire in innocence, that very quickly becomes out of hand, leaving behind a trail of destruction and heartache as many people were effected by the fire.
But rather than coming clean for what the group had done, they vowel never to reveal their secret.
But secrets have a way of catching up with you and so does guilt.
Can the group keep something so huge quiet or will the truth come out!
Lies Like Wildfire is a really Gritty and Compulsive read, there some really cleverly plotted twists along the way to keep you on your toes.
I really liked the suspense of watching the story unravel, trying to work out who would crack first.
So if you love YA, New Adult, Gripping Thrillers, then I highly recommend you grab a copy of Lies Like Wildfire you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to The Write Reads Blog Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
December 28, 2021
I really disliked Hannah.
It sounded interesting enough. Five children being stupid, end up provoking one of the biggest fires in California. Do they confess, risking jail and fines? Or do they try everything to avoid responsibility for something they didn't mean to do?
And at first, it was quite good. But then... HANNAH.
It sounded interesting enough. Five children being stupid, end up provoking one of the biggest fires in California. Do they confess, risking jail and fines? Or do they try everything to avoid responsibility for something they didn't mean to do?
And at first, it was quite good. But then... HANNAH.
February 6, 2020
8.5 out of 10
Sex friends, two crimes, original concept. Very intense story! Not an unnecessary word, many antiheroes, and the author doesn't favor anyone, just tells you what happened and let to decide.
It could be 10-star-read, but there were a few predictable details and the MC should have guessed them faster than me but didn't. Aside from that, I adore everything. Even teen-ish stuff that I always find boring and stupid.
I also highly recommend it to those who thought that smth like We Were Liars was great. Just to compare and see how a YA mystery can be awesomely written!
Oh, and recently I've read A Monster Call that considered not sincere. Here, the MC has a more developed and believable and touching relationship with her dog that the MC from A Monster Call with his mother.
December 22, 2021
I enjoyed this book more than i thought I would. The story was more than what they synopsis gives you and I really enjoyed the mystery of it. It starts with 5 friends who accidentally start a wild fire and how their lives start slowly falling apart with trying to keep this lie. A-
April 16, 2023
Review coming soon.
February 14, 2022
The winners of "Most Insufferable Love Interest" and "Most Unlikeable Narrator" are in this book.
Or maybe not. The latter might be reserved for a different kind of literary evil, but the characters in this book definitely were... something.
I'm not someone who has to like characters in order to be engaged with the story. And I actually found this one quite entertaining. Also, they're teenagers and I'm more here for teenagers being stupid and annoying than having them talk like quirky sitcom adults who only make brave and reasonable decisions. Let them kids be messy.
Drummer, though. It was kind of hilarious how Hannah was always so fucking horny for him - in every goddamn scene. This is a book about a bunch of kids who are responsible for a fucking wildfire that kills people (including themselves, almost) and destroys whole neighborhoods. And here we have our narrator, gasping for air every fucking time this fucking 18 year old boy with the worst personality ever shows up. He constantly treated her - and everyone else around him - so horribly and still she was like: Oh my god, his tanned skin and his beautiful ABS. Somehow I pictured him as this typical Hollywood teenager, who looks close to 30 and completely out of place because the way Hannah's thoughts about him unraveled made him sound like he jumped right out off the cover of Men's Health.
My main conclusion from this book is that Drummer is the worst. Like, I hope this was the intention for him because him being the worst flop of a guy... was beautifully written. The way he used Hannah's love for him to his advantage - that could've been some villain level of evil bullshit but then he's also the most stupid potato and crumbles into a pathetic whiny bitch at every turn that doesn't go his way. Like, shut the fuck up. Never say another word, dude. I hated Drummer so much, I almost loved him.
This would've worked better if Hannah's bullshit hadn't been the main focus - she just wasn't a great narrator, even though some of her thoughts and choices were hilariously annoying. It's funny how much this book is centered around Hannah, Drummer and Violet, when Mo and Luke are arguably way more interesting characters from the get go. Maybe having mutiple narrators for this would've been a good idea. (Except for Drummer. Nobody needs a look into his pea of a brain.)
I'm not mad about this book. It's definitely not a must-read by any means - I'm not even sure I'd label it as GOOD, because... that kind of feels like a stretch? But it was entertaining for what it was - even though it probably wasn't intentional to make these kids so hilariously stupid and annoying.
Or maybe not. The latter might be reserved for a different kind of literary evil, but the characters in this book definitely were... something.
I'm not someone who has to like characters in order to be engaged with the story. And I actually found this one quite entertaining. Also, they're teenagers and I'm more here for teenagers being stupid and annoying than having them talk like quirky sitcom adults who only make brave and reasonable decisions. Let them kids be messy.
Drummer, though. It was kind of hilarious how Hannah was always so fucking horny for him - in every goddamn scene. This is a book about a bunch of kids who are responsible for a fucking wildfire that kills people (including themselves, almost) and destroys whole neighborhoods. And here we have our narrator, gasping for air every fucking time this fucking 18 year old boy with the worst personality ever shows up. He constantly treated her - and everyone else around him - so horribly and still she was like: Oh my god, his tanned skin and his beautiful ABS. Somehow I pictured him as this typical Hollywood teenager, who looks close to 30 and completely out of place because the way Hannah's thoughts about him unraveled made him sound like he jumped right out off the cover of Men's Health.
My main conclusion from this book is that Drummer is the worst. Like, I hope this was the intention for him because him being the worst flop of a guy... was beautifully written. The way he used Hannah's love for him to his advantage - that could've been some villain level of evil bullshit but then he's also the most stupid potato and crumbles into a pathetic whiny bitch at every turn that doesn't go his way. Like, shut the fuck up. Never say another word, dude. I hated Drummer so much, I almost loved him.
This would've worked better if Hannah's bullshit hadn't been the main focus - she just wasn't a great narrator, even though some of her thoughts and choices were hilariously annoying. It's funny how much this book is centered around Hannah, Drummer and Violet, when Mo and Luke are arguably way more interesting characters from the get go. Maybe having mutiple narrators for this would've been a good idea. (Except for Drummer. Nobody needs a look into his pea of a brain.)
I'm not mad about this book. It's definitely not a must-read by any means - I'm not even sure I'd label it as GOOD, because... that kind of feels like a stretch? But it was entertaining for what it was - even though it probably wasn't intentional to make these kids so hilariously stupid and annoying.
August 3, 2021
The monsters are five best friends who spend all their lazy summer days together. These times are soon to be ending though, as college and full-time work is pulling them in different directions. They decide to make the most of their last moments together but these plans also go awry when they accidentally start a wildfire in the forest.
The relentless summer sunshine has scorched the earth and pretty soon the fire is raging wildly out of control, putting their lives, their futures, and their friendship at risk. Can they keep the secret of what they have done between the five of them? Or will their lies spread as wildly as the fire that has decimated their community?
Hannah was one of the five monsters and it was through her perspective that the reader learned of their shared story. I liked her as an individual although both she and every other individual who featured throughout her was tainted with a flaw or vulnerability that ensured suspicions were placed on them all, equally. It enhanced the tension of the piece and also added to the drama that was occurring between them all concurrently.
This novel begun with a fire and was closely followed with an evacuation. This relentlessly fast-pace did not let up until its conclusion, with lies and mysteries piling on top of each other to make it a read as fast in pace as it was twisted in design. I tore through it in a day and remained intrigued and invested throughout.
I'd definitely love to read more from this author as this was as engaging a YA thriller as any of those penned by Maureen Johnson, E. Lockhart, Courtney Summers, or Karen M. McManus.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, and the publisher, Penguin, for this opportunity.
The relentless summer sunshine has scorched the earth and pretty soon the fire is raging wildly out of control, putting their lives, their futures, and their friendship at risk. Can they keep the secret of what they have done between the five of them? Or will their lies spread as wildly as the fire that has decimated their community?
Hannah was one of the five monsters and it was through her perspective that the reader learned of their shared story. I liked her as an individual although both she and every other individual who featured throughout her was tainted with a flaw or vulnerability that ensured suspicions were placed on them all, equally. It enhanced the tension of the piece and also added to the drama that was occurring between them all concurrently.
This novel begun with a fire and was closely followed with an evacuation. This relentlessly fast-pace did not let up until its conclusion, with lies and mysteries piling on top of each other to make it a read as fast in pace as it was twisted in design. I tore through it in a day and remained intrigued and invested throughout.
I'd definitely love to read more from this author as this was as engaging a YA thriller as any of those penned by Maureen Johnson, E. Lockhart, Courtney Summers, or Karen M. McManus.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, and the publisher, Penguin, for this opportunity.
December 23, 2021
did not like this book lol. it was so random/all over the place, and felt like a knockoff version of “we were liars.” it was not cohesive whatsoever and by the end i was very disappointed.
October 2, 2021
Honestly this is one of my least favourite books I've ever read. All of the characters are so SO unlikeable, and maybe that's the point, but I prefer to be able to root for at least one character, and I couldn't for any of these. They were all so self-centred and bratty, most of all our main character Hannah. For all she went on and on about Violet being self-centred and bratty and horrible, she was 10 times worse herself. She just could not get over the fact that Violet was richer than she was and that Drummer had chosen Violet over Hannah - none of which was actually Violet's fault. Hannah was just a horrible person, and it ruined the entire book for me. I couldn't even be pulled in by the story because of it, because I just wanted to stop reading every time I picked up the book.
March 4, 2022
this is the most stressful book ever i hate it but love it
August 17, 2023
4.5 STARS | A GRIPPING thriller that teaches you the value of honesty and telling the truth. I’m quite amazed by this book…it was truly addictive to not put down and was a easy read! The story follows Hannah and her friends enjoying a summer day at Gap Mountains in California when one of her friends starts smoking his pipe, making Hannah push the pipe out of his hands and starts a widespread wildfire that kills people and the towns surrounding it. Hannah and her friends must lie to authorities so they’re not caught, until one decides to tell the truth and pays a deadly consequence…! A YA thriller that has the summer mystery vibes you’ll love!
September 30, 2021
*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!*
From the get go this book was absolutely wild. It pulled me in and didn't let me go for even a minute. I actually put this book down for several days purely because I didn’t want it to be over, that’s the kind of grip it had one me. I just really enjoyed it - insanity and all.
This was a mystery thriller done to perfection. From the very first page we have intrigue and confusion, with fast pacing that’ll help you fly through it while not rushing the narrative. There was such a tense atmosphere throughout the writing and I was so engaged and on edge the whole time while reading because of it. I was constantly second guessing myself and trying to come up with theories. I didn;t guess a single thing and the plot twists that seem to crop up endlessly surprised me almost every time
This book will definitely go down in my memory as one of the most chaotic and traumatic coming of age story I’ve come across. Just when you think things can’t get any wilder, they do indeed get wilder. We have believably flawed characters and a lot of moral dilemmas to go through here. It’s actually quite a heavy book in terms of these things, and the events taken place are really dark. It made me think a lot about sacrifices and the decisions you’d have to make if you were in the position of these characters. It was a thinker. I really enjoyed it.
The messy friendship group we had really made it here. They were all so interesting, I feel like I could honestly read a spin-off novel of them all and be completely engaged with their stories. They had really interesting dynamics at play and with their opposing personalities and backgrounds the story really came to life through them. They stressed me out a lot and they made me want to scream at times, but they felt humanly flawed.
If you want to be constantly stressed, confused and desperate to know the ending even though you’ve just begun, that’s how I felt reading this. And that ending? Oh my god.
From the get go this book was absolutely wild. It pulled me in and didn't let me go for even a minute. I actually put this book down for several days purely because I didn’t want it to be over, that’s the kind of grip it had one me. I just really enjoyed it - insanity and all.
This was a mystery thriller done to perfection. From the very first page we have intrigue and confusion, with fast pacing that’ll help you fly through it while not rushing the narrative. There was such a tense atmosphere throughout the writing and I was so engaged and on edge the whole time while reading because of it. I was constantly second guessing myself and trying to come up with theories. I didn;t guess a single thing and the plot twists that seem to crop up endlessly surprised me almost every time
This book will definitely go down in my memory as one of the most chaotic and traumatic coming of age story I’ve come across. Just when you think things can’t get any wilder, they do indeed get wilder. We have believably flawed characters and a lot of moral dilemmas to go through here. It’s actually quite a heavy book in terms of these things, and the events taken place are really dark. It made me think a lot about sacrifices and the decisions you’d have to make if you were in the position of these characters. It was a thinker. I really enjoyed it.
The messy friendship group we had really made it here. They were all so interesting, I feel like I could honestly read a spin-off novel of them all and be completely engaged with their stories. They had really interesting dynamics at play and with their opposing personalities and backgrounds the story really came to life through them. They stressed me out a lot and they made me want to scream at times, but they felt humanly flawed.
If you want to be constantly stressed, confused and desperate to know the ending even though you’ve just begun, that’s how I felt reading this. And that ending? Oh my god.
September 13, 2024
This one was really compelling and I read it all in a couple of days. The tragedy occurs really early on and the depths of what these teenagers have done has a massive impact. As the plot thickens and more twists and turns occur, the book picks up another level and i was really intrigued with what would happen next. I was impressed enough to look at the authors other works and hope to read some shortly. Would definitely reccommend!
Hannah and her friends accidentally start a wildfire that destroys parts of hometown and kills ten people. With everybody desperate yo hold the culprits responsible, what lengths will they go to to keep their secret?
Hannah and her friends accidentally start a wildfire that destroys parts of hometown and kills ten people. With everybody desperate yo hold the culprits responsible, what lengths will they go to to keep their secret?
September 8, 2021
Lies Like Wildfire is a compelling and intense, high stakes story about five friends and the deadly secret that could send their lives up in flames. In Gap Mountain, California, everyone knows about fire season. And no one is more vigilant than 18-year-old Hannah Warner, the sheriff's daughter and an aspiring FBI agent. That is until this summer. Hannah and her best friends, Mo, Luke, Violet and Drummer, who have been closer than close-knit since they were all 7 years old living in their small forest town close to Yosemite, cause an unfortunate accident. It's during one of their regular trips to the local lake to hang out when they spark a raging wildfire while smoking weed. It swiftly becomes enormous and deadly and terrified of the possible repercussions their instinct is to lie to the police and the fire investigators especially due to Hannah's knowledge of the law. But as the blaze roars through their rural town and towards Yosemite National Park causing both loss of property and loss of life in the process, Hannah's friends begin to crack and she finds herself going to extreme lengths to protect their secret. Their relationships are now fraught with tension with each wondering if the others can be trusted, and when a stupid decision leads to more of the same, it seems as though they will never be able to tell the truth about what happened that summer evening.
Everyone knows that sometimes good people do bad things, but if there’s one thing people hate, it’s liars. And then Violet vanishes completely. This is a compulsive and quick-paced thriller about the impact and toll that mistruths and maintaining a facade can take on your mental health and friendship group. It's a tense and wickedly twisty young adult debut that indirectly touches on the issue of climate change, the associated wildfires that have been burning recently in both Australia and the United States and the catastrophic effect they have on those who live or work in the fire's path. It explores guilt, envy, survival and accountability and is divided into 2 sections: before Violet’s disappearance and after it. Told solely from Hannah’s perspective, it allows you to become fully immersed in the narrative without the constantly shifting viewpoints that tend to spoil some novels and highlights the complex and now ever-evolving dynamics between the friends. As this is a character-driven thriller, we absorb each characters interesting backstory which addresses issues such as financial troubles, domestic abuse, toxic friendship and their imminent graduation from school which will ensure they go their separate ways. A captivating and, at times, heart-pumping page-turner perfect for fans of Karen McManus and E. Lockhart. Gritty, entertaining, and highly recommended.
Everyone knows that sometimes good people do bad things, but if there’s one thing people hate, it’s liars. And then Violet vanishes completely. This is a compulsive and quick-paced thriller about the impact and toll that mistruths and maintaining a facade can take on your mental health and friendship group. It's a tense and wickedly twisty young adult debut that indirectly touches on the issue of climate change, the associated wildfires that have been burning recently in both Australia and the United States and the catastrophic effect they have on those who live or work in the fire's path. It explores guilt, envy, survival and accountability and is divided into 2 sections: before Violet’s disappearance and after it. Told solely from Hannah’s perspective, it allows you to become fully immersed in the narrative without the constantly shifting viewpoints that tend to spoil some novels and highlights the complex and now ever-evolving dynamics between the friends. As this is a character-driven thriller, we absorb each characters interesting backstory which addresses issues such as financial troubles, domestic abuse, toxic friendship and their imminent graduation from school which will ensure they go their separate ways. A captivating and, at times, heart-pumping page-turner perfect for fans of Karen McManus and E. Lockhart. Gritty, entertaining, and highly recommended.
May 4, 2022
fantastic book to binge read, i had a blast and it was genuinely entertaining
also i sobbed because of the dog
the dog was the best and greatest character in this entire book
15/10 yes
also i sobbed because of the dog
the dog was the best and greatest character in this entire book
15/10 yes
November 7, 2021
➙ 4½⭐
➙ Narration 😁 = Very Good
➙ Narrated by 🎙️Holly Linneman
➙ YA Thriller/Suspense/Mystery
➙ Wildfire
➙ Secrets, lies, & more lies
➙ A cautionary tale
A story about an out-of-control wildfire and the kids who unintentionally set that fire and the lies they tell in the hopes that no one will find out. Soon the lies pile up. Then one of them wants to come clean. Then she disappears.
I didn’t see any of this story coming. It was plotted perfectly and it really kind of surprised me. I thought it was probably going to be a drama-fest of whiney teens turning on each other. Surprisingly, it was so much more nuanced than that. Even when the characters were considerably unlikeable, I found this compulsively listenable/readable, right up until the very end. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending but at least it had an ending, unlike some of the books I’ve listened to lately.
🅒🅐🅦🅟🅘🅛🅔 8.61/❿
🅒haracters ￫ 7
🅐tmosphere ￫ 9.5
🅦riting ￫ 9
🅟lot ￫ 8.5
🅘ntrigue ￫ 9
🅛ogic ￫ 9
🅔njoyment ￫ 8.3
➙ Narration 😁 = Very Good
➙ Narrated by 🎙️Holly Linneman
➙ YA Thriller/Suspense/Mystery
➙ Wildfire
➙ Secrets, lies, & more lies
➙ A cautionary tale
A story about an out-of-control wildfire and the kids who unintentionally set that fire and the lies they tell in the hopes that no one will find out. Soon the lies pile up. Then one of them wants to come clean. Then she disappears.
I didn’t see any of this story coming. It was plotted perfectly and it really kind of surprised me. I thought it was probably going to be a drama-fest of whiney teens turning on each other. Surprisingly, it was so much more nuanced than that. Even when the characters were considerably unlikeable, I found this compulsively listenable/readable, right up until the very end. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending but at least it had an ending, unlike some of the books I’ve listened to lately.
🅒🅐🅦🅟🅘🅛🅔 8.61/❿
🅒haracters ￫ 7
🅐tmosphere ￫ 9.5
🅦riting ￫ 9
🅟lot ￫ 8.5
🅘ntrigue ￫ 9
🅛ogic ￫ 9
🅔njoyment ￫ 8.3
February 25, 2022
Lies Like Wildfire will burn a path through your TBR right to the top. With an intense plot that has you nervous and on edge, leaving you with sweat beading on your forehead and clammy hands.
The five friends known as the Monsters will have you thinking about this book after you've put it down. An accident that causes a wildfire leaves miles of burnt and smouldering nature, destroyed houses and fatalities. Layered with secrets and lies, the story takes a dramatic turn and the secrets intensify when someone goes missing. Will these friends crack under the burden of their lies and secrets, or will their secrets fall to the bottom of Gap Lake, never to be discovered?
With rich descriptions that had me smelling the pine trees and smoke as well as seeing the sunlight glitter off Gap Lake. The ending left me shocked, it was the opposite of what I expected. Alvarez is a brilliant writer, allowing the reader to follow the clues but then throwing in a major twist, it's like being splashed in the face with ice-cold water. This is a gripping, YA thriller mystery you have to read. If you liked Dark and Shallow Lies or any books by Karen M. McManus, you will love this.
August 26, 2021
I’ve read many a disappointing YA thriller in my time, so I couldn’t be more excited to be able to say this isn’t one of them. Lies Like Wildfire was intense, gripping and utterly additive.
I was totally hooked from page once and that feeling didn’t waver for a single moment. Each page of this book was stressful, with an overwhelming sense of urgency I’ve not felt from a book in a long time but absolutely loved. Whilst the ending was somewhat predictable from the halfway point (and there was one plot line that cropped out of nowhere and seemingly meant nothing to the story?), it didn’t matter all too much because by that point there was no going back. I had to know what happened.
Relentlessly fast paced, drama filled and truly heart pounding, this book was pure entertainment from start to finish and a great addition to the YA thriller pool.
TW: wildfires, stalking
I was totally hooked from page once and that feeling didn’t waver for a single moment. Each page of this book was stressful, with an overwhelming sense of urgency I’ve not felt from a book in a long time but absolutely loved. Whilst the ending was somewhat predictable from the halfway point (and there was one plot line that cropped out of nowhere and seemingly meant nothing to the story?), it didn’t matter all too much because by that point there was no going back. I had to know what happened.
Relentlessly fast paced, drama filled and truly heart pounding, this book was pure entertainment from start to finish and a great addition to the YA thriller pool.
TW: wildfires, stalking
September 21, 2021
2.5 stars.
This was- fine? I didn’t really like any of the characters? They were all kind of assholes, especially Hannah and Drummer and Luke, but at least Luke had reason to be an asshole. The premise was interesting: what happens when good kids do a bad thing? But none of these kids (except maybe Mo & Violet?) seemed like “good kids”. They were regular kids who were assholes, especially when something bad happened. Yeah, didn’t really enjoy this tbh.
Mo & Violet deserved better.
This was- fine? I didn’t really like any of the characters? They were all kind of assholes, especially Hannah and Drummer and Luke, but at least Luke had reason to be an asshole. The premise was interesting: what happens when good kids do a bad thing? But none of these kids (except maybe Mo & Violet?) seemed like “good kids”. They were regular kids who were assholes, especially when something bad happened. Yeah, didn’t really enjoy this tbh.
Mo & Violet deserved better.
December 28, 2021
Trigger Warning: Animal Death
OMG I loved this book! It did require some suspension of disbelief (ie surviving a bear attack), but overall, it was a really satisfying thriller with very well-developed characters. I did see the plot twist coming at the end, but I was still satisfied and honestly, a little sad that we won't likely see more books about the surviving "monsters." Solid story, overall!
***Gifted by Underlined
OMG I loved this book! It did require some suspension of disbelief (ie surviving a bear attack), but overall, it was a really satisfying thriller with very well-developed characters. I did see the plot twist coming at the end, but I was still satisfied and honestly, a little sad that we won't likely see more books about the surviving "monsters." Solid story, overall!
***Gifted by Underlined
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ rounded down. The consequences associated with everything that happened were not that realistic… especially if the moral of this book was to showcase that consequences do exist 🤷🏻♀️
August 21, 2021
This book is a crazy ride, if you can say so, it's really a roller coaster of emotions, as it has a very dynamic plot where things are happening from minute one, so I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it even more than I expected, I found it super addictive, and also very easy to read even though it has so many moments of tension and a rather heavy atmosphere due to the tragic events it covers. A very well-thought-out execution for a book full of mystery and plot twists, which is definitely worth reading.
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
You can find more reviews & fun content on my blog A Book. A Thought.
In Lies, Like Wildfire we follow a group of five friends, the main character being Hannah Warner, who's also the sheriff's daughter of Gap Mountain, California, where most of them live. It's summer, so Hannah and the others decide to get together at their favorite spot on the lake, but it doesn't take them long to realize that this won't be a summer like any other when by accident they start a fire, and while they all agree to hide what has happened and lie to the police, everything starts to get out of control when the fire takes a dimension that no one expected consuming much of the rural area where they live, taking with it everything in its path. Because of this some of Hannah's friends begin to regret, and alliances begin to break down. In this context, Hannah's capable of everything to keep her friends safe because sometimes good people do bad things, right?
I'm super grateful to be part of the blog tour for this book, it's always a pleasure to be able to share such an amazing story with many other readers, Thank you so much to Dave for the chance! so I'm super excited to bring you my thoughts today.
Needless to say, I obviously liked it a lot, I think when it comes to YA mysteries/thrillers I know I'll go for it, and even when it's a genre I've already read a lot, it never ceases to surprise me, which I love! In this case, I came across a very ambitious plot that not only wants to tell an intriguing thriller but also explores a lot of other interesting and dark themes. We explore toxic friendships, we explore how tragedies can affect people's mental health, we explore what a person is capable of doing to save themselves, among other things.
On the one hand, we have the obvious main theme which is the fire, but the book itself starts with the search for a body, so from the beginning, we know that something very tragic happened, and although at the beginning it's not clear what one thing has to do with the other, it all ties together towards the end making sense and making it even more interesting. I think the author's choice to reveal a detail that could have been used later in the book as a great plot twist, was incredibly wise because it's a factor that will keep you wondering what happened, I even felt that since I knew it was going to happen I couldn't stop reading because I felt that as the book gets more and more into the climax you can sense that it's about to happen, you're about to figure everything out, you know? and it's even more exciting. I also have to admit that the way the author has handled the revelations is brilliant, as she makes sure we get just the right amount of information, but in small measures, to give us the whole truth in the last few pages from the main character's hands. That alone makes this book SO GOOD!
I loved the writing style, this is my first time reading this author, but it certainly won't be my last. I love how this book has been compared as being for fans of Karen McManus and E. Lockhart because I agree 100% with that, so if you like those authors you should definitely give Jennifer Lynn Alvarez a chance. Without a doubt, her style is very dynamic, things are always happening, and that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and always wanting to know what's going to happen next. I also feel that it has a less descriptive style and is more focused on the characters as such, which in this type of plot is a great choice. Also, the dialogues are very good , I always think that's a great detail that gives a lot of realism to the story.
The amount of tension in this book can't be legal lol, I was super worried wanting to know what would happen, and then came another mini-revelation or mini-twist that suddenly changed everything and generated even more tension. So it's definitely one of those reads that keeps your heart in your mouth, trying to figure out what else could go wrong.
The characters are another thing entirely. None of them are exactly lovable characters or ones you can identify with, and that's the intention I think, it's not meant to make you like the characters, they're more like that kind of super conflicted and a toxic group of friends. The author gives a glimpse of each of the personalities in their fair share, but mostly she focuses on Hannah, the main character, and although at times you can understand some of her behaviors... mostly you don't, and that's okay, she has a very intriguing erratic personality to know, it's obvious that you don't know for sure what she'll do and that has its catching part. Hannah clearly has extremely toxic behaviors, where we see a lot of obsession about certain people and although at the beginning it seems that her motivations are from sincere concern, towards the end I'm not sure and somehow I like that, I need more characters like these, that aren't completely good and you know they're hiding things, they're incredible to read.
Then we have the other characters and although I'm not going to mention each of them, I can say that although some of them sound cliché they help a lot to move the plot along and the conflicts make sense. The personalities range from the beautiful rich girl, the troubled boy with home issues, the more "decent" girl and the handsome boy that everyone wants to be with and who behaves like a jerk, sounds chliché, right? and it probably is, but this doesn't take away that a lot of unexpected things happen with this group.
When you talk about a mystery in general you can't reveal too much, so I don't want to do that, but I would like to mention that I really liked how this plot was approached, I like it's dark and that we follow the "villains" instead of the "good and honest people", you know? that gives another color and tone to the book. Everything that happens in this book is mostly illegal and clearly wrong, still, I hope you get my point, it's refreshing to read about dysfunctional characters who will do anything to get their way, but also intriguing to see how the dynamic of this group of friends develops, what things will make them doubt each other, what things will keep them together and what will be the breaking point.
I liked the ending a lot, it's a bit polemic maybe because I think it feels a bit open, but for me, it was perfect. I like how the author approached it, I feel that, without a doubt, it's that kind of book where we don't have a "fair" ending but it's a bit satisfying I must say. I love how the characters' minds are explored, I'm sure it's something I already mentioned, but I needed to say it again, especially when talking about Hannah, I don't want to say too much, but there's this discussion about what's right and what's wrong, and from some people's point of view, what's fair and what's not. It's also super interesting to see how the mind can turn to anything to leave everything behind, even when you know that something isn't right. It explores the dark side of people and the primal need to save oneself, which is great!
So in summary, I obviously enjoyed the plot a lot, maybe it's not the most incredible thing I've ever read in my life because I still think some situations are very unrealistic and a bit crazy, but I still enjoyed it a lot, and overall it's a book worth recommending if like me you, you like mystery/thriller, also if you like plots with lots of unexpected twists and totally crazy moments of high tension and lots and lots of DRAMA! There are betrayals, secrets, and lies going on too, and above all, I give her a lot of credit for choosing to create such peculiar and unlovable-unbelievable characters in the best way. Get ready for a journey of many lows and highs with this read, I'm definitely excited for more people to discover it.
First Thoughts 08/16/21
Wow, I really liked this story, even darker than I expected. Super addictive plot full of secrets, lies, betrayals and toxic relationships, I honestly couldn't stop reading until I knew what would happen. A very well-created structure that follows two plot lines with a lot of suspense, mystery and tension.
August 2, 2021
Lies Like Wildfire was an interesting concept, and I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.
The story focuses, initially, on a horrendous wildfire that is started by the reckless behaviour of sheriff’s daughter, Hannah, and her close group of friends. Not being familiar with such an experience, I was surprised by the punishments meted out to anyone causing a fire though given how potentially damaging it is this makes sense. Given such a penalty hanging over them, perhaps it’s more understandable why they do all they can to cover up their involvement.
The ‘monsters’ as her group of friends are affectionately known are not going to come out of this experience unscathed. Part one of the book focuses on the fire and its immediate aftermath. The police - including Hannah’s father - are drawing closer so it’s understandable that it appears someone is going to crack. However, part two focuses on the disappearance and subsequent search for Violet.
We know these kids are prepared to lie to protect one another. Their relationships are founded on bonds formed years earlier, but they have secrets and are not all keen on protecting themselves. The question becomes who is more desperate to preserve the status quo?
The initial fire story really hooked me. However, it quickly blew up into a more melodramatic story. Hannah - for no obvious reason - got herself into a weird situation with a man who should have known better. Her father was clearly prepared to uphold the law, whatever the personal cost, but we never really saw beyond the surface so don’t know what he suspected. The group were fractured from the off, and their selfishness irritated me. These elements made it hard to sustain the engagement of the beginning, and the open-ended moral ambiguity was frustrating.
The story focuses, initially, on a horrendous wildfire that is started by the reckless behaviour of sheriff’s daughter, Hannah, and her close group of friends. Not being familiar with such an experience, I was surprised by the punishments meted out to anyone causing a fire though given how potentially damaging it is this makes sense. Given such a penalty hanging over them, perhaps it’s more understandable why they do all they can to cover up their involvement.
The ‘monsters’ as her group of friends are affectionately known are not going to come out of this experience unscathed. Part one of the book focuses on the fire and its immediate aftermath. The police - including Hannah’s father - are drawing closer so it’s understandable that it appears someone is going to crack. However, part two focuses on the disappearance and subsequent search for Violet.
We know these kids are prepared to lie to protect one another. Their relationships are founded on bonds formed years earlier, but they have secrets and are not all keen on protecting themselves. The question becomes who is more desperate to preserve the status quo?
The initial fire story really hooked me. However, it quickly blew up into a more melodramatic story. Hannah - for no obvious reason - got herself into a weird situation with a man who should have known better. Her father was clearly prepared to uphold the law, whatever the personal cost, but we never really saw beyond the surface so don’t know what he suspected. The group were fractured from the off, and their selfishness irritated me. These elements made it hard to sustain the engagement of the beginning, and the open-ended moral ambiguity was frustrating.
October 6, 2022
The amount of stress I expirenced through reading this book is just crazy. I was literally holding my breath every chapter anticipating what would happen next. The way the events just kept escalating and eventually the ending. *mouth wide open*
I absolutely loved it and could not stop to put it down. I literally keep wondering what I would do if I was put in any of the characters position and honestly, I couldn't give you definite answer lmao. They're braver than I am.
I absolutely loved it and could not stop to put it down. I literally keep wondering what I would do if I was put in any of the characters position and honestly, I couldn't give you definite answer lmao. They're braver than I am.
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