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Westlake Royals #0.5
Beautiful Liar
My best friend. My ruin…
Atticus and I were inseparable.
For six years, he was my entire world, until he was sent to boarding school.
When he returns, I’m not prepared for the boy standing before me.
He’s always been beautiful—inside and out.
But now, he’s so beautiful it sometimes hurts to be around him.
How would it feel to kiss him? To love him? To have him love me back.
All I can do is wonder.
Until my fantasy becomes reality.
And then morphs into a nightmare.
Dark, painful truths are revealed.
A beautiful liar is exposed.
Atticus and I were inseparable.
For six years, he was my entire world, until he was sent to boarding school.
When he returns, I’m not prepared for the boy standing before me.
He’s always been beautiful—inside and out.
But now, he’s so beautiful it sometimes hurts to be around him.
How would it feel to kiss him? To love him? To have him love me back.
All I can do is wonder.
Until my fantasy becomes reality.
And then morphs into a nightmare.
Dark, painful truths are revealed.
A beautiful liar is exposed.
54 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2022
129 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 6, 2023
Good start
It's A good start to a series. Keeps you wondering what will happen in the next book between them. It ends right when it was getting good unfortunately.
It's A good start to a series. Keeps you wondering what will happen in the next book between them. It ends right when it was getting good unfortunately.
May 2, 2024
It was easy to read and i love to continue to reading this series 😊
September 29, 2025
The stage is set!
I enjoyed this prequel into Atticus and Lili. Best friends that were on the cusp of something more only doused by anger and blame. I cannot wait to read Beautiful Storm. I need to see how this will play out. They are both such strong individuals. One coming from the lower class and the other coming from the opposite side. Now that the stage is set and the pain, betrayal and anger has now reached a level that neither of them ever saw happening what will happen? Third story is not over. It had just begun.
I enjoyed this prequel into Atticus and Lili. Best friends that were on the cusp of something more only doused by anger and blame. I cannot wait to read Beautiful Storm. I need to see how this will play out. They are both such strong individuals. One coming from the lower class and the other coming from the opposite side. Now that the stage is set and the pain, betrayal and anger has now reached a level that neither of them ever saw happening what will happen? Third story is not over. It had just begun.
March 17, 2024
❤️❤️❤️
February 9, 2023
Great Prequel
Title: Beautiful Liar
Author: Jaime Ellis
Format: ebook
Genre: prequel novella
Standalone: not really - it is a prequel
Part of a series: Book 0.5 of the Westlake Royals series
POV/: Lili
Steam Level: one kiss
4/5
Beautiful Liar is an excellent prequel to Beautiful Storm which I read first because, frankly, I forgot that there was a prequel. Told in Lili’s POV we see both her friendship and the destruction of her friendship with Atticus. I definitely recommend reading this before Beautiful Storm and now I’m even more excited for the conclusion of their story.
Title: Beautiful Liar
Author: Jaime Ellis
Format: ebook
Genre: prequel novella
Standalone: not really - it is a prequel
Part of a series: Book 0.5 of the Westlake Royals series
POV/: Lili
Steam Level: one kiss
4/5
Beautiful Liar is an excellent prequel to Beautiful Storm which I read first because, frankly, I forgot that there was a prequel. Told in Lili’s POV we see both her friendship and the destruction of her friendship with Atticus. I definitely recommend reading this before Beautiful Storm and now I’m even more excited for the conclusion of their story.
July 25, 2024
Definitely a great start to a series! I bought the second one (aka the first official book) instantly. However, I wish I had known that this was only a chapter for an entire book. Yes it might matter for the backstory but I could have not wasted my money buying a 20 page “book” just to know why they hate each other. I’m sure that will be mentioned in the “second” book beautiful storm. Too bad the info didn’t mention how super short this one. Either way the story itself seems really interesting so I’ll be reading it but still not sure it was worth purchasing. Wish I saw beautiful storm first.
March 7, 2025
«"Such a beautiful liar". The words came out as hot as any dragon had ever flamed. It's never forget his eyes, how that fire burned me to ash».
2.5/5 🎸
Me bajé esta precuela gratis de Stuff tour Kindle y la verdad lo único que puedo decir es que no es necesaria tanta maldad loco.
¿Voy a seguir leyéndolo? Sí, claro, por supuesto.
2.5/5 🎸
Me bajé esta precuela gratis de Stuff tour Kindle y la verdad lo único que puedo decir es que no es necesaria tanta maldad loco.
¿Voy a seguir leyéndolo? Sí, claro, por supuesto.
January 30, 2023
Page turner
Great intro to a series. Lili is the good girl with good grades & her heart on her sleeve. Atticus is sent to boarding school to help resolve some of his best issues. I do think this series is going to be a bumpy ride before the end happens .
Great intro to a series. Lili is the good girl with good grades & her heart on her sleeve. Atticus is sent to boarding school to help resolve some of his best issues. I do think this series is going to be a bumpy ride before the end happens .
February 25, 2024
Prelude to a Broken Heart
That can be a great title. Any way, it looks like I read the first book of this novella, but now that I have the origin story, it makes the Atticus and Lili's sto.ry even better. Enjoy.
That can be a great title. Any way, it looks like I read the first book of this novella, but now that I have the origin story, it makes the Atticus and Lili's sto.ry even better. Enjoy.
August 2, 2024
Wow what an amazing author, much like a talented painter, Jaime Ellis paints this “Beautiful” prequel with the most enthralling words, it was so heartfelt, as if your right there on the pages with Atticus & Lili- that you’re left wanting more, and need to know how their story continues. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
January 2, 2025
Wowzers! This is an intense read. In the beginning, it doesn’t seem like there would be enough time to build that much tension. But by the end of those 50-odd pages, the rubberband stretched, turned white, and snapped somebody right in the eyebrow! I freaking LOVED it!
December 17, 2022
I'm intrigued
Ooh, this is just getting interesting!
I can't wait to read more about Lili and Atticus.
I can tell it's going to be an interesting read.
Ooh, this is just getting interesting!
I can't wait to read more about Lili and Atticus.
I can tell it's going to be an interesting read.
December 18, 2022
beautiful prequel
This prequel was very interesting and well written. Absolutely can’t wait till the rest of the series is ready! I’m ready to read their story!
This prequel was very interesting and well written. Absolutely can’t wait till the rest of the series is ready! I’m ready to read their story!
April 4, 2023
Great start!
This is such a fantastic start to what I think will be an excellent series. Looking forward to reading the next book.
This is such a fantastic start to what I think will be an excellent series. Looking forward to reading the next book.
April 28, 2024
So good! Where are the other books!?!? I’m hooked !!!!
May 5, 2024
Dare I say…the drama. 👁️ 👄 👁️
July 8, 2025
Was a good short romance college setting book 📖.
November 18, 2025
Heartbreaking...
Sweet, but heartbreaking 💔 😢 😔. To book 1 now I have to find out..recommend does have cheating & swearing...
Sweet, but heartbreaking 💔 😢 😔. To book 1 now I have to find out..recommend does have cheating & swearing...
April 3, 2024
This is the start of the book.
-Rich boy/Poor girl
-Friends to lovers to enemies
-Childhood best friends
-First kiss
-Rich boy/Poor girl
-Friends to lovers to enemies
-Childhood best friends
-First kiss
January 6, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Beautiful Lies by new to me author Jaime Ellis is the prequel to Westlake Royals series.
Told through the sole POV of Lilith Dahlia Astor, the story has us following Lilith who is reunited with her best friend Atticus Benjamin Rainier for summer break after him being away at school in Europe for four and half months.
What she doesn’t expect upon his arrival is how much he has changed physically. However that doesn’t change anything for Lilith who has thought the world of Atticus in their 6 years of friendship.
But one night changes it all when Atticus goes to invite Lilith for a nightly stroll, it is from there slowly everything starts to change, given all that happens, something Lilith never expected.
Especially with what it leads to, resulting in ending with quite a big bang.
This read had me in a trance from the way it captured my attention from the very beginning right until the very end of the cliffhanger author Jaime left us hanging on. Which if I do say so myself was quite explosive.
Even with being only a prequel, the story managed to packed a punch with the action-packed thrills, due to the suspense buildup that resulted in torment from the lies, deceit and betrayal changing both Lilith and Atticus’s lives in ways they didn’t expect, considering how the story started off for them.
After reading Beautiful Lies by Jaime Ellis, safe to say it has me looking forward to reading the continuation of Lilith and Atticus’s story in the next book Beautiful Storm.
Beautiful Lies by new to me author Jaime Ellis is the prequel to Westlake Royals series.
Told through the sole POV of Lilith Dahlia Astor, the story has us following Lilith who is reunited with her best friend Atticus Benjamin Rainier for summer break after him being away at school in Europe for four and half months.
What she doesn’t expect upon his arrival is how much he has changed physically. However that doesn’t change anything for Lilith who has thought the world of Atticus in their 6 years of friendship.
But one night changes it all when Atticus goes to invite Lilith for a nightly stroll, it is from there slowly everything starts to change, given all that happens, something Lilith never expected.
Especially with what it leads to, resulting in ending with quite a big bang.
This read had me in a trance from the way it captured my attention from the very beginning right until the very end of the cliffhanger author Jaime left us hanging on. Which if I do say so myself was quite explosive.
Even with being only a prequel, the story managed to packed a punch with the action-packed thrills, due to the suspense buildup that resulted in torment from the lies, deceit and betrayal changing both Lilith and Atticus’s lives in ways they didn’t expect, considering how the story started off for them.
After reading Beautiful Lies by Jaime Ellis, safe to say it has me looking forward to reading the continuation of Lilith and Atticus’s story in the next book Beautiful Storm.
February 20, 2023
Lili was so excited. Atticus was expected to arrive back home today for summer break. He had been in school in Europe for the last four and half months and she had missed him tremendously. It is the longest they have been apart since her mother came to work as their maid when she was eight.
So she has been helping the housekeeper and head of security prepare cupcakes and all the decoration preparations. Now she is sitting by the pond with Canon playing her guitar trying hard not to show how impatient she was to see Atticus again.
But, when she looks up at his voice it isn't the same Atticus that left. His fifteen-year-old body had thinned out not that he had been fat, but he was even more beautiful than before. Where had her slightly awkward best friend gone?
Lili was woken when she heard a sound and jumped when she realized it was Atticus at her bedroom window begging her to come with him to see his surprise. After picking herself off the ground because he had thrown her out the window she notices a light flicker on from the fourth floor of the main house. When she sees a woman in the arms of Atticus's father she realizes the woman isn't his frail mother and looks on in horror when she realizes who the woman is...her mother.
I loved this story which is told solely from Lili's POV and sets up this series perfectly. It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable.
This book is action-packed and a tragic ending to childhood best friends due to betrayal. Betrayal that changes both Atticus and Lili's lives. Atticus turns cold and full of rage and Lili is left with trying to survive.
Highly recommend!
So she has been helping the housekeeper and head of security prepare cupcakes and all the decoration preparations. Now she is sitting by the pond with Canon playing her guitar trying hard not to show how impatient she was to see Atticus again.
But, when she looks up at his voice it isn't the same Atticus that left. His fifteen-year-old body had thinned out not that he had been fat, but he was even more beautiful than before. Where had her slightly awkward best friend gone?
Lili was woken when she heard a sound and jumped when she realized it was Atticus at her bedroom window begging her to come with him to see his surprise. After picking herself off the ground because he had thrown her out the window she notices a light flicker on from the fourth floor of the main house. When she sees a woman in the arms of Atticus's father she realizes the woman isn't his frail mother and looks on in horror when she realizes who the woman is...her mother.
I loved this story which is told solely from Lili's POV and sets up this series perfectly. It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable.
This book is action-packed and a tragic ending to childhood best friends due to betrayal. Betrayal that changes both Atticus and Lili's lives. Atticus turns cold and full of rage and Lili is left with trying to survive.
Highly recommend!
March 22, 2023
Lili and Atticus have been friends for a few years. Lili’s mom works as the maid to Atticus’ family. Atticus was sent to France for the summer because of his behavior. On his first night back Lili realizes her good friend has changed a lot. He’s speaking French, he’s lost a lot of weight and some of his behaviors or facial expressions are different. Atticus grabs Lili late that night to talk. He set up some kind of blanket fort. He tells her he likes her and proceeds to kiss her. As this interaction begins to develop they hear a blood curdling cry. They run back to the house to discover that a secret has been revealed. This book is the prequel to Beautiful Storm and based on what’s happened so far I’m sure the book will be amazing. This prequel is very short but good.
March 18, 2023
Must read! If you want a story that’s bittersweet, angst, hopeful, and will make you sigh a number of times, then this is for you.
Lili and Atticus are so cute together and so perfect and then life cut into their dance and everything changed. And on top of the emotional set up Jaime Ellis delivers this insane ending that leaves the reader does.per.ate for the next book (which is available now). I’m a huge fan.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lili and Atticus are so cute together and so perfect and then life cut into their dance and everything changed. And on top of the emotional set up Jaime Ellis delivers this insane ending that leaves the reader does.per.ate for the next book (which is available now). I’m a huge fan.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 5, 2023
Decide to give this a read for more introduction to the characters and have a more indepth look into the happenings of what went down before Beautiful Storm - having just completed the ARC and wanting to find out the full story.
Definetely wanting to get book 2 and cannot wait to see what happens to Atticus and Lili next.
Definetely wanting to get book 2 and cannot wait to see what happens to Atticus and Lili next.
February 7, 2023
This was a perfect set up for what seems like an amazing series. I loved how different Atticus and Lili’s worlds were but that didn’t matter to either of them. Until it did. I’m looking forward to reading from Atticus’ view of the world since this was Lily’s voice. And omg, that ending was ominous and left me yelling for more!
March 8, 2023
Beautiful Liar sets up the backstory for Lili and Atticus. The two teenagers had been best friends for 6 years until the night something happened between their parents, tearing their relationship apart, resulting in hatred and loss for both.
Very short but powerful read, setting up for Beautiful Storm 4 years later.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Very short but powerful read, setting up for Beautiful Storm 4 years later.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 5, 2023
What an enthralling start to the Westlake Royals series! I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Wanting to still smack sense into the hero, I need Atticus to redeem himself in the next book. And go Lili for standing up to him!
March 12, 2023
Beautiful Liar by Jaime Ellis
First for me by this author and I’ll be looking for more work by her.
This is the beginning of Atticus and Lili story. it was offered for free. So excited to read more of this couple.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First for me by this author and I’ll be looking for more work by her.
This is the beginning of Atticus and Lili story. it was offered for free. So excited to read more of this couple.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 15, 2023
This is the start of Atticus and Lili's story. Told by Lili's side. Can a good girl accept the new Atticus? Things she learns and hears can she accept? Why does he look so good?.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews