Tate James does NOT disappoint. Liar answers the phenomenon of Hate by upping the ante- more drama, more mystery, more grit and danger, more sexiness, and more of these fantastic characters navigating this beguiling situation. Tate has delivered the PERFECT sequel- and I’m now beyond addicted to this series.
Hate, the aptly named first installment of this incredible series, explored the blinding, one-directional impact of our most visceral emotion. We saw Madison Kate’s world crumble around her, and we saw her rebuilding around one central aim- hurting those that hurt her, Tate exploring the ways in which the driving force of hate both fueled and hindered our heroine. And, after a jaw-dropping, bitch-slap of a cliffhanger, we finally have answers to what happened to MK.
Liar is a master class in how to appropriately pace and develop a series- delivering the right balance of plot action and character growth- giving us just enough answers to find our footing, and then setting us off balance yet again. While Book 1 created our world and explored MK’s hate, book 2 is all about the complexities and intricacies of these DELICIOUS relationships, and how meaningful and authentic they can be in the absence (or omission) of truth. Don’t worry- we still have gangs, stalkers, and danger- OH MY! But at the core of this sequel is the story of Madison Kate developing tentative, unique, and meaningful relationship dynamics with Steele, Kody, and Archer- the interweaving of these flawed, captivating, and addictive characters. And this, my friends, is beautifully done.
I love Tate James characters and this is some of her best character work to date. She’s always so refreshingly and radically unapologetic about who her characters are. They are imperfect, make mistakes, and hurt each other- but they have such soul, so many layers of emotional depth and compelling history- you feel like you know them so well, yet you also feel like you’re only scratching the surface. The book starts off with some much needed vulnerability, which sets the tone for the rest of the story. In Hate, we really learned about our characters from watching them dig in their heels, putting up walls, and in Liar, Tate smartly develops them by letting us see what happens when their veneers are cracked, when they start to give a little for each other- and for themselves- when walls start to crumble. You won't get all the answers, and not every character develops and opens up at the same pace, but the characters are never static. As we learn more, I fall deeper and deeper in love with these guys- they are SOULFUL; deep down they are vulnerable and chivalrous, charming and sexy. Tate has given them such dimension, so many layers to unpack. And,I felt even more drawn to MK -she’s stronger, more pragmatic and grounded, more mature and increasingly emotionally unguarded. Her journey here is cathartic and challenging.
Like I mentioned- Liar is about the evolution of these relationships more than anything else. Tate is such a versatile writer- and I loved how she built this aspect of the story primarily through small, quiet and intimate moments-juxtaposing them with the louder, brasher, gritty moments that progressed the bigger game afoot, a game we still don’t yet understand. But that’s intentional- MK can’t win the game without a team, so Liar cleverly prioritizes the exploration of MK’s individual relationships with each guy. Playing games, eating pizza, making coffee- each serves as a key brick in the foundation of this group. And, the relationships are even more interesting now because our characters KNOW each other- they’re starting to figure each other out. Tate really NAILS these interconnected relational arcs of MK and her boys- each progresses at its own pace, with unique challenges and milestones, each with its own idiosyncrasies. The RH situation isn’t solidified, always in flux, and I appreciate Tate giving it room to breathe- they can’t figure out who they are as a whole until they have solid footing as individuals. MK is still suffering from traumas from book 1, and now that she’s relinquished her blinding hate- she’s forced to confront truths she hasn't been able to see, including her interest and magnetic NEED for each of these men. Each relationship serves a different role to MK’s emotional needs as she navigates this insane world around her. Kody brings her light and joy- safety and comfort, he’s her advocate. Steele is her emotional anchor- he challenges her to open up, to stay grounded, to see more clearly. And Archer, ah, well Archer keeps her focused, angry, on her toes- and, whether she’s ready to accept it or not, I believe he’s her protector. Tate is really setting the bar for reverse harem relationships with this series- she’s carefully building the architecture of the individual relationships while laying the foundation for the whole. Each relationship feels dynamic, needed, complex. And the chemistry- it is breathtaking. Palpable and consuming- and specific to each relationship, which is really emotively impactful, and so engaging.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t tell you this book is HOT. There are few people who write steamy scenes that hit me like Tate’s do. Yes, they are raunchy and yummy. But they are also somehow spiritual- they feel profoundly meaningful in the connection of our characters, and particularly in Liar when our characters often can’t, or won’t SAY, how they feel- they serve as these beautiful physical manifestations of each relationship. Tate has such reverence for these moments, and they serve as such key pillars of our character's relational identities.
Not surprisingly, we are left with another jaw-dropping cliffhanger that will radically change these characters moving forward- in ways I won’t even attempt to predict. At its conclusion, Liar gives us a beautiful character journey- an enthralling, edge of your seat exploration of the lies we tell and what is actually most dangerous- the lies we tell each other or the lies we tell ourselves. I NEED FAKE NOW!