Liar

Fearless #10

by Francine Pascal

People like me don’t have friends. So if Heather wants Ed, she can have him. I don’t care.

Really.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction, Teen, Romance, Suspense, Crime

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2000

About the author

Francine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.

Reviews

[Lucie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is actually really good - I'm not just being nostalgic. Okay the weird scene with Loki was a bit of a let down, but otherwise...

I think Ella is a great character, I have love for the woman! Although it seems unlikely that she'll be around much longer, she's just the right level of crazy jealous nutcase and human being. In fact, if we forget about Tom and Loki (yeah I know there wouldn't be much of a story without them, but the whole caricature-ish good and evilness feels fake and seriously OTT) all the characters in this series are pretty great. The Heather storyline really picks up in this book, the scenes between her and Ed are touching, funny and believable and Phoebe's problems are sensitively and honestly dealt with. I have read several books where issues like these are glamorised or exaggerated, which is rubbish. This book does it right.

If you were born in the late 80s or 90s and are looking for an easy read YA series to get into, I'd still recommend this over any of the rivals I've come across in the intervening years. Think sci-fi-ish, Buffy meets John Le Carre - this series has quality banter as well as non stop spy action and drama. Love it!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this series so long ago and just realized that I hadn't included this book in my visual bookshelf. I loved this series and thought the plot line was amazing. I wish I could feel no fear in my life because I would be a lot stronger, but anyway, Gaia is definitely a female young adult character that all teens can relate to in so many ways.

[OnePageAway · Rating 1 out of 5]

Summary: Gaia and Ed's friendship is still strained, Ed hangs out more with Heather including attendance at Ed's sister's wedding party, Ella continues to pursue Sam, Loki meets up with Gaia at some point to give her his number, Tom keeps watch of Gaia, and Sam's affair with Ella is found out by Gaia when she goes through his emails on his computer.

Liar was just was insufferable as the last book. The plot is disjointed as there's too much going on and I can already feel the characters are getting more out of character.

1) Ed thinks that people don't date their best friends, although it's actually a fairly common phenomenon.

2) Throughout Liar, it's implied book-to-movie adaptions are reliable sources to do a report on instead of reading the book despite how movie adaptions don't always follow the original source and are prone to leaving out important report worthy details. Ed and Gaia are better off just reading book summaries off the web.

3) The pamphlet that Heather reads about anorexia when Phoebe is recovering in the hospital is full of outdated information. Not only does it fail to mention that men too can suffer from anorexia but it doesn't list other risk factors of eating disorders besides perfectionism such as anxiety, bullying, historical trauma, limited social networks, ect. Also what kind of health pamphlet uses a phrase such as "People take note"?

4) Ella has already forgotten how she initally seduced Sam by luring him out of a club while he was drunk. Liar says "...But then, when was the last time she had been to a party or club?" although she had been to one in book 8, Heat.

5) More stereotypes with this time by pining all rich people as vain and self-centered even though this is easily discredited in real life.

6) When Gaia gleefully decided to drop out of school, I had never felt so angry.
- If Gaia hates the cafeteria food so much, why couldn't she just take along a lunchbox?
- The point of school is to learn skills and knowledge for the future.
- Miss Mary Sue here may brag about reading more books at 12 than any "underpaid" English teacher but did she work hard for a teaching license or spend at least 4 years in college making an effort to get a single degree? Does she know how to actually analyze content of books at college-level? Probably not.
- Gaia claims she doesn't need the gym, but the point of gym class is to keep you fit regardless if you have "ew disgustingly Hulk-ish!1" muscles.
- "So what did that leave? Art? Fine. She'd take up finger painting in her spare time." Except that Art class is much more than just "finger painting" as this stupid stubborn, conceited bitch likes to claim. You learn art history, different art techniques, do complicated projects that require accuracy, ect.
- Why does Gaia want so badly to be a minimum wage waitress instead of becoming a much richer rocket scientist or theoretical psychist? If Gaia shows even just one sign of hostile behavior towards a customer (since she plans on physically harming patrons that DARE pinch her butt), her cunty ass will be fired on the spot. Plus Gaia hates socializing and waitresses are expected to socialize somewhat with the people they're serving so it wouldn't be a suitable career choice anyway.
- Dropping out of school doesn't mean simply never returning as there's a process of paperwork that must be completed and turned in. The Nivens will get phone calls from the school about Gaia having so many unexcused absences until either Gaia is forced back in or she chooses to fail school without a diploma to recieve. Simply not coming to school counts as truancy and will rack up hefty fines and even community service for the ever bright Gaia.

7) Loki is suddenly out of character by making out with Ella with the knowledge that he loves Katia way more and is a lot interested in whatever the hell Gaia's doing at the moment.

8) Hyperventilation is a sign of fear, which Gaia experiences when she reads Ella's email to Sam. It is a sign of anger also, but still.

I sure can't wait to see what the next adventures of Gaia brings... /sarcasm

[Merary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just because I want to do something different I'm going to write the reviews in a Friends episode format. Enjoy!

The One Where Everyone is Hiding Something

Heather Gannis is having a crisis. Her parents lost their jobs, her sister Phoebe(Cool! Matches my concept!) is in the hospital because of her anorexia, and her relationship with Sam is doomed. Fortunately, she finds comfort on the arms of Ed Fargo, her ex-boyfriend and first love. That makes Gaia very angry but she doesn't show it. At the end, Gaia discovers Sam and Ella's affair and thinks they're lovers.
OH NO!!

I'm starting to hate Heather even more, y'all. She's more of a bitch and hypocrite in this book. And Sam, as always, is a fucking coward!!

UGH!!

But, I'm still addicted to the Fearless virus. :)

[anolinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't even want Gaia and Sam to get together at this point. Like enough.

Ed remains the worst.

Tom has surpassed his usual stupidity. "Gee... I know Loki is interested in Gaia... I've noticed Ella is acting really shady and reporting to someone... hm... maybe she's an FBI agent... or maybe... maybe... I mean it could be Loki, but I shouldn't let George know or anything, nah." Also he's apparently ditched his job, like, yeah, I'm really buying that he's the greatest government agent ever.

One of the best/worst quotes from this book:

For starters, [Gaia] needed to apologize to [Ed] in person for blowing him off last night. And more important - much more important - she needed to spill her guts about her uncle.

This girl is so damn self-centered, lol.

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was...terrible. The books were strangely addictive, though. There were constant recaps of everything that had ever happened to every character, so it didn't matter that I didn't read all of them, or even that I didn't finish the series.

[Christy Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was only slightly better but all those reveals have definitely made it pick up. Ella is already caught on one thing and Gaia found it first had by reading something she wasn't supposed to.

Tom was in this more and he's starting to think the right thing about Ella he just hasn't put it together. George who's Ella's husband is starting to worry she's having an affair which good grief is she and then some. Loki is furious with Ella and knows she's lying to him as well.

I'm not sure what to think about what's going on with Ed and Heather. Ed I adore but I am annoyed with Heather but feel bad for her sister. Trigger warnings for eating disorder.

[Marella Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an entertaining read, but the changing story lines often left me confused. Overall a great way to spend a Saturday evening.

[Hannah Edmonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a little less about Gaia in this one and more about Ed and Heather. I enjoyed getting to know their characters better, but I missed Gaia's wit.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Needed a dumb, easy palette cleanser and this did the trick

[YoSafBridg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fearless series is a great young adult series with appeal (i think) for both boys and girls (of course never having been a teenage boy~i can't really say for sure). Although it deals with the feelings of a young woman "born without the fear gene" and all the subsequent doubts and insecurities of dealing with that and the normal growing pains of adolescence it also has a fair amount of adventure and intrigue.
It makes great high interest reading for the "reluctant reader" because it is not difficult but it keeps up a rather frenetic pace, one novel leading into the next with cliffhanger after cliffhanger.
Unfortunately the author originally couldn't keep up with my demand and i moved on to other books. I kept collecting but never picked up the storyline again (i have every intention to~you know what they say about good intentions...)

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read this series over ten years ago. But I remember it being very good. For the first 18 books. After that the more it lasted the worst it got. I stopped at book 32. These days I wouldn't give it more than 20.

Back to the good stuff. I found that Gaia was a good strong, pretty but still flawed character. She was special without being annoying. It's just that once the author stopped looking over the shoulder of the ghost writer. Things went down the drain pretty fast.

Last note. The series may be in boxes but I won't be giving them away any time soon. She's a good example of an interesting main character in an interesting premise.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best of Francine Pascal's series Fearless. Ed and Heather are becoming cloer again by Ed staying at the hospital with her while Heathers sister is hospital and also by Ed inviting Heather to his sisters reception. During the reception they end up hiding in a storage cupboard and make out. Gaia is feeling more issolated from Ed and is angry at him for getting closer to Heather. Gaia finally finds out that Sam and Ella slept together but because she saw an email she thinks they are having an affair.

This isn't the best book in the Fearless series but I'm still interested in where this series is heading.

[Renita Frett]

This book has an array of characters that are very complex. I’ve read most of the series and Gaia, the main character is very complex. She has layers upon layers, which stems from her dark and complicated past and has left her with skills that normal teenagers don’t have. Not only is the main character complex, the secondary characters are also. Even Gaia’s dead mother and absent father have lot’s intriguing details about them that you uncover over time. No character is one sided and I thought it was effective because it shows the author put a lot of thought into all her characters. None of them are place holders. I learned how to make my own characters more 3-dimensional.

[Serafina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This concept of being without fear is so different to write about. This is the only book I've read in the series, but I really liked it. I saw the CW pilot of the show with Rachael Leigh Cook and Ian Somerhalder from 2004. Wished that would have lasted more than one episode.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know this was a 36 book series when I started :(. I'm starting to get frustrated with the Gaia/Sam situation, or lack of......hope it doesn't drag on for all 36 books! But I love Gaia and there is lots of excitement.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Once again. Wish i could kick butt like Gaia.