Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
HarperTeen (2010), Edition: Reprint, 325 pages
Description
Seventeen-year-old Emma Paxton steps into the life of her long-lost twin Sutton to solve her murder, while Sutton looks on from her afterlife.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ilikethesebooks
After reading this book I am utterly ashamed to say I never read the Pretty Little Liars series. The Lying Game was so wonderfully written that I can't believe Pretty Little Liars never came up on my radar (though I do watch the series is that makes my ignorance any less disgraceful). The realistic
Going from the comfort, however dysfunctional, life of living with her mother to foster family after foster family gives Emma Paxton more skills than she would have thought - ordinary skills that prove very valuable to her. When an Internet video is discovered by Emma’s conniving foster-brother, more than a few questions come to mind. For instance, who is that girl being choked to death, and why does she look exactly like Emma? Doing a little Internet sleuthing herself, Emma’s “revelation” changes more than she could have ever imagined. Emma has a long-lost twin sister, Sutton, and she wants to meet up. There’s only one problem, and the witty narrator, Sutton, will be the first to tell you, the invite did not come from her… Sutton is dead.
Torn away from home, just a few months away from the freedom of her eighteenth birthday, innocent Emma is dragged into a life far from her own. Impersonating a privileged girl, wealthy and popular, doesn’t seem like a bad place to be at. However, the situation is dramatically changed when there are secrets, murder and betrayal involved. The new question becomes, can Emma survive the Lying Game? Or will she have the same fate as Sutton, dead without a trace?
I would recommend this novel five times over. I would say anyone thirteen and up who likes suspenseful, dramatic fiction would love The Lying Game. It could fall under a few different words; amazing, astonishing, remarkable, wonderful, incredible, mind-boggling and surprising. Not predictable at all, you will be consumed by the pages and guessing till the very last word. By the end there is only one thing you will know for sure; the sequel couldn’t seem further away.
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characters only make the suspense and mystery even more unbearable . Each laugh, fall of the face, and slight hesitation is described so well that vivid mental images of each character come to mind. Whether it’s of Emma, the foster child who’s been thrown into a world of money, secrets and lies; or Laurel, Sutton’s sister who may know more than what she’s giving off; or even Ethan, the outcast boy who’s no doubt been victim of the Lying Game’s pranks more than once. That’s not even mentioning Charlotte and Madeline, the only two possibly guiltier than Sutton herself. Sara Shepard creates a world so intense and imaginable it will have to second guessing everyone you know.Going from the comfort, however dysfunctional, life of living with her mother to foster family after foster family gives Emma Paxton more skills than she would have thought - ordinary skills that prove very valuable to her. When an Internet video is discovered by Emma’s conniving foster-brother, more than a few questions come to mind. For instance, who is that girl being choked to death, and why does she look exactly like Emma? Doing a little Internet sleuthing herself, Emma’s “revelation” changes more than she could have ever imagined. Emma has a long-lost twin sister, Sutton, and she wants to meet up. There’s only one problem, and the witty narrator, Sutton, will be the first to tell you, the invite did not come from her… Sutton is dead.
Torn away from home, just a few months away from the freedom of her eighteenth birthday, innocent Emma is dragged into a life far from her own. Impersonating a privileged girl, wealthy and popular, doesn’t seem like a bad place to be at. However, the situation is dramatically changed when there are secrets, murder and betrayal involved. The new question becomes, can Emma survive the Lying Game? Or will she have the same fate as Sutton, dead without a trace?
I would recommend this novel five times over. I would say anyone thirteen and up who likes suspenseful, dramatic fiction would love The Lying Game. It could fall under a few different words; amazing, astonishing, remarkable, wonderful, incredible, mind-boggling and surprising. Not predictable at all, you will be consumed by the pages and guessing till the very last word. By the end there is only one thing you will know for sure; the sequel couldn’t seem further away.
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LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to "modern" teenage books is the sheer plethora of names. Every main character, it seems, has to have at least three other friends and numerous acquaintances, siblings, boyfriends/ex-boyfriends etc. Then, the first book of any series spends all this time
Unfortunately that's how I felt with The Lying Game. Now, I wouldn't say that this was a bad book, it was written in an easy to read, good-by-today's-standard, guilty pleasure way. It was full of drama, 90210ish-type stuff that I would have simply gushed over in high school. But, I think maybe my memory is going a little bit because I just found all the names hard to keep straight.
So this is ultimately a story about twins, separated at birth, one dead, one alive. Think.. The Prince and The Pauper but with a bit of a twist (as in, eliminate the Pauper position). There's also lots of name dropping (items, modern technology) which make the story feel a little more real then it's very improbable set-up would normally do. However, another thing got to me...
If you are wanting a read with a good resolution, I highly recommend you steer clear, however, no matter how interesting the premise may be, until the next few books in the series are out. However, if you don't mind cliffhangers and are interested in reading for readings sake, then I'm sure this is a book that will interest you.
I'm fairly middle of the road on this. It was interesting enough to keep me reading, but not so interesting I couldn't put it down (and actually had an easy time setting it aside to go do things like..math).
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setting up friendships, enemies and it's overwhelming and utterly exhausting to read.Unfortunately that's how I felt with The Lying Game. Now, I wouldn't say that this was a bad book, it was written in an easy to read, good-by-today's-standard, guilty pleasure way. It was full of drama, 90210ish-type stuff that I would have simply gushed over in high school. But, I think maybe my memory is going a little bit because I just found all the names hard to keep straight.
So this is ultimately a story about twins, separated at birth, one dead, one alive. Think.. The Prince and The Pauper but with a bit of a twist (as in, eliminate the Pauper position). There's also lots of name dropping (items, modern technology) which make the story feel a little more real then it's very improbable set-up would normally do. However, another thing got to me...
If you are wanting a read with a good resolution, I highly recommend you steer clear, however, no matter how interesting the premise may be, until the next few books in the series are out. However, if you don't mind cliffhangers and are interested in reading for readings sake, then I'm sure this is a book that will interest you.
I'm fairly middle of the road on this. It was interesting enough to keep me reading, but not so interesting I couldn't put it down (and actually had an easy time setting it aside to go do things like..math).
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LibraryThing member ELBrown
Being a fan of the Pretty Little Liars Series, I was overjoyed to see Sara Shepard had a new series coming out. Net Galley and Harper Teen were nice enough to let me read it early and for that I say a huge Thank You! This new book and series shows ho ...more Being a fan of the Pretty Little Liars
The Lying Game is a new series about a girl with nothing and a girl who has everything, or she did until she was murdered. Sutton and Emma are long-lost twin sisters, who will never get to meet because someone killed Sutton and has lured Emma in to take over Sutton's life. There are great descriptions of Emma's life in foster care that show just how different the two sisters grew-up. Once Emma is in Sutton's place she struggles to fit in with friends she doesn't understand and a family she's never had. She also has the tiny problem of her sister's killer still being out there and watching her,and waiting for her.
I loved this first book and can not wait for the next one in the series. The suspense and twists keep you guessing the whole time and make it hard to put the book down until it is finished.
reviewed for NetGalley
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Series, I was overjoyed to see Sara Shepard had a new series coming out. Net Galley and Harper Teen were nice enough to let me read it early and for that I say a huge Thank You! This new book and series shows how amazing Sara is at her craft, and how great she is at plot twists and keeping the audience interested until the last page.The Lying Game is a new series about a girl with nothing and a girl who has everything, or she did until she was murdered. Sutton and Emma are long-lost twin sisters, who will never get to meet because someone killed Sutton and has lured Emma in to take over Sutton's life. There are great descriptions of Emma's life in foster care that show just how different the two sisters grew-up. Once Emma is in Sutton's place she struggles to fit in with friends she doesn't understand and a family she's never had. She also has the tiny problem of her sister's killer still being out there and watching her,and waiting for her.
I loved this first book and can not wait for the next one in the series. The suspense and twists keep you guessing the whole time and make it hard to put the book down until it is finished.
reviewed for NetGalley
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LibraryThing member Krista23
Amazing read. This book lived up to everything that Sara Shepard as a writer has become. It was full of happenings, secrets and pranks. Lots of mystery and tons of adventure. Little bit of creepyness and a lot of anxiousness to see what happened next. Cannot wait for the rest of this series. It is
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bound to be just as popular as her Pretty Little Liars series, if not more. I devoured this book in a matter of hours. Show Less
LibraryThing member PureImagination
Secrets, lies, drama, and murder. Really, what more could you want? Sara Shepard is the master of YA mysteries and she definitely doesn't disappoint in The Lying Game. Emma is foster kid who has been moved from one home to another ever since her mother abandoned her. Sutton is a wealthy spoiled
Oh the intrigue! From page one this book will pull you in and just when you think you had things figured out, BAM! You don't know anything! There are a thousand questions piling up on top of each other and as soon as you get one answered twelve more are added! Shepard manages to pull this off without annoying the reader. She keeps you occupied with all sorts of interesting side stories and you get just a little snippet of information at a time. It will keep you hooked.
All the characters were fantastic. Emma is completely likable and the total opposite of her sister. I love how Shepard made Sutton a 'ghost'. She is there with Emma the entire time, but she can't communicate. Sutton chimes in with her opinion from time to time. It's a very interesting dynamic!
All in all, if you like Pretty Little Liars, you will like this book. I think I even liked it a little bit more! Although, I was just a tiny bit disappointed when I realized it's going to be a series. I was hoping to get some questions answered in this book, but that's not happening. I'll just have to wait right here, on the edge of my seat, for the next installment!
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rich girl who has it all. Until she was murdered. When Emma finds out about her long lost twin sister she goes to visit her and gets forced into impersonating Sutton. Someone knows she's not Sutton and that someone is Sutton's killer.Oh the intrigue! From page one this book will pull you in and just when you think you had things figured out, BAM! You don't know anything! There are a thousand questions piling up on top of each other and as soon as you get one answered twelve more are added! Shepard manages to pull this off without annoying the reader. She keeps you occupied with all sorts of interesting side stories and you get just a little snippet of information at a time. It will keep you hooked.
All the characters were fantastic. Emma is completely likable and the total opposite of her sister. I love how Shepard made Sutton a 'ghost'. She is there with Emma the entire time, but she can't communicate. Sutton chimes in with her opinion from time to time. It's a very interesting dynamic!
All in all, if you like Pretty Little Liars, you will like this book. I think I even liked it a little bit more! Although, I was just a tiny bit disappointed when I realized it's going to be a series. I was hoping to get some questions answered in this book, but that's not happening. I'll just have to wait right here, on the edge of my seat, for the next installment!
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LibraryThing member meags222
Well, I have to say that I quite enjoyed this little book. I say little because it is just a little over 200 pages and thus it is quite an easy and quick read. This book kept you on your toes. At every corner there is someone new who may or may not be the killer. This is all compounded by the fact
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that this group of friends plays horrible games with each other and everyone in town. I haven't read the Pretty Little Liar series but I have just recently started watching the show. I love the show and I was excited when I got this book through NetGalley. Shepard didn't disappoint with this novel that's for sure. The only thing that I really didn't like was the fact that it was over so quickly. I also hate leaving a book on such a cliffhanger. You never find out who the killer is and I realize this is going to be a series but when that happens I almost feel ripped off. I want to know what happens and now I have to wait until the next book comes out. If that is the worst thing that someone can say then I guess it's not too bad. Anyhow, I have now put the Pretty Little Liars series on my Christmas wishlist. Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheSolitaryBookworm
I haven't read the Pretty Little Liars series but now I am eager to see if Pretty Little Liars were as good as The Lying Game.
The first few pages was an attention catcher. I loved every details the book gave me. The characters we're well thought and written, the plot was mysterious and interesting
Emma ventures to Sutton's world trying to discover who and what life did her twin lived apart from her. Emma realizing that her twin lived the more grandeur and greener life didn't felt envy or despair but the opposite. Now knowing that Sutton is in fact dead, she need to find who really killed her.
What I loved about this book was that the characters were realistic enough for people to relate. The lines were believable and the situation is very possible. Emma is a character that we all can love. Sutton may appear the spoiled and bully brat in the series but we all know that we have our own "Suttons" in our life. The dilemma of how Emma moves forward and how she will handle this complication is the main pull for me plus it is a fast paced book. Love how I read it in one sitting. I would have love to read about the twins actual separation and why.
It's a great story line and captivating with each page turn. For a first book in a series, it was very clever and informative to start a series yet effective in a way that it really gives us a lingering feeling to reading what will happen next. The story was just cut at the perfect time to keep us guessing as to who really did it and why. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Though some say this is somewhat life Pretty Little Liars, I can't say the same given the fact I haven't read the series. But if they are, then Pretty Little Liars are a definite read in the future. Warning to parents though, the book contains a lot of inappropriate acts that kids often do (drinking, bullying, etc.) but this book can be a great way to discuss those acts and what makes them inappropriate. But for adults, The Lying Game is a definite must buy.
The first few pages was an attention catcher. I loved every details the book gave me. The characters we're well thought and written, the plot was mysterious and interesting
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and the ending was really a cliff hanger. The Lying Game is the first of Sara Shepard's The Lying Games series and it tell us the story of how Emma discovers that she has a twin, Sutton, but what's more interesting and surprising about this is that Emma needs to find who killed Sutton.Emma ventures to Sutton's world trying to discover who and what life did her twin lived apart from her. Emma realizing that her twin lived the more grandeur and greener life didn't felt envy or despair but the opposite. Now knowing that Sutton is in fact dead, she need to find who really killed her.
What I loved about this book was that the characters were realistic enough for people to relate. The lines were believable and the situation is very possible. Emma is a character that we all can love. Sutton may appear the spoiled and bully brat in the series but we all know that we have our own "Suttons" in our life. The dilemma of how Emma moves forward and how she will handle this complication is the main pull for me plus it is a fast paced book. Love how I read it in one sitting. I would have love to read about the twins actual separation and why.
It's a great story line and captivating with each page turn. For a first book in a series, it was very clever and informative to start a series yet effective in a way that it really gives us a lingering feeling to reading what will happen next. The story was just cut at the perfect time to keep us guessing as to who really did it and why. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Though some say this is somewhat life Pretty Little Liars, I can't say the same given the fact I haven't read the series. But if they are, then Pretty Little Liars are a definite read in the future. Warning to parents though, the book contains a lot of inappropriate acts that kids often do (drinking, bullying, etc.) but this book can be a great way to discuss those acts and what makes them inappropriate. But for adults, The Lying Game is a definite must buy.
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LibraryThing member SimplyGrace
Sara Shepard has a unique gift. She has the wonderful ability to spoon feed you little bits of information(without pissing you off) about the story you are desperately trying to unravel, and keeps you coming back for more. It is an incredible talent for an author to have, and I give her two thumbs
I am in the middle of her other series Pretty Little Liars, and I am really loving it, but this is by far WAY better. I read the entire book in just a couple of hours. I cannot wait for the next installment in the seires. I know this series is going to be very popular!
The story is full of mystery, excitment with lots and lots of questions, but as I said before, the questions somehow seem to make you want more, not piss you off.
The main character Emma is a foster child, that you immediately love right from the beginning. She discovers a long lost twin sister, by way of a horrible snuff video online.
She gets drawn into the world of her twin sister Sutton, who she discovers is a dead sister. It will keep you on the edge of your seat as more of the story unfolds and Emma takes the place of her sister Sutton.
Overall, I give this 5 STARS!!
I received this ARC from NetGalley. Thanks!!
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up for doing such a kick ass job!I am in the middle of her other series Pretty Little Liars, and I am really loving it, but this is by far WAY better. I read the entire book in just a couple of hours. I cannot wait for the next installment in the seires. I know this series is going to be very popular!
The story is full of mystery, excitment with lots and lots of questions, but as I said before, the questions somehow seem to make you want more, not piss you off.
The main character Emma is a foster child, that you immediately love right from the beginning. She discovers a long lost twin sister, by way of a horrible snuff video online.
She gets drawn into the world of her twin sister Sutton, who she discovers is a dead sister. It will keep you on the edge of your seat as more of the story unfolds and Emma takes the place of her sister Sutton.
Overall, I give this 5 STARS!!
I received this ARC from NetGalley. Thanks!!
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LibraryThing member scoutlee
Life hasn’t been good to Emma. Her mother abandons her at a young age causing her to be bounced around from foster home to foster home for most of her life. As graduation is around the corner, Emma finds herself living with Clarice and her slimy son Travis. When Clarice accuses her of stealing
Emma connects with Sutton via Facebook and arranges a face-to-face meeting. Feeling both nervous and excited to meet her twin, Emma sets out to Arizona. Quickly things turn out to not be as she imagined when Sutton is late to arrive. Things take an even weirder turn when Sutton’s friends “kidnap” Emma, mistaking her for Sutton.
When Emma receives a threatening note saying Sutton has been murdered and she needs to be Sutton or else she’s next, Emma is aware this family reunion has turned into a dangerous affair.
Having read the Pretty Little Liars series and absolutely loving it, I was excited to hear Shepard was working on a new series. I told myself to go into the story without comparing it to PLL, but after reading the first few chapters, I found this hard to do. (I don’t want to explain further so as not to ruin the PLL series for anyone.)
I admit it took several chapters for me to finally settle in and get hooked by the story. Shepard does a great job by not confusing the reader with Emma’s perception and Sutton’s thoughts and memories. The more I read, I found myself getting swept into Sutton’s life and trying to figure out who killed Sutton and why.
The reader slowly learns about Sutton’s life and friends when Emma slips into her life. As Emma discovers more about Sutton (this girl is NOT nice), the potential suspects list continues to grow. By the end of the book, I was no closer to figuring out who killed Sutton. Shepard worked her magic by keeping the reader guessing with all the twists and turns the story took before reaching the last page.
Despite its slow start (for me, anyway), I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series Never Have I Ever. Fans of PLL will enjoy book one of this new series. Even if you haven’t read PLL, pick it up anyway. Shepard is a young adult author not to be missed.
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money (which she didn’t steal, of course) she finds herself out of a home, but also learns of her long-lost twin sister Sutton. So begins Shepard’s newest series The Lying Games.Emma connects with Sutton via Facebook and arranges a face-to-face meeting. Feeling both nervous and excited to meet her twin, Emma sets out to Arizona. Quickly things turn out to not be as she imagined when Sutton is late to arrive. Things take an even weirder turn when Sutton’s friends “kidnap” Emma, mistaking her for Sutton.
When Emma receives a threatening note saying Sutton has been murdered and she needs to be Sutton or else she’s next, Emma is aware this family reunion has turned into a dangerous affair.
Having read the Pretty Little Liars series and absolutely loving it, I was excited to hear Shepard was working on a new series. I told myself to go into the story without comparing it to PLL, but after reading the first few chapters, I found this hard to do. (I don’t want to explain further so as not to ruin the PLL series for anyone.)
I admit it took several chapters for me to finally settle in and get hooked by the story. Shepard does a great job by not confusing the reader with Emma’s perception and Sutton’s thoughts and memories. The more I read, I found myself getting swept into Sutton’s life and trying to figure out who killed Sutton and why.
The reader slowly learns about Sutton’s life and friends when Emma slips into her life. As Emma discovers more about Sutton (this girl is NOT nice), the potential suspects list continues to grow. By the end of the book, I was no closer to figuring out who killed Sutton. Shepard worked her magic by keeping the reader guessing with all the twists and turns the story took before reaching the last page.
Despite its slow start (for me, anyway), I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series Never Have I Ever. Fans of PLL will enjoy book one of this new series. Even if you haven’t read PLL, pick it up anyway. Shepard is a young adult author not to be missed.
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LibraryThing member AmyLynn
Odd as this sounds, I heard about The Lying Game before I heard about Pretty Little Liars. I was impatient to read this book, but when I couldn't find it, I picked up the first PLL novel, and watched the TV show.
Shepard does some really interesting twists with POV. Emma, the living sister, is told
The mystery was very similar to the PLL series, except Emma feels she's all alone, trying to figure out who her enemy or enemies are. Sutton remains on Earth to settle her unfinished business: find her murderer. Through her, we see flashbacks explaining some of the reasons people are hostile towards her. Emma sees enemies everywhere, because even Sutton's friends were the butt of Sutton's pranks.
Everyone's a potential killer, and there's several motives for everyone Emma is suspicious of, even those she chooses to trust.
I would recommend The Lying Game to anyone who enjoyed Pretty Little Liars or enjoys a mystery series.
Shepard does some really interesting twists with POV. Emma, the living sister, is told
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in third person, while her sister Sutton, chimes in from a first person perspective, occasionally shouting unheard at Emma.The mystery was very similar to the PLL series, except Emma feels she's all alone, trying to figure out who her enemy or enemies are. Sutton remains on Earth to settle her unfinished business: find her murderer. Through her, we see flashbacks explaining some of the reasons people are hostile towards her. Emma sees enemies everywhere, because even Sutton's friends were the butt of Sutton's pranks.
Everyone's a potential killer, and there's several motives for everyone Emma is suspicious of, even those she chooses to trust.
I would recommend The Lying Game to anyone who enjoyed Pretty Little Liars or enjoys a mystery series.
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LibraryThing member sgcallaway1994
"I had a life anyone would kill for. Then someone did."
Summary: Emma Paxton has been in and out of foster homes ever since her mom, Becky, deserted her when she was five years old. Now she's soon to turn eighteen and on the verge of getting kicked out of yet another home. All because her foster
Ramblings: Sara Shepard is best known for her Pretty Little Liars series. The Lying Game kicks off her second, non-related series. The book is narrated by Sutton, Emma's dead twin sister. At unexpected times during the book, Emma also gives her perspective. Some readers may find this difficult to follow, but others may enjoy seeing a different point of view. Sutton and Emma are polar opposites. Emma is sweet, frugal and tenderhearted while Sutton is evil, frivolous and downright mean. As the the novel progresses, at times one may begin to feel just a twinge of sorrow for Sutton and her situation. Most of the time, the reader will be appalled at everything Sutton has done, believing she probably got what she deserved. The story is filled with suspense and mystery. A real thriller with an underdog heroine who's easy to root for. Small clues help piece the mystery together. Unfortunately, after turning the last page, not much had been resolved. Guess we will all have to wait for book two Never Have I Ever due out in August 2011 for some type of closure.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to all readers 14 years and older who like a good mystery with a unique twists and turns along the way. There are a few sexual references PG13 at the worst. Plus the book does use some forms of curse words like "Bee-otch". Girls may relate to this type of book more than boys. I do feel there is enough action, mystery and suspense though to capture a boy's interest. Don't read this book if you are tired of cliffhanger ending because this is one of "those" types. If you enjoyed the Pretty Little Liars series you'll see some similarities, parallels and common themes. This could be a plus or a minus, I'll let you decide.
Summary: Emma Paxton has been in and out of foster homes ever since her mom, Becky, deserted her when she was five years old. Now she's soon to turn eighteen and on the verge of getting kicked out of yet another home. All because her foster
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brother stumbles upon a strange snuff film where oddly enough, the girl being attacked looks identical to Emma herself. After some digging around on Facebook, Emma discovers she shares the exact same birth date with this girl, Sutton Mercer. Could Emma have a long lost identical twin sister? Desperate to have a connection with a blood relative, Emma sends Sutton a Facebook message. A short time later she receives one back from Sutton saying she was also adopted, they should meet at a park in Arizona, but be careful because its dangerous! So Emma heads out to Tucson, Arizona on a greyhound bus, when she arrives Sutton is no where to be found. Instead, she bumps into one of Sutton's friends who mistakes her for Sutton. Just like that, Emma gets pulled right into the middle of Sutton's life. Emma wants to straighten everything out. Then she receives a mysterious note, "Sutton is dead. Tell no one. Keep playing along... or you're next!". Unsure of how to proceed, Emma reluctantly assumes Sutton's life desperately hoping to find her sister's murderer, knowing all along her killer is watching her every move.Ramblings: Sara Shepard is best known for her Pretty Little Liars series. The Lying Game kicks off her second, non-related series. The book is narrated by Sutton, Emma's dead twin sister. At unexpected times during the book, Emma also gives her perspective. Some readers may find this difficult to follow, but others may enjoy seeing a different point of view. Sutton and Emma are polar opposites. Emma is sweet, frugal and tenderhearted while Sutton is evil, frivolous and downright mean. As the the novel progresses, at times one may begin to feel just a twinge of sorrow for Sutton and her situation. Most of the time, the reader will be appalled at everything Sutton has done, believing she probably got what she deserved. The story is filled with suspense and mystery. A real thriller with an underdog heroine who's easy to root for. Small clues help piece the mystery together. Unfortunately, after turning the last page, not much had been resolved. Guess we will all have to wait for book two Never Have I Ever due out in August 2011 for some type of closure.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to all readers 14 years and older who like a good mystery with a unique twists and turns along the way. There are a few sexual references PG13 at the worst. Plus the book does use some forms of curse words like "Bee-otch". Girls may relate to this type of book more than boys. I do feel there is enough action, mystery and suspense though to capture a boy's interest. Don't read this book if you are tired of cliffhanger ending because this is one of "those" types. If you enjoyed the Pretty Little Liars series you'll see some similarities, parallels and common themes. This could be a plus or a minus, I'll let you decide.
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LibraryThing member pandaris
I blasted right through this book. Took me two days, but that was only because I had to work. I loved Emma. I felt so bad for her when she finds out about her long lost twin sister, only to discover once she arrives in Tucson that she has been murdered. I find it hard to believe however that once
The friends and sister all have some kind of motive, and each time a clue is dropped in your lap you start thinking you know who was behind Sutton's death, until another clue turns up pointing in some other direction. This book kept me guessing until the very end, and even then I'm still guessing. I cannot wait to devour the next in this new series by Sara Shepard.
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she inserts herself into Sutton's life to find out who killed her, Sutton's friends and family don't even think to question why "Sutton" would be so different all of a sudden.The friends and sister all have some kind of motive, and each time a clue is dropped in your lap you start thinking you know who was behind Sutton's death, until another clue turns up pointing in some other direction. This book kept me guessing until the very end, and even then I'm still guessing. I cannot wait to devour the next in this new series by Sara Shepard.
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LibraryThing member graceschumann
I picked up The Lying Game because I had thoroughly enjoyed Sara Shepard's other series Pretty Little Liars. I was a bit apprehensive thinking it might be exactly like that series in plot-line and form. However, I tried to go into this book with an open mind and not expect anything too standard
Emma is a foster child abandoned by her mother at a young age. She's been shuffled around from family to family, never really feeling comfortable in any set place. She has always hoped that one day there would be something more in her life, that maybe her mother might show back up and she could have the family she so desperately longed for. But Emma is in for a rude awakening. One day she is shown a video of a girl who looks exactly like herself online, right down to the very last detail of her appearance. What's even more disturbing that the girl's exact resemblance to herself, is the matter in which the video takes place. Emma watches helplessly while the girl on the video is strangled with her own locket necklace. Did Emma just witness a murder? She can't believe her eyes so she sets out on a journey to find this other girl. When she finds her on facebook and sends her a message, she immediately receives one in response from the supposed twin girl with a plan to meet up. However Emma is unaware that the entire time she is looking for her, the girl in question is with her already. Because the other girl, her long-lost twin sister Sutton IS dead...and she's a ghost. As Emma uncovers the truth that Sutton is no longer alive, she is thrown into a viscous game of cat-and-mouse where nobody is who they seem and everybody has a secret. But how far are any of them willing to go to keep their secrets and at then end of the day who is Sutton's killer? How far will they go to ensure that Emma doesn't uncover the truth about what really happened to her twin sister? Let the Lying Games begin!
When I first started this book, I still wasn't sure whether I was going to honestly like this story as much as I did Pretty Little Liars. The beginning was a bit iffy for me. The plot-line didn't really take hold until a couple chapters into the book and the characters were a little flat at the beginning. I didn't really like how Sutton was the main narrator at the beginning of the book but after a while I got used to it and wasn't so bothered that she was narrating while the story revolved around Emma's actions. The characters started to develop more toward the middle of the story and after the halfway point I didn't want to put the book down. The suspense and intrigue of the story started to accelerate at that point and drew me in to the point where I was completely engrossed in the story and scrambling to try and predict what was going to happen next. The key word right there was "try" because as much as I did attempt to figure out the future prospective happenings in the novel, I couldn't because it was unpredictable which kept me hanging on the edge of my seat guessing what would occur next. I loved the cliffhanger ending and can hardly wait until the next book comes out in August. I have my ideas about who the killer is but with new findings coming to light in every subsequent chapter until the end, I was hesitant to commit one person to that position. I think Shepard is a superb writer and really knows how to weave the perfect story about mystery.
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from Shepard's previous writing. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.Emma is a foster child abandoned by her mother at a young age. She's been shuffled around from family to family, never really feeling comfortable in any set place. She has always hoped that one day there would be something more in her life, that maybe her mother might show back up and she could have the family she so desperately longed for. But Emma is in for a rude awakening. One day she is shown a video of a girl who looks exactly like herself online, right down to the very last detail of her appearance. What's even more disturbing that the girl's exact resemblance to herself, is the matter in which the video takes place. Emma watches helplessly while the girl on the video is strangled with her own locket necklace. Did Emma just witness a murder? She can't believe her eyes so she sets out on a journey to find this other girl. When she finds her on facebook and sends her a message, she immediately receives one in response from the supposed twin girl with a plan to meet up. However Emma is unaware that the entire time she is looking for her, the girl in question is with her already. Because the other girl, her long-lost twin sister Sutton IS dead...and she's a ghost. As Emma uncovers the truth that Sutton is no longer alive, she is thrown into a viscous game of cat-and-mouse where nobody is who they seem and everybody has a secret. But how far are any of them willing to go to keep their secrets and at then end of the day who is Sutton's killer? How far will they go to ensure that Emma doesn't uncover the truth about what really happened to her twin sister? Let the Lying Games begin!
When I first started this book, I still wasn't sure whether I was going to honestly like this story as much as I did Pretty Little Liars. The beginning was a bit iffy for me. The plot-line didn't really take hold until a couple chapters into the book and the characters were a little flat at the beginning. I didn't really like how Sutton was the main narrator at the beginning of the book but after a while I got used to it and wasn't so bothered that she was narrating while the story revolved around Emma's actions. The characters started to develop more toward the middle of the story and after the halfway point I didn't want to put the book down. The suspense and intrigue of the story started to accelerate at that point and drew me in to the point where I was completely engrossed in the story and scrambling to try and predict what was going to happen next. The key word right there was "try" because as much as I did attempt to figure out the future prospective happenings in the novel, I couldn't because it was unpredictable which kept me hanging on the edge of my seat guessing what would occur next. I loved the cliffhanger ending and can hardly wait until the next book comes out in August. I have my ideas about who the killer is but with new findings coming to light in every subsequent chapter until the end, I was hesitant to commit one person to that position. I think Shepard is a superb writer and really knows how to weave the perfect story about mystery.
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LibraryThing member callmecayce
A surprisingly intense and intriguing novel about twins who've never met. Though the book is about lying, it's really about secrets and at the heart of the novel is a mystery. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it when I started reading it, but now I can't wait for Shepard to write the rest of
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the series. I definitely want to know what happens next. Show Less
LibraryThing member FolkeB
Sara Shepard shows once again that she is capable of producing an astounding plot line in The Lying Game, making fans of her previous series Pretty Little Liars proud. Readers follow foster child Emma as she goes on a journey to meet her long-lost twin sister Sutton. After seeing a startling video
Shepard’s language is perfect for the story, very trendy and relatable to her teen audience, with a good deal of pop culture references thrown in. While some characters in the story seem a bit unnecessary and distracting, Shepard’s ability to compose such a complex plot with that much ease and grace is a testament to her writing abilities. She paints each scene perfectly and emanates the fear and confusion that Emma feels flawlessly, allowing readers to submerge right into the story, anxiously waiting to uncover more clues in this gripping mystery.
Paige
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of her twin online, Emma sends her a message and soon gets a response inviting her to come to Arizona. Once there, Emma is thrust into a confusing and complex web of deceit and lies when Sutton never shows up. Emma discovers that Sutton has been murdered and is herself being threatened by the killer that she must stay and pretend to be her sister, or risk a similar fate. As the story develops Emma begins to believe that Sutton’s murderer may be right beside her, one of Sutton’s closest friends or even her sister. She believes the key to figuring everything out is to learn what exactly the girls’ Lying Game is all about, trying to keep herself alive long enough to find the answers.Shepard’s language is perfect for the story, very trendy and relatable to her teen audience, with a good deal of pop culture references thrown in. While some characters in the story seem a bit unnecessary and distracting, Shepard’s ability to compose such a complex plot with that much ease and grace is a testament to her writing abilities. She paints each scene perfectly and emanates the fear and confusion that Emma feels flawlessly, allowing readers to submerge right into the story, anxiously waiting to uncover more clues in this gripping mystery.
Paige
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LibraryThing member pacey1927
"The Lying Game" is a winner and I am more than a little surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The book starts out with the ghost of a teen named Sutton waking up, out of sorts, in a mysterious bathroom. She soon realizes she is dead, and then finds out she is in the home of a girl she has
Some interesting things happen to move Emma along to Sutton's hometown and quite innocently at first, Emma begins to impersonate Sutton. Then she must continue to do so or risk meeting a fate similar to Sutton's. What Emma finds out is that Sutton maybe wasn't very nice. Even her friends and her sister seemed to hate her. But who killed Sutton and why?
Emma is VERY likeable. She is a good girl who has grown up in foster homes. Seeing her living the life of spoiled, (mean?) Sutton is interesting. We see her relationships with these people and her thoughts about these people, with the spirit of Sutton looking over her shoulder and adding commentary as she tries to remember her past.
What turned me off? Not much really. I was more than happy with this book. However, the cliffhanger is more than just a cliffhanger. Nothing is resolved. I don't like that in a book. I don't mind when plot threads are left open so we continue to want to read the next books in the series, but readers want some resolution...we stick with a book for 300 pages and we deserve some answers.
Now this neither positively nor negative affected my review and rating but I really think I know who killed Sutton. Every piece fits and I will be SHOCKED if I am wrong. I don't have the 'why' answered yet though. I don't know if I am hoping to be right so I can say I was right or if I would rather be utterly delighted that the author pulled one over on me. Heck, maybe this person is a decoy.
Parental Warning: Cuss words appear often. There is a scene of an alcohol drinking game. Sutton and friends are known for their "Lying Game"...a game where they pull over the top (sometimes dangerous) practical jokes on one another. The author does add a note in the back of the book encouraging readers not to be stupid and act out the pranks from the game.
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never met before named Emma...and Emma looks exactly like her. Some interesting things happen to move Emma along to Sutton's hometown and quite innocently at first, Emma begins to impersonate Sutton. Then she must continue to do so or risk meeting a fate similar to Sutton's. What Emma finds out is that Sutton maybe wasn't very nice. Even her friends and her sister seemed to hate her. But who killed Sutton and why?
Emma is VERY likeable. She is a good girl who has grown up in foster homes. Seeing her living the life of spoiled, (mean?) Sutton is interesting. We see her relationships with these people and her thoughts about these people, with the spirit of Sutton looking over her shoulder and adding commentary as she tries to remember her past.
What turned me off? Not much really. I was more than happy with this book. However, the cliffhanger is more than just a cliffhanger. Nothing is resolved. I don't like that in a book. I don't mind when plot threads are left open so we continue to want to read the next books in the series, but readers want some resolution...we stick with a book for 300 pages and we deserve some answers.
Now this neither positively nor negative affected my review and rating but I really think I know who killed Sutton. Every piece fits and I will be SHOCKED if I am wrong. I don't have the 'why' answered yet though. I don't know if I am hoping to be right so I can say I was right or if I would rather be utterly delighted that the author pulled one over on me. Heck, maybe this person is a decoy.
Parental Warning: Cuss words appear often. There is a scene of an alcohol drinking game. Sutton and friends are known for their "Lying Game"...a game where they pull over the top (sometimes dangerous) practical jokes on one another. The author does add a note in the back of the book encouraging readers not to be stupid and act out the pranks from the game.
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LibraryThing member Callie923
I really enjoyed this book! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it wasn't nearly as good as the pretty little liars books but it was still good. It definently kept me guessing. I always thought I knew what was going to happen next but I was never right! Lots of twists and turns :)
LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
Emma has always dreamed of having a real family. Kicked out of her latest foster care home, she's amazed to discover that she has a twin sister, so she travels to meet her, only to discover that she's dead and someone wants her to take her place. Now everyone believes Emma is Sutton. Emma slowly
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begins to realize what kind of person Sutton was, a prankster who started something called The Lying Game. Was her death a prank? Meanwhile, the ghost of Sutton can't remember who murdered her, and she's counting on Emma to figure it out. Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsTeeMae
Why I wanted this book was because I LOVED the PLL series. If I could give this book 3.5 stars I would.
The book for me started out sort of slow. It reminded me a lot of the PLL series too. I loved the story and the plot, but the story didn't really grab me until the end.
Why I would give it 4
I'm not great on reviews without really spoiling what happens, but I'd say read the book because I bet the next one is going to get a lot better!
The book for me started out sort of slow. It reminded me a lot of the PLL series too. I loved the story and the plot, but the story didn't really grab me until the end.
Why I would give it 4
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stars is because of the ending. The ending of the book definitely made me want to read the next one. I really can't wait for the second book. I can't wait to see where Emma and Sutton and Ethan end up. I'm not great on reviews without really spoiling what happens, but I'd say read the book because I bet the next one is going to get a lot better!
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LibraryThing member kurlykee
I am a fan of the Pretty Little Liars series on TV and didn't want to start that series because I didn't want it to ruin the suspense of watching the show but when I saw Sara Shepard was starting a new series I jumped into it right after it was published. I am a huge fan of PLL but I find this plot
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much more intriguing. The idea of having a twin you don't know about until your late teenage years and innocently trying to meet her for the first time and being swept up into a mystery surrounding your twins death is an interesting idea. Shepard does an excellent job of making Emma and Sutton relatable to. You may not be able to relate personally to Sutton's cruelness and Queen of the school personality but you can relate to knowing someone like that in your own school and even if you can't personally relate to being in Emma's exact position, jumping from foster home to foster home, you can probably relate to her feelings of helplessness and low self-esteem. The rest of the characters can be a bit confusing at times, Shepard often refers to twins Gabriella and Liliana as the twitter twins and uses the names interchangeably which along with twins Emma and Sutton can get a little bit confusing to keep the whole group of friends straight from one another. It was dissapointing that there were no major plot twists but the cliff hanger ending has kept me on the edge of my seat and I can't wait for the next book in the series to be published! Show Less
LibraryThing member ChristianR
I don't normally read these types of books, so the fact that I didn't like it much doesn't mean that others won't either. Emma lives in foster homes, but learns that she has a long-lost twin sister who she tries to meet. However, it turns out that her sister, Sutton, has disappeared but no one
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knows it. Everyone thinks Emma actually is Sutton. Things get really strange from there. Sutton appears to be dead (and her ghost follows Emma around but only the reader is aware of her and she has very little information to add) and Emma is trapped, not knowing who killed her sister. The ending leaves things completely up in the air. Show Less
LibraryThing member sithereandread
THE LYING GAME, by Sara Shepard, is an amazing start to a great new series. Sara Shepard is the author of the series, Pretty Little Liars (which I admit I still have not read, bad me!). Going into this new series with no previous stigma, I absolutely LOVED it! Shepard definitely has a way with
This contemporary young adult novel weaved elements of suspense and utter creepiness into it. Emma never had the dream family and when she stumbled upon her long-lost twin, Sutton, she was desperate to start again. After her Sutton's family only recognizes her as Sutton and a mysterious person tries to keep her real identity quiet, Emma puts together the pieces and realizes how much danger she is facing.
Emma was truly a fantastic MC and along with the 'ghost' of Sutton, they made a dynamic duo. I am excited for the continuation of the series to find out more about what happened to Sutton and why she is connected to her twin in this way. And I have to say I developed a crush on Ethan. Even though he was such a small part in Emma/Sutton's life, I hope that he will have a bigger part in her future in this series.
Overall, this was a pretty phenomenal book. I was disappointed that it ended before I got many questions answered but I still loved it!
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words and she kept my fingers clinging to the pages until the very end.This contemporary young adult novel weaved elements of suspense and utter creepiness into it. Emma never had the dream family and when she stumbled upon her long-lost twin, Sutton, she was desperate to start again. After her Sutton's family only recognizes her as Sutton and a mysterious person tries to keep her real identity quiet, Emma puts together the pieces and realizes how much danger she is facing.
Emma was truly a fantastic MC and along with the 'ghost' of Sutton, they made a dynamic duo. I am excited for the continuation of the series to find out more about what happened to Sutton and why she is connected to her twin in this way. And I have to say I developed a crush on Ethan. Even though he was such a small part in Emma/Sutton's life, I hope that he will have a bigger part in her future in this series.
Overall, this was a pretty phenomenal book. I was disappointed that it ended before I got many questions answered but I still loved it!
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LibraryThing member farnsworthk
Despite the silly premise (long lost twins, one of whom is dead and now following the other), I really enjoyed the book. I am disappointed in the ending, but since this is a series, it is to be expected.
LibraryThing member littleton_pace
I don't really know what to say about this book except that I've never felt such irritation and annoyance at an author before.
For starters, the long-lost twin idea has been flogged to death in books, film and TV. Not only that, but this author already jumped the shark with it in her Pretty Little
I also am becoming fed up with how superficial all her characters are. In Pretty Little Liars and in this new series, the importance of high fashion clothes, popularity and boyfriends is so over the top it makes me sick; and screams of an author who was a total nerd in high school and is now trying to make up for it by writing "the popular girls". All the characters are stereotypes and written as such. And none of them have any depth. And to top that off, as well as the long-lost twins, she's made two of the friends twins. That along with the fact you're reading a ghost's POV just adds to the complete question mark of this book.
I don't understand how her publisher/editor and everyone in between gave this the go ahead when it is clearly the same subject matter recycled, down to characters having stuffed animals with stupid names (Emma with Socktopus and Aria with Pigtunia). Even the weird, no-name text messages are back. And aside from the completely unbelievable fact that Emma would just take over Sutton's life, Sutton's views on her own life are skewed, as if she can't believe she was a bitch. Yawn. Who cares?
I could hardly finish the book and definitely won't be reading the series. I don't recommend it, you get the same story in Pretty Little Liars. For all I know; this series will merge with PLL and Emma and Sutton will wind up being Alyson and whoever her long-lost twin was. Unlikely and I'm past caring.
For starters, the long-lost twin idea has been flogged to death in books, film and TV. Not only that, but this author already jumped the shark with it in her Pretty Little
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Liars series. Now to do it again with her next series right after it? Desperate much? I also am becoming fed up with how superficial all her characters are. In Pretty Little Liars and in this new series, the importance of high fashion clothes, popularity and boyfriends is so over the top it makes me sick; and screams of an author who was a total nerd in high school and is now trying to make up for it by writing "the popular girls". All the characters are stereotypes and written as such. And none of them have any depth. And to top that off, as well as the long-lost twins, she's made two of the friends twins. That along with the fact you're reading a ghost's POV just adds to the complete question mark of this book.
I don't understand how her publisher/editor and everyone in between gave this the go ahead when it is clearly the same subject matter recycled, down to characters having stuffed animals with stupid names (Emma with Socktopus and Aria with Pigtunia). Even the weird, no-name text messages are back. And aside from the completely unbelievable fact that Emma would just take over Sutton's life, Sutton's views on her own life are skewed, as if she can't believe she was a bitch. Yawn. Who cares?
I could hardly finish the book and definitely won't be reading the series. I don't recommend it, you get the same story in Pretty Little Liars. For all I know; this series will merge with PLL and Emma and Sutton will wind up being Alyson and whoever her long-lost twin was. Unlikely and I'm past caring.
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LibraryThing member bibliophile.brouhaha
Where have I been?!?! Why in the hell have I never read anything by Sara Shepard before? I’m usually a lot more technical and not as emotional with my punctuation, but this book was seven shades of awesome!
Yeah, I know, I usually am all about the depressing ‘issue’ books! So, maybe this book
Sigh. Does anyone else hear The Boys of Summer playing? Oh, that’s just me? Sorry, I’ll return to the point.
So, as you can tell from the synopsis, Twin A, Sutton Mercer, is dead. Murdered, in fact. Twin B, Emma Paxton, has been stuck in foster care her whole life and finds out she even has a twin through the evil creepiness of her foster mom’s bio-son-spawn. So, Emma is more that thrilled and excited to greyhound it to Arizona from Vegas to meet the rich, long-lost sister she’s never known. When she arrives, however, she falls into her twin’s murderer’s plans, and through a strategically placed note and other freaky events, is made to understand that Sutton is not only dead, but that she is to take her place. Unfortunately, Emma soon learns that Sutton makes Regina George look like Anne Shirley, and she has to quickly learn the ropes of playing an overly privileged, self-centered mean girl to A) protect herself from her sister’s murderer; and B) find out who the murderer(s) is/are.
This was such a fun, high school who-dunnit thriller. I wasn’t bored once throughout reading it. Twists, turns and maddening intrigue kept my attention the entire time. There is a very small part of me (both in size and pettiness) which genuinely enjoyed seeing the rich girls squirm and Sutton show regret for her living transgressions. The stance from which the story is told is also very interesting. I’ve seen reviews where readers think that the point-of-view switches between Sutton’s post-mortem first-person narrative and Emma’s third-person limited. I disagree – it’s Sutton the entire time. Sutton is in an in-between state from what I can surmise, and her death has somehow left her dependent on and attached to her twin, both in body and mind. So, when the book describes Emma’s actions, it’s actually Sutton observing Emma, and when the you are reading what Emma thinks, it’s Sutton telling you that. You can tell it’s not third-person because Sutton directly comments and reacts to what Emma thinks at times, particularly towards the end. Through Sutton, we learn about Emma’s abandonment by their mother, her life in foster care, her hopes for a family, her opinion of Sutton, her friends and their lifestyle, and her attraction to a certain, brooding high school hottie, who is so not Sutton’s boyfriend, the guy who Emma has to pretend-be with. Equal parts dreaminess and awkwardness ensue.
The best part? You really don’t know who did it. Anyone and everyone is a suspect. The Lying Game is an actual creation of Sutton and her friends, and they treat it like a high school version of Fight Club. It literally makes it impossible to for Emma to trust anyone. Also, death conveniently has rendered Sutton an amnesiac. Her memories ebb and flow throughout, but they’re spotty to say the least. At times, she is as surprised and horrified as Emma is to learn what she did to others when she lived, and you soon learn that any number of people may have wanted her dead. The facts of what Sutton did are mostly only alluded to and vaguely referenced, though, which frustrates both sisters and impedes Emma’s investigation. It ends in a grand manner, and you are not much closer to the truth than Emma was when she first arrived in Arizona.
Never have I ever read a mean girls thriller more fun that this. I can’t wait for the sequel.
I’m hooked. Game on, Ms. Shepard. Game on.
Yeah, I know, I usually am all about the depressing ‘issue’ books! So, maybe this book
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was a breath of fresh air. And that air smells de•li•cious, as if it was laced with Auntie Anne’s cinnamon ‘n’ sugar pretzels and Chanel No. 5. The Lying Game is that kind of yum! See, I’ve never even watched Pretty Little Liars. Ever since Dawson left the creek and Felicity graduated, I just haven’t been able to look at teen/young adult shows the same. Sigh. Does anyone else hear The Boys of Summer playing? Oh, that’s just me? Sorry, I’ll return to the point.
So, as you can tell from the synopsis, Twin A, Sutton Mercer, is dead. Murdered, in fact. Twin B, Emma Paxton, has been stuck in foster care her whole life and finds out she even has a twin through the evil creepiness of her foster mom’s bio-son-spawn. So, Emma is more that thrilled and excited to greyhound it to Arizona from Vegas to meet the rich, long-lost sister she’s never known. When she arrives, however, she falls into her twin’s murderer’s plans, and through a strategically placed note and other freaky events, is made to understand that Sutton is not only dead, but that she is to take her place. Unfortunately, Emma soon learns that Sutton makes Regina George look like Anne Shirley, and she has to quickly learn the ropes of playing an overly privileged, self-centered mean girl to A) protect herself from her sister’s murderer; and B) find out who the murderer(s) is/are.
This was such a fun, high school who-dunnit thriller. I wasn’t bored once throughout reading it. Twists, turns and maddening intrigue kept my attention the entire time. There is a very small part of me (both in size and pettiness) which genuinely enjoyed seeing the rich girls squirm and Sutton show regret for her living transgressions. The stance from which the story is told is also very interesting. I’ve seen reviews where readers think that the point-of-view switches between Sutton’s post-mortem first-person narrative and Emma’s third-person limited. I disagree – it’s Sutton the entire time. Sutton is in an in-between state from what I can surmise, and her death has somehow left her dependent on and attached to her twin, both in body and mind. So, when the book describes Emma’s actions, it’s actually Sutton observing Emma, and when the you are reading what Emma thinks, it’s Sutton telling you that. You can tell it’s not third-person because Sutton directly comments and reacts to what Emma thinks at times, particularly towards the end. Through Sutton, we learn about Emma’s abandonment by their mother, her life in foster care, her hopes for a family, her opinion of Sutton, her friends and their lifestyle, and her attraction to a certain, brooding high school hottie, who is so not Sutton’s boyfriend, the guy who Emma has to pretend-be with. Equal parts dreaminess and awkwardness ensue.
The best part? You really don’t know who did it. Anyone and everyone is a suspect. The Lying Game is an actual creation of Sutton and her friends, and they treat it like a high school version of Fight Club. It literally makes it impossible to for Emma to trust anyone. Also, death conveniently has rendered Sutton an amnesiac. Her memories ebb and flow throughout, but they’re spotty to say the least. At times, she is as surprised and horrified as Emma is to learn what she did to others when she lived, and you soon learn that any number of people may have wanted her dead. The facts of what Sutton did are mostly only alluded to and vaguely referenced, though, which frustrates both sisters and impedes Emma’s investigation. It ends in a grand manner, and you are not much closer to the truth than Emma was when she first arrived in Arizona.
Never have I ever read a mean girls thriller more fun that this. I can’t wait for the sequel.
I’m hooked. Game on, Ms. Shepard. Game on.
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Awards
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2012)
Language
Original publication date
2011-01-18
ISBN
0061869716 / 9780061869716