Review ~ The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

TITLE: The Lying Game
AUTHOR: Sara Shepard
COPYRIGHT: 2010
TYPE: young adult
PAGES: 307
SERIES:  yes

1. The Lying Game

2. Never Have I Ever

3. Two Truths and a Lie

REASON FOR READ:

I heart PLL and this is by the same author so I thought eh why not give it a try. Plus come on twins with one dead and the other “taking her” place was too good to pass up.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there's nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It's enough to kill a girl all over again. But I'm about to get something no one else does--an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma's desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me--to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she's the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, care-free daughter when she hugs my parents goodnight? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

Who are the MAJOR Characters?
Emma

“Sutton” Told from her POV but she’s dead

Laural

Char

Mads

Ethan

Who are the MINOR Characters?

Garrett – dead Sutton’s boyfriend and Char’s ex

The Twitter twins

Nisha

The parents of Sutton

And random others

Did it flow with the last volume was it a connection story or did it just start a new story with same characters? (Only use if in a series)

Started out fresh this is the first book…

What is this story about?

Well Sutton is a rich girl who discovers she has a twin that no one knows about. Actually scratch that, I think that is more TV show then book. In book Emma sees a Snuff video of Sutton being strangled. She researches it and discovers she has a twin. After facebooking her said twin asks Emma to come and see her. But when Emma comes she discovers that Sutton is missing maybe dead. Now Emma is stuck pretending to be Sutton with someone else who knows that Sutton is dead and will do anything to keep Emma in the role.

When is this story taking place?

I want to say senior year school

Where are we at during this story?

Arizona I believe

Why is the character acting the way he is or why is this happening?

She is very scared and has no idea if Sutton is really dead or alive. However, she does discover Sutton is really dead and now has to figure out who killed her.

How does it get resolved (SPOILERS MAY BE INCLUDED)

Emma let’s the gag slip to Ethan who talks her into keeping up the ruse of her being Sutton until they can figure out which one of Sutton’s friends’ killed her or if her own family did… or was it someone else she played a lying game on

Will there be another?

Oh yeah

Favorite part or line from story:

I have to admit the parts where Emma meets and interacts with Ethan were my favorites. I think they are cute together.

Overall thoughts:

I liked it more than PLL mainly b/c there were actually redeeming characters in this one. Not everyone is evil or out to get someone. Emma seems sweet and Ethan is a cute character that doesn’t look as if he has it in for anyone. Plus the parents seem like decent people. I am curious enough at this point to continue reading the books. And not just b/c they have some drama attached to them I actually want to know more about Sutton and Emma as well as figure out who is actually trying to kill her.

The TV show didn’t have that spin. In the show Sutton remained alive so I have no idea who (for lack of a better word A is) and I want to know. That’s how PLL kept me hooked and I have to admit that is how this book hooked me as well. Too bad the show didn’t follow the book better I think it would’ve lasted longer.

FINAL GRADES:
Plot/Story: A I think it was original and enjoyable

Character Development: B+ Emma is very washy and very much a frightened character I want her to dig in a little and discover who she is and how to be a better Sutton or at least be more of an Emma
Emotional Reaction: A I was very much invested in Emma and if she would live

Final Grade: A- it is getting there

Would you recommend this story?

Sure I actually think I would recommend this book to a younger girl then the PLL series.

Is this a part of a reading challenge? No sadly I am just adding it to my 50+ books to read this year.

PS this will be a Page to Screen as soon as I get a chance to type that Review out....