Review: Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes

368 pages

Published March 24th 2015 

Published by HarperTeen

Source: Library

Rating: 3/5

For fans of Gone Girl, I Hunt Killers, and TV's How to Get Away with Murder. 

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative? 

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer. 

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? In a story that Kirkus Reviews called "Captivating to the very end," Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters.

I knew I had to get my hands all over this book as soon as I read "For fans of Gone Girl, I Hunt Killers, and TV's How to Get Away with Murder." I can now tell you that this description is very accurate.  I'm not familiar with I Hunt Killers but Liars, Inc. definitely has elements from the other two. While I don't consider this book a new favorite, I really enjoyed most of it.

The premise is interesting and Stokes definitely delivers a thrilling read. The suspense is there, which is one of the main reasons I kept reading until the end. I love that I didn't see the outcome coming at all. I had hundreds of guesses but they didn't even come close to the craziness that took place. While I loved that this novel keeps you guessing until the very end, I wasn't a huge fan of the romance. I think my only issue with it is that I really didn't like Max's girlfriend, Parvati. I kept waiting for that moment that would make me like her but it never happened. I hate to say this but I think I couldn't fall in love with this novel because of her. 

I'm a huge fan of her previous novel, The Art of Lainey, and this is the polar opposite. I love when writers can transform like this! It makes everything they write feel really new and unexpected. While I'm more of a Lainey kind of reader, I really loved the author's voice and the tone of Liars. If you are looking for a very crazy whodunit, definitely pick this one up! 

ARC Review: The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

Note: Football/Soccer related GIF will make an appearance in this review. You're welcome.

384 pages

Expected publication: May 20th, 2014 

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Edelweiss

Rating: 5/5

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game. 

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with, if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be?

There's something you need to know about me before you read any further: I LOVE FOOTBALL (aka soccer). A lot. Almost as much as I love reading. Why am I telling you this? Because the fact that our main character Lainey is not only a football/soccer star but she's also not described as the stereotypical "sporty type" had me doing cartwheels and hugging my kindle so hard that I almost exploded into rainbows.

Lainey Mitchell is a really fun character. At the beginning of the novel, she's a shallow, popular girl--almost reminiscent of Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse--whose goals in life are to play soccer and to get her ex-boyfriend Jason back. This leaves so much room for character development and Paul Stokes definitely takes advantage of it. I loved reading about Lainey's journey and how it changes her for the better. Most of the time women athletes are depicted as manly but that's not the case here. I can't tell you how much I appreciated that. Yes, football/soccer is Lainey's life. Yes, she's still a girl (a very feminine one at that) and that's awesome! Stokes deserves a million kitties for that.

As much as I loved Micah, I'm not going to talk about him. Oh, no. I won't mention his charm or his hilarious comments. I won't even tell you how much I want him in my life or the fact that I would read an entire book dedicated to him. I want to focus on the other boy in our main character's life. My favorite part is how much I hated Jason. He's obviously wrong for Lainey and everyone can see that but her. You how terrible he is from the very beginning, which makes Lainey's attempt to get him back a lot more frustrating. I just wanted Jason to get out of the way so Micah could be the last man standing.

Sorry, I just had to include this.

I loved the way Paula Stokes modernized The Art of War and how seamlessly it was incorporated into the novel. The writing is very descriptive and fun which makes this book one of those you can't stay away from for long. I particularly loved that the dialogue was believable and hilarious. The bickering between Lainey and Micah is one of my favorite aspects of the novel and one that a lot of people will enjoy. Their relationship develops in a very natural way so their dynamic changes as the novel progresses. They take each other out of their comfort zones and that connection elevates the novel to something more than just a cute high school romance. Stokes also does a great job with her secondary characters. From Lainey's best friend to Micah's sister, every character has a place and a story. Overall, every aspect of the story worked really well together to create a very enjoyable novel.

Even though I really liked this novel and I gave it a 5/5, I have to admit the plot itself is predictable. However, I had so much fun reading this book that I didn't care. If you're looking for an adorable novel then this is it! Pick up The Art of Lainey and get ready to have a smile on your face from the very beginning until the very end.