Sara Shepard

Two Truths and a Lie (The Lying Game #3)

Hannah Yang

I'm not sure how I feel about Two Truths and a Lie, actually. It was disappointing to me after seeing the improvement from book 1 to book 2. This was an extremely fast read for me, so pace was not a problem, but I feel like the 'formula' Sara Shepard has been using for the Lying Game series is getting old. As Sutton so nicely puts it,
And with that darkness came a horrible realization: Emma and I were back to square one. (pg. 274)
For these Lying Game books, the whole plot is dedicated to making one person sound like the suspect, and every single detail makes that person seem more suspicious. Then, near the end of the book, we have some wonderful revelation and discover that the person is innocent. In Never Have I Ever, it was Gabby and Lili. In Two Truths and a Lie, it was Thayer. So, by the end of the book, Emma is nowhere closer to finding Sutton's murderer. 

In fact, by the end of Two Truths and a Lie, we've returned to having Laurel be a prime suspect, even after she was deemed innocent in the first book. Now, I'm all for complex stories and changes and suspense, but really? The plot is starting to drag on. There really isn't much of a plot other than Emma going round in circles. I need to see her get somewhere with this mystery.

Emma's relationship with Ethan isn't awww-worthy and to put it bluntly, it's quite boring. I think their friend chemistry was much better. Besides, I have my suspicions about him. She's so vulnerable around him because Ethan's the only one who knows she's Emma, but that doesn't mean she should trust him so much. Maybe he's the killer - that'd be interesting (though I doubt Sara Shepard would make Emma's new beloved the murderer; it would ruin the happily ever after that will hopefully come by the end of the series).

We don't see much of Emma's inner conflict anymore either. At first, she had all these moral dilemmas about the Lying Game and whatnot, but now her 'real' personality almost never comes through. Even Sutton comments on this (though, being Sutton, she's applauding it). I feel that in the process of trying to discover her twin's killer, Emma's losing a lot of her own identity. It would be nice to see that preserved more in the next few books.

Anyways. I just feel that Two Truths and a Lie displays a writing pattern that is falling flat, and the characters are just not as engaging. I'm still going to read Hide and Seek, but with lower expectations.

Jade Flynn

These are getting a bit repetitive now, I hope Shepard comes up with something original in the next book. I can't say I didn't enjoy the book because obviously I did. I just wish that the storyline with Thayer wasn't so predictable. I'll still be continuing on with this series because I really need to know who Sutton's killer is. I'm betting on Ethan.

Anastaciya

How could she?! How?! Please, Sara Shepard, publish the books faster!!!

Samantha

Emma seriously needs some backbone. she's supposed to be Sutton, Miss Queen Bee...yet she continues to let everyone talk down to her, especially Laurel. and my gosh i'm getting so sick of Laurel and her snot-nosed bratty behavior.

Zoe Smolen

I am not happy with who they've pegged to be the suspect in the 4th book. LIke seriously? Also, this one was slower than the others.

Kourtney

The good thing about Sara Shepard's books is that she knows how to weave a good multi-book story. The bad thing about Sara Shepard's books is that they have become too familiar. At the end of this book she fingers a new suspect - and if PLL series taught me anything it's that the whole book will make it look like this new person is the killer but GASP shocking twist at the end she's not! I have 3 more books to go and I'm getting worried that, just like with PLL, the series will be too long. I'm already starting to lose interest as evidenced by it taking me 3 and 1/2 months to finish this book.

Elad Schulman

Actual rating: 4.5

This is definitely my favorite of the series so far. It really made me think a lot more, and I felt more emotion while reading it. I really don't know who to trust while reading these books. I definitely want to read the next one.

Jessica 

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Picking up where Never Have I Ever left off, Two Truths and a Lie opens us up to a whole new can of mysteries and surprises. In this world, nothing is ever simple and with every answer comes a new question. You don’t know who you can trust and nearly everyone is keeping secrets. But who’s harmless and who’s a walking nightmare?

Still being pulled into a dangerous position by the hand of blackmail, Emma Paxton must successfully continue to live out the life of her twin sister, Sutton Mercer, all the while playing a twisted game with the anonymous person who killed Sutton. Emma has so far been able to impersonate her twin with grace and even has Sutton’s friends and family fooled.

The only person who knows Emma’s real identity outside of the killer is Ethan Landry, the cute and mysterious friend that Emma has sparked with from the start. Both Emma and Ethan have developed feelings for one another–but can Emma pull off having a relationship and solving her sisters murder?

Things are about to get even more complicated with the return of Sutton’s ex-boyfriend, and Madeline’s brother and Laurel’s best friend, Thayer Vega. With his return comes more memories of Sutton’s, more tension and more answers. Emma is spooked and suspicious by Thayer’s behavior more than once, and he instantly becomes her number one suspect. 

Continued @ BOOKEDJ.

Two Truths and a Lie (The Lying Game #3)

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