Name: br's review of Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes
Item: Liars, Inc.
Rating: 2
Author: br

Paula Stokes

A dark and twisted psychological tale, which Kirkus Reviews called "captivating to the very end" in a starred review—perfect for fans of I Hunt Killers and Gone Girl. 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. So with the help of his friend Preston and his girlfriend, 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 it. But then Preston never comes home. And the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead to Preston's body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the killer….

Liars, Inc.

Jackie 

A dark and twisted psychological tale that will keep readers guessing, perfect for fans of I Hunt Killers and Gone Girl. 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. So with the help of his friend Preston and his girlfriend, 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 it. But then Preston never comes home. And the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead to Preston's body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the killer….

The main character, Max, is totally fine and likable enough, but as for the rest of the characters,they are GRINDING ON MY NERVES. And of course, the adult parent stereotype where the adults are unreliable and neglectful and so *drum roll* 
  main character who is a teen HAS to take matters into his own hands
. Surprise!

Right now I am in dire need of a heart-wrenching, meaningful story to distract me from my woes and sadly, Liars, INc. just isn't doing it for me. Maybe I'll pick this up in the near future where I'm feeling much more forgiving towards books that aren't my type.

Sven Test

First off, was I intrigued when I read the title and read the synopsis? Hell, yes! Was it enough to make me request it? Mmm, no, not really. And I've been mentally shooting myself ever since. I saw that Marianne from Boricuan Bookworms had an eARC and I asked where she got it from. She said Edelweiss and I immediately searched for it and requested it without a second thought. Now, the wait. I was dying while waiting to get approved. I had seen great reviews, those being from Novel Ink and One Less Lonely Blog.

I was HOOKED on 8%, just starting the book. I had no idea what the hell was going on. When I read it was for fans of Gone Girl, I thought it would be a slow book, like Gone Girl is. And noooo! It is so much fun! So many things happening! When you think you know something, it deviates from your thought and you are left confused. I loved this mind-twisting story. I wasn't expecting it, especially for a YA book but Paula really brought it!

So many clues are thrown in the book that had me going crazy...seriously. This is a story that actually makes you think about who you trust or how well do you really know the people that surround you. It was a great adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

I used to not come up with theories of what would happen in a book until I read Nocte and Verum by Courtney Cole. Those books made me want to think about every single detail, doubt every character until I was 110% they were innocent. So, I put those thoughts to use with Liars, INC. At first, I was guessing and guessing and my mind was going insane. It got to a point where I sat down and just stared at the cover and replayed scenes of the book in my head. A couple of ideas started forming...very horrible ones but there were two that stayed. One of them was right! I finally guessed something of a book but it took me a while to actually think it through and guess it.

If you are not a fan of mystery and thriller, you should still read this book. It is entertaining and you can actually connect with the characters and it is kind of hard to do so with these types of books. I loved Max so much! I messaged Melanie from One Less Lonely Blog and asked her if it was bad that I wanted a sequel.  A sequel where Preston escapes or Claudia gets revenge for having her "son" and husband taken away from her.

You guys will love this a lot. I loved it and I cannot say it enough. I wanted more for the ending. I really did, but overall, great story with amazing characters.

Steysha

“You ever feel like you don’t know anyone?” He looked out at the water again. “Or like no one knows you?”


So, this book really cannot be trusted. I had many theories about the ending and, unfortunately, I could decipher the main villain-protagonist way before it. I wouldn`t say that this book is for fans of Gone Girl, because the latter obviously stands on the upper level. While Gone Girl takes you by surprise because of its thoroughly planned crimes, Liars, Inc. is more of a book where everything you find out is accidental. I wouldn`t call this story believable or realistic. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it as much.


  The truth doesn’t get you very far on the streets, or in a group home, or even in high school. That’s probably why the idea of Liars, Inc. appealed to me. Everybody lies. You might as well get paid for it.


Max, Preston and Parvati are big fat liars. They earn money on coming up with a fish story. Exemptions from school, cover stories for parents - all the little things that teens need to enjoy their youth. Nothing serious or criminal. But how far can take you a lie?

When they organized Liars, Inc. they could not fathom that deception will play a cruel joke on them. One day, Preston asks his friend to come up with a cover story to temporarily escape from home. And everything would have been fine, but he just... had disappeared. Being from a wealthy family, his disappearance immediately becomes a major concern of the police. And who might be considered a suspect, if not the main liar of the city? Indeed, all the evidences point on Max.



As it often happens, no one believes in his innocence. Well, except for his girlfriend Parvati. Together, they are going to find their friend and clear the good name of Max. But, in the process, they will learn an unexpected truth.


  That was another thing I had learned on the streets. Being homeless was like being a shark—survival was a matter of always moving forward.


A little bit about the characters themselves:
Max is an orphan. The first part of his life was spent in a shelter. He knows how to survive on the streets, and the price of the family comfort. He's a regular guy who dreams of a peaceful and quiet life with his girlfriend Parvati. But he is concerned about her past - she and Preston were friends long before he appeared on the scene, and he can`t help but be suspicious and jealous. 


  Faith seems to be something people develop when their lives are going good. It’s always been in short supply for me.


Speaking subjectively - Max is a very plain character. He has no special traits, unlike other heroes; he does not stand out, except that he is the main narrative. But, perhaps, that way it is easier to connect with the character. He`s also antisocial, though his two best friends mean the world to him. But what if they are not who they seem to be?


  It’s a shitty feeling when you realize the two people you trusted most in the world are liars.




Parvati already stands out by the fact that she is an Indian. Hello, diversity! I just could not help but think about her:



She is a spoiled girl from a rich family, who learned how to lie before she could walk. However, of all the liars, I liked her most. Parvati is strange, unusual, clever, sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes mysterious, sometimes sincere. You don`t know what to expect from her. Well, this girl also can kick some ass *girl power!*. She made a lot of mistakes in life, she`s not perfect, as it might seem at first glance. But who likes perfect?

And Preston, though he doesn`t appear in book as often as other characters. He`s a boy from a wealthy family, the star of the school, everybody loves him. And why not? He is cute, funny, sociable. But can`t it be a simply beautiful facade? After all, it`s impossible to know a person for 100%, especially if he has something to hide.



But no, not really, book. Yes, it’s certainly very interesting and worth your attention. Easy to read, captures from the very first pages. It has an intrigue, and love, and unexpected plot twists, and epic ending. I really liked how the author raised the topic of how important is it to be loved by your family. She presents us with three different kinds of parents and shows the outcome of their bringing up on their children. For me this book is a one-time-read, but it was a very pleasant experience. I advise it for the fans of Pretty Little Liars.

Nia C

3.5 stars to this gorgeous novel. Loved the characters, plot was a bit PLL for my tastes. But character complexity and development well done. Excellent YA thriller. C for Cute.

Full review to come.

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

Oh man, that ending was messed up. Good job, Stokes. I did not see that coming.

And I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic between Parvati and Max. But if Max had just listened to her more, they would have stayed out of a bit of trouble.

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

First off, was I intrigued when I read the title and read the synopsis? Hell, yes! Was it enough to make me request it? Mmm, no, not really. And I've been mentally shooting myself ever since. I saw that Marianne from Boricuan Bookworms had an eARC and I asked where she got it from. She said Edelweiss and I immediately searched for it and requested it without a second thought. Now, the wait. I was dying while waiting to get approved. I had seen great reviews, those being from Novel Ink and One Less Lonely Blog.

I was HOOKED on 8%, just starting the book. I had no idea what the hell was going on. When I read it was for fans of Gone Girl, I thought it would be a slow book, like Gone Girl is. And noooo! It is so much fun! So many things happening! When you think you know something, it deviates from your thought and you are left confused. I loved this mind-twisting story. I wasn't expecting it, especially for a YA book but Paula really brought it!

So many clues are thrown in the book that had me going crazy...seriously. This is a story that actually makes you think about who you trust or how well do you really know the people that surround you. It was a great adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

I used to not come up with theories of what would happen in a book until I read Nocte and Verum by Courtney Cole. Those books made me want to think about every single detail, doubt every character until I was 110% they were innocent. So, I put those thoughts to use with Liars, INC. At first, I was guessing and guessing and my mind was going insane. It got to a point where I sat down and just stared at the cover and replayed scenes of the book in my head. A couple of ideas started forming...very horrible ones but there were two that stayed. One of them was right! I finally guessed something of a book but it took me a while to actually think it through and guess it.

If you are not a fan of mystery and thriller, you should still read this book. It is entertaining and you can actually connect with the characters and it is kind of hard to do so with these types of books. I loved Max so much! I messaged Melanie from One Less Lonely Blog and asked her if it was bad that I wanted a sequel. (view spoiler)[ A sequel where Preston escapes or Claudia gets revenge for having her "son" and husband taken away from her. (hide spoiler)]

You guys will love this a lot. I loved it and I cannot say it enough. I wanted more for the ending. I really did, but overall, great story with amazing characters.

Jackie &
Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes

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Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes