Name: Zoe Smolen's review of All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney
Item: All the Best Liars
Rating: 3
Author: Zoe Smolen

Amelia Kahaney

Amelia Kahaney's All the Best Liars is a dark, modern psychological thriller and coming-of-age about obsession, manipulation, and the intensity of those first friendships that take hold of you and never let go. Tic tac toe, three girls in a row. Nine years old and inseparable. Friends for life, or so they think . . . Best friends Syd, Rain, and Brie grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in the stifling California desert, desperately wishing for a way out. In the end, each of them will escape—but not in the way they expect. One will do it by dying, another by lying, a third by taking the fall. A deadly fire is set two weeks before the end of their senior year of high school and nothing will ever be the same. With gorgeous, taut prose and twists to the very last page, All the Best Liars switches between the present and the past to unravel the truth behind the fire and the cost of the secrets at heart of their friendship.

A Novel

All the Best Liars

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

Amelia Kahaney's All the Best Liars is a dark, modern psychological thriller and coming-of-age about obsession, manipulation, and the intensity of those first friendships that take hold of you and never let go. Tic tac toe, three girls in a row. Nine years old and inseparable. Friends for life, or so they think . . . Best friends Syd, Rain, and Brie grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in the stifling California desert, desperately wishing for a way out. In the end, each of them will escape--but not in the way they expect. One will do it by dying, another by lying, a third by taking the fall. A deadly fire is set two weeks before the end of their senior year of high school and nothing will ever be the same. With gorgeous, taut prose and twists to the very last page, All the Best Liars switches between the present and the past to unravel the truth behind the fire and the cost of the secrets at heart of their friendship.

Zoe Smolen

This is a pretty standard YA contemporary-mystery. My favorite part is that is felt so distinctly West Coast. It reminded me so much of my own adolescences on the West Coast (but you know, less drama). Perfect vibes. My least favorite part was the characters. I didn't like a single one of them. They are all miserable and awful people in their own ways, but also do fee l pretty true to how teenagers act. 

The story itself was just average. The twist was pretty good, but I would have preferred a little more explanation at the end. It definitely wrapped up too quickly and felt a little unsatisfying. 

Thanks to the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney

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Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney

Reviews

Join the club

Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney