The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
The Lying Game, Book #1

Next book in series: Never Have I Ever
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: December 7, 2010
Hardcover: 320 pages
Age Group: Young Adult (12+)
Author Website
Buy: Amazon
Source: Harperteen @ Netgalley

Rating:

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, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?
Let the lying game begin.

I hadn't read anything by Sara Shepard yet, but I'd become obsessed with watching the Pretty Little Liars tv show every Monday, which for those of you who don't know are based of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars book series. I haven't read those yet, but I plan to very soon. I'm even more excited to read the Pretty Little Liars series now that I've read this book, a great start to her new series.

I happened to sign up for Netgalley a little while ago and I wanted to try it out, even though I hate reading books on the computer. I'd much rather have the actual book in my hands, curled up in a blanket reading it and being able to smell the awesome smell fresh new book pages give off. I know it may sound weird, but I love it. But either way, I decided to try it. And when I saw The Lying Game on the list, I decided to use it as my guinea pig and read it on my computer.

At first, I couldn't get fully into it, but I think that's mostly because I'm not use to reading books on my computer. But once I got past a couple of chapters I got really drawn into it and couldn't stop reading it. I admit, though, I had to go back and read over a couple of things because they were completely crazy. In a good way.

I can't count how many times I went, "Are you freaking kidding me?" while reading it. Sara really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and wonder what is going to happen next. The things that happened in this book was beyond insane.

Sometimes it confused me when it switched between Emma and Sutton, so I had to go back and read it. But other than that I didn't have much problems with it.

It was a great read and I am looking forward to reading the second installment in the series, Never Have I Ever.

Sara's writing is fast-paced, straight to the point, with just the right amount of details and suspense to keep you reading. I really liked Emma, though I'm not entirely sure why. She bugged me at times, but not as bad as some characters in books do. I really liked Ethan, too. I liked it straight from the beginning and nothing disappointed me. :) He seemed like someone I wouldn't mind having as a friend to hang out with.

Throughout the whole book Emma and Sutton both mention who they think killed Sutton, but there are so many suspects that it keeps you tied up and in questioning.

Overall, this was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good teen-angst/drama mixed in with suspense and mystery.