Author: Lamar Giles
Publication Date: January 21st 2014
~A huge thank you to Harper Collins, and Edelweiss, who provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.~
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick Pearson is hiding in plain sight. In fact, his name isn't really Nick Pearson. He shouldn't tell you his real name, his real hometown, or why his family just moved to Stepton, Virginia. And he definitely shouldn't tell you about his friend Eli Cruz and the major conspiracy Eli was uncovering when he died. About how Nick had to choose between solving Eli's murder with his hot sister, Reya, and "staying low-key" like the Program said to do.
But he's going to tell you—unless he gets caught first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nick Pearson is hiding in plain sight. In fact, his name isn't really Nick Pearson. He shouldn't tell you his real name, his real hometown, or why his family just moved to Stepton, Virginia. And he definitely shouldn't tell you about his friend Eli Cruz and the major conspiracy Eli was uncovering when he died. About how Nick had to choose between solving Eli's murder with his hot sister, Reya, and "staying low-key" like the Program said to do.
But he's going to tell you—unless he gets caught first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't expect to like Fake ID as much as I did, it's not
the type I see that often in YA, being about murder and the Witness Protection
workings, I was sold.
The way it was written was realistic, and addictive. It kept
you on the edge little by little while secrets were uncovered and revealed.
It's fast paced, with shrouded with mystery.
There was a lot going on, with a ton of subplots, with murder and cover
ups, conspiracy, and others scenes that didn't quite connect yet, it was exciting to see the click of how it was all related, and
once I got to that point, I was gobsmacked because though there was hints and
clues along the way, that now looking back on it, I get it, but I didn't see it
coming. I was genuinely shocked, and I loved that more than anything. Well
played, well played.
Nick "Tony" was such a character, he felt real and
some things that usually would annoy me, didn't because of the way they were said. He wasn't a shy
character at all, and he was downright funny in some places. You know what I
really loved though? The relationship he had with his mother, going what they
went through because of his father, there's a strong bond. Though because some of
the lies Nick has to keep from her, and an alliance with his father that his
mother can clearly see, Nick hates the fact he has to keep them to protect her.
He'll gladly do it, but he doesn't like lying.
That right there, if you think about it, a teenager not liking to lie to his
parents, is not realistic. But, Nick
isn't just any teenager, and his family isn't every other family out there.
This is realistic to their characters and situation, realistic to a mature character. I also loved how easy
it was for him to want to find out
the truth for Eli, for somebody who doesn't make friends easily, and who didn't
know Eli that long, he was pretty damn loyal.
Fake ID was a fun and addictive read, with a whole lot of drama, a revelation you won't see coming, and with an ending that although is satisfactory, leaves you wanting more.
Reya, the love interest for Nick and sister of Eli, was a
fierce character, what she goes through and what she does for her mother
because she couldn't, shows you just how strong she was. We didn't see much of
her in the beginning until Eli's murder, due to drama over Nick and Reya's ex
Zach, but I'm kind of glad we didn't, because though there is a love interest, it
wasn't centred over it, and it's not
really a romance, not yet. She wasn't just there because of that, and her focus
too, was on Eli's murder. It annoys me so much when there's been a murder, and
the characters get close because of that, and suddenly, it's all they can think
about even though someone's just been murdered.
Luckily Fake ID didn't go down that road, thank you Giles.
Also, yay for multi-cultural central characters that were portrayed realistically and not stereotypically.
I wanted some more dirt on some of the other characters, and
a bit more on the cover-up, because it's kind of left open, but nevertheless, I
absolutely enjoyed it.
Fake ID was a fun and addictive read, with a whole lot of drama, a revelation you won't see coming, and with an ending that although is satisfactory, leaves you wanting more.
Rating: 5/5
