Review: Liars, Inc.

Liars, Inc.
Author: Paula Stokes
Publication Date: March 24th 2015        
Publisher:  HarperTeen
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

For fans of Gone Girl, I Hunt Killers, and TV's How to Get Away with Murder.

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 and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and 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 hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? In a story that Kirkus Reviews called "Captivating to the very end," Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters

Liars, Inc. You really surprised me, in all ways, characters, the plot, the holyshitwhatjusthappened parts. You know I like those parts. It's my kind of book, and if you know me, you know what that means. Some psycho twisted shit just went down and I loved every minute of it, and the best thing of all? I didn't see any of that coming at all, okay, I had my suspicions but I didn't guess the whole story behind it, and holy crap. So. Much. Fun. It was so addictive, I read it in three hours, the writings just so easy to get into and as things start happening, you need to know what the hell is going on. I won't say much about the plot in case of giving anything away, but I will say, aha! I didn't even pick up on the hints along the way, so bravo, and whatever you think might happen or who it is, just sit back and enjoy the read, there's a good chance you won't get it right anyway, and if you do, kudo's to you.

Firstly, I have to say I'm always anxious when it comes to female authors writing a male perspective,  most of the time I just find them really cringe-worthy and unrealistic to a guys voice, but they can be done right, and this is a perfect example of right. Max sounded very much like a guy, and was an easy character to like, he's an all-round decent guy, considering his history and family set-up, he does have his issues, but he doesn't let them get in the way of anything, though he does tend to hold back a little, and like I said, given his history and set-up, of course he's going to be like that. But he learns  and grows a lot throughout Liars, Inc, and a lot about himself. He's definitely my kind of guy, and I loved how he was with Parvati, and I ship them. By the end, I still ship them, even with everything.

The family, oh you cute little fictional family, you. So happy to have a family that aren't family by blood but are still a family. This is exactly why I hate the saying "You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family." No, you can't choose your family, but you can choose who you let be your family. Just  because someone didn't give birth to you, just because you're not actually related by blood, doesn't make a family any less.

Liars, Inc, is perfect for those times you're in the mood for something fun and quick and addictive, with easy to like characters and a plot that'll keep you guessing.

Rating: 4.5 /5