The Lying Game - Sara Shepard

Hardcover, 307 pages

Published December 7th 2010 by HarperTeen

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.


Sara Shepard is great, I mean really freekin' awesome! I adored Pretty Little Liars, and going into this book I had to remind myself that this was a totally different series.

However,


I couldn't help but have constant reminders of just how similar the book really is. First of all there's a murder. Except who did it? Well, that's the mystery, hmm... does this sound vaguely familiar to you? A creepy boy who seems very reserved, almost as if he is hiding something... Wow. That's like Pretty Little Liars too.


Quick Summary: Emma finds out that she has a long lost twin sister, Sutton, and decides to meet up with her. However upon arrival it is clear that things are not quite right. Later Emma discovers that Sutton is dead, and that she has to pretend she is Sutton or she is next. Basically it's the whole if you tell: You're dead.


So, apart from the similar plot line, this book was fantastic! It held mystery, suspense, and I did rather enjoy Emma's character. It was actually really interesting as the narrative would suddenly swap from Emma  to Sutton in heaven, who would add little comments here and there. I liked this as it was cool to see how she was feeling, and how she reacted to Emma's actions.


The thing I love most about this book is, You. Are. Never. Right. You see, just when you think you've got the whole murder thing sort out, everything is turned upside down, so you are never certain. This is an aspect I really admire in Shepard's novels.
Shepard's writing style is so pleasing to read! She creates this eerie setting, with really well developed characters alongside. She really is a great Y.A author.


Great read, I highly recommend you go out and pick up your copy now! Cannot wait for the sequel: Never Have I Ever.


4/5 - Only because I thought it was a little too similar to Pretty Little Liars.