Honestly, I was very intrigued after reading synopsis of "Genuine Fraud". I went into it with an open mind, not sure what I can expect from the author that is new to me, and from the book itself that already got so many mixed reviews. After reading the novel though I think I know why the reviews are so diversified.

The story is written backwards, if I can say so, and I can already tell you here is where my biggest problem was. It felt really weird reading about things, events and situations and understanding them not until a few chapters later. I also often found myself not remembering to what situations that I've already read about did the events lead. It was really weird, demanding and made the reading more difficult for me personally. It was confusing and to be totally honest, not clear, some things and characters were appearing out of the blue and after finishing it I found myself sitting and thinking, and what now?

The storyline follows two characters and one is pretending to be the other one. They were not likeable, those characters, however I think that's the way it was supposed to be. They were reckless. They were unreliable and they were probably in a need of a therapy. I didn't feel connect to any of the characters and actually mostly I just felt reluctance towards them. I didn't understand them and their motives probably, and I still am not sure if this what happened with Jule's parents was truth or was it another lie.

The writing style was great but on the other hand it felt so cold and emotionless as if the author didn't mind if she connects with the readers or not. It lacked in suspense in tension. There was not a mystery to discover. There weren't any twists. So what was this book for? I was truly intrigued by the beginning, the first two, three chapters. Then the going back in time began, and every chapter skips back a week, few weeks or even a month before. I have nothing against flashbacks or retrospections but it was just too much for me and this timeline has just kept messing me up.

So the book left me totally in two minds and I still am not sure what to think. I will definitely read another E. Lockhart's book, especially as I'm hearing so many good things about "We Were Liars", but "Genuine Fraud" stays for me a short, fast - paced story with an average plot, not likeable, unbelievable and underdeveloped characters. However, if you're looking for a read with a difference, that is fresh and unique and even intriguing, that you might give "Genuine Fraud" a shot.

2.5 stars

Jule is an enigma from the start, navigating her way through the choppy waters of high society friendships aware that she doesn’t fit in but unable to tear herself away. As the book progresses we become less sure of who she is and how she has reached her current state, and the deeper we go the more puzzling it is, until suddenly the fog clears with a sharp realisation that it’s like a slap in the face. Clever and nuanced, Genuine Fraud gives more than a nod to the talented Mr Ripley but the one step forward, two steps back narrative works supremely well. No spoilers, but enough to say I’d love to know what Jule gets up to next!

Sorry this book wasn't for me. I liked it in the beginning but the it was hugely inspired by Talended Mr. Ripley. Also there was actually no mystery to discover.

I liked this book, it kept me guessing throughout the whole story. Although I did find some parts confusing and found that it started off a bit slow. It different from any other book I’ve read.

I had a very nice evening at the launch dinner for this book. Genuine Fraud is E. Lockhart’s first big release since We Were Liars and I was expecting it to be as good. It’s not. The inverted timeline is unusual for YA and will appeal to some, but a lot of the big reveals are readily available to the eagle eyed and the antagonist isn’t really that evil. It’s entertaining enough, I read it in 4 hours and the world of privilege is once again well drawn. But it didn’t meet my expectations, which was a shame.

In this exciting, fast paced Talented Mr Ripley style story we go back in time with each chapter as we find out about Jules and how she has ended up living a life that was never hers to steal. Jules is a con artist who has  found the way to living a charmed life after forming an intense, close friendship with Imogen, a trust fund heiress who is trying to figure out who she is after being adopted.

In a calculated friendship Jule works out how to make the most of any situation and quickly shows that she will stop an nothing to live her American dream. Painting herself as a superhero, she forgets what is true and who she ever was to begin with. As her lies begin to unravel, Jule fights to remember and forget simultaneously who she is.

In an addictive page turner the story of why Jule is on the run from the police is revealed by going backwards in time.

Wow, a very unique thriller, we start the story meeting Jules at the end of hers. Who is she? What has happened to her? With every chapter we uncover a bit more of the truth. Suprising, thrilling and at some points alarming!

Perfect YA book for those wanting a girl powered, troubled mystery!

When we met Jule, the central character in E. Lockhart's Genuine Fraud, she is in a Mexican resort hotel, pretending to be someone she is not, on the run from the police.

From there the tale works backwards, taking the reader to San Francisco, Puerto Rico, London, and the Hamptons, showing us piece by piece how Jule steals other’s identities – and one in particular.

What we never find out is why she does this, and that's where Genuine Fraud, for me, fell short. As the reader we are no clearer as to what Jule's motivations were in her trail of violence and deceit (or which of her many lies might be the truth). While the plot is smart - you have to be on your toes to keep up with Jule's schemes - the characters didn't go deep enough for me to really engage with the novel.

Despite the lack of certainty, Genuine Fraud is still an entertaining read, and one where a second reading could possibly unearth more clues to Jule’s motivations.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley UK in exchange for a review.
After spotting that E. Lockhart had a new book coming out I knew I had to read it.
I was slightly disappointed by this book, the plot is originally what drew me to it, murder, identity fraud and the mention of superheroes always gets me.
The story follows Jule, an American girl in Mexico with plenty of secrets and money. The story runs in reverse chronological order, starting with Jule in Mexico and explaining what happened for her to reach this point.
I wasn’t a fan of the flow of the book, usually, “suspense” and “mystery” books will build to the big climax, building the story up, but this one obviously didn’t. There was no build up, as this book started at the end.
The character of Jule just confused me, there was maybe two stories that told you about her past, but even still, they didn’t tell you much, just that she didn’t have the best home life and her reasons for leaving.
Imogen’s character interested me, we didn’t get very much information about her, but especially compared to Jule she seemed genuine and something about her just drew me to her character, leaving me wanting more.
Overall, the story interested me, but I think I would have preferred it to be in chronological order, but props to E. Lockhart for trying something unconventional.
3/5 Stars.

I really struggled with the first half of this book, it didn’t really keep my attention and I struggled to get to grips with the timeline. However I really got into the second half of the story, it was fast paced and really quite exciting. I don’t think it was as good or as original as we were liars, but it’s still an enjoyable read!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This book tells the story of Jules and Imogen and it starts at the end.. It was a twisting and thrilling read.

Told in reverse, Genuine Fraud begins with a young woman on the run and takes the reader backwards through not entirely reliable memories and increasingly complicated lies, through a close friendship brought to an unfortunate end, through the whole complex affair, from end to beginning and back again.

There are so many twists and turns in this story that I hesitate to say anything about it at all for fear of spoiling anything. The narrative taking the reader back through time can be a little confusing but it means that the story gets to unfold in a way that leaves you never quite sure what's real and what isn't. As soon as one piece of the story falls into place, we're swept back two days or six weeks to reveal that something else entirely is actually the truth, but then again, maybe that isn't either. Piece by piece things click together until finally the last secret is revealed and we end up, once again, back where we started, at the end of the story.

One downside to the backwards narrative is that it makes it tough to really feel for the characters, as the reader isn't so much on the journey with them, but experiencing events in gradual backwards steps, as told by an extremely unreliable narrator. Genuine Fraud is a difficult novel to explain and, at least at first, a difficult novel to get to grips with, but it's so well written that it doesn't take long for the mysteries of the story to overtake any concerns about the characters. If you're anything like me, you'll be desperate to get to the middle of this complicated maze of lies and half-truths and find out what really happened to Jule and Imogen.

I am not sure what I think. I have read it quickly and it is a page-turner, but very early on you realize that it is effectively a copy of one of the most famous novels of the 20th century. I felt cheated for that reason, especially because the author mentions 'a particular debt' at the end if the book. I would say that is a severe understatement - the only relatively original thing is that it is told backwards. If you enjoyed that famous book, Dickens, Marvel and Memento, then you will enjoy this, provided you look at at it as a sort of pastiche/homage, but no more.

I feel this book didn't really deliver. Going backwards to me just made the book less exciting with each chapter. The main character is not totally believable. The concept of continually changing identities is a good idea. I was just hoping for a better story.

I found this book a bit of a struggle to begin with, but once I'd realised it was written in reverse order it made more sense. An enjoyable read.

I found this book to be unreadable. I loved We Were Liars and was looking forward to this as a result. The main character isn't likeable, in my opinion, which typically isn't an issue. In this case, it was. I couldn't carry one after 40% because I simply didn't care what happened to her.

I received an ARC however my review is honest and unbiased

What a book!
Different
Full of suspense
Unique

I recently watched Rellik on TV and never anticipated that I would ever read a book written in similar style.

This is a wild journey.

Starts in present day, then backtracks, at short intervals then ends back in present with murder, maybe, suicide, maybe, fraud, maybe - you need to read to find out!

So what happens? Who is she? Is she who we think she is? I still don't know but I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend

I tried to really love this book but I just couldn't. The story was confusing and jumped around. I loved We Were Liars so this was very disappointed in this second book. I really hope that she continues to write beautiful stories.

This book, which I received from Netgalley was well written but as with the recent BBC drama Rellick it was presented in reverse order. It was a very 'American' book and at times very sinister but mostly, i'm sorry to say, an effort to read. I kept hoping it would all come together as I approached the end but that too was disappointing.

This book took me some time to get into. I found it hard to see the story in flashbacks although it was interesting seeing it all build together. I did not empathise with either of the two main characters - both were deeply flawed and difficult to like. It was interesting to see how they manipulated each other and used each other.

I did struggle with the ease with which Jule resorted to violence and how she justified her actions and choices.

I could not put it down however and wanted to know how we got to where we started. Hard to read but interesting.