All we can be sure of, as we read this story, as it weaves through the times and places, is tat the central character acquires and uses different identities in the way that you and I change our underwear. She says she is young, but when did her wanderings really start? At what age? The stories that she tells appear incompatible and they change - she admits - according to her audience. So who is the true person? And what is her true story you are left guessing until the final chapter. An interesting way of telling this story that initially seems confusing but once you get into your stride is quite revealing.

I raced through this novel. It was clever, well written, and utterly absorbing. Was it however emotionally absorbing? For me, if I'm honest, it wasn't - not in the way that We Were Liars was. I ended the novel quickly, then jabbed at the right of the page, believing I must not be quite at the end... That said, it was fast paced, page turning and utterly enjoyable.

Having read mixed reviews for "Genuine Fraud" I was intrigued ton read this book.
The story is written back to front which is a great concept. In other words, the book starts at chapter 18 and moves back, finally ending with chapter 1 and finishing with 19 as an epilogue almost. Confusing? Not at all as long as you keep reading! However, once I'd left it overnight, I found myself having to go back and recap on details to remember what was going on, particularly seeing as though both characters are pretending to be the other. It's a unique concept though, but one I'm not sure I would want to revisit. This is mainly due to the fact that when I read a book, I like it to be a pleasurable, easy experience -a bit like pulling on a comfy pair of slippers that take you on a bumpy rollercoaster ride. This one I found a little hard work at times. Saying all that though, the plot and characters and prose were all cleverly done. I was intrigued to discover the ingenious ending and was impressed with the way it did grip me three quarters of the way through,(maybe a tad late?). Despite its obvious structural challenges, it was a memorable experience and got me talking to my friends and book club about it!
This isn't your traditional psychological/crime novel with lots of twists (and sometimes far too predictable) turns. However it is a great read and I would recommend it AS LONG AS YOU AREN'T looking for something that won't tax your brain!
Go for it!

I am a huge fan of E. Lockhart's work, but this latest offering was not her strongest. I certainly was interested in seeing what happened and thought that the reverse chronology was clever, but I never connected with or understood Jule the way that I hoped to. As always, Lockhart is a sharp and beautiful writer, but I was ultimately left with questions that went unanswered and a strong feeling of wanting more depth. Readers who like thrillers and suspense will probably like this just fine, but I will stick with the richer world painted in other works like We Were Liars.

Super! The way the book is set out is super interesting, basically going back in time, linking all the chapters together until we're back at the ending, which is actually quite surprising. An interesting read.

YES THIS BOOK.

I am, as it happens, a massive fan of Lockhart’s We Were Liars; I think it’s an excellent book and so obviously I was super excited to get my hands on a copy of her new book, Genuine Fraud and let me tell you a thing: it didn’t disappoint.

It’s a story that reminded me of (and wow if you know what film I am talking about here then please give me a headstart before you set about destroying me because I haven’t read the book and know about it only because of that face. Happen one day I’ll rectify that and read it) but! It is a thing that I enjoyed so you know, plus points right there. & probably that’s the end of my review.

I liked it and it reminded me of a film that’s based on a book I haven’t read and the title of which I have redacted like I am a lawyer and ‘oh wow Josephine,’ I hear you cry, it’s a good job you have a book blog.’

I know, right. I know, but here’s the thing: I could talk at you about this book and what I loved about it and why I loved it but somehow, I kind of don’t know how to do that without massive spoilers.
(Although have I done that already with that whole reference. Should I rewrite this review and redact the name of the film. Ooooh. I might. That might be fun. I’m going to. I’m also going to leave this little segment in because it’s fun for you to see how my mind works...)




To get back to the point though, in the same way as it was with We Were Liars, I think that the best of this book comes from not actually having a clue what is going on, or what is true and what is false or who you trust. It’s an absolute mindfuck and it’s glorious.




I enjoy, every so often, a story with an unreliable narrator and this is third person so it’s not that exactly, apart from all of the ways it kind of is, but it is a story that leaves you wondering with the turn of every page which parts of what you just read you can rely on. There are POV shifts and timeline jumps and so much is going on you don’t even know, but even though your brain hurts a little bit, it works, completely, because of some kind of sorcery and witchcraft/Lockhart’s skill with words. It’s utterly absorbing and, I love a good psychological thriller: I say that a lot I know but that’s because I do, and that is what this is, and a really intriguing one at that. It’s so tense and it unravels so cleverly and it’s so so twisty.

I’m also a really MASSIVE fan of Lockhart’s writing style, she writes so prettily even when she’s writing about people you don’t think you like, much, and her descriptions make me want to do a small dance of delight and her character development is just smashing so you know, there’s that also.



If you like books where the bad guys don’t always get their comeuppance and where everything isn’t tied up in a pretty bow by the end and where there is a clear and perfectly painted beginning, middle and end then probably this book isn’t for you. If none of that bothers you though, or better still you crave the opposite then THIS IS A BOOK YOU NEED TO READ. PRONTO. It’s so messed up and I loved it.

So this was no We Were Liars, which quickly found its way to my list of favourite reads when I read it earlier this year, but it is a brilliantly inventive novel in its own right and has confirmed E. Lockhart's place as one of my auto-buy authors.

Jule and Imogen. Two girls of the same age who could pass for each other in a certain light. Two girls with a similar past yet with the complete opposite of upbringings. Two girls brought together in a unique and mysterious way. But it is not fate or destiny that has brought them together, it is the manipulation and lies of one of the two. And this one will never let the other go.

This was another cleverly and carefully crafted novel. Just as in We Were Liars, the voice of this possibly unreliable narrator grips you from the start. You know there are secrets just waiting to be unearthed, but are unable to do so without meandering along the course of the novel, and until both author and protagonist are ready to allow you to do so. You read this novel on their time. And each carefully placed clue builds on those that came before until they topple, leaving the full force of the ending's shock reveal to wash over you, captivating you with its intensity.

For the brilliance of this novel lay in how Lockhart chose to tell this story. The backwards chronology led to a suspenseful and steady reveal of truth, that trickled throughout each chapter, leaving clues in its wake for the reader to scavenge for and store. The reader is kept guessing throughout, about what led to the events of the scene before, and the one before that one, and so on... Each chapter reveals truths about its predecessor, but each is also only one piece of the jigsaw puzzle that requires all of its pieces to be placed before a full picture to be depicted and a full understanding can be garnered.

3.5 stars

I'm going to preface this review by saying that I went into Genuine Fraud with high expectations. I found E. Lockhart and her wonderful book, We Were Liars only this year and I truly loved it. I inhaled it, really.

Lockhart's newest offering isn't a disappointing read but it didn't wholly live up to its predecessor, in my opinion. This novel follows the story of Jule, a self-taught teenage impersonator, once orphan, who is lured, albeit willingly, into the life of priviliged Imogen Sokoloff through a case of mistaken identity. Told in reverse chronological order, Lockhart weaves a well-paced and intricate plot that is both suspenseful and addictive.

The influences here are obvious and intentional, apparently. This book is very Highsmith, with The Talented Mr. Ripley similarities plain to see. There are references to Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte and superhero comics. Traditional female character roles are challenged, with Jule painted as a muscly, kick-ass, savvy vigilante. Lacking a true sense of self, she envisions and presents herself as whoever she is trying to be in that moment, moving between accents and personalities. She is clever, quick to adapt and brazen. She makes for a great protagonist and we cant help but be intrigued by her. The self Jule sees in her own head - strong, nimble, capable, confident - is a manifestation of how she would like to be in real life, as far removed from her actual life as possible. She has a background, a childhood to cover over, and believes that morphing into another person, someone with status, wealth and beauty, is the answer to her unhappiness and fulfillment.

This is a story of identity. It is a fast-paced psychological thriller with an interesting structure and scenes that are cinematic in their delivery (notably those that contain violence). It's a quick read that delivers a decent amount of punch and I am happy I was given the opportunity to read it. While We Were Liars will always stand out in my mind as one of the finest young adult novels contemporary literature has to offer, Genuine Fraud is an enjoyable read that would be very well presented in film format.

Due to, essentially a case of mistaken identity, Jule and Immie are thrust together. Both are orphans but from totally different backgrounds, Jule has a bleak past full of hardship whereas Immie was adopted and cosseted by a wealthy and generous family.

Despite their differences the pair become pretty much inseparable and Jule, a self-made master of disguise, mimicry and other trickery sets about reinventing herself to fit into Immie’s world of privilege and entitlement, but then tragedy strikes ...

The story is told mainly from Jule’s viewpoint and starts at the end and works it’s way backwards to the beginning. An interesting idea but a bit confusing.
I found the ending fizzled out and the story as a whole left a lot of stuff unresolved. I wondered if E. Lockhart was going to turn this into a series which would explain what was missing.

This was a quick, easy read (except for the going backwards thing) it wasn’t earth shattering and none of the characters etched their way into my heart but it was well written, reasonably fast paced with a seriously disturbed protagonist.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt it was exactly the right balance of entertaining and thought-provoking, it was suspenseful and it kept me reading into the night.

I think it really helped that I didn't know anything about the book going in. I saw it on Netgalley, requested it (because it's E Lockhart) and then totally forgot about it until it popped up in my emails. I didn't read the blurb or any other reviews, so I had no clue about the background of the characters or the structure of the plot. Everything was a surprise so the twists the author had built in came as a total surprise.

I loved the structure of the book - it's written in reverse, like Memento. I guess it was a bit of a gimmick, but it was fun and interesting. There were a few small hints in each chapter about what had just happened (and would be coming up in the next chapter, which kept things suspenseful.

The plot itself is lifted by the fact that the story is written in reverse. It's kind of a retelling of The Talented Mr Ripley and the big draw for me was that I started off with one set of expectations and an image of Jule in my head and gradually my whole perception changed, which wouldn't have been the case if the book had been written chronologically.

All in all this was a pretty decent book and I'm glad I read it.

I received a copy of Genuine Fraud in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and Hot Key Books.

I'd heard a lot - and good things - about E Lockhart's We Were Liars so the opportunity to read her* latest novel was just too tempting.

And Genuine Fraud is an interesting read. Full of potential. Well written. VERY cleverly constructed. But - depending on your expectations - may fall a little short when it comes to the plot. It's good (though I note many reviews commented on it being a re-imagining of The Talented Mr Ripley) but if you're expecting some mystery or some suspense... it's not really there. At least not in the way you'd expect.

You should understand that this book is written in reverse. Like Memento or similar. Readers are given very clear direction however (something lacking in the last book I read), so Lockhart specifies that the chapter is.... x days or weeks before a certain event we've just read about.

Like I said, it's very clever. We're able to guess what's happened quite early on however, so - if you're after a whodunnit or typical mystery - this isn't it. But, I was intrigued enough to keep reading - eager to know how we got 'there'. And I think that's the addictive nature of this book.

Jule is an interesting lead character. I was drawn to her immediately. And I think Lockhart does this on purpose. We're engaged and worried about her as she seems to be in some sort of danger. We learn about what happened to her as a child. (At least I think we did - that was the most confusing part of the book for me. Was it true or wasn't it? And what became of her between the ages of 8 and 15 or so? The backcover blurb mentions the presence of a 'spy' so I don't think I'm offering any spoilers by saying this is kinda raised but goes nowhere.)

But as Jule's story unfolds she becomes less likeable. I think Lockhart intends for this to be gradual but there was a pretty quick pivot point for me.

Other than the weird glitch (ie. huge missing piece of her backstory: which either ended up on the editing room floor - in a manner of speaking; was forgotten by Lockhart and her editors; or was just another story Jule spun... albeit via third person narration!) I liked the structure of this book.

It could just be the story of a sociopath / psychopath. Or it could be the story of a friendship. It certainly seems like the latter. Initially. Although as we progress through the book we realise our perception of Jule and Imogen's friendship and Imogen (and her behaviour) is kinda tainted and start to wonder exactly what we can believe!

This is billed as a young adult novel (13-18yrs I noted somewhere) but the key players are of college-age so I'd recommend it be read by those at the top of that range and older.

3.5 stars

Wow, this book is something else. There is quite a disturbing element to the development of this story, murder, intrigue, betrayal. The plot develops quickly and if you would like a read that is fast paced and keeps you hooked, I would 100% recommend this book!

This book tells the tale of Jule, and Imogen. we start at the end of the story and work backwards to reveal all of the details that we need to know.
Both Orphans, Immy was adopted into a 'better' life than Jule but they become friends. Years later when they reconnect we are reminded that you never really know someone.

I found I was about 30% of the way through the book ( thank you kindle percentage bar) when I realised that I still had no idea why we needed to know or really how interested I was. the books an easy read, and although you find each clue to the puzzle on a chapter by chapter basis the motives behind the characters actions felt weak, and under planned.

Well I have to start by saying that I haven’t read anything like this before. Loved the story but whoa this is such an unusual way to tell it. Each chapter was a fascination to me as each one took me back another step in time. At times it was quite sad as I already knew what lay head in their future for some of the characters. I also already knew the end, or did I?
The way in which it was told is really priceless. Most stories of course work up to a climax from before the event but well this brilliant written character is a master of cover up. I didn’t like her, she got under my skin and I feared her because she is a chameleon that can become whoever and whatever she needs to be for who she is with. The further I read into the story the closer I came to the beginning and the end.
It was a strange book in the way of I didn’t want to be close to the main character and yet other characters in the book weren’t round long enough for me to really get to know them. They were portrayed more as a pest that needed to be swotted or avoided at all costs. Now this may sound like a strange book and to be honest it was but hell it was tense, it was compelling and I loved everything about it.
This is the first book that I have read by this author but feel that this style of writing is a one-off kind of book. The impact wouldn’t be as great to repeat this style again, it is sort of a novelty novel. Just brilliant!
I wish to thank Imogen Sebba of Bonnier Zaffre for inviting me to read this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Okay, wow, what a letdown. After loving "We Were Liars" I was very excited to dive into this one. Sadly, this book didn't deliver at all.

I really liked the aspect of the story being told backwards in time. That's about it. The story was underwhelming. The concept felt like "The Talented Mr. Ripley" which is not a compliment as I didn't enjoy that book very much either but Mr. Ripley at least had that novelty feeling to it as I had never read a book like that. "Genuine Fraud" feels like a watered down version instead, with a few suprises in the beginning but then it became predictable and boring. And the little twist at the end couldn't save the book.

3/5 Stars

The book was a bit lack luster for me. There were some compelling things that happened, but nothing that made this book great or a stand out favorite. There were several moments where I was just confused or trying to figure out how what I was reading played into the larger narrative. I guess the thing I was the most upset about was that there was no satisfying conclusion. I was expecting for some big reveal or something from the backwards narrative to lead to an "ah ha" moment, but I didn't feel like we got one. 

This book had some super creative ideas, just not the best execution.

Like The Talented Mr Ripley meets Memento - but with teen protagonists - smart, chilling and utterly addictive!

This book is strangely okay. I liked it but didn't love it. Like other readers, I do not classify this as a psychological thriller or mystery. There is a tiny bit of suspense around the development of the main character, Jule, throughout the novel, and later a bit of curiosity about Imogen. There's a lot of "but who is she really?" thoughts as you read through this story, which is by the way, written backwards through time. The whole book was strange. The story was entertaining enough that I was able to read it in a day, but at the end I found myself wondering if I liked it or not, and a day later, I'm still unsure. Then again, anything that makes me think has to be good. Right?
Before reading the book, this is all I knew about it: "The story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge." ....and basically, that's the summary of the book.
Do I suggest you read it? sure. It's ok and entertaining. It isn't life-changing or home library worthy, but I'd recommend waiting on the paperback or library edition.

This story is written in reverse. I must admit it took me a while to get my head round and I seemed to loose track. As you're seeing events in reverse order, I found it difficult to put it in context. This will probably make more sense when you read it! The ending was slightly disappointing and the 'overheard' conversation of the policewoman on her phone explaining the events to a third person, was a bit poor. To be honest I was still a bit confused. Not Lockhart's best. I have read her other book We Were Liars, which is excellent. This is still worth a read, but probably best to try and read as much as possible on one sitting, so you don't lose the thread!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like most of us here, I LOVED We were liars, and was hoping for the same. This wasn't the same, but it was still good, just not AS good.

For a start, it was confusing! Mega confusing. One thing I don't like, is when books title each chapter with a date, but you're reading it on the kindle. Suddenly the chapter is titled May 2015 and you have no idea what the last chapter was, and unlike a physical book, it's hard work to go back. Anyway! rant over.. this book started each chapter with a date, BUT it also said 'two weeks before blah blah' etc, so that was great.

Anyway, the book.

The book went backwards, which was a bit trippy. I had NO idea what was going on until I was about 2/5 though, and even then I was unsure. I kinda still am.

But it kept me guessing, made me keen for more and I think thats what makes a god book, that eagerness to turn the next page.

Well worth a read, but not the greatest work by the author.