A classic Karen M. McManus book. The characters and plot are well crafted and the twists and turns are brilliant!!

Due to personal issues cannot write a proper review now
A more extensive review will follow. Many thanks to the publisher

This was a fantastic fast paced and thrilling read - there were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming and the characters were overall really entertaining.

Oh this had me hooked! Full of twists and intrigue, the writing and plot had me hooked and I'll be checking out some of the authors other books now

Karen McManus continues to be the absolute queen of young adult thrillers with Such Charming Liars!

This is yet again another fast paced multi point of view story which leaves readers guessing and wanting more. I love this style of reading and I think this will seriously appeal to teens wanting stories that keep them coming back.

Another great book from Karen McManus. I loved the character connections and characterisation of the main characters. It had an interesting and slightly unbelievable premise but the writing and plot really sold the whole idea. As always full of red herrings!

I am incredibly grateful to both NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review Such Charming Liars. Being selected to explore this captivating story before its official release has been such a treat, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on it with all of you. A huge thank you to the teams at NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for their generosity and for making this advanced reading experience possible.

For all of Kat’s life it’s just been her and her mother, Jamie. Except for the 48 hours when Jamie was married and had a stepbrother, Liam. That ended in an epic divorce, Kat and Liam haven’t spoken since.

Now Jamie is a jewel thief trying to go straight, but she has one last job at billionaire Ross Sutherland’s birthday party. Kat has figured out a way to tag along. What Kat doesn’t know is that there are two surprise guests at the Sutherland compound that weekend. Liam and his father who is a serial scammer who has his sights set on Ross Sutherland’s youngest daughter.

Kat and Liam are on a collision course to disaster and when a Sutherland dies, they realise they might actually be in the killer’s crosshairs themselves. Somehow Kat and Liam are the new targets and they can’t trust anyone except each other, or can they?

Finally, my first five star read of 2025!

Karen M. McManus loves a dual/multi POV, doesn’t she?

I am making my mission in 2025 to get all caught up with her books.

But anyway, back to Such Charming Liars. At first I didn’t see how the plot fitted into Karen M. McManus’ usual style but it became apparent soon enough. I’d probably go as far as saying that this is my favourite book that she’s written.

It was fast paced and filled with twists and turns. Just when you think you have it all sussed out, something else happens. It’s a brilliant book.

I am really enjoying heist themed books at the moment and this was no exception.

Not only was the story great but so were the characters. There was so much character development happening throughout this book and characters that I didn’t love at the beginning really grew on me throughout the duration of this book.

Overall this was a fantastic book, I read it so quickly because I just couldn’t put it down.

I really enjoyed the plot and the dynamic relationships between the characters. The way their interactions and emotional journeys unfolded kept me engaged on a deeper level. However, despite appreciating these elements, I found myself struggling to feel motivated to pick the book up again once I put it down

Couldn’t really get into reading this book. Not sure why but just one that didn’t leave me wanting to find out what the storyline was.

“Find one thing to feel good about, and focus on that. There’s always at least one good thing.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So I love a Karen M McManus book and I was excited that this one was a new story.

When a mother and daughter end up on a heist together it gets personal. Twist after turn has something happening to go against them pulling off this final steal that will set them free once and for all. But the question is how far will they go?

I really loved the concept for this one, how y was a bit different from all the other mysteries and I really loved the dynamics of the characters throughout the story.

Thank you to Karen M McManus, Netgalley and Penguin books for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. I will be now getting a physical copy of this to complete my set!

Kats mother Jamie got pregnant very young and then made a series of poor decisions including a 48hour Las Vegas marriage to Liam’s con man dad. 12 years later Jamie is a small time jewel thief and wants out but her boss has her do one last job. Steal a necklace from some rich lady at her family’s massive compound during the patriarchs 80th birthday bash. No biggie. Obviously it all goes terribly wrong and the kids are left to save the day. This was a complete and utter romp of vast proportions and I was absolutely here for it. It has gaping plot holes and a conveniently unconscious mother but I was happy to set that aside because the rest of it was so entertaining. It’s so far fetched and preposterous I had a great time reading this and loved every second of it.

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

For a book about a heist, there was very little heist action, which was kind of disappointing given how much it’s marketed as that type of story. The characters were fine, but none really stood out. The romance was cute, though it felt a bit forced—probably because the whole thing takes place over just a few days, so there wasn’t much time for them to really connect.

The plot was pretty slow for the first half, but it definitely picked up in the second half, with the last 15-20% being the best part. I just wish the whole book had been as strong as that final section. As for plot twists, I saw the main one coming from a mile away, but some of the others were actually very surprising (which I always love). The mystery itself was a bit confusing because there were so many characters involved, each with their own side plot. It made it hard to keep track of who did what, especially when all the big reveals started happening at the end.

Overall, not my favourite book by this author but it was still a somewhat entertaining read.

I'm so sad that I think this has turned out to be my least favourite Karen McManus book that I've read. I didn't feel invested in the plot or the characters, it didn't feel particularly twisty like her books usually are - it just felt like I was trudging through the story. I didn't understand what was going on at all? It's still very well-written, if that makes sense, because she's a talented writer... but this was just boring, sadly. This makes me so sad, because I love this author normally - this just didn't work for me.

4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an early copy of this book!

Haven’t read a YA book in a while so was nice to mix things up with this book!
Karen M McManus always brings great things to the table and this book was so fun! Felt a little different to some of her other books (?)
Interesting plot, entertaining characters and an overall entertaining story! Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a good ya book.

Karen M. McManus is back with yet another page-turning mystery!

Kat and her mother Jamie are risking everything for one last job, one last heist in the hope for a new life away from crime. It's all set and planned to perfection, that is until they run into Luke and Liam, a father and son from their past they did not expect to see. Soon, all plans start to unravel leaving Kat to think on her feet but when a murder takes place on the compound she realises just how much danger they're in!

I'll admit, I wasn't too sure how a heist novel was going to play out but I needn't have worried because, of course, McManus knew exactly what she was doing! This book was so great and a really fun read! I loved Kat and Liam, the relationship they have and how it developed was really sweet and was a nice balance to all the drama. The story itself was engaging and had quite a few twists throughout; as I said, it was a lot of fun.

Such Charming Liars definitely had a different feel to it but it was still classic McManus; unpredictable, non-stop action, entertaining and a proper page turner! Thank you @netgalley and @puffinbooksuk for this copy! I'll be patiently waiting to see what McManus does next!

Thank you to Puffin Books and Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book for an honest review.

Such Charming Liars follows main character Kat, all her life it has just been her and her mother Jamie except for the 48 hours where Jamie was married and she had a step-brother Liam.

Now Jamie is a jewel thief working one last job before going straight. That last job being a massive heist at a billionaires mansion where Kat has found a way to tag along. The last two people they expect to see are Liam and his father who is a scammer with his sights set on Ross's daughter.

When a Sutherland dies on site the night of the party Kat and Liam are thrown together trying to get out of the killers crosshairs. They can't trust anyone except each other. Or can they as the one thing they have both learnt is how to lie.

Another strong YA mystery thriller from McManus that leaves you guessing and then second guessing right up until the end.

The books plot is incredibly smart and well thought through right up until the end. I was a fan of the multiple perspectives we were given from both Kat and Liam throughout the story. However for a trained from a young age thief Kat does make a fair few mistakes that leave you thinking why. I get it it drives the plot.

The characters were all fleshed out really well and you came to a understanding for most of them how they are where they are with the background they have had.

Overall a fantastically crafted YA mystery thriller. A joy to read and I can't wait to read more from Karen M. McManus.

What a great mystery with relatable characters and a compelling storyline.
Who wouldn't be drawn into the world of heists, jewel thief's, privilege and murder?
The pace was good and the sub plots nicely woven in. I loved the touch of romance too.
Definitely characters I could get behind and a book I couldn't put down

Having been a big fan of Karen McManus and read all her previous books, I was very excited to be approved for Such Charming Liars! I don't read blurbs as I like to go in not knowing too much so I wasn't sure where the story was going.
I did find it a bit slow to start as it took a while to get to any murders so I was wondering at first if it was just going to be a heist. I didn't really connect with Kat as a character so I struggled to get through the beginning.
I did find that it picked up a bit towards the middle and end with a much more fast pace ending but I found some of the conclusion to be a bit anticlimactic. Not my favourite although I will always read more Karen McManus!

Another great twisty YA thriller from Karen McManus.

McManus is great at suspense and intrigue, and this story with dual POV doesn't disappoint.

A murder among the rich and elite, a party with hidden agendas, a jewel thief and a con man...and then there's their kids, who are smarter than they look.

This book was an absolute whirlwind. Just when I thought the story was winding down, another twist would throw everything into chaos, making it tough to keep track of all the developments.

That said, the writing is superb. Despite feeling a bit overwhelmed at times, I was never bored. Confused? Definitely. But not once did I lose interest. Some plotlines seemed designed purely for dramatic impact and then were wrapped up rather quickly, but overall, the book was a lot of fun. I tore through it in a single sitting.

I have to say, even though I don't typically gravitate towards YA, this author is an exception. She crafts such engaging stories that I barely even notice the genre. Her work is the perfect palette cleanser between heavier reads.