This is one of those books that you devour in a sitting.

This was such a breeze to get through, every time I turned a page I swear I had jumped about 10% in to the book, the pages and the story flew by! This was a riveting, mysterious read that gave me light Knives Out vibes and I love Knives Out.

I really loved our three mains, Kat, Liam and Augustus (although I do question Karen’s decision to name Liam and Luke those names…I did keep getting them confused…which I think was the point at first but became irritating later on). This book was pure chaos was all its twists and turns and betrayals and past characters popping up and it was just wild. So many red herrings. Sometimes it did get a bit too convoluted which was annoying but for the most part it was plotted and explained well. The book is ridiculous, but it’s the good kind of ridiculous. Don’t think too much about it.

Shout out for the “gluten is mean to me” representation!!!! Gluten is also mean to me and I wish it would stop!! (Or to put more precisely that my immune system stops overreacting but there).

One of my favourite books by McManus.


Thanks to Penguin Random House UK | Penguin for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Randomhouse UK for the ARC

Karen M. McManus is one of my favorite YA thriller authors and this novel was yet another hit! I love her writing and the way she craft her mysteries. I couldn't guess the twists until they hit me in the head and left me stunned. Highly recommend for an entertaining and gripping ya thriller

I forgot I was reading a YA title when reading this book. The fast paced plot full of twists and turns (especially in the last few chapters) kept me just as gripped as adult thrillers do.

The story is mainly from the viewpoint of Kat, who tags along on her mother's last job - stealing a necklace from a very rich family. What could possibly go wrong...

Absolutely brilliant, loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

This mystery novel focuses on a mother-daughter heist at a wealthy compound.

The story was well thought out and well written. The characters were distinct (although I did find that some of the side characters were quite surface level).

I didn’t find myself ‘needing’ to keep reading like I have with mysteries in the past. It was enjoyable enough but wasn’t as action packed as I expected.

Id recommend it to fans of her other novels and fans of lighter YA mysteries. I think it would be appropriate for younger YA readers because it doesn’t cover anything especially graphic or distressing.

I wasn't too sure how I would feel about McManus writing a heist book but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the characters and the setting and it all flowed seamlessly.

This book is a fun, easy teen thriller that I think a lot of people will race through!

Karen M. McManus never disappoints! The writing was great, I felt like I was really living through the hell with Kat and Liam, the suspense was there and had me literally holding my breath for them at points, and the plot twists were guessable enough that they were satisfying without being too obvious. (Some were still 'OMG' moments, of course!) I really enjoyed this and the relationship/ found family of Kat and Liam as well as the relationship Augustus had with both of them. I would 100% recommend! Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

Another very strong book in this series. The storyline is strong and expansive and the usual nuanced developments of the plot is there in abundance. The characters are strong and vibrant and it's a real pleasure to read a book like this.
Overall a very enjoyable read and I'm grateful to the publishers for allowing me to read this early.

This book is exactly what it sets out to be: a fun teen thriller. There are many twists and turns, some quite obvious but some still shocking. Kat as one of the narrators is a bit annoying at first because she makes dumb decisions, but once the story really gets going and she’s with Liam and Augustus she’s a little less annoying.
This book is fast paced and easy to read.
3.5 stars

I was privileged enough to recieve an eARC of this book. And I can say that I absolutely loved every second of it. The suspense, the found family between friends. Another book by Karen McManus herself I have thoroughly enjoyed! I read this book in one sitting.

A good heist story can’t fail to entertain, and McManus has thrown everything at this. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.
Such Charming Liars focuses on Jamie and her daughter, Kat. For years they’ve moved from one job to the next, and depend on each other. In what is meant to be Jamie’s final heist her past comes back to catch up with her…with increasingly dramatic consequences. Jamie’s final heist is meant to take place at the birthday party of billionaire Ross Sutherland. Things don’t quite go to plan, Kat becomes embroiled in a situation she was never meant to be a part of…and we learn that more than one or two of the characters we come across is hiding things.
I don’t want to give away specifics, but I could easily see this on screen. The characters are a mixed bunch. You might not like them, but they make for a highly entertaining story. As little details get revealed it becomes even more audacious than you could dream of.

Absolutely amazing yet again! Her books always shock me and this is no exception! I will always recommend this

Once again an amazing book. I have read this author’s books since one of us is lying came out and I have never been disappointed. I loved the build up because I have never seen the end coming. I didn’t even think the killer could have been THAT person. Also another plot twist surprise in the end? Love that. The characters were so easy to love as well. It genuinely was a book I barely could put down.

✨3.75 stars✨

This was a quick and easy read. The plot was very fast-paced and didn’t require too much thinking so if you like books like that I think you’ll really enjoy this book.

I did predict one of the reveals but not all of them so that kept me guessing!

I have read most of the author’s books and they’ve all been enjoyable but not overly memorable so if you’re looking for a book to get you out of a reading slump then this could be the book for you. Also if you’re a fan of the author’s other works then I would recommend giving this one a go!

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this book we follow Kat and her mother Jamie as they embark on one last heist before they intend to go straight. On their way to said heist, they bump into Jamie's 48 hour husband and his son, who unknowingly are also on their way to the same location. From here, anything that can go wrong basically does and the situation gets more and more messed up and even includes a murder!

Although this book is a YA, with Kat being 16, this book isn't set in a school environment which I felt made it better for me as I could imagine the characters as more sort of twenty somethings instead. I think this therefore lends itself to a wider audience.
I found this easy to follow what was going on, who was who etc. There's nothing worse than a thriller that just throws too much information at you or a surprise twist that doesn't really makes sense happens - so this book being easy to follow was appreciated. I feel like some people might be able to guess the twists if they really wanted to but I was happy to let the book tell me the story and just go with it.

I've not read anything by this author before, although I do own some of their other books, so I am looking forward to picking those up.

I've had the fortune of reading most of KM's previous novels, and my excitement for this latest adventure was immeasurable. This young adult mystery features a sophisticated plot with a tempo that guides the reader through its many surprises and disclosures. Just as you believe the enigma is unraveled, another unexpected twist emerges. The trio of main teenage characters and their emerging friendship truly captivated me.

I extend my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC).

This was a little slow at first, but once the action picked up it got a lot more enjoyable and fast paced. The mystery was really twisty and there were a lot of things happening, but it still felt predictable and a little unfinished. Regardless, I enjoyed the heist vibes and the pacing a lot, I just wish there was more character development and less basic plotting, especially around the history, as there are only brief flashbacks in the chapters, regarding the heist crew and the family they're targeting despite them being the main plot of the story.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

That was a fun thriller with interesting twists and character dynamics. I loved how the main characters interacted - they truly were slibing in spirit!

This was an extraordinary book that kept my attention from start to finish. The story revolves around Kat and Liam who were tied together from a 48 hour marriage between their parents, and then find themselves at the same place years later.

The characters in this book are exceptionally well-crafted. Each one is multi-dimensional, with their own unique backgrounds, personalities, and hidden agendas. The author does a fantastic job of delving into their minds, making them feel incredibly real. Their interactions are authentic, and the dynamics between them are complex and compelling. I absolutely loved Kat, she’s my favourite with Liam a close second. I also really liked Augustus, he was the smart and funny guy they needed.

The plot is incredible and is full of suspense. The author expertly plants clues and red herrings throughout the story, that kept me guessing and theorizing, which I was wrong about btw. The pacing is perfect, with just the right amount of tension and release to keep you on the edge of your seat.

The themes explored in the book are thought-provoking and relevant. The author touches on issues of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets. These themes are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and resonance to the story.

In conclusion, Such Charming Liars is a brilliantly crafted novel that showcases Karen M. McManus's talent as a storyteller. It’s a thrilling ride filled with suspense, complex characters, and unexpected twists.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for GR.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is told from the point of view of Kat and her step brother Liam.
Kat and her mum (Jamie) are jewel thieves and grifters, Liam has recently moved in with his dad (Luke), who scams women on online dating sites for money, after the death of his mum.
Luke and Jamie previously met in Vegas where they got married and made some bad decisions that lead to Kat and Liam wandering the streets of Vegas at a very young age. Kat and Liam never thought they’d see each other again until their newest heist happens to be stealing Jewellery from the family of Luke’s newest conquest.

This was a fun story that was well written and kept me gripped throughout, the characters were interesting and felt real in that they were flawed and complex. However, I wasn’t a fan of Jamie at all, I know she was supposed to be redeemed at the end but I feel as though it wasn’t enough to see past the lack of parental responsibility she showed towards Kat.

I was also disappointed by the reveal that Annalise was a bad person. She seemed to be the only adult that was looking out for Liam and actively trying to get to know him, she even seemed to recognise that his dad was a bad father and was going to provide him with some stability in the aftermath. But of course there had to be another twist that ruined that and made her a terrible person by attempting to blackmail a child.

So yes, I enjoyed the premise and the writing but I would have liked a few less twists and reveals because eventually it just was too much.