Beautiful Lies

Feb 26, 2013 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-biggest-fear, thank-you-bea-or-ala

let me just come right out and say what you are all thinking: worst title ever. i know, i know, titles are haaard, but so is writing a book. this title is lazy and it doesn't even seem appropriate for the story. i already ranted on this review about these "dime a dozen" titles, so i am not going to repeat myself, but dayuuuum...

and, no, i don't have any suggestions. because i am not a writer. i would probably have called it monochorionic monoamniotic ginger twins: the scariest kind!! which is pr...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Ashelynn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: recommend

I love a good mindfuck. A book is amazing if it makes me view the world a little differently, and Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman does just that—all while twisting my brain and shaking my world like a snow globe. And at the end, my mind was reeling and I was trying to process what happened.

Guys, Leah Clifford shook my world by saying once (in a live show): what if you imagined everything? What if you imagined your boy/girlfriend, your friends, your entire fucking life? And after she said that,...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Lightblue rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Between
Il libro che avrei voluto scrivere io! (assieme a Remember Me di C. Pike, a cui indubbiamente l'autrice deve molto) Mi è piaciuto tantissimo, contesto solo la scelta della traduzione del titolo (ma che senso ha togliere il titolo originale "Between", per mettere un'altra parola in inglese? Chi non sa cosa vuol dire between non capisce neppure after...) e la foto in copertina che c'entra davvero poco con la storia. Per il resto è un thriller con elementi paranormali che mi ha coinvolta mol...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Crystal rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, arc, netgalley, for-review

First off excuse me for a minute *shudders* okay nope not done *full body shudders*
I umm...well...just let me say....OMG I have no words for this book!! I don't even know how to begin this review because I am still in shock and my heart is in pieces. There are only a few books that have managed to take my breath away and this one is right at the top of that list. I honestly couldn't breathe throughout this book and I am still struggling to even after finishing it several days ago. Bare with me w...more First off excuse me for a minute *shudders* okay nope not done *full body shudders*
I umm...well...just let me say....OMG I have no words for this book!! I don't even know how to begin this review because I am still in shock and my heart is in pieces. There are only a few books that have managed to take my breath away and this one is right at the top of that list. I honestly couldn't breathe throughout this book and I am still struggling to even after finishing it several days ago. Bare with me while I try to create some form of a review for you.

Alice and Rachel are identical twins and like all twins they share a special bond except their bond goes much deeper than most. I won't spoil it and tell you how deep their bond is because I think that reveal is awesome. I will say that what you think you know is not even the beginning. The story is basically about one sister being kidnapped and the other trying to save her. That is all you get, yup that's it. If I say anything more then it will spoil everything and I don't even know how to tell a piece of the story without ruining it and going on and on. Believe me this story is so so much more and you won't want to miss it.

The author did an amazing job with both Alica and Rachel. I was totally swept into their lives and I never knew what was real and what wasn't. I am realy becoming a fan of the creepy and Beautiful Lies had some very spooky moments. I would have loved to have seen more back story or really a prequel would be fantastic starring Rachel and Alice's mom. There is still so much that I want to know and I am just not ready to let these characters go. I totally felt that the sister looking for redemption got it and I am so proud of her for doing what needed to be done. This isn't an easy story to get through by any means but it is so worth it.

This story has to have some of the best twists I have ever read and there are definitely plenty of them in there. It sorta felt like a mind spin after awhile but in a good way. I just cant seem to get over how everything played out! Talk about your total shockers!! This is my first book by Jessica Warman and I can definitely tell you it won't be my last!! Amazing book!

This review and an interview with the author can be found here...

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Sep 05, 2012 Nenia Campbell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-baby-ya, arc-stands-for-a-readers-xmas, x-2012s, gorgeous-covers, reviewed, beautiful-words-lets-swim-in-them, first-reads

When I was fifteen, I got lost in a hedge-maze at Cawdor Castle. I climbed through a gap and found myself in a labyrinth of twisting and turning passages. Every time I thought I was getting close to the exit, I hit another green wall. My family was getting ready to leave. So I climbed through another gap. Suddenly, I found myself in the heart of the maze, completely walled in on all sides. "How the hell did you get in there?" my dad said, much to the amusement of the other tourists. I had to scr...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Kayla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads

I've read a lot of young adult mystery/thriller type books this year, but I think this might be one of my favourites. You see, the problem with most of these books is that they're either really, REALLY predictable or they're filled with plot holes that drive me INSANE! This one wasn't perfect, but it was a really crazy read and I really enjoyed it!

What drew me in right away about this book is that it's about twins and what happens when one of them goes missing. Since it's the bad, rebellious twi...more I've read a lot of young adult mystery/thriller type books this year, but I think this might be one of my favourites. You see, the problem with most of these books is that they're either really, REALLY predictable or they're filled with plot holes that drive me INSANE! This one wasn't perfect, but it was a really crazy read and I really enjoyed it!

What drew me in right away about this book is that it's about twins and what happens when one of them goes missing. Since it's the bad, rebellious twin that disappears no one really looks for her. The other twin thinks that whatever happened to her twin was really meant for herself though. That's about all I can say without giving away too much. SERIOUSLY, I think the best thing you can do when going into this book is to not even read the description on the back of the book. It gives away too much. It would be better to just go into it knowing absolutely nothing and letting things unfold naturally. Seriously, the description gives away something MAJOR that doesn't get revealed until later and I was annoyed to see that one of the "twists" is just a detail on the back of the book...

After that major twist happened though, things got INTENSE! I absolutely love books that have lots of twists and surprises, and this one was filled with them! Also, the narrator is quite unreliable which made things even more crazy. I had some guesses on what was going to happen but I was never quite sure with this book. Something would happen therefore putting me on edge and wondering what was really going on. I have to say though, I did guess WHO was going to be involved in all this shenanigans from the very first time we saw them. I just wasn't sure with everything that kept getting thrown at me. It was still a really exciting read finding out what exactly was happening. I really had no idea until the last 50 pages, and even then I wasn't quite sure! This novel definitely plays and "LIES" to it's reader, which was a lot of fun to be honest! I really like books that constantly keep you on your toes, and I'd really recommend this book to anyone else who can appreciate a book like that, especially in the young adult genre.

Still, this book was no where near perfect. It had some flaws, and it definitely could get slow in parts. Nonetheless, it kept me on my toes and I really liked reading it therefore I'll be giving it 4 stars here on goodreads. If you go in just expecting a fun and crazy read, this one is perfect. It keeps you guessing until the very last page.(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 Meggy Meg Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, netgalley-edelweiss, quite-interesting

Beautiful Lies is perhaps one of the best YA mystery novels I've ever read. Filled with fast-paced mystery and a tinge of paranormal, Beautiful Lies was a book I'm not likely to forget. However, there were some elements in this book that could've been better.

I was pulled in from the very beginning of the book. Jessica Warman introduces her two main characters, Alice and Rachel, in a very interesting way--which gets even more intriguing (not to mention confusing) as the book progresses, because...more Beautiful Lies is perhaps one of the best YA mystery novels I've ever read. Filled with fast-paced mystery and a tinge of paranormal, Beautiful Lies was a book I'm not likely to forget. However, there were some elements in this book that could've been better.

I was pulled in from the very beginning of the book. Jessica Warman introduces her two main characters, Alice and Rachel, in a very interesting way--which gets even more intriguing (not to mention confusing) as the book progresses, because there are tons of amazing twists inside that keeps you on the edge of your seat, begging for more.

Confusion and mistrust are two big themes in Beautiful Lies, and this makes the book all the more juicier. There are times, though, when everything becomes extremely confusing and vague from the way the main character describes the things that are happening. I had to go back and reread paragraphs over and over again just to understand what was taking place.

One thing I really liked about this book was the story itself: it kept you guessing. There were so many unanswered questions that you just had to continue reading to find out more. Of course, the suspense and the way the main characters' pasts were revealed did nothing to ease the tension I felt. Extra points to the author for managing to creep me out, too!

Despite all this, though, I felt that the background characters were quite shallow. The story mainly focused on Alice and Rachel, and who the kidnapper was, leaving the other characters behind to fade into the background. Then again, the story was just so fast-paced and brimming with mystery that I can't really blame Warman for not developing her other characters more.

Overall, Beautiful Lies was an amazing YA thriller. I found myself tapping the screen of my eReader so fast that I thought the whole eBook application would shut down. Though I do wish that Jessica Warman had cleared things up at the end, I still enjoyed reading this. Full of huge twists and intrigue, I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves mystery with a little bit of paranormal in it!

3.5 stars.

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Aug 23, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, contemporary-fiction, netgalley-arc, young-adult-fiction, mystery, creeeeepy, 2012-reads, 2012-reviews, reviewed, we-are-all-mad-here, you-clever-girl

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

3.75 out of 5

Beautiful Lies is one of those mysteries with a great premise: twins, a special bond, an abduction, and an unreliable narrator to spin the whole tale, making both the readers and the characters unsure of what exactly is going on. Certain segments in this novel were executed in a deliciously creeeeepy and uncertain manner, and while other areas lacked that atmosphere and level of execution, overall, this is a pretty good read, and a well...more

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

3.75 out of 5

Beautiful Lies is one of those mysteries with a great premise: twins, a special bond, an abduction, and an unreliable narrator to spin the whole tale, making both the readers and the characters unsure of what exactly is going on. Certain segments in this novel were executed in a deliciously creeeeepy and uncertain manner, and while other areas lacked that atmosphere and level of execution, overall, this is a pretty good read, and a well-written mystery. There are several twists, surprises that I did not see coming -- a fact that is all to rare when I venture into the YA mystery/thriller genre and is greatly appreciated when it does manage to happen. I was occasionally confused by the shifts, changes in the direction of the story, but the author always managed to reel me right back in. Jessica Warman impressed me for the majority of this longish novel, and I will be on the lookout for her other books.

This is far more of a character-driven novel, though the plot holds its own for the most part. Thankfully for a less than actiontastic novel, the characters of Beautiful Lies are usually the best part of it, specifically the two protagonists of Rachel and Alice. For a novel that stalls in momentum occasionally, these two characters often pick up the slack and keep the reader engaged and curious about their uncertain fate. I wouldn't say I was completely invested in these characters the way I am with other protagonists (like Sophie Quinn from If I Lie, etc.) but they are dynamic, and interesting in their connection and possible mental issues. Rachel and Alice's unique/psychic affinity for one another, their rare condition --monochorionic monoamniotic twins -- help to add up to create two very similar, but different and dynamic characters as well as an original storyline. Identity and the self are two very big themes within Beautiful Lies, and the author explores these ideas with her two almost codependent main characters. As Warman repeatedly shows through the changing nature of the twins' relationship, Rachel and Alice learn that you can be extremely close to someone else and still not really know them completely.

I had a few issues with the pacing in the novel, most notably as the mystery wore on and red herrings kept popping up. This clocks in at about 420 pages in the final edition, and while the majority of the narrative kept the tension high and the atmosphere on point, several sections lacked the pull of others. A little editing/excising would do well to make the entire novel as riveting as the first two seventy-five and the last fifty pages are. (The whole sidestory of the cats? Felt especially random and ill-suited for the rest of the novel.) Though the final antagonist became clearer to me the more I read, I really appreciated how much work the author put into occluding who was behind Rachel's disappearance and Alice's phantom injuries. The twins identity switcheroo, the MacGuffin of the "$10,000", the unreliable narrator, the new uncovered secrets and deceptions -- all were deftly handled to make the mystery harder to solve. Far too many novels telegraph twists and the big bad too early on -- and this is NOT one of them. I may have figured it all out before the big reveal and Alice herself, but it wasn't until the late 300's that I did.

My last note is on the ending: for such a longwinded and twisty novel, I found the end to be rushed and slightly anticlimactic. The antagonist gives himself away quite easily to Alice, and I was pretty surpised the author gave it up that quickly in the final pages. The clues add up and are figured out so slowly, and then it seems like the book enters a headlong rush just to get to the end. With so much time and prose spent executing the set-up and rising action, the lack of real resolution, and that with more than a few unanswered loose ends (like.... how is it that Rachel survived? Why didn't the killer just off the cop so he'd have more time with the twins and to getaway?), felt like a misstep to me. Like I said earlier, this wasn't a perfect read, and outside of the pacing issues, those dangling questions are a large majority of the reason why I can't rate this higher than a 3.75/5.

I really liked Beautiful Lies, though it wasn't a perfect read for me. The author impressed me with her skill, her storytelling, the mystery, and her ability to craft well-rounded characters. If you're looking for a well-done, character-driven mystery with a genuine air of creepiness, look no further than here. I am becoming a large fan of the unreliable narrator for novels -- as long as it is handled as easily and smartly as it is here. I have to note that the cover is absolutely perfect -- like the cover of What's Left of Me -- the hint of a second person in the negative space fits in with the novel and with the twins' life of mobile identity. (less)

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Feb 05, 2013 Marie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: worst-endings, mind-boggling, confusing

What the absolute FUCK?

I don't know what to say to be honest. Is there anything you can say after an ending like that?
(view spoiler)...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss

BEAUTIFUL LIES was a stunning, captivating murder mystery-cum-character study. The narration was inviting and familiar while being enthralling and mysterious at the same time. I fell in love with Warman's characters as well as her diction, and honestly would recommend this book to anyone. It has cross-genre appeal for mystery, contemporary, and even horror fans.

Just the idea behind Warman's novel is compelling: monochorionic, monoamniotic twins. Alice and Rachel were truly together in the womb,...more BEAUTIFUL LIES was a stunning, captivating murder mystery-cum-character study. The narration was inviting and familiar while being enthralling and mysterious at the same time. I fell in love with Warman's characters as well as her diction, and honestly would recommend this book to anyone. It has cross-genre appeal for mystery, contemporary, and even horror fans.

Just the idea behind Warman's novel is compelling: monochorionic, monoamniotic twins. Alice and Rachel were truly together in the womb, sharing the same space, and are as identical as two people could be. Their friends, family, everyone they know has trouble telling them apart. They often switched places and pretended to be each other. They were so identical, that even I, the reader, couldn't tell which twin was narrating.

When one of the sisters gets kidnapped, about three pages into the story, the book takes off and does not quit, not until the last page. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, trying to unravel the mystery. It becomes clear about 100 pages in, that there's more than just the kidnapping mystery going on. I can't really explain what happens because it will be a huge spoiler. But if you decide to read BEAUTIFUL LIES, just know that you will be blown away.

Both of the girls in this story have their own distinct, unique identity separate from their sister. One is the obvious good-doer, the straight A, straight-laced student. And the other is the bad girl, who drinks, and smokes, and sometimes doesn't come home. It sounds like an old, tired trope used with twins, but the way Warman handled it, it was new and fresh, and worked. It worked, perfectly. The side characters all had their own intriguing stories. No one in this book fell flat, and I especially liked Kimber, who had her own very interesting and thick story line as well. Hers would have been a great book.

I really don't think I can recommend BEAUTIFUL LIES enough. Warman has a way with words that truly makes her books addicting. Her characters are alive on the pages, never dull or flat. I was kept guessing until the very end -- and I do mean that, as I was still unsure about what exactly was going on even on the last page. BEAUTIFUL LIES is a story that will stick with you -- the plot will suck you in, but you will keep on thinking about the characters well after you've put the book down. A must read.(less)

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Mar 31, 2013 BAYA Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Twin sisters Alice and Rachel couldn’t be more alike on the outside, and more different in personality and temperament, yet no one can tell them apart, even the people closest to them. When one sister disappears from the fairgrounds one evening, the other is caught in a spiral of disorder and deceit as she tries to piece together clues and fragmented visions, wondering whether these images are memories, delusions, or paranormal messages from her missing twin.

Inseparable at birth, and brought ev...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Molly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jessica Warman's Beautiful Lies came out in August, and I haven't heard much about it since. Which I'm sure is my own fault, though I'd like to blame the unremarkable cover design.

The novel tells the story of two identical twin sisters, Rachel and Alice, so uniquely alike that they share an almost psychic bond. When one sister disappears at an autumn fair, the other knows that something is deeply wrong, even though no one will take her seriously. Alice has run away before, after all. They will...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Winna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: criminal-mystery-thriller, young-adult

I've read so many glowing reviews about this book and I've always been fascinated with twin stories since I read Sweet Valley.

The idea is great, until it gets confusing to one point. I like both Alice and Rachel, and it's a bit jarring to have that sudden twist in the story, especially when the narration does not change. We are left to keep guessing, much as the main character is left to her own devices. It gets a little creepy afterwards, especially the dreams and images she gets, and the cover...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Jessica Lam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow! This book is insane. After finishing the last 30 pages or so I just sat there trying to regroup. What the hell just happened? This book is pure genius. The author drags a story on long enough to make you sure you know what will happen next. Then just as you grow confident in where you think the story is going, a complete mind-fuck happens and you have no idea what is happening. This is a brilliant book. I found myself reading this book for 3 nights straight. I couldn't put it down until my...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Gaby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, coming-of-age, must-read, mystery, ya-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In Beautiful Lies we read about identical twins, Rachel and Alice who share a rare link. Not only are they identical but they shared the same placenta when in utero. Since their childhood, they've literally felt their twin's pain and their bodies reflect the hurt and damage that their twin suffers. While the twins look exactly alike, their temperaments are distinctly different, possibly a reflection of the trauma that they suffered during the car crash that killed their parents. Alice was consci...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Rhiannon Ryder rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

YA has a significant lack of thrillers and horror stories, which means two things really. 1- The ones that exist are twice as exciting for their rarity and 2- A really good one is like a unicorn, hard to believe it actually exists at all. Beautiful Lies is a unicorn, a sparkly, magical, unicorn.

A BEA book I grabbed knowing little other than it was about twins and was mysterious, Beautiful Lies blew my mind by page 73 with the first of many twists I didn't see coming. Warman has wove a masterful...more YA has a significant lack of thrillers and horror stories, which means two things really. 1- The ones that exist are twice as exciting for their rarity and 2- A really good one is like a unicorn, hard to believe it actually exists at all. Beautiful Lies is a unicorn, a sparkly, magical, unicorn.

A BEA book I grabbed knowing little other than it was about twins and was mysterious, Beautiful Lies blew my mind by page 73 with the first of many twists I didn't see coming. Warman has wove a masterful thriller with a high level of tension throughout, which repeatedly pays off in stunning reveals- all the way to the last couple of pages.

Twins Alice and Rachel are as similar as they are different. Alice is unpredictable, wild and a stunning artist, Rachel is quiet, thoughtful and a good student. What I especially loved was how Warman wrote the girls perspective so similarly they could be mistaken for each other but with subtle differences that commented on their unique personalities. Alice is very descriptive and visual about everything around her,

It was a lovely day. Cirrus clouds drifted overhead like frayed cotton.
While Rachel, saying almost the same lines, is clinical, practical;

There are only a few clouds, which hang low and puffy, like cotton. There's a name for them, I know, but I have no idea what it is.
This almost imperceptible shift was a huge element to the story, and crafted in such a careful way you just know Warman spent a lot of time honing it.

An exciting story that had me on the edge of my seat, Beautiful Lies will likely surprise and enthral even the pickiest of thriller connoisseurs. I can't think of a better book to get you started on the last of your summer reads. You'll want to devour it in one sitting so make sure you grab it before vacations end for the season!

I have to say though, LOVED the ARC cover, and am totally ambivalent to the published cover. I think the ARC cover is much more evocative and chilling, especially as the back cover is the mirror of the front.
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Sep 15, 2012 Ruby rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: twins, teen, thriller, paranormal

This review was first posted on http://rubysreads.com.

I’ve told you about my Bookish Preference for twins, so I imagine you know (or can guess) that Beautiful Lies was an auto-read for me. The story goes like this: identical twins Rachel and Alice are ” ‘monochorionic, monoamniotic twins,’ which means [they] are identical twins who grew in the same amniotic sac and shared one placenta” (p.18). It’s a real thing. I Googled it. Yet, despite this rare closeness, in the recent months, Rachel and Ali...more This review was first posted on http://rubysreads.com.

I’ve told you about my Bookish Preference for twins, so I imagine you know (or can guess) that Beautiful Lies was an auto-read for me. The story goes like this: identical twins Rachel and Alice are ” ‘monochorionic, monoamniotic twins,’ which means [they] are identical twins who grew in the same amniotic sac and shared one placenta” (p.18). It’s a real thing. I Googled it. Yet, despite this rare closeness, in the recent months, Rachel and Alice have grown apart. Rachel has become the “good twin,” while Alice has begun acting out in the usual ways–drinking, wearing heavy makeup, hanging out with lowlifes (one in particular) and getting arrested. Okay, maybe the latter isn’t “usual.” Then one of the twins goes missing, and nobody believes it when the other twin insists that her sister is in danger.

I haven’t read any of Jessica Warman’s books before, so I approached this one with few expectations–just a pleasurable hum of anticipation. And I’m happy to report that it was a solid read. Except…the description gives a few of the twists and turns away. Personally, I think unreliable narrators work best when we’re not told up front that he or she is unreliable. It’s a tool that’s effective when we are left to discover it for ourselves…not when we are told that it’s going to happen. Then, the narrator isn’t unreliable because I never relied on them in the first place. You know what I mean?

It’s hard for me to review this book without giving away some of the important elements, so I’m going to keep things as brief as I can. The writing here is good, but not inspired. I didn’t particularly like the narrator, and I didn’t really sympathize with her. I felt that she was selfish. SPOILER: Particularly in her decision to keep quiet about her sister when she first went missing. She knew that if she told her aunt and uncle who she really was, they would have called the police right away. So why did she keep quiet? I also would have preferred to hear the story from the other twin’s perspective. And don’t get me started on the ending. It was abrupt and too unresolved. Beautiful Lies doesn’t make me want to go glom Jessica Warman’s backlist, but I won’t reject anything she wrote out of hand, either.(less)

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Sep 14, 2012 Dorine White rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Story- Alice and Rachel are twins, and nobody can tell them apart, which helps whenever they trade places. They also have a very close connection. When one of them is hurt or injured, the other fills the pain or gets the bruise. Personality wise, the twins are totally different, with Rachel being the good twin.

The twins attend a local carnival, and the twists begin. One of them is kidnapped, and it is up to the other to find her. The one twin knows terrible things are happening to her sister...more
The Story- Alice and Rachel are twins, and nobody can tell them apart, which helps whenever they trade places. They also have a very close connection. When one of them is hurt or injured, the other fills the pain or gets the bruise. Personality wise, the twins are totally different, with Rachel being the good twin.

The twins attend a local carnival, and the twists begin. One of them is kidnapped, and it is up to the other to find her. The one twin knows terrible things are happening to her sister, because she can feel the pain. The problem is that nobody seems to want to help, and even if they did, could they be trusted?

My Thoughts-(PART 1) If you are looking for a twisty turny YA thriller, this is it. The author does an amazing job at creating a fast paced, action filled, tense story. The sub plots pretty much melt away, and the focus is on the twin sister relationship. You can't put the story down, personally, I read it in one night because I just had to get to the end.

While you’re reading you never know if what you’re reading is true, plus, several red herrings are thrown into the mix. Because the sisters switch places, this leads to many questions as you read, but the author does a good job keeping things straight, because I didn't get confused.

And now the ending, wow. Very dramatic and filled with emotion.

MY Thoughts- (PART 2 w/SPOILERS) I finally decided that I couldn't review this book justly without getting deep into the story. So, spoiler alert.

First, The author does an amazing job letting the reader get to know Rachel. I mean she isn't even in most of the book, but because of Alice's portrayal of her, you get to know her intimately. It is an amazing journey Alice makes as she learns the truth about Rachel, that she's not the perfect sister, has a real problem with her twin, and is in love with Tony. Alice's shock at knowing they aren't as close as she thinks is crushing.

Next, the author throws in so many different elements, you often don't know what is real. Me, I think it was all real, (except the money bag, can't figure out her delusion about that). The bond between the twins is true. When one is injured, it happens to the other. However, Alice is special beyond that bond. I believe that she is gifted, able to perceive things, have visions, and yes, talk to ghosts. She seems just like her grandma, unfortunately, we see that path also leads to going insane. I liked that Kimber is able to show Alice the truth, and I feel that in the future, Alice would have been able to get help.

The author's ability to foreshadow is a real technique. I believe (but could totally be wrong) that the couple at the beginning of the book, leaving the fair, is actually kidnapping the little girl. Why? Because the little girl seems terrified, and just wants to go home. She looks back at the twins begging for help. Also, the guy has an unkempt appearance, that Alice picks up on right away, smelling the rot of his teeth. Later in the book we know that her sense of smell is a good indicator of right and wrong.

This book is a real masterpiece. The more I think about it, the more I'm amazed at how the story was woven together. This is a must read YA book.
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Aug 27, 2012 Celise Winters rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Click here to read the full review!

Beautiful Lies was stunning! Now that I'm finished with the book, I'm going to go check out all of Jessica Warman's books. It was wonderful! Tragic with a hint of madness, that's how I would describe this book.

First off, this book is confusing at times. Like at the beginning, the twins, Rachel and Alice switch places for the fair. I was very confused. Also, at the end, but I won't say about then, lest I reveal too much.

But simply, wow! Alice was one messed up h...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I’m sure everyone has met a set of twins in their life before, but it’s highly doubtful you’ve ever met twins like Rachel and Alice. They’ve always been able to feel each other’s pain and this has sometimes expressed itself physically. If one gets hit by a ball, the other one forms the bruise, etc. Now one of the twins has disappeared at the local carnival and her sister knows there is something truly wrong. Rachel’s always been the ‘good’ twin and Alice is the troublemaker, after they have to g...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Frishawn Rasheed rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-2012, best-of-2012-list-pick, favorites

This is a story that grabs the attention from its first pages and doesn't let go EVER.
The twining phenomenon is one that has both intrigued and confounded people throughout time, and to have that bond spotlighted in a work as emotionally involved as this is a new and refreshing addition to YA.
This is truly a psychological thriller in the purest sense of the word. That fact in itself is enough to through most YA readers for quite the loop. Let's face it, as a rule most YA readers are used to tr...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: facing-your-fears, murder, mystery, young-adult, twins

If you like a good mystery with a twist of psychosis then this book will be right up your alley. Rachel and Alice are identical twins who from birth have had an uncanny ability to know when the other is hurt or suffering. When Alice goes missing from the fair, Rachel immediately knows that something bad has happened to her. Unfortunately for Alice, she has disappeared before and has proven to be unreliable in every aspect of her life. When Rachel demands that her family start a search for her mi...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Suz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2012

Mysteriously alluring and boldly intriguing, Beautiful Lies is sure to mystify reader's. Exciting and full of suspense, Jessica Warman delivers, yet again, another young adult novel that will keep reader's guessing as they flip the pages. Delving further below the surface of a normal bond shared between identical twins, Beautiful Lies is a gripping runaway mystery full of so many amazing twists and turns. Filled with extreme boiuts of emotional trauma and pain that seems to manifest itself phy...more Mysteriously alluring and boldly intriguing, Beautiful Lies is sure to mystify reader's. Exciting and full of suspense, Jessica Warman delivers, yet again, another young adult novel that will keep reader's guessing as they flip the pages. Delving further below the surface of a normal bond shared between identical twins, Beautiful Lies is a gripping runaway mystery full of so many amazing twists and turns. Filled with extreme boiuts of emotional trauma and pain that seems to manifest itself physically in ense moments of distress, this story of two twins closer than most is one of the most beautifully written pieces of young adult drama in my personal opinion. Jessica Warman wastes no time doing what she's become best known for, as she weaves a story so personally touching, full of fear and despair, that is sure to ensnare the hearts and attention of many who embark on the journey with these two twins.

Beautiful Lies builds layer upon layer of misplaced trust, unexpected intrigue and mystery, as well as danger filled pages sure to keep reader's captivated and guessing. The devastating sorrow and the fact that this chillingly suspenseful story isn't spun from shiny rainbows and gold dust, makes it all the more terrifying and real. There is heart shattering sorrow born out of overwhelming sacrifice sure to knock the breath out of anyone. The gripping tension filled pages of this amazing novel are well written and can be, on occassion, a little bit confusing to readers. This same confusion seems to run along the thread of a theme developed throughout, Beautiful Lies .

From start to finish it is interesting getting to know both of the twins, experiencing the confusion along with Alice, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Her pain and sorrow is real and manifests itself in the most peculiar way, as she experiences what her twin (Rachel) experiences, and her frantic search and disillusion at trusting just anyone when they could be a suspect. These characters are real and they come to life on the pages, most are enjoyable and likable, while few other's fan be complex and not as likable. If reader's have enjoyed Jessica Warman's prior young adult novels, such as Breathe and Between , they will surely enjoy this one as well. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys true young adult mysteries, as this will stump and mystify them while delivering one interesting unexpected twist at the end.(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Ashley rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-november, ebook

Uh, yeah. I wasn't the hugest fan of this book, though I will say that it was pretty exciting. The writing right at the beginning, when the sister disappears from the fair, I felt panicked reading that. The suspense was great, and I do love how books like this make me want to read more, to find out what happened. Although the ending was confusing and abrupt, so there wasn't really much satisfaction to it. And I don't think I'm a fan of the unreliable narrator trope.

Although, to be honest, I was...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Doodle Bug rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Overall I liked the book. It took me a while to decide that though. The synopsis of the story enticed me and as it was one of the first books from NetGalley, I really wanted to read it and get it reviewed. I started it a couple of weeks ago. I cant figure out if it took me so long because my life has been super hectic lately or if its cause the writing didnt have a solid grasp on me. Several times I picked it up read a paragraph and put it back down. This is unusual for me. I liked the storyline...more

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Jan 02, 2013 AnnaBnana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-fiction

Rachel and Alice are identical twins born of a twin with other twins in their family. They share what they believe to be a psychic connection because of the unique nature of their birth. When one twin feels pain, the other feels pain.

Because they can sense each other, when one twin goes missing at the town fair, the other is filled with an omnious sense of dread. Unfortunately, this so-called psychic connection sounds crazy - especially to the girls' aunt, who is raising them, and feels the wor...more

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Feb 19, 2013 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, suspense, young-adult, read-in-2013, nook, paranormal

I can't bring myself to give this less than 4 stars, even though there were some things (especially at the end) that I didn't like/didn't think made sense.
YA suspense is not my genre of choice, but the reviews on this book were so overwhelmingly good that I thought I'd give it a chance. I'm glad I did, because this is the first book in a while that I've actually stayed up late to finish.

(For Parents)
This is definitely not a young Young Adult book. Lots of drug and alcohol use without any 'Moral...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Hayden Casey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Beautiful Lies . . . Where to begin.

I've always been fascinated with twins. Before this book, I've never heard of this particular type of twin, a pair that could sense the other's emotions or feel these thing the other felt, even physically. You could say I was intrigued about the subject. Another concept introduced in the book is the twins switching places with each other. This fascinated me as well.

It's been a while since I read this book, but I can tell you what I remember: the book is set a...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Sarah.noyce rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well... Wow I don't even know what to say... I could not put it down! And now it is almost 12 and I will most definitely be regretting this in the morning, but for now I am creeped out and awed at the same time. This author has a way of making you feel as though you are right along side the characters and I love that the narrator is not always trustworthy. That was a refreshing change from many other books. That being said the book got slow at some points and though the twins are well developed...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Book Twirps rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book made me feel like I was going a little crazy while reading. It’s an intriguing read, and while I’m not sure that I loved the book when all was said and done, I definitely had a heck of a time reading it.

Rachel and Alice are identical twins — so identical on the outside (though personality wise they couldn’t be more different) even those closest to them have never been able to tell them apart. The bond between them goes beyond just sharing identical looks. Each of them can feel the othe...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
A couple holes...	1	3	May 15, 2013 05:16pm
confused....	1	18	Jan 10, 2013 02:37pm
what the heck happened?	2	31	Dec 18, 2012 08:13pm
The ending	3	36	Oct 04, 2012 07:36am
Book Giveaways: Beautiful Lies Giveaway!	1	17	Aug 12, 2012 05:26pm

title link	preview: Beautiful Lies
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