The Liar Society (The Liar Society, #1)

Apr 18, 2011 Alz rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-mg, contemporary

I've seen this book touted as a fun prep school mystery featuring a sassy, snarky protagonist. The book is actually much darker in tone than I would consider "fun" and Kate herself is neither very sassy nor snarky--she spends most of her time grieving and obsessing over her dead best friend.

The school, Pemberly Brown, is a marvelous setting, indeed a very exclusive preppy sort of private academy with its own hallowed legends and traditions. It felt like a real, solid location, well-grounded and...more I've seen this book touted as a fun prep school mystery featuring a sassy, snarky protagonist. The book is actually much darker in tone than I would consider "fun" and Kate herself is neither very sassy nor snarky--she spends most of her time grieving and obsessing over her dead best friend.

The school, Pemberly Brown, is a marvelous setting, indeed a very exclusive preppy sort of private academy with its own hallowed legends and traditions. It felt like a real, solid location, well-grounded and well-rounded, with a real history behind it. The same, alas, cannot be said of most of the characters.

Despite being the first-person narrator, Kate is curiously vague as a character. She has no other friends (though she used to), her parents are absent and out of the way (except to occasionally pop up to generically scold her for being depressed and obsessive), and the book touches upon no other interests, talents, hobbies, or quirks (other than overstated repetitive pearl-clutching and token mentions about dying her hair pink). Every single thing Kate does in this book is related to the mystery of Grace's death--either she's speculating about it or out digging up clues or flashbacking to the incident in question. Her entire life and the entire story revolves around her grief for Grace and her obsessive desire to find out what really happened to her, which could have been powerful and moving but, because Kate lacks tangible personality or history, the emotion and drive toward the goal feels almost perfunctory. The story is definitely more about solving the mystery than Kate herself; Kate's friendship with Grace and subsequent grief are more tools of backdrop and motivation than having any emotional draw.

(Also, Grace herself is hardly developed either, even in flashbacks. She's pretty and popular and has been BFF with Kate for a long time, but other than that I’m hard-pressed to understand why Grace was so spectacular, since her background and character are sketchy. Many of the other characters also seemed a little sketchy--not stereotypical and not cardboard-cutouts, but like we were only given enough information to form a surface picture.)

It is a very fast read--the chapters are quite short, varying in length between two and maybe six or eight pages--and the pace was fairly steady and moved along more quickly toward the end. I was not raptly engaged because I didn't know Kate and found it hard to connect with or care about her on a deeper level, but I was curious to know what was going to happen next. Some of the clues were pretty obvious and occasionally circumstances/clues were rather contrived, but overall it was fairly well-done.

Except for the end. Don't worry, no spoilers will follow.

The ending is what bumped the book down from 3-ish stars to 2. I'll boil the ending down to two parts: 1) Solving the Mystery/The Big Reveal and 2) Conclusion/Resolution.

1) The details of the Big Reveal are, if you're reading fast, satisfactory. BUT if you read more carefully, there is a rather important plot hole that fails to be resolved, and there are revelations that super-fast-glossed over—and glossing over important details in a mystery is never okay. Saying something along the lines of, "Oh, but then s/he found out anyway" doesn't cut it, nor does giving vague descriptions of "and then s/he did this"—when, where, why and how did they do this? And some of the very important details seem to contradict each other and left me confused as to why x couldn't happen if they'd just said y because of z.

2) There is a conclusion, but there is no resolution. You heard me. The book ends very unsatisfyingly, leaving the door wide open for a sequel, but there is no emotional or circumstantial resolution. The Mystery is solved, but everything else dangles. I had absolutely no sense of satisfaction or pleasure upon reaching the ending, although it doesn't leave off on a cliffhanger. More than anything it left me with a sense of unfairness, which further dampens any desire to read the sequel.
(less)

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May 11, 2010 Mandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010reads

I LOVED this! Nancy Drew + Hilarious Snark + Hot Boys = LIARY SOCIETY.
I simply couldn't put it down.

Liar Society features Kate Lowry, a snarky, troubled teen unable to get over the death of her best friend just a year before. When she receives an email from her BFF's email account-- an account only she knew existed--she's launches a mission to discover the truth about her friend's death. Toss in a couple of boys, a trail of breadcrumbs and some serious secrets, and you have LIAR SOCIETY.

Laura...more

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Jun 07, 2011 Karsten Knight rated it 5 of 5 stars

The 5 Things I Loved About:

THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa & Laura Roecker

1. THE VOICE. I adored Kate, and not just because we share the same fashion when it comes to plaid skirts and pearls. Her voice had just the right mix of both contemplative interiority and the savvy wit that I've come to expect from Team Gemini (aka the Roeckers), while still preserving a sense of
2. MYSTERY. I frakking love the Whodunnit genre. After a long day of writing about gods and goddesses and other paranormal things,...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Carolina rated it 5 of 5 stars

You know, I don't really read a lot of YA mystery. None, actually...which is weird. Because I love mysteries. It's the mystery part of every novel that really sucks me in, that entertains by challenging me to think. I used to devour Nancy Drew books as if they might disappear before I could finish reading them--and my first reading love was Encyclopedia Brown. So what the heck happened? Is it because there aren't a lot of straight up mysteries in YA that I don't read them any more? Did I get sid...more You know, I don't really read a lot of YA mystery. None, actually...which is weird. Because I love mysteries. It's the mystery part of every novel that really sucks me in, that entertains by challenging me to think. I used to devour Nancy Drew books as if they might disappear before I could finish reading them--and my first reading love was Encyclopedia Brown. So what the heck happened? Is it because there aren't a lot of straight up mysteries in YA that I don't read them any more? Did I get sidetracked by Romance and my unquenchable hormones? Um. Perhaps. It may also be the flash of vampires and dragons and falling-apart future worlds that beckons me like tiny gym shorts for Richard Simmons. Who can say for sure? But I do know one thing: if I can find any more YA mystery books like THE LIAR SOCIETY, I'll be reading every single one of them--and I can't wait for the next one by the Roecker sisters'...

THE LIAR SOCIETY is like Nancy Drew, but way cooler, sassier, and a thousand times funnier--with language that is reflective of REAL teenage voices. And Kate Lowry is the girl we all wish we could be--good looking with a biting wit, razor sharp intelligence and mega attitude. Nobody rocks a set of pearls quite like Kate Lowry. The only problem is she's an outcast forced (by necessity and pity) to rely on the biggest nerd in the school (who nearly pooped his pants at one point, which OHMYWORD, had me cracking up so badly, I nearly po...well.) And the setting couldn't get any cooler either: Pemberly Brown, an elite private school set in...Cleveland. Not Beverly Hills, not Boston. But freaking Cleveland. Now how refreshing is that? You should see what Kate thinks about it...

Which reminds me. Let's get back to Kate for a minute. I mean, the mystery was great. LOVED the whole premise--the clues, the twists, the danger, and the who-dun-it-what's-gonna-happen questions that drive you forward hunting for answers. There's also a romantic element that adds a lovely degree of tension and intrigue. But I'll be honest--Kate totally made this book. Her voice is so distinct and appealing. She's one of those people you wish you had in your life, just because she would make everything sparkle a little bit brighter...the kind of person that makes you laugh until you pee at everything you probably shouldn't laugh at simply by stating her slightly slanted, unfiltered view of the world. I laughed in much the same way that I laughed reading ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS or even WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON--both of these being stories that were taken to the next level of AWEsome by the voices of the protagonists.

But Kate's voice is one that alters, too--not the sarcasm or the wit, which is just a natural part of her--but her view of those around her as well as her self-confidence. It's seeing this progression and subtle maturation that keeps her dynamic and fluid, a being capable of change, and thus someone we can care about beyond the laughs. And for me, a book is all about the characters. But lucky for you, THE LIAR SOCIETY has a plot that will leave you guessing and reguessing as well, just as any fabulous mystery should.(less)

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Mar 31, 2011 Midnite rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Liar Society had a promising start, but ultimately didn't work for me. It's the story of Kate Lowry, who begins to investigate her best friend's death after receiving an email from her.

The main problem for me was that I felt no connection to the characters. They all seemed peripheral even though they were supposed to be important. We're told over and over that Grace and Maddie were Kate's best friends, and Kate was really broken up about losing them, but during the numerous flashbacks the f...more The Liar Society had a promising start, but ultimately didn't work for me. It's the story of Kate Lowry, who begins to investigate her best friend's death after receiving an email from her.

The main problem for me was that I felt no connection to the characters. They all seemed peripheral even though they were supposed to be important. We're told over and over that Grace and Maddie were Kate's best friends, and Kate was really broken up about losing them, but during the numerous flashbacks the friendship between all three girls seemed shallow to me. We're told over and over that Liam is dangerous and has a dark past, but he's little more than a wimp when Bethany, one of the book's mean girls, comes around. In every scene that Kate shared with Liam, he never came off like a bad boy, or dangerous, or even a little bit rebellious. He wore his hair long and kept his shirt unbuttoned to reveal t-shirts with rock bands on them. Except for the fact that he didn't babble about conspiracy theories and wasn't always eating, and was "hot", Liam could have been interchangeable with Kate's nerdy neighbor Seth. The depiction of Kate's parents was also frustrating. They make a few appearances, but I never had a true sense of who they were or how they felt about their daughter losing her best friend. Kate's father is disappointed in Kate - her behavior has changed since Grace's death and he wants the daughter he remembers back.

The Reynolds brothers and the Farrow siblings (wealthy legacies at the school) verged on being interesting, but there just wasn't enough of them to make full-on interesting happen. Alistair Reynolds and Bradley Farrow were especially creepy because they clearly knew something and were very good at hiding it.

I thought the book would have been better served if Kate had figured out there was a mystery to be solved on her own instead of receiving text messages that sent her after her next clue. More time spent cleverly "interviewing" all of the suspicious characters would have elevated this story and possibly rounded the characters out.

There have been a lot of teen novels that sell the idea of the bad boy love interest as if all a boy needs to be is cute and bad to be interesting and fall-in-loveable without taking into consideration that there should also be chemistry between the characters and the boy should have more to him than looks and a mean streak. In some cases, not only is there a lack of chemistry, but the boy is so bad, even his good looks shouldn't make him attractive to any girl, let alone reader. The Liar Society has the opposite problem. Kate is told by Seth and Bethany to stay away from Liam because he's dangerous, but Liam's actions never indicated that he was tough, strong, angry, rebellious, snarky, sarcastic, or any of the other hundred things a person needs to be to be labeled "dangerous" or bad. He's actually kind of boring. There's never one moment when Liam does something that would make our heroine (or us) believe he's trouble.

One hilarious aspect of The Liar Society is the mean girls' refusal to get Kate's name right. They call her Cade, Cape, Kathy, etc., when they address her and they do it in such a way that anyone listening might not realize they're purposely getting her name wrong. It made them a little more interesting to me and I wished we could have learned why they chose that particular method to taunt her.(less)

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Oct 10, 2010 Adele Griffin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Clear space on your bookshelf for your next favorite when THE LIAR SOCIETY hits the stores and libraries next spring. It's everything you want a YA mystery thrillride to be, as you follow Kate Lowry-- a modern-day Alice in Wonderland with a flair for thinking exactly what you wished you'd thought- down the rabbit hole and into the world-behind-the-world of posh Pemberley Brown, a school steeped stronger in musty tradition than a pot of Earl Gray at the Carlisle.

Kate's character is the real draw...more

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Mar 08, 2011 MaryBookSwarm rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sourcebooks, young-adult

Ooh, I do love a good mystery, and THE LIAR SOCIETY totally hit to spot! When her best friend in the whole world dies in a terrible accident, Kate has a hard time picking up the pieces, especially since her other friend abandoned her that night, too. One year later, Kate's still working through her pain but slowly moving on. Until she gets a mysterious email from her dead best friend.

Kate's a great character - brave and gung-ho, stubborn and (dare I say it?) plucky. Yep, I said it. She's plucky,...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Galla rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, mystery

A number of reviewers have pointed out that the most obvious influences for The Liar Society are Veronica Mars and Nancy Drew. This is true. Unfortunately, this book won't be supplanting Veronica or Nancy in my affections anytime soon.

For one thing, the parallels between VM struck me as awfully... numerous. If they were accidental, so be it, but if they were intentional, it's a whole lot of homage.

- The main character, Kate Lowry, has become a loner after the death of her best friend, Grace.
-...more A number of reviewers have pointed out that the most obvious influences for The Liar Society are Veronica Mars and Nancy Drew. This is true. Unfortunately, this book won't be supplanting Veronica or Nancy in my affections anytime soon.

For one thing, the parallels between VM struck me as awfully... numerous. If they were accidental, so be it, but if they were intentional, it's a whole lot of homage.

- The main character, Kate Lowry, has become a loner after the death of her best friend, Grace.
- Flashbacks to the period before Grace's death include lines like, "I've got a secret." (NB: the secret was NOT, "I'm banging Aaron Echolls and have videos.")
- Kate has a male friend (very firmly "friend zone") who conveniently works in the office at their prep school, and has access to tardy slips and keys.
- Kate pursues the mystery behind her friend's death doggedly, despite threats and ominous pronouncements like, "You're close. Probably too close."

While the authors did do a good job with atmosphere, particularly at tense moments in the narrative, I found the mystery rather predictable. (view spoiler)

While Kate herself is likable, several of the secondary characters seemed flat to me. It's one of those cases in which characterization consists largely of saying the same thing about a character over and over again. I lost track of how many times Maddie's weight was brought up: a year before the book opens, Maddie was chunky. We know this because Kate points it out about 40 times. Maddie's clothes were too tight. Maddie is self-conscious. Maddie likes ice cream. Maddie's pants split once at a dance. In the present-day narrative, Maddie's swung in the other direction and lost too much weight, which Kate notices just as often. (Maybe she dropped ya 'cause you're obsessed with her weight, Kate! Okay, okay, kidding.)

Seth, Kate's office-working friend, has frizzy red hair, harbors a not-so-secret love for Kate, and is a conspiracy theory freak. I think his conspiracy penchant is supposed to be quirky in a dorky but endearing way, but it's brought up so frequently that he just sounds like a blossoming nutjob instead. A loyal nutjob, but a nutjob nonetheless. There's also a potential love interest for Kate who gets brought in on the sleuthing; he seems nice but otherwise just kind of generic. He's the bad boy who's not actually bad at all; he just likes music and wears t-shirts with band names on them.

I do applaud the writers for coming up with a fun concept for a YA novel. I really hoped I would like this one more than I did, and I know it will be much-loved by a number of readers (especially those who are actually in the target YA audience.) For me, it was an enjoyable read, but not one I'll be trying to talk everyone I know into picking up. (less)

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Jan 26, 2011 Princess Bookie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-read, read2011

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Kate Lowry who has lost her best friend Grace. She's confused, she misses her, she's devastated. Grace died in a fire and Kate just knows theres more to the story than what anyone thinks. She doesn't think it was a accident like it was ruled. She thinks it was set up or a part of a bigger plan. When Kate starts getting emails from Grace, she wonders how its possible, saying dead girls can't use computers.

Kate teams up with her nerdy but cute neighbor Seth and t...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Jianne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ibooks, fell-in-love-with, fangirl-for

Wow. Totally not what I expected! Like seriously so much better than what I hoped for. I thought this was going to be another normal YA contemporary romance but no...I was mind blown. It's actually a thriller/mystery read.

I mean with that title and that cover...It's so deceiving and I meant that in a good way. I love the simplicity of the plot yet Roecker was able to stretch it so much further. I love how it went from simple to super duper mysterious. It has that creepy and thrilling factor that...more Wow. Totally not what I expected! Like seriously so much better than what I hoped for. I thought this was going to be another normal YA contemporary romance but no...I was mind blown. It's actually a thriller/mystery read.

I mean with that title and that cover...It's so deceiving and I meant that in a good way. I love the simplicity of the plot yet Roecker was able to stretch it so much further. I love how it went from simple to super duper mysterious. It has that creepy and thrilling factor that makes it unputtdownable. I love the latin phrases and how it really does make a lot of sense to the book overall.

I love the concept of Pemberly Brown, the history, the tradition, the structure it makes me want to go there! I think Roecker was able to make the school really come to life. I love all the secrets, the finding, the clues, the chasing and the answers. (Though I find of guessed it!) But still, it's gripping and engaging.

I absolutely love the characters. I love Kate, Liam and Seth. I love that duo and I love how everything is so unexpected. The pace goes quick but good, not too much, not too little. It makes sure to drop all these clues while it's happening. I love how Roecker makes you think that you have the answer but no. She has something more in her sleeves! It's a never-ending man hunt.

I love Kate's personality, she's funny, sarcastic, full of humor and just so fun to read. Despite being a dark and mysterious novel, she never fails to make the reader laugh and I think that's really a good combination. Gosh, I love Seth's nerd/geek-ness because hey, they're proven very helpful in the love. I love Liam's super dark and sexy personality that just ohhh so swoon-worthy.

I think that Roecker's writing does add up to the mysteriousness of the book. I think that she's written it well, with the pacing and the secrets. She has a wild variety of characters with different and unpredictable personalities. She lays out a lot of things for the readers to enjoy and every chapter is a cliffhanger I tell you.

Dark but funny. What a perfection combination!(less)

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Apr 05, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to oliviasbooks by: Teccc

Shelves: mystery-crime-sleuthing, young-adult-fiction, ya-contemporary, read-2011, ghosts-dead-people, swapped-or-given-away, thriller, high-expectations, sequel-no-thank-you

A lot of creepy suspense, an interesting heroine - who I in spite of the first-person-narration never really got to know - and a certain Veronica-Mars-in-Private-School feel, but a not so very unexpected mystery, a lot of repetitive scenes, a half-hearted boy-girl friendship, a half-hearted romance and a half-hearted, truly deflatingly unsatisfactory ending, which I really didn't like.

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Feb 06, 2012 Fred rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun book and I enjoyed it quite a bit, although "fun" is maybe a weird word when MC Kate spends so much of her time upset, grieving and generally wigged out. Why so, you ask? Well, basically it has to do with the events resulting in her bff's tragic death in a mysterious fire at their exclusive prep school, and Kate's subsequent investigations into the cause of said fire and death. Kate is a spunky one, if still somewhat psychologically fragile, and her investigations are aided by a s...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Jordyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, cybils-11, library, ya, series-and-sequels

Kate is convinced that the death of her best friend Grace was more than just a freak accident. After a year of therapy and medicine, she still doesn't believe it was an accident and when she starts getting cryptic emails from Grace, leading her to clues about what really happened, she sets off to solve the mystery, Nancy-Drew-style. With her lovestruck and conspiracy-crazed neighbor (Seth) by her side, each clue seems to lead to even more mystery and it becomes obvious that their elite prep scho...more Kate is convinced that the death of her best friend Grace was more than just a freak accident. After a year of therapy and medicine, she still doesn't believe it was an accident and when she starts getting cryptic emails from Grace, leading her to clues about what really happened, she sets off to solve the mystery, Nancy-Drew-style. With her lovestruck and conspiracy-crazed neighbor (Seth) by her side, each clue seems to lead to even more mystery and it becomes obvious that their elite prep school is housing more secrets than just the answer to Grace's death.

I have to start with the absolute best thing about this book, which is the fact that it's like a modern version of Nancy Drew. Though Kate's sarcastic exterior (not to mention the way she used Seth) was more than a little annoying in the beginning, these things led to her being incredibly determined to solve the mystery and an honest friendship growing between her and Seth. The plot was refreshingly unpredictable and made for a page-turner of a book.

In addition to Kate's tenacity and the comic relief Seth brought to the book, the setting of Pemberly Brown, their elite prep school where Grace died, was incredible. Richly detailed, with exactly the sort of creepy history you'd expect, it not only added to the "Nancy Drew" feeling, but also grounded the mystery in reality thanks to how real the school itself seemed. Though Kate's search veers to the outrageous at times, the just-as-outrageous setting makes it seem more realistic.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Liar Society, and then the end came. And it was, at least for me, unsatisfying. I like my books, even as a part of a series and especially as the first book in a series, to house a complete story beginning to end, and in some ways this book didn't live up to that. The last few chapter dragged on, but never gave the resolution I was hoping for and expecting. I'd recommend for fans of mysteries and series, especially if they don't mind non-conclusive endings.(less)

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Aug 24, 2011 Gemma rated it 3 of 5 stars

Yet another book that falls into the 'neither good nor bad' category.

Maybe I'll make a shelf for that.

Anyway, the Liar Society had a lot of things going for it, and yet also felt somewhat lacking. Don't get me wrong; it's far from a bad book, but it just didn't feel fully... rounded.

Not underdeveloped. The characters all seemed very well set up, and consistant. The narrator, Kate, was very believeable in her position of mourning her best friend without getting pouty and/or emo and depressed (or...more Yet another book that falls into the 'neither good nor bad' category.

Maybe I'll make a shelf for that.

Anyway, the Liar Society had a lot of things going for it, and yet also felt somewhat lacking. Don't get me wrong; it's far from a bad book, but it just didn't feel fully... rounded.

Not underdeveloped. The characters all seemed very well set up, and consistant. The narrator, Kate, was very believeable in her position of mourning her best friend without getting pouty and/or emo and depressed (or depressing), which is something not a lot of authors actually bother to do. The death is either a plot device, like in the case of So Shelly, or they spend the entire time moping and become entirely loathesome (as in the case of New Moon, even though Edward wasn't dead. Well, in the traditional sense of the word, anyway).

But at the same time... I didn't really feel sympathetic towards any of them. I don't know why, but it was difficult to really get attached to them, or start liking them. Or disliking them. It's like there's a space between describing a person and bringing them to life, and the authors here couldn't figure out a way to get to the lifelike part.

I don't know if that makes any sense, or if anyone else felt that besides me, but there you go. That's my opinion.

Also, the premise was similar to that... it had it everything, but somehow missed being exciting. Judy Blundell wrote a book called Strings Attached that I felt was similar in that sense of 'has everything, but is somehow lacking'. It was a sort of murder mystery, and had enough twists and turns that it should have been exciting, and yet somehow fell flat.

Maybe what was missing was sparkle. Leave it to me to point out something's non-shining-ness. But somehow, this book lacked, like... distinctive flair. I don't know. I feel like, considering the cover (which I kinda like) it should have been funny somehow, but it wasn't really too amusing. It also didn't have that 'Jaws-theme' feel that proper murder mysteries should have.

Then again, maybe that's just me.

So, overall, this was a very decent book (I feel like I've said that before... probably because I have). If you think it looks good, then read it. There is nothing I would say to encourage or discourage you from doing so. (less)

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Jul 27, 2011 Becca rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. While I was reading this book, I was all set to give it a four-star, maybe even five-star, rating. But then I got to the end, and... :(

I love mysteries. The only TV shows I watch are British murder mysteries, like Agatha Christie's Poirot and (my favourite) Midsomer Murders. I guess, coming from those shows, which can be incredibly complex, THE LIAR SOCIETY may just have been too juvenile for me.

The positives first, though. I finished the book in a matter of two days or so, which is really goo...more While I was reading this book, I was all set to give it a four-star, maybe even five-star, rating. But then I got to the end, and... :(

I love mysteries. The only TV shows I watch are British murder mysteries, like Agatha Christie's Poirot and (my favourite) Midsomer Murders. I guess, coming from those shows, which can be incredibly complex, THE LIAR SOCIETY may just have been too juvenile for me.

The positives first, though. I finished the book in a matter of two days or so, which is really good and fast for me. The pace was really fast, and I loved how short the chapters were. I liked Kate, even though I never really felt like I got to know her.

Okay, now some negatives. The "mystery" was way too convoluted and vague. Even at the end, during the supposed "big reveal," I never figured out exactly what the secret societies did. What was their purpose? Exactly what secrets were they hiding, and what lies were they telling? The book goes on and on about the secrets and the lies, but we never got to find out what the heck they were actually hiding. That was kind of infuriating. And the characters... while I liked Kate all right and I loved Seth, I had a hard time keeping track of some of the others. I straight-up forgot who Alistair was for most of the book, and Liam and Bradley kept mixing up in my head. Speaking of characters, the romance? Completely half-hearted, with no chemistry whatsoever. I had no freaking idea why Kate and Liam even liked each other.

Well, I say that I liked Kate, but in reality there were a few things that really bugged me about her. Calling the bigger girl Beefany was one of them. I don't care if Bethany isn't very nice or whatever, but that nickname is horrid. Coupled with Kate's remarks about "slutty" girls and her random distain for Seth, her judgemental tone and general holier-than-thou attitude towards a lot of things really rubbed me the wrong way.

Then there's the whole thing with Grace. If she turned out to be dead the entire time, who was the "ghost"? Who was that black-haired figure Kate kept seeing everywhere, if it wasn't a ghost? If it was supposed to be a ghost, why was that whole paranormal angle completely neglected? And I had a problem with Grace, to begin with. Even when Grace was alive in the flashbacks and whenever Kate thought or spoke about her, I didn't like her at all. I never got a sense of genuine friendship between her and Kate. She felt like a mean, manipulative person, and I kept waiting for the novel to have a giant twist and have Grace be the bad guy. That felt like the direction the plot was going to take, and when, instead, it completely fizzled out in a big non-confrontation, I was pretty disappointed.

So, two stars. A lot of things I liked (oh, I really liked the setting!), but the things I hated overshadow them. Too bad, because I really wanted to like this one.

ETA: Oh, and where the heck was Cameron during the whole book?!?! Where did he conveniently disappear to? So confused by this.(less)

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Mar 18, 2011 Katie (Call Me Crazy) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, reviews

I heard so much positive buzz surrounding The Liar Society that I was a little afraid it wouldn't live up to all they hype. Quickly after starting the book, I knew I was a total fool for waiting so long to pick it up. This book is flat out amazingly entertaining and was so much more than I ever hoped for!

Seriously, what more could anyone want in a book than an elite Private School, an unsolved murder, a nerdy best friend and a hot guy fending for your attention!? I loved that for a second I'd be...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Natalie (Mindful Musings) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, mystery-suspense-thriller, nook, own-arc

In a Sentence: A fun-filled debut with a heroine that could be Nancy Drew's sarcastic younger sister.

My Thoughts

I've heard several people (like Melissa @ I Swim for Oceans) mention that The Liar Society felt kind of like a mix between Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars. I think I'd probably agree with that description. The Liar Society is the story of a girl searching for answers in a world that does its best to keep those skeletons locked firmly in the closet. However, locked doors and question mar...more In a Sentence: A fun-filled debut with a heroine that could be Nancy Drew's sarcastic younger sister.

My Thoughts

I've heard several people (like Melissa @ I Swim for Oceans) mention that The Liar Society felt kind of like a mix between Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars. I think I'd probably agree with that description. The Liar Society is the story of a girl searching for answers in a world that does its best to keep those skeletons locked firmly in the closet. However, locked doors and question marks are no match for Kate Lowry. Fueled by the grief and confusion caused by the mysterious death of her best friend, Grace, Kate is canvassing town, trying to piece together the events that led to Grace's death.

First off, I really liked the way that the authors provided the details surrounding the night of Grace's death. Instead of doing a few chapters at the beginning when the incident occurs, The Liar Society begins after Grace's death, and later flashes back to the event as Kate remembers them. These flashbacks appear in the book every few chapters, which reveals the information to the reader gradually, allowing him or her to piece together the parts of the mystery as Kate is doing so herself. The flashbacks not only helped to tie together the story overall, but they also provided variety throughout the book, which helped to keep things interesting.

I also liked that the romance wasn't the main focus of the book. Not that there wasn't any, because there was, but it's refreshing to see a young adult book that isn't conforming to every single categorical stereotype that's popular at the moment (aka: head-pounding, heartbreaking, knee-knocking, head-over-heels puppy "love" between characters that have barely hit puberty). The main focus of the book is the mystery and Kate's struggle to come to terms with what happened to her best friend. Her love life is on the back-burner, but there's enough thrown in to attract those of you die-hard romantics out there as well.

My only problem with the book at all is a pretty small one, and it's that the mystery wasn't much of a mystery for me. I had it figured out from pretty early on in the book. From the other reviews I've read in the blogosphere, I seem to be in the minority though, so don't let this stop you from picking up The Liar Society. Though it didn't completely blow me out of the water, The Liar Society was a fun, enjoyable read that appears to be the start of a promising career for sisters Lisa and Laura Roecker!(less)

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Feb 14, 2011 Melissa (i swim for oceans) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arcs, contemporary

The Liar Society follow Kate Lowry, living in a prestigious boarding school in the aftermath of her best friend Grace’s death. Kate is confused and lost, wondering what could possibly have turned life so horribly upside down when she receives an email from Grace, saying that she needs Kate to figure out what happened to her – and to be careful. Up until now, Kate was certain that dead girls didn’t send emails, but now Kate has the chance to prove that Grace’s death was more than the accident it...more The Liar Society follow Kate Lowry, living in a prestigious boarding school in the aftermath of her best friend Grace’s death. Kate is confused and lost, wondering what could possibly have turned life so horribly upside down when she receives an email from Grace, saying that she needs Kate to figure out what happened to her – and to be careful. Up until now, Kate was certain that dead girls didn’t send emails, but now Kate has the chance to prove that Grace’s death was more than the accident it seemed. Teaming up with the cute and nerdy neighbor, Seth, and the ultimate bad boy at school, Liam, Kate is determined to find the truth once and for all.

I’ve been reading Lisa and Laura Roecker’s blog forever, and when I say forever, I mean since the day I started my blog. Literally. Debut authors, Lisa and Laura are a sister duo, self-described as “The Hilton sisters – spray tans + brains – 4 inches + 20 (ok, 30) pounds / Cleveland, OH.” Seriously witty and original, the sisters have created a mystery story in The Liar Society that’s equal parts adventure, mystery and intrigue. Throw a little pinch of oh-so-cute romance into the mix, and The Liar Society is, essentially the epitome of a slam-dunk debut.

The Liar Society presents one of the most likeable heroines I’ve ever read. Kate has these hilarious one-liners that are so fresh and fantastic that I want to slap myself for ever having read books with whiny little female MCs. Kate, Liam and Seth perfectly complement one another and add a dynamic of intrigue and fun to their already-developed personalities. Furthermore, I am pleased to say that, though set in a boarding school, The Liar Society is NOT rife with your stereotypical mean girls/rich students with all their baggage. Rather, the mystery fuels the plot, and the flashbacks that let us experience the friendship between Kate and Grace give us even more depth. You know what? Kate is like Veronica Mars – full of snark and sass, but with a mushy marshmallow interior hiding beneath her resilient personality.

I am going to sing the praises of The Liar Society from here until the sequel, so help me God. A twist between Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars, The Liar Society is fresh and fabulous, leaving us hanging just a little with an ending I truly did not expect. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I want the sequel. Now. I would recommend this books to all YA fans, especially those who like mysteries and contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.(less)

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Mar 01, 2011 Shannon Messenger added it

Ever since I read the blurb for THE LIAR SOCIETY, I've been dying to find out how a dead best friend can send email. In fact, I feel like I've been waiting FOREVER to read this book.

I found LiLa's blog back in 2009 (yes, THAT'S how long they've been stuck with me) and have done nothing but (im)patiently wait for my shiny ARC to arrive ever since. When it finally did, I pretty much tore the envelope to shreds, plonked down on the couch and started reading right. that. second. And I can tell you r...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lisa and Laura Roecker's debut Liar Society offers a rare, genre bending story that is completely their own. Though the story begins with protagonist Kate Lowry opening an email from beyond the grave, the authors avoid falling into the overcrowded paranormal romance standard plot. Though set at an elite academy, and addressing themes of cliquish behavior and privilege, the plot avoids the formulaic scandals and brand name dropping of standard mean girl fare. This story is about friendship and se...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-ya-debut, ya, mar11, arc, for-review, read-in-2011

The Liar Society is one of those books that must be compulsively read. I’m talking up until 2AM, can’t sleep, can’t stop until the last page is turned, kind of read. The story moves along rapidly, with the undeniably awesome Kate Lowry searching for clues into her best friend Grace’s death. Kate is a spitfire, with a sarcastic nature, hardened shell, and an affinity for sleuthing. But above all that, she is a girl desperate to find out exactly what happened to her best friend. A piece of her was...more The Liar Society is one of those books that must be compulsively read. I’m talking up until 2AM, can’t sleep, can’t stop until the last page is turned, kind of read. The story moves along rapidly, with the undeniably awesome Kate Lowry searching for clues into her best friend Grace’s death. Kate is a spitfire, with a sarcastic nature, hardened shell, and an affinity for sleuthing. But above all that, she is a girl desperate to find out exactly what happened to her best friend. A piece of her was lost with Grace and Kate just wants to know why – the real reason why.

Lies abound in the book and each clue Kate unearths just leads to another mystery. To help her out is Seth, the adorkable ginger next door who is crushing on Kate hard, and Liam, the possible bad boy with a more than charming personality. I was drawn into Kate’s story from the very first page and I was just as desperate as her to find out what really happened to Grace.

Kate’s school, Pemberly Brown, is awash in history and private school lore. There are secret societies and hierarchies, mean girls and rich boys, fires, death, and sword fighting. Then there’s Kate Lowry, a normal girl on a mission. Lisa and Laura (LiLa) Roecker’s writing is quick-witted, sharp and had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion, but they never let you forget that Kate lost someone and she is hurting. Kate’s hunt for the truth kept me glued to each and every page, but I was never quite sure what would happen. The mystery of it is perfect and the ending is satisfying, but left me wanting more at the same time.

The Liar Society is a fast-paced, fun read with a strong lead in Kate and a cast of infinitely interesting and complex supporting characters. Not knowing who to trust and what version of the story is the real truth is half the reason the book is so addicting. The other half is a combination of the wonderful characters, the intelligent and oftentimes hilarious writing, and Kate. I’ll read this one over and over while I anxiously anticipate Kate’s next move and LiLa’s next story.(less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

When I first sat down to read this book yesterday, I only expected to read a few pages and then put it down until it was closer to its March release date, but before I knew it I was halfway done, and once you're that far, you can't put it down, right? Especially if it's as amazing as The Liar Society was? So, before I knew it, I was done with the book and dying to read the next, because if The Liar Society isn't one of the most thrilling and unique books out there, I don't know what is.

The Liar...more When I first sat down to read this book yesterday, I only expected to read a few pages and then put it down until it was closer to its March release date, but before I knew it I was halfway done, and once you're that far, you can't put it down, right? Especially if it's as amazing as The Liar Society was? So, before I knew it, I was done with the book and dying to read the next, because if The Liar Society isn't one of the most thrilling and unique books out there, I don't know what is.

The Liar Society tells the story of Kate Lowry, a girl who hasn't felt the same since her best friend Grace died last year. Kate feels there was more to Grace's sudden demise than told, but after a year of seeing a shrink, Kate's learned to be quiet about her theories. Well, until an e-mail from Grace appears in her inbox, telling her to contact Cameron, Grace's some-what boyfriend, so she does, and before she knows it, she's hooked on the case and finding out the truth, even if means finding out disturbing secrets about her crush Liam and recruiting her nerdy neighbor Seth to be her side-kick. But is Kate prepared for the truth? Especially if it means uncovering more than she ever expected? Only time will tell in this thrilling mystery!

One of the things I loved most about this book were the characters, especially Kate. Kate is like a new Nancy Drew in the way that once she finds a mystery, she has a hard time stopping herself from seeking the truth, which is one of the main reasons why I loved Kate's character so much. Because with this trait, it was easy to see Kate was a fearless, smart, and witty character, one you not only didn't want to mess with but couldn't help but to root for. Along with Kate, came several other great characters, such as the charming and secretive Liam, a boy who's after Kate's heart if she'll let him close, and Seth, Kate's sidekick who managed to steal the show with his dweeby yet adorable antics time and time again.

Another high point of The Liar Society was the plot at hand. The plot of this contained so many mysteries, twists, and turns, that even the most truth-seeking of readers won't be able to figure out just what happened until the very last pages- a very, very good thing, in my opinion. Better yet, I loved how Lisa and Laura Roecker put the perfect touch of romance in this, one that leaves you eager for more of it in future sequels.

And this review wouldn't be complete if I didn't say at least once how amazing of authors Lisa and Laura Roecker are! They created such a great and believable world in this, one I hope readers, like myself, will be able to visit time and time again in the future.

Wit, romance, suspense, and action- this book has it all! I seriously can't express in words just how much I LOVED this book. Lisa and Laura? You've kind of created a fan-girl in me with this- one who can't wait to read more books involving Kate, Liam, and Seth and anyone else you two dream up.

Grade: A+ (less)

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Jun 05, 2013 Sabbi rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was a good book, if you like mystery and suspense this is definitely one for you. Personally I'm more of a contemporary romance person (though I'd never admit that to anyone who knows me) but I really enjoyed this book. It draws you in and hooks you throughout the story with lots of twists. For me the ending was a little confusing at first but then it kind of turned cliché an a little predictable but that's probably just me, being the avid reader I am, there were just too many book or even mo...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Cass rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Every living thing in the universe!

Recommended to Cass by: My brilliant self.

Shelves: beautiful-cover, awesomesauce, favorites, ghosts, good-book, love-triangle, kick-ass-heroine, sexy-male-charcters, strong-friendship, would-marry, mystery, murder

Wow! Wow! Wow! It was spectacular. I loved this book everything was awesome! This book kept me constantly on my toes, trying to figure out who killed who. And Miss. Roecker, couldn't have potrayed a better heroine for the job.

Kate Lowry. Witty, clever, totally drop dead goregeous, can pull off pink hair! She is my new faveorite heroine...Sorry Clary you been replaced. I loved how she stayed strong even when she had every right to break down. She wasn't totally unbeliveable though she totally r...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, romance-relationship, ya

Kate's best friend, Grace, died in a mysterious fire last year. She has spent that time trying to put her life back together. She could almost convince herself it was working until she received an email asking her to solve Grace's murder- from Grace.

Digging into the history of her private school, Pemberly Brown, while avoiding the school queen Taylor, her body guard Bethany, and her former friend Maddie, plus convincing her parents she is fine is making life very complicated for Kate. As if tha...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Carmel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, boarding-school, mystery, young-adult

Genre : Mystery
Reading Level: Young Adult

4.5 stars

The Premise:
Kate receives email from her best friend Grace… but the problem is Grace died a year ago. Now, Kate is going to unveil what really happen and prove that Grace’s death is more than a tragic accident.

The Good:
I love mystery novels like Pretty Little Liars. It is narrated in a first person view – Kate. It’s a page turner. I started one afternoon then until late at night. I was suppose to sleep early, but when I was lying in my bed, I was...more

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May 23, 2012 Autumn Wind rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who love Veronica Mars and/or Nancy Drew

A great read for anyone who likes mystery. Overall, I don't have many complaints. The key issues I had with this book were the conclusion and Liam (who knew a mysterious boy could be so lackluster? And what does Kate see in him anyway? Likewise, why does he have crush on Kate? I don't think this was really explained.) The book also seemed a tad generic/ordinary for a mystery, which is part of the reason why I rated it three stars.

Anyway, it’s not fair to only list the negatives. That being said,...more

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Aug 03, 2011 The Bookologist rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-i-own, for-review

Amusing and hilarious, The Liar Society charms readers with it’s sassy heroine, intriguing mystery, and killer ending. Kate Lowry’s adventure warms your heart but yet is filled with scenes that crack you up. The delightful tale is page turning with suspense and is a guessing game until the very end.

The mystery weaved in the story has a quick, but yet, good pace. Only bits at a time of the mystery are slowly revealed. At times, the Roecker’s makes you think you’ve gotten something solved and all...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: june-2011

We have all heard the phrase, 'Don't judge a book by it's cover', right? I must admit that too often I am a bit of a cover snob. You know. I see a cover and think, this is gonna be an awesome read, or, this one looks terrible. Well, that's how I felt about this one. When it first came out and I was seeing it EVERYWHERE in blog land, I thought it looked like something my 9 year old would want to read. I never paid too much attention. Then I started reading really good reviews. This week I was loo...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book! It was awesome, guys! So first off, it's a mystery book, so if you don't like mysteries, then this is definitely not the book for you. However, if you do like mysteries or want to give it a go, than this is definitely a book I recommend!

From the very beginning of the book, I knew I would absolutely love this book! From the 1st page it was already super interesting. And it didn't stop there. It kept being very entertaining, filled with possibilities, secrets, a...more

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