I can definitely see my students loving this book, but it just wasn't for me. The ending was extremely abrupt, I'm sure intentionally, but I found it aggravating, and not in a good way. The book was fast-paced and constantly had me wondering what would happen next, so if that kind of story appeals to you, this may be for you. But for all that the pace was quick, I found myself easily distracted because I didn't feel connected to any of the characters.

Younger fans of Mr. Robot may enjoy this one.

I wanted to love this, but it was a struggle. The first chapter was jarring, it was frustrating to follow, and from the beginning I couldn't get into it. Nearly halfway through the book, there didn't seem to be any driving force behind the story beyond the hazy "my mom is a spy" twist and "I have severe anxiety/paranoid delusions/who knows wtf else." It felt like a concept for a story being forced into becoming an entire plot. There wasn't any real character development, no opportunity to connect to anyone in the story, and the "assassination attempt" and ensuing drama felt forced.

I know it's a psychological thriller, and it may have been by design that it was never clear what was going on--after all, that's how the main character feels a lot of the time, so why not put your readers in his shoes. I can appreciate the attempt, but I'm not a fan of spending an entire book in the dark like that. Then there was the inclusion of his father as a looming threat, even after it became clear the dad had nothing to do with what was happening. At first I wondered whether he might crop up, but it seemed in the end to be nothing more than a way to incorporate punishing domestic violence perpetrators into the story, I guess so Bel could be a monster but not that much of a monster. Again, it felt forced. Ultimately, while I find the concept for this story intriguing, the execution was a bit too hazy for my tastes.

Pollock, Tom. This Story is a Lie. Soho Teen, 2018.

Peter is a math genius but also deals with an anxiety disorder; his sister has always been his rock, his protector. When they attend an awards banquet in honor of their mom and she is stabbed and Peter is kidnapped, Peter has to decide what is the truth and whom he can trust.

I can definitely recommend this book to teens who enjoy suspenseful stories that are action-packed and compelling to read. This was a difficult book to put down, even though I guessed at a lot of the plot twists before they happened. I don't think teens will likely guess the ending before it happens, and teens who enjoy crime procedural shows like Criminal Minds will likely enjoy this story as well.

Recommended for: teens
Red Flags: violence, bullying, language
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

Read-Alikes: The Naturals, The Rules for Disappearing, Boy Nobody

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of reveiw.