Such Charming Liars is a fun thriller and the con artist/jewel heist part of it made it feel different. This will be a popular title for fans of her other books already and an easy book to introduce her writing to new readers.

Another great mystery by Karen McManus! So many twists and turns. This is definitely more plot driven than character driven. There were so many characters, it was hard to really get to know them deeply. I enjoyed the story nonetheless, and I think teens will too.

Great YA (don’t let THAT hold you back) novel about jewel heists, counterfeitters, Las Vegas marriage, and some ingenious teens. Throw in a little romance and you’ve got the perfect novel. More twists and turns than an amusement park ride, you must read this latest by Karen McManus. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.

The book was not engaging and did not pick up into almost half way through the book. It is marketed as a murder mystery but the crime does not take play until about a 100 pages into the book. I have liked other books by this author but this one did not grab my attention. I would not suggest it and I would say that if you want a fast paced book, this is not the one for you.

No surprise that McManus smashes it out of the park again. This fun and fast paced thriller has all the twists and turns I expected, and it kept me totally enthralled the whole time. The characters were really lovable and the storyline was exciting! Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

Another fun read from Karen McManus. In this novel, we meet Jamie and Kat, a mother and daughter who have been living in a world of crime. Jamie wants to go straight, but she agrees to one last job, a heist at a billionaire's birthday party. Kat tags along and the pair run into a couple of significant people from their past: Jamie's ex-husband Luke and his son Liam. Luke and Liam are also in attendance at this party and their presence threatens the job.
When a party-goer is murdered, Kat and Liam set out on a mission to discover the murderer without becoming targets themselves.
Kat and Liam spent a tumultuous 48 hours together as children when their parents were briefly married. Due to the extreme circumstances, they both feel connected even though they haven't seen each other in years. The reconnection of these "siblings" and the growth of their relationship is the backbone of this mystery.
McManus fans will enjoy this new novel. It's also a fun introduction to the world of McManus mysteries.

I really did enjoy this read. This author is a go to for me and I really enjoyed her other books and this was no different. For me, it was a solid 3 stars and that’s a good rating. It means I was entertained and would likely recommend to others.

Such Charming Liars is a thrilling rollercoaster of suspense, family drama, and unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story follows Kat, who finds herself entangled in her mother Jamie's last heist at a billionaire's birthday party, leading to a reunion with her estranged stepbrother, Liam. The dynamics between Kat and Liam are intense, filled with unresolved tension from their past, and the complex relationships between the characters add layers to the narrative. I loved that it was told from both Kat & Liam's POVs.

Once again, McManus skillfully weaves together themes of family loyalty, betrayal, and the consequences of a life of crime. The tension builds steadily throughout the story, creating a sense of danger that kept me guessing.

What sets this book apart is the unexpected twist at the end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story took a sharp turn that left me shocked. It not only added a new layer of complexity to the plot but also tied up loose ends in a way that was both satisfying and surprising.

Kat and Liam's evolving relationship is a highlight, and the chemistry between them adds an emotional depth to the story. The dialogue is sharp and witty, reflecting the characters' personalities and enhancing the overall reading experience.

While the ending sort of brought closure to the main plot, it left room for a possible sequel, it also left me with lingering questions and wanting to know more about Kat, Liam and even Augustus' futures. If you enjoyed McManus's other standalone books, like Cousins, you will enjoy this story. I cannot wait to interview her at NTTBF and ask her about the idea for this book!

I have read most of Karen McManus' YA novels and always purchase copies for my school library, so I was excited to see this one pop up on NetGalley. Overall, I think I will have some students who enjoy it, but reading it will require more stamina than One of Us Is Lying. The characters are well-developed, but this does add extra layers of complexity to the plot that many reluctant YA readers won't enjoy. My students who are regular readers, however, will appreciate the character depth and the plot twists that keep you engaged in trying to follow the story. I would also like to see a sequel to this novel with Augustus' POV because he is intriguing, and you feel like you only scratch the surface in this story.

What an exciting adventure to follow in this story of our main character and her mother. I enjoyed how this is a split perspective of another character as well and there is an intertwining of their stories along the way. Eventful and students will love this as an independent read!

I love this author and all her books (that I’ve read because I’m currently binge reading her books) I was so excited to get the opportunity to read this book and while I am the type of reader that is along for the ride, this is one of my favorite rides I’ve ever been on.

This author has never disappointed me! I really enjoyed this new thriller/mystery and, although it’s geared toward a YA audience, I believe readers of any age would enjoy it. The loved the dual point of view and the plot twists made the book a real page-turner and keep me guessing. The ending was unpredictable, which I loved! I’ll be happy to recommend this book near publication day. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Karen McManus does it again. Every time I think these standalones can't get better but they DO! I'm astounded and amazed at her ability to write mysteries that involve such intrigue. The characters and their relationships were so well developed, and the dual point of view made for perfect suspense building. I absolutely loved this book and everyone else should as well.

A heist becomes deadly in this YA thriller by the queen herself!
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Kat has only ever had her mother, Jamie, to rely on. Jamie works for Gem, a woman who makes a living off creating replicas of jewelry and using them to steal. When Jamie decides she wants out of the business, Gem tells her she has to complete one final job: Ross Sutherland’s party at his estate. It’s there Kat reconnects with her former stepbrother and makes a new friend as well. Kat has to stand in for mom when she ends up bed ridden with an illness, and though she tries, Kat is not her mom. One mess after another has Kat running scared, but can she survive this weekend alive?
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If you loved The Cousins by McManus then you’ll fall in love with this YA thriller too. McManus always has a trick or two up her sleeve and just when I thought this story was wrapped up, she dropped a bomb. This novel releases August 1.

CW: death, murder, gun violence, physical violence, domestic abuse (recounted), vomit, blood, incarceration, attempted suicide, catfishing

The twist at the end bumped this from a 3 to a 3.75. Not my favorite by her.

I'm a big Karen M. McManus fan (her new books are always an auto-read) for me, and I really enjoyed this new novel from her. It was a bit of a departure from her previous novels, focusing on a mother-daughter pair of grifters/jewel thieft, but still the normal formula of some teens solving a mystery and some toxic family dynamics. It wasn't my absolute favorite from the author, but still a solid YA thriller!

Phew! What a twisty caper that was! Kat's mom Jamie is a thief and needs to pull off a final heist to leave the life behind. But someone from her past shows up, and Jamie falls mysteriously ill. Kat needs to take her place on the job. Will she pull it off? There are just so many twists and nail-biting turns, right up until the last page. My students are going to DEVOUR this!

Karen M McManus has found a niche when it comes to YA Mystery/Thrillers.

Kat's mom is a thief who wants to get out of the business, but not before one final heist. Go figure that on the way there, they bump into Kat's former step-brother and stepfather (thanks to a quickie Vegas marriage that lasted only a few short days).

While trying to traverse the weird family reunion, Kat also has to sneak around undetected by the host family--which proves easier said than done considering the chaos ensuing. Death. Theft. Deceit. No one and nothing is safe!

This is clearly a YA book, which is totally fine. It's not hard hitting and it's a pretty easy-to-spot story line, but I think teens will definitely enjoy the slightly darker mystery that doesn't push boundaries too harshly.

Characters are very enjoyable and well built with backstories and depth. Also nice to see a clean wrap up that won't be haunting for younger readers.

Overall: 4 stars (I really liked it)

I'll tell my students about: language, alcohol, drugs, poison, violence/gore/death, physical abuse (past tense), trauma/mental health, LGBTQ+,

**Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Great book! There were so many different twists and turns that keep readers interested in the story. I personally love the dual perspectives and think it adds to suspense with two different people telling their sides of the story.

I enjoyed the suspense of this book. Kat was a fascinating main character and I did not quite know what to think about Jamie. But by far my favorite characters was Liam. This was a quick read and although not my favorite of her books I still enjoyed it.

Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus is a riveting thriller that follows Kat and her mother Jamie, a pair of grifters embarking on one last heist. When unexpected guests, including Kat's estranged stepbrother Liam, disrupt their plans, tensions rise, and secrets unravel. McManus expertly weaves together intricate twists and turns, alternating between characters' perspectives to reveal their motivations and vulnerabilities. Against the backdrop of a clandestine world of deception and danger, the novel explores themes of family, loyalty, and redemption. With its compelling characters, relentless suspense, and unexpected revelations, Such Charming Liars is a captivating read that keeps readers guessing until the final page.