I have to say that at the beginning of this book, I was completely hooked. I flew through the first hundred pages and was so interested in the characters, but once I hit the mid-way point, my interest just kind of... dwindled. I still read the book in its entirety and feel I semi-enjoyed it, but it got to be repetitive and the ending fell flat for me.

It took me a while to get in to this book, it did keep me guessing but not sure I really enjoyed it, nor did I like the characters

While I enjoyed the writing style and the format of the novel - it was reminiscent of one of my favourite movies, Memento - I found the plot predictable and boring, and all the characters uninteresting.

Well... this was a complete surprise, a real 'wow' of a book that I really wasn't expecting. I expected a quite light, funny book, with someone who couldn't help singing at inappropriate times, and it was that.... but so very much more emotional than I'd expected

I enjoyed ‘We Were Liars” but found it hard going at times. The narrative style in this one seemed even harder. I liked the concept of the reverse chronology but found it irritating in practice. It meant that the first half of the novel felt under developed and deliberately confusing which is only ok up to a point. I’ve read some other reviews and realise this is a personal thing, just not to my taste. I did not finish the book, which may have meant I actually would get more satisfaction but I’ve grown tired of books that only provide satisfaction in the last chapter; I like to be immersed in what I read from the first page.

I listened to the first 10-15% on audiobook and had to start over with the e-galley. While it was easy enough to follow the story in ebook form I struggled with following the narrative as an audiobook.

I enjoyed the story to a certain extent but I was hands down let down by that ending. Jule is a very interesting character but we never really get her story, she keeps creating stories about herself and telling lies and only towards the ending do we get to know what happened to her - but we never get the full story. I didn't exactly struggle to get through it but I was not captivated or hooked.

A solid 3-star book.

Reviewing this book is almost impossible review without spoilers!! I would recommend NOT reading reviews before the book as going in blind is the best way to read this one!

E. Lockhart is one of those authors I’ve always meant to read more of, having been blown away by the one and only book of hers that I’ve read, We Were Liars. It’s taken me nearly two years to get to that next book and I really don’t know why I’ve waited so long.
Genuine Fraud is told in a rather disjointed way, with the narrative moving back and forth across the life of Jules, a young woman who is either trying to live a carefree life thanks to an unexpected inheritance or is on the run after her best friend goes missing.
It’s all quite complicated and it’s all very simple at the same time, meaning I never knew where I was in the story and found myself putting everything together as if it was a jigsaw. Then, as each piece fell into place, I wanted to say “of course”, even though I had been nowhere near guessing the truth.
Left to another author, I think the story-telling style and the plot itself could have ended up a right old mess but E. Lockhart is good and manages to keep everything on track. There are so many read herrings here and dead ends that I can’t imagine it was easy to do and I don’t imagine it will be everyone’s favourite style of book to read. For me, though, it was a wonderful rollercoaster of “is she, isn’t she” good / bad and I loved that.
Highly recommended!

This was really twisty, and I wasn't expecting how the book was laid out (starting at the end and working backwards), but a good book!

After reading the blurb this story had a lot of intrigue and excitement. Sadly once I had finished the book it seemed to have fizzled out and lost its initial spark. Worth a read but I wouldn't rush out to buy a copy.

What I Look For in Mysteries
I don’t read a lot of mystery/thriller novels. For one thing, I get scared easily. But on a more important note – I rely too heavily on the ending. For me, a mystery novel is all about the resolution. The culminating point has to wow me, otherwise the whole book, no matter how much I enjoyed it throughout, is ruined for me. And that’s what happens here.

Really Engaging
This was a highly engaging and addicting read. I could not put it down. I wanted to keep reading no matter what. It’s a page-turner and I enjoyed reading it immensely. It was a completely different book than We Were Liars, but it had that same thread that pulled the story forward. It’s nicely structured and organized, which made the reading really exciting.

I Love a Good Unlikeable Female Character
Jule is an unstable, unlikeable and unreliable narrator, but you can totally feel for her and I was pretty invested in the book thanks to her. She is far from perfect, the opposite really, and that is so refreshing to see in a book, especially a YA one. I really liked how unhinged she was, and the author managed to create a character that you doubted and could easily see how they were in the wrong, but to still make you root and feel for her. I really loved that.

But Where's the Suspense
As with We Were Liars, I could see the plot resolution from a mile away. And again, I was annoyed. I don’t want to guess the ending, ever. Moreover, the resolution was obvious from a mile away. That means there was no real suspense here. Plus, this plot is real similar to The Talented Mr. Ripley plot, and parallels were made that made the suspense even more lackluster. Throughout the reading, I was hoping for a different kind of hook, for something to surprise me and make the plot exciting. But it did not happen, and that made me so much more disappointed.

A Bit Overdone
I don’t know if it’s the rich girls and the poor outcast side of the plot, or the fact that it was similar to Mr. Ripley, or the overarching theme of obsessive friendships, but all of this feels quite worn out to me. It lacked originality and I felt like I’ve read all of this before.

Final Thoughts
An engaging read that ultimately leaves something to be desired. I would still recommend this – it’s short and can be fun if you don’t expect too much of it. Plus, Jule is a really compelling main character.

3.5 stars

Imogen is rich, like really rich. She’s an heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat. Jule is a fighter, a liar, and an inventor of stories. When Imogen and Jule meet an intense friendship starts. Both are runaways, fleeing from the past. There’s a disappearance, a murder, an ‘accident’. There’s a girl who refuses to be what everyone wants her to be. And there is a girl who wants to be someone else.

If you’ve followed my reviews, or my Tumblr, for a while then you probably know that I am a sucker for unreliable narrators and psychological thrillers. My all-time favourite book is Code Name Verity which features an unreliable narrator and she prepares to give up information to the Nazi’s during WW2. Some other favourites include Dangerous Girls, Dare Me, and The Fever. Some of my favourite authors are Abigail Haas and Megan Abbott. I adore how they write stories about despicable people getting away with despicable things.

So, on the surface, Genuine Fraud had a lot of things I liked, a mystery, an unreliable narrator, an intense and interesting friendship, and a disappearance. And you know what? Yeah, I did enjoy it but it didn’t really grip me how I was hoping. I totally guessed the plot twist but I really appreciated how the little hints were shown throughout the flashbacks. I did enjoy how it delved into Jule’s mind and allowed us to study why she does what she does.

Also, I found the relationship between Jule and Immie super interesting so it was probably the most positive aspect of this book. But then again I’m a sucker for all types of female relationships whether it be positive, negative, messy or toxic I will devour those stories. Underneath it all Genuine Fraud is a book about wealth and identity and how far someone might go to get the life they want.

Overall, Genuine Fraud is a good psychological thriller that didn’t always hit the right spots with me.

Genuine Fraud was a unique read, but I was ultimately confused by the reverse chronological storytelling. It didn't add as much value as I would have liked. The book was very reminiscent of The Talented Mr. Ripley, which I had read previously. As a result, the suspense and mystery I would have liked was lacking. It felt unnatural to read the story in reverse when the plot seemed to be missing pieces. I ended the book wanting more.

Genuine Fraud is a book that starts at the end and then goes back through time to the start of the story and the the last chapter is the start if that makes any sense at all! I found throughout this book that I was sometimes confused so had to reread what I'd just read to make sure I'd read it right. I did not care for either of the lead characters, Jule and Imogen, I don't know if this was like this on purpose but it nearly made me give up. I also found that as the story started at the end the big reveal at what had happened was revealed in the first chapter so throughout the book it was a case of how it happened without any suspense or twists to keep your entertained along the way. I hadn't read "we were liars" which was supposed to be a good read so went into this open minded despite the varied reviews but unfortunately this book wasn't for me and although I finished it I didn't get any buzz from it that you usually get when you finish a good book.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre - Hot Key Books for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Intriguing, suspenseful and unputdownable! I read this book in two sittings and I while I will not give any of the plot twists away, I will say you will be on the edge of your seat. Can't wait to see this adapted for the screen.

Like many other readers, I am a fan of "We Were Liars". I rarely read YA books. Most of the writing style is too simple and the youth problems are too far away for me. But E. Lockhart convinced me in both books and was able to captivate me. Even though "Genuin Fraud" does not match up to her other book.

In the beginning it was a bit difficult for me. I am always a bit confused when a book just throws me into its story without any explaining. I was aware that the story is told backwards. This is an interesting gimmick, but as a reader you have to be prepared to see events and people emerge that we can not classify. Jule is vacationing in a hotel in Mexico. There she meets a woman in the gym. But very soon she becomes suspicious, feels persecuted and flees the hotel. You can tell immediately that Jules is different. How she assesses and behaves the whole situation is very unusual. Especially for an 18 year old girl.

In flashbacks, we learn how Jules came to Mexico. Before that she is still in London, New York, Martha's Vineyard. You should not know so much about the content, although sometimes I would have wished I knew more. As I said, at the beginning I found it difficult to get into the story and to remember that I'm reading something that happened before the previous chapter. But the more you learn, the better the whole thing becomes and you get to know Jules better and how she ticks. And so it gets more interesting but also more abysmal.

For me not all questions were clarified. The book is relatively short and an easy and quick read. The characters are a little bit sketchy, even Jules. But it grew on me from chapter to chapter. I give 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

A mindbending book, written largely in reverse chronological order, this is a taut character study of a ruthless woman named Jule. The book opens with her evading a mysterious pursuer in Mexico, but what has she done to bring this hunt down upon herself?
Each of the following chapters peels away another layer of the mystery surrounding not only Jule's past but also her very identity, and the strange and volatile friendship that changed everything.
Though short, the book maintains an admirable tension throughout, making for a gripping and enjoyable read. I have seen complaints that it is very similar to some other works, most notably The Talented Mr Ripley, and this similarity in both plot and some characterisation is certainly evident. It's worth mentioning that the author does include a note about this in the introduction of the book. I did not feel that it lessened my enjoyment of the book to any significant extent. A perfect poolside read for those who like a little bite in their books.

#YoungAdult

Genuine Fraud is a psychological suspense with twists and turns that perhaps were just too much for me and sadly the story did not really hold my attention as I had hoped that it would. Friendship, romance, a disappearance and murder are all part of the intrigue of this story, a story that is narrated to the reader out of chronological order. I thought maybe it was being told in reverse and, to a degree, I believe it was but it was actually choppier than simply a reverse order which I feel made the story difficult to follow and enjoy.

I haven't read any E. Lockhart books previously and wouldn't be too inclined to do so again - I couldn't get into this and found the story line very confusing.

"Your character isn't static. It's an adaptation."

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't torn when it comes to E. Lockhart's novels.

With We Were Liars I felt robbed of the "amazing twist" everyone raved about because I saw it coming from a figurative mile away. However, I was still invested in the characters and didn't escape Beechwood without shedding a few tears.

With Genuine Fraud the journey wasn't about nailing the twist but rather discovering WHY the twist takes place. And because you're looking for the why instead of the what it didn't really feel like the thriller I was expecting. Don't get me wrong it's well written and sprinkled with fantastic one-liners, but at the end of the day I was still left wanting.

Told in the third person in mostly reverse chronological order, the novel presents one of the most obviously unreliable narrators in recent memory. We know that Jule is lying AND telling the truth and honestly once you figure out the order of operations there's not much to decipher. I personally believe had they developed Noa's understanding of the events it would have been a more satisfying ending, but that's just me.

At the end of the day, it's a uniquely packaged story that would be perfect for a book club -- because you'll most likely want to discuss the outcome as soon as you turn that final page.