I just couldn't get into this book as I really didn't care at all what happened to the main character - she really irritated me! I am sure this is just me and it is a great read but I had to give up half way through.

Unique Fraud, the second book I have read from E. Lockhart following We Were Liars. Once again, the way in which this story is told can be described as unique and genius. Typical to Lockhart style this pulls you in filled with murders, mysteries and being unsure who you can really trust. The book has a fascinating start, starting from the end of the story. This engages the reader and make them want to learn more about this girl who is on the run. How did she get there and what has she done? This is just the start of the questions that the reader will ask themselves throughout this story, there are non-stop questions in this story, with hard hitting points however they do tie together. The plot of the story (no spoilers here) is pleasurable and maintains the reader’s attention throughout. The story itself is incredibly well written, the book is short however the details ensure that it does not feel rushed. Through the incredible amount of detail, it is possible to picture everything that is happening. Despite all these positives, I did feel at times that the story because it was being told backwards was a bit jumbled and sometimes occasionally hard to follow. When I did eventually manage to put the book down (it was incredibly hard!) by the time I picked it up, I felt a bit lost. Overall, Lockhart tells another story which will stay with the reader for a long time, another book which is excelled my expectations based on the description. Well worth the read.

There's a sweet spot in the suspense genre where character study combines with psychological horror. This sweet spot has produced masterpieces like Dare Me, Dangerous Girls, Allegedly, and now Genuine Fraud. These are stories about bad people who don't get their punishment, because that's not how the real world works. Real life is messy. Sometimes, bad people live on.

First things first: I KNOW a lot of people are going to be comparing this to We Were Liars. Genuine Fraud is a very different novel, and I expect that plenty of people who hated We Were Liars's pretentious rich kids and poetic writing style will love Genuine Fraud's straightforward writing style and morally black main character. I enjoyed the former a fair amount, but this book blew me away. Weirdly enough, the difference between We Were Liars and Genuine Fraud is similar to the difference between Dangerous Girls and Dangerous Boys: they're both excellent books, but the first one of each pair is more concentrated on atmosphere and one final twist, while the second one is more about the why than the how.

Genuine Fraud is the story of Jule West-Williams and her best friend Imogen. Anything else said here would spoil the plot. This book is told in flashbacks, with brilliantly subtle clues as to what's going on, and reveals that made my heart pound. I have to say that I wasn't totally shocked by much about the book, but damn, if the ride wasn't enjoyable.

This book is about the outcasts, the kids who aren't rich and perfect. It's about how far someone might go to have their own happy, wealthy life. The tension builds so slowly in this story. You feel sympathy for Julep towards the beginning, and even towards the end.

I admit, there were confusing parts. If you're someone who wants everything to be clear from the beginning, don't pick this up. But for me, the unanswered questions worked perfectly. This was a book that left me absolutely desperate to finish. Even when I predicted twists, every moment was full of tension. Just... let this book surprise you.

My copy of this book came from Netgalley. I so enjoyed We Were Liars that when I saw this book was available, I knew I had to request it!

It is an incredibly compelling book, very hard to put down. It is also a book that is hard to say too much about without risking giving things away, so I won't say more, but it is a very good, very exciting and very absorbing book!

I had high hopes for this novel - I love thrillers and it comes from a big-name author. It got off to a great start. I was intrigued by Jule and wanted to know more about her and how she had ended up in that situation. I was desperate to read on and discover how she was going to get past Noa. I was hooked! But then...
I found the backwards narrative confusing, and spent quite a lot of time not entirely sure of what was going on, nor caring. I think some of my readers would really struggle to keep on top of the plot, particularly slower readers.
I struggled to warm to any of the characters in the novel. Their privileged American background made it hard to relate to them, and I found they were portrayed in a rather two-dimensional way. They read as being much older than the 18 we were told. I have read other books in the past where I haven't particularly liked the characters (and given what we are told about Jule, I'm not sure that we are intended to like her), but in this case the lack of belief in them led me to just not care what happened to them.
I really liked the idea behind shedding an indent its that you don't like and adopting a new one, and I think that it would resonate with the teens in my library. Who hasn't ever dreamed as starting again as someone else?
My real issue with the book is its lack of closure and consequence. Spoiler alert - I'm really not comfortable with the idea of an armed, violent murderer being left free to strike again. Much as I dislike the overly moralistic, neatly tied-up ends that are prevalent in a lot of YA literature, a little more consequence would be appropriate here.
Overall - it was ok. I would have preferred better character development and a different ending. If a pupil asks me to stock it then I'll add it to my library's collection, but I won't be purchasing otherwise.

Thank you to Netgally and Hot Key Books for the e-arc.

I’ll preface this by saying the best way to go into this is blind. I knew next to nothing about it going in- but I have read and enjoyed E .Lockharts other works- and the short length of the book appealed to me. What I will say is this book is engaging, intriguing and well structured. The characters are well written and rounded and the story drags you forward at a comforting pace. This is a really high four stars- more like 4.5 and only short on the five stars due to 1. I reserve those for books that give me a brand new feeling and excitement and 2. I don’t read much in this genre, and though I loved it, I’m not familiar with troupes.
However, I thought this was surprising, it never felt fake or cheesy, and the line between truth and lies was really interesting to explore. It was nice to see how the front cover played into the story so fluently as well.
This is a good base point to start this book- I would recommend it, would even go so far as to say it’s fantastic. It you want a quick thrill- pick this up. If you really want to know more about what I felt about the characters and structure and so on- feel free to read through the headings below to see if you’d think this book is for you. I don’t want to spoil, so some story set-up or hints may be shown below and things I wasn’t aware of going in- so move forward at your own discretion.


Character

The set up for each character is so smart. It doesn’t blab everything all out at once, dropping hints, ideas down. Giving insight a little at a time. It twists the time you spend with each character, warping your perception of them all the way to the end. Everyone has layers and is complex, and you can only see so much through Jules perception. She’s an unreliable narrator, and at first you’re inclined to trust her opinions and word on everything. You’re willing to sympathise and trust her- to believe whatever bad she may have done is justified.

Structure

This here is what really made the book shine. The timeline is not linear- and is mostly skipping further and further back in time (with intermissions of leaps forward). This structure warped our perception of the situation- creating mysteries for the reader that the main character herself was privy to but we either didn’t have enough information to fully comprehend her thought process or the answer was in the past. The going backwards in time never felt like a flashback (even though that’s what it was- this whole book is more or less one big flashback- but it doesn’t feel like that). Every scene either raised questions or gave insight- and sometimes gave both. It never felt like the book was info-dumping. It was all subtle and deliberate, and it must’ve taken a lot of work to make this structure work so well. This was the perfect way to tell this story- and it was why the mystery ad intrigue of this book worked so well.


Plot

The plot is in the mystery. It’s in the little things hidden in each scene- and how the author peels layer after layer of information to us without it ever feeling like info-dumping. It’s all intriguing, and it pulls you forward to find the answers. Everything is suspicious. The way the story is going never quite clear till the latter half of this book- and then you realise it was heading this way all along. Is it about grief? Revenge? Deception? Read it and you’ll see.


Conclusion

Overall, this is an intriguing book (and yes I know I’ve used that word a lot) that is told in an engaging way that makes this such a compelling read. The mystery keeps you going, and the complex characters make this rich in a way the author manages to warp all perceptions of them throughout the book as we learn more and more about them. I would pick this up if you’re looking for quick read full of quiet thrills that will keep you wondering right to the end.

I love E Lockhart so so much and Genuine Fraud did not disappoint. Twisty and dark

I was looking forward to a pacy YA novel, with a bit of mystery and suspense, but unfortunately this fell completely flat for me. The reverse narrative keeps you reading but it's just so clunky. The characters are confused and confusing and their motives are baffling. None of it was even close to being believable, it read as a series of improbable events, strung backwards.

Lockhart had some interesting points to make on the role of women in film and literature and I appreciated her attempt to make a more three-dimensional and exciting female character in this, but sadly for me it just didn't work.

A rollercoaster ride with Jule, a very unreliable narrator. The story is told backwards for the main part, so you have to work hard to piece the story together - and try and work out exactly who Jule is and why she is where she is....

I've read two E. Lockhart books previously - one of which I enjoyed (We Were Liars) and one of which I didn't as much (Fly on the Wall). In both cases however I really liked the writing style and appreciated the premise of the stories.

Genuine Fraud has a really interesting structure and it took me a little while to get used to it. It starts and finishes with the same scene, working backwards until the end where we're brought back to the present moment. It also has an unreliable narrator which always makes for a wild ride. I appreciated that even in the last few pages I was questioning who the narrator was.

Jule is a girl on the run - but why is she on the run? And where did she come from? This is a mystery thriller with murder and deceit. It's a short read (as Lockhart books generally are) and you can whizz through it in a short amount of time.

There isn't a whole lot of character building but that's to be expected when the protagonist is unreliable. She's the master of disguise and pretends to be several different people - the main being her best friend Imogen.

Although the story was really interesting (and apparently the same storyline as The Talented Mr Ripley, which I haven't read) because it was so short and fast-paced, I felt like you missed out on a lot of the elements that make thrillers so addictive. At no point was I particularly bothered by any of the characters or even what happened to Jule in the end. That was a big issue for me because why else am I reading?

I don't recommend this book if you're looking for an intense thriller that sucks you right in and leaves you wanting more - but if you're looking for a quick read that isn't your standard mystery novel then this could be a good choice.

This is a fascinating, engrossing book from the author of the much-loved We Were Liars. Tonally it's very different to this and her other previous work which I also loved, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, it tells the story of Jules (whose truth you never really fully understand). Yes, there were some flaws (the ending was not the most satisfying) but it was so engaging and well written that I read the whole thing in an evening. Sign me up to the E. Lockhart fanclub, stat.

My only real criticism was the age of the characters - I understand that this is because the author's previous books have come under the YA category, but it felt like the book had originally been written with characters in their early-to-mid-20s and then just made them a few years younger when told it had to be for a younger audience. I thought this made it just a little less believable (a 17/18 year old doing all this? Really?).

I am a big fan of E Lockhart and couldn't wait to read this book so was grateful to receive an ARC through NetGalley. I loved the suspense built up through the reverse chronology and the unpredictable characters who kept me guessing throughout and I couldn't get enough of the antiheroine.

Well.

This is such a frustrating book.

I really like characters that are meant to be unlikeable and this book is full of them, however if you had read Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley (E. Lockhart couldn’t have been more inspired) then you’ll know this book, they are very similar to those characters and so is the plot.

I really like how the plot develops, the story going backwards as Jules tells the story, however in places it can feel like the story is almost filler, to an ending that really is a bit of an anti-climax. Nothing really happened, it was too easy for a character that is developed as someone strong, tough and smart.

It has a good pace and the writing is fantastic - this book will keep you hooked no matter what, not to mention the scene setting is very picturesque. How Lockhart paints the places the characters go in the book is amazing, however for me it’s story that’s already been told and been done better really.

I was absolutely fascinated by the way this story was told backwards, and how it informed my understanding of Jule. I was genuinely disturbed by how things played out but her character was built in such a way that I trusted her completely until suddenly I didn't. It took some getting used to, but as soon as you could anticipate that the gaps would be filled in, I couldn't stop reading.

I'm really drawn to characters like Jule who can so easily change identities and fly around the world at a drop of a hat. It's glamorous and dangerous all at the same time, and reminded me of Ally Carter's 'Heist Society' and one of my favourite films, 'Hanna'.

For such a short book, there was so much going on and a constant thread of 'something's not okay' that unnerved me but I was desperate to get to the bottom of it. 'Genuine Fraud' definitely fits with E. Lockhart's other titles, with aspects of Jule's character reminding me of Frankie from 'The Disreputable History...' and characters from 'We Were Liars'. If I've liked her other books, you're guaranteed to like this one, and if you're new to this author, I'd definitely recommend starting here for action and pacing.

A mystery/thriller where the question isn't who, but rather why and how.
This book is nothing like We were liars, but somehow captures the same mysterious feeling of something being not quite right.
Throughout the book, Jule explains her thoughts and her reasoning behind what she does, but because of her re-invention of herself, the reader is never sure wether she actually believes herself or if it's just another part of her constructed personality.

"Jule had told a hundred lies to make Immie love her. She deserved that love in exchange for them."

This is a delightfully creepy and confusing tale of a girl who will do anything to come out on top. Told in reverse, this book keeps you guessing almost to the last page. Who really is our main character? What drives and sustains her? How far, exactly, has she gone to get to where she is now? Jule is the epitome of an unreliable narrator and it makes for a fantastic journey. You do not want to know anything more going into this book. Be warned though, there is no neat little bow wrapping up this story

Wowzer! Like many other people I loved We Were Liars but Genuine Fraud is something else!

The first thing that strikes you about this book is that it starts at the end. Jule, an orphan is living it up in a posh hotel. She’s rich, alone and feisty. But also a little bit mysterious and deadly. Slowly, chapter by chapter the novel begins to go back in time and the reader finds out more about Jule and her friend Imogen and the plot gets even thicker. A friendship woven with secrets and lies and a couple of murders thrown in for good measure.

I loved the way this novel worked backwards, it’s a very skilful way of writing and a great approach to keeping the intrigue going, we know the ending from the beginning and now it’s just a matter of finding out the how’s and why’s.

There were definitely some ‘gotcha’ moments as well as that brilliant moment where pieces start fitting together and you’re sat there thinking ‘wow, you devious bitch.’ But I also loved that there is such a strong female presence in this book along with very blurred lines on who is the ‘good guy’ and who is the ‘bad guy’.

Overall Genuine Fraud is an unputdownable novel with one of the best examples of an unreliable narrator that i have ever read.

E. Lockhart’s newest novel, Genuine Fraud, is every bit as engaging as her bestseller We Were Liars. It’s a novel told in reverse, as each chapter takes the reader a step back into Julie’s story. Julie is on the run. Does her relationship with Imogen, her wealthy friend, have a connection to what she’s running from? Julie is tough, streetsmart, and a master of disguises. But who is Julie? We never really know until we reach the end of the novel. One thing we are sure of is that Julie is a survivor and that she will go to great lengths to stay that way.

The plot is fast-paced, taking the reader along to various locales, including Martha’s Vineyard, London, and Mexico, and offering up new plot twists along the way. This is a book to pick up for readers who don’t mind a dark story and enjoy a plot that will keep them guessing right until the end.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Genuine Fraud starts out so deliciously good. Starting from the end and working it's way back to the start, this book features Jule - a girl on the run, usually in disguise (hence the title), and calling herself Imogen. Obviously she is not Imogen, and so her disguise isn't doing so well and her cover is blown. The book basically tells you the story of how she got into this mess. Very exciting premise that's for sure and really cool delivery - give me a fast paced, mysterious chase sprinkled with some murder and I'll be stuck to the book until I've devoured it.

Except for there was no mystery really; it seemed really apparent from very early on how Jule had gotten to be where she was and there was no secondary plot twist to leave me feeling foolish for thinking it was so easy to figure out. It just was. And I'm not sure if it was just because the book runs backwards, or if I figured things out that shouldn't have been so obvious, but this story just didn't have the level of surprise I would have expected from what is ostensibly a mystery type of story-line. I can only assume having the ending before the beginning kind of ruins that suspense.

Really lovely writing style, and a unique approach which absolutely deserved three stars for that alone, but for me a good mystery is the same as a fast paced movie. You've got to be hooked, with your bum hanging off the edge of the seat and your hand halfway to your mouth (full of popcorn) frozen in midair because you're so into it. I just wasn't hooked - I'd have eaten the whole bucket of popcorn by halfway if it was a movie.

Characters
Julie is known in the book as many, many names, but is referred to as Jule on the most part. Very little is known about her as a person, which gives me a sense of fear or uncertainty. Had it have been a first-person narrative, I would have said she is the most unreliable character of YA fiction I’d ever come across. In fact I still, hours after reading, don’t trust her or her motivation for doing what she does… which is why I’m so spellbound by her.
Jule is incredibly intelligent and resourceful. Just wait until the pin starts to drop and, while we never get a true sense of who she is, you do realise how strong she is.
Imogen is a spoilt, unlikable character and there seems to be a sense of justification about what happens to her. Yes, we get a lot of information second hand, but you do later realise there’s other things you have to look out for to learn about this character. Not that it helps.
Forrest and Brooke are equally unlikable; however, you may feel a little sympathy for them. They’re both upper class collateral damage.
Plot and writing
It’s hard not to talk about both of these together, owing to the nature of the book. It’s a third person narrative that has a backward/ retrospective plot that is reminiscent of the beautiful film Memento (2000).
This is unputdownable writing. I read it in one sitting, mainly because I needed to know. I don’t think I could have kept up with the threads had I been dipping in and out of the narrative.
While it’s clearly not a new concept, as Memento can attest to, it is a gripping way to set out a novel and it won me over from the start.