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The Liar Society #2
The Lies That Bind
Just when Kate Lowry thought she had life at elite private school Pemberly Brown figured out, she cracks open a fortune cookie to find a message from her best friend Grace--who's supposed to be dead.
Another Sister Gone
A classmate has gone missing, and Kate soon realizes that the disappearance is tied to the secret societies that rule her private school. Her best friend died for their secrets, and there's no way she'll let them get away with it twice. It's up to quirky outsider Kate to get some answers, but in a school where every answer leads to more questions and nothing's as it seems, who can she trust?
Another Sister Gone
A classmate has gone missing, and Kate soon realizes that the disappearance is tied to the secret societies that rule her private school. Her best friend died for their secrets, and there's no way she'll let them get away with it twice. It's up to quirky outsider Kate to get some answers, but in a school where every answer leads to more questions and nothing's as it seems, who can she trust?
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2012
36 people are currently reading
1566 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Roecker
5 books289 followersLisa and Laura Roecker are sisters-turned-writing-partners with a love of all things Young Adult. Some call it arrested development, but the sisters claim it keeps them young. Plus, its cheaper than Botox. Lisa and Laura live in Cleveland, Ohio in separate residences. Their husbands wouldn't agree to a duplex. THE LIAR SOCIETY is their first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
June 14, 2014
There's a simple way I could describe this book: Fluffy with a bad romance.
The Lies That Bind is a fun followup to it's prequel. The story isn't very heavy. I laughed aloud a couple times. It's really fun! The main character, Kate, is super awesome. She's smart, funny, caring, and brave. She's everything anyone could want in a fun book. The side characters are also really cute and funny.
There still is a battle with the two secret societies, and I love how there is a lot of female empowerment in these books. When Bethany (Or Beefany to Kate) is kidnapped, she thinks it to be the guy society. (I like this book, but I just can't remember the names!). Taylor, who is like the popular mean girl, wants Kate to help her. Kate hates Taylor and refuses to help. But then she sees that Taylor is going through the same things that she went through when Grace died/went missing. So she helps. I love all their secret missions, and it's such a cute and fun book!
I still had a couple problems though. The first one is kind of small, but it really annoyed me. When Taylor talks, she stretches out her words. If that doesn't make sense, I mean that she doesn't use apostrophes when she talks. For example, "I do not think that is a good idea", or something like that. I'm preeeetty sure that teenagers, especially ones like Taylor, don't talk like that.
The book started off wonderfully, but as I got further and further in, I realized that the romance was going nowhere, and the ending, with Bethany and all, really annoyed me.
And the love triangle wasn't even well written. I liked both of the guys, Bradley and Liam, but the romance was all over the place. I didnt' like it.
Despite these problems, it was still a really fun book. I wonder how it's going to end.
The Lies That Bind is a fun followup to it's prequel. The story isn't very heavy. I laughed aloud a couple times. It's really fun! The main character, Kate, is super awesome. She's smart, funny, caring, and brave. She's everything anyone could want in a fun book. The side characters are also really cute and funny.
There still is a battle with the two secret societies, and I love how there is a lot of female empowerment in these books. When Bethany (Or Beefany to Kate) is kidnapped, she thinks it to be the guy society. (I like this book, but I just can't remember the names!). Taylor, who is like the popular mean girl, wants Kate to help her. Kate hates Taylor and refuses to help. But then she sees that Taylor is going through the same things that she went through when Grace died/went missing. So she helps. I love all their secret missions, and it's such a cute and fun book!
I still had a couple problems though. The first one is kind of small, but it really annoyed me. When Taylor talks, she stretches out her words. If that doesn't make sense, I mean that she doesn't use apostrophes when she talks. For example, "I do not think that is a good idea", or something like that. I'm preeeetty sure that teenagers, especially ones like Taylor, don't talk like that.
The book started off wonderfully, but as I got further and further in, I realized that the romance was going nowhere, and the ending, with Bethany and all, really annoyed me.
And the love triangle wasn't even well written. I liked both of the guys, Bradley and Liam, but the romance was all over the place. I didnt' like it.
Despite these problems, it was still a really fun book. I wonder how it's going to end.
December 28, 2012
Sequels don't always live up to their predecessors, but THE LIES THAT BIND certainly delivers. I wasn't sure what to expect from book 1, THE LIAR SOCIETY, but I found it to be a terrific read. I really liked Kate, and I was personally glad (since she's 15) the book didn't move into any "edgy" territory where her teenage love drama is concerned. THE LIES THAT BIND was equally satisfying on that score. The story is engaging and, while I had my suspicions, the mystery kept me guessing and turning pages right to the very end. The ending was perfect and set the stage for an exciting finale. I'm eager to see what the Roecker sisters have up their sleeves for Kate in book 3. I'm also curious to know what color Kate's hair will be next! :)
December 14, 2016
The main character in this was alright, but I didn't love her.
This was another okay read, but again, there were a few times where I felt quite bored. It dragged slightly in areas, but it wasn't awfully bad thankfully.
Overall, An okay read.
This was another okay read, but again, there were a few times where I felt quite bored. It dragged slightly in areas, but it wasn't awfully bad thankfully.
Overall, An okay read.
January 27, 2013
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on myblog
What worked: Again, I still wasn't impressed with this second installment of The Liar Society. I liked the cover and the blurb made me hope and pray for the best but that was the only thing that worked for me.
What irked: As I didn't enjoy the first book, I had everything crossed that The Lies That Bind would be different. You know I don't like to write a disappointed review so I'll just hash it out.
The characters all fell a little flat for me, I didn't really feel any sort of connection to them. Kate continued to say the most bizarre things that had me scratching my head and at points I wanted to slam my kindle through my brain. I don't think I've ever shaken my head so much while reading a book. The main character gives a speech at the beginning of the book and during the monologue thinks to herself "I wasn't even looking at my notes any more." DUDE! You didn't even look at them in the first place!!!
Kate would keep talking about how she wanted her best friend back so badly and when she did, Kate changed her mind and didn't think she deserved to be there. I. Just. Don't. Get. It.
What worked: Again, I still wasn't impressed with this second installment of The Liar Society. I liked the cover and the blurb made me hope and pray for the best but that was the only thing that worked for me.
What irked: As I didn't enjoy the first book, I had everything crossed that The Lies That Bind would be different. You know I don't like to write a disappointed review so I'll just hash it out.
The characters all fell a little flat for me, I didn't really feel any sort of connection to them. Kate continued to say the most bizarre things that had me scratching my head and at points I wanted to slam my kindle through my brain. I don't think I've ever shaken my head so much while reading a book. The main character gives a speech at the beginning of the book and during the monologue thinks to herself "I wasn't even looking at my notes any more." DUDE! You didn't even look at them in the first place!!!
Kate would keep talking about how she wanted her best friend back so badly and when she did, Kate changed her mind and didn't think she deserved to be there. I. Just. Don't. Get. It.
Want to read
February 6, 2012Sweet closure that eluded me at the end of book one ... please be in here somewhere!
January 6, 2013
This wasn’t nearly as good as the first book. I spent the majority of the book being irritated by the direction of the story and pissed off because of certain characters. To be honest, I don’t think I liked anyone in this besides Seth. Kate was fun in the last one, but I couldn’t stand her in this. I was annoyed by the constant hallucinations or ghost sightings. It lost its excitement after the 50th time it happened. You never really thought ‘OMG, is that the missing girl or ghost?!!’ because how shocking can something be if it happens chapter after chapter. Also, whenever she found a piece of evidence, she was stupid enough to bring it with her so someone could destroy or erase it. The only times I liked Kate was when she had to deal with Liam. I can’t really remember if I liked Liam in the previous book, but I thought he was an asshole in this. I didn’t like his complete lack of understanding towards what Kate was going through. I can understand him wanting her to move on after Grace’s death, but sometimes you get so deeply involved in something that you reach a point where it’s impossible to back out. He came off as very insensitive. Each time I had to listen to him tell Kate to not have anything to do with the secret societies, I wanted to knee him in the balls. I’m sorry, but if you get sent a picture of the kidnapped girl accompanied with threatening messages, it’s a bit difficult to just go on with your everyday life like nothing happened. I could probably ramble on for years about everything Liam did to piss me off, so I’ll just say that I hate his guts and hope she ends up with someone else. At this point, I’d probably prefer Bradley over Liam.
The ending made me angry, but in the same way as the first one did. I never thought that I would say this, but I . Despite how aggravated I was by this book, I’ll read the final book when it comes out. I really hope that because the rest of the characters in this book make me want to punch a wall.
The ending made me angry, but in the same way as the first one did. I never thought that I would say this, but I . Despite how aggravated I was by this book, I’ll read the final book when it comes out. I really hope that because the rest of the characters in this book make me want to punch a wall.
December 5, 2012
4.5 Stars
'The Lies That Bind' is the second book in the LIAR SOCIETY series - a young adult mystery/thriller that follows main character Kate Lowry as she struggles to expose the secret societies that rule her school and the dangers that they pose. In this second installment, Kate is still reeling from the death of her best friend, Grace, and is seeking justice for her death by attempting to bring down those responsible. Soon another girl has gone missing and history seems to be replaying itself. Can Kate find her in time before another innocent life is lost?
With this being the second book in the series - and I haven't read the first - it was a little bit confusing to understand the circumstances surrounding Kate's best friend's death and what has brought her to this point in her life. Other than that, I was easily able to catch on to the plot and was immediately brought into the sordid affairs occuring at Pemberly Brown. Without knowing what to expect from this book, I was more than pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became in the story and how much the entire novel exceeded my expectations.
The setting of Pemberly Brown - a prestigious and expensive private school - is the perfect place for the story of secret societies and age-old traditions. The characters were all very realistic and likable - especially Kate. I found myself empathizing with her right from the start and was rooting for her during the entire book. The romance in the story is the right amount of sizzle without being overly mushy or corny. It added enough flair and distraction to the book without taking away from the main storyline - which I found perfect. The entire history of the school, along with its traditions and societies, as well as the personal backgrounds of the characters added lots of depth and complexities to the book that made it really intriguing. Although the story itself is a serious one, there is some comic relief that had me laughing out loud while I read, which made for a good balance to the heavier material. Overall, I really enjoyed this book - although I am disappointed that I didn't read the first book in the series before this one. A highly recommended series for fans of YA fiction and mysteries/thrillers.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'The Lies That Bind' is the second book in the LIAR SOCIETY series - a young adult mystery/thriller that follows main character Kate Lowry as she struggles to expose the secret societies that rule her school and the dangers that they pose. In this second installment, Kate is still reeling from the death of her best friend, Grace, and is seeking justice for her death by attempting to bring down those responsible. Soon another girl has gone missing and history seems to be replaying itself. Can Kate find her in time before another innocent life is lost?
With this being the second book in the series - and I haven't read the first - it was a little bit confusing to understand the circumstances surrounding Kate's best friend's death and what has brought her to this point in her life. Other than that, I was easily able to catch on to the plot and was immediately brought into the sordid affairs occuring at Pemberly Brown. Without knowing what to expect from this book, I was more than pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became in the story and how much the entire novel exceeded my expectations.
The setting of Pemberly Brown - a prestigious and expensive private school - is the perfect place for the story of secret societies and age-old traditions. The characters were all very realistic and likable - especially Kate. I found myself empathizing with her right from the start and was rooting for her during the entire book. The romance in the story is the right amount of sizzle without being overly mushy or corny. It added enough flair and distraction to the book without taking away from the main storyline - which I found perfect. The entire history of the school, along with its traditions and societies, as well as the personal backgrounds of the characters added lots of depth and complexities to the book that made it really intriguing. Although the story itself is a serious one, there is some comic relief that had me laughing out loud while I read, which made for a good balance to the heavier material. Overall, I really enjoyed this book - although I am disappointed that I didn't read the first book in the series before this one. A highly recommended series for fans of YA fiction and mysteries/thrillers.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2013
Couldn't even get half-way through it. Disappointing.
December 20, 2012
Four stars: A compelling mystery with many twists and turns!
Kate is back at school. She is desperately trying to put the past behind her and move forward. Losing her best friend Grace to the secrets that fuel the two secret societies: The Brotherhood and Sisterhood was a huge blow. Kate is determined to steer clear of the clandestine and underhanded groups. Unfortunately at the memorial for Grace, Kate finds her best friend's jacket. Then later at the annual secret society meeting, that really isn't secret since the whole school goes, a scream rips through the air and it appears another sister has gone missing. Bethany is one of the leaders of the Sisters and now she is nowhere to be found. Even though Kate has sworn to stay away from the societies, she feels compelled to help as she doesn't want to see another girl die because of the misguided societies. Once Taylor, the school's perfect, popular girl who is Bethany's best friend, confronts Kate and begs her to help, there is no turning back. Kate once again finds herself mired deep into the hidden and powerful clutches of the two societies. Who is behind Bethany's disappearance? Can Kate unravel the mystery and save her?
What I Liked:
*I admit that I am pretty clueless when it comes to elite prep schools and secret societies. What little I know, I have gleaned from movies and books. I was shocked and fascinated once I plunged into The Lies That Bind. This book features a wealthy school that is governed by two secret societies: The Brotherhood and Sisterhood. These two groups have co-existed for years and fought over power and control. Now the conflict has come to a head and both sides are willing to go to extreme measures to seize control. I was intrigued to learn more about these secret societies and how far reaching their power is, how much of the school they control and the lengths they go to advance their agendas. Even though this is fiction, I am certain that there is more reality in the makeup of this book than you would think. It is definitely intriguing to explore this world.
*From the onset, this book presents an engaging mystery. Kate races to find out what happened to Bethany while she is haunted by the loss of Grace. There are some jaw dropping surprises and the final outcome was one that I didn't see coming. I enjoy suspenseful reads that continue to keep me guessing and this book certainly kept me guessing the entire way.
* Kate, the heroine, is quite a conundrum. You would think the trauma that she suffered after losing her best friend to the societies maniacal plans would be enough to scare her away from Pemberly Brown, but she is steadfast and determined. She returns with her head high. Once the danger hits, she jumps in willing to do what is necessary to save Bethany. Even if it means spontaneously throwing up in the most popular and handsome boy's closet. She is plucky and funny and a little bit unbalanced. She is even at times frustrating because she throws herself repeatedly and without abandon into dangerous situations. Even though I questioned her judgement, I realized that her erratic behavior is because she is suffering from a bit of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. One of the aspects I liked best about Kate was even though she attends the rich uppity school, she is not a spoiled girl of privilege. She is not caught up in rich life style and in fact she is down to earth.
*I absolutely adored Seth. He is Kate's nerdy, short, skinny red headed neighbor who is obsessed with conspiracy theories and an all around computer geek, but boy is he a guy you would want in your corner. He is always there for Kate no matter what, no questions asked. Even though he is a dork, it is evident that he is madly in love with Kate, even though she doesn't return the sentiment. Seth totally made me laugh. One of my favorite scenes in the book occurs when Seth takes Kate to meet one of his conspiracy idols: a thirty some weirdo who lives at home and spends hours on his computer. It is hilarious. I totally wanted more Seth in this book and I would love for Kate to develop some feelings for him.
*I broke one of the series no-nos and jumped into this one without having read the first book (I know gasp)....Even though I went in without the first book, I didn't feel particularly lost and I was able to enjoy the read despite not having read book one. I can say that it would have been a much better experience if I had read the predecessor, but that usually is the case. I intend to go back and read The Liar Society.
And The Not So Much:
*It is hard for me to make accurate criticisms without having read the first book since I don't know if the problems I had are mostly based on lack of information. The one issue for me, was I felt a little in the dark when it came to the societies. I am sure there is plenty of discussions on them in The Liar Society and I am certain that most of my questions would be answered. I just wanted more details in general on both the Brotherhood and Sisterhood. Needless to say, I was still able to get an accurate picture of them both reading this book.
*Liam, Kate's boyfriend, bothered me. He has a very small role in this book and for the most part absent. I found it hard to believe that he was her boyfriend. Granted, I don't know their whole history, but I would have expected her boyfriend to play a bigger part.
*The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger. The big mystery is solved and the majority of the questions answered but it concludes just when the fallout is about to go down so I was left eager to know more. Kate took a big step at the end that sets the stage for what is sure to be a wild and crazy third book. I can't wait to see how everything plays out.
Lies That Bind was a twisty little read full of suspense and shocking revelations regarding secret societies. All I can say is after reading this I would certainly steer clear of schools that are controlled by secret societies as it is chilling to see how misguided people can be when participating in these groups. Power, control and loyalty become more important than everything else. If you want an interesting and suspenseful read check out The Liar Society Books.
Favorite Quotations:
"In spite of his frequent offers to administer mouth-to-mouth, Seth was probably the closest thing I had to a best friend."
"And why do serial killers always use vans? If I were a serial killer, I'd totally go for a Prius or something. No one expects a serial killer to be environmentally friendly."
"Slung across his body was a bright orange man bag, which he adjusted carefully, flexing his biceps. Two very sad realities about that fugly bag struck me in that moment.
It probably cost more than my entire wardrobe.
In spite of his non stop workouts and protein shakes, Ben was still small enough to probably fit inside of it."
"But that whole "rules are meant to be broken" thing? Total crap. The real secret is to make your own."
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@ Rainy Day Ramblings.
Kate is back at school. She is desperately trying to put the past behind her and move forward. Losing her best friend Grace to the secrets that fuel the two secret societies: The Brotherhood and Sisterhood was a huge blow. Kate is determined to steer clear of the clandestine and underhanded groups. Unfortunately at the memorial for Grace, Kate finds her best friend's jacket. Then later at the annual secret society meeting, that really isn't secret since the whole school goes, a scream rips through the air and it appears another sister has gone missing. Bethany is one of the leaders of the Sisters and now she is nowhere to be found. Even though Kate has sworn to stay away from the societies, she feels compelled to help as she doesn't want to see another girl die because of the misguided societies. Once Taylor, the school's perfect, popular girl who is Bethany's best friend, confronts Kate and begs her to help, there is no turning back. Kate once again finds herself mired deep into the hidden and powerful clutches of the two societies. Who is behind Bethany's disappearance? Can Kate unravel the mystery and save her?
What I Liked:
*I admit that I am pretty clueless when it comes to elite prep schools and secret societies. What little I know, I have gleaned from movies and books. I was shocked and fascinated once I plunged into The Lies That Bind. This book features a wealthy school that is governed by two secret societies: The Brotherhood and Sisterhood. These two groups have co-existed for years and fought over power and control. Now the conflict has come to a head and both sides are willing to go to extreme measures to seize control. I was intrigued to learn more about these secret societies and how far reaching their power is, how much of the school they control and the lengths they go to advance their agendas. Even though this is fiction, I am certain that there is more reality in the makeup of this book than you would think. It is definitely intriguing to explore this world.
*From the onset, this book presents an engaging mystery. Kate races to find out what happened to Bethany while she is haunted by the loss of Grace. There are some jaw dropping surprises and the final outcome was one that I didn't see coming. I enjoy suspenseful reads that continue to keep me guessing and this book certainly kept me guessing the entire way.
* Kate, the heroine, is quite a conundrum. You would think the trauma that she suffered after losing her best friend to the societies maniacal plans would be enough to scare her away from Pemberly Brown, but she is steadfast and determined. She returns with her head high. Once the danger hits, she jumps in willing to do what is necessary to save Bethany. Even if it means spontaneously throwing up in the most popular and handsome boy's closet. She is plucky and funny and a little bit unbalanced. She is even at times frustrating because she throws herself repeatedly and without abandon into dangerous situations. Even though I questioned her judgement, I realized that her erratic behavior is because she is suffering from a bit of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. One of the aspects I liked best about Kate was even though she attends the rich uppity school, she is not a spoiled girl of privilege. She is not caught up in rich life style and in fact she is down to earth.
*I absolutely adored Seth. He is Kate's nerdy, short, skinny red headed neighbor who is obsessed with conspiracy theories and an all around computer geek, but boy is he a guy you would want in your corner. He is always there for Kate no matter what, no questions asked. Even though he is a dork, it is evident that he is madly in love with Kate, even though she doesn't return the sentiment. Seth totally made me laugh. One of my favorite scenes in the book occurs when Seth takes Kate to meet one of his conspiracy idols: a thirty some weirdo who lives at home and spends hours on his computer. It is hilarious. I totally wanted more Seth in this book and I would love for Kate to develop some feelings for him.
*I broke one of the series no-nos and jumped into this one without having read the first book (I know gasp)....Even though I went in without the first book, I didn't feel particularly lost and I was able to enjoy the read despite not having read book one. I can say that it would have been a much better experience if I had read the predecessor, but that usually is the case. I intend to go back and read The Liar Society.
And The Not So Much:
*It is hard for me to make accurate criticisms without having read the first book since I don't know if the problems I had are mostly based on lack of information. The one issue for me, was I felt a little in the dark when it came to the societies. I am sure there is plenty of discussions on them in The Liar Society and I am certain that most of my questions would be answered. I just wanted more details in general on both the Brotherhood and Sisterhood. Needless to say, I was still able to get an accurate picture of them both reading this book.
*Liam, Kate's boyfriend, bothered me. He has a very small role in this book and for the most part absent. I found it hard to believe that he was her boyfriend. Granted, I don't know their whole history, but I would have expected her boyfriend to play a bigger part.
*The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger. The big mystery is solved and the majority of the questions answered but it concludes just when the fallout is about to go down so I was left eager to know more. Kate took a big step at the end that sets the stage for what is sure to be a wild and crazy third book. I can't wait to see how everything plays out.
Lies That Bind was a twisty little read full of suspense and shocking revelations regarding secret societies. All I can say is after reading this I would certainly steer clear of schools that are controlled by secret societies as it is chilling to see how misguided people can be when participating in these groups. Power, control and loyalty become more important than everything else. If you want an interesting and suspenseful read check out The Liar Society Books.
Favorite Quotations:
"In spite of his frequent offers to administer mouth-to-mouth, Seth was probably the closest thing I had to a best friend."
"And why do serial killers always use vans? If I were a serial killer, I'd totally go for a Prius or something. No one expects a serial killer to be environmentally friendly."
"Slung across his body was a bright orange man bag, which he adjusted carefully, flexing his biceps. Two very sad realities about that fugly bag struck me in that moment.
It probably cost more than my entire wardrobe.
In spite of his non stop workouts and protein shakes, Ben was still small enough to probably fit inside of it."
"But that whole "rules are meant to be broken" thing? Total crap. The real secret is to make your own."
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@ Rainy Day Ramblings.
February 1, 2025
Wow. I didn't see that coming. I probably should have but I was too wrapped up in the story to actually sit there and think about who was really behind it all. A perfect ending that makes way for a third book but is still satisfying. I hope some of those who seem to be facing some consequences end up facing some harsher ones but I'm not holding out too much hope. Also for all these adults to still be involved and dedicated to HIGH SCHOOL secret societies is wild. I don't know why it doesn't seem weird for people to be attached to college secret societies and it seems absurd for people to be attached to high school ones but its strange. My predictions from my review of the first book have not come true and now I'm thinking they won't but we'll see.
March 28, 2023
pretty alright
I read the first book when k was about 14. I recently re-read it and decided to finish up the series. This is alright , the book is pretty okay till about 65%. From them on the plot twist isn’t great. A bit on the disappointing side.
I have some sort of feelings about Liam and Kate. At first I thought their relationship was cute. But now I’m just conflicted. The book wasn’t bad perse but it wasn’t amazing either. It was meh.
Overall I really hope the third book gives a nice wrap up. This is sort of silly detail but I really like that the hair color changes in the cover match Kate!
I read the first book when k was about 14. I recently re-read it and decided to finish up the series. This is alright , the book is pretty okay till about 65%. From them on the plot twist isn’t great. A bit on the disappointing side.
I have some sort of feelings about Liam and Kate. At first I thought their relationship was cute. But now I’m just conflicted. The book wasn’t bad perse but it wasn’t amazing either. It was meh.
Overall I really hope the third book gives a nice wrap up. This is sort of silly detail but I really like that the hair color changes in the cover match Kate!
September 7, 2017
The Lies That Bind, the second offering in the Liar Society Series, starts off strong but is not nearly as engaging as the first book in the series. In my opinion, this book did little to move the story along and could've been left out of the series altogether. It did however offer up an annoying love triangle and add a bit of a shocking twist in the end. Although, I wasn't as enthralled as I was with the first book I did enjoy this book enough to see the series through to the end.
October 8, 2017
As I said on bookbub, I feel just like I did when finishing the first book. My stomach feels...not right? That’s the best I can describe it. Plus, my head is still thinking about the book. “Go finish the Kate book.” “I DID.” “Finish it again!” Yes, this is was a Lenni war sounds like. But anyway, this book is really, this’ll sound weird, but, haunting. Questions bounce through my head and I just want more of this series! I hope this weird review helps you at all.
August 4, 2018
This series is crazy, straight up bonkers and confirms your worst fears about rich white people. Thankfully it is all make believe right, secret societies don't exist right?
June 21, 2020
It was ok, but I feel like I was a missing a lot of the backstory with Grace, since I didn’t read book 1. Not much of a plot twist either.
March 5, 2023
Easy read. One time read, but the storyline is intriguing enough that you have to finish.
March 30, 2023
A good continuation to book one. A little slow to start, but worth it in the end.
November 15, 2012
In the second book of the 'Liar Society' series Kate Lowry is back for a new year, with new rules, new friends, and a new hair color (blue!). I've heard Kate compared to a sassy Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars. Both are apt in this highly entertaining follow up to 'The Liar Society'.
Kate Lowry has discovered the truth behind the accidental death of her best friend, Grace Lee, a year and a half earlier, but that doesn't mean that her work is done. Now that Kate knows about the rivaling secret societies, the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood, at her school, Pemberly Brown, she's geared to take them down, not such an easy feat with alumni sprinkled throughout town trying to ensure the societies continuance. But when a member of the Sisterhood is taken hostage Kate fears that history may be repeating itself. She teams up with Taylor Wright, along with her boyfriend, Liam, and goofy, conspiracy loving best friend, Seth (clearly the best character) to find the missing Bethany and find proof that will bring the societies down for good. But Kate soon learns that her agenda might not match up with Taylor's and that good and bad is not always so black and white.
First off, and I didn't include this in my review of 'The Liar Society' though it was the reason I liked it as much as I did, this book is clearly based on a conglomerate of Cleveland private schools including my alma mater (which's name is suspiciously close to that of Pemberly Brown, only less Mr. Darcy's house and more Shakespeare's wife). The location and name is fully Hathaway Brown, the campus resembles Western Reserve Academy pretty well, and the amalgamation of boys and girls schools sounds a lot like Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. Reading this book is like a fabulous little Cleveland mystery of what is what and where they pulled inspiration from where. In fact, during reading the first installment a wayward classmate emailed the sisters to find out if they went to our school (they didn't, it was public school, it seems).
Not that any of this stuff went on at my school. We didn't have boys, for one. At Pemberly Brown the rivalry between the boys and the girls sets the action in motion and it's compelling. The thing that I think sets this series a little bit above other Young Adult series is that it's not nearly as predictable. There were several times through this book where I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, only to be completely surprised. Which is good. Very good. And in Young Adult books, rather rare. This book has the guts to go where so many series fall short. We're allowed to be betrayed, allowed to feel more than one way about characters. Do we trust Bradley Farrow, which we very much want to do by the end, or is he going to betray Kate again. Is Queen Bee Taylor really going out of her way to befriend Kate? And should Kate pledge an allegiance to either society or try and take them both down? These questions are not easily answered, much like in real life, and that's impressive for a Teen book.
I have liked both books in 'The Liar Society' series so far but I rated this one better. Going back to think on the first I had some hesitations that still seem to apply. For one, about half the things about going to private school are correct and dead on, but the only half read like the cliched version of private school that we've seen a hundred times, written by those who didn't go there. Contrary to popular belief, and I have seen this repeatedly, most private schoolers do not graduate with an inherent knowledge of Latin. I took Latin and I still don't have that much of a grasp on it. Most probably wouldn't get any further than being able to read the motto underneath the school crest. For real. It's one thing to say repeatedly that these are the best and brightest, that this school is elite and it's quite another to make the reader feel it. That was my criticism of the first, that and the dropped off ending that I assumed would be taken up in this volume (I was not disappointed). Perhaps I was used to this and expecting it when I started reading 'The Lies that Bind', perhaps the authors didn't feel it necessary to talk about the school ad nauseum, but these tidbits didn't bother me this time around. I was able to sit back and join the compelling ride, which is what this book was meant for. And I loved the ending. Can't wait for the next installment.
Kate Lowry has discovered the truth behind the accidental death of her best friend, Grace Lee, a year and a half earlier, but that doesn't mean that her work is done. Now that Kate knows about the rivaling secret societies, the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood, at her school, Pemberly Brown, she's geared to take them down, not such an easy feat with alumni sprinkled throughout town trying to ensure the societies continuance. But when a member of the Sisterhood is taken hostage Kate fears that history may be repeating itself. She teams up with Taylor Wright, along with her boyfriend, Liam, and goofy, conspiracy loving best friend, Seth (clearly the best character) to find the missing Bethany and find proof that will bring the societies down for good. But Kate soon learns that her agenda might not match up with Taylor's and that good and bad is not always so black and white.
First off, and I didn't include this in my review of 'The Liar Society' though it was the reason I liked it as much as I did, this book is clearly based on a conglomerate of Cleveland private schools including my alma mater (which's name is suspiciously close to that of Pemberly Brown, only less Mr. Darcy's house and more Shakespeare's wife). The location and name is fully Hathaway Brown, the campus resembles Western Reserve Academy pretty well, and the amalgamation of boys and girls schools sounds a lot like Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. Reading this book is like a fabulous little Cleveland mystery of what is what and where they pulled inspiration from where. In fact, during reading the first installment a wayward classmate emailed the sisters to find out if they went to our school (they didn't, it was public school, it seems).
Not that any of this stuff went on at my school. We didn't have boys, for one. At Pemberly Brown the rivalry between the boys and the girls sets the action in motion and it's compelling. The thing that I think sets this series a little bit above other Young Adult series is that it's not nearly as predictable. There were several times through this book where I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, only to be completely surprised. Which is good. Very good. And in Young Adult books, rather rare. This book has the guts to go where so many series fall short. We're allowed to be betrayed, allowed to feel more than one way about characters. Do we trust Bradley Farrow, which we very much want to do by the end, or is he going to betray Kate again. Is Queen Bee Taylor really going out of her way to befriend Kate? And should Kate pledge an allegiance to either society or try and take them both down? These questions are not easily answered, much like in real life, and that's impressive for a Teen book.
I have liked both books in 'The Liar Society' series so far but I rated this one better. Going back to think on the first I had some hesitations that still seem to apply. For one, about half the things about going to private school are correct and dead on, but the only half read like the cliched version of private school that we've seen a hundred times, written by those who didn't go there. Contrary to popular belief, and I have seen this repeatedly, most private schoolers do not graduate with an inherent knowledge of Latin. I took Latin and I still don't have that much of a grasp on it. Most probably wouldn't get any further than being able to read the motto underneath the school crest. For real. It's one thing to say repeatedly that these are the best and brightest, that this school is elite and it's quite another to make the reader feel it. That was my criticism of the first, that and the dropped off ending that I assumed would be taken up in this volume (I was not disappointed). Perhaps I was used to this and expecting it when I started reading 'The Lies that Bind', perhaps the authors didn't feel it necessary to talk about the school ad nauseum, but these tidbits didn't bother me this time around. I was able to sit back and join the compelling ride, which is what this book was meant for. And I loved the ending. Can't wait for the next installment.
February 12, 2013
Posting this on both this book's page and The Liar Society's since this is more of a series review.
Originally reviewed on reutreads, a young adult book blog.
I am very conflicted about this series. On one hand, the books are enjoyable reads. They are quick paced and the writing flows nicely. (More on this later.) On the other, there are some problematic things about the books I did not enjoy.
- forced quirkiness and "cool" voice
Kate is... interesting. She is obviously a damaged character who never quite recovered from her best friend's death. Deep down, she has always believed there was more to the fire that killed Grace, and when she is given the chance to find out what this is, she jumps at it. The thing is, I don't think that after a year, Kate should sound quite so mean and offputting. I've heard that other readers found Kate to be a HBIC role model and this is pretty troubling to me. For one thing, she is really, really judgmental. Taylor, the "mean girl" of the novel (can you tell I hate having to use that term?) barely ever speaks in the first book and Kate is quick to write her off as a typical high-school teen queen. Taylor's henchwoman, Bethany, who seems pretty awesome to me, is described as big boned. She is referred to by Kate as Beefany for the rest of the novel. I'm serious.
Kate also has all these characteristics and "quirks" that are probably supposed to make her seem "cool." Instead they just ended up alienating me. There is precisely zero reasoning as to why she has pink and later, blue hair. Yes, it's symbolic of a change, I suppose. But seriously? The pink hair thing does not make me connect to her. Also, she constantly makes these cracks about bikes and how much she hates bikes and how much biking is uncool. Sometimes she unbuttons some extra buttons in the hopes of getting information, and she also calls her boobs "the girls." It was just plain weird, not to mention disturbing.
- no reason for romance
Cheese and rice, it's a mystery novel! There is absolutely no reason why Kate needs a romance storyline. This book also contains one of my most hated tropes, where the heroine is a self-described "loner" and "outcast" but then has three love interests. Ain't nobody got time for that.
But there are some beacons of light to the novel. As I mentioned above, the book is pretty fast paced which is aided by the writing style. The mystery itself did keep me guessing even if I was a little disappointing with its revelations, and I liked the atmosphere of Pemberly Brown. Boarding schools fo' life.
Originally reviewed on reutreads, a young adult book blog.
I am very conflicted about this series. On one hand, the books are enjoyable reads. They are quick paced and the writing flows nicely. (More on this later.) On the other, there are some problematic things about the books I did not enjoy.
- forced quirkiness and "cool" voice
Kate is... interesting. She is obviously a damaged character who never quite recovered from her best friend's death. Deep down, she has always believed there was more to the fire that killed Grace, and when she is given the chance to find out what this is, she jumps at it. The thing is, I don't think that after a year, Kate should sound quite so mean and offputting. I've heard that other readers found Kate to be a HBIC role model and this is pretty troubling to me. For one thing, she is really, really judgmental. Taylor, the "mean girl" of the novel (can you tell I hate having to use that term?) barely ever speaks in the first book and Kate is quick to write her off as a typical high-school teen queen. Taylor's henchwoman, Bethany, who seems pretty awesome to me, is described as big boned. She is referred to by Kate as Beefany for the rest of the novel. I'm serious.
Kate also has all these characteristics and "quirks" that are probably supposed to make her seem "cool." Instead they just ended up alienating me. There is precisely zero reasoning as to why she has pink and later, blue hair. Yes, it's symbolic of a change, I suppose. But seriously? The pink hair thing does not make me connect to her. Also, she constantly makes these cracks about bikes and how much she hates bikes and how much biking is uncool. Sometimes she unbuttons some extra buttons in the hopes of getting information, and she also calls her boobs "the girls." It was just plain weird, not to mention disturbing.
- no reason for romance
Cheese and rice, it's a mystery novel! There is absolutely no reason why Kate needs a romance storyline. This book also contains one of my most hated tropes, where the heroine is a self-described "loner" and "outcast" but then has three love interests. Ain't nobody got time for that.
But there are some beacons of light to the novel. As I mentioned above, the book is pretty fast paced which is aided by the writing style. The mystery itself did keep me guessing even if I was a little disappointing with its revelations, and I liked the atmosphere of Pemberly Brown. Boarding schools fo' life.
You can read a guest post from Lisa and Laura about secret societies here.
Full disclosure: Paige's review is very similar to mine in terms of things we both did not like; it's no intention of mine to use her ideas or words as my own.
December 25, 2012
This book was so much fun. I really wish I had picked a better time to read it, with the holidays I wasn't really able to sit down and read for a long period of time. So even though it's a fairly short book it still took me a little bit longer than I was hoping it would. And that aggravated me, because once I really got into the book I realized just how awesome of a book this would be for one awesome reading session. It's surprisingly fast paced while still packing in a lot of really interesting twists. Which you can probably imagine there are a lot of with the talk of secret societies.
I was intrigued by this book, and even though it is part of a series it really felt like it was more of a companion than anything which I thought was nice. Because when I was contacted about it I had no idea it was part of a series and honestly didn't even find out that it was until I had saw other reviews for it recently. So I haven't had the opportunity to read the first book, but I can honestly say that I didn't feel out of the loop with anything going on. If I didn't stumble upon the fact that it was a series I would of never guessed it was part of the series.
There is one major event that happens in book one from what I gathered, but it was all covered very well at the start of this book and then you dive into something different. I didn't feel any loss of connection with the characters or anything not having followed them through the first book either. The characters in my opinion were all really enjoyable, they all brought something unique to the story. And even some of the characters you don't know if you can really trust are quite enjoyable.
It's difficult to really explain this story other than that it reminds be of something like the DaVinci Code, but for kids. I'm not sure if that is the best comparison to make, but in my opinion it really does seem like a watered down story similar to that. With that said, I did feel like there were quite a few darker elements to. While a little more subtle, they are still there especially surrouding the missing girl and then the story surrounding the girl from the first book which is talked about fairly often within this book.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I wish I had known it was a series before hand, but as I mentioned above I never really felt like I had missed anything even not having read the first book. So that was a major plus. But I would highly suggest checking this story out, it is a lot of fun to read and I think it's a great little mystery story for younger readers. So if it's something that sounds interesting to you I would suggest reading it. Don't make the mistake I did though and not realize that it is part of a series. Even though I don't really feel like you miss all that much it would still be better to start with book one.
I was intrigued by this book, and even though it is part of a series it really felt like it was more of a companion than anything which I thought was nice. Because when I was contacted about it I had no idea it was part of a series and honestly didn't even find out that it was until I had saw other reviews for it recently. So I haven't had the opportunity to read the first book, but I can honestly say that I didn't feel out of the loop with anything going on. If I didn't stumble upon the fact that it was a series I would of never guessed it was part of the series.
There is one major event that happens in book one from what I gathered, but it was all covered very well at the start of this book and then you dive into something different. I didn't feel any loss of connection with the characters or anything not having followed them through the first book either. The characters in my opinion were all really enjoyable, they all brought something unique to the story. And even some of the characters you don't know if you can really trust are quite enjoyable.
It's difficult to really explain this story other than that it reminds be of something like the DaVinci Code, but for kids. I'm not sure if that is the best comparison to make, but in my opinion it really does seem like a watered down story similar to that. With that said, I did feel like there were quite a few darker elements to. While a little more subtle, they are still there especially surrouding the missing girl and then the story surrounding the girl from the first book which is talked about fairly often within this book.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I wish I had known it was a series before hand, but as I mentioned above I never really felt like I had missed anything even not having read the first book. So that was a major plus. But I would highly suggest checking this story out, it is a lot of fun to read and I think it's a great little mystery story for younger readers. So if it's something that sounds interesting to you I would suggest reading it. Don't make the mistake I did though and not realize that it is part of a series. Even though I don't really feel like you miss all that much it would still be better to start with book one.
October 28, 2014
After all, things are never what they seem at Pemberly Brown.
Kate Lowry was once again trust in the middle of the society war. This time she needs to go deeper into the heart of the war to save someone, while wearing a new coloured hairdo—ice blue.
Goodreads description:
Kate Lowry thought she’d retired her pearls for good. But that was before Taylor Wright fails to show up for school Monday after the biggest party of the year.
Kate realizes soon enough that the party and Taylor's disappearance are connected--only not in the way everyone thinks. And as if it’s not hard enough to find a missing girl, Kate is forced to team up with the one person she has worked so hard to avoid--not to mention the one person with the potential to come between her and Liam.
As usual, Kate has her hands full searching for the truth amidst many layers of lies.
Regardless of the first book not having a thrilling effect on me, it’s still enough to continue reading the series.
The book starts with very engaging mysteries and a bit refreshing to see that this doesn’t just revolve around giving Grace justice, but also knowing more about the societies background. Unlike the first book, my curiosity and interest was kept up until the end. Ooohhh, and that ending is so astonishing it’s not just Kate who was duped—I was too.
However in this book, I’m not a fan of Kate. Maybe it’s the Bradley-fucking-Farrow thing. Or it might be that she just keeps on going, trying to solve these mysteries without a clear-cut plan.
Hmm... Nope! It’s definitely because of the Bradley Farrow thing. I REALLY HATE LOVE-TRIANGLE. More to the point, after the first book I had Kate as this ‘fearless, sword-wielding who kicks douche bags asses kind of girl’ and yet she somehow turns into this ‘lovestruck schoolgirl who had her boobs blushing’ just because she bumps into Bradley-fucking-Farrow. I mean, UGH! Seriously. So Liam might be a bit overprotective, and he did take the Bradley thing a bit more serious and got too jealous. But heck girl! He’s your boyfriend who found out from you that you used to have—or might still have—an obsession over this guy who’s your spending time with even in the guise of solving a mystery. And about what he said about Grace that made you mad, I think it’s somehow rational. But it’s not enough reason to make you throw yourself at Bradley-fucking-Farrow.
So now that I finally vent my frustration over Kate, let’s finish the review.
I love the fact that this book kept me entertained from start to finish, with occasional urge to straggle Kate half the time. And like I said earlier, that revelation in the end was precious.
Kate Lowry was once again trust in the middle of the society war. This time she needs to go deeper into the heart of the war to save someone, while wearing a new coloured hairdo—ice blue.
Goodreads description:
Kate Lowry thought she’d retired her pearls for good. But that was before Taylor Wright fails to show up for school Monday after the biggest party of the year.
Kate realizes soon enough that the party and Taylor's disappearance are connected--only not in the way everyone thinks. And as if it’s not hard enough to find a missing girl, Kate is forced to team up with the one person she has worked so hard to avoid--not to mention the one person with the potential to come between her and Liam.
As usual, Kate has her hands full searching for the truth amidst many layers of lies.
Regardless of the first book not having a thrilling effect on me, it’s still enough to continue reading the series.
The book starts with very engaging mysteries and a bit refreshing to see that this doesn’t just revolve around giving Grace justice, but also knowing more about the societies background. Unlike the first book, my curiosity and interest was kept up until the end. Ooohhh, and that ending is so astonishing it’s not just Kate who was duped—I was too.
However in this book, I’m not a fan of Kate. Maybe it’s the Bradley-fucking-Farrow thing. Or it might be that she just keeps on going, trying to solve these mysteries without a clear-cut plan.
Hmm... Nope! It’s definitely because of the Bradley Farrow thing. I REALLY HATE LOVE-TRIANGLE. More to the point, after the first book I had Kate as this ‘fearless, sword-wielding who kicks douche bags asses kind of girl’ and yet she somehow turns into this ‘lovestruck schoolgirl who had her boobs blushing’ just because she bumps into Bradley-fucking-Farrow. I mean, UGH! Seriously. So Liam might be a bit overprotective, and he did take the Bradley thing a bit more serious and got too jealous. But heck girl! He’s your boyfriend who found out from you that you used to have—or might still have—an obsession over this guy who’s your spending time with even in the guise of solving a mystery. And about what he said about Grace that made you mad, I think it’s somehow rational. But it’s not enough reason to make you throw yourself at Bradley-fucking-Farrow.
So now that I finally vent my frustration over Kate, let’s finish the review.
I love the fact that this book kept me entertained from start to finish, with occasional urge to straggle Kate half the time. And like I said earlier, that revelation in the end was precious.
July 14, 2018
I read The Liar Society last April, and I really enjoyed it. So, when the Kindle version of The Lies That Bind was on sale for less than $5, I immediately purchased it! It is worth so much more (and I will definitely be purchasing a hard copy soon). I absolutely adored this book, and I’m now dying for the next book.
With this book, we are re-introduced to Kate, Seth, Liam, and the rest of PB. Like the first book, mystery surrounds this school with its secret societies and mysterious inhabitants. Kate remains my favorite character, and I believe she is a fascinating study of someone grieving. More time has passed since she lost Grace, but that bond remains although the pain is not as sharp. Kate’s choices and emotions feel so realistic, and I could relate to her completely. Plus, I really admired her tenacity and her willingness to risk everything for a chance at the truth. Seth probably ranks as my second favorite character as he is always making me laugh. He is hilarious and fun, but at the same time, when you need him he’s always there to back you up. The relationship between him and Kate is a wonderful glimpse at friendship. I could definitely write a paragraph about each character (they’re all awesome!), but I will spare you from that.
The mystery is one of the most complex and fascinating that I have ever read in YA. It’s really hard to comment on it without giving anything away, but I shall try my best. Once again, Kate feels as if Grace is still around as she receives notes and articles that could only be from her. This forces us to wonder if Kate is going crazy or if there really is something more happening. In addition, Kate has reluctantly joined forces with Taylor to save another girl from meeting the same fate as Grace. The collaboration between Kate and Taylor was quite interesting. Both girls have very different methods and beliefs. It was quite fun to see how they reacted to one another.
Then there is the ending. I did NOT see that coming…at all! Of course, that makes me love this book even more as I love it when the author(s) can shock me at the end. I felt so heartbroken and betrayed, but I have to admit, I was really impressed.
Overall, The Lies That Bind takes all of the great elements that The Liar Society had and makes them something more. This was a marvelous read, and I would highly recommend it to readers looking for a good mystery/suspense story. Also, I appreciated that while there is a romance, the relationship is not the plot. The Lies That Bind is a book that will pull you in and keep you guessing until the very end. Go read it!
Read (reviewed / rated 4 stars): 1/18/13
Second read: 7/14/18
With this book, we are re-introduced to Kate, Seth, Liam, and the rest of PB. Like the first book, mystery surrounds this school with its secret societies and mysterious inhabitants. Kate remains my favorite character, and I believe she is a fascinating study of someone grieving. More time has passed since she lost Grace, but that bond remains although the pain is not as sharp. Kate’s choices and emotions feel so realistic, and I could relate to her completely. Plus, I really admired her tenacity and her willingness to risk everything for a chance at the truth. Seth probably ranks as my second favorite character as he is always making me laugh. He is hilarious and fun, but at the same time, when you need him he’s always there to back you up. The relationship between him and Kate is a wonderful glimpse at friendship. I could definitely write a paragraph about each character (they’re all awesome!), but I will spare you from that.
The mystery is one of the most complex and fascinating that I have ever read in YA. It’s really hard to comment on it without giving anything away, but I shall try my best. Once again, Kate feels as if Grace is still around as she receives notes and articles that could only be from her. This forces us to wonder if Kate is going crazy or if there really is something more happening. In addition, Kate has reluctantly joined forces with Taylor to save another girl from meeting the same fate as Grace. The collaboration between Kate and Taylor was quite interesting. Both girls have very different methods and beliefs. It was quite fun to see how they reacted to one another.
Then there is the ending. I did NOT see that coming…at all! Of course, that makes me love this book even more as I love it when the author(s) can shock me at the end. I felt so heartbroken and betrayed, but I have to admit, I was really impressed.
Overall, The Lies That Bind takes all of the great elements that The Liar Society had and makes them something more. This was a marvelous read, and I would highly recommend it to readers looking for a good mystery/suspense story. Also, I appreciated that while there is a romance, the relationship is not the plot. The Lies That Bind is a book that will pull you in and keep you guessing until the very end. Go read it!
Read (reviewed / rated 4 stars): 1/18/13
Second read: 7/14/18
December 5, 2013
A few weeks ago I was asked if I wanted to be a part of the celebration of the last Liar Society book and I realized that I hadn’t read the second one. I really enjoyed the first one so I told them I would love to review the third one. So in doing so I grabbed up the second one on kindle! So now I am already to dive into the third one.
In the first Liar Society book we know that Grace dies in a tragic “accident” or so that is what those that are covering it up say. At Pemberly Brown there are two secret societies the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood. Each are at war with each other and want complete control of the campus. When Kate tries to bring the societies down it all goes horrible wrong.
Now Kate is trying to move on but she just can’t let what happened to her friend Grace go like everyone wants her too. A new rule has been implemented that says if you are caught doing anything involving secret societies or that type of thing you can be expelled. Then another sisterhood girl goes missing and Kate is back in the middle of everything. Her boyfriend Liam just wants her to leave it alone but he just doesn’t understand that she can’t. Someone is sending her messages in Graces handwriting and the brotherhood wants her to get the sisterhood to disband or they will have another “accident” with the girl they have kidnapped.
Taylor ask Kate to help her find her best friend and they realize really fast that they can’t even go to the authorities because the brotherhood alumni are everywhere even in local law enforcement. It is going to be up to just them to find out what they can on the brotherhood and find out where they are keeping the kidnapped girl.
One thing Kate needs to remember is things at Pemberly Brown are never as they seem and you really can’t trust anyone. The ending comes with a bit of a twist but I sort of seen it coming. There was one thing that I didn’t see coming, but I sort of guessed what was going on with the ‘kidnapped’ girl.
Over all I enjoyed the story, but maybe not as much as I did the first one. I am curious to see how Kate is going to handle herself in the third and last book in the trilogy as I think things are going to be a lot different for her. If you enjoy a good YA mystery then you will probably like this trilogy but don’t try reading this one without having read the first one or you will be a bit lost of all the secret society stuff.
In the first Liar Society book we know that Grace dies in a tragic “accident” or so that is what those that are covering it up say. At Pemberly Brown there are two secret societies the Brotherhood and the Sisterhood. Each are at war with each other and want complete control of the campus. When Kate tries to bring the societies down it all goes horrible wrong.
Now Kate is trying to move on but she just can’t let what happened to her friend Grace go like everyone wants her too. A new rule has been implemented that says if you are caught doing anything involving secret societies or that type of thing you can be expelled. Then another sisterhood girl goes missing and Kate is back in the middle of everything. Her boyfriend Liam just wants her to leave it alone but he just doesn’t understand that she can’t. Someone is sending her messages in Graces handwriting and the brotherhood wants her to get the sisterhood to disband or they will have another “accident” with the girl they have kidnapped.
Taylor ask Kate to help her find her best friend and they realize really fast that they can’t even go to the authorities because the brotherhood alumni are everywhere even in local law enforcement. It is going to be up to just them to find out what they can on the brotherhood and find out where they are keeping the kidnapped girl.
One thing Kate needs to remember is things at Pemberly Brown are never as they seem and you really can’t trust anyone. The ending comes with a bit of a twist but I sort of seen it coming. There was one thing that I didn’t see coming, but I sort of guessed what was going on with the ‘kidnapped’ girl.
Over all I enjoyed the story, but maybe not as much as I did the first one. I am curious to see how Kate is going to handle herself in the third and last book in the trilogy as I think things are going to be a lot different for her. If you enjoy a good YA mystery then you will probably like this trilogy but don’t try reading this one without having read the first one or you will be a bit lost of all the secret society stuff.
November 10, 2012
The Lies that Bind is the second novel in The Liar Society series by sisters Lisa & Laura Roecker. In this installment, Kate is still reeling over the death of her best friend Grace, so it's surprising to her when little notes and trinkets belonging to Grace start showing up randomly. Then when one of the popular girls at school goes missing, Kate decides she owes it to Grace's memory to help find the missing girl. But who can you trust in a school ruled by secret societies?
I loved this book! I haven't read the first book in the series, but that didn't dampen my ability to understand the plot of The Lies that Bind at all. The first thing that struck me while reading The Lies that Bind was Kate's character. She's such a driven, determined young woman who I think can be an excellent role model, even if she does a little lying to her parents to get stuff done. It's clear that Kate really loved her best friend Grace, that she's still hurting from Grace's death and those little things she does, like send e-mails to Grace's account even though they can't be answered, makes Kate seem very realistic and human in a novel where the mystery itself is a little less than realistic.
But that's okay! The mystery in this book was great really because secret societies are so interesting. The battling secret societies at Kate's school, Pemberly Brown Academy, were very fun to read about, though what it seemed to boil down to was a traditional girls vs. boys battle. I was a little shocked though, to read that the boys would go so far as to kidnap and seemingly torture one of the girls though, just to make a point. That's one of the main reasons I read as fast as I could, I felt there had to be more to it.
And in the last fifteen or so pages, we learn what it's all about. I didn't see that coming! I believe my exact words were, "Oh, snap!" (Do the kids still say stuff like that these days?)
Four stars! I loved this book because of the characters and the mystery, but I was confused as to why the authorities weren't involved. Why weren't Bethany's parents freaking out? Still, I think this is a great read for any YA contemporary mystery lover. I'm looking forward to reading the first book in the series to find out what happened to Grace, but I think The Lies that Bind can definitely be read as a standalone if you wish. Go check it out!
I loved this book! I haven't read the first book in the series, but that didn't dampen my ability to understand the plot of The Lies that Bind at all. The first thing that struck me while reading The Lies that Bind was Kate's character. She's such a driven, determined young woman who I think can be an excellent role model, even if she does a little lying to her parents to get stuff done. It's clear that Kate really loved her best friend Grace, that she's still hurting from Grace's death and those little things she does, like send e-mails to Grace's account even though they can't be answered, makes Kate seem very realistic and human in a novel where the mystery itself is a little less than realistic.
But that's okay! The mystery in this book was great really because secret societies are so interesting. The battling secret societies at Kate's school, Pemberly Brown Academy, were very fun to read about, though what it seemed to boil down to was a traditional girls vs. boys battle. I was a little shocked though, to read that the boys would go so far as to kidnap and seemingly torture one of the girls though, just to make a point. That's one of the main reasons I read as fast as I could, I felt there had to be more to it.
And in the last fifteen or so pages, we learn what it's all about. I didn't see that coming! I believe my exact words were, "Oh, snap!" (Do the kids still say stuff like that these days?)
Four stars! I loved this book because of the characters and the mystery, but I was confused as to why the authorities weren't involved. Why weren't Bethany's parents freaking out? Still, I think this is a great read for any YA contemporary mystery lover. I'm looking forward to reading the first book in the series to find out what happened to Grace, but I think The Lies that Bind can definitely be read as a standalone if you wish. Go check it out!
December 31, 2013
Given how much I enjoyed The Liar Society, I was really excited to read the sequel. Unfortunately, although The Lies That Bind kept me guessing throughout the entire book, I just didn't enjoy it as much as the first one.
The Lies That Bind picks up directly after the events in The Liar Society. Kate has discovered that a conflict between two of the school's powerful societies, the Sisterhood and the Brotherhood, was responsible for her friend Grace's death, and now another member of the Sisterhood has gone missing. The mystery surrounding the girl's disappearance was well-executed, and complete with enough disturbing texts and twists to keep you guessing at who was to blame. While I was curious about the mystery, it just wasn't as engaging as the mystery in The Liar Society. I think a large part of this is because Kate has no emotional attachment to the case that she's trying to solve; instead, she's motivated by revenge and anger, making it more difficult for me to get emotionally invested in the story's outcome.
Kate was still full of snark and sarcasm, and her interactions with her neighbour Seth led to some lighter, humorous moments throughout the story. Speaking of whom, I love Seth. His obsession with UFOs and other mysterious phenomena is surprisingly endearing, and his willingness to help Kate without question is certainly admirable. Everyone needs a friend who is as devoted and caring as he is.
My main issue with The Lies That Bind was Kate and Liam's relationship problems. One one hand, I understood why they were there - Kate did need a voice of reason to suggest that maybe she was becoming a bit too obsessed with revenge - but I found myself caring a lot more about the secret societies, creepy messages, and hidden passageways than their relationship. It just seemed to distract from the real issues at play, which was kind of disappointing.
Overall, I didn't enjoy The Lies That Bind as much as the first book in the series. Hopefully the final book will keep me more engaged.
This review can also be found at The In-Between Place.
The Lies That Bind picks up directly after the events in The Liar Society. Kate has discovered that a conflict between two of the school's powerful societies, the Sisterhood and the Brotherhood, was responsible for her friend Grace's death, and now another member of the Sisterhood has gone missing. The mystery surrounding the girl's disappearance was well-executed, and complete with enough disturbing texts and twists to keep you guessing at who was to blame. While I was curious about the mystery, it just wasn't as engaging as the mystery in The Liar Society. I think a large part of this is because Kate has no emotional attachment to the case that she's trying to solve; instead, she's motivated by revenge and anger, making it more difficult for me to get emotionally invested in the story's outcome.
Kate was still full of snark and sarcasm, and her interactions with her neighbour Seth led to some lighter, humorous moments throughout the story. Speaking of whom, I love Seth. His obsession with UFOs and other mysterious phenomena is surprisingly endearing, and his willingness to help Kate without question is certainly admirable. Everyone needs a friend who is as devoted and caring as he is.
My main issue with The Lies That Bind was Kate and Liam's relationship problems. One one hand, I understood why they were there - Kate did need a voice of reason to suggest that maybe she was becoming a bit too obsessed with revenge - but I found myself caring a lot more about the secret societies, creepy messages, and hidden passageways than their relationship. It just seemed to distract from the real issues at play, which was kind of disappointing.
Overall, I didn't enjoy The Lies That Bind as much as the first book in the series. Hopefully the final book will keep me more engaged.
This review can also be found at The In-Between Place.
June 5, 2014
The ending to this book made me want to punch something. Not only because the Sisterhood is this power-hungry but mostly because Kate won't take Liam back. I admit he was being a bit of an ass at the end when he was talking to her but I could understand (this was around the middle of the book) where he was coming from when he said he wouldn't stick around to watch Kate get hurt.
And then in the end, again, he was a giant ass for assuming that Kate was going to apologize but I thought her yelling, giving him a slap to the face and a good kick to the shins would've done the job. She didn't have to be all "no, we can't be together, I need space."
And while we're at it, space my foot. She's surrounding herself with all this society stuff, Kate is practically yelling to get suffocated.
And then the Ms. D turning into bitch principle, I was like "what the hell! I get why she may want to kick everyone in the brotherhoods out of school but guys no aren't involved, now that's just harsh!" Seth is probably one of my favourite people in this entire thing, just his nerdiness makes him adorable.
I never thought I'd say this about a character who's charming and handsome but I seriously want to murder Bradley Farrow. I don't know why but I just despise him. And I cannot believe that after that entire book, everything was just a set-up like are you kidding me! I nearly shat myself only to find out that everything was a set-up.
I almost rage quit right there and then. And I was near the end too.
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And what's with Kate getting all angry at Liam because he doesn't understand what it's like to lose someone. Um, okay Kate, do you want someone very close to him to die so that he can feel your pain because there isn't another way for him to understand you. You can't really blame the guy for tryin to make Kate feel better.
Gold star for Liam for trying!
Taylor Wright should decide to become an actress because if she was acting throughout the entire book then she must be really good. This chick deserves an Oscar for being so damn convincing.
I love this series but at the same time, it just makes me want to hit something. I guess that's how you can tell the mark of a good story.
And then in the end, again, he was a giant ass for assuming that Kate was going to apologize but I thought her yelling, giving him a slap to the face and a good kick to the shins would've done the job. She didn't have to be all "no, we can't be together, I need space."
And while we're at it, space my foot. She's surrounding herself with all this society stuff, Kate is practically yelling to get suffocated.
And then the Ms. D turning into bitch principle, I was like "what the hell! I get why she may want to kick everyone in the brotherhoods out of school but guys no aren't involved, now that's just harsh!" Seth is probably one of my favourite people in this entire thing, just his nerdiness makes him adorable.
I never thought I'd say this about a character who's charming and handsome but I seriously want to murder Bradley Farrow. I don't know why but I just despise him. And I cannot believe that after that entire book, everything was just a set-up like are you kidding me! I nearly shat myself only to find out that everything was a set-up.
I almost rage quit right there and then. And I was near the end too.
And what's with Kate getting all angry at Liam because he doesn't understand what it's like to lose someone. Um, okay Kate, do you want someone very close to him to die so that he can feel your pain because there isn't another way for him to understand you. You can't really blame the guy for tryin to make Kate feel better.
Gold star for Liam for trying!
Taylor Wright should decide to become an actress because if she was acting throughout the entire book then she must be really good. This chick deserves an Oscar for being so damn convincing.
I love this series but at the same time, it just makes me want to hit something. I guess that's how you can tell the mark of a good story.
February 21, 2017
Wasn't able to read the first book of the trilogy, but Lisa Roecker ably gave enough background, weaving such into the novel, that I knew enough to appreciate Book 2. #mystery #teenfiction
October 28, 2013
4.5 stars, originally posted on My Book Musings.
One of the things I have been enjoying about blogging is seeing the shift of my interests and likes or dislikes as I read more books. Sometimes, I can be so gaga over one book or a character in a series and detest another. Such is the case with The Liar Society's second book, The Lies That Bind...
I like The Liar Society. It's got intrigue, friendship, a really cute boyfriend, and Kate's colorful hair. I completely fan-girled over it. But Lies That Bind slightly made me change my tune. What I don't like is Kate. She's got this savior complex and drive for revenge that just doesn't let up, no matter the cost. While that is normally admirable, I just hated it because it was eating her up and everyone was just concerned, but she just couldn't see it. She still persisted, even when she hurt other people.
And then plot twist, the ending, it just shattered me. I can't believe teenage girls can be so devious. Oh, wait a minute, I went to an all-girl school, I know how it goes, but their desired outcome was just beyond comprehension. That's just too mean...and all for power? At that age? Wow.
Now, despite my sadness with Lies That Bind, why am I still giving it a 4.5 star rating? Because I admire that the book still made me feel something, even if it's negatively. With all the books that I've read, I don't always come across a book that made me feel something - and enough to write about it. I think it's a credit to the writers, too. I guess it's just one of those negative things that still has something positive to it. And I liked it so much, I didn't get up from my bed for two hours just so I can finish it. I was just so immersed in the world of Pemberly Brown.
Have you ever felt that I-hate-it-but-its-good way about a book? How did you like Lies That Bind?
One of the things I have been enjoying about blogging is seeing the shift of my interests and likes or dislikes as I read more books. Sometimes, I can be so gaga over one book or a character in a series and detest another. Such is the case with The Liar Society's second book, The Lies That Bind...
I like The Liar Society. It's got intrigue, friendship, a really cute boyfriend, and Kate's colorful hair. I completely fan-girled over it. But Lies That Bind slightly made me change my tune. What I don't like is Kate. She's got this savior complex and drive for revenge that just doesn't let up, no matter the cost. While that is normally admirable, I just hated it because it was eating her up and everyone was just concerned, but she just couldn't see it. She still persisted, even when she hurt other people.
And then plot twist, the ending, it just shattered me. I can't believe teenage girls can be so devious. Oh, wait a minute, I went to an all-girl school, I know how it goes, but their desired outcome was just beyond comprehension. That's just too mean...and all for power? At that age? Wow.
Now, despite my sadness with Lies That Bind, why am I still giving it a 4.5 star rating? Because I admire that the book still made me feel something, even if it's negatively. With all the books that I've read, I don't always come across a book that made me feel something - and enough to write about it. I think it's a credit to the writers, too. I guess it's just one of those negative things that still has something positive to it. And I liked it so much, I didn't get up from my bed for two hours just so I can finish it. I was just so immersed in the world of Pemberly Brown.
Have you ever felt that I-hate-it-but-its-good way about a book? How did you like Lies That Bind?
November 14, 2012
The Liar Society, The Lies That Bind, is an exciting mystery that centers around two secret societies that rule a private high school. Kate has been trying to take down the Brotherhood and Sisterhood ever since their involvement led to the death of her best friend, Grace. She is trying to get revenge for what happened to Grace and make sure it never happens to anyone else. So when a member of the Sisterhood goes missing and horrible text messages with her picture are sent around school, she has no choice but to get involved to bring the kidnappers to justice.
Pemberly Brown Academy is ruled by the societies that have been at war for years and are trying to bring each other down. Kate gets involved in some serious situations while trying to figure out who took one of the most popular girls in school. I loved how this book combines mystery with a very interesting plot about warring societies. You are enthralled from the first page until the very end. I loved how the clues lead you one way only to lead to a dead end. You were constantly guessing what happened and who was to blame only to have your mind changed 12 pages later. What I also enjoyed was the fact that you were able to read the second book in this series without having read the first. I haven’t had a chance to read the first book yet, but I was able to follow along and not be lost as to what the characters were talking about. There was enough back story to fill in the reader without over doing it on the recap of the previous story. I can’t wait to go back and read the first Liar Society book and I definitely am impatiently awaiting the release of the chapter of Kate’s story.
Overall, I loved this story It’s been a while since I’ve read a mystery novel and this book helped me to remember why I was obsessed with them when I was younger. I think this is a great book for students in intermediate school and up and, if given a chance, I think that adults would really enjoy it as well.
Pemberly Brown Academy is ruled by the societies that have been at war for years and are trying to bring each other down. Kate gets involved in some serious situations while trying to figure out who took one of the most popular girls in school. I loved how this book combines mystery with a very interesting plot about warring societies. You are enthralled from the first page until the very end. I loved how the clues lead you one way only to lead to a dead end. You were constantly guessing what happened and who was to blame only to have your mind changed 12 pages later. What I also enjoyed was the fact that you were able to read the second book in this series without having read the first. I haven’t had a chance to read the first book yet, but I was able to follow along and not be lost as to what the characters were talking about. There was enough back story to fill in the reader without over doing it on the recap of the previous story. I can’t wait to go back and read the first Liar Society book and I definitely am impatiently awaiting the release of the chapter of Kate’s story.
Overall, I loved this story It’s been a while since I’ve read a mystery novel and this book helped me to remember why I was obsessed with them when I was younger. I think this is a great book for students in intermediate school and up and, if given a chance, I think that adults would really enjoy it as well.
November 30, 2012
THE LIAR SOCIETY was one of last year's best mysteries, and THE LIES THAT BIND is a terrific sequel. I highly recommend starting with THE LIAR SOCIETY because this is one twisty, involved series. But the premise is simple enough that you could start with THE LIES THAT BIND.
THE LIES THAT BIND opens with Kate Lowry frustrated that she discovered who was responsible for her best friend's death but wasn't able to bring them to justice. When a classmate goes missing, Kate believes she knows whodunit and this time she's going to save the girl and get real, irrefutable evidence. That is, of course, assuming she manages to survive her investigation.
One of the best things about The Liar Society series it doesn't matter if Kate puts the clues together or comes up with a truly clever plan, she always two steps behind. She's playing against two very powerful entities, and she's just one girl with a geeky neighbor and a boyfriend who can drive. She's very determined and tries, but sometimes that's just not enough. Lisa and Laura Roecker are not afraid to place obstacles in the heroine's path. Taking down her enemies is going to take years.
And, well, Kate is a great heroine and I am perfectly happy to spend years with her as she unravels mystery after mystery behind the elite Pemberly Brown Academy. Which, let me tell you, is a fantastic setting. The Roeckers delve deep into the rituals and history that make old institutions of education so interesting - and sometimes sinister.
If you're looking for mysteries full of secret societies, unexpected twists, and bittersweet endings, look no further than THE LIAR SOCIETY and THE LIES THAT BIND. Sourcebook's contemporary YA imprint has been putting out some amazing books lately, and THE LIES THAT BIND is definitely amazing. A little over-the-top, but I like that in my stories involving super-rich people conspiracies.
THE LIES THAT BIND opens with Kate Lowry frustrated that she discovered who was responsible for her best friend's death but wasn't able to bring them to justice. When a classmate goes missing, Kate believes she knows whodunit and this time she's going to save the girl and get real, irrefutable evidence. That is, of course, assuming she manages to survive her investigation.
One of the best things about The Liar Society series it doesn't matter if Kate puts the clues together or comes up with a truly clever plan, she always two steps behind. She's playing against two very powerful entities, and she's just one girl with a geeky neighbor and a boyfriend who can drive. She's very determined and tries, but sometimes that's just not enough. Lisa and Laura Roecker are not afraid to place obstacles in the heroine's path. Taking down her enemies is going to take years.
And, well, Kate is a great heroine and I am perfectly happy to spend years with her as she unravels mystery after mystery behind the elite Pemberly Brown Academy. Which, let me tell you, is a fantastic setting. The Roeckers delve deep into the rituals and history that make old institutions of education so interesting - and sometimes sinister.
If you're looking for mysteries full of secret societies, unexpected twists, and bittersweet endings, look no further than THE LIAR SOCIETY and THE LIES THAT BIND. Sourcebook's contemporary YA imprint has been putting out some amazing books lately, and THE LIES THAT BIND is definitely amazing. A little over-the-top, but I like that in my stories involving super-rich people conspiracies.
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