The Lying Game #2: Never Have I Ever

I'm still shuddering, thinking about that creepy ending.

The ending of this book completely saved it for me... Now I just have to know what's going to happen next. So I will probably be reading the next book, even though I was pretty disappointed in Never Have I Ever. It was definitely exciting, but it lacked so many things.

First of all, Emma's romantic relationships are taking so long to develop. Like, seriously. JUST KISS HIM ALREADY. The parts of the book with her and Ethan are one of my favorite things about this series so far, yet she is barely with him at all during this book and, when she is, she is still continuing to play the "I just want to be friends" card. And it's getting annoying.

We still haven't learned anything about Thayer. Actually...we don't really learn much in this book at all. Except about the Twitter Twins, who are hands-down my least favorite characters.

I found the whole Sutton-is-a-subconscious-ghost thing a little more bearable in this book. We don't find out why she is the way she is, but I found the transitions between Sutton and Emma to be less confusing (but maybe that's just because I read the Kindle version this time, instead of the audiobook). But, one thing that has started to bother me about the whole Emma/Sutton thing is that Sutton supposedly has basically no memories of her old life, yet conveniently, when Emma needs to find out about something crucial, Sutton all of a sudden "remembers" and gets a flashback of the event. I understand that the reader needs this information, but it's starting to seem like such a cheap copout.

I'm way less excited to continue this series than I was after The Lying Game, but the last 1/4 of the book did have me totally on the edge of my seat and wanting more. I'm so freaking curious about what the hell is going on, that I might just have to keep reading. I think I figured out Sara Shepard's evil plan...

I promise to be brutally honest with my opinion, but it should not be taken as fact. Any reader should read it for themselves, before they decide if this book has any merit or not. Do not judge this book baised solely on my opinion. If you do, you might miss out on a great read. You never know. It could happen.

1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: Emma is a really strong female lead in the second book of The Lying Game. She seems to have grown into a better Sutton with a stronger personality. She wavers in the basic things like trying to label her feelings with a boy, but seriously she is not annoying or always a damsel in distress. Some of the Lying Games get really bad, but Emma never loses her head and even when she does, she fights with every breathe she has. She will not go done without a fight. 5 out of 5 stars

2. Strong Minor Characters: Readers learn even more about Sutton's friends and her enemies. All the minor characters are very dynamic and have startling secrets of their own that makes them more interesting than they were before. It kind of makes me wish for side books on some of the minor characters. Sutton herself makes a very convincing ghost and I enjoy the flashbacks, even though, Sutton was very mean and not the greatest friend. 5 out of 5 stars

3. The Settling: The setting varies throughout the book, which increases my enjoyment of the reading experience. Always staying in one or two places makes everything too soap oper-ey and not realistic. I enjoy how the setting reflects the current atmosphere and the state of Emma's mind. The darker Emma thinks the darker the setting, until something totally unexspected happens. Sara Shepard is very good for preparing her readers for the inevidable setup. 5 out of 5 stars

4. The Plot: I was on my toes the entire time I was reading, which has only been a couple of days. It had such a cliff hanger ending, which makes me want to read the next one right now. I was not anticipating who was following Emma and what Sutton would have to say about it. I never want to give too much of the plot away, but I will say this: you will not regret reading this one. 5 out of 5 stars

I really could not stop reading. This book was that good. I loved that I was able to borrow this on my kindle from a friend to read or else I could have waited forever to read this or never...it would have been sad, because this is a great book. Until I read the next book....I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.

*Could contain spoilers if you have not read the first book*

If you have read the first book then you know Emma has her hands full playing the part of Sutton, her dead twin. The Killer is out their amongst them and a cloud of doubt is very big in regards to if your friends hand anything to do with it. All she know is that she must continue to play Sutton, and Ethan is her only friend who knows that she is not Sutton.

In Never Have I Ever, she starts piecing together more of Sutton's life and what she was doing around the time of her death. As she checks off her list of suspects, mainly her friends. She thinks she knows who the killer/s might be and sets out to try and figure out a way to call them out.

Danger lurks in every corner though as Emma, has a few mishaps and always feels like someone is watching her. Ethan and Emma grows closer, but doesn't really want to get involved with a guy while all of this is looming over her.

Gabby and Lili really want to be a part of The Lying Game Club and will go at great lengths to prove they can be just as evil as the rest of the clique. Emma is really suspicious of the twitter twins motives when it comes to a lot of things and doesn't trust them.

As Sutton's ghost starts regaining bits and pieces of her memories we get to put more of the puzzle together on what happened at the train tracks, etc.

---
The Lying Game continues in Never Have I Ever, and I really enjoyed the book. I have never really been one for these types of books, but I am really curious to know who killed Sutton. I am not really a fan of long drawn out series so I really hope The Lying Game is not like Pretty Little Liars, because I don't know if I will last that long. I mean I like what I am reading, but I am ready to find the killer.

Sara Shepard does a great job of putting together a great group of characters and letting you have little bits of insight into them as Emma tries to figure it all out. The only thing that I don't really like is how one moment it can be Emma who is doing the talking or thinking, and then the next moment it could be Sutton's ghost doing the thinking. Sometimes that got a little confusing, and though I got use to it I just really didn't like that style of writing.

Even though I have not read the Pretty Little Liar's series I am beginning to think that Sara Shepard is the queen of cliffhanger endings. I am sure she does the same thing with the other series..lol. As you all well know I really hate cliffhanger endings and I almost wanted to through my kindle across the room! Over all I did enjoy the book and can't wait to find out what happens in the third book, Two Truths and a Lie, it comes on Feb. 7th, 2012. Not a real long wait but long enough!

If you like Pretty Little Liars I think you would enjoy The Lying Game series and suggest you go pick it up now! :)

After foster child Emma Paxton reaches out on Facebook to connect with her long-lost twin sister, Sutton Mercer, someone posing as Sutton sets up a visit. The imposter convinces Emma to travel from Las Vegas to Tucson to meet up with her twin. Upon Emma's arrival, Sutton's friends mistake Emma for her sister and invite her to a party, where Emma receives a note saying that Sutton is dead. It warns her that if she doesn't continue pretending to be Sutton, or if she tells anyone who she really is, she will be dead, too.

Despite her death, Sutton remains connected with Emma, whom she wishes she had gotten to know. Sutton is aware that someone is watching her twin, but is unable to warn her. Through Emma, Sutton has been given a chance to find out what happened before she died. Her memory is sketchy, though, and she only gets flashes and flickers of images and recollections of her final days.

Emma is not alone in her quest to find Sutton's murderer. Her confidant, Ethan Landry, has secretly joined her efforts to uncover the truth, but someone is watching her every move. As Emma investigates, Sutton experiences her life through her twin. The more Sutton discovers about the kind of person she was and the secrets she kept, the more she realizes the number of enemies she had and how much danger Emma is in.

The list of possible killers and people wanting revenge against Sutton is long. Her friends, Charlotte Chamberlain and Madeline Vega, have been involved in some nasty pranks and dangerous games with Sutton. Madeline's brother, Thayer, who has disappeared, has a past with Sutton. While Sutton was adopted into a loving family, could her younger, non-adopted sister, Laurel, have harbored bitterness or jealousy? The Twitter Sisters, Gabby and Lilli, are on the suspect list after a dangerous session of The Lying Game gets off track and one of the girls ends up in the hospital. Then there's Sutton's ex-boyfriend, Garrett, who is none too pleased with the way Sutton ran out on him.

As Emma tries to piece together the last days of her twin's life, she jeopardizes her own safety, going to extraordinary lengths to expose Sutton's killer.

NEVER HAVE I EVER is the second book in Sara Shepard's The Lying Game series. This edgy thriller has a lot going for it: high fashion, high-stakes games and high-energy characters. Shepard does a fantastic job writing from two points of view --- Sutton, the dead twin seeing her life through her long-lost sister, and Emma, the alive twin who risks everything to find the truth. The author also deftly weaves in a subtle message of second chances and the realization of regret for past mistakes. Nicely done.

--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

Also reviewed on my blog, The Vintage Bookworm. (...)

So. I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to say about this book. I read the first book back in December 2010, and I loved it. And then when I found out there would be a show for The Lying Game (I had already been a HUGE fan of Pretty Little Liars as well.) I got very excited. I've finished Season One and I've finaly read book two. When I first started the book, I had forgotten how different some things are from the show.

I was still stuck in Lying-Game-show-land, so I had a little trouble jumping right back in. It gets kind of confusing if you watch the show AND read the books around the same time. But despite that, I was still pulled in from the beginning. Sara Shepard is an AMAZING mystery writer. I mean wow. It's girly sometimes, and so chic, but at the same time the mystery just blows you off your feet. Well, at least it does me. I can't get enough!

She definitely has me wanting to read more YA mystery thrillers! Anyone have any recommendations??

I love how the characters are growing more, especially Ethan. I looooooooove me some Ethan on the show, and I'm starting to really like book Ethan as well. Though they are a bit different!! But I really do like Ethan. I can't wait to read the next book to see how that develops more. And I'm really curious about Thayer!

Scratch that. I'm curious about EVERYTHING. Especially after that ending. Whew! *wipes forehead*

Overall, I don't want to say too too much because I don't want to give anything way with either the books or the show, so all I can say is READ/WATCH them! I can't wait for Season 2 to start (I really hope it gets renewed!) and I can't wait to get my hands on TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE.

**Side note: I think it's really funny how crazy my experiences is with Sara Shepard and her amazing series'. At first, I had seen the Pretty Little Liars books around for YEARS. But the covers completely turned me off with their barbie doll covers! And then I saw the trailer for the show before it aired. And then I watched the Pilot and fell in love! And then here comes The Lying Game book. I was curious and so I read it. So at this time, I'd seen the PLL show, but not read the books. And read the first Lying Game book, but the show hadn't started. And then I watched the first LG episode when it aired, and fell in love. But still hadn't read Pretty Little Liars. And then FINALLY in the middle of last year I started the PLL series. Am I the only one who thinks this is so twisted and amusing? I'm not even sure I remember the point of this side note anymore!**

Emma Paxton, 17 is learning more about her dead twin Sutton Mercer. A town character and known wild child, Sutton has left a lot of devastation in her wake. Somebody killed her and Emma, who is "filling in" for Sutton is determined to solve the mystery. Someone amongst her peers and the adoptive family who believes she is Sutton is the real killer. The question is, who?

Flashbacks are interspersed throughout the story. While that may cause for some lag time, it does fill in some of the blanks in Emma's life. She left a foster home after aging out and a devastating encounter with the foster mother's son Travis, who is slightly older. Travis had framed her for thefts she did not commit and that was the last straw that impelled Emma to head for Arizona where her dead twin had lived.

Emma has a dual challenge of living down Sutton's antics while living up to her own natural personality and determination to find the killer. As another astute reviewer on the the store US boards noted, Emma DOES try to fit into whatever role is expected/required of her. That unfortunately hampers her character development.

I like what the other US reviewer said that "Many of the characters are one-dimensional and exhibit the emotional range of a rock." That is a very accurate, abeit humorous way of summarizing them. Everybody IS a suspect and, as with the PLL series, friendships shift and change and characters seem almost like shape-shifters because of this.

This book is a VERY quick read and I finished it in one afternoon. I enjoy this series, but I do prefer the PLL series. I am looking forward to reading the next installment.

The Vogues' 1968 classic version of "Turn Around, Look at Me" could be the soundtrack of this book.

Book: Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard
Pages: 309
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Library

*May Contain Spoilers

Short Synopsis: Emma is still trying to find out the truth about what happened to Sutton the day she went missing. But as she continues to dig further, she finds out that Sutton isn't all that she imagined her sister to be, and neither are her friends.

My Thoughts: Still kept me on my toes, but it seems to be dragging on and not much was really exposed.

Emma continues to search for any clues which could lead to her twin sisters' disappearance. As she continues to live her life as Sutton, Emma gets a taste of what Sutton's life is all about, and what her friends are capable of.
As Emma starts to delve into Sutton's life and into her friends' life, Emma starts to point her finger at Gabriella and Lily, aka "The Twitter Twins." Emma finds their alternate twitter accounts, and their tweets seem more like they are in fact the culprits behind Sutton's disappearance.
Emma is also dragged further into Sutton's life as the Lying Game continues and the group decides to prank their latest victims, Gaby and Lily. Emma must get to the bottom of things before something goes wrong, and the Lying game becomes a life and death situation.

It was an okay read. We still don't figure out what happened to Sutton the day she went missing, or who was involved. We figure out what Sutton's life was like and more about The Lying Game. But not much else. It's only the second novel in the series, and I'm starting to feel a bit more aggravating if Shepard doesn't give out more information in the next book. It was also a bit annoying when Emma obviously cared for Ethan, but didn't really want to commit to her feelings until she figured out what happened with Sutton. Overall, an okay read, but could have had a little more in depth description about what really happened.

Would I recommend this book: Eh.

Rating: I give this book a 3/5

Sara Shepard is known for her Pretty Little Liars books, and which are also a very popular TV show now. So there are probably alot out there who are familiar with her. Now this book, is the 2nd book of "The Lying Game" series. You can see a picture of both of them below.This story is a mystery, and i LOVE reading stories with a mystery plot. They excite me VERY VERY much, and when there is a mystery unsolved, i have to keep reading on until i figure out the answer.
This book was beautifully written, because everything was smooth and clear for me. The characters all had a chance to be concentrated on, and it was very interesting how every character had that "dirty little secret" that has not been exposed yet.
Now my favorite character in this book is the main character "Emma". How she impostors her sister "Sutton" is very fascinating to me because in my opinion, i think it needs so much COURAGE and WILLPOWER to do what Emma is doing, and thats the kind of character she is. Emma is very strong, and i would never be able to do the thing she has done if i was in her place. Therefore i really like Emma. I actually like all the characters here, especially Mads and Char, because i feel they have a very strong relationship with Emma, or should i say Sutton?
PLUS there is a new abc family TV show called "They Lying Game" based on these books. BUT the story is totally different. I realllyy liked Ethan in the books, but i was disappointed when i saw his face in the TV show, because what i imagined him to be was ENTIRELY different than how he looks in the TV show.
ANYWAYS, if you didnt read this book, put whatever you have with you aside and start reading! You will NOT regret it, and youll be caught up with it from the first chapter!

Whose been following the new TV Series "The Lying Game" based on the new book series by Sara Shepard ? I have now that Pretty Little Liars has completed Season Two and here's hoping they bring back a third season but by the way Season Two ended it could be unlikely that they do. As there are only two books so far in The Lying Game , we can already see that the TV Series has gone for a different angle. In Book #2 Never Have I Ever, we read as Emma Paxton not Becker , is still living Sutton Mercer's life and trying to get the hang of it. We do notice throughout the book , that Sutton's ghost is hanging around and that the real Sutton Mercer is dead and unfortunately somebody close to her killed her. The basis of the Lying Game Book Series is for Emma to try and discover what exactly happened to Sutton before she becomes next on the Victim list as throughout the novel , Emma is taunted like the Pretty Little Liars girls with Texts, Notes and IM's and oh don't forget the little presents. Something evil went down on August 31st and caused the death of Sutton Mercer and that somebody wants Emma to stop digging. Can Emma elimnate her list of suspects before she winds up dead or in hospital ? It seems that Sutton Mercer can have any guy that she wants but unfortunately Emma only wants one - Ethan Landry and she can't have him- not yet anyway. We also read in Book #2 the introduction to Thayer's character - Madz brother whom Sutton supposedly dated. I can't wait for Book #3 and to see the direction that the book series is going to take and for all those who are watching the show - OMG Will Emma and Sutton find Annie Hobbs before Alec Vega and Ted Mercer do and I so want Emma to end up with Ethan.
P.S - Who thinks that the main actress Alexandra Chando who plays Emma/Sutton bears a slight resemblance to Nina Dobrev who played Elena on Vampire Diaries ?

{my thoughts} - This book was centered around Halloween and Homecoming. According to Hollier High they take place at the same time. Emma (Sutton) alibi's out all of Sutton's friends including the Twitter Twins. Although it is apparent throughout the entire book that the Twitter Twins have a bone to pick with Sutton. She had done some mean Lying Game pranks that involved them and now their goal was revenge but not the sort of revenge that Emma had expected. Emma (Sutton) are still left in the dark about who killed Sutton but she is determined to figure it out while she tries to lead a normal life in Sutton's shoes and pursues a boyfriend/ girlfriend relationship with none other then the wonderful Ethan Landry. On a side note the book ends with an interesting visitor. I can't wait to start the next book just so I can find out why that person decided to appear at this point. Interesting things always happening help to keep this series is one that is entirely worth reading.

{reason for reading} - I read the first one and it pulled me in I was curious to see what would happen next.

After reading the first book in this series I was a bit disappointed. I had just finished reading several of the Pretty Little Liars books and was hooked. While the first book was a bit slow for me this one picked up the pace a great deal. And the ending.... major cliff hanger. More like the Shepard we're used to reading. However, I will say that some of the scenes felt a bit repetitive. I would have to look back and make sure I started at the right spot in the book because I thought I had already read it. :/ That being said, with that cliff hanger that we were given I'll be sure to read the next book in this series.

Abandoned at a young age and raised in foster care most her life Emma had found out about a long lost twin. When she though she was going to finally meet her instead she found out her sister had been murdered, and Emma had to take the place of Sutton until she could discover who murder her. Sutton throughout the book is narrating in the afterlife, but she can only remember bits and pieces of her life as Sutton the Queen Bee. Emma is sure that it is Sutton's best friend and sister who murdered her, but when she found evidence that they were incident both Emma and Sutton were relieved. Now though Emma had to dig even deeper, and with the help of the cute and mysterious Ethan, Emma and him find the evidence they need to discover what really happened to Sutton Mercer.

Even though I have never discovered a long lost twin I have however always wished for a sister. Emma has always moved around her entire life, and never had a true family, so when she finds out about her twin sister she is hopeful to finally have a real family. Even though she never gets to actually meet Sutton she wanders what it would be like if Sutton was still living, and they could have a bonding sister relationship. My mom had a miscarriage before I was born, and I know that it was all in God's plan, but I sometimes wander what it would be like if I did have a sister that I could have girl talk with, and share important and insignificant secrets with. So even though Emma and I don't share much in common with each other we both wander how our lives would be different if we could have ever met our sisters.

The novel had an amazing plot, and such different and descriptive characters. The author writes in a way that can bring the characters to life. All of the characters have such strong personalities like Emma who can appear very shy and guarded, but deep down she is determined, and wont let anything get in her way to discover what happened to her sister. Ethan is mysterious to everyone who doesn't know him, but when he lets Emma in to his life he is a protective, and caring friend who will help Emma through everything she is trying to conquer. Lock and Key also has characters that might appear one way to the general public, but when you uncover their true personality it is like discovering a whole new realm of the book.

I bought this book immediately after I finished reading the first book, The Lying Game. I bought the first book after reading one of my favourite series by the same author, The Pretty Little Liars, and they are both pretty similar. Twin sisters, one of the twins murdered, a secret murderer, and the fact that Shepard convinces you the murderer is someone but then it's someone else entirely. I thought it was a great book, but, would only recommend it to middle schoolers and high schoolers.

*******SPOILER*******

I completely was convinced that it was Gabby and Lili!!!!!

Another hit from Shepard! This book starts off a little slow, but picks up towards the middle. Its always fun following along with Emma and Sutton, through all of their fun, crazy adventures. Certain elements from the first book lack coninuity, and the usual frustrations that follow Shepards work, like her characers not confrontig a person they CLEARLY see sneakily watching them from behind bush etc., or going after said person, but overall a fantastic read! Can't wait for the next book in the continuity!