Happy publication day! 4/5 stars!
Full review coming later today

What a thrill ride . You author Eliza thinks someone tried to kill her . Her family says she is psychotic. Searching for answers she has to rely on her very spotty memory. Is her novel the real truth ? This book will keep you guessing and reading well past your bedtime

I’m a huge fan of Pretty Little Liars, both the books and the show (the books were better, duh) but I haven’t read anything else from Shepherd since the final installment of that series and that was quite a few years ago, so naturally I was very excited to read one of her adult novels to see if she could still reel me in with something with a bit more maturity. While overall this was an entertaining, easy read it didn’t have that bite, that sharpness that I need in a “grown up” thriller.

There WAS plenty that worked for me here, I absolutely love books about books and this one alternated Between Eliza’s POV in the present and chapters from her debut novel, The Dots. To begin I was equally invested in both narratives but as the lines between fact and fiction started to get fuzzy, I found myself more interested in Eliza’s book rather than her story. I don’t necessarily think that’s a problem per se, but I didn’t expect to feel like that nonetheless.

I really think that my main issue is that I’m far too seasoned in terms of reading true, gritty thrillers to be surprised by this one. This would be perfect for a YA audience or anyone who is wanting to branch out into thrillers who isn’t as jaded and picky as me. It would also be ideal for anyone who is looking for a lighter suspense read with no gore or graphic details, this focuses more on paranoia and the unknown than violence. Shepherd is a solid writer and does write page turners though, I’m sure the right audience will love this but unfortunately that’s just not me.

The Elizas is a YA thriller that will keep your mind reeling and makes everyone seem suspect.

Eliza Fontaine finds herself at the bottom of a pool, nearly drowning. When she goes on a quest to find out who she believes pushed her, she finds herself without support from her family and a world that seems to easily brush her off. You see, she has a past. This isn't the first time she's been at the bottom of the pool and almost dead. She has her reasons for the past but now this time is different and there seems to only be one person who is willing to help her uncover the truth.

Throughout the book, there are also snippets from Eliza's book that she has written and her world compared to Dot's world in that book is so parallel that that lines are blurred between fiction and reality.

I will admit that The Elizas started off extremely slow for me. For that reason, I never really connected to Eliza the way I wanted to, which kind of spiraled into me not really connecting to the book she was writing either. I absolutely loved the concept and truly believe that it was an issue with myself. Maybe I wasn't in the right head space to read it at the time. Who knows.

I think that Shephard's writing flows well and she has this way to be able to spin a story that keeps you on your toes and always guessing. If you are looking for a YA thriller that messes with your mind and gives you a "Ah ha!" moment then you need to pick up The Elizas today!

As a Pretty Little Liars superfan, I'm always drawn to Sara Shepard's books. The mystery and intrigue in all her plotlines always have me hooked, and her new adult thriller The Elizas was no different. I want to put a trigger warning for mental illness and suicide on this book before I jump into the review.

When Eliza Fontaine is pulled from a pool, her parents and doctors think it's a suicide attempt after an evening of drinking too much. She does have a history of them, after all, both evenings of excessive drinking and suicide attempts. But Eliza swears someone pushed her in. When no one takes her seriously, Eliza decides to investigate her case herself, set on proving that this was not a suicide attempt. But other things are happening to Eliza as well. She's zoning out, not remembering major life details, and acting erratic. Her first novel is set to be published soon, but when her family finds out about it and reads the story, they plead Eliza to stop the publication. But why?

This book is half Eliza plot, and half excerpts from Eliza's novel, The Dots, so this almost seems like two stories in one. The Dots follows Dot, a young girl plagued with seizures, and her aunt Dorothy. When The Dots starts to turn dark, Eliza begins to uncover some of that missing information in her life that may connect the fictional Dot and Eliza herself more than she initially thought.

This may be one of the hardest book reviews I've ever had to write, simply because the book was such a trip! Also, the way the two plots paralleled it's hard to say too much without spoiling anything. There are a lot of WAIT WHAT moments, in both the Eliza and Dot storylines. It read very quickly, as you bounce between The Dots excerpts and Eliza's own narrative. I absolutely adored Eliza as a character. Her penchant for the morbid and curious reminded me a lot of myself. Her chaotic thoughts were so well written that it was impossible not to get into Eliza's head and feel the same panic and paranoia she experienced.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Thanks so much to Atria Books for a digital ARC of this great book!

I really enjoyed the book within a book concept in this one. I kind of figured out fairly early on what was happening, but still enjoyed the story and the little unexpected things that kept popping up. This was a psychological twisty-turny book and you never knew what was real or not for a lot of the story. I would definitely recommend.

Budding novelist Eliza Fontaine has a complicated past and things become even more complicated when she is found at the bottom of the pool at the Tranquility resort in Palm Springs. Eliza's family believes the worst, another failed suicide attempt, just like the previous attempts before her brain tumor was removed. However, Eliza is positive that she had been pushed this time. No one seems to believe her except for her rescuer, Desmond who thinks he saw someone fleeing the scene. Eliza desperately tries to put the pieces together from her night at the Tranquility, but she has severe memory lapses. The more she tries to dig, the more pieces she finds missing. With the impending release of her novel, The Dots, Eliza keeps finding more similarities between herself and her main character, Dot, and has trouble separating the fact from fiction.

The Elizas is a thrilling, addictive mystery that dives into the mysteries of the mind and memory. From the beginning Eliza is presented as an unreliable narrator, however that didn't stop me from sympathizing with her cause and rooting for her to untangle the web of lies and foggy memories that surrounded her. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to read both Eliza's narrative as well as her book, The Dots. The story line playfully and ingeniously bounced back and forth between the two plots interweaving Eliza's and Dot's story in the reader's mind just as they had become entwined in Eliza's. At first The Dots seems like a nice bonus story, although as the book progresses, I found that The Dots offered more insight into Eliza's character than her own narrative. Overall, a tantalizing story with intriguing characters that will keep you on your toes.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

If you are familiar with Sara Shepard's books at all, then you know to expect a convoluted plot full of twists, turns, and "WTF was THAT" plot twists.

And I don't mean "convoluted" in a negative way. Her plots ARE, at the very least, purposefully convoluted, the sort that leave you wondering what you just read.

I liked Eliza. I felt her frustration, and I felt her anxiety. She may be embroiled in some weird stuff, but Sara Shepard makes her relatable. I like how Shepard keeps you in a near constant state of guessing: can I trust this character?

The mysteries here are fun and entertaining and will have you turning the pages. You will find yourself feeling almost desperate to find out what is happening and why.

But.

The major flaw comes at the very end. Sooooooo much is revealed in the epilogue that it feels like Shepard didn't know how else to tie up her loose ends. You read chapter after chapter only to have it all resolved in the last one that you're left feeling almost exhausted. That cheapens the book for me. Epilogues are intended to give you a little post-plot insight. In this case, the epilogue is so integral to the book that I'm left wondering why Shepard didn't just include it in the body of the story. Even then, though, she puts a LOT of plot in that last chapter. A LOT.

I'm curious as to what you think of this, so if you read it, please come back, hit up the comments, and let me know. I liked it, but that ending made me like it a little less.

3.5 stars

On Friday, I chose to read a book instead of work. And, The Elizas by Sara Shephard was the perfect book to help me escape from reality and dive into the pages of this who-done-it thriller. Basically, this is an unreliable narrator, big money, beach read trash. And, every now and then, that is exactly what you need!

This book revolves around Eliza, who wakes up in a hospital after she supposedly tried to commit suicide by plunging into a pool when she can’t swim. The problem: she has done this multiple times before, but this time, she insists that she was pushed.

Making the story even more of a mystery is that the book alternates between Eliza’s life and the chapters of the novel she is getting ready to publish. As the story moves, it becomes apparent that Eliza and her main character have some startling similarities.

Add in a family that seems to make situations work, Eliza’s love of all things dark and strange, and hero who drives a Batmobile, and you have yourself a novel that is silly, completely unrealistic, but very interesting. Even with all the crazy in the novel, I still wanted to know what was going on.


Even better, while I thought I had it all figured out and that the author had left some big holes – I was wrong. Sara Shephard fills in all the appropriate gaps, but still leaves room for questions. For those looking for a fun, summer thriller and are fans of the show Pretty Little Liars, this is the perfect choice for you.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this review copy! All opinions are my own. This book releases this Tuesday, so go ahead and pre-order or put your library hold requests in today.

There are two books within this one book. Eliza Fontaine is a woman who has been found at the bottom of a pool and she can't swim and this isn't the first time this has happened to her. The other thing that is within this book is a book that Eliza has written and the chapters of the book are interspersed within her chapters about her character. For me it was a little confusing and I had some trouble with it.

If you haven't read in the mystery/thriller genre, I think this one would be a good introduction to get your feet wet and I would especially recommend if you have read mostly YA and want to start a transition into adult novels. BUT if you have been reading in the mystery/thriller genre for awhile, this one may not work for you. It felt a little elementary from the actual plot to the writing, it just felt simple and I like my mystery/thriller novels to stretch me and make me read a little more closely.

I liked this book, but didn't love it. I would read another mystery by Sara Shepard, but would be a little hesitant and make sure the synopsis sounded interesting.

This is a sharp, snappy clever mystery perfect for YA fans. Debut novelist Eliza Fontaine has just been pulled from a near-drowning in a hotel swimming pool, but apparently it's not the first time.

“Why am I in a hospital?” I ask again. “Please. Somebody tell me.”

Bill clears his throat awkwardly. “You were found at the bottom of another pool last night.”

There is no denying she almost drowned. But why? Eliza swears she did not try to kill herself. The police don't seem all that interested in finding out how Eliza ended up in the pool. She can't swim and she is sure that someone pushed her. The problem is that she just can't seem to remember the night very clearly and there seem to be no witnesses to what happened.

Eliza is an unreliable narrator, as her family and friends are quick to point out. She's very smart and this story was loads of fun in trying to figure out who was telling the truth and who was lying. Or was it Eliza that was untruthful? This clever book is actually two books: 'The Elizas' alternates between Eliza's narration and the book she is about to publish, 'The Dots'.

"It’s not so crazy they think I jumped. I have a bit of a track record of this kind of behavior. But I didn’t go into that water willingly—this I know for sure. Someone wanted me dead."

I wasn't sure what was real in this book and what was a product of Eliza's very vivid imagination. The author created a cast of very real and colorful characters which added to the fun of this story. I was rooting for Eliza to find a true friend and perhaps make a real connection with someone. She enlists the help of the unusual and very unique Desmond to try and unravel the mystery of what happened to her in the Palm Springs hotel pool.

“I’m smitten by you, Eliza,” Desmond says. “You’re like the Lady of the Lake. I don’t understand a lot about you, but I’d spend the rest of my life figuring you out. I want to help you however I can, including figuring out what scared you so much. I want to save you.”

I read this book in one sitting and very much enjoyed both the main story and 'The Dots'. This book is both funny, poignant and very suspenseful and will definitely appeal to fans of the YA genre who are looking for a slow-building mystery.

There is a huge twist at the end that was a big surprise. While I felt that this book mostly read like a script (it would make a great movie or mini-series!), overall I really enjoyed this fun thriller and am still thinking this book even after I finished. I loved the author's writing style and recommend this if you are looking for a fast-paced poolside or beach read.

My friends told me to read and/or watch Pretty Little Liars.. and I just never got around to it.. soon... SOON! But until then, I was thrilled to get a copy of Sara Shepard's The Elizas! What an interesting and head spinning novel!

The book in a book feel was a little confusing at first. I was actually almost irritated by it at first but as it became clear why it was being incorporated, it began to make more sense and I was almost looking forward to The Dots more than The Elizas... but then... wait for it.... You'll have to read it to figure it all out. It can be a bit confusing at first and it certainly was for me at various times. However, it comes together quite nicely towards the end.

I did feel like it got stretched out just a little bit more than necessary but I was definitely concentrated on Eliza's character. I felt just as confused as she was and I was getting just as irritated and frustrated as she was as well! Good lord - with friends and family like that, who needs enemies? Or is she creating scenarios that aren't even happening? What do you do when your brain is working against you?

This is a fantastic read for those who like that lighter side of a thriller.

This was an interesting story that kept me guessing all the time!The beginning was very good and I was intrigued to see what is happening!I like the writing and I find the story captivating!

The Elizas was a clever story with suspense!I enjoyed the second half of the book even more, the mystery was good and the characters interesting!The only reason this wasn't a 5 stars is because some things were a little bit predictable in my opinion!

If you are looking for a great book to read that will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing this is perfect!

Sarah Shepherd writes great suspense and knows how to catch and keep a reader!

Eliza Fontaine wakes up in the hospital after being found at the bottom of the pool. She swears she was pushed but the problem is, she has been saved from drowning a few times before. She doesn’t remember most of what happened the night of the pool incident and with the help of the guy who saved her, she tries to recreate what happened. Her family is walking on eggshells around her and as her debut novel The Dots is about to be published, they want it stopped. But why?

We go back and forth between what is happening with Eliza and excerpts of the novel, which worked really well. The novel gives us great insight into what probably is happening. You know what you are reading and have it pretty figured out but why can’t Eliza remember anything?

I have never read Ms. Shepard before. I never read any Pretty Little Liars. But I have to say that I was drawn in from the start . I wanted to shout at Eliza about what was in the book. It was so obvious what was happening but we do see what we want to, especially when we care about a person. The more Eliza dug, the more she resembled Dot in her novel. I loved the character of Desmond and all his quirks. He added an element of fun to the mystery. If you are a fan of Ms. Shepard, I am sure you will eat this one up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for a copy of this book.

When debut novelist Eliza Fontaine is found at the bottom of a hotel pool, her family at first assumes that it’s just another failed suicide attempt. But Eliza swears she was pushed, and her rescuer is the only witness.

Desperate to find out who attacked her, Eliza takes it upon herself to investigate. But as the publication date for her novel draws closer, Eliza finds more questions than answers. Like why are her editor, agent, and family mixing up events from her novel with events from her life? Her novel is completely fictional, isn’t it?

The deeper Eliza goes into her investigation while struggling with memory loss, the closer her life starts to resemble her novel until the line between reality and fiction starts to blur and she can no longer tell where her protagonist’s life ends and hers begins.

I really love Sara Shepard's books and was so excited to read her newest title, The Elizas. Unfortunately, this book did not have the characteristic Sara Shepard twists and turns that generally keep me, and my fellow readers, sucked into the story until the very end. Her previous series have all been filled with mystery and danger, the kind of writing that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on edge when frantically reading late at night to get to the end. The Elizas was sadly missing all of those trademarks of her writing, and I did not find myself captivated by the characters or the storyline.

I highly recommend you pick up the Pretty Little Liars or The Lying Game series if you are looking for a read more indicative of her writing style.

**Disclaimer** I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Elizas is a story told by a quintessential 'unreliable narrator'. You learn from the beginning that Eliza has had some issues. She claims that she can be cruel and a liar. But, she also claims that she wasn't trying to commit suicide and that someone pushed her. As a reader, you have to sift through the words and decide: do you believe Eliza or not? Do you believe the people in her life or not? Can you parse out the truth from the deceptions?

The story alternates between Eliza's present and excerpts from her soon to be released book, The Dots. Seriously, you will spend all your time trying to figure out what, if anything is real. At first, I kind of took things at face value. But, when you start to read the excerpts from The Dots, you really begin to question Eliza. Thrown in some strange characters to add to Eliza's weirdness and you have a even more reasons to doubt. Then, I started doubting my doubts! I thought "Maybe she is throwing out red herrings..." There is also some threats of danger that add to the tension. IF something is real, then Eliza could be in danger. IF something isn't real, then she is creating lots of trouble. But, you just aren't sure...

In the end, I'm still not even sure what's 100% real...I couldn't stop thinking about this book. I didn't LOVE it, but I simply could not stop thinking about it! The Elizas brings Shepard's style of questionable narrators and motives to an adult character this time. Somehow, I Eliza being an adult made her even less trustworthy as a narrator. Teenagers are impulsive so its difficult to keep up a charade for extended lengths of time. But Eliza....I could see her being able to maintain the facade for years...
Blog link live on 4/16/18

The description of this book intrigued me so I downloaded an ARC through NetGalley. Thank you, Atria Books.

This thriller is really a book within a book. Eliza's book "The Dots" is about to be published when she is rescued from the bottom of a pool at a resort in Palm Springs. Did she jump or was she pushed? Why is her memory so spotty? Why does she perceive a presence hovering in the periphery of her vision? All those questions are answered and tied up quite neatly through the book.

Something about this book struck me as off. Perhaps it is the transition from YA to Adult and it is stuck in the middle. There was a lack of maturity to the narrative that for me was distracting and affected my experience.

If you are a fan of unreliable narrators, look NO FURTHER than this one. This may be as unreliable as they come. This book follows Eliza, soon-to-be published debut author while she deals with the fact that she woke up in the bottom of a pool and cannot swim, so someone is trying to kill her. The chapters in Eliza’s life are set side-by-side with chapters from her book. Ultimately, what is she to believe happened to her and what should we believe as the reader?

This book is by the author of the PLL series and hits shelves next week!

Eliza Fontaine heads to Palm Springs and finds herself at the bottom of the hotel pool. Eliza can't swim, and her family assumes this was yet another one of Eliza's failed suicide attempts, as she has a history of winding up at the bottom of swimming pools. But Eliza swears this time was different; yes, she was drinking that evening, but she's sure someone pushed her, even if she can't remember exactly how she wound up at the pool or even the hotel bar. The sole witness is the man who rescued her, so Eliza tracks him down. But as they attempt to figure out what happened, Eliza only grows more confused. She's about to get her first novel published, and it seems as if events from the novel are intertwining with her life. She thought her novel was fiction, but now she's bewildered, feeling followed, and wondering if she's finally losing her mind for good.

This was an odd little book and not at all what I was expecting. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though, and the more I think about it, the more I should have realized that Sara Shepard is quite masterful at playing with our minds. This is actually almost two books in one: we get the novel itself; as well excerpts from The Dots, Eliza's debut novel, which is set to be published a few weeks after she's found in the pool. As we get deeper and deeper into The Dots, we're left to wonder how much its protagonist, Dot, is like Eliza--where does Eliza end and Dot begin?

It's really quite an ingenious setup and it's quite fun. I actually really liked the excerpts more at times. The novel revolves around the confusing question of identity, as Eliza struggles to figure out who she is and what she remembers about her life and past. My only struggle was that Eliza does a lot of thinking (aka talking or narrating) and I lost interest at some points when she talked on a bit. Still, most of the time, this was a pretty suspenseful book; it's certainly "trippy" and often confusing, as you work to puzzle out things alongside Eliza. I definitely didn't have everything figured out immediately, though I worked most things out as I went along.

Overall, this is a quick read (I read the entire thing during during two consecutive plane rides), and the book-within-a-book setup is fun and adds to the suspense. This isn't a read for those who love intricate, deeply plotted thrillers, but it's enjoyable and compelling and perfect for YA fans looking for a psychological thriller.