Overall, I thought this book was really good. I absolutely loved everything about this book. It was the perfect book to get me back into the mood of reading. I powered through this because the writing was easy to get into and it was simple. The plot was entertaining and overall just a great experience. The characters were a joy to read. I liked seeing how their relationships developed and how this book wasn't what I expected. Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for providing me with a copy of this book.

I'm a little behind, BUT L.B.R. has truly done it again. I read her book The Replacement Crush, and I didn't think she'd be able to make me another of her books more than I love that one. But she did! Every moment of this book was just full of the feels and Star Wars references. It was amazing. Brilliant.

OMG, so cute!

I really enjoyed the story of Laurel's possible summer-job-from-hell. Laurel's a total daddy's girl but his workaholic tendencies have had her missing him lately (her older sister being away at college hasn't helped either) so she's nagged him relentlessly until he agrees to let her work at his company as an intern assistant for the summer. It's not quite the job she thinks it's going to be, but their family motto is "Kristoffs never quit" so she soldiers on.

Her BFF's family drama, a work mystery, interns that she doesn't quite fit in with, and adult employees who may or may not have an issue with the boss's daughter getting a "cushy job" often have Laurel questioning her choices, but her love of Star Wars and her role models (strong female heroines in sci-fi film and fiction) keep her going. Throw in a forbidden maybe-romance and some strong 80s pop-culture vibes, and even though Laurel might be having a trying summer, the reader is definitely having a lot of fun :)

Very cute! I can't wait to see what Ms. Roberts has in store for us next.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This is the first time in reading this author with the story line catching my attention. It has light hearted and humor qualities you get from it when you are reading that makes for nice if a rough day. This centers around Laurel and then Carlos who keep you following them in this one. You also have a bit of another element in this one that is mystery that makes this one full and rich. You get what family and friends are all about also from this one. After this one I would read more by this author since she has the ability to write giving a much needed escape from her words.

Posted to Goodreads: For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsSr0...

Laurel wants to spend the summer working as an intern for her father's company to be closer to him. However, what Laurel doesn't know is that she is actually going to be an assistant to the interns. Now, Laurel sees even less of her father and all of the interns think she may be a spy but there is Carlos, the cute intern who may be able to become a lot more.

This book was super cute. Laurel had a sassiness that young readers will enjoy. Also, the flirty moments between Laurel and Carlos were sweet and well done. However, this is definitely a clean read and may appeal much more to tween instead of teens.

Summers are supposed to be fun, right? Not mine. I’ve got a job at my dad’s company, which is sponsoring a college scholarship competition. I just found out that, in addition to my job assisting the competing interns, I’m supposed to vote for the winner. Totally not what I signed up for.
My boss is running the competition like it’s an episode of Survivor. Then there’s Carlos, who is, well, very distracting––in a good way. But I can’t even think about him like that because fraternizing on the job means instant disqualification for the intern involved.
As if that’s not enough, an anonymous informant with insider intel is trying to sabotage my dad’s company on social media...and I’m afraid it's working.
Much as I’d love to quit, I can’t. Kristoffs Never Quit is our family motto. I just hope there’s more than one survivor by the end of this summer.

I very much enjoyed this YA mystery/romance novel! I've never read Lisa Brown Roberts before so I didn't know what to expect going in and I was very pleasantly surprised at how much I connected with the main character of this book. Laurel is the quintessential nerd/dork/geek, etc. She's into everything Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy, fan fiction and Comic Con. Her uncertainty about her new job, new crush and life in general made her a very endearing character. Carlos was a great pairing for Laurel and their almost-chances made the book a very quick read for me. I laughed at many of Roberts' humor and banter between Laurel and all the other characters and I cried at the end during the speeches. I will recommend this book to students in my library and will purchase it for our school library. I wish there was a sequel in the works for Laurel! She practically leapt off the pages, she was so real to me.
*Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Teen for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Spies Lies and Allies by Lisa Brown Roberts is a cute and dynamic YA novel centering around Laurel Kristoff. Laurel is a high school junior whose dad is a workaholic. He provides for his family and they want for nothing, except time with him. Laurel reminisces about old times when he was more around to do things with her after he misses an awards show for her school and makes an offhand comment about becoming an intern for his company. While she doesn't need the scholarship money that the interns can win, it would give her more time with her dad. After a couple weeks of persistence, Mr. Kristoff unexpectedly gives in.

Laurel and the other interns provide a dynamic and diverse cast of characters to bond with as they work together and get to know each other. Each is more than meets the eye and gives complexity to the novel. When it is discovered that the company is being attacked by a social media smear campaign, Laurel and the interns investigate, giving Spies, Lies and Allies added intrigue and more ways to dig deeper into each character.

Overall, I enjoyed Spies Lies and Allies by Lisa Brown Roberts and the journey that we get to go on. Liberal Star Wars references added some fun familiarity to the book and make Laurel more relateable and the relationships made the story one for everyone.

(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

An all-around good read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for the opportunity to read and review Spies, Lies, and Allies by Lisa Brown Roberts! Laurel wants to spend more time with her father, so she convinces him to let her work at his company for the summer. Her job is to monitor and assist five interns vying for a one hundred thousand dollar scholarship from Emergent, her father’s company. Laurel is also supposed to get to know the interns well enough that she can make the deciding vote for the scholarship. She’s anxious about her assistant position and she’s worried about what the interns will think of her. The summer job becomes more than she bargained for and turns into a roller coaster of events and stress for Laurel, the interns and the entire company. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, their differences and their complexities. This book contains adventure, intrigue, humor, loyalty, compassion and friendship. The added fun of fandom and Comic Con will make all nerdy readers giddy. The characters are relatable and show depth and Spies, Lies and Allies is an all-around good read- 5 stars!

i thought the espionage was of the political/international variety based on the title, but it's corporate espionage. mainly because i did not read the blurb very closely. laurel kristoff pesters her dad into letting her work at his company for the summer. she sees his corporate life as the evil empire that keeps her dad too busy to be there for her. and she totally has a point.


laurel is constantly battling off assumptions of entitlement and being immature, even though she is neither of these things in her narration. i found her to be totally relatable and a character to root for. i was very much #teamlaurel throughout this story. and #teamlaurelandcarlos too.

i really enjoyed how the main conflicts in the story were resolved. and as a summer YA spies, lies and allies should totally hit the spot.

**spies, lies and allies published on may 1, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (entangled teen).

Spies, Lies, and Allies is the first book by Lisa Brown Roberts that I have read. It is full of Star Wars references and made my nerdy heart happy. I loved that Comic Con was included and that Laurel isn't afraid to be herself. Throw in a little romance and conflict and you have a great young adult read that is perfect for a little pick me up. There are even references to The Breakfast Club and it makes this story so much fun!

Spies, Lies, and Allies: A Love Story by Lisa Brown Roberts is a fun unique young adult book. Laurel begs her father, who she calls Dad Vader, to work at his company over the summer. Laurel just want to spend more time with her workaholic father. Laurel finds out she is helping 4 interns as they compete each other for a $100,000 college scholarship. One of the boys is her long time crush, another boy she feels attracted to, and no one seems to trust her as the bosses daughter. This book is much more than a cute little love story, all of the young adults grow during the course of the book. Very enjoyable, I recommend this book for a light and fun read.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoyed ready this book. I am a big fan of contemporary YA and this one didn't disappoint. I liked Laurel. I thought she was a bit judgmental in the beginning but she grew as the book moved on. I'm not a big Star Wars person so some of those references were lost on me. I still don't get why she called her dad Vader except that he dressed like him once. His personality to me didn't vibe with that name. I liked all of the interns too, even Trish. I liked the romance between Laurel and Carlos. Carlos was a really good guy. I loved the resolution to the spy and who won the scholarship. Overall I think this was a cute read. Great for teens but adults will like it too. 3.5 stars

I love this book! Seriously, freaking LOVE! I’m a huge Lisa Brown Roberts fan and had the distinct pleasure of being her “seat filler” for all of five minutes at the RWA conference in San Diego a few years back; coincidentally, just a few days before San Diego Comic-Con. And though I’m sure she’s quite a bit younger than me, I still say I want to be LBR when I grow up. And SPIES, LIES, AND ALLIES is the reason why. The banter, the characters, the pop culture tie-ins. This story is pretty much everything I love: young adult romance, teen angst, Star Wars, nerd geekery, pop-culture references, Comic-Con… Yeah, if I was a teen in 2018, this would pretty much be my life.

The summer before her senior year of high school, Laurel convinces her dad to allow her to work at his public relations and marketing firm so she can spend more time with him. She calls him Dad Vader, and at first I was worried this was due to a fractured relationship. But other than her father working a lot, the reference is to a mutual love of Star Wars and a time he dressed as Darth Vader to her Princess Leia. Initially excited, Laurel soon realizes this may not be the summer she was hoping for. Instead of sharing leisurely lunches with her dad, she barely sees him other than the commutes to and from work. And on top of that, she’s expected to report back on a group of interns who are all vying for a $100,000 college scholarship in a reality-TV-show inspired competition. Not only does she not want to spy on her contemporaries, but one of whom just happens to be Josh, the dreamy high school quarterback she’s been pining for since middle school.

It isn’t Jason, though, who gets her worked up. Instead Carlos, the boy with the Hershey Kiss colored eyes sets her pulse zinging. The “no-fraternizing with the interns” rule makes both boys completely off limits for Laurel, who soon finds her attention focused on discovering the culprit using social media to sabotage her father’s company. Before summer is over, Laurel will learn a lot about first impressions, what it means to really trust someone, and the power of persuasion.

Plot
The main plot is definitely the romance, but there are a lot of great subplots involving Laurel’s relationship with her father, her friendships with the other interns, and the mystery of who is trying to hurt the company. All are woven expertly together. The constant sprinkling of pop-culture references also played into the plot, including a Breakfast Club-esque scene in the building’s basement. My only real complaint with the story, and it’s not even so much of a complaint, is that the mystery was introduced with only one likely culprit. Even though the story isn’t primarily, or even secondarily, a mystery, once that element was introduced, I would have liked a little more to it.

The Characters
The characters are the best! Laurel is fantastic as the adorable teen nerd who loves Star Wars and refers to her dad’s right-hand-man, Mr. Mantoni, as “the Manicotti.” She’s confident, but with a reasonable number of insecurities which keep her grounded and utterly relatable.

Top Five Things I Loved About SPIES, LIES AND ALLIES
1. Laurel. She’s adorable, funny, and just neurotic enough to make her the perfect heroine.

2. Carlos. He’s witty and loyal and easy to love. Being insanely attractive doesn’t hurt either.

3. Star Wars. I’m a full on Star Wars geek, and like Laurel, I believe any movies with Jar-Jar Binks don’t really count. I like to pretend those were never even made. I adore the way the author wove in so many Star Wars references and compared their mission to blowing up the Death Star.

4. New friends. I love the whole Breakfast Club feel of the interns’ relationships with one another and how they evolve over the summer.

5. Standing up for what’s right. Laurel repeatedly risks her job and her relationship with her dad to do what she feels is the right thing; consequences be damned.

Bottom Line
Another fantastic LBR book that I couldn’t put down!

Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

This book is fun and quirky with some awesome geeky references to star wars, breakfast club and big bang theory.

Laurel so wants to spend time with her dad and really get to know him again. She sees him as Darth dad and not really someone approachable all the time. She remembers when he would spend more time with her and wants that back so she convinces him to let her work at his company for the summer. Only it does turn out quite like she thought. This adorable, smart and geeky girl ends up working with the interns. The interns trying to win a scholarship to school. At first she really doesn’t relate to them. Each one has a story and she doesn’t know them. She slowly does but it isn’t easy. She has the boy who is on her world of geekdom with comic con and Star Wars, the boy who sees more than she thinks and she likes him but is also unnerved by him, the girl who seems perfect, the jock that no one really understands and thinks is an idiot turns out he is a sweet guy with a terrible home life and the girl who’s dad works for the company as well but sees her as the spoiled one. Like the brat pack from Breakfast club and at the end you see why they think this as well.

The internship is like Hunger Games without the kill but is cutthroat. Laurel is there to help them but one of the people running it wants her to spy on them. She doesn’t like this and since it is known to the interns they do act wary around her. She does slowly win them over but it isn’t easy. While trying to do this she is trying to spend time with her dad who is very busy, figure out her feelings for one of the interns Carlos, and figure out who is trying to hurt her dad’s company.

Carlos is the intern she must stay away from and yet she can’t. She is drawn to him and he is to her but she doesn’t always make it easy. We see how teenagers misconstrue things in this book but also how they learn from each other and become friends when they normally don’t think they would. We see all of them learn that not everyone and everything is what they think and that rushing to judgment may hurt them. laurel learns that her dad and his company is the death star like she believes.

I love how fun and quirky the book is. How even the adults learn and grow. Laurel’s dad learns from her and the interns and starts to find other solutions to things but also that just because they are young doesn’t mean they can not help and figure things out. Laurel learns not to jump to conclusions and find out the stories of someone before giving up on getting to know them. Carlos learns to get a better work life balance but also to keep a more open mind, although he is pretty open minded he does get scared when something happens that could hurt the internship.

The story is sweet, adorable,fun and quirky. The characters are so fun and you can’t help but smile at them as they learn and grow but also become friends. Like the Breakfast club this seemingly different group of kids come together and find out they aren’t as different as they seem and become loyal friends. Some even go to comic con together. And they learn to work together to help one another and trust each other. some even find love.

4.5*

Although I’m no longer the demographic for them, (at least age-wise!), I’m a total sucker for sweet contemporary young adult novels like Spies, Lies, and Allies. Maybe because I can vicariously relive my youth through them? Maybe because I wish my teen years were as fun and entertaining as they’re made out to be in books? Maybe because I wish the hot jock had fallen for me???
All of the above could quite possibly be true! But I think it’s mostly because they offer a true escape from the real world, and I can just spend a few hours enjoying someone else’s trials and tribulations, unrequited crushes and broken hearts, knowing everything is going to be okay in the end.

And Spies, Lies, and Allies was the perfect escape. You may not find any broken hearts here, but you will find a terrific cast of characters, a little mystery, some secrets, a boss who takes things just a little too seriously, and even an adorable romance. It's everything you'd want in a summer read.

I loved the friendships that developed and how family played such an important part in this book. At first there was an uneasy relationship between Laurel and the interns, but as the summer went on and they got to know each other, and had time to work together, they really became a team. And the budding romance brought out all the feelings and insecurities every high school girl faces- heightened by the fact that is was quite forbidden! I got a kick out of the pop culture references and how Laurel was able to work Star Wars into just about every situation.

I really liked Laurel’s character and seeing her grow as a person during the course of the book. She started out seemingly not quite sure of herself or her place in things, but by the end she had definitely come into her own. Her relationship with her dad played a big part in the story, and it was rather endearing. Laurel learned a lot about him, and saw him in a very different light, which was quite an eye-opener for her!

Spies, Lies, and Allies is such a fun, sweet read. Lots of great light-hearted moments mixed in with a few more serious scenes. This was a solid 4* story throughout, but the last 25% or so is really what solidified this one for me, when everything started to come together and I unexpectedly got hit right in the feels.

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Wanting to spend more time with her workaholic father, Laurel comes up with a plan (and a lot of begging to get it approved!) to work with him at the office. Her job is to "assist the interns" but in actuality she will be a huge part of the selection process to choose who will be the winner of the full ride scholarship- the catch is that none of the interns know. Laurel gets to battle the lies, heartache, drama and crushes that come her way this summer.

If you like Star Wars references pertaining to every situation, this is the book for you! Laurel somehow or another has the ability to make a connection or pun to Star Wars no matter what disaster or plot she finds herself in. I will admit while I have seen all the Star Wars movies, the references at times went over my head and I was confused as to what she meant. I guess this is probably how all my acquaintances feel about me and the fact I can quote and use life references in any circumstance to the show Friends. On that note, I respect her nerdiness and ability to go all in for her fandom.

I also thought that it was really sweet that the entire reason Laurel got herself into this mess was to spend time with her father- she was willing to set herself up for any kind of job at his company for the opportunity to spend a little more time with him, even if it meant only during the commute. You could easily feel how important family was to central plot of this story and I am always a fan of YA that stresses familial love and support. Along the way she found herself some romantic love as well as friendship, two other kinds of live a person needs, and the last two that Laurel was expecting.

I don't want to give too much about the book away because the development of relationship and the surprising turns Laurel took with her choices was most of the fun of the book, finding out that first impressions may be the wrong impression and to not be so judgy because people have the propensity to surprise you! As a side note, Trish snuck up on me with her snark and bold actions, so much so that she became one of my favorite characters.

This was my first book by Lisa Brown Roberts and I enjoyed her cute characters and fun plots. I would gladly read more from her in the future, especially if I am looking for a romance with heart and banter.

​I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book. ​

I was pleasantly surprised by this book; I expected a straight forward romance, with predictable outcomes and scenarios, but this book offered much more. I’m one of those people who skim reads the blurb but doesn’t actually retain it – I like it that way, the book tends to be more exciting if you have very little idea what it’s about.
Laurel is the daughter of a very successful businessman; one who isn’t around at home that often anymore. She desperately wants to spend more quality time with her dad, and manages to convince him to let her work at his company for the summer. One thing I loved about Laurel is that she is a true Star Wars geek, but not only that, she is good at sports! It’s so rare to get a jack-of-all-trades character in YA books, especially when one of their talents is sport. Personally I love sport so it’s always a bonus when the protagonist of a book takes an interest too.
This book seems to move along at a nice pace, characters getting to know one another, going about their jobs, first impressions are made and they’re not all good. But then a mystery creeps its way into the novel, and the book becomes more about overcoming differences in order to work together and help a fellow colleague. I enjoyed this theme; it outlined more of the serious consequences of social media and how they could impact so many lives even if the intended target isn’t them.
In terms of other characters I don’t think there was one I didn’t like in the end. This book is told from Laurel’s POV and therefore we see through her eyes in terms of story, and we hear her opinions first. Not only do we see Laurel develop throughout the book, but also her colleagues and friends’ development, particularly through Laurel’s eyes, is clear and pleasing to see. I think in some cases their “improvement” comes through Laurel getting to know more about them, but it’s really great to see characters becoming more 3-dimensional as the book continues.
There were more predictable areas of the book, but I feel like I’m getting to the point where I’ve read and reviewed so many books, that I’m well practiced in guessing plots. There are very few authors’ books I can read now and be 100% surprised by the outcome of the story, but I read for the enjoyment of discovering a new story; whether I am totally surprised or not doesn’t impact my rating too much.
Overall I’m awarding this book 4*/5. I would’ve liked a little more surprise in some areas of the story; the fact that the protagonist kind of “guesses” the ending means no one is really shocked when the mystery is solved; but this is primarily a romance. And a good romance it is; I like them as a couple, I like their interaction, and I like their maturity between each other and their friendship circle. I particularly loved the protagonist – not only is she a sci-fi geek but also enjoys other hobbies such as photography and sport. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for an easy-to-read YA romance, who likes an interesting protagonist with multiple interest.

I was in need of a nice contemporary young adult book! I’m so glad I decided to pick this up.

There was such a great mix of friendship, family, pop culture references, mystery, betrayal, and of course a cute romance. The pacing of this story moved quickly and smoothly with no major bumps in the road. The plot was original and the characters were very relatable.

I love the setting, especially that it was located in Denver. I don’t live to far from there and go to the city often so it was fun to imagine all of this happening somewhere I know well. All of the Star Wars and other “nerdy” references had me smiling the whole time I was reading.

Lisa Brown Roberts was a new author to me but it didn’t take any time to add her to my must read author list. She is a very strong young adult author and I can’t wait to read more of her work!

If you’re looking for a fun contemporary young adult with a fun competition, grab this one up!

***Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.

I discovered Lisa Brown Roberts' book last year and totally loved them! Spies, Lies and Allies was such a fun read full of Star Wars references, funny jokes, friendship, mystery and an oh so adorable romance. I honestly couldn't stop reading it once I picked it up. It's very rare when I read a book in a day, but this one I just devoured within a few hours. I should have been grading essays, but this was just so much more enjoyable! 

The story focuses on Laurel who lands a summer job at her dad's company in order to spend more time with him. She's assigned to help a group of interns competing for a scholarship, however, nothing is what she expected. What I really enjoyed about this story was it's many layers. It's not just about the romance because it explores friendships, trust, betrayal, prejudice and family relationships. All of these aspects were well written and blended together perfectly. The book easily transitioned between serious to silly to swoon worthy without feeling forced or like it was trying too hard. Everything just flowed and the pacing was spot on. As I wrote above, I didn't want to stop reading. It was exciting and full of so much fun!

What made the book for me were the characters. I completely loved Laurel right from the start. She's determined, curious and very much a fangirl. Her constant Star Wars references had me smiling from ear to ear because it reminded me of a friend. Her relationship with Carlos had the perfect amount of cheesy one-liners, sass and romantic tension. I loved reading about their interactions and conversations. It's something the author does well in all of her books.

If you are looking for a fun contemporary read this summer than this book is definitely for you. Also, don't forget to check out the author's other books as well!

Loved it. Great pacing, engaging characters, original plot. A clean romance. Fabulous. First time reading this author’s work but I’m definitely interested in reading more. Highly recommended. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.