Liar’s Beach started off so strong—I was totally hooked! The setup was great, the setting was fun, and I was all in for a twisty mystery. But then... the middle just kinda lost steam. The pacing dragged, and I kept waiting for a big moment that never really hit the way I wanted.

I really wanted to love this one, but even though it wasn’t my favorite, I’ll still be recommending it to students. It’s a solid intro to mysteries in a modern, relatable way, and I know a lot of young readers will totally eat it up!

*Liar’s Beach* by Katie Cotugno is a decent YA mystery with a modern take on *The Great Gatsby*, set in an elite summer setting. The intrigue and secrets keep the story moving, and while the mystery is engaging, the pacing can feel uneven at times. The characters are interesting but could have been developed more deeply. Despite this, the students in my high school library really enjoy the book, especially its drama and suspenseful twists. It’s not the most groundbreaking mystery, but it’s an entertaining read for fans of YA thrillers who enjoy glamorous settings and hidden secrets.

Gave this a whirl and it wasn't my vibe. Given that it's well past the publication date, I'm putting it back on the metaphorical shelf!

Thank you to Net Galley, Delacorte Press, and the author, Katie Cotugno for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The protagonist, Linden has been invited to spend the last days of summer at August House with his prep school roommate, Jasper. Linden who is at his prep school on full scholarship tries hard to keep up appearances and fit in with the other rich kids in Martha’s Vineyard. Staying at the house is Eliza, Jasper’s sister, Wells, Jasper’s brother, and Meredith, Eliza’s friend. Their parents make appearances only when needed.

After a big party, a body is found floating in the pool. The police don’t seem super concerned and the occupants of the house seem to be only worried about their own lives. Enter Holiday, Linden’s childhood friend. Together they work to figure out what exactly happened.

While I did not guess what actually happened, I also did not really care. There were plenty of suspects. I found most of the characters to be shallow and unlikeable. The ending set up a possible second book.

I wanted to like Liar’s Beach more than I did. It was still a good read, I just didn’t connect much with the characters. Spoiled rich kids acting spoiled and rich. And a main character who couldn’t make up his mind on whether to be part of the rich kids and hide his morals or be real with himself and stick up for what was right. Ultimately I would probably recommend the book because I do like Katie’s writing, I just didn’t click very well with this one.

***Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s door an ARC copy in return for an honest review***

This was quite a fun book. I absolutely FLEW through it because I just had such a fun time, and didn't want to put it down. I'm a sucker for a mystery centering the uber rich. I don't know. It just feels more fun, and extra than with regular people. I also quite liked our cast of characters. I mean, they were very priviliged and self-centered, but they were such a fun cast to follow. I especially loved Holiday. I thought she was great, and also just extremely smart. It was great to see her solve this crime.
However, I did not like our main character, Linden. He's the type of character who thinks he's superior to the other characters because they're rich and he's poor. A lack of money does NOT make you a better person. I think he easily was the most classist person in this book. It was so odd. He was truly the only person to care so much. He's also kind of a dick. I don't know. He wasn't a good person, in my opinion. He did get called out towards the end of the book, but we didn't really get to see him change just yet, so maybe that's a thing for the sequel.
The mystery itself was also quite fun, but also extremely predictable. I feel like a lot of the drama was very typical, and therefore the story was very by the book. Now I do have to say that I'm not familiar with "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie, so I don't know how close this book is following that plot. Therefore I can't say if that was its downfall or not, but I just think this is really easy to figure out. To the point even that I was convinced that was just a red herring because there was no way, but apparently it was. So yeah, that dunked this book down a little for me.

"Liar's Beach" by Katie Cotugno is a gripping murder mystery that immerses readers in the opulent yet treacherous world of Martha's Vineyard. With its blend of suspense, intrigue, and elite intrigue, this novel delivers a thrilling ride from start to finish.

Set against the backdrop of the island's elite enclave, August House, the story follows Linden, a young man who feels like an outsider in the world of old money and privilege. When his prep school roommate, Jasper, invites him to spend the end of the summer at the luxurious estate, Linden is eager to fit in—even if it means hiding his own secrets.

But as the summer unfolds and the decadent parties at August House reach a fever pitch, tragedy strikes when someone is found unconscious in the pool. What initially appears to be an accident soon takes on sinister undertones, and Linden finds himself drawn into a web of lies, deceit, and murder.

Cotugno masterfully crafts a cast of characters who are as complex as they are compelling. From Linden, struggling to find his place in a world where he doesn't belong, to Holiday, his childhood friend with a penchant for mysteries, each character adds depth and intrigue to the story.

As Linden and Holiday delve deeper into the mystery, uncovering secrets and uncovering motives, the tension mounts, keeping readers guessing until the final reveal. With its twists and turns, "Liar's Beach" is a page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Martha's Vineyard Mysteries, "Liar's Beach" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good whodunit. Cotugno's skillful storytelling and atmospheric prose make this novel a standout in the genre, offering a thrilling glimpse into the dark underbelly of wealth, privilege, and deception.

Michael Linden, known as "Linden" to his friends, desperately craves a break from his prep school life, where he's the only one struggling financially. Keeping his poverty a secret from his wealthy peers, he jumps at the chance to spend the summer at his best friend's fancy beach house.

Linden is quickly disillusioned by the extravagant lifestyle of the rich. Their wastefulness, entitlement, and disregard for the staff exposes a dark underbelly beneath the surface. As the summer unfolds, a shocking discovery shatters their world – a former friend, now a family enemy, is found dead in the pool. To Linden's horror, the tragedy is met with disturbing apathy.

Enter Holiday, Linden's childhood friend and a breath of fresh air amidst the chaos. Unlike the others, Holiday believes foul play is at hand. Together, they embark on a dangerous quest for the truth, navigating a minefield of secrets and lies. As suspicion grows, friendships crumble, and the line between truth and fiction blurs.

This summer page-turner will leave you guessing until the very last wave.

Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Agatha Christie vibes and I also loved the privileged kids acting poorly trope. This was a fun read, but it wasn’t my favorite.

I ADORE Katie Cotugno, specifically her YA books. But this was her first attempt at a mystery and I'm not sure it went quite as well as it could have?

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

It was decent, the mystery was boring and predictable. The characters were all annoying. The writing was decent too.

I enjoyed this story with all the characters within. The main character was Linden.

Linden is going to visit a roommate from his prep school during the summer. His roommate family has a vacation estate on the beachfront. Linden has tried to fit in with the rich kids from school but it's hard to do most of the time. Most of the time he is lying. While at the vacation estate he hears and see a lot of things happened that surprise him.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, drama and suspense throughout. There were a few giggles within. The story had a  mystery within that was fun to solve.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

The mystery itself was really boring and I was pretty annoyed with it. You could foresee the ending and how in the hell was Holiday this all-knowing being? Linden did pretty much nothing whilst she easily handled a murder investigation.

🏊‍♀️😵Book Review:
Title: Liar's Beach
Author: Katie Cotugno
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

I read this one a while ago and have just now had the time to post a review, but I can't hardly remember it. 🤣 I'll try my best!

Linden has been invited to spend the rest of the summer in Martha's Vineyard at his friend, Jasper's, family vacation home. Things take a turn almost immediately. A body is found floating unconscious in the swimming pool after a wild night of partying.

Linden is starting to feel like something is very off about this whole situation. He reaches out to Holiday Proctor, a childhood friend who lives on the island. Holiday is convinced that there is potentially a murderer on the loose. There is so much drama between the elite families that live here and so many suspects. Clearly, it wasn't very memorable to me, so I can't say I highly recommend it.

Published: May 2nd, 2023

Thank you, @netgalley and @randomhousekids, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Liar's Beach by Katie Cotugno.

What a departure from Cotugno's previous works - but I'm here for it! Knowing that there is a sequel coming in 2024 was only one reason why I kept reading...this book is addictive (rich people behaving badly, a mystery, found family, romance, escapist setting). Can't wait for the next installment!

.5 stars – I didn’t realize that this was YA going in. So it was fine and an easy read, but I don’t think I’ll pick up her YA again – adult, yes! I loved Birds of California

A fun YA rich kid, beach themed thriller and mystery that will keep you on your toes until the very last page. Who can you trust, when everyone is a liar?

This is perfect for fans of Diana Urban. Liar's Beach is a fun summer thriller read. I've been a huge fan of thrillers recently. It also has a nice romance plot.