I thought this was a fun twisty young adult mystery! There was maybe one too many plot twists for my enjoyment, but it was a quick read that kept me hooked. 3/75 rounded up

But that can't be it... but it must be.

The mystery thriller "Such Charming Liars" is intense, it revolves around two main characters, Kat and Liam. They haven't seen each other since a 'weekend gone wrong' when they were five, and now they find themselves going to the same billionaire Sutherland birthday party with the whole family. Kat's mom, Jamie, is part of a thieve's final mission when she becomes ill. In the twist of a second Kat finds herself in control of conducting the robbery pretending to be her mom.

Kat and Liam find themselves struck in the spotlight when disaster after disaster happens, forcing them to keep moving and changing plans. Questioning those around them and even each other, they are left with constant unease. Lie after lie, mystery after mystery... will they manage to get out of this unscathed?

This read will not be one you want to miss, you'll be kept on your toes as you try to figure out what is going down in this *chaos* of mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
★★★★/5

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children's, and Karen M McManus for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. This was such a suspense-filled read.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as Karen McManus's other books. If you're a fan of the One of Us Is Lying series, this book might not be the right book for you. It took me some time to get invested in the story, and I found the characters underdeveloped and somewhat unrealistic. I wish we had more history of the Sutherland family and more insight into Kat and Liam’s past. That would have a fun addition. However, the book's premise was interesting, as it followed a mother-daughter duo on their final heist together. This book was still fast-paced, but it didn't connect with me as well as her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House Children's for giving me a copy of the book.

*4.25 Stars*

I'm a sucker for a McManus book. I've read all of them. So I was really excited for this one and I was right. I really liked the premise and the characters and how they were linked to each other. The twists took me by surprise and it was all around a good time. It broached a lot of not fun subjects but it was still a fun read in the end. It was a bit silly at times even but I enjoyed it. I really liked this book overall, I just expected a little more. I can't even explain it and I know that's not very fair of me, but that's how I felt.
Anyway, I love the gays and that was another good one from Karen McManus, I can't wait for more.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press at Random House Children's for providing me with a digital arc of this book!

*minor spoilers*

Such Charming Liars is only the second book I've read by Karen McManus, and I must say, I am very impressed. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by her. This book takes place at a rich compound in New England where someone in a family of billionaires is found dead. The main characters are outsiders; Kat is there with her mother in order to help her successfully complete a jewelry heist with her mother. And Liam is there because his father is dating the very person Kat hopes to steal a priceless necklace from. But, when someone shows up dead and Kat is there to witness it, all plans seem to go awry.

I had no idea of how this book would end at any given point. I genuinely could not stop turning the pages to this to see the next reveal. And the found family trope made this story, let me tell you. I'm not giving it five stars simply because I'm so picky about the books I rate perfectly, and this had a couple of moments where it simply dragged. But, that being said, it was a very entertaining read. 4/5 stars.

I'm a huge fan of Karen McManus and have read all of her books, but "Such Charming Liars" was a miss for me.

I think that the storyline was a strong premise. The idea of a mastermind jewel thief and a huge heist gone wrong by a lot of loose ends and unpredictable characters was definitely intriguing. I just never felt a strong pull towards either of the main protagonists. Again, they did have a lot of positive qualities, but they fell flat for me.

The end was where I really lost the vibes for the overall story. There were way too many characters involved to wrap up the solution and then the final plot piece was not something I appreciated.

I think a lot of readers will absolutely love everything about this book, but it wasn't for me.

Special thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children's for my opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such Charming Liars, the latest mystery from Karen McManus, was such a charming and fun mystery to read! Soon to be published on July 30, 2024, I read this fast-paced YA mystery in less than 2 days. As with all of McManus' books, it was a roller coaster of a read, and I didn't want to put it down.

The story is told from two points of view: Kat, a very independent, quick-witted 16 year old jewel thief-in-training and Liam, her naive and upstanding step-sibling from her Mom's quickie marriage in Vegas to Liam's father, Luke, a debonair con artist. While Luke and Kat's Mom, Jaime, may have gotten divorced after only two days, both Kat and Liam still fondly remember each other.

Twelve years later, Kat and Liam are on a collision course to be reunited at the birthday party of 80 year old Ross Sutherland at his multi-million dollar family compound. Kat and Jaime are working on pulling off Jaime's last jewelry heist before they go straight, while Liam and Luke are there at the invitation of the billionaire's daughter, who also happens to be Luke's latest girlfriend and, Liam worries, his possible new target. What could possibly go wrong when the four of them are reunited? Add in a teen heart throb, a dysfunctional and uber rich cast of characters, multiple criminals, murder and a little chaos, and you have another magical mystery from the queen of YA mysteries.

This book was so much fun to read! I have loved all of Karen McManus' YA novels, and this one did not disappoint. While I found the writing style to be very different from the One of Us is Lying Series, I still really enjoyed the story. The mystery was elevated by the glamour and intrigue of the rich, multiple cons, and the complicated family dynamics that were occurring. While the ending had a few too many over-used tropes, I still really enjoyed the tale and I was satisfied with the resolution. This is one you will want to pre-order or mark on your calendar to pick up on publication day. Happy Reading!

Thank you to Net Galley, Penguin Random House and Delacorte Press for providing me with an Advanced Reader's Copy in return for my honest review.
#SuchCharmingLiars #netgalley

Karen M. McManus has become a staple in the world of YA mysteries. No matter the book, you can be sure I'll read it. Such Charming Liars fits in perfectly with her other books, but has a change from the others that was much needed. We all fell in love with One of Us is Lying and the books that followed and while I was sad to see the series end, this book showed me that while Bayview High is behind us, more twists and mysteries are ahead of us for years to come.

Kat and her mom are all each other have. There was a time when her month was married for a couple days and she had a stepbrother, Liam. When Kat's mom Jamie is on her final grift and things go wrong, Kat decides to step in and make sure everything goes smoothly with the help of Liam. When the unexpected happens and Kat witnesses something she probably shouldn't have, she is in for the fight of her and her mother's life. Kat and Liam must work to discover who the killer was and why they are after Jamie. Everything they thought they knew, just might be a killer itself. Can they solve the case?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy of Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus in exchange for my honest review. I can't wait to see what Karen comes up with next.

I always like the twists in McManus's books. She tends toward being clever and there's usually an 11th hour twist that you should have seen coming, even if you didn't (she's a master at "look over there!"). I also enjoyed the commentary on class throughout the book, as more than one of the characters tends to have some "eat the rich" running through their head as they get ready to relieve some of the idle rich of obscenely expensive jewelry. Oh, yeah. There's jewelry heists.

This book started out so great, and then it got a little slow. But about a little over halfway through, it picked back up again, and then I could not put it down. I honestly did not predict the twist at the end like I did other pieces of the story. I think it’s a solid 3.5, but I rounded up to 4.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the eArc.

Karen McManus does it again! Such Charming Liars starts off centering around a jewelry heist, but soon evolves into a fast past mystery. There are many twists and turns that left me guessing until the very end. I also loved the romance side story. Overall, this was a fun YA mystery that I would recommend to any mystery lover. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Karen McManus strikes gold again with this gripping thriller! As a devoted fan of her work, I couldn't resist diving into this captivating tale. But don't be fooled – you don't have to be a YA enthusiast to appreciate the sheer brilliance of this story. With a fantastic setting and an intricately woven plot, McManus proves once more that she's a master storyteller. What starts as a tale of jewel thieves quickly evolves into a mind-bending mystery, filled with twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The characters, particularly Kat, Liam, and their friend Augustus, are expertly crafted, drawing you deeper into their world with every page. McManus's signature style shines through, delivering a narrative that's as unpredictable as it is riveting. Prepare to be swept away on a thrilling journey that will keep you guessing until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed Karen McManus's One of Us Is Lying series, so I was excited to get a chance to read an advanced copy of her latest book, Such Charming Liars. Kat and Liam are stepsiblings from a brief and tumultuous relationship, but they haven't spoken since their parents' marriage in Vegas when they were kids. Kat's Mom, Jamie, resorted to a life as a thief to make ends meet and has one final job before she can start her life as an accountant and create a more stable environment for her daughter. All she needs to do is steal a necklace at a billionaire's birthday party... what could go wrong? Kat is reunited with Liam and his Dad - a scam artist on his own job to marry into the Sutherland wealth. In classic McManus fashion, things do NOT go to plan, and Kat and Liam are caught in the middle of a deadly game. I thought that murder on a family compound was an interesting plot idea, and I liked the dynamic of Kat and Jamie. However, this book did not read as easily as some of McManus's previous books. I still enjoyed it, but it lacked some of her usual magic. Thanks to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for an opportunity to read and review this book!

YA mystery ..a heist that goes wrong in every direction with more players in the game than the game makers themselves even know!
Told in 2 perspectives---First, Kat, who has been raised not only by a single mother, but also a woman (Gem) that runs a bait and switch operation to cash in on hot commodities; jewels in particular. She is 16 and has known no other life, except for the memories of an abusive dad and being left in Vegas, her mother's worse mistake. Second, Liam--a teenage boy who is dealing with the lost of his mother while now having to live with his con-artist father, who does not care about him. Liam make sit a habit to thwart his father's deceptions on unknowing women. Fun fact--these 2 were "step" siblings in Vegas. Liam's father, Luke, is who Kat's mother, Jamie, ran off with.
Jamie, wants to go legit and leave the life of a thief behind..one last job--swap the bejeweled necklace with the fake of a very wealthy family. Kat weasels her way into this one last job, tire trouble on the way there, strangely running into Luke & Liam (though Kat doesn't realize who they are) and it all goes downhill from there. From bringing attention to themselves, a death on the property, a random man out to get them, and how many bejeweled necklaces are out there?! Kat will need to lean on Liam, as well as Liam's new friend, Augustus, ironically the nephew of the heist mark) there is too much going on and she doesn't know how to handle it all by herself. The unlikely trio has formed. I have to say I adored Augustus--yes, rich and all that goes with it but he is often left out of family business. Love his nickname for Kat! He takes all this CHAOS in stride. Though, I LOVE all the stories form Karen McManus, Technically going with 4 1/2 stars (but rounding up to the 5) as there weren't as many "didn't see that coming" moments. There are those moments but I want more ! Nonetheless, still a winner! The story was smart and the ending (as always) is a good one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for sharing the digital copy. :):)

This book was chaotic and unbelievable in the best way. It started off slow for me, but once I got a few chapters in, I was totally immersed. The characters are likable, although I found them to be overall underdeveloped. They serve their purpose, though. Admittedly, as a reader, you have to suspend some logic and just take the chaos for what it is. Young adult or teenage readers will enjoy this rollercoaster of a story.

YA mystery queen McManus returns with a twisty thriller that you simply cannot put down. From the first chapter, you're hooked, drawn into the lives of professional grifters and a web of schemes that entangles you until you piece together the intricate puzzle. It’s a smart, extremely wild ride, stunningly riveting—a standalone after the 'One of Us is Lying' series. Honestly, this is the best standalone thriller the author has created so far. With heart-throbbing pacing and a well-executed mystery that keeps you guessing who the ringmaster is until the end!

The only thing that held me back from giving it five stars was Kat’s far-fetched mistakes at the beginning of the story. They made me want to bang my head against the wall as I screamed, 'This is so stupid! What the hell is she thinking?' I understand that the character is only 16 and she just wanted to protect her loved ones, having been raised by a thief and honing many skills, but some of her actions seriously made my eyes roll. It took too much time (nearly the last third) to tolerate her. The main problem of the book is that, instead of Liam—who is a sweet pie, naive but kind-hearted—being my only favorite character. Especially the Sutherland clan, and of course Luke, the father of the year, are hardly likable. At least, the fact that the author named the family after Ross Sutherland helped me cast the characters in my mind and imagine Ross Sutherland as Donald Sutherland, which made things easier. This book would be a great choice to adapt into a series, and he's also a great actor to play the role.

The story is narrated by two step-siblings: Kat, sixteen, daughter of Jamie, a thief, 34, escaping from a dark past to get recruited by a handful of grifter Gem for years, until she tries to leave her position for a legitimate accountant job. Before getting it, she promises to do her last job for Gem, which requires her to attend the Sutherland compound weekend gathering to celebrate billionaire Ross Sutherland’s birthday party with the entire family: two daughters, two sons, and one grandson. Jamie will act as one of the servers at the event, replacing Annalise Sutherland’s famous Ruby necklace with a replica and then vanish into the air. Easy peasy. But this plan is doomed to fail when Kat decides to join her mom to protect her back as a team, as she's been doing for years, and they realize that Jamie's ex husband ( separated after 48 hours long marriage) Luke, whom she met in Vegas 12 years ago, decides to join the celebration as Annalise's boyfriend alongside his son, Liam, who is reluctantly living with his conman dad after his mother’s sudden demise, joining him to look after Annalise to make sure she doesn't become one of his father's victims.

When her mother deals with unexpected health issues, Kat finds herself in a spot where she’s the person conducting the entire robbery, guiltily manipulating her step-brother Liam for her plans. But when Annalise's young cousin, whom Liam may have a crush on, gets suspicious about her actions and one of the family members gets killed in front of Kat, she realizes she’s not the manipulative queen she considers herself to be. She becomes another sacrificial pawn in a very dangerous game. Who can she trust when everybody lies to her?

Overall, especially the last third of the book, was mind-spinning, intelligently written, and addictive. I predicted most of the twists, but they were still well-plotted and smart. I highly recommend this book for YA thriller lovers and devoted fans of McManus.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for sharing the digital copy of one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year in exchange for my honest review, which is highly appreciated.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House, and Delacorte Press for the ARC!

Such Charming Liars brings us another dual-POV story, which I think has become McManus’ signature. We meet Kat and Liam, who are step siblings via a quickie 48-hour Vegas marriage between their parents that happened over 12 years ago. We learn now that Jamie, Kat’s mom, works as an accountant for a family friend who secretly runs a shady business that Jamie is finally trying to remove herself and Kat from. And Liam’s dad, Luke, is a con man catfishing women online for money through dating sites.

They run into each other as they (plus their parents) are making their way to the Sutherland compound for a weekend event. Liam’s father is dating a member of the Sutherland family; while Kat’s mom is working the weekend as a cover for her final heist job. Of course, the reuniting of the families is not a joyful one.

When Jamie gets sick, Kat takes her place, and she and Liam (and the only teenage Sutherland, Augustus) find themselves not only in the middle of a murder case, but they have to deal with the heist Kat was supposed to execute, as well as a mysterious attacker that keeps coming for the out of commission Jamie.

I actually read this book in a day; I am a big fan of Karen McManus, and her books are often too good to put down. I think Liars is absolutely in that category; as usual, McManus gives us such fleshed out protagonists in Liam and Kat, as well as Augustus, who feels just as much a protagonist as the other two. Luke and Jamie are given depth, and their relationship takes shape quickly as you learn about their two day marriage.

McManus continues to do such beautiful work with her imagery; as a New Englander, I’m familiar with many of the places her stories are set/inspired by, but I still think she is especially great at detail and description when it comes to setting a scene.

Overall, I really liked the story! I enjoyed the more criminal aspects of this book, which made it feel a bit different than her other works, and I’d gladly read it again when it’s officially released.

Such Charming Liars is another EXCELLENT thriller from the amazing Karen M. McManus! I read this in one sitting and had a very hard time putting it down! I own all her books and can't wait to add a physical copy to my shelves come July!

Another thrilling page turner from Karen M. McManus! She never disappoints! Theee is never a dull moment with Kat, Liam and Augustus! Through all their adventures family and friendship is at the heart of this intense novel. My high school and middle school students will love it!! I’m sad they will have to wait until next school year!

Karen McManus books are popular at my library workplace, and I have no doubt this one will be as well. I enjoyed SUCH CHARMING LIARS a lot. It reminded me a bit of Tess Sharpe's recent book (The Girls I've Been) with con artistry, but it had the twist of former stepsiblings! Liam and Kat had distinct voices and stories and I enjoyed them both. (Sometimes Liam a little bit more than Kat but, ha, don't tell her) As usual, because I'm a good (aka terrible) mystery reader, I didn't guess the twists.