Sabrina Richards, a high school student, is determined to get into Harvard, in honour of her deceased mother whose dream it was to study there. When her application is deferred, it’s one more blow, given that she is already stressed out about the fact that her father’s girlfriend, Kaye, and the latter’s daughter, Parker, might move into their home. She’s also worked up about the drama of former best friend, Brooke. Brooke, Sabrina and Emily have been best friends since elementary school. But now Brooke is a Cool Girl, one of the high school elite. Only best friend, Emily remains by her side, until Sabrina learns that Emily has been admitted into Harvard, and it wasn’t even her dream.

Meanwhile, there is an anonymous person at Milford High, @Revenge, who is adept at helping the students get revenge. The person reaches out to Sabrina and, in a moment of weakness, Sabrina gives in to the desire to act out against Emily. But now @Revenge is asking her to do something worse. To prank the school’s star basketball player. And Sabrina dare not refuse, not when @Revenge holds the cards. But

The only thing she can do is find out who @Revenge is before more people get hurt. Or before @Revenge outs her own secret.



The book is written in the first-person present tense PoV of @Revenge and in the third-person limited present tense PoV of Sabrina. The Prologue in this book was a rare instance of a Prologue done well. It piqued my interest and forced me into the story.

I wish the author had written more chapters from the PoV of @Revenge. They were more interesting than Sabrina’s limited PoV, and made Sabrina look rather bland.

The first part of the book was an overly long introduction. Things kicked up a notch only at the 38 percent mark. I was plodding through for the purpose of this review.

I didn’t like Sabrina or Emily or any of the characters. For that matter, we don’t really get to know any of the characters. The only character I felt drawn towards was Charlie, Emily’s twin.

Sabrina drones on and on about Harvard. The excessive use of tell, with hardly any flashbacks, prevents us from getting into the story. The device of the dead mother’s letter is weak.

There were some questions that didn’t have answers. How did a basketball court full of people not register the bottle in Finn’s hand? How did the police not look for it, nor think of checking it for fingerprints? The bottle wasn’t even mentioned. There were no details about how the crime against Finn, or any of the others, was carried out, not even at the end.

Sabrina asks a teacher, Mrs Esry, if another character, who she suspects of being @Revenge, couldn’t have made another social media account or used another phone, both of which activities are possible, the teacher says, it is impossible. When Sabrina presses her for an answer, she evades the question and answers that he is in the clear, without answering what evidence she has to support that claim. It’s just, Believe me, we’ve checked. How lame!

Sabrina is just as daft. Even when the antagonist admits to being @Revenge, Sabrina doesn’t understand what the admission means.


There were some issues with the incorrect use of tenses, which should have been weeded out.

"𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆. 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒓𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒕𝒐𝒐."

Special thanks to @greenleafbookgroup @janebuckingham & @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a small YA academia, not quite dark but has a real life spin with a murderous twist. How far would you go to enact revenge on someone who lied? @revenge is the answer here. Just send them a DM and boom - your revenge will play out publicly and get back at whoever has wronged you.

This had such an interesting storyline, and I honestly didn't have a clue who it was until the end. I think this is a great read for anyone because it shows how even a little white lie can affect someone, even if you think it doesn't.

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
June 18, 2024


ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Was there someone in high school you wish you could've enacted Revenge upon?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #upcomingthriller #alieforalie #janebuckingham #yathriller #yaacademia
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Introduction

Do you ever stumble upon a book so electrifying that you forget the world around you? That's exactly what happened to me with Jane Buckingham's A Lie for a Lie. This novel is not just a page-turner; it’s a white-knuckle ride through the turbulent waters of high school drama and social media warfare. Grab your favorite reading nook and prepare yourself for a thrilling adventure that’ll keep you guessing until the very last page.

The Premise

Imagine this: your boyfriend is cheating, a bully is making your life miserable, or a classmate steals your hard-earned work. What do you do? At Milford High, the answer is simple—message @Revenge. This anonymous avenger dishes out justice with a heaping side of public humiliation. But what happens when a prank spirals out of control, leaving the school’s star athlete fighting for his life?
That’s where our protagonist, Sabrina Richards, comes in. She’s a senior with a mission: unravel the mystery behind @Revenge before her own life gets caught in the crossfire. With stakes this high, every secret uncovered could be her last.

Characters to Die For

Sabrina Richards isn’t your typical high school heroine. She’s smart, determined, and a touch cynical—traits that serve her well in the quest to expose @Revenge. Her character is beautifully fleshed out, making her relatable and admirable. You can’t help but root for her as she navigates a minefield of deceit and danger.
The supporting cast is equally compelling. Each character is a potential suspect, their motives and secrets intertwining like an intricate spider's web. From the enigmatic star athlete to the seemingly innocent best friend, Buckingham masterfully keeps you on the edge of your seat, questioning everyone and trusting no one.

A Plot That Keeps You Hooked

What sets A Lie for a Lie apart is its relentless pace and unpredictable twists. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Buckingham throws a curveball that leaves you reeling. The narrative is a rollercoaster, plunging you into moments of heart-pounding suspense and pulling you through loops of shocking revelations.
The story deftly explores the dark side of social media, where anonymity can be a weapon and every post could be your undoing. Buckingham’s portrayal of high school dynamics is spot-on, capturing the intense pressure and fierce competitiveness that drive the characters’ actions.

Themes and Reflections

At its core, A Lie for a Lie is a tale about the quest for truth in a sea of deception. It delves into themes of trust, loyalty, and the moral complexities of revenge. Buckingham doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of high school life, painting a vivid picture of a world where every action has consequences and secrets are a dangerous currency.
The book also serves as a cautionary tale about the power and peril of social media. It raises important questions about accountability and the impact of our online personas on real-life relationships. In an age where digital footprints can lead to real-world ramifications, Buckingham’s narrative feels both timely and relevant.

Conclusion

Jane Buckingham’s A Lie for a Lie is a five-star thriller that delivers on every front. It’s gripping, twisting, and shockingly good. With a cast of unforgettable characters, a plot that keeps you guessing, and themes that resonate long after the final page, this novel is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery. Whether you’re a fan of high-stakes drama or simply enjoy a well-crafted story, this book will not disappoint.
So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the treacherous world of Milford High and join Sabrina Richards on her quest to uncover the truth. Just remember, in the game of @Revenge, trust no one and expect the unexpected.

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Blog: https://www.pagesofperfiction.com/
Review: https://www.pagesofperfiction.com/2024/08/a-lie-for-lie-by-jane-buckingham-5-star.html
Posted on: Aug 8, 2024

Thank you Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"A Lie For a Lie" by Jane Buckingham is a thrilling YA book that is filled with high school drama and suspense, making it a must-read for fans of series like "Pretty Little Liars" and "Gossip Girl."
While this book is a YA book, it does read a bit younger with the prose as well as the thoughts/actions of the characters, so I think this book would do really well with younger readers. Potentially reluctant readers as well (those who may enjoy a lot of high school drama like in this book). There is also a reading guide at the end, so I think this book would work really well in middle/high school libraries. The content of the book is pretty tame, though I do want to provide some content warnings for bullying and revenge.

The story follows Sabrina Richards, a straight-A student with dreams of attending Harvard, her late mother's dream college. Sabrina's life is meticulously controlled and focused, but everything changes when she encounters the enigmatic @Revenge, a social media account that dishes out public pranks as a form of vigilante justice. The plot thickens when Sabrina's application to Harvard is rejected, and she learns that her best friend, Emily, was accepted instead. This revelation sends Sabrina spiraling, leading her to a night of reckless behavior that ultimately puts her at the mercy of @Revenge.

Buckingham created a story that is not only entertaining but also reflective of the pressures faced by modern teens, especially with the pressure that parents can place on their children, particularly with colleges. You can see this with Sabrina’s character as well as others in the book. The characters are well-developed, with Sabrina's journey from a tightly wound overachiever to someone grappling with the consequences of her actions being particularly compelling. Sabrina herself, however, can be a bit annoying and judgmental; she didn’t really read like an 18 year old, especially with how she judged her best friend throughout the book. She does grow throughout the book, and I did enjoy her more at the end through her character development.

The plot is fast-paced and filled with unexpected turns. Just when you think you've figured out who @Revenge is, Buckingham throws in another twist that keeps you guessing. While there is a lot of “tell” and not a lot of “show” with the writing, I did find myself engaged throughout. This is a very quick read, so again, this would work really well with younger/reluctant readers. There was a particular plot point involving this EnergyFX drink (unique to the book) that led to some unexpected twists. As this is the first in a trilogy, I am interested to see if this EnergyFX book comes into play in the next book.

Overall, "A Lie For a Lie" is a highly enjoyable YA thriller that will appeal to fans of high-stakes drama and intricate mysteries. It captures the essence of teenage life with its mix of ambition, peer pressure, and the omnipresent influence of social media. I am definitely intrigued with the idea of a sequel, and I can’t wait to read more from Buckingham.

This was such a fun, quick read! Some of the twists were predictable. But I enjoyed the ride that the author took me on! I would highly recommend this book, if you liked pretty little liars! It has overall a similar vibe to it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I know that there are several messages intertwined in this book, but honestly, I wasn't looking for life lessons, I was looking for fun and it delivers.
I took a chance with this book as this was the author"s first YA novel.

It was terrific.

I actually did not like any of the main characters, not even the lead Sabrina. She played the victims so often and her interactions with her "friends" felt selfish. Her constant whining about Harvard just made me dislike her. Nonetheless, the sheer fact that all the characters are flawed simply added to the overall suspense of the novel.

The REVENGE list and texts is a great idea for a novel. Different reactions from different people help us to better understand how each person reacted to being a target on the REVENGE list, until Sabrina gets involved. What follows is a whoddunit that was really well written. Anytime I thought I knew who the guilty person was, it turned out I was wrong.

The writing is just at a perfect pace and the author knows how to seamlessly propel a plot. Loved the writing, loved the plot and loved the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for an advanced copy of this book.

Jane Buckingham does a wonderful job of going into detail about the relationships between each character and their respective friend groups.

A party one night attended by best friends, Sabrina, Brooke, and Emily end in tears and a broken friendship. Sabrina having left early never gets the exact reason as to what causes it but now Brooke is part of the popular group leaving Sabrina and Emily behind.

This book is part coming of age/social media scandal rolled into one with Sabrina being put in the center of it. I really loved the writing style of this one, I couldn't put it down. I read this in less than two days. Some could probably guess the ending, but I was gladly surprised.

Great fun short summer read. also, who doesn't love a good mystery?

As someone who loved Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars, I really enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't put it down, needed to know what was gonna happen. A fun, quick read I would definitely recommend.

- ☆ ☆ ☆.5 stars

thank you to Green Leaf Group and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! opinions are my own :)

if you’re a fan of Gossip Girl or Pretty Little Liars, you NEED to move this book up your TBR immediately!!

They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but at Milford High, anyone could be @revenge’s next target…

@revenge is an anonymous account plaguing the lives of the students at Milford High & Sabrina (bri) Richards won’t stop until she reveals who is behind it all, especially now that her life is on the line.

this book plays out like a binge-worthy Netflix original and doesn’t shy away from drama, betrayal, romance, banter, and all that good stuff! It’s also perfectly digestible and can be read in one sitting if you need an adrenaline rush in literature form :)

Behind all the drama, topics such as grief, mental health, and blended families are discussed throughout the book, making the characters' stories quite personable and relatable.

Also, a quick mention of one of my fav characters… Jake Cano

“He gives me a playful look. You know a lot about breaking hearts? Me? I sputter. Uh, that would be a no. You sure? For all you know, maybe you’ve broken the hearts of guys who sit in front of you in class. Guys you *never* notice.”

I love a good golden retriever, love interest, and Jake ATE!! This is just one of the many moments Jake had me giggling and kicking my feet because I’m afraid this would also work on me hehe

Although the book had good twists and plot lines, I did find it hard to stay engaged with the story towards the end and felt like the reveal at the end was quite underwhelming, which is reflective of my rating :)

Overall, though, it’s a great YA mystery/thriller that everyone should definitely check out, especially if you’re into GG and PLL! The reading experience is truly an emotional rollercoaster lol bcs when I thought I figured out the culprit, I really didn’t HAHAHA, i will be continuing with this series, too, so looking forward to the next release!!

This was a good read! I really enjoyed it, it was interesting and engaging. I liked the premise, and the idea of people not knowing how far they would go, or how far a small action may impact someone was a great one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the digital preview copy.

Real rating: 3,5 stars.


CONTENT WARNING: panic attacks, bullying, revenge, blackmail, attempted murder.


Imagine a story a little bit like "Pretty Little Liars" - secrets, blackmail, cell phones that all ring at the same time when something is posted... the author herself says in the final notes that she was inspired by the famous TV show.


Sabrina Richards is eagerly waiting to hear whether she has been accepted to Harvard or not - Harvard was her mother's dream college, a mother Sabrina sadly lost seven years ago, and ever since then she has worked hard and studied even harder to be admitted and thus fulfill that dream for both of them. Therefore there have never been parties or dates, activities that were pure fun and therefore did not serve to make a good impression on the admission application - she and her best friend Emily have always been alone against everyone, especially since Brooke dumped them at the beginning of high school after having caught the attention of the most popular boy in their year and school.

But shortly after witnessing a Revenge prank against one of the most famous couples of their year, Sabrina receives the news that her application for early admission has been rejected - what was the point of all those hours of study and commitment, of all that control over single aspect of ther life and panic attacks since her mother died to now fail like this, not being good enough and therefore disappointing herself, her father, but above all her dead mother?

The worst comes when she discovers by pure chance and from other people that Emily was admitted instead - Emily, who knew that Harvard was her dream school and who had told her that she wasn't interested and that she wouldn't apply for the same college because Harvard was Sabrina's. So why not finally make up for the lost adolescence and go to a party and get drunk? Why not finally tell Brooke and Finn what she really thinks of them? Why not wake up the next morning and find out she's done something terrible? Why not realize that she wrote to Revenge and therefore just ruined someone's life?

And payback is therefore served on a silver platter, too bad that now Revenge has Sabrina's life in their hands - and her secrets and her lies. Therefore Sabrina cannot refuse when Revenge only asks her for a "small favor" in exchange for silence about what they've done for her - too bad that this favor turns out to be almost fatal for someone else and that now the stakes are much higher .


Perhaps it lacked a bit of bite to really involve me deeply and keep me on my toes because, although Revenge's account was born as perhaps an act of social justice, it then turns into something increasingly personal and dangerous and I would have liked to see so more escalation - but it's still a good young adult thriller.

Sabrina is a character who is perhaps a little unbearable as you continue reading because the reader realizes how self-centered she is, focused on herself and her own needs and on what she wants, putting herself on a pedestal thinking that she is the best and most intelligent, always judging everyone else and pigeonholing them into stereotypes that she foists on them and then never takes off. But Sabrina is also a character you can understand - she lost her mother too young and since then, in order not to suffer, she has locked herself in her bubble made up of her and Emily (and once also Brooke) and refusing to let in somebody else. She therefore has an extreme need to always control everything, she doesn't like changes and often suffers from panic attacks.

She's not evil - after all, no one really is - so the decision to discover and reveal who Revenge really is is not just a matter of saving face, but also a genuine sense of guilt for what her actions, her anger, her envy and her frustration caused.

There are no heart-pounding scenes, there are no chapters that end with a cliffhanger, there are no moments of strong tension except in the final confrontation, but it still manages to entertain and keep the reader's curiosity alive.

The characters presented and involved in the story are not that many - also given the bubble in which Sabrina lives - therefore on the one hand we can also imagine that Revenge could be one of the people with whom she interacts and not just any complete stranger who jumps out of nowhere. While on the one hand perhaps the small number of suspects may not be pleasing and lead one to think that the solution is too easy, I think that the other option is also not stellar. And so, although there aren't many suspects, with the fact that things take a long time to get going, no one stands out more than anyone else and for a good three-quarters of the book I didn't know who to point the finger at. Then a clue here, a conversation there and I said to myself: wanna bet that Revenge in the end is...

And I got it.

Sabrina, on the other hand, had to face it the hard way, but I think it's also understandable and credible given the circumstances, the premises of the story and the characters of the people involved. Revenge's identity partly surprised me because I found the reasons behind the author's choice for this character to be well constructed, but can I say that it didn't even hit me like a kick in the stomach as I would have expected?

"A Lie for a Lie" is a novel that depicts very normal teenagers, dealing with more or less extended families, parents who have chosen to abandon the family and others who have had no choice and how this influences a child's character and growth, the dangers of reckless and uninformed use of social media, the social pressure of having to be admitted to an Ivy League college to be considered a truly successful person and not a failure.

And it could also be the first of a series because a question remains - Revenge says they didn't do a certain thing themselves nor had that someone actually done what they've thought they'd done. Then, surprise, it ends with what isn't a real cliffhanger, but which suggests there's room for more... or for someone else. On the other hand, "Pretty Little Liars" has always taught us that A. has never been a single person...

Reading this felt like binge watching a good teen drama show—I was hooked and finished it in one sitting!

A Lie for A Lie is a YA thriller that follows Harvard-bound, straight-A student Sabrina Richards as she tries to unmask the person behind @ Revenge, the school’s anonymous social media vigilante-of-sorts. If you have a problem with someone, just message @ Revenge and they’ll get what’s coming to them through an embarrassing public prank. When Sabrina finds herself in the deep end of Revenge’s game, she must figure out the account’s secret identity before their embarrassing consequences turn deadly.

The twists and turns this book takes you through are so good! I thought I had Revenge all figured out halfway through the book, but nope! The ending is one that will make you want to re-read just to look for clues. I didn’t feel fully connected to the main character, Sabrina, but the plot and pacing made up for that and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.

This book is the first in the trilogy, and you best bet I’ll be keeping my eye out for those other two releases!

This was a fast-paced thrilling read, easily devoured in one sitting and I enjoyed every minute of it! You’re left guessing right up until the very end and the reveal for @revenge really shocked me— I thought I had the story all figured out until Buckingham swept me off my feet with new twists and revelations. I also really appreciated the sentiment behind the story about the dangers of social media and how easily it can be weaponised to harm young people.

It’s perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying and Pretty Little Liars.

This was a fun read for fans of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, etc. I think it will circulate well with my students who like the twisty, mystery genre.

thank you netgalley and greenleaf book group for the eARC of the book!

i tend to treat the read now section of the netgalley website as a type of a free e-book marketplace which means i often just download books i don't end up finishing, however this book caught my eye because it reminded me of early 2000s tv shows i used to enjoy. (pretty little liars, to be more precise)
i am not much of a young adult reader anymore, however i do enjoy the thriller/mystery genre in this age range, because of its dramatic nature and general shenanigans that only high school kids can get up to.
this was an engaging book, fast-paced and very easy to read - if you're going through a hard time in your reading journey, it will surely help you cure your reading slump.
it is a bit of a predictable read but really enjoyable nonetheless. it isn't the most shocking nor the most dramatic young adult thriller i have read but there was something quite compelling and comforting about it, because it felt so familiar and so like some other books i have read in the genre.
if you need a young adult series to get invested in, this is a great place to start.
i would say the main character was obviously the most fleshed-out character of all, but all of them were fleshed-out enough for you to differentiate between them, which is good because in a lot of thrillers, characters tend to blend together. i feel like the series and the character have the potential to grow in future installments.
there was a decent amount of twists that threw the reader off. even though i called the ending and managed to guess the mystery of it, i had a great time reading this book and i am happy to continue the series. there was enough drama, mystery, romance and suspense all neatly packaged in a little above 250 pages.

if you are a fan of: pretty little liars, gossip girl or one of us is lying (tv show or book), you will surely enjoy this young adult thriller. thanks again to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I think I spent a majority of this book in between 3 and 4 stars. Personally, I wish there was a bit more of a shock factor sooner on in the book. The ending completed the story quite well but I’m also now left with some questions. I’d still recommend this book, it was a nice easy read. Not anything too gruesome so I wouldn’t worry about any TW. I’d definitely read another book by this author!

This is a fun and twisty YA whodunnit for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl. I was guessing and guessing wrong until the big reveal.

This book had a bunch of twists that kept me intrigued right from the start. The MC wasn’t my favorite but I liked @revenge and needed to know how the story resolved. I didn’t guess the person but it was a fun ride as we started to figure out who it was. I really liked that ending and hope we get more. 3.75 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

I love this cover so unique!

This story is action packed and i read this in one sitting as I could not put this down I love the shock factor in this book. This has different POV, Teenager crap and the writing is superb.

This book was so good and just full of twists. I loved it and would read more from the author. Well written and the character build is awesome.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy.

High school is a minefield. And not only for those considered to be at the bottom of the social hierarchy. They are often ignored or the target of bullies. Those at the top have their own pressures to prove themselves worthy of their status. They are often envied and/or victims of payback for their treatment of others.

This is where @Revenge comes in. Although their identity is a mystery, students contact @Revenge to request, well…revenge for a slight. Some of the pranks are harmless. But others…not so much.

For Sabrina and her classmates, @Revenge is a double-edged sword. Their requests may be granted, but at the expense of divulging their secrets.

Overall, it was a good read. It was unpredictable and depicted the lure and danger of social media in a way that was both non-preachy and entertaining.