Risk & The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks || Great Concepts, Not So Great Execution

Title: Risk
Author: Fleur Ferris
Publication Date: July 1st, 2015
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Taylor and Sierra are childhood best friends, but now that they're in Middle School Taylor is tired of living in Sierra's shadow. Sierra gets everything, including what Taylor wants. One day Taylor meets a charming boy online but before she can tell Sierra all about him, she finds out Sierra is about to meet him in real life.

Sierra asks Taylor to cover for her, but after days of not coming back. Taylor begins to get worried. When she decides to tell Sierra's family, Taylor is exposed to a darker world online and the dangers that are lurking behind a screen.

Title: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks

Author: E. Lockhart

Publication Date: March 25th, 2008

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Frankie Landau-Banks is exposed to the privilege society of her prestigious college after dating gorgeous senior Matthew. She's denied access to this secret society, but Frankie doesn't take 'no' for an answer anymore. She's ready to prove them that she's smarter than them, especially when it comes to the pranks that are about to happen.

Frankie could be a criminal mastermind. And she could get away with it as well. 

Review

I have a double review for you guys! Just some quick thoughts on two books that had good intentions, but not the best ways of relaying the messages. If you've read them let me know what you thought!

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We Were Liars - E. Lockhart

Plot:

Cadence Sinclair returns to her family's beach house on her 17th Summer. There she recounts the family's history as well as a story that should've been left untold.

Review:

I wrote a short plot for a reason - We Were Liars is a book you want to go in with as limited knowledge as you can. It's what everyone recommended, and something I definitely agree it.

There's only one word to explain my reading experience: wow. We Were Liars is the type of book that will baffle your mind, and at the end blow it up into smithereens. I think not knowing what the plot is about right from the beginning really enhances this experience, because you start to make speculations and these speculations will grow, pushing you to keep reading.

This is definitely a mystery that's well-executed. The build up of intensity was on-point, done through Cadence's recounts of the previous summers and her ties to the beach house. I found the writing to be beautiful and haunting, flowing at a good pace and almost melodically. I think what worked the best though, was how Lockhart caught me off guard just as the mystery hits its resolution. I floated through the story unaware I would be given the answer. In fact, it really did pull at some of my emotions, and I was close (very close) to shedding a tear.

I did find though, that I developed no attachments to the characters, despite them having some depths.   They weren't entirely flat, but they were one-sided. If the character was suppose to be bad, there were only negative features about them - not enough redeeming qualities to make save their character - and vice versa. I didn't particularly enjoy Cadence as a character either, she was just the vehicle to drive the plot for me.

Initially, I gave We Were Liars a full five-star rating, because I was completely taken aback with the ending of the story. Except I've had time to mull over it, and there were some minor issues, like the plot being a little dull at times, and the group being called 'The Liars' without a full explanation to the name. Still, for a novel that short, it definitely left a large impact. I flew through it in about an hour, because it was that easy to read.

I definitely recommend this thrilling and intriguing read. I can actually see this being made into a movie, just because I think it is a perfect mystery plot for the screen.

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