Genuine Fraud - e. lockhart

Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.

Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete.
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two. 

A bad romance, or maybe three.

Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains. 

A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.

A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.


Inspired by The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Man in the Rockefeller Suit, and Great Expectations, lockhart's new novel is an homage to orphan stories and anti-heroes, spy novels and thrillers. Told in reverse chronological order--from a chase through an all-inclusive resort, to the beginnings of a brand new life--Jule's story is full of twists and turns. Stories shift and "facts" change over time, fooling both readers and other characters, leaving everyone guessing whether or not the truth of Jule's identity actually exists.

The narrative is swift and the novel short, leaving some of the characters less well-developed. This novel is a bit like watching Jeopardy in that you get to see the answers before you find out the questions. Readers get to see different stages of Jule as she travels the world and makes new acquaintances, but without know what happened just before, to get her there. It's a really fun and engaging read, and fans of The Female of the Species will definitely get a lot out of Jule's story!

Recommended

(NOTE: This review is from an Advance Reader's Copy - Out Sept. 5, 2017)

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