Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.13 AVERAGE
3.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Synopsis:
Nell and her drama club classmates are on their way to a national drama competition that they have been working very hard for. This competition could lead to awards, scholarships, and opportunities for them and they are excited and confident. What they were not prepared for was the winter storm of the century catching the California teens and their teacher to be stranded a strange, worn-out hotel far from their intended destination. As they hunker down for the night, they meet other storm-bound people who have found themselves equally stuck at the Travel Inn & Out, including another group of teens who had a competition of their own to attend.
As the storm rages on outside, the teens decide to meet in the common room to socialize in front of the fire. However, their gathering begins to take on a sinister tone as a creepy message appears in the slips of paper they are using to play a seemingly innocent game of Two Truths and a Lie. As a sense of unease settles on the group, they also find out that the hotel is the sight of a 20 year-old unsolved double murder, one that took place in room 238. They decide to do a séance and it goes about as well as one can expect a séance to go in a creepy hotel. And then the power goes out.
The next morning, Nell and a few others in their party group stumble upon the body of one of the girls they had hung out with the night before, apparently hung sometime in the night, a sign pinned to her chest saying “THIS IS THE FIRST.” Was it suicide or something more sinister? As another girl disappears and they find her room splattered in more blood than one could survive losing, with another sign scrawled in blood on the bathroom mirror reading “THIS IS THE SECOND,” all hell breaks loose. Not only are they stranded far away from home and safety without heat, phone service, and power, but they also may be stuck in a hotel in the middle of nowhere with a murderer. Is this the same killer who 20 years ago killed the couple in 238, or is this someone new who has only just begun?
The Review:
I definitely finished this one quickly. The plot throughout is fast-paced and it had everything in it. Suspicious hotel guests, possible supernatural phenomena, unsolved murders, and teenage hormones run rampant. The setting was well described and plays a huge roll throughout the entire book. It’s like the setting is another character entirely, moaning and creaking around its inhabitants.
The storm also adds a ton to the overall atmosphere of the book and if you have ever experienced a blizzard, you know exactly the feelings they have. The isolation, the disorientation when you find yourself in a world that has turned the outside into a black and white alien landscape where the white and fluffy snow becomes an icy desert of drifts and plains, some which hide dangerous predators from the eyes of potential prey. It creates a stark and unforgiving backdrop for a story of people desperately clawing their way to the truth.
There is a cadre of red herrings and strange happenings that make you question the evidence and what might be true verses what might be coincidental. Many of the characters show their true colors throughout the book, which makes them seem all the more real. It’s also always fun to read about people who are tied intrinsically to technology go through an experience where they don’t have any available and have to find ways to survive varying circumstances, like how to unmask a killer while trying to stay warm and fed in a place not meant to be run without electricity. It’s one reason I absolutely love fictional survival stories set far in the wilderness, especially ones where dumb mistakes are made that the protagonist has to survive. Although there aren’t many of those in Two Truths and a Lie, there is still plenty of unpreparedness to keep a reader feeling like this book is both a survival story and a mystery-thriller.
If you’re in the mood for a quick and thrilling read, I would advise picking up a copy of Two Truths and a Lie.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for an advanced copy in exchange for this fair and honest review.
Nell and her drama club classmates are on their way to a national drama competition that they have been working very hard for. This competition could lead to awards, scholarships, and opportunities for them and they are excited and confident. What they were not prepared for was the winter storm of the century catching the California teens and their teacher to be stranded a strange, worn-out hotel far from their intended destination. As they hunker down for the night, they meet other storm-bound people who have found themselves equally stuck at the Travel Inn & Out, including another group of teens who had a competition of their own to attend.
As the storm rages on outside, the teens decide to meet in the common room to socialize in front of the fire. However, their gathering begins to take on a sinister tone as a creepy message appears in the slips of paper they are using to play a seemingly innocent game of Two Truths and a Lie. As a sense of unease settles on the group, they also find out that the hotel is the sight of a 20 year-old unsolved double murder, one that took place in room 238. They decide to do a séance and it goes about as well as one can expect a séance to go in a creepy hotel. And then the power goes out.
The next morning, Nell and a few others in their party group stumble upon the body of one of the girls they had hung out with the night before, apparently hung sometime in the night, a sign pinned to her chest saying “THIS IS THE FIRST.” Was it suicide or something more sinister? As another girl disappears and they find her room splattered in more blood than one could survive losing, with another sign scrawled in blood on the bathroom mirror reading “THIS IS THE SECOND,” all hell breaks loose. Not only are they stranded far away from home and safety without heat, phone service, and power, but they also may be stuck in a hotel in the middle of nowhere with a murderer. Is this the same killer who 20 years ago killed the couple in 238, or is this someone new who has only just begun?
The Review:
I definitely finished this one quickly. The plot throughout is fast-paced and it had everything in it. Suspicious hotel guests, possible supernatural phenomena, unsolved murders, and teenage hormones run rampant. The setting was well described and plays a huge roll throughout the entire book. It’s like the setting is another character entirely, moaning and creaking around its inhabitants.
The storm also adds a ton to the overall atmosphere of the book and if you have ever experienced a blizzard, you know exactly the feelings they have. The isolation, the disorientation when you find yourself in a world that has turned the outside into a black and white alien landscape where the white and fluffy snow becomes an icy desert of drifts and plains, some which hide dangerous predators from the eyes of potential prey. It creates a stark and unforgiving backdrop for a story of people desperately clawing their way to the truth.
There is a cadre of red herrings and strange happenings that make you question the evidence and what might be true verses what might be coincidental. Many of the characters show their true colors throughout the book, which makes them seem all the more real. It’s also always fun to read about people who are tied intrinsically to technology go through an experience where they don’t have any available and have to find ways to survive varying circumstances, like how to unmask a killer while trying to stay warm and fed in a place not meant to be run without electricity. It’s one reason I absolutely love fictional survival stories set far in the wilderness, especially ones where dumb mistakes are made that the protagonist has to survive. Although there aren’t many of those in Two Truths and a Lie, there is still plenty of unpreparedness to keep a reader feeling like this book is both a survival story and a mystery-thriller.
If you’re in the mood for a quick and thrilling read, I would advise picking up a copy of Two Truths and a Lie.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for an advanced copy in exchange for this fair and honest review.
Two Truths and a Lie
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 5/24/22
Author: April Henry
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Pages: 275
Goodreads Rating: 3.36
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Little Brown Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: A group of strangers were stranded at a creepy hotel and decided to play the game Two Truths and a Lie. When it’s Nell’s turn, she draws a slip of paper inked in unfamiliar creepy handwriting. Suddenly a night of harmless fun turns into a matter of life and death. As guests go missing, it becomes clear that a murderer is hiding in their midst ready to strike again. In a room full of liars and performers, the truth is never quite what it seems. Nell is going to have to act like her life depends on it—because it does.
My Thoughts: I have really been in love with YA books lately, mystery, thriller, and romance. This mystery takes some inspiration from other famous mysteries and legendary mystery writers. The story is narrated by Nell, in her perspective. The first half to the book was a bit slower, but necessary to build characters and set the scene. The second half of the book flew by. The characters were well developed for the most part, some were superficial, while others had layers of depth, they were mysterious, creative, and kept me engaged. Most of the supporting characters were immature and self-absorbed. However, Nell and Adam were not only relatable, but also likable, especially starting towards the second third of the book. Henry’s writing is complex, more so towards the second half of the book, creative, and she does a fantastic job of setting the scene, I mean a creepy abandoned hotel?? Love this setting. However, the con, other than the first half being slow, is the end, there was too much dropped in at once and overall felt rushed. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend to anyone looking for a fresh YA thriller.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 5/24/22
Author: April Henry
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Pages: 275
Goodreads Rating: 3.36
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Little Brown Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: A group of strangers were stranded at a creepy hotel and decided to play the game Two Truths and a Lie. When it’s Nell’s turn, she draws a slip of paper inked in unfamiliar creepy handwriting. Suddenly a night of harmless fun turns into a matter of life and death. As guests go missing, it becomes clear that a murderer is hiding in their midst ready to strike again. In a room full of liars and performers, the truth is never quite what it seems. Nell is going to have to act like her life depends on it—because it does.
My Thoughts: I have really been in love with YA books lately, mystery, thriller, and romance. This mystery takes some inspiration from other famous mysteries and legendary mystery writers. The story is narrated by Nell, in her perspective. The first half to the book was a bit slower, but necessary to build characters and set the scene. The second half of the book flew by. The characters were well developed for the most part, some were superficial, while others had layers of depth, they were mysterious, creative, and kept me engaged. Most of the supporting characters were immature and self-absorbed. However, Nell and Adam were not only relatable, but also likable, especially starting towards the second third of the book. Henry’s writing is complex, more so towards the second half of the book, creative, and she does a fantastic job of setting the scene, I mean a creepy abandoned hotel?? Love this setting. However, the con, other than the first half being slow, is the end, there was too much dropped in at once and overall felt rushed. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend to anyone looking for a fresh YA thriller.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A nice quick easy read. Nothing wrong with the book, just very average. Characters were likeable and the story was easy to read. I do prefer the authors series about the girl who is blind, there’s just more to it than this book, but still not a bad book.
A great story for teens! Lots of good references to Agatha Christie.
No profanity, sex, drugs, or graphic violence.
No profanity, sex, drugs, or graphic violence.
Fans of the adult thriller No Exit will love the YA mystery Two Truths and a Lie by April Henry.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Spoiler alert: Very minor discussion of some early characterization. No spoilers of mystery content and no reveals.
Don't get me wrong -- the setting of a creepy old motel in a blizzard-- a pack of high school thespians stranded. Genius. I actually loved the first couple chapters of this book. Then it quickly devolved into very tired tropes and unrealistic teenage dialogue which completely separated me from the story. It felt like a poorly written love child of Stephen King's "The Shining" and Ruth Ware's "One by One." Maybe the setting itself has become a trope -- its getting harder in the modern days of cell phones to truly believably isolate a group of people. I recall the days when "the killer" just craftily snipped a phone line.
All in all -- I think this book could have been something special with less reliance on heavily recycled tropes and cliché expressions, and perhaps some time hanging out with an actual high school theatre group, copiously note-taking. I am a high school English teacher as well as the mother of the president of the varsity theatre team, and I was literally cringing at some of the character interactions, completely unrealistic dialogue, and the apparent disconnect between author and characters. To me, it felt like she followed a recipe and churned out some YA garbage. I felt no passion or realism at all. Again, I think it could have been really fun and compelling with more research and less reliance on the old tired stand-bys. Nothing felt fresh except for the main character having two moms, and that was so inconsequential to the story, as was the casual mention of a lesbian character, that it felt like tokenism. There is also a moment of pseudo-sexual flirtation between a TA and a student involving a kiss -- something that would not be treated casually in today's public high school reality. That man would be fired and likely facing criminal prosecution.
All these details combined, it just really felt like the author was completely out of touch with her subject matter and with modern teens in general.
Don't get me wrong -- the setting of a creepy old motel in a blizzard-- a pack of high school thespians stranded. Genius. I actually loved the first couple chapters of this book. Then it quickly devolved into very tired tropes and unrealistic teenage dialogue which completely separated me from the story. It felt like a poorly written love child of Stephen King's "The Shining" and Ruth Ware's "One by One." Maybe the setting itself has become a trope -- its getting harder in the modern days of cell phones to truly believably isolate a group of people. I recall the days when "the killer" just craftily snipped a phone line.
All in all -- I think this book could have been something special with less reliance on heavily recycled tropes and cliché expressions, and perhaps some time hanging out with an actual high school theatre group, copiously note-taking. I am a high school English teacher as well as the mother of the president of the varsity theatre team, and I was literally cringing at some of the character interactions, completely unrealistic dialogue, and the apparent disconnect between author and characters. To me, it felt like she followed a recipe and churned out some YA garbage. I felt no passion or realism at all. Again, I think it could have been really fun and compelling with more research and less reliance on the old tired stand-bys. Nothing felt fresh except for the main character having two moms, and that was so inconsequential to the story, as was the casual mention of a lesbian character, that it felt like tokenism. There is also a moment of pseudo-sexual flirtation between a TA and a student involving a kiss -- something that would not be treated casually in today's public high school reality. That man would be fired and likely facing criminal prosecution.
All these details combined, it just really felt like the author was completely out of touch with her subject matter and with modern teens in general.