I’m all about thrillers in the summer – what did I think of this suspenseful YA with a Pretty Little Liars vibe? Find out in my review of Hidden Pieces!
Hidden Pieces by Paula Stokes
To be published on August 28, 2018 by HarperTeen
Source: eARC for review
Synopsis from Goodreads: Embry Woods has secrets. Small ones about her past and bigger ones about her relationship with town hero Luke and her feelings for someone new. But the biggest secret she carries with her is about what happened that night at the Sea Cliff Inn. The fire. The homeless guy.
Everyone thinks Embry is a hero, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Embry thinks she’ll have to take the secret to her grave, until she receives an anonymous note—someone else knows the truth. Next comes a series of threatening messages, asking Embry to make impossible choices, forcing her to put her loved ones at risk.
Someone is playing a high stakes game where no one in Embry’s life is safe. And their last move…is murder.
Review of Hidden Pieces:
First off, if you’re not a fan of cheating in books, this one won’t be for you, as that’s a big part of the plot. Embry’s boyfriend is deployed and she’s not exactly waiting faithfully at home. Then there’s a fire that threatens to expose her secret. Then a mysterious someone (we’ll call them “X” instead of “A,” like in PLL) starts sending her messages, forcing Embry to engage in a high stakes game of truth or dare.
Embry wasn’t the most admirable character, but I could see why she made some of the choices she did. The deeper in she gets with the mysterious “X,” the more she has to lie and betray others. Like PLL, this book was twisty and a little over-the-top, but I enjoyed reading it.
One problem I had with this story was that there weren’t that many viable suspects. I had hoped that X would be someone else (see more on my Goodreads review) and toward the end, this got a bit out-there. But it did hold my attention and help to fulfill my appetite for summer thrillers!
Have you read any great thrillers this summer? Tell me in comments! Or if not, what are you reading?
“not exactly waiting faithfully” I know it’s awful but I couldn’t help it, that cracked me up for some reason! This does sound a little over the top but I can see it being a fun read too!
Well, let’s just say she’s keeping herself busy while her boyfriend is away….
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I really like Stokes and she has impressed me with all her genre hopping. Glad it wasn’t a total washout for you.
Agree and I think she does suspense particularly well..