What do you think?
Rate this book
Such a Good Liar
She's faking her way into the most exclusive social circles for revenge. But how long can her lies hold up?
Seventeen-year-old Lydia Cornwallis has arrived on an exclusive Caribbean island populated only by the ultra-rich and their staff. The Harrington sisters rule the island, throwing lavish parties and treating everyone around them like toys for their amusement, and Lydia simply can't wait to meet them.
Because she's not Lydia Cornwallis.
And the Harringtons have hell to pay for what they've done.
When a storm hits the island and all routes to the mainland are cut off, Lydia is given the perfect opportunity to exact her murderous revenge. With time running out and her identity about to be exposed, Lydia will need to draw on epic nerve, quicksilver adaptability, and sly cunning to carry out her deadly plans.
Seventeen-year-old Lydia Cornwallis has arrived on an exclusive Caribbean island populated only by the ultra-rich and their staff. The Harrington sisters rule the island, throwing lavish parties and treating everyone around them like toys for their amusement, and Lydia simply can't wait to meet them.
Because she's not Lydia Cornwallis.
And the Harringtons have hell to pay for what they've done.
When a storm hits the island and all routes to the mainland are cut off, Lydia is given the perfect opportunity to exact her murderous revenge. With time running out and her identity about to be exposed, Lydia will need to draw on epic nerve, quicksilver adaptability, and sly cunning to carry out her deadly plans.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2022
94 people are currently reading
7673 people want to read
About the author
Sue Wallman
11 books263 followersFrom eight to eighteen years, I lived in Highcliffe, Christchurch, on the south coast of England. Before that we lived in various places, including a hospital in York where my dad was a psychiatrist.
After Oxford Brookes University (I was one of the first people to do their publishing degree), I became a magazine journalist. A couple of years later, I went to live in Paris where I was editorial assistant for an American newspaper. Eventually, I returned to England via travelling around South America. I now live near Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
I love words. I've been a sub-editor, letters page editor and deputy features editor. In my spare time I've always written different types of fiction. In January 2007 I decided to stop faffing about and take seriously the one thing I'd wanted to achieve all my life. Five books and eight years later, I signed a book deal. Then, in May 2016, Lying About Last Summer, my debut novel, was published.
After Oxford Brookes University (I was one of the first people to do their publishing degree), I became a magazine journalist. A couple of years later, I went to live in Paris where I was editorial assistant for an American newspaper. Eventually, I returned to England via travelling around South America. I now live near Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey.
I love words. I've been a sub-editor, letters page editor and deputy features editor. In my spare time I've always written different types of fiction. In January 2007 I decided to stop faffing about and take seriously the one thing I'd wanted to achieve all my life. Five books and eight years later, I signed a book deal. Then, in May 2016, Lying About Last Summer, my debut novel, was published.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
May 18, 2022
I enjoyed the concept and overall storyline of this however the conclusion felt rather underwhelming and the last 30/40 pages seemed quite disjointed from the rest of the book.
January 12, 2024
this book was terrible.
May 23, 2022
1.5 stars… this convinced me i should never go into a book blind without seeing reviews… it’s highlighted as a ya thriller where the girl has to con her way in and kill the people responsible for murdering her mother.
The pacing was dull, the final reveal was awful and rushed (and hardly explained), the romance fell flat and none of the characters were explored or fleshed out… the other girls were seen as bitchy and 2D without ever looking into the development that made them that way… it was almost as if they were there to make the main character seem more like able and to be the “bad guys”. Also the gardener had no plot purpose. and the one thing it offered on the cover which is why i decided to buy this in the first place (THAT SHE WOULD FAKE HER WAY IN TILL SHE KILLED THEM) didn’t even happen… instead she backed out and gave it a boring ending. Also the fact that her final act of revenge was to sell info about them to a gossip website (that could be easily payed quiet???) was just laughable to me
sometimes i’m honestly shocked how authors just make books like these and think yeah that’s a banger
The pacing was dull, the final reveal was awful and rushed (and hardly explained), the romance fell flat and none of the characters were explored or fleshed out… the other girls were seen as bitchy and 2D without ever looking into the development that made them that way… it was almost as if they were there to make the main character seem more like able and to be the “bad guys”. Also the gardener had no plot purpose. and the one thing it offered on the cover which is why i decided to buy this in the first place (THAT SHE WOULD FAKE HER WAY IN TILL SHE KILLED THEM) didn’t even happen… instead she backed out and gave it a boring ending. Also the fact that her final act of revenge was to sell info about them to a gossip website (that could be easily payed quiet???) was just laughable to me
sometimes i’m honestly shocked how authors just make books like these and think yeah that’s a banger
Read
July 19, 2023DNF 20%. Absolutely did not like the writing style of this one.
March 12, 2023
Ekskluzywna wyspa, elitarne towarzystwo i dziewczyna, która nosi w sercu zemstę.
Sue Wallman wprowadza nas w ten świat zbytku i przepychu. Rodzin z pieniędzmi i tradycjami, którzy z dziada pradziada należą do pokoleń dziedziców i dziedziczek. Im wszystko się należy. Oni tylko mogą, nic nie muszą. Są znudzeni i zblazowani, szczególnie młodsze pokolenie, które na nic nie musi już pracować. Wszystko mają podane na tacy. Liczy się tylko pozycja w towarzystwie i pamiętne zdjęcia na mediach społecznościowych. A taka apatia, taka obojętność aż prowokuje do przekraczania granic – libertyńskie zapędy rodzą się w nich same. Także te zbrodnicze.
To nie jest moje pierwsze spotkanie z Sue Wallman, wiedziałam więc, że sięgając po „Dobrą kłamczuchę” czeka mnie przede wszystkim frajda i wciągająca intryga. Autorka pisze z lekkością, prostotą, bez zbędnego wyrafinowania. Wciąga nas od pierwszych chwil w swoją opowieść o zemście i spragnionej zemsty dziewczynie. Staniemy się świadkami nie tylko jej podstępnych działań, ale też metamorfozy, jaką przez ten czas sama będzie musiała przejść. Kim stanie się nasza bohaterka, gdy nadejdzie koniec? O tym już musicie przekonać się sami.
Sue Wallman wprowadza nas w ten świat zbytku i przepychu. Rodzin z pieniędzmi i tradycjami, którzy z dziada pradziada należą do pokoleń dziedziców i dziedziczek. Im wszystko się należy. Oni tylko mogą, nic nie muszą. Są znudzeni i zblazowani, szczególnie młodsze pokolenie, które na nic nie musi już pracować. Wszystko mają podane na tacy. Liczy się tylko pozycja w towarzystwie i pamiętne zdjęcia na mediach społecznościowych. A taka apatia, taka obojętność aż prowokuje do przekraczania granic – libertyńskie zapędy rodzą się w nich same. Także te zbrodnicze.
To nie jest moje pierwsze spotkanie z Sue Wallman, wiedziałam więc, że sięgając po „Dobrą kłamczuchę” czeka mnie przede wszystkim frajda i wciągająca intryga. Autorka pisze z lekkością, prostotą, bez zbędnego wyrafinowania. Wciąga nas od pierwszych chwil w swoją opowieść o zemście i spragnionej zemsty dziewczynie. Staniemy się świadkami nie tylko jej podstępnych działań, ale też metamorfozy, jaką przez ten czas sama będzie musiała przejść. Kim stanie się nasza bohaterka, gdy nadejdzie koniec? O tym już musicie przekonać się sami.
October 16, 2022
No no and no.
Ok a little harsh but
1. Not the plotline I was expecting where the real lydia is still alive yah, not so fond of that.
2. "I am not a murderer" pls be :) see point 4
3. The writing style was a little too juvenile for my taste
4. *The way the book pitched itself made it seem like a creepy thriller as "creepy" as YA can go, mind you. Well let's just say it's absolutely not * (based off the cover and Snoypsis on said cover)
Overall just super disappointed that it was not the book it was pitched to be or maybe that's entirely my fault since maybe my expectations for a YA thriller are too high.
Ok a little harsh but
1. Not the plotline I was expecting where the real lydia is still alive yah, not so fond of that.
2. "I am not a murderer" pls be :) see point 4
3. The writing style was a little too juvenile for my taste
4. *The way the book pitched itself made it seem like a creepy thriller as "creepy" as YA can go, mind you. Well let's just say it's absolutely not * (based off the cover and Snoypsis on said cover)
Overall just super disappointed that it was not the book it was pitched to be or maybe that's entirely my fault since maybe my expectations for a YA thriller are too high.
February 21, 2024
So hard to get through. Did not sit at the edge of my seat like I hoped. Not a fan.
May 30, 2022
Underwhelmed in all ways
May 4, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ page-turning young adult mystery-thriller that's filled with characters you love to hate.
SYNOPSIS:
"She's faking her way into the most exclusive social circles for revenge. But how long can her lies hold up?
17yr old Lydia Cornwallis has arrived on a remote island populated only by wealthy families and their staff. She quickly finds acceptance, even adoration, from the close-knit families that rule the island. But a storm is coming, and all routes to the mainland are cut off.
But thank goodness the Harrington sisters made it in time because Lydia simply can't wait to meet them. That's because Lydia's not really Lydia Cornwallis."
WHAT I LOVED
✔️ The exotic luxury island setting, was escapism.
✔️ Dislikeable uber-rich characters, that I kinda loved to "hate".
✔️ Identity/impersonation/fraudster - revenge trope.
✔️ The story kept me on edge that Lydia (really Shannon) would be rumbled before her revenge plot took fruition.
✔️ The unexpected romance.
A fun YA thriller for fans of E. Lockhart and K. McManus.
**Thanks to Kaleidoscopic Book Tours for a free copy in return for an honest review**
SYNOPSIS:
"She's faking her way into the most exclusive social circles for revenge. But how long can her lies hold up?
17yr old Lydia Cornwallis has arrived on a remote island populated only by wealthy families and their staff. She quickly finds acceptance, even adoration, from the close-knit families that rule the island. But a storm is coming, and all routes to the mainland are cut off.
But thank goodness the Harrington sisters made it in time because Lydia simply can't wait to meet them. That's because Lydia's not really Lydia Cornwallis."
WHAT I LOVED
✔️ The exotic luxury island setting, was escapism.
✔️ Dislikeable uber-rich characters, that I kinda loved to "hate".
✔️ Identity/impersonation/fraudster - revenge trope.
✔️ The story kept me on edge that Lydia (really Shannon) would be rumbled before her revenge plot took fruition.
✔️ The unexpected romance.
A fun YA thriller for fans of E. Lockhart and K. McManus.
**Thanks to Kaleidoscopic Book Tours for a free copy in return for an honest review**
May 21, 2022
Loved this!! A lot of the blurb calls it Anna Delvey-esque which is a bit of a misnomer as Anna did it for the love of the lifestyle and a streak of narcissism. However Shannon is out for revange (so more Monte Cristo than anything IMO) and it is a glorious ride. I thoroughly enjoyed that Shannon was a beginner at the art of the con and was learning as she went along. The structure of the chapters - for each day on the island ratcheted up the tension rather nicely.
The characters were mildly ridiculous but lol rich white people generally are so this tracked. The setting of a British island out near the Carribbean was gold as were the little side swipes at the lack of diversity and colonialism.
It's definitely YA tho - both in terms of length and the ending but I'm hoping for a Book 2. Definitely a lot of fun
The characters were mildly ridiculous but lol rich white people generally are so this tracked. The setting of a British island out near the Carribbean was gold as were the little side swipes at the lack of diversity and colonialism.
It's definitely YA tho - both in terms of length and the ending but I'm hoping for a Book 2. Definitely a lot of fun
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2023
I think in reality of give this book 3.5 stars, but I'll round it up rather than down! I did enjoy it, for certain, and whilst it wasn't the most thrilling book I've ever read, I struggled to stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading it! Loved the characters (well, I hated the ones I was supposed to hate of course) and I loved the obvious contrast between rich and poor. How utterly obnoxious and awful rich teenagers are 🤮
Overall a good book, but I want a book 2 cos the ending didn't resolve how I wanted it to!
Overall a good book, but I want a book 2 cos the ending didn't resolve how I wanted it to!
August 16, 2022
The book was an easy read.
Most of the characters felt 2D and that the only thing about them was that they were rich. Especially all the friends of Emily and Annabel.
I like Victor as character however I felt like he was used to tie up the ending. Shannon used him to get her off the island. This made the whole ending feel rushed and unfinished.
Most of the characters felt 2D and that the only thing about them was that they were rich. Especially all the friends of Emily and Annabel.
I like Victor as character however I felt like he was used to tie up the ending. Shannon used him to get her off the island. This made the whole ending feel rushed and unfinished.
April 8, 2023
n u d a
April 17, 2025
Zakończenie mnie bardzo rozczarowało :/
November 10, 2023
2 stars⭐️
Wow, imagine setting off to get revenge for your mom and then being too much of a wimp to actually do it.
Bringing it weak.
Wow, imagine setting off to get revenge for your mom and then being too much of a wimp to actually do it.
Bringing it weak.
October 28, 2023
it was ok but the ending was odd
November 5, 2023
came here to eat the rich, was left starving.
back in my day, people could do a real nasty deadly revenge 🤌 I don't know when we started being nice
[arc review, honest opinion]
back in my day, people could do a real nasty deadly revenge 🤌 I don't know when we started being nice
[arc review, honest opinion]
February 18, 2024
this book was not good, it had potential at the start. the characters were unlikeable and the revenge sucked bc she didn’t carry out with her original plan (and she got caught)
March 16, 2025
words can not describe how much i loved this book! i’ve been wanting to read a book where we know who the bad guy is but the other characters don’t and this definitely lived up to that expectation!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND, 6⭐️
November 21, 2023
'such a good liar' is basically if you told me the kiddie section of the amusement park had a roller coaster and when it started, it ended up being yes-very underwhelming.
now don't get me wrong, there was so much momentum and potential for like 92% of the book? and then somehow it all gets wasted at the end which was confusing and felt incomplete. it was such a big tease, considering that I'd wanted something more and the whole concept was fire. I mean who doesn't like a good revenge tale?
but everything, the story and even the mc's plan(s) literally flopped at the end as the author scrambled to have different ways to make a conclusion. the ending was so dumb too..it's like the author closed her laptop and went aight imma head in the middle of it all. and the romance was okay at first but then it all just felt a little too convenient. people were complaining about how the other characters were 2D, but i didn't care. they're lit just bored, spoiled, basic, rich, white kids. what really pissed me off was how this story was COMPLETE even though it was an ARC. like if this is the author's definition of complete, then our Google docs of unfinished stories are candidates for a Newberry medal or something.
I came in with high expectations, went through it with high expectations and literally ended it DISSAPOINTED. the ending sucks so bad it's sad. underwhelming is an understatement.
now don't get me wrong, there was so much momentum and potential for like 92% of the book? and then somehow it all gets wasted at the end which was confusing and felt incomplete. it was such a big tease, considering that I'd wanted something more and the whole concept was fire. I mean who doesn't like a good revenge tale?
but everything, the story and even the mc's plan(s) literally flopped at the end as the author scrambled to have different ways to make a conclusion. the ending was so dumb too..it's like the author closed her laptop and went aight imma head in the middle of it all. and the romance was okay at first but then it all just felt a little too convenient. people were complaining about how the other characters were 2D, but i didn't care. they're lit just bored, spoiled, basic, rich, white kids. what really pissed me off was how this story was COMPLETE even though it was an ARC. like if this is the author's definition of complete, then our Google docs of unfinished stories are candidates for a Newberry medal or something.
I came in with high expectations, went through it with high expectations and literally ended it DISSAPOINTED. the ending sucks so bad it's sad. underwhelming is an understatement.
February 14, 2024
This book was an all around flop.
The characters were underdeveloped, the gardener plot had no purpose and didn't seem relevant to the story, and the big reveal at the end was pointless and seemed like a last minute thought.
Do yourself a favor and stay away from this one.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The characters were underdeveloped, the gardener plot had no purpose and didn't seem relevant to the story, and the big reveal at the end was pointless and seemed like a last minute thought.
Do yourself a favor and stay away from this one.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 27, 2023
disappointing
April 30, 2023
2+/5
Większość książki była dla mnie nudna. Cała fabuła przechodziła obok mnie. Za to ostatnie 150 stron były naprawdę ciekawe i angażujące. No ale potem przychodzi zakończenie i znowu się sypie
Większość książki była dla mnie nudna. Cała fabuła przechodziła obok mnie. Za to ostatnie 150 stron były naprawdę ciekawe i angażujące. No ale potem przychodzi zakończenie i znowu się sypie
November 19, 2024
Best revenge concept and execution I’ve ever seen. Light it up. (Plus, she has my name by the end.)
August 26, 2024
Boring, almost no action throughout the book.
December 20, 2023
Hi Again!
Today’s review is going to be slightly different as I DNF’d this book. I was reading it as my Kindle read and got about halfway through (I think a little over halfway according to my Kindle) but after getting that far, I just felt like my attention was not being caught by this story. So let’s talk about why that is!
SPOILERS AHEAD
I am not going to give a synopsis for this story, since I DNF’d it but I will talk about what specifically took my attention away from the story.
As I started reading, I was very interested in why she had to fake her identity and what happened to her mother. However, as the story started to unfold more and more I felt like our main character was just kind of becoming one of the crowd and sometimes thinking about revenge for her mom’s death. I also felt like it was taking a very long time to get any answers even small ones about what happened to her mom. It just overall felt like the story was progressing slower than I would have wanted it to. Those are my two biggest reasons for setting the story down. One positive note before we wrap up this review, the cover was giving all the summer vibes and I think maybe if I were to give this another try I would want to take it to a beach or pool day. If you have read this one and know if it picks up let me know in the comments (maybe I would consider giving it another try)!
Goodreads Rating: 2 Stars
Today’s review is going to be slightly different as I DNF’d this book. I was reading it as my Kindle read and got about halfway through (I think a little over halfway according to my Kindle) but after getting that far, I just felt like my attention was not being caught by this story. So let’s talk about why that is!
SPOILERS AHEAD
I am not going to give a synopsis for this story, since I DNF’d it but I will talk about what specifically took my attention away from the story.
As I started reading, I was very interested in why she had to fake her identity and what happened to her mother. However, as the story started to unfold more and more I felt like our main character was just kind of becoming one of the crowd and sometimes thinking about revenge for her mom’s death. I also felt like it was taking a very long time to get any answers even small ones about what happened to her mom. It just overall felt like the story was progressing slower than I would have wanted it to. Those are my two biggest reasons for setting the story down. One positive note before we wrap up this review, the cover was giving all the summer vibes and I think maybe if I were to give this another try I would want to take it to a beach or pool day. If you have read this one and know if it picks up let me know in the comments (maybe I would consider giving it another try)!
Goodreads Rating: 2 Stars
April 4, 2024
Based on the majority of reviews I had read about this book, I wasn’t expecting this novel to be the best read. However after experiencing this story myself I thought it was pretty good. Several of the events in this story had me on the edge of my seat, as expected with a storyline based on a stolen identify. I liked how there was several times where Shannon’s true identity was so close to being uncovered and the antagonists of this story were close to success. Throughout the book I had to remind myself that this was just a story and to not get too concerned about the exhilarating chain of events. While it took me a while to catch on to the plot at the start of the book, and I was hoping for a more satisfying ending, I thought the storyline was well-thought out. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
May 8, 2022
I really don't wait till give too much away but if you love a good mystery and a YA Thriller, you will love this book.
I found, reading from 'Lydias' point of view really interesting as you knew her thought process and feelings as the story progressed. I took an instant dislike to the ultra-rich people but I loved to hate them. It also showed the huge contrast between 'Lydias' real life. I really enjoyed how the flash backs built
up my curiosity and it really got the booking going.
I love a book that can keep me second guessing, page turning and also thinking about it when I've put it down and this book did all three.
This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last.
I found, reading from 'Lydias' point of view really interesting as you knew her thought process and feelings as the story progressed. I took an instant dislike to the ultra-rich people but I loved to hate them. It also showed the huge contrast between 'Lydias' real life. I really enjoyed how the flash backs built
up my curiosity and it really got the booking going.
I love a book that can keep me second guessing, page turning and also thinking about it when I've put it down and this book did all three.
This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last.
April 26, 2023
Niestety, tym razem nie kliknęło. Wiem, że to thriller młodzieżowy i może nie powinienem oczekiwać zbyt wiele, ale ta książka nie miała w sobie nic z thrilleru, poza morderstwem w tle. Książka skupia się na wydarzeniach typu: spędzanie czasu na basenie, w restauracji lub innym miejscu i wyśmiewanie, poniżanie i obrażanie innych ludzi. Postaci są wykreowane w bardzo stereotypowy sposób. Autora stworzyła historię o bogatych rozpieszczonych dzieciakach, którym czoła ma stawić dziewczyna z niższych sfer, która pragnie zemsty za krzywdy jakie ją spotkały. Tylko, że bohatera więcej gada niż robi. A to co robi to i tak... Meh. Trochę przykro.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews