Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to switch out their sibling for a new and improved version? The Finest Lies explores just that, with siblings Nicole and Jay Hallett. The closeness they shared when younger has long since disappeared. Now it’s only bickering if they communicate at all.
The Finest Lies starts out feeling very middle grade with Nicole’s chapters. Incredibly self-absorbed and shallow, she doesn’t quite come across as a teenager because nothing is her fault. However, when the book switches gears and gives us Nicole’s older brother, Jay, that’s when the book feels decidedly YA, and that’s where my interest lies in the book, as I didn’t much care for Nicole’s chapters. But I can deal with unlikeable characters when the story is well-written, and this is written well. Overall, this story is a fun “what if” that explores familial relationships and reminds us to appreciate our families in our youth before we scatter to the wind in adulthood.
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The Finest Lies is available for preorder on Amazon for $2.99, it releases October 14th.
About the Book:
High schooler Nicole Hallett has just about had it with her brother Jay, so when a mysterious man appears with an offer to replace him with a better one, she doesn’t hesitate. Nicole has always been impulsive, but this time, she finds herself in predicament far worse than anything she’s experienced. Just like that, an average snow day—usually filled with hot cocoa and snowball fights—is commandeered by the stranger, who forces the siblings into a dangerous game.
Confronted by past reflections, tested by present complications, and threatened by future possibilities, Nicole has until the end of the day to disentangle the riddle of her life.
This suspenseful, yet winsome novel by award-winning author David J. Naiman explores the power of family and forgiveness. But take heed. The truth can cut like shards of glass, especially for those who’d rather avoid it. Sometimes, only the finest lies will do.
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