Review: Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

Title:  Genuine Fraud

Author: E. Lockhart

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller

Format/Length: ebook, 288 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Press, 2017

My Rating:  ★★★

Genuine Fraud has been marketed as a thriller. There’s a mystery at the heart of the story. There’s suspense. It will be "edgy and inventive."

Or so they say.

The book begins at the end. At the start the reader learns that Jule is on the run, and might have been evading authorities for quite a while. This moves on to carefully building up to the what and why.

Through that careful build up it became clear that I’ve read this story. I’ve seen these characters before. They even acted and did the same things. Some scenes are only slightly different.

So there goes the mystery. I already know this story. In fact, I loved it once. But who knows I might love it again. After all, this one has troubled women and this writer is known to excel at portraying those. There might also be a different twist at some point.

Sadly, if there was one it was not significant enough to distinguish this book from an old favorite.

Essentially Genuine Fraud is the modern reimagining of a book I read a few years ago.

Unfortunately I didn’t know that starting out and I found myself slowly getting disappointed.

Even with the "homage to a classic" in mind, I wanted so much more out of this book. I wanted to be wowed. I wanted to be impressed. I wanted excitement. I wanted a twist so different and separate from the other that it would make my head spin.

In the end I give this book 3 stars because while the plot was a letdown it is not a complete loss for me. I did finish it. I also appreciate it for the Lockhart’s writing - which I admit is engaging and well paced.

The themes and the questions this book presented were also something I enjoyed.

Such questions about identity. About truth. About relationships; what’s healthy, what’s definitely not. Self presentation, self-esteem, self preservation. Lies, secrets, boundaries, envy, morals.

There’s also the big question of what a person is willing to do to get what they want. How far will someone go to live the life they believe they are supposed to have.

Considering these things and choosing to look at this book as a retelling makes Genuine Fraud more enjoyable, even if not memorable.

Review: City of the Sun by Juliana Maio

Title: City of the Sun 
Author: Juliana Maio 
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Format/Length: ebook, 380 pages
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press 
Publication Date: March 9, 2014 
Where did I get my copy: Netgalley.com Thank you, Greenleaf Book Group Press! 
Learn more about it on Goodreads 
Now available on Amazon

Synopsis: (From Goodreads.com) CAIRO, EGYPT 1941. As the Second World War rages, the city known as “Paris on the Nile” plays host to an international set who seem more interested in polo matches and swanky nightclubs than the Germans’ unrelenting advance across North Africa. Meanwhile, as refugees, soldiers, and spies stream into the city, the Nazis conspire with the emerging Muslim Brotherhood to fuel the Egyptian people’s seething resentment against their British overlords. 

My Review:  There a lot of books about World War II. There are a lot of books about love, even about spies, and about Egypt. But I've never read a novel that had all of these together. I was excited about getting a copy of this book and 

I enjoyed it. 

Juliana Maio successfully put together a novel that is wonderful as a whole. All the little parts fit well, there is continuity, the dialogues are seamless, the descriptions are beautiful, and the mystery was interesting.

The historical details in this book is really impressive. The names, places, and events were aplenty. I enjoyed all that information. As a fan of historical fiction, I appreciate all of that hard work. 

I feel like I learned a little more about Egypt in WWII from reading this book. I enjoyed reading about this time in history in a setting outside of USA or Europe. 

The beauty of the Egypt, the glamorous part of the times - the style, the fashion, different lifestyles, it was all perfectly conveyed. It was easy to feel transported by Maio's words. 

Beautiful imagery and passionate writing aside, I think the story seemed weak towards the end. I thought what should have been the climax of the story fell flat. I didn't think it was exciting. It felt rushed. 

Even though it tied up the story just fine, I think it could have been better. All the build up; the tension and the intrigue deserved a heart pounding conclusion. 

City of the Sun is a beautiful debut novel. It has history, romance, and mystery. Maio seamlessly puts together a plot that kept me very engaged. I strongly recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5