REVIEW: Lying Out Loud

LYING OUT LOUD

by Kody Keplinger

Pages: 368 paperback

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Publication Date: 2nd July 2015

ISBN: 9781444928167
Received From:  Hodder Children's Books

Summary 

Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend's house every night because she has nowhere else to go. 

Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with— secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross. 

Ryder's the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can't stand—a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed. 

But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually like him. Only there's one small catch: he thinks he's been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she's the girl he's really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?

Review

Now for those of you who read my review of The Duff you will know it left me fangirling quite hard so when it came to reading Lying Out Loud I was unsure how I would feel about reentering the halls of Hamilton High without Bianca and Wesley by my side. HOWEVER, I really had nothing to worry about because Kody Keplinger created yet another set of perfectly imperfect characters that had me hooked from pretty much page one. Then just to make me smile even more B and Wesley have a massive cameo so I got to find out what was going on with them after they graduated! 

Lying Out Loud centres around Sonny as she finders herself telling one too many lies to keep on top of. You see Sonny is an excellent liar and has the ability to let the whole world only see the side of her she wants them to, coving up the broken parts with well placed lies. The only person in her life she is honest with is her best friend Amy Rush (as in Wesley Rush's baby sister). When life at home is too much to bare Sonny leans on Amy, moving in with her to hide the fact life with her family is falling apart. However, without meaning to Sonny finds herself in an online relationship with new boy, Ryder, although unbeknown to Sonny he thinks he's talking to her best friend Amy. One lie turns into two and from there things spiral out of control. Can Sonny keep up the pretence or will she find herself loosing everything? 

The story itself is addictive. I was hooked from the first page and read into the early hours just to find out what happens next. I have a thing for flawed characters, as to me they feel the most realistic and Sonny is anything but perfect! There is a need to be independent when it comes to our main protagonist but circumstance leaves her more often than not vulnerable. Lying to Sonny is like breath for the rest of us and knowing when to stop is so unknown it conflicts with everything she has built up. But throughout the book Sonny has to choose between what's right and whats comfortable and her growth from start to finish is heartwarming. 

I think the thing I like most about these books is that there is always a really strong core message to them. With The Duff it was about loving who you are no matter what you think your flaws are and with Lying Out Loud there is a massive emphasis on trust and knowing that YOU ARE ENOUGH! When it comes to writing YA having such strong messages is really important because it helps teach us to really appreciate who we are as individuals and I take my metaphorical hat off to Kody for installing such strong and positive morals to her books! 

Overall this is yet another perfect example of what a YA contemporary can be! It is witty and charming from star to finish but it also has some really strong and not particularly pleasant moments to. The story feels real and the characters have a rawness about them that you can't help but love. If you haven't read this yet I highly recommend it.... I promise you won't regret it! 

**I received this book as an ARC from Hodder Children's Books to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**