This book surprised me. I had hoped that I would enjoy it, as I adore this author, but I was not expecting to love it. Which I ended up doing. And I am beyond happy about it. As this book was so very good and I loved every moment of it. Contemporary books are most often not my thing, which is why I was nervous about starting this one. Yet it sounded interesting. And I'm so glad I gave it a try. I could not stop reading. And there was not a single part of this book that I did not like. So happy about it. Everything was so good.
There is so much I loved about this book that I do not know where to begin. And writing reviews for books I love is always the hardest. It is almost impossible to find words, other than I loved it, haha. But I will try. Because I do have a whole lot to say about this precious thing and I wish to share all my feelings about it. A big thing that made me love this book so much was the writing. It was perfection. I felt connected right away and it was just written so well. Reading this book was easy and fun and I adored all the characters.
This book tells the story of Brynn. She lives in a poorer part of the city with her mom and her boyfriend. I loved her mother a whole bunch. She was adorable. I wish she had made better choices with her life, yet I understood her too, somewhat, and I liked her. She and Brynn was close, and I loved that. But gosh, the stepdad, Pete, was not a good person. He sells drugs. And is violent. Brynn is trying her hardest to save up enough money so that she can get away, so she can go to college and finally be free of this bad man.
And oh, the way she goes about making money was all kinds of interesting. She scams rich teenagers out of their money. I liked the way she did it. Okay, it was a little cruel, but interesting and I loved that it worked. Getting to know Brynn was amazing. Because I loved this girl. From beginning to end. She was always precious to me and that means the most. I loved how she grew in this book, that she grew more confident. Though she was always brave and awesome And fierce and loving. And a good friend, mostly.
This book is about her life. About someone finding her, and offering her the chance of going to a special school. A school where she will live at the place and get everything she needs. Where she will have the chance to get a scholarship to college. And it will not cost her a single dollar. Yet it is not free. Because this is a school for con artists. Where the principal, the man giving all these twenty teenagers a home, is making them do things for him. Learn secrets. Steal personal things. It was pretty intriguing to read about.
This man is also keeping secrets. Not everything is as safe as it seems. Yet this new place where Brynn now lives is an amazing place as well. She gets to meet some new people and makes real friends. It was so great to read about. And I adored the friends she made. Charlotte was so cute and just awesome. And Henry was the very best. I loved how good of a friend he was. Sam was cute as well. And then there was Caleb. Sigh. Loved him so. He and Brynn starts talking right away. And they are very cute together. Eee.
Okay, they do talk right away, then spend some time ignoring each other, before they finally starts getting close again. I loved their friendship beyond words. And their growing romance. It was the cutest thing and I adored them to pieces. There was no drama. There was no mid-book-break-up. This romance was real and honest and they fit together so well. I loved how they talked to each other. And how they grew to trust each other. It was not such a huge part of the book, and I always wanted more, but it was also so perfect.
There is much going on in this book. And I feel like I have already written so much yet not nearly enough. I will not be sharing much more. Only that I adored these characters to pieces. And the story was so very interesting too and I always wanted to know what would happen next. Brynn is tasked with getting closer to this boy, learning all his secrets. It could have been romantic. But it was not. Not even a little bit. And I loved that the very most. Sigh. No triangle. No drama. Her target was a little creepy and little interesting.
So much happens with the plot. There is more about Brynn's past. We get to know Caleb a lot, and get to know his family, and that just ruined my heart a little. I loved every moment of it. There was just so much I loved about this book. And I'm unable to find more words for it. The ending was so good. Okay, I so wish there was an epilogue, as I need to know everything that happened after, but I loved it too. But yes. I very much wish to read more about Brynn and Caleb and all their friends too. Loved them so. And want more.
The Deceivers was everything I wanted in a book. Okay, it wasn't fantasy, but it had everything else. This book was fun and exciting and a bit creepy as well. It had the cutest romance and such great friendships. The writing was incredible. The ending was amazing. This book was so good and I need you all to read it too. Right away. Huge thank you to Tor Teen for accepting my request to read this one early via Netgalley. And to Jean for letting me take part in the blog tour for this. And to Kristen for writing this truly lovely story.
Welcome to Vale Hall, the school for aspiring con artists.
When Brynn Hilder is recruited to Vale, it seems like the elite academy is her chance to start over, away from her mom's loser boyfriend and her rundown neighborhood. But she soon learns that Vale chooses students not so much for their scholastic talent as for their extracurricular activities, such as her time spent conning rich North Shore kids out of their extravagant allowances.
At first, Brynn jumps at the chance to help the school in its mission to rid the city of corrupt officials--because what could be better than giving entitled jerks what they deserve? But that's before she meets her mark--a senator's son--and before she discovers the school's headmaster has secrets he'll stop at nothing to protect. As the lines between right and wrong blur, Brynn begins to realize she's in way over head.
Buy The Deceivers: Amazon - B&N - The Book Depository - Indiebound - Kobo
KRISTEN SIMMONS is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, and METALTOWN. She has worked with survivors of abuse and trauma as a mental health therapist, taught Jazzercise in five states, and is forever in search of the next best cupcake. Currently she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, where she spends her days supporting the caffeine industry and chasing her delightfully rambunctious son.
GIVEAWAY. International. Must be 13+ to enter. Hosted by JBN.
10 winners will get a copy of The Deceivers by Kristen Simmons.
Blog Tour Schedule here.
WEEK ONE
FEBRUARY 4th MONDAY JeanBookNerd GUEST POST
FEBRUARY 4th MONDAY The Eater of Books! TENS LIST
FEBRUARY 5th TUESDAY MetalPhantasmReads EXCERPT
FEBRUARY 6th WEDNESDAY We Live and Breathe Books REVIEW
FEBRUARY 6th WEDNESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT
FEBRUARY 7th THURSDAY Book Rambler REVIEW
FEBRUARY 7th THURSDAY TFAULC Book Reviews EXCERPT
FEBRUARY 8th FRIDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW
FEBRUARY 8th FRIDAY Insane About Books SPOTLIGHT
WEEK TWO
FEBRUARY 11th MONDAY A Dream Within A Dream REVIEW
FEBRUARY 11th MONDAY The Candid Cover REVIEW
FEBRUARY 12th TUESDAY Wishful Endings REVIEW & INTERVIEW
FEBRUARY 5th TUESDAY BookHounds YA REVIEW
FEBRUARY 13th WEDNESDAY A Court of Coffee and Books REVIEW
FEBRUARY 13th WEDNESDAY Literary Meanderings EXCERPT
FEBRUARY 14th THURSDAY Sabrina's Paranormal Palace REVIEW
FEBRUARY 15th FRIDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW
FEBRUARY 15th FRIDAY Carina's Books REVIEW
This is an interesting departure from her dystopian series. Sounds like an exciting read. Glad you enjoyed it, Carina. Great review! :)
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