I received an e-arc from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Ringer
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Stars: 4/5

Summary (from Goodreads): Like its ambitious companion novel, Replica, this far-reaching novel by powerhouse bestselling author Lauren Oliver digs deep into questions of how to be a human being in a world where humanity cannot be taken for granted.

In the world outside the Haven Institute, Lyra and Caelum are finding it hard to be human—and neither of them knows where they belong or who they can trust. When Caelum leaves without warning to pursue the dream of a place he belongs, Lyra follows him, convinced that together they will hunt down a cure for the illness that’s slowly consuming her mind. But what they uncover is a shocking connection to their past—even as their future seems in danger of collapsing.

After discovering the uncomfortable truth about her connection to the Haven Institute, Gemma struggles to return to her normal life. But when she learns that her controlling and powerful father has new plans for Lyra and Caelum, Gemma and her boyfriend, Pete, leave in the middle of the night to warn them of the danger they face.When an untimely accident derails them, they are mistaken for the escaped replicas and seized by strangers hired to capture them. The Haven Institute wasn’t destroyed after all, and now Gemma is the one behind the walls.

Lyra’s and Gemma’s stories can be read separately—with either story first—or in alternating chapters, but no matter which way you turn the book, the two distinct stories combine into one breathtaking experience for both heroines and readers alike.

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I have been awaiting this second instalment in the Replica series for a year now, and I was not at all disappointed with the outcome. Ringer is just as eerie, and the original layout of the book is the same as the first. My favourite story was Gemma’s, but Lyra’s is still gripping. If you have yet to pick these books up, I definitely recommend that you do so this fall.

This sequel to Replica tells the story of human clones and mistaken identity. What is interesting about this story in particular is that Lyra and Gemma’s positions are now swapped. Gemma is mistaken for a Replica and imprisoned while Lyra is on the hunt for a cure for her illness. I can’t say too much because of spoilers, but I really enjoyed the scientific aspects of the book and the well-thought out plot twists. Ringer is full of intrigue and is the perfect conclusion to the Replica duology.

What is so unique about the way Ringer is written is the multitude of reading options provided. Gemma and Lyra’s stories are separate, yet they connect. Because of this, the reader can either read each perspective separately or alternate after every chapter. Because I read the ebook edition of this book, it was hard to alternate, but it is interesting how both stories are so synced. I love the setup of the Replica books, and I would definitely like to see more books with this format.

Of the two stories, I personally enjoyed Gemma’s better. I liked her more as a character, and her experiences contained more action and suspense. There are also more sci-fi aspects in her story, which I preferred to Lyra’s more contemporary story. Lyra’s story is still enjoyable, but compared to Gemma’s I just found it to be a bit lacking.

Ringer is the action-packed sequel to Replica in which Gemma and Lyra’s positions are switched. I enjoyed the originality of the plot and the creative layout of the book itself. I personally preferred Gemma’s side of the story, but both stories are still thrilling.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Genuine Fraud
Author: E. Lockhart
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: September 5, 2017
Stars: 3/5

Summary (from Goodreads): The story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.

Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete.
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two.
A bad romance, or maybe three.
Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains.
A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

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I was so excited when I heard that E. Lockhart had a new book out that is inspired by The Talented Mr. Ripley. I loved We Were Liars, and The Talented Mr. Ripley is such an interesting story that I haven’t seen retold before. However, as I was reading, I noticed that there isn’t actually much difference between the two stories. If you are familiar with The Talented Mr. Ripley, I wouldn’t recommend Genuine Fraud, as the plot won’t come as much of a shock.

What is interesting about Genuine Fraud is the use of reverse chronological order. The book starts with the ending and ends with the beginning, and this could have been really cool if it didn’t take away from the story itself. Because most of the action is at the beginning, the book falls flat near the end. I found the reverse chronology to be confusing as well, since there are so many jumps backwards. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was lost, and I had forgotten most of what the ending (or the beginning in this case) was explaining.

This book was well written, and it definitely has a lot of potential, but it just wasn’t for me. If you enjoy books written with reverse chronology, you may really enjoy this one. I had such high hopes for Genuine Fraud, and I’m disappointed that it wasn’t as enjoyable as E. Lockhart’s other books.