All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney

Abstract

Reviewed by: All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Kahaney, Amelia All the Best Liars. Flatiron, 2022 [336p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781250312709 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781250312716 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 8-12 Syd doesn’t remember much about the party last night, only that her brother dragged her home after she got into a drunken fight with her best friend Rain and former friend Brie in front of most of the senior class. This morning, however, she’s confronted with the news that Brie died in a housefire and Rain has gone missing. Flash back to a few months ago, and readers get a view of Syd and Rain’s deteriorating relationship, after Rain’s family wins the lotto and she leaves their poor neighborhood—and Syd—behind. Considering Syd is now a person of interest in the fire and Rain still hasn’t shown up, she must figure out what happened last night and what brought her friendship with Rain to the breaking point. Time jumps and shifting perspectives between Syd, Rain, and eventually Brie effectively disorient the reader in this taut and twisty thriller, and the three girls have enough depth to hold the emotional stakes without giving anything away too early. The [End Page 219] book’s commentary on class is subtle but compelling: both Rain and Brie go through life-changing financial gains, and they’re willing to do anything to keep their new circumstances if it means they won’t have to return to an impoverished life. No one is without fault here, and the combination of intrigue and ambiguity will appeal to fans of true crime podcasts. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois