gabbysreading's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. It was so freaking good!! From the very first page, Claire Contreras had me hooked!! Secrets, suspense, twists, turns and romance, I couldn't put Half Truths down. I'm just obsessed with it all!!
The main characters were well developed and had great chemistry. Amelia, especially, shined for me. Give me a smart, determined heroine any day. Transfering into a new college her senior year, she came in seeking answers; not stopping at anything to get them. I loved her will and her strength but it was her vulnerability that made her relatable.
Then we have the broody hero Logan Fitzgerald. A jerk a time or twenty, I have to admit it took a minute for me to come around on him. He did have a captivating aura surrounding him that made me want to know more about him. Yet, it was when he let his guard down with Mae and the fierce protective care he had for her that really won over my heart. By the end he had me swooning all kinds of ways.
The setting and mood is probably my favorite thing about this story. I was absolutely addicted to the eerie and mysterious feel. All the secrets and lies added the right amount of drama and intrigue to keep me at the edge of my seat.
I will say, I would categorize Half Truths as a suspense with some romance rather than a romantic suspense. I really enjoyed the way Mae and Logan's connection builds throughout the story. However, I did not feel like their romance was the focus of the story. Normally, I would have docked a star for this situation because I love me some romance but for this story it worked.
I've enjoyed Claire Contreras's other books in the past. However, Half Truths was just on another level. This is some of her best work. I am all-in on this world Claire has created. She did leave it open for other characters to get a story. I'll be over here with my fingers crossed, praying we get more. Highly recommend!!
The main characters were well developed and had great chemistry. Amelia, especially, shined for me. Give me a smart, determined heroine any day. Transfering into a new college her senior year, she came in seeking answers; not stopping at anything to get them. I loved her will and her strength but it was her vulnerability that made her relatable.
Then we have the broody hero Logan Fitzgerald. A jerk a time or twenty, I have to admit it took a minute for me to come around on him. He did have a captivating aura surrounding him that made me want to know more about him. Yet, it was when he let his guard down with Mae and the fierce protective care he had for her that really won over my heart. By the end he had me swooning all kinds of ways.
The setting and mood is probably my favorite thing about this story. I was absolutely addicted to the eerie and mysterious feel. All the secrets and lies added the right amount of drama and intrigue to keep me at the edge of my seat.
I will say, I would categorize Half Truths as a suspense with some romance rather than a romantic suspense. I really enjoyed the way Mae and Logan's connection builds throughout the story. However, I did not feel like their romance was the focus of the story. Normally, I would have docked a star for this situation because I love me some romance but for this story it worked.
I've enjoyed Claire Contreras's other books in the past. However, Half Truths was just on another level. This is some of her best work. I am all-in on this world Claire has created. She did leave it open for other characters to get a story. I'll be over here with my fingers crossed, praying we get more. Highly recommend!!
csharp0710's review against another edition
5.0
Suspense, slow burn....oh and frenemies! Yes! This is a suspenseful secret society book from Claire Contreras. Kept me hooked the whole time and I couldn’t put it down! Amelia needs answers about what happened to her older brother at the college she just transferred to. She’ll do what she has to do!
gabookaholics's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so good! I have read some of this author’s other books and they never disappoint! I am so glad I decided on reading this one. There is so much suspense, but not too much angst. The character development of Logan and Mae was incredible. Logan has got to be one of my new favorite book beaus, hands down! There were parts of Mae’s story where I wanted to shake her and tell her to open her eyes, but overall and by the end she showed how strong of a character she is. I loved the romance of this story. I loved the feeling of getting into a book again and not wanting to stop reading. I love the other characters in this story and while they may not have had huge roles, I think the author was really successful in creating these support characters because that’s exactly what they turn out to be. There were definitely points in the story where I was on pins and needles waiting to see what was going to happen next and one or two times where I felt like there was a neon sign flashing danger, danger about a certain person or situation, but overall this book absolutely kept me entranced and reading to the end. The only down side is waiting until July for book 2 in this series, though I am SO glad this book didn’t end on a cliffhanger!! Can’t wait to read what’s next!
what_karla_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rotellareads's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 STARS!
Completely twisted and mysterious!!!!! I was so enthralled with this book from the start. I had no clue what this book was about when I started reading it and honestly, I’m so glad I went on blind. It made it that much more enjoyable.
This read was so suspenseful, I was left guessing right up until the end. There was such an intricate web of secrets and conspiracies in this book that you just never quite knew what was real vs speculation and what would happen next!
Amelia aka Mae was the perfect heroine for this story! She was strong and independent but vulnerable and a bit of a loner. She was so driven and I think that really helped the bottom line of this story. She wouldn’t take people at their word and needed to find out the truth herself. Her curiosity and rigid back bone proved to work in her favor though out the suspenseful torture the author put us through. She was so sassy and smart. I couldn’t find a single thing to dislike about her.
I couldn’t get enough of Logan “Fitz” Fitzgerald!!!!! He may have been a total jerk in the beginning but oh my goodness did he make me swoon by the end! His character was so complex and guarded. I loved how he slowly peeled back layers of himself to Mae over the course of the read. He totally won me over.
I absolutely enjoyed the fact that romance was not the focus of this story. It was there, hiding in the darkest corners of the writing and really allowed the story to flow unconstrained by a relationship or feelings. Yes, there was some incredible intimacy, but it wasn’t the sole focus which worked so well for this particular book!
The only thing that kept this book from being 5 stars for me was the ending chapters. It felt so rushed and left a bit open ended. There was so much suspense and anticipating built up over the course of the book, that it felt like the author didn’t do the ending justice by rushing through it. I would have preferred a duet for this story.
Completely twisted and mysterious!!!!! I was so enthralled with this book from the start. I had no clue what this book was about when I started reading it and honestly, I’m so glad I went on blind. It made it that much more enjoyable.
This read was so suspenseful, I was left guessing right up until the end. There was such an intricate web of secrets and conspiracies in this book that you just never quite knew what was real vs speculation and what would happen next!
Amelia aka Mae was the perfect heroine for this story! She was strong and independent but vulnerable and a bit of a loner. She was so driven and I think that really helped the bottom line of this story. She wouldn’t take people at their word and needed to find out the truth herself. Her curiosity and rigid back bone proved to work in her favor though out the suspenseful torture the author put us through. She was so sassy and smart. I couldn’t find a single thing to dislike about her.
I couldn’t get enough of Logan “Fitz” Fitzgerald!!!!! He may have been a total jerk in the beginning but oh my goodness did he make me swoon by the end! His character was so complex and guarded. I loved how he slowly peeled back layers of himself to Mae over the course of the read. He totally won me over.
I absolutely enjoyed the fact that romance was not the focus of this story. It was there, hiding in the darkest corners of the writing and really allowed the story to flow unconstrained by a relationship or feelings. Yes, there was some incredible intimacy, but it wasn’t the sole focus which worked so well for this particular book!
The only thing that kept this book from being 5 stars for me was the ending chapters. It felt so rushed and left a bit open ended. There was so much suspense and anticipating built up over the course of the book, that it felt like the author didn’t do the ending justice by rushing through it. I would have preferred a duet for this story.
atwade's review against another edition
2.0
i didn’t like this book. not one thing about it. i don’t feel like writing a review for it either
thebookishren's review against another edition
5.0
GENRE/TROPES: NA, College
POV: 1st, Dual
SERIES: Secret Society, Book 1, Standalone
STEAM LEVEL:
apagetoturn's review against another edition
5.0
Holy effing plot twist Batman! Also, the audio version is amazing!! So good! I was completely invested and finished in less than 13 hours!
linzreadz13's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5 Stars*
I loved this story! The mystery, intrigue, suspense, and the setting were all perfect.
This is not your typical romance, the suspense and mystery take front and center while the romance is a slow-burn addition to the story. Logan is the perfect mysterious bad boy and I love him so much! He was everything I wanted him to be. Amelia, “Mia,” is strong, determined, and so daring. I loved how self-confident she is, even when she finds herself in some precarious situations.
I have read a lot of thrillers/mysteries and most of the time I can see the twist coming, or figure out who done it, but this one threw me for a giant loop! I haven’t read many books with secret societies but I think I might have just found a new favorite trope!
I’m really glad that this is just the first book in a series. I have some unanswered questions and I can’t wait to see where all of this goes with some of the other characters that I like so much!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
I loved this story! The mystery, intrigue, suspense, and the setting were all perfect.
This is not your typical romance, the suspense and mystery take front and center while the romance is a slow-burn addition to the story. Logan is the perfect mysterious bad boy and I love him so much! He was everything I wanted him to be. Amelia, “Mia,” is strong, determined, and so daring. I loved how self-confident she is, even when she finds herself in some precarious situations.
I have read a lot of thrillers/mysteries and most of the time I can see the twist coming, or figure out who done it, but this one threw me for a giant loop! I haven’t read many books with secret societies but I think I might have just found a new favorite trope!
I’m really glad that this is just the first book in a series. I have some unanswered questions and I can’t wait to see where all of this goes with some of the other characters that I like so much!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.