Paperback: 559
Publisher: Piatkus Books
Published: 2022
Language: English
Rating: 5 / 5 stars
It is the end of an era and no one is crying harder than I am 😭
I started this series with no expectations and half certain I would cringe every few scenes, but instead I stumbled upon a new favourite author and a cast of characters that left such an impression that I cannot imagine not knowing of them and not reading about their adventures every chance I get.
And Twisted Lies might just be my favourite of the bunch.
Stella Alonso is a perfectionist. A social media queen with an aesthetic lifestyle and a very well organized daily routine. She prioritizes her health and her studies, always makes time for friends and her general kindness shines through her every pore.
Or so it was.
Because the moment her life is threatened by a dangerous stalker, she has to give up control and learn to navigate her daily tasks under the microscope of tech genius and security CEO Christian Harper. Broody, older and mysterious? Yes, please 😌
The irony isn't lost on me here seeing as they are both control freaks with strict routines that clash more often than not. What could possibly go wrong with living together?
The answer is a lot, but you might have to discover that yourselves.
Alas, this is not a book synopsis, so let's get a closer look, shall we?
As a content creator myself, I related a lot to Stella. I understood her need to carefully curate her public image, the safety measures she put in place in order to avoid unpleasant incidents or even danger, and, most of all, the absolute mess that takes over one's space during the process of taking one Instagram photo 😂
During the first half of the novel we can see her perfectionist tendencies taking over her life as she is fighting for her dream collaboration. And as ambition takes charge and the clock keeps ticking, control turns to recklessness in her new pursuit: 1 million followers, a big milestone that seems to be close enough, yet just out of reach. So, naturally, she enlists the help of her closed off landlord who just oh so very conveniently happens to be one of the most sought after bachelors.
The second half of the novel is where the fun and spice begins and all I am going to say is don't let appearances deceive you, otherwise you might end up like me, jaw on the floor and tea dripping on my lap from an upturned mug as a result of shock and intrigue 🤭 might have to invest in a purple unicorn, who knows, it might attract a Christian Harper gallivanting in the wild 🤔
Look, it is a romance book and I knew what I was getting myself into when I decided to pick it up. I was ready for every cliché and cheesy moment and tear inducing scene.
But that doesn't mean I can't make some jokes about it.
The main trope of the novel is fake dating and if you've been here for a while, then you know it is one of my all time favourites. I like the angst and the banter in the beginning that slowly develops into warmer feelings over time. This time around though, I was genuinely worried that they might not make it to the end and I was so tempted, far too many times, to just read the epilogue, just in case 👀
I believe that is a testament to Ana Huang's talent for writing suspense.
I know romance is supposed to make the reader fall for the main character, but I always go for the sidekick and that rule doesn't exclude plot lines. Stella's 'will they, won't they' love story is obviously the elephant in the room, but I was far more invested in the personal side of things and the way she grew and matured, learning to prioritize the right facets of life, set boundaries when needed and get out of her head when social media stats got overwhelming.
While I don't watch the numbers anymore, there was still a time when every new follower was a win in my book and every unfollow meant I made a mistake along the way so, naturally, I'd rack my brains to find the error. I certainly understand where Stella is coming from, checking the counts time and again, adjusting angles and searching for the most appealing content ideas. But not anymore. Not for me and certainly not for our protagonist, because life behind a screen is no life worth living without some semblance of balance.
I certainly learned a lot from Stella's experiences, despite her basically being a figment of someone's imagination. I find that fictional characters, especially those with important lessons to learn or a strong redemption arc, are the best to look up to when at a crossroad.
And to think I initially wanted to skip this book 😂
Okay, confession time: the pet names were my absolute undoing. Those were the very reason I started this series in the first place and they did not disappoint. It helps that they also continue in Ana Huang's other novels 👀 despite the first book being more 'meh' plot wise, I melted on the spot the second that man called Ava 'Sunshine'.
Christian's 'Butterfly' is definitely a close second 🤭
And speaking of Christian, I think he just one upped Josh. I did not think that would be possible, but here we are.
If you are looking for a beautifully written, emotionally charged and most importantly, cozy series to binge over the holidays, I strongly encourage you to give the Twisted bunch a chance. It will not disappoint and you might find yourself clearing out a whole shelf just so you can better display your new favourites 🤭
