Books Like...

'All Fall Down' in the series 'Embassy Row' by Ally Carter follows the main protagonist, Grace Blakely, a teenage girl battling PTSD after witnessing her mother's murder. Grace returns to Embassy Row to live with her grandfather, the US ambassador, and starts investigating the head of the British Prime Minister's security. The story unfolds with mystery, espionage, and deceit, as Grace navigates her past, her friendships, and the dangerous world of international diplomacy.

'I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You' is a young adult novel that follows Cammie Morgan, a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a school for spies in training. Cammie navigates the challenges of balancing her secret spy life with her first crush, a normal boy named Josh, whom she meets during a covert ops mission. As she struggles to keep her identity hidden from Josh, Cammie relies on her friends and spy skills to maintain the facade of a typical teenager while unraveling the complexities of first love and espionage. The writing style is described as light-hearted, humorous, and engaging, blending elements of romance, action, and teenage drama within the backdrop of a unique spy school setting.

The plot of 'I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You' is praised for its originality, combining the familiar themes of first crushes and teenage drama with the exciting twist of a spy school. The characters, especially Cammie and her friends, are highlighted as relatable and well-developed, adding depth to the story. The book is commended for its fun and entertaining narrative, filled with humor, action, and light-hearted moments that appeal to a wide range of readers, particularly teens and young adults.

'Portrait of a Thief' by Grace D. Li is a novel that delves into the complexities of diaspora, family, and big dreams. The story follows a group of college students on a mission to reclaim stolen art and return it to its country of origin. The book explores themes of identity, struggles with familial expectations, and the impact of colonialism on Chinese Americans. Through a mix of suspenseful heists and introspective moments, the characters navigate friendship, ambition, and the pursuit of justice, all while grappling with their own imperfections and the weight of their heritage.

'Little White Lies' by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows the story of eighteen-year-old Sawyer Taft, who unexpectedly finds herself immersed in high society debutante season after her estranged grandmother offers her a lucrative contract. Sawyer seizes the opportunity to uncover the mystery of her father's identity, leading her into a world of secrets, scandals, and unexpected friendships. As Sawyer navigates through the glittering facade of her grandmother's world, she unravels twisted relationships and deceit, all while seeking the truth about her own origins.

The plot unfolds with Sawyer delving into the complexities of her new life as a debutante, encountering betrayals, blackmail, and unexpected twists along the way. The narrative combines elements of mystery, drama, and southern charm, as Sawyer's journey to uncover the truth about her family's past intertwines with the intricacies of high society, creating a compelling and engaging story for the reader.

The Hot Rock by Donald Westlake is a comedic heist novel featuring John Dortmunder and his crew of New York robbers. The plot revolves around Dortmunder and his team attempting to steal a priceless gem, but due to a series of mishaps, they end up having to pull off multiple heists to secure the jewel. The writing style is described as funny, engaging, and fast-paced, with quirky and eccentric characters adding to the humor and entertainment value of the story. The book offers a series of capers that keep readers engaged, with each attempt to steal the gem resulting in unexpected twists and turns.

'Stars and Smoke' by Marie Lu is a thrilling young adult novel that follows the story of Winter Young, an international pop star, recruited by the Panacea Group to help take down a dangerous criminal, Eli Morrison. Winter is paired with Agent Sydney Cossette, a spy with a troubled past, to accomplish this covert mission. The book alternates between Winter and Sydney's points of view, as well as including mission logs from Sydney's handlers, creating a fast-paced and intriguing narrative filled with twists, danger, and unexpected connections. As Winter and Sydney navigate their mission and face various challenges, they find themselves developing a deep bond and must rely on each other to survive.

The story is filled with action, suspense, diverse characters, personal childhood traumas, and a slow-burn romance between Winter and Sydney. Marie Lu skillfully weaves together the narratives of the two protagonists, incorporating flashbacks to unravel their pasts and adding depth to their characters. With elements of espionage, mystery, and romance, 'Stars and Smoke' is a compelling blend of genres that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.

Seventeen-year-old Cassie, a natural at reading people, is recruited by the FBI to join a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to solve cold cases. The Naturals program consists of gifted teens with unusual skills working together to crack infamous cases, including a current serial killer on the loose. As Cassie delves deeper into the program, she realizes that danger looms closer than she ever imagined, with twists, suspense, and a lethal game of cat and mouse with the killer.

The book 'The Naturals' by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Cassie and her fellow Naturals as they navigate through profiling, mysteries, and chilling revelations. The plot intertwines elements of psychological thrillers, crime-solving, and teenage dynamics, offering a fast-paced narrative filled with engaging characters, intriguing cases, and a final twist that leaves readers hooked and eager to uncover more.

Imagine Shonda Rimes's Scandal ABC plunked into the middle of an elite private high school in Washington D.C. Now imagine the younger sister of an Olivia Pope like character she has no idea her sister is a Fixer, yet possesses some fixer like qualities herself and is quickly drawn into a political web of intrigue. Tess comes to live with her much older sister, Ivy, after her grandfather unravels into the throes of dementia. Ivy is busy, strict, and extremely powerful Tess doesn't know whether to be scared of her or love her, or both. After Tess becomes privy to some shocking information, she embarks on a life changing cycle of events that draws her into the underbelly of D.C. political life, showing her that perhaps she is not unlike her sister, after all. Barnes is the master of mystery, and The Fixer is a great fix for teens not quite ready to tackle the adult themes of Scandal. Fans of Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard and the Dead Is...series by Marlene Perez will enjoy Barnes's latest offering. Tess reluctantly comes to live with her mysterious older sister, Ivy, in Washington D.C. after her beloved grandfather can no longer care for her. She is homesick, not sure if she wants to live with her sister and has no interest in the political scene. Tess quickly learns that her sister is D.C.'s 1 Fixer, that is she is the go to problem solver for the rich and powerful in Washington. When Tess comes to the aid of a new friend she realizes that she may be more like her sister than she ever imagined. This is one of the best teen thrillers I have read in a long time. It is action packed and lots of twists and turns. I would highly recommend it to teens who are fans of Ally Carter and for anyone who likes a little action and adventure with their mystery. I hope that we see more of Tess in future books, she is a new favorite character of mine This review is based on a galley copy of the book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

The Sacred Art of Stealing by Christopher Brookmyre is a crime novel that revolves around DI de Xavier, a police officer involved in an unusual bank robbery. The book is described as a captivating and surprisingly believable story, with an ingeniously complicated plot that keeps the readers rooting for characters who might be considered as 'baddies'. The writing style is wry, darkly funny, and brilliantly evokes the local scenery of Glasgow, where the story is set.

'The Heist' in the Fox and O'Hare series by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg follows the story of a conman named Nick Fox who is caught by the FBI but is given the opportunity to continue his thieving ways with the assistance of FBI agent Kate O'Hare. The plot revolves around their partnership and the various capers they embark on, transitioning from a heist-focused narrative to more of an action-packed storyline as the series progresses. The writing style is described as light-hearted, funny, and easy to read, with elements of humor and entertainment that keep readers engaged throughout the book.