Review: Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: November 10th, 2015
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher **I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Rating: 1.5/5
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A teen is forced to make a fresh start after witnessing a violent crime—but love and danger find her anyway in this novel from Becca Fitzpatrick, theNew York Times bestselling author of the Hush, Hush saga.

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.

After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.

But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.

As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…

I think my love for Becca Fiztpatrick's books piqued with her Hush, Hush series. And since I read them years ago I kind of don't want to re-read them in case I find out that I've outgrown that love. But having read Black Ice last year and finding it just good enough. And now with Dangerous Lies being not good enough. It seems her books are going down hill for me and that has me concerned that maybe it's time for a break-up. I don't want it to get to the point where it's terrible. So maybe the smart thing to do is to keep the fun memories of reading the Hush, Hush series and call it the end?

I'm going to do this review a bit differently because my issue with Dangerous Lies is the MC, Stella. For a character driven reader like myself, there was no way I could like this book with her as the MC. The writing was fine. The mystery had me turning the pages, when Stella was trying to get me to DNF. Although that being said, the ending was super anticlimactic and pretty much destroyed any enjoyment I was feeling.
Anyhow, here's my open letter to, Stella.

Stella, 

Here's my thing; I'm sorry your mom choose drugs over you. It sucks you witnessed a murder because of that. And it really blows that you're in the witness protection because of all of that. I understand you've left your life, your friends, everything you know. You're fretting over your safety. BUT that does not excuse you being a spoiled unappreciated brat with a piss poor attitude. You lashing out at the people risking their necks to protect you in no way makes me feel for you. In fact I see it as why even brother. Go ahead, move away from your safe house and see if you can keep yourself safe from some kind of mafia without any help. 

Seriously, I can empathize with your terrible situation. And I could excuse some anger. Because that would be natural. But you sure have a fucked up way of repaying the people doing their job to get you away from the danger your life was in. You're beyond rude to the US marshal accompanying you to your safe house. And than you have the nerve to not even say hello to Carmina(a retired cop) as you meet her for the first time; a women who has volunteered to house you. feed you, keep your secret safe, and you safe. It's like you feel it's your job to make her life miserable. And for what reason? You haven't even said hello to the women and you're already out to discredit her. What in the world... Your entitlement issues are misplaced.

Let's talk boyfriends. Which to me is hilarious. So you left, Reed, a guy you love and through being your boyfriend has now had to go into witness protection as well. Your thoughts are centered around him and how you can get to him, until the hot country boy next door has you intrigued. Chet is a good  and nice guy who is carrying a lot of guilt. The way I see it, you definitely don't deserve him. And I don't know how he's so blind to your true colours because it's not like you keep them undercover. Your insensitivity shines through. I do know that if Chet could read your mind, or knew all those thoughts you had upon meeting him and the subsequent interactions, he would want nothing to do with you. So much for grieving over, Reed. 

There were times when I was starting to warm up to you. Times when I was getting the impression you were maturing and growing up. Just getting a better attitude. But every single time your selfish, judgmental, insensitive and malicious words and thoughts would give me a nice big slap in the face. And thus be reminded that you are in fact, an asshole. I mean the dead baby bit. What in the actual fuck? Who in their right mind ever ever thinks like that? It left me feeling disgusted.

"I wondered if Inny ever wished it would die. No one wanted to give birth to a dead baby, but then again, no one wanted to be pregnant at sixteen, either" pg 210

You are self-centered and are one of those people that feels likes the world just owes them as you seem to know everything; how to act, react, what people deserve, etc... You can get off your high horse. Your lack of altruism will get you nowhere in life.

What you need to do, Stella is get over yourself. You definitely need good people in your life like Carmina and Chet. But firstly you need to talk to someone. I believe a good dose of therapy could do your life and attitude wonders. Like I said, you were in a fucked up situation. So even for someone that is an actual nice human being I would think therapy would be a must. You need time to reflect and having a professional help give you a major attitude adjustment might just make you a better woman. Otherwise I am glad to be out of your head because now I need to simmer down my irritation and annoyance; you sure had no problem keeping your finger on those buttons.

Good riddance,

Brittany