Horn Book Review
This follow-up to Pretenders continues the conceit: five popular freshmen at Noble High reveal their secrets in private diaries and journals that have since been leaked by one of their own. This entertaining entry offers more closure than its predecessor, but, despite its varied voices and clever formats, it still feels a bit like a Gossip Girl knockoff. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
The mysterious X, who stole the private journals of five high-school freshmen in order to publish them, admits up front to intentionally crafting an unsatisfying end to Pretenders (2013) to lure in readers for more. This sequel teases more closure to the mystery, as the five maneuver their way out of trouble, whether that trouble is relationships, fake identities, or even being duped into a pyramid scam. But closure isn't the point of this episodic series: the characters' solutions only raise more problems. Even lighter on plot than its predecessor, this fast-paced teenage exposé will be popular with fans of the first book, though how many return for the third will depend on their patience with Harrison's delaying tactics.--Hutley, Krista Copyright 2014 Booklist
