Review: Secrets and Lies

Book Two of the Capital Girls series
By Ella Monroe
Available now from St. Martin's Griffin
Review copy
Read my review of CAPITAL GIRLS

The Capital Girls are back!  Jackie is dealing with a stalker, Lettie is threatened with deportation, Laura Beth's boyfriend's parents are accused of being terrorists, and Whitney just wants to return to LA.  Just another day on the Hill.

I liked that SECRETS AND LIES called out a few of its sillier aspects in this entry.  It's pointed out that gossip about the president and her generation matters a lot more than whatever their kids are doing.  One of her classmates calls her out for continuing to hate DC unreasonably after several months.  Jackie rolls her eyes about Laura Beth worrying about a guy when one of her best friends might have to leave the country.  SECRETS AND LIES is still soapy fun, but it has a bit of perspective.

I liked Whitney's machinations in the first Capital Girls book, but she's wearing out her welcome.  She's a lame, ineffectual villain.  (Also, calling them the Crapital Girls isn't that clever.  Please stop.)  Luckily the extremely creepy stalker and aspiring kidnapper is on the scene to pick up the slack.  I think I know who it is, but whoever it is does add a bit of a chill factor, mostly due to one scene near the end of SECRETS AND LIES.

There's also some new romantic developments, of course.  There might be a love triangle on the horizon, unfortunately, but hopefully it will get cut off at the knees.  The girl involved, Jackie, isn't particularly pleased when the guys show signs of fighting over her.  She leaves both of them alone in a maneuver that I applaud.

I continue to be entertained by the Capital Girls.  SECRETS AND LIES had some interesting new twists, so I'll probably be back for the third book in the series.  I recommend these books to anyone looking for a slightly more clever, slightly more political Gossip Girl.