Summers are supposed to be fun, right? Not mine. I’ve got a job at my dad’s company, which is sponsoring a college scholarship competition. I just found out that, in addition to my job assisting the competing interns, I’m supposed to vote for the winner. Totally not what I signed up for. My boss is running the competition like it’s an episode of Survivor. Then there’s Carlos, who is, well, very … who is, well, very distracting–in a good way. But I can’t even think about him like that because fraternizing on the job means instant disqualification for the intern involved.
As if that’s not enough, an anonymous informant with insider intel is trying to sabotage my dad’s company on social media…and I’m afraid it’s working.
Much as I’d love to quit, I can’t. Kristoffs Never Quit is our family motto. I just hope there’s more than one survivor by the end of this summer.
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I’m not usually one for contemporary books, but I will set down any other book I’m reading to read one of Lisa Brown Roberts’ books. She is the funniest writer out there and she writes the swooniest, blush-worthy scenes. Her guys are swoony as anything and her gals are so relatable. I always love Lisa’s books and this is no exception! Do not mis out on any of her books, including this one—she even gives us the ability to vicariously live on a trip to Comic Con with a hottie guy and fabulous friends. Definitely a great book to relax and laugh with!
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Erica –
Laurel wants to spend time with her workaholic father, the geeky dad who used to spend a ton of time with her. She’s willing to do anything, even be the assistant/spy to the new set of interns.
In this young adult novel, not only is the connection between a daughter and father explored, but also that between friends. How perception is reality and first impressions aren’t accurate descriptions of the real person deep inside.
From outward appearances, Laurel looks to be a spoiled, rich daddy’s girl who has the world at her fingertips and not a care in the world. While the other interns duke it out in a survivor-like competition to win a full scholarship, they resent the girl who is there to help them, seeing her as she appears to be.
Each intern has their own set of challenges and strife, which makes Laurel feel as if her need to spend time with her father is indulgent and not important. Settling for a few minutes to and from work in the car is worth working a 9-to-5 for Laurel.
Laurel doesn’t come off as whiny or spoiled or entitled, so I got her position. When surrounded by people who all have deeper issues than you, what you’re going through is trivialized, like it’s not important. It is important. Life isn’t a competition to see who has it worse, to the point you don’t need help/attention/love because your lot in life isn’t as bad as someone else’s. Everyone is equally important.
Laurel was surrounded by people who put out into the world, “let’s talk about me, because your issues aren’t as important as mine,” which feels narcissistic and dismissive, not true friend-like behavior, when she was already putting everyone else first.
Amongst the angst, Laurel’s longtime crush is one of the interns, when he doesn’t even remember her name after an entire school career together, along with another employee’s daughter, who has never given her the time of day. The other three interns are strangers, and more willing to get to know Laurel.
The bond that forms between them was sweet, while their real-life issues will be sure to resonate with every reader. The crush of budding first love, while getting to know one another as friends first was sweet, broody, and angsty deliciousness.
The ‘mystery’ of the novel was predictable, and I wished another character was chosen as the villain of the story, but it created a fast-paced, addictive page-turner of a read.
I definitely recommend Spies, Lies, and Allies to young adults and those young at heart, looking for a fun, light, yet equally emotionally deep novel. Lisa Brown Roberts has become my go-to young adult fix.
Young Adult age-range: 12+, includes kissing and cussing.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Spies, Lies, and Allies by Lisa Brown Roberts to read and review.
4.5*
Although I’m no longer the demographic for them, (at least age-wise!), I’m a total sucker for sweet contemporary young adult novels like Spies, Lies, and Allies. Maybe because I can vicariously relive my youth through them? Maybe because I wish my teen years were as fun and entertaining as they’re made out to be in books? Maybe because I wish the hot jock had fallen for me???
All of the above could quite possibly be true! But I think it’s mostly because they offer a true escape from the real world, and I can just spend a few hours enjoying someone else’s trials and tribulations, unrequited crushes and broken hearts, knowing everything is going to be okay in the end.
And Spies, Lies, and Allies was the perfect escape. You may not find any broken hearts here, but you will find a terrific cast of characters, a little mystery, some secrets, a boss who takes things just a little too seriously, and even an adorable romance. It’s everything you’d want in a summer read.
I loved the friendships that developed and how family played such an important part in this book. At first there was an uneasy relationship between Laurel and the interns, but as the summer went on and they got to know each other, and had time to work together, they really became a team. And the budding romance brought out all the feelings and insecurities every high school girl faces- heightened by the fact that is was quite forbidden! I got a kick out of the pop culture references and how Laurel was able to work Star Wars into just about every situation.
I really liked Laurel’s character and seeing her grow as a person during the course of the book. She started out seemingly not quite sure of herself or her place in things, but by the end she had definitely come into her own. Her relationship with her dad played a big part in the story, and it was rather endearing. Laurel learned a lot about him, and saw him in a very different light, which was quite an eye-opener for her!
Spies, Lies, and Allies is such a fun, sweet read. Lots of great light-hearted moments mixed in with a few more serious scenes. This was a solid 4* story throughout, but the last 25% or so is really what solidified this one for me, when everything started to come together and I unexpectedly got hit right in the feels.
I really enjoyed this YA contemporary romance. It was cute and hit all the right marks. My only wish was for more kissing, but it was wonderful despite my selfish wish. 🙂