Make Me A Liar

Landers, Melissa. Make Me A Liar

December 5, 2023 by Disney Hyperion

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Tia Dante is a Head-Hopper, although she prefers the term "immersionist". She can go into someone's consciousness and take over their body. The government has said that people with this ability have to register, but Tia hasn't. Instead, she has a small business renting herself out so that she can break up with people, explain difficult situations to parents, or in the latest case, beat up a bully who is making Josh's life difficult. Besides the money, Tia enjoys trading bodies with people because she has many food allergies, so part of her contract is that she gets to have a major food fest while in the other person's body. After beating up Josh's bully, she's in a local diner and sees Nash, her old boyfriend who broke up with her so he could date women at college. As they are reconnecting, news comes on the television; attorney Ben Mitchell was shot and killed... by Tia's body. Since she has taken precautions to lock her unconscious body up in a shed, this is quite odd. She switches back and has to go to the police station, but they are somewhat understanding and believe that she didn't kill Mitchell. She doesn't even get in trouble for not having registered. She decides to investigate the murder, and gets a lot of help from Nash. The two reconnect, and she learns some secrets, like the fact that he is not only an immersionist, but is involved in an immersionists' rights group at college. Investigating the crime takes her down some dark paths, and she spends a lot of time with Blade, the son of the local mafia leader. She ends up owing him a favor, and he eventually asks her to take over his body to do something for him. It turns out that Mitchell was not a good guy, angered many people, and was also involved with the mafia, but is the killer someone closer to his personal life? 

Strengths: This was a well constructed fantasy book that made being an immersionist seem perfectly logical. Aside from Tia's ability to change bodies being central to the murder, this really was more of a detective thriller. It was fun to watch Tia reconnect with Nash, and younger readers will find Blade as weirdlyy enticing as Tia does. Since she's in high school, Tia has a lot of freedom to go out and about, especially since her mother is dead. Her father, however, is supportive, even though we don't see a lot of him. Tia's experiences in other people's bodies was fascinating, and when Nash takes over her body briefly, he is surprised at how achey it is; she has PMS. The mystery is also quite well developed, and took a lot of twists and turns. Quite a fun way to pass the afternoon. This would make a great television series! 
Weaknesses: Tia sounded like she was forty. She had way too many skills and connections to investigate the mysteries. Also, this was so full of casual vulgarities that it really sounded more like adult fiction. There is one f-word, but it's the small mentions of "alpha dicks", Tia flashing her bra covered chest to distract someone, and some genital related humor that places this firmly in the YA category. It's not overly gratuitous, but there is a fair amount of it. 
What I really think: I really enjoyed reading this, and I loved Landers' Blastaway, but will leave this title for the high schools to purchase. I can see fans of Price's Starters or teen thrillers loving this one. I would buy it for a high school or public library collection.