I think it really helped that I didn't know anything about the book going in. I saw it on Netgalley, requested it (because it's E Lockhart) and then totally forgot about it until it popped up in my emails. I didn't read the blurb or any other reviews, so I had no clue about the background of the characters or the structure of the plot. Everything was a surprise so the twists the author had built in came as a total surprise.
I loved the structure of the book - it's written in reverse, like Memento. I guess it was a bit of a gimmick, but it was fun and interesting. There were a few small hints in each chapter about what had just happened (and would be coming up in the next chapter, which kept things suspenseful.
The plot itself is lifted by the fact that the story is written in reverse. It's kind of a retelling of The Talented Mr Ripley and the big draw for me was that I started off with one set of expectations and an image of Jule in my head and gradually my whole perception changed, which wouldn't have been the case if the book had been written chronologically.
All in all this was a pretty decent book and I'm glad I read it.
I received a copy of Genuine Fraud in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and Hot Key Books.
4 stars