Dickens & Rumi
Cover of LYING GAME

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LYING GAME

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Sara Shepard

Is LYING GAME appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Twin sisters sort through a tangle of lies in search of the truth. (Ages 14 and up)

Ages 14+Book 1 · The Lying GameSource checked

Why this age? Best suited to mature teens because of murder-related suspense, threats, emotional manipulation, teen drinking, romantic situations and complex secrets. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 14+
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Alcohol or drugs 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Creativity & curiosity 2/5
Series positionBook 1 · The Lying Game
Recommendation2.3/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Best suited to mature teens because of murder-related suspense, threats, emotional manipulation, teen drinking, romantic situations and complex secrets. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 14+Main watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 2.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
17Scored categories
17Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 31, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth17 scored categories17 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Alcohol or drugs3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity2/5
  • Good role models2/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 2 · NEVER HAVE I EVERStrongest cautions: Frightening scenes 4/5 · Death of a character 3/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · LYING GAMEAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Romance3/5Violence3/5Products & advertising2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5LGBTQIA characters1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 1 · THE LYING GAMEAges 14+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  3. Book 2 · NEVER HAVE I EVERAges 14+
    Frightening scenes4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Romance3/5Products & advertising2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5
    Gets more intense
  4. Book 3 · Two Truths and a Lie
    Frightening scenes4/5Death of a character3/5Romance3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  5. Book 4 · Hide and Seek
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5LGBTQIA characters3/5Romance3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  6. Book 5 · Cross My Heart, Hope to Die
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  7. Book 6 · Seven Minutes in Heaven
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5LGBTQIA characters3/5Romance3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Products & advertising2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5
    Gets more intense

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

Lower cautionsTry something gentlerLIGHTLARK SAGAOpen review →Similar fitCompare another titleTHE WAY I USED TO BECompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than LYING GAME. Open each review for the details.

LIGHTLARK SAGAAlex AsterAges 14+7 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKThe SingingAlison Croggon · 2008Ages 13+6 points lighter on published cautionsHADESAlexandra AdornettoAges 14+5 points lighter on published cautionsHALOAlexandra AdornettoAges 13+5 points lighter on published cautions

What’s in it?

Products & advertising2/5
Why this rating?

References to upscale lifestyle and brands associated with wealthy teen social settings.

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

The entire premise revolves around the murder of the protagonist's twin sister.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Minimal graphic physical detail, focusing more on the mystery of the death.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional strong language and mean-spirited insults characteristic of teen social conflicts.

LGBTQIA characters1/5
Why this rating?

Minor representation within the diverse cast of high school students.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Features typical high school romance, crushes, and complicated relationship dynamics.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

A teen faces stalking, threats, deception, and danger while trying to uncover a murder. Suspense and fear are sustained throughout, though the book is thriller-style rather than graphic horror.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Contains teen sexual themes, innuendo, and references to sexual experiences.

Alcohol or drugs3/5
Why this rating?

Teen characters frequently attend parties with underage drinking and drug use.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Includes descriptions of past bullying and the implications of the murder investigation.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist shows bravery in investigating the murder despite the danger.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Encourages interest in mystery-solving and deductive reasoning.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Attempts to show a varied group of students with differing socioeconomic and personal backgrounds.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Incidental lessons on critical thinking and social dynamics.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Kindness is rare in the cutthroat social environment, though some supportive connections exist.

Positive messages2/5
Why this rating?

The story highlights the damage caused by lies, secrets, betrayal and social pressure, while valuing truth and accountability.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters often exhibit poor behavior, though the protagonist seeks justice.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in LYING GAME would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in LYING GAME, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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You’re hereLYING GAME
THE WAY I USED TO BEAmber SmithAges 16+LIGHTLARK SAGAAlex AsterAges 14+Ace of ShadesAmanda Foody · 2018Ages 14+EONAAlison GoodmanAges 14+

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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