My life shattered in two weeks.
Now, I’m trapped in California, living with family I don’t want to know, and forced to attend Twisted Pine Academy — the elite school where secrets aren’t kept . . . they’re buried.
Twisted Pine isn’t just a school. It’s a battleground. And my cousins? They’re leading the war.
Then there’s Jackson Novak.
Dangerous. Untouchable. My cousins’ sworn enemy.
His past is tied to theirs in ways I don’t understand. But when he touches me, I forget everything . . . even the warning signs.
I’m caught between family loyalty and a man who could break me. Every touch, every glance, every whispered word could cost me more than I’m willing to lose.
But the deeper I fall, the more I realize, nothing is what it seems.
In a world like this, betrayal isn’t just expected — it’s inevitable.
And the more I try to run, the more I realize: there’s no escaping them, or the twisted game they’re forcing me into.
🖤 Forbidden love
🖤 Dark secrets
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Family loyalties
Choc Lit is giving Kai Juniper’s bestselling Twisted Pine Academy series a fresh new start, with Twisted Lies releasing on 10 March 2026.
KAI JUNIPER
Kai Juniper writes steamy contemporary romance books featuring fierce heroines and the alpha men who fall hard for them. Known for twisty drama, sharp angst, and page-turning chemistry, Kai’s stories deliver big emotions, bold love, and satisfying happily-ever-afters—always with the heat turned up.
My Review
Holding On When Everything Falls Apart
This story affected me far more deeply than I expected. At its core is sudden, life-altering loss – the kind that gives you no time to prepare and no space to breathe before everything changes. The grief in these pages feels raw and immediate. It isn’t dramatised or softened. It lingers beneath every interaction, shaping reactions, choices, and the way trust is given – or withheld.
I felt incredibly protective of Rumor from the very beginning. She’s young, displaced, and trying to navigate a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar and conditional. More than anything, I wanted someone in her life to simply pause and ask if she was okay. That absence of emotional safety creates an undercurrent of loneliness that carries through the entire book. Although set within a high school environment, the emotional themes feel far more mature. This is a story layered with family loyalties, reputation, and the quiet pressure of expectation. There are dark secrets simmering beneath polished surfaces, and you can sense that not everything is as controlled as it first appears.
The romance adds another layer of tension. While the story carries the promise of enemies-to-lovers energy, this first instalment leans more into divided loyalties, guarded attraction, and the uncertainty of trusting someone when you’re at your most vulnerable. There’s a sense that deeper conflict may be coming, but here the connection feels fragile and risky rather than openly combative — and that subtle edge kept me both hopeful and uneasy.
What impressed me most was how expansive the cast feels without ever becoming confusing. The family dynamics are layered and charged, yet the story unfolds with clarity. Every interaction adds depth rather than chaos, which made the world feel immersive and intentional. When I began this book, I wasn’t entirely sure if it would be for me. But the emotional depth surprised me. Yes, the characters are young — but the pain, displacement, loyalty, and longing explored here are universal. By the final pages, I wasn’t just curious about what happens next — I was genuinely concerned for Rumor’s future. That kind of emotional investment speaks volumes.
This is an intense, emotionally driven start to the series — one built on forbidden love, buried truths, and the complicated ties that bind families together. And I’m already bracing myself for what comes next.
#KaiJuniper #TwistedLies #TwistedPine
#Choclit #BookFunnel #BookReview
See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines. This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication. Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Choc Lit (A Joffe Books company) via BookFunnel and NetGalley. This review reflects my own reading experience. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.
© 2026 MoMoBookDiary
MoMoBookDiary 
Leave a comment