Book series by English writer Cathy Hopkins and a sequel/crossover to her Mates, Dates series.
The series follows the lives of five friends - Cat, Becca, Lia, Mac and Squidge - living in Cornwall and facing typical teenage problems and challenges. Each book is told from the perspective of a different character, with their plot somehow relating to the eponymous 'Truth, Dare, Kiss or Promise' game.
The books provide examples of:
- Alpha Bitch: Kaylie in Teen Queens. Subverted by the end of the book when all the other girls realise no one really likes her and her popularity is largely manufactured.
- Beautiful Singing Voice: Becca enters a national singing competition and makes it to the finals in Pop Princess.
- Better as Friends: Cat/Squidge and Becca/Mac.
- Blended Family Drama: Cat and her new step-mum Jen in the final book. While they like each other, Cat struggles with no longer being the oldest girl of the house, while Jen has to cope with a new teenage "daughter". They settle down as friends by the end.
- Blonde Brunette Red Head: Lia, Cat and Becca respectively.
- Brainy Brunette: Brunette Cat is generally the most sensible member of the group. Subverted with Lia who is the most academic but a blonde.
- Brutal Honesty: Cat vows to be completely truthful for one week in White Lies. Cue offending all her friends and family.
- The Bully: Kaylie makes Lia miserable enough to try and leave the school, and it's revealed she's bullied multiple other girls as well.
- The Casanova: Ollie, who has half the girls in Cornwall (including Becca initially) after him and however many more in London. The crossover with Mates, Dates kicks off when Cat and TJ realise he's been seeing both of them.
- Casanova Wannabe: Mac tries to be more of a player, but is too nice to pull it off.
- The Charmer: Ollie again.
- Childhood Friend: Squidge and Cat since they were tiny, and Becca since primary school.
- Contrasting Sequel Main Character: The main characters of the original series lived in London and were all girls in the same year at school. The gang here live in a country village and are a mixed group across different years.
- Crossover: Characters from Mates, Dates are mentioned throughout the series and play bigger roles in the final few books.
- Dreadful Musician: Played with. Becca is a good singer (see Beautiful Singing Voice above) but she's a terrible song writer as the others try to tell her.
- Fiery Red Head: Red-haired Becca is the most impulsive and emotional of the girls.
- Good Step Mother: Jen, Mr Kennedy's new girlfriend/wife. While there are speedbumps when she first moves in, she's kind, understanding and happy to take on four new children despite the stress.
- Grand Romantic Gesture: Squidge becomes so well-known for these that the other characters start calling it "pulling a Squidge."
- Happily Married: Both Lia and Squidge's parents. Cat's parents before her mum died.
- Averted by Becca's parents who frequently argue and split up over their different lifestyles.
- Insecure Love Interest: Both ways for Lia and Squidge, with Lia worrying she's too boring for the popular Squidge, while Squidge is scared he can't give the wealthy Lia the life and experiences she deserves. They work through it by the end of the series.
- Ladykiller in Love: Subverted. Ollie does genuinely fall for Cat and they date on and off. However, it's not enough for him to get his act together and she eventually moves on with his much nicer friend Jamie.
- Like Brother and Sister: Cat and Squidge grew up together and are dating at the beginning of the series, but admit there are No Sparks and they're better suited as friends.
- Missing Mum: Cat's mum died several years before the series.
- New Transfer Student: Lia moves from London in the first book.
- Nice Guy: Both Squidge and Mac.
- Official Couple: Lia and Squidge, whose relationship gets the most focus in the series and are the only pair who last long-term.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: The whole group. Cat (Catherine), Becca (Rebecca), Lia (Ophelia), Squidge (Jack Squires), Mac (Tom Macey).
- Opposites Attract: Outgoing, goofy Squidge and quiet, introverted Lia.
- Promotion to Parent: Cat to her three younger siblings since their mum's death. She has to adjust to being a more normal teenager once her Dad remarries in the final book.
- The Quiet One: Lia is this amongst her extroverted family which is a source of insecurity for her.
- Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: Wealthy family friend Michael versus small-town Squidge for Lia in Midsummer Meltdown. She picks Squidge.
- Single Woman Seeks Good Man: Cat gets tired of Ollie's two-timing and falls for his friend Jamie, who isn't as attractive but sweeter and funnier.
- Shrinking Violet: Lia is kind and friendly but painfully shy despite coming from a rich, loving family (and being attractive and brainy to boot). Becca lampshades this, saying it's crazy that Lia has everything going for her but is the most insecure person she knows.
- Small Towns: Cawsand, the setting of the series, is a real-life village in Cornwall. Cat's dad, Mac's mum and Squidge's parents are well-known figures in the community as the local shopkeeper, owner of the B&B, hairdresser and mechanic respectively.
- The Ditz: Both Becca and her dad.
- True Companions: The whole gang to each other.
- Uptown Girl: Lia (daughter of celebrity millionaires) to Squidge (son of the local mechanic and hairdresser).
- Visit by Divorced Dad: Inverted. Mac goes to stay with his Dad in Double Dare.
- Likewise Becca goes for regular visits to her Dad after her parents split up in Love Lottery.
- Weight Woe: Becca frequently worries about being too curvy, though the rest of the characters think she looks great.
- White Sheep: The Axfords jokingly refer to Lia as this, as she's gentle and down-to-earth compared to her rockstar father, model mother and sister, and aspiring actor brother.
- Wise Beyond Her Years: Cat, thanks to her Mum dying and having to step up to hold the family together.
- Wrong Guy First: Becca initially hooks up with Lal Lovering, before realising she prefers his older brother Steve.
