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emily_mh's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was entertaining enough to be a three star read, and it was refreshing to see sapphic rep in a YA thriller in the MC Luca. Luca, along with most of the other characters, is unlikeable. But I didn’t find this to be a flaw as I honestly thought her behaviour was a realistic reaction to losing her sister in such a violent way as a teen. I also loved the OCD-coded rep in her character.
Unfortunately that’s where my good things to say about this book run out. Ultimately my major criticism comes down the the fact that if you’re going to use cold cases to draw a reader in, you should probably solve those cold cases in your book, especially if you’ve repeatedly made the point that they are connected with the current case. This was not what happened in this story. To be absolutely clear: the only murder that is solved by the end is Luca’ sister’s death. It was such a colossal disappointment and really undermined the quality of the book, as all it boiled down to was a really basic rich-town thriller.
I also think the third-person POV was jarring, because the narrative voice sounded like it should be first-person, if that makes sense. It really took me out of the book when I was expecting to read “I” or “we” or whatever, and it was “Luca” instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Mental illness, Cursing, Racism, Child death, and Violence
Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Vomit, Pregnancy, Gore, Lesbophobia, Addiction, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Drug abuse, Classism, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Major: loss of a loved one Moderate: drowning Minor: missing loved one, menstruation, divorceavidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was pretty depressing I'll be honest, but at least with a semi-hopeful ending. I didn't see the murder coming. It was a good book overall. Just very dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Mental illness, Blood, Death, Murder, Medical content, Alcohol, and Self harm
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction and Vomit
kristiannaleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Self harm, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
Bad Things Happen Here is set in Parris, an island where the people living on it are well off and everything appears idyllic and perfect. However, the island is also ‘cursed’ as now and then, young women would die and the truth of their deaths never discovered. We follow Luca who is trying her best to heal from the mysterious death of her best friend, Polly, only for the ‘curse’ to suddenly claim her sister. Unwilling to let the police mark another beloved’s death as unsolved, Luca takes things into her own hands and does her best to solve her sister’s murder.
The main thing I liked about this book is the great representation. Luca is BIPOC, plus-sized and queer while Naomi, her love interest, is Asian. I also really liked the way some stereotypes were subverted. It made the characters more compelling and gave them depth that was crucial in making them more than just archetypes.
Unfortunately, despite the solid characters and the good twists, the final quarter of the book was a major let down. Though I liked that the story came to a full-circle at the end, the parts leading up to the ending lacked common sense to me. Sure, I get that Luca needed to get away from the place and that it would be pointless trying to reveal the truths, but to just up and leave without telling her parents? Her parents—both whom not long ago just buried their eldest child who was murdered, and then, witnessed the aftermath of their other child surviving another murder, only for said kid to vanish? That’s disgusting, unnecessary, selfish behavior that causes endless worry and panic to others.
But then again, it’s pretty on-brand for Luca because she is selfish. Despite her self-awareness regarding how privileged she is and the discrimination she has faced, Luca remains the same as her fellow privileged peers. Meaning: what she wants, she gets. If she wants to be bitchy, she can. Do your feelings matter to her? No, not really most of the time, because she comes first for herself. On one hand, I love that part of her. I like that she knows herself well and that she stands firmly with her own beliefs, opinions, etc. On the other hand, when it comes to situations like the one with her parents, that ‘putting herself first’ aspect just dives right into selfish category. It put a shine on Luca’s immaturity, which I guess, fits her character.
Anyway, everything considered, Bad Things Happen Here is an alright book that could’ve been better had it not been for the way it ended. If you’re a fan of We Were Liarsby E. Lockhart or The Great Goddenby Meg Rosoff, you might love this one too.
Bad Things Happen Here is set in Parris, an island where the people living on it are well off and everything appears idyllic and perfect. However, the island is also ‘cursed’ as now and then, young women would die and the truth of their deaths never discovered. We follow Luca who is trying her best to heal from the mysterious death of her best friend, Polly, only for the ‘curse’ to suddenly claim her sister. Unwilling to let the police mark another beloved’s death as unsolved, Luca takes things into her own hands and does her best to solve her sister’s murder.
The main thing I liked about this book is the great representation. Luca is BIPOC, plus-sized and queer while Naomi, her love interest, is Asian. I also really liked the way some stereotypes were subverted. It made the characters more compelling and gave them depth that was crucial in making them more than just archetypes.
Unfortunately, despite the solid characters and the good twists, the final quarter of the book was a major let down. Though I liked that the story came to a full-circle at the end, the parts leading up to the ending lacked common sense to me. Sure, I get that Luca needed to get away from the place and that it would be pointless trying to reveal the truths, but to just up and leave without telling her parents? Her parents—both whom not long ago just buried their eldest child who was murdered, and then, witnessed the aftermath of their other child surviving another murder, only for said kid to vanish? That’s disgusting, unnecessary, selfish behavior that causes endless worry and panic to others.
But then again, it’s pretty on-brand for Luca because she is selfish. Despite her self-awareness regarding how privileged she is and the discrimination she has faced, Luca remains the same as her fellow privileged peers. Meaning: what she wants, she gets. If she wants to be bitchy, she can. Do your feelings matter to her? No, not really most of the time, because she comes first for herself. On one hand, I love that part of her. I like that she knows herself well and that she stands firmly with her own beliefs, opinions, etc. On the other hand, when it comes to situations like the one with her parents, that ‘putting herself first’ aspect just dives right into selfish category. It put a shine on Luca’s immaturity, which I guess, fits her character.
Anyway, everything considered, Bad Things Happen Here is an alright book that could’ve been better had it not been for the way it ended. If you’re a fan of We Were Liarsby E. Lockhart or The Great Goddenby Meg Rosoff, you might love this one too.
Thank you so much Pansing for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow will be available at all good bookstores.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Mental illness, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
hayleygray's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
[Thank you to Bonnier Books UK & NetGalley for sending me a digital proof of this book before the publication date!]
This book had intrigued me from the start: murder mystery, curses, female friendships, and diverse characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and the progression of investigating alongside Luca about what happened to the women of Parris. It was a fast read and I felt very engrossed in the majority of it. However, I think the plot twist wasn’t surprising enough – I had guessed what had happened pretty early-on in the story and I was hoping that I was wrong and would be shocked at a surprising reveal. But, it felt anti-climactic with quite a few plot twists that ultimately didn’t add up to anything super shocking.
However, the ending did help bring me back around to liking this book more as Luca finally feels free and powerful. But, I just think it needed a little bit more of something to make it a great read, instead of a good one.
This book had intrigued me from the start: murder mystery, curses, female friendships, and diverse characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and the progression of investigating alongside Luca about what happened to the women of Parris. It was a fast read and I felt very engrossed in the majority of it. However, I think the plot twist wasn’t surprising enough – I had guessed what had happened pretty early-on in the story and I was hoping that I was wrong and would be shocked at a surprising reveal. But, it felt anti-climactic with quite a few plot twists that ultimately didn’t add up to anything super shocking.
However, the ending did help bring me back around to liking this book more as Luca finally feels free and powerful. But, I just think it needed a little bit more of something to make it a great read, instead of a good one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, and Self harm
Moderate: Classism, Addiction, and Alcoholism
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