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simplymolly's review against another edition
3.0
gripping YA mystery, plot twist was predictable in the end though. the fact that the main characters names were so boring annoyed me an unnecessary amount
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
2.0
2.5/5
I was really unfazed by this book. The story was somewhat interesting but not what I thought it would be. To me if seemed to have a slow pace and not a lot of character dept
I was really unfazed by this book. The story was somewhat interesting but not what I thought it would be. To me if seemed to have a slow pace and not a lot of character dept
melbsreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content warnings: rape, drugging, murder, drug use, death of a friend, car accident, alcoholism, death of a parent (in the past), grief, cheating, blood, vomit, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, panic attack
I........didn't know what to really expect from this book going in - the blurb made it seem very much like a standard YA thriller in which something happens at a party and someone ends up missing/dead. What I didn't expect was for this to be a story in which a teenage boy is date raped, the entire thing is live streamed for everyone to see, and then his female rapist goes missing.
So on the one hand, I applaud this book for telling a story in which a teenage boy realises that he's been raped, much as toxic masculinity doesn't want him to accept the truth of the matter. But I also don't really feel like that storyline was done justice because so much of the story is focused on the missing girl and because Jake spends so much time in denial about what happened while also running from the police.
And, like, I understand that this is different to a YA contemporary dealing with the same subject. It's a thriller. It's supposed to be twisty and mysterious and tense with the other stuff happening in the background. But it just didn't hit the mark for me and I didn't give a shit if Tegan was found or who was responsible for her disappearance. You know?
I........didn't know what to really expect from this book going in - the blurb made it seem very much like a standard YA thriller in which something happens at a party and someone ends up missing/dead. What I didn't expect was for this to be a story in which a teenage boy is date raped, the entire thing is live streamed for everyone to see, and then his female rapist goes missing.
So on the one hand, I applaud this book for telling a story in which a teenage boy realises that he's been raped, much as toxic masculinity doesn't want him to accept the truth of the matter. But I also don't really feel like that storyline was done justice because so much of the story is focused on the missing girl and because Jake spends so much time in denial about what happened while also running from the police.
And, like, I understand that this is different to a YA contemporary dealing with the same subject. It's a thriller. It's supposed to be twisty and mysterious and tense with the other stuff happening in the background. But it just didn't hit the mark for me and I didn't give a shit if Tegan was found or who was responsible for her disappearance. You know?
mj_22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
esth3r's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
girlglitch's review
2.0
Friends Like These is a YA thriller about bad decisions - a whole summer of them - that spiral out of control.
The mystery is decent, utilising multiple perspectives and interlocking timelines, and there are a good amount of twists and turns to keep you guessing. But it annoyed me that those twists were often the results of unbelievably stupid decisions. I found it hard to sympathise with Jake and Jessica when they seem so intent on self-sabotage. It seems a shame that what is essentially a solid narrative structure shiould be let down by an unconvincing execution.
I usually love a YA thriller, but sadly this one was a miss for me!
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
The mystery is decent, utilising multiple perspectives and interlocking timelines, and there are a good amount of twists and turns to keep you guessing. But it annoyed me that those twists were often the results of unbelievably stupid decisions. I found it hard to sympathise with Jake and Jessica when they seem so intent on self-sabotage. It seems a shame that what is essentially a solid narrative structure shiould be let down by an unconvincing execution.
I usually love a YA thriller, but sadly this one was a miss for me!
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
jakiebakey's review against another edition
2.0
It was about 150 pages too long, so many obvious misdirects, and a pretty obvious who-dunnit (that's probably because I've read a few too many YA mysteries though).
I'm also not really a fan of split POVs and this book had a few too many for me to really connect with any of the characters (and I share a name with one of the main ones!)
I'm also not really a fan of split POVs and this book had a few too many for me to really connect with any of the characters (and I share a name with one of the main ones!)