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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-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
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
fast-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
This was an enjoyable listen. A very complex mystery that unraveled well.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Best murder mystery I’ve read this year so far! (It’s only march) 3.5
As always, Karen M. McManus has given us a fun, twisty YA thriller that's hard to put down once you pick it up.
Ivy, Mateo and Cal used to be best friends, but they drifted apart as they got to high school. Their friendship started from "The Best Day Ever" when the three of them skipped out on a field trip and had their own day. All of them are pretty down for different reasons, so when they run into each other in the school parking lot and start reminiscing, they decide to try to recreate the old times they had together. When they're out skipping school, they happen to see another classmate skipping also. They follow him to see what he's up to, and end up finding him dead.
I loved the characters in this one, especially Ivy and Mateo. Some McManus does really well is creating a romance in the background of a thriller. The banter between them was just so great.
There were a lot of great twists and turns in this one, especially at the end. I definitely think and hope there will be a sequel for this one, since it ended on such a cliffhanger! There's a certain aspect of the plot that I didn't love and felt a little far-fetched to me, but I won't mention it since it spoils a whole lot.
If you like Karen M. McManus's other books, definitely pick this one up!
Ivy, Mateo and Cal used to be best friends, but they drifted apart as they got to high school. Their friendship started from "The Best Day Ever" when the three of them skipped out on a field trip and had their own day. All of them are pretty down for different reasons, so when they run into each other in the school parking lot and start reminiscing, they decide to try to recreate the old times they had together. When they're out skipping school, they happen to see another classmate skipping also. They follow him to see what he's up to, and end up finding him dead.
I loved the characters in this one, especially Ivy and Mateo. Some McManus does really well is creating a romance in the background of a thriller. The banter between them was just so great.
There were a lot of great twists and turns in this one, especially at the end. I definitely think and hope there will be a sequel for this one, since it ended on such a cliffhanger! There's a certain aspect of the plot that I didn't love and felt a little far-fetched to me, but I won't mention it since it spoils a whole lot.
If you like Karen M. McManus's other books, definitely pick this one up!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
such a good book to take me out of a reading slump. love the golden trios dynamic in this.
And thus, I have completed all of Karen McManus's main novels (as of this post) which is kinda wild. I don't know why I continue reading them when they're mid, half predictable, plain with the exact same characters repeated. There is definitely an addictive quality to them and I will admit I am still hung up on Nate and Bronwyn. Lowkey in top 10 otps but you didn't read that.
This novel follows a smaller ensemble compared to Karen's other novels consisting of Ivy, Matteo and Cal who used to be close friends but are reconnected after skipping school and discovering a crime scene that involves them all. Ivy is the smart, overachiever older sister however she pushes herself because her younger brother is a genius and has surpassed her in every aspect leading to years of resentment. Matteo's mother's business went under due to a OHS incident and is suffering from osteoarthritis. Thus, he and his cousin, Autumn need to work to pay for medication and support the house. Cal is bland. As is appropriate considering he is named Cal. Core memory associated with this book is reading the first chapter that was in his pov and immediately being bored and knowing that he was going to some dumb sht because he's self centered and doesnt't think. And that proved to be true.
I wouldn't consider myself stupid but generally when I'm reading a mystery novel, I can not predict the ending, any plot twists, pierce together the clues. I'm just not forward-thinking and merely following along with the detective's investigation. So it says a lot that I was able to predict everything that happened. The romance between Ivy and Matteo, CLEAR parallels to the IT couple. Their character traits, even the ending when Matteo is outside of her house, thinking of how to confess to her. The daddy issues that Matteo exhibits, the storyline where Matteo storms out, angry after a confession, leading to Ivy and Cal needing to solve the mystery. HMMMM WONDER WHERE I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. But I eat it up and I did enjoy the running trend of the Sugar Babies and Matteo's line "good enough day to start" (something along those lines) quote.
Karen McManus's books are super fast paced and easy to read that you know you'll finish it in a day and not necessarily hate it. You know what you're signing up to read and you resign yourself to a plain, light, quick read.
This novel follows a smaller ensemble compared to Karen's other novels consisting of Ivy, Matteo and Cal who used to be close friends but are reconnected after skipping school and discovering a crime scene that involves them all. Ivy is the smart, overachiever older sister however she pushes herself because her younger brother is a genius and has surpassed her in every aspect leading to years of resentment. Matteo's mother's business went under due to a OHS incident and is suffering from osteoarthritis. Thus, he and his cousin, Autumn need to work to pay for medication and support the house. Cal is bland. As is appropriate considering he is named Cal. Core memory associated with this book is reading the first chapter that was in his pov and immediately being bored and knowing that he was going to some dumb sht because he's self centered and doesnt't think. And that proved to be true.
I wouldn't consider myself stupid but generally when I'm reading a mystery novel, I can not predict the ending, any plot twists, pierce together the clues. I'm just not forward-thinking and merely following along with the detective's investigation. So it says a lot that I was able to predict everything that happened. The romance between Ivy and Matteo, CLEAR parallels to the IT couple. Their character traits, even the ending when Matteo is outside of her house, thinking of how to confess to her. The daddy issues that Matteo exhibits, the storyline where Matteo storms out, angry after a confession, leading to Ivy and Cal needing to solve the mystery. HMMMM WONDER WHERE I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. But I eat it up and I did enjoy the running trend of the Sugar Babies and Matteo's line "good enough day to start" (something along those lines) quote.
Karen McManus's books are super fast paced and easy to read that you know you'll finish it in a day and not necessarily hate it. You know what you're signing up to read and you resign yourself to a plain, light, quick read.