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jilljemmett's review against another edition
4.0
When Plum Winters finds an exclusive invitation to an influencer festival addressed to her older sister, she has to go. Plum arranges for her two best friends to travel with her to the Pyre Festival to spend spring break with celebrities and influencers. But when they arrive, the festival isn’t what they expected. There are only seven other minor influencers there at the rundown villa on a private island. Then, people start to die. They realize that they’ve been lured to the fake festival in a revenge plot. Plum and the other people on the island have to figure out who is out to get them before they’re killed next.
This was a fun horror twist on a classic murder mystery party. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is one of my favourite books. In that book, the seemingly unrelated people who were invited to a private island are slowly killed one by one over a weekend. This story has a similar plot, though it had different twists. The obvious horror tropes used also made it a funny thriller.
Even though this story was quite dramatic and had some cheesy horror moments, there was an underlying message about cyber bullying. All of the influencers had done something to the killer, but they didn’t know what they did. When everything was revealed at the end, it all made sense. The original plan that the killer had wasn’t obvious at first, but when I thought back to the rest of the story after I knew who it was, it made sense. It’s important to be thoughtful in your actions, because even something that doesn’t seem like bullying or that it’s harming someone else, could leave lasting effects.
You’re So Dead is a funny horror mystery!
Thank you Penguin Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun horror twist on a classic murder mystery party. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is one of my favourite books. In that book, the seemingly unrelated people who were invited to a private island are slowly killed one by one over a weekend. This story has a similar plot, though it had different twists. The obvious horror tropes used also made it a funny thriller.
Even though this story was quite dramatic and had some cheesy horror moments, there was an underlying message about cyber bullying. All of the influencers had done something to the killer, but they didn’t know what they did. When everything was revealed at the end, it all made sense. The original plan that the killer had wasn’t obvious at first, but when I thought back to the rest of the story after I knew who it was, it made sense. It’s important to be thoughtful in your actions, because even something that doesn’t seem like bullying or that it’s harming someone else, could leave lasting effects.
You’re So Dead is a funny horror mystery!
Thank you Penguin Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
oomilyreads's review against another edition
4.0
This YA-murder mystery thriller was a really fun read about 3 best-friends who sneak into a social influencer exclusive luxurious Pyre Festival located on a tiny, isolated island (a mockery of the real failed luxury music festival, Fyre). Turns out Pyre Festival is rather…..a murder festival as the small group of 12 gets killed off one by one. They try to figure out who the killer is amongst them & survive. THis book was definitely inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (which I’m currently reading!)
While it was a bit odd at first, it got pretty exciting as people started dying off. It reminds me of the game “Clue” which was my favorite childhood game. I love story/games involving about a large group of people & one of them is the killer – it’s really fun trying to figure out who it is! Not that I’m morbid or anything but reading this is like when you can’t stop watching a stupid horror movie with dumb young adults making idiotic decisions. My favorite character was Warix cause he was such a troll and he had some really funny lines.
“This is hell” Warix said, “Did we all die in the kitchen? ‘cause this is definitely hell”.
“Warix asked, that snarky smile taking on a mean twist of game recognizes game. ‘Don’t you get it?, This is all deliberate’.”
The romantic subplot was distracting & reading about the main characters feelings about another character was distracting and felt out of place.
Author Ash Parsons is a graduate of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Clown College. How cool is that?
Thanks for the ARC Netgalley & Penguin Teen for this ARC!
While it was a bit odd at first, it got pretty exciting as people started dying off. It reminds me of the game “Clue” which was my favorite childhood game. I love story/games involving about a large group of people & one of them is the killer – it’s really fun trying to figure out who it is! Not that I’m morbid or anything but reading this is like when you can’t stop watching a stupid horror movie with dumb young adults making idiotic decisions. My favorite character was Warix cause he was such a troll and he had some really funny lines.
“This is hell” Warix said, “Did we all die in the kitchen? ‘cause this is definitely hell”.
“Warix asked, that snarky smile taking on a mean twist of game recognizes game. ‘Don’t you get it?, This is all deliberate’.”
The romantic subplot was distracting & reading about the main characters feelings about another character was distracting and felt out of place.
Author Ash Parsons is a graduate of Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Clown College. How cool is that?
Thanks for the ARC Netgalley & Penguin Teen for this ARC!
mells_view's review against another edition
4.0
The darkness pressed against the windows. It was as if they, all lit up and inside, were onstage, visible to something or someone waiting in the darkness beyond the glass.
I thought this book was campy YA thriller goodness! Social media influencers of a wide variety are invited to an island for “Pyre festival” and start getting killed off one by one by some unknown murderer on the island. If you’ve ever watched the movie “CLUE” then imagine the twisty fun “whodunit” vibe of that, but modern times and hoodwinked influencers as the target. I think “You’re So Dead” did a perfect job with the mystery/murder parts. There is a romantic subplot, and it felt a little random and out of place most of the time. I think it would have worked better if the characters didn’t randomly muse about their feelings while trying to stay alive and find a murderer, that said it also kind of adds to the camp of it all. Like of course this group would be focused on superfluous things. If you don’t live none of this even matters, but alas I still enjoyed this read. It was fun and made me think a bit about how no matter how well intentioned your social media content is, it could be causing harm and maybe we should all be a little more thoughtful about what we post and how we utilize social media.
*ARC
AVAILABLE NOW!
I thought this book was campy YA thriller goodness! Social media influencers of a wide variety are invited to an island for “Pyre festival” and start getting killed off one by one by some unknown murderer on the island. If you’ve ever watched the movie “CLUE” then imagine the twisty fun “whodunit” vibe of that, but modern times and hoodwinked influencers as the target. I think “You’re So Dead” did a perfect job with the mystery/murder parts. There is a romantic subplot, and it felt a little random and out of place most of the time. I think it would have worked better if the characters didn’t randomly muse about their feelings while trying to stay alive and find a murderer, that said it also kind of adds to the camp of it all. Like of course this group would be focused on superfluous things. If you don’t live none of this even matters, but alas I still enjoyed this read. It was fun and made me think a bit about how no matter how well intentioned your social media content is, it could be causing harm and maybe we should all be a little more thoughtful about what we post and how we utilize social media.
*ARC
AVAILABLE NOW!
looseleafellie's review against another edition
4.0
This is a YA thriller about a girl who steals her famous sister’s invitation to an exclusive influencer island retreat in the hopes of having a cool vacation with her best friends. But when they arrive, they’re trapped on the island with eight other influencers … and a killer who starts picking them off one by one!
I’m a HUGE sucker for anything that puts a spin on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, so the concept got me hooked! The cast of characters were generally pretty compelling, and I appreciated the commentary on toxic positivity, beauty standards, and internet bullying woven throughout.
The book tries to be kind of a comedic thriller, and while some of the humor was genuinely heartwarming, I felt like it didn’t quite hit the mark for me overall. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE funny parody murder mysteries — but I didn’t feel like this was quite a parody, so there were a couple of moments where it felt like the humor detracted from the tension a little.
That all said, I ate up this book FAST, so I think it would be perfect for a beach read or whenever you need something quick and fun!
Thanks to Penguin Teen for the ebook review copy!
I’m a HUGE sucker for anything that puts a spin on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, so the concept got me hooked! The cast of characters were generally pretty compelling, and I appreciated the commentary on toxic positivity, beauty standards, and internet bullying woven throughout.
The book tries to be kind of a comedic thriller, and while some of the humor was genuinely heartwarming, I felt like it didn’t quite hit the mark for me overall. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE funny parody murder mysteries — but I didn’t feel like this was quite a parody, so there were a couple of moments where it felt like the humor detracted from the tension a little.
That all said, I ate up this book FAST, so I think it would be perfect for a beach read or whenever you need something quick and fun!
Thanks to Penguin Teen for the ebook review copy!
lady_logomancer's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't vibe with the vapid, silly writing and the way that a persons race/skin color is their first and sometimes only significant descriptor to introduce them. Wasn't for me.
ashleighbeanxo's review against another edition
3.0
When Plum Winter steals her influencer sister's invitation to an exclusive music festival, she thinks this will be the opportunity of a lifetime. But arriving at the festival with her best friends Marlowe and Sofia, they aren't expecting a rundown villa on a deserted island with only 7 other people. And then the murders start..
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. If you know me, you know I love a mystery thriller set in an isolated location with an unlikeable cast of characters who are picked off one by one. Add in some social commentary on the 'influencer' generation and a parody of the disastrous Fyre Festival and I was sold.
While it was enjoyable book, I didn't like the ending and the reveal of the murderer. Maybe I was expecting a big conspiracy and some big conclusion and maybe expecting too much. But it was still an okay read and very fast-paced.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. If you know me, you know I love a mystery thriller set in an isolated location with an unlikeable cast of characters who are picked off one by one. Add in some social commentary on the 'influencer' generation and a parody of the disastrous Fyre Festival and I was sold.
While it was enjoyable book, I didn't like the ending and the reveal of the murderer. Maybe I was expecting a big conspiracy and some big conclusion and maybe expecting too much. But it was still an okay read and very fast-paced.
johnyjoereads's review against another edition
2.0
If you liked #Muredertranding by Gretchen McNeil...you would love this book...since I thought that one was meh, this one was basically the same...
Best described as Be carefull what you wish for with clueless kids who wanted to have a good time.
The name of the characters for me was just stupid...Plum, Peach and Dude...like wtf...random word generator?
And wtf was up with that goat?
Very predictible and very YA...the language was extremely YA and bothered me so many times...and that time when one of the characters was more concerned about the fact that there was no internet rather then the fact that there's a killer on the loose... I just can't...or the reason the killer had for everything...
Best described as Be carefull what you wish for with clueless kids who wanted to have a good time.
The name of the characters for me was just stupid...Plum, Peach and Dude...like wtf...random word generator?
And wtf was up with that goat?
Very predictible and very YA...the language was extremely YA and bothered me so many times...and that time when one of the characters was more concerned about the fact that there was no internet rather then the fact that there's a killer on the loose... I just can't...or the reason the killer had for everything...
justkeyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
This was a campy young adult mystery with a few horror elements that also had moments of banter and funny lines that gave a pause in the story that I enjoyed. A group of pseudo famous influencers on realize that someone has brought them together to die. It was entertaining but also had me wondering if any were going to find.
thestorysleuth's review against another edition
3.0
It's an average story. Just a breezy read when you want to de-stress. What you can expect is a horror with thriller elements. It's campy but after reading some reviews and going through the author's other books, I expected a campy horror. So I'm not disappointed with that. I just expected more thriller elements.
I didn't think there was much of a mystery with clues that readers can pick on. The motive came across as a whole new fact in the story only during revelation(This might be just me so if anyone caught on clues regarding the motive do leave your comments).
As for humour, there were light moments and banters which were fun to read. IMO, the characters were created especially for this.
As always, I loved that the chapters are small, it helps read faster. I didn't expect to finish this book in less than 2 days and liked that.
I didn't think there was much of a mystery with clues that readers can pick on. The motive came across as a whole new fact in the story only during revelation(This might be just me so if anyone caught on clues regarding the motive do leave your comments).
As for humour, there were light moments and banters which were fun to read. IMO, the characters were created especially for this.
As always, I loved that the chapters are small, it helps read faster. I didn't expect to finish this book in less than 2 days and liked that.
krys_and_books's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
You’re So Dead by Ash Parsons is a YA thriller.
Plum Winters intercepts an invite meant for her older, popular influencer sister Peach and convinces her two best friends to come along for the ride. The event is mean to be a huge festival that was supposed to be full of glitz and glam and maybe Plum’s chance to shine or be a part of something more.
Plum notices things seem strange straight off when the boat that takes them to the island doesn’t seem to match the overall image sold to her both from the invite and the website and when they get to the island itself there isn’t much of anything. Definitely no glitz and no glam and only seven other people of varying influencer levels. When the first of their party dies they start to think they may have fallen into a trap and now Plum and her friends have to work with the others to try and figure out what or who they have all in common that they have been brought to this island of death before they all are taken out.
***
You’re So Dead is fun and witty and full of ridiculous humor, satire aplenty and a definite homage to the failed Fyre festival done by the Pyre Festival in this book. The group had a true crime podcaster amongst their numbers and I could not stop laughing every time he did something. The killers motives were meh but real life killer motives also tend to be meh so no big deal there, I did enjoy the strange cast of characters and definitely Plum and her two bffs Sofia and Marlowe.
***
You’re So Dead by Ash Parsons is a YA thriller.
Plum Winters intercepts an invite meant for her older, popular influencer sister Peach and convinces her two best friends to come along for the ride. The event is mean to be a huge festival that was supposed to be full of glitz and glam and maybe Plum’s chance to shine or be a part of something more.
Plum notices things seem strange straight off when the boat that takes them to the island doesn’t seem to match the overall image sold to her both from the invite and the website and when they get to the island itself there isn’t much of anything. Definitely no glitz and no glam and only seven other people of varying influencer levels. When the first of their party dies they start to think they may have fallen into a trap and now Plum and her friends have to work with the others to try and figure out what or who they have all in common that they have been brought to this island of death before they all are taken out.
***
You’re So Dead is fun and witty and full of ridiculous humor, satire aplenty and a definite homage to the failed Fyre festival done by the Pyre Festival in this book. The group had a true crime podcaster amongst their numbers and I could not stop laughing every time he did something. The killers motives were meh but real life killer motives also tend to be meh so no big deal there, I did enjoy the strange cast of characters and definitely Plum and her two bffs Sofia and Marlowe.