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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, this book started off pretty strong for me but I lost interest as the book progressed.
I thoroughly enjoyed the period puns and feminist push in this book. This angle in the book was quite funny, relatable, and gave me the warm fuzzies at the normalization of it and how that may positively affect young readers. The death by period products was funny, and I laughed (and cringed) at the ineptitude of DI Wallace when it came to the practical applications of these products.
I initially liked the characters but both Kerry and Annie quickly came to annoy me. Kerry's POV was repetitive and she really didn't do much throughout the story. And without Annie, there really wouldn't be a story in the first place. Annie is the one with all the energy and the desire to solve the mysteries, and I really admired her tenacity to go after what she wants. The thing about Annie that ended up annoying me the most was her crazy desire to be popular. I just don't understand why she wanted it so badly. Annie and Kerry both have the potential to be better characters. I wish that they had been more fleshed out and less like the caricatures they seemed to me to be.
As much as I initially liked the humor, the book started to feel performative, like Disney Channel shows with the big, over-the-top writing and acting. Some things felt very childish and under-developed whereas the murders were a little gruesome (while still remaining somewhat comical). It created a dissonance that never went away while reading.
The reveal of the murderer at the end was a twist, but not really in a good way. It feels like there wasn't really any solid motive and the whole thing came out of nowhere. It just felt off, and the reveal scene itself was incredibly rushed.
Honestly, this book ended up being a let down to me. The plot and characters were lackluster and the things I liked just couldn't overshadow those I didn't. I really admire the way the author uses humor and the characters to address topics like gender, periods, female anatomy, first relationships, and friendship, but at some point I needed more than good intentions. This book just wasn't what I was expecting. I think that younger readers will identify with and appreciate the story more than I could.
Overall, this book started off pretty strong for me but I lost interest as the book progressed.
I thoroughly enjoyed the period puns and feminist push in this book. This angle in the book was quite funny, relatable, and gave me the warm fuzzies at the normalization of it and how that may positively affect young readers. The death by period products was funny, and I laughed (and cringed) at the ineptitude of DI Wallace when it came to the practical applications of these products.
I initially liked the characters but both Kerry and Annie quickly came to annoy me. Kerry's POV was repetitive and she really didn't do much throughout the story. And without Annie, there really wouldn't be a story in the first place. Annie is the one with all the energy and the desire to solve the mysteries, and I really admired her tenacity to go after what she wants. The thing about Annie that ended up annoying me the most was her crazy desire to be popular. I just don't understand why she wanted it so badly. Annie and Kerry both have the potential to be better characters. I wish that they had been more fleshed out and less like the caricatures they seemed to me to be.
As much as I initially liked the humor, the book started to feel performative, like Disney Channel shows with the big, over-the-top writing and acting. Some things felt very childish and under-developed whereas the murders were a little gruesome (while still remaining somewhat comical). It created a dissonance that never went away while reading.
The reveal of the murderer at the end was a twist, but not really in a good way. It feels like there wasn't really any solid motive and the whole thing came out of nowhere. It just felt off, and the reveal scene itself was incredibly rushed.
Honestly, this book ended up being a let down to me. The plot and characters were lackluster and the things I liked just couldn't overshadow those I didn't. I really admire the way the author uses humor and the characters to address topics like gender, periods, female anatomy, first relationships, and friendship, but at some point I needed more than good intentions. This book just wasn't what I was expecting. I think that younger readers will identify with and appreciate the story more than I could.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2.5 stars rounded up because the majority of reasons I disliked this book are minor - but still annoying.
The glaring issue I had with this book is with the best friend Annie who is so infuriating, it's hard to understand why Kerry is friends with her. Annie constantly undermines Kerry, even going as far as to undermine Kerry's (rightful) anxiety in situations - like them being targeted for murder(also, it should be noted that Kerry does have diagnosed anxiety). She's constantly angling to be popular in a way that is weird and manipulative. Hated that.
There were a variety of smaller issues that just irked me but were probably there for comedic effect, but overall, this book made me upset - because who needs a toxic friend like Annie?
The glaring issue I had with this book is with the best friend Annie who is so infuriating, it's hard to understand why Kerry is friends with her. Annie constantly undermines Kerry, even going as far as to undermine Kerry's (rightful) anxiety in situations - like them being targeted for murder(also, it should be noted that Kerry does have diagnosed anxiety). She's constantly angling to be popular in a way that is weird and manipulative. Hated that.
There were a variety of smaller issues that just irked me but were probably there for comedic effect, but overall, this book made me upset - because who needs a toxic friend like Annie?
Spoiler
contains swearing, teens making out and almost having sex, murder, drugs, teen drinking/drug use
I found the start a bit hard to get into - I think too many pop culture references just ages books and it seemed like the author was just slightly reading it a year ½ after publication - but once the proper mystery started going I thoroughly enjoyed it, geniunly really clever and camp
I actually heard the audiobook for this and it was hilarious. The narrator got the teen-silliness just right and I could almost hear the glee in her voice as she read the first poems.
A very feminine positive book which cheekily nudges at all the teen romance tropes, blows raspberries at teen drinking and partying, and generally has fun with all things stupidly made taboo by the Mary Whitehoue generation (of which I am one, albeit reluctantly).
Hear, hear to no longer hiding period-related information in old cardboard boxes at the backs of airing cupboards in case it offends someone.
A very feminine positive book which cheekily nudges at all the teen romance tropes, blows raspberries at teen drinking and partying, and generally has fun with all things stupidly made taboo by the Mary Whitehoue generation (of which I am one, albeit reluctantly).
Hear, hear to no longer hiding period-related information in old cardboard boxes at the backs of airing cupboards in case it offends someone.
Murder on a School Night is a funny and intriguing YA murder mystery. This really is perfect for young adults, it's engaging and has several red herrings that keeps you guessing until the end! Any fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder, Sex Education or Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging would love this. The characters within this story and the pacing are both great and make the whole thing very easy to get sucked into!
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for giving me access to this audiobook in exchange for my opinions on it.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for giving me access to this audiobook in exchange for my opinions on it.
i saw someone else say “i kind of want to write this review in dutch just so i can say ‘wat een kutboek’ “ and honestly, i feel that.
i got about halfway through the book, but it was boring and i just couldn’t bring myself to read any further.
The second murder only happens around page 170, and though it was Adam, Heather’s ex-boyfriend and arguably an important chracter i just did not care. The police arrive and say something like “he was found with a sanitary product across the eyes” and our main characters first thought is the fact they called it a sanitary product and not a period pad. Like, girl, there was just someone murdered, get your priorities straight please.
I severely disliked Annie as a character, she’s pushy and though I’m not sure, i don’t think we’re ever given a reason for why she wants to join “les populaires” even though that’s her entire character, that and wanting to solve the murder. To me she really just felt like a plot device to make Kerry do stuff she didn’t want to, for example: Kerry wants to stay home: Annie drags her to a party. Kerry wants to let the police solve stuff and focus on the guy she likes: Annie makes her investigate with her.
I thought Kerry was a pretty boring main character, she’s almost never actually interested in what’s happening, she doesn’t want to solve the murder and would prefer to just let the police do it. Which is fine, but it doesn’t make for a very interesting main character.
Next, the “feminism” of this book. I, myself am very much a feminist, but I didn’t know that apparently being a feminist just includes yelling “vulva” to random people and thinking/talking about periods all the time, as a feminist teenager, i can assure you i and most feminist teenagers don’t do this. Here are some afwul quotes for your entertainment :
“GOOD VULVA TO YOU”
“I feel a tingle in my pant area”
“I feel my vagina flutter slightly at the knowledge that this sexy man understands. Frankly there is nothing sexier than a cis man who knows about periods-“
I think the author tried to make the book empowering, but to be honest it just came out cringe at best, the mention of vagina’s and vulva’s every other page was unnecessary and honestly boring. The feminism in this book was exclusively about periods, and not about the violence that women all over the world experience, the pay gap or other important stuff that wasn’t just about periods.
I saw a spoiler for the ending, and for the first time ever I genuinely didn’t care that I’d seen a spoiler of the ending of a book. The plot twist seemed very underwhelming and I just wasn’t shocked at all.
Please do remember that I only read half the book, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Also if you did enjoy this book, I’m happy for you, I just personally wasn’t able to finish it.
i got about halfway through the book, but it was boring and i just couldn’t bring myself to read any further.
I severely disliked Annie as a character, she’s pushy and though I’m not sure, i don’t think we’re ever given a reason for why she wants to join “les populaires” even though that’s her entire character, that and wanting to solve the murder. To me she really just felt like a plot device to make Kerry do stuff she didn’t want to, for example: Kerry wants to stay home: Annie drags her to a party. Kerry wants to let the police solve stuff and focus on the guy she likes: Annie makes her investigate with her.
I thought Kerry was a pretty boring main character, she’s almost never actually interested in what’s happening, she doesn’t want to solve the murder and would prefer to just let the police do it. Which is fine, but it doesn’t make for a very interesting main character.
Next, the “feminism” of this book. I, myself am very much a feminist, but I didn’t know that apparently being a feminist just includes yelling “vulva” to random people and thinking/talking about periods all the time, as a feminist teenager, i can assure you i and most feminist teenagers don’t do this. Here are some afwul quotes for your entertainment :
“GOOD VULVA TO YOU”
“I feel a tingle in my pant area”
“I feel my vagina flutter slightly at the knowledge that this sexy man understands. Frankly there is nothing sexier than a cis man who knows about periods-“
I think the author tried to make the book empowering, but to be honest it just came out cringe at best, the mention of vagina’s and vulva’s every other page was unnecessary and honestly boring. The feminism in this book was exclusively about periods, and not about the violence that women all over the world experience, the pay gap or other important stuff that wasn’t just about periods.
I saw a spoiler for the ending, and for the first time ever I genuinely didn’t care that I’d seen a spoiler of the ending of a book. The plot twist seemed very underwhelming and I just wasn’t shocked at all.
Please do remember that I only read half the book, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Also if you did enjoy this book, I’m happy for you, I just personally wasn’t able to finish it.