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lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
"It's as though the whole world's full of magic, and when you find out something new, you're in on it. A wink from the universe."
Ruby can read minds. Guy shapeshifts. Ruby murders evil husbands, criminal. Guy works in a morgue and thinks there's a murderer on the loose. When the two meet, will it be sparks that fly, or fists?
Ruby, though she doesn't know it, is considered an angel. Women of 1920s Chicago grow sick of their infidel husbands, the men who beat and abuse them and rape them. Ruby's always been able to read minds, and in doing so, she's learned about the terrible things some men do. And, well, she has a gift, doesn't she? It wouldn't be right of her not to share it, at least a little. But everything changes when her father's political enemies get too close to home, using a car bomb that puts him in a coma. Ruby's out for some revenge, but she can't do it alone. She needs to make friends in the morgue.
Guy runs away from his past, working for a mortician who had been made a laughing stock for publishing a paper about shapeshifters. Hoping to learn more about the mortician's discoveries, he employs himself as a janitor, and through reading and observation, connects a few dots: there've been an awful lot of poisonings of bad men. Perhaps it's a good thing, but isn't murder still murder?
I like to describe this as 1920s feminist Boondock Saints. I love a good hero who takes it upon herself to rid the world of bad men. I mean, you can't really disagree with her motives--murder is bad, but not always. Think of the greater good!
This book seriously has everything. Fashion, mind-reading, shapeshifting, 1920s jazz, Chicago, windy politicians! Not to mention romance, sistership, knowledgeable connections, and friends who would quite literally die for you. Kulper's Murder for the Modern Girl is an anthem for the do-gooders, the jazz-lovers, the party-animals. It's a love letter to yourself, to knowing your talents and using them wisely. It's about learning when to take a stand and how to forge connections.
I just cannot get over this book. It's so well done, so well written, with scenes that made my knuckles go white and scenes that made me laugh out loud. It's a murder mystery, it's fantasy, it's historical fiction. I've recommended it to so many people in my personal life. This is probably the best YA book I've read this year, hands down. You don't want to miss it.
Ruby can read minds. Guy shapeshifts. Ruby murders evil husbands, criminal. Guy works in a morgue and thinks there's a murderer on the loose. When the two meet, will it be sparks that fly, or fists?
Ruby, though she doesn't know it, is considered an angel. Women of 1920s Chicago grow sick of their infidel husbands, the men who beat and abuse them and rape them. Ruby's always been able to read minds, and in doing so, she's learned about the terrible things some men do. And, well, she has a gift, doesn't she? It wouldn't be right of her not to share it, at least a little. But everything changes when her father's political enemies get too close to home, using a car bomb that puts him in a coma. Ruby's out for some revenge, but she can't do it alone. She needs to make friends in the morgue.
Guy runs away from his past, working for a mortician who had been made a laughing stock for publishing a paper about shapeshifters. Hoping to learn more about the mortician's discoveries, he employs himself as a janitor, and through reading and observation, connects a few dots: there've been an awful lot of poisonings of bad men. Perhaps it's a good thing, but isn't murder still murder?
I like to describe this as 1920s feminist Boondock Saints. I love a good hero who takes it upon herself to rid the world of bad men. I mean, you can't really disagree with her motives--murder is bad, but not always. Think of the greater good!
This book seriously has everything. Fashion, mind-reading, shapeshifting, 1920s jazz, Chicago, windy politicians! Not to mention romance, sistership, knowledgeable connections, and friends who would quite literally die for you. Kulper's Murder for the Modern Girl is an anthem for the do-gooders, the jazz-lovers, the party-animals. It's a love letter to yourself, to knowing your talents and using them wisely. It's about learning when to take a stand and how to forge connections.
I just cannot get over this book. It's so well done, so well written, with scenes that made my knuckles go white and scenes that made me laugh out loud. It's a murder mystery, it's fantasy, it's historical fiction. I've recommended it to so many people in my personal life. This is probably the best YA book I've read this year, hands down. You don't want to miss it.
eokamoto's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
fringebookreviews's review against another edition
3.5
3.5/5 this book was SO stressful lol but still fun and definitely unique. Totally didn’t realize Henrietta was her sister plus I’m all for bad men getting deaded. I was definitely annoyed by her constant use of Papa and fella b plus I’m just not a huge fan of the speech patterns and slang of the flapper era as I find it GRATING. The romance didn’t quite convince me and I didn’t really feel the chemistry.
romantasybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
rainbowbookthief's review against another edition
3.0
The description does not adequately convey the tone of this book - it’s light and airy and fun, not the dramatic romance I was expecting. The stakes are high, between Ruby’s determination to take down corrupt city officials and poison bad men, but they don’t feel high because the book won’t take itself seriously. Ruby feels more like a caricature of a 1920s flapper than a character with a personality of her own - and the same goes for her best friend Maggie. Guy’s perspective feels a bit more genuine, but neither of them truly have depth. The mystery of the book isn’t really a mystery at all - we know whodunnit from the very beginning, and the rest of the plot is just Ruby trying to gather enough evidence against him because no one would believe a young female mind reader. I didn’t have any overt problems with the book, but I didn’t necessarily enjoy it either. It’s just very different than what I was expecting, and I would probably recommend it to younger YA fans before older/adult YA fans.
islalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
i enjoyed this book for the most part. the basic plot about her poisons and him finding it out, but the fantasy powers felt unnecessary and didn’t add anything for me. i think the book would have been better with out it. i did like it though
_persephone_'s review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
novelty_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I really liked this book. It was very fun and pretty quick to get through.
The book was set in 1920's Chicago where main character, Ruby kills the men who escape Chicago's clutches. Men who plan to do bad things to women including killing them. Genius boy, Guy is on the run. He changed his entire identity, running away from the man he was before. Working at the morgue under the professional who can help him figure out his gift for shapeshifting, Guy discovers that the string of deaths in Chicago are not coincidental. They are the work of a murderer. As Guy tries to figure out the identity of the murderer, Ruby goes to Guy for help on discovering who is targeting her father and wanting to kill him. All the time, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensures between the both of them as well as a blossoming romance.
The book is told in two parts: Guy's and Ruby's. Personally I liked Guy's parts more as I found Ruby's personality and dialogue a bit annoying. Guy was also so innocent and sweet. I must admit, I didn't ship the two of them as I found Ruby taking advantage of him and his shapeshifting abilities. I wasn't really convinced on their chemistry and relationship because I felt like Guy was just being manipulated and strung along by her.
While I liked the plot line and Guy, I didn't get a sense of the glitz and glamour of the 20's that I was expecting. We knew Ruby was a rich girl and a socialite but what about that allure during the roaring 20's? I felt like this could've been improved on in future books.
Overall, this was a good read that was very fun too. I liked Guy but felt like the chemistry could've been better because I felt like Guy was being used in the relationship rather than actually loved. Maybe towards the end yes, but I felt like there was no romantic build up between the two and they got together quickly after their feelings were realised.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.7 STARS
I really liked this book. It was very fun and pretty quick to get through.
The book was set in 1920's Chicago where main character, Ruby kills the men who escape Chicago's clutches. Men who plan to do bad things to women including killing them. Genius boy, Guy is on the run. He changed his entire identity, running away from the man he was before. Working at the morgue under the professional who can help him figure out his gift for shapeshifting, Guy discovers that the string of deaths in Chicago are not coincidental. They are the work of a murderer. As Guy tries to figure out the identity of the murderer, Ruby goes to Guy for help on discovering who is targeting her father and wanting to kill him. All the time, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensures between the both of them as well as a blossoming romance.
The book is told in two parts: Guy's and Ruby's. Personally I liked Guy's parts more as I found Ruby's personality and dialogue a bit annoying. Guy was also so innocent and sweet. I must admit, I didn't ship the two of them as I found Ruby taking advantage of him and his shapeshifting abilities. I wasn't really convinced on their chemistry and relationship because I felt like Guy was just being manipulated and strung along by her.
While I liked the plot line and Guy, I didn't get a sense of the glitz and glamour of the 20's that I was expecting. We knew Ruby was a rich girl and a socialite but what about that allure during the roaring 20's? I felt like this could've been improved on in future books.
Overall, this was a good read that was very fun too. I liked Guy but felt like the chemistry could've been better because I felt like Guy was being used in the relationship rather than actually loved. Maybe towards the end yes, but I felt like there was no romantic build up between the two and they got together quickly after their feelings were realised.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.7 STARS
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
dianafraser17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
This poppy murder mystery is full of fast dialogue, good friendships, and plucky characters as it interrogates what a woman vigilante looks like in the face of Jazz Age patria chal "justice." Add in mind reading and chameleon for a dash of fantasy and it makes for a rollicking ride. A good YA read with plenty to think - and talk about - with readers young and old.
laurenecox's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0