You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I had to finish this reading diagonally. It wasn’t for me at all. I had guessed Declan really was dead from the start, it would’ve been too much of an obvious plot twist if he had been alive. So the other possible solutions? A brother, Hope or Connor. Hope was eliminated when there was a photo of her taken. Same for Connor. That left a brother and Bennett was sus as soon as he lied to Cleo so yeah.
But it just wasn’t my type of story. Maybe for someone in High School who likes thrillers, but as an adult, I didn’t really enjoy it.
But it just wasn’t my type of story. Maybe for someone in High School who likes thrillers, but as an adult, I didn’t really enjoy it.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
3 stars!
Okay, so everything from the cover to the premise drew me into this book. I haven’t read a YA mystery in a while and not a good one in ages so I was really excited for this book. I did enjoy it - don’t get me wrong - but I think I had too high of expectations for this ARC and admittedly, that may be my fault.
What did I like?
- The characters. Cleo was likeable enough but she did come across bland at some points and I found myself rolling my eyes at some of her thought process. However, the author depicted domestic violence really well and especially how Cleo has a victim felt and the haunting she still felt after getting out of the situation.
- The representation was carefully done in terms of domestic violence and Natalie has clearly researched the topic well.
- I liked the clues! The mystery was well done (despite being predictable) and the clues were well thought out and made sense to what they were. I didn’t feel like the characters could randomly solve the clue as if it was the DaVinci Code or something.
I think my biggest issue with this book was the predictability. It doesn’t take much for this to happen for me anymore as I’m such an avid reader of this genre, but this books execution of the predictable plot points were so obvious it would have to take an *idiot* to not notice them.
On the other hand, the ending was left in a way I felt that felt ominous and that was done well.
I also thought some of our side characters were eye rollingly cliche. Such as her best friend and brother. I just can’t. I think I’m over these troupes. However, they weren’t annoying to the extent where I didn’t enjoy the book.
This is decent mystery thriller for YA readers and I would recommend if you want a fast read!
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, so everything from the cover to the premise drew me into this book. I haven’t read a YA mystery in a while and not a good one in ages so I was really excited for this book. I did enjoy it - don’t get me wrong - but I think I had too high of expectations for this ARC and admittedly, that may be my fault.
What did I like?
- The characters. Cleo was likeable enough but she did come across bland at some points and I found myself rolling my eyes at some of her thought process. However, the author depicted domestic violence really well and especially how Cleo has a victim felt and the haunting she still felt after getting out of the situation.
- The representation was carefully done in terms of domestic violence and Natalie has clearly researched the topic well.
- I liked the clues! The mystery was well done (despite being predictable) and the clues were well thought out and made sense to what they were. I didn’t feel like the characters could randomly solve the clue as if it was the DaVinci Code or something.
I think my biggest issue with this book was the predictability. It doesn’t take much for this to happen for me anymore as I’m such an avid reader of this genre, but this books execution of the predictable plot points were so obvious it would have to take an *idiot* to not notice them.
On the other hand, the ending was left in a way I felt that felt ominous and that was done well.
I also thought some of our side characters were eye rollingly cliche. Such as her best friend and brother. I just can’t. I think I’m over these troupes. However, they weren’t annoying to the extent where I didn’t enjoy the book.
This is decent mystery thriller for YA readers and I would recommend if you want a fast read!
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Entertaining but dragged out and a little predictable
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was so good! At first I wasn’t sure about it but then it caught my attention. One of the things I loved about this book was the plot twist towards the end. I was not expecting it and I really enjoyed that about this book. I don’t always like when I can predict something.
This book had me hooked in the beginning, but YA stories like this sometimes get too reckless and out there and they lose me along the way. Cleo is not looking forward to her birthday this year because it’s also the anniversary of a rafting trip her friends took where one of them didn’t return. When she wakes up to clues to a scavenger hunt she assumes it’s one of her friends knowing she loves puzzles but as the clues turn more cryptic they work to figure out who’s behind everything. For me it got a little too predictable while still managing to be confusing at the end and lost a star.
I did like it, but…
it is very predictable. I enjoyed the plot. The search for clues and the unraveling of the truth about that night. However, I mostly found the story predictable. The ending can be see a mile away and tbh the last 5 or so pages are extremely cheesy. A little disappointing because I would say the overall plot and buildup is a solid 4 stars. Had the ending not been so predictable, I would have given the book 5 stars.
it is very predictable. I enjoyed the plot. The search for clues and the unraveling of the truth about that night. However, I mostly found the story predictable. The ending can be see a mile away and tbh the last 5 or so pages are extremely cheesy. A little disappointing because I would say the overall plot and buildup is a solid 4 stars. Had the ending not been so predictable, I would have given the book 5 stars.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes