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Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'
You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus
113 reviews
emily_mh's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If I was rating this solely based off enjoyment, it would be 5 stars. There were some definite issues with quality that meant I felt I should dock it a full star. But first, the positives! It was incredibly fast-paced and gripping, taking place over just a day (to this end, I thought it lived up to the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off gone wrong premise). Actual investigation took place, and the romance was actually believable (unlike the other two romances I’ve read of McManus). Finally, the situations and subsequent developments of the characters were really strong.
In terms of negatives, the character personalities (despite their diverse circumstances) were all fairly generic. More significantly, it was a little messy. For example, it didn’t really tie up who the Coach got to kill Brian. Finally, while I didn’t hate the resolution, I didn’t love it either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Violence, and Drug use
Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Medical content, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
Minor warnings for gentrification, loss of a loved one, death of a pet, divorce.leahmaslin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Death, and Murder
vicktorea's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was fine - KMM's YA murder mysteries are fun but this one wasn't as chilling or punchy for me. The ending felt really odd & unfinished (I'm wondering if she's going to use that development in a future book?).
I'd had a lot of theories about the direction this was headed and while they were right for the most part, I liked my own theories on how things were going to play out more than the direction the book actually took. KMM is an autobuy for me because I love YA murder mysteries but I really need her to come back with something chilling that packs a punch otherwise she will be removed from my autobuy list lmao.
I'd had a lot of theories about the direction this was headed and while they were right for the most part, I liked my own theories on how things were going to play out more than the direction the book actually took. KMM is an autobuy for me because I love YA murder mysteries but I really need her to come back with something chilling that packs a punch otherwise she will be removed from my autobuy list lmao.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
paperpetal's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Drug abuse
therewillbenewsuns's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, Death, and Adult/minor relationship
lewbug's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It really picked up towards then end. I enjoyed this book a lot and it had a lot of interesting characters with complex motives. It had a lot of the intensity of a typical murder mystery while still feeling geared towards a young adult crowd. I also was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t completely predict the ending of the mystery which doesn’t always happen for me. I did feel like the book kept going longer than I expected and I didn’t really care that much about the final reveal which just seemed to be a set up for a sequel. Overall a good read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Violence, and Kidnapping
readwithsuzanna's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship
summerif's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Murder
beckyremillard's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be best friends. Several years later they find themselves skipping school together and it’s a lot more than they bargained for.
I was immediately hooked by this book, through the perspective of all three friends. There was a bit where I was a bit annoyed at their choices, but they are high schoolers and aren’t expected to make smart decisions all the time.
I didn’t expect this story to primarily take place in one day, but I thought it added to the story that there was kind of a “deadline” at the end of the day.
I thought it was going to wrap up vaguely neatly; not perfectly but most ducks in a row. However, after finishing it I’m really hoping for a sequel.
I was immediately hooked by this book, through the perspective of all three friends. There was a bit where I was a bit annoyed at their choices, but they are high schoolers and aren’t expected to make smart decisions all the time.
I didn’t expect this story to primarily take place in one day, but I thought it added to the story that there was kind of a “deadline” at the end of the day.
I thought it was going to wrap up vaguely neatly; not perfectly but most ducks in a row. However, after finishing it I’m really hoping for a sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Kidnapping
itsmeyseniab's review against another edition
mysterious
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
2.5
This was my third experience with a Karen M. McManus novel, and sadly it has been my least favorite so far.
Right off the bat I noticed that McManus follows a pretty clear "recipe" for her novels, which is normally fine (I mean if it isn't broken, don't fix it right?) but one thing I could not overlook was how... juvenile the writing felt. It has been nearly two years since I picked up One of Us Is Next, and since then I've read primarily New Adult and Adult literature (so my reading tastes may have changed), but I truly felt like I was reading from the perspective of 14 year olds and not high school seniors. The character that I had the most issues with in this regard was Ivy - the majority of her plot was her acting out based on petty things and she basically got off scot-free for all the wrongs she committed throughout the novel. Although I didn't necessarily have problems with our other two leads, Mateo and Cal, I just found the trio to be very forgettable, along with all of the supporting characters. Along with the underwhelming characters, I felt the plot to be very lukewarm as well. It was very predictable (specifically the "dramatic" plot points having to deal with Ivy, Mateo and Cal's relationships with one another) and the reveal, albeit fast-paced and exciting, wasn't incredibly shocking to me. The cliffhanger ending didn't really do it for me either - I don't necessarily want to see how to story may continue.
I will say that I read this mostly via audiobook, and I wouldn't recommend it. It was nice that there were several narrators, but I wish each narrator was the voice of their respective character. For example, the individuals reading Mateo and Cal's chapters had really over-the-top voices for and female characters dialogue, and vice versa for the individual reading Ivy's chapters, and it was distracting to say the least.
Right off the bat I noticed that McManus follows a pretty clear "recipe" for her novels, which is normally fine (I mean if it isn't broken, don't fix it right?) but one thing I could not overlook was how... juvenile the writing felt. It has been nearly two years since I picked up One of Us Is Next, and since then I've read primarily New Adult and Adult literature (so my reading tastes may have changed), but I truly felt like I was reading from the perspective of 14 year olds and not high school seniors. The character that I had the most issues with in this regard was Ivy - the majority of her plot was her acting out based on petty things and she basically got off scot-free for all the wrongs she committed throughout the novel. Although I didn't necessarily have problems with our other two leads, Mateo and Cal, I just found the trio to be very forgettable, along with all of the supporting characters. Along with the underwhelming characters, I felt the plot to be very lukewarm as well. It was very predictable (specifically the "dramatic" plot points having to deal with Ivy, Mateo and Cal's relationships with one another) and the reveal, albeit fast-paced and exciting, wasn't incredibly shocking to me. The cliffhanger ending didn't really do it for me either - I don't necessarily want to see how to story may continue.
I will say that I read this mostly via audiobook, and I wouldn't recommend it. It was nice that there were several narrators, but I wish each narrator was the voice of their respective character. For example, the individuals reading Mateo and Cal's chapters had really over-the-top voices for and female characters dialogue, and vice versa for the individual reading Ivy's chapters, and it was distracting to say the least.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Murder and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, and Car accident