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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
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
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Audio review. Serious spoilers
This is more like 3.5 ⭐️ but I enjoyed it so will bump it up. I enjoyed the different narrators. This usually is irritating to me but it worked for this book. Specifically because the POV changes were announced- ie “Nate”
My complaints are nit picky. I don’t like the title choice. To me, it implies one of the main characters (POVs) is the culprit. Which isn’t the case. And all the characters are lying about something.
I did guess whodunnit. Although not the how it was accomplished
Jake. I just don’t and didn’t see how this guy was so narcissistic and psychopathic that he could pull off what he did. It takes a whole lot of control to pretend to be in love with someone while hating them so much that you would set them up for murder. And then to attempt said murder. Yeah, he was a control freak but to hide that kind of rage?! Nah. And Addy was so insecure that she would have picked up on cues.
Simon. Author should have either started earlier in the story to portray him as depressed or done flashbacks to show it. I didn’t get any sense that he wanted to die. And his reasons seemed petty but then it’s been awhile since I was a teenager
This is more like 3.5 ⭐️ but I enjoyed it so will bump it up. I enjoyed the different narrators. This usually is irritating to me but it worked for this book. Specifically because the POV changes were announced- ie “Nate”
My complaints are nit picky. I don’t like the title choice. To me, it implies one of the main characters (POVs) is the culprit. Which isn’t the case. And all the characters are lying about something.
I did guess whodunnit. Although not the how it was accomplished
Jake. I just don’t and didn’t see how this guy was so narcissistic and psychopathic that he could pull off what he did. It takes a whole lot of control to pretend to be in love with someone while hating them so much that you would set them up for murder. And then to attempt said murder. Yeah, he was a control freak but to hide that kind of rage?! Nah. And Addy was so insecure that she would have picked up on cues.
Simon. Author should have either started earlier in the story to portray him as depressed or done flashbacks to show it. I didn’t get any sense that he wanted to die. And his reasons seemed petty but then it’s been awhile since I was a teenager
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars
I really appreciated that this book had such real characters, who were accurately flawed. Real people who I had issues with (and hated at the beginning) but still came around to liking because they were written well and such great character development happened.
The whole book was just written well. I didn’t lose interest at any point even though we were generally reading about their mundane lives (in a complicated situation). The actual plot was fast-paced enough that it wasn’t draggy.
I 100% bought Browyn and Nate’s relationship. It was just straight-up good development and it was sweet and I loved them. A little bit cliche but gah they were cute.
As for the mystery, I had zero idea (), but I’m not too good at mysteries so that's to be expected.
Plot-wise, I felt that the ending was anticlimactic and a little too deus ex machina...
Overall the ending character and relationship-wise was actually very good though. It was real and didn’t end with happily ever after (though I wouldn’t have minded...)
Some minor points... The police were a bit incompetent and intentionally antagonistic to fit the story. But like surely that’s also a thing in real life. Also, the alternate POV’s worked really well for this story. They were annoying for all of one minute, that’s all.
To be completely honest, I was a bit annoyed throughout this book, because it bleeds stereotypical high school-ness and I just couldn’t stand it, but that just goes to show how well the atmosphere was done.
Finally, to come to the main issue... This book was pretty problematic. I can’t determine whether it was accurately depicting highschoolers or endorsing it. It really grated on me whenever it showed up, but like, we’re dealing with 1st person POV here - how do you challenge problematic things in every frame without being unrealistic? But definitely a point I looked over is that
I really appreciated that this book had such real characters, who were accurately flawed. Real people who I had issues with (and hated at the beginning) but still came around to liking because they were written well and such great character development happened.
The whole book was just written well. I didn’t lose interest at any point even though we were generally reading about their mundane lives (in a complicated situation). The actual plot was fast-paced enough that it wasn’t draggy.
I 100% bought Browyn and Nate’s relationship. It was just straight-up good development and it was sweet and I loved them. A little bit cliche but gah they were cute.
As for the mystery, I had zero idea (
Spoiler
except a vague sense that Simon might have done it himself, because of his foreshadowing comment right beforePlot-wise, I felt that the ending was anticlimactic and a little too deus ex machina...
Spoiler
I have no idea how Addy got such a lengthy confession from Janae - I do buy the in book explanation, but it's just sooo convenient.Overall the ending character and relationship-wise was actually very good though. It was real and didn’t end with happily ever after (though I wouldn’t have minded...)
Some minor points... The police were a bit incompetent and intentionally antagonistic to fit the story. But like surely that’s also a thing in real life. Also, the alternate POV’s worked really well for this story. They were annoying for all of one minute, that’s all.
To be completely honest, I was a bit annoyed throughout this book, because it bleeds stereotypical high school-ness and I just couldn’t stand it, but that just goes to show how well the atmosphere was done.
Finally, to come to the main issue... This book was pretty problematic. I can’t determine whether it was accurately depicting highschoolers or endorsing it. It really grated on me whenever it showed up, but like, we’re dealing with 1st person POV here - how do you challenge problematic things in every frame without being unrealistic? But definitely a point I looked over is that
Spoiler
Cooper was hella cheating (and oh I haven’t forgotten him justifying Luis cheating) and it’s never once even mentioned, while Addy cheating is a major plot point, the terribleness of which is repeatedly mentioned.
2.5 stars
It's a very straightforward teenage thriller/mystery that I finished when I was commuting. The only good thing about this book is the pace building and mystery surrounding it. Even though the ending is kinda weak. I sort of disregard the romance and other stuff and focus only on the thriller aspect. And I clearly dislike how the chemistry between characters and their supporting characters are sort of "just there and waiting to explore" Like, 's nothing really fun or cute about it.
It's a very straightforward teenage thriller/mystery that I finished when I was commuting. The only good thing about this book is the pace building and mystery surrounding it. Even though the ending is kinda weak. I sort of disregard the romance and other stuff and focus only on the thriller aspect. And I clearly dislike how the chemistry between characters and their supporting characters are sort of "just there and waiting to explore" Like, 's nothing really fun or cute about it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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:
Yes