Reviews with content warning for Bullying - The Counselors

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Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman

21 reviews

katras4's review against another edition

3.0

mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book would be good for a tween or teenager starting to read mystery books possibly.. but as an adult, you know the twists about to happen.

Content Warnings

okafon's review against another edition

3.5

mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I overall liked this book, it was a good young adult murder mystery. But there were a few things I didn’t like as much.

For one,

Once Goldie was told Heller regretted putting the blame on her for the car accident, she seemed to love him again? Just cause he was sorry and was planning to tell her before he died doesn’t mean she should forgive him just like that. Sort of glad he died cause I wouldn’t have wanted her to get back together with him after what he did.

Also, I guess who it was half way through. It was pretty obvious. This isn’t per day bad, but when the murderer was revealed I like feeling suprised, but this didn’t suprise me. The reason the murderer killed the person also didn’t make a ton of sense. I feel like on some level it was an ok reason but I feel like the author could have made a better reason.

Also I found it weird how they didn’t wrap up the fact that Goldie’s life was “ruined.” What is going to happen after? How does her town treat her after she tells them it was Heller who ran over Dylan? Will they apologize for treating her so badly? Does she even actually end up exposing Heller or does she back out?

Also why did her parents let her take the blame for the car accident. I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that not only did Goldie think it was a good idea (She was in love or whatever, I can excuse her) but her parents thought it was a good idea? When her mom told her she knew Goldie wasn’t driving the car I was so confused. What parent lets their child take the blame for running over someone when they didn’t?

Regardless I would still recommend this book. It wasn’t amazing but it was good. The story was good overall.

Content Warnings

abby_can_read's review against another edition

3.0

mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

📖
This was an interesting book. The plot was decent, though I guessed several of the "twists." The writing style kept me engaged. Overall, it was a decent book. I didn't love or didn't hate it.

Content Warnings

bessadams's review against another edition

3.25

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

cassroberts89's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous tense slow-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: Complicated

Did that really take me four days to read? It felt much, much longer. Wavering between two and three stars, I had to round down because I was pretty much skimming near the end just to finish.

I’ll try to do this without spoilers:

I enjoyed some bits and pieces, but there was just so much toxicity. Weird friendship dynamics, super toxic boyfriend (I don’t buy for a second that he loved her until the end. Actions speak louder, my friend), even Goldie’s parents showed some seriously questionable judgment.

And about the counselors all getting two nights per week off to go into town, get piss-drunk, and then crawl back into cabins full of children? Wha?

I actually really enjoyed hearing about the camp experiences and imagery. It felt very nostalgic, having spent a couple of summers in my youth at a (far less glamorous!) summer camp. The tension between “townies” and campers was good too. That’s really all that carried the book though.

I’ve heard good things about other books by Jessica Goodman that I might take a chance on, but I’m in no hurry.

P.S. The motive was lame. I saw it a mile away.

Content Warnings

liciaaaaa's review against another edition

2.25

mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Every character sucked except Imogene, but that’s because she was severely underdeveloped. I feel like Scooby Doo episodes have cleaner wrap ups than this book did. All that for tax evasion? Really?

Content Warnings