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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I usually love books set at summer camp. This one fell a bit flat for me though. I felt like the mystery aspect was more of a side plot and I didn’t find myself captivated. I was kind of bored most of the time.
One thing I really resonated with was the way Goldie felt about her friendship with Imogen and Ava. The feeling of being in such a close relationship yet also feeling left out is something that really hits with my own anxiety.
But overall this book just fell flat for me.
One thing I really resonated with was the way Goldie felt about her friendship with Imogen and Ava. The feeling of being in such a close relationship yet also feeling left out is something that really hits with my own anxiety.
But overall this book just fell flat for me.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
*2.5*
Overall, this book was fine. It was an easy read that I was able to get through quickly. I enjoyed the summer camp vibes that the book had.
Things I liked less: characters, pacing, motivation, the “reveal.”
Pacing: This book felt too long mostly because there weren’t really any reveals throughout the book. A major chunk into it I didn’t feel like I knew more than I did at the beginning.
Characters: I found Goldie to be a weak main character. Which is fine, I just didn’t buy her looking into solving a murder. She didn’t think anything through and was a bit all over the place. (And on that note, she didn’t actually solve anything. She just kind of bumbled around being wrong a lot until the answer was literally spelled out to her.)
Character development: We were told a lot about characters but didn’t get to see it in their interactions. I also think that things were said between Goldie, Ava, and Imogen but never actually resolved beyond them just saying they were friends again. Maybe I’m petty but I wouldn’t move on so quickly after being accused of murder.
Plot: This ties into the setting - I did like the idea of the dynamic between a wealthy summer camp and the poor town. I think I get what the author was going for but I don’t think rich people avoiding taxes has quite the punch she thought it did. “Oh my, what evil is going on at this camp, I couldn’t possibly send my children here!” gasps the parents of campers in fake outrage that do the exact same shit but are actually just relieved they weren’t the ones being called out.
Spoilers: Then there’s Heller. He made no sense. He sucked. Not that that means he deserved to die, but still. I’m unclear/ find it hard to believe how he managed to find dirt on Cantor that the IRS couldn’t. I’m unclear how him saying your blackmail of ratting me out means I love Goldie. It just means you love the town more and are willing to let them find out what you did if it helps them. I don’t think it’s the intention but there were some unhealthy portrayal of “love” throughout this book.
Overall, this book was fine. It was an easy read that I was able to get through quickly. I enjoyed the summer camp vibes that the book had.
Things I liked less: characters, pacing, motivation, the “reveal.”
Pacing: This book felt too long mostly because there weren’t really any reveals throughout the book. A major chunk into it I didn’t feel like I knew more than I did at the beginning.
Characters: I found Goldie to be a weak main character. Which is fine, I just didn’t buy her looking into solving a murder. She didn’t think anything through and was a bit all over the place. (And on that note, she didn’t actually solve anything. She just kind of bumbled around being wrong a lot until the answer was literally spelled out to her.)
Character development: We were told a lot about characters but didn’t get to see it in their interactions. I also think that things were said between Goldie, Ava, and Imogen but never actually resolved beyond them just saying they were friends again. Maybe I’m petty but I wouldn’t move on so quickly after being accused of murder.
Plot: This ties into the setting - I did like the idea of the dynamic between a wealthy summer camp and the poor town. I think I get what the author was going for but I don’t think rich people avoiding taxes has quite the punch she thought it did. “Oh my, what evil is going on at this camp, I couldn’t possibly send my children here!” gasps the parents of campers in fake outrage that do the exact same shit but are actually just relieved they weren’t the ones being called out.
Spoilers: Then there’s Heller. He made no sense. He sucked. Not that that means he deserved to die, but still. I’m unclear/ find it hard to believe how he managed to find dirt on Cantor that the IRS couldn’t. I’m unclear how him saying your blackmail of ratting me out means I love Goldie. It just means you love the town more and are willing to let them find out what you did if it helps them. I don’t think it’s the intention but there were some unhealthy portrayal of “love” throughout this book.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I liked the Gossip Girl meets summer camp vibes this book gave, but I could not get over how much the main character whined about her ex-boyfriend who majorly screwed her over and didn’t seem all that great to her to begin with? And the reason for the murder was so ridiculous. I know I didn’t write it and I don’t want to be unfair but the plot had so much potential!
I’d absolutely give Jessica Goodman another shot, but this particular book was not it for me.
I’d absolutely give Jessica Goodman another shot, but this particular book was not it for me.