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jillkaarlela's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This was a really fun twisty murder mystery. It does deal with very heavy topics, so please read trigger warnings. However, I found this book very compelling and page turning. I kept coming back to listen! However, the ending was a little lackluster for my taste. It kinda felt like they picked a killer out of nowhere and didn’t really have any lead up to make you think it was this person at all. Not in a good “I couldn’t have guessed it, unexpected” way, but in a why would it be that person, it doesn’t really make sense” kind of way. I mean I get it, but it seemed like a little bit of a reach. But the final reveal, oof, loved that. I expected it but still loved it. Some other parts were a little predictable, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Murder
meganparfitt's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Murder
readsandrants's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
3.5
I feel nauseous after listening to that last scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, and Abortion
Minor: Child abuse
sarahsbookss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, and Murder
tooloo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Car accident
Moderate: Pedophilia and Violence
kellirae's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Car accident
mackenziemesser's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Bullying
Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
Minor: Mass/school shootings and Abortion
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall, this was a very enjoyable YA mystery-thriller, and I definitely had a lot of fun with trying to figure out what exactly happened and how all the pieces fell together. I liked that the main character made mistakes, and wasn't necessarily a like-able person, which just made the whole experience really fun to read about. I also thought that many of the sensitive or controversial topics were handled in a way that was realistic and felt very believable, which you don't always see with YA books.
However, what kept me from giving this book 4 stars was that the actual mystery was fairly predictable, and I don't think that this book was particularly original in its concept and plot. This is a great book if you're a YA mystery-thriller fan who's on the lookout for more content regardless of how stereotypical or predictable it might be or if you're new to these types of books and haven't yet become fully familiar with many of the tropes that YA mystery authors use in their books.
However, what kept me from giving this book 4 stars was that the actual mystery was fairly predictable, and I don't think that this book was particularly original in its concept and plot. This is a great book if you're a YA mystery-thriller fan who's on the lookout for more content regardless of how stereotypical or predictable it might be or if you're new to these types of books and haven't yet become fully familiar with many of the tropes that YA mystery authors use in their books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
Minor: Child abuse and Drug use
enmcurrie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has such an intriguing plot line. I even found out it was loosely based on real events and that just makes it more interesting. There is so much you can do with a plot about 5 cheerleaders from the same school dying in a similar proximity of each other. It’s a tough concept to do justice and that reflects a little bit in this book.
I thought it was a great mystery, I’ve read way worse. I actually quite enjoyed this book and almost read it in one sitting. It was so interesting to try and find out how each of the cheerleaders really died. I also loved how it included Monica (one of the cheerleader’s sisters) coming to terms with the fact that her sister (Jen) really did commit suicide, since Monica couldn’t imagine her sister, with a seemingly perfect life, wanting to leave the world. There were little snippets of Jen’s perspective sprinkled in the book, which I think really added to the novel, as the reader ended up getting some information before Monica did. It helped with the understanding. Jen’s storyline was beautiful in a sense, but of course heart wrenchingly sad.
The only problems I had with this book are as follows:
- Too many characters, too much going on
- Too many unanswered questions at the end (as a result of too many characters and individual storylines)
- Ginny. (if u know u know)
I felt like way too much was happening with this book, and I know that’s quite a challenge when you’re reading about 5 deaths all at once, however, there were so many little storylines to try to understand and connect dots with, I feel like less would have been more. Because there were so many characters and storylines taking up pages, the end of the book left me with so many unanswered questions about each of the deaths. It did make the plot drag on and get a bit slow a couple of times in the middle. I knew what had happened to them obviously but I wanted more intricate details. I really wanted a stronger sense of the aftermath, it felt a little lazy to say the murder case would open again and “move slowly”. Not saying I need to know everyone’s exact fate, but it would have been interesting to see how it played out and how much more got uncovered about the cheerleaders and their deaths. I wanted to know more.
Ginny. Don’t even get me started on her. I won’t spoil the book but let’s just say, people that withhold information out of their own selfish feelings and needs are pieces of scum. I always got annoying vibes from her and I was right, which I usually am ;). She was by far my least favourite character. Actually scratch that, she was my second to least favourite since Brandon is legit a pedophile, but anyways.
I know this book is getting mixed reviews but honestly if you love a good mystery I say go for it ! It was a good and intriguing read, just missed the mark on a couple of occasions.
I thought it was a great mystery, I’ve read way worse. I actually quite enjoyed this book and almost read it in one sitting. It was so interesting to try and find out how each of the cheerleaders really died. I also loved how it included Monica (one of the cheerleader’s sisters) coming to terms with the fact that her sister (Jen) really did commit suicide, since Monica couldn’t imagine her sister, with a seemingly perfect life, wanting to leave the world. There were little snippets of Jen’s perspective sprinkled in the book, which I think really added to the novel, as the reader ended up getting some information before Monica did. It helped with the understanding. Jen’s storyline was beautiful in a sense, but of course heart wrenchingly sad.
The only problems I had with this book are as follows:
- Too many characters, too much going on
- Too many unanswered questions at the end (as a result of too many characters and individual storylines)
- Ginny. (if u know u know)
I felt like way too much was happening with this book, and I know that’s quite a challenge when you’re reading about 5 deaths all at once, however, there were so many little storylines to try to understand and connect dots with, I feel like less would have been more. Because there were so many characters and storylines taking up pages, the end of the book left me with so many unanswered questions about each of the deaths. It did make the plot drag on and get a bit slow a couple of times in the middle. I knew what had happened to them obviously but I wanted more intricate details. I really wanted a stronger sense of the aftermath, it felt a little lazy to say the murder case would open again and “move slowly”. Not saying I need to know everyone’s exact fate, but it would have been interesting to see how it played out and how much more got uncovered about the cheerleaders and their deaths. I wanted to know more.
Ginny. Don’t even get me started on her. I won’t spoil the book but let’s just say, people that withhold information out of their own selfish feelings and needs are pieces of scum. I always got annoying vibes from her and I was right, which I usually am ;). She was by far my least favourite character. Actually scratch that, she was my second to least favourite since Brandon is legit a pedophile, but anyways.
I know this book is getting mixed reviews but honestly if you love a good mystery I say go for it ! It was a good and intriguing read, just missed the mark on a couple of occasions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Violence, and Abortion
Minor: Drug use
jjthefriendlyghost's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, and Abortion