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markitherainbowreader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The story is pretty scattered and I wasn't sure what and who to pay attention to.
The tension/mystery aspect felt super inconsistent. There was a "countdown" dowards someone dying and then we find out it was the asshole who made like a single appearance being abusive. Not really a shocker and not a pity. Phoebe as a POV character was absolutely forgettable to me. But. I love Knox. I love Maeve and I cared about their storylines a lot. I liked the cameos by the heroes from the first book. And it all came together in the end. And somehow it still managed to keep me glued to the pages and elicit feels in me. So 4*
The tension/mystery aspect felt super inconsistent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Vomit, Cancer, and Alcoholism
sarahro's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Great sequel that picks up 18 months after book 1 and thankfully still includes the original Bayview Four as minor characters. I wouldn't have enjoyed the novel as much as I did without the Nate/Bronwyn snippets here and there.
But I have to admit that Maeve was a perfect mc and even though I struggled with Phoebe and Knox in the beginning I liked their character development throughout the story. My favourite character turned out to be Luis, which was completely unexpected since I didn't even know he played a role in the sequel.
The mystery was okay but not as thrilling as Simon's ploy in book 1. The ending felt a bit rushed and I think the very last chapter was not as satisfying as it could have been.
Still, I flew through the pages and feel at home in Bayview, despite its dark side and revenge forums. I am looking forward to part 3 this year!
But I have to admit that Maeve was a perfect mc and even though I struggled with Phoebe and Knox in the beginning I liked their character development throughout the story. My favourite character turned out to be Luis, which was completely unexpected since I didn't even know he played a role in the sequel.
The mystery was okay but not as thrilling as Simon's ploy in book 1. The ending felt a bit rushed and I think the very last chapter was not as satisfying as it could have been.
Still, I flew through the pages and feel at home in Bayview, despite its dark side and revenge forums. I am looking forward to part 3 this year!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Alcoholism
Moderate: Stalking and Cancer
Minor: Suicide, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
readwith_le's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Medical content, Violence, and Sexual assault
dominic_t's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
This was a really great book. The twists were great--they were unexpected, but still believable. I love books where the twist ending is well supported by the rest of the book, and this one really was. This was just as good as the first book in the series. The new characters in this book were great and very likable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cannibalism, Blood, and Murder
taelights's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Personally I didn't like this one as much as the first book until the very end because I just disliked all the characters so I just couldn't get into it. I think this author is just not for me and I should just stick the the tv adaption but i will be giving the next book a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Bullying, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Vomit, Cancer, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Chronic illness, Medical content, Murder, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
deadgirlwalking23's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cancer, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Bullying
Minor: Suicide and Vomit
graceev's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- 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: Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Death, and Infidelity
abbyycadabbyy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
2.0
I was so excited for this book and so let down... After finishing the first book I couldn't wait to read this book. I felt like the book was not needed.
I can't help but compare this book to the first one. I feel like the mystery and suspense fell short. I was hoping it would be like the first book where it just jumped right into the death and mystery. I felt the book didn’t really get good till like halfway through.
I really didn’t like the truth or dare game. I thought the concept was there but the execution again fell short. I thought the “twist” wasn’t all that. To be completely honest I felt this book was really stupid compared to the first book.
I think when going into a book that I had such high hopes for I will get let down.
I can't help but compare this book to the first one. I feel like the mystery and suspense fell short. I was hoping it would be like the first book where it just jumped right into the death and mystery. I felt the book didn’t really get good till like halfway through.
I really didn’t like the truth or dare game. I thought the concept was there but the execution again fell short. I thought the “twist” wasn’t all that. To be completely honest I felt this book was really stupid compared to the first book.
I think when going into a book that I had such high hopes for I will get let down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Vomit
tsnhjhn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was not expecting to like the sequel (or more of a spinoff, since this book focuses on a different cast of characters related to the Bayview four) as much as I did.
18 months after the events of the original story, comes a knockoff Truth or Dare game inspired by Simon's page. I was initially disappointed that the sequel wouldn't be focused on the original loveable cast, but I quickly grew to love this new cast: Maeve (Bronwyn's younger sister), Knox (Maeve's ex and best friend), and Phoebe. All of the cameos from the other four were super satisfying.
Bronwyn is at Yale and she and Nate are now in an on-and-off relationshipbut they are endgame omg so so good , Cooper is amazing at college baseball and is still with Kris, and Addy is still in town and her sister, Ashton, and Eli (the lawyer from Until Proven) are getting married!!
The mystery part was, admittedly, not as thrilling as the first book because we spend time just catching up with old characters and reading all the drama play out between the new ones, but I honestly didn't mind at all. McManus is GOOD at fleshing out characters and making you root for them, and there was no shortage of character flaws here (Addy and Phoebe are foils to each other in their questionable actions), but the character and relationship development (not just romantic, but platonic ones--Phoebe and Maeve, Maeve and Knox, etc,--and familial ones--Phoebe and Emma, Knox and his dad--were done so well).
This book was also just a step up from the last one in terms of humor and writing; there were some moments in the last one that just felt slightly dated and cringe, but this book was not like that at all.
Now for the actual mystery plot twist oh boy:Jared being the one sending Eli death threats but also being Unknown and Intense Guy was just wow. I admit, I kinda didn't like that he wasn't a Bayview student bc I was like what is the point then, but his motives made sense, and Emma kinda satisfied that itch of having a traitor in the midst. And the brief moment where everyone was like oh no is Phoebe really the one is she not who we thought she was--THAT got me I absolutely did not want that to be true and I'm glad it wasn't. BUT OMG WHO saw the Owen thing coming?? The whole bizarre/bazaar thing--my jaw dropped when I saw that, now THAT was an amazing plot twist and one that needed few words (only a single one) to reveal who continued where Emma left off. I am just so so sad for their father that was a tragedy that never should have happened and tbh? Brandon's death felt like an eye for an eye and a part of me felt satisfied. But Phoebe is way more mature than me when she was like no that wasn't right. The other thing is that these kids are really emotionally mature for their age regardless of the mistakes they make at the beginning, and it's nice to read.
Honestly, I just really appreciate all the full circle moments McManus adds to tie up every loose plot thread because she never adds a single little scene without it having some greater significance later on (e.g. endgame, bazaar).
Can't wait for Book 3!!
18 months after the events of the original story, comes a knockoff Truth or Dare game inspired by Simon's page. I was initially disappointed that the sequel wouldn't be focused on the original loveable cast, but I quickly grew to love this new cast: Maeve (Bronwyn's younger sister), Knox (Maeve's ex and best friend), and Phoebe. All of the cameos from the other four were super satisfying.
Bronwyn is at Yale and she and Nate are now in an on-and-off relationship
The mystery part was, admittedly, not as thrilling as the first book because we spend time just catching up with old characters and reading all the drama play out between the new ones, but I honestly didn't mind at all. McManus is GOOD at fleshing out characters and making you root for them, and there was no shortage of character flaws here (Addy and Phoebe are foils to each other in their questionable actions), but the character and relationship development (not just romantic, but platonic ones--Phoebe and Maeve, Maeve and Knox, etc,--and familial ones--Phoebe and Emma, Knox and his dad--were done so well).
This book was also just a step up from the last one in terms of humor and writing; there were some moments in the last one that just felt slightly dated and cringe, but this book was not like that at all.
Now for the actual mystery plot twist oh boy:
Honestly, I just really appreciate all the full circle moments McManus adds to tie up every loose plot thread because she never adds a single little scene without it having some greater significance later on (e.g. endgame, bazaar).
Can't wait for Book 3!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Alcoholism
nataliapassos's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
Minor: Xenophobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Vomit