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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I liked the first half more and I felt like it just kinda went downhill after the first 50%. The summer camp vibes were there and I found the characters fine enough. Nothing wild to write home about but nothing bad. I’d read for the summer camp vibes and a chill YA mystery but don’t have high expectations.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
fast-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
dark
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
mysterious
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
if you know me you know i rarely rate books below even four stars. i'm a loosey goosey when it comes to those things. yoou get a star! you get a star! if i enjoyed it, or even liked it, you're golden.
so why, emma, did you rate this one two stars? could it be that bad?
dear reader, let me take you on a journey. spoilers will blocked if for whatever reason you decide you want to read it yourself one day.
first, and this a general problem i have with goodman's books: there is SO MUCH DRINKING. so much! and this is CONSTANT. what teens get two nights a week from camp to go downtown and drink? who is watching the kids?? it is baffling. im also OVER the rich kids being rich thing. idk it's grating. this one gets points for the main character NOT being that rich kid, i find the friendship dynamic interesting, and you could run with it and make a really good story!
Spoilers for my feelings on the reason goldie is hated by the whole town - you find out pretty quick.
And on the thriller side - this was not the strongest. someone dies halfway through the novel, we're told it's an accident, it never PROPERLY gets investigated. like, goldie finds SOME stuff, but not enough to convince me she's a detective. idk ive read more interesting and compelling investigations and mysteries. And the motive?
overall this was just not it and im sorry if you liked it but ive read enough ya rich kid thrillers that you really gotta do something special to stand out.
so why, emma, did you rate this one two stars? could it be that bad?
dear reader, let me take you on a journey. spoilers will blocked if for whatever reason you decide you want to read it yourself one day.
first, and this a general problem i have with goodman's books: there is SO MUCH DRINKING. so much! and this is CONSTANT. what teens get two nights a week from camp to go downtown and drink? who is watching the kids?? it is baffling. im also OVER the rich kids being rich thing. idk it's grating. this one gets points for the main character NOT being that rich kid, i find the friendship dynamic interesting, and you could run with it and make a really good story!
Spoilers for my feelings on the reason goldie is hated by the whole town - you find out pretty quick.
Spoiler
girl WHY would you take the fall for this crusty man? what made you think he was going to clear things up? GIRL WHY??? and then she's acting all mad because all these people that did know didn't say anything - girl you STARTED that lie how are you going to be mad at them?? flop behavior here on all sides!!! and the AUDACITY to act like he loved her! nah he had ALL YEAR SINCE NEW YEARS to confess and fix things this mans had NO intentions of it. makes me furious.And on the thriller side - this was not the strongest. someone dies halfway through the novel, we're told it's an accident, it never PROPERLY gets investigated. like, goldie finds SOME stuff, but not enough to convince me she's a detective. idk ive read more interesting and compelling investigations and mysteries. And the motive?
Spoiler
tax evasion? REALLY?? bro that was so WEAK. you're going to MURDER someone and then attempt to murder two people, that we're told you care about, because of TAX EVASION?? i have read nonfiction on tax evasion far more interesting and compelling. it makes me mad bc there's SO MANY ways you could take a summer camp and some shady business and make it thriller but we throw it all out the window.overall this was just not it and im sorry if you liked it but ive read enough ya rich kid thrillers that you really gotta do something special to stand out.
I don’t understand why I’m supposed to be sad that little dweeb died. The toxicity is too much.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was a good and entertaining read, but a bit too slow for me. I really enjoyed the whole summer camp side, it was nice to see it from the counselors' side instead of the campers, that's a good change! I really liked the family vibe between them all, the fun they had, but also enjoyed the difficulties and secrets between the 3 friends (Goldie, Ava and Imogen), where we could understand why Goldie would hold back her secrets.
I would have perhaps enjoyed a better ending, or more like an epilogue? To get to know what happens to the camp next, knowing the charges and sentences for those guilty, but also especially knowing how it went for Goldie with her town's inhabitants. That's a bit sad not to get a deeper ending!
I would have perhaps enjoyed a better ending, or more like an epilogue? To get to know what happens to the camp next, knowing the charges and sentences for those guilty, but also especially knowing how it went for Goldie with her town's inhabitants. That's a bit sad not to get a deeper ending!