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valenpolack's review against another edition
4.75
I’ve learned through the years that the lower my expectations are going into a book, the more I end up enjoying it. And that’s exactly what happened with this one.
I went in thinking I wouldn’t like it, and I ended up turning into one of my favorite thrillers.
McManus crafted such a page turner I just couldn’t put it down, even though it was very late in the night and I had work the next morning.
The characters were amazing and I fell in love with each and everyone of them.
The plot was consistent and I was trying really hard to figure out who the killer was and just couldn’t.
The ending really left me wishing I had the sequel and start it right away.
My only problem with this book was that, like the idiot that I am, I spoiled myself some parts and didn’t get to enjoy it as much. Besides the plot twist wasn’t handled as well as I was hoping for. Still, I really enjoyed this book and would totally recommend it to everyone.
Watch as I turn it into my new personality trait.
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Gun violence
bookfairyesmee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
felicitasn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer and Mass/school shootings
mair_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Bullying and Outing
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Cursing, Misogyny, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
allyhoo811's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Overall, I found this to an engaging YA mystery. The characters and their secrets/motives were pretty cliche and easily guessed, but the overall character development (especially with Addy) was wonderful and I would definitely recommend this one to most people. It gave me huge Breakfast Club vibes and I think fans of 80s/90s teen movies would especially enjoy the nostalgia factor even though it has a contemporary setting.
I did not love the ending/epilogue,
My 2 Big Issues (contain major spoilers):
1. Simon killing himself was a really interesting (if somewhat predictable) twist, but the portrayal of Simon as someone suffering from depression was unfortunate. Many people (teens included) suffer from depression, but they don't create elaborate, evil revenge plots to take out everyone who ever looked at them funny. Most people with depression have a hard time getting out of bed. And Simon had been destroying people's lives for years, portraying him as someone who was depressed and felt like an outsider when he was actually probably suffering from some severe personality disorders puts a bad light on depression, especially in a YA book.
2. Jake's character arc. This is a thriller trope I hate, and I hate it even more in a YA mystery. Jake the "perfect" boyfriend with some controlling tendances turns into a psycho killer at the end of the novel. This is just so overdone and not logical. Yes, people who attempt to control their partners are more likely to engage in emotional and physical abuse. But Jake had gone months without the slightest indication that he was escalating after he found out about the cheating (and kept it to himself). His mask didn't even slip once. And by the end we have a crazy action sequence where he is trying to kill two people without any hesitation. It felt forced, and I think Addy's character arc would have been better served without the killer boyfriend trope.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Transphobia, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, and Stalking
esme586's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, and Outing
Minor: Alcoholism, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Abandonment
leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After Simon Kelleher dies in detention with only Bronwyn, Addy, Cooper, and Nate present, the four students are totally shaken, and all of them insist that they didn't do it - but the police are convinced that it had to be one of them. That is until the killer starts sending cryptic messages via a Tumblr post. Now, the four unlikely comrades must band together to prove their innocence before one of them is pinned with murder.
This multiple POV story was quick-paced and kept me guessing all the way through. The characters were quirky and definitely had flaws, yet they were still likeable. The high school setting was realistic as well. There were lots of twists in this book, and while I did figure out the killer a little bit ahead of time, I still enjoyed reading about their motives through the end of the story. I had a hard time putting this book down, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good YA mystery/thriller.
Graphic: Death and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Chronic illness and Sexual content
ilybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
oomz613's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction and Abandonment
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Enjoyable but like incredibly predictable
Literally nothing was a surprise
<SPOILERS>
Also it does feel like cheating that none of them were lying about that but ok
Also fuck u simon
Also really? Everyone is that pressed that she cheated on some tests? Im sorry did her teacher rly not notice that she went from a d to getting 100%?? Thats on him
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail