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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This book started off with a bang and kept my interest the entire way through. The ending was very unexpected, but captivating. I want to read it again right away now knowing the ending and see what I missed.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Predictable
It didn't take me long to read this book because I was really into it and had a hard time putting it down. I hadn't read a great book in a long time. This kept my interest from beginning to the end and everything in between.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Childhood friends Esther, Tanya, Chloe, and Annabel reluctantly accept a cryptic invitation to an all-expenses-paid destination bachelorette party for Poppy, who they haven’t spoken to since they all graduated high school 10 years earlier. Although the women have drifted apart over the last decade, they are bonded by the experiences and secrets of their high school clique - and by their curiosity about what became of Poppy. What follows is a satisfying thriller full of high school drama, backstabbing, bullying, secrets, revenge, murder and deeply unlikeable characters.
—
I guessed the plot twist fairly early on, but found any excuse I could to pick up this book (which for a thriller earns it five stars from me!) The characters are all so horrible - with zero accountability or guilt - that I was rooting for their demise. I found the journal entries contrived but they made sense within the context of the story. The entire plot was a bit far fetched but it made for a fun, quick thriller.
—
I guessed the plot twist fairly early on, but found any excuse I could to pick up this book (which for a thriller earns it five stars from me!) The characters are all so horrible - with zero accountability or guilt - that I was rooting for their demise. I found the journal entries contrived but they made sense within the context of the story. The entire plot was a bit far fetched but it made for a fun, quick thriller.
First, I'll say I respect this as a debut. There were a lot of moments that kept me guessing or were just so wild I was like — this needs to be a 90-min Netflix movie to watch on a Friday evening.
Now, to the review. This was probably a good warmup to reading Bad Summer People because these people are BAD. I couldn't imagine accepting an invite from someone I haven't heard from in a decade, let alone someone who my friends harshly bullied for years. These characters were so self-involved that they missed or excused an insurmountable amount of red flags! It was mind blowing.
Four friends are invited to serve as bridesmaids for a former classmate. They haven't talked to her since school and since ruining her college prospects, but they'll quickly accept an all expenses-paid island getaway without much pause. The opening chapter reveals only one of them will survive until the end.
Secrets and betrayals are revealed as alliances are formed.
This is a prime example that if something's too good to be true (like sudden forgiveness and a free trip), it probably is.
TW: bullying, self harm, suicidal ideation
Now, to the review. This was probably a good warmup to reading Bad Summer People because these people are BAD. I couldn't imagine accepting an invite from someone I haven't heard from in a decade, let alone someone who my friends harshly bullied for years. These characters were so self-involved that they missed or excused an insurmountable amount of red flags! It was mind blowing.
Four friends are invited to serve as bridesmaids for a former classmate. They haven't talked to her since school and since ruining her college prospects, but they'll quickly accept an all expenses-paid island getaway without much pause. The opening chapter reveals only one of them will survive until the end.
Secrets and betrayals are revealed as alliances are formed.
This is a prime example that if something's too good to be true (like sudden forgiveness and a free trip), it probably is.
TW: bullying, self harm, suicidal ideation