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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
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
Okay, I loved it. BUT the end felt rushed and that was honestly a shame because WHAT an unexpected plot twist.
I heard this described as Lord of the Flies meets Heathers and it is neither of those things.
Mean spirited, boring, and incredibly stupid. You know what’s coming within the first 30 pages. All the characters interior voices are the same and you can’t differentiate between narrators. Nobody is likable, not even the victim. A waste of paper that I continued to read because I was sure it wouldn’t end as obviously as I thought
Mean spirited, boring, and incredibly stupid. You know what’s coming within the first 30 pages. All the characters interior voices are the same and you can’t differentiate between narrators. Nobody is likable, not even the victim. A waste of paper that I continued to read because I was sure it wouldn’t end as obviously as I thought
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars rounded up as this is a debut novel. Was this book plausible by any stretch of the imagination? No. Was it predictable? Yes. Was it still fun to read? Yes, even though there wasn’t a single likable character in this story. Also, heads up if you are a sensitive reader, look up trigger warnings prior to reading. I will be on the lookout for this author’s next book.
I really enjoyed this book. I think it was 3.5 vs 4 but good reads does not do half stars. Like that it was a quick read and a murder mystery (a genre that I really currently like). I guessed both twist almost from the beginning but that did not take away from the story for me and made me want to root for that ending. I wish some of the characters were more fleshed out but I still enjoyed the plot.
Only other complaint was I wanted to keep reading to see what happened to the characters.
Only other complaint was I wanted to keep reading to see what happened to the characters.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The writing felt juvenile but I still wanted to get all the answers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide
dark
mysterious
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