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bookishbursnoll's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this! Left quite open-ended so intrigued if there's gonna be a second one....
menshevixen's review against another edition
5.0
Rejoice, for the queen of complicated teen girlhood has returned! Barrow's newest is an angsty, twisty, totally juicy and completely satisfying thrill ride through the dark underside of glamorous paradise.
Despite loving Twin Peaks, Veronica Mars, Pretty Little Liars, The Killing, and pretty much every other murdered-girl-mystery media, I'm not a fan of true crime, and something I especially enjoyed over the course of this book was how Luca's understanding of the island's curse changed.
Extra points for palm trees, femme bedrooms, kissing, frank mental health discussions, and sister dynamics.
Despite loving Twin Peaks, Veronica Mars, Pretty Little Liars, The Killing, and pretty much every other murdered-girl-mystery media, I'm not a fan of true crime, and something I especially enjoyed over the course of this book was how Luca's understanding of the island's curse changed.
Spoiler
Ultimately, the deaths of Polly and the other girls remaining unsolved rang really true: there is no Final Boss who's been murdering this whole time, there is no overarching evil force working against Whitney, Polly, Laney, and the rest except the banal, chilling reality that women and girls are killed every day, by a variety of people, for no reason. Reckoning with that is Luca's coming of age. Sure, her romance with Naomi is part of that coming-of-age--and super satisfying in several ways--but the story and character hinge is accepting that your home, your society, the people you love and trust, are perhaps the elements you have to strive against.Extra points for palm trees, femme bedrooms, kissing, frank mental health discussions, and sister dynamics.
poppyjessica's review against another edition
4.0
'Bad Things Happen Here' by Rebecca Barrow is set in the corrupt high society of Parris, where it seems tragedy always strikes the young women of the town, many of them dying in mysterious circumstances. Luca is convinced this a curse befalling the town, one day feeling this hit too hard and close to home when her sister Whitney is found murdered. Of course, Luca becomes an amateur detective (not quite as savvy as Pip in A Good Girl's Guide to Murder but close), determined to unpick her sister's last movements and the corruption at the core of the police force who never seem to crack any of these cases.
We have a few chapters getting to know Whit before her untimely death, meaning that we have a lot more investment in the solving of her murder. Luca is also haunted by the tragic (accidental???) death of her best friend Polly two years prior. Violence underscores every plot point in this novel, with the truth gradually unravelling these people being rotten to the core.
The ending ties up some of the plot but much is let loose - are we due a sequel? Let's hope so.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We have a few chapters getting to know Whit before her untimely death, meaning that we have a lot more investment in the solving of her murder. Luca is also haunted by the tragic (accidental???) death of her best friend Polly two years prior. Violence underscores every plot point in this novel, with the truth gradually unravelling these people being rotten to the core.
The ending ties up some of the plot but much is let loose - are we due a sequel? Let's hope so.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
kirbyworming's review against another edition
4.0
ARRRRGHHHH WHAT THE HELLL!!!!!! THE ENDING WHAT!!!!! I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING COMING!!!!!! AHHRRRGGGGGGGGUUUUUHHHGGGGGG
lillianhpearce's review against another edition
4.0
ARRRRGHHHH WHAT THE HELLL!!!!!! THE ENDING WHAT!!!!! I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING COMING!!!!!! AHHRRRGGGGGGGGUUUUUHHHGGGGGG
bookedandwatched's review against another edition
4.0
The cover and premise of this book looked and sounded right up my alley so I was so happy when I got the chance to read it thanks to NetGalley.
Whilst I wanted to love this book I just didn't fall in love with it. Part of that is because I wasn't rooting for any of the characters in the book. I wasn't rooting for an outcome. I felt myself wanting more from it. The main character whilst believable for her age just grated on me which somewhat removes you from the book. It turns it from a page turner to something you just read, if that makes sense.
So whilst the characters weren't my favourite and didn't grip me that isn't to say this is a bad book. It really isn't. It's just not a book for me. The themes and storyline throughout are decent and for the right reader will be gripping. I just wish the book had given me more depth, more exploration into the rich v poor character dynamics etc.
Lots of interesting topics in this book and if they had been delved into a bit more I think I would have really liked this book.
Whilst I wanted to love this book I just didn't fall in love with it. Part of that is because I wasn't rooting for any of the characters in the book. I wasn't rooting for an outcome. I felt myself wanting more from it. The main character whilst believable for her age just grated on me which somewhat removes you from the book. It turns it from a page turner to something you just read, if that makes sense.
So whilst the characters weren't my favourite and didn't grip me that isn't to say this is a bad book. It really isn't. It's just not a book for me. The themes and storyline throughout are decent and for the right reader will be gripping. I just wish the book had given me more depth, more exploration into the rich v poor character dynamics etc.
Lots of interesting topics in this book and if they had been delved into a bit more I think I would have really liked this book.
lolasbooks's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 ⭐️
oh man this did not work for me.
firstly, the actual writing was good, it was creepy and i was intrigued from the start. i could see everything that was happening and i enjoyed the overall writing style. i also appreciated the diversity; the main character is a fat black girl with depression and intrusive thoughts, and her love interest is an asian girl (east maybe i can’t remember if it was mentioned).
that is where my pros stop. despite the interesting premise, the whole thing just fell flat for me.
- the actual mystery of the plot ended up being ridiculous and not believable. it felt like each “reveal” was just plucked out of a hat.
- our main character doesn’t really do any investigating?
- we don’t know much about any of the side characters.
- though i enjoyed some aspects of the romance, it ended up not having much depth.
- initially, i loved luca. but she ended up getting on my nerves and was very whiny.
- and the ending? where was the resolution??
very sad this one dissapointed me as it had such potential. maybe give it a try if you like ya suspense books, as like i said, i enjoyed the way the author writes and structured the book. but man did this make me appreciate the masterpiece that is agggtm
thank you to hotkey books for the arc of this!! (even if it is after release date lmao)
oh man this did not work for me.
firstly, the actual writing was good, it was creepy and i was intrigued from the start. i could see everything that was happening and i enjoyed the overall writing style. i also appreciated the diversity; the main character is a fat black girl with depression and intrusive thoughts, and her love interest is an asian girl (east maybe i can’t remember if it was mentioned).
that is where my pros stop. despite the interesting premise, the whole thing just fell flat for me.
- the actual mystery of the plot ended up being ridiculous and not believable. it felt like each “reveal” was just plucked out of a hat.
- our main character doesn’t really do any investigating?
- we don’t know much about any of the side characters.
- though i enjoyed some aspects of the romance, it ended up not having much depth.
- initially, i loved luca. but she ended up getting on my nerves and was very whiny.
- and the ending? where was the resolution??
very sad this one dissapointed me as it had such potential. maybe give it a try if you like ya suspense books, as like i said, i enjoyed the way the author writes and structured the book. but man did this make me appreciate the masterpiece that is agggtm
thank you to hotkey books for the arc of this!! (even if it is after release date lmao)
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
2.0
I hate that this one didn't work for me but it just didn't. The plot is interesting and I was fully invested in this small town curse. As the bodies pile up, I was ready for the tension and for details about either a new answer or more about the curse.
Instead, the ending was unfulfilling. It left all the questions sitting out there with next to nothing for answers. I found a few points (especially the police) unrealistic and the love story a bit lacking.
Instead, the ending was unfulfilling. It left all the questions sitting out there with next to nothing for answers. I found a few points (especially the police) unrealistic and the love story a bit lacking.
lizziethereader's review against another edition
2.5
This started out intriguing, but the mystery got lost in the rich kids narrative and fast-track love story. I didn't hate it, but I didn't think it was great either.