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stungbythewood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book on my first read through and still enjoy it just as much on my second although I do have a few minor complaints.
There are a few points of misogyny that are just :/
And after rereading the ending, it all felt way too convenient.
I get that it was supposed to mainly be focused on the bay view four as suspects in Simon’s murder but Jake’s involvement felt too out there within the whole story.
I was not anticipating the twist outcome on my first read through so I was genuinely surprised by that.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nate and Bronwyn’s storylines as well as Addy’s. Cooper’s was fine but I’m not all that interested in sports so his storyline didn’t interest me for the most part.
Bronwyn and her desire to fix things head on as they come along in her relationship with Nate is so relatable that I genuinely felt as if I lived their story (without being accused of murder, of course) and I think their relationship is very realistic, especially toward the end when Nate ducks out of Bronwyn’s life because things got too real for him. It’s an experience I know all too well, but luckily, Nate gets his act together and realizes that self isolating isn’t the solution to what he’s feeling.
He actually listens to advice given to him by Addy and attempts to make things work with Bronwyn and COMMUNICATES HIS FEELINGS!!!!!!!!
Thank you Karen M. McManus for writing men that actually work on improving themselves for the women in their life.
Her finding her footing and place in this world is something that I relate to a LOT myself.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you’re looking for a quick but fun mystery to read.
I’ve already read the second book and am not sure if I’ll be going a reread of it but I am looking forward to reading the third installment!
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Outing, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
gen_wolfhailstorm'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
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Self harm, Homophobia, Addiction, Drug use, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Bullying, Child death, Outing, and Violence
itsjadenbaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Outing, Suicide, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Infidelity, Bullying, Child death, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Self harm, Abandonment, Classism, Confinement, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
mirjv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Drug abuse, Car accident, Death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Self harm, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
julia_jojo17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Outing, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
3ch4na'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Suicide, Drug use, Infidelity, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Vomit, Addiction, Mental illness, Murder, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Violence
notyourdailynerd'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
Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Addiction, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Self harm, and Suicide
shinaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Genocide, Alcoholism, Murder, Alcohol, and Drug use
Moderate: Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Car accident, and Abandonment
Minor: Self harm and Suicide
I was really happy thatwild_mustang's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
Pretty much just teen drama - sex, drugs, alcohol and depression. Oh, and trying to stay out of jail - but to be honest there wasn’t heaps of focus on the murder mystery. At least there wasn’t until the last 100 pages or so.
Personally, I didn’t really care for the romance sub-plots either.
The writing was also in a more juvenile voice than what I normally read, which makes sense because it’s first person perspectives from teenagers, but it took me a little while to get used to. Additionally, many of the plots were very trope heavy and painfully stereotypical at times
However, if was a very easy read and only took like 7hrs so it gets an average 3 star rating. The extra quarter of a star is an appreciation of some of the authors writing choices and the execution of perspective narrations to reveal relevant things in the intended literary light and at the right narrative time.
I recently studied Reader-Response Theory and I think, in this light, McManus did a very good job at writing for the implied reader (so the rating is bumped up), however, I really don’t think that I am the implied or intended reader (so it’s still a fairly average rating).
To take a strategic leaf from Simon’s tumblr…
JT recommended this to me and I’m not mad I read it but I certainly don’t care to continue the series.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Cursing, and Homophobia
Minor: Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Vomit, Abandonment, Sexual content, Cancer, Car accident, Sexual assault, Mass/school shootings, and Self harm
ashleysager's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Suicide attempt, Child death, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Alcoholism, Addiction, Self harm, Grief, Death, Terminal illness, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicide