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bessadams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Bullying, and Murder
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Self harm, Infidelity, Homophobia, and Vomit
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, and Adult/minor relationship
veggiestrawenjoyer13's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.5
I’m gonna be honest, the beginning had me doubting the book. About halfway through the story really picks up and the end had me shocked. I was so so shocked at who the killer was, that it brought the books rating up a whole half star.
I’ll start with the pros. I genuinely could never form a real theory. I figured some people were too obvious, but I had no other leads. The mystery was really entertaining. Not only the mystery with the murder case, but also with information about characters. The slow reveal of what happened in Kay’s hometown had me so hooked and I liked that little moments were sprinkled throughout the book.
Now the cons. Until the end, I would’ve rated this book 3 stars. Especially at the beginning, I felt like the writing lacked emotion. It was a very tell-not-show style and I wasn’t used to it. I do think the writing got a little better throughout, but some things still confused me. Kay received some heavy threats and acted completely normal about what happened on the website. As she did each task, I felt like the book rushed through those moments. Also, all the characters at the beginning of the book confused me, but it was not too difficult to understand after a few chapters.
Overall, the book is probably worth 3 stars, but the plot twist was so good that I had to bump up the rating. It was enjoyable to read and I liked the suspense.
I’ll start with the pros. I genuinely could never form a real theory. I figured some people were too obvious, but I had no other leads. The mystery was really entertaining. Not only the mystery with the murder case, but also with information about characters. The slow reveal of what happened in Kay’s hometown had me so hooked and I liked that little moments were sprinkled throughout the book.
Now the cons. Until the end, I would’ve rated this book 3 stars. Especially at the beginning, I felt like the writing lacked emotion. It was a very tell-not-show style and I wasn’t used to it. I do think the writing got a little better throughout, but some things still confused me. Kay received some heavy threats and acted completely normal about what happened on the website. As she did each task, I felt like the book rushed through those moments. Also, all the characters at the beginning of the book confused me, but it was not too difficult to understand after a few chapters.
Overall, the book is probably worth 3 stars, but the plot twist was so good that I had to bump up the rating. It was enjoyable to read and I liked the suspense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Bullying, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide attempt, Classism, Homophobia, and Adult/minor relationship
nickoliver's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
On the one hand, it was a bit predictable - I was able to figure out the exact nature of the plot twist way before the end -, and the characters and the way they acted was incredibly confusing to me sometimes. They often revealed things so nonchalantly as if they were no big deal and did things that seemed to go against what I'd been believed was their nature up until that point. It kind of felt like I was being gaslight by a book sometimes.
I also wasn't the biggest fan of the writing? It wasn't bad for the most part, but every once in a while, Mele would describe things in a way that made no sense. Here's an example:
I also wasn't the biggest fan of the writing? It wasn't bad for the most part, but every once in a while, Mele would describe things in a way that made no sense. Here's an example:
But with every passing second, I feel a rising anxiety in the pit of my stomach, like I did the first time we kissed. It doesn't feel the same as those quick, crucial moments when Brie and I swirled together in Spencer's room, or the thousand times he and I flung ourselves at each other."
Who describes a make-out like that? "Swirled together"? "Flung ourselves at each other"? Moments like that just took me out of the story, because I just kept being taken aback by them. It just seemed like Mele tried to find ways to describe things without repeating herself, but without making sure the words actually meant what she thought they meant.
On the other hand, I had kind of fun reading this? It was a bit disappointing that the scavenger hunt mentioned in the synopsis didn't take up as much of the plot as I expected, because I was always very curious to see what new scandals it would reveal. I also kind of liked that some of the girls were queer. There was a bit too much cattiness and mean girls energy in this and friends being nasty to each other (which, to someone who hasn't had any meaningful friendship since childhood, has always confused me tremendously), but it didn't bother me quite as much as it usually would. (Possibly because Kay didn't talk about it all too much and always seemed to trivialise her mean streak.)
So overall, while this wasn't a masterpiece and also very easy to figure out, I read it very quickly (admittedly, it did also have a very big font, which helped) and had fun for the most part.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual violence, and Animal death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Lesbophobia, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Vomit, and Car accident
about the sexual violence:quinn24's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Fatphobia, Drug abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: Homophobia and Alcohol
barry_benson's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Murder, Violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Child death, Alcohol, Bullying, and Cursing
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual content, Outing, Lesbophobia, Drug use, Death, Cursing, Child abuse, and Biphobia
Minor: Pedophilia and Mental illness
kireeeeds's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
(THIS REVIEW IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ THE BOOK TO SHARE OPINIONS, I APOLOGIZE I DONT KNOW HOW TO WRITE REVIEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO DIDNT READ IT ALREADY HAHA) When it reveals in the beginning that she had a secret and that it was so horrendous it couldn't be revealed, I didnt think it would be that she "killed" her own brother. You guys know she didn't actually kill him but participated in it. Which is crazy since she so dearly loved him. I must admit I did think Kay was the killer at some point. I love the sapphic add-ons because I feel it adds more heat on the plot between Nola, Kay and Brie in a good way. (lol it rhymes) The only characters I didnt like were Holly, she needs to calm down it was giving very much brat behavior; and Tai because she annoyed me every now and then. I think the characters were less annoying but intersting because they caught my attention in an odd way. On another note the peoms such as Tai Burned Chicken, (tricias, i forgot hers lol sorry. Hers was my favorite too) Madd tea party and so on, were amazingly put together, GOOD JOB NOLAA!! They perfectly reflect their past's and how it led up to their current situation. Something I would've enjoyed more was a longer scene explaining nolas true feelings and their fight. Also an apology from Kay's friends -_- The tension correlates perfectly with the dark academia theme.
Dark 4/10 Academia 6/10, YA 9/10. Overall very good to start off my tbr list of 55+ YA dark academia books >v<
Dark 4/10 Academia 6/10, YA 9/10. Overall very good to start off my tbr list of 55+ YA dark academia books >v<
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Violence, Suicide, and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming
enmcurrie's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I wasn’t expecting LGBTQ+ storylines which is great and I loved how unique the layout of the mystery was. The characters are annoying, yeah, but really that’s the whole point. They go to an elitist and rich private boarding school. The main character (Kay) spends most of the book realising that there’s no point being so horrible to people just to climb up social hierarchy.
Anyways, the main plot.
There were so many plot twists throughout which I loved, it didn’t make the plot dry because you were always finding out new things. You get a basic picture of what’s happened at the start and it just fills up with more and more details right until the end. I loved learning about each of the main character’s secrets and I loved the layout and idea of a dead girl’s revenge website.
If you like mystery I just say read it, it’s an enjoyable storyline. It’s unique, fast paced. I loved it.
Anyways, the main plot.
There were so many plot twists throughout which I loved, it didn’t make the plot dry because you were always finding out new things. You get a basic picture of what’s happened at the start and it just fills up with more and more details right until the end. I loved learning about each of the main character’s secrets and I loved the layout and idea of a dead girl’s revenge website.
If you like mystery I just say read it, it’s an enjoyable storyline. It’s unique, fast paced. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Alcohol
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