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tewzkq's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
4.5
xvicesx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed how well this was set up. The red herrings in the book were abundant and so purposeful that it was a surprise across the board when the evil mastermind was finally ousted. The clues where there all along, but with everything going on, it still sneaks up on you.
There's a side story about friendship and finding your own worth in there, subtle and very well done, without ever coming across as preachy. The characters unique and coming alive on the page.
Really enjoyed it.
There's a side story about friendship and finding your own worth in there, subtle and very well done, without ever coming across as preachy. The characters unique and coming alive on the page.
Really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Car accident, Infidelity, Death, Classism, and Murder
Minor: Violence, Alcohol, and Abandonment
_lost_magda_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
sam_xmc's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
samairadgaf's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book is so good for thriller lovers! I loved the original concept, with her writing a story that was exactly the way Hugh died. I loved the hint of romance, the secret society, and the plot twists within. Everything was portrayed really well, and I really felt all the characters were teenagers just trying to solve a murder. I loved the representation with Jessminder and her determination with her scholarship as well as being diverse in the school.
I couldn't recommend it more, it is so good and I'm sure others think so! I read it very quickly because I wanted to find out the mystery, but it is a good amount of any beginner.
If I had feedback, I would've wanted to know more about the Regia Society. I am happy with what we got, with the pranks and the events with them, but I feel like we could've gotten more of them. Maybe that's just me loving secret elite society stories, but I think it was so good nevertheless.
DEFINITELY READ!
I couldn't recommend it more, it is so good and I'm sure others think so! I read it very quickly because I wanted to find out the mystery, but it is a good amount of any beginner.
If I had feedback, I would've wanted to know more about the Regia Society. I am happy with what we got, with the pranks and the events with them, but I feel like we could've gotten more of them. Maybe that's just me loving secret elite society stories, but I think it was so good nevertheless.
DEFINITELY READ!
iyaa's review against another edition
1.0
1.5 stars.
Well, this was quite disappointing. The idea was there but the execution was bad.
Well, this was quite disappointing. The idea was there but the execution was bad.
elkila's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent fun guessing the murderer at a preppy boarding school.
Jess is telling us this story from the present, after it's all over. So there are touches that bring us out of the immediacy of the murders and remind us that the narrator already knows the solution, and often does this with humour.
It's a murder plot in a school, done before maybe, but this YA was hugely enjoyable, with a two-timing murder victim, a secret society, love interests, detectives and police involvement, and a scholarship student caught up in a fight for her education.
Jess is at Heybuckle School on her merits, one of very few students who aren't there due to hereditary or new money family wealth. Her best friend is called Clementine-Tangerine Briggs, for heaven's sake. She's from a poor family and determined to keep her head down, make the most of every opportunity this school will give her, and not rock the boat. But when a popular and privileged student is murdered, she finds herself instantly involved, as best friend to the victim's second secret girlfriend. But more because features of her own short story were used at the murder scene as part of his death.
With her scholarship on the line and the police seemingly making no headway, Jess feels forced to investigate herself.
I really liked Jess, who grows in bravery through the book, and takes to 'detecting' and the usual clues/rounding up/guessing like a duck to water. Other characters have a chance to shine, there are several well-defined characters that you can't be quite sure you can trust.
A favourite moment is when Jess pauses the narration to ask if the reader has solved the murder yet, with a spare note page for you to write down your thoughts before a Big Reveal.
Lots of moments where you do question motives, alibis, stories and characters. Great teenage introduction to the murder mystery genre.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
Jess is telling us this story from the present, after it's all over. So there are touches that bring us out of the immediacy of the murders and remind us that the narrator already knows the solution, and often does this with humour.
It's a murder plot in a school, done before maybe, but this YA was hugely enjoyable, with a two-timing murder victim, a secret society, love interests, detectives and police involvement, and a scholarship student caught up in a fight for her education.
Jess is at Heybuckle School on her merits, one of very few students who aren't there due to hereditary or new money family wealth. Her best friend is called Clementine-Tangerine Briggs, for heaven's sake. She's from a poor family and determined to keep her head down, make the most of every opportunity this school will give her, and not rock the boat. But when a popular and privileged student is murdered, she finds herself instantly involved, as best friend to the victim's second secret girlfriend. But more because features of her own short story were used at the murder scene as part of his death.
With her scholarship on the line and the police seemingly making no headway, Jess feels forced to investigate herself.
I really liked Jess, who grows in bravery through the book, and takes to 'detecting' and the usual clues/rounding up/guessing like a duck to water. Other characters have a chance to shine, there are several well-defined characters that you can't be quite sure you can trust.
A favourite moment is when Jess pauses the narration to ask if the reader has solved the murder yet, with a spare note page for you to write down your thoughts before a Big Reveal.
Lots of moments where you do question motives, alibis, stories and characters. Great teenage introduction to the murder mystery genre.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
elli_mr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25