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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
medium-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
Overall, a properly twisty mystery. Strong leads, perfect red herrings, and enough tension to keep the momentum building. Took off a star for a few threads that were never really explained…why have a funeral when she was only gone a month? Why spend so much time talking about Iris’ breakdown that was never explained? Why did Iris’ best friend come out in the year they weren’t speaking and why did Iris never ask her about it? And why bring up Lea having six fingers?!? The oddness of details like that, with no follow through, made them seem more important to the story than they actually were. But all in all, an entertaining read.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
I read this book in 2 days. I love a good mystery but I was struggling to get to the end. The writing was a little cringe and juvenile at times (but that’s YA for you). I didn’t like the ending. The main character went through like 28 catastrophically traumatizing things but is just kind of OK for the whole time? It was hard to immerse myself in the story because at some points it felt far-fetched.
Still giving the book 3 stars because again, I was entertained and curious enough to stay up until 2:30 to finish it.
Still giving the book 3 stars because again, I was entertained and curious enough to stay up until 2:30 to finish it.
mysterious
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:
Yes
I enjoyed this book. I liked the main and main side characters as characters, as in how they were described and acted in the story itself, although their immediate past (aka how they became friends) seemed very ill-defined and didn't totally add up for me. In general, I found the characterization pretty strong but the plot rather trope-y and unclear at times. The main characters tread water for a while and nothing seems to move forward. And then, toward the end of the middle, after they make a big discovery, the plot felt strangely lifeless, like the book comes to a halt. And then the resolution feels super quick (in terms of book real time, not in terms of pages). But it was entertaining to read. I saw the main villain coming a mile away and thought the other twist was a bit of stretch but it was well telegraphed ahead of time, so it still all makes sense. I'm looking forward to what Wlosok writes next!
*Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an ARC in exchange for a review*
I could not put this book down!
Iris Blackthorn's sister went missing a year ago. While the police have written off her disappearance as a runaway case, Iris is not convinced. When her ex-girlfriend Heather goes missing, Iris and her sapphic detective agency are determined to find out what happened to her. The problem is that as soon as Iris turns eighteen, she's liable to be criminally charged for meddling in a criminal investigation - again. Her attempts at finding her sister last year scared off the only key witness, a fact that lead detective de Rosa will not let her forget. As the clues begin to mount and Iris contends with working alongside her former best-friend (who now may be turning into something more) she is more determined than ever to find out why Heather disappeared.
Wlosok creates an intriguing mystery full of twists that keep you guessing, and memorable characters. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.
I could not put this book down!
Iris Blackthorn's sister went missing a year ago. While the police have written off her disappearance as a runaway case, Iris is not convinced. When her ex-girlfriend Heather goes missing, Iris and her sapphic detective agency are determined to find out what happened to her. The problem is that as soon as Iris turns eighteen, she's liable to be criminally charged for meddling in a criminal investigation - again. Her attempts at finding her sister last year scared off the only key witness, a fact that lead detective de Rosa will not let her forget. As the clues begin to mount and Iris contends with working alongside her former best-friend (who now may be turning into something more) she is more determined than ever to find out why Heather disappeared.
Wlosok creates an intriguing mystery full of twists that keep you guessing, and memorable characters. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes