Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

39 reviews

enmcurrie's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book has such an intriguing plot line. I even found out it was loosely based on real events and that just makes it more interesting. There is so much you can do with a plot about 5 cheerleaders from the same school dying in a similar proximity of each other. It’s a tough concept to do justice and that reflects a little bit in this book.

I thought it was a great mystery, I’ve read way worse. I actually quite enjoyed this book and almost read it in one sitting. It was so interesting to try and find out how each of the cheerleaders really died. I also loved how it included Monica (one of the cheerleader’s sisters) coming to terms with the fact that her sister (Jen) really did commit suicide, since Monica couldn’t imagine her sister, with a seemingly perfect life, wanting to leave the world. There were little snippets of Jen’s perspective sprinkled in the book, which I think really added to the novel, as the reader ended up getting some information before Monica did. It helped with the understanding. Jen’s storyline was beautiful in a sense, but of course heart wrenchingly sad. 

The only problems I had with this book are as follows:

- Too many characters, too much going on
- Too many unanswered questions at the end (as a result of too many characters and individual storylines)
- Ginny. (if u know u know)

I felt like way too much was happening with this book, and I know that’s quite a challenge when you’re reading about 5 deaths all at once, however, there were so many little storylines to try to understand and connect dots with, I feel like less would have been more. Because there were so many characters and storylines taking up pages, the end of the book left me with so many unanswered questions about each of the deaths.  It did make the plot drag on and get a bit slow a couple of times in the middle. I knew what had happened to them obviously but I wanted more intricate details. I really wanted a stronger sense of the aftermath, it felt a little lazy to say the murder case would open again and “move slowly”. Not saying I need to know everyone’s exact fate, but it would have been interesting to see how it played out and how much more got uncovered about the cheerleaders and their deaths. I wanted to know more. 

Ginny. Don’t even get me started on her. I won’t spoil the book but let’s just say, people that withhold information out of their own selfish feelings and needs are pieces of scum. I always got annoying vibes from her and I was right, which I usually am ;). She was by far my least favourite character. Actually scratch that, she was my second to least favourite since Brandon is legit a pedophile, but anyways.

I know this book is getting mixed reviews but honestly if you love a good mystery I say go for it ! It was a good and intriguing read, just missed the mark on a couple of occasions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Violence, and Abortion

Minor: Drug use

lorie336's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

I am a sucker for school drama especially when it deals with cheerleaders or popular kids and this was everything I wanted. Five years ago five cheerleaders die in three different scenarios and five years later the younger sister of one of the cheerleaders looks into what happened and if they were all connected. I love how you didn't know who killed these girls until the end, although the one I knew was the truth and that's really sad. Great thrill ride and love the character of Ginny. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, and Death of parent

junefish's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Car accident, and Abortion

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

the pedophilia is with underage teenagers (not small children)

graceheiberger's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, and Murder

imstephtacular's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse and Abortion

booksiread_'s review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, and Police brutality

kristinbookdragon's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief

rexreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found that this book tried to deal with too many things so it didn't give any of them enough attention. The mystery didn't feel particularly compelling, and I didn't particularly like the main character.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, and Fatphobia

In the first few pages,

main character is getting an abortion. Is already in the process of it at the start of the book so we don't see the doctor's appointment, but we do see the effects of the pull

cbuenz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma