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A review by jenn_o_3
The New Girl by Jesse Q. Sutanto
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Read her other books instead
I love this author so was disappointed by this book. It just wasn’t as good as her other novels. I know this is more of a thriller than a mystery, but thrillers usually rely on perilous circumstances to create tension while most of the tension here was all in Lia’s head. It was like being in a non-stop panic attack.
The whole second half of the book is Lia dealing with her guilt about Werner’s death. I’ve seen a lot of people in the reviews call it murder, but he was trying to kill her. Even if her actions killed him, and it’s not clear they did, it would be self defense. But it really was an accident in the midst of an assault BY HIM!! I can understand her not trusting the cops after all the adults who’ve already betrayed her so far in the story, but the starving herself out of guilt seems misplaced. Speaking of that, she’s on a track scholarship and the coach doesn’t notice she’s dropped too much weight until the day of the meet?
At the end, they never explain why Lia is wearing an ankle monitor. They say Danny never revealed her involvement in Werner’s death, and the rich parents covered up the drugs. What was she guilty of?
Less important, but annoying, is the track storyline makes no sense. There’s only 8 girls on the track team? They never mention the boys track team even though meets are always mixed. Track on the west coast is a spring sport, not fall. Sports college scholarships aren’t offered to sophomores. Her coach doesn’t notice that she’s lost an unhealthy amount of weight? If you’re going to make something a large part of your character’s story, do some basic research.
I love this author so was disappointed by this book. It just wasn’t as good as her other novels. I know this is more of a thriller than a mystery, but thrillers usually rely on perilous circumstances to create tension while most of the tension here was all in Lia’s head. It was like being in a non-stop panic attack.
The whole second half of the book is Lia
At the end, they never explain why Lia is wearing an ankle monitor. They say Danny never revealed her involvement in Werner’s death, and the rich parents covered up the drugs. What was she guilty of?
Less important, but annoying, is the track storyline makes no sense. There’s only 8 girls on the track team? They never mention the boys track team even though meets are always mixed. Track on the west coast is a spring sport, not fall. Sports college scholarships aren’t offered to sophomores. Her coach doesn’t notice that she’s lost an unhealthy amount of weight? If you’re going to make something a large part of your character’s story, do some basic research.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Racism, Drug abuse, and Bullying