A review by paulineerika
Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

There's having "unlikeable" characters and unlikeable characters. Mila supposedly falls in the first category (although I found her quite likeable). Most of the other characters, though? Kinda falling in the second category. I didn't really get any sense of real redemption from June or Dayton or even real acknowledgment that they were bitchy Mean Girls and bullies. Caleb is still kind of a borderline incel

and his relationship with June absolutely doesn't absolve him of his dickishness

. And none of the adults were particularly helpful or even understood how to let Mila grieve properly.

Toby, in particular, was all about being supportive until Mila tried to confide in her and then without even talking about why Mila's plan was a bad idea, she went all crazy militant. Showing up with guns instead of trying to have a real conversation with Mila? Come on.

This book had a lot of potential to be more than what it was. It could have been a bigger discussion about grief or racial issues or bullying. Instead, it winds up barely scratching the surface and feels too neatly wrapped up and too superficial for me.