Review by gremlin_98 - As Good as Dead

gremlin_98 's review for:

As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

*Look up Trigger Warnings*

Screaming, crying, throwing up! Oh my goodness!

In the first half I was basically on the edge of my seat, and shaking with emotion at several points! Don’t listen to this book first in the morning if you want to be in a ‘ good’ mood for the rest of the day.

I am now three for three! I can’t believe that this is my ‘favorite’ book of the three, but I think by equally making me so entangled with this storyline of all three books being a mess in this novel and that I actually care for Pip and co this has to be my favorite.

I was surprised as I didn’t think I would be so attached to these characters by the end and even now with it all over. I want to know how they’re doing, what they’ve been up to. I’m not ready to let go of Fairview just yet, a feeling I haven’t had with a ya book or trilogy in a minute.

As stressful as the first 50% of this novel was, it was the last half that had me confused for the whole duration of the countdown to the end of the novel. There were certain parts where if the story had taken a different story through line I was going to swear off Holly Jackson’s books forever, about three or four times.

And I am happy to report that I will most likely end up reading all of her other stories now. So if you see her other books soon, don’t ask. Though if this is an indication of how her other books are like I might need to take a break and read something lighthearted so my heartbeat can take a back seat from racing multiple times.

I can see why at least book one has been turned into a tv show as this was reminiscent of some of my favorite what I used to call crime shows that I watched during high school such as Bones, Criminal Minds, CSI and shows like that. I haven’t watched anything like that in years, but it gave me similar vibes. And of course Nancy Drew as this is a teen solving crimes. But this trilogy was grungy, darker than I was expecting from ya. I had a rollercoaster of a time with this novel! Give it a try if you're into book one and two.

Content Warnings