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A review by louandlife
Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman
3.0
I bought this book on a whim in Foyles. I was buying a bunch of Korean study books (like £200 worth…), and I walked through the YA section to see this book on display. The premise seemed interesting enough and it was the fact that it was published by Jimmy Patterson Presents that truly sold me. Especially seeing as it was one of the most expensive YA books you could get in Foyles as it was US import.
The first 20 or so pages were such a drag that I almost DNFed it and I felt like it could have been a lot better. Like I would have suggested hinting at the terrorist aspects from the beginning instead of having filler with the main character meeting people which aren’t really that important in the overall story but important in Aidan’s life. It was so boring. I continued on with the book though because I was like this book is about murder and it hasn’t even happened yet, so I had to give it a chance. If I didn’t then I probably was going to regret spending a lot of money on a book that I only read 20 pages of. I was glad that I gave it a chance because I think the book was decently interesting overall. I think it was completely implausible, and it did take away from the story overall, but it was still enjoyable.
I struggled to connect with Aidan. I think it’s because it was hard for me to relate to him. I want to say that he was written a bit like a character in an action movie. Someone who you follow for the story but struggle to connect or relate too because he’s the type of person that is different from your average person. I don’t know many people who could follow in Aidan’s footsteps and survive if they were placed in that situation in real life.
Overall, I think it was an average YA thriller/mystery but with lots of gay representation and the focus being on being gay and the terrorist group in this book wanting equal rights for gay people no matter what, to the point of being radicals. The story is good, but the characters beyond Aidan were lacking substance. I don’t think I would recommend this book.
The first 20 or so pages were such a drag that I almost DNFed it and I felt like it could have been a lot better. Like I would have suggested hinting at the terrorist aspects from the beginning instead of having filler with the main character meeting people which aren’t really that important in the overall story but important in Aidan’s life. It was so boring. I continued on with the book though because I was like this book is about murder and it hasn’t even happened yet, so I had to give it a chance. If I didn’t then I probably was going to regret spending a lot of money on a book that I only read 20 pages of. I was glad that I gave it a chance because I think the book was decently interesting overall. I think it was completely implausible, and it did take away from the story overall, but it was still enjoyable.
I struggled to connect with Aidan. I think it’s because it was hard for me to relate to him. I want to say that he was written a bit like a character in an action movie. Someone who you follow for the story but struggle to connect or relate too because he’s the type of person that is different from your average person. I don’t know many people who could follow in Aidan’s footsteps and survive if they were placed in that situation in real life.
Overall, I think it was an average YA thriller/mystery but with lots of gay representation and the focus being on being gay and the terrorist group in this book wanting equal rights for gay people no matter what, to the point of being radicals. The story is good, but the characters beyond Aidan were lacking substance. I don’t think I would recommend this book.