A review by arthurbuttons
Just Like The Other Girls by Claire Douglas

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

I genuinely really really really enjoyed this book. It is dark and mysterious but often these thrillers have like horrific underlying physical and sexual abuse. This one didn't. There is bullying certainly and one of the characters is a victim of domestic abuse (this is briefly mentioned) but it is mainly about quite toxic family conflict which I don't find as hard to read about. 
I actually like the character of Kathryn and feel bad for her, I like his she can admit her flaws at the end and obviously loves her family and she does deserve a loving family. Kathryn obviously grows and develops as a character throughout the book.

Obviously really heartbreaking final twist any her son.

Una, Willow and Courtney are all lovely.

Honestly Elspeth is awful. Like really manipulative. Seems to get some awful kick out of playing people against each other. I do like the idea of Willow and Kathryn being able to be a team against Elsbeth. The final twist of the murderer being Arlo/Lewis was excellent. I suppose I found it extra said that his motivation for killing Una and Jemima was literally to get Willow in the role for money (or maybe it wasn't, maybe it was the thrill of doing the killing and that bit of his mum that was a bully in him - which almost certainly came from awful Elsbeth). I don't know it just made me feel extra sad for Courtney and Peter that thats all their deaths had been for. 
My only complaint was that Vince does strangle Una and it is hinted at (by Courtney) that Vince and Willow should be together. Personally they shouldn't and to me I wish they're was some consequence to Vince of being abusive.