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juliethebookcat's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
beautyblob's review against another edition
3.0
This is a young adult thriller, but to be honest I didn't find it very thrilling. None of the characters were particularly likeable and the main character was a very spoilt and a bit of a bitch. The actual murder mystery was a bit long and drawn out although well written at times, especially the descriptions of mental health and self harm. However, the big reveal at the end was a bit "really?? Is that it?"
It was also irritating that Polly was mentioned so often but we never discovered what actually happened to her.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK.
It was also irritating that Polly was mentioned so often but we never discovered what actually happened to her.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK.
syraluna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Fatphobia and Classism
toffiladyreader's review against another edition
4.0
thank you so much to Netgalley and Colored Pages Blog Tours for gifting me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review!!
I was not expecting this, for real
I was not expecting this, for real
vc7's review against another edition
2.5
Parris Island is an exclusive, idyllic escape to the outside world, a place where the ultra-rich live. What they do not know is that the island is cursed with the many unsolved deaths of young girls.
Luca, our protagonist, lost her best friend Polly three years ago to the curse, or so the locals say. The police department has however brushed off her death as an accident. Just when Luca was getting her life back to normalcy, the curse claimed its next victim- Luca’s sister, Whitney. Fearing that the police would write off her sister’s death as an accident too, Luca starts investigating her death with the help of her new neighbour Naomi, for whom she develops feelings.
Luca believes that it was the curse that took the life of her sister and her best friend. Determined not to lose another or herself to the curse, she aims to decipher how the curse works or whom it chooses as its next victim. Pretty soon Luca discovered that no one was who she thought they were. Everyone had secrets-her sister, who she believed she knew everything about, their friends and ever her new love interest, Naomi.
While the setup was great, I felt as if the book did not deliver. It did not hook me and I almost DNF the book. It is only after 20-21 chapters that the book gets mildly interesting. The characters neither had any depth to them nor were they likeable. While the ending does seem logical, it feels as though it is incomplete. The book also leaves many questions unanswered.
The only positive aspect of the book was the representation, the protagonist being of mixed-race black girl, plus-sized, queer and dealing with mental health issues.
This book clearly was not meant for me, though readers of YA Mystery can give it a try.
Luca, our protagonist, lost her best friend Polly three years ago to the curse, or so the locals say. The police department has however brushed off her death as an accident. Just when Luca was getting her life back to normalcy, the curse claimed its next victim- Luca’s sister, Whitney. Fearing that the police would write off her sister’s death as an accident too, Luca starts investigating her death with the help of her new neighbour Naomi, for whom she develops feelings.
Luca believes that it was the curse that took the life of her sister and her best friend. Determined not to lose another or herself to the curse, she aims to decipher how the curse works or whom it chooses as its next victim. Pretty soon Luca discovered that no one was who she thought they were. Everyone had secrets-her sister, who she believed she knew everything about, their friends and ever her new love interest, Naomi.
While the setup was great, I felt as if the book did not deliver. It did not hook me and I almost DNF the book. It is only after 20-21 chapters that the book gets mildly interesting. The characters neither had any depth to them nor were they likeable. While the ending does seem logical, it feels as though it is incomplete. The book also leaves many questions unanswered.
The only positive aspect of the book was the representation, the protagonist being of mixed-race black girl, plus-sized, queer and dealing with mental health issues.
This book clearly was not meant for me, though readers of YA Mystery can give it a try.
vinzq's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
monarchsandmyths's review against another edition
kind of meh but turns up a lot in the third act and has some cool elements
marykscholz's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Interesting choices unexpected but wanted more from the end
moh's review against another edition
4.0
I like mysteries and thrillers, but I'm always wary of the ableism in these genres, so it was amazing to instead see a portrayal of how sanism and racism impact perceptions of guilt. And this was a fantastic, twisty YA thriller!
mellowreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5