shahdhazem's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Animal death
Moderate: Addiction, Suicide, and Alcohol
gretag's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Kidnapping, Car accident, Sexual assault, Animal death, Drug use, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent, Bullying, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, and Racism
Minor: Dementia and Vomit
flaminhotcheeto's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Murder, Xenophobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty
lucia5678's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Car accident, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Rape, and Racism
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism
katthorson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a book I could not wait to pick up each week when we had our mini get-together. I was so desperate to know the ending, that this week I said "screw it, I am finishing it." So here we are.
TW: there is mentioned animal cruelty and death outside the main narrative
...I don’t know who I am when I’m not working, when I’m not focused on or totally consumed by a task. Who am I between the projects and the assignments, when there’s nothing to do?
There were so many things that I loved about this book.
First is the way the book was written. It was not written in a normal narrative, which is why I believe I was hooked, to begin with. It still had a normal narrative but on top of that, it also had: case studies, Pip's notes, instant messages, maps drawn, graphs, and tons of other compiling of evidence. The way it was written really drew me in and I loved seeing Pip compile her evidence together and document her thoughts, feelings, and suspicions on the case. It added a new level to the book that it otherwise wouldn't have had.
Then you have the characters. While there were plenty of side characters - Pip and Ravi were the main focus of the book. They both had great character development and their chemistry was unique. Although it was quite obvious they would either end up together in the end or be a couple fairly soon.
Pip is a go-getter, determined, and headstrong individual. I saw myself the most in Pip; especially in her work and study ethics. However, it's also these qualities that are also her downfall at times as well. If this case study were a real situation Pip would either be arrested for half the things she does, fired if she had an actual job in Journalism, or be seen as that shitty journalist who has their nose in everything. There is that question of How far are you willing to go to get the answers you are seeking? Pip crosses tons of ethical lines that make you question her own motive for the case as well.
The plot was gripping, which is what I want in a book. While at times the plot was predictable and if you really caught on quick, you could definitely guess the murder the mystery was quite enjoyable and had me at the edge of my seat. I also felt like there were some holes in the plot that could have been easily spotted and taken care of.
There is one thing I have to point out that irked me. That is the author is English and writing a book with a setting in the United States...and it's noticeable. I can't tell you how many times I circled a word because it's an English saying/spelling (i.e "suitemates") or a setting that is more London-eque vs. Connecticut. Also, there were situations like teenage drinking that adults knew about but didn't care. Even Pip's own parents joke when she goes to her first drinking party with boys. I think the author forgot that in America underage drinking is illegal and no parent would be okay with a child going to a drinking party and be happy about it. It was instances like this that sometimes had me confusing the setting and location.
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Bullying, Murder, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Eating disorder, Blood, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Injury/injury detail, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Vomit, and Hate crime
kingrosereads's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.25
I think Pippa is very much a seventeen-year-old high school girl obsessed with investigative journalism and true crime. I can’t be peeved that she promised to be ethical and immediately breaks that promise. She contacts the victims’ families and blackmails witnesses. But again, she’s seventeen, and like most teenagers (especially privileged ones) she things she’s invincible and doesn’t think through to the consequences of her actions. She acknowledges this after ignoring threats which result in the kidnapping and death of her dog. It might be irritating that Pippa makes these brash and irresponsible decisions, but I’ve got a decade on her and a fully formed brain that understands I can’t just act without consequences. She’s not as dynamic as I would like her to be, but she’s still a solid character that does acknowledge her privilege throughout the book when Ravi points out certain things (like how one of the only brown boys in the area can’t just break into white people’s homes).
And can I just say I fell in love with Ravi almost from the start, even though at that point everyone was a suspect in my mind. I just find him charming and understanding, though he’s twenty and Pip’s seventeen so no thanks on that. I appreciate they weren’t romantically involved for like the whole book but it’s clear where they were heading.
This book is far from perfect, and a bit more could’ve been built upon for me to feel more emotionally (I did tear up here and there but I wanted to cry and feel kore suspense). However, I every other chapter I was making guesses on the murderer and what happened and tried to fit the pieces together, and though I guessed certain aspects separately, I didn’t fully form them or put two theories together to get the answer, so I was still pleasantly and mildly surprised. Yes, I’m one of those people who are too impatient and try to guess the plot. I like the use of texts, transcripts, and written notes to add to the feeling of following Pip’s investigation in real time. It is very reminiscent of the Adnan Syed case (check it out on Serial!) and almost seemed to have a Gone Girl or Pretty Little Liars vibe going on. I’m not sure if Jackson got inspired by the Syed case or not, I don’t care either way (I mean Gone Girl was inspired by the Lacy Peterson case).
Pip and Ravi have good chemistry as friends and crime solvers, but it’s all bare bones (but good foundation), I wanted it built up more and hope this is the case for the next in the series (which I will be reading!!)
Graphic: Murder and Child death
Moderate: Bullying, Body shaming, Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, Murder, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
luananki's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Suicide, Car accident, Child death, Hate crime, Drug abuse, Grief, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Kidnapping, Racism, Rape, Vomit, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Self harm and Death of parent
avafritsch's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Hate crime, Murder, Rape, Stalking, Violence, Suicide, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, and Eating disorder
safety_pin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Grief, Death, Murder, Stalking, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Blood, Violence, Injury/injury detail, and Car accident
Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, Addiction, Animal death, and Medical content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, and Mental illness
faitherslibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Gaslighting, Gore, Hate crime, Murder, Toxic friendship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Grief, Blood, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism