readingwithhippos's review
5.0
I don’t read much realistic young adult fiction. It’s just not my jam. I already lived through high school once and taught it for another four years, so when it comes to teen angst, I’ve graduated twice. But I love YA fiction that brings another element along with it, like a historical bent or a bizarre fantasy world or a dystopian nightmare scenario. A Line in the Dark is a delightful combo: a YA thriller. And it’s super thrilling because it’s a known and universally accepted fact that there is nothing scarier than a teenage girl.
Jess and Angie have been best friends forever, but there’s always been unacknowledged tension between them because Jess’s feelings are more intense than Angie’s. When Angie starts dating a girl from the fancy private school across town, the tension grows into something bigger and more deadly. And that’s probably all you need to know about the plot, because I don’t want to take away from the slow burn and eventual catastrophic explosion of this book. Teenage girls, a love triangle, complicated feelings, backstabbing, and manipulation. What could be better?
I was nervous about this book because I’d seen some mixed reviews, but I took the risk and bought the hardcover anyway. I am delighted that I was totally vindicated! And now I have that beautiful, sinister cover to adorn my bookshelf and my Instagram feed. I don’t think it’s a spoiler content-wise to say that there’s a big structural shift mid-book, and that’s what some readers have taken issue with. For me, though, that perspective change is what elevates A Line in the Dark above all the predictably structured novels you can find on YA shelves today, and I say props to Malinda Lo for trying something new.
Highly recommended for fans of dark mysteries and authors like [a:Megan Abbott|29593|Megan Abbott|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1341365230p2/29593.jpg].
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
Jess and Angie have been best friends forever, but there’s always been unacknowledged tension between them because Jess’s feelings are more intense than Angie’s. When Angie starts dating a girl from the fancy private school across town, the tension grows into something bigger and more deadly. And that’s probably all you need to know about the plot, because I don’t want to take away from the slow burn and eventual catastrophic explosion of this book. Teenage girls, a love triangle, complicated feelings, backstabbing, and manipulation. What could be better?
I was nervous about this book because I’d seen some mixed reviews, but I took the risk and bought the hardcover anyway. I am delighted that I was totally vindicated! And now I have that beautiful, sinister cover to adorn my bookshelf and my Instagram feed. I don’t think it’s a spoiler content-wise to say that there’s a big structural shift mid-book, and that’s what some readers have taken issue with. For me, though, that perspective change is what elevates A Line in the Dark above all the predictably structured novels you can find on YA shelves today, and I say props to Malinda Lo for trying something new.
Highly recommended for fans of dark mysteries and authors like [a:Megan Abbott|29593|Megan Abbott|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1341365230p2/29593.jpg].
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Grief, Emotional abuse, Murder, Outing, Blood, Body shaming, Child death, and Classism
alexabookish's review
3.0
3.5 stars. liked the writing a lot and the characters were really interesting, i just wish the thriller plot/ mystery started a lot earlier in the book. it didn’t pick up until about halfway which just felt too late.
erinarkin20's review
4.0
I have to start by saying I absolutely love the cover of A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo. I immediately wanted to read this based on the cover alone. Once I read the summary though I was even more intrigued.
Once I dove into this book I didn’t really want to put it down. It was definitely a quick read and I found myself pulled into this story that revolves around friendship, relationships, and a bit of a mystery. I have to admit; the first half went well but I wasn’t a fan of the POV shift in part two. It felt off and I’m not sure what the intent was.
Jess is the main character whose point of view we start in and she is one of those characters I couldn’t help sympathizing with. It is obvious she has feelings for her best friend Angie but Angie is either completely clueless or does a fantastic job of not noticing. There were things I liked about Jess but there were things that really bothered me. She was definitely loyal and cared about Angie but she let Angie get away with a lot because of her feelings for her. I can honestly say I don’t think I would have put up with half of what she did without calling Angie out.
Clearly you can see I am not a huge fan of Angie. I think it’s because I don’t really believe that she had no idea about Jess’ feelings and when she starts to have her relationship with Margot she doesn’t even think about Jess. As best friends, Jess and Angie spend a lot of time together and when Margot enters their world, things change quickly and not necessarily for the best.
Margot is Angie’s new girlfriend and she, along with her best friend Ryan, go to the local boarding school. There is a secret that Ryan and Angie have and as the story moves forward, this secret becomes a catalyst to what happens in part two of this book. When things between these characters take a turn, we begin to learn a lot more about all of them and what happened that night.
You might be saying…Erin, why are you being so vague? Well, I can’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away. There are some twists in this story and I have to say, I didn’t really see what happened in the epilogue coming so that was great. If you are looking for a book that has an interesting story and diverse characters, definitely check this one out.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Once I dove into this book I didn’t really want to put it down. It was definitely a quick read and I found myself pulled into this story that revolves around friendship, relationships, and a bit of a mystery. I have to admit; the first half went well but I wasn’t a fan of the POV shift in part two. It felt off and I’m not sure what the intent was.
Jess is the main character whose point of view we start in and she is one of those characters I couldn’t help sympathizing with. It is obvious she has feelings for her best friend Angie but Angie is either completely clueless or does a fantastic job of not noticing. There were things I liked about Jess but there were things that really bothered me. She was definitely loyal and cared about Angie but she let Angie get away with a lot because of her feelings for her. I can honestly say I don’t think I would have put up with half of what she did without calling Angie out.
Clearly you can see I am not a huge fan of Angie. I think it’s because I don’t really believe that she had no idea about Jess’ feelings and when she starts to have her relationship with Margot she doesn’t even think about Jess. As best friends, Jess and Angie spend a lot of time together and when Margot enters their world, things change quickly and not necessarily for the best.
Margot is Angie’s new girlfriend and she, along with her best friend Ryan, go to the local boarding school. There is a secret that Ryan and Angie have and as the story moves forward, this secret becomes a catalyst to what happens in part two of this book. When things between these characters take a turn, we begin to learn a lot more about all of them and what happened that night.
You might be saying…Erin, why are you being so vague? Well, I can’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away. There are some twists in this story and I have to say, I didn’t really see what happened in the epilogue coming so that was great. If you are looking for a book that has an interesting story and diverse characters, definitely check this one out.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
blackringbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
maka_xo's review
2.0
Very fast read. I wish it was thrilling than what it was. I know it's only a young adult book but it wasn't as creepy as it could of been. It was okay overall, I didn't exactly hate it. I thought it had some good moments but it just didn't make you sit at the edge of your seat..wondering what's going to happen next.
jeanreeee's review against another edition
2.5
The whole first half of this is just teenage angst and pining, it's frankly exhausting and nearly made me DNF. Especially the pining. I'm not wild about repressing the gay and reading about body image issues either (nothing wrong with writing about it but I read to escape things like that).
But the second half was good, even if it kind of came out of left field. You think you know what's happened and then it something else happens and it makes you rethink your whole theory. If the Big EventTM had happened 100 pages earlier and we focused more on the after, it would have been a much better read.
The writing was however still very good, it was believable teenage behaviour. And the pacing in the second half was so quick but it worked well to keep you unsteady which contributed to the tension.
But the second half was good, even if it kind of came out of left field. You think you know what's happened and then it something else happens and it makes you rethink your whole theory. If the Big EventTM had happened 100 pages earlier and we focused more on the after, it would have been a much better read.
The writing was however still very good, it was believable teenage behaviour. And the pacing in the second half was so quick but it worked well to keep you unsteady which contributed to the tension.
scrollsofdragons's review
3.0
2.5
The shift in narration was weird, I loved the interviews but hated the switch from first to third with the same person. If you're introducing third person I expect to see other point of views but switching the only narration from one tense to the other is just off.
I couldn't really connect with Jess, like she takes creepy and obsessive up to another level. And I thought that would have played out differently but it didn't. It started off really well with the best friend you're in love with falling for this girl who you see is bad news and I thought Margot was going to be a real villain in this and Angie wouldn't see it coming so Jess was the one protecting her even if it destroyed their friendship, that is what I thought would go down but Margot wasn't pushed to her full potential of being a villain which was disappointing. Seems she really did care for Angie in the end since she took the rap for her so not what I was expecting but not a ending I disliked by any means.
That being said, I thought it was an alright book and it did keep my attention. Plus I really liked the comic Jess was creating, without that this probably would have been rated lower. I do think considering the fantasy element was the best, maybe the author excels more in that department for me personally.
The shift in narration was weird, I loved the interviews but hated the switch from first to third with the same person. If you're introducing third person I expect to see other point of views but switching the only narration from one tense to the other is just off.
I couldn't really connect with Jess, like she takes creepy and obsessive up to another level. And I thought that would have played out differently but it didn't. It started off really well with the best friend you're in love with falling for this girl who you see is bad news and I thought Margot was going to be a real villain in this and Angie wouldn't see it coming so Jess was the one protecting her even if it destroyed their friendship, that is what I thought would go down but Margot wasn't pushed to her full potential of being a villain which was disappointing. Seems she really did care for Angie in the end since she took the rap for her so not what I was expecting but not a ending I disliked by any means.
That being said, I thought it was an alright book and it did keep my attention. Plus I really liked the comic Jess was creating, without that this probably would have been rated lower. I do think considering the fantasy element was the best, maybe the author excels more in that department for me personally.
paigeafterpage_'s review
3.0
3.5 Stars.
This was a quick read for me.
I loved the development of Jess, I wish Angie and Margot were more developed.
The cover is gorgeous and gives this creepy, dark vibe. However, I was disappointed, I was wanting more creepy, and dark. I received neither.
This was a quick read for me.
I loved the development of Jess, I wish Angie and Margot were more developed.
The cover is gorgeous and gives this creepy, dark vibe. However, I was disappointed, I was wanting more creepy, and dark. I received neither.