Reviews tagging 'Grief'

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

618 reviews

startjpw23's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? No

5.0

Pippa is going into her senior year at a high school in a small Connecticut town. For her senior project, she decides to investigate a murder and a suicide that occurred 5 years ago. A teen girl disappeared, and her boyfriend committed suicide. The boy is declared responsible for the disappearance and murder of the girl (her body is never discovered, but she is declared dead after the necessary amount of time passed). Pippa has doubts about the resolution of the conclusion the authorities came up with. The remainder of the book is Pippa and an ally trying to determine what actually happened. This book is a good YA mystery thriller. I found the solution of the mystery satisfying. There is teen murder, racism, bullying, a parent emotionally abusing his children, teen drug use, harm to an animal, sexual harassment, and off page rape. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good YA mystery thriller with an engaging heroine and a complex mystery. If the issues I mention are a problem for you, you may want to avoid this book. Or, at least, look up content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racism, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death and Rape

anni_swanilda's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Dementia

demi_karvouni's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Suicide, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Animal death and Emotional abuse

Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Rape, Self harm, and Kidnapping

insanebookperson's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

gvstyris's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

A nice, chill distraction from my school work, but Pip’s investigation was definitely morally questionable and I’m not sure how I feel about the reveal in the end hmph

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent

sadiaa's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

_mone_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective relaxing tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, and Sexual harassment

beezee01's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

This book is amazing. I love the pacing of it and obviously the mystery. It was a good mix of twists and turns and actual discoveries. It also leaves some loose threads in what the MC found that I hope is tied off in the next books. It was really good overall and definitely deserves the hype.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

vanessamariebooks's review

mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This was a fast-paced, fun one and I can't wait to continue with the series and check out the first season of the show on Netflix.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Confinement, Rape, and Sexual assault

kitkatkatdog's review

dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of my favorite books of all time. Easily my favorite YA. Holly Jackson is an instant read author for me, and this was my first. This review is actually from my 3rd time reading it. 

I absolutely love the story, the characters, and the suspense. Pip is a homework loving nerd who decides she wants to use her senior project as a way to shed some light on a local murder from 5 years ago. As she delves deeper into the secrets of the two teens involved in the alleged murder-suicide, her own obsession with the case and the anonymous threats that begin showing up start to prove dangerous. Will she find the answers she’s looking for? Does she even know what the truly is yet? 

Great book, great group of small town living characters, the mysteries pile on and the twists somehow keep coming and yet always keep you guessing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Alcohol

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Grief, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Rape, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment