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alli_the_bookaholic13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars
CWs: Murder, death of a parent (cancer), adult/minor relationship (minor details), descriptions of dead bodies (alluding to suicide), drowning
This was a really good, fast-paced YA Murder mystery thriller. I read it in one sitting, and I didn’t want to put it down. The writing style was easy to get sucked into, and the mystery and the secrets of this town kept me completely hooked. The author had me guessing so much, and while I figured out one plot lines answers, the other one surprised me.
Cecelia was a really good character. She was struggling with her grief over her mom’s death, moving in with her grandmother who is basically a stranger, and then having one of her new friends turn up murdered and being the one to find the body. Throw in a cute guy who is willing to help with her investigation, and Cecilia is dealing with A LOT. The author handled all of it really well. Cecelia was relatable, realistic, flawed, and her emotions came across really well. I liked her investigation and how she got to know her new friend group, and the emerging relationships that she was forming with them.
There was a lot of tension and secrets in the plot. The idea of a potential copycat killing of Cecelia’s grandmothers debut novel which was based on the “real” murder of Caroline Quinn which the town has mourned for 52 years was really fascinating. I liked that in digging into the current murder, Cecelia was finding answers about Caroline’s. And the ending was really intense!
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Suicide, and Death of parent
bibliorama'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? Yes
3.75
- My friend Megan when I told her the rundown of the plot XD
Enjoyment - 4
This was a good, easy time. I actually would have liked to spend more time in the setup of the town and seen more of the characters before the major event. The small, coastal town vibe was a good setting choice and I appreciated that the natural environment of the town played a role in the plot.
Start - 3.5
This is the section I could have done with being longer. I wish we spent more time submerged in the new house and town with added details. The premise is a good one though. A murder done in the same fashion as one done decades before sets the stage for a lot of questions.
Characters - 4.5
There were some interesting character tropes being used, and I do like a complicated friend group. I just wish we had gotten more of it before the murder because the status quo was interesting in itself. Also, there were a good amount of questionable people around to make nailing down the culprit less easy.
Atmosphere - 3.5
Decent details, I could visualize the town easily. I just wanted more details (and isn't that the theme of this review).
Plot - 4
Kept a good pace and the progression felt natural for the most part. Towards the end it gets quicker and one reveal in particular feels half out of the blue. It was the twist I was hoping for but I wanted more setup for it. There was lots of good drama, but I wanted to sit in some of it more because there's some dark stuff introduced here.
Ending - 4
Loved the second twist, but again wanted more setup for it.
Style - 3
Writing was effective and had a realistic teen voice, I just don't have any standout lines that stick in my brain.
Overall - 3.8
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
I'd say Mid to Upper YAelizabethgreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This novel is a suspense book. Don't go into it thinking its a thriller or you might be disappointed.
I enjoyed this book. The pacing was a bit slow to begin with, perhaps this is to introduce the large cast of characters. Everyone has secrets and each character is flawed which made this novel fun. Alexa did a great job creating suspense while weaving in a bit of humor to lighten the mood. I thought the main romance moved a bit too quickly. However she mastered the ending.
This would be a great read-a-thon read, or a stormy weekend read.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Homophobia, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Blood and Death of parent
annamariahz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley, Crown Books for Young Readers, and Alexa Donne for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is a new favorite read, and I can't wait to read more by Alexa Donne!
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
hollyk'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
5.0
Pretty Dead Queens follows Cecelia Ellis following the wake of her mother's death, as she moves to northern California to live with her prolific writer of a grandmother. Her grandmother's success? Writing mysteries, the first of which was based on the true story of a homecoming queen in the town some fifty years earlier. When a second homecoming queen turns up dead, Cecelia throws herself into the mystery--both present and past, for answers. But in this small town, secrets are aplenty, and no one is completely innocent.
Alexa Donne knows how to write teenagers. All of the teens in this book act like their age. Does that mean at times my decrepit 22 year old self was internally screaming at some of the actions? Yes. But what is being a teenager if not being reckless and involving yourself in a murder investigation? Okay, maybe not the latter, but you get my point.
There are essentially two mysteries going on, while Cecelia is dealing with (read: avoiding) the grief of losing her mother. The two mysteries are eerily similar: homecoming queen found dead in the school's pool. But fifty years earlier, the supposed culprit was caught. Or was he? The twists! The turns! I loved it. I could have done without the
I did call it towards the beginning, but I was definitely questioning myself throughout which is always a good thing! I am also never going to be upset by guessing an ending--I feel vindicated when I get it right.
Cecelia's group of friends are great, diverse, and very supportive. They also have distinct personalities and do push back against her at times--oftentimes I think new friend groups in YA tend to just fully accept the new girl right off the bat, but not so here.
There's a small love triangle, but nothing like cheating or a lot of conflicted pining, which is always appreciated.
Cecelia is a smart girl, if a bit hasty in actions--she's a complex person and I loved her as a character. And she likes K-pop so we're basically besties. I haven't lost a parent, so I can't understand that aspect, but my mom did have breast cancer, and I know the stresses and fears that come with that. Cecelia deals with her grief by hyper-focusing on something else--the murders.
This book isn't just about solving a murder (or murders, as it may be), it's also about the complexities of mourning and how there are different ways of grieving. Alexa Donne effortlessly weaves deeper issues into her work without overwhelming the reader and keeping the entertainment factor high.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loved The Ivies, loves an overlapping in old cases and new cases, and loves small town murder mysteries.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)
TW (contains spoilers):
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Car accident and Lesbophobia