jdurkan91's review
Love me a good oul LGBTQ YA book, but this was even too YA for me.
alyram4's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars ROUND UP
This is seriously so well done!
To be completely honest, I had no idea how this book would turn out. The summary is so interesting, but when you think about it... You kinda expect it to crash and burn.
I'm happy to say that this did not crash and burn.
We have Aidan, who is so unapolagetically gay and is sadly mistaken for another person after his fake-Tinder hookup is dead when he wakes up. For the first 3 chapters, Aidan can be seen as somewhat annoying, but when he's mistaken for someone else, we really start to see a build in his character. He develops so much throughout the course of the book that you can't help but enjoy his quips and root for him.
Oh yeah! Another thing. This book has some amazing dark humor. I, for one, have a hard time when books try to have humor mixed in. Sometimes it works for me, and other times it just hits flat. This book did a great job with the dark humor and making it work with the craziness that was going on. Like how do we joke about the fact that every move is being monitored? How do we joke about a gay terrorist group? How do we joke that we woke up with our hookup dead? It shouldn't work, but it fucking does. There are a few times where you're like "ok cut the crap", but those are few and far in between.
As far as the story goes, I loved it. I love a good thriller novel, and this didn't disappoint. I did find it ridiculous when we find out the motive behind the terrorist group -see gay terrorist group mention above, though not a spoiler at all- but it actually makes sense when we learn a bit of the backstory. It tackles a lot of harder issues, such as LGBTQ+ rights issues, bigotry, shitty law enforcement, mass surveillance, etc. Stuff that would be difficult to write, and/or watered down, is actually brought in full force in a unique way. I personally really enjoyed the turns the book has. Although I would have liked that last few pages (or last chapter) to be a bit different, it all still fits.
Overall, if you want a fast-paced, crazy-af thriller that features an LGBTQ+ MC and cast, while also tackling issues in the US, this is one to check out. It was a thriller ride and didn't bore me for one second. It hits the ground running and doesn't slow down. This should definitely be on your radar.
ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is seriously so well done!
To be completely honest, I had no idea how this book would turn out. The summary is so interesting, but when you think about it... You kinda expect it to crash and burn.
I'm happy to say that this did not crash and burn.
We have Aidan, who is so unapolagetically gay and is sadly mistaken for another person after his fake-Tinder hookup is dead when he wakes up. For the first 3 chapters, Aidan can be seen as somewhat annoying, but when he's mistaken for someone else, we really start to see a build in his character. He develops so much throughout the course of the book that you can't help but enjoy his quips and root for him.
Oh yeah! Another thing. This book has some amazing dark humor. I, for one, have a hard time when books try to have humor mixed in. Sometimes it works for me, and other times it just hits flat. This book did a great job with the dark humor and making it work with the craziness that was going on. Like how do we joke about the fact that every move is being monitored? How do we joke about a gay terrorist group? How do we joke that we woke up with our hookup dead? It shouldn't work, but it fucking does. There are a few times where you're like "ok cut the crap", but those are few and far in between.
As far as the story goes, I loved it. I love a good thriller novel, and this didn't disappoint. I did find it ridiculous when we find out the motive behind the terrorist group -see gay terrorist group mention above, though not a spoiler at all- but it actually makes sense when we learn a bit of the backstory. It tackles a lot of harder issues, such as LGBTQ+ rights issues, bigotry, shitty law enforcement, mass surveillance, etc. Stuff that would be difficult to write, and/or watered down, is actually brought in full force in a unique way. I personally really enjoyed the turns the book has. Although I would have liked that last few pages (or last chapter) to be a bit different, it all still fits.
Overall, if you want a fast-paced, crazy-af thriller that features an LGBTQ+ MC and cast, while also tackling issues in the US, this is one to check out. It was a thriller ride and didn't bore me for one second. It hits the ground running and doesn't slow down. This should definitely be on your radar.
ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
sierra_segraves24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
menniemenace's review against another edition
4.0
This was a light crime book. A crime blanc?
Anyway, it's very action-packed but still quite funny and entertaining. I had fun reading it and felt so accomplished moving it from the TBR pile to the R pile.
Anyway, it's very action-packed but still quite funny and entertaining. I had fun reading it and felt so accomplished moving it from the TBR pile to the R pile.
jarichan's review against another edition
4.0
Ich glaube, langsam versöhne ich mich mit dem YA-Genre. Auch wenn das seltsam klingen mag. Dabei kann ich nicht sagen, ob sich einfach mein Geschmack verändert hat oder ob die neuen YA-Titel tatsächlich besser geworden sind im Vergleich zu jenen, die ich damals gelesen habe.
Wenn ich ehrlich sein darf, so hätte ich "Swipe Right for Murder" gerne in meinen Teenagerjahren gelesen. Ich hätte damals ein solches Buch gebraucht. Vor allem hätte ich einen Helden wie Aidan nötig gehabt. Ja, ich denke, das hätte mir vieles einfacher gemacht.
Deshalb hoffe ich, dass Derek Milman und Aidan nun all den aktuellen Jugendlichen helfen. Egal, in welcher Situation sich diese jungen Menschen wiederfinden.
Manche Szenen waren mir etwas zu gefüllt mit Gesprächen, aber das hat sich mit der Zeit ergeben. Ansonsten war ich überrascht, wie sehr mich dieses Buch in seinen Bann zog. Nicht nur wartet es mit einem enorm glaubhaften Hauptcharakter auf, auch stellt der Autor viele wichtige Fragen:
Wie weit darf man für einen guten Zweck gehen? Heiligt dieses Zweck die Mittel? Wann schlägt Widerstand in pure Gewalt um? Wo stehe ich in diesem Wirrwar und was ist meine eigene Rolle im Spiel des Lebens?
Wenn ich ehrlich sein darf, so hätte ich "Swipe Right for Murder" gerne in meinen Teenagerjahren gelesen. Ich hätte damals ein solches Buch gebraucht. Vor allem hätte ich einen Helden wie Aidan nötig gehabt. Ja, ich denke, das hätte mir vieles einfacher gemacht.
Deshalb hoffe ich, dass Derek Milman und Aidan nun all den aktuellen Jugendlichen helfen. Egal, in welcher Situation sich diese jungen Menschen wiederfinden.
Manche Szenen waren mir etwas zu gefüllt mit Gesprächen, aber das hat sich mit der Zeit ergeben. Ansonsten war ich überrascht, wie sehr mich dieses Buch in seinen Bann zog. Nicht nur wartet es mit einem enorm glaubhaften Hauptcharakter auf, auch stellt der Autor viele wichtige Fragen:
Wie weit darf man für einen guten Zweck gehen? Heiligt dieses Zweck die Mittel? Wann schlägt Widerstand in pure Gewalt um? Wo stehe ich in diesem Wirrwar und was ist meine eigene Rolle im Spiel des Lebens?
misterintensity's review against another edition
1.0
Aiden uses a hook up app to find a Spring Break fling. After hooking up he wakes up to find his date dead and he finds himself wanted for cyberterrorism. He soon finds himself targeted by an extremist gay rights terrorist organization which targets homophobic individuals and institutions. Thrillers require a level of suspension of disbelief in order to work but this book takes it to a whole other level. Aiden and his friends are supposed to be 17 or 18 years old yet they don’t act like any human, let alone any teen, would in the real world. Aiden is supposed to be this damaged individual and the other characters keep on pointing out how damaged he is but he doesn’t display any discernable personality. There are times where Milman attempt to address serious topics like suicide, grief, and sexual abuse but his handling of such issues is in contrast to the absurd plot. This book just does not work.
megan_kiwi's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely a Favourite of 2019 maybe of all time!
I can't explain how much I love this book but I everyone must read it!
I can't explain how much I love this book but I everyone must read it!
sarful's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
Sent to a doctor to see about his heart, in Manhattan, 17 year old Aiden, is alone and in a hotel for the night. So of course he finds a hookup on-line. And in true Hitchcockian fashion, Aiden wakes up to the man dead, a strange phone call and straight up confusion. The rest of the book is Aiden trying to figure out what the hell is happening, why people are stalking him and on top of that, he’s got a crush on someone he can’t trust.
I really loved Aiden as our protagonist. He’s logical, yet isn’t afraid of emotion. He’s smart, funny and tries hard to see people for who they are in more than their facade. He’s where he is for a reason, but realizes, in a beautiful way that his worldview, his experiences, don’t define him perfectly, that he’s so much more than that. Plus, again, he’s funny, especially in hairy situations. And his friends were great.
Testament to the writing: I learned a few new things about LGBTQ history (without it being preachy), I had an internal debate on the fine line between forcing homophobic people to pay, with laws they hate (equal protection) and violence, obviously violence isn’t the answer. But, the bad guy makes such a compelling argument half the time. Luckily, Aiden for the win.
It was gripping the whole time. Good impulse buy for sure.
Sent to a doctor to see about his heart, in Manhattan, 17 year old Aiden, is alone and in a hotel for the night. So of course he finds a hookup on-line. And in true Hitchcockian fashion, Aiden wakes up to the man dead, a strange phone call and straight up confusion. The rest of the book is Aiden trying to figure out what the hell is happening, why people are stalking him and on top of that, he’s got a crush on someone he can’t trust.
I really loved Aiden as our protagonist. He’s logical, yet isn’t afraid of emotion. He’s smart, funny and tries hard to see people for who they are in more than their facade. He’s where he is for a reason, but realizes, in a beautiful way that his worldview, his experiences, don’t define him perfectly, that he’s so much more than that. Plus, again, he’s funny, especially in hairy situations. And his friends were great.
Testament to the writing: I learned a few new things about LGBTQ history (without it being preachy), I had an internal debate on the fine line between forcing homophobic people to pay, with laws they hate (equal protection) and violence, obviously violence isn’t the answer. But, the bad guy makes such a compelling argument half the time. Luckily, Aiden for the win.
It was gripping the whole time. Good impulse buy for sure.