A review by betweentheshelves
Dead Flip by Sara Farizan

dark mysterious medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

With the comparison to Stranger Things, I think I wanted more out of this book than I actually got. Yes, it does fit in with the a Stranger Things vibe: something strange happens in the 80s, it's up to a group of teens to set things right. For me, it didn't push the envelope enough. it has a spooky factor, but it could have been pushed even more, I think. 

As someone who definitely reads for character, there also could have been more character development. We did get some, but the flipping between timelines took a little away from the development of the characters. I didn't necessarily feel a connection to any of them, which took away from the story for me.

I did appreciate the discussions about sexuality, especially set in the context of the early 90s. I've seen more books set in this time period focusing on sexuality, which I think is great for YA. It shows things have both changed and not changed at the same time.

All in all, I wanted a little more from this, but it will still make an enjoyable read for spooky season!
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