Book Review Genre: YA Mystery Suspense

Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring new worlds, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.

The Analysis:

This book was a birthday gift to myself from Beacon Book Box. I’m not a subscriber or representative of the company, but if they happen to have a book that I might like then I check it out. So, let’s book review the second book. But first, follow me on Goodreads.

Here’s The Blurb:

Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Now all they have in common is Carlton High and the beginning of a very bad day. Type A Ivy lost a student council election to the class clown, and now she has to face the school, humiliated. Heartthrob Mateo is burned out from working two jobs since his family’s business failed. And outsider Cal just got stood up . . . again.

So when the three unexpectedly run into each other, they decide to avoid their problems by ditching. Just the three of them, like old times. Except they’ve barely left the parking lot before they run out of things to say. . .

. . . until they spot another Carlton High student skipping school—and follow him to the scene of his own murder. In one chance move, their day turns from dull to deadly. And it’s about to get worse. It turns out Ivy, Mateo, and Cal still have some things in common…like a connection to the dead kid. And they’re all hiding something.

Could it be that their chance reconnection wasn’t by chance after all?

Cover Critique:

I like it. It very much gives 80s vibes. Although, I think the story takes place in the present day. It also accurately depicts the story you’ll get inside.

Now The Story:

Book Info:
Pages: 336
Author: Karen McManus
Available: Google Play

We get three povs in this story. What I assume to be the people on the front cover. They also appear to be 3 real, fleshed-out characters. Of course, this is my first experience with Karen McManus, so I can’t speak to any criticism that these characters (personality-wise) show up in other books. But from an author standpoint, she wouldn’t be the first to utilize that method.

In Ferris Bueller’s day off style, our three main characters skip school. But it’s pretty uneventful in a way I think is appropriate for teens of today. I don’t think modern teens have the imagination to get into any real trouble. Not that I could have don’t much better in my youth either. Yet, sure enough, the trouble they do get into goes from 0 to 100 real quick.

All the actions the characters take after discovering the dead body seem believable for their age. Even if a fair amount of it comes off as frustrating.

Now, what I do find unbelievable is the start of the investigation itself. There is no thought process behind it. It’s just something they automatically start doing. I don’t think teens would automatically solve their own case without first establishing why. For example: perhaps Mateo should get well roaded by the police and the others decide to find the real killer. I guess, I just needed a reason versus them automatically thinking they’re better than the police. And I sort’ve wished all three were minorities because then their mistrust of the police would make sense. Two of these characters are white and affluent, both should’ve called the cop’s page 1 lol. By the time Autumn enters the picture, no one had called the cops or had a good reason not to and I took a point off because it was nonsensical.

There is a small romance between two of the characters that hinges on miscommunication when they were young. Also, something that was believable as well because when you are young, insecurities, really do stop you from behaving in a manner you should. But we follow them as truths are revealed and they push past it to come to lean on each other. I can’t say that I was rooting for them as a couple, but I certainly wasn’t rooting against them.

Then a wrench gets thrown into their romance and I’m just not sure how to feel. On the one hand, Mateo clearly had the moral high ground. On the other, I’m really trying to care. The only thing, I walk away with is this sinking feeling that this man is really angry lol.

The only time, I felt like this trio need to break up was with the discovery of Cal’s minor secret. He wasn’t even sleeping with his teacher and he sold his so-called friend down the river, quick. Yes, their relationship isn’t close but doesn’t murder change your perspective on people. In what world is the chick who wants to sleep with an underage student more innocent than your friend.

The only thing I’ll say about the ending is my first thought. Teachers really do be having lives outside of class. This is an odd thought for me as someone, who used to work in education lol. But the female teacher was kinda badass in her villainy.

I also picked up a pseudo message from one of the parents in the end. The old adage is that parents are supposed to keep their children out of their personal business aka lives. This is one case, where allowing them in would have helped everyone involved. Maybe you don’t allow a teenager to weigh in on your personal life and decisions, but on some level, they should understand why you made them.

Out of all three povs, I ultimately liked Cal’s the least. From beginning to end, he was thinking with his extra leg. It was the naivety for me. I guess you can’t hold a character’s maturity against them because, boy, it was true to life.

I could say that for all of their povs, frankly. Teenagers can be thoughtful and innovative in how they perceive the world. Those aren’t the teens in this story. These are Snapchat teens. That’s only so interesting and I took a point off. The only one with depth was Hector and it really only brushed the surface, but he was easily a favorite of the whole novel.

But all three povs got the happy ending they deserved. I’m certainly not upset about it.

I definitely don’t regret reading it and would definitely consider it a fun time. There’s also a cliffhanger at the end that would make even me want to keep reading the rest of the series.

Book Review At A Glance:

Recommendation:  3 out of 5

Book Cover Appeal:

🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓

Story & Narration:

🍓🍓🍓🍓

Romance:

🍓🍓🍓

Character/(s) Personality:

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