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Girls Who Burn
A twisty, pulse-pounding enemies-to-lovers thriller full of secrets, privilege, and murder.
The summer before her senior year, Addie hurled the worst words she could think of at her sister—and hours later, Fiona was found dead at the bottom of a ravine. The police ruled her death an accident, but Addie has never bought it. Her ballet-prodigy sister didn’t slip and fall; she was pushed.
Addie’s number one suspect: Thatcher Montgomery, the rich boy down the street who always had a thing for Fiona. No one believes her—least of all Thatcher’s cousin Seth, Addie’s childhood rival and the boy she’s always loved to hate. Arguing with Seth is easy; living with her own questionable choices involving Seth the night Fiona died . . . much harder.
But when one year later Thatcher is found dead at the bottom of the same ravine, Addie is forced to admit she was wrong. To catch the real killer, she’ll have to seek help from the only one she can trust—the boy she was with during both murders. As Addie and Seth dodge corrupt police and his even more corrupt family, Addie will have to decide if her growing bond with Seth is stronger than familial ties, and if their link will keep her safe—or turn her into the next victim.
The summer before her senior year, Addie hurled the worst words she could think of at her sister—and hours later, Fiona was found dead at the bottom of a ravine. The police ruled her death an accident, but Addie has never bought it. Her ballet-prodigy sister didn’t slip and fall; she was pushed.
Addie’s number one suspect: Thatcher Montgomery, the rich boy down the street who always had a thing for Fiona. No one believes her—least of all Thatcher’s cousin Seth, Addie’s childhood rival and the boy she’s always loved to hate. Arguing with Seth is easy; living with her own questionable choices involving Seth the night Fiona died . . . much harder.
But when one year later Thatcher is found dead at the bottom of the same ravine, Addie is forced to admit she was wrong. To catch the real killer, she’ll have to seek help from the only one she can trust—the boy she was with during both murders. As Addie and Seth dodge corrupt police and his even more corrupt family, Addie will have to decide if her growing bond with Seth is stronger than familial ties, and if their link will keep her safe—or turn her into the next victim.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 16, 2024
About the author
M.K. Pagano
1 book191 followersMK Pagano is the author of GIRLS WHO BURN, a YA Thriller out 7/16/24 from Penguin Teen, and 7/18/24 from Hachette UK.
She is represented by Barbara Poelle and Sydnie Thornton of Word One Literary.
When she’s not busy pondering the angst of the fictional people in her stories, she can be found reading (from her own TBR and that of her children), dreaming of restoring an old French chateau, and wandering the weirder parts of New Jersey, where she currently resides with her family.
She is represented by Barbara Poelle and Sydnie Thornton of Word One Literary.
When she’s not busy pondering the angst of the fictional people in her stories, she can be found reading (from her own TBR and that of her children), dreaming of restoring an old French chateau, and wandering the weirder parts of New Jersey, where she currently resides with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
March 13, 2024
If you're a fan of quick, riveting YA thriller page-turners by authors like Jessica Goodman, Chelsea Ichaso, and Diana Urban, then this book is a match made in heaven for you.
As enemies-to-lovers dynamics turn into partners in crime, they collaborate to uncover the identity of the real killer, who may be someone from their inner circle. The plotline is well-constructed, though the identity of the perpetrator was somewhat foreseeable for me. However, the author's clever twists still drag you into a guessing game, pointing fingers at everyone and keeping the suspense alive until the last chapter.
While many readers may have found the heroine, Addie Blackwood, a little irritating, I personally don't agree with them. I found her reserved, stuck dealing with her low self-esteem after being abandoned by her own mother, navigating a complex relationship with her childhood nemesis, and grieving her sister. Her surly demeanor, insecurities, and suspicions about people's secret agendas make her relatable and engaging, even if she's not the most lovable character.
The story revolves around Addie Blackwood, who lost her sister one year ago and believes she was killed by Thatcher Montgomery, their wealthy neighbor, after witnessing a big fight between them. Despite the police ruling her sister's death an accident or suicide, Addie does everything in her power to convince them she was murdered. She even starts writing on a crime forum under a nickname to raise awareness about her sister Fiona's case.
On the night of the murder, she had a one-night stand with her childhood nemesis Seth, the cousin of Thatcher, and later confesses to cheating on her boyfriend Jeremy, leading to their breakup. As both Montgomery family members return for a will hearing, Addie sees an opportunity to speak with Thatcher and extract a confession, but Seth intervenes. Another murder occurs in the same manner as Fiona's death, making both Seth and Addie prime suspects. Seth may escape with his family's influence, but Addie must find the perpetrator before they claim another life, forcing her to collaborate with Seth, despite her complex feelings of love and hate towards him. Could the killer be someone they know, someone close to them?
Overall, this book is a fast-paced, popcorn-worthy read that you can devour in one sitting. It's definitely an enjoyable wild ride that's worth giving a try!
I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulsen Books for sharing this riveting thriller's digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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As enemies-to-lovers dynamics turn into partners in crime, they collaborate to uncover the identity of the real killer, who may be someone from their inner circle. The plotline is well-constructed, though the identity of the perpetrator was somewhat foreseeable for me. However, the author's clever twists still drag you into a guessing game, pointing fingers at everyone and keeping the suspense alive until the last chapter.
While many readers may have found the heroine, Addie Blackwood, a little irritating, I personally don't agree with them. I found her reserved, stuck dealing with her low self-esteem after being abandoned by her own mother, navigating a complex relationship with her childhood nemesis, and grieving her sister. Her surly demeanor, insecurities, and suspicions about people's secret agendas make her relatable and engaging, even if she's not the most lovable character.
The story revolves around Addie Blackwood, who lost her sister one year ago and believes she was killed by Thatcher Montgomery, their wealthy neighbor, after witnessing a big fight between them. Despite the police ruling her sister's death an accident or suicide, Addie does everything in her power to convince them she was murdered. She even starts writing on a crime forum under a nickname to raise awareness about her sister Fiona's case.
On the night of the murder, she had a one-night stand with her childhood nemesis Seth, the cousin of Thatcher, and later confesses to cheating on her boyfriend Jeremy, leading to their breakup. As both Montgomery family members return for a will hearing, Addie sees an opportunity to speak with Thatcher and extract a confession, but Seth intervenes. Another murder occurs in the same manner as Fiona's death, making both Seth and Addie prime suspects. Seth may escape with his family's influence, but Addie must find the perpetrator before they claim another life, forcing her to collaborate with Seth, despite her complex feelings of love and hate towards him. Could the killer be someone they know, someone close to them?
Overall, this book is a fast-paced, popcorn-worthy read that you can devour in one sitting. It's definitely an enjoyable wild ride that's worth giving a try!
I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulsen Books for sharing this riveting thriller's digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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September 10, 2024
''To catch the real killer, she’ll have to seek help from the only one she can trust—the boy she was with during both murders''
Are we... sure ''trust'' and ''boy'' can be in the same sentence, my girly?
Fun, fun, fun! Make it a movie.
Are we... sure ''trust'' and ''boy'' can be in the same sentence, my girly?
Fun, fun, fun! Make it a movie.
December 5, 2023
Absolutely fantastic from start to finish!
I chose this one on a whim and it completely paid off. Immediately this book pulled me into the story.
Addie hates that hours before her sister died, she said horrible things to her… now she is consumed with finding out the truth about what happened that night. Ruled an accident, Addie knows there was more to it all.
Now, a year later, another death has rocked their community. Thatcher, the boy she thought was responsible for Fiona’s death is found dead in the same place.
Addie’s life has fallen to pieces in the past year. Her ex-boyfriend hates her and her best friend, too. The only person who seems to get it is Seth, Thatcher’s cousin. We delve into the history between Seth and Addie, and moreover, the history of the whole group.
With multiple other players in this deadly mystery, Addie doesn’t know who she can trust. Everyone seems to be keeping secrets and Addie NEEEDS to know the truth.
This is a fast paced, very well written, engaging ya thriller that I could not put down.
I chose this one on a whim and it completely paid off. Immediately this book pulled me into the story.
Addie hates that hours before her sister died, she said horrible things to her… now she is consumed with finding out the truth about what happened that night. Ruled an accident, Addie knows there was more to it all.
Now, a year later, another death has rocked their community. Thatcher, the boy she thought was responsible for Fiona’s death is found dead in the same place.
Addie’s life has fallen to pieces in the past year. Her ex-boyfriend hates her and her best friend, too. The only person who seems to get it is Seth, Thatcher’s cousin. We delve into the history between Seth and Addie, and moreover, the history of the whole group.
With multiple other players in this deadly mystery, Addie doesn’t know who she can trust. Everyone seems to be keeping secrets and Addie NEEEDS to know the truth.
This is a fast paced, very well written, engaging ya thriller that I could not put down.
August 6, 2024
I am SHOCKED. Literally shooketh! This book was wild. So suspenseful and super fast-paced majority of the story. I loved SETH! The dynamic between the families and how they were so intertwined was so interesting. Then you start getting crumbs and picking them up, trying to piece it all together. Even after all that, I was shocked by the twist! Loved this and read it all in one sitting! I was also surprised to learn this is the author's debut novel, what?! She writes like a seasoned pro! I absolutely loved this and can't wait to devour more of her work in the future!!
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
May 14, 2024
Lately, I’ve been reading lots of YA mystery/crime novels. Many of those have been debuts. Most of them have moved in original and interesting directions, proving that writing for a young audience doesn’t mean having to write about the same things in the same ways.
Well… all good things have to end and my continuous good-luck strike with innovative and interesting YA books has been broken.
Girls Who Brun is not a bad novel. Not in the most strict sense of the expression. It is well-written, the story moves along at a good pace and some of the events are kind of intriguing. The problem is that all of it has been done before in a very similar way.
In other words, this book failed to surprise me or impress me in any positive way.
The characters feel like flat sketches. For instance, Addie Blackwood, the protagonist of the story and whose sister died a year before in very suspicious circumstances, recites prime numbers when nervous. Well, reciting prime numbers past one-hundred (fyi, there are only 25 prime numbers between 1 and 100) isn’t an easy endeavor. Since, on more than one occasion, Addie’s supposed to recite prime numbers for more than twenty minutes at a time, she must be some kind of mathematical prodigy, yet there is nothing else in how Addie sees the world pointing to such a trait. None of her actions or inclinations show that she has an affinity for math or a real reason to be able to list prime numbers into the thousands (again quite a difficult thing to do). Yes, she has been accepted to Rutgers and she plans to complete a master's degree to go into academia, but those facts are not part of her, they’re just coloring filling the big blank where her love for numbers and her everyday life should connect. For me, this is just one example about how Pagano tried to build her characters by throwing random facts about them, instead of actually thinking about how those facts may have served to form their personalities and control their reactions.
Similarly, every trait of Addie’s brother's personality and temperament changes—from innocent and happy to serious and dramatic—not in response to changing circumstances and time, not as in a character developing along the story, but simply to fit the particulars of each scene.
As I said, the story is not a terrible one, I will go as far as to call it entertaining, but it feels flat and empty in every place where roundness and meatiness are the most needed.
Also, Pagano went for the lowest common denominator, with the motives behind the crimes being the most cliché one can think of.
One more thing, even though the characters are in their late teens, which may serve as a forgiving fact to the many unexplained contradictions along the story, some of them are too glaring not to bother me. For instance, there’s a moment when Addie gets mad because Seth didn’t tell her about something that had happened a year before. The thing is, how can he have told her anything when she had blocked him out of her life? Short of sending her a letter, how did she expect him to inform her of anything?
Anyhow… if you like quick-moving crime stories with lots of tropes in their making, this is the book for you. It, sadly, wasn’t the book for me.
Two-and-a-half stars.
Well… all good things have to end and my continuous good-luck strike with innovative and interesting YA books has been broken.
Girls Who Brun is not a bad novel. Not in the most strict sense of the expression. It is well-written, the story moves along at a good pace and some of the events are kind of intriguing. The problem is that all of it has been done before in a very similar way.
In other words, this book failed to surprise me or impress me in any positive way.
The characters feel like flat sketches. For instance, Addie Blackwood, the protagonist of the story and whose sister died a year before in very suspicious circumstances, recites prime numbers when nervous. Well, reciting prime numbers past one-hundred (fyi, there are only 25 prime numbers between 1 and 100) isn’t an easy endeavor. Since, on more than one occasion, Addie’s supposed to recite prime numbers for more than twenty minutes at a time, she must be some kind of mathematical prodigy, yet there is nothing else in how Addie sees the world pointing to such a trait. None of her actions or inclinations show that she has an affinity for math or a real reason to be able to list prime numbers into the thousands (again quite a difficult thing to do). Yes, she has been accepted to Rutgers and she plans to complete a master's degree to go into academia, but those facts are not part of her, they’re just coloring filling the big blank where her love for numbers and her everyday life should connect. For me, this is just one example about how Pagano tried to build her characters by throwing random facts about them, instead of actually thinking about how those facts may have served to form their personalities and control their reactions.
Similarly, every trait of Addie’s brother's personality and temperament changes—from innocent and happy to serious and dramatic—not in response to changing circumstances and time, not as in a character developing along the story, but simply to fit the particulars of each scene.
As I said, the story is not a terrible one, I will go as far as to call it entertaining, but it feels flat and empty in every place where roundness and meatiness are the most needed.
Also, Pagano went for the lowest common denominator, with the motives behind the crimes being the most cliché one can think of.
One more thing, even though the characters are in their late teens, which may serve as a forgiving fact to the many unexplained contradictions along the story, some of them are too glaring not to bother me. For instance, there’s a moment when Addie gets mad because Seth didn’t tell her about something that had happened a year before. The thing is, how can he have told her anything when she had blocked him out of her life? Short of sending her a letter, how did she expect him to inform her of anything?
Anyhow… if you like quick-moving crime stories with lots of tropes in their making, this is the book for you. It, sadly, wasn’t the book for me.
Two-and-a-half stars.
August 10, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up
I have really had a string of mid books this month and I would love for it to end! Girls Who Burn is a very okay YA mystery in my opinion. It's relatively entertaining, sometimes has pacing issues, and ends with an excessively long explanatory villain monologue and motives that had me groaning. The writing is fine and the teen relationship drama was pretty effective for a YA novel. But given how persistent our heroine is about solving the mystery of her sister's death, she has oddly lacked curiosity in many other parts of her life. But I think there are much better YA mysteries out there and I wasn't particularly impressed. That said, I had a reasonably good time reading it until we got to the ending, which brought my rating down by a full star. I received a copy for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
I have really had a string of mid books this month and I would love for it to end! Girls Who Burn is a very okay YA mystery in my opinion. It's relatively entertaining, sometimes has pacing issues, and ends with an excessively long explanatory villain monologue and motives that had me groaning. The writing is fine and the teen relationship drama was pretty effective for a YA novel. But given how persistent our heroine is about solving the mystery of her sister's death, she has oddly lacked curiosity in many other parts of her life. But I think there are much better YA mysteries out there and I wasn't particularly impressed. That said, I had a reasonably good time reading it until we got to the ending, which brought my rating down by a full star. I received a copy for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
August 23, 2024
girls who burn started out so promising, but quickly lost me to a story devoid of suspense, depth, and—most importantly—characters & relationships to care about and root for.
“this enemies-to-lovers thriller is packed with secrets, privilege and murder and will keep you guessing until the last page”—such were the first words i read about this novel, and i absolutely loved the premise: girl (addie) believes the cousin of the boy next door (seth, whom she “loves to hate”) to have murdered her sister, but then said cousin is murdered as well. in lieu of allies, addie sets out to discover the truth behind the murders with seth.
unfortunately, not only was the enemies-to-lovers aspect non-existent—the enemies part is so minuscule, i couldn’t have detected it under an electron microscope—the secrets really do not deserve to be classified as such, because no one would ever care to uncover them.
to say that the discussion of privilege lacked nuance and depth would be an overstatement, because not only was it brushed aside without consequence after surfacing in a fight between addie and seth, it never properly found its footing to begin with beyond the assertion of money equaling power equaling influence.
finally, the plot lacked direction, and with its lack manifested in a meandering storyline bereft of any sense of urgency, or tension. the resolution of the murders was underwhelming, if not comic, and perhaps most disappointingly, the saving grace that could have been well-written characters that draw you in, and relationship arcs that keep you captivated, was nowhere to be found.
i guess not every YA mystery can be on par with a good girl’s guide to murder.
“this enemies-to-lovers thriller is packed with secrets, privilege and murder and will keep you guessing until the last page”—such were the first words i read about this novel, and i absolutely loved the premise: girl (addie) believes the cousin of the boy next door (seth, whom she “loves to hate”) to have murdered her sister, but then said cousin is murdered as well. in lieu of allies, addie sets out to discover the truth behind the murders with seth.
unfortunately, not only was the enemies-to-lovers aspect non-existent—the enemies part is so minuscule, i couldn’t have detected it under an electron microscope—the secrets really do not deserve to be classified as such, because no one would ever care to uncover them.
to say that the discussion of privilege lacked nuance and depth would be an overstatement, because not only was it brushed aside without consequence after surfacing in a fight between addie and seth, it never properly found its footing to begin with beyond the assertion of money equaling power equaling influence.
finally, the plot lacked direction, and with its lack manifested in a meandering storyline bereft of any sense of urgency, or tension. the resolution of the murders was underwhelming, if not comic, and perhaps most disappointingly, the saving grace that could have been well-written characters that draw you in, and relationship arcs that keep you captivated, was nowhere to be found.
i guess not every YA mystery can be on par with a good girl’s guide to murder.
July 29, 2024
This story reminded me of Jesse Sutanto’s writing style and I quite enjoyed it! The characters were out of high school and of different economic backgrounds, which plays into the overall story. The twists weren’t very shocking, but the storytelling was done well enough to keep me intrigued. I’d recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 30, 2024
Honestly this was 2.5 stars in my opinion. It was alright, but I probably won’t think about it again.
It was labeled as enemies to lovers. But it’s more like estranged frienemies to one-night-stand to lovers. But there's cheating, like so much cheating. Actually like…4 cheating relationships? She cheated on her boyfriend. And her mom cheated on her dad. And her friends dad cheated on his wife with her mom. But her mom also slept with Seth’s uncle and then there was that weird thing between the old man Montgomery with her sister after he had slept with her mom?
I have no idea what the title has to do with the book. And the cover makes it seem like there's a spooky mansion and possibly ghosts but the real villain is wage disparity and nepo babies.
It really just wasn’t for me to be honest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
It was labeled as enemies to lovers. But it’s more like estranged frienemies to one-night-stand to lovers. But there's cheating, like so much cheating. Actually like…4 cheating relationships? She cheated on her boyfriend. And her mom cheated on her dad. And her friends dad cheated on his wife with her mom. But her mom also slept with Seth’s uncle and then there was that weird thing between the old man Montgomery with her sister after he had slept with her mom?
I have no idea what the title has to do with the book. And the cover makes it seem like there's a spooky mansion and possibly ghosts but the real villain is wage disparity and nepo babies.
It really just wasn’t for me to be honest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2024
I wanted to like this book.
So badly that I could taste it.
unfortunately my interest in this book died after I figured out that and I figured out the killer pretty dang quick.
I know I read a lot of thrillers but I didn't expect to figure it out that fast.
No hate to the author whatsoever.
But no one burned in this book (deceiving title) so ig i can put my fire extinguisher away...
I received a complementary ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
pre-review:
Review is currently simmering in the ravine with all the dead bodies
So badly that I could taste it.
unfortunately my interest in this book died after I figured out that and I figured out the killer pretty dang quick.
I know I read a lot of thrillers but I didn't expect to figure it out that fast.
No hate to the author whatsoever.
But no one burned in this book (deceiving title) so ig i can put my fire extinguisher away...
I received a complementary ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
pre-review:
Review is currently simmering in the ravine with all the dead bodies
August 9, 2024
3,5 ⭐️
Als die Schwester der 18-jährigen Addie auf mysteriöse Weise stirbt, wird ihr Tod als Unfall deklariert. Doch Addie ist sich auch ein Jahr später noch sicher, dass der wahre Schuldige Thatcher Montgomery ist, der reiche Cousin ihres ebenso reichen Frenemies Seth, den sie seit Kindesbeinen kennt und sich nicht entscheiden kann, ob sie ihn hasst oder mag. Doch dann wird Thatchter tot am Boden derselben Schlucht gefunden, in der ihre Schwester starb und Addie beginnt gemeinsam mit Seth zu ermitteln und begibt sich dabei selbst in Gefahr.
Ich glaube, mit 15 hätte ich dieses Buch SEHR gerne gemocht. Jetzt war es an manchen Stellen doch sehr schwierig für mich, mich in Addie reinzuversetzen und die Augen nicht zu verdrehen. Habe mir aber dann in Erinnerung gerufen, wie unsicher ich in dem Alter war und dass sie sich selbst nicht so gern mag ist bei ihrer Vorgeschichte, von der man im Buch erfährt, eigentlich auch nachvollziehbar. Es ist ein spaßiges, gegen Ende auch spannendes whodunnit, das mich dazu gebracht hat, am Ende niemandem zu vertrauen und selbst mitzurätseln. Es ist aber schon sehr viel Teenie-Drama und auch alles ein bisschen drüber, aber das Buch ist einfach nicht mehr 100% für mein Alter gedacht und das ist ja vollkommnen okay.
Würde es Fans von A Good Girls Guide To Murder oder Pretty Little Liars empfehlen oder wer Lust auf einen leichten Krimi mit bissi Liebe, Drama und Geld hat.
Als die Schwester der 18-jährigen Addie auf mysteriöse Weise stirbt, wird ihr Tod als Unfall deklariert. Doch Addie ist sich auch ein Jahr später noch sicher, dass der wahre Schuldige Thatcher Montgomery ist, der reiche Cousin ihres ebenso reichen Frenemies Seth, den sie seit Kindesbeinen kennt und sich nicht entscheiden kann, ob sie ihn hasst oder mag. Doch dann wird Thatchter tot am Boden derselben Schlucht gefunden, in der ihre Schwester starb und Addie beginnt gemeinsam mit Seth zu ermitteln und begibt sich dabei selbst in Gefahr.
Ich glaube, mit 15 hätte ich dieses Buch SEHR gerne gemocht. Jetzt war es an manchen Stellen doch sehr schwierig für mich, mich in Addie reinzuversetzen und die Augen nicht zu verdrehen. Habe mir aber dann in Erinnerung gerufen, wie unsicher ich in dem Alter war und dass sie sich selbst nicht so gern mag ist bei ihrer Vorgeschichte, von der man im Buch erfährt, eigentlich auch nachvollziehbar. Es ist ein spaßiges, gegen Ende auch spannendes whodunnit, das mich dazu gebracht hat, am Ende niemandem zu vertrauen und selbst mitzurätseln. Es ist aber schon sehr viel Teenie-Drama und auch alles ein bisschen drüber, aber das Buch ist einfach nicht mehr 100% für mein Alter gedacht und das ist ja vollkommnen okay.
Würde es Fans von A Good Girls Guide To Murder oder Pretty Little Liars empfehlen oder wer Lust auf einen leichten Krimi mit bissi Liebe, Drama und Geld hat.
August 11, 2024
read this book from start to finish in sub 2 hrs on the plane.
this book went at a good pace and I genuinely had no idea who the killer was. really well written - my FitBit started beeping violently during those last couple of chapters and kept giving me high heart rate notifications 😭
that being said, some bits felt kinda waffly and confusing, so at times, I had to stop to dissect the sentence bit by bit.
overall tho, a great read and now I want a spin off series with addie and seth. (sigh)
this book went at a good pace and I genuinely had no idea who the killer was. really well written - my FitBit started beeping violently during those last couple of chapters and kept giving me high heart rate notifications 😭
that being said, some bits felt kinda waffly and confusing, so at times, I had to stop to dissect the sentence bit by bit.
overall tho, a great read and now I want a spin off series with addie and seth. (sigh)
September 9, 2024
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: reference to CSA, infidelity, slut shaming
3.8
Ah, to be frenemies with benefits with a rich boy who you're trying to destroy the family of because you think one of them killed your sister... The dream, right?
Honestly, the cover pulled me in on this one, and I didn't have many expectations in terms of the plot, as it doesn't come across as super unique. Really, it isn't the most unique idea for a mystery YA, but it does hold its own.
The mystery itself aside, I was pleasantly surprised by the romance. I was ready to not care about this random rich boy, but the childhood enemies to secret lovers plotline plays out really well, even all in the past, and I loved getting to see the history between these people, and the way their dynamics changed. Seeing Addie become hesitant allies with Seth, and getting to really explore Seth's side of things when it comes to their relationship, it painted a very 3-dimensional picture that was easy to get really invested in.
Mystery-wise, the best things this book offers is a varied, well crafted cast of potential suspect, as well as the time & pacing to move through them. I had a lot of fun placing bets on who did it and the reveal had me cheering.
Unfortunately, the mystery itself, with its many clues and suspicions, often felt made of loose ends. The reveal is satisfying, but the actual wrap up is not, as it's not a tight case.
There's also a lot of petty drama based on Addie's guilt and her resistance to Seth that overwhelms te narrative on and off, making the mystery fade into the background.
TW: reference to CSA, infidelity, slut shaming
3.8
Ah, to be frenemies with benefits with a rich boy who you're trying to destroy the family of because you think one of them killed your sister... The dream, right?
Honestly, the cover pulled me in on this one, and I didn't have many expectations in terms of the plot, as it doesn't come across as super unique. Really, it isn't the most unique idea for a mystery YA, but it does hold its own.
The mystery itself aside, I was pleasantly surprised by the romance. I was ready to not care about this random rich boy, but the childhood enemies to secret lovers plotline plays out really well, even all in the past, and I loved getting to see the history between these people, and the way their dynamics changed. Seeing Addie become hesitant allies with Seth, and getting to really explore Seth's side of things when it comes to their relationship, it painted a very 3-dimensional picture that was easy to get really invested in.
Mystery-wise, the best things this book offers is a varied, well crafted cast of potential suspect, as well as the time & pacing to move through them. I had a lot of fun placing bets on who did it and the reveal had me cheering.
Unfortunately, the mystery itself, with its many clues and suspicions, often felt made of loose ends. The reveal is satisfying, but the actual wrap up is not, as it's not a tight case.
There's also a lot of petty drama based on Addie's guilt and her resistance to Seth that overwhelms te narrative on and off, making the mystery fade into the background.
January 26, 2024
This romantic YA thriller had a lot of potential but overall ended up being a very forgettable and "meh" read. It's not bad per se, just not something that stood out to me, though I hope I'll feel different about M.K. Pagano's next book since I did like the writing and the focus on the characters here. We'll see!
October 7, 2024
Wasn't too sure what I was getting into with this book, BUT.... it was amazing.
Fast-paced, suspenseful and sooo much going on but in a good way. Such a good book. Loved it!
Lots of drama and family dynamics, very interesting and crazy how it all played out.
The twists will shock you, I am usually really good at being able to figure out a mystery but this one messed me up and I wasn't able to figure it out til too close to when the book told me, so that's a huge win in my book. lol. Good luck figuring out all the mysteries
This is a YA thriller, but it is def an adult read also. It will keep you hooked and entertained.
The main character- Addie, she is one deep in her head but also in real life, kinda hard to explain. she is a complex character but that is a big part of this story and makes it good. You will understand once you read the book and see into the life of Addie. She has a lot going on for such a young girl. Some things she did to herself and others def not.
There are some teen-type life issues plus relationship/friend issues in this book that you can relate to as an adult as well.
Went to see what other books this author wrote (because this was such a great book) and found out that it is a debut novel. I'm so excited to see what they come out with next.
Go read this book, I think you will enjoy it, def doesn't disappoint.
Fast-paced, suspenseful and sooo much going on but in a good way. Such a good book. Loved it!
Lots of drama and family dynamics, very interesting and crazy how it all played out.
The twists will shock you, I am usually really good at being able to figure out a mystery but this one messed me up and I wasn't able to figure it out til too close to when the book told me, so that's a huge win in my book. lol. Good luck figuring out all the mysteries
This is a YA thriller, but it is def an adult read also. It will keep you hooked and entertained.
The main character- Addie, she is one deep in her head but also in real life, kinda hard to explain. she is a complex character but that is a big part of this story and makes it good. You will understand once you read the book and see into the life of Addie. She has a lot going on for such a young girl. Some things she did to herself and others def not.
There are some teen-type life issues plus relationship/friend issues in this book that you can relate to as an adult as well.
Went to see what other books this author wrote (because this was such a great book) and found out that it is a debut novel. I'm so excited to see what they come out with next.
Go read this book, I think you will enjoy it, def doesn't disappoint.
July 22, 2024
Addie’s sister, Fiona, died last summer by falling into a ravine. While ruled an accident, Addie believes she was murdered by the town rich boy Thatcher. When Thatcher suddenly turns up dead at the bottom of the same ravine, Addie realizes she had it all wrong and the murderer is still out there. Reluctantly working alongside Seth—Thatcher’s cousin, who she has very hot-and-cold feelings for— Addie tries to piece together the truth.
This is an excellent YA mystery/thriller! I was invested in the story and wanted to see how it would all play out. With plenty of suspects, it’s fun to try to piece together the mystery alongside Addie and the twists and turns along the way. Her feelings towards Seth and her hesitation in trusting him are also super relatable. I did not guess the outcome, which I love! It's important as an adult reading YA to remember that it is, in fact, YA and it does read that way. I often feel adults unfairly judge YA, forgetting that they are not the intended audience. If I was 13 reading this, I literally would have been obsessed and enthralled. I would say this book is for fans of Melissa Albert and definitely would recommend it!
This is an excellent YA mystery/thriller! I was invested in the story and wanted to see how it would all play out. With plenty of suspects, it’s fun to try to piece together the mystery alongside Addie and the twists and turns along the way. Her feelings towards Seth and her hesitation in trusting him are also super relatable. I did not guess the outcome, which I love! It's important as an adult reading YA to remember that it is, in fact, YA and it does read that way. I often feel adults unfairly judge YA, forgetting that they are not the intended audience. If I was 13 reading this, I literally would have been obsessed and enthralled. I would say this book is for fans of Melissa Albert and definitely would recommend it!
July 13, 2024
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a decent YA whodunit. Love the cover, and I was sucked into the story rather quickly.
3.5 rounded to 4.
Addie is still mourning her sister’s death and is determined to bring the killer to justice. Her sights are set on Thatcher, but when his body is found in the same place as her sister she has to rethink everything. Seth, a boy she has known most of her life comes back into town and Thatcher’s cousin, decide to team up because the cops are getting nowhere. Secrets are uncovered about both families, leaving the question - who can you really trust?
I enjoyed the atmosphere of this one - it is angsty and the tension between Addie and Seth is palpable. It read very YA, which I didn’t mind. There were some parts I had to suspend reality for but no biggie. I did guess the killer pretty early on but enjoyed the reveal! Not sure I understand the title, because no one burns but overall, this was a good read!
This was a decent YA whodunit. Love the cover, and I was sucked into the story rather quickly.
3.5 rounded to 4.
Addie is still mourning her sister’s death and is determined to bring the killer to justice. Her sights are set on Thatcher, but when his body is found in the same place as her sister she has to rethink everything. Seth, a boy she has known most of her life comes back into town and Thatcher’s cousin, decide to team up because the cops are getting nowhere. Secrets are uncovered about both families, leaving the question - who can you really trust?
I enjoyed the atmosphere of this one - it is angsty and the tension between Addie and Seth is palpable. It read very YA, which I didn’t mind. There were some parts I had to suspend reality for but no biggie. I did guess the killer pretty early on but enjoyed the reveal! Not sure I understand the title, because no one burns but overall, this was a good read!
March 17, 2024
The cover is what drew me in but the story….perfection. I recommended this book to my daughter too. She loved it and now our book club is eating it up.
Want to read
October 29, 2024***Pre-Review:***
Which will ignite first…her rage; their desire; or a killer’s bloodlust?
Hhhmmm…
Enemies-to-lovers mixed with a murder mystery subplot…
SIGN ME UP!!!
🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽. 🤭🤭🤭!!!
Which will ignite first…her rage; their desire; or a killer’s bloodlust?
Hhhmmm…
Enemies-to-lovers mixed with a murder mystery subplot…
SIGN ME UP!!!
🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽. 🤭🤭🤭!!!
July 30, 2024
"It’s infuriating the way he does that— works me up, makes me want to hit him, then says something to cut my anger down, make me think he might be on my side after all."
⭐⭐⭐✨
Thank you Netgalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I requested this book after seeing it advertised as a "twisty enemies-to-lovers thriller, full of secrets, privilege, and murder". Penguin Teen was nice enough to send a hardcover my way as well! I don't have a good explanation, but my expectations for enjoyment were pretty low with this one. Surprisingly, despite how busy I was, I kept bringing this book everywhere in hopes of continuing it!
Girls Who Burn follows Addie, a girl who just lost her older sister due to a death with plenty of mysterious circumstances. She's caught between trying to hold together her family (now just her father and little brother) and wanting to learn what exactly happened to her sister that night. Unfortunately for her, things get even more complicated when her childhood friend shows up in town demanding to speak to her. Surely it's not because she's been accusing his cousin and best friend of murdering her sister! Can she discover what happened despite the growing odds against her?
Addie and Seth had so much chemistry! I couldn't believe how invested I was in learning what happened to them last summer and if they'd ever manage to work out their issues. My main complaint is that I wouldn't *really* call this an enemies-to-lovers story. It's more of a Don't get me wrong, I loved it! The trope advertisement just felt off.
The writing was okay. There were a few scenes where things were skipped over in a way that seemed like the author didn't feel like doing research. When there was an issue with the car, the MC stated she waited outside so she didn't hear what was wrong with the car, but it was 'probably tampered with'. It had me laughing, and did pull me out of the story a little, but not enough to stop reading. I also struggled with the logic of the plot. I wish some of the plots were also more tied up.
I did have a great time reading this, though! I also enjoyed the audiobook narration on Spotify Premium. I would certainly read another book by this author and would recommend this to people who enjoy YA thrillers with the vibes of Gossip Girl vs someone like Dan/Jenny and messy relationships.
⭐⭐⭐✨
Thank you Netgalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I requested this book after seeing it advertised as a "twisty enemies-to-lovers thriller, full of secrets, privilege, and murder". Penguin Teen was nice enough to send a hardcover my way as well! I don't have a good explanation, but my expectations for enjoyment were pretty low with this one. Surprisingly, despite how busy I was, I kept bringing this book everywhere in hopes of continuing it!
Girls Who Burn follows Addie, a girl who just lost her older sister due to a death with plenty of mysterious circumstances. She's caught between trying to hold together her family (now just her father and little brother) and wanting to learn what exactly happened to her sister that night. Unfortunately for her, things get even more complicated when her childhood friend shows up in town demanding to speak to her. Surely it's not because she's been accusing his cousin and best friend of murdering her sister! Can she discover what happened despite the growing odds against her?
Addie and Seth had so much chemistry! I couldn't believe how invested I was in learning what happened to them last summer and if they'd ever manage to work out their issues. My main complaint is that I wouldn't *really* call this an enemies-to-lovers story. It's more of a Don't get me wrong, I loved it! The trope advertisement just felt off.
The writing was okay. There were a few scenes where things were skipped over in a way that seemed like the author didn't feel like doing research. When there was an issue with the car, the MC stated she waited outside so she didn't hear what was wrong with the car, but it was 'probably tampered with'. It had me laughing, and did pull me out of the story a little, but not enough to stop reading. I also struggled with the logic of the plot. I wish some of the plots were also more tied up.
I did have a great time reading this, though! I also enjoyed the audiobook narration on Spotify Premium. I would certainly read another book by this author and would recommend this to people who enjoy YA thrillers with the vibes of Gossip Girl vs someone like Dan/Jenny and messy relationships.
August 17, 2024
For fans of the tv series “I Know What you Did Last Summer.” The plot was very creative, & I did not see the twists coming! I also thought the pacing was perfection. The writing style could use a little improvement, but it didn’t not affect my reading experience overall. There were a couple plot holes, so this is not one of those books that you want to dissect, or take too seriously! This reads like a messy drama rather than a thriller, so just keep that in mind.
August 26, 2024
Not sure what the title is all about?
I really don’t like being overtly negative about anything I read but this book was… I couldn’t list even one thing I liked about it 🫢
The only reason I continued was because it was my book club suggestion, otherwise would have DNF’ed 20% in! 😖
It’s meant to be an “enemies-to-lovers” but I wouldn’t class Seth & Addie as enemies at all. Sadly, sometimes tropes are attached to books just for the popularity but they don’t actually have anything to do with the main plot? Just because you come from different family situations and don’t really “like” each other doesn’t make you enemies! 🙂↕️
Two chapters in and Addie was already annoying me with all the baseless accusations towards anyone and anything. She was very easily swayed with every opinion she got, which didn’t make her a very likeable character for me. Where’s the critical thinking girly?? 😒
I guess it shows how young she is but I’ve read books where main characters have been under 18 and had more sense than Addie did. (Like The Inheritance Games series *chef’s kiss*)
Addie believes everyone has a motive to have killed her sister and just goes around accusing everyone until it sticks. The whole accusing Thatcher? For a whole year with no tangible proof was stupid. Seth was incredibly forgiving of Addie, considering everything she said about Thatcher🫠
And the one person she should have been wary of? Lol not even one speculation despite having a list of reasons to suspect! 🤯
It seemed like the aim of book was to have a subtle commentary on the power dynamics between the rich & powerful vs the “normal” people but it did not land at all.
Just a bunch of teenagers throwing tantrums throughout the book 🤷🏽♀️
I really don’t like being overtly negative about anything I read but this book was… I couldn’t list even one thing I liked about it 🫢
The only reason I continued was because it was my book club suggestion, otherwise would have DNF’ed 20% in! 😖
It’s meant to be an “enemies-to-lovers” but I wouldn’t class Seth & Addie as enemies at all. Sadly, sometimes tropes are attached to books just for the popularity but they don’t actually have anything to do with the main plot? Just because you come from different family situations and don’t really “like” each other doesn’t make you enemies! 🙂↕️
Two chapters in and Addie was already annoying me with all the baseless accusations towards anyone and anything. She was very easily swayed with every opinion she got, which didn’t make her a very likeable character for me. Where’s the critical thinking girly?? 😒
I guess it shows how young she is but I’ve read books where main characters have been under 18 and had more sense than Addie did. (Like The Inheritance Games series *chef’s kiss*)
Addie believes everyone has a motive to have killed her sister and just goes around accusing everyone until it sticks. The whole accusing Thatcher? For a whole year with no tangible proof was stupid. Seth was incredibly forgiving of Addie, considering everything she said about Thatcher🫠
And the one person she should have been wary of? Lol not even one speculation despite having a list of reasons to suspect! 🤯
It seemed like the aim of book was to have a subtle commentary on the power dynamics between the rich & powerful vs the “normal” people but it did not land at all.
Just a bunch of teenagers throwing tantrums throughout the book 🤷🏽♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2024
I had the best time with this chilling, angsty mystery, and would you LOOK at that cover? It’s one of the most beautiful YA thriller covers I’ve ever seen.
Vibe and emotion are so key for me with YA, and MK does both so well—the atmosphere, the angsty tension between Addie and Seth, the subtle emotional shifts, Addie’s feelings for her sister. Huge fan of Addie’s internal character arc, too—it hit hard for me, and would’ve hit my teen self like a semi truck (in a good way). The mystery is tense and excellently paced, with a delicious number of suspects, and I’m delighted that it kept me guessing so much.
Loved this read, and so grateful to have gotten the chance to read it early!
Vibe and emotion are so key for me with YA, and MK does both so well—the atmosphere, the angsty tension between Addie and Seth, the subtle emotional shifts, Addie’s feelings for her sister. Huge fan of Addie’s internal character arc, too—it hit hard for me, and would’ve hit my teen self like a semi truck (in a good way). The mystery is tense and excellently paced, with a delicious number of suspects, and I’m delighted that it kept me guessing so much.
Loved this read, and so grateful to have gotten the chance to read it early!
December 29, 2023
ABAJBSJSHSHDJEIDH ADDIE I LOVE YOU
June 24, 2024
With a twist you won’t see coming, Girls Who Burn is an amazing enemies to lovers thriller full of tension, murder, and rich privilege.
Girls Who Burn follows Addie a year after her sister was found dead at the bottom of a ravine. While her death was ruled an accident or suicide, Addie has never believed the police. Her sister was a ballet-prodigy who just got into a prestigious academy. Addie believes she was pushed—and she had one suspect: Thatcher Montgomery, a rich boy with a thing for her sister. No one believes her theory, especially Seth, Thatcher’s cousin and Addie’s childhood rival and crush. Addie’s theory gets blown up when Thatcher is found dead at the bottom of the same ravine. She partners up with Seth to catch the real killer, all while dodging corrupt police, Seth’s influential family, and a growing bond with Seth as the killer comes after them.
This is an absolutely fabulous mystery/thriller! I honestly had no clue who was going to be the killer. I had so many different theories and I was wrong on all counts. The author did such an incredible job keeping you guessing until the reveal. And I loved the twist—it was so jaw-dropping and good! The plot was so engaging and kept me very interested and invested. And the setting was fabulous—I loved how much time was spent in the woods as it created such good spooky atmosphere.
I adore the romance in this book. It was so cute and had immaculate tension as they denied their feelings. I loved how much they obviously cared for one another even when they were denying it. Addie is a really good main character. She’s smart and strong and determined to find her sister’s killer. She had a lot of guilt to work through in the novel and her arc was really well done. Seth is lovely—he’s very much a new book bf. I love him! The side characters are also really well done—they had their own personalities and were well-rounded. Marion and Davy were such a cute little subplot. And I loved the resolution with Addie and Gen!
Overall, this is a great mystery/thriller with so many twists and an amazing romance—perfect for the summer!
Thank you to Penguin for the physical arc!
Girls Who Burn follows Addie a year after her sister was found dead at the bottom of a ravine. While her death was ruled an accident or suicide, Addie has never believed the police. Her sister was a ballet-prodigy who just got into a prestigious academy. Addie believes she was pushed—and she had one suspect: Thatcher Montgomery, a rich boy with a thing for her sister. No one believes her theory, especially Seth, Thatcher’s cousin and Addie’s childhood rival and crush. Addie’s theory gets blown up when Thatcher is found dead at the bottom of the same ravine. She partners up with Seth to catch the real killer, all while dodging corrupt police, Seth’s influential family, and a growing bond with Seth as the killer comes after them.
This is an absolutely fabulous mystery/thriller! I honestly had no clue who was going to be the killer. I had so many different theories and I was wrong on all counts. The author did such an incredible job keeping you guessing until the reveal. And I loved the twist—it was so jaw-dropping and good! The plot was so engaging and kept me very interested and invested. And the setting was fabulous—I loved how much time was spent in the woods as it created such good spooky atmosphere.
I adore the romance in this book. It was so cute and had immaculate tension as they denied their feelings. I loved how much they obviously cared for one another even when they were denying it. Addie is a really good main character. She’s smart and strong and determined to find her sister’s killer. She had a lot of guilt to work through in the novel and her arc was really well done. Seth is lovely—he’s very much a new book bf. I love him! The side characters are also really well done—they had their own personalities and were well-rounded. Marion and Davy were such a cute little subplot. And I loved the resolution with Addie and Gen!
Overall, this is a great mystery/thriller with so many twists and an amazing romance—perfect for the summer!
Thank you to Penguin for the physical arc!
October 17, 2024
Thank you so much partner @prhaudio @penguinteen for the free audiobook!
Girls Who Burn
by MK Pagano
narrated by Jorjeana Marie
About the book 👇🏽
When eighteen-year-old Addie's sister is found dead at the bottom of a ravine it's officially ruled an accident, but Addie doesn't buy it. The problem is, Addie has no evidence because when her sister died, she was a little distracted with Seth Montgomery, the boy next door Addie's always loved to hate. She believes the murderer is Thatcher Montgomery, Seth's cousin. He always had a thing for her sister, and Addie caught them arguing shortly before her death. But, one year later, Thatcher is found dead at the bottom of the same ravine and Addie is forced to admit she was wrong. Dodging corrupt police and the even more corrupt wealthy Montgomery family, Addie needs help to avenge her sister's death and she turns to the only person she hasn't managed to push away: Seth. But Seth is a Montgomery too and may be hiding secrets of his own. Is Addie and Seth's growing bond strong enough to keep them safe, or will they become the next victims?
🍂 My thoughts:
Ahh! and this is why I love YA thriller/horror. Not only can they be immersive but they can almost always be read quickly! This story did not disappoint. I mostly* physically read this book but I was too close the the end to stop reading when I needed to make dinner. Which means I immediately went to my PRH Audio app to see if they had the audiobook and they sure did. Let me tell you… the audiobook was also VERY good. I’d consider this a popcorn thriller worth reading and would recommend giving it a read and/or listen. You get a twisty, fast paced read, with a side of enemies to lovers… all sorts of readers are sure to happily binge this one! And I was lucky enough to find this gem at my local library.
Happy reading 📖🕯️🎃🍂
Girls Who Burn
by MK Pagano
narrated by Jorjeana Marie
About the book 👇🏽
When eighteen-year-old Addie's sister is found dead at the bottom of a ravine it's officially ruled an accident, but Addie doesn't buy it. The problem is, Addie has no evidence because when her sister died, she was a little distracted with Seth Montgomery, the boy next door Addie's always loved to hate. She believes the murderer is Thatcher Montgomery, Seth's cousin. He always had a thing for her sister, and Addie caught them arguing shortly before her death. But, one year later, Thatcher is found dead at the bottom of the same ravine and Addie is forced to admit she was wrong. Dodging corrupt police and the even more corrupt wealthy Montgomery family, Addie needs help to avenge her sister's death and she turns to the only person she hasn't managed to push away: Seth. But Seth is a Montgomery too and may be hiding secrets of his own. Is Addie and Seth's growing bond strong enough to keep them safe, or will they become the next victims?
🍂 My thoughts:
Ahh! and this is why I love YA thriller/horror. Not only can they be immersive but they can almost always be read quickly! This story did not disappoint. I mostly* physically read this book but I was too close the the end to stop reading when I needed to make dinner. Which means I immediately went to my PRH Audio app to see if they had the audiobook and they sure did. Let me tell you… the audiobook was also VERY good. I’d consider this a popcorn thriller worth reading and would recommend giving it a read and/or listen. You get a twisty, fast paced read, with a side of enemies to lovers… all sorts of readers are sure to happily binge this one! And I was lucky enough to find this gem at my local library.
Happy reading 📖🕯️🎃🍂
August 10, 2024
2.5
Honestly, just a little too stupid, even for a stupid book.
Honestly, just a little too stupid, even for a stupid book.
February 17, 2024
A thriller with a romantic frenemies to lovers subplot?!? SIGN ME UP. I feel like I haven’t read a ton of thrillers that have quite a bit of romance thrown into the story but now I need more?? lol.
Addie lost her sister in a tragic maybe accident? But all that changes when a year later, her frenemie Seth’s cousin dies in the same exact tragic way? Only this time Seth and Addie were together to witness his scream before the fall. Clearly.. Fiona’s death wasn’t an accident and it’s up to Addie and Seth to figure out exactly what has happened.
This book was so much fun to read and it got to a point where I couldn’t put it down and finished about half of it in one sitting! Full of red herrings, it will be pretty hard to guess what actually happened, and once you know.. all the pieces start falling together perfectly.
I also really loved how messy and complicated Addie and her feelings were. I felt like I was truly following along with a teen girl’s life. The supporting characters also felt really raw and real, which definitely helped with making it feel realistic!
Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller and would be an excellent beach read for the upcoming warm months. But I do wish we learned more about the mysterious treasure mentioned a few times lol.
Read if you like:
- One bed trope
- Frenemies to lovers
- Red Herrings
- Summertime thrillers
- Small town vibes
- Rich vs poor
- Tough female lead
- Woods
Addie lost her sister in a tragic maybe accident? But all that changes when a year later, her frenemie Seth’s cousin dies in the same exact tragic way? Only this time Seth and Addie were together to witness his scream before the fall. Clearly.. Fiona’s death wasn’t an accident and it’s up to Addie and Seth to figure out exactly what has happened.
This book was so much fun to read and it got to a point where I couldn’t put it down and finished about half of it in one sitting! Full of red herrings, it will be pretty hard to guess what actually happened, and once you know.. all the pieces start falling together perfectly.
I also really loved how messy and complicated Addie and her feelings were. I felt like I was truly following along with a teen girl’s life. The supporting characters also felt really raw and real, which definitely helped with making it feel realistic!
Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller and would be an excellent beach read for the upcoming warm months. But I do wish we learned more about the mysterious treasure mentioned a few times lol.
Read if you like:
- One bed trope
- Frenemies to lovers
- Red Herrings
- Summertime thrillers
- Small town vibes
- Rich vs poor
- Tough female lead
- Woods
August 2, 2024
I have so many logic questions for the editor of this book
also you can’t just willy nilly get a search warrant for someone’s bedroom because you want to “look from all angles”. and why is there always a cop in these books that just like has it out for a random teenage girl?
the climax fell pretty flat for me and I didn’t super like the main character but I did like seth and some of the other side characters.
also you can’t just willy nilly get a search warrant for someone’s bedroom because you want to “look from all angles”. and why is there always a cop in these books that just like has it out for a random teenage girl?
the climax fell pretty flat for me and I didn’t super like the main character but I did like seth and some of the other side characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
If you guys like the idea of The Summer I Turned Pretty turning into a small-town thriller-romance, then I highly recommend MK Pagano’s Girls Who Burn. This is a standalone mystery about two childhood frenemies rekindling a past “flame” while catching a murderer.
Gave this book a 4-star rating simply because the mystery behind the murders that Addie tries to unearth with Seth lies in so much drama. I loved the chemistry between all of the characters because their roles in the story made the pacing more engaging. Addie is an incredibly unreliable narrator, making the storytelling equally confusing and thrilling, which added to the fun. Furthermore, it heavily implies the advantages that people in power have, especially that of men. It really is a fucked-up version of TSITP, and arguably the plot is a bit generic, I still stayed for the drama. This book is also perfect for fans of The Ivies and Dead Girls Society.
I buddy read this with my good friend Krys @dismalhoneydews/@cherryivies.
Gave this book a 4-star rating simply because the mystery behind the murders that Addie tries to unearth with Seth lies in so much drama. I loved the chemistry between all of the characters because their roles in the story made the pacing more engaging. Addie is an incredibly unreliable narrator, making the storytelling equally confusing and thrilling, which added to the fun. Furthermore, it heavily implies the advantages that people in power have, especially that of men. It really is a fucked-up version of TSITP, and arguably the plot is a bit generic, I still stayed for the drama. This book is also perfect for fans of The Ivies and Dead Girls Society.
I buddy read this with my good friend Krys @dismalhoneydews/@cherryivies.
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