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booksofautumn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I am in love with this book. This book was way too fast of a read. I am so torn up about everything that happened. The FMC having cystic fibrosis was honestly so inspiring and the way it was written was so perfect. As someone who has an auto immune disease (MS) it was really refreshing to see the kind of forward and backward struggle of living with an auto immune disease that is chronic and the duality of trying to live your life to the fullest while still being careful and I think the author did a really good job of portraying that. All of the characters were really good and I cried. Also the fact that the twist actually surprised me is saying something. Should’ve surprised me? Probably not. But it did so I didn’t see it coming even though maybe I should’ve. I still have some questions, especially about Savannah, but I don’t think those will ever be answered but honestly, I’m OK with that because the ending was everything I could’ve asked for
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Bullying, Classism, Death, Blood, Suicide, Grief, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Child death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Ableism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, and Violence
wolfscout's review against another edition
5.0
This book was an absolute rollercoaster and I loved every second of reading it.
Genius Work !!!!
Genius Work !!!!
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
This.Was.Amazing! I am so glad I read this one. I haven't had that much luck with YA this year, but this one is definitely a hit!
It will keep you guessing for all of the book. Who is the Society? What is their goal?
I haven't had any luck writing the review, sometimes it words don't come. But I do want to write something, so I will go for my trusty: Good/Bad kind of review.
Let me start with Good:
-The Society. I was just so excited to find out who was doing these things, who was making up the dares, who picked these girls and why, how could they afford all that money and the prizes. Questions just kept tumbling through my brain, and I loved it. Each page brought us closer to the uncovering of The Society. Each page brought more information.
Of course The Society went from just a cute game to earn money to something much much more dangerous.
-The actual revelation was a brilliant thing, and I totally loved it. I had my suspicions, but I have seen enough books that suddenly had a twist at the ending that would flip your world.
-The dares. They were dangerous, but oh so exciting. I thought them very creative, as it really pushed the contestants to do things they might normally not dare to do.
-Our MC's illness. I can see that the author did some great research on the topic.
-The MC herself. I loved how she wanted to do things, even while knowing that she might not live that long, or might have to takes medicines and all sorts of other things to make her life better. Some people might give up, but not the MC, she wants to see the world, she wants to try out things. She doesn't give up, and I loved that so much. Go go girl!
-The romance. It didn't feel weird, though I do have to say I was a bit annoyed that it took them so long to find out that they both liked each other. :P I mean, seriously, from the first mention of the guy I knew she liked him, and that he liked her. I think anyone who reads this one will see it immediately. I won't say anything if they get together or not, you will have to read the book.
-I love the cover! It is what I imagine is how the envelope looks like. The envelope our girls get.
-Various side characters are great. Some took me a bit to start liking, but some I immediately liked.
-The ending, on the one hand I am a bit angry, but on the other hand, now I just want more.
Bad:
-Well actually I just have one bad. Yes. One. The mother. I know she means well, I know she is worried, but you have to let your daughter take her own decisions. She is now 16/17, and sorry, you can't lock her up like a princess. You can't deny her the world.
I get that it is hard. I get that you are worried she might get worse. But she has to learn about the world, do you want her to die eventually without having had a life of her own? No. Well then, let her be free. I am sure she knows how her meds work, I am sure she knows who to call when it goes wrong. And yes, she will make mistakes, yes, she might get worse, but she needs to be free and explore the world, she needs to get up on her own legs and live her life.
I also didn't like how the mom went into the school with her daughter. Nice trust you have there. Maybe next time just call the nurse at the end of the day and ask if she knows everything there is, and if she has questions. Just trust your kid a bit more.
So as you can see, a lot of good, and just one bad. I truly loved this book, and I am so happy that I read it. I just love books about dares, about societies, about mystery.
I would highly recommend this one to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
It will keep you guessing for all of the book. Who is the Society? What is their goal?
I haven't had any luck writing the review, sometimes it words don't come. But I do want to write something, so I will go for my trusty: Good/Bad kind of review.
Let me start with Good:
-The Society. I was just so excited to find out who was doing these things, who was making up the dares, who picked these girls and why, how could they afford all that money and the prizes. Questions just kept tumbling through my brain, and I loved it. Each page brought us closer to the uncovering of The Society. Each page brought more information.
Of course The Society went from just a cute game to earn money to something much much more dangerous.
-The actual revelation was a brilliant thing, and I totally loved it. I had my suspicions, but I have seen enough books that suddenly had a twist at the ending that would flip your world.
-The dares. They were dangerous, but oh so exciting. I thought them very creative, as it really pushed the contestants to do things they might normally not dare to do.
-Our MC's illness. I can see that the author did some great research on the topic.
-The MC herself. I loved how she wanted to do things, even while knowing that she might not live that long, or might have to takes medicines and all sorts of other things to make her life better. Some people might give up, but not the MC, she wants to see the world, she wants to try out things. She doesn't give up, and I loved that so much. Go go girl!
-The romance. It didn't feel weird, though I do have to say I was a bit annoyed that it took them so long to find out that they both liked each other. :P I mean, seriously, from the first mention of the guy I knew she liked him, and that he liked her. I think anyone who reads this one will see it immediately. I won't say anything if they get together or not, you will have to read the book.
-I love the cover! It is what I imagine is how the envelope looks like. The envelope our girls get.
-Various side characters are great. Some took me a bit to start liking, but some I immediately liked.
-The ending, on the one hand I am a bit angry, but on the other hand, now I just want more.
Bad:
-Well actually I just have one bad. Yes. One. The mother. I know she means well, I know she is worried, but you have to let your daughter take her own decisions. She is now 16/17, and sorry, you can't lock her up like a princess. You can't deny her the world.
I get that it is hard. I get that you are worried she might get worse. But she has to learn about the world, do you want her to die eventually without having had a life of her own? No. Well then, let her be free. I am sure she knows how her meds work, I am sure she knows who to call when it goes wrong. And yes, she will make mistakes, yes, she might get worse, but she needs to be free and explore the world, she needs to get up on her own legs and live her life.
I also didn't like how the mom went into the school with her daughter. Nice trust you have there. Maybe next time just call the nurse at the end of the day and ask if she knows everything there is, and if she has questions. Just trust your kid a bit more.
So as you can see, a lot of good, and just one bad. I truly loved this book, and I am so happy that I read it. I just love books about dares, about societies, about mystery.
I would highly recommend this one to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
sterreks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.0
freadomlibrary's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating 3.5 stars
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
I received an e-ARC of this book from Random House Children’s and Delacorte Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This review talks about the Cystic Fibrosis representation from an #ownvoices reviewer perspective, check it out as well: http://disabilityinkidlit.com/2016/11/08/review-dead-girls-society-by-michelle-krys/
Critically
Plot – 3.4 out of 5 stars
This book was really mysterious and intense. It’s full of adrenaline and action packed because of what the main characters are going through. Sometimes it could get a little cheesy and almost immatureish. I feel like the romance that was introduced and carried out was unnecessary and didn’t really do anything for the plot. And the ending was really annoying and infuriating.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
The writing style was really simple yet fast paced. It was easy to read and it had an emotive and creepy quality to it. The mystery was really entertaining and well done. I think the choice of narrator was really interesting and I think unconventional but it had it’s moments where it felt whiny, immature though the character definitely showed off her smarts.
Characters – 3.5 out of 5 stars
I had a problem connecting with the characters in this series. I don’t know if it was because of the point of view or because of the way they were presented but I didn’t care about them as much as I wanted or expected to. Hope is the main character and I found her to be an interesting choice, most notably because she has cystic fibrosis. I can’t say if it was a good or bad representation of the disease and what it does to the body and to the person but I thought it was an interesting aspect of her character. However, she’s really immature and whiny. She can be very petty and though smart, sometimes things felt like they were too easy for her. She’s brave and a fighter but some of her choices throughout the book are definitely questionable. There are four other side characters that take on a primary role in the book but I felt like they were stereotyped and very predictable. Even the main characters notices! Though at some point the other makes sure to point out parts of her individuality, I still saw that coming and pretty much continued the predictable characterization.
Emotionally
The plot is intense. We follow Hope, a girl sick with cystic fibrosis and living her life stuck inside her room when she receives a cryptic invitation by The Society to join a game of dares to win money. She joins four other girls in a game that becomes dangerous very, very quickly. This book was a great mystery thriller. I didn’t expect a lot of the twists and turns that happened in the plot and I got caught up in the adrenaline of it all. The dares were inventive and scary which kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing itself did very well in making me feel like I was within the story and made me just as paranoid as the rest of the characters. It managed to keep me engaged in the story and wanting to see what would happen next. The characters were complex and unique to each other, but they were also a bit predictable and stereotypical. I want to give some props to the other because I did not figure out who the culprit was at any moment which has been something that I can easily do with these kinds of books lately. However, the narrative really brought down my enjoyment. It was sometimes annoying and immature and kind of made me want to experience the story from someone else’s point of view. There was also a developed romance involved which I was not happy about. Everything else kept me hooked but as soon as it became a thing, I was turned off. I felt like it was unnecessary to the story, it felt like instalove and it didn’t really add anything to the actual plot about the Society. I would’ve rather have other scenes that did not involve any kind of romance that could’ve made the game much more intense. Then there was the ending. It pissed me off so much! I don’t know if there’s a new trend or what, but I am sick and tired of standalone books having open endings or open threads or just plain cliffhangers at the end. You’re a standalone! Your story should be complete when I get to the end. I don’t need to be plagued with “what ifs” or “what’s gonna happens” WHEN THERE’S NO OTHER BOOK. Please, authors, stop doing this. It’s so frustrating and it just makes me feel like you’re trying to get your publishers to get you another book out of the same story line by praying on reader’s emotions. Not cool.
Hope was an interesting choice for a main character. She’s the only one brought to the game in an easy way and she has a sickness, a disability that the rest of the girls don’t have. However, I found her to be really whiny and immature though she was persistent and intent on figuring out who was behind the game. While she did some stupid things, she was smart in the way she tried to puzzle it out and she was the only one really trying to do so which I think was very brave of her. I did not like the romance she was involved with at all. I felt like it wasn’t only unnecessary for the plot but also for her. She did not need a guy to keep fighting or to move forward. It made her seem like much more of a damsel in distress than she really was.
I was really disappointed in the way the side characters were developed, at least in part. I feel like compared to each other, all the girls were unique and interesting and complex. But at the same time, they all fit into a little box which the main character even points out the first time they are together in one place. And even when the author tries to push them out of those boxes, it felt too much like a “they are more than meets the eye” kind of reveal which yes, I also think is stereotypical. I would’ve loved to have seen more of them and to have them develop more as individuals than just the other girls that are involved in this crazy plot.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a bit. The plot was intense and entertaining. It kept me on the edge of my seat and engaged into the story. I really liked how caught off guard I was about the reveal of the culprit but the ending really made me mad. The main character was a little annoying but resourceful and I think she was an interesting choice as narrator. The side characters were too typical for me and the romance was completely unnecessary but I think the author did a good job with the writing of this book.
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
I received an e-ARC of this book from Random House Children’s and Delacorte Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This review talks about the Cystic Fibrosis representation from an #ownvoices reviewer perspective, check it out as well: http://disabilityinkidlit.com/2016/11/08/review-dead-girls-society-by-michelle-krys/
Critically
Plot – 3.4 out of 5 stars
This book was really mysterious and intense. It’s full of adrenaline and action packed because of what the main characters are going through. Sometimes it could get a little cheesy and almost immatureish. I feel like the romance that was introduced and carried out was unnecessary and didn’t really do anything for the plot. And the ending was really annoying and infuriating.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
The writing style was really simple yet fast paced. It was easy to read and it had an emotive and creepy quality to it. The mystery was really entertaining and well done. I think the choice of narrator was really interesting and I think unconventional but it had it’s moments where it felt whiny, immature though the character definitely showed off her smarts.
Characters – 3.5 out of 5 stars
I had a problem connecting with the characters in this series. I don’t know if it was because of the point of view or because of the way they were presented but I didn’t care about them as much as I wanted or expected to. Hope is the main character and I found her to be an interesting choice, most notably because she has cystic fibrosis. I can’t say if it was a good or bad representation of the disease and what it does to the body and to the person but I thought it was an interesting aspect of her character. However, she’s really immature and whiny. She can be very petty and though smart, sometimes things felt like they were too easy for her. She’s brave and a fighter but some of her choices throughout the book are definitely questionable. There are four other side characters that take on a primary role in the book but I felt like they were stereotyped and very predictable. Even the main characters notices! Though at some point the other makes sure to point out parts of her individuality, I still saw that coming and pretty much continued the predictable characterization.
Emotionally
Spoiler
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I ended up enjoying it for the most part, even though I had some issues with it.The plot is intense. We follow Hope, a girl sick with cystic fibrosis and living her life stuck inside her room when she receives a cryptic invitation by The Society to join a game of dares to win money. She joins four other girls in a game that becomes dangerous very, very quickly. This book was a great mystery thriller. I didn’t expect a lot of the twists and turns that happened in the plot and I got caught up in the adrenaline of it all. The dares were inventive and scary which kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing itself did very well in making me feel like I was within the story and made me just as paranoid as the rest of the characters. It managed to keep me engaged in the story and wanting to see what would happen next. The characters were complex and unique to each other, but they were also a bit predictable and stereotypical. I want to give some props to the other because I did not figure out who the culprit was at any moment which has been something that I can easily do with these kinds of books lately. However, the narrative really brought down my enjoyment. It was sometimes annoying and immature and kind of made me want to experience the story from someone else’s point of view. There was also a developed romance involved which I was not happy about. Everything else kept me hooked but as soon as it became a thing, I was turned off. I felt like it was unnecessary to the story, it felt like instalove and it didn’t really add anything to the actual plot about the Society. I would’ve rather have other scenes that did not involve any kind of romance that could’ve made the game much more intense. Then there was the ending. It pissed me off so much! I don’t know if there’s a new trend or what, but I am sick and tired of standalone books having open endings or open threads or just plain cliffhangers at the end. You’re a standalone! Your story should be complete when I get to the end. I don’t need to be plagued with “what ifs” or “what’s gonna happens” WHEN THERE’S NO OTHER BOOK. Please, authors, stop doing this. It’s so frustrating and it just makes me feel like you’re trying to get your publishers to get you another book out of the same story line by praying on reader’s emotions. Not cool.
Hope was an interesting choice for a main character. She’s the only one brought to the game in an easy way and she has a sickness, a disability that the rest of the girls don’t have. However, I found her to be really whiny and immature though she was persistent and intent on figuring out who was behind the game. While she did some stupid things, she was smart in the way she tried to puzzle it out and she was the only one really trying to do so which I think was very brave of her. I did not like the romance she was involved with at all. I felt like it wasn’t only unnecessary for the plot but also for her. She did not need a guy to keep fighting or to move forward. It made her seem like much more of a damsel in distress than she really was.
I was really disappointed in the way the side characters were developed, at least in part. I feel like compared to each other, all the girls were unique and interesting and complex. But at the same time, they all fit into a little box which the main character even points out the first time they are together in one place. And even when the author tries to push them out of those boxes, it felt too much like a “they are more than meets the eye” kind of reveal which yes, I also think is stereotypical. I would’ve loved to have seen more of them and to have them develop more as individuals than just the other girls that are involved in this crazy plot.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a bit. The plot was intense and entertaining. It kept me on the edge of my seat and engaged into the story. I really liked how caught off guard I was about the reveal of the culprit but the ending really made me mad. The main character was a little annoying but resourceful and I think she was an interesting choice as narrator. The side characters were too typical for me and the romance was completely unnecessary but I think the author did a good job with the writing of this book.
christiana's review
2.0
Panic meets Pretty Little Liars, but the credibility of this novel was so off the deep end, I lost appreciation for it the longer I read. I did read until the end, so i was at least invested. But there were word choices that didn't feel right for a teen (I, for one, have never heard a teen call someone a "lady killer") and despite how different the girls were supposed to be, it took the majority of the book to keep them straight. Add in the cliff hanger it ends on (why?) and I'm certain I won't be back for any sequels.
la_ravenreader's review
3.0
Hope, a junior in high school, spends most of her days in her small apartment in New Orleans. This is a result of her medical condition and her only and best friend Ethan is the extent of her social circle when she does go to school. While, the story is interesting and fast paced too many questions are left unanswered and details omitted.
coffeelitmama's review
3.0
*Spoilers*
This book sounded really interesting in the description and while it was in some parts, most of it fell flat for me. I enjoyed Hope's character and how she transitioned through the challenges- she became more confident in herself and let her sickness control her less than it had before. I was annoyed with Ethan's character, that he didn't want Hope until she was interested in someone else, why couldn't he tell her his feelings before? Ugh. Everything else seemed like PLL- ooh I have dirt on you, do this or I'll tell. Enter group of teenagers who can never go to the police & have to solve it on their own. -_- It seems like there will be a second with the cliffhanger ending, which I'll probably end up reading as well. Overall a decent quick read.
This book sounded really interesting in the description and while it was in some parts, most of it fell flat for me. I enjoyed Hope's character and how she transitioned through the challenges- she became more confident in herself and let her sickness control her less than it had before. I was annoyed with Ethan's character, that he didn't want Hope until she was interested in someone else, why couldn't he tell her his feelings before? Ugh. Everything else seemed like PLL- ooh I have dirt on you, do this or I'll tell. Enter group of teenagers who can never go to the police & have to solve it on their own. -_- It seems like there will be a second with the cliffhanger ending, which I'll probably end up reading as well. Overall a decent quick read.