Berls
Written on Jan 3, 2021
In terms of the mystery, while I did have numerous suspicions throughout by about chapter 8 my top suspect was the right one. There were a couple moments that through me off and made me doubt my suspicions. I wouldn't say it was obvious, but the hints are definitely there.
I enjoyed the premise quite a lot and I think this could really appeal to a teenage audience. I was most struck by how different high school is from when I was a teen - not that long ago LOL! - because of the prevalence of social media. The characters have all the stressors most generations have experienced, but under a constant microscope.
The characters were pretty distinct, which I enjoyed. They were facing some very different family dynamics and pressures, not to mention internal battles. I enjoyed the bit of diversity that sprung up too and how that changed those students' experiences. Each of the 4 students - Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, and Cooper - had a secret that makes them suspects in Simon's death. It was powerful to see how releasing themselves from those secrets in various ways actually freed them in other ways too. Despite the horrible experience, they grow so much and learn a lot about themselves, their peers, and their families.
I chose to listen to listen to this after hearing that the audio was good and noticing that there were 4 narrators. Sometimes multiple narrators can create a jarring effect, but normally it enriches my experience of each character. In this case, it definitely enriched. Kim Mai Guest, MacLeod Andrews, Shannon McManus, and Robbie Daymond each brought their characters to life, while blending well with the other narrators representations of each character's voice. The point of view changes frequently in this book, and the narrators took over the narration for 1 character's point of view. I would definitely recommend listening.
I'm struck by the fact that this is a series - because it ends very resolved in my opinion. But I enjoyed this one and will likely try to continue the series soon.