Get Even (Don't Get Mad, #1)

by Gretchen McNeil

[Leah]

During July I downloaded myself some stellar sounding Young Adult novels from Edelweiss – the lovely Harper Teen offer most of their novels as immediate downloads, and I always get my fill as they publish some cracking books. One recent pick was Get Even by Gretchen McNeil. I knew going in that it was a novel with a sequel coming, so I dutifully checked with Gretchen on Twitter about how bad the cliff hanger was, and she confirmed we don’t find out who the killer is (boo) but there was a respectable ending. So, of you’re thinking of reading this book, I’ll give you the best advice ever: Wait for the sequel. It’s always, always better to read a book with a cliffhanger when you’re secure in the knowledge that you have the next book!

The ending of Get Even is probably one of the worst, most annoying cliffhangers ever because it was like most episodes of Lost – zero answers. Nothing, nada, zilch. We don’t know who’s threatening the DGM girls, we haven’t narrowed the suspect pool, and people are dead. It’s like the worst version of a Pretty Little Liars book, ever, but I’ll admit it had me hooked. And dying for the sequel. I needed it like yesterday. I’m literally dying to know who is behind it all, and why. And there are so many threads left hanging, I have no idea how Gretchen is going to tie them all up! There was more going on in the novel than I expected, and it was quite nice for it to be a bit more complex than I expected.

I liked how the novel immediately dived into the heart of the DGM philosophy. I figured we would start at the inception of the group, but we meet the gang as a DGM plot is in progress, and we eventually learn how the four girls came to start the group. Bree, Margo, Olivia and Kitty, four people who would never usually hang out together, making it the perfect group… Until one of their marks is found dead, and they’re framed for his murder. I liked the addition of the envelopes filled with photos, they added an extra layer to proceedings, and new connections to everyone involved. I would have loved to have known more about DGM’s exploits – all things considered, we only got 2 of their revenge schemes, and only 1 was fully realised. But murder takes precedent, and I liked how the girls starting investigating who had actually killed Ronny.

I wasn’t immediately entranced by Get Even, and I considered putting it down, but it soon got under my skin and I was soon as determined as the girls to figure out what had happened and who was behind it all. I suspect it’s someone at their school for sure as it’s also based around the play Twelfth Precinct the school is putting on, and which everyone seems to be involved in. But I honestly have no idea who is the killer and who’s threatening the girls. McNeil has done a wonderful job of not making it obvious who the killer is, which is quite a good skill. Although I’d love to get her in a room and make her spill the beans…

Get Even was such an intense, frustrating read. The payoff in Get Dirty had better be worth it because there is a lot riding on it. 2015 and the release of Get Dirty can’t come quick enough for me. It reminded me of the early Pretty Little Liars books, which a frantic, fast paced energy (before the books became too much; I read up until 8 and I called it). I’m hoping Gretchen calls it on 2, if only because I don’t think I can do another cliffhanger like the one in Get Even. I literally wanted to harm someone… But I just know the next book will be even sweeter with so much left to answer!