You're So Dead by Ash Parsons

You're So Dead

by Ash Parsons

"Fans of Karen M. McManus and Katie Alender will devour this darkly funny, fast-paced mystery."--SLJ
 
A hilarious Agatha Christie-inspired YA thriller-comedy about three best friends who sneak into an influencers-only festival event (gone wrong), only to discover a killer is in their midst--and they have to uncover the truth and solve the mystery before it's too late. Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying and Truly Devious.

Plum Winter has always come in second to her sister, the unbelievably cool, famous influencer Peach Winter. And when Peach is invited to an all-expenses-paid trip to a luxurious art-and-music festival for influencers on a private island in the Caribbean, Plum decides it's finally her time to shine. So she intercepts the invite--and asks her two best friends, Sofia and Marlowe, to come along to the fest with her. It'll be a spring break they'll never forget.

But when Plum and her friends get to the island, it's not anything like it seemed in the invite. The island is run-down, creepy, and there doesn't even seem to be a festival--it's just seven other quasi-celebrities and influencers, and none of the glitz and glamour she expected. Then people start to die...

Plum and her friends soon realize that someone has lured each of them to the "festival" to kill them. Someone has a vendetta against every person on the island--and no one is supposed to leave alive. So, together, Plum, Sofia, and Marlowe will do whatever it takes to unravel the mystery of the killer, and fight to save themselves and as many influencers as they can, before it's too late.
 
Praise for You're So Dead:
 
You're So Dead is the hilarious, swoony, Surprisingly Stabby book of my dreams! Ash Parsons delivers a sharp send-up of influencer culture wrapped in a clever whodunnit that also has a lot of heart. While I never want to go to "Pyre Festival," I'd hang out with Plum, Marlowe, and Sofia any day.”—Rachel Hawkins, New York Times Bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs

“Parsons (Girls Save the World in This One) gently satirizes online culture and the ill-fated Fyre Festival in this frothy homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The cheeky mystery is both clever and satisfying.” --Publishers Weekly
 
"Parsons effectively mixes social media commentary and thrilling murder mystery with a dash of ridiculous humor . . . A #trendy and #entertaining whodunit." --Kirkus Reviews
 
"[A]riveting thriller-comedy...writing in short, energetic bursts with a witty voice, Parsons keeps the twists coming, her motley crew’s energy running frantic as the body count rises and they try to discover the killer in their midst." --Booklist

Reviewed by Angie on

2.5 of 5 stars

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Proceed With Caution:

This book contains murder, death, blood, violence, and gore.

The Basics:

You're So Dead is all about Plum Winter, the younger sister of an influencer. Plum is a nobody who wants a taste of being somebody, so she steals her sister's invitation to the elusive Pyre Festival. It's suppose to be a huge party on a private island full of celebrities and other influencers. However, when she and her friends arrive, it's very clear that Pyre Festival is not the party they were promised.

My Thoughts:

You're So Dead sounded like it was going to be super fun, and it was at times, but it got off to a rocky start and had an unsatisfying ending. It's obviously inspired by Fyre Festival, maybe too much so?

First of all, who is Antonia? Plum's friends are Marlow and SOFIA. Second of all, Plum just took it upon herself to steal her sister's invitation and invite her two best friends. No one else brought guests, because I'm assuming the invite was for one person since it's all-expenses paid, no plus ones. Yet, no one questions the extra people? Obviously, Pyre Festival is not at all what it's promoted to be, but still. Wouldn't someone find it odd that there are non-influencers attending? Especially since everyone is bragging about their online presence and Plum just spat out an unconvincing "My sister invited us." Again, no plus ones!

You're So Dead must be satire, right? Because those influences are bizarre to say the least! I'm not saying it's a bad thing at all. I found it quite funny, since people do get "famous" for the strangest reasons on social media. It was just hard to take any of this seriously when there's a hot guy with a hen and a girl who writes astro poetry and the like. The description does say "comedy" but it wasn't like LOL funny, just "funny 'cause it's true" funny.

After an awkward start, You're So Dead gets to the deaths and started giving me Fear Street: Party Games vibes. Maybe because I just read it a few days prior, but it was very like that. Young adults hanging around, enjoying some food (kind of), then someone just drops dead, and they have to wonder if it's a prank. Or is it real!? Is one of them a killer, or did someone else lure them here?!

The answers come soon enough as You're So Dead is an extremely fast read. It has super short, punchy chapters which kept me engaged. Like I said, the ending was unsatisfying. It was just "You're the killer!" and then a quick fight scene and done. However, I was left with a few lingering questions, mainly how did the killer afford all of this? I don't think they make that much from their personal brand, do they? Maybe. Also, how in the world did Plum's sister get to the island? That helicopter never landed? All in all, I guess these things aren't important.

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Reading updates

  • 24 July, 2021: Started reading
  • 24 July, 2021: on page 0 out of 400 0%
  • 24 July, 2021: Finished reading
  • 31 July, 2021: Reviewed