Tag: Young Adult

Young Adult

That’s Not My Name

A gripping ride through gaslighting, memory, and survival—That’s Not My Name is what happens when the villain’s too charming and the truth is just out of reach.

That's Not My Name

by Megan Lally

She doesn’t know her name. But someone out there does — and he’s not letting go.

That's Not My Name

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That’s Not My Name

Megan Lally

Young Adult / Thriller

301

December 26, 2023

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The Quick Look

That’s Not My Name is a razor-sharp thriller full of tension, mind games, and the kind of charming villain that’ll make your skin crawl. With a mystery at its core and a heroine fighting to remember who she is, it’s a fast-paced ride that delivers twist after twist.

  • Themes: Identity, control, memory, trust, power dynamics, resilience
  • Read If You Like
    • A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
    • We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
    • Unreliable narrators and eerie suburban vibes
    • Thrillers that blend charm, dread, and suspense
  • Best For: Fans of fast-paced thrillers with emotional stakes and a punchy, satisfying payoff.
  • Skip If: You’re squeamish about gore, or looking for something light and fluffy.

The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
From the first chapter, this book moves. The premise—girl wakes up with no memory and a boyfriend who seems a little too perfect—sets the tension high and never lets it go. Every chapter peels back a layer you didn’t see coming.

CHARACTER & VOICE
You’ll root for Drew from the jump—he’s steady, loyal, and the voice of reason in a gaslit world. And our protagonist? She’s a blank slate with depth, curiosity, and more fire than she realizes. Watching her unravel the mystery of herself is half the thrill.


STYLE & ATMOSPHERE
Lally’s writing is clean, tight, and totally immersive. The tone balances teenage vulnerability with creeping dread, and the setting feels suburban—but with a sinister undercurrent, like something’s always just out of sight.

THEMES & DEPTH
This book tackles control and identity without dragging you into darkness too long. It explores how trauma distorts memory—and how dangerous it is when the people around you try to shape your reality for you.

PERSONAL TAKE
That’s Not My Name is a proper thriller, and I was fully here for every twist. Infuriating at all the right moments, it’s got mystery, heart, and a villain you’ll love to loathe. A cherry-on-top suspense sundae I devoured without regret.

 

The Final Verdict

Fast-paced, frightening, and fiercely satisfying, That’s Not My Name delivers a villain with a smile and a heroine who finds her voice—one terrifying memory at a time.

💀💀💀💀 out of 5 names she never chose.

Siege & Storm

Siege & Storm broadens the Grishaverse but stumbles in pacing and character depth, rescued mainly by Sturmhond’s pirate charm.

Siege & Storm

by Leigh Bardugo

The second chapter of the Grishaverse sets sail with promise, but struggles to keep its momentum.

The Quick Look

Siege & Storm picks up where Shadow & Bone left off, plunging Alina into greater conflict with the Darkling and introducing new allies and enemies. While the Grishaverse remains immersive, the story itself loses momentum—bogged down by uneven pacing and limited character growth. The saving grace? A witty, magnetic privateer who steals every scene he sails into.

  • Release Date: June 17, 2014
  • Pages: 496
  • Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
  • Themes: the weight of leadership, struggle for identity, corruption, temptation, hope vs. despair
  • Read if you like: 
    – Expansive fantasy worlds you’re already invested in
    – Pirate captains with more charm than sense
    – Villains who linger at the edges, shaping the narrative
  • Best for: Readers who love a good pirate rogue and don’t mind wading through slower waters to find him
  • Skip if: You’re hoping for a sequel that builds on the first book’s momentum

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The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
Where Shadow & Bone felt tight and engaging, Siege & Storm often drags. The addition of sea voyages and new settings could have expanded the story’s scope, but instead the pacing wobbles—oscillating between bursts of excitement and long stretches of slow-moving political maneuvering.

CHARACTER & VOICE
Alina continues to shoulder the narrative, but her arc doesn’t deepen in a satisfying way. Many supporting players fade into the background—except for Sturmhond. The roguish privateer is sharp, funny, and impossible not to root for. He feels alive on the page, injecting energy into an otherwise uneven cast. Without him, the book might have sunk. The Darkling, while still compelling, is pushed too far into the background, leaving the story without its most magnetic force.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE
Bardugo’s prose is still clean and readable, with a knack for atmosphere. The settings—storm-tossed seas, palaces, battlefields—fit the story’s scope, and the Grishaverse remains one of the series’ biggest strengths. The problem isn’t the world, but the way the plot meanders through it.

THEMES & DEPTH
Themes of identity, power, and sacrifice are still present, but the execution feels thinner this time around. Instead of digging deeper, the story circles the same ground, without offering new insights that resonate.

PERSONAL TAKE
I didn’t love this one. The world is still fascinating, but the story and characters didn’t pull me in the same way as the first book. Sturmhond kept me turning the pages—he was the anchor in a story that often drifted off course. By the time I finished Siege & Storm, I needed a break from fantasy altogether—and I haven’t yet finished the trilogy. Maybe one day.

The Final Verdict

A sequel that expands the world but loses the spark — buoyed only by a swashbuckling privateer who deserves his own book.

Jenni

Twined & Bound

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Shadow & Bone

Shadow & Bone is an accessible, atmospheric fantasy where the villain steals the show and the world-building keeps you hooked.

Shadow & Bone

by Leigh Bardugo

When darkness falls, one girl’s light could change the fate of an entire kingdom.

The Quick Look

Shadow & Bone sweeps readers into the Grishaverse with magic, political intrigue, and a heroine grappling with newfound power. While it doesn’t reinvent fantasy tropes, it offers an easy-to-read, immersive story with a villain who steals the spotlight and minor characters who shine brightly.

  • Release Date: April 20, 2021
  • Pages: 416
  • Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
  • Themes: power and corruption, identity and self-discovery, loyalty and betrayal, light vs. darkness
  • Read if you like: 
    – Russian-inspired settings
    – Powerful, morally gray villains
    – Magic-driven world building
  • Best for: Readers who enjoy YA fantasy that’s accessible, atmospheric and brimming with mysticism
  • Skip if: You’re looking for complex, layered characters across the board or groundbreaking originality

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The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
The story follows Alina Starkov, an ordinary mapmaker who discovers a hidden power that could save her war-torn country. Bardugo’s pacing is steady, mixing bursts of action with quieter moments of training and discovery. A few twists keep the narrative from feeling predictable, though the overall arc leans on familiar fantasy beats.

CHARACTER & VOICE
Alina is a solid lead, but it’s the supporting cast that lingers—Mal’s loyalty, Genya’s wit, and of course, the Darkling’s magnetic menace. The villain nearly outshines the heroine, and the interplay of minor characters gives the world added vibrancy.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE
Bardugo’s writing is smooth and easy to slip into, prioritizing clarity over flourish. The atmosphere, however, is majestic—rooted in a setting that feels both mystical and lived-in, with the Shadow Fold serving as a striking, memorable backdrop.

THEMES & DEPTH
At its core, Shadow & Bone wrestles with questions of belonging and the lure of power. While it doesn’t dig too deeply into its themes, the contrasts between light and darkness — both literal and moral — make for an engaging foundation.

PERSONAL TAKE
This was a fun, fascinating fantasy read. While not utterly remarkable, it had enough unexpected turns to keep me invested. The immersive world and strong villain left me eager to see where the series heads next.

The Final Verdict

A mystical, immersive fantasy that balances easy readability with a compelling villain and a world that begs for more exploration.

Jenni

Twined & Bound

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Five Survive

A high-stakes survival story where trust is a gamble and the truth could get you killed.

Five Survive

by Holly Jackson

Six teens. One RV. One sniper who won’t let them leave alive.

A high-stakes survival story where trust is a gamble and the truth could get you killed.

The Quick Look

Trapped, tense, and twisted, Five Survive is a survival thriller that unfolds minute by minute with growing paranoia and tightly wound suspense. The concept is deadly simple—six teens in an RV under siege—but nothing about the execution is simple. Secrets explode. Trust disintegrates. And by the end, not everyone walks away.

  • Release Date: November 29, 2022
  • Pages: 400
  • Genre: Young Adult / Thriller
  • Themes: Survival, secrets, trust, grief, moral ambiguity, loyalty, justice
  • Read if you like:
    • Lord of the Flies with Gen Z energy
    • Survival thrillers with long-buried secrets
    • One-room (or one-RV) mysteries with nowhere to hide
  • Best for: Readers who love high-tension, slow-burn thrillers with a strong sense of claustrophobia and moral gray zones.
  • Skip if: You want fast action or a mystery with quick reveals—this one builds pressure slowly and then lets it erupt.

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The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
The real-time pacing is both brilliant and brutal. The story takes place over eight hours, and you feel every second tick by. As the danger grows, so does the dread. Every chapter reveals a new secret, and the tension climbs until it snaps.

CHARACTER & VOICE
Red is a refreshing protagonist: flawed, grieving, and fiercely loyal. The group dynamic is messy and real, and watching alliances shift under pressure is half the thrill. Every character hides something—and some secrets are deadly.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE
Jackson keeps her signature clean prose and sharp dialogue but dials up the intensity. The RV setting feels suffocating, the suspense almost physical. You’ll feel trapped right along with them.

THEMES & DEPTH
This isn’t just a survival story—it’s about who we become when pushed to the edge. It dives into grief, guilt, and justice with a slow, simmering burn. The moral ambiguity? Deliciously uncomfortable.

PERSONAL TAKE
This one caught me off guard. It’s not Holly’s twistiest mystery, but it might be her most intense. The real-time format had me flipping pages with my heart in my throat. It’s a slow burn—but the payoff is explosive.

The Final Verdict

Tense, emotional, and morally murky, Five Survive is a survival thriller that traps you in its grip and doesn’t let go.

💀💀💀💀 out of 5 secrets you’d die to protect.

Jenni

Twined & Bound

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Kill Joy

A fun, fast origin story that shows how Pip Fitz-Amobi found her spark—and never looked back.

Kill Joy

by Holly Jackson

Before Pip was solving murders, she was just trying to survive a murder mystery party.

A fun, fast origin story that shows how Pip Fitz-Amobi found her spark—and never looked back.

The Quick Look

A fun, fast-paced prequel that shows us Pip before the podcast, before the investigations, and before she started carrying the weight of the truth. Kill Joy is clever, adorable, and a perfect glimpse into the girl who’d go on to chase real killers.

  • Release Date: September 26, 2024
  • Pages: 138
  • Genre: Young Adult / Mystery / Novella / Prequel
  • Themes: Truth vs. narrative, media manipulation, family secrets, trust, identity, justice
  • Read if you like:
    • Locked-door, mystery party vibes
    • Origin stories for strong heroines
    • Quick reads with charm and cleverness
  • Best for: Fans of the AGGGTM series who want a little more Pip in their lives—or need a palate cleanser before diving into the heavier stuff.
  • Skip if: You’re looking for a full-blown thriller—this one’s more about beginnings than body counts.

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The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
This is a tight, punchy story with just enough mystery to keep things fun. The murder mystery party setup is pure entertainment—but what makes this novella work is watching Pip start to think like… Pip.

CHARACTER & VOICE
We get a softer, funnier, more socially awkward version of Pip here—and it’s delightful. You can see the early spark of who she’ll become, even as she fumbles her way through a roleplay murder game with her friends.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE
Jackson keeps it light and engaging, with just enough wit and tension to echo what’s coming in the full series. It feels like a bonus scene—but with heart.

THEMES & DEPTH
This isn’t a story about murder. It’s a story about why someone might one day start chasing the truth—and how curiosity, frustration, and feeling like you don’t quite fit in can become your superpower.

PERSONAL TAKE
Short, sweet, and absolutely adorable. Kill Joy made me fall in love with Pip all over again—and reminded me that even the fiercest heroines start somewhere. This one’s a must-read for fans of the series.

The Final Verdict

Kill Joy is the perfect Pip prequel—equal parts clever, chaotic, and charming.

💀💀💀💀 out of 5 party games that hit way too close to home.

Jenni

Twined & Bound

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As Good As Dead

A gripping and gut-wrenching finale that proves even the smartest girl in the room has her breaking point.

As Good as Dead

by Holly Jackson

Pip solved two murder cases. But this time, she’s not the investigator—she’s the target.

A gripping and gut-wrenching finale that proves even the smartest girl in the room has her breaking point.

The Quick Look

As Good As Dead is darker, grittier, and emotionally heavier than the first two books in the series. This time, Pip’s the one being hunted—and the fallout might just destroy her. It’s a finale that pulls no punches.

  • Release Date: January 31, 2023
  • Pages: 480
  • Genre: Young Adult / Psychological Thriller
  • Themes: Trauma, justice, morality, survival, identity, obsession, psychological deterioration
  • Read if you like:
    • Unraveling protagonists
    • Revenge thrillers with emotional weight
    • Books that ask what would you do to survive?
  • Best for: Readers who want a YA thriller with serious bite, and aren’t afraid of moral complexity.
  • Skip if: You’re hoping for a feel-good ending or need your main characters emotionally intact.

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The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
This book hits different. It’s part psychological thriller, part survival story, and all-out emotional chaos. The pacing builds slowly, but once it turns, it turns hard. It’s less about solving a mystery and more about surviving it.

CHARACTER & VOICE
Pip has always been smart and brave—but this version of her? Raw, haunted, and pushed to her absolute limit. Her arc here is complex and painful, but also powerful. It’s the kind of growth that doesn’t come easy—or clean.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE 
Holly Jackson leans into darker territory with sharp, intense prose and an atmosphere thick with dread. The tone is claustrophobic, reflective, and brutally honest.

 

THEMES & DEPTH
This book dives into the long-term effects of trauma, the morality of revenge, and what justice looks like when the system fails—again and again. It’s uncomfortable by design. But necessary.

PERSONAL TAKE
This wasn’t the book I expected. It was darker, messier, and more painful—but in all the right ways. Watching Pip’s breakdown and rebirth was hard but earned. It felt real. As Good As Dead doesn’t end with a bow—it ends with truth.

The Final Verdict

As Good As Dead is a bold, brutal conclusion to Pip’s story—one that leaves you breathless, heartbroken, and strangely at peace.

 💀💀💀💀 out of 5 choices you can’t unmake.

Jenni

Twined & Bound

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Good Girl, Bad Blood

A powerful, emotionally loaded mystery that asks what happens when the hero can’t save everyone.

Good Girl, Bad Blood

by Holly Jackson

Pip promised she was done solving crimes. But when someone she cares about goes missing — and no one else seems to care — she hits record one last time.

A powerful, emotionally loaded mystery that asks what happens when the hero can’t save everyone.

The Quick Look

In Good Girl, Bad Blood, Pip’s back with her mic, her instincts, and a case that hits way too close to home. This time, it’s not about the past—it’s about saving someone in the present. And the clock is ticking.

  • Release Date: March 1, 2022
  • Pages: 416
  • Genre: Young Adult / Mystery
  • Themes: Justice, power, truth, grief, friendship, trauma, media attention and bias
  • Read if you like:
    • Serial or true crime podcasts
    • Missing person cases with emotional stakes
    • Heroes who do the right thing—even when it hurts
  • Best for: Fans of AGGGTM who want a deeper, more personal mystery and a character arc that keeps evolving.
  • Skip if: You’re expecting a repeat of the first book—this one goes darker, and it’s not afraid to hurt.

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The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
This book is a masterclass in slow-drip suspense. Every chapter tightens the mystery, teasing just enough truth to keep you guessing—and then flipping everything on its head. It’s impossible to put down, and once Rachel reappears, so does every single question you thought you had answered.

CHARACTER & VOICE
Pip’s growth is the heartbeat of this book. She’s not the same girl from AGGGTM—she’s seen too much, and it shows. Her relationship with Ravi deepens, and the emotional toll of solving these cases starts to surface. The stakes feel personal, and that makes everything hit harder.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE
Holly Jackson’s signature blend of fast-paced storytelling, multimedia flair, and dark humor is still here—but with more emotional weight. The atmosphere is tense, but layered with grief, anger, and moral conflict.

THEMES & DEPTH
Good Girl, Bad Blood digs into who gets attention when they go missing—and who doesn’t. It’s a pointed, timely take on media bias and justice, woven into a gripping mystery that still leaves room for Pip’s internal battle.

PERSONAL TAKE
This sequel does not disappoint. It goes deeper, hits harder, and proves Holly Jackson isn’t just writing twisty thrillers—she’s writing smart, urgent commentary wrapped in suspense. I loved it and I’m not ready to say goodbye to Pip just yet.

The Final Verdict

More than a sequel, Good Girl, Bad Blood raises the emotional stakes, sharpens the mystery, 
and cements Pip as one of the most compelling voices in YA thrillers.

💀💀💀💀 out of 5 people the system forgot.

And this time? The truth cuts even deeper.

Jenni

Twined & Bound

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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

A fierce and fearless mystery that digs up more than just secrets—this one leaves a mark.

A Good Girl 's Guide to Murder

by Holly Jackson

A fierce and fearless mystery that digs up more than just secrets—this one leaves a mark.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

The Quick Look

The case is closed.
The killer confessed.
But Pip Fitz-Amobi isn’t buying it — and she’s about to prove just how dangerous the truth can be.

  • Release Date: January 5, 2021
  • Pages: 400
  • Genre: Young Adult / True-Crime Inspired Mystery
  • Themes: Justice, bias, truth-seeking, media perception, racial injustice, obsession, morality
  • Read if you like:
    • True crime podcasts
    • One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
    • Sharp heroines who don’t wait for permission
    • Twists on small-town secrets and high school drama
  • Best for: Anyone who loves a layered whodunit with strong character work, tech-savvy storytelling, and major binge potential.
  • Skip if: You’re looking for something cozy, light, or free of moral gray areas.

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The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
From the jump, this book delivers. Pip’s investigation pulls you in with podcast transcripts, interview notes, and late-night texts—making the mystery feel real-time and razor sharp. The pacing is perfect: equal parts sleuthing and unraveling, with just enough slow-burn dread to keep your stomach in knots.

CHARACTER & VOICE
Pip is the kind of protagonist you root for instantly—relentlessly curious, quietly brave, and refreshingly flawed. Her chemistry with Ravi? Chef’s kiss. And even minor characters feel alive, layered, and suspect in just the right ways.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE
Jackson mixes traditional prose with multimedia storytelling—emails, reports, texts—which gives the book momentum and an investigative vibe. The tone shifts effortlessly from dark to witty, mirroring Pip’s voice and inner turmoil.

THEMES & DEPTH
This isn’t just about solving a mystery—it’s about what justice looks like in a world that often gets it wrong. The book tackles racial bias, media narratives, and the consequences of digging too deep. It’s thoughtful without being preachy and sharp without losing its heart.

PERSONAL TAKE
This book hooked me. I felt like I was solving it with Pip, second-guessing every clue and suspect. Holly Jackson absolutely nailed the genre with this one—and it’s no surprise it became a phenomenon. I’d follow Pip into any case, even the ones she should’ve left alone…

The Final Verdict

Gripping, gut-wrenching, and packed with true-crime flair, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is the YA thriller that raised the bar — 
and buried it six feet deep.

💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 truths they never wanted her to find.

“I'm not sure I'm the good girl I once thought I was. I've lost her along the way.”
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
by Holly Jackson

Jenni

Twined & Bound

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The Reappearance of Rachel Price

A gripping ride through secrets and survival — this is Holly Jackson at her best.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price

by Holly Jackson

Rachel Price vanished without a trace… and now she’s back.
But is she telling the truth—or rewriting it?

A gripping ride through secrets and survival — this is Holly Jackson at her best.

The Quick Look

Gripping, emotional, and expertly twisted, The Reappearance of Rachel Price is everything you want in a YA thriller. It’s layered with secrets, sharp with suspense, and impossible to put down. Just like Rachel, you might not reappear until it’s over.

  • Release Date: April 2, 2024
  • Pages: 448
  • Genre: Young Adult / Mystery / Thriller
  • Themes: Truth vs. narrative, media manipulation, family secrets, trust, identity, justice
  • Read if you like: 
    • A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (obviously!)
    • Twisty thrillers with unreliable characters
    • Stories where no one is exactly what they seem
  • Best for: Fans of fast-paced thrillers with emotional stakes and complex female leads.
  • Skip if: You need a light, cozy read or something without emotional whiplash.

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The Full Review

PLOT & PACING
This book is a masterclass in slow-drip suspense. Every chapter tightens the mystery, teasing just enough truth to keep you guessing—and then flipping everything on its head. It’s impossible to put down, and once Rachel reappears, so does every single question you thought you had answered.

CHARACTER & VOICE
Classic Holly Jackson: a smart, layered heroine with grit and heart. Bel and her family are emotionally complex, and Rachel? A total mystery wrapped in charisma, damage, and deception. You’ll flip between trusting her and side-eying her every move—and that’s the fun of it.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE
Jackson’s writing is clean, cinematic, and emotionally sharp. The atmosphere is thick with media tension, family drama, and that delicious sense of “something’s off”—even when you can’t quite say what.

THEMES & DEPTH
This isn’t just a thriller—it’s a story about how we spin the truth to survive. It digs into family trauma, the performative nature of social media, and how far we’ll go to protect what we love… or what we think we deserve.

PERSONAL TAKE
I LOVED this book. Every twist, every lie, every reveal was so perfectly timed. I didn’t breathe for the last 100 pages, and I mean that in the best way. If you’re looking for your next unputdownable read—this is it.

The Final Verdict

A razor-sharp thriller with a messy, magnetic mystery at its core—The Reappearance of Rachel Price will keep you hooked until the truth breaks free.


💀💀💀💀💀 out of 5 twists you’ll never see coming.

“The name Rachel Price is almost synonymous with mystery. Because her disappearance was like a puzzle, and it’s human nature to want to solve a puzzle, don’t you think?”
The Reappearance of Rachel Price
by Holly Jackson

Jenni

Twined & Bound

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