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talknerdytome18 · 15 days

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Ranking All Books by Holly Jackson

Since I've read all of Holly's books, I'm going to rank them! Disclaimer: This is my opinion. If we don't have the same opinion, then respect that. Let's go!

Warning: this may contain spoilers for all books published by Holly Jackson. If you don't want to be spoiled, then scroll away.

6. Killjoy (2021)

I found this story cute! Very fun and fast-paced. I loved seeing how it all started and loved seeing the friend group's dynamic again. I just found this to not be the best out of all of Holly's books (granted this is a novella, but it's not my fave). Also, too much Ant Lowe in my opinion. I would have preferred more Jamie Reynolds. Also, I personally think Connor and Zach should've kissed but oh well.

Overall, fun book! If you wanna go back to where it all started, then this novella is worth it.

5. Five Survive (2022)

Guys... I have a reason why this book is ranked so low. I'm going to start by saying that I did not hate this book. I found the story intriguing and was engaged once the action started. For her first standalone, this book was really good and exceeded my expectations. My main problem with this book was that I found that I could care less about the characters. Personally, I found Red Kenny to be a weak protagonist in comparison to Pip and Bel and, not to mention how I could care less about Red and Arthur. Red and Arthur are cute, but honestly, I could care less if they got together or not.

Again, I don't hate this book. For Holly's first standalone, it was really good. However, I found that I didn't really care for any of the characters.

Overall, good book! Wish I connected more to the characters because the premise is incredible.

4. Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020)

All books in the AGGGTM series are five star reads in my opinion, but I find this the weakest book in the trilogy. Honestly, I love this book with my whole heart. Coming from being Connor Reynolds's biggest fan, I love how much he appeared in this book and how he aided in finding Jamie.

I think this book suffers from what I've dubbed "Sequel Slump" - meaning that the first book is so good that the sequel "slumps" in comparison. In this case, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is so good that this book just "slumps" in comparison, and I think it's because it takes a while for the mystery to officially begin, since we're taken through a quick recap over the previous book's events and then the memorial.

Also, I personally think that Connor and Zach should've kissed. Connor going to Zach's house to play Fortnite after the memorial? Very fruity to me (joking... or am I?)

Overall, love this book. Wish it got more recognition in the fandom.

3. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (2019)

LOVE THIS BOOK. This book is fast-paced, thrilling and mysterious. It has a healthy dose of mystery and romance, along with characters I truly felt interested in. Pip's an amazing protagonist who fought hard to prove Sal innocent and find the real killer under the guise of her EPQ, all as she got the guy (Ravi Singh) in the end.

I loved that this book kept me guessing until the very end. I was suspecting everyone (Max, Jason, Naomi, Elliot, etc) and was genuinely surprised finding out Elliot killed Sal. Holly had written him to be such a likeable person that I couldn't believe he would kill Sal just so he could frame him as Andie's killer. AND BECCA? Never would've guessed it. Holly Jackson knows how to write compelling thrillers and I love that for her.

My only real complaint is again, Zach and Connor should've kissed. Connor honey I get that you liked Pip, but Zach Chen is literally right there. You boys are soulmates and I pray that the show recognises that (along with LauCara).

Overall, AMAZING BOOK. Deserves all the hype!

2. As Good as Dead (2021)

AHHHHH I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. THIS BOOK IS HOW YOU END A TRILOGY GUYS. From the beginning, I was hooked by the mystery of Pip's stalker. This book broke my heart with Andie's email - poor girl was so scared of her father and died trying to escape him. I really like how this book doesn't give Andie a full redemption arc, rather it explains her actions. It really humanises Andie - a girl who grew up in a toxic environment and died trying to save herself and her sister.

My heart shattered when Pip broke up with Ravi. AND HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO MARRY SO THEY COULD GET SPOUSAL PRIVILEDGE??? RAVI FUCKING SINGH WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME???

The ending? EVIL. FUCKING EVILLLL BUT I LOVE HOLLY EITHER WAY. In my heart, I believe Pip got back together with him and they married. They also got another golden retriever in my mind after they got married.

Only complaint was WHERE WAS ZACH CHEN? CONNOR AND HIM SHOULD'VE KISSED WTF. Not to mention Lauren and Cara... Love my girl Steph though. Hoping that Lauren and Cara are a thing in the show though since we don't know much about Steph.

Overall, BEST BOOK IN THE TRILOGY GUYS.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price (2024)

HOLY FUCKING SHIT.

THIS BOOK... I WILL ONLY SAY ONE WORD: BRILLIANT.

When Holly Jackson said that this book was her favourite, I can see why it is. While I struggled to get into it from the beginning, once I read past 100 pages, I was hooked. Bel Price is such a complex protagonist that I could find myself relating to. All the characters were just so complex and you truly don't know who's lying until the very end, when we find out (spoiler alert) that Charlie (Bel's dad) had ordered his father to kill Rachel.

Not to mention how insane the sibling plotline was??? I NEVER WOULD HAVE SUSPECTED THAT CARTER WAS RACHEL'S BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER. My heart broke when Rachel spoke about how Patrick took Carter away from her when Carter was only two weeks old. The Price family are truly disgusting - Rachel, Bel and Carter deserved so much better.

Also, I preferred the romance between Ash and Bel over Arthur and Red. Ash is such a fun character and I was genuinely sad when him and Bel weren't endgame. I believe that one day, in the near future, they reunite and get together officially.

Overall, LOVE THIS BOOK. If you haven't picked this up yet, then do so now!

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That's it! If you wanna talk, then my inbox is open :) - Em

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smallsinger5901 · 23 days

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Make them believe you (48677 words) by SmallSinger Chapters: 10/10 Fandom: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Series - Holly Jackson Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Pippa Fitz-Amobi/Ravi Singh Characters: Pippa Fitz-Amobi, Ravi Singh, Leanne Amobi, Victor Amobi, Josh Amobi, Cara Ward, Naomi Ward, Natalie da Silva, Daniel da Silva (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), Jason Bell, Detective Hawkins (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), Luke Eaton, Max Hastings Additional Tags: Murder Mystery, Alternate Universe, As Good As Dead AU- Nobody dies, solving your GFs disappearance because life is fun like that, Ravi Singh is amazing, Team Ravi and Pip, References to Drugs, Spoilers for Book 3: As Good As Dead - Holly Jackson, Kinda, Up to halfway anyway, Angst, no beta we die like Jason Bell, except not really in this fic ig, Cara ward is queen, therapy with you friends but you are also in uncontrollable pain, Attempted Murder Summary: She had to make her own justice. She had to make them believe her. --- Pip hears Jason returning and decides to keep running. Now she knows there’s only one way to get justice- and so does Ravi. But, as he begins to solve his girlfriend’s ‘murder’, it’s clear not everything is as it seems.

#agggtm #agggtm fanfic #as good as dead fanfic #mtby fanfic #make them believe you #a good girls guide to murder #as good as dead fanfiction #pipravi #as good as dead #as good as dead spoilers

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map-of-obsessions · 4 days

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The Reappearance of Rachel Price - Review

*NOT SPOILER FREE*

So first of all, I loved this book so much. I was on page 45 at midday today, then 400 pages later, finished it at 9pm. Holly Jackson you have done it again. I was so hooked, I couldn't put it down. I loved the complexities of the story. It reminded me of some of my other favourites like Room (Emma Donoghue), The Leaving (Tara Altebrando), and, of course, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

The plot was amazingly twisty, full of layers and puzzles for me to try to figure out along the way. I found Bel to be a less likeable protagonist than Pippa, but I warmed up to her eventually, and I thought the gradual unpacking of her abandonment issues and trauma was brilliantly elaborated upon across the plot. (Side note: The car imagery went crazy hard, I loved how it boiled down to who really left her alone). She was an amazing unreliable narrator, the way she swayed my bias towards certain characters as the book went on was really impressive.

I loved Ash as a character, especially the continuous descriptions of his crazy outfits (he's so me), however I would have liked to see a little more of him as a person. He felt a little bit like a substitute to complete the pip-ravi murder duo dynamic. I also felt Carter's character was a little bit underdeveloped. I immediately saw elements of disordered eating in her character, with Shelly's continuous comments on her food, as well as the talk about her ballet as its notoriously an industry that fosters starving yourself in favour of 'looking good'. I thought this would become a more glaring issue, especially given Bel's ignoring her in favour of her problems with Rachel as the book went on, but I felt the payoff wasn't quite there.

I thought the framework of the true crime documentary was really interesting, but maybe not as necessary as the blurb/beginning chapters made it sound. As I got lost in the mystery, the importance of the filming dropped off the radar and I didn't really think it was needed.

Overall, I loved the book, it sucked me in and I couldn't focus on any of my actual work while I was thinking about it, but I didn't think it was quite at the level of the agggtm series, and was maybe a little bit too complicated. That being said, I loved the layers of the story!

#the reappearance of rachel price #holly jackson #a good girls guide to murder #agggtm #book review #book blogging #ya #young adult #tw eating issues #ed mention

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hollymbryan · 26 days

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Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read THE REAPPEARANCE OF RACHEL PRICE by Holly Jackson! #tbrbeyondtours

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog tour for The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson! I've got all the details on this taut and twisty YA thriller, which released yesterday, for you below, along with my top 5 reasons to read it!

About the Book

title: The Reappearance of Rachel Price author: Holly Jackson publisher: Delacorte Press release date: 2 April 2024

From the author of the multimillion bestselling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and Five Survive comes a new true-crime fueled mystery thriller about a girl determined to uncover the shocking truth about her missing mother while filming a documentary on the unsolved case. Lights. Camera. Lies. 18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on. But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again. Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . . From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about one girl’s search for the truth, and the terror in finding out who your family really is.

Add to Goodreads: The Reappearance of Rachel Price Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop

About the Author

Holly Jackson is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling series A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, an international sensation with millions of copies sold worldwide as well as the #1 New York Times bestseller and instant classic, Five Survive, and her forthcoming novel, The Reappearance of Rachel Price. She graduated from the University of Nottingham, where she studied literary linguistics and creative writing, with a master’s degree in English. She enjoys playing video games and watching true-crime documentaries so she can pretend to be a detective. She lives in London.

Connect with Holly: Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

There are *a lot* of reasons to love this latest book from YA thriller queen Holly Jackson, but I've tried to capture here my top 5 for you!

It's Holly Jackson. Enough said! I mean, not only does she have the best name (ha!), but she is quite possibly *the* reigning YA thriller queen! Seriously, I must not have even looked at the synopsis when I signed up for this, because I thought the title referred to a teen who'd gone missing--that's how eager I was to read the next HoJay book!

The book is a great examination of how our past traumas shape us, even if the event itself happens when we are far too young to actually remember it. Because trauma isn't just a one-time thing, is it? There are residual emanations that last--sometimes years, sometimes forever. Traumas shape who we are as people, and they affect our relationships with other people far into the future.

There is an amazing bond between Bel and her cousin Carter that I loved so much and just really had me missing my older sister.

The mystery is *so* well-done, I was quite literally oblivious until the moment Bel discovers the truth herself. And I'm not saying this in a cocky way, but that literally almost NEVER happens to me at this late stage in my life when I've read hundreds of mysteries and thrillers.

The book is a great examination of the lengths to which a parent/parents will go to protect their child. What do you do if you find yourself suddenly a single parent of a 2-year-old, with a missing spouse and suspicion on you for their disappearance? What would you do if that missing spouse suddenly reappears? What do you do if you are instead the missing spouse who has returned--do you tell your child the truth about what happened to you? So many points during this book had me questioning just what I would do for my own son!

Seriously, I cannot recommend this one highly enough. And in typical Holly Jackson fashion, it's not only twisty and thrilling but also deeply emotional. Also, she never writes as if teens are too young to handle the horrors of the world, which is one reason I especially love reading her books. Go pick this one up, you won't regret it!

Rating: 5 stars!

**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy from the publisher for purposes of this blog tour.

Make sure you check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

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wondereads · 9 months

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July Wrap-Up

Reviews and thoughts under the cut

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (10/10)

I've been interested in this book for a while, but I was finally prompted to read it by the TV show announcement. And I can definitely say I wasn't disappointed. If you watch any sort of procedural show, this will be right up your alley. I loved how the actual investigation was laid out with Pip's notes and diagrams in the book. It made me feel like I was solving the mystery right alongside her. The focus is definitely on the murder, but I still got a good sense of Pip's personal life and how her obsession with the case was affecting her and her relationships. I won't lie, one of the most anxiety-inducing parts was her college applications, but maybe that's just me. I managed to predict who the killer was, but the actual story behind the whole thing made my jaw drop. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and see the show!

Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones (5/10)

This book is not irredeemable. The plot is unoriginal but not nonsensical or boring, the magic is super interesting, and Zhara has a lot of potential as a character. However, most of the characters are one-dimensional and uncompelling and the writing is...not good. The unending focus on the romance when there were so many other interesting things going on was so frustrating. And then there was the unashamed insertion of what is clearly meant to be BTS (yes, worldwide kpop sensation BTS) that completely destroyed my immersion. Also, the disability rep is pretty dubious. I was pretty disappointed by this read, which sucks because I think it had a lot of potential.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (10/10)

This book is like if Pride & Prejudice and Howl's Moving Castle had a baby, and I ate it up. This book perfectly blended a historical romance with engaging fantasy elements. Dora is a wonderful main character; she's lovable and engaging while still have a completely unique personality that really makes her stand out amongst a lot of fantasy romance protagonists. The love interest is suitably snarky while still being respectful and kind, especially to Dora. Their interactions are fun while still being incredibly romantic. The plot works well with the romance and characters, culminating in a very satisfying ending. Finally, I really appreciate the ending for Dora's issue in particular; it works well for her character and is, in my opinion, in good taste. I highly recommend this book, especially if you're looking for a light, quick read!

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas (6/10)

This book was one I just read to move on to the next book. I was told to read this one before Queen of Shadows, so I did. I did find some parts interesting, such as Celaena's time in the desert, and Arobynn Hamel has to be one of the most interesting characters in the whole series. However, I do wish this were an optional installment as it was kind of boring. It didn't feel like we got any insight into Celaena's character, rather just rehashes of what has appeared in previous books, and towards the end I was skimming. Also, I'm sorry, but Sam doesn't really hold any appeal for me. The romantic plotline was rushed and he was acting so weird towards the end.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black (10/10)

I was so nervous; as the successor to Folk of the Air, The Stolen Heir had a lot to live up to, and it did. I absolutely adored Wren; she is a complex main character who is still easy to root for, and Black has continued to write amazing, unhinged female main characters. As in Folk of the Air, the use of faerie rules to trick the audience along with the characters is done very well, and there's some great foreshadowing in there. Concerning Oak, I'd seen a lot of people online saying he was a Cardan carbon copy, but I really don't see it. He's polite, considerate, and well-raised, but he also has a shocking capacity for violence, which is incredibly interesting. The twist at the end was amazing, particularly concerning Wren and Oak's relationship going forward, and I can't wait to read the second book!

Neverseen by Shannon Messenger (8/10)

I have now officially reread all of the KotLC books I got through previously. Going into Lodestar will be uncharted territory for me, and wow am I glad I refreshed my memory. I forgot a lot of stuff, so it was almost like I was reading it for the first time. Like I predicted, this was a slower one, mostly filled with finding out more about the Black Swan and the Council, and there was a lot of Sophie and her friends wanting to do things that were "too dangerous." I won't lie, it dragged a bit, but it really picked up once Sophie started attending Exilium. I think the twins are a much-needed addition to the main cast to help shake things up and keep the dynamic from getting too worn out. Also, Calla is a particularly strong side character. While I could predict the broad strokes of the story, the actual method of getting there took me by surprise, and there's a huge twist at the end that totally restructures how the rest of the series is going to look. I'm very excited to start Lodestar!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (8/10)

While this book isn't perfect and is somewhat dated by its use of certain tropes and plot points, The Infernal Devices is without a doubt much better than The Mortal Instruments. It definitely has its similarities (the premise and mystery of birth behind the main characters are notably alike), but it has also really improved. Tessa, while still a little passive and nondescript in terms of character, isn't just a cookie cutter protagonist, and it's actually really interesting to see how the time period affects her opinions. The plot is kind of slow, but it's much less predictable and more imaginative. Also, TID probably has one of the best-written (and best-resolved in Clockwork Princess) love triangles in YA. Both Will and Jem have their own appeal, and they are distinct from one another while still being close in a unique way. I'm enjoying my reread so far!

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (10/10)

Oh, I just loved this book. Gideon is one of the best protagonists I've read in ages; she's snarky and stubborn and incredibly entertaining. Her dynamic with Harrow that is simultaneously filled with intense hatred and co-dependency is so interesting and provides all kinds of interpersonal tension not even factoring in the other Houses. Speaking of the other Houses, even if they aren't all the most likable, they are all strong characters in their own right and each bring something unique to the story. The worldbuilding, as is often said about this book, is a little confusing, but I actually really enjoyed it. It was like a puzzle to figure out, and it helped with the immersion so much since Gideon wasn't dwelling on explaining things she already knew. The plot, despite the characters being somewhat aimless for some periods, was never boring as tension between the characters kept things moving when they were stuck plot-wise. The twist at the end was amazing and shocking and horrifying, and I've already got Harrow checked out in my library.

Painted Scars by Neva Altaj (5/10)

I got this from KU on a whim since I wanted something I wouldn't really have to think about, something quick and easy, but I think it was far too quick. While I think the characters had some potential, everything in this book was way too fast, from the build of romantic feelings to the typical third act "break-up", if you could even call it that. For a book that was only 240 pages, it was trying to do way too much and really should've just focused on the romance.

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang (10/10)

This book is pretty much perfect. The plot is engaging, the characters are all amazing, the writing style hits hard, and there’s really good social commentary that touches on, honestly, almost every issue out there. Rin has got to be one of my favorite protagonists of all time; she’s the underdog, she’s easy to root for, and our desire for her to succeed almost makes us overlook her glaring flaws. Kuang establishes Rin’s overwhelming need to succeed, to win, to be the last one standing from the very beginning, and it leads to her slow but steady downfall as she must decide how far she is willing to go for the sake of her nation. Rin’s time in Sinegard is an interesting and unique twist on the fantasy school setting, and the tone switch between the time at Sinegard and the time at war is done masterfully. Even the war takes an incredibly dark turn, goes farther than the reader would ever expect, as Kuang draws from real history to write horrors that should’ve been beyond anyone’s imagination. Perhaps the most technically amazing part of this book is that even when she has fallen so far, part of us agrees with Rin; which is the danger of it all, isn’t it?

Half Upon a Time by James Riley (8/10)

I loved this series as a kid, and rereading it was like returning home. It's actually so funny that this book has tons of tropes I love today just in a middle grade format. There's a pretty good level of intricacy to the plot, and the fairy tale elements are tons of fun. There are plenty of familiar characters that each have a unique twist to their story, often intertwining their stories with each other. For example, the Huntsman from Snow White is also the woodcutter/hunter from Little Red Riding Hood. This book also has a fun twist by being from the perspective of the character who guides someone who has fallen into another world. In most other books, May would be the main character, so having Jack tell the story subverts some expectations. The way Jack, May, and Philip interact is a little typical for the genre and time period, though I appreciate that it is heavily implied that Philip has no romantic interest in May. Finally, Jack's mysterious involvement with the Eye and his sword is one of my favorite parts of the book, and it's a pretty fresh concept.

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce (9/10)

The reread of the Tortall books continues! I actually don't remember Wild Magic and Wolf Speaker all that well (unlike Emperor Mage, which I reread many many times), so this was a lovely trip of rediscovery. I think this may just be a side effect of Pierce's writing style, but Daine seems way older than thirteen. If I had to guess just based on how she acts, I'd guess closer to fifteen/sixteen. Regardless, she's a very fun main character and a little funny in that she's practically the only Pierce MC to advocate for politeness and etiquette. Her relationship with Cloud is a great one, very sibling-like, and I love how she gets closer to particularly Onua and Numair. The plot is interesting but, for me who has a lot of emotional connection to the series, is ultimately overshadowed by the characters.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (DNF @ 35%)

While I found the world of this book incredibly interesting and fairly unique, it was just boring. Literally nothing happened for all of parts one and two, and when something finally did happen it wasn't nearly interesting enough to make me want to continue. I know this book receives high praise, and I may come back to it some day, but my copy was due in the library and it didn't intrigue me enough to renew it.

The Lost Siren by Raven Storm (3/10, DNF @ 56%)

This was an interesting idea for a fantasy romance, but I hated most of the love interests and romantic/spicy scenes were just not good. There was very little chemistry between the main character and most of the love interests, and the constant threat of violence/sexual assault against in the main character totally turned me off. I got past the halfway mark, which is my threshold for a rating.

BONUS

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (CR, 27%)

I'm liking this book so far, but I'm getting a very precarious sense as I read it. The setup is done in a way that means very small details could ruin it for me, but so far this book is dodging them like a pro. It's been a while since I read a male main character, but I really like Lazlo! It's incredibly easy to be on his side, and I love that he's soft-spoken and academically focused. I'm not sure how I feel about the introduction of a whole new major POV with a new host of characters 20% of the way into the book, especially since I was under the impression this would be single POV, but it hasn't been too bad so far.

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (CR, 13%)

Similar to Gideon, this book is incredibly confusing, and I'm enjoying it. Harrow is a very different character and narrator from Gideon, and I feel like her sort of stagnancy is a pretty good depiction of depression. What I find most interesting is what appears to be this memory rewrite Harrow has gone through. She seems to have lost a lot of her memories from the first book and just after it, and it seems everyone knows what happened then except her. How interesting...

#books #wrap up #agggtm #half a soul #tog #the stolen heir #holly black #kotlc #the infernal devices #gideon the ninth #tlt #the poppy war #half upon a time #the immortals quartet

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headkiss · 2 months

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I saw yall talking about books the other day

What are some books u recommend? Can be romance, nonfiction, etc. Any genre really!

ouuu okay i mostly read romance/fantasy so most of these will have romance plots in them hehe

my favourite romance ever is love and other words by christina lauren and i recommend it to literally everyone who asks!!! i also love better than the movies and betting on you by lynn painter, the cutest YA books!!!!

then for fantasy my favs are the cruel prince series by holly black, caraval/once upon a broken heart by stephanie garber (HIGHLY recommend these and reading caraval first it’s so amazing!!!), and a stand-alone i love is the invisible life of addie larue by V.E. schwab!!!

and if ur into crime/mystery the good girls guide to murder series by holly jackson is SO incredible and there’s a tv show coming soon!! and the naturals series by jennifer lynn barnes is insane if u like criminal minds u will love this!!!

#i love talking about books can u tell #anna does book recs!#anna’s asks

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julesratesbooksmyp · 1 year

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A Good Girls Guide To Murder

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is such an addicting book I couldn’t put it down! This book is something everyone should read especially if you like thriller and mystery books. This book has some disturbing and triggering elements to it but overall it’s an amazing and suspenseful book.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

#books #aggtm #holly jackson #a good girls guide to murder #myp project

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siaasblog · 1 year

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A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Book Review

A Good Girls Guide to Murder is a thriller about a 17-year-old girl who is determined to investigate a murder that took place in her town 5 years ago.

Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a perfectionist and a straight ‘A’ student chooses the case of disappearance of Andie Bell as her final year project. Everyone had presumed that Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, and a few days later killed himself. But this story had always seemed a bit fishy to Pippa so she decided to dig deeper into the case to find out the real killer. She was able to connect the dots and find out clues and truths that were clearly overlooked by the police. The police’s biggest piece of evidence was a text message from Sal to his parents in which he confessed about being Andie’s murderer. And apparently, this was enough for the police to close the case. Pippa still denied to believe that Sal was guilty even when all the clues and evidences pointed to him. She received various threatening messages to stop her investigation but she decided to ignore these threats because she was committed to prove Sal’s innocence. Ravi, Sal’s younger brother, became her partner in crime in the case. As they investigated further, the persons of interests list of Pippa kept getting longer and longer…….which also included many of her close ones.

The format in which the book was drafted was very engrossing and out of the box. The transcripts of the entries, text messages and photos of evidences were more than enough to keep me engaged. At some point it also made me feel that I was the one solving the case. I loved putting on the detective cap and solving the mysteries alongside Pippa. I was quite impressed and also surprised at how my gut feeling always turned out to be wrong. There were twists and turns, new suspects, new clues and mysteries in almost every chapter. I was completely glued to the book and couldn’t keep my eyes off of it.

There were some things that didn’t rock my socks. I expected the ending to be more interesting but I was a bit dissatisfied. The body of the story was a 10/10 but what didn’t float my boat was the ending. The fact that both of the ‘killers’ blurted out all their wrong doings and crimes instantaneously was questionable and felt unreal. Also, some of the suspicions made by Pippa seemed random and offhand. One thing that was missing was the source of motivation of Pippa to find out about a case that was closed 5 years ago.This was a very important part of the book that the author failed to mention BUT I still don’t take back my word about how utterly amazing the book was. Holly Jackson managed to make it a book with lot of tension and exceptional pacing.

My critical thinking skills were put to work while reading this book. All the clues were tied together intelligently. So overall this story was extremely entertaining. It was a huge page turner and I would sell my soul to read it for the first time again but luckily I won’t have to say goodbye to it yet BECAUSE there are two more books lined up.

Rating:- 4/5

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enchantedlandcoffee · 11 months

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For book recs! I just finished today You Don't Have a Shot by Racquel Marie (queer YA sports romance) and I also read this month Gwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher (queer YA historical romance). I'd also recommend the Good Girls Guide to Murder series by Holly Jackson if you haven't read it yet. The third book is my fave YA mystery ever.

Ooh those all sound really intriguing!! I'll definitely give them a try!! (And A Good Girls Guide To Murder is an absolutely amazing series!)

Thanks for the recommendations <3

send me book recs?

#liz 🍝#books

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petersthree · 5 months

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3 & 13

ty bestieee

3. What were your top five books of the year? Oh GOD this is so hard lol. I didn't necessarily rate these the highest (like, there's a book that I rated a 4.5 while some of these are a 4 lol but still) but I'm rating this in terms of how much I enjoyed it at the time and think about it afterwards, bc there's some top notch books that I just immediately stopped thinking about lol. Also ignoring anything I reread like Percy Jackson

As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson. You specifically know how much I LOVE the AGGTM series, and man what a conclusion to the trilogy this was. Thank you again for introducing me to this series and making me sick in the head lmao

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I linked the ultimate guide since it's what I read but I'm specifically talking about the first book in the series. I ADORED this book and I'll probably reread it again at some point. It's my ideal comedic book - probably my ideal sci-fi book too tbh lmao

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. I thought this premise was SO unique and was worried it would end up being a disappointment (especially because as much as I love thrillers, they end up middling for me lol) but I thought this was amazing and fun, and a really unique premise for a thriller!

My Murder by Katie Williams. Again, another really unique concept for a book, of a serial killer's victim who ends up getting brought back to life by the government. It's not a thriller but I think it was marketed as one which is weird? It's a slower-paced book with a bit of mystery and sci-fi. And I fucking loved it lmao.

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt. I was between a few books for this last slot (like Drowning or The Westing Game) but this book was such a great time for me. A middle school read but one that still was enjoyable to me as an adult and had a lot of heart to it.

13. What were your least favorite books of the year? Blegh quite a lot. I love thrillers but I feel like the thrillers I read this year started off strong for me and then tried having plot twists out of fucking nowhere for the sake of a twist. Same mindset about what counts as my least favorite applies as above, but asdfjkl inversed lol:

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella. I'm ngl, I think it's largely based on how the main's lack of interest in sex was portrayed - without it I think this book would have probably been like, a 3.5 or something. I just didn't love how it was portrayed as her being broken or weird or abnormal - had the book acknowledged that this was something abnormal /for her/ that would have been perfectly fine, but it seemed to be in the sense that "not wanting sex = strange and weird" which just really left a bad taste in my mouth.

The Stepson by Diane Saxon. Some of the worst writing I've ever read imo

The Coworker by Freida McFadden. Just didn't hold me. I thought it was kind of simplistic and the characters were unlikeable, which would be fine if they were fun to read but they weren't lmao

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead: I'm just gonna put the first part of my review in why I didn't love this: "I kind of feel like this book just kept on going. And going. And going. It was just a lot of “so this is why YOU killed Heather” at the end of each chapters."

Perfectly Nice Neighbors by Kia Abdullah. I fully acknowledge that this one probably doesn't deserve to be here, and the fact that it produced such a visceral reaction is probably a compliment? But I hated how I got so attached to characters only for the ending to just. Suck for everyone lmao. Had I known it going into the story I think I would have been okay because I would have mentally prepared myself but it just didn't work for me. I also still think the final plot twist just wasn't great; it felt like a twist for the sake of a twist. Had the ending been different I could have excused that, because I was really invested in this book up until the final act, but it made it so that a book that I was ready to give a 5/5 ended up being rated here lmaooo

END-OF-YEAR BOOK ASK - SEND ME A NUMBER FROM 1-25

#janie gets asks #alexisrosemullens

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smallsinger5901 · 4 months

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CHAPTER 5 OF MTBY IS NOW OUT!

Halfway(ish) there, guys!

Chapter title is a Mammalian SIghing relfex reference, ofc.

Make them believe you (19791 words) by SmallSinger Chapters: 5/10 Fandom: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Series - Holly Jackson Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Pippa Fitz-Amobi/Ravi Singh Characters: Pippa Fitz-Amobi, Ravi Singh, Leanne Amobi, Victor Amobi, Josh Amobi, Cara Ward, Naomi Ward, Natalie da Silva, Daniel da Silva (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), Jason Bell, Detective Hawkins (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder), Luke Eaton, Max Hastings Additional Tags: Murder Mystery, Alternate Universe, As Good As Dead AU- Nobody dies, solving your GFs disappearance because life is fun like that, Ravi Singh is amazing, Team Ravi and Pip, References to Drugs, Spoilers for Book 3: As Good As Dead - Holly Jackson, Kinda, Up to halfway anyway, Angst, no beta we die like Jason Bell, except not really in this fic ig, Cara ward is queen, therapy with you friends but you are also in uncontrollable pain Summary: She had to make her own justice. She had to make them believe her. --- Pip hears Jason returning and decides to keep running. Now she knows there’s only one way to get justice- and so does Ravi. But, as he begins to solve his girlfriend’s ‘murder’, it’s clear not everything is as it seems.

#agggtm #agggtm fanfic #as good as dead fanfic #as good as dead #as good as dead fanfiction #mtby fanfic #pipravi #make them believe you #a good girls guide to murder #Mammalian sighing reflex reference?!#In MY agggtm fanfic?#surely you're joking

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likedaylighht · 1 year

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Oh book recs! For YA, six times we almost kissed by Tess sharpe (ya romance), the darkness outside us by Eliot Schrefer (ya sci fi), and good girls guide to murder series by holly Jackson (ya mystery). Adult romance id say anything Emily Henry, Ashley winstead (she also does thrillers) or Rachel Lynn soloman (ya and adult romance). If you want royalty you could try the royally series by Emma chase (stand-alone romance) or for ya dystopian maybe the feverwake duology by Victoria Lee.

Anon you are amazing thank you! Gonna go look up all of these rn!

#my anons #my asks

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teenageread · 1 year

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Review: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Synopsis:

The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.

But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?

Plot:

For her senior capstone project, Pip wanted to help further her career in investigating journalism but looking at how the media plays a key role in the police investigation, with a case study on the 2014 missing person report of Andie Bell. Sounding like a typical high school project, Pip adds the twist that Andie Bell lived in her town and was their most recent tragedy, one Pip has connections to. Sweet, popular, beautiful, Andie Bell’s body was never discovered, only that of her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself due to his grief. Five years later, Pip starts her capstone project because she does not believe Sal killed Andie, and she was going to prove it. Going to the Singh’s house, Pip meets Ravi, Sal’s younger brother, who also tried to clear his brother’s name, and has agreed to help Pip with her investigation. With Pip’s best friend's older sister being friends with Sal, Pip remembers him being a nice guy, even helping her out once or twice. With Ravi telling countless stories of how amazing Sal was, it was hard to believe that he would cold blood murder his girlfriend. And if Sal was not the murderer, why would he kill himself? Or is there a killer in Fairview, hoping to get away with it? With questions in hand, Pip sets off on an infestation that leads her into the dark depths of her hometown. With letters showing up, telling her to go away, Pip knows she is close to the truth. WIth each capstone growing longer and longer, the suspect list also growing longer, Pip and Ravi must work together to catch a killer, before anyone else they care about gets hurt.

Thoughts:

Holly Jackson wrote a murder mystery thriller novel that is to die for. Taking from the point of view of senior Pip, she is what is classified as a good girl. Does her homework, walks the dog, spends time with her baby brother, she is the perfect friend, and is ready to be the perfect student to whatever Ivy League school accepts her. So when Jackson writes that Pip is going to do an “above and beyond” capstone project, it makes sense for her character. It also makes sense that Pip would become obsessive about the case, and try to solve it. Like classic who-done-it the killer is always there within the novel, letting the story be a fun guessing game, as you move along with Pip through her investigating, adding your own names to the suspect list. Pip is a fun character to read the story from! With her persistence to find out the truth, Pip gets herself into some fun situations and makes some daring escapes. Ravi is a great sidekick, with his witty remarks, he is a benefit to Pip throughout her investigation, and I loved how Jackson sprinkled in some chemistry-like moments between these two. After all, nothing gets teenage romance going like looking for dead bodies in the woods. The mystery itself was interesting, and often took turns and directions that I didn't see coming. The ending that Jackson gave us did leave some loose ends, and some suspects still left on the list. I was not totally satisfied with who the killer was, but I enjoyed Jackson’s explanation, and applaud them for keeping us waiting until the very end. With a nice conclusion leaving you satisfied with the novel, it is worth the read if you want a good story about a murdered teenage girl, a teenage crime-solving duo, and a lot of suspense sprinkled in.