This would be a great book club pick. The overriding mystery falls short, but it's just a vehicle to talk about privilege, slut shaming, the failings of adults, and the long road to healing. Gives strong Veronica Mars vibes.

I didn't know what I was in for with this book, but it was such a pleasant surprise. I was sucked into a world that was familar, yet distinctly different, from my own. The characters felt real and the dialogue flowed without being cringey teenage banter. It was like I was watching a show unfold more than reading a single book.

Jo was such a powerhouse. The layers of her teenage problems and emotions were honest and real. The depcition of losing a close female friend in high school was written in such a raw way that it made me reminisce on my own experiences.

Tldr; I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I cheered. 

This was phenomenal, a reminder that good YA is a powerful thing. In her author's note, Adamo writes that this is really a book about a friendship break-up, and she showcases the complicated mix of grief, anger, and sadness that follows (and that we rarely discuss!) beautifully.

Handing this to my students and friends alike, as I think we'd all do well to read it.

I enjoyed the story, however I was really looking forward to it being focused on Maddie being missing where as instead that was a side plot to the main character. 

I felt like it took a little bit long to get into the juicy stuff about the main character investigating her friend’s disappearance and then it all came to conclusion resolved rather quickly towards the end of the book, it almost felt a little bit rushed. 

if you're going to read this book, PLEASE do yourself a favor and CHOOSE THE AUDIOBOOK. the narrator (georgina sadler) is FANTASTIC. she really makes the words come to life, and I think she's a huge part of why I mostly enjoyed this book (with a few caveats). don't listen to anyone who says the main character is "not likeable." I thought she had a great sense of humor and amazing voice. she was also really layered! I think you'd like this if you liked a good girl's guide to murder by holly jackson! but also check the content warnings before diving in, because there are some pretty heavy topics.

This book has quite a bit going on, which isn't always a bad thing, but I do think it made this book longer than it needed to be. For me, part of it was the pacing; at times, I felt too bogged down by the details that it took away from the main mystery in the plot. 

That being said, the cast of characters were well done, and I appreciated the overall message of the book, especially for a teen audience. The relationships and connections Jo makes throughout felt real and authentic, and those are what brought me back to the story. 

All in all, not a bad mystery/thriller, but maybe one that moves at a bit slower pace.

Y'all aren't ready for this book, holy honk. I want to scream for so many reasons. The emotional roller coaster this had me on - one moment I'm laughing, the next I'm crying, the next I'm fueled by righteous rage. The fact that this is a debut novel had me absolutely floored, because it didn't feel like that for a second. Anyways, it's 1:30AM, so full RTC.

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This book is about broken and toxic friendships, the "not like other girls" moniker and all it's connotations, a girl disappearing, sexual assault (including rape, revenge porn, and more), and how those we love can let us down. Though these are all hard subjects to read about, Meredith Adamo makes it easy.

Jo is a firecracker of an MC. She's an outcast, at odds with her old friends, but doing the best she can with what she has. She's one of those characters you like from the start - her witty inner dialogue, her strong and distinct voice, her growth as she starts to better understand and reframed her narrative, everything about her draws you in from the start. She had true main character energy, to the point where it felt like other characters were trying to strip her of it and make her secondary to their story, and yet they never succeed.

Though Maddie goes missing, the story is really centered around Jo. We get to see Jo grow as a character, both through her inner narrative and her healthier relationship with friends, family, and Hudson. Despite the darker side of her story, I found her new friendships wholesome; the banter sweet, funny, and realistic; and her own voice a great way of adding levity to the whole situation. It's all done in a way that's tasteful, but I also laughed way more than expected.

At the end of the day though, I feel like I got sucker punched by this book. Some parts just felt like such a dose of reality, or felt so poignant, that I would literally gasp. There's one line especially (taken from the ARC, but if it's removed from the final copy, I will cry) where Jo asks someone, "When did I stop being a person to you?" I felt all the air leave my lungs cause oof. It makes more sense in context, but even on its own it packs a punch.

This book will make you laugh, cry, get mad, and scream in righteous fury, but you'll be glued to the pages throughout. Once I met Jo, I couldn't leave her story or her world. An absolutely amazing debut, Meredith Adamo is one to watch!

TW: rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual content, bullying, kidnapping, drug use, alcohol consumption, injury detail, violence, adult/minor relationship; mentions infidelity, death of a parent, death via car accident

ARC gifted by Bloomsbury US via BookInfluencerDotCom in exchange for an honest review.