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Perfect Little Monsters
Someone has murdered the queen bee of Sierton High School. All the dead girl’s friends are suspects. And each one has a reason for wanting her dead.
Ella Moore was the most popular girl in school…and also the most hated. When she’s murdered at her own party, there are too many suspects to count--and too many people who think she deserved it. The police’s prime suspect is the new girl, Dawn Foster. She was the last to hand Ella a drink on the night Ella died. Plus, all of Ella’s friends with a motive for wanting her dead are more than willing to implicate Dawn.
But Dawn refuses to go down without a fight. She’s determined to clear her name. As she delves deeper into the past, she discovers that Ella and her friends had enemies, and someone is out for revenge. She must uncover the truth before the police arrest the wrong suspect and before the next person dies.
Ella Moore was the most popular girl in school…and also the most hated. When she’s murdered at her own party, there are too many suspects to count--and too many people who think she deserved it. The police’s prime suspect is the new girl, Dawn Foster. She was the last to hand Ella a drink on the night Ella died. Plus, all of Ella’s friends with a motive for wanting her dead are more than willing to implicate Dawn.
But Dawn refuses to go down without a fight. She’s determined to clear her name. As she delves deeper into the past, she discovers that Ella and her friends had enemies, and someone is out for revenge. She must uncover the truth before the police arrest the wrong suspect and before the next person dies.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2024
About the author
Cindy R.X. He
2 books222 followersCindy R. X. He is the author of Perfect Little Monsters, a YA psychological thriller. It is a finalist for the 2022 Daphne du Maurier Award, and the 2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award.
She was born and raised in multicultural Singapore, but currently resides in the French Alps with her husband, children, and rescue cat. She skis in the winter, gets dragged on hikes in the summer, and hoards books all year round.
Her second YA thriller, This Is Where We Die, is slated for publication July 1, 2025 by Sourcebooks Fire.
She was born and raised in multicultural Singapore, but currently resides in the French Alps with her husband, children, and rescue cat. She skis in the winter, gets dragged on hikes in the summer, and hoards books all year round.
Her second YA thriller, This Is Where We Die, is slated for publication July 1, 2025 by Sourcebooks Fire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 719 reviews
December 28, 2024
Well, I devoured this twisty, riveting, smart thriller at lightning speed. It's a freaking great psychological thriller that kept me on my toes, flipping pages, and absorbing every twist in record time. As you can imagine, my jaw is on the ground after the biggest twist hit me in the face! I started to get suspicious in the middle, wondering if it could be true, but then shook my head and told myself, "No freaking way," only to realize, "it's way!" I'm stopping myself from ruining your reading experience!
Let's focus on the plot line: Dawn Foster, 17, transferred from Santa Cruz after her parents had a tragic accident that prevented them from working and affording their mortgage. They are forced to move to Wisconsin to live with Maddie, the aunt who is kind enough to accept them into her home.
Dawn tries to fit into her new social circle by attending the cheerleaders and befriending the three queen bee mean girls club: Ella Moore (the leader of the girls who everyone is afraid of), Naomi Chen, and Luciana Aguilar.
She even gets an invitation to Ella’s house party, which may help her get to know her new classmates a little more. But unfortunately, the party night ends in tragedy when Ella Moore is killed with poison, and Dawn is the last person who gave her a drink. She understands that Naomi, Lucy, and Ella’s boyfriend Scott, who are also suspects of the murder, are trying to blame her. The only way to save herself is to find the real culprit, but unfortunately, Ella has more enemies than friends, exerting her power over people by threatening them in creative ways.
We also read the POV of Hannah, another victim of the mean girls trio! Could she be the real killer, or is she the girl who committed suicide and is now living in a vegetative state, the sister of Isaac, whom Dawn has a crush on?
Who really killed Ella? By digging through everyone’s dirty secrets, did Dawn put her own life in danger too?
Overall, I loved the execution, the fast-paced trajectory that made it impossible to put the book down. I definitely enjoyed it and am rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5! I wish streaming platforms could find smart plotlines like this book has. It would make an amazing movie!
Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCE BOOKS Fire for sharing this riveting page-turner’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Let's focus on the plot line: Dawn Foster, 17, transferred from Santa Cruz after her parents had a tragic accident that prevented them from working and affording their mortgage. They are forced to move to Wisconsin to live with Maddie, the aunt who is kind enough to accept them into her home.
Dawn tries to fit into her new social circle by attending the cheerleaders and befriending the three queen bee mean girls club: Ella Moore (the leader of the girls who everyone is afraid of), Naomi Chen, and Luciana Aguilar.
She even gets an invitation to Ella’s house party, which may help her get to know her new classmates a little more. But unfortunately, the party night ends in tragedy when Ella Moore is killed with poison, and Dawn is the last person who gave her a drink. She understands that Naomi, Lucy, and Ella’s boyfriend Scott, who are also suspects of the murder, are trying to blame her. The only way to save herself is to find the real culprit, but unfortunately, Ella has more enemies than friends, exerting her power over people by threatening them in creative ways.
We also read the POV of Hannah, another victim of the mean girls trio! Could she be the real killer, or is she the girl who committed suicide and is now living in a vegetative state, the sister of Isaac, whom Dawn has a crush on?
Who really killed Ella? By digging through everyone’s dirty secrets, did Dawn put her own life in danger too?
Overall, I loved the execution, the fast-paced trajectory that made it impossible to put the book down. I definitely enjoyed it and am rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5! I wish streaming platforms could find smart plotlines like this book has. It would make an amazing movie!
Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCE BOOKS Fire for sharing this riveting page-turner’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
November 17, 2024
Content warning: Suicide
Dear Reader,
When I was sixteen, after half a year of being bullied in school by a teacher, I attempted to kill myself. Thanks to the quick intervention of a friend who’d suspected something was wrong, that attempt was nonfatal; but I remained emotionally vulnerable for many years after. Even though that was decades ago—decades where the conversation surrounding mental health and suicide has improved—that is still hard to write. Even now, it is a part of me I still feel hesitant to share with others because the stigma of suicide persists; I worry that people may think less of me after knowing this part of my past.
Unfortunately, suicide is the second-leading cause of death today for teens and young adults aged 10–34 (CDC, 2022). More than one in three high school students, and nearly half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019 (CDC, 2020). I can’t help but think that maybe if we talked about it more—suicide and what might drive young people to attempt it—we could break down the walls of silence and offer a lifeline of empathy. In my debut YA thriller, PERFECT LITTLE MONSTERS, certain characters feel hopeless enough to attempt suicide. As you can imagine, it was difficult to write, but I think worth it if my book might help lessen the stigma surrounding it.
I hope you’ll find that PERFECT LITTLE MONSTERS is a twisty read that will keep you up all night. But at its heart, it’s a story exploring the impact of bullying and cruelty, and its oftentimes long lasting or devastating consequences. And because it’s a thriller, it’s a dark tale of what happens when a victim of bullying reaches her breaking point and, when her suicide attempt is nonfatal, makes a frightening decision.
Thank you for giving this book a chance. I'm so excited to share this book with you, and I hope it entertains, surprises, and chills you.
- Cindy
Dear Reader,
When I was sixteen, after half a year of being bullied in school by a teacher, I attempted to kill myself. Thanks to the quick intervention of a friend who’d suspected something was wrong, that attempt was nonfatal; but I remained emotionally vulnerable for many years after. Even though that was decades ago—decades where the conversation surrounding mental health and suicide has improved—that is still hard to write. Even now, it is a part of me I still feel hesitant to share with others because the stigma of suicide persists; I worry that people may think less of me after knowing this part of my past.
Unfortunately, suicide is the second-leading cause of death today for teens and young adults aged 10–34 (CDC, 2022). More than one in three high school students, and nearly half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019 (CDC, 2020). I can’t help but think that maybe if we talked about it more—suicide and what might drive young people to attempt it—we could break down the walls of silence and offer a lifeline of empathy. In my debut YA thriller, PERFECT LITTLE MONSTERS, certain characters feel hopeless enough to attempt suicide. As you can imagine, it was difficult to write, but I think worth it if my book might help lessen the stigma surrounding it.
I hope you’ll find that PERFECT LITTLE MONSTERS is a twisty read that will keep you up all night. But at its heart, it’s a story exploring the impact of bullying and cruelty, and its oftentimes long lasting or devastating consequences. And because it’s a thriller, it’s a dark tale of what happens when a victim of bullying reaches her breaking point and, when her suicide attempt is nonfatal, makes a frightening decision.
Thank you for giving this book a chance. I'm so excited to share this book with you, and I hope it entertains, surprises, and chills you.
- Cindy
April 2, 2024
Synopsis:
Ella was the most popular girl, and for every kid who admired her, there was more than hated her. When she’s murdered, there is no shortage of suspects, and they all think she deserved it. The prime suspect is the new girl, Dawn. She was the last to give Ella a drink at the party she died at.
Dawn refuses to go down without a fight and is determined to clear her name. As she starts to dive into Ella’s past, she uncovers some enemies, and someone is out for revenge. She must figure out who killed Ella before the police pin the murder on her.
Thoughts:
This was a fun book to watch the week after we watched the new Mean Girls reboot.
This book is well paced and on the quicker side. I enjoyed that it kept me guessing the entire time! I think that this one did a good job of making me wonder who the culprit was the entire time, with plenty of red herrings. Looking back, all things were leading to the big reveal and the character who was the culprit, but I was so caught up in it that I didn’t see it coming – and that’s the way that I like it!
I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters in this one. I felt that they were well developed, despite being quite a few of them. It was pretty obvious that the book was centered around teenagers, because a lot of the behavior was juvenile. Sometimes this is a hard part about reading YA books as an adult because I have to remind myself, they are kids. I enjoyed reading about it, and it was a lot of fun.
Mental health was the main focus of this book, and despite the unhinged behavior present, I felt that the author did a good job of showing the different ways mental health can affect us. It’s not always a pretty journey, and we can often lash out. I don’t think that this book was perfect, but I think that it did a good job.
This book also dealt with teen bullying and suicide attempts, so please read with care.
Thank you to:
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire @Sourcebooksfire and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
Ella was the most popular girl, and for every kid who admired her, there was more than hated her. When she’s murdered, there is no shortage of suspects, and they all think she deserved it. The prime suspect is the new girl, Dawn. She was the last to give Ella a drink at the party she died at.
Dawn refuses to go down without a fight and is determined to clear her name. As she starts to dive into Ella’s past, she uncovers some enemies, and someone is out for revenge. She must figure out who killed Ella before the police pin the murder on her.
Thoughts:
This was a fun book to watch the week after we watched the new Mean Girls reboot.
This book is well paced and on the quicker side. I enjoyed that it kept me guessing the entire time! I think that this one did a good job of making me wonder who the culprit was the entire time, with plenty of red herrings. Looking back, all things were leading to the big reveal and the character who was the culprit, but I was so caught up in it that I didn’t see it coming – and that’s the way that I like it!
I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters in this one. I felt that they were well developed, despite being quite a few of them. It was pretty obvious that the book was centered around teenagers, because a lot of the behavior was juvenile. Sometimes this is a hard part about reading YA books as an adult because I have to remind myself, they are kids. I enjoyed reading about it, and it was a lot of fun.
Mental health was the main focus of this book, and despite the unhinged behavior present, I felt that the author did a good job of showing the different ways mental health can affect us. It’s not always a pretty journey, and we can often lash out. I don’t think that this book was perfect, but I think that it did a good job.
This book also dealt with teen bullying and suicide attempts, so please read with care.
Thank you to:
Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire @Sourcebooksfire and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.
April 10, 2024
This is a bit of a challenging review to write... I absolutely loved and devoured the first 75% of this book. This face-paced, suspenseful, who-done-it feels like if Mean Girls was a thriller. I could not put it down... but around the last quarter of the book or so, things started to take a turn for the worse IMO. First, I saw the twist coming from a mile away, which honestly isn't really the part that bothered me. I read a lot of thrillers, so predictability happens--I don't usually hold that against the author. I really did appreciate the centering around the harmful effects of bullying and the important issues around it. I think the author depicted what high school bullying *can* look like really well. My main issue with this book is around the depiction of mental health. The depiction of the MC's mental health near the ending left me with a bad taste in my mouth and honestly just felt.. harmful (I'm intentionally keeping this vague to prevent spoilers).
While I loved the first part of the book, I'm honestly still deciding if this is a book that I would recommend/promote on my platform. As someone who struggles with mental health (as well as some other reviewers I've seen bring this up), I'm just not sure that this was the best way to go for this ending. I feel like this book had so much potential and I'm bummed about how things wrapped up. I feel like there was absolutely a better ending (I can think of a view ideas myself) that did not weaponize/depict mental health and mental illness the way this novel ultimately did. I'm very curious to continue to monitor other reviews of this book, but for now, this one is an unfortunate miss for me.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While I loved the first part of the book, I'm honestly still deciding if this is a book that I would recommend/promote on my platform. As someone who struggles with mental health (as well as some other reviewers I've seen bring this up), I'm just not sure that this was the best way to go for this ending. I feel like this book had so much potential and I'm bummed about how things wrapped up. I feel like there was absolutely a better ending (I can think of a view ideas myself) that did not weaponize/depict mental health and mental illness the way this novel ultimately did. I'm very curious to continue to monitor other reviews of this book, but for now, this one is an unfortunate miss for me.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2024
Kocham psycholi
November 15, 2023
You had me at Red Solo Cup…
I spent many college evenings holding my fair of red shiners and many mornings regretting my previous nights endeavors.
The kids at Sierton High School are full of regrets too, but why?
My heart is still pounding
What just happened ? I’m an adult, how did a YA book shake me to my core ? Well, when you are He, you know how to skillfully craft a book that will consume and frighten even the coldest of folks.
I know I know. This is crazy . I can read Stephen King and not even bat an eye but I tell ya, this one is good, real good .
Check out this teaser from debut author, Cindy R.X He:
Someone has murdered the queen bee of Sierton High School…and all the dead girl’s friends are suspects. A twisty thriller from a talented debut author perfect for fans of They Wish They Were Us and One of Us is Lying.
Ella Moore was the most popular girl in school…and also the most hated. When she’s murdered at her own party, there are too many suspects to count. And too many people who think she deserved it.
The police’s prime suspect is the new girl, Dawn Foster. Dawn was the last to hand Ella a drink on the night she died. Plus, all of Ella’s friends with a motive for wanting Ella dead are more than willing to throw Dawn under the bus, if it means keeping the heat off themselves.
But Dawn refuses to go down without a fight. She’s determined to clear her name. As she delves deeper into the past, she discovers that Ella and her friends had major enemies, and someone is out for revenge. Dawn must uncover the truth before the police arrest the wrong suspect… and before the next person dies.
#perfectlittlemonsters #sourcebooksfire
I spent many college evenings holding my fair of red shiners and many mornings regretting my previous nights endeavors.
The kids at Sierton High School are full of regrets too, but why?
My heart is still pounding
What just happened ? I’m an adult, how did a YA book shake me to my core ? Well, when you are He, you know how to skillfully craft a book that will consume and frighten even the coldest of folks.
I know I know. This is crazy . I can read Stephen King and not even bat an eye but I tell ya, this one is good, real good .
Check out this teaser from debut author, Cindy R.X He:
Someone has murdered the queen bee of Sierton High School…and all the dead girl’s friends are suspects. A twisty thriller from a talented debut author perfect for fans of They Wish They Were Us and One of Us is Lying.
Ella Moore was the most popular girl in school…and also the most hated. When she’s murdered at her own party, there are too many suspects to count. And too many people who think she deserved it.
The police’s prime suspect is the new girl, Dawn Foster. Dawn was the last to hand Ella a drink on the night she died. Plus, all of Ella’s friends with a motive for wanting Ella dead are more than willing to throw Dawn under the bus, if it means keeping the heat off themselves.
But Dawn refuses to go down without a fight. She’s determined to clear her name. As she delves deeper into the past, she discovers that Ella and her friends had major enemies, and someone is out for revenge. Dawn must uncover the truth before the police arrest the wrong suspect… and before the next person dies.
#perfectlittlemonsters #sourcebooksfire
December 7, 2023
Perfect Little Monsters is a thrilling and riveting blend of manipulative mean girls, zealous cheerleaders, and unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. These are all the essential ingredients that make up an engaging, captivating, and enthralling story.
Despite the surprising and shocking intensity of the mean girls' behavior, the narrative remains captivating. It's a well-structured and cleverly designed narrative that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. The suspense, tension, and mystery are maintained and built up until the final reveal, keeping the readers engrossed and invested in the story.
Perfect Little Monsters is a book to pay attention to and appreciate. It's an impressive debut that showcases the author's storytelling prowess. The book is a solid 4.5 stars, which I'm rounding up to a perfect five because it's just that good. It's a book that will keep you guessing, reading, and wanting more. So, take advantage of this one. It's a must-read!
Thank you to SourcebooksFire and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Despite the surprising and shocking intensity of the mean girls' behavior, the narrative remains captivating. It's a well-structured and cleverly designed narrative that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. The suspense, tension, and mystery are maintained and built up until the final reveal, keeping the readers engrossed and invested in the story.
Perfect Little Monsters is a book to pay attention to and appreciate. It's an impressive debut that showcases the author's storytelling prowess. The book is a solid 4.5 stars, which I'm rounding up to a perfect five because it's just that good. It's a book that will keep you guessing, reading, and wanting more. So, take advantage of this one. It's a must-read!
Thank you to SourcebooksFire and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
August 9, 2024
Either the author does not understand teens at all, or she understands them perfectly and thinks they're all stupid.
Honestly, she's right
Honestly, she's right
April 1, 2024
This was a fast-paced, heart-pounding YA thriller that had me furiously flipping the page. Reminded me of pretty little liars or You with the school setting. Great work Cindy!
October 4, 2024
**ARC of this book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I was feeling kind of slumpish lately. It's autumn, I have a steaming cup of tea ready but the desire to read is just not there. Are there better circumstances to make amends with YA even existing? Doesn't matter how many times I am complaining that I am too old to read YA - it never fails me when it comes to dragging me out of the reading slump.
I usually don't gravitate toward mystery thrillers so I am still kind of baffled that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It's by no means perfect - I feel like there were couple moments that were a bit too convenient - but it kept me reading and I couldn't wait to pick up this book again.
I've been thinking about how to properly summarize this book and the comparison to the movie Mean Girls (from 2004) would not leave my brain so I guess I will have to roll with it. Take Mean Girls, add slightly sinister atmosphere, throw a pinch of violence and murder, shake it really well and you get Perfect Little Monsters. High school vibes are strong, you understand why bullies are behaving this way but you are still able to hate them, some plot twists are unexpected and well thought out. Perfect read when you feel kind of slumpish.
It's a standalone story but the ending leaves an opening and I am kind of curious how this story could unfold if author would ever decided to write a second installment.
I was feeling kind of slumpish lately. It's autumn, I have a steaming cup of tea ready but the desire to read is just not there. Are there better circumstances to make amends with YA even existing? Doesn't matter how many times I am complaining that I am too old to read YA - it never fails me when it comes to dragging me out of the reading slump.
I usually don't gravitate toward mystery thrillers so I am still kind of baffled that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It's by no means perfect - I feel like there were couple moments that were a bit too convenient - but it kept me reading and I couldn't wait to pick up this book again.
I've been thinking about how to properly summarize this book and the comparison to the movie Mean Girls (from 2004) would not leave my brain so I guess I will have to roll with it. Take Mean Girls, add slightly sinister atmosphere, throw a pinch of violence and murder, shake it really well and you get Perfect Little Monsters. High school vibes are strong, you understand why bullies are behaving this way but you are still able to hate them, some plot twists are unexpected and well thought out. Perfect read when you feel kind of slumpish.
It's a standalone story but the ending leaves an opening and I am kind of curious how this story could unfold if author would ever decided to write a second installment.
May 9, 2024
Now available!!
This book is phenomenal. I binged it in a few hours. I was intrigued from the start and totally invested in Dawn's story. The twists just kept coming! It's hard to keep me in the dark in a mystery book, but Cindy R.X. He totally fooled me, and I so loved being fooled. I will automatically read anything else she writes. I love books that essentially read themselves, and it was so fun to immerse myself fully in Dawn Foster's world for a little while...even if it was a tad disturbing. *shudder* :-)
Pick up a copy of this on May 7th, 2024. You'll devour it, too.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for gifting me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: frightening situations, profanity, trauma, death, fatphobia, bullying
#cindyrxhe #sourcebooksfire #yathriller #yamystery #mystery #thriller #whodunit #bullying #trauma #meangirls #highschool #cheerleading #perfectlittlemonsters
This book is phenomenal. I binged it in a few hours. I was intrigued from the start and totally invested in Dawn's story. The twists just kept coming! It's hard to keep me in the dark in a mystery book, but Cindy R.X. He totally fooled me, and I so loved being fooled. I will automatically read anything else she writes. I love books that essentially read themselves, and it was so fun to immerse myself fully in Dawn Foster's world for a little while...even if it was a tad disturbing. *shudder* :-)
Pick up a copy of this on May 7th, 2024. You'll devour it, too.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for gifting me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: frightening situations, profanity, trauma, death, fatphobia, bullying
#cindyrxhe #sourcebooksfire #yathriller #yamystery #mystery #thriller #whodunit #bullying #trauma #meangirls #highschool #cheerleading #perfectlittlemonsters
March 9, 2024
This is what I want in a YA thriller. The intrigue, the suspense, the excellent writing. I ate this book up in three days. So so good. When the queen bee of the high school is killed at a party, the MC, Dawn, (who was also at the party and is under suspicion by the police) tries to figure out who did it amidst a group of extremely dislikeable characters in order to clear her name and those she’s beginning to care about. Not only was this book entertaining but it highlights the effects of bullying and suicide in high school. A great and entertaining debut with extra depth to it. I cannot wait to read more of Cindy R.X He's books. She is an author to watch.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2024
Although I suspected who did it, I didn’t connect the dots on why until very late in the book.
The thing is, the twist didn’t make a lot of sense, so I would have changed a bit of the inner monologue of the main character to accommodate the choice of twist.
Still, it was an engaging read and I had fun reading this book.
The thing is, the twist didn’t make a lot of sense, so I would have changed a bit of the inner monologue of the main character to accommodate the choice of twist.
Still, it was an engaging read and I had fun reading this book.
November 14, 2023
Perfect Little Monsters is a fast-paced, easy read but don't let that fool you. . .because it has the wildest twists and turns! With an intriguing plot, deeply developed characters and relationship dynamics, this book is perfect for fans of YA thrillers as well as anyone who is new to the genre!
[check trigger warnings before reading this book]
This book is EASILY a five stars (six if I could)! I was sucked in right from the get-go. I literally read it all in one-sitting.
The writing style is very simple, but in a way that pays attention to the details and moments that actually matter. No fluff. And still, Cindy does not sacrifice those important moments that draw you deep into the story and its characters.
I am a sucker for high school settings and all of the things that come with that. We follow Dawn Foster, a beautiful girl who is still recovering from a traumatic car accident. She is automatically welcomed into the popular clique. However, unlike them she has such a huge heart and doesn't believe in labels and being cruel to others due to some "social status". But when a girl from the group is murdered, everyone begins turning on each other and Dawn finds herself caught in the middle. So she takes it upon herself to find out who truly did it.
At first, I thought the whole "mean girl" trope was really cliche but I stuck through, in hopes that it was being used for a good reason and...boy....am I glad I stuck through. The underlying themes and messages portrayed in this book are SO WELL DONE. Not to mention, extremely powerful! I am so happy that Cindy wrote this book, that she said what she said. These things need to be discussed.
My heart was racing the entire time but especially towards the end and GUYS, Cindy did not come to play. The plot twists were absolutely mind-shattering (at least to me). I literally did not get off the couch until the book was done, I was HOOKED.
---Overall---
My heart is aching from this book but it's a new favorite of mine and I am so eager to read all of Cindy's future works! Thank you SO MUCH to Sourcebooks Fire for my e-ARC!
[check trigger warnings before reading this book]
This book is EASILY a five stars (six if I could)! I was sucked in right from the get-go. I literally read it all in one-sitting.
The writing style is very simple, but in a way that pays attention to the details and moments that actually matter. No fluff. And still, Cindy does not sacrifice those important moments that draw you deep into the story and its characters.
I am a sucker for high school settings and all of the things that come with that. We follow Dawn Foster, a beautiful girl who is still recovering from a traumatic car accident. She is automatically welcomed into the popular clique. However, unlike them she has such a huge heart and doesn't believe in labels and being cruel to others due to some "social status". But when a girl from the group is murdered, everyone begins turning on each other and Dawn finds herself caught in the middle. So she takes it upon herself to find out who truly did it.
At first, I thought the whole "mean girl" trope was really cliche but I stuck through, in hopes that it was being used for a good reason and...boy....am I glad I stuck through. The underlying themes and messages portrayed in this book are SO WELL DONE. Not to mention, extremely powerful! I am so happy that Cindy wrote this book, that she said what she said. These things need to be discussed.
My heart was racing the entire time but especially towards the end and GUYS, Cindy did not come to play. The plot twists were absolutely mind-shattering (at least to me). I literally did not get off the couch until the book was done, I was HOOKED.
---Overall---
My heart is aching from this book but it's a new favorite of mine and I am so eager to read all of Cindy's future works! Thank you SO MUCH to Sourcebooks Fire for my e-ARC!
July 11, 2024
Idk, I guess I think is maybe a bad message to send. And then Are we demonizing mental illnesses? Calling for vigilante justice? What happened here? Because the author seems to genuinely and personally care about calling attention to the problem of bullying and suicide per her author's note, so I don't understand the choice to go with a story that reinforces stigmas related to mental illness and violence.
April 10, 2024
I received a copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Dawn has to transfer schools for her senior year of high school where she makes the cheerleading team and is invited to a party by the head cheerleader Ella. The morning after the party, Ella is found dead, and Dawn is a suspect.
This book has a dual timeline and also follows Hannah, a student at the same school, only in the past.
It’s a fast, easy read. I was in a bit of a reading slump, as in not being able to read for very long at one time, but when I started it before bed last night, I ended up reading just under the first half of it and finished it today. It’s full of high school mean girls and drama, so there are characters who are easy to dislike or even hate. It gave me flashbacks to when I was in school. There’s a little romance. I was definitely surprised by how the book wrapped up.
I do suggest reading the note at the beginning of the book if you have any triggers. There are a lot of them, especially for young adults with mental health issues.
Dawn has to transfer schools for her senior year of high school where she makes the cheerleading team and is invited to a party by the head cheerleader Ella. The morning after the party, Ella is found dead, and Dawn is a suspect.
This book has a dual timeline and also follows Hannah, a student at the same school, only in the past.
It’s a fast, easy read. I was in a bit of a reading slump, as in not being able to read for very long at one time, but when I started it before bed last night, I ended up reading just under the first half of it and finished it today. It’s full of high school mean girls and drama, so there are characters who are easy to dislike or even hate. It gave me flashbacks to when I was in school. There’s a little romance. I was definitely surprised by how the book wrapped up.
I do suggest reading the note at the beginning of the book if you have any triggers. There are a lot of them, especially for young adults with mental health issues.
March 15, 2024
4.5/5 ⭐️
In the aftermath of the murder of Sierton High School's queen bee, Ella Moore, suspicion falls on her friends, each with a motive for her demise. The police focus on the new girl Dawn Foster, who was the last to give Ella a drink. Despite the damning accusations from Ella's friends, Dawn is determined to prove her innocence. As she investigates, she uncovers a web of enemies and a quest for revenge, racing against time to find the real culprit before more lives are lost and the wrong person is arrested.
Let me start by saying that Ella's character gave me Regina George vibes from Mean Girls. She was the villain of the story not the killer.
Hannah has truly captured my heart and I wanted to give her a hug (until you found out the truth). As for the friendship dynamic between Raquel and Dawn, their bond exudes warmth and sincerity throughout the story and even till the end. Also, I found myself wanting the emergence of the romance between Isaac and Dawn. Their interactions sparked a sense of anticipation, leaving me eagerly hoping for their relationship to evolve into something more but it never happened sadly.
As the story unfolded, I held onto the hope of a happy ending, only to be blindsided by the unexpected twist that shattered my expectations, leaving me reeling in disbelief.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for sending me an arc!
In the aftermath of the murder of Sierton High School's queen bee, Ella Moore, suspicion falls on her friends, each with a motive for her demise. The police focus on the new girl Dawn Foster, who was the last to give Ella a drink. Despite the damning accusations from Ella's friends, Dawn is determined to prove her innocence. As she investigates, she uncovers a web of enemies and a quest for revenge, racing against time to find the real culprit before more lives are lost and the wrong person is arrested.
Let me start by saying that Ella's character gave me Regina George vibes from Mean Girls. She was the villain of the story not the killer.
Hannah has truly captured my heart and I wanted to give her a hug (until you found out the truth). As for the friendship dynamic between Raquel and Dawn, their bond exudes warmth and sincerity throughout the story and even till the end. Also, I found myself wanting the emergence of the romance between Isaac and Dawn. Their interactions sparked a sense of anticipation, leaving me eagerly hoping for their relationship to evolve into something more but it never happened sadly.
As the story unfolded, I held onto the hope of a happy ending, only to be blindsided by the unexpected twist that shattered my expectations, leaving me reeling in disbelief.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for sending me an arc!
February 29, 2024
This book was SUCH a page turner. I finished it in a little over 24 hours. I was hooked from the beginning. It was a roller coaster ride, and the ending had me SHOOK. I need more books like this. It was so sad in parts, but the author is such a great story teller.
December 10, 2023
ARC for review. To be published May 7, 2024.
In this great throat-punch YA there are alternating chapters between Dawn in present day and Hannah three years ago, and all the action takes place at Sierton High School in Wisconsin. Dawn Foster is a new student from California; she and her parents have moved to live with Dawn’s aunt after a terrible accident. Dawn makes the cheerleading team which puts her in the realm of mean girls Ella Moore, Naomi Chen and Luciana Aguilar, as well as Ella’s boyfriend Scott. Dawn also has a thing for misfit Isaac. After a drunken party at Ella’s Ella turns up dead.
Cut to, three years earlier, Hannah Smith, Ella, Naomi and Luciana all try out for cheerleading. All make the squad, but….mean girls. Then, what you think is happening isn’t what is happening.
I love it when books are surprising, so this one was nice, and a cut above for YA. Definitely recommended.
In this great throat-punch YA there are alternating chapters between Dawn in present day and Hannah three years ago, and all the action takes place at Sierton High School in Wisconsin. Dawn Foster is a new student from California; she and her parents have moved to live with Dawn’s aunt after a terrible accident. Dawn makes the cheerleading team which puts her in the realm of mean girls Ella Moore, Naomi Chen and Luciana Aguilar, as well as Ella’s boyfriend Scott. Dawn also has a thing for misfit Isaac. After a drunken party at Ella’s Ella turns up dead.
Cut to, three years earlier, Hannah Smith, Ella, Naomi and Luciana all try out for cheerleading. All make the squad, but….mean girls. Then, what you think is happening isn’t what is happening.
I love it when books are surprising, so this one was nice, and a cut above for YA. Definitely recommended.
May 7, 2024
Wow, just wow. I have not felt this way about a book in months. I was so drawn into this book and felt so many different emotions throughout it. I had no idea where this book was going and all of my guesses were wrong! That’s how you know a book is good! If you can’t figure out the twist, then it’s perfect.
This is by far one of my favorite reads this year. Thank you so much Sourcebooks Fire and Cindy R.X. He for an ARC copy of this book. This book was wonderful.
I especially appreciate the Author’s Note that Cindy added in there. I, too, still feel ashamed. So, please never feel alone!! Remember to reach out to someone!
This was a lovely book, but please keep in mind that mentions of bullying, depression, body image, eating disorders, suicide, mental illness, murder, and death.
This is by far one of my favorite reads this year. Thank you so much Sourcebooks Fire and Cindy R.X. He for an ARC copy of this book. This book was wonderful.
I especially appreciate the Author’s Note that Cindy added in there. I, too, still feel ashamed. So, please never feel alone!! Remember to reach out to someone!
This was a lovely book, but please keep in mind that mentions of bullying, depression, body image, eating disorders, suicide, mental illness, murder, and death.
May 17, 2024
Not how the legal system works. Not how the medical system works. Not how the school system works. Not how unreliable narrators work. Just not how anything works, I don’t think. A genuinely dangerous portrayal of trauma and mental illness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2024
WOW. 5 freaking stars!!!!! THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. insane. kept me on the edge of my seat. i was properly shocked and truly did not see this one coming. amazed.
pls check tws!!
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for the gift! All thoughts are my own.
pls check tws!!
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for the gift! All thoughts are my own.
February 22, 2024
this book gave me trust issues fr
May 12, 2024
im gonna need a long break from ya thrillers after this one
May 31, 2024
Iskreno, ne znam šta da mislim o kraju. Nisam predvidela to, ali mi se nije dopao taj preokret i mislim da je preteran i pogrešan.
75% knjige je bilo savršeno. Čista petica. Kraj mi je pokvario utisak. Šteta.
Nadam se da neće pisati nastavak jer mi se čini da je ostavljen prostor za to.
75% knjige je bilo savršeno. Čista petica. Kraj mi je pokvario utisak. Šteta.
Nadam se da neće pisati nastavak jer mi se čini da je ostavljen prostor za to.
November 21, 2023
Well that was a twist I did not see coming! Like, it literally came out of nowhere. She is really...her? But I thought that was his sister the whole time! MIND. BLOWN. Cindy R.X. He is a debut author who I cannot wait to see more from. Kudos for putting a brand new twist on the mean girl bullying trope.
And thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fast-paced twisty riveting unputdownable debut novel.
And thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fast-paced twisty riveting unputdownable debut novel.
May 16, 2024
high school is a scary place ..
May 25, 2024
What a train wreck that adresses teenagers and young adults right out of a 2000s movie.
The writing was so Juvenile.
The writing was so Juvenile.
May 30, 2024
How is it that I KNEW there was an epic twist but when I reached the twist part I was still shocked to my CORE?! This kind of story is one of my favorite thriller/mystery backdrops. Queen bee, mean besties, parties where things don’t necessarily end well and the search trying to piece together what happened. This book executed that all very well but with an excellent twist! It’s also important to mention that this book contains a lot of mental health awareness that’s important to the YA (and above) community and I think portrays it very well. However, because of that.. it should be noted that there’s quite a bit of self harm and bullying mentioned to definitely take that into consideration when picking this book up. If you decide to give it a whirl, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
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