Title: Dead Girls Society
Author: Michelle Krys
Genre: YA Mystery
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: November 8th, 2016
Page Count: 304 pages
Format: eARC
Source: From publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
Summary:
You are cordially invited to participate in a game of thrills and dares. Tell no one, and come alone. If you dare.Hope is sick of everyone treating her like she’s breakable. Sure, she has cystic fibrosis (basically really bad lungs), but she’s tired of being babied by her mom and her overprotective best friend, Ethan, not to mention worrying about paying for her expensive medication and how she’s going to afford college. And she’s bored with life in her run-down New Orleans suburb.
When an invitation arrives from a mysterious group that calls itself the Society, Hope jumps at the chance for some excitement. This could be her ticket out. All she has to do is complete a few dares and she might win some real money.
But the Society isn’t all it seems . . . and soon Hope finds that playing the game isn’t a choice—it’s a requirement.
*The Reader’s Review*
WOW. Buckle up readers and get ready for a wild ride of dares and mystery! Dead Girls Society is THE BOOK to read if you are looking for a page-turning read full of shocks, twists and turns, even a bit of love!
What I Liked:
I can’t remember the last time I read a book where the main character has a terminal/serious illness, let alone someone who doesn’t let her condition bring her down. Hope has cystic fibrosis and her days are basically numbered, but she’s still not ready to give up on life yet. She is strong even when her lungs falter. She gets dragged into a dangerous game of dares that at first brings her freedom then fear, but she still manages to live through it all. Hope is a survivor in every possible way and a character to be admired.
One thing that I particularly liked about Hope is how she tries to make her mom happy by complying (mostly) to her wishes to stay at home or to be smothered by her because she knows how much it means to her. I’m used to reading books where the characters shake off their parents as too much and not realizing how mean it is, but Hope does. She appreciates everything that her mother does and has done for her, so when it comes the time to act a bit against her protection, she doesn’t do it lightly. I liked this a lot.
In this book we also get other interesting characters besides Hope, from her best friend (and crush) Ethan, to the other four girls who also get an invite from the Society. Starting with Ethan, I have to say that I fell in love with him because he’s a sweet guy who clearly cares about Hope and she can count on him when she truly needs him. And I loved Farrah, Nikki, Hartley, and Lyla because each girl brings something unique into the storyline with their personal stories and treat Hope as if she weren’t sick. They, along with the Society’s dares (in a twisted way), push her to not be limited by her illness.
However, my favorite aspect of Dead Girls Society is the whole mystery. From dare to thrilling dare, I got hooked ever since the first mysterious invitation from the Society turns up in Hope’s email inbox. I wasn’t expecting such a wild, messed up ride, but I loved the surprise of it all. As I went from page to page, I kept mentally ticking off characters from the suspect list trying to guess who was part of the society, yet I never guessed right until it became too obvious in the last few chapters of the book. I basically found out along with Hope.
And oh my, when we find out who is behind it all, for the reasons that person creates the Society–not what I was expecting at all! I’m still in shock, to be honest. The build-up to this mystery is quite a roller coaster and much darker than how I thought it would be. It still gives me the chills just by thinking about it.
It also doesn’t help with the evil ending author Michelle Krys leaves us. My heart stopped cold and the shocked feeling hasn’t quite faded away. There will be a sequel, right? I sure hope so because the thought of this being the definite end doesn’t sit well with my sanity.
What Left Me Wanting More:
There’s nothing that I didn’t enjoy from this book! It’s a fantastic read, but I do wish for some confirmation for the sequel. I’m pretty sure every reader out there who come upon this book will demand it. We need more!
Final Verdict:
Dead Girls Society is a thrilling read that will capture fans of mysteries and thrillers alike, and even those who shy away from these genres! It is a captivating read that will have any reader flipping pages non-stop trying to figure out who is behind the society while also falling in love with a great cast of characters, all with a spectacular and interesting personality of their own. I highly recommend this book!
I just finished this book. It was so great…. I was so upset about Hartley.
Ugh, right??? Did't expect this book to be so good!
Sounds like I need to pick this book up! 😀
yes you do! It's amazing, Eileen ♥
Yay, so happy to see you enjoyed this one! I am such a huge fan of mysteries and secret societies and the like, so this sounds wonderful. And I think Hope sounds like a really fantastic character. 🙂 I'm still hoping to pick it up soon, but now I am even more excited to! Great review!
Oh I think you will enjoy it. If all mysteries are close to this one, then I should start reading more! Have any good recs? 🙂
Oooh, sounds like something I need to read. I do so love a good mystery! Nice review, Meli!
Thanks, Jazmen! I hope you get to read it soon ♥