(*my overall rating is a 4.5)

OMG I LOVED THIS STORY SO MUCH!

ok, ok, let me give you back story.

so a while back i bought this book and them attempted to read it. i made it like 20 pages in and then just decided to stop reading it. later i donated it to my school library. after some persuasion from my friends, i checked it out from the library and read it.

and oh my God was it great.

ugh i just loved everything about this book. so, like most stories, lets start at the beginning.

first up, the tests + the backstory.

ok, the backstory was what bored me half to death. the book goes into great detail about everything (which slowly grew on me but i hated at the beginning) which really annoys me. i also wasn’t a big fan of the whole test taking thing.

but after all the tests passed and they were finally at Mr. Benedict’s place (house? lair? idk) then it started to get good.

i fell in love with all the characters. i loved Reynie a lot. he was such a dorky little brave leader and i loved how sweet and smart he was. sticky was also great. he was needy and adorable and i loved how he always polished his glasses when he got nervous.

kate was definitely my favorite. she just so odd and different that i ended up liking her a lot. the concept of her carrying around a bucket all the time was cool to me as well. and Constance, oh Constance, i hated her at the beginning. slowly, slowly, though, she began to grow on me until i fell in love with her at the end.

the whole mission itself was so cool. the institute and mr. curtain’s plan (the improvement) was all so well thought out. it was super interesting to uncover everything along the way and find out everything. there were so many twists and turns that you don’t expect to happen.

also, now i suddenly want to learn Morse code.

the late night meetings of the Mysterious Benedict Society were probably my favorite part of the whole story. it was just so cool to see them come together and see their minds working.

S.Q the executive also kinda grew on me. i mean i know im not supposed to like him because he’s like a bad guy, but he was just the sweetest dork ever!

i was super happy with the ending and OMG i can’t believe that Constance is three. years. old.

also, im so happy for Milligan and Kate!

this story was just so awesome and well written that id highly, highly recommend!

-rebe✨