I don't know how, but this was equally as good, if not better than, the first book!

Love the slow unfolding of the case, the subtle hints and pieces that fall together at the end. Pip was a lot closer to this case (her best friend Connor's brother disappears), and so we see her trying to find herself as much as she tries to find Jamie through this book. I loved the growth among the characters, and how the romance is supportive and very there, but it doesn't over take the main plot and mystery. And Pip and (redacted) have such a fantastic relationship - very healthy, communicative, and supportive, which is sadly so rare in YA (for some reason??).

We don't stop seeing Andie Bell and Sal Singh in this book though - the trial is happening, people have been found guilty, and we see how some of that impacts this story as well, which is fantastic (the domino effect is strong in this one, and I love it).

Something Holly Jackson does really well too is adding subtle diversity to the town - a random clue behind someone who is Middle-Eastern, the family that moved out with the East Asian last name. Little things like that go a long way, and I appreciated that these details helped build the world and develop the case at the same time.

Absolutely love this series, and I'm psyched to read the next book

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
GoodReads: 4.7/5

TW: Murder, Accounts of Sexual Assault with Drugs, Catfishing

eARC received from Delacorte Press/Random House Children's via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.