First, this book is NOT a thriller. It is better described as a YA contemporary with a mystery element. Going into this book expecting a thriller really hampered my experience, but by the end I had accepted what it was and really enjoyed the story. The Scrabble references are super fun and word nerds will like this one. 

The protagonist of the story, Najwa, is returning to her first Scrabble tournament since her best friend died at this tournament last year. It has been a year beset with grief and Najwa doesn’t feel ready for this step, but everyone around her is pushing for her to make progress and get back to some of her normal activities. As the tournament begins, someone starts posting on Trina‘s Instagram account, but wait a minute! Trina is the girl who died. What is going on? And what do these mixed up letter clues mean?

The mystery was a slow burn but it did keep me going as a reader through the very slow first two thirds of the book. If you go in expecting a slow ride, I think you’ll enjoy the character building and the dynamics between a set of friends who all want to win at Scrabble but who, like many teenagers, feel awkward in social situations. 

The pace quickens in the final 30 pages of the book. I wish some of that plot action had been spread out in the back half to keep us engaged with more tension. Overall, this book is an intelligent look at grief and how each of us handles it differently.