This is going to sit somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me, so I rounded up. The story is suspenseful and the plot unwinds in a twist manner, but almost all of the side characters felt flat to me. The plot makes you keep turning the pages, though! I just wanted more from the characters.

Read my full review at between-the-shelves.com!

I received an advanced copy of this to review from Bloomsbury, and it was so much more than I was expecting! There is so much representation in this book, from disability to sexuality. And there’s a friendship between a girl and a boy that has no hint of romance at all. They’re just friends! How often do you see that in a young adult book?

Kalyn and Gus narrate the majority of the book, with Gus’s best friend Phil added in at the end. Between the three of them, we get the larger picture of what’s going on within the town, and we get to see different perspectives of the world. Each character has different struggles with aspects of their identity. Their conversations about these struggles, with each other, helps them to grow.

My only qualm about the book is that it felt like it dragged slightly in the middle. There’s a lot of buildup to what actually happened the night of Gus’s dad’s murder, and it felt like it took a little too long to get there. But the end was worth it.

Wild and Crooked is the perfect summer mystery to read when it’s released this June!

4.5 stars

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There is so much to love about this book! More to come in a full review later today or tomorrow.
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1st re-read: This is just as good the second time around! Action packed and I still loved the characters. I am so excited (and nervous) to see how this story is going to end.
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Why did I wait so long to read this series? Listening to it on audio was the way to go, for me at least. The characters came alive between the two narrators and I just didn't want to stop listening. Can't wait to read the next one!

Great diversity rep, great characters, and fantastic female friendships! I could predict where the plot was probably going, but that doesn't mean the ride getting there wasn't fun. Overall, a fun, light read!

A great background story that gives some insight into Elias and Helene and Blackcliff Academy. I love getting history and this gives us a glimpse. Plus the art was fantastic too!

The emotions in this book were done so well! As were the characters. Like Muir, you fall in love with all of the people she meets, and you're rooting for her to want to settle down somewhere. This book also gives insight into the foster care system, something that isn't touched on a lot in young adult books. I loved diving into this story. Such an immersive read!

Trigger warnings: racial violence, rape, death

This wasn't on my radar at all until it was on a list I have to read for a book award committee I'm a part of. Why isn't this getting more hype? It reminds me of Dread Nation in a way, though set in the 1960s in the Jim Crow South. Corthron gets the voices of the characters almost perfect, and overall, it's such a strong, powerful story.

While it takes a couple of chapters to get used to the way the story is told, due to the fact that it's told in a southern dialect, the dialect brings even more to the story. This should definitely be on everyone's radar!

I'm giving this 3.5 stars and rounding up to 4! I loved how this felt like a folk tale from the beginning and it has some great characters. Some I liked more than others, but the narrative is woven beautifully. Plus, the book itself has great diversity.

Trigger warnings for rape, parent death, cancer, underage drinking/drug use

I went into this book not really realizing what it was, and it's very intense. Way more intense than I thought it was going to be. There's a lot that makes you think, and I enjoyed how the music was woven into the book. That aspect was well done. Also Claire's character and her emotional journey felt realistic, even if she's down on herself a lot of the time. Definitely a heavier read, and hard to get through at times.

First re-read: so many emotions! Tahir really knows how to put her readers through the ringer.

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This book picks up immediately where the last one left off, throwing you right into the chaos and the action. Tahir also added a third POV in this one, which I thinks gives you another perspective that deepens the complexity of this world. Which is beautiful! I love the world Tahir has created.

Additionally, the emotional journey the characters are on easily pulls you into the story, especially what Helene struggles with throughout the book. Absolutely cannot wait to read (i.e. listen) to the next one!