For starters, I listened to this book as an audiobook because I didn't have time to read and it was absolutely brilliant. There are different narrators, which helped make the book exciting and hook you right in.

The main focus of this book surrounds a disappearance that takes place on the 6th anniversary of Andie's and Sal's deaths. However, more underlying themes of the book are around a trial that starts after the first book and the importance of the outcome of the trial for Pip and a lot of girls that were broadly affected by the defendant.

I must say that the "who" of this book was very obvious to me, as was the "who" in the third and last book, but it was still delightful, and I recommend the book to everyone who likes murder mysteries. The end was shocking, though, I didn't cry, but I suspect that has more to do with the fact that I was on the airplane and had to play the last four chapters three times because I kept falling asleep (6 am flight, thank you very much).

Trigger warnings include but are not limited to (might contain a small spoilers)

Spoiler

rape trial where the defendant is "not guilty", very descriptive murder and fire scene, mentions of a serial killer, talk of rape, use and mentions of drugs

Spoilers for the first two books will be out in the open, but spoilers for this book will be censored! Read with care if you haven't read the first two books yet.

I read this book in just two sittings, and within one day, though technically, I finished reading after midnight.

This book is my second favorite after the first one, although I did find it predictable at times and already knew the "who" after just one chapter even though the book tried to convince us of someone else.

Pip drastically changed in this book, as she has come a long way from someone that investigated a 5-year-old closed case for her school project, and now she's getting death threats, can't sleep, has PTSD, and is scared for her life. I saw someone comment that they didn't like this new version of Pip, and while I agree, I can't fathom how someone would go through all of that without changing. If someone would live through all of this and still be able to sleep at night,- they're a sociopath (or is it psychopath?) Either way, end of story.

As I said, the "who" was obvious and predictable for me, as it was the only character that hadn't been talked about since the first book, but oh my! I never would've guessed the sub-plot based around ****Censored****, and it was GREAT! The story's climax happened just shy of the halfway point, but there was still lots to discuss and work out, though the story slowed down considerably. I really loved the ending and felt that everyone got what they deserved. I would've liked a better epilogue, but it did the job.

Random thought for the series, spoilers for all three books!

Spoiler

how in the hell are SO MANY SERIAL KILLERS IN ONE SMALL AREA??? Alright there weren't any in book one, but TWO serial killers in one area for the last couple of years is A LOT

Spoilers for this book include but are not limited to (small spoilers within the tw)

Spoiler

Descriptive mention of kidnapping, murder, and cover-up. A lot of drug use as a coping mechanism, Serial killer

There will be a small mention of spoilers within this review, but I will clause them specifically so everyone can read it. Trigger warnings at the end!

I am so annoyed at myself that I took so long to read this book. It has been on my shelf for a better half of a year, and I always pick something else when looking for a book to read. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is a fantastic murder mystery novel about a seventeen-year-old who investigates a five-year-old closed case in her small town.

As a small-town girl, I understand her curiosity and thought process regarding the case. A young girl vanishes without a trace or a goodbye letter, and a couple of days later, her boyfriend commits suicide which the police took as an admission of guilt (amongst other incriminating things). However, the police just closed the case without investing it further. He was the killer- end of the story. It didn't matter that he had an alibi or that her body was still missing. They were satisfied with their investigation and closed the case.

The book starts slow, as we get introduced to the characters, the case, and the story, but just over 20 pages in, I was hooked and determined to finish the book within the day. I really love how all the evidence is portrayed in the book, as we see hands-on what Pip is working with and can determine our theories as the story moves on.

The story has a swift pace and takes place within a few days. There are a lot of twists and turns, and some are so mind-blowing that I needed to reread a couple of pages to understand the lead-up to the twist fully. I suspected one of the bigger twists as I connected it with a series I watched a couple of years ago. However, after just a couple more pages, I thought, "oh wait, that's absolutely crazy, no way," but alas, I was correct. - More discussion with A LOT OF SPOILERS in this clause -

Spoiler

I connected a similarity to Pretty Little Liars, as Alison was dating Ezra (Alison is a high school student and Ezra a teacher at said high school) and saw a similarity between our beloved history teacher and Andie. Also, now that I think of it, the random ass girl in the attic has a connection to PLL as Alison wasn't dead like everyone thought she was.

The main character of the series is actually the dumbest girl I've read for a long time. Let me explain that because Pip is a brilliant girl who studies all day and probably has an insanely high IQ or something. Howeveeeeer, the girl continuously puts herself into very dangerous situations without thinking it through or just plainly having the mentality that she will be fine. Shocker! She won't be fine because she is going into the house of a) a murderer, b) a drug dealer, c) someone that can and probably wants to hurt her, and d) she literally chases someone that threatened her through dark woods?!? Girl, you have a death wish.

This book highlights the importance of friendship for me. The way that Andie is portrayed makes her seem like a horrible person, and how her friends describe her is just kind of "we were friends because she was popular" and "I couldn't not be friends with her." Also, the secrets between the friend group absolutely splintered their friendship, but they couldn't stop hanging out, or it would be suspicious. That would break me. Pip's friendships with her girlfriends and Ravi made my heart glow. Especially in the end, after everything happened.

I wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone.


I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading, as it deals with heavy topics that might trigger some. Also, minor spoilers are within the trigger warnings.
Trigger warnings include (but are not limited to)

Spoiler

mentions of rape, mentions and descriptions of murder, drug use, death of a pet, kidnapping, memory loss due to date rape drugs

This book has instantly become my favorite read of the year.
It's cute, witty, friendly, and so incredibly well written. Rowan and Neil are academic haters; they compete with each other in everything but still decide to team up for their very last day of high school and work together.

While on a scavenger hunt throughout Seattle, they get closer and closer with each stop, learning new and unexpected things about one another. I saw the 'plot twist' coming with the names since it was obvious from the beginning, but I also think it was not supposed to be a big thing for us readers.

This book was so cute and heartwarming that I instantly went and bought a physical copy of it because I am dying to reread it, annotate and tab all of my favorite moments.

All the books I've read this year have been terrible, or maybe not bad, just not something I like.

soooo, I'm rereading this book, knowing that I love it, and it'll hopefully turn around my bad luck.

I LOVE THIS.

Absolutely my favorite book out of these series!

This book reminded me that no matter how innocent books look, I should not listen to the Audiobook at work.

No matter, this story was fantastic. The end was a chick-flick classic cliché but lovely nonetheless.
Highly recommend reading this one.

(Changed the rating to five stars after a reread

Alright no… Dnf 30%
No rating since I quit early on.

It’s so freaking slow and I just don’t want to read about ugly ass President Snow thank u.

Giving it 4 stars because the end showed potential for the rest of the series? Idk man I’m tired and I’ve read three books today.

The start was promising, the middle dragged on for ages and literally nothing important happened but the end shows real potential.

*Thanks to Netgalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review*

THERE WILL BE QUOTES; POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD- READ WITH CARE.

I have a hard time finding the words to describe this book, it pulls you in with such a force, and I had a hard time letting go.
Wallace started as an unlikeable character for me. The very first glimpse we get of him is him just being straight-up cruel to some woman that didn't deserve an ounce of it. But that's the point, we dislike him, he annoys us, and he had his dose of karma when he died. THEN, ALMOST THE FIRST THING HE DOES AFTER HE DIES IS TRYING TO LODGE A COMPLAINT???? AGAINST DEATH???

"I'm told I died from a heart attack. I'd like to lodge a formal complaint, seeing as how-" "...I would really rather not be dead if at all possible, I have far too much work to do, and this has been an awful inconvenience..."

When Wallace looked back on his life and achievements, it had a strange effect on me. He woke up, went to work, did his job, came back home, and went to sleep; with nothing more to show for his life other than some nameplate on a fancy firm and an ex-wife, was it all worth it? Sacrificing your life for a job and having nothing to show from it. Well, Wallace had that ridiculously expensive coffin. So I guess that's something.

Enough about Wallace. I've always believed that blood doesn't make family, but the family at the tea shop surprised me.
Mei is strong-headed, fiercely protective over the people she cares about, and gives the best hugs. "I'm going to hug the crap out of you." "From the moment you're born, you're dying." Man, that hit me hard.

Nelson is funnily enough what I would expect from a granddad ghost. He's wise, always there for his grandson, and never far from pranks and laughs. "He's taking to being dead pretty well." "I can handle him if need be. I may look old, but I can kick ass and take names with the best of them."

Don't get me started on Hugo... I want to cry just thinking about him in the last couple of pages. He's so sweet, and for what? All people do is fight with him for just doing his job, which he did not get any say in. He gives people his whole soul in exchange for nothing, not even a mere thank you. "We can be friends now, there's nothing stopping us" " I need you to hug Wallace for me"

And for what it's worth, that goddamn dog broke me. That's what did it, the final straw before the watergates opened up wide.

This book talks about death and life after death in a way that I've never seen before. It's not tied to a religion or a certain belief that promises you heaven or hell or whatever it is. This book reminds me a lot of the show "The Good Place," but without the evil demons and all that.
After a bit of a battle with myself, I decided to go with four stars instead of five. The book does drag a little on (much like season 2 of The Good Place), but the book manages well with humor, newfound dilemmas, heartfelt characters, and, well, the curiosity to see what will happen to Wallace. Also, the main relationship in this story seems a bit underdeveloped. They went from disliking each other to being somewhat friendly, and then suddenly they're in love without anything really happening. I know that Wallace is a ghost and all that but I feel like there needed to be something a liiiiittle more before they were all lovey-dovey in love with each other. Wallace improved a lot at the tea shop. He did a complete 180° in regards to his personality, character, and overall how he connected with other people. I grew fond of him, and although I already liked him straight after his death, he definitely grew himself a little hole in my heart. "Hell yeah! I'm the best ghost ever!"

That being said, I loved it, already pre-ordered a physical copy, will reread and annotate it, and can't freaking wait to force my friends to listen to me rant about it.