JENNIFER LYNN ALVAREZ
Synopsis:
Twisted secrets that will have readers guessing with every flip of the page. Perfect for fans of GONE GIRL and Karen M. McManus.
Tegan Sheffield's annual end-of-summer beach party is the only way to start their senior year. At least that's what Jake Healy tells his girlfriend Jessica Sanchez.
But when a video prank from the party goes viral and a body is discovered at the beach, Jake and Jessica find themselves at the center of a national media storm and a police investigation.
It's a race to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.
Content:
Language: Minor swear words used frequently throughout, along with some stronger language, including "s" and "f." "F" is used largely in the chapters from Jake's perspective.
Violence: The novel centers around a disappearance and possible murders, but one of the larger themes is sexual assault and rape. There are plenty of instances of underage drinking, drug use, and mentions of abuse. A few past injuries and beatings are mentioned, with limited on-page fights.
Sex: There are a few kisses and some discussion of sex, including sex between an adult and a minor, a sex tape, rape, and two fade-to-black scenes. It is important to note that relationships are a large part of the plot, but this is not a romance!
LGBTQ: Not present
My Review (the short version): I was given a free digital ARC in exchange for my review, so the large block of text below is for that.
I was engaged and sucked into the story right from the start. The plotting is fast-paced and twisty. I liked the process of reading it, but the end left me a bit wanting.
My Review:
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We don't get a lot form the synopsis, but I always love a good thriller. I was pulled in immediately, and was falling for the main couple within the first chapter before Alvarez so brutally shredded my heart and sent me into a stressing rush to finish the rest of the book. It was fast-paced and an enjoyable read, but I was left a little empty with the ending. It felt slightly rushed and unrefined, I was frowning over a few things, though I understood they needed to happen.
And I was really surprised by the outcome! All the loose threads tied up, though some of them left me wanting.
The character I liked most was probably Jake. His character development was the best and he was sort of a mess, but he managed to pick himself up in the end. I admire the change we see in him from the beginning to the end far more than I admired Jessica, who had me palming my forehead half the time.
(Like, no, why would you do that? YA teenagers really do make the worst life choices sometimes.)
Friends Like These also handled some important topics, like underage drinking, drugs, sexual assault, and the consequences of your actions and how they affect the rest of the people around you. Some of the topics are heavier, but they were all handled well and with respect.
So overall, I really enjoyed the journey of the book, but the destination left me a little wanting.
**SPOILER**
(Did anyone else hope that Jessica and Jake would end up back together? I know, they both made terrible mistakes, but it would have been nice to see them grow and move forward together. That was one of the threads that felt most unresolved to me. Everything jerked a bit too fast.)