By Little Brown Hachette

SUCH A LUCKY GIRL

5 stars

Awesome take on modern/contemporary times. What if witchcraft had social media, and self-help books? Very cool that the author mixed the experience of reading self-help books into the idea of visualization, materialization, spells, curses, the evil eye, and cults. This has so many layers, a great metaphor for social pressure, social media blind following, and influencers. A take on envy, understanding why they are grieving, with witchy/demon paranormal elements.

SIX MUST DIE

3.5 This is my first novel by this author. I like escape room book themes because I dislike them seriously in real life, so it's one of the perfect stress/tension settings for a murder mystery. The things I liked about the story: from those who survived one year ago, only one doesn't remember how Matt died. One year later, they are drawn to play a new escape room with a terrible name. Instead of getting answers (she does), they are stuck in a terrible revenge plot. The one commanding all is forcing each one to expose their terrible secrets, which made me want to reread 13 Reasons Why. I didn't guess the major plot twist.

The things I didn't like much:

Repetitions. A lot.

The fact that it is different POVs slows down and doubles the repetition. It's more focused on plot more than on intelligent new adults, they are no teens anymore.

As a light read that we can read while being distracted, traveling or at the beach can be a fun ok read for fans of escape rooms.

HOW THE OTHER HALF Die

3.75 stars

Don't you think you'll know the truth until you read the last chapter, then the epilogue. Ah! That epilogue.

I've been noting a new format trend for murder mysteries where the first murder happens around the 50% mark, which makes the books into two mysteries, two parts. First, we are going to establish connections with the characters and learn more about their circumstances and relationships. There is a lot of YA drama and angst, perfect for the appropriate age. Now we are trying to figure out who is going to die and how. Adding plot twists and red herrings (in this case, I thought I knew who was going to be the killer, but they ended up dead.)

Second part, (around chapter 19) we have a body, and it wasn't an accident. This is where the pacing gets faster with their investigation and uncovering the motive that leads to some justice.

Multiple Pov helps to slow down the revelation.