Book Review: Bad Like Us by Gabriella Lepore
Bad Like Us by Gabriella Lepore
Published: April 24th 2024 by Inkyard Press
Rating: ★★★★ (4 stars)
Genres: Young Adult // Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
Quick Thoughts: As enigmatic as thrillers come, with dark secrets, treacherous lies, and rocky friendships in a moody, picture-perfect setting.
I was gifted this book via the Publisher. There was no obligation to post/give this book a certain rating. I remain entirely impartial.
About This Book:
Spring break is a vibe—until someone gets murdered
Partying with popular classmates they barely know is not what Eva and her BFFs had in mind for their spring break. But things have been off ever since Miles’ academic career took a turn for the worse (they don’t talk about it), so a trip to a private beach lodge might be exactly what they need. And Eva won’t admit it, but the chance to reconnect with Colton is worth putting up with Piper’s constant livestreams to her thousands of “besties.”
At first, it’s all sand and waves, but tensions run high when an anonymous letter shakes up an already-flailing love triangle.
When someone turns up dead, Eva can’t even trust her closest friends—but she thinks she can trust Colton. As they get closer to the truth, they uncover secrets that upend everything they thought they knew about their fellow spring breakers.
First Thoughts
My Review
Eva and her friends didn’t plan on spending their spring break partying with their popular classmates, but the trip, no matter how unpleasant it sounds at the beginning, is at a private beach lodge in Oregon—that’s something none of the teens can pass up the opportunity for. Especially when Eva knows she has a chance to reconnect with friend Colton after they became like ships in the night the last few months. If she can get past popular Piper’s perpetual livestreaming to her online followers and detailing every second of their drive to their destination, maybe Eva can relax.
The private beach lodge is exactly what the friends needed, their own patch of sand beside the ocean waves. But it’s not long before the two distinct friendship groups begin clashing, despite a flicker of romance being reignited as some are extinguished for good. And then someone ends up dead—and Eva suddenly can’t trust her friends. Secrets come worming out of the woodwork and fingers are pointed in accusation. Eva is sure she can trust Colton, isn’t she? But as the mystery of the murder and swirl of secrets creates a thundery atmosphere for the spring breakers, who is really telling the truth? And who has a secret worth killing for?
Overall, Bad Like Us was as enigmatic as thrillers come, with dark secrets, treacherous lies, and rocky friendships in a moody, picture-perfect setting. Gabriella has this way of writing teen characters that feels genuine and modern, in a way that never feels cheesy or overly dramatized. I loved many of the POVs in the book, but did gel the most with Eva. Colton was a close second. Some of the characters felt too in-the-background for me, and I would’ve loved to learn more about them. That being said, I didn’t guess some of the plot twists Gabriella wove in (there are more than one!) and though it was a quick read, I found myself thoroughly won over by this magnificent mystery. A brilliant four star read!
RATING:
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Happy Reading!
I really appreciate your analyzing of the characters. It is hard to find stories with modern teens who don’t feel shallow. They are made to feel “fun-loving” or self centered and nothing else. Definitely want to check it out!
Definitely! I feel like so many authors miss the mark on writing teens that feed too much into the stereotypical traits, and it was so refreshing to read ones that felt flawed but in a modern, true way! 🤍🌷