Get Dirty by Gretchen McNeil

Published: June 2015

Publisher: Baltzer & Bray

Pages: 384

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

The members of Don’t Get Mad aren’t just mad anymore…they’re afraid. And with Margot in a coma and Bree stuck in juvie, it’s up to Olivia and Kitty to try to catch their deadly tormentor. But just as the girls are about to go on the offensive, Ed the Head reveals a shocking secret that turns all their theories upside down. The killer could be anyone, and this time he—or she—is out for more than just revenge.

The girls desperately try to discover the killer’s identity as their personal lives are falling apart: Donté is pulling away from Kitty and seems to be hiding a secret of his own, Bree is sequestered under the watchful eye of her mom’s bodyguard, and Olivia’s mother is on an emotional downward spiral. The killer is closing in, the threats are becoming more personal, and when the police refuse to listen, the girls have no choice but to confront their anonymous “friend”…or die trying.

Review:

I am a big fan of Gretchen McNeil.  She has interesting novels, all with some kind of suspenseful plot or thrilling outcome.  Get Dirty is a continuation of the Don't Get Mad series.  I love the premise where a group of unexpected teens who don't have any connection get together to extract revenge on the bullies in their school and community.  If you enjoyed The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney, you would like this one.  

Unfortunately, Book #2 didn't pull out the punches for me and I did find that it was a little bit lacking in the suspense.  Gretchen does a good job of keeping the real killer secretive and mis-directing the reader in all different directions but I didn't feel the same kind of intensity as I did in the first title.  If you have already read Book #1, I do recommend finishing the series up as it is a quick read and it is nice to confirm any suspicions you may have concluded about the killer.  Overall, I was happy that I read the title but I probably wouldn't read it a second time.

I was also surprised to see this as a two book series. I have become so used to the stand-alone or three book series that I wasn't expecting it to come to an end right away.  Good that it worked out that way as it was pleasant to have a shorter reading commitment.  Even though I am not singing Gretchen's praises for this title, she is still one of my favorite authors and I'm keen to see what is next on her publishing list.  

Get Even by Gretchen McNeil

Published: September 2014

Publisher: Balzar & Bray

Pages: 320

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads)

Summary:

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil’s witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process. 

Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.

When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose.

Review:

Get Even was a fun novel about revenge with a bit of mystery.  I would say it was a cross between Pretty Little Liars and the Burn for Burn series by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivan.  There were so many characters right off the bat that I had trouble keeping them all straight.  It got better though after I sketched out a cheat sheet.  KIDDING!!  I considered it but after about 30 pages I was ok.

One of the things I love about Gretchen is that her titles tend to be stand-alone books.  However, this was a SHOCKER.  there was NO WAY Get Even could have an ending like this and not continue.  I LOVE IT when books surprise me like this.  The ending was so abrupt and made me want to scream out WHY??!!  in a half-crying, half-hysterical way.  You need to read this and tell me what you think because I need to pick someone's brain....

This would make a great ISU book...especially if you highlight the bullying aspect.  Loved it.  Try it and then tell me what you think. 

- Christinabean

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Published:September 2013

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 368

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo. 

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.

By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

Review:

I really enjoy titles by Gretchen McNeil.  Her books tend to be stand-alone titles.  She does have a new title coming out entitled Get Even next week that is on my TBR list already.  The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars.  Sounds deliciously mysterious to me!

3:59 was a bit of a departure from my regular reads.  I really had to wrap my head around this separate universe that Josie had discovered.  What I enjoyed is that I had not encountered this concept in a YA stand-alone before.  Gretchen took a seemingly complicated concept and made it readable and identifiable.  There are several themes you could pull from this read to turn it into a challenging ISU title.  This was such an interesting read!  Josie has a chance to keep things in her life similar but live them better.  Pretty tempting when your life feels like it is falling apart, or is it?  

My question for you readers is this - if the same people in your life existed in a different universe, would you want to "switch" and have a chance to live your life differently? 

Ten by Gretchen McNeil

Published: September 2012

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 294

Copy Provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

And their doom comes swiftly.

It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?

Review:

Agggghhhhh!!!!  So many scary books in one month!  I have to tell you, I LOVE scary books.  I was the kid who started reading Stephen King and John Saul in Jr High.  I'd be reading at my locker early in the morning and the bell would ring and scare the Bleep out of me (thanks Kiersten White for adding to my vocabulary).

Well, it seems old habits die hard as I have been on a horror/murder/fiction revival.  I recently discovered Gretchen McNeil and loved her first book - Possess.  You can read my review through the link.  I wasn't sure what to expect from Ten.  One of the things I love about both of these titles is that they seem to be stand-alone books.  I have so many series on the go right now, it is difficult to keep them all in check.  

When you first start reading Ten, you may find yourself having flashbacks to certain scenes from horror classics such as Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and even Final Destination.  McNeil pulls out all of the punches for a well played mystery of consecutive killings and I have to admit, on more than one occasion she had me double-guessing who the killer was.  There were a few holes in the storyline and at the end it was a tad over the top for me but overall I was thoroughly entertained and it was a fun, thrilling read.

So if you are looking to freak yourself out and get into the Halloween mood, you need to check out Ten by Gretchen McNeil.  It's even better and scarier than a horror movie...because it's all in your imagination...