Review by Booklist Review
In August, Princeton swimmer Mark Forrester hiked up to a dangerous lookout point with his girlfriend, 17-year-old high-schooler Tabitha Cousins. Early the next morning, Tabby staggered out of the woods alone, claiming that Mark had slipped and fallen to his death; a team of police divers later found his body in the creek below. But everyone loved Mark, and Tabby isn't the kind of girl people are inclined to believe. As the police start to investigate, they find holes in her story--holes that seem to indicate that, maybe, Mark was murdered--and suddenly everyone in town is talking. Short, furiously paced chapters rotate in perspective; everyone, it seems, gets a chance to speak, from people who are on Tabby's side (her sister, her best friend, her ex) to those who are against her (her school nemesis, Mark's best friend). Everyone, that is, except Tabby herself. Newspaper and social media clippings showcase the media frenzy surrounding the case and the eagerness with which so many people paint Mark as a golden boy (or "Princeton swimmer") while condemning Tabby as trash. Texts offer glimpses into Tabby and Mark's troubled romance, and the whirlwind back-and-forth will keep readers guessing at the truth--and second-guessing their own biases--until the very end. A frenzied psychological thriller, superbly paced.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Tabby and her boyfriend go on a hike in the woods and only Tabby returns. Tabby loves being in the spotlight and can be unpredictable. Did she kill her boyfriend, the so-called golden boy? Everyone has a different story to tell: her sister, her best friend, her boyfriend's best friend, and her classmates. Text messages paint Tabby as jealous and controlling. With her own questionable reputation and bold personality, the jury of public opinion is quick to side against her. Soon the conversation extends from people in their town to online articles, anonymous commenters, and features in national magazines before her trial even begins. Is it possible for Tabby to be all the things everyone says she is; the good, the bad and the in-between? Chapters offer alternating viewpoints from those closest to Tabby. Her own take on all this only shows up at the very end, daring readers to make rash judgments just like everyone else in Tabby's life. Through its characters, the novel explores how young women are often put into black-and-white categories by society. VERDICT A thrilling and engaging novel that will draw readers in from the first line, and a first purchase for YA collections. Pair with Karen M. McManus's One of Us Is Lying.--Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
High school senior Tabby becomes the subject of national media scrutiny after her swimming champion boyfriend dies under suspicious circumstances. These things are certain: Seventeen-year-old Tabby and her college athlete boyfriend, Mark, went hiking up the treacherous summit known as the Split. Mark was found dead two days later; Tabby, who returned safely, is the primary suspect in this golden boy's death. Did he slip, or was he pushed? Everyone else in their small Colorado town has an opinion on Tabby's guilt or innocence, especially when the Amanda Knox--like case draws national attention and Tabby's dubbed the "Blue-Eyed Boyfriend Killer." In short, taut chapters complemented by diary entries, texts, police interviews, and tabloid articles, those who know the couple (e.g., Tabby's sister, her rival, and their best friends) confess their sides of the story directly to readers. Ratcheting up the tension are secrets of their own along with their unreliable versions of Tabby and Mark's relationship, including their possible sexual indiscretions and jealousy. But is the judgment greater because Tabby is female? As even complete strangers assess her culpability, Flynn explores slut-shaming culture and unrealistic expectations forced upon teenage girls in this edgy psychological thriller, perfect for fans of We Were Liars and One of Us Is Lying. All characters are white. Intense and thought-provoking. (Thriller. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
