Karen has done it again!

Somehow Ms. McManus has managed to do yet another whodunnit without making it seem tired or predictable: I didn’t know who it was until the rest of the cast did.

I am forever in awe of Ms. McManus’s mind and how she writes these twisty novels. I truly adore her writing, and I can’t wait to read more from her!!


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Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and TheWriteReads Tours for this eARC! Receiving these materials in no way impacted my review of this book.

You’ll Be The Death Of Me was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It’s an addictive and twisty YA thriller that will have you racing towards the end.

The story is told from the perspective of Ivy, Mateo and Cal, who used to be best friends before they drifted apart. They reconnect years later when they’re in high school and decide to skip school together. Stumbling upon a crime scene and discovering the body of one of their classmates isn’t quite what they had in mind though.

Yet again, Karen M. McManus has created three very realistic teenagers and I really felt for them all. It shows the struggles of high school and how badly everyone wants to fit in, which I felt was particularly true for Ivy and Cal. Ivy, while not the most relatable character for me, definitely had my sympathy. She feels like she has disappointed her parents compared to her genius brother and is always trying to impress them. Mateo is someone who will do anything to protect those he loves. His mother is sick and he’s working multiple jobs to make ends meet, while Cal feels alone and is struggling to find his place in life. I really liked all of the characters and their struggles felt very real, but I think I liked Cal the most because I could relate to all his insecurities. As the story progresses, they are reminded of why they were friends, but also why their friendship fell apart. They all grow so much throughout the story, both as a group and individually. I was really rooting for them to move past what happened between them and remain friends after the investigation.

The mystery was absolutely perfect and I was thrilled by the amount of twists that were revealed. There’s plenty of surprises to keep you on your toes and they were completely unpredictable for me. Ivy, Mateo and Cal each have their own secrets too and it’s hard to know who to trust as they all have motivation for having some involvement in the student’s death. It was very fast-paced as the three of them were racing to solve the murder and clear their names.

McManus has delivered another absolute corker of a thriller and cemented her place as one of the best crime writers. I’m looking forward to her next book!

Another great book from Karen M McManus! This book had me gripped from the start. The winding mystery of McManus’ books never fails to amaze me. Her ability to tell stories from multiple points of view is admirable.

You’ll be the Death of Me has been described as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with murder, which of course made me want to read this book as soon as possible. I have loved reading Karen M. McManus’ previous books so I had high hopes for this one too. I thoroughly enjoyed it and although it isn’t my favourite book by her it is one I will be recommending a lot.

I knew I could rely on Karen M. McManus to give me a YA thriller that I was hoping for. This was a fast-paced, at times fun and unnerving thriller that is packed full of sinister twists and secrets! The mysteries in this book shocked me more than in her previous novels. I’m not sure why but I found myself gasping out loud at certain points.

I love the way in which McManus’ books are formatted. In this one we get to see the story from the POVs of three characters. The short chapters and change of character really helps to keep you wanting to read more. I loved how the mysteries are presented to us as readers and how these expand, twist and turn.

The main characters in this book, Ivy, Mateo and Cal used to be best friends but growing up made them grow apart. So, when they decided to skip school for the day together out of the blue and find themselves near a dead classmate so much unfolds. I liked all three of the character in this book. At the start of the book they appear quite cliché but as the book progresses they becoming more and more unique and we see more of their true selves. I enjoyed them all but I did have a soft spot for Mateo! I liked how different all their backstories are and have that shaped their individual POVs.

There are a lot of side characters in this book which are all incredibly intriguing. There is one character in particular that is far more complex than any of the others and I loved reading about them. I feel like there are certain character’s stories which could have been a little bit more fleshed out but that is my only issue with this book.

Karen M. McManus has written another thrilling, fast-paced and shocking YA book that I would highly recommend. I am intrigued to see if there will be a follow up book to this as there are a few things left unanswered I’d love to know.

Overall, You’ll Be the Death of Me is a shocking, fun and action-packed YA thriller that I would highly recommend. If this is your fifth McManus book or your first you will have a good time reading this!

Firstly i would like to thank Netgalley, The Write Reads and the publisher – for my spot on this AWESOME Blog Tour along with my copy of the Ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I have read all of Karen’s work, in fact i think it was her debut ‘One of us is lying’ which was my first ever YA book and lets just say i have been hooked ever since.

Her newest addition ‘You’ll be the death of me’ was incredible. It was fast and pacey throughout with some AMAZING characters and it will no doubt keep you guessing until the very end. Well it did with me anyway.

The three main characters are all Students and honest some super little humans. I loved each and every one of them in their own way – mainly because i could probably connect with each of them on some level or other.

Ivy – She seemed very much like a goody-two-shoes in the beginning – but soon enough her character evolved into a fiesty little so and so who wanted, no, NEEDED to solve any situation out she found herself in.

Cal – From the start he seemed like such a sensitive and gentle guy. Cute, he did remind me of myself a little, being a little bit of a loner but he is also very much a dark horse and nothing shocked me more than finding out who his secret girl was.

Mateo – My favourite character – i think because he has this pasona that oozes from him like a bad boy but at heart he really isnt and he just has a heart of gold.

The rest of the characters in this book were equally well written and exhubarent. Especially Lara – i felt like i wanted to like her, i did like her. Her closeness to someone she shouldnt be didnt affect me, i didnt judge. It happens A LOT. More than we are all probably aware but what did it for me, was the ending when everything came together. Not only did i get a SHOCK factor at finding out who was behind everything but how Lara reacted, sickened me. So much.

This latest book was an AMAZING addition to the rest of the books Karen has written and i would definitely recommend this to any love of YA, or Thriller books. This definitely keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing.

Three school friends meet again after they drifted apart for many years, and they decide to ditch school to spend a day together. But their goofing around leads them to a dead body, and soon they are end up being on a crime scene of a recently committed crime. What is unearthed is a sinister plot with serious ramifications.

To be honest, I’m not someone who usually reads YA stories because those I’ve read I felt that the writing wasn’t meant for me as an adult with kids. But not this one. This is my first Karen McManus book and I am so glad I read this.

Ivy, Cal, and Mateo are a great trio that feels believable. And the story had so many twists and turns that I was hooked. The pace of the plot was super-fast, and absolute fun to follow and it was so tightly woven without any unnecessary distractions from the central plot. And yet, the romantic story that developed was sweet. It is for the very first time that I, a mother of a kid truly enjoyed a YA mystery thoroughly.

While reading mysteries, I prefer jumping right into the story and then one by one uncovering the details leading to the crime. And this book was a perfect example of this approach.

I was also content with the fact that till the very end I was unable to guess the mastermind of the murder.

Perfect YA mystery and I highly recommend it.

What I Enjoyed
You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen McManus is my newest guilty pleasure. Fast-paced, gripping, dark, and thrilling, I stayed glued to the pages from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the play on Ferris Bueller's Day Off but with dangerous twist after dangerous twist and loads of suspense. This novel starts with the fun of an unplanned adventure like the group had many years ago but quickly turns dark as the stakes get higher and higher. So many secrets are hinted at and later revealed. So many that my head was swimming in all the twists they brought to the story. The story is laser-focused on the mystery at hand, and because of that, I found the mystery gripping and well-thought-out. Not a plot gap to be found anywhere.

I enjoyed the well-developed characters. It's not easy to develop characters who harbor such important secrets, yet each slowly and strategically reveals layer after layer of themselves as the story unfolds. They each are relatable and, I think, ultimately likable.

Being told from three perspectives could have been confusing in any other book, but in this tale, it creates another layer of suspense and heightens the tension. As I grew to care about each character and their relationships, I also was made privy to things that could derail the progress made. This keeps those pages turning faster and faster.

Characters
The three main characters are Ivy Sterling-Shepherd, Mateo Wojcik, and Calvin O'Shea-Wallace.

Ivy lives with her mother, father, and brother Daniel. She strives not to get lost in her younger brother's shadow. It pushes her, molds her, and defines her.

Mateo is being raised by his single mother. His cousin, Autumn, is more like a sister to him now that she lives with Mateo and his mother after her parents passed away.

Cal is being raised by his two dads, one of which is an administrator at a local college.

They all have a great support system in their loving families, and together they solve the mystery of who killed one of their classmates.

Reminds Me Of
You'll Be the Death of Me has all the delightful deviousness of other books by McManus with a twist on an all-time favorite tale in Ferris Buller's Day Off.

What I Wish
I love my guilty pleasures, so what more can I wish for a story that tops that list. NOTHING!

To Read or Not to Read
If you love dark, twisty tales with plenty of secrets and lots of fast-paced sleuthing, You'll Be the Death of Me is your next guilty pleasure.

I so enjoy McManus novels, I've read each one and was lucky enough to get an ARC of You'll Be The Death Of Me (YBTDOM, I swear titles get longer and longer) from the wonderful Dave @The_WriteReads.
If you're not already one of the group now is when I hit you up to join us over on twitter in the biggest, most supportive blogging community I know of.

Anyway, Mcmanus- she knows what she's doing. All of her novels build beautiful family focused characters around a fun central mystery. This time, who killed classmate Boney?

The questions mount up throughout the plot, dropping little clues as you read, enough that I don't often guess the ending though I do love to try. I always find the characters endearing, though stereotypical, and often get invested in there being a happy ending for them all.

YBTDOM as with her previous novels is set around a handful of teens finding themselves in adult scenarios- without any violence or sexual content- making questionable choices as teenagers are wont to do.
I very much enjoyed the journey and read this book on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The point of view switches between three main characters and the pacing keeps up from start to finish spanning the course of one fateful day.
I particularly liked the addition of the two jokers running a school YouTube news channel, their intermittent audio script added great humour to the story.

Absolutely perfect for teens this Christmas or any YA readers in your life.

This book was super tense and I was completely on edge while reading it! I couldn't put it down and just had to keep reading to find out what happened. Everyone has their own secrets and they're not obvious to the reader which I absolutely loved. But it also explains why the teenagers don't just go to the police, and why corruption happened in the first place.

The characters weren't particularly likeable, but I think that added to the tension and mystery of the story. They are all morally grey, kind of bad people that have made awful choices, but are also struggling with their own demons. I thought they were such well-rounded characters with depth and intrigue that felt real.

Ultimately I'm giving it four stars because whilst I loved it, I feel like it could be improved. The character of Ivy needs some work for sure, I really struggled to buy in to her motives. And overall I found the plot a little bit unrealistic. But it wasn't so unrealistic that it ruined my enjoyment. I would recommend this to fans of YA thrillers and dark mysteries.

Karen M, McManus never disappoints!
This is the 4th McManus I've read (I somehow omitted The Cousins, but you can bet I'll be rectifying that grave error) and probably my favorite in terms of pacing. The plot gallops along at breakneck pace, leaving no time to recover between twists and turns.

You'll be the Death of Me is a whodunnit murder mystery for a YA audience. (HUGE thanks to Ms McManus for filling a hole in the YA genre! I adore the fact that my teen and I can now read thrillers together :) ) It centres around three close friends who have drifted apart over the years (for reasons unclear at the onset). They are reunited by chance and, for various reasons, decide to play hooky on THE WORST DAY EVER. Throw in the discovery of a dead body, an unknown snitch who is watching their every move, and an unlikely drug cartel, and you have all the ingredients for a series of misadventures that kept me guessing until the end.

There's not much more I can say - most who pick up this book will no doubt already be fans of the author, but its nice to see she's holding herself to a high standard. Barring a slightly formulaic feel brewing, this book is just as good (if not better) than One of Us is Lying. Bravo, Ms McManus

Another great read by Karen McManus, although this one veered more towards a mystery than a thriller.

The story followed three stereotypical, likable but flawed teenagers, with some vibes of the famous film 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' as they spend the day skiving school.

The pace starts off quite slowly, but does pick up in the second half of the story. The mystery kept me turning the pages, although I feel like some characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, and some of the twists felt quite forced and anti-climatic (which is unusual for this author).

Nevertheless, it is sure to be popular with our teenage readers.

As incredible as always, this instalment had my brain in problem solve mode from the start.
I loved the time span of the story and how it all unfolded. I cannot wait for others to read it so we can discuss.

You'll Be the Death of Me follows Ivy, Mateo, and Cal who used to be best friends. They have drifted away from each other but due all having things going on in their personal lives and a chance encounter in the carpark they decide to skip school together for old times sake. They see a fellow classmate skipping and on following him into an abandoned building discover him dead. Did someone see them enter the building and tip of the police? The three run and try to work out what happened and prove their innocence.

This book feels a little slow to get going but ultimately i found it a fun read. I would probably say it fits more as a mystery than a thriller. I flew through the second half of the book as I became fully invested in knowing the final outcome for these characters.

I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by The Write Reads. Special thanks to Penguin for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars!

CW/TW: teacher/student relationship(s), drug dealing and drug use (opioids), murder, violence against minors

At this point, I'm pretty sure that there's no book that I wouldn't read by Karen McManus. This was just as easy and quick to read as her previous YA thrillers and for me, it was just as entertaining! It does start a little slow-paced but as theories formed and the plot thickened, I sped through the rest of the book to find out whodunit. I'm pretty terrible at deducing the culprit in mysteries 90% of the time but I'm happy to say that, despite a few red herrings that threw me off the trail, this particular baddie did make it to the top of my suspect's list! If you've read a McManus thriller before, you'll probably be familiar with her formula and this one was definitely no different in that respect; but it was nice to come back to a story where I know (more or less) what I'll get. That said, if you're looking for something less formulaic or slower-paced, this might not be the read for you! However, if you've enjoyed McManus's previous books, I think there's a good chance you'll enjoy this one too :)

We have a group of three teenagers who used to be friends and have drifted over the years, but who find themselves thrown together in a twist of "fate" for what turns out to be the "Shittiest Day Ever". The main difference between this and her other thrillers is that I found all the characters to be more flawed and a few of them frustrating and unlikeable, whereas previously, I've always liked all her MCs. Ivy, Matteo and Cal were an interesting group of friends because there's more that sets them apart than brings them together. I kind of liked that they weren't the "perfect" group of friends with perfect families and relationships though. They were messy teens who had difficult home situations, who did not-so-great things and who sometimes found themselves in terrible situations they were blind to. There was a lot of secret-keeping and somewhat dramatic reveals that further highlighted the tenuous relationship they have, and of course, there's also a small romance that adds a bit of awkward tension to the trio.

I wouldn't say that I had a favourite of the three, although to me Matteo was probably the least messy personally (lol), but I did empathise with them and I liked how they all grew throughout the story. Despite this book taking place over the course of a day, I still found their development realistic because it wasn't a sudden 360 change. It was interesting how McManus flipped the teacher/student script and looked at it from a male student's perspective when it's usually the opposite. I liked how she also highlighted how easy it is for outsiders to view the situation simply as 'wrong is wrong', (because yes) but when someone is in that situation they don't see or acknowledge the predatory behaviour or tend to believe it's different because it's happening to them and they've allowed it.

Aside from the alternating perspectives between our three main characters, there were also YouTube video transcripts interspersed every few chapters, and I'm always a fan of mixed media formats so I enjoyed that! It's definitely a testament to the online culture these days where anyone can pick up a story and say anything they want about it—whether true or false—while gaining internet fame for it. It was interesting (and frustrating!) to see just how quickly misinformation can be spread and how the vast majority of people will unquestioningly consume it. And it doesn't just apply to small-time/homegrown channels but sensationalist tabloids that are more about 'infotainment' than actual news.

Overall, I really enjoyed McManus' new book! It's a fast and easy-to-read thriller that will reel you in and keep you eager to find out who's behind the madness. I'm guessing from the ending that there's a chance for a sequel with these characters and I'd look forward to it cos that's a slice of justice that I'd definitely like to see served! 👀

As Ivy, Mateo and Cal are in the wrong place at the wrong time, they’re first on the scene of the murder of their classmate. To make matters worse for them, they shouldn’t have been skipping school in the first place, they shouldn’t have been at the art studio, and they sure as heck shouldn’t have run at the sound of sirens.

You’ll be the Death of Me follows the three teenagers as they try to piece together how their classmate (also skipping school) died, and how to avoid incrimination. With secrets of their own clutched tightly to their chests, questionable classmates, drug dealers, mysterious initials and journalists trying to question them, Ivy, Mateo and Cal are thrown into a world they were not prepared for.

The first half of You’ll Be the Death of Me was a lot slower than some of her other books, and things didn’t ramp up until the second half of the book. When the story eventually picks up and pulls you along with it, despite some predictability, it still surprises on occasion and still keeps you reading until the very last page.

Like any Karen M McManus book, there are a lot of stereotypes in this story, and a lot of character types we’ve seen in some of her other novels. Ivy is the classic top-of-the-class student and running for student council (and losing to the class clown, as the description says). Mateo is working multiple jobs to keep his mum and cousin afloat. Cal is a bit of an outsider with a secret that he doesn’t want to get out, at any cost. Classic YA mystery, classic McManus characters.

In some ways, it was lovely to have a bit of similarity to her other books; in other ways, I was a little bit tired of the same-same.

That being said! I did enjoy my read of You’ll Be the Death of Me and it was great to be able to read another YA mystery from McManus. There’s friendship, romance, family drama, secrets, lies, and a lot of ‘teenagers where they shouldn’t be’. If you’ve read any of McManus’ other stories, then I recommend picking up this one, too!

The novel’s pace starts high and stays high as you follow in the footsteps of the teenage gang, as they pound the streets of Boston trying to unravel the murder of their classmate before it’s pinned onto them. Ivy, Mateo and Cal are incredibly likeable characters and the slow-burn romance between Ivy and Mateo is carefully crafted as their are forced to exorcise their past relationship in order to strengthen their bond and work together. The murder mystery runs parallel against the characters’ own internal conflicts and past conflicts, as we experience each character’s POV. The character’s backstories are woven intricately into main storyline leaving the structure of the novel precisely crafted for effect.

There are two massive twists in the tale worthy of an induced gasp especially the final twist that rears its head on the penultimate page of the novel, blasting the way for a sequel. Karen McManus really knows how to build up clues in a way that doesn’t give away anything but leaves a trail of breadcrumbs for you to follow aimlessly until the plot twist slams you into the ground. You’ll be the Death of Me will please fans of One of Us is Lying for it follows the same YA tropes, the discovery of sinister secrets and the unravelling of character intricacies. Is is a smooth read for those looking for a book that will satisfy your craving for teen romance, students play detective and killer twists.

YOU'LL BE THE DEATH OF ME is another twisty thriller from Karen M. McManus, following three friends who drifted apart, but impulsively decide to bunk off from school... and stumble into a murder scene.

Unlike her other books, it pretty much takes place in one day, with all these secrets spilling out between the three as the pressure mounts. Everything possible that could go wrong for them does, and the potential entanglement of loves ones spurs them to look into things that snares them into the mystery. They're not actively searching for what happened - it's not a conscious "we must solve this" investigation. Rather it's "we need to work out what is happening around us as this makes no sense from the snapshot we've got" which then drags them into danger.

The scattered excerpts from the youtube vlog of two of the characters' classmates made me giggle a lot. OK, yes, they are a powerful way of speaking about the role of social media in stoking misinformation, rumour, false news, and conspiracy theory. (And also the "local news channel" that's looting for entertainment than serious, fact-checked reporting is also a very pointed example.) But these segments can be both a serious message and also quite funny.

They are so perfectly spot on for how cringe-y and attention seeking that sort of thing can be (like reporting from a party and having classmates "{mug] for the camera.") The back and forth between the exaggeration-prone Ishaan and his co-vlogger Zack who's keeps trying to get things back on track was great. And also the low-budget elements (and teacher dodging) were brilliant additions.

I think that humour in thrillers is a really good craft idea - a bit of lightness so you don't get too tense and have to stop. Plus it helps with pacing to not be nail-biting all the time.

There's a longer denouement than usually for thrillers, I think. The mystery is wrapped up a lot earlier than I had expected and then the fall out happens. There are interpersonal things to wrap up, naturally, but I liked that the longer ending gave time to shine a spotlight on the ways some people wriggle out of consequences by being so stone cold, but playing the media and the justice system.

In all, it was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to the next thriller from Karen M. McManus.

I Tweeted when I’d finished the book that “She’s done it again! Another absolutely incredible ride with a mystery that didn’t stop and emotional threads that kept tugging. Genius”, and I meant every word. McManus is an auto-buy author for me anyway, but the excitment of having one of her books in my hand is something I will never get tired of, because if writing young adult thrillers is a superpower, McManus is Superwoman.

The twists and turns are plentiful, and even though I seem to have read every young adult thriller on the market by this point in time, I didn’t see them coming. I had no idea what was going on, right up to the very end. As always, McManus blew me away with her writing, and the characters she has created jumped right off the page and into the room in front of me. They were so vivid, loveable and imperfect; exactly how characters should be.

It wasn’t that the characters were predictable, but that you felt you knew them so well that their actions became second nature to understand. Mateo’s fierce protectiveness, Ivy’s fear of failure, Cal’s desperartion to be loved… It all made sense almost from page one. Charactization is something that McManus always perfects, and this book was no different.

As the story moves along, all the moving pieces shift around in movements that are so perfected, they’re almost dance-like. I read the second half of the book in one sitting, finishing it at 2am, and then sitting there, open mouthed, needing someone to talk the story through with immediately. I might have finished at 2am, but I certainly wasn’t asleep until 3am because I just had my brain spinning. And I am not complaining for one moment!

I’ve read a couple other mystery/suspense books by this author and couldn’t resist the opportunity to participate in a blog tour for her newest release.

It starts out like a Ferris Bueller kind of day for friends Ivy, Mateo, and Cal when they decide to skip school, but they sure don’t wind up at a baseball game or fancy restaurant for lunch. When they wander into the scene of a very recently committed murder – seriously, the body hadn’t even begun to cool – their day goes off the rails at the speed of light. Panicked and on the run, the teens make one bad decision after another and dig themselves in deeper. I wanted to rip their heads off. Although close friends in middle school, the three of them drifted apart and spend time rehashing the scenario that seemed to cause the divide. Old wounds are reopened, fingers are pointed, and at times the three turn on each other while trying to discover who the murderer is.

All three characters are well-crafted and are dealing with their own problems – besides being possible murder suspects. Mateo works three jobs to help pay for his mother’s medications after she loses the family business. Cal is dumped by another girlfriend who left him with some unfair parting shots, and his list of friends is sadly very short. Overachiever Ivy struggles to prove herself to her parents. After her talented younger brother skips a grade, she feels as if a competition exists between them. She’s undoubtedly an intelligent girl (I adored the random trivia she’d text Cal in the wee hours of the morning), but of the three seems to make the worst decisions. Honestly, I’m surprised Cal and Mateo didn’t just dump her a few times, but she does make up for it.

The plot will keep you guessing, and there are a couple red herrings to throw you off. At the big reveal, the person behind everything is probably someone you’ll never guess, but I won’t say why – no spoilers. I will say I’d hoped for a more jaw-dropping moment.

I think all of this author’s books are standalones, but the ending almost leaves an opening for a sequel. I know I wouldn’t mind seeing what happens next, but I doubt it’s in the cards. This is a quick read that doles out clues along the way – pay attention early in the book – and will keep you guessing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Turning Pages NZ for letting me read advanced copy of this book

Karen M. McManus has delivered once again, she definitely has mastered the art of young adult mystery novels that leave you wanting more and unable to put the book down.

You'll Be The Death of Me has a similar vibe to The Cousins. It is told from, three different perspectives. A slow start, a fast paced middle and then a sudden ending. The book ends in a way that the author could write a sequel but I'm unsure at what aspect this would take. I did want a bit more from the ending and a bit longer last chapter.

Fans of her work will definitely be happy with this one!