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They All Fall Down
Pretty Little Liars meets Final Destination in this YA psychological thriller that will have readers' hearts racing right till the very end!
Every year, the lives of ten girls at Vienna High are transformed.
All because of the list.
Kenzie Summerall can't imagine how she's been voted onto a list of the hottest girls in school, but when she lands at number five, her average life becomes dazzling. Doors open to the best parties, new friends surround her, the cutest jock in school is after her.
This is the power of the list. If you're on it, your life changes.
If you're on it this year? Your life ends.
The girls on the list have started to die, one by one. Is it a coincidence? A curse? Or is the list in the hands of a killer?
Time is running out for Kenzie, but she’s determined to uncover the deadly secret of the list...before her number’s up.
Every year, the lives of ten girls at Vienna High are transformed.
All because of the list.
Kenzie Summerall can't imagine how she's been voted onto a list of the hottest girls in school, but when she lands at number five, her average life becomes dazzling. Doors open to the best parties, new friends surround her, the cutest jock in school is after her.
This is the power of the list. If you're on it, your life changes.
If you're on it this year? Your life ends.
The girls on the list have started to die, one by one. Is it a coincidence? A curse? Or is the list in the hands of a killer?
Time is running out for Kenzie, but she’s determined to uncover the deadly secret of the list...before her number’s up.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2014
318 people are currently reading
13307 people want to read
About the author
Roxanne St. Claire
265 books1,832 followersI don’t know about you, but when I check out an author's bio, it’s usually because I’ve read a book I liked and wondered about the person behind it. Let's skip the formal bio and I'll give you the inside scoop on who Roxanne St. Claire really is.
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
xoxo
Rocki
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February 4, 2025
I'm not a fan of destroying someone else’s work because I know the efforts that person may have put into it, but sometimes it feels like there's none.
So I don't think I should put any effort in trying to understand how is possible for someone to have read this story and have thought “This is good enough to waste trees”.
Truth is, They All Fall Down is a mediocre story that seems to have been written by a 13-year-old in her spare time.
The narration is bad, the metaphors are even worse - “He’s a great white, and right now, he’s looking at me like I’m a guppy” -, the whole story is a big sexist joke against what teenage girls may think is “just a boy having a crush”, the love triangle already there in the second chapter is exhilarating, and the finale is a parody of some b list-spy kids movie.
There's nothing, NOTHING, in this book that could survive cancel culture in 2023.
And thank God for that.
↠ 1 star
So I don't think I should put any effort in trying to understand how is possible for someone to have read this story and have thought “This is good enough to waste trees”.
Truth is, They All Fall Down is a mediocre story that seems to have been written by a 13-year-old in her spare time.
The narration is bad, the metaphors are even worse - “He’s a great white, and right now, he’s looking at me like I’m a guppy” -, the whole story is a big sexist joke against what teenage girls may think is “just a boy having a crush”, the love triangle already there in the second chapter is exhilarating, and the finale is a parody of some b list-spy kids movie.
There's nothing, NOTHING, in this book that could survive cancel culture in 2023.
And thank God for that.
↠ 1 star
July 9, 2016
1.5 star
I thought I had topped my levels of sheer absurdity with Dear Killer, but, as it turns out, They All Fall Down was more than willing to put up a really great fight, and thus, ended up taking the cake for the most preposterous, ridiculous, inane, insipid and laughably vacuous book I've read in quite some time.
The entire premise of this book is insanely misogynistic, and in spite of the author's best efforts to change that by adding a twist to the purpose of the list towards the end, the fact still remains that this book is outstandingly sexist without even trying to. We have this "tradition" called "The Hottie List" (I shit you not), in which 10 lucky girls are declared the best and hottest in the entire school as judged by every guy on campus (and they make each and every single one vote or they risk a beating) based only on their general hotness... and they all love it. Every single girl in that school worships that disgusting list, and the author used that opportunity to demean in the most despicable way one of the girls in the list by writing her as a thoroughly superficial, Paris Hilton-like grade A bitch who (supposedly) gave blow jobs to the entire football team (or whatever) for her spot on the list. Because, when you are already demeaning the integrity of all women in your book by making them accept wholeheartedly a disgusting list that rates them on their looks alone, why not also go the extra mile and add slut shaming to it?
Even the MC's best friend is obsessed with that list and spends the entire novel whining about "riding" the MC's "coattails" into popularity, because, oh yeah, being on that list made you instantly famous and made you part of a secret club/society of super hot girls that... I don't know, gets you into parties? Molly's entire characterization was this vapid, shallow and silly constant whining and moaning about using Kenzie as a ticket to popularity and then bitching when they did and Kenzie hung out with other, more popular people.
But, of course, Kenzie, our MC, was not like that. She's the super special snowflake that doesn't even care about the list, even though she spends the entire novel talking about it, telling everyone that she doesn't deserve to be in it and she can't possibly understand what got her into it, making everyone wax poetics about how worthy she is, how gorgeous and special and perfect and brilliant and glorious she is. And, since Kenzie's bound to remind you about 5 times per page if you decide to read this book, I am obligated to tell you about how brilliant she is. She is constantly talking about smart she is, all based on her capacity to translate a couple of phrases in Latin, and that's her biggest argument against her presence on the list, because we all know, beauty and brains are a dichotomy and there is no such thing as a smart, beautiful woman. Except Kenzie is both, of course, and the only one in the entire novel.
That stupid list ruled the entire school. We even have this nurse in her 40s bragging about having been #9 in her year, as if that had been the highlight of her entire life. And for all of these girls it really was. There's no depth to any character in this novel and all women are relegated to popularity-obsessed, shallow and superficial idiots. Only one person acknowledges that the list objectifies women and it is a character whose moral inclinations are questionable since the beginning and is thoroughly creepy in the process, so what does that tell you?
And the guys... We are supposed to sympathize with this guy who suddenly got interested in a girl simply because she showed up in the list and gives her the lovely endearment of "Fifth" in reference to her place on the list? Like that's not offensive, demeaning and disgusting in the slightest? I'm supposed to like a guy that completely objectified the MC, disregarded her wishes entirely and claimed her for himself like she was a pet or something? I'm supposed to feel attracted to this third wheel in the love triangle after all that?
Am I supposed to empathize with Kenzie, a girl who allows guys to call her "Fifth", is never concerned or offended by the very existence of the list, much less that she was in it, and based all of her decisions on how cute and popular a guy was? Am I suppose to like this self-absorbed girl who, once she was on the list, started to wonder how other girls were on it as well if they weren't even "that pretty"?
The only remotely nice thing I can say about this book is that the main love interest, Levi, was, in fact, genuinely nice and adorable. He came from the usual stereotype of the misunderstood bad boy with a bad rep and a heart of gold, but he was nice to read about. The romance, though, as expected, was of the instant variety and was kind of awkward in certain scenes.
The resolution of this mystery was so patently absurd, I reread the reveal scene a couple of times to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding the whole thing. I will give credit where credit is due and admit that I never saw it coming, - mainly because that would've been the most ludicrous and preposterous of possibilities -, but the author kept the secret close to her heart and handled the mystery in a way that kept you wondering to the end. That doesn't mean, however, that it was satisfactory in the slightest or that it wasn't outlandish and incongruous to the extreme. It made sense in the way it was written, to be honest, but the idea behind the entire concept is ridiculous. Moreover, this twist didn't make the insulting nature of the list any less offensive because, not only did it demeaned the worth of those in the list even further, it also confirmed that some of them weren't "worth" of being in it, as if an honor had been unfairly bestowed upon them simply because they needed to and, even when being in it had terrible consequences for the girls in it, they still were not deserving of it.
This novel also asks for a monumental suspension of disbelief. The things that happen in this book left me in a state of utter incredulity, especially after the big reveal. But still, I would've given it a chance if I had actually enjoyed any aspect of this story, which evidently I didn't. It was eyeroll after eyeroll for me, which quickly built up into complete exasperation and irritation, and then turned into indignation and anger. I don't believe for a second that the author tried to be offensive with this in any way, but, at least to me, it came across as profoundly offensive and insulting.
This was an idea that could've worked in the same trivial and frivolously entertaining way most generic movie thrillers work today, but I expect a bit more from a book. At the very least I expect some respect to be given to the mostly female audience this book is addressed to, and I didn't find it anywhere. I didn't see any of these girls striving to be anything more than a number in a list that ranked them in levels of hotness and granted them the great benefits of popularity and parties and the attention of cute jackasses that only want them because all the other guys in schools had given their hotness the nod of approval. The only girl that aspires for a bit more is Kenzie, and never once does she stands against this whole thing because that was only used as a device to isolate her as the truly special and wonderful being she is.
This is a very fast book, and fairly entertaining too, I must admit, but it was not enjoyable to me. Even if I had managed to put aside my distaste for the sexist premise this whole story is based on, the preposterous and improbable way in which the plot developed still would've bothered me immensely, far too much for me to enjoy this book in a way. Maybe I am taking it too seriously. This is certainly a quick, entertaining and silly book that would easily take away the boredom of any given day, but the impact it had on me was almost entirely negative, and I did take issues with the way things were portrayed in this novel, so it is more than same to say that this book was definitely not for me.
I thought I had topped my levels of sheer absurdity with Dear Killer, but, as it turns out, They All Fall Down was more than willing to put up a really great fight, and thus, ended up taking the cake for the most preposterous, ridiculous, inane, insipid and laughably vacuous book I've read in quite some time.
The entire premise of this book is insanely misogynistic, and in spite of the author's best efforts to change that by adding a twist to the purpose of the list towards the end, the fact still remains that this book is outstandingly sexist without even trying to. We have this "tradition" called "The Hottie List" (I shit you not), in which 10 lucky girls are declared the best and hottest in the entire school as judged by every guy on campus (and they make each and every single one vote or they risk a beating) based only on their general hotness... and they all love it. Every single girl in that school worships that disgusting list, and the author used that opportunity to demean in the most despicable way one of the girls in the list by writing her as a thoroughly superficial, Paris Hilton-like grade A bitch who (supposedly) gave blow jobs to the entire football team (or whatever) for her spot on the list. Because, when you are already demeaning the integrity of all women in your book by making them accept wholeheartedly a disgusting list that rates them on their looks alone, why not also go the extra mile and add slut shaming to it?
Even the MC's best friend is obsessed with that list and spends the entire novel whining about "riding" the MC's "coattails" into popularity, because, oh yeah, being on that list made you instantly famous and made you part of a secret club/society of super hot girls that... I don't know, gets you into parties? Molly's entire characterization was this vapid, shallow and silly constant whining and moaning about using Kenzie as a ticket to popularity and then bitching when they did and Kenzie hung out with other, more popular people.
But, of course, Kenzie, our MC, was not like that. She's the super special snowflake that doesn't even care about the list, even though she spends the entire novel talking about it, telling everyone that she doesn't deserve to be in it and she can't possibly understand what got her into it, making everyone wax poetics about how worthy she is, how gorgeous and special and perfect and brilliant and glorious she is. And, since Kenzie's bound to remind you about 5 times per page if you decide to read this book, I am obligated to tell you about how brilliant she is. She is constantly talking about smart she is, all based on her capacity to translate a couple of phrases in Latin, and that's her biggest argument against her presence on the list, because we all know, beauty and brains are a dichotomy and there is no such thing as a smart, beautiful woman. Except Kenzie is both, of course, and the only one in the entire novel.
That stupid list ruled the entire school. We even have this nurse in her 40s bragging about having been #9 in her year, as if that had been the highlight of her entire life. And for all of these girls it really was. There's no depth to any character in this novel and all women are relegated to popularity-obsessed, shallow and superficial idiots. Only one person acknowledges that the list objectifies women and it is a character whose moral inclinations are questionable since the beginning and is thoroughly creepy in the process, so what does that tell you?
And the guys... We are supposed to sympathize with this guy who suddenly got interested in a girl simply because she showed up in the list and gives her the lovely endearment of "Fifth" in reference to her place on the list? Like that's not offensive, demeaning and disgusting in the slightest? I'm supposed to like a guy that completely objectified the MC, disregarded her wishes entirely and claimed her for himself like she was a pet or something? I'm supposed to feel attracted to this third wheel in the love triangle after all that?
Am I supposed to empathize with Kenzie, a girl who allows guys to call her "Fifth", is never concerned or offended by the very existence of the list, much less that she was in it, and based all of her decisions on how cute and popular a guy was? Am I suppose to like this self-absorbed girl who, once she was on the list, started to wonder how other girls were on it as well if they weren't even "that pretty"?
The only remotely nice thing I can say about this book is that the main love interest, Levi, was, in fact, genuinely nice and adorable. He came from the usual stereotype of the misunderstood bad boy with a bad rep and a heart of gold, but he was nice to read about. The romance, though, as expected, was of the instant variety and was kind of awkward in certain scenes.
The resolution of this mystery was so patently absurd, I reread the reveal scene a couple of times to make sure I wasn't misunderstanding the whole thing. I will give credit where credit is due and admit that I never saw it coming, - mainly because that would've been the most ludicrous and preposterous of possibilities -, but the author kept the secret close to her heart and handled the mystery in a way that kept you wondering to the end. That doesn't mean, however, that it was satisfactory in the slightest or that it wasn't outlandish and incongruous to the extreme. It made sense in the way it was written, to be honest, but the idea behind the entire concept is ridiculous. Moreover, this twist didn't make the insulting nature of the list any less offensive because, not only did it demeaned the worth of those in the list even further, it also confirmed that some of them weren't "worth" of being in it, as if an honor had been unfairly bestowed upon them simply because they needed to and, even when being in it had terrible consequences for the girls in it, they still were not deserving of it.
This novel also asks for a monumental suspension of disbelief. The things that happen in this book left me in a state of utter incredulity, especially after the big reveal. But still, I would've given it a chance if I had actually enjoyed any aspect of this story, which evidently I didn't. It was eyeroll after eyeroll for me, which quickly built up into complete exasperation and irritation, and then turned into indignation and anger. I don't believe for a second that the author tried to be offensive with this in any way, but, at least to me, it came across as profoundly offensive and insulting.
This was an idea that could've worked in the same trivial and frivolously entertaining way most generic movie thrillers work today, but I expect a bit more from a book. At the very least I expect some respect to be given to the mostly female audience this book is addressed to, and I didn't find it anywhere. I didn't see any of these girls striving to be anything more than a number in a list that ranked them in levels of hotness and granted them the great benefits of popularity and parties and the attention of cute jackasses that only want them because all the other guys in schools had given their hotness the nod of approval. The only girl that aspires for a bit more is Kenzie, and never once does she stands against this whole thing because that was only used as a device to isolate her as the truly special and wonderful being she is.
This is a very fast book, and fairly entertaining too, I must admit, but it was not enjoyable to me. Even if I had managed to put aside my distaste for the sexist premise this whole story is based on, the preposterous and improbable way in which the plot developed still would've bothered me immensely, far too much for me to enjoy this book in a way. Maybe I am taking it too seriously. This is certainly a quick, entertaining and silly book that would easily take away the boredom of any given day, but the impact it had on me was almost entirely negative, and I did take issues with the way things were portrayed in this novel, so it is more than same to say that this book was definitely not for me.
August 15, 2022
“I don’t want to fear life—I want to live it.”
― Roxanne St. Claire, They All Fall Down
I had looked forward to this one. While I did not hate it, (Goodreads NEEDS a 1-10 rating scale!) I did not love it.
They all fall down is a mystery revolving around Kensey, a student. Shy and intelligent, she is in shock when she finds she has made it onto a select school list titled the "hottie" list.
At first she is not thrilled but as she begins to be noticed by guys, including someone she'd long been attracted to, she starts to think maybe this is a good thing.
Until the "hotties" start dying...one by one.
So, that's the premise. Despite what others have said, I had no problem reading about the list. I mean yeah it's sexist but not anymore so then many other books. And I imagined a sort of Agatha Christie who done it type of book.
It really was not like that at all. I am going to list what I liked and what I did not, starting with the positive because there were some good things.
Pulls you in right away.
Great and immersive writing.
Creepy. And at times downright scary and eerie. I was surprised by the creepy factor.
The instalove thing that bothers me so much in other books somehow worked quite well here.
Kensey was a well drawn character that I could easily root for.
Now here are the reasons why I did not really like it as much as I'd have liked.
The premise was great. But the happenings in this book were jaw dropping in terms of having to suspend disbelief. I couldn't get deeply involved because I could not immerse myself likely because I always knew I was reading a book if that makes sense.
The tension starts at the beginning and it was just to much. People who know my reviews know I like slow and intense books with deep character development. I always have a tough time when the scares start early because I have barely been introduced to the characters.
By 20 percent, multiple attempts on lives had been made. I wanted something different. I wanted to know the cast of characters in the book and except for the four main characters and the parents I never felt like I did. The "hotties" were pretty much interchangeable.
I was hoping it was a who done it but it sort of wasn't in the conventional sense.
The wrap up was...I'm sorry...bizarre and had no reality to it. This is really different then the kind of book I was seeking. I do think it is a good choice for people who just want a fast YA mystery read with lots of creepy happenings.
SPOILERS:
I actually found the whole thing about a network of assassins fascinating. But the wrap up frustrated me with Kensey fighting the missing dad and then Josh is fighting with this one and everything's ramped up...I think I'd just have preferred a really interesting who done it. I do wonder if there will be a part two of this as it seems like it's set up so there might be.
― Roxanne St. Claire, They All Fall Down
I had looked forward to this one. While I did not hate it, (Goodreads NEEDS a 1-10 rating scale!) I did not love it.
They all fall down is a mystery revolving around Kensey, a student. Shy and intelligent, she is in shock when she finds she has made it onto a select school list titled the "hottie" list.
At first she is not thrilled but as she begins to be noticed by guys, including someone she'd long been attracted to, she starts to think maybe this is a good thing.
Until the "hotties" start dying...one by one.
So, that's the premise. Despite what others have said, I had no problem reading about the list. I mean yeah it's sexist but not anymore so then many other books. And I imagined a sort of Agatha Christie who done it type of book.
It really was not like that at all. I am going to list what I liked and what I did not, starting with the positive because there were some good things.
Pulls you in right away.
Great and immersive writing.
Creepy. And at times downright scary and eerie. I was surprised by the creepy factor.
The instalove thing that bothers me so much in other books somehow worked quite well here.
Kensey was a well drawn character that I could easily root for.
Now here are the reasons why I did not really like it as much as I'd have liked.
The premise was great. But the happenings in this book were jaw dropping in terms of having to suspend disbelief. I couldn't get deeply involved because I could not immerse myself likely because I always knew I was reading a book if that makes sense.
The tension starts at the beginning and it was just to much. People who know my reviews know I like slow and intense books with deep character development. I always have a tough time when the scares start early because I have barely been introduced to the characters.
By 20 percent, multiple attempts on lives had been made. I wanted something different. I wanted to know the cast of characters in the book and except for the four main characters and the parents I never felt like I did. The "hotties" were pretty much interchangeable.
I was hoping it was a who done it but it sort of wasn't in the conventional sense.
The wrap up was...I'm sorry...bizarre and had no reality to it. This is really different then the kind of book I was seeking. I do think it is a good choice for people who just want a fast YA mystery read with lots of creepy happenings.
SPOILERS:
I actually found the whole thing about a network of assassins fascinating. But the wrap up frustrated me with Kensey fighting the missing dad and then Josh is fighting with this one and everything's ramped up...I think I'd just have preferred a really interesting who done it. I do wonder if there will be a part two of this as it seems like it's set up so there might be.
October 20, 2021
This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf.
I was a little afraid to pick this one up as the description says "Pretty Little Liars meets Final Destination". I'm glad I didn't think this book had much in common with PLL because after Get Even by Gretchen McNeil, I don't think I'd be able to handle it. I liked that it had a Final Destination feel, but for me, it was more like a mix between The List by Siobhan Vivian and R.L. Stine's Fear Street books. But nonetheless, it was a thrilling ride from the start, and I'm happy I got to be on it.
Our main character, Kenzie Summerall, was a normal girl, a bit of a nerd with a high passion for a dead language, Latin. She had overprotective parents and she just wanted to get a scholarship so she can get away from them and go to a nice college. But then the "The Hottie List" happens and out of ten girls who made the list, she is placed fifth! She starts getting attention from everyone, and among them is Josh, a guy who she had a crush on. There is also Levi, a guy who she shouldn't like but she feels drawn to him even though everybody is warning her about him. But then, the girls who made the list start dying in unexplainable accidents, and as it seems, they're dying in the order they were on the list. Kenzie has to figure out what is happening because she's fifth and it's almost her turn.
I know this book may seem a little bit of a cliche with a love triangle, but it's really not like that. Yes, there are two guys, but it's clear from the start where it is heading. I even really LIKED the romance even though I don't usually like when there's more than one guy in play. But the book itself was really great! From the moment you start reading They All Fall Down you get sucked into the story, the excitement, the mystery... and I just couldn't PUT THE BOOK DOWN! The book kept me guessing things all the time and I was trying to figure out what is happening and who the villain is. Every now and then we'd get a twist and I'd be back to square one with my guessing. It's what made this book so amazing! The mystery behind the book is just so addicting!
Another thing that needs mentioning is the cover! I realized while I was discussing it with my friend Zemira from YA Fanatic that we both thought it was blood surrounding girls heads, BUT GUYS, IT'S THE RED PLATES!!! How freaking genius is that?? Big props for the cover, Delacorte Press!
All in all, as you can conclude from my review, I really enjoyed the book! I'm not a big fan of mystery novels, but They All Fall Down managed to keep me interested the whole time! So, if you're looking for a quick, fun mystery book, you can't go wrong with They All Fall Down. It's a perfect read for the upcoming Halloween!
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I was a little afraid to pick this one up as the description says "Pretty Little Liars meets Final Destination". I'm glad I didn't think this book had much in common with PLL because after Get Even by Gretchen McNeil, I don't think I'd be able to handle it. I liked that it had a Final Destination feel, but for me, it was more like a mix between The List by Siobhan Vivian and R.L. Stine's Fear Street books. But nonetheless, it was a thrilling ride from the start, and I'm happy I got to be on it.
Our main character, Kenzie Summerall, was a normal girl, a bit of a nerd with a high passion for a dead language, Latin. She had overprotective parents and she just wanted to get a scholarship so she can get away from them and go to a nice college. But then the "The Hottie List" happens and out of ten girls who made the list, she is placed fifth! She starts getting attention from everyone, and among them is Josh, a guy who she had a crush on. There is also Levi, a guy who she shouldn't like but she feels drawn to him even though everybody is warning her about him. But then, the girls who made the list start dying in unexplainable accidents, and as it seems, they're dying in the order they were on the list. Kenzie has to figure out what is happening because she's fifth and it's almost her turn.
I know this book may seem a little bit of a cliche with a love triangle, but it's really not like that. Yes, there are two guys, but it's clear from the start where it is heading. I even really LIKED the romance even though I don't usually like when there's more than one guy in play. But the book itself was really great! From the moment you start reading They All Fall Down you get sucked into the story, the excitement, the mystery... and I just couldn't PUT THE BOOK DOWN! The book kept me guessing things all the time and I was trying to figure out what is happening and who the villain is. Every now and then we'd get a twist and I'd be back to square one with my guessing. It's what made this book so amazing! The mystery behind the book is just so addicting!
Another thing that needs mentioning is the cover! I realized while I was discussing it with my friend Zemira from YA Fanatic that we both thought it was blood surrounding girls heads, BUT GUYS, IT'S THE RED PLATES!!! How freaking genius is that?? Big props for the cover, Delacorte Press!
All in all, as you can conclude from my review, I really enjoyed the book! I'm not a big fan of mystery novels, but They All Fall Down managed to keep me interested the whole time! So, if you're looking for a quick, fun mystery book, you can't go wrong with They All Fall Down. It's a perfect read for the upcoming Halloween!
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August 13, 2019
They All Fall Down is a psycho-thriller that is a little juvenile, a bit dark and a bit comic although I wish the comic element was more. Nonetheless, it was quite entertaining. I’m glad I didn’t expect more because the cover alone already foreshadows the story’s out-turn. That way, I was able to enjoy reading the book.
At the surface, the plot is supposedly about Mackenzie making it to the list of the top ten hottest girls in school. But to make it fair to Kenzie, she thinks the list is stupid too and now her life is upturned because there seems to be a curse (or a psycho) causing the deaths of the girls in the list in the order of their rank. Kenzie is fifth. She couldn’t tell her problem to her parents because her mum already suffers from dystychiphobia or fear of accidents because her son, Connor, died a few years ago from an accident so Kenzie plays detective by tapping on her excellent Latin skills to try figure out everything on her own.
Of course, I was immediately curious and eager to know the truth behind the deaths which are all staged as accidents but which are obviously not. It’s kind of like watching Final Destination except the Grim Reaper in this story is literally portrayed. In the end, I find it quite amusing the revelation of the deaths. It’s actually kind of a plausible explanation on so many deaths attributed to accidents that have happened and keep happening around the world.
May 15, 2017
I'm a huge PLL fan (or so I was until things started to get too out of hand lol) and when I first read the premise to this book, I couldn't wait to dive into it and spend a few hours bathing in thrilling climax, eating ice-cream and solving mysteries.
*kicks chair*
I tried so much to like this book, I swear. But I just couldn't. A bit boring, predictable, eye-rolling and messy, it left me with a stranger frustration and insatisfaction that rarely accompany me after I finish a thriller/mystery novel and manage to find out the truth, especially when it comes to discovering who the culprit is.
What a pity; this story had sooo much potential.
One good thing I need to credit the author for, though, is all the Latin that revolves around Kenzie and the whole curse situation. That was cool (and anyone who knows me even a little, is aware of how big of a sucker I am for stories with Latin in it).
Otherwise, I feel free to hide this book somewhere away from my gaze and never take it out again, because, you know, verba volant, scripta manent.
*kicks chair*
I tried so much to like this book, I swear. But I just couldn't. A bit boring, predictable, eye-rolling and messy, it left me with a stranger frustration and insatisfaction that rarely accompany me after I finish a thriller/mystery novel and manage to find out the truth, especially when it comes to discovering who the culprit is.
What a pity; this story had sooo much potential.
One good thing I need to credit the author for, though, is all the Latin that revolves around Kenzie and the whole curse situation. That was cool (and anyone who knows me even a little, is aware of how big of a sucker I am for stories with Latin in it).
Otherwise, I feel free to hide this book somewhere away from my gaze and never take it out again, because, you know, verba volant, scripta manent.
October 18, 2014
'They All Fall Down' is a gripping and fast-paced young adult thriller that will have the reader on the edge of their seat and guessing until the very end. The book tells the story of Kenzie Summerall, our geeky Latin-speaking heroine - and how her life is irrevocably changed by a simple list of ten names. The list is composed of the ten hottest girls at Vienna High, as voted by the guys at the school. When Kenzie finds out that she not only made the list, but was voted in at fifth place, she's stunned. Overnight, Kenzie's life goes from boring to incredibly popular - she's invited to the best parties, her crush since middle school suddenly wants to date her, and she has tons of new friends. The list changes the lives of ten girls at Vienna High each year - if they're able to survive the curse. And it seems like this year, all the girls on the list are destined to die.
Being a huge fan of thrillers, this book's description had me immediately curious and dying to read it. I had pretty high hopes for it because the premise sounded so original and promising, and I'm so incredibly happy to say that I was far from disappointed. It went above and beyond any hopes or expectations I had - easily becoming one of the best YA thrillers I've read this year. The book was told from Kenzie's point of view, which made it conversational in tone and extremely easy to get sucked into the story. I was able to slip inside the story almost immediately and I didn't stop reading until I was done. You know you've found a fantastic book when you literally can't (or won't) tear yourself away from it until you've finished it. I love trying to figure out who the villain in the book is and what's really going on before the characters do, but I have to admit that this one had me stumped. I would have a theory of who was behind it all and then the author throws a huge twist into the story - and I'm back to square one. The fact that the story was so well written that I couldn't figure out the mystery before the ending says a lot about the author and their talent, which also puts it high up on my rating scale.
Kenzie was a good main character for the story. She's the perfect heroine - easy to relate to and incredibly realistic. She's just a normal girl trying her best in school so she can get a scholarship to her dream college. She's a bit of a nerd with all of her studying and her love of Latin, but she doesn't mind not being popular or partying like the other kids. There are problems in her home life due to her brother's accidental death two years ago and her parent's subsequent separation. She's very smart, kind, a loving daughter and devoted friend. She's still grieving the loss of her brother and blames herself every day for his death. I immediately loved Kenzie from the beginning of the book because of how realistic and normal she is. She reminded me a lot of myself when I was in high school, and I think that might be part of the reason I related with her so much. The plot was chilling and unique. As I mentioned, there were a ton of twists and turns thrown in to the story line to throw the reader off guard and to keep them guessing. You could feel the tension and fear growing with every chapter as the events continued to unfold. The book was fast paced and exciting with detailed characters and vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was inside the story with Kenzie. There is some romance in the book, but that factors into the mystery as well - which I thought brought it to a whole new level. You weren't sure who you could trust - if anyone. Honestly, this was a fun and exhilarating thriller that I couldn't get enough of. It's definitely original and gives a breath of fresh air into the genre, which I think is too small to begin with. I very highly recommend this book to fans of YA thrillers and mysteries as well those who enjoy suspense novels and contemporary fiction - and any reader looking for an engrossing thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Being a huge fan of thrillers, this book's description had me immediately curious and dying to read it. I had pretty high hopes for it because the premise sounded so original and promising, and I'm so incredibly happy to say that I was far from disappointed. It went above and beyond any hopes or expectations I had - easily becoming one of the best YA thrillers I've read this year. The book was told from Kenzie's point of view, which made it conversational in tone and extremely easy to get sucked into the story. I was able to slip inside the story almost immediately and I didn't stop reading until I was done. You know you've found a fantastic book when you literally can't (or won't) tear yourself away from it until you've finished it. I love trying to figure out who the villain in the book is and what's really going on before the characters do, but I have to admit that this one had me stumped. I would have a theory of who was behind it all and then the author throws a huge twist into the story - and I'm back to square one. The fact that the story was so well written that I couldn't figure out the mystery before the ending says a lot about the author and their talent, which also puts it high up on my rating scale.
Kenzie was a good main character for the story. She's the perfect heroine - easy to relate to and incredibly realistic. She's just a normal girl trying her best in school so she can get a scholarship to her dream college. She's a bit of a nerd with all of her studying and her love of Latin, but she doesn't mind not being popular or partying like the other kids. There are problems in her home life due to her brother's accidental death two years ago and her parent's subsequent separation. She's very smart, kind, a loving daughter and devoted friend. She's still grieving the loss of her brother and blames herself every day for his death. I immediately loved Kenzie from the beginning of the book because of how realistic and normal she is. She reminded me a lot of myself when I was in high school, and I think that might be part of the reason I related with her so much. The plot was chilling and unique. As I mentioned, there were a ton of twists and turns thrown in to the story line to throw the reader off guard and to keep them guessing. You could feel the tension and fear growing with every chapter as the events continued to unfold. The book was fast paced and exciting with detailed characters and vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was inside the story with Kenzie. There is some romance in the book, but that factors into the mystery as well - which I thought brought it to a whole new level. You weren't sure who you could trust - if anyone. Honestly, this was a fun and exhilarating thriller that I couldn't get enough of. It's definitely original and gives a breath of fresh air into the genre, which I think is too small to begin with. I very highly recommend this book to fans of YA thrillers and mysteries as well those who enjoy suspense novels and contemporary fiction - and any reader looking for an engrossing thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2019
“I don't want to fear life -- I want to live it.”
I have to say this was a cover buy for me. I still think the cover is awesomely cheesy. I like tacky, what can I say/
I feel torn on this book. On the one hand, the book was stupid fun and mildly entertaining. On the other hand, most of the characters were idiots and the protagonist was extremely frustrating. This is a book when you must set aside your brain for awhile. I don't always feel like sitting down and analyzing a book to death. However, I couldn't look over one of the more cliche things I've read, which was "The Hottie List." I think a little more creativity could've went into that one. We've seen this a million times in a million different ways, give us something original PLEASE. I mean, I would've rolled my eyes at that even at 12 years old. The ending was okish but I really wish they would've thrown a big twist in there. I wanted to be taken by surprise but that did not happen. The author took a really predictable route when she could've done something fun with it.
Our protagonist, Kenzie, was alright, nothing special. I mean I very much doubt she'd be someone you'd remember reading about in a month's time. She's fairly bland and sometimes annoying but nothing life changing about her. I found her best friend Molly annoying as hell. I know she wasn't supposed to be but I wanted to slap her - often! I would've been fine with the idea that a best friend didn't want to get left behind, completely legitimate. However, one minute she was whiny and insecure and the next she was the best friend a girl could ever have. The consistences of her character could've driven me to drink. Ugh.
I liked the character of Levi, I would've been more interested in his story actually. He wasn't fully developed but he was intriguing to me. There were times that there were enough red herrings that I wasn't sure how it would end. I appreciate it when I don't guess everything in the first 50 pages. It was obviously a play on the film Final Destinationand that is kind of fun. It was also a really fast-paced read. I didn't feel it dragged during the book, always nice. Doesn't mean it was good though - just means I didn't have to push to get through it.
Overall I would not recommend this book, there is some serious sexism, a lot of cliches and some characters you will want to smack (and likely cheer for their death). It's a complete hot mess of a book, that probably isn't worth wasting your time on.
I have to say this was a cover buy for me. I still think the cover is awesomely cheesy. I like tacky, what can I say/
I feel torn on this book. On the one hand, the book was stupid fun and mildly entertaining. On the other hand, most of the characters were idiots and the protagonist was extremely frustrating. This is a book when you must set aside your brain for awhile. I don't always feel like sitting down and analyzing a book to death. However, I couldn't look over one of the more cliche things I've read, which was "The Hottie List." I think a little more creativity could've went into that one. We've seen this a million times in a million different ways, give us something original PLEASE. I mean, I would've rolled my eyes at that even at 12 years old. The ending was okish but I really wish they would've thrown a big twist in there. I wanted to be taken by surprise but that did not happen. The author took a really predictable route when she could've done something fun with it.
Our protagonist, Kenzie, was alright, nothing special. I mean I very much doubt she'd be someone you'd remember reading about in a month's time. She's fairly bland and sometimes annoying but nothing life changing about her. I found her best friend Molly annoying as hell. I know she wasn't supposed to be but I wanted to slap her - often! I would've been fine with the idea that a best friend didn't want to get left behind, completely legitimate. However, one minute she was whiny and insecure and the next she was the best friend a girl could ever have. The consistences of her character could've driven me to drink. Ugh.
I liked the character of Levi, I would've been more interested in his story actually. He wasn't fully developed but he was intriguing to me. There were times that there were enough red herrings that I wasn't sure how it would end. I appreciate it when I don't guess everything in the first 50 pages. It was obviously a play on the film Final Destinationand that is kind of fun. It was also a really fast-paced read. I didn't feel it dragged during the book, always nice. Doesn't mean it was good though - just means I didn't have to push to get through it.
Overall I would not recommend this book, there is some serious sexism, a lot of cliches and some characters you will want to smack (and likely cheer for their death). It's a complete hot mess of a book, that probably isn't worth wasting your time on.
August 18, 2019
“I don’t want to fear life—I want to live it.”
Rating: 1.5/5 stars
We'll keep this one on the short side so we can all continue to merrily go about our Sunday. To put it plain and simple...it's a no from me. Ultimately, what hooked me on this story was that it was pitched as Pretty Little Liars meets Final Destination and once upon a time I was a sucker for both of those. So, when a good ol' deal from Book Outlet was happening and I was able to get this book for a couple bucks I figured I might as well take the plunge and give this a try. Hands down, the most frustrating thing about this book is that it could have been really good, but it just didn't make any sense whatsoever.
This book is HELLA misogynistic since it's essentially about high school girls who are only worth something if they're on the Hottie List. *gags* If you're not on the list you're basically considered a no one. Half the girls on the list were so vain that I was cheering them on when they died because there is literally nothing worse than a girl who is full of herself. There's a huge difference between self-love and knowing your worth vs. treating people like dirt because you think you're better than everyone. And to make matter's even worse the girls are often called by their number on this list...not their name. So Kenzie, our MC, is better known as "fifth" to the whole school than she is Kenzie. Lord, help us all.
As for the ending, obviously someone is behind the murders but they're making it look like a Final Destination-esque type of death that just boils down to being a freak accident. While it was pretty predicable who the "killer" was, the way the author spun the story and the killer's reasoning as to why the girls were dying made absolutely NO SENSE. Like, I could not believe what I was reading because it just came out of no where and had nothing to do with anything. It's basically the equivalent of putting mustard on a PB&J sandwich, that shit just doesn't work. There were so many plot holes in this that it's literally maddening.
All in all, it's pretty clear that this was a thoroughly disappointing read for me. But I'm also not one to shy away from talking about the books that I don't like because I also think that readers can find new books to read from negative reviews as well. I know I do.
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Rating: 1.5/5 stars
We'll keep this one on the short side so we can all continue to merrily go about our Sunday. To put it plain and simple...it's a no from me. Ultimately, what hooked me on this story was that it was pitched as Pretty Little Liars meets Final Destination and once upon a time I was a sucker for both of those. So, when a good ol' deal from Book Outlet was happening and I was able to get this book for a couple bucks I figured I might as well take the plunge and give this a try. Hands down, the most frustrating thing about this book is that it could have been really good, but it just didn't make any sense whatsoever.
This book is HELLA misogynistic since it's essentially about high school girls who are only worth something if they're on the Hottie List. *gags* If you're not on the list you're basically considered a no one. Half the girls on the list were so vain that I was cheering them on when they died because there is literally nothing worse than a girl who is full of herself. There's a huge difference between self-love and knowing your worth vs. treating people like dirt because you think you're better than everyone. And to make matter's even worse the girls are often called by their number on this list...not their name. So Kenzie, our MC, is better known as "fifth" to the whole school than she is Kenzie. Lord, help us all.
The romance in this? HARD PASS
Likable characters? SO BLAND THEY HURT
Level of investment in the plot? ZERO
As for the ending, obviously someone is behind the murders but they're making it look like a Final Destination-esque type of death that just boils down to being a freak accident. While it was pretty predicable who the "killer" was, the way the author spun the story and the killer's reasoning as to why the girls were dying made absolutely NO SENSE. Like, I could not believe what I was reading because it just came out of no where and had nothing to do with anything. It's basically the equivalent of putting mustard on a PB&J sandwich, that shit just doesn't work. There were so many plot holes in this that it's literally maddening.
All in all, it's pretty clear that this was a thoroughly disappointing read for me. But I'm also not one to shy away from talking about the books that I don't like because I also think that readers can find new books to read from negative reviews as well. I know I do.
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February 9, 2014
Read as digital ARC.
They All Fall Down is like The List and Death Bell, the Korean horror film, combined--aka exactly what the doctor ordered. Couldn't put it down.
They All Fall Down is like The List and Death Bell, the Korean horror film, combined--aka exactly what the doctor ordered. Couldn't put it down.
March 28, 2015
**4.5 Stars
They All Fall Down was one of my most anticipated reads of the fall and I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint. It was just as thrilling and haunting as I was expecting.
Kenzie Summerall is just an average high school girl, until The List, which consists of the school’s ten hottest girls, comes out and then everything in her life changes. All of the sudden she’s popular and everyone wants to be her friend, which isn’t too horrible. But then weird things starts to happen and suddenly girls on the list are dying, and if Kenzie doesn’t figure out what’s going on, she may be next.
Kenzie was such a wonderful character, she’s smart, loyal and determined to figure out what’s going on. She’s not the type of girl that sits back and whines until it’s too late. Once she suspects there may be a connection to the weird things happening to her and some of the list girls dying, she springs into action, and I loved that about her.
There is a wee bit of a love triangle but my choice was made from very early on. On one hand we have the jock that Kenzie has been ‘in love’ with for forever and on the other side we have the resident bad boy. If you’ve read my blog then you can pretty much guess which one I went for. Yep, the resident bad boy had my vote from the beginning, and once you read this book, I’m sure you’ll see why ;)
Overall, They All Fall Down is an amazingly chilling and haunting ride, a ride that will leave you on the edge of your seat and the twists will have you guessing until the end. I greatly enjoyed this story and I hope for more Kenzie and Levi in the future.
They All Fall Down was one of my most anticipated reads of the fall and I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint. It was just as thrilling and haunting as I was expecting.
Kenzie Summerall is just an average high school girl, until The List, which consists of the school’s ten hottest girls, comes out and then everything in her life changes. All of the sudden she’s popular and everyone wants to be her friend, which isn’t too horrible. But then weird things starts to happen and suddenly girls on the list are dying, and if Kenzie doesn’t figure out what’s going on, she may be next.
Kenzie was such a wonderful character, she’s smart, loyal and determined to figure out what’s going on. She’s not the type of girl that sits back and whines until it’s too late. Once she suspects there may be a connection to the weird things happening to her and some of the list girls dying, she springs into action, and I loved that about her.
There is a wee bit of a love triangle but my choice was made from very early on. On one hand we have the jock that Kenzie has been ‘in love’ with for forever and on the other side we have the resident bad boy. If you’ve read my blog then you can pretty much guess which one I went for. Yep, the resident bad boy had my vote from the beginning, and once you read this book, I’m sure you’ll see why ;)
Overall, They All Fall Down is an amazingly chilling and haunting ride, a ride that will leave you on the edge of your seat and the twists will have you guessing until the end. I greatly enjoyed this story and I hope for more Kenzie and Levi in the future.
February 26, 2021
4.5/5 :)
Every girl would die to be on the list.
Every girl on the list would die…
This book turned out WAY better than I had expected. Although it didn't really stand out to me that muchand I almost forgot about it, it had a good plot, interesting characters, and an unexpected ending.
I honestly shouldn’t have read this in the middle of the night…
09/09/20
02/15/21
Every girl on the list would die…
This book turned out WAY better than I had expected. Although it didn't really stand out to me that much
I honestly shouldn’t have read this in the middle of the night…
“They’re out there … killing.” His voice is cold, his eyes dead. “Unless we stop them.”
09/09/20
02/15/21
January 26, 2015
There's a curse.
There's a killer.
There's a very bizarre coincidence.
They All Fall Down is quite a page turner! This is a thriller with ominous, fatalistic undertones that also explores themes of death, loss, fear, objectifying women, popularity and high school social structures, and it does it in a clever, not too obvious way. A fun, intense read that is also surprisingly unnerving at times and it keeps you guessing until the very end.
Kenzie's junior year promises to be the greatest one yet. She's been voted one of the hottest girls in school! That's right, the geeky Latin-obsessed girl made the famous "Hottie List", the list that makes royalty out of ten junior girls every year. And she is the 5th one! Kenzie knows The List will change her life, but what she does not anticipate is that instead of making it awesome, shiny and fun, her life will whither into a nightmare. Because The List comes with a mysterious curse. One by one, the hottest girls start dying in freak accidents and things quickly spin out of control. In order for the girls to survive they need to keep quiet about the curse and appease the keeper of the list. The problem is no one knows who the keeper is or what it even means to "appease" him. All they know is that they will have to pay a very high price to survive this.
As far fetched and highly improbable as the plot line is, They All Fall Down is surprisingly entertaining and hard to put down. Sure, you sometimes roll your eyes at the crazy plot developments and yes, you really have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy this book, but I've read many books that were way more sketchy even without the vaguely supernatural aspect added to the plot. Many of the characters featured in this book are stereotypical and they serve one purpose - to be killed off, adding to the thrill and suspense of it all. And you really don't miss them when they're gone, you don't even feel sorry for them, given that they were deemed superficial, vane, and oftentimes slutty right from the get-go. Ultimately though that doesn't really matter, because it's not a character driven story. I didn't get attached to any of the characters, nor did I particularly sympathized with them, but at the same time I didn't feel like I was supposed to. I just enjoyed the twisty, captivating plot line.
I also enjoyed the over saturated, satire-like look at the high school society with all the cliques and popularity-based hierarchies. It was over the top and exaggerated, but undeniably spot on in so many ways. The underlying themes of this book really elevate the story, adding a subtle but very satisfying note to it and making it not only a great thriller, but also a cleverly designed cautionary tale. And they force you to kind of take a step back and re-evaluate your own priorities and behavior. The message isn't right in your face, it does not feel like it's being forced down your throat, it isn't didactic, but it's there and it adds important meaning, and that makes this book even better in my eyes.
Overall, They All Fall Down is a book that fans of fatalistic, you-can't-escape-your-destiny stories will probably enjoy immensely, especially if they can keep an open mind and allow themselves to believe in the unnatural, evil forces at play. I had a great time reading this book and will be picking up St.Claire's next novel for sure!
There's a killer.
There's a very bizarre coincidence.
They All Fall Down is quite a page turner! This is a thriller with ominous, fatalistic undertones that also explores themes of death, loss, fear, objectifying women, popularity and high school social structures, and it does it in a clever, not too obvious way. A fun, intense read that is also surprisingly unnerving at times and it keeps you guessing until the very end.
Kenzie's junior year promises to be the greatest one yet. She's been voted one of the hottest girls in school! That's right, the geeky Latin-obsessed girl made the famous "Hottie List", the list that makes royalty out of ten junior girls every year. And she is the 5th one! Kenzie knows The List will change her life, but what she does not anticipate is that instead of making it awesome, shiny and fun, her life will whither into a nightmare. Because The List comes with a mysterious curse. One by one, the hottest girls start dying in freak accidents and things quickly spin out of control. In order for the girls to survive they need to keep quiet about the curse and appease the keeper of the list. The problem is no one knows who the keeper is or what it even means to "appease" him. All they know is that they will have to pay a very high price to survive this.
As far fetched and highly improbable as the plot line is, They All Fall Down is surprisingly entertaining and hard to put down. Sure, you sometimes roll your eyes at the crazy plot developments and yes, you really have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy this book, but I've read many books that were way more sketchy even without the vaguely supernatural aspect added to the plot. Many of the characters featured in this book are stereotypical and they serve one purpose - to be killed off, adding to the thrill and suspense of it all. And you really don't miss them when they're gone, you don't even feel sorry for them, given that they were deemed superficial, vane, and oftentimes slutty right from the get-go. Ultimately though that doesn't really matter, because it's not a character driven story. I didn't get attached to any of the characters, nor did I particularly sympathized with them, but at the same time I didn't feel like I was supposed to. I just enjoyed the twisty, captivating plot line.
I also enjoyed the over saturated, satire-like look at the high school society with all the cliques and popularity-based hierarchies. It was over the top and exaggerated, but undeniably spot on in so many ways. The underlying themes of this book really elevate the story, adding a subtle but very satisfying note to it and making it not only a great thriller, but also a cleverly designed cautionary tale. And they force you to kind of take a step back and re-evaluate your own priorities and behavior. The message isn't right in your face, it does not feel like it's being forced down your throat, it isn't didactic, but it's there and it adds important meaning, and that makes this book even better in my eyes.
Overall, They All Fall Down is a book that fans of fatalistic, you-can't-escape-your-destiny stories will probably enjoy immensely, especially if they can keep an open mind and allow themselves to believe in the unnatural, evil forces at play. I had a great time reading this book and will be picking up St.Claire's next novel for sure!
October 16, 2014
Book review from my blog: http://acrossthewords.com/2014/10/16/...
As soon as I read the blurb of this book and saw that it is likened to Pretty Little Liars, I knew that I must get my hands on it! If you're a massive Pretty Little Liars fan and are suffering from the show's long hiatus (#thestruggleisreal), you should definitely pick up this book because it is a fantastic psychological thriller and a perfect October/Halloween read.
They All Fall Down follows the story of Kenzie Summerall, a high-school girl who is obsessed with Latin and is very academically driven. Kenzie considers herself a normal girl and hates being in the spotlight. However, her life dramatically changes once she is ranked number five out of ten on "The Hottie List" at school. Every year at Kenzie's high school, ten junior girls are voted onto a list and afterwards, they are pretty much treated as royalty; all of the boys begin to flock to them and they are invited to the most exclusive parties. The list is supposed to change the girls' lives for the better but the year that Kenzie gets on it, all of the girls on the list begin to die. Kenzie basically has to solve the mystery behind the deaths before her turn as "Fifth" is up. Needless to say, this book gets very intense very quickly!
I'll admit, when I first read about "The Hottie List," and especially when I learned that only boys can vote for who get put on the list, I was incredibly frustrated by its sexist nature. No fear though! Kenzie was right along there with me. I loved that Kenzie was not one of the girls who worshiped the list and actually, when she finds out that she is ranked fifth, she dismisses the list as "obsolete, meaningless, and unbelievably immature." She also adds that list serves no other purpose than "sexualizing and stereotyping girls" (p. 13). When I read those lines, all I could think was "you go girl!" It was so refreshing to have a shrewd and level-headed female main character who is not afraid to go against popular trends. Since this book has its moments of high-school drama/shallow comments it was nice to have such a strong and intelligent MC.
This book is a highly addictive novel that you won't be able to put it down. The ending is slightly predictable but there is definitely a big plot twist that left me quite shocked. The way the story ends leaves room for a sequel. If there is one, I would love to see more of Kenzie's love-interest, Levi, who is a misunderstood but genuinely nice guy. If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced, and entertaining mystery novel to read this Halloween, I recommend that you pick up this book!
Note: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
As soon as I read the blurb of this book and saw that it is likened to Pretty Little Liars, I knew that I must get my hands on it! If you're a massive Pretty Little Liars fan and are suffering from the show's long hiatus (#thestruggleisreal), you should definitely pick up this book because it is a fantastic psychological thriller and a perfect October/Halloween read.
They All Fall Down follows the story of Kenzie Summerall, a high-school girl who is obsessed with Latin and is very academically driven. Kenzie considers herself a normal girl and hates being in the spotlight. However, her life dramatically changes once she is ranked number five out of ten on "The Hottie List" at school. Every year at Kenzie's high school, ten junior girls are voted onto a list and afterwards, they are pretty much treated as royalty; all of the boys begin to flock to them and they are invited to the most exclusive parties. The list is supposed to change the girls' lives for the better but the year that Kenzie gets on it, all of the girls on the list begin to die. Kenzie basically has to solve the mystery behind the deaths before her turn as "Fifth" is up. Needless to say, this book gets very intense very quickly!
I'll admit, when I first read about "The Hottie List," and especially when I learned that only boys can vote for who get put on the list, I was incredibly frustrated by its sexist nature. No fear though! Kenzie was right along there with me. I loved that Kenzie was not one of the girls who worshiped the list and actually, when she finds out that she is ranked fifth, she dismisses the list as "obsolete, meaningless, and unbelievably immature." She also adds that list serves no other purpose than "sexualizing and stereotyping girls" (p. 13). When I read those lines, all I could think was "you go girl!" It was so refreshing to have a shrewd and level-headed female main character who is not afraid to go against popular trends. Since this book has its moments of high-school drama/shallow comments it was nice to have such a strong and intelligent MC.
This book is a highly addictive novel that you won't be able to put it down. The ending is slightly predictable but there is definitely a big plot twist that left me quite shocked. The way the story ends leaves room for a sequel. If there is one, I would love to see more of Kenzie's love-interest, Levi, who is a misunderstood but genuinely nice guy. If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced, and entertaining mystery novel to read this Halloween, I recommend that you pick up this book!
Note: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
October 19, 2014
They All Fall Down contains tension and scary moments in spades. The jacket copy compares this book to the film Final Destination and y'all, I am totally going to have to agree. If you like the sort of book or movie where characters get knocked off one by one then I am almost 100% positive you will love reading They All Fall Down, so fans of Ten by Gretchen McNeil, take note this is the book for you.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
July 19, 2014
Love love this book! I couldn't put it down, it was amazing! I loved the twist at the end. It was kind of like another book I read, where they had a pretty list, but this book was totally different! It combined all my favorite genres! A must read!
underdogs
February 9, 2014[]...Pretty Little Liars meets Final Destination in this YA psychological thriller...
Come at me, bro. ;)
Come at me, bro. ;)
October 16, 2014
Amazing mystery!
June 23, 2020
I'm convinced it is impossible to roll your eyes so much that they roll out of your head. Be sure to read this book if you want to test my hypothesis.
Kenzie's life has been uneventful for the last two years since her brother died, but everything changes when she's fifth on....the list. dun dun dun.....
Now, people who've apparently liked her for five suddenly start hitting on her, her 'best' friend pulls her to events she knows Kenzie isn't interested in, bad boys start confiding in her... and accidents begin happening.
That is really all that should have dominated the summary section. Any more and the reader will be yawning until the 2nd quarter of the book.
Truly, I don't know how to rate this book. It's kinda bad and I kinda gagged a couple of times. It's a little hard to get past how juvenile andslightly highly unrealistic.
(I had a much longer review written out, but Goodreads didn't save it for whatever reason so enjoy these quotes I scoffed at while reading the novel).
And right now, he's zeroing in on me in a way that actually steals my breath
"Nothing's gone to my head." Other than whatever soap you use and those sinfully long eyelashes.
Levi is a human physics class full of entry I can't resist. But I have to. (bonus points if you read that last bit in a deep serious voice)
And I saved the best for last.
He gives me that hint of a half-smile tempered with those smoky eyes, a look that's probably stolen virginities, broken hearts, and inspired a few bad poems.
I think the author just wrote one too.
Honestly, this book has no character development, the characters are terrible, even the motivations suck, but the plot is everything. Everything tied together so nicely and there were no untied ends, the plot was great. I finished this book satisfied with the ending, but at the same time, I wouldn't have minded reading a book 2.
Kenzie's life has been uneventful for the last two years since her brother died, but everything changes when she's fifth on....the list. dun dun dun.....
Now, people who've apparently liked her for five suddenly start hitting on her, her 'best' friend pulls her to events she knows Kenzie isn't interested in, bad boys start confiding in her... and accidents begin happening.
That is really all that should have dominated the summary section. Any more and the reader will be yawning until the 2nd quarter of the book.
Truly, I don't know how to rate this book. It's kinda bad and I kinda gagged a couple of times. It's a little hard to get past how juvenile and
(I had a much longer review written out, but Goodreads didn't save it for whatever reason so enjoy these quotes I scoffed at while reading the novel).
And right now, he's zeroing in on me in a way that actually steals my breath
"Nothing's gone to my head." Other than whatever soap you use and those sinfully long eyelashes.
Levi is a human physics class full of entry I can't resist. But I have to. (bonus points if you read that last bit in a deep serious voice)
And I saved the best for last.
He gives me that hint of a half-smile tempered with those smoky eyes, a look that's probably stolen virginities, broken hearts, and inspired a few bad poems.
I think the author just wrote one too.
Honestly, this book has no character development, the characters are terrible, even the motivations suck, but the plot is everything. Everything tied together so nicely and there were no untied ends, the plot was great. I finished this book satisfied with the ending, but at the same time, I wouldn't have minded reading a book 2.
dnf
September 19, 2018Well that didn’t last long. Reeked of insta-love and a love triangle.
October 15, 2014
I liked the cover. I had gotten the book today and read it during school. It was a good read.
May 10, 2020
Is this on my May TBR? No.
As a mood reader, ano pa bang aasahan ko sa sarili ko? Ano pa bang point ng paggawa ko ng TBR at pang-aabala ko ng mga authors at followers ko sa Instagram just to have my TBR for May 2020. Maybe a drive to finish and diminish my unread books sa bookshelf ko? Baka nga 'yun. Okay, bakit ba ako napunta sa discussion na 'to? Let's talk about this book.
Mackenzie is a nobody in Vienna High not until her name was included in the Hottie List, or the list of top ten hottest girls na pinagbotohan ng mga lalaki sa school nila. Her life did a full 180,Dua Lipa whomst? and she got invited sa mga parties na hindi niya napupuntahan before, nagtagalog na napalibutan ng mga "kaibigan" na hindi naman siya pinapansin before, at niligawan at nilandi ng lalaking hindi man lang siya tinitingnan before. But there's a catch mga mamsh, lahat ng nasa Hottie List ay isa-isang namamatay. Is it a curse? An accident? or... murder? That is what Mackenzies going to find out. tama ba grammar? Bahala na nga.
M Y T H O U G H T S
To satisfy my rebel side, sa hindi pagsunod ng TBR, dumampot na naman ako ng libro sa bookshelf ko at binasa ito without knowing what this book is all about. Ang alam ko lang is mystery/thriller 'to and I miss that genre already. Right off the bat, alam ko na Mackenzie is not like other girls type of girl. She doesn't care about the list and hindi rin siya makapaniwalang kasama siya sa list. "Deserve ko ba 'to? Nagandahan sila sa akin?" Tanong niya sa sarili but in English. Pero sa most part ng libro, hindi naman mawala sa isip niya ang tungkol sa list. Ayaw mo ba talaga ghorl? For me, napakagulo ni Kenzie, magulo or pretentious. Mackenzie is sooooo frustrating mga kababayan. Dumating sa point na binaon ko yung kuko ko sa page kasi naiinis ako sa kanya.
Isa pa 'tong kaibigan ng bida, si Molly, na kating-kati na maging famous rin sa school nila sa tulong ni Mackenzie.
And then we have this love triangle na obvious na obvious kung sino ang pipiliin ng bida. Pero pota, and insta-love, wala man lang build-up, pagkakita sa locker room, may koneksyon na agad? And I forgot, required ba talagang full name lagi kapag binabanggit si Josh Collier at Levi Sterling? Like after telling us their full name, hindi ba pwedeng Josh at Levi na lang?
Kung napapansin niyo, medyo frustrated ako pero masasabi ko rin naman na inintriga ako ng librong 'to. I want to know who is behind this killing and nahahot-an din ako kay Levi, ewan, iba rin naman talaga ang taglay na hagod ng mga lalaking parang bad boy na kaya kang protektahan sa masasamang tao na gustong manakit sa 'yopero parang i-spank me daddy ka once na kayo na lang mag-isa sa kwarto. HOY NAPAKAKALAT!
Nagustuhan ko rin naman yung thrill na binigay sa akin ng last part of the book at yung twist sa dulo nung nalaman ko na kung bakit ba nangyayari ang lahat ng ito. I am also somehow satisfied sa naging ending ng isang dimunyu dito sa istorya. Gusto ko rin yung element na may pasolve ng mga something in Latin parang obstacle courses mga ganyan.
All in all, this is a 2 stars for me, pero dahil sa last part, umangat siya ng 3 stars, Nagustuhan ko, may mga part na nanggigil at nainis ako, but this book entertained me. I don't think that I will reread it or use this as reference in the future pero oks na rin.
Booktube | Twitter | Blog
Mackenzie is a nobody in Vienna High not until her name was included in the Hottie List, or the list of top ten hottest girls na pinagbotohan ng mga lalaki sa school nila. Her life did a full 180,
M Y T H O U G H T S
To satisfy my rebel side, sa hindi pagsunod ng TBR, dumampot na naman ako ng libro sa bookshelf ko at binasa ito without knowing what this book is all about. Ang alam ko lang is mystery/thriller 'to and I miss that genre already. Right off the bat, alam ko na Mackenzie is not like other girls type of girl. She doesn't care about the list and hindi rin siya makapaniwalang kasama siya sa list. "Deserve ko ba 'to? Nagandahan sila sa akin?" Tanong niya sa sarili but in English. Pero sa most part ng libro, hindi naman mawala sa isip niya ang tungkol sa list. Ayaw mo ba talaga ghorl? For me, napakagulo ni Kenzie, magulo or pretentious. Mackenzie is sooooo frustrating mga kababayan. Dumating sa point na binaon ko yung kuko ko sa page kasi naiinis ako sa kanya.
Isa pa 'tong kaibigan ng bida, si Molly, na kating-kati na maging famous rin sa school nila sa tulong ni Mackenzie.
And then we have this love triangle na obvious na obvious kung sino ang pipiliin ng bida. Pero pota, and insta-love, wala man lang build-up, pagkakita sa locker room, may koneksyon na agad? And I forgot, required ba talagang full name lagi kapag binabanggit si Josh Collier at Levi Sterling? Like after telling us their full name, hindi ba pwedeng Josh at Levi na lang?
Kung napapansin niyo, medyo frustrated ako pero masasabi ko rin naman na inintriga ako ng librong 'to. I want to know who is behind this killing and nahahot-an din ako kay Levi, ewan, iba rin naman talaga ang taglay na hagod ng mga lalaking parang bad boy na kaya kang protektahan sa masasamang tao na gustong manakit sa 'yo
Nagustuhan ko rin naman yung thrill na binigay sa akin ng last part of the book at yung twist sa dulo nung nalaman ko na kung bakit ba nangyayari ang lahat ng ito. I am also somehow satisfied sa naging ending ng isang dimunyu dito sa istorya. Gusto ko rin yung element na may pasolve ng mga something in Latin parang obstacle courses mga ganyan.
All in all, this is a 2 stars for me, pero dahil sa last part, umangat siya ng 3 stars, Nagustuhan ko, may mga part na nanggigil at nainis ako, but this book entertained me. I don't think that I will reread it or use this as reference in the future pero oks na rin.
Booktube | Twitter | Blog
August 23, 2015
Would you feel proud of yourself if you went from average girl to number five on the list of the hottest girls at school? Kenzie Summerhall is surprised to say the least, but that doesn't prevent her from taking advantage of the perks of being considered a hottie: new friends, nice guys, cool parties.
What makes this book entertaining is that things are not as simple as they seem to be and as some girls from the list die because of freak accidents Kenzie wonders whether it is worth it at all.There is the cliched love triangle that abounds in YA books: a nice jock and a bad guy with a criminal record, both of them incredibly gorgeous and head over heels in love with a regular girl.However, the book also addresses more relevant topics such as the power of friendship and guilt.
The ending is a bit far-fetched ,but all in all I enjoyed the novel. It made me think of my Latin teacher who was for sure really good, because I passed even if I was hopeless at it.I wish I could recall more from his lesson but I only remember a few random sentences:si vis pacem para bellum (if you want peace, prepare for war) ,veni,vidi,vinci ( I came, I saw ,I conquered) and of course the most popular one carpe diem (seize the day) which we all use ad nauseam (to an excessive degree).
If you want mystery, romance, action and some Latin,read the book.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
What makes this book entertaining is that things are not as simple as they seem to be and as some girls from the list die because of freak accidents Kenzie wonders whether it is worth it at all.There is the cliched love triangle that abounds in YA books: a nice jock and a bad guy with a criminal record, both of them incredibly gorgeous and head over heels in love with a regular girl.However, the book also addresses more relevant topics such as the power of friendship and guilt.
The ending is a bit far-fetched ,but all in all I enjoyed the novel. It made me think of my Latin teacher who was for sure really good, because I passed even if I was hopeless at it.I wish I could recall more from his lesson but I only remember a few random sentences:si vis pacem para bellum (if you want peace, prepare for war) ,veni,vidi,vinci ( I came, I saw ,I conquered) and of course the most popular one carpe diem (seize the day) which we all use ad nauseam (to an excessive degree).
If you want mystery, romance, action and some Latin,read the book.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
July 7, 2020
Somebody.Help.Meh. You know what??? Nobody can help me. I'm a lunatic, people. And it's this book's fault ngl. AGHHHHHHHHH SO GOOOOODDDD
We start with our MC almost dying. Yes, people, let the truth dawn on you. She almost died. That's when she finds out she's on the list. People start acknowledging her and saying hi. Her crush takes interest in her, and she meets bad boy Levi. But, things aren't perfect. Let's face it people, it's a YA Thriller. Someone's going to die. Obviously :/ As girls drop dead around them, Kenzie must igure out what in the world is going on, while also picking up the pieces of her shattered life.
THIS BOOK WAS THE BOMB!
We start with our MC almost dying. Yes, people, let the truth dawn on you. She almost died. That's when she finds out she's on the list. People start acknowledging her and saying hi. Her crush takes interest in her, and she meets bad boy Levi. But, things aren't perfect. Let's face it people, it's a YA Thriller. Someone's going to die. Obviously :/ As girls drop dead around them, Kenzie must igure out what in the world is going on, while also picking up the pieces of her shattered life.
THIS BOOK WAS THE BOMB!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2015
3.5 STELLINE.
RECENSIONE COMPLETA SUL BLOG http://camminando-tra-le-pagine.blogs...
Lo ammetto non sono una fan dei romanzi mistery, ne ho letto qualcuno e mi sono piaciuti, ma non è un genere per cui impazzisco. “Il potere della lista”, però, è un romanzo che mi ha incuriosita immediatamente. Attratta prima dalla cover e poi della trama mi sono immediatamente immersa nella lettura, e dopo averlo finito posso dire che è stata davvero una piacevolissima scoperta. Un romanzo che si legge in un soffio e che trascina il lettore nel mondo misterioso che la St.Claire ha dipinto per noi.
La protagonista è Mckenzie Summerall una normalissima sedicenne americana. Kenzie frequenta la Vienna High – un liceo alla periferia di Pittsburgh – e non è mai stata una ragazza cool. Più sfigata che popolare, Kenzie non ha mai avuto un ragazzo, non è mai stata invitata ad una festa e adora il latino, ed infatti è la presidentessa del club della scuola. Il suo sogno oltre a partecipare ai campionati di latino ed essere la migliore del paese è quello di vincere una borsa di studio per la Columbia. La Columbia, l’unico modo che ha per andarsene; l’unico modo per allontanarsi da Vienna e dai suoi tristi ricordi, e l’unico modo per allontanarsi da sua madre diventata dannatamente opprimente dopo la morte di Connor, il fratellone maggiore che adorava.
Insomma, Kenzie non ha mai brillato per notorietà. Ma le cose stanno per cambiare.
Ogni anno da trent’anni alla Vienna High viene stilata una lista delle dieci ragazze più carine dell’anno, e del tutto inaspettatamente Kenzie compare in quella classifica: è la numero cinque.
L’arrivo a scuola dopo che la lista è stata svelata è per Kenzie un assoluta novità. Gli alunni la salutano e le sorridono nei corridoi, i ragazzi la notano e le si avvicinano per corteggiarla. E tra i ragazzi c’è anche Josh Collier – il quarterback più popolare della scuola, per il quale Kenzie ha una cotta dai tempi delle medie.e Kenzie non avesse priorità diverse da quelle dei suoi coetanei, l’essere in classifica potrebbe essere una figata pazzesca, ma quello che nessuno sa è che la lista è maledetta e le ragazze iniziano a morire una dopo l’altra secondo l’ordine di classifica. Kenzie è la quinta, e deve scoprire cosa sta succedendo se non vuole essere la prossima... CONTINUA SUL BLOG http://camminando-tra-le-pagine.blogs...
RECENSIONE COMPLETA SUL BLOG http://camminando-tra-le-pagine.blogs...
Lo ammetto non sono una fan dei romanzi mistery, ne ho letto qualcuno e mi sono piaciuti, ma non è un genere per cui impazzisco. “Il potere della lista”, però, è un romanzo che mi ha incuriosita immediatamente. Attratta prima dalla cover e poi della trama mi sono immediatamente immersa nella lettura, e dopo averlo finito posso dire che è stata davvero una piacevolissima scoperta. Un romanzo che si legge in un soffio e che trascina il lettore nel mondo misterioso che la St.Claire ha dipinto per noi.
La protagonista è Mckenzie Summerall una normalissima sedicenne americana. Kenzie frequenta la Vienna High – un liceo alla periferia di Pittsburgh – e non è mai stata una ragazza cool. Più sfigata che popolare, Kenzie non ha mai avuto un ragazzo, non è mai stata invitata ad una festa e adora il latino, ed infatti è la presidentessa del club della scuola. Il suo sogno oltre a partecipare ai campionati di latino ed essere la migliore del paese è quello di vincere una borsa di studio per la Columbia. La Columbia, l’unico modo che ha per andarsene; l’unico modo per allontanarsi da Vienna e dai suoi tristi ricordi, e l’unico modo per allontanarsi da sua madre diventata dannatamente opprimente dopo la morte di Connor, il fratellone maggiore che adorava.
Insomma, Kenzie non ha mai brillato per notorietà. Ma le cose stanno per cambiare.
Ogni anno da trent’anni alla Vienna High viene stilata una lista delle dieci ragazze più carine dell’anno, e del tutto inaspettatamente Kenzie compare in quella classifica: è la numero cinque.
L’arrivo a scuola dopo che la lista è stata svelata è per Kenzie un assoluta novità. Gli alunni la salutano e le sorridono nei corridoi, i ragazzi la notano e le si avvicinano per corteggiarla. E tra i ragazzi c’è anche Josh Collier – il quarterback più popolare della scuola, per il quale Kenzie ha una cotta dai tempi delle medie.e Kenzie non avesse priorità diverse da quelle dei suoi coetanei, l’essere in classifica potrebbe essere una figata pazzesca, ma quello che nessuno sa è che la lista è maledetta e le ragazze iniziano a morire una dopo l’altra secondo l’ordine di classifica. Kenzie è la quinta, e deve scoprire cosa sta succedendo se non vuole essere la prossima... CONTINUA SUL BLOG http://camminando-tra-le-pagine.blogs...
February 5, 2017
:: 4 Pretty Little Stars ::
I first picked up this book because of the cover. I mean it screamed “READ ME”. And also, the blurb pulled me in too. After all, I am a huge fan of Pretty Little Liars and Scream Queens. So, did this book accomplish what I had hoped? Overall, yes it did. I found it to be not only enjoyable but creepy and fun as well. However, I wish the book STAYED creepy. I wasn’t really a fan of the ending or what was really killing off these girls. I can’t go into details because if I do I will spoil it, but for some reason this just didn’t do it for me. Other than that, the book is great.
The book is about a bunch of high school students who ultimately end up on the “hottie” list. Each year 10 girls are chosen and this forms an elite sisterhood between the girls. Unfortunately for the girls who made the list this year, something is killing them. Each and every death is made to appear as an accident. Is it, or isn’t it? That’s the fun in reading it.
The characters in this book are pretty likeable. While it took me a little time to warm up to them, eventually I did. I liked Kenzie and her backstory especially where it concerns her family and her brother. The whole situation made me emotional and I could essentially feel the emotions her character was emitting. I also liked the secondary characters as they reminded me of my high school days. You have the popular kids, the nerds, the jocks, the cheerleaders etc. So overall, the characters were written well and fit into the “high school cliché”.
The plot is interesting and pretty unique as I have never read a book like this before. This is what made reading it so exciting for me. Again, while I wasn’t a fan of the ending the book still held its ground and was interesting.
Overall this is a very enjoyable 4 star read. If you like young adult mysteries with some serious creep factor than this is certainly one to consider. While I am not a huge fan of the price ($10.99 on kindle) it’s a good book worth getting your hands on
I first picked up this book because of the cover. I mean it screamed “READ ME”. And also, the blurb pulled me in too. After all, I am a huge fan of Pretty Little Liars and Scream Queens. So, did this book accomplish what I had hoped? Overall, yes it did. I found it to be not only enjoyable but creepy and fun as well. However, I wish the book STAYED creepy. I wasn’t really a fan of the ending or what was really killing off these girls. I can’t go into details because if I do I will spoil it, but for some reason this just didn’t do it for me. Other than that, the book is great.
The book is about a bunch of high school students who ultimately end up on the “hottie” list. Each year 10 girls are chosen and this forms an elite sisterhood between the girls. Unfortunately for the girls who made the list this year, something is killing them. Each and every death is made to appear as an accident. Is it, or isn’t it? That’s the fun in reading it.
The characters in this book are pretty likeable. While it took me a little time to warm up to them, eventually I did. I liked Kenzie and her backstory especially where it concerns her family and her brother. The whole situation made me emotional and I could essentially feel the emotions her character was emitting. I also liked the secondary characters as they reminded me of my high school days. You have the popular kids, the nerds, the jocks, the cheerleaders etc. So overall, the characters were written well and fit into the “high school cliché”.
The plot is interesting and pretty unique as I have never read a book like this before. This is what made reading it so exciting for me. Again, while I wasn’t a fan of the ending the book still held its ground and was interesting.
Overall this is a very enjoyable 4 star read. If you like young adult mysteries with some serious creep factor than this is certainly one to consider. While I am not a huge fan of the price ($10.99 on kindle) it’s a good book worth getting your hands on
October 31, 2014
I should have guessed that this book was going to be ridiculously weird because of the cover. It was simply pointless. There was too much craziness caused by "the list" for me to possibly take.
One of the most infuriating part of the book was the characters. My guess is I wasn't into the misunderstood bad boy thing. Yes, I had a problem with Levi character. Or maybe I have read too many books about supposedly bad boys who actually have a heart of gold. blah blah blah... I just couldn't take it anymore.
I didn't like the main character, Kenzie, either. She was just annoying, and I hated that she kept complaining about her mother. Like gosh, shut up for once. I didn't think it was too much that her mother wanted her to be safe and not off and go to a party without even letting her mother know.
The best friend on the other hand made me want to bang my head against the wall. The fact that Molly kept talking about attaching herself to Kenzie so that she too could become one of the popular girls really bothered me.
The storyline was okay, but it wasn't good enough compared to other books by this author that I have read. Too much focus on the list, and most of the time it was just ridiculous.
One of the most infuriating part of the book was the characters. My guess is I wasn't into the misunderstood bad boy thing. Yes, I had a problem with Levi character. Or maybe I have read too many books about supposedly bad boys who actually have a heart of gold. blah blah blah... I just couldn't take it anymore.
I didn't like the main character, Kenzie, either. She was just annoying, and I hated that she kept complaining about her mother. Like gosh, shut up for once. I didn't think it was too much that her mother wanted her to be safe and not off and go to a party without even letting her mother know.
The best friend on the other hand made me want to bang my head against the wall. The fact that Molly kept talking about attaching herself to Kenzie so that she too could become one of the popular girls really bothered me.
The storyline was okay, but it wasn't good enough compared to other books by this author that I have read. Too much focus on the list, and most of the time it was just ridiculous.
thank-you-but-no-thank-you
April 27, 2015You know when you have a new book in your thank-you-but-no-thank-you shelf when a synopsis like this appears:
Stupidity all over the way. I don't care if the rest of the synopsis sounds intriguing. That pisses me off. You ask yourselves why society is still ruled by sexism? There's your answer.
I don't know if the book is indeed sexist, but I'm not reading it. I could even rant A LOT by just reading the synopsis. I can't even imagine myself if I read this. And also, if you're considering on giving this a try, read this review. It totally convinced me not to touch this book.
Oh, and I got a BIG disappointment by enlarging the cover. I thought the girls were lying in a pool of blood, not on dinner plates.
Kenzie Summerall can't imagine how she's been voted onto a list of the hottest girls in school, but when she lands at number five, her average life becomes dazzling. Doors open to the best parties, new friends surround her, the cutest jock in school is after her.
This is the power of the list. If you're on it, your life changes.
Stupidity all over the way. I don't care if the rest of the synopsis sounds intriguing. That pisses me off. You ask yourselves why society is still ruled by sexism? There's your answer.
I don't know if the book is indeed sexist, but I'm not reading it. I could even rant A LOT by just reading the synopsis. I can't even imagine myself if I read this. And also, if you're considering on giving this a try, read this review. It totally convinced me not to touch this book.
Oh, and I got a BIG disappointment by enlarging the cover. I thought the girls were lying in a pool of blood, not on dinner plates.
July 12, 2024
just an idea like this: let's just stop solving novels with "turns out it was a whole evil gang/sect/hitmen the whole time with people killing people and being evil just for the sake of killing people and being evil". yes i'm spoiling the whole thing but it's actually a humanitarian gesture from me. you are about to save four hours of your life from hoping the book turns out to be clever and discovering it is just lazy. also: I was expecting much, much more Latin. the book sells itself as "the book with a Latin nerd for a protagonist". I feel baited. the ablative absolute wasn't even mentioned. and please do not get me on on the fact that they didn't even mention that the subject of an infinitive clause is an accusative
July 29, 2018
3.7/5 ~ Much credit to this book that got me out of my reading slump, thank you!! Sometimes all you need to do is read a teen horror/mystery that surprisingly turns into a page turner and an exciting adventure😉
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