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Most Likely to Murder
Yearbook superlatives turn deadly in this darkly funny young adult thriller.
The rumor mill has never been kind to Meadowvale High seniors and best friends Rick and Martina, labeling them outcasts (sure), stoners (no comment), and pranksters (okay, this one’s fair). But for the most part, they have successfully flown under the radar.
That is, until they’re targeted in a prank that replaces yearbook superlatives with grisly forecasts of student and faculty deaths. Sure, Rick and Martina were never going to be voted Most Likely to Succeed . . . but Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses? Thanks for the cute, no thanks on the corpse.
At first, the senior class is annoyed by the prank. But when the body of Mr. Stephens, Most Likely to Sleep with the Fishes, is dredged from the bottom of a lake, suspicions arise that something truly sinister is going on. And as more people turn up dead in the exact ways the yearbook promised, it becomes clear someone’s killing off the student body one page at a time.
Now Rick and Martina must find the yearbook killer before their vicious superlative comes true. So much for surviving high school without drawing attention. Now Rick and Martina just want to survive.
For fans of Holly Jackson, Karen M. McManus, and Danielle Valentine!
The rumor mill has never been kind to Meadowvale High seniors and best friends Rick and Martina, labeling them outcasts (sure), stoners (no comment), and pranksters (okay, this one’s fair). But for the most part, they have successfully flown under the radar.
That is, until they’re targeted in a prank that replaces yearbook superlatives with grisly forecasts of student and faculty deaths. Sure, Rick and Martina were never going to be voted Most Likely to Succeed . . . but Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses? Thanks for the cute, no thanks on the corpse.
At first, the senior class is annoyed by the prank. But when the body of Mr. Stephens, Most Likely to Sleep with the Fishes, is dredged from the bottom of a lake, suspicions arise that something truly sinister is going on. And as more people turn up dead in the exact ways the yearbook promised, it becomes clear someone’s killing off the student body one page at a time.
Now Rick and Martina must find the yearbook killer before their vicious superlative comes true. So much for surviving high school without drawing attention. Now Rick and Martina just want to survive.
For fans of Holly Jackson, Karen M. McManus, and Danielle Valentine!
Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2026
About the author
Lish McBride
28 books1,345 followersLish McBride is the author of funny and creepy Young Adult books such as Hold Me Closer, Necromancer; Necromancing the Stone; Firebug; and Pyromantic. She has published short stories in the Normal School, Tor.com, and the anthologies Cornered, What to Read in the Rain, Freaks & Other Family, and Kisses & Curses. She got her BFA in creative writing from Seattle University and her MFA from University of New Orleans. Lish is also currently a bookseller and event host at Third Place Books, a giant thriving indie bookstore just outside of Seattle. Her first book, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults title, Morris Award finalist, and won the Scandiuzzi Children’s Book Award. While she has no long term goals for world domination, she would like her own castle.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lishmc...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lishmc...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
April 11, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Rick and Martina are known as outcasts at Meadowvale High, but as long as they can keep to themselves and try to survive the rest of high school, there won’t be any problems. So when the yearbooks are handed out, something isn’t right, and the two best friends are thrust into the limelight. In an apparent prank, someone replaced the superlatives with foreboding words about some students and faculty who will die. And Rick and Martina’s names are on there.
Everyone is weirded out, but don’t think much of it until the body of Mr. Stephens is found–exactly the way the yearbook predicted he would. It isn’t until the body of a student is found that people begin to realize that there is a killer on the loose, and Rick, Martina, and the other students on the list try to find out who it is before they’re next.
»»——⍟——««
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ This was a fun and quick mystery that genuinely kept me guessing. I thought I knew who the killer was, but when the big reveal happened, I was surprised and…kinda let down. The immediate thought I had was, “Oh. Is that all? All this havoc for that?” It seemed a bit much for the kinds of murders that happened, but hey, as Billy Currington said: God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy. 😂 I just wish the crazy was crazy enough for me to believe it.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the story! Rick was great; I thought he was quite mature for his age, but it’s bound to happen when you’re forced to grow up because of immature adults. I also liked the other characters as well (except for Paxton. I hated him.), especially Martina and Uncle Vic. And the little romance between Rick and Nika was sweet.
But you know what the best part was? They were actually smart! They used their common sense and their knowledge of what happens in movies to make sure they weren’t next on the murderer’s list. It made me laugh, but also happy because it low-key makes me so mad when characters are so oblivious to the obvious signs of danger that are flashing right in front of their face. Like, you can write a good mystery without making your characters dumb, you know. So that right there made me enjoy this even more.
The writing was good, easy to read, and straight to the point, which is great because adding more words than necessary is always the worst. The pacing was also great–the story didn’t drag or feel slow at all. Everything was well thought out, and you can tell. YA mysteries will always be my favorite. 😌 My only real complaint is that I wish there were more of an investigative aspect in the story, but I'm happy with what I got.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I recommend it if you are looking for a fast-paced mystery with likeable characters who have common sense. 🩵
⟡ Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own, ⟡
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, some violence, and mentions of suicide.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only kissing. (🌶/5)
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Rick and Martina are known as outcasts at Meadowvale High, but as long as they can keep to themselves and try to survive the rest of high school, there won’t be any problems. So when the yearbooks are handed out, something isn’t right, and the two best friends are thrust into the limelight. In an apparent prank, someone replaced the superlatives with foreboding words about some students and faculty who will die. And Rick and Martina’s names are on there.
Everyone is weirded out, but don’t think much of it until the body of Mr. Stephens is found–exactly the way the yearbook predicted he would. It isn’t until the body of a student is found that people begin to realize that there is a killer on the loose, and Rick, Martina, and the other students on the list try to find out who it is before they’re next.
»»——⍟——««
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ This was a fun and quick mystery that genuinely kept me guessing. I thought I knew who the killer was, but when the big reveal happened, I was surprised and…kinda let down. The immediate thought I had was, “Oh. Is that all? All this havoc for that?” It seemed a bit much for the kinds of murders that happened, but hey, as Billy Currington said: God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy. 😂 I just wish the crazy was crazy enough for me to believe it.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the story! Rick was great; I thought he was quite mature for his age, but it’s bound to happen when you’re forced to grow up because of immature adults. I also liked the other characters as well (except for Paxton. I hated him.), especially Martina and Uncle Vic. And the little romance between Rick and Nika was sweet.
But you know what the best part was? They were actually smart! They used their common sense and their knowledge of what happens in movies to make sure they weren’t next on the murderer’s list. It made me laugh, but also happy because it low-key makes me so mad when characters are so oblivious to the obvious signs of danger that are flashing right in front of their face. Like, you can write a good mystery without making your characters dumb, you know. So that right there made me enjoy this even more.
The writing was good, easy to read, and straight to the point, which is great because adding more words than necessary is always the worst. The pacing was also great–the story didn’t drag or feel slow at all. Everything was well thought out, and you can tell. YA mysteries will always be my favorite. 😌 My only real complaint is that I wish there were more of an investigative aspect in the story, but I'm happy with what I got.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I recommend it if you are looking for a fast-paced mystery with likeable characters who have common sense. 🩵
⟡ Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own, ⟡
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, some violence, and mentions of suicide.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only kissing. (🌶/5)
September 9, 2025
Murder mystery with a side of sass? Absolutely yes. This book had me grinning one moment and trying to piece together clues the next. The characters are delightfully quirky, the dialogue is snappy, and the mystery keeps you guessing without ever feeling too heavy or dark.
It’s fast-paced, funny, and full of charm, the kind of story that makes you want to keep flipping pages just to see what ridiculous or shocking thing will happen next. Perfect if you like your mysteries with plenty of humor and personality mixed in.
It’s fast-paced, funny, and full of charm, the kind of story that makes you want to keep flipping pages just to see what ridiculous or shocking thing will happen next. Perfect if you like your mysteries with plenty of humor and personality mixed in.
April 10, 2026
3.75 stars.
A suspenseful YA murder mystery with not just a compelling premise but also good execution and enjoyable writing, Most Likely to Murder is a fun and engaging story that will keep you on your toes.
While the plot can feel a bit drawn out and was predictable for me about a third of the way through, I didn't mind it as much; the excellent character development and storytelling made up for it.
The descriptions and dialogue, especially with the comedic and wholesome moments, even made it feel like I was watching a movie at times. This would honestly make a great screen adaptation.
Overall, I had a good time, and I definitely see myself reading more of McBride's work in the future. Just FYI, it can get a bit graphic in certain parts... I can see older teens who like reading murder mysteries really enjoying this, so I would highly recommend it!
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the digital ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A suspenseful YA murder mystery with not just a compelling premise but also good execution and enjoyable writing, Most Likely to Murder is a fun and engaging story that will keep you on your toes.
While the plot can feel a bit drawn out and was predictable for me about a third of the way through, I didn't mind it as much; the excellent character development and storytelling made up for it.
The descriptions and dialogue, especially with the comedic and wholesome moments, even made it feel like I was watching a movie at times. This would honestly make a great screen adaptation.
Overall, I had a good time, and I definitely see myself reading more of McBride's work in the future. Just FYI, it can get a bit graphic in certain parts... I can see older teens who like reading murder mysteries really enjoying this, so I would highly recommend it!
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the digital ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 21, 2026
Most Likely to Murder has a premise I should’ve absolutely devoured, a prank yearbook filled with gruesome, fake superlatives that suddenly start coming true, leaving seniors and teachers dying in the exact ways their “awards” predicted. Rick and Martina, longtime best friends, outcasts and occasional pranksters themselves, get pulled into the chaos when the first body turns up. What starts as a joke quickly becomes a kill list and the two of them have to figure out who’s behind it before their own deadly superlatives catch up with them.
It’s clever, it’s darkly funny and it has all the elements for a twisty YA mystery. But despite that setup, the story dragged for me. Scenes felt longer than they needed to be and instead of building tension, the pacing kept losing it. I normally inhale books like this, so it was disappointing to feel myself slogging through chapters that should’ve been sharp and suspenseful.
And the reveal… I really struggled with it. A good mystery twist should feel surprising and inevitable once you see the full picture. Instead, the killer here felt like they came out of nowhere, not in a satisfying “wow, I missed the clues” way but in a “wait, how does that make sense?” way. It didn’t feel connected to the emotional threads or the character dynamics that the book spent so much time on. Honestly, I would’ve loved a more impactful twist, something involving Nika, or even one of the other kids caught up in the mess. That would’ve landed harder and made the whole story feel more cohesive.
The concept is fantastic, and there are definitely moments that shine but overall, the execution didn’t quite match the promise. I’m bummed because this should’ve been exactly my kind of book and instead it left me more frustrated than thrilled. Be a judge for yourself, though, when Most Likely to Murder is released March 24, 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the e‑ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s clever, it’s darkly funny and it has all the elements for a twisty YA mystery. But despite that setup, the story dragged for me. Scenes felt longer than they needed to be and instead of building tension, the pacing kept losing it. I normally inhale books like this, so it was disappointing to feel myself slogging through chapters that should’ve been sharp and suspenseful.
And the reveal… I really struggled with it. A good mystery twist should feel surprising and inevitable once you see the full picture. Instead, the killer here felt like they came out of nowhere, not in a satisfying “wow, I missed the clues” way but in a “wait, how does that make sense?” way. It didn’t feel connected to the emotional threads or the character dynamics that the book spent so much time on. Honestly, I would’ve loved a more impactful twist, something involving Nika, or even one of the other kids caught up in the mess. That would’ve landed harder and made the whole story feel more cohesive.
The concept is fantastic, and there are definitely moments that shine but overall, the execution didn’t quite match the promise. I’m bummed because this should’ve been exactly my kind of book and instead it left me more frustrated than thrilled. Be a judge for yourself, though, when Most Likely to Murder is released March 24, 2026.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the e‑ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
This was such a fun thriller! I loved the concept of deadly yearbook superlatives as a foreshadowing tool by the k*ller, and I will say it kept me anxious the whole book long 🤣
While I actually think I would have liked a bit more of the teen detective work actually, the romance between Rick and Nika was so sweet and felt very, very authentic to high school crushes or love. I enjoyed them figuring their relationship out in the midst of everything going on, I just would have liked more of the friend group trying to solve the crimes.
The deaths of the victims are creative and very well written. I really liked the shift in perspective during these scenes, and I found that I actually got a little creeped out, especially for one of them. They gave slasher movie vibes without being gratuitously violent, which is the perfect balance for my sensitive self. 🙃
I actually did guess the k*ller, but to be fair I thought it was a long shot to be this person. My biggest issue with this book is that I thought the motive behind the k*ller’s actions was weak at best. I understand the rage, but not why everything was done how it was…which was ultimately what I was excited to find out.
But if you like AGGGTM or One of Us is Lying, pick this one up! It has similar vibes and is a solid YA thriller!
This was such a fun thriller! I loved the concept of deadly yearbook superlatives as a foreshadowing tool by the k*ller, and I will say it kept me anxious the whole book long 🤣
While I actually think I would have liked a bit more of the teen detective work actually, the romance between Rick and Nika was so sweet and felt very, very authentic to high school crushes or love. I enjoyed them figuring their relationship out in the midst of everything going on, I just would have liked more of the friend group trying to solve the crimes.
The deaths of the victims are creative and very well written. I really liked the shift in perspective during these scenes, and I found that I actually got a little creeped out, especially for one of them. They gave slasher movie vibes without being gratuitously violent, which is the perfect balance for my sensitive self. 🙃
I actually did guess the k*ller, but to be fair I thought it was a long shot to be this person. My biggest issue with this book is that I thought the motive behind the k*ller’s actions was weak at best. I understand the rage, but not why everything was done how it was…which was ultimately what I was excited to find out.
But if you like AGGGTM or One of Us is Lying, pick this one up! It has similar vibes and is a solid YA thriller!
May 3, 2026
Most Likely To Murder by Lish McBride, When the year book comes out for Meadowvale high two of the most unlike list best friends Martina and Rick take center stage. At first they just think it’s a prank when someone put a murder list out and they’re at the top of it they don’t take it seriously until Mr. Stewart one of their teachers dies exactly how they said he would this is when Martina and Rick decide to bring everyone on the murder list together and see if they can’t figure it out their self. Unfortunately it’s too late for their friend Bryce who is next up to be murdered. all this on top of graduating and having crushes on two girls who they think have no clue. Ken Martina and Rick find out who’s doing the murders or will they be murdered as well? until the murderer was unveiled I thought this book was on and popping… I mean really… Who saw that coming… No one did! I cannot stand when someone takes the most random person but I digress I don’t want to give anything away the story is cute I thought Martina and her family were such great characters not to mention his uncle Vic, but his mom was OK as well but more like a non-entity. There are many great characters in the book the plot was really good I just thought the whole conclusion just landed flat but having said that I would still recommend this book because as I said it was on and popping until the suspect was revealed it really was a cute story. #NetGalley, #TheBlindreviewer, #MyHonestReview,
March 24, 2026
I had not come back and edited my review!! I ended up consuming the audio and it was a great example of the format making all the difference!
I ended up enjoying this so much more the second time! The twists and turns, the side romance, the investigation, high school quirkiness and so much more! I can see why so many enjoyed this one as I was sucked in from start to finish.
Andrew Eiden did a fabulous job with the narration. I actually prefer him with his thrillers even though I love his romance narrations. His voice was perfect for this and added to my experience.
I thought it was so well written and plotted. It just took the write format for me to unlock it!
** Ask and you shall receive! Yesterday when I wrote the review there was no audiobook.. today, guess what popped up!! So here I go, take two! It’s already starting off well as Andrew Eiden aka Teddy Hamilton is the narrator!
I’ll
Come back to update but definitely liked it a lot better on audio!!
Arrggh! Why can’t I connect with this book?!
This is exactly the kind of story I should have devoured, and yet… I just couldn’t get there. I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out what didn’t click, and the frustrating part is that I genuinely don’t have a clear answer.
I actually started this book back in November. November! It took me three months of picking away at it before finally finishing—and if you know me, you know that’s wild considering I regularly read two books a day. That alone tells you something just wasn’t working for me.
The strange part? It’s well written. I can absolutely see why so many early readers are loving it, and honestly I want to be one of those readers. All the ingredients are there… but for whatever reason the connection just never happened for me. Can you feel my frustration?
I’m really hoping the audiobook becomes available before publication because I’d happily give this another shot. An immersion read sometimes makes all the difference, and I’d love the chance to revisit it and see if the story finally clicks the second time around.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Penguin for Young Readers via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
I ended up enjoying this so much more the second time! The twists and turns, the side romance, the investigation, high school quirkiness and so much more! I can see why so many enjoyed this one as I was sucked in from start to finish.
Andrew Eiden did a fabulous job with the narration. I actually prefer him with his thrillers even though I love his romance narrations. His voice was perfect for this and added to my experience.
I thought it was so well written and plotted. It just took the write format for me to unlock it!
** Ask and you shall receive! Yesterday when I wrote the review there was no audiobook.. today, guess what popped up!! So here I go, take two! It’s already starting off well as Andrew Eiden aka Teddy Hamilton is the narrator!
I’ll
Come back to update but definitely liked it a lot better on audio!!
Arrggh! Why can’t I connect with this book?!
This is exactly the kind of story I should have devoured, and yet… I just couldn’t get there. I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out what didn’t click, and the frustrating part is that I genuinely don’t have a clear answer.
I actually started this book back in November. November! It took me three months of picking away at it before finally finishing—and if you know me, you know that’s wild considering I regularly read two books a day. That alone tells you something just wasn’t working for me.
The strange part? It’s well written. I can absolutely see why so many early readers are loving it, and honestly I want to be one of those readers. All the ingredients are there… but for whatever reason the connection just never happened for me. Can you feel my frustration?
I’m really hoping the audiobook becomes available before publication because I’d happily give this another shot. An immersion read sometimes makes all the difference, and I’d love the chance to revisit it and see if the story finally clicks the second time around.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Penguin for Young Readers via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
January 11, 2026
”The days ticked on. Things went back to normal. The fear, the horror of it all, started to ebb away. No one can stay on alert forever.”
I had difficulties reading and I usually enjoy books like this. I loved the characters but had a hard time connecting with them.
I was invested to figure out who could the killer be.
Did I know who the killer was? No, but it also wasn’t surprising because I expected it to kinda relate towards that ending.
Thank you to Lish McBride, Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
I had difficulties reading and I usually enjoy books like this. I loved the characters but had a hard time connecting with them.
I was invested to figure out who could the killer be.
Did I know who the killer was? No, but it also wasn’t surprising because I expected it to kinda relate towards that ending.
Thank you to Lish McBride, Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
November 29, 2025
I think something is wrong with me because why did I enjoy the death scenes of teenagers????
seriously! Those chapters were the best thing about the book, and I wanted all the characters to die so I could read the masterful writing the author has described their moment of death.
So thank you to Netgalley, the author Lish McBride, and the publication company for this eARC.
I also think that one more tag should be added, which is romance, cause the cute courting between Rick and Nika is what I wish to read in every YA Romance, even though this is a crime thriller
So imagine this:
You get your yearbook, but instead of the "most likely to get famous" or "most likely to get married first", you see a death sentence under your name: "most likely to sleep with the fishes"
Then, people are murdered according to their "most likely..." and the yearbook becomes a murder list.
Who is doing this? why are they targeting these teenagers?
⚜ rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
⚜Genre: Thriller
⚜Theme: YA Romantic Crime Thriller
⚜Targeted audience: 15+
⚜Characters: Rick - Martina - Nika - the yearbook club
⚜Representation: LGBTQ+, Mental Disorder, POC
⚜ driven: Plot driven
⚜Pace: Medium
⚜TW: child abandonment, mental abuse, violence, murder
⚜ POV: multiple third person, mostly Rick
⚜standalone: yes
⚜Ending: resolved (but that epilogue is something else)
⚜Book read: eARC
What I liked
The mystery stays until the big reveal. There are no clear clues given as to who is committing the crimes
The tight friendship relationship between Rick and Martina is a breath of fresh air. I love seeing platonic friendship in books.
The side romance between Rick and Nika was so cute
The juxtaposition of the parent figures
The masterful chapters of the death scenes were truly interesting.
What I didn't like
The lack of clues: usually in thrillers, when the big reveal happens, you go "oh I should have seen this coming because of this and that". We do not get that here.
As much as I loved the romance, I thought it overshadowed the main theme of the thriller
It was still a very enjoyable read
seriously! Those chapters were the best thing about the book, and I wanted all the characters to die so I could read the masterful writing the author has described their moment of death.
So thank you to Netgalley, the author Lish McBride, and the publication company for this eARC.
I also think that one more tag should be added, which is romance, cause the cute courting between Rick and Nika is what I wish to read in every YA Romance, even though this is a crime thriller
So imagine this:
You get your yearbook, but instead of the "most likely to get famous" or "most likely to get married first", you see a death sentence under your name: "most likely to sleep with the fishes"
Then, people are murdered according to their "most likely..." and the yearbook becomes a murder list.
Who is doing this? why are they targeting these teenagers?
⚜ rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
⚜Genre: Thriller
⚜Theme: YA Romantic Crime Thriller
⚜Targeted audience: 15+
⚜Characters: Rick - Martina - Nika - the yearbook club
⚜Representation: LGBTQ+, Mental Disorder, POC
⚜ driven: Plot driven
⚜Pace: Medium
⚜TW: child abandonment, mental abuse, violence, murder
⚜ POV: multiple third person, mostly Rick
⚜standalone: yes
⚜Ending: resolved (but that epilogue is something else)
⚜Book read: eARC
What I liked
The mystery stays until the big reveal. There are no clear clues given as to who is committing the crimes
The tight friendship relationship between Rick and Martina is a breath of fresh air. I love seeing platonic friendship in books.
The side romance between Rick and Nika was so cute
The juxtaposition of the parent figures
The masterful chapters of the death scenes were truly interesting.
What I didn't like
The lack of clues: usually in thrillers, when the big reveal happens, you go "oh I should have seen this coming because of this and that". We do not get that here.
As much as I loved the romance, I thought it overshadowed the main theme of the thriller
It was still a very enjoyable read
February 23, 2026
I'm always down for a Lish book, but there's no way I was going to miss this one.
I really liked this group of friends. They're supportive, snarky, and smart. Rick and Martina are delightful BFFs. I really enjoyed reading them as they navigate high school and find a way to stay alive.
Plot wise, it's fun. It's part murder mystery, part teenage drama. I don't want to give spoilers because it should definitely unfold the way Lish planned it.
Overall, this is probably my favorite Lish book and I can't wait to see what she's going to do next.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I really liked this group of friends. They're supportive, snarky, and smart. Rick and Martina are delightful BFFs. I really enjoyed reading them as they navigate high school and find a way to stay alive.
Plot wise, it's fun. It's part murder mystery, part teenage drama. I don't want to give spoilers because it should definitely unfold the way Lish planned it.
Overall, this is probably my favorite Lish book and I can't wait to see what she's going to do next.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
November 10, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC!
The cover and the premise are very Karen M. McManus. That made me want to read it immediately. And I'm so glad I did! If you're a fan of One of Us is Lying and McManus' other books, pick this up immediately!
The story is fast-paced, funny and interesting. The premise is really good, kudos to Lish McBride's son for thinking of it lol. The writing is good, easy, and kept me hooked. Rick and Martina's friendship is adorable and so so special. I'm obsessed with how they're always so casually affectionate with each other; they're always touching and I feel like it's really important to showcase that physical touch can be platonic and can be such an important part of friendship. They ground each other, they push each other forward, they keep each other sane. Their friendship (and their families' friendship!) is definitely a high point of the story. The romance is also on point, super sweet and genuine, but the friendship!!!
One thing that really made me chuckle was how in the loop the adults were! They always know what's going on, even if it's scary and creepy. It's a big change from whatever else I've seen of the genre (YA mystery); usually the kids always do everything they can so the adults won't know anything about what they have going on. Also, the way the scenes roll out... everything is so cinematic! It plays out the way an episode of Criminal Minds or Bones would go lol, it was a nice touch! And Rick's dreams are so creepy, so vivid, so interesting and well written.
I did guess the next targets, like, who would be next on the hit list, but I don't see it as a bad thing. Honestly, it was really fun like "There it is! Called it!". The big, final reveal though... I had absolutely no idea, it took me completely by surprise. And it made sense, like... I had a suspect in mind, but it seemed too obvious, then turns out I was wrong, but not really.
One thing that did bother me was how little we get of Martina's voice. The POV is mostly always Rick... because there are other POVs here and there, and because of how close they are, I expected Martina to have as many as Rick had. Unfortunately, that is not the case. However, Rick is a good main character and it's really interesting to be inside his head. He's so oblivious, and he loves Martina and his family so much. That said, I wish Martina was more of a main character. Also, one of Martina's POVs (finally! I thought) near the end is... underwhelming (oh, no! I thought). Things are starting to Happen with a capital H, and I expected some deep, on-the-edge-of-my-seat tension, however, things felt a bit flat... even the romantic parts don't feel as deep as Rick's, for example. It feels rushed. His scenes, the creepy ones and the romantic ones, are intense! But Martina's just isn't the same. I feel like there was space and opportunity to delve into her more that's kind of wasted. Made me a bit sad because she is very interesting and sweet.
The ending is chilling. I had a huge smile on my face and then... oh no. Damn. Very Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus. If you've read it, you'll know. I'll definitely be reading more of this author.
The cover and the premise are very Karen M. McManus. That made me want to read it immediately. And I'm so glad I did! If you're a fan of One of Us is Lying and McManus' other books, pick this up immediately!
The story is fast-paced, funny and interesting. The premise is really good, kudos to Lish McBride's son for thinking of it lol. The writing is good, easy, and kept me hooked. Rick and Martina's friendship is adorable and so so special. I'm obsessed with how they're always so casually affectionate with each other; they're always touching and I feel like it's really important to showcase that physical touch can be platonic and can be such an important part of friendship. They ground each other, they push each other forward, they keep each other sane. Their friendship (and their families' friendship!) is definitely a high point of the story. The romance is also on point, super sweet and genuine, but the friendship!!!
One thing that really made me chuckle was how in the loop the adults were! They always know what's going on, even if it's scary and creepy. It's a big change from whatever else I've seen of the genre (YA mystery); usually the kids always do everything they can so the adults won't know anything about what they have going on. Also, the way the scenes roll out... everything is so cinematic! It plays out the way an episode of Criminal Minds or Bones would go lol, it was a nice touch! And Rick's dreams are so creepy, so vivid, so interesting and well written.
I did guess the next targets, like, who would be next on the hit list, but I don't see it as a bad thing. Honestly, it was really fun like "There it is! Called it!". The big, final reveal though... I had absolutely no idea, it took me completely by surprise. And it made sense, like... I had a suspect in mind, but it seemed too obvious, then turns out I was wrong, but not really.
One thing that did bother me was how little we get of Martina's voice. The POV is mostly always Rick... because there are other POVs here and there, and because of how close they are, I expected Martina to have as many as Rick had. Unfortunately, that is not the case. However, Rick is a good main character and it's really interesting to be inside his head. He's so oblivious, and he loves Martina and his family so much. That said, I wish Martina was more of a main character. Also, one of Martina's POVs (finally! I thought) near the end is... underwhelming (oh, no! I thought). Things are starting to Happen with a capital H, and I expected some deep, on-the-edge-of-my-seat tension, however, things felt a bit flat... even the romantic parts don't feel as deep as Rick's, for example. It feels rushed. His scenes, the creepy ones and the romantic ones, are intense! But Martina's just isn't the same. I feel like there was space and opportunity to delve into her more that's kind of wasted. Made me a bit sad because she is very interesting and sweet.
The ending is chilling. I had a huge smile on my face and then... oh no. Damn. Very Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus. If you've read it, you'll know. I'll definitely be reading more of this author.
March 26, 2026
#ad much love for my finished copy @penguinteen + @storygramtours #partner
🅼🅾🆂🆃 🅻🅸🅺🅴🅻🆈 🆃🅾 🅼🆄🆁🅳🅴🆁
< @lishmcbride >
ʏᴀ | ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ
It’s all fun and games until people start turning up dead, in this unputdownable thriller by Lish McBride - Most Likely to Murder
I had so much fun reading this one! If you like thriller reads that also have a pinch of humor, then this is the book for you. And while the pacing is a little more slower-paced, it doesn’t take away from the thrill you’ll feel while reading it.
It’s school superlatives gone all the way wrong. (𝑆𝑤𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑀𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 —>) I really enjoyed this one and getting to know these characters - they read like a cast straight out of kids you went to high school with. But the murder/mystery was also fun too.
I also enjoyed the writing. McBride crafts a story you’ll never want to end. This would make an excellent movie or limited series - seriously!
✨
🔪 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚘𝚗, 𝙺𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗 𝙼. 𝙼𝚌𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙳𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎 𝚅𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚎
📸 𝙳𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚄𝚜 𝙸𝚜 𝙻𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗
🩷 𝙵𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝙲𝚕𝚞𝚋
✨
👆🏻 All of these are true!
🅼🅾🆂🆃 🅻🅸🅺🅴🅻🆈 🆃🅾 🅼🆄🆁🅳🅴🆁
< @lishmcbride >
ʏᴀ | ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ
It’s all fun and games until people start turning up dead, in this unputdownable thriller by Lish McBride - Most Likely to Murder
I had so much fun reading this one! If you like thriller reads that also have a pinch of humor, then this is the book for you. And while the pacing is a little more slower-paced, it doesn’t take away from the thrill you’ll feel while reading it.
It’s school superlatives gone all the way wrong. (𝑆𝑤𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑀𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 —>) I really enjoyed this one and getting to know these characters - they read like a cast straight out of kids you went to high school with. But the murder/mystery was also fun too.
I also enjoyed the writing. McBride crafts a story you’ll never want to end. This would make an excellent movie or limited series - seriously!
✨
🔪 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚘𝚗, 𝙺𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗 𝙼. 𝙼𝚌𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙳𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚎 𝚅𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚎
📸 𝙳𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚄𝚜 𝙸𝚜 𝙻𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗
🩷 𝙵𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝙲𝚕𝚞𝚋
✨
👆🏻 All of these are true!
April 16, 2026
Ouu this was such a fun murder mystery that actually kept me guessing the entire time! I loved the plot and how all the murders were centered around the school yearbook, felt quite nostalgic to some of the mysteries I read over the years but also fresh and different!
I actually also enjoyed all of the main characters but especially Martina! She’s the type of friend, a ride or die, that everyone could use in their life. And for some reason Rick felt like an older calming presence for me, also his uncle sounds like he’d be a hottie.. just saying, i don’t know why, but I kept picturing him as Luke from Gilmore Girls 😂.
Overall, it was a fun murder mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat!
I actually also enjoyed all of the main characters but especially Martina! She’s the type of friend, a ride or die, that everyone could use in their life. And for some reason Rick felt like an older calming presence for me, also his uncle sounds like he’d be a hottie.. just saying, i don’t know why, but I kept picturing him as Luke from Gilmore Girls 😂.
Overall, it was a fun murder mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat!
May 14, 2026
Most likely to murder is a YA Thriller/Suspense that follows high school students and best friends Rick and Martina. On the day the yearbook is distributed, they noticed that the page dedicated to the seniors, instead of having the standard yearbook superlatives (most likely to succeed, most likely to win the lottery, etc), it is replaced with gruesome forecasts of how they will die. The students stop believing it's a prank when one of the faculty members mentioned in those pages, is found dead.
The story was very intriguing, it kept me wanting to read more and find out what happened. However, the ending of the book when the ultimate villain was revealed, it felt underwhelming.
Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group & G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The story was very intriguing, it kept me wanting to read more and find out what happened. However, the ending of the book when the ultimate villain was revealed, it felt underwhelming.
Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group & G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Read
May 12, 2026
Trigger & Content Warnings
Suicide mentioned
Drug & alcohol abuse
Murder
Gun violence
Bullying
Suicide mentioned
Drug & alcohol abuse
Murder
Gun violence
Bullying
November 11, 2025
Actual Rating 3.5
Thanks to the G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and Penguin Teens for this early copy
Most Likely to Murder is marketed as a darkly kinda funny YA thriller. Rick and Martina are best friends and outcasts at school. They have a story of pranking (sometimes taking it that far). So when the senior yearbook gets hacked, the usual superlatives are replaced with creepy death predictions. Naturally, Rick and Martina were initially the prime suspects in the students' eyes, at least until those predictions started to come true.
The story is fresh, and teenage chaos was fun to read. I loved the added touch of family involvement, which made the characters feel grounded and real. Dynamics among all characters, both adults and teenagers, were so natural and fun to read. I rarely say this, but the character development carried this book rather than the story. Rick and Martina’s friendship stood out to me, full of sarcasm, loyalty, and care. Their banter made even a dark situation better. Rick and Nika's romance was slow-burning (One in YA books is so rare nowadays), and they were awkward, which made them teenagers and real.
The story seemed like just going on without much development, then everything started to happen at the end. Killer was entirely unpredictable, which, surprisingly, wasn't a positive thing here. The killer’s motive didn’t completely click for me. I wanted proper reasons and clues throughout the book to make sense of it. The suspense builds nicely, but toward a lackluster ending.
Overall, I'd recommend it if you like teen drama with some mystery.
Thanks to the G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and Penguin Teens for this early copy
Most Likely to Murder is marketed as a darkly kinda funny YA thriller. Rick and Martina are best friends and outcasts at school. They have a story of pranking (sometimes taking it that far). So when the senior yearbook gets hacked, the usual superlatives are replaced with creepy death predictions. Naturally, Rick and Martina were initially the prime suspects in the students' eyes, at least until those predictions started to come true.
The story is fresh, and teenage chaos was fun to read. I loved the added touch of family involvement, which made the characters feel grounded and real. Dynamics among all characters, both adults and teenagers, were so natural and fun to read. I rarely say this, but the character development carried this book rather than the story. Rick and Martina’s friendship stood out to me, full of sarcasm, loyalty, and care. Their banter made even a dark situation better. Rick and Nika's romance was slow-burning (One in YA books is so rare nowadays), and they were awkward, which made them teenagers and real.
The story seemed like just going on without much development, then everything started to happen at the end. Killer was entirely unpredictable, which, surprisingly, wasn't a positive thing here. The killer’s motive didn’t completely click for me. I wanted proper reasons and clues throughout the book to make sense of it. The suspense builds nicely, but toward a lackluster ending.
Overall, I'd recommend it if you like teen drama with some mystery.
November 12, 2025
All opinions are my own! Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC!
Martina and Rick are in no way popular; the best friends have managed to skate through school mostly under the radar. They are, however, known for their pranks. So when someone messes with the yearbook, all eyes go to them.
Certain yearbook superlatives have been changed, now foretelling the ways certain classmates will die. “Most Likely to Die Poisoned by School Spirit”, “Head-less of the Class”. The best friends swear they had nothing to do with it. Especially when they see they were chosen as “Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses”.
What seemed like a joke becomes all too real when the singular staff member nominated dies in the same way the yearbook stated (“Most Likely to Sleep with the Fishes”).
Rick and Martina (along with their fellow nominees) are determined to find the identity of the killer and keep everyone alive. But as the other students start dying in the ways it was written, they find themselves racing against the clock to prevent their own superlative from coming true. Suddenly, surviving high school just got ten times harder.
I enjoyed this book a lot! The blurb does suggest that fans of Karen M. McManus would enjoy this, and I agree! It was a fun thriller that definitely gave me similar energy to a few of McManus’ books!
The yearbook being the catalyst and set up was unique, and I actually quite enjoyed it. It’s something we see in many a YA novel, but being used in a sinister way was definitely a nice choice!
I really loved the way Rick and Martina were written, though I’ll admit I would have rather had a dual POV than just having Rick.
They do feature chapters that give a third person “fly on the wall” perspective of the victims as they meet their ends, which I also enjoyed a lot. It was very fun to determine how, exactly, the superlatives would be used in certain cases, as some of them were a bit broader than others.
I loved the adults in this novel too! In many YA thrillers, the adults are not very helpful or basically absent, but not in this one! I loved that especially Rick and Martina’s families played such significant roles and did their best to help as much as they could.
I will say the twist at the end absolutely floored me, and I was definitely not expecting it! It was a really great twist, and McBride did a great job of not giving it away, and allowing the twist to be a complete surprise.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Do I recommend it to anyone who loves a YA thriller? Definitely.
Martina and Rick are in no way popular; the best friends have managed to skate through school mostly under the radar. They are, however, known for their pranks. So when someone messes with the yearbook, all eyes go to them.
Certain yearbook superlatives have been changed, now foretelling the ways certain classmates will die. “Most Likely to Die Poisoned by School Spirit”, “Head-less of the Class”. The best friends swear they had nothing to do with it. Especially when they see they were chosen as “Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses”.
What seemed like a joke becomes all too real when the singular staff member nominated dies in the same way the yearbook stated (“Most Likely to Sleep with the Fishes”).
Rick and Martina (along with their fellow nominees) are determined to find the identity of the killer and keep everyone alive. But as the other students start dying in the ways it was written, they find themselves racing against the clock to prevent their own superlative from coming true. Suddenly, surviving high school just got ten times harder.
I enjoyed this book a lot! The blurb does suggest that fans of Karen M. McManus would enjoy this, and I agree! It was a fun thriller that definitely gave me similar energy to a few of McManus’ books!
The yearbook being the catalyst and set up was unique, and I actually quite enjoyed it. It’s something we see in many a YA novel, but being used in a sinister way was definitely a nice choice!
I really loved the way Rick and Martina were written, though I’ll admit I would have rather had a dual POV than just having Rick.
They do feature chapters that give a third person “fly on the wall” perspective of the victims as they meet their ends, which I also enjoyed a lot. It was very fun to determine how, exactly, the superlatives would be used in certain cases, as some of them were a bit broader than others.
I loved the adults in this novel too! In many YA thrillers, the adults are not very helpful or basically absent, but not in this one! I loved that especially Rick and Martina’s families played such significant roles and did their best to help as much as they could.
I will say the twist at the end absolutely floored me, and I was definitely not expecting it! It was a really great twist, and McBride did a great job of not giving it away, and allowing the twist to be a complete surprise.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Do I recommend it to anyone who loves a YA thriller? Definitely.
November 23, 2025
I wanted to love this one because I absolutely positively was obsessed with Red in Tooth and Claw and it’s one of my most favorite YA books ever.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t grab me like that one did. The beginning was so slow and I feel like the main characters were meh. Once the murders started happening, things picked up, but overall it ended up feeling kind of rushed at the end and there were no clues about who the murderer was so the ending seems to come out of left field.
Unfortunately, this one didn’t grab me like that one did. The beginning was so slow and I feel like the main characters were meh. Once the murders started happening, things picked up, but overall it ended up feeling kind of rushed at the end and there were no clues about who the murderer was so the ending seems to come out of left field.
March 28, 2026
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I honestly don’t read a ton of murder mystery books like this one, so I don’t normally pick up this type of ARC, even as a freebie from the publisher at a library conference. But I went ahead and fit it into my review schedule, and honestly, I’m glad I did. It was a very good read, lots of suspense and keeping me guessing for most of the book as I had no idea who the murderer/villain could possibly be. Now there was a part at the beginning that was a little confusing, why were they handing out yearbooks at the beginning of the school year. Then I remembered that when I first started high school, our yearbooks didn’t come out till we were doing back to school registration stuff, and so there were yearbook signing parties then. These days most of the schools I’ve worked at everything is done by the end of the school year so seniors can have them. But I always wondered how you get end of the year stuff that way.
Anyway, enough about the yearbook timing. The way the murder list was set up by putting the students’ or staff’s picture with the “most likely” to words by it, only the most likely was how they were going to die, like “sleep with the fishes”. Yes, it said fishes, even though that’s not how I’ve heard it usually as sleep with the fish. Again, I digress. For the most part the book was from Rick’s POV, and he was usually with his best friend Martina. It was third person POV though. Occasionally there was a chapter, like the very first one, from the POV of the latest murder victim. Because the murderer was never really described in these chapters other than the victim knew who they were and didn’t act surprised, and the murderer never said anything about why they were doing it, it really was pretty impossible to figure out who it was.
Until one scene, about halfway through the book? As they started trying to figure out who knew one of the victims more than the group of survivors/others named as potential victims actually knew them. There was one scene that got me thinking about one person, and when that person kind of cleared themselves, I went back to another person from that first scene. And in the end the way it was revealed pulled all the little puzzle pieces into place.
Outside of the murder and suspense, the characters were some that I enjoyed getting to know. Their families were made of characters that added a lot to the story. Not to mention a lot of great banter and awkward teenage flirting, and joking between best friends as well, I loved all of that. I think this is a mystery my students will enjoy and I can’t wait to purchase a copy with my library budget next school year!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
Anyway, enough about the yearbook timing. The way the murder list was set up by putting the students’ or staff’s picture with the “most likely” to words by it, only the most likely was how they were going to die, like “sleep with the fishes”. Yes, it said fishes, even though that’s not how I’ve heard it usually as sleep with the fish. Again, I digress. For the most part the book was from Rick’s POV, and he was usually with his best friend Martina. It was third person POV though. Occasionally there was a chapter, like the very first one, from the POV of the latest murder victim. Because the murderer was never really described in these chapters other than the victim knew who they were and didn’t act surprised, and the murderer never said anything about why they were doing it, it really was pretty impossible to figure out who it was.
Until one scene, about halfway through the book? As they started trying to figure out who knew one of the victims more than the group of survivors/others named as potential victims actually knew them. There was one scene that got me thinking about one person, and when that person kind of cleared themselves, I went back to another person from that first scene. And in the end the way it was revealed pulled all the little puzzle pieces into place.
Outside of the murder and suspense, the characters were some that I enjoyed getting to know. Their families were made of characters that added a lot to the story. Not to mention a lot of great banter and awkward teenage flirting, and joking between best friends as well, I loved all of that. I think this is a mystery my students will enjoy and I can’t wait to purchase a copy with my library budget next school year!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
March 21, 2026
ARC review
4.25 stars
Rick and Martina, best friends and united social outcasts in high school are just trying to get by. But when the late yearbooks for the previous year finally arrive and contain threatening superlatives (Most Likely to Swim with the Fishes!), they’re thrust into the spotlight. Not only are they suspected of the “prank”, they’re listed as slated to die at Homecoming. Now they’re forced out of their comfort zone and into teaming up with the other students who are on the list.
This YA murder mystery was a fun, quick read for me. There’s elements of 1990’s slasher fun as well. Rick was such a delightfully oblivious teenage boy and I loved when Martina described him as “gas station hot” and how he never ever clues in when people hit on him. Martina is such a fantastic character too. She’s sharp, witty, has an amazingly dynamic family, and has neuroses of her own. These two may not have much money, but they have a lot of love for each other and their families.
The side characters are just as well done. Rick’s love interest Nika, Martina’s crush Camryn…. Even Paxton, the boy we all hate. They’re vibrant and really build out the world of this high school and town.
The plot moves quickly as the murders start to stack up with clues on who the killer is. And I loved the path that the gang’s investigation took to get to the end. These are smart kids and they’re determined to stay alive. The writing and plot are tightly done.
Thanks to Penguin Young Reader’s Group for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
4.25 stars
Rick and Martina, best friends and united social outcasts in high school are just trying to get by. But when the late yearbooks for the previous year finally arrive and contain threatening superlatives (Most Likely to Swim with the Fishes!), they’re thrust into the spotlight. Not only are they suspected of the “prank”, they’re listed as slated to die at Homecoming. Now they’re forced out of their comfort zone and into teaming up with the other students who are on the list.
This YA murder mystery was a fun, quick read for me. There’s elements of 1990’s slasher fun as well. Rick was such a delightfully oblivious teenage boy and I loved when Martina described him as “gas station hot” and how he never ever clues in when people hit on him. Martina is such a fantastic character too. She’s sharp, witty, has an amazingly dynamic family, and has neuroses of her own. These two may not have much money, but they have a lot of love for each other and their families.
The side characters are just as well done. Rick’s love interest Nika, Martina’s crush Camryn…. Even Paxton, the boy we all hate. They’re vibrant and really build out the world of this high school and town.
The plot moves quickly as the murders start to stack up with clues on who the killer is. And I loved the path that the gang’s investigation took to get to the end. These are smart kids and they’re determined to stay alive. The writing and plot are tightly done.
Thanks to Penguin Young Reader’s Group for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
March 25, 2026
What if someone put their hit list in the yearbook?
I really love a collaborative team of teens investigating something kind of Stranger Things style. There is a bit of that in this book but we're mostly following Rick who's best friends with Martina. They've both been targeted by the hit list and also accused of being behind the hit list as some sort of prank.
I liked when there was some actual investigating going on with the group of teens on the hit list, it made things a little more interesting. The investigation felt very sporadic though. It wasn't really a constant and there were some random scenes that were kind of boring and long that almost seemed like filler.
As a thriller I was a little underwhelmed in this book as a whole. I'm not sure if there was just too much time where nothing was happening or I wasn't invested in the characters or something else. I do think the deaths were maybe too spaced apart, there were a couple of threats but things didn't really escalate or dial up. I think my interest in the story stayed pretty lukewarm and I was never on the edge of my seat.
The best part of this book for me was the premise: creative hit list in a highschool yearbook. But the actual story didn't live up for me this time. I will say that I also enjoyed the dedication and acknowledgements - the author's personal writing was great, but unfortunately her voice didn't shine through the meat of the book.
Thanks to G.P. Putnam Sons for the advanced copy!
I really love a collaborative team of teens investigating something kind of Stranger Things style. There is a bit of that in this book but we're mostly following Rick who's best friends with Martina. They've both been targeted by the hit list and also accused of being behind the hit list as some sort of prank.
I liked when there was some actual investigating going on with the group of teens on the hit list, it made things a little more interesting. The investigation felt very sporadic though. It wasn't really a constant and there were some random scenes that were kind of boring and long that almost seemed like filler.
As a thriller I was a little underwhelmed in this book as a whole. I'm not sure if there was just too much time where nothing was happening or I wasn't invested in the characters or something else. I do think the deaths were maybe too spaced apart, there were a couple of threats but things didn't really escalate or dial up. I think my interest in the story stayed pretty lukewarm and I was never on the edge of my seat.
The best part of this book for me was the premise: creative hit list in a highschool yearbook. But the actual story didn't live up for me this time. I will say that I also enjoyed the dedication and acknowledgements - the author's personal writing was great, but unfortunately her voice didn't shine through the meat of the book.
Thanks to G.P. Putnam Sons for the advanced copy!
April 1, 2026
Okay this was such a fun YA thriller, I was hooked the whole way through.
The concept alone is so good: yearbook superlatives turned deadly predictions?? I mean… Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses?? Who comes up with this 😅 It’s dark, a little ridiculous, but in the best way.
We follow best friends Rick and Martina—your classic “labeled as troublemakers but actually just trying to survive high school” duo—who suddenly find themselves way too involved when a prank yearbook starts predicting people’s deaths… and then those deaths actually start happening.
And not gonna lie, once the first body drops, I was IN.
The mystery was genuinely suspenseful, and I loved that I didn’t guess the killer. That’s always a win for me. Even though… I’ll be honest, I didn’t totally love who it ended up being. It felt a little meh compared to the buildup, but the journey getting there was still super engaging.
Now, let’s talk about the romance—because it is YA, so of course it’s there. For me? A little cheesy, a little unnecessary. But also… expected. If you’re a YA reader, you’ll probably just roll with it. I personally was way more invested in the murder plot than who was crushing on who.
Tone-wise, it balances humor and dark moments really well. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still delivers on the suspense. It’s one of those reads that’s just easy to fly through.
The concept alone is so good: yearbook superlatives turned deadly predictions?? I mean… Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses?? Who comes up with this 😅 It’s dark, a little ridiculous, but in the best way.
We follow best friends Rick and Martina—your classic “labeled as troublemakers but actually just trying to survive high school” duo—who suddenly find themselves way too involved when a prank yearbook starts predicting people’s deaths… and then those deaths actually start happening.
And not gonna lie, once the first body drops, I was IN.
The mystery was genuinely suspenseful, and I loved that I didn’t guess the killer. That’s always a win for me. Even though… I’ll be honest, I didn’t totally love who it ended up being. It felt a little meh compared to the buildup, but the journey getting there was still super engaging.
Now, let’s talk about the romance—because it is YA, so of course it’s there. For me? A little cheesy, a little unnecessary. But also… expected. If you’re a YA reader, you’ll probably just roll with it. I personally was way more invested in the murder plot than who was crushing on who.
Tone-wise, it balances humor and dark moments really well. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still delivers on the suspense. It’s one of those reads that’s just easy to fly through.
February 4, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC. Pains me to say but DNF at just about 50%. This one started off solid, with clear voices for Rick and Martina, snappy, witty dialogue, and an intriguing mystery. But then once the group of students decided to team up to figure out the culprit, things started to feel far fetched. Every student feels like their own caricature of a high school stereotype—the jock, cheerleader—that it really took me out of the immersion. And while I love the banter, it didn’t feel very on par in a novel with such high stakes.
I do think the premise here is great, two students being framed as they’re the usual suspects for these kind of “pranks,” but I’m not very invested in finding out who is actually responsible yet. I might come back to this one, but for now I’m going to painfully call it quits. Bummer.
I do think the premise here is great, two students being framed as they’re the usual suspects for these kind of “pranks,” but I’m not very invested in finding out who is actually responsible yet. I might come back to this one, but for now I’m going to painfully call it quits. Bummer.
February 6, 2026
If you could find out how you’re going to die, would you do it? I know I certainly wouldn’t, and when a group of students see their impending deaths outlined in the high school yearbook, they didn’t feel too good about it either.
This was everything a YA thriller should be. There were intricate characters, hilarious commentary, and a murderer that I couldn’t figure out. Rick and Martina’s friendship was refreshing and fun to read about, and it made me miss my high school friendships.
My only complaint was who the killer ended up being. While the author gets points for making it unpredictable, it also ended up being very unbelievable. The killer’s motive just didn’t convince me.
Overall, this was a page-turner that gave me chills and made me laugh all at the same time.
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for my gifted copy!
This was everything a YA thriller should be. There were intricate characters, hilarious commentary, and a murderer that I couldn’t figure out. Rick and Martina’s friendship was refreshing and fun to read about, and it made me miss my high school friendships.
My only complaint was who the killer ended up being. While the author gets points for making it unpredictable, it also ended up being very unbelievable. The killer’s motive just didn’t convince me.
Overall, this was a page-turner that gave me chills and made me laugh all at the same time.
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for my gifted copy!
December 8, 2025
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒ ⭒
3.0 stars
ꨄ︎ Okay, so I’m a bit surprised at how low-key good this book actually turned out to be. Because that very first chapter had me thinking I was about to suffer through one of the worst reading experiences of my life. But thankfully, that weird writing style disappeared almost immediately, and things honestly got pretty good.
ꨄ︎ That said, somewhere along the line, the book started to get a bit boring. I expected the characters to actively try to solve the murder (collecting clues, piecing things together, following proper threads ) but the investigation felt scattered. The reveal felt a little disconnected, like something you really have to stop and think about to “get,” which isn’t necessarily the book’s fault, but it did take me out of it.
ꨄ︎ And the ending scene lost a few points for me. After all the build-up, the final moment felt way too hasty. Like… that’s it? It needed more weight, more time, more something.
ꨄ︎ But overall, I actually liked the book. I had fun reading it. And honestly, sometimes that’s all that matters.
Thank you Penguin young readers group for a copy of this arc
3.0 stars
ꨄ︎ Okay, so I’m a bit surprised at how low-key good this book actually turned out to be. Because that very first chapter had me thinking I was about to suffer through one of the worst reading experiences of my life. But thankfully, that weird writing style disappeared almost immediately, and things honestly got pretty good.
ꨄ︎ That said, somewhere along the line, the book started to get a bit boring. I expected the characters to actively try to solve the murder (collecting clues, piecing things together, following proper threads ) but the investigation felt scattered. The reveal felt a little disconnected, like something you really have to stop and think about to “get,” which isn’t necessarily the book’s fault, but it did take me out of it.
ꨄ︎ And the ending scene lost a few points for me. After all the build-up, the final moment felt way too hasty. Like… that’s it? It needed more weight, more time, more something.
ꨄ︎ But overall, I actually liked the book. I had fun reading it. And honestly, sometimes that’s all that matters.
Thank you Penguin young readers group for a copy of this arc
April 14, 2026
1,5
This was not as fun as i wish it would be, this should be my style of book, slasher, ya, yearbook saying how different people are gonna die. Great....but only in the beggining.
The story dragged. Scenes felt longer than they needed to be and instead of building tension, the pacing kept losing it. A slasher with only 2 death scenes and that are done the same(there were 3 and i literally forgot because it was a nothing character)
And the reveal… I really struggled with it. It didn’t feel connected to the emotional threads or the character dynamics that the book spent so much time on. Honestly, I would’ve loved a more impactful twist, something involving Nika, or one of the kids.
Also it leave me with multiple questions.
Why mr cooper was arrested? How a person whos not from school would walk around without being noticed? Why were we making jokes while a gun was pointed at me? How the villain was in 2 places at the same time (stating the fire and shooting the auditorium)? not good.
This was not as fun as i wish it would be, this should be my style of book, slasher, ya, yearbook saying how different people are gonna die. Great....but only in the beggining.
The story dragged. Scenes felt longer than they needed to be and instead of building tension, the pacing kept losing it. A slasher with only 2 death scenes and that are done the same(there were 3 and i literally forgot because it was a nothing character)
And the reveal… I really struggled with it. It didn’t feel connected to the emotional threads or the character dynamics that the book spent so much time on. Honestly, I would’ve loved a more impactful twist, something involving Nika, or one of the kids.
Also it leave me with multiple questions.
Why mr cooper was arrested? How a person whos not from school would walk around without being noticed? Why were we making jokes while a gun was pointed at me? How the villain was in 2 places at the same time (stating the fire and shooting the auditorium)? not good.
November 8, 2025
I loved this book so much!
First off it’s a ya mystery type of book involving high school students when their yearbook is hacked and predictions of their deaths posted!
The storyline is so good and you warm up to the different characters ver quickly! This is my first book by this author but will definitely read more and I love that the ending opens it up for a sequel which I would love because of the characters alone!
First off it’s a ya mystery type of book involving high school students when their yearbook is hacked and predictions of their deaths posted!
The storyline is so good and you warm up to the different characters ver quickly! This is my first book by this author but will definitely read more and I love that the ending opens it up for a sequel which I would love because of the characters alone!
January 6, 2026
3.5⭐️
I love a YA murder mystery. This was fun and felt fresh in the sense that it gave us a m*rder list out of a year book.
I found this to be an easy read and the story was wild enough to keep me keen.
The one thing that kept coming up for me was that the main characters were in their senior year but read like they were early teens and that kept pulling me out of their characters.
Pub date: March 24
Thank you penguinteenca for the arc 🤍🤍
I love a YA murder mystery. This was fun and felt fresh in the sense that it gave us a m*rder list out of a year book.
I found this to be an easy read and the story was wild enough to keep me keen.
The one thing that kept coming up for me was that the main characters were in their senior year but read like they were early teens and that kept pulling me out of their characters.
Pub date: March 24
Thank you penguinteenca for the arc 🤍🤍
March 29, 2026
What a fun storyline! I can’t imagine seeing a page like that in my yearbook, and then having them start coming true. I liked the friendships and relationships that were blossoming, and the witty conversations made for a great YA read, but definitely a suspend-belief style. The mystery element kept me interested, but it wasn’t a real brain bender. Overall an easy and fun read.
Want to Read
October 25, 2025A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
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