What do you think?
Rate this book
A Good Idea
Can the right kind of boy get away with killing the wrong kind of girl?
Fin and Betty’s close friendship survived Fin’s ninth-grade move from their coastal Maine town to Manhattan. Calls, letters, and summer visits continued to bind them together, and in the fall of their senior year, they both applied to NYU, planning to reunite for good as roommates.
Then Betty disappears. Her ex-boyfriend Calder admits to drowning her, but his confession is thrown out, and soon the entire town believes he was coerced and Betty has simply run away. Fin knows the truth, and she returns to Williston for one final summer, determined to get justice for her friend, even if it means putting her loved ones—and herself—at risk.
But Williston is a town full of secrets, where a delicate framework holds everything together, and Fin is not the only one with an agenda. How much is she willing to damage to get her revenge and learn the truth about Betty’s disappearance, which is more complicated than she ever imagined—and infinitely more devastating?
Fin and Betty’s close friendship survived Fin’s ninth-grade move from their coastal Maine town to Manhattan. Calls, letters, and summer visits continued to bind them together, and in the fall of their senior year, they both applied to NYU, planning to reunite for good as roommates.
Then Betty disappears. Her ex-boyfriend Calder admits to drowning her, but his confession is thrown out, and soon the entire town believes he was coerced and Betty has simply run away. Fin knows the truth, and she returns to Williston for one final summer, determined to get justice for her friend, even if it means putting her loved ones—and herself—at risk.
But Williston is a town full of secrets, where a delicate framework holds everything together, and Fin is not the only one with an agenda. How much is she willing to damage to get her revenge and learn the truth about Betty’s disappearance, which is more complicated than she ever imagined—and infinitely more devastating?
11 pages, Audio CD
First published February 28, 2017
80 people are currently reading
5847 people want to read
About the author
Cristina Moracho
5 books107 followersCristina Moracho is a novelist and freelance writer/editor. Her debut novel, Althea & Oliver (Viking), will be published this October. She lives in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where she makes all the bad decisions.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
January 3, 2018
I remembered those childhood assemblies in the auditorium of Willingston Elementary, the principal onstage explaining that the solution to any problem was to tell a grown-up. But he never told us what to do when the grown-ups were incompetent or had their own problems or just didn’t fucking care.
This is a fundamentally strange book. I know it’s being marketed as a mystery and a thriller, but to be honest, I don’t think that’s what this is. To me, A Good Idea was an exploration of how anyone can do anything. Especially teenagers. Because this book is asking a question it’s easy to avoid: who are you once your parents can’t control you?
This has such a vaguely-fucked-up-teen-80s-movie-vibe. Think a combo between Heathers and The Breakfast Club. This is an oddly matter-of-fact book, and it has a lot of… gritty humor. Specifically, a lot of drug use and sex. Perhaps in its rush to be gritty, A Good Idea goes too far - given the reviews, I’m sure some readers were so bothered by the constant drug use and brutality that the story loses its full impact. And I have to say I understand that point of view - some of the brutality got overdone.
But I love the questions asked here. As I said earlier, the mystery of whodunit isn’t relevant - the mystery of whydunit is far more important. And perhaps even more important - at what time do the good guys become just as bad as the killers?
And in combination with our character weirdness - this story is so, so nuanced. We are not following the town heroes - we are following the town outcasts. Lead character Fin is a former member of the town, angry at the town, and does a ton of crap. New girlfriend Serena is a victim of conversion therapy possibly even angrier. Best friend Owen is the town drug dealer. And then there’s Calder, the murderer. No, that’s not a fakeout. But as the story goes on, we’re forced to question: was it Calder who killed her? Or was it the whole town?
Having Fin as the narrator of this tale is a brilliant choice - she is the one character who was not there, the one character who did not witness Betty’s breakdown. And while I didn’t necessarily like Fin at every point of the book, she is definitely a compelling narrator for the tale - and I have to admit, by the end I couldn't help rooting for her.
Perhaps what got to me most about this book was how it completely avoided narrative punishment. We see things from Fin's completely biased point of view, yet the narrative itself is strangely empathetic to every character. No character is a complete caricature, not even the book's technical villain, and it is this fact that makes the side characters so compelling. Big shoutout to Owen, Serena, Charlotte, and Calder for being horrible characters who I love so much.
Possibly my one comment would be that there are a lot of mentions of a character who is Canadian and essentially is one of those white people who claims they are Native when they are definitely not. The commentary feels derisive, and the book isn’t exactly breaking form in using subtle criticism rather than explicit criticism. But I still think this commentary would’ve felt a lot less weird if one of the leads actually were native.
But on the whole, I thought this book was brilliant, with an ending I absolutely adored. Weird but fantastically psychological.
Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Youtube
August 1, 2016
A little bit too much teen angst, casual drug use and sex for my taste, even in a YA novel. But storyline was good, and you didn't know quite who did it until the end. Title of the book doesn't quite fit the overall story.
July 21, 2020
Atmospheric, gloomy, brooding, and kind of slow although it's probably called for, for the kind of story it is telling. It's just that I'm probably no longer in the mood for too much teenage angst. I get it though. The author is trying to be true to the 90s setting. The drug abuse, too much sex, teenagers in a small town lacking creative ways to fill their time and ending up bored or depressed and I appreciate her efforts as well as her solid writing.
But there just seems to be so many things going on in the plot that it seemed to have lost its focus. And I guess this isn't just the kind of thriller I'm looking for. Had I read this earlier, I probably would have liked it better.
But there just seems to be so many things going on in the plot that it seemed to have lost its focus. And I guess this isn't just the kind of thriller I'm looking for. Had I read this earlier, I probably would have liked it better.
February 26, 2018
This book contains topics that might be triggers. There is a large amount of drug use, sexual contact, binge drinking, and depression in the book. Also, this book deals with mostly just graduated seniors before college so a younger age group.
This book starts up with Fin returning to her father’s house from Manhattan after her best friend Betty had disappeared during their senior year. We jump into the story right as Fin is sitting at graduation awaiting Betty’s name to be mentioned and when it isn’t you can see the emotions come right off Fin. Fin has decided she will figure out what happened to Betty while she is town and needs this to get closure. Fin believes Betty has been killed and is not missing.
Fin has a somewhat of a boyfriend named Owen when she is in town. Owen runs his family dinner and is the town drug dealer. The relationship between Fin and Owen is interesting they seem to not be friends outside of the time she spends in time and, they appear to be close at the same time. The way the relationship turns out is an interesting listen.
The book went into a lot of details of how people felt regarding Betty’s disappearance. We get to see how each character felt about what happened to Betty and how afterwards they thought why didn’t they try to stop her. It takes a hard look at actions and reactions. Everyone got to take a good reflection about what they may have missed or how they could have stopped Betty.
Serena was another character that joined the mix in helping to bring justice for Betty. Serena comes off to me immediately as if she is hiding something. I am not sure why, but it might be how she is introduced that comes off as shady and something is off. I did enjoy how the relationship between Serena and Fin came together.
My biggest complaint was the ending of this book. I listened to the audio of the book and it appears the climax ends with about an hour left in the audio. The last hour is dedicated to tying up all the loose ends as possible. I felt like it was almost too neatly tied up. I could have left with more vagueness of what happened to everyone, but the author took the time to explain what happened in detail after the climax.
I would suggest reading this book over the weekend or when you have a longer time to read. The book had a lot of parts that I couldn’t stop listening to and I ended up binge listening to the book in one day at work. It was hard for me to stop listening because you could tell the book was building and building up for something big to happen.
This book starts up with Fin returning to her father’s house from Manhattan after her best friend Betty had disappeared during their senior year. We jump into the story right as Fin is sitting at graduation awaiting Betty’s name to be mentioned and when it isn’t you can see the emotions come right off Fin. Fin has decided she will figure out what happened to Betty while she is town and needs this to get closure. Fin believes Betty has been killed and is not missing.
Fin has a somewhat of a boyfriend named Owen when she is in town. Owen runs his family dinner and is the town drug dealer. The relationship between Fin and Owen is interesting they seem to not be friends outside of the time she spends in time and, they appear to be close at the same time. The way the relationship turns out is an interesting listen.
The book went into a lot of details of how people felt regarding Betty’s disappearance. We get to see how each character felt about what happened to Betty and how afterwards they thought why didn’t they try to stop her. It takes a hard look at actions and reactions. Everyone got to take a good reflection about what they may have missed or how they could have stopped Betty.
Serena was another character that joined the mix in helping to bring justice for Betty. Serena comes off to me immediately as if she is hiding something. I am not sure why, but it might be how she is introduced that comes off as shady and something is off. I did enjoy how the relationship between Serena and Fin came together.
My biggest complaint was the ending of this book. I listened to the audio of the book and it appears the climax ends with about an hour left in the audio. The last hour is dedicated to tying up all the loose ends as possible. I felt like it was almost too neatly tied up. I could have left with more vagueness of what happened to everyone, but the author took the time to explain what happened in detail after the climax.
I would suggest reading this book over the weekend or when you have a longer time to read. The book had a lot of parts that I couldn’t stop listening to and I ended up binge listening to the book in one day at work. It was hard for me to stop listening because you could tell the book was building and building up for something big to happen.
April 1, 2017
I disliked the characters in this book, they are all lost, messed-up and addiction-prone teenagers, but they seemed real. I didn't like the stifling atmosphere of the village they live in and yet, it may as well be any small village . This is not the kind of book that you can read before going to bed and then sleep like a log but I just couldn't put it down at the beginning.
Fin returns to Williston, her hometown, to seek revenge for the murder of her best friend Betty whose ex-boyfriend is the main suspect. She is obsessed with it and her obsession made me keep on reading . I needed to find out not only what had really happened to Betty or who her murdered was but I mainly needed to know if it was possible for Fin to survive after having lost her friend, if it was possible for her to somehow move on and start, really start living .
However, when the truth was revealed I could not believe it, no matter how much I tried, it just didn't make any sense to me.
Here is a question for you which contains a huge spoiler:
If a close friend of yours asked you to
What started as a compelling novel didn't seem to me such a good idea after all.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
Fin returns to Williston, her hometown, to seek revenge for the murder of her best friend Betty whose ex-boyfriend is the main suspect. She is obsessed with it and her obsession made me keep on reading . I needed to find out not only what had really happened to Betty or who her murdered was but I mainly needed to know if it was possible for Fin to survive after having lost her friend, if it was possible for her to somehow move on and start, really start living .
However, when the truth was revealed I could not believe it, no matter how much I tried, it just didn't make any sense to me.
Here is a question for you which contains a huge spoiler:
If a close friend of yours asked you to
What started as a compelling novel didn't seem to me such a good idea after all.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
October 21, 2018
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
Finley and Betty have been best friends since they were little but when Finley moves away after her parents separation, they agree that they will meet again as roommates in college. A year before this is meant to happen, Betty is murdered by her boyfriend Calder. The only evidence for the case is Calder's confession, which everyone believes to be coerced and soon thrown out. Now, seeking revenge and the truth about what really happened to Betty, Finley returns to her hometown to stir up some trouble.
For the first half of this book I was extremely bored. Nothing exciting happened and it was mostly just Finley being mad at every thing and everyone. She made a lot of stupid decisions that really annoyed me. The second half of the book definitely picked up for me and that's when I actually began to enjoy the story. None of the characters are particularly likeable, but I did enjoy Finley as the narrator only because she was such an outsider. I found it interesting to see her viewpoint since she was the only person not in town during Betty's breakdown. The mystery aspect of the story was average at best, I felt like it dragged too much and was then tied up far to neatly.
Overall, just an average read for me.
Finley and Betty have been best friends since they were little but when Finley moves away after her parents separation, they agree that they will meet again as roommates in college. A year before this is meant to happen, Betty is murdered by her boyfriend Calder. The only evidence for the case is Calder's confession, which everyone believes to be coerced and soon thrown out. Now, seeking revenge and the truth about what really happened to Betty, Finley returns to her hometown to stir up some trouble.
For the first half of this book I was extremely bored. Nothing exciting happened and it was mostly just Finley being mad at every thing and everyone. She made a lot of stupid decisions that really annoyed me. The second half of the book definitely picked up for me and that's when I actually began to enjoy the story. None of the characters are particularly likeable, but I did enjoy Finley as the narrator only because she was such an outsider. I found it interesting to see her viewpoint since she was the only person not in town during Betty's breakdown. The mystery aspect of the story was average at best, I felt like it dragged too much and was then tied up far to neatly.
Overall, just an average read for me.
April 14, 2017
Eh...this one was just kind of boring.
February 5, 2017
Every once in awhile, I like to read a thriller and so I was hoping "A Good Idea" was going to fulfill my need for a good thriller.
*Book received through the Amazon Vine program*
"A Good Idea" is about Finley, who comes back to her hometown the summer after her best friend, Betty, disappears. She is determined to find out what exactly happened and who is responsible for Betty's disappearance. Overall, I thought the book just okay. It's labeled as YA but to me, the book veers more towards New Adult or regular adult fiction. There's rampant drug use and nobody in the small town seems to care that the underage teens hang in out in the town bar and drink alcohol on the regular. There's also some mature relationship scenes that may be too much for the younger teen set.
The mystery aspect was okay but I felt like it dragged too much. There was a lot going on and it just felt like too much going on. I almost felt like the book could have been cut by 50 or 75 pages and would have better. I was hoping for a good mystery but "A Good Idea" didn't quite deliver that for me.
*Book received through the Amazon Vine program*
"A Good Idea" is about Finley, who comes back to her hometown the summer after her best friend, Betty, disappears. She is determined to find out what exactly happened and who is responsible for Betty's disappearance. Overall, I thought the book just okay. It's labeled as YA but to me, the book veers more towards New Adult or regular adult fiction. There's rampant drug use and nobody in the small town seems to care that the underage teens hang in out in the town bar and drink alcohol on the regular. There's also some mature relationship scenes that may be too much for the younger teen set.
The mystery aspect was okay but I felt like it dragged too much. There was a lot going on and it just felt like too much going on. I almost felt like the book could have been cut by 50 or 75 pages and would have better. I was hoping for a good mystery but "A Good Idea" didn't quite deliver that for me.
March 8, 2018
Weird, but not in a good way.
1) It was set in 1998 but there was no discernible reason WHY.
2) Considering it was set in 1998 a lot of the language used by the teen characters was modern.
3) I found out that this storyline is EXACTLY the same as a real murder that occurred in 1961 and yet there's no reference to that, which surely inspired the novel since even the murdered girl's name is the same.
4) So many drugs. Far too fucking many drugs.
5) Thank god the dog was found, otherwise this would be a one star review.
1) It was set in 1998 but there was no discernible reason WHY.
2) Considering it was set in 1998 a lot of the language used by the teen characters was modern.
3) I found out that this storyline is EXACTLY the same as a real murder that occurred in 1961 and yet there's no reference to that, which surely inspired the novel since even the murdered girl's name is the same.
4) So many drugs. Far too fucking many drugs.
5) Thank god the dog was found, otherwise this would be a one star review.
December 26, 2016
Loved the writing, but not sure I was 100% committed to the mystery....I'll noodle on it and put up a longer review closer to pub date.
February 24, 2017
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
**Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars**
As someone who would read pretty much every thriller in existence if I had the time, when a copy of A Good Idea showed up in my mailbox (a huge thank you to Penguin Teen!), I was incredibly excited - especially by that really creepy looking cover, and a synopsis that said I probably shouldn't start this book at night before I went to sleep.
I guess I was honestly expecting a bit of horror to be integrated into the book too, or at least some sort of supernatural aspects to be included, but I wasn't the slightest bit creeped out by this book, despite that rusty bathtub on the cover and the creepy woods in the background.
I did, however, find myself completely engaged in a thriller that was definitely an interesting one, and even the setting - the 1990's in a small town in Maine - was something that I really found myself drawn to.
Finley spends summers with her dad, in Maine, which is quite the change from the New York environment that she is used to with her mom. Maine is a lot more quiet - a place where everyone knows everyone else (and their business), and the place where Fin's best friend Betty (and kind-of boyfriend Owen), always lived.
However, this summer is going to be different. This summer, Betty won't be there when Fin goes to stay with her dad - it turns out, she was murdered, and they never found her body. There are plenty of theories about what happened to her, including the popular one that her ex-boyfriend Calder drowned her at the beach. In fact, he had even confessed to killing her, even though they had to dismiss his confession and let him go. Crushed by Betty's death, Fin realizes that her life will never be the same - the summers she once shared with Betty are just memories now.
But Fin still believes he did it, and she is determined to make sure that he gets what's coming to him, even if she has to spend the whole summer making sure that people know the truth. Although, it doesn't seem as though anyone wants to talk about Betty or even acknowledge that anything out of the ordinary happened - it's as though they would rather forget about her, and move on with their lives - allowing Calder to walk free without a second thought.
Only a few people, including a girl, Serena, want to bring about justice for Betty's death, and she is willing to do anything she can to bring it to light. So Fin works with Serena (developing a friendship, and then something more), as well as Owen (who honestly wants her to just leave things well enough alone), to get to the bottom of what really happened to Betty.
There were a lot of things I really liked about this book, such as how well the setting was written and how I felt like I was actually there, as well as the determination of both Fin and Serena when it came to figuring out who killed Betty.
Unfortunately, there were also other things about this book that I wasn't able to appreciate that much, including the weird relationship between Fin and Owen, as well as the fact that no matter how hard I tried, I just could not connect with Finley's character. Don't get me wrong, she was the type of girl that really went after what she wanted without worrying about what other people thought, and I loved that, but at the same time, the way she acted sometimes really made me dislike her.
There are quite a few flashbacks in this book, and they can get confusing sometimes, as Fin will be narrating in the present and then just jump back to a memory without there being any breaks or italics or anything (I only have the ARC of this book, so this might change in the finished copy, not sure). While the flashbacks are helpful to understanding Fin's relationship with Betty, I wish there had been more of them so we would have been able to understand Betty's character a little better.
There is A LOT of drug use in this book - it seems like everyone in the entire town is popping pills and getting drunk, including Fin. I'm just throwing this out there, because it has the potential to be a trigger. If alcohol or drug use is something that could be a trigger for you, consider this before checking out this book.
All in all, it was an interesting thriller, even if it wasn't quite as thrilling as I had hoped. It's easy to see that the author has quite the flair for writing though, and because of her writing style I'm definitely going to be checking into her previous novel, Althea & Oliver.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
**Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars**
As someone who would read pretty much every thriller in existence if I had the time, when a copy of A Good Idea showed up in my mailbox (a huge thank you to Penguin Teen!), I was incredibly excited - especially by that really creepy looking cover, and a synopsis that said I probably shouldn't start this book at night before I went to sleep.
I guess I was honestly expecting a bit of horror to be integrated into the book too, or at least some sort of supernatural aspects to be included, but I wasn't the slightest bit creeped out by this book, despite that rusty bathtub on the cover and the creepy woods in the background.
I did, however, find myself completely engaged in a thriller that was definitely an interesting one, and even the setting - the 1990's in a small town in Maine - was something that I really found myself drawn to.
Finley spends summers with her dad, in Maine, which is quite the change from the New York environment that she is used to with her mom. Maine is a lot more quiet - a place where everyone knows everyone else (and their business), and the place where Fin's best friend Betty (and kind-of boyfriend Owen), always lived.
However, this summer is going to be different. This summer, Betty won't be there when Fin goes to stay with her dad - it turns out, she was murdered, and they never found her body. There are plenty of theories about what happened to her, including the popular one that her ex-boyfriend Calder drowned her at the beach. In fact, he had even confessed to killing her, even though they had to dismiss his confession and let him go. Crushed by Betty's death, Fin realizes that her life will never be the same - the summers she once shared with Betty are just memories now.
"'Death really is easiest on t he departed. It's everyone else who does the suffering, gets angry, looks for someone to blame.'"
But Fin still believes he did it, and she is determined to make sure that he gets what's coming to him, even if she has to spend the whole summer making sure that people know the truth. Although, it doesn't seem as though anyone wants to talk about Betty or even acknowledge that anything out of the ordinary happened - it's as though they would rather forget about her, and move on with their lives - allowing Calder to walk free without a second thought.
Only a few people, including a girl, Serena, want to bring about justice for Betty's death, and she is willing to do anything she can to bring it to light. So Fin works with Serena (developing a friendship, and then something more), as well as Owen (who honestly wants her to just leave things well enough alone), to get to the bottom of what really happened to Betty.
There were a lot of things I really liked about this book, such as how well the setting was written and how I felt like I was actually there, as well as the determination of both Fin and Serena when it came to figuring out who killed Betty.
Unfortunately, there were also other things about this book that I wasn't able to appreciate that much, including the weird relationship between Fin and Owen, as well as the fact that no matter how hard I tried, I just could not connect with Finley's character. Don't get me wrong, she was the type of girl that really went after what she wanted without worrying about what other people thought, and I loved that, but at the same time, the way she acted sometimes really made me dislike her.
There are quite a few flashbacks in this book, and they can get confusing sometimes, as Fin will be narrating in the present and then just jump back to a memory without there being any breaks or italics or anything (I only have the ARC of this book, so this might change in the finished copy, not sure). While the flashbacks are helpful to understanding Fin's relationship with Betty, I wish there had been more of them so we would have been able to understand Betty's character a little better.
There is A LOT of drug use in this book - it seems like everyone in the entire town is popping pills and getting drunk, including Fin. I'm just throwing this out there, because it has the potential to be a trigger. If alcohol or drug use is something that could be a trigger for you, consider this before checking out this book.
All in all, it was an interesting thriller, even if it wasn't quite as thrilling as I had hoped. It's easy to see that the author has quite the flair for writing though, and because of her writing style I'm definitely going to be checking into her previous novel, Althea & Oliver.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2017
Initial Impressions 2/14/17 and full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 4/17/17: 3.5 - 4 stars
A GOOD IDEA was interesting from start to finish but my passion for it sort of went in waves. The beginning was interesting but I wasn’t sure where it was going yet. The middle was thrilling and I tore through the book (well, I would have it I wasn’t listening to an audiobook and was forced to read at a level pace). The ending culminated well but got a little out there in regards to how things tied up. I liked the way that the book ended and yet the circumstances as to how the characters resolved the “case” was a little bizarre.
I was excited to pick up A GOOD IDEA because I had loved Cristina Moracho’s debut, ALTHEA & OLIVER. This book was quite different — a mystery/thriller versus realistic fiction — but I do love that both books took place in the 90s. It wasn’t really a “period piece” but I’m guessing that was Moracho’s time as a teen since it’s been revisited twice and I do like that “write what you know” concept in this case. I also enjoy things NOT set in present day because the slight throwback allows for less technology to get in the way. The concept of no cell phones (or at least no smart phones) really breaks that form of constant communication and allows plot to wander instead of technology making things unrealistic. Everyone is not a quick phone call or text away and people don’t have cameras attached to their hips. I appreciate the break from technology and allowing the book to run away with an idea!
This is another book that may aim towards a more mature young adult audience with consistent drug usage, language, and sexual activity. I read a few reviews that felt like these things were overboard but for small town Maine (or small town anywhere) and a lack of technology (not like I know what the 90s were like as a teen), I didn’t think anything was really out of bounds. It wasn’t my personal experience as a teenager but that doesn’t mean it’s unrealistic.
It was interesting to see Finley dig into the past by stirring up questions about her best friend Betty’s murder. Betty “disappeared” and everyone knew she had probably died but without actual evidence, no one really wanted to actually admit it. With a confession in the air (not a spoiler — we know this from the beginning) that didn’t stick, Finley needs to prove that the confessor is actually guilty and that they’re punished for taking her best friend’s life but loyalty gets in the way and made things even more dangerous for Finley. It was really interesting to have an answer from the start and have the characters race through a series of theories and scenarios. Was this confession really what happened? How much more is there to the story? Is it a lie? Is it a cover up for something else? Is Betty even really dead? These are all questions that the characters ask themselves and as the reader, I really started to question everything as well. The obvious answer is presented to the reader at the very beginning, but is it the CORRECT answer?
The ending got a little strange and maybe a bit too dramatic for my tastes. The beginning was pretty realistic, focusing more on the internal struggles of each character that added to the drama and confusion of the overall mystery. The ending got a little too villain-y for me (also not a spoiler because that’s not even in relation to the final answer of the mystery) and it just really sadly turned me off for just a bit. BUT I did like how the very, very end wrapped up and the solid conclusion left me satisfied with the book overall.
Oh, and we also really did find a bathtub in the woods on a hike.
[image error]
A GOOD IDEA was interesting from start to finish but my passion for it sort of went in waves. The beginning was interesting but I wasn’t sure where it was going yet. The middle was thrilling and I tore through the book (well, I would have it I wasn’t listening to an audiobook and was forced to read at a level pace). The ending culminated well but got a little out there in regards to how things tied up. I liked the way that the book ended and yet the circumstances as to how the characters resolved the “case” was a little bizarre.
I was excited to pick up A GOOD IDEA because I had loved Cristina Moracho’s debut, ALTHEA & OLIVER. This book was quite different — a mystery/thriller versus realistic fiction — but I do love that both books took place in the 90s. It wasn’t really a “period piece” but I’m guessing that was Moracho’s time as a teen since it’s been revisited twice and I do like that “write what you know” concept in this case. I also enjoy things NOT set in present day because the slight throwback allows for less technology to get in the way. The concept of no cell phones (or at least no smart phones) really breaks that form of constant communication and allows plot to wander instead of technology making things unrealistic. Everyone is not a quick phone call or text away and people don’t have cameras attached to their hips. I appreciate the break from technology and allowing the book to run away with an idea!
This is another book that may aim towards a more mature young adult audience with consistent drug usage, language, and sexual activity. I read a few reviews that felt like these things were overboard but for small town Maine (or small town anywhere) and a lack of technology (not like I know what the 90s were like as a teen), I didn’t think anything was really out of bounds. It wasn’t my personal experience as a teenager but that doesn’t mean it’s unrealistic.
It was interesting to see Finley dig into the past by stirring up questions about her best friend Betty’s murder. Betty “disappeared” and everyone knew she had probably died but without actual evidence, no one really wanted to actually admit it. With a confession in the air (not a spoiler — we know this from the beginning) that didn’t stick, Finley needs to prove that the confessor is actually guilty and that they’re punished for taking her best friend’s life but loyalty gets in the way and made things even more dangerous for Finley. It was really interesting to have an answer from the start and have the characters race through a series of theories and scenarios. Was this confession really what happened? How much more is there to the story? Is it a lie? Is it a cover up for something else? Is Betty even really dead? These are all questions that the characters ask themselves and as the reader, I really started to question everything as well. The obvious answer is presented to the reader at the very beginning, but is it the CORRECT answer?
The ending got a little strange and maybe a bit too dramatic for my tastes. The beginning was pretty realistic, focusing more on the internal struggles of each character that added to the drama and confusion of the overall mystery. The ending got a little too villain-y for me (also not a spoiler because that’s not even in relation to the final answer of the mystery) and it just really sadly turned me off for just a bit. BUT I did like how the very, very end wrapped up and the solid conclusion left me satisfied with the book overall.
Oh, and we also really did find a bathtub in the woods on a hike.
[image error]
November 23, 2018
I checked at least 20 times that this was really supposed to be a YA novel, because nothing about it felt like YA, it read and felt entirely like an adult thriller written about teens -- please don't mistake that for a compliment -- complete with plenty of unnecessary detailing of hookups to further embellish how Finley is batting a thousand on the Trashiest Teen scoreboard. All of the characters save one are at least 18 and recently graduated, so I genuinely don't even know why they bothered marketing this as YA except that the author wrote a YA novel before.
I will give it a dubious 3 stars for now as I was sufficiently absorbed in the story, the small town setting, Owen's dashingness (when clothed and not committing crime), the glimpses we got of Betty and her love of vintage clothing in flashbacks, and finding out the answers to whether or not she was dead, and if so who killed her and why. On that note, we do learn all the answers we need about her. But then the damn story ends with ANOTHER disappearance and only theories as to what likely happened to the second person, which is about my least favorite kind of ending to a thriller, so on top of the wall to wall trashiness I will not be reccing this one.
I will give it a dubious 3 stars for now as I was sufficiently absorbed in the story, the small town setting, Owen's dashingness (when clothed and not committing crime), the glimpses we got of Betty and her love of vintage clothing in flashbacks, and finding out the answers to whether or not she was dead, and if so who killed her and why. On that note, we do learn all the answers we need about her. But then the damn story ends with ANOTHER disappearance and only theories as to what likely happened to the second person, which is about my least favorite kind of ending to a thriller, so on top of the wall to wall trashiness I will not be reccing this one.
January 3, 2018
I felt like this book was dragged on longer than was needed. While it was fairly interesting, the main character, Finley, couldn't seem to accept anything until it was forced down her throat. I accepted things way before Finley did, which led me to frustration as Finley continued to go in pointless circles. Also, the mystery wasn't that hard to figure out. I easily guessed what had happened to Betty.
Overall it was an okay book. I guess I would recommend it, but only to people who really like thrillers. They might stay more engaged in the whole book if they are enjoying the thrill part of it.
Overall it was an okay book. I guess I would recommend it, but only to people who really like thrillers. They might stay more engaged in the whole book if they are enjoying the thrill part of it.
April 22, 2017
This story wasn't for me. Although, I did like the writing and the setting. I did not like the story or the characters. The characters were horrible people, and the story was just as messed up as the characters were. The ending was a surprise, though.
May 18, 2019
Me pareció una historia de pueblo donde todos conocen los secretos de todos. Aún así es muy rescatable el tratamiento dado a los conflictos emocionales de los adolescentes. Sin más pretensiones que un rato ameno y de lectura ágil, es un libro recomendable.
July 22, 2016
Pitch perfect Small-town noir, complete with secrets, lies, drugs, suspicious deaths, old flames, new flames, cabins in the woods, etc.
February 22, 2018
This was a pretty good YA book. Read it in a day.
January 29, 2020
Ahhh I dunno. I liked this but I didn't like it at the same time. I wanted to know what happened but didn't particularly like any of the characters. I just don't knowwwww.. 3.5 stars.
September 3, 2017
Cuando no conocen del tema que según trata el libro y piensan que lo que vende es drogas y sexo, un libro cargado de solo esos temas escrito de una manera burda y vulgar, en resumen es un asco!
March 6, 2018
I wish I could give it a 3.5, I'm sure most people wanted to and that's why it has a low rating. I see it as a 3.66 instead of 3.26.
It was well written and the main character was believable. I'm a little confused about the setting. I thought it was the mid-late 90's, but then she mentioned a book that was published in 2003. Anyway, it's still pretty timely with the whole town having an opioid crisis.
One thing that would have justified it's rating would be
Some people also may not like that it's more of an r-rated YA with the main character being super reckless. There may have been some homophobes as well, just sayin'.
Listened to this as an audiobook. Alex McKenna was perfect for Finley's voice. The other female characters mostly sounded like Jenny Slate, but OK. The male characters sounded a bit like Christian Bale doing Batman.
Edit: OK, looks like the writer got the idea from this murder (spoilers), but didn't refer to it in an afterward or something.
It was well written and the main character was believable. I'm a little confused about the setting. I thought it was the mid-late 90's, but then she mentioned a book that was published in 2003. Anyway, it's still pretty timely with the whole town having an opioid crisis.
One thing that would have justified it's rating would be
Some people also may not like that it's more of an r-rated YA with the main character being super reckless. There may have been some homophobes as well, just sayin'.
Listened to this as an audiobook. Alex McKenna was perfect for Finley's voice. The other female characters mostly sounded like Jenny Slate, but OK. The male characters sounded a bit like Christian Bale doing Batman.
Edit: OK, looks like the writer got the idea from this murder (spoilers), but didn't refer to it in an afterward or something.
July 8, 2022
I had a decent time with it when I read it but the more I think about it, the iffier I feel about recommending this book to anyone.
Not only does this book appear to be heavily based on a real crime case (without acknowledging this in any way whatsoever!), but it also features an incredibly racist character reproducing stereotypes about Native Americans. Just some casual racism for ya!
You can read a full review on my blog here but here's the gist of it:
- A Good Idea is more of a Whydunit because our main character is pretty certain she knows who killed her best friend: the ex-boyfriend. So the mystery is his motive for killing her, not as much what happened.
- Fin is an angry edgy girl and the book never lets us forget that. While I found this fun in the beginning as a lover of angry girls, it became boring and repetitive and by the end, I was tired of Fin's bullshit. She wreaks havoc on the town and her friends without ever thinking about consequences...and she gets away with it.
- The book is trying sooo hard to be edgy it's baffling. Yes, we get it, everyone here does drugs and has sex with older guys. No need to hammer it in in every fucking chapter.
- there's a character who's a drug dealer who believes/pretends to be Native American. This is mostly used to make him seem scary and mentally unstable. The characters find his behaviour iffy but never really call it what it is: racism and the reproduction of harmful stereotypes. The more I think about it the less I understand why the author included this. That man could've simply been a scary drug dealer who's kind of a weird hippy. White people are scary on their own, no unreflected racist bullshit required.
- the book seems to be heavily inspired by the real murder of Betty Williams in 1961, also known as the "Kiss and Kill" case. The entire plot, the character of Betty and even an important letter are basically copied in A Good Idea. And I only found this out because of another review I read! The author doesn't seem to mention this "inspiration" anywhere. Personally, I find using a true crime case, the death of a real girl, to write your edgy little YA thriller without acknowledging the real person (or probably even getting permission from relatives?) incredibly insensitive and honestly unethical. Maybe we shouldn't be making money off of real trauma?
So yeah, within all the weird parts of this book, the racism and true crime exploitation are the aspects that baffled me so much I had to digest it. and the more I thought about this book, the more I realised how bad it actually was and that I couldn't recommend it to anyone in good conscience. Your mileage with this book may vary, but I felt that it was important to talk about this.
Not only does this book appear to be heavily based on a real crime case (without acknowledging this in any way whatsoever!), but it also features an incredibly racist character reproducing stereotypes about Native Americans. Just some casual racism for ya!
You can read a full review on my blog here but here's the gist of it:
- A Good Idea is more of a Whydunit because our main character is pretty certain she knows who killed her best friend: the ex-boyfriend. So the mystery is his motive for killing her, not as much what happened.
- Fin is an angry edgy girl and the book never lets us forget that. While I found this fun in the beginning as a lover of angry girls, it became boring and repetitive and by the end, I was tired of Fin's bullshit. She wreaks havoc on the town and her friends without ever thinking about consequences...and she gets away with it.
- The book is trying sooo hard to be edgy it's baffling. Yes, we get it, everyone here does drugs and has sex with older guys. No need to hammer it in in every fucking chapter.
- there's a character who's a drug dealer who believes/pretends to be Native American. This is mostly used to make him seem scary and mentally unstable. The characters find his behaviour iffy but never really call it what it is: racism and the reproduction of harmful stereotypes. The more I think about it the less I understand why the author included this. That man could've simply been a scary drug dealer who's kind of a weird hippy. White people are scary on their own, no unreflected racist bullshit required.
- the book seems to be heavily inspired by the real murder of Betty Williams in 1961, also known as the "Kiss and Kill" case. The entire plot, the character of Betty and even an important letter are basically copied in A Good Idea. And I only found this out because of another review I read! The author doesn't seem to mention this "inspiration" anywhere. Personally, I find using a true crime case, the death of a real girl, to write your edgy little YA thriller without acknowledging the real person (or probably even getting permission from relatives?) incredibly insensitive and honestly unethical. Maybe we shouldn't be making money off of real trauma?
So yeah, within all the weird parts of this book, the racism and true crime exploitation are the aspects that baffled me so much I had to digest it. and the more I thought about this book, the more I realised how bad it actually was and that I couldn't recommend it to anyone in good conscience. Your mileage with this book may vary, but I felt that it was important to talk about this.
January 15, 2019
Este libro me sorprendió porque no esperaba esta trama. Ya sé que mis lecturas actuales no han sido las mejores y me ha ido muy mal elegirlas por la simple portada pero este caso no me decepcionó.
La portada es super rara, me da no sé qué de solo verla pero también me gusta. La historia se sitúa en 1998, en un pueblo de mala muerte, donde los jóvenes se drogan y tienen sexo con todo mundo. En serio, en este libro hay muchísimas drogas y cigarros.
Todo comienza con la desaparición de Betty: una chica problemática, que le gusta llamar la atención y que se acuesta con todos los chicos. A muchos les llama la atención pero otros la odian, es demasiado intensa para un pueblo tan crítico o medieval.
Fin, su mejor amiga, vive en Nueva York así que cuando se entera que Betty está desaparecida decide regresar a su pueblo natal y ahí descubrirá que su amiga no estaba del todo bien. Fin empieza a indagar y a preguntarse por qué Calder, el novio de Betty, no está en la cárcel.
Él admitió haberla matado y aún así está como si nada y todo el mundo cree que la chica simplemente se fue porque no podía con su vida y sus padres religiosos. Es todo un caos. Este libro lo sentí como un drama juvenil, donde los personajes conocen secretos de otros pero no quieren decirlos por miedo o porque no se les da la gana pero cuando Fin llega el pueblo y sus habitantes empiezan a cuestionarse sobre qué fue lo que realmente le pasó a Betty.
Ah, me gustó mucho este libro, en verdad necesitaba una historia con toques de suspenso y creo que nunca había leído algo así, me gustó el giro que le dio la autora y los personajes y la narración tan simple y tan mexicana (creo que hicieron una buena traducción) me hicieron sentir más conectada con los personajes y la ambientación.
Y el final es agridulce, me gustó también. Sí lo recomiendo para aquellos que quieran un libro de misterio con drama juvenil pero, como mencioné arriba, la historia contiene escenas, muchas escenas de drogas y hasta menciona el nombre de algunas y creo que los menores de edad no deberían de leerlo, no sé, yo pienso.
La portada es super rara, me da no sé qué de solo verla pero también me gusta. La historia se sitúa en 1998, en un pueblo de mala muerte, donde los jóvenes se drogan y tienen sexo con todo mundo. En serio, en este libro hay muchísimas drogas y cigarros.
Todo comienza con la desaparición de Betty: una chica problemática, que le gusta llamar la atención y que se acuesta con todos los chicos. A muchos les llama la atención pero otros la odian, es demasiado intensa para un pueblo tan crítico o medieval.
Fin, su mejor amiga, vive en Nueva York así que cuando se entera que Betty está desaparecida decide regresar a su pueblo natal y ahí descubrirá que su amiga no estaba del todo bien. Fin empieza a indagar y a preguntarse por qué Calder, el novio de Betty, no está en la cárcel.
Él admitió haberla matado y aún así está como si nada y todo el mundo cree que la chica simplemente se fue porque no podía con su vida y sus padres religiosos. Es todo un caos. Este libro lo sentí como un drama juvenil, donde los personajes conocen secretos de otros pero no quieren decirlos por miedo o porque no se les da la gana pero cuando Fin llega el pueblo y sus habitantes empiezan a cuestionarse sobre qué fue lo que realmente le pasó a Betty.
Ah, me gustó mucho este libro, en verdad necesitaba una historia con toques de suspenso y creo que nunca había leído algo así, me gustó el giro que le dio la autora y los personajes y la narración tan simple y tan mexicana (creo que hicieron una buena traducción) me hicieron sentir más conectada con los personajes y la ambientación.
Y el final es agridulce, me gustó también. Sí lo recomiendo para aquellos que quieran un libro de misterio con drama juvenil pero, como mencioné arriba, la historia contiene escenas, muchas escenas de drogas y hasta menciona el nombre de algunas y creo que los menores de edad no deberían de leerlo, no sé, yo pienso.
Read
October 29, 2018 Christina Moracho’s “A Good Idea” turned out to be a not so good idea to read. The book took me ages to get through as I kept getting confused with the characters and mixed up in the overall plot. While the book is well written, it was not my favorite and I felt it could have been shortened a hundred pages due to the amount of unnecessary side information that took the spotlight away from the plot. I find that books tend to be good if they are memorable; if their characters come to life and the story is creative. “A Good Idea” has a unique storyline but characters who lacked any development or depth.
“A Good Idea” explores the coming of age story of Fin and Betty, two highschool best friends. The book gives off the theme that teenagers have the freedom to do anything at anytime without parental consent or fear of consequence. For a book that is trying to portray a relatively real life situation, this does not apply to many small town families. Furthermore, each character lacks the complexity a 350 plus page book could provide. Not one person in the book has qualities that would make them a favorite character painting everyone as an antagonist. The overall negative attitude in the book made it gloomy to read, causing me to take breaks from it periodically.
Although it is considered a young adult book, which encompasses late middle school/early high school aged kids, I believe it carries the weight of a book meant for older students and adults. The book speaks casually on many things such as teenage drug use and drinking which is not a message that should be portrayed to preteens.
Depending on your favorite genre or style of book, “A Good Idea” may be a fit for you. Personally, it was not my favorite but I am glad I was able to finish it. There are some positives and negatives as I believe Moracho is a talented author. There are just some fatal mistakes in the writing that caused it to be a monotonous read.
“A Good Idea” explores the coming of age story of Fin and Betty, two highschool best friends. The book gives off the theme that teenagers have the freedom to do anything at anytime without parental consent or fear of consequence. For a book that is trying to portray a relatively real life situation, this does not apply to many small town families. Furthermore, each character lacks the complexity a 350 plus page book could provide. Not one person in the book has qualities that would make them a favorite character painting everyone as an antagonist. The overall negative attitude in the book made it gloomy to read, causing me to take breaks from it periodically.
Although it is considered a young adult book, which encompasses late middle school/early high school aged kids, I believe it carries the weight of a book meant for older students and adults. The book speaks casually on many things such as teenage drug use and drinking which is not a message that should be portrayed to preteens.
Depending on your favorite genre or style of book, “A Good Idea” may be a fit for you. Personally, it was not my favorite but I am glad I was able to finish it. There are some positives and negatives as I believe Moracho is a talented author. There are just some fatal mistakes in the writing that caused it to be a monotonous read.
September 1, 2019
This is a quietly impactful book that digs deeper into its mystery than most. At the novel’s end, you’re left wondering if this was ever a mystery at all. With evocative imagery and a foreboding tone, A Good Idea hints at something sinister and, slightly gothic, in its first 100 pages. Fast forward to the final pages, which are deeply unsettling and thought-provoking in their own way. NOT exactly the giant, twisty pay-off you’ll be anticipating.
I was expecting more from the climax, more from the big “reveal”, but, instead, I was left with something a little more realistic and thematic.
This is grounded by character motivation and small-town conflict, so the plot can be a little anti-climatic at times. It’s the final lines of the novel that hold their own weight, the meaningful dialogue shared between characters at times of reflection, just as everything is coming to a close.
Recommended for fans of dark, slow-burn mysteries.
I was expecting more from the climax, more from the big “reveal”, but, instead, I was left with something a little more realistic and thematic.
This is grounded by character motivation and small-town conflict, so the plot can be a little anti-climatic at times. It’s the final lines of the novel that hold their own weight, the meaningful dialogue shared between characters at times of reflection, just as everything is coming to a close.
Recommended for fans of dark, slow-burn mysteries.
July 9, 2018
There’s a huge amount of drug use, sex, lesbian sex and language that turned me off. I did not enjoy this book. The story line is not worth trudging through the murk and smut to finish it. Skip this one.
April 17, 2017
OMG this was amazinggggggg!!!!!
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
January 8, 2018
Reading this was a bad idea.
May 4, 2018
Bit of teenage angst...works in most issues... I got a bit over the gratuitous drug use in a small town thing - but hey, it's pretty well written.
June 5, 2020
You've already read this story. Over and over. All the standards are here: plucky daughter of the town newspaper owner, the mysterious and dramatic departed friend, the down-on-his-luck trying to keep the family business going, the random hookup, the rich boy and a mysterious man in the woods. Moracho tries to make the story edgy by a liberal help of sex. It comes off tedious and sad. It made me want to find Finley a good therapist. The dad, of course, is useless. The rich kid's parents are conniving. Then, because every book now must have some stunning twist, there is the weirdest twist possible. But it isn't a good weird never-saw-it-coming twist. It is just bizarre. And unlikely
Finley is out to avenge Betty's death because the were best friends. But they are both just awful. Really awful. Betty is the boilerplate small town actress styling herself after Marilyn Monroe. And she is just unlikeable. She got murdered and half way through the book, I was pretty ok with that. Betty was, naturally, involved with a boy above her station. Finley is supposed to be the protagonist. But for all her sleuthing and big discoveries she is actually pretty useless. She has a morose navel gazing quality that makes it hard to be invested in her success. Also there is the weird Serena girl who feels like she wandered in from another story to have sex with Finley and narrate the story.
The book blurb teases a small town with big secrets. I will now reveal those secrets to you. Everyone is using drugs and everyone is sleeping with everyone else.
Then there is the requisite wild man in the woods. He's half Native American shaman and half hillbilly drug dealer. Finley has a brief moment of efficacy in rescuing her friends from him. It feels like he just there to give her a hero moment.
And then, voila, we have the requisite huge plot twist. It is so implausible that it has no impact. By then, the characters are so unlikable and downright bad that it doesn't much matter what happens to anyone. Finley was in no way motivated by actual affection for Betty. Serena's grand demonstration in a public ceremony was just silly. The characters just never felt true.
I almost never give books one star. I understand that this is a huge effort on the part of the writer. This is their baby, their life's work. And I feel badly criticizing their work. But reading a book is also an investment on the part of the reader and I want to give useful information so they can decide where to invest that time.
This is a lot different than the usual books I read, totally. I guess is it good to broaden my horizons and try different types. This is one of those.
Can the right kind of boy get away with killing the wrong kind of girl? Finley and Betty's close friendship survived Fin's ninth-grade move from their coastal Maine town to Manhattan. Calls, letters, and summer visits continued to bind them together, and in the fall of their senior year, they both applied to NYU, planning to reunite for good as roommates. Then Betty disappears. Her ex-boyfriend Calder admits to drowning her, but his confession is thrown out, and soon the entire town believes he was coerced and Betty has simply run away. Fin knows the truth, and she returns to Williston for one final summer, determined to get justice for her friend, even if it means putting her loved ones-and herself-at risk. But Williston is a town full of secrets, where a delicate framework holds everything together, and Fin is not the only one with an agenda. How much is she willing to damage to get her revenge and learn the truth about Betty's disappearance, which is more complicated than she ever imagined-and infinitely more devastating?
Finley is out to avenge Betty's death because the were best friends. But they are both just awful. Really awful. Betty is the boilerplate small town actress styling herself after Marilyn Monroe. And she is just unlikeable. She got murdered and half way through the book, I was pretty ok with that. Betty was, naturally, involved with a boy above her station. Finley is supposed to be the protagonist. But for all her sleuthing and big discoveries she is actually pretty useless. She has a morose navel gazing quality that makes it hard to be invested in her success. Also there is the weird Serena girl who feels like she wandered in from another story to have sex with Finley and narrate the story.
The book blurb teases a small town with big secrets. I will now reveal those secrets to you. Everyone is using drugs and everyone is sleeping with everyone else.
Then there is the requisite wild man in the woods. He's half Native American shaman and half hillbilly drug dealer. Finley has a brief moment of efficacy in rescuing her friends from him. It feels like he just there to give her a hero moment.
And then, voila, we have the requisite huge plot twist. It is so implausible that it has no impact. By then, the characters are so unlikable and downright bad that it doesn't much matter what happens to anyone. Finley was in no way motivated by actual affection for Betty. Serena's grand demonstration in a public ceremony was just silly. The characters just never felt true.
I almost never give books one star. I understand that this is a huge effort on the part of the writer. This is their baby, their life's work. And I feel badly criticizing their work. But reading a book is also an investment on the part of the reader and I want to give useful information so they can decide where to invest that time.
This is a lot different than the usual books I read, totally. I guess is it good to broaden my horizons and try different types. This is one of those.
Can the right kind of boy get away with killing the wrong kind of girl? Finley and Betty's close friendship survived Fin's ninth-grade move from their coastal Maine town to Manhattan. Calls, letters, and summer visits continued to bind them together, and in the fall of their senior year, they both applied to NYU, planning to reunite for good as roommates. Then Betty disappears. Her ex-boyfriend Calder admits to drowning her, but his confession is thrown out, and soon the entire town believes he was coerced and Betty has simply run away. Fin knows the truth, and she returns to Williston for one final summer, determined to get justice for her friend, even if it means putting her loved ones-and herself-at risk. But Williston is a town full of secrets, where a delicate framework holds everything together, and Fin is not the only one with an agenda. How much is she willing to damage to get her revenge and learn the truth about Betty's disappearance, which is more complicated than she ever imagined-and infinitely more devastating?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews