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Return to Fear Street #3
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Morgan Marks is the new girl—and nobody can stop talking about her. She’s popular, smart, and beautiful. Everyone wants to be her friend. But her past is veiled in mystery, and no one, not even her boyfriend Ben, knows where exactly she came from. But Shadyside Homecoming is just around the corner. And Morgan’s dark secrets are about to be dug up for all the world to see.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2019
193 people are currently reading
1635 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,680 books18.7k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
March 25, 2019
Drop Dead Gorgeous has a more complex, mature structure than the typical Fear Street formula. We piece together the story from various points of view, including adult characters, the central villain, diary entries, and first person narration of murder victims. The ending homage to the 90s provides a delightful tribute to long-time fans of the series.
Like all Stine books, it's a readable, spooky good time. Not nearly as unputdownable as Fear Street in the glory years, however. This is because YA publishers don't think novellas sell anymore, so they require him to write Fear Street books that are longer. A shame since Stine's greatest skill is compact mysteries. The longer they get, the more tired the premise becomes. Still, it's a macabre ride that's mostly thrilling from beginning to end. Shorter would have been more satisfying, but the plot never gets truly boring. Certainly it’s more consistent than "You May Now Kill the Bride" which really fizzled out in the second half.
Haven't read "The Wrong Girl" yet, but if Return to Fear Street continues at this level, I hope they publish more.
Like all Stine books, it's a readable, spooky good time. Not nearly as unputdownable as Fear Street in the glory years, however. This is because YA publishers don't think novellas sell anymore, so they require him to write Fear Street books that are longer. A shame since Stine's greatest skill is compact mysteries. The longer they get, the more tired the premise becomes. Still, it's a macabre ride that's mostly thrilling from beginning to end. Shorter would have been more satisfying, but the plot never gets truly boring. Certainly it’s more consistent than "You May Now Kill the Bride" which really fizzled out in the second half.
Haven't read "The Wrong Girl" yet, but if Return to Fear Street continues at this level, I hope they publish more.
July 29, 2023
how can you be a witch and a vampire? what in the tvd hell?
this kinda ruins the first book for me (which i gave 5 stars) because how do you go from that amazing, super fun book… to this? and why do the teens talk like that!? it was so confusing because they talk like they’re from the 90s but have ipads and shit.
this kinda ruins the first book for me (which i gave 5 stars) because how do you go from that amazing, super fun book… to this? and why do the teens talk like that!? it was so confusing because they talk like they’re from the 90s but have ipads and shit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2020
I grew up on Fear Street. I don't know if I would be the reader I am today if I hadn't spent so much time there. So when I heard about a re-launch, I was so excited! This is the 3rd one I have read from the re-launch.
This story is told from several people's POV and in diary entries. You can take Stine out of the 90's but you can't take the 90's out of Stine lol. Just joking, it didn't bother me. I thought it flowed rather well. The characters still don't have much depth but hey, we are all here for fun, right? And the boys hormones are still getting them into trouble! Drop Dead Gorgeous doesn't take place in Shadyside but in a new (to me) town called Linden. If we are to believe Morgan, it should be south of Shadyside. There is a reveal in here I never saw coming! I wasn't even thinking it but oh! it made me so happy! Later, in Part 4, we get a little more about that reveal. That whole section was great but kinda heart breaking as to what has become of something that was once so dear to me.
If you were a Fear Street resident in your youth or if your still holed up in one of those run down mansions, you REALLY need to read this one. I wish I had read it sooner.
This story is told from several people's POV and in diary entries. You can take Stine out of the 90's but you can't take the 90's out of Stine lol. Just joking, it didn't bother me. I thought it flowed rather well. The characters still don't have much depth but hey, we are all here for fun, right? And the boys hormones are still getting them into trouble! Drop Dead Gorgeous doesn't take place in Shadyside but in a new (to me) town called Linden. If we are to believe Morgan, it should be south of Shadyside. There is a reveal in here I never saw coming! I wasn't even thinking it but oh! it made me so happy! Later, in Part 4, we get a little more about that reveal. That whole section was great but kinda heart breaking as to what has become of something that was once so dear to me.
If you were a Fear Street resident in your youth or if your still holed up in one of those run down mansions, you REALLY need to read this one. I wish I had read it sooner.
December 8, 2023
secret
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
July 1, 2018I kind of want to read this if only for nostalgia reasons.
October 9, 2019
Decided to do a nostalgia read and did not expect R.L. Stine to still be able to snatch my wig at 26 years old.
October 23, 2021
I was worried the final book of this trilogy would be a dud, it was almost too good to be true how good the others were! Thankfully I was proven wrong and this one was just as good. It was a bit more complex than the previous ones, with some different viewpoints and some crazy ass twists that I really didn’t see coming. At first I was wondering where it was all going, it took a bit for it to really take off. But once it clicked for me where it was going and what was happening I was SO into it. I thought I had the ending all figured out but then everything was flipped on it’s head and I was SHOOK. I definitely didn’t see it coming and it made for one hell of an ending!
September 24, 2019
will never get tired of the way r.l. stine thinks teenagers talk
May 14, 2020
Sometimes I wonder if R.L. has ever met a teenager? This is a fear street re-boot and, to give him a bit of kudos, he's tried hard to join the 2000's, coz, you know, the kids have cell phones.
I must admit, even though I saw the 'twist' a mile off, I still enjoyed this. His characters haven't aged, nor has his writing or language. My 13 year old self would have enjoyed it too.
I must admit, even though I saw the 'twist' a mile off, I still enjoyed this. His characters haven't aged, nor has his writing or language. My 13 year old self would have enjoyed it too.
August 2, 2019
This is nostalgia in book form. The Goosebumps series has been such a big part of my childhood that the other day I was at the library and saw this book, I couldn't help but run my fingers along the cover as if I could make the connection conjure up the halcyon days. Upon closer inspection after I bought it home, I realized that the book is brand new but the edge of the cover has that torn effect as part of its graphic design! Holding it in my hands, I could almost smell the rusty old paper smell that never fails to trigger a dopamine release.
The story itself is better than okay. The buildup is mediocre, but only because I have enjoyed way too many great books with mind-blowing themes and convoluted plots and multidimensional characters- and yes, it's a curse at this point now because my standards for stories are set so impossibly high. The story is nevertheless enjoyable, and I appreciate the little twist at the end that the author is so fond of dropping in all of his stories!
The story itself is better than okay. The buildup is mediocre, but only because I have enjoyed way too many great books with mind-blowing themes and convoluted plots and multidimensional characters- and yes, it's a curse at this point now because my standards for stories are set so impossibly high. The story is nevertheless enjoyable, and I appreciate the little twist at the end that the author is so fond of dropping in all of his stories!
December 11, 2020
"I mean, isn’t it curious how satisfying my hunger always makes me more hungry? Curious and frustrating."
Well, I’m back on Fear Street and this one was a lot more enjoyable than the last one I read. I mean, I didn’t hate the last one but it didn’t have meat on its bones. This one wasn’t as simplistic as The Wrong Girl. The story was much more complex and kept the reader engaged.
While I enjoyed this, I had to mentally change the name of the main character in my head. It reminded me of someone I hate and I just couldn’t do it. Isn’t it great when bitchy characters remind you of bitchy people in real life?
I still enjoyed this blast from the past and can’t wait for more Fear Street reads.
Well, I’m back on Fear Street and this one was a lot more enjoyable than the last one I read. I mean, I didn’t hate the last one but it didn’t have meat on its bones. This one wasn’t as simplistic as The Wrong Girl. The story was much more complex and kept the reader engaged.
While I enjoyed this, I had to mentally change the name of the main character in my head. It reminded me of someone I hate and I just couldn’t do it. Isn’t it great when bitchy characters remind you of bitchy people in real life?
I still enjoyed this blast from the past and can’t wait for more Fear Street reads.
March 7, 2020
Well, this is a surprise. It's been quite some time since I last read a Fear Street book, and I don't remember them being quite this good. For one, it's definitely thicker than those from the older series, which is par for the course for most YA books these days.
It also seems like Stine no longer uses some of his tired tricks. A third of the way into the book, there was an encounter that was so direct and shocking I was pretty sure it was a dream sequence. Nope, it was all real. I also didn't know he is also capable of creating believably emotional scenes now. There was one right around the middle of the book that was quite heart-wrenching.
Since 2014 when Stine relaunched the Fear Street series, he rolled out a title or two annually. It's been a year since this one came out though, and I do hope he writes more. If this one is any indication, his writing has noticeably improved from the cozy but by-the-numbers pieces he wrote in his 80s/90s heyday.
It's quite possible that he's got something in the works, since a Fear Street movie trilogy is set to be released later this year. And yup, filming has already finished and AFAIK it's already in post-production so this is most definitely going to push through. I'm so excited!
And now I'm stoked about the other books in the series relaunch. I'm rating this 7/10 or 4 stars out of 5.
It also seems like Stine no longer uses some of his tired tricks. A third of the way into the book, there was an encounter that was so direct and shocking I was pretty sure it was a dream sequence. Nope, it was all real. I also didn't know he is also capable of creating believably emotional scenes now. There was one right around the middle of the book that was quite heart-wrenching.
Since 2014 when Stine relaunched the Fear Street series, he rolled out a title or two annually. It's been a year since this one came out though, and I do hope he writes more. If this one is any indication, his writing has noticeably improved from the cozy but by-the-numbers pieces he wrote in his 80s/90s heyday.
It's quite possible that he's got something in the works, since a Fear Street movie trilogy is set to be released later this year. And yup, filming has already finished and AFAIK it's already in post-production so this is most definitely going to push through. I'm so excited!
And now I'm stoked about the other books in the series relaunch. I'm rating this 7/10 or 4 stars out of 5.
January 8, 2023
What a surprise.
Probably the best modern Fear Street I read so far and those others are mediocre / formulaic / sucked.
The common trope in the Fear Street books are still present here like the murder mystery and the horny main characters; I don't even feel that there's a main character here due to the constant switch of perspectives so I have no idea who I'm rooting for, just a minor complaint.
Also a surprise that the main culprit in this book isn't just a ‘normal’ serial killer. I'm not gonna spoil it but what it turns out is a surprise, and it gets revealed in the middle of the story. I love that aspect from this story.
Prepare for some red herrings, Stine is the master of manipulation; he does it either insulting or a shocking twist and what happens here is the latter. It's a satisfying/wow kind of ending it doesn't end on a wtf twist.
which is what we all prefer for his works.
I enjoyed it. there's some scenes which I thought should be cut or make the book shorter but what the heck, the Return to Fear Street is contracted to make 300 page novels.
Definetly in the level along with Switched (OG Fear Street book) as my favorites in the series
Note: As of now this is the last Fear Street book published and it's kind of sad it's been like 4 years since we don't have a new Fear Street book.
I kinda want more for the modern Fear Street era.
Probably the best modern Fear Street I read so far and those others are mediocre / formulaic / sucked.
The common trope in the Fear Street books are still present here like the murder mystery and the horny main characters; I don't even feel that there's a main character here due to the constant switch of perspectives so I have no idea who I'm rooting for, just a minor complaint.
Also a surprise that the main culprit in this book isn't just a ‘normal’ serial killer. I'm not gonna spoil it but what it turns out is a surprise, and it gets revealed in the middle of the story. I love that aspect from this story.
Prepare for some red herrings, Stine is the master of manipulation; he does it either insulting or a shocking twist and what happens here is the latter. It's a satisfying/wow kind of ending it doesn't end on a wtf twist.
which is what we all prefer for his works.
I enjoyed it. there's some scenes which I thought should be cut or make the book shorter but what the heck, the Return to Fear Street is contracted to make 300 page novels.
Definetly in the level along with Switched (OG Fear Street book) as my favorites in the series
Note: As of now this is the last Fear Street book published and it's kind of sad it's been like 4 years since we don't have a new Fear Street book.
I kinda want more for the modern Fear Street era.
December 10, 2019
So my youngest daughter picked this out for me because of the creepy cover. I went with it anyway despite knowing it was a “teen horror novel” written by R. L. Stine. And I was pleasantly surprised. It was pretty entertaining. Even had a twist to the plot and was well-written. I actually enjoyed it.
March 4, 2019
Not for one second do I believe Stine wrote this turd.
The twist is stupid and obvious and also makes zero sense (it contradicts itself for the sake of the twist).
Then it calls pump up the jam a 90s disco hit and I just can’t with this garbage.
Thankfully it looks like this is the final book. A shame it started so strong then delivered two of the worst books in the franchise.
The twist is stupid and obvious and also makes zero sense (it contradicts itself for the sake of the twist).
Then it calls pump up the jam a 90s disco hit and I just can’t with this garbage.
Thankfully it looks like this is the final book. A shame it started so strong then delivered two of the worst books in the franchise.
Want to read
February 6, 2019oh my god??? how did i not know my favorite childhood series was making a comeback???
November 10, 2019
Not impressed ... probably the lamest vampire story I've ever read.
March 26, 2019
Welcome back to Fear Street creepers and ghouls. This Return to Fear Street, much like the Fear Street Relaunch books previously, have some rocky moments. YOU MAY NOW KILL THE BRIDE was fantastically ghoulish, playing against well known Fear Street tropes while subverting some of them as well.
THE WRONG GIRL was a huge problematic misfire that had me actively LOATHING the main character.
DROP DEAD GORGEOUS falls somewhere in between. It follows some well known Fear Street tropes/character archetypes, but really goes for the gusto in throwing red herrings.
Anyone familiar with Stine females will be able to guess some things straight off based on how they're described by others. (Side note: I just realized the majority of the new Fear Street books have been female led)
This book does have Hallmark of my fav kind of Fear Street:
- Fear family shenanigans
- supernatural shenanigans
- true actual 'they are dead' murder
So basically this is a good call back to the original series in terms of nostalgia, but unlike BRIDE doesn't subvert any of the well tread paths to truly surprises a fan.
THE WRONG GIRL was a huge problematic misfire that had me actively LOATHING the main character.
DROP DEAD GORGEOUS falls somewhere in between. It follows some well known Fear Street tropes/character archetypes, but really goes for the gusto in throwing red herrings.
Anyone familiar with Stine females will be able to guess some things straight off based on how they're described by others. (Side note: I just realized the majority of the new Fear Street books have been female led)
This book does have Hallmark of my fav kind of Fear Street:
- Fear family shenanigans
- supernatural shenanigans
- true actual 'they are dead' murder
So basically this is a good call back to the original series in terms of nostalgia, but unlike BRIDE doesn't subvert any of the well tread paths to truly surprises a fan.
May 31, 2020
This final book in the latest Fear Street reboot is an odd duck! For the first half I was really enjoying it, thinking I might have finally found a modern Fear Street book I could give four stars to. Alas, things go completely to pot in the second half, which was more of a two star story. So I've gone with 3 stars!
The new girl at Linden High is Morgan Marks. Julie, along with her friends Amber, Delia, Zane, Liam and Winks are all fascinated by her, particularly the boys, who make a bet to see which one can hook up with her first. What they don't know is that Morgan is actually some sort of vampire, and that they're all potentially on her menu.
At first, I wasn't quite sure where the story was going, and that really reeled me in. There was an unexpected death, there are points of view from adult characters, and a general sense of unpredictability that you just don't usually get in a Fear Street story. Some of the dialogue is snappy and entertaining, even if Stine is trying too hard to get teen speak down. I thought I was on to a winner.
Then the second half happened. We get a flashback to five years ago that is supposedly to show us how Morgan became a vampire and, basically, it didn't work. It explained zip, just relying on the fact that Morgan is descended from the Fear family, as if that should explain everything. Well, no, it doesn't. Morgan actually seems more of a cross between zombie and vampire, and this seems to change as it suits Stine.
And once again, that's Stine big failing. He has no consistency when it comes to supernatural storylines. He doesn't keep to any sort of internal logic. If a character has a supernatural origin, they just seem to have the ability to do whatever they like, willy-nilly, as the need arises when he needs to take the story in a particular direction.
The climax is flat and almost over before it begins, and the closing chapter provides the dreaded big "twist" after the action is all over. I HATE THIS. It was a gimmick for Goosebumps, not Fear Street. For f***'s sake, you're writing a 300 page book for older teens or nostalgia-reading adults (I suspect the latter is the largest part of the audience.) Stop it with the middle-school shock twist shit! Even worse, the twist is utterly ludicrous and blatantly contradicts what has come before it.
I also felt this was dragged down by too many differing POVs. Just about every teen character gets a POV, and it ended up feeling like the story didn't really even have a main character. The characters were virtually interchangeable, which is not a huge problem, as Stine's characters are often thinly developed, but I would have preferred one thinly drawn character consistently narrating, rather than seven of them.
I'm giving it 3 stars because that first half really was fast-paced, tell-me-a-scary-story fun. But the plot just kind of falls apart at the midway point, as if Stine started off with a great idea, but didn't know where to take it. It's a misfire, but not necessarily one you should skip.
The new girl at Linden High is Morgan Marks. Julie, along with her friends Amber, Delia, Zane, Liam and Winks are all fascinated by her, particularly the boys, who make a bet to see which one can hook up with her first. What they don't know is that Morgan is actually some sort of vampire, and that they're all potentially on her menu.
At first, I wasn't quite sure where the story was going, and that really reeled me in. There was an unexpected death, there are points of view from adult characters, and a general sense of unpredictability that you just don't usually get in a Fear Street story. Some of the dialogue is snappy and entertaining, even if Stine is trying too hard to get teen speak down. I thought I was on to a winner.
Then the second half happened. We get a flashback to five years ago that is supposedly to show us how Morgan became a vampire and, basically, it didn't work. It explained zip, just relying on the fact that Morgan is descended from the Fear family, as if that should explain everything. Well, no, it doesn't. Morgan actually seems more of a cross between zombie and vampire, and this seems to change as it suits Stine.
And once again, that's Stine big failing. He has no consistency when it comes to supernatural storylines. He doesn't keep to any sort of internal logic. If a character has a supernatural origin, they just seem to have the ability to do whatever they like, willy-nilly, as the need arises when he needs to take the story in a particular direction.
The climax is flat and almost over before it begins, and the closing chapter provides the dreaded big "twist" after the action is all over. I HATE THIS. It was a gimmick for Goosebumps, not Fear Street. For f***'s sake, you're writing a 300 page book for older teens or nostalgia-reading adults (I suspect the latter is the largest part of the audience.) Stop it with the middle-school shock twist shit! Even worse, the twist is utterly ludicrous and blatantly contradicts what has come before it.
I also felt this was dragged down by too many differing POVs. Just about every teen character gets a POV, and it ended up feeling like the story didn't really even have a main character. The characters were virtually interchangeable, which is not a huge problem, as Stine's characters are often thinly developed, but I would have preferred one thinly drawn character consistently narrating, rather than seven of them.
I'm giving it 3 stars because that first half really was fast-paced, tell-me-a-scary-story fun. But the plot just kind of falls apart at the midway point, as if Stine started off with a great idea, but didn't know where to take it. It's a misfire, but not necessarily one you should skip.
February 15, 2019
(This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
I grew up reading R.L. Stine books especially his Fear Street series. When I heard there was going to be a new Fear Street series, I knew I had to read it. I loved the first book in the series, You May Now Kill the Bride. I was not impressed with the second book in the series, The Wrong Girl. I thought the latest book in the series, Drop Dead Gorgeous, was just an alright read.
The plot for Drop Dead Gorgeous was fairly interesting. Morgan Marks is the new girl at Linden High. No one knows where she came from, and her answers to everything are vague. She has a magnetic pull over all of the males in and around Linden. When I found out that Morgan was a vampire (not a spoiler, don't worry), I rolled my eyes and thought I wouldn't like this book. I'm not a big fan of vampire books (or films) since they've over-saturated the market. However, Drop Dead Gorgeous turned out to be alright. Anyway, someone is killing off the residents of Linden and draining their blood. Is it Morgan or could be be someone else? The world building was written to be believable enough even if some of the characters weren't believable. There were a few plot twists. A couple of them I didn't see coming, but I did predict a major plot twist.
All of the males in Drop Dead Gorgeous were beyond annoying and immature. All they could talk about were hot girls it seemed. They were really one dimensional, and I found myself not caring about Liam, Winks, and Zane. They would all brag how great they were, especially Winks. I'm sure there are some people like this, but I felt like it was a bit over the top having all three males in the book being so vapid and conceited. The females in Drop Dead Gorgeous had a little more depth to them thankfully. I still didn't care much about Delia, Amber, or Julie because there was no back story, so it was hard to connect to them. Out of the three girls, Delia seemed to feel the most real. Morgan was a good character. I enjoyed her backstory even if it was short, but hey, at least she had some backstory. The dialogue between the characters was extremely corny in some places, and I know I haven't been a teenager in many years, but I've never heard any teenage conversations like the ones in Drop Dead Gorgeous.
I will say that the pacing was done fairly well for Drop Dead Gorgeous. The first few chapters are a bit slow, but the pacing definitely picks up not much longer after that. I found myself immersed in what was happening in Linden.
Trigger warnings for Drop Dead Gorgeous include violence, death, murder, some gore, older man and underage girl kissing, and underage drinking.
Overall, Drop Dead Gorgeous was just an alright read. It wasn't great, but it wasn't a bad read either. If you can look past the overly cheesy characters, this is a good read. I would definitely recommend Drop Dead Gorgeous by R.L. Stine to those aged 15+.
I grew up reading R.L. Stine books especially his Fear Street series. When I heard there was going to be a new Fear Street series, I knew I had to read it. I loved the first book in the series, You May Now Kill the Bride. I was not impressed with the second book in the series, The Wrong Girl. I thought the latest book in the series, Drop Dead Gorgeous, was just an alright read.
The plot for Drop Dead Gorgeous was fairly interesting. Morgan Marks is the new girl at Linden High. No one knows where she came from, and her answers to everything are vague. She has a magnetic pull over all of the males in and around Linden. When I found out that Morgan was a vampire (not a spoiler, don't worry), I rolled my eyes and thought I wouldn't like this book. I'm not a big fan of vampire books (or films) since they've over-saturated the market. However, Drop Dead Gorgeous turned out to be alright. Anyway, someone is killing off the residents of Linden and draining their blood. Is it Morgan or could be be someone else? The world building was written to be believable enough even if some of the characters weren't believable. There were a few plot twists. A couple of them I didn't see coming, but I did predict a major plot twist.
All of the males in Drop Dead Gorgeous were beyond annoying and immature. All they could talk about were hot girls it seemed. They were really one dimensional, and I found myself not caring about Liam, Winks, and Zane. They would all brag how great they were, especially Winks. I'm sure there are some people like this, but I felt like it was a bit over the top having all three males in the book being so vapid and conceited. The females in Drop Dead Gorgeous had a little more depth to them thankfully. I still didn't care much about Delia, Amber, or Julie because there was no back story, so it was hard to connect to them. Out of the three girls, Delia seemed to feel the most real. Morgan was a good character. I enjoyed her backstory even if it was short, but hey, at least she had some backstory. The dialogue between the characters was extremely corny in some places, and I know I haven't been a teenager in many years, but I've never heard any teenage conversations like the ones in Drop Dead Gorgeous.
I will say that the pacing was done fairly well for Drop Dead Gorgeous. The first few chapters are a bit slow, but the pacing definitely picks up not much longer after that. I found myself immersed in what was happening in Linden.
Trigger warnings for Drop Dead Gorgeous include violence, death, murder, some gore, older man and underage girl kissing, and underage drinking.
Overall, Drop Dead Gorgeous was just an alright read. It wasn't great, but it wasn't a bad read either. If you can look past the overly cheesy characters, this is a good read. I would definitely recommend Drop Dead Gorgeous by R.L. Stine to those aged 15+.
August 16, 2021
All these years later, Stine's writing hasn't changed one bit, which is a good thing but his work is a lot more enjoyable when it's in the form of novellas like the original Fear Street books. Had this one been half the length it is, I would have loved it a lot more.
The book's set in the internet age with mentions of Ipads, Avengers but the way characters talk it seems they're still people from the 90s. The story isn't anything too fresh either, lots of similarities to the film Jennifer's Body and some other Stine books. What I did like was the inclusion of multiple POVs, that was fresh and definitely added a bit of nuance to the tale.
If you're reading this because of nostalgia reasons, you might like it. It's pretty much the same Fear Street formula but double the no of pages. Or if you're a kid/teen who's a Goosebumps fan and is looking for a slightly mature book. For others, who aren't acquainted with Stine's older works, I would not recommend Drop Dead Gorgeous.
The book's set in the internet age with mentions of Ipads, Avengers but the way characters talk it seems they're still people from the 90s. The story isn't anything too fresh either, lots of similarities to the film Jennifer's Body and some other Stine books. What I did like was the inclusion of multiple POVs, that was fresh and definitely added a bit of nuance to the tale.
If you're reading this because of nostalgia reasons, you might like it. It's pretty much the same Fear Street formula but double the no of pages. Or if you're a kid/teen who's a Goosebumps fan and is looking for a slightly mature book. For others, who aren't acquainted with Stine's older works, I would not recommend Drop Dead Gorgeous.
April 19, 2019
Full Review @https://ecstaticyetchaotic.wordpress....
I have had so much fun revisiting Stine’s writing through this book, and it might be somewhere along the lines of Middle Grade and YA, I would definitely recommend this light and not-so-breezy horror story. Well, it’s not exactly Annabelle scary, I am sure you’ll manage 😛
Morgan Marks is the new girl in town. WIth copper shaded hair and expressive green eyes, she has the attention of every girl in her new high school. As she makes new friends, she also leaves behind this mysterious feeling that will send shivers down your spine. But more than being dead, Morgan had another secret- one that should be kept hidden at all costs.
Also, if you think you know how the story ends, you are most probably wrong. The story might be along the lines of any classic horror story, that ending sure comes as a shocker.
The book reminded of bedtime stories and is written in a similar fashion. There are dramatic pauses, comic relief and a whole lot of screaming. A thoroughly entertaining and engrossing read.
I have had so much fun revisiting Stine’s writing through this book, and it might be somewhere along the lines of Middle Grade and YA, I would definitely recommend this light and not-so-breezy horror story. Well, it’s not exactly Annabelle scary, I am sure you’ll manage 😛
Morgan Marks is the new girl in town. WIth copper shaded hair and expressive green eyes, she has the attention of every girl in her new high school. As she makes new friends, she also leaves behind this mysterious feeling that will send shivers down your spine. But more than being dead, Morgan had another secret- one that should be kept hidden at all costs.
Also, if you think you know how the story ends, you are most probably wrong. The story might be along the lines of any classic horror story, that ending sure comes as a shocker.
The book reminded of bedtime stories and is written in a similar fashion. There are dramatic pauses, comic relief and a whole lot of screaming. A thoroughly entertaining and engrossing read.
August 31, 2021
3.5 stars. Honestly, this was a lot of fun and I always enjoy a good vampire novel. The Return to Fear Street series isn't the strongest, but I think this one is its strongest contender. Also, that cover? To die for. I will admit something that this series does that bothers me is the alternating POV of so many characters. It's very different from the Fear Street novels, but it feels like a more modern take on them. Just jarring, but not necessarily, bad. Review to come.
October 23, 2023
First of all for this to be the last Fear Street book as of this moment and not take place in Shadyside or on Fear Street is kind of gutsy.
It is even spoiled on the back of the book because you look at it and you are like:
"Huh...what...Linden High...where the hell is that?"
It's really not the only thing spoiled as you read the book because even the first chapter tells you that we are not dealing with anything normal. The only thing that is normal is that some of the teens are obnoxious but we should be use to that and there is drama, drama, drama between boys and girls and girls and girls...
Some things that keep this from being really amazing but are just a little trivial but that is only my opinion. We also get that thing where the chapters switch perspective from writing in a diary, to main characters and even a few from victims which is the weirdest...because it is something that would seem better in third person.
Again opinion but it just takes me out of it...
There's a new girl at school named Morgan Marks, a beautiful redhead with green eyes turning all of the heads of the male students. She's a flirt with the boys but very reserved around other girls but not so much that she hasn't made a few friends who are girls.
Julie Hart is the principal's daughter and she's a nice enough blonde who is secretly crushing on Zane Finn, serious and trying his hand at doing stand-up comedy. Julie's BFF Amber hates her wavy brown hair and her glasses and thinks her nose is too big but she is big into gossip.
Liam Franklin is always wearing a baseball cap on his head, cracking jokes but he is really good at fixing things electronic and his best bud is Rick "Winks" Winkleman. A big and brawny, redhead teddy bear with a sense of humor but a very clingy girlfriend sometimes dampens his mood. Delia hasn't lived in Linden that long like the others but she is mad about Winks despite being his complete opposite.
Delia Foreman is tiny, thin and the more reserved of the girls...except when it comes to Winks. She is easily jealous of his flirting with other girls and the two of them have been getting into screaming matches in crowded parking lots.
This group are the first ones to meet Morgan and Liam, Zane and Winks are all ga-ga over her which is only complicated by Delia being with Winks and Julie's inability to let Zane know how she feels. Gets even more complicated because Winks is thinking about breaking up with Delia and everyone knows it...but Delia.
Second is Amber hearing that the guys all have a bet to see who can get with Morgan first and letting Julie know...but not Delia.
There isn't too much else to tell without spoiling A LOT of the story for anyone who has not read Drop Dead Gorgeous but there are some very interesting ideas going around that make it very promising and much better than The Wrong Girl for sure!
Some reveals, some twists and then a major swerve of an ending but yet it was subtly hinted at earlier if you pay attention...
Definitely the best of this Return To Fear Street trio with its weirdness and a rather bittersweet way to have it seem so final as if we won't be returning to Shadyside anytime soon on the written page...
It is even spoiled on the back of the book because you look at it and you are like:
"Huh...what...Linden High...where the hell is that?"
It's really not the only thing spoiled as you read the book because even the first chapter tells you that we are not dealing with anything normal. The only thing that is normal is that some of the teens are obnoxious but we should be use to that and there is drama, drama, drama between boys and girls and girls and girls...
Some things that keep this from being really amazing but are just a little trivial but that is only my opinion. We also get that thing where the chapters switch perspective from writing in a diary, to main characters and even a few from victims which is the weirdest...because it is something that would seem better in third person.
Again opinion but it just takes me out of it...
There's a new girl at school named Morgan Marks, a beautiful redhead with green eyes turning all of the heads of the male students. She's a flirt with the boys but very reserved around other girls but not so much that she hasn't made a few friends who are girls.
Julie Hart is the principal's daughter and she's a nice enough blonde who is secretly crushing on Zane Finn, serious and trying his hand at doing stand-up comedy. Julie's BFF Amber hates her wavy brown hair and her glasses and thinks her nose is too big but she is big into gossip.
Liam Franklin is always wearing a baseball cap on his head, cracking jokes but he is really good at fixing things electronic and his best bud is Rick "Winks" Winkleman. A big and brawny, redhead teddy bear with a sense of humor but a very clingy girlfriend sometimes dampens his mood. Delia hasn't lived in Linden that long like the others but she is mad about Winks despite being his complete opposite.
Delia Foreman is tiny, thin and the more reserved of the girls...except when it comes to Winks. She is easily jealous of his flirting with other girls and the two of them have been getting into screaming matches in crowded parking lots.
This group are the first ones to meet Morgan and Liam, Zane and Winks are all ga-ga over her which is only complicated by Delia being with Winks and Julie's inability to let Zane know how she feels. Gets even more complicated because Winks is thinking about breaking up with Delia and everyone knows it...but Delia.
Second is Amber hearing that the guys all have a bet to see who can get with Morgan first and letting Julie know...but not Delia.
There isn't too much else to tell without spoiling A LOT of the story for anyone who has not read Drop Dead Gorgeous but there are some very interesting ideas going around that make it very promising and much better than The Wrong Girl for sure!
Some reveals, some twists and then a major swerve of an ending but yet it was subtly hinted at earlier if you pay attention...
Definitely the best of this Return To Fear Street trio with its weirdness and a rather bittersweet way to have it seem so final as if we won't be returning to Shadyside anytime soon on the written page...
October 7, 2021
4 Stars
Once again R. L. Stine has blown me away with another story. The ending of this one was a shocker that left me feeling beyond surprised. I did not see this one coming. R. L. Stine is a brilliant writer and I will never stop reading his books.
The story focuses on Morgan Marks the new girl in school. She is beautiful, in fact "drop dead gorgeous". Every guy wants to date her and every girl wants to be her, but all is not as it seems when it comes to Morgan Marks. She has a dark past with a lot of secrets.
After the arrival of Morgan, strange deaths start occuring and everyone is on the lookout for a vampire. I love vampire books and this one delivered. The story is told in chapter perspectives of the different characters from the book and this proved to be a rather interesting concept. I especially loved how a chapter would close out to the death of the character. I don't want to say too much, but yes, the characters are going to die as no one is safe. You will have to read the book to see who lives and who dies.
"Drop Dead Gorgeous" follows the typical Fear Street formula we all know and love but with a modern take on the story as well. This offers the best of both worlds for Fear Street fans as it incorporates nastagia with present day themes. I loved everything about this book.
R. L. Stine please never stop telling us your stories.
Once again R. L. Stine has blown me away with another story. The ending of this one was a shocker that left me feeling beyond surprised. I did not see this one coming. R. L. Stine is a brilliant writer and I will never stop reading his books.
The story focuses on Morgan Marks the new girl in school. She is beautiful, in fact "drop dead gorgeous". Every guy wants to date her and every girl wants to be her, but all is not as it seems when it comes to Morgan Marks. She has a dark past with a lot of secrets.
After the arrival of Morgan, strange deaths start occuring and everyone is on the lookout for a vampire. I love vampire books and this one delivered. The story is told in chapter perspectives of the different characters from the book and this proved to be a rather interesting concept. I especially loved how a chapter would close out to the death of the character. I don't want to say too much, but yes, the characters are going to die as no one is safe. You will have to read the book to see who lives and who dies.
"Drop Dead Gorgeous" follows the typical Fear Street formula we all know and love but with a modern take on the story as well. This offers the best of both worlds for Fear Street fans as it incorporates nastagia with present day themes. I loved everything about this book.
R. L. Stine please never stop telling us your stories.
July 22, 2025
there was smth wlw going on
October 30, 2022
Drop Dead Gorgeous is the 3rd, and so far, last book in the Return To Fear Street reboot series before the trilogy movies were released onto Netflix. While the death count is rather low, Stine amps up the suspense more so than the previous two books. The gang of friends consists of Julie, Liam, Delia, Amber, Winks, & Zane who are entranced by new girl they spotted, Morgan Marks. She looks so gorgeous and is witty that attracts the boys over to her, but little is known about her life and she is a mystery to the girls. While the girls try to figure her out, the boys hold a secret bet on who can win Morgan's heart. Unknown to all of them, Morgan is also playing a little game herself with them as each fall under her spell.
This book is more closer in tone to the original books of the Fear Street series, as vampire-like stories are much more suspenseful in tone, and better page turners. And it brings other elements that makes it feel as retro as the cover: taking place outside of Shadyside, a Fear family member, mysterious figures running in the background, and the absolute twist ending. One little interesting tidbit this book doe also is making it multiple POVs from the entire main cast, usually Fear Street books tend to be no more than 2 perspectives. So we get to hear and see more in the characters, fleshing them a little bit better than other books in the series, heck we even get some mourning periods in between the death counts. More so, we get to see into Morgan's POV also, and her backstory is interesting. But that leaves some questions that may end up adding more spoilers into this review, so I'll leave it there as to not having to mark this with spoilers for those interested.
The ending really made me question about how some of the stuff that was going on. And here I thought I figured out all the plot by then! There are still some flaws with this book, but it does improve upon presenting its story much better than most others, I'll give it that. Indeed, Drop Dead Gorgeous, while having some outrageous plot moments, is a good YA horror read for the Halloween season and I could only hope Stine continues to make more books in the series even after all these years since this release.
This book is more closer in tone to the original books of the Fear Street series, as vampire-like stories are much more suspenseful in tone, and better page turners. And it brings other elements that makes it feel as retro as the cover: taking place outside of Shadyside, a Fear family member, mysterious figures running in the background, and the absolute twist ending. One little interesting tidbit this book doe also is making it multiple POVs from the entire main cast, usually Fear Street books tend to be no more than 2 perspectives. So we get to hear and see more in the characters, fleshing them a little bit better than other books in the series, heck we even get some mourning periods in between the death counts. More so, we get to see into Morgan's POV also, and her backstory is interesting. But that leaves some questions that may end up adding more spoilers into this review, so I'll leave it there as to not having to mark this with spoilers for those interested.
The ending really made me question about how some of the stuff that was going on. And here I thought I figured out all the plot by then! There are still some flaws with this book, but it does improve upon presenting its story much better than most others, I'll give it that. Indeed, Drop Dead Gorgeous, while having some outrageous plot moments, is a good YA horror read for the Halloween season and I could only hope Stine continues to make more books in the series even after all these years since this release.
May 2, 2019
Morgan Marks arrives at the small town of Linden and the boys go all crazy from her gorgeous copper hair, beautiful green eyes and extremely pretty face. No sooner did the new girl arrive in town, there occurred a series of uneventful murders, where the victims were drained off blood. R.L.Stine’s ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ narrates the story of this mysterious girl, Morgan Marks.
Everyone talks about this new girl in town but no one knows anything about her background- where she came from, which school did she last attend. Her records were even missing from the school files. When asked about her records from her previous school, they said that Morgan Marks is already dead. Of course, everyone at her new school thought that there might have been some mistake or misunderstanding, except that there wasn’t any misunderstanding. Morgan Marks is dead. There’s a creature hiding beneath that pretty face and flirty nature. She chooses her victims carefully. How long before her friends figure out that they were soon going to be her victims? Read the book to find out. Oh yes! If you think you know how such stories generally ends, you are so wrong. There’s an unexpected twist waiting for you in the end.
My views- Before you decide to pick up this book, let me tell you that this is no hair-raising horror story. It’s a simple bedtime story narrated from different perspectives. The characters are drawn out pretty well, the language is lucid and the pace is good. There’s not many plot twist except the one in the end, which blew up my mind. I wasn’t familiar with Stine’s work and this one’s the first of his books that I picked up. Will I read more of his works? I doubt it. I am a horror freak and I love intense horror movies and books- like Annabelle or Conjuring. But this book wasn’t meant to give you chills. So, keeping in mind that it’s a bedtime tale, I would give it a thumbs up.
https://booktalesanddonuts.wordpress....
Everyone talks about this new girl in town but no one knows anything about her background- where she came from, which school did she last attend. Her records were even missing from the school files. When asked about her records from her previous school, they said that Morgan Marks is already dead. Of course, everyone at her new school thought that there might have been some mistake or misunderstanding, except that there wasn’t any misunderstanding. Morgan Marks is dead. There’s a creature hiding beneath that pretty face and flirty nature. She chooses her victims carefully. How long before her friends figure out that they were soon going to be her victims? Read the book to find out. Oh yes! If you think you know how such stories generally ends, you are so wrong. There’s an unexpected twist waiting for you in the end.
My views- Before you decide to pick up this book, let me tell you that this is no hair-raising horror story. It’s a simple bedtime story narrated from different perspectives. The characters are drawn out pretty well, the language is lucid and the pace is good. There’s not many plot twist except the one in the end, which blew up my mind. I wasn’t familiar with Stine’s work and this one’s the first of his books that I picked up. Will I read more of his works? I doubt it. I am a horror freak and I love intense horror movies and books- like Annabelle or Conjuring. But this book wasn’t meant to give you chills. So, keeping in mind that it’s a bedtime tale, I would give it a thumbs up.
https://booktalesanddonuts.wordpress....
May 16, 2020
At least this is a little more decent than that awfully-written second book(The Wrong Girl) from the franchise. But I just wonder to myself if ever the teenagers in the Fear Street series really do make stupid decisions all the time.
I have no clue what’s going on from Mr. Stine’s head but if he’s planning to write another ya book, he should a little more research on how the teenagers live and talk.
I have no clue what’s going on from Mr. Stine’s head but if he’s planning to write another ya book, he should a little more research on how the teenagers live and talk.
December 15, 2020
Another nice visit to on of my favorite childhood authors 🙂🙂 I enjoyed the vampire theme and the little twist at the end. I don't know why, but I wasn't even thinking how the author went with the story (hopefully that makes sense without giving anything away!). I'm going to grab another one of this series next time I'm at the library or bookstore!
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