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A Long Stretch of Bad Days Lib/E
From award-winning author Mindy McGinnis comes a thrilling and gripping YA mystery about a small town's past and the secrets unearthed by way of two teen girls--and a podcast. Perfect for fans of Sadie, The Cheerleaders, and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.
A lifetime of hard work has put Lydia Chass on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind--until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating.
Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs one more credit to graduate. An unexpected partnership forms as the two remake Lydia's town history podcast to investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days--a week when Henley was hit by a tornado, a flash food, as well as its first, only, and unsolved murder.
As their investigation unearths buried secrets, some don't want them to see the light. When the threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.
A lifetime of hard work has put Lydia Chass on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind--until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating.
Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs one more credit to graduate. An unexpected partnership forms as the two remake Lydia's town history podcast to investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days--a week when Henley was hit by a tornado, a flash food, as well as its first, only, and unsolved murder.
As their investigation unearths buried secrets, some don't want them to see the light. When the threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.
Audio CD
First published March 14, 2023
104 people are currently reading
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About the author
Mindy McGinnis
29 books4,292 followersMindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy.
While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 616 reviews
September 9, 2024
OMG! THIS BOOK IS FREAKING BRILLIANT! Dear Mindy McGinnis, you proved me right one more time that you are one of the greatest authors!
Lately I read YA thrillers with the similar concept: two teenage girls from different backgrounds, social statuses, having opposite characteristics stuck together to do a podcast project which also involves digging out a cold case the townies meticulously buried and wanted so hard to forget! The concept might be similar but so far this book is the best executed version of this similar plot line!
The special thing about the book is the perfect characterization, genuine honesty and dark sarcastic sense of humor blend with the intriguing mysteries of town !
Yes, there are two big mysteries intercepted adroitly; a young misfit girl’s missing case who didn’t get declared as missing for years and town’s most despicable person’s cold case murder! Both events take place at the same week: when the tornado and flash flood hit the small town Henley. Those days are called as “town’s long stretch of bad days” ! Townies lost their homes, their streets, their loved ones, their animals, everything they’ve cared for is gone with the water!
When we return back to present we meet with Lydia, valedictorian,high achiever, competitive, callous, a member of Chase family who is the pillar of their small community. Her dreams to go to Ivy League college might be crushed by the school’s alcoholic guidance counselor who made a terrible mistake that affected Lydia’s graduation from high school because of one missing history class credit.
Misfit, foul mouthed Bristal Jamison who is member of the Jamison family lives in Ash trailer park, famous for being underaged pregnancy and involvement in misdemeanors, suffering from same faith with Lydia. She wants to be the first Jamison who achieved to graduate from high school but thanks to their highly drunken counselor suffering from marriage problems, she needs history credit urgently.
Lydia makes an offer to Bristal to merge their powers to create a unique podcast coverage which they can be both benefited from!
Bristal has her own suspicions. She knows the guts of Lydia and her dark motives to do whatever it takes to get her way but when Lydia tells her they’re gonna investigate the town’s only murder case which hasn’t been solved since the flood and is still an open investigation, Bristal screams murder and excitedly captures the police records of the crime scene. Her uncle is in prison and he has a lot to tell them about the murder case and the motive that even the police officers didn’t know about!
The girls’ unusual friendship who are coming from different circles and their unique approaches to the case, their differentiated survival mechanisms made you engage with them!
I loved Bristal so much! I think if this book could be adapted into movies, Maya Hawkes could be hell of amazing Bristal! I had so many hesitations to like goody two shoes Lydia! When I learn more about her weaknesses and how her character evolved after her interactions with Bristal, I quickly liked her more!
The characterization was FREAKING AMAZING! The heart wrenching twist at the end broke my heart! But the conclusion was fair and well wrapped up!
I think this is my favorite book of the author and I wished I could give more than five stars! I highly definitely absolutely recommend you to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books / Katherine Tegen Books for sharing this FANTASTIC digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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Lately I read YA thrillers with the similar concept: two teenage girls from different backgrounds, social statuses, having opposite characteristics stuck together to do a podcast project which also involves digging out a cold case the townies meticulously buried and wanted so hard to forget! The concept might be similar but so far this book is the best executed version of this similar plot line!
The special thing about the book is the perfect characterization, genuine honesty and dark sarcastic sense of humor blend with the intriguing mysteries of town !
Yes, there are two big mysteries intercepted adroitly; a young misfit girl’s missing case who didn’t get declared as missing for years and town’s most despicable person’s cold case murder! Both events take place at the same week: when the tornado and flash flood hit the small town Henley. Those days are called as “town’s long stretch of bad days” ! Townies lost their homes, their streets, their loved ones, their animals, everything they’ve cared for is gone with the water!
When we return back to present we meet with Lydia, valedictorian,high achiever, competitive, callous, a member of Chase family who is the pillar of their small community. Her dreams to go to Ivy League college might be crushed by the school’s alcoholic guidance counselor who made a terrible mistake that affected Lydia’s graduation from high school because of one missing history class credit.
Misfit, foul mouthed Bristal Jamison who is member of the Jamison family lives in Ash trailer park, famous for being underaged pregnancy and involvement in misdemeanors, suffering from same faith with Lydia. She wants to be the first Jamison who achieved to graduate from high school but thanks to their highly drunken counselor suffering from marriage problems, she needs history credit urgently.
Lydia makes an offer to Bristal to merge their powers to create a unique podcast coverage which they can be both benefited from!
Bristal has her own suspicions. She knows the guts of Lydia and her dark motives to do whatever it takes to get her way but when Lydia tells her they’re gonna investigate the town’s only murder case which hasn’t been solved since the flood and is still an open investigation, Bristal screams murder and excitedly captures the police records of the crime scene. Her uncle is in prison and he has a lot to tell them about the murder case and the motive that even the police officers didn’t know about!
The girls’ unusual friendship who are coming from different circles and their unique approaches to the case, their differentiated survival mechanisms made you engage with them!
I loved Bristal so much! I think if this book could be adapted into movies, Maya Hawkes could be hell of amazing Bristal! I had so many hesitations to like goody two shoes Lydia! When I learn more about her weaknesses and how her character evolved after her interactions with Bristal, I quickly liked her more!
The characterization was FREAKING AMAZING! The heart wrenching twist at the end broke my heart! But the conclusion was fair and well wrapped up!
I think this is my favorite book of the author and I wished I could give more than five stars! I highly definitely absolutely recommend you to read it!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books / Katherine Tegen Books for sharing this FANTASTIC digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
March 17, 2023
4.5 stars, truly solid YA mystery filled with humor and snark along with the mystery, as well as a thoughtful look into privilege.
Lydia Chass is a senior in high school and wants to escape her small town life and attend an Ivy League University. The problem--somehow she's missing a history credit needed to graduate. She already has a podcast covering events in her community, and so Lydia gets cleared to switch focus to local history in order to get the credit. She decides to focus on "The Long Stretch of Bad Days," a time in the 90s when the town was hit by a tornado, a flash flood, and a murder that remains unsolved. She also decides to join forces with Bristal Jamison (yes, those Jamisons, and no, she's not pregnant thank you) who is also missing a history credit she needs to be the first Jamison to graduate from high school. As the two begin to investigate, they forge a friendship of sorts and both learn that there is much more to the other, and their small town, than they imagined.
I love the way McGinnis writes teenagers. They are so incredibly authentic with voices that clearly ring true with the way teens actually talk and think. The humor and snark add to their likability, and I was definitely rooting for Lydia and Bristal throughout the book, wanting their success throughout.
The twist ending was a bit far-fetched and I don't think McGinnis does as good of a job with writing adult characters as she does teens. However that is just a small thing, overall the plot is fast-paced and original, highly engaging and pulled me back every time I set the book down.
This book has a wonderfully astute theme of privilege. Lydia is from a well-known family, her father is an attorney and they live in a large family home. There are cracks beneath the surface, but they are quite accomplished at hiding them. Bristal lives in a trailer park, her last name is associated with teen pregnancy, jail, and drugs. She's very smart, but also brash and unafraid to call Lydia out on her privilege, even when Lydia has no clue most of the time that it exists.
Overall, if you like YA mysteries, you cannot go wrong with a Mindy McGinnis book. After you get this one, go back and read The Initial Insult and The Last Laugh, her Edgar Allan Poe themed duology.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Lydia Chass is a senior in high school and wants to escape her small town life and attend an Ivy League University. The problem--somehow she's missing a history credit needed to graduate. She already has a podcast covering events in her community, and so Lydia gets cleared to switch focus to local history in order to get the credit. She decides to focus on "The Long Stretch of Bad Days," a time in the 90s when the town was hit by a tornado, a flash flood, and a murder that remains unsolved. She also decides to join forces with Bristal Jamison (yes, those Jamisons, and no, she's not pregnant thank you) who is also missing a history credit she needs to be the first Jamison to graduate from high school. As the two begin to investigate, they forge a friendship of sorts and both learn that there is much more to the other, and their small town, than they imagined.
I love the way McGinnis writes teenagers. They are so incredibly authentic with voices that clearly ring true with the way teens actually talk and think. The humor and snark add to their likability, and I was definitely rooting for Lydia and Bristal throughout the book, wanting their success throughout.
The twist ending was a bit far-fetched and I don't think McGinnis does as good of a job with writing adult characters as she does teens. However that is just a small thing, overall the plot is fast-paced and original, highly engaging and pulled me back every time I set the book down.
This book has a wonderfully astute theme of privilege. Lydia is from a well-known family, her father is an attorney and they live in a large family home. There are cracks beneath the surface, but they are quite accomplished at hiding them. Bristal lives in a trailer park, her last name is associated with teen pregnancy, jail, and drugs. She's very smart, but also brash and unafraid to call Lydia out on her privilege, even when Lydia has no clue most of the time that it exists.
Overall, if you like YA mysteries, you cannot go wrong with a Mindy McGinnis book. After you get this one, go back and read The Initial Insult and The Last Laugh, her Edgar Allan Poe themed duology.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 24, 2023
There’s no question that Mindy McGinnis is a talented author. Her YA books are thought provoking, entertaining, and contain a sort of chaotic chokehold that forces you to continue reading, manically flipping the pages until the very end. It’s quite a rush, and while this wasn’t my favorite from the author, it’s still a compelling read. The mystery didn’t seem as twisty as some of her past (although there is a twist near the end that was *chef’s kiss*), but I felt the discussion surrounding class and privilege, especially in a small town, is pivotal. If you’re looking for a fast paced read that will keep you glued until the final page, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
June 4, 2023
no ones writes unlikeable characters I'd defend till death better than Mindy McGinnis
March 14, 2023
Small town secrets meet a true crime podcast in this YA mystery! A Long Stretch of Bad Days follows two high school seniors from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds and live experiences who team up on a podcast investigating events that occurred in the 90's in their small town. A town where no-one ever talks about anything unpleasant, but there is plenty hiding beneath the surface...
I really enjoyed this- the podcast and mystery elements are well-done (though I suspected some of what the twist ending was for much of the book). Thematically it's partly about the inequality of the justice system and how that intersects with privilege and poverty. While this doesn't bring a racial element in, it easily could have. Instead, the story is told from the perspective of a pretty privileged young woman who slowly comes to recognize that the world isn't the way she thought it was. I really loved the friendship that develops between Lydia and her prickly co-host Bristal. It's also quite funny at times. If you're looking for this kind of YA true-crime podcast novel, I would recommend this one over some other recent releases. It's a solid pick. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings include murder, dead bodies, death of animals, gun violence, mentions of abuse including child sexual abuse
I really enjoyed this- the podcast and mystery elements are well-done (though I suspected some of what the twist ending was for much of the book). Thematically it's partly about the inequality of the justice system and how that intersects with privilege and poverty. While this doesn't bring a racial element in, it easily could have. Instead, the story is told from the perspective of a pretty privileged young woman who slowly comes to recognize that the world isn't the way she thought it was. I really loved the friendship that develops between Lydia and her prickly co-host Bristal. It's also quite funny at times. If you're looking for this kind of YA true-crime podcast novel, I would recommend this one over some other recent releases. It's a solid pick. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings include murder, dead bodies, death of animals, gun violence, mentions of abuse including child sexual abuse
January 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
“Good people can do terrible things, Lydia. The longer you live, the more you see it.”
⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️
🫧Teen drug use (one main female character is constantly vaping, high from weed, or making jokes about drugs)
🫧Teen drinking
🫧Discussions of drug trafficking
🫧Discussions of human trafficking
🫧Detailed description of two murders
🫧Teen pregnancy
🫧Discussions of assault (with and without a deadly weapon)
🫧Constant mentions of threats (both of the physical and internet variety)
🫧 Lots of sexual expletives
This book marks my second read by Mindy McGinnis. My first book by her, Heroine, left me an emotional wreck. I mean, it kept me up late into the night constantly flipping the pages. And. It had my mind spinning both during and long after I was finished.
However…
While this book comes with one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL book covers that I have ever seen and a thought provoking storyline, I have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, I spent this entire book rooting for both Lydia Chass and Bristal Jamison (even though Bristal got on my nerves A LOT!!! 🤭🤭🤭). Hoping that these two would seek revenge on not just the school board but the entire townspeople for turning a blind eye to the guidance counselor and allowing him to screw these two over. AND I GOT JUST THAT!!! Lydia’s podcast, with the help of Bristal, basically shined a spotlight on just how imperfect their small town, Henley, really is. How being “nice” and “polite” often leads to being fake and sweeping important things under the rug. How these two words can also lead to lying, neglect, and sometimes, reversible damage. This book, basically, shines a light on how women (no matter the age) are no longer just lying down and taking whatever others give them. If we believe on it (whatever “it” maybe) and ourselves then we will achieve it. SCREW ANYONE WHO SAYS DIFFERENTLY!!! 🥰🥰🥰.
Now, on the other hand, the synopsis pretty much gave the entire storyline away. And this led to me, sometimes, feeling disconnected and uninterested in major parts of the story. Literally, nothing about this murder mystery felt like a surprise. I couldn’t muster up a single shocked face or gasp when big secrets were revealed or the final plot twist appeared. I FELT NOTHING!!! And I am so bothered by this. Altogether, this story was amazing and contains so many important themes. My favorite of all: The importance of women having each other’s backs.🥰🥰🥰. But, in the end, this one will go down as just a decent read for me. And this makes me feel so sad. 😔😔😔. Especially, given that this is marketed as a YA murder mystery (which I love dearly) and the amount of time that I spent laughing while reading this was INSANE!!! 😂😂😂. Lyida and Bristal were a true dynamic duo!!!
“Good people can do terrible things, Lydia. The longer you live, the more you see it.”
⚠️ Content Warnings ⚠️
🫧Teen drug use (one main female character is constantly vaping, high from weed, or making jokes about drugs)
🫧Teen drinking
🫧Discussions of drug trafficking
🫧Discussions of human trafficking
🫧Detailed description of two murders
🫧Teen pregnancy
🫧Discussions of assault (with and without a deadly weapon)
🫧Constant mentions of threats (both of the physical and internet variety)
🫧 Lots of sexual expletives
This book marks my second read by Mindy McGinnis. My first book by her, Heroine, left me an emotional wreck. I mean, it kept me up late into the night constantly flipping the pages. And. It had my mind spinning both during and long after I was finished.
However…
While this book comes with one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL book covers that I have ever seen and a thought provoking storyline, I have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, I spent this entire book rooting for both Lydia Chass and Bristal Jamison (even though Bristal got on my nerves A LOT!!! 🤭🤭🤭). Hoping that these two would seek revenge on not just the school board but the entire townspeople for turning a blind eye to the guidance counselor and allowing him to screw these two over. AND I GOT JUST THAT!!! Lydia’s podcast, with the help of Bristal, basically shined a spotlight on just how imperfect their small town, Henley, really is. How being “nice” and “polite” often leads to being fake and sweeping important things under the rug. How these two words can also lead to lying, neglect, and sometimes, reversible damage. This book, basically, shines a light on how women (no matter the age) are no longer just lying down and taking whatever others give them. If we believe on it (whatever “it” maybe) and ourselves then we will achieve it. SCREW ANYONE WHO SAYS DIFFERENTLY!!! 🥰🥰🥰.
Now, on the other hand, the synopsis pretty much gave the entire storyline away. And this led to me, sometimes, feeling disconnected and uninterested in major parts of the story. Literally, nothing about this murder mystery felt like a surprise. I couldn’t muster up a single shocked face or gasp when big secrets were revealed or the final plot twist appeared. I FELT NOTHING!!! And I am so bothered by this. Altogether, this story was amazing and contains so many important themes. My favorite of all: The importance of women having each other’s backs.🥰🥰🥰. But, in the end, this one will go down as just a decent read for me. And this makes me feel so sad. 😔😔😔. Especially, given that this is marketed as a YA murder mystery (which I love dearly) and the amount of time that I spent laughing while reading this was INSANE!!! 😂😂😂. Lyida and Bristal were a true dynamic duo!!!
November 14, 2023
Overall Rating : A-
"The nice thing and the right thing aren't always the same thing."
Small town local Lydia Chass has a plan. Graduate, get into a top notch school, and be something more than her small town besides being the "nice girl". But when her school messes up and she's short one credit, she teams up with Bristal Jaimison, another girl that was jilted. Together, they turn Chass' low level podcast into a deep dive on "The Long Stretch of Bad Days", where a tornado, a mass flood, a missing girl, and a murder all occurred in a short span of a few days in 1994. With her dad being also being targeted for being a defense lawyer for the guilty, and where just speaking aloud the silent not-so-nice aspects of her small town causes chaos, Lydia and Bristal have a long way to go too get to the truth.
I will never not like anything written by Mindy McGinnis. The way she writes her characters is so real, flawed and perfect at the same time. Her story, writing and prose is so beautiful, I can't take my eyes off it. And considering I also live in a small town, everything she writes literally hits home. It made me giggle in places I probably shouldn't.
And remember, you are more than your family, or your town. Even if your graduating class is only 68 ;)
"The nice thing and the right thing aren't always the same thing."
Small town local Lydia Chass has a plan. Graduate, get into a top notch school, and be something more than her small town besides being the "nice girl". But when her school messes up and she's short one credit, she teams up with Bristal Jaimison, another girl that was jilted. Together, they turn Chass' low level podcast into a deep dive on "The Long Stretch of Bad Days", where a tornado, a mass flood, a missing girl, and a murder all occurred in a short span of a few days in 1994. With her dad being also being targeted for being a defense lawyer for the guilty, and where just speaking aloud the silent not-so-nice aspects of her small town causes chaos, Lydia and Bristal have a long way to go too get to the truth.
I will never not like anything written by Mindy McGinnis. The way she writes her characters is so real, flawed and perfect at the same time. Her story, writing and prose is so beautiful, I can't take my eyes off it. And considering I also live in a small town, everything she writes literally hits home. It made me giggle in places I probably shouldn't.
And remember, you are more than your family, or your town. Even if your graduating class is only 68 ;)
April 10, 2023
"I don’t mind living in a small town; I just don’t want to die in one."
Mindy is an auto-buy author for me. She can release anything and I'll read it. Even if it's just a note on a used napkin, you better believe that I'm going to be reading it. She's one of those authors that can do no wrong when it comes to books with strong female leads.
Did someone say strong female characters who have complicated lives who have the most amazing bond?
This was okay. The ending wasn’t as shocking as I wanted it to be. There was just something missing from this one. It was still a good and enjoyable read. Mindy would never lead us into the dark and leave us there.
Mindy is an auto-buy author for me. She can release anything and I'll read it. Even if it's just a note on a used napkin, you better believe that I'm going to be reading it. She's one of those authors that can do no wrong when it comes to books with strong female leads.
Did someone say strong female characters who have complicated lives who have the most amazing bond?
This was okay. The ending wasn’t as shocking as I wanted it to be. There was just something missing from this one. It was still a good and enjoyable read. Mindy would never lead us into the dark and leave us there.
March 19, 2023
Review coming soon.
March 16, 2023
3/15: 4.5 stars rounded up
A Long Stretch of Bad Days, or, Evergreen Reminder That Parents Had Lives Before Kids Happened. They've seen/done/been through some shit, and kids aren't always aware of that. And if/when they finally deign to fill you in, it might mess you up.
Another possible subtitle: Respectability Politics 101.
This book feels like the logically-resulting smoothie if one were to put Sasha Stone (This Darkness Mine), Alex Craft (The Female of the Species), and Tress Montor & Felicity Turnado (The Initial Insult) into a blender. I can nearly see the direct lines, and it's fantastic.
Uneven Steven is one of the most memorable pet characters ever.
The word you're looking for is majorette. My mom was one.
Randall Boggs still makes me giggle.
I liked and loved our main characters. Right from the beginning, Lydia was bringing the snark and I could easily picture a Rachel Berry-type character, minus the singing. Bristal had my heart from the minute she walked in.
I despised the way the parents talked about Bristal's family; maybe I expected more nuance from grown-ass adults, and maybe I shouldn't have. I don't have a lot of experience with GenX parents, but I do know rural/small town life. Dad especially started feeling awfully preachy in a few spots. Madison is definitely the cool mom.
The first podcast episode stood out to me and I'm still mad that Lydia's parents went off the handle so badly, because none of it felt worthy of that? The closing bit was something I could really relate to. I'm related to most of the names in the local cemeteries in my hometown, but you wouldn't know it because it's all the maternal side of the family. There are streets named after my grandmother and her siblings; one of her brothers was on the school board back in the day. My grandfather built a bunch of houses in the area. My mom was classmates with a few of my teachers, and there were a few still teaching from when she was in school. The most attention I remember getting was the occasional "is your mom a twin?" (spoiler: yes).
----------
3/11: Did I just snag the first early copy of this at Book Fest this afternoon?
Y U P
Can’t wait to get home and dive in!
A Long Stretch of Bad Days, or, Evergreen Reminder That Parents Had Lives Before Kids Happened. They've seen/done/been through some shit, and kids aren't always aware of that. And if/when they finally deign to fill you in, it might mess you up.
Another possible subtitle: Respectability Politics 101.
This book feels like the logically-resulting smoothie if one were to put Sasha Stone (This Darkness Mine), Alex Craft (The Female of the Species), and Tress Montor & Felicity Turnado (The Initial Insult) into a blender. I can nearly see the direct lines, and it's fantastic.
Uneven Steven is one of the most memorable pet characters ever.
The word you're looking for is majorette. My mom was one.
Randall Boggs still makes me giggle.
I liked and loved our main characters. Right from the beginning, Lydia was bringing the snark and I could easily picture a Rachel Berry-type character, minus the singing. Bristal had my heart from the minute she walked in.
I despised the way the parents talked about Bristal's family; maybe I expected more nuance from grown-ass adults, and maybe I shouldn't have. I don't have a lot of experience with GenX parents, but I do know rural/small town life. Dad especially started feeling awfully preachy in a few spots. Madison is definitely the cool mom.
The first podcast episode stood out to me and I'm still mad that Lydia's parents went off the handle so badly, because none of it felt worthy of that? The closing bit was something I could really relate to. I'm related to most of the names in the local cemeteries in my hometown, but you wouldn't know it because it's all the maternal side of the family. There are streets named after my grandmother and her siblings; one of her brothers was on the school board back in the day. My grandfather built a bunch of houses in the area. My mom was classmates with a few of my teachers, and there were a few still teaching from when she was in school. The most attention I remember getting was the occasional "is your mom a twin?" (spoiler: yes).
----------
3/11: Did I just snag the first early copy of this at Book Fest this afternoon?
Y U P
Can’t wait to get home and dive in!
March 27, 2023
4¼⭐
…the bullet points
- ya contemporary
- mystery w/light thriller elements
- features a podcast
- two teen girls from opposites sides of the tracks form an unlikely friendship
- the history of a town comes into question
- some of the townspeople don’t want that to happen
Mindy McGinnis never lets me down. I don't always love the YA genre…but I always like her books. They always serve up some fun, dynamic teen characters, and a decent mystery. Also, my favorite narrator is usually one of the narrators.
.…about the narration
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
- Brittany Pressley…my most favored narrator, of course, she was fantastic.
...the score
➨ 8.27/10 | Opening-8 | Characters-7.8 | Plot-8.5 | Atmosphere-7.7 | Writing Style-8.7 | Ending-8.7 | Overall Enjoyment- 8.5
…the bullet points
- ya contemporary
- mystery w/light thriller elements
- features a podcast
- two teen girls from opposites sides of the tracks form an unlikely friendship
- the history of a town comes into question
- some of the townspeople don’t want that to happen
Mindy McGinnis never lets me down. I don't always love the YA genre…but I always like her books. They always serve up some fun, dynamic teen characters, and a decent mystery. Also, my favorite narrator is usually one of the narrators.
.…about the narration
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
- Brittany Pressley…my most favored narrator, of course, she was fantastic.
...the score
➨ 8.27/10 | Opening-8 | Characters-7.8 | Plot-8.5 | Atmosphere-7.7 | Writing Style-8.7 | Ending-8.7 | Overall Enjoyment- 8.5
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March 27, 2023
A Long Stretch of Bad Days was another delightfully messy read from Mindy McGinnis! Sometimes we just need books about two sort-of-friends solving a cold case together and this certainly delivered.
From the get go, my two favorite things here were the writing and the dynamic between Lydia and Bristal. McGinnis did a great job at setting up and developing both plot and characters with quite a bit of humor and that story tone worked wonders for me.
The lack of romance and focus on Lydia and Bristal's friendship was so so good. It was very antagonistic at first since Bristal did not hesitate in any way to call Lydia on her bullshit and privilege? And while they went through some bumps along the way, I did love how they became close and faced all the twists throughout the book.
They were both flawed characters--Bristal being very aware of hers while Lydia tried not to see her own lol They were still great to read about, even more so as the mystery plot progressed. And what a plot!
There was quite a bit going on with all the threads the girls were following and it got messy in the best of ways. I wasn't exactly surprised at the final twist, but the way it all came together was so fun and dramatic. This was all around a pretty solid and fun YA Mystery read and I am looking forward to picking up other McGinnis works in the future!
From the get go, my two favorite things here were the writing and the dynamic between Lydia and Bristal. McGinnis did a great job at setting up and developing both plot and characters with quite a bit of humor and that story tone worked wonders for me.
The lack of romance and focus on Lydia and Bristal's friendship was so so good. It was very antagonistic at first since Bristal did not hesitate in any way to call Lydia on her bullshit and privilege? And while they went through some bumps along the way, I did love how they became close and faced all the twists throughout the book.
They were both flawed characters--Bristal being very aware of hers while Lydia tried not to see her own lol They were still great to read about, even more so as the mystery plot progressed. And what a plot!
There was quite a bit going on with all the threads the girls were following and it got messy in the best of ways. I wasn't exactly surprised at the final twist, but the way it all came together was so fun and dramatic. This was all around a pretty solid and fun YA Mystery read and I am looking forward to picking up other McGinnis works in the future!
March 15, 2023
Anyone who has read this author before knows that you really don't know what you're going to get when dipping into one of her books. But, having said that, this might be her most straight-forward, or dare I say tame?, or maybe just easily-marketable, books in a long long time. I haven't always loved McGinnis but she always does something different -- often bonkers weird -- and even if I've disliked her previous release, I still pick up the next. And because of the aforementioned tame-ness of this one, I think -- hope! -- this gets her a slew of new fans.
".. even when everyone involved has the best intentions [..], sometimes people fall through the cracks."
"Funny thing about those cracks. Most of them are teenage-girl shaped."
A LONG STRETCH OF BAD DAYS gives off shades of Veronica Mars in some ways. Or, if that reference is now a little too old for the YA crowd (urk, my heart), think SADIE. Or A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER. While our two characters don't set out to solve a crime, they end up in the middle of one anyway, complete with viral podcast episodes. But where this differs is.. the stakes. No one sets out to investigate a loss that is deeply personal to them. And no one is intentionally throwing themselves into the line of fire. What starts out as a trip down memory lane to revisit a horrible disaster in their small town, turns into something more.
"Aggravated assault? How is that different from regular assault?"
"It's the level of intent of harm meant for the victim. But it totally needs to be renamed because I've never committed an assault where I wasn't aggravated first."
But also? It's fucking funny. Like, I cannot tell you how many times I laughed out loud. We live this story through Lydia's perspective but Bristal often outshines her. But both these characters are brilliant. Complex, layered, and so real.
There is also something of a wo-mance (haha, I hated this immediately, sorry) between these two in the best kind of way. Or, put another way, if it was a romance, I would say it's an opposites attract, with one girl from the wrong side of the tracks, even. But it's not a romance so I can't say that. You get it, though. Also? I love that it's not a romance. I love when we just get a great platonic friendship to spotlight instead of something more, especially in YA.
I think initially I said this was straight-forward but I don't mean there aren't twists and turns and discoveries to be found. You might guess things along the way (I had my suspicions!) but the earlier reference is just in relative terms to the author's other works. I think you'll still be surprised by how things fall out with this one. And it's especially chilling when you think back to earlier scenes and dialogue. This is a book I definitely want to reread; and I'm sorta hoping there's a full cast set for audiobook for this because I think it would make for great listening, especially the podcast bits.
There is so much here that is a win. The friendship. The mystery. The podcast. The small town vibes (good and bad). The humour. Uneven Steven. The characters. The facebook jokes. The serious conversations that never felt like TedTalks or lectures. And so much more.
So yeah, I had a wonderful time with this one and I would highly recommend it.
4.5 stars
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss+ and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
".. even when everyone involved has the best intentions [..], sometimes people fall through the cracks."
"Funny thing about those cracks. Most of them are teenage-girl shaped."
A LONG STRETCH OF BAD DAYS gives off shades of Veronica Mars in some ways. Or, if that reference is now a little too old for the YA crowd (urk, my heart), think SADIE. Or A GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER. While our two characters don't set out to solve a crime, they end up in the middle of one anyway, complete with viral podcast episodes. But where this differs is.. the stakes. No one sets out to investigate a loss that is deeply personal to them. And no one is intentionally throwing themselves into the line of fire. What starts out as a trip down memory lane to revisit a horrible disaster in their small town, turns into something more.
"Aggravated assault? How is that different from regular assault?"
"It's the level of intent of harm meant for the victim. But it totally needs to be renamed because I've never committed an assault where I wasn't aggravated first."
But also? It's fucking funny. Like, I cannot tell you how many times I laughed out loud. We live this story through Lydia's perspective but Bristal often outshines her. But both these characters are brilliant. Complex, layered, and so real.
There is also something of a wo-mance (haha, I hated this immediately, sorry) between these two in the best kind of way. Or, put another way, if it was a romance, I would say it's an opposites attract, with one girl from the wrong side of the tracks, even. But it's not a romance so I can't say that. You get it, though. Also? I love that it's not a romance. I love when we just get a great platonic friendship to spotlight instead of something more, especially in YA.
I think initially I said this was straight-forward but I don't mean there aren't twists and turns and discoveries to be found. You might guess things along the way (I had my suspicions!) but the earlier reference is just in relative terms to the author's other works. I think you'll still be surprised by how things fall out with this one. And it's especially chilling when you think back to earlier scenes and dialogue. This is a book I definitely want to reread; and I'm sorta hoping there's a full cast set for audiobook for this because I think it would make for great listening, especially the podcast bits.
There is so much here that is a win. The friendship. The mystery. The podcast. The small town vibes (good and bad). The humour. Uneven Steven. The characters. The facebook jokes. The serious conversations that never felt like TedTalks or lectures. And so much more.
So yeah, I had a wonderful time with this one and I would highly recommend it.
4.5 stars
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss+ and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Want to read
March 31, 2022No plot description? No problem. Y'all already know I'm going to read this.
April 30, 2023
Overview
💀 Short
😍 Podcasting girlies solving crimes
😍 'good girl 'bad' girl friendships
⛔ No romance
💀 Small town murder
A Long Stretch Of Bad Days is a short, super fun small town murder story that feels like the 'girl friendship' version of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder with some elements of her previous book. The Initial Insult. It's easy to compare them, but they are different enough to have a lot of fun with both for different reasons.
Bad Days follows Lydia, a girl from a historically wealthy small town family. When an non correctable clerical error ensures she may not graduate, she is given the chance to 'make up' her grades by participating in a journalism project; detailing a stretch of natural and interpersonal disasters that happened in the town in 1994. She enlists the help of local bad girl Bristol and the two accidentally start uncovering secrets in the small town.
Socioeconomics play a huge part in this book, as the towns residents look down on Bristol and her family. The book examines both generational trauma and privilege- as well as how socialization shapes how we think about the poor.
All of the characters are delights. Even the girl's parents are fun and interesting to follow. The effort put into making each character (from an interviewee to a main character) a whole and interesting person means there isn't a single scene in the story that isn't interesting and fun. While this is a mystery, it plays out more like 'Stand by Me'- with a huge focus being on day to day relationships in the town, and how people deal with hardship. There is a mystery yes, but the human element is deeply important to the narrative. Both girls are absolutely lovable and like all of her books, McGinnis nails the dialogue here.
I STRONGLY recommend A Long Stretch of Bad Days for anyone who loves YA mystery at it's best. The audiobook was a ton of fun!
💀 Short
😍 Podcasting girlies solving crimes
😍 'good girl 'bad' girl friendships
⛔ No romance
💀 Small town murder
A Long Stretch Of Bad Days is a short, super fun small town murder story that feels like the 'girl friendship' version of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder with some elements of her previous book. The Initial Insult. It's easy to compare them, but they are different enough to have a lot of fun with both for different reasons.
Bad Days follows Lydia, a girl from a historically wealthy small town family. When an non correctable clerical error ensures she may not graduate, she is given the chance to 'make up' her grades by participating in a journalism project; detailing a stretch of natural and interpersonal disasters that happened in the town in 1994. She enlists the help of local bad girl Bristol and the two accidentally start uncovering secrets in the small town.
Socioeconomics play a huge part in this book, as the towns residents look down on Bristol and her family. The book examines both generational trauma and privilege- as well as how socialization shapes how we think about the poor.
All of the characters are delights. Even the girl's parents are fun and interesting to follow. The effort put into making each character (from an interviewee to a main character) a whole and interesting person means there isn't a single scene in the story that isn't interesting and fun. While this is a mystery, it plays out more like 'Stand by Me'- with a huge focus being on day to day relationships in the town, and how people deal with hardship. There is a mystery yes, but the human element is deeply important to the narrative. Both girls are absolutely lovable and like all of her books, McGinnis nails the dialogue here.
I STRONGLY recommend A Long Stretch of Bad Days for anyone who loves YA mystery at it's best. The audiobook was a ton of fun!
July 27, 2022
At first I thought this book was a little more tame compared to Mindy’s recent books. However the more I read, I realized there was a clear slow burn leading up to an explosive finish, in true Mindy fashion! A Long Stretch of Bad Days definitely did not disappoint.
October 16, 2023
A Long Stretch of Bad Days is that rare creature, a YA murder mystery that feels both gritty and realistic. I guessed who the guilty party was from the very beginning, but it wasn't so much a case of the story being predictable as it being thematically consistent--that person NEEDED to be guilty for the book to make the most sense, so I was glad to see the author follow through. And of course, it's always satisfying to be right ;)
The "small town with dark secrets" is a well-worn cliche by this point, but I thought it was handled well here. It certainly rang true to my own experiences of living and working in small towns in Mississippi... where, let me tell you, I Saw Some Things. As Han Solo would say, "It's true. All of it."
I also appreciated the strong friendship between Lydia and Bristal, and how Bristal opens Lydia's eyes to all the ways their community treats women as disposable.
The "small town with dark secrets" is a well-worn cliche by this point, but I thought it was handled well here. It certainly rang true to my own experiences of living and working in small towns in Mississippi... where, let me tell you, I Saw Some Things. As Han Solo would say, "It's true. All of it."
I also appreciated the strong friendship between Lydia and Bristal, and how Bristal opens Lydia's eyes to all the ways their community treats women as disposable.
March 1, 2025
Twisty and funny! I don't know how she did it, but McGinnis made me really like a pretty unlikable narrator!
March 7, 2023
I feel like 2023 should be officially dubbed "The Year of the Podcast Books". I am pleased to report that I have been quite enjoying said podcast books, this one certainly among them. So this is a mystery, clearly, and as such, I will keep it short. There are a few things you should know and that I want to tell you, so let's do that!
Since this book is written by Mindy McGinnis, who is one of my absolute favorite authors of all time, it has all the trademarks: Smart, witty, sarcastic characters, tons of amazing twists, compulsive readability, and genuine heart. So let's break those things down!
►The characters are so complex! Look, full disclosure, if you're anything like me, you're going to spend the first few chapters downright loathing Lydia. You're the grinch meme, wondering why this girl has a book. But character growth is the name of the game here, friends. So worry not. Also, the other characters are fabulous. And you will love Bristal from the first second, so it'll be fine. They are so freaking hilarious together, too, which is great at offsetting some of the darker themes. Their families also have a pretty big focus in the story, which I also loved.
►Lots of great commentary on classism. Lydia is given tons of opportunities that Bristal would never have, based solely on who her parents are versus who Brital's family is, and there is a lot of discussion about that.
►The whole mystery of the "stretch of bad days" is pretty great. I mean, I wanted to know from the start what was up! Sure, some of it was obviously just nature and weather, but you can tell from the start that there is way more to the story.
►To that end, the twists are fabulous! I had some guesses, but truly I had no idea and I love that! I could not put the book down, so eager to find out what was happening!
Bottom Line: Between the phenomenal characters and incredibly engaging plot, I was beyond immersed in this book and loved every single minute.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Since this book is written by Mindy McGinnis, who is one of my absolute favorite authors of all time, it has all the trademarks: Smart, witty, sarcastic characters, tons of amazing twists, compulsive readability, and genuine heart. So let's break those things down!
►The characters are so complex! Look, full disclosure, if you're anything like me, you're going to spend the first few chapters downright loathing Lydia. You're the grinch meme, wondering why this girl has a book. But character growth is the name of the game here, friends. So worry not. Also, the other characters are fabulous. And you will love Bristal from the first second, so it'll be fine. They are so freaking hilarious together, too, which is great at offsetting some of the darker themes. Their families also have a pretty big focus in the story, which I also loved.
►Lots of great commentary on classism. Lydia is given tons of opportunities that Bristal would never have, based solely on who her parents are versus who Brital's family is, and there is a lot of discussion about that.
►The whole mystery of the "stretch of bad days" is pretty great. I mean, I wanted to know from the start what was up! Sure, some of it was obviously just nature and weather, but you can tell from the start that there is way more to the story.
►To that end, the twists are fabulous! I had some guesses, but truly I had no idea and I love that! I could not put the book down, so eager to find out what was happening!
Bottom Line: Between the phenomenal characters and incredibly engaging plot, I was beyond immersed in this book and loved every single minute.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
August 3, 2023
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis is another great standalone YA novel from one of my favorite Ohio authors. This new YA mystery thriller isn't quite my favorite from this author, but it still can't be missed. It is absolutely compulsively readable and I enjoyed getting to know the cast. Whether they're likeable or not, they certainly aren't boring. It's a dark read, but very honest and surprising has a sarcastic sense of humor as well. It also includes a podcast which is handled really well within the story. I bet the production of the audiobook would be excellent.
A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis is another great standalone YA novel from one of my favorite Ohio authors. This new YA mystery thriller isn't quite my favorite from this author, but it still can't be missed. It is absolutely compulsively readable and I enjoyed getting to know the cast. Whether they're likeable or not, they certainly aren't boring. It's a dark read, but very honest and surprising has a sarcastic sense of humor as well. It also includes a podcast which is handled really well within the story. I bet the production of the audiobook would be excellent.
July 21, 2023
"Sometimes good people do bad things"
I love stories with a podcast as part of the theme and this one was another surprise on how it was used! Right from the start, you find out that Lydia is forced in to a new history project in order to save her ability to graduate and give her a credit boost. She signs on Bristal, another girl faced with the same problem she has. They agree to work on a Podcast together but each covering different themes and ideas.
I loved this part of the story, the fact that there were two mysteries that went somewhat in their own ways and opened up really interesting parts to learn about the town - like the Long Stretch of Bad Days. The mysteries were well set up, each moving along in varying chapters, and each new clue kept me hooked and turning pages.
The ending was shocking, the way all the strings were finally set straight. It was well set up, well executed and I loved it! Mindy McGinnis never disappoints! I did this as both an audio and physical book and I loved listening to the Podcast chapters from the audio.
I love stories with a podcast as part of the theme and this one was another surprise on how it was used! Right from the start, you find out that Lydia is forced in to a new history project in order to save her ability to graduate and give her a credit boost. She signs on Bristal, another girl faced with the same problem she has. They agree to work on a Podcast together but each covering different themes and ideas.
I loved this part of the story, the fact that there were two mysteries that went somewhat in their own ways and opened up really interesting parts to learn about the town - like the Long Stretch of Bad Days. The mysteries were well set up, each moving along in varying chapters, and each new clue kept me hooked and turning pages.
The ending was shocking, the way all the strings were finally set straight. It was well set up, well executed and I loved it! Mindy McGinnis never disappoints! I did this as both an audio and physical book and I loved listening to the Podcast chapters from the audio.
March 18, 2023
Mindy McGinnis is my favorite YA author for a reason. You always get something different, from gut-punching contemporary fiction like Heroine to the survivalist suspense novel, Be Not Far From Me. A Long Stretch of Bad Days is a mystery involving 2 seniors in high school who have to work together to get a last minute credit in order to graduate. These girls couldn’t be more different from one another. Lydia is Columbia or Harvard bound while Bristal is just looking to be the first Jamison family member to graduate high school. I was more of a Lydia in HS but definitely identify more as a Bristal as an adult so it was cool to see both sides of this dynamic duo. The snarky humor injects life into the overused podcast trope and makes it feel fresh somehow. From beginning to end, I found it flawless. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Brittany Pressley narrates.
May 3, 2025
4.25
Really loved the banter of two main characters.
Really loved the banter of two main characters.
February 12, 2025
2.5 stars. Mindy McGinnis is fantastic. I know I rated this one fairly low, but more than anything that was because it felt more like gritty realistic fiction (which I am not into anymore) than the mystery/thriller I was expecting, though it was definitely that too. Regardless, the author is very talented and always writes very striking characters. There were plenty of shocks and twists. I didn’t love everything about this one but I can’t deny it was well done.
March 16, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I recently read "Heroine" by Mindy McGinnis and was emotionally wrecked and hooked (in the best way possible). So I was looking forward to read another of her YA novels, but this time I feel a bit conflicted.
Lydia Chass is the stubborn and proud offspring of one of the most respectable families in the small town of Henley. Her father is a lawyer willing to defend the most hopeless cases, her mother is a polite housewife. Lydia's dream to escape the smothering small community and go to college is threatened by two things: her family's well-hidden financial problems, and the fact that a school error left her (and other students) one credit short of graduating. With her cut-throat attitude, Lydia negotiates a truce with the high-school: she can earn the extra-credit by using her quaint pod-cast to cover a historical event relevant to the community. Decided to prove her worth to Ivy league colleges and take a brave step into a potential future journalistic career, Lydia decides to cover a period in the mid-90s known as "the long stretch of bad days"--3 days in June when the town was hit by a devastating tornado, a flood that killed all the dogs in the pound, and a murder. Concerned about ruffling the feathers of the community, Lydia convinces bad-girl Brystal Jamison to join her podcast. It would be a win-win for both girls: Brystal can gain the extra credit and become the first in her family to graduate, and Lydia can blame any displeasure with the new grittier podcast on her partner. But this unlikely partnership slowly evolves into a genuine friendship. As the girls investigate the events leading to that fateful week, a new discovery is made: one Henley resident has been missing since before the tornado hit, and people don't want to talk about her. Is it possible that a second victim has been lost and buried in the chaos of those days?
I adored half of this book. The main character Lydia Chass has a compelling arc (mostly), and the side character Brystal Jamison was even better. Brystal for me stole the show--her no-nonsense attitude, her humor, her rough edges were delicious! Her friendship with Lydia was so sweet and allowed me to get closer to the MC. So many of her lines are epic. The discussion on maintaining appearances in a small community, the fakeness required to maintain status were pretty good in the first half of the book. The perpetrator of the mystery the two girls are investigating was fairly easy to identify for me, but I wasn't disappointed--it felt well prepared and contributed to the bigger discussion. The first 15% of the book was not as exciting and there was another lull for me when we get the first fake resolution. It picked up again toward the end.
But: the ending just canceled Lydia's growth in my opinion, and made her look really creepy. After facing the killer, Lydia and Brystal record a chirpy podcast, where very little emotion other than hilarity transpires. But that doesn't make sense unless Lydia is a cold sociopath. I can understand Brystal's reaction, but not Lydia's. To be fair, I think the last chapter was pretty good, and offered Brystal a great ending. But now I'm wondering if Lydia should be allowed around people.
In summary: when the book was good, it was great. But the last 5% of the book left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Perhaps the author wanted to maintain the lighter tone, but it ended up too light for the gravity of the situation.
I recently read "Heroine" by Mindy McGinnis and was emotionally wrecked and hooked (in the best way possible). So I was looking forward to read another of her YA novels, but this time I feel a bit conflicted.
Lydia Chass is the stubborn and proud offspring of one of the most respectable families in the small town of Henley. Her father is a lawyer willing to defend the most hopeless cases, her mother is a polite housewife. Lydia's dream to escape the smothering small community and go to college is threatened by two things: her family's well-hidden financial problems, and the fact that a school error left her (and other students) one credit short of graduating. With her cut-throat attitude, Lydia negotiates a truce with the high-school: she can earn the extra-credit by using her quaint pod-cast to cover a historical event relevant to the community. Decided to prove her worth to Ivy league colleges and take a brave step into a potential future journalistic career, Lydia decides to cover a period in the mid-90s known as "the long stretch of bad days"--3 days in June when the town was hit by a devastating tornado, a flood that killed all the dogs in the pound, and a murder. Concerned about ruffling the feathers of the community, Lydia convinces bad-girl Brystal Jamison to join her podcast. It would be a win-win for both girls: Brystal can gain the extra credit and become the first in her family to graduate, and Lydia can blame any displeasure with the new grittier podcast on her partner. But this unlikely partnership slowly evolves into a genuine friendship. As the girls investigate the events leading to that fateful week, a new discovery is made: one Henley resident has been missing since before the tornado hit, and people don't want to talk about her. Is it possible that a second victim has been lost and buried in the chaos of those days?
I adored half of this book. The main character Lydia Chass has a compelling arc (mostly), and the side character Brystal Jamison was even better. Brystal for me stole the show--her no-nonsense attitude, her humor, her rough edges were delicious! Her friendship with Lydia was so sweet and allowed me to get closer to the MC. So many of her lines are epic. The discussion on maintaining appearances in a small community, the fakeness required to maintain status were pretty good in the first half of the book. The perpetrator of the mystery the two girls are investigating was fairly easy to identify for me, but I wasn't disappointed--it felt well prepared and contributed to the bigger discussion. The first 15% of the book was not as exciting and there was another lull for me when we get the first fake resolution. It picked up again toward the end.
But: the ending just canceled Lydia's growth in my opinion, and made her look really creepy. After facing the killer, Lydia and Brystal record a chirpy podcast, where very little emotion other than hilarity transpires. But that doesn't make sense unless Lydia is a cold sociopath. I can understand Brystal's reaction, but not Lydia's. To be fair, I think the last chapter was pretty good, and offered Brystal a great ending. But now I'm wondering if Lydia should be allowed around people.
In summary: when the book was good, it was great. But the last 5% of the book left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Perhaps the author wanted to maintain the lighter tone, but it ended up too light for the gravity of the situation.
June 18, 2023
This is a dark ya novel so be prepared, the ending isn’t a fuzzy hug. I loved Lydia and Bristol trying to find the answers to what happened during the Stretch of Bad Days. I love Bristol, she is so cool and smart. You should read this if you want two smart young women uncovering their town's secrets.
March 19, 2023
Torn between 4 and 5 stars. I really enjoyed this! I loved to see Lydia and Bristal working together and overcoming their difficulties! I love podcasts in books! The writing was great! I just flew right through the pages! It was the right book at the right time and I’ll definitely recommend this one!
I kinda new that Lydia’s parents had something to do with the case and that was kinda obvious from the start. But it was fine, I enjoyed it nonetheless!
I kinda new that Lydia’s parents had something to do with the case and that was kinda obvious from the start. But it was fine, I enjoyed it nonetheless!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2024
4.5 stars. I always love this authors books. She makes up some badass character and puts them in completely insane situations, and I love the outcomes.
February 16, 2023
I don’t know if it’s because I myself could be juvenile but I love YA mysteries and have found Mindy McGinnis to be on the top of the great yeah mystery and thriller pile and she did not disappoint with A Long Stretch Of Bad Days. In the story we meet Lydia in Bristol. Lydia is the daughter of the counties defense attorney in Bristol it’s from the family who definitely lives on the wrong side of the tracks. When they’re guidance counselor gets the boo the school tries to sweep it under the rug but they didn’t account for having to go up against Lydia in Bristol who both reacts differently but with the same intense anger. Only Bristol is in your face and Lydia is more manipulating and cultivate her revenge quietly when Lydia finds out she needs a credit to graduate despite her being valedictorian for her graduating class in Bristol announce over the loud speaker that thanks to the alcohol guidance counselor she two needs another credit to graduate Lydia decides to join forces she wants to cover the week in 1994 that the town calls along stretch a bad days that consist of a tornado a murder and a flood.at first Bristol is skeptical but then she agrees to do it what they will uncover will be a missing girl and a murderer but not in that order and it will be easy. This was a very small intelligently written book and something I have come to expect from Mandy McGinnis I do want to say though that have underage drinking and drug use in this book so if that’s triggers for anyone who where and at first I was like why would she put this in the book that the girls mom let her drink but then I thought well hell that happens in real life all the time! Either way this was a great book and I was almost 80% done with the book before I even came close to guessing who did it my guess was wrong but I was close. I really enjoyed the book with you love thrillers and great mysteries you’ll love it too. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review dear voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
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