It seems that readers are treated to at least one Karen M. McManus book every year, and I am completely okay with that. For 2021, we were able to get our hands on You'll Be the Death of Me, another stand-alone young adult mystery/thriller that will keep people guessing.
The Situation: Ivy would rather not go to school today, and that is a bit unusual for the driven, high-achieving, and somewhat uptight high school senior. The thing is, she just lost the senior class presidency to a guy who ran as a joke. He is even known as Boney Mahoney, opting to go by a nickname instead of Brian, his real first name. Turns out, Cal is also looking for a reason to ditch school, and Mateo really is not in the mood either. When the three students run into each other in the school parking lot, a plan is hatched, the fake phone calls are made, and then they are off. Before high school, Ivy, Cal, and Mateo were quite close, and now Cal is eager to recreate another day in which the three of them went off on their own, a day that has since been referred to as the Greatest Day Ever. But it does not take long for this day to take a dark turn.
The Problem: Ivy, Cal, and Mateo are not the only Carlton High School students skipping school today. When they catch sight of one of their classmates in downtown Boston, Ivy decides to do some spying, and the discovery of a dead body sends the day in a completely different direction. Skipping school may have possibly been the worst decision ever, and the bad choices keep coming as the trio do their best to figure out what has happened, while also keeping themselves out of danger. It seems that each of them are connected in some way to the victim, and to other people that are involved. Some secrets are straightforward, though still shocking, while others go back years, and threaten to ruin the lives and precarious futures these teens are trying build.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel set in and around the city of Boston, with most of the action taking place all in one day. Ivy is a known high-strung overachiever who just suffered a devastating loss in a student council election. Mateo is doing his part to help keep his family afloat, though it means he is constantly tired and worn-out from working multiple jobs. And Cal still feels out of place, with no real core friend group to stick to. At the center of everything is the murder/mystery plot, but this central story also concerns the current opioid epidemic, predatory relationships, family resentment, and even touches on gentrification in some moments.
My Verdict: McManus once again delivers a fast-paced puzzle piece that will keep most everyone guessing. There are those of you out there that will be able to put everything together way before those final chapters, but even the ones who see everything coming will be entertained by the twists and turns this story takes. There are so many secrets and hidden motives behind nearly every action and conversation, that there is no moment when the reader should feel prepared. Even preparing for a surprise may not work (at least it didn't for me), because very little can be predicted, and nothing is as it seems. McManus has created flawed teenagers who take terrible situations, and through bad decisions, manage to make them worse, all while there is a murder to be solved. And while this would normally be frustrating, the reader will be too preoccupied with the overall mystery, eager to see how the story ends.
Favorite Moment: Ivy has long felt overshadowed by her gifted little brother, but at some point, she must confront how she handles her feelings, as well as the actual truth of the situation.
Favorite Character: Mateo is a hard-working boy stuck in a terrible situation, and he only wants what is best for his family.
Recommended Reading: Last year's The Cousins remains my favorite of McManus' novels. I also recommend Roxy by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman.
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