Publication Date November, 2021
Karen McManus has exceptional talent when it comes to writing books about high school students and their various escapades, as shown in her previous books including One Of Us Is Lying, One Of Us Is Next, and Two Can Keep A Secret. Yes, these are probably marketed as YA books, but just as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is more than a teenage movie, her latest look at a group of teenagers, somewhat creepily entitled You’ll Be The Death Of Me, is a fun and insightful story about young people and their “big adventure.”
Cal, Ivy, and Mateo have been friends for years, although they have grown apart since entering Carlton High. As Cal notes, “Ivy and Mateo were the best friends I ever had, but I’ve barely spoken to them since eighth grade.” Several years ago, they shared a fantastic time (a perfect day, as they remember it) when they all ditched school together. Now, Ivy has just lost election for class president to the class clown, Mateo is suffering burnout from working two jobs as he tries to help his family since their business failed, and Cal is continuing his string of failed attempts at a relationship. When they serendipitously run into each other in the school parking lot one morning, they decide to recreate their perfect day by ditching school again.
Ivy is an overachiever who just doesn’t feel like she fits in with her family, including her golden boy brother and exceptional parents. She knows that “The problem with my parents is that they’ve never failed at anything.”…and “As usual, I’m an afterthought in the Sterling-Shepherd household.” Mateo’s cousin Autumn has come to live with his family, and is going to any lengths to help them stay afloat, including getting involved with drug dealing.
The three of them take off for the day, and see another student skipping out on school, so they follow him to what turns out to change their “perfect day” from boring to deadly. Think Ferris Bueller with murder, drugs, teenage love, and a bit of danger thrown in. Cal, Mateo, and Ivey each have a connection with the victim, and they are each hiding something that is revealed gradually as the story unfolds.
Nice plotting, the characters are well developed, and it was a great diversion from the news on a rainy weekend! With thanks to Random House Delacorte and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review, this is a solid four stars.