{Review} Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas

Posted by Jess
Release Date: August 14th, 2014
Finished Date: June 26th, 2014

Publishers: Simon & Schuster UK
Genre: Older YA Contemporary, Mystery
Source: For Review (Netgalley)
Format: eARC

Pages: 300+

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Three teens venture into the abandoned Monroe estate one night; hours later, only two emerge from the burning wreckage. Chloe drags one Reznick brother to safety, unconscious and bleeding; the other is left to burn, dead in the fire. But which brother survives? And is his death a tragic accident? Desperate self-defense? Or murder?
Chloe is the only one with the answers. As the fire rages, and police and parents demand the truth, she struggles to piece together the story of how they got there-a story of jealousy, twisted passion, and the darkness that lurks behind even the most beautiful of faces.

The Review: When I finished the first book (Dangerous Girls...review here), I was so bloody excited to find out that she was writing another one of the similar name. I had to have it. And when I saw that it was available to request on Netgalley, I requested it immediately. 

I really love this book. I wasn't as involved from the start as I had been in the first book, but it was still so gripping and incredibly well written. I had absolutely no idea where some of it was  going. Abigail Haas is very good and what she does and this one kept to her writing traits, of mystery, confusion and twists. I liked the whole concept of 1 girl and two boys, I really liked Ethan, and then Oliver showed up and I liked him too. I could see the difference between the brothers, and I could see the struggles that Chloe went through, however I didn't agree with some of her choices, and a lot of her inner monologue had me rolling my eyes because I could see how easily swayed she was by Oliver. The story is told in the present and the past, and it builds up over the book to what happened that night in the house, where 3 go in and only 2 come out. Alive. What we don't know when starting is which boy survived and which boy is dead. 

A lot of this book revolved around the choices that we make in life, and that some of those choices, have the biggest of consequences, not just on you, but on those around you. 

Abigail Haas is very good at writing mysteries, The way she weaves the clues in over the turn of each page, the way she builds up the mystery and the relationship between Chloe and the two boys. As I was reading I was thinking "I really like this, but I definitely love Dangerous Girls more", and that still stands. I only say that because although this book was great, I wasn't completely invested in it as much as the first, and I couldn't really put a finger on to why, there was just something maybe less intense? I don't know, it was still great, and I liked it, it just wasn't completely epic like Dangerous Girls. 

Overall, this book was great. I liked it. Abigail Haas has a knack for mystery and it's definitely what she does best. If you're looking for another mystery, filled with love, jealousy and learning from your mistakes, and realising that the choices that you make, aren't always the right ones, it doesn't matter how well, you think yo know something, or someone.

I requested this book from Netgalley, and I thank Simon & Schuster UK for accepting my request in exchange for an honest review.

Note: I recommend this book for ages 17+ due to some adult scenes. 

A Review for Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

Posted by Jess
Release Date: August 1st, 2013
Finished Date: February 4th, 2014

Publishers: Simon & Schuster UK
Genre: Older YA/Suspense/Thriller
Source: Bought

Format: Paperback
Pages: 320

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US/ The Book Depo

It's Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives. But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations. 

As Anna sets out to find her friend's killer; she discovers hard truths about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

As she awaits the judge's decree, it becomes clear that everyone around her thinks she is not just guilty, but dangerous. When the truth comes out, it is more shocking than one could ever imagine...

Review: One of if not the BEST YA books I've read in a loooong time! I'd wanted to read this book for so long, it's been sat on my shelf for ages screaming at me to pick up, because it knew, it knew, I would not be disappointed with...and...oh...my...God. I was totally blown away and on a total mind f**k after I finished.

This book was incredible. It was the best. It was amazing. It gripped me from page one with that 911 phone call...I was hooked...totally done for. Once I started I could not friggin stop! I just couldn't, it's just simply not possible with this book, and you'll find out yourselves when you read it...because you will. You should. 

This book is an absolute gem. Told in alternating moments between the murder event, the interviews, the day before, the days leading up, the past, the trial and finally the outcome, you get all aspects of the story, all aspects of the relationship between Anna and Elise, it's all there. Every feeling, every emotion all on those pages that you will just keep turning and turning, until there are no more pages.

Dangerous Girls is a completely brilliant and well written book, that it left me (if I'm honest) slightly distrubed and freaked out when I finished. When reading this book, I went through all the emotions, but I don't believe anything really could have prepared me for that particular ending, it was just incredible, in fact it was so unbelievable that I went back and re-read the last 4 pages to make sure I read correctly, I couldn't in my wildest dreams have fathomed that particular outcome, and THAT's what blew my mind. That ending right there. One of the best endings I have read in a very long time, and that counts for all the genres I read. 

Just touching on the friendship between Anna and Elise-It's an odd combination. One that will have you thinking for a while and not entirely trusting either of the girls. It's a tough one, but a well written one.

This book was just fantastic, it was, and if you like fast paced mysteries, emotional rollercoasters and shocking endings, then this THIS is the book you need and should be reading. Right now. 

If you asked me to describe this book in a few words? Obsession. Obsession is a very very dangerous thing. 

There is another book of a similar nature coming from this author called Dangerous Boys and I absolutely cannot WAIT to get my hands on it.

There isn't a lot more I can say really, I've already gushed enough. All I'll do is absolutely recommend this book to pretty much everyone. If you aren't reading it, or haven't read it yet. You should be. GO!

5 incredibly mind blowing stars from me.