Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction
Age: 15+
Summary via Goodreads: Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.
Review: From the moment I read the description I was intrigued. The author does a fantastic job of realistically portraying society and the harsh effect that rumors and gossip can have. I also love the way she wove into her story the point that it is easy to think that we ourselves would never do "horrible thing x", but when we are gradually dehumanize someone the majority of people will fail to do the right thing. The separate viewpoints keeps the story interesting and is well done. However, I felt that there could have been more to the story. It felt unfinished to me. I felt that some of the characters needed to add more to their story or their secret. So while the story has value and was good, I have to hold back from saying it was great.
*ARC provided by Netgalley
