From Goodreads:
A high school music festival goes awry when a young prodigy disappears from a hotel room that was the site of a famous murder/suicide fifteen years earlier, in a whip-smart novel sparkling with the dark and giddy pop culture pleasures of The Shining, Agatha Christie, and Glee.Writing
Incredibly well done. I have absolutely no complaints in terms of the writing. I felt like the author took a setting I'm unfamiliar with (high school music festival) and made it something immensely relatable, through characters that I had nothing in common with. If that sounds like a feat, it's because it is. My high school experience and myself as a high-schooler was so far removed from these teens, but they are written in such a way that I found myself connecting with them regardless of our differences. I particularly fell in love with Rabbit, one of a set of twins. While his sister is the outgoing star of the show, Rabbit is more serious and reserved. I loved that the twins roles are reversed right away and the way that their character dynamics shift when Rabbit is suddenly the popular twin.
Entertainment Value
Yes, yes, yes! Such a fun story to read! Things move along at a fast pace, the characters are compelling, and I loved the plot twists and turns. Several delightfully unexpected events occur that left me particularly stunned/moved/thrilled. It was definitely a pleasure to read and something that I had a hard time putting down.
The one negative in terms of entertainment value for me is a bit of a spoiler - nothing major, but I'm going to type it in white to avoid spoiling anyone who wants a totally pure reading experience. Highlight from here to see the spoiler: Two characters engage in a "happy" affair, which is one of my pet peeves in books. I don't like affairs that we're supposed to root for, that are "romantic", or that don't show any of the devastating consequences. So that took away a bit from my ability to enjoy.
Overall
I highly recommend giving this one a try. The coming of age aspects reminded me a lot of Tell The Wolves I'm Home, so I'd recommend it to fans of that one for sure. I also think anyone who participated in vocal or instrumental music will love it, as will fans of twisty, delightfully dark and funny mysteries.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy to review.
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