You’re Next by Kylie Schachte is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing. Flora Calhoun is known for being somewhat of a girl-detective. A few summers ago, she found a dead classmate and didn’t stop until she found the killer. Unfortunately, her meddling allowed the killer to go free. Her mom couldn’t take it anymore and left her with her younger sister and grandfather. Most of her classmates have shunned her except for her ever-forgiving best friend Cass. Detective work is in her blood and she just can’t turn down a good mystery. Suddenly she receives a call from a friend who she has barely spoken to in months. She needs Flora’s help, and even though it’s the middle of the night, Flora is on the case. She arrives just minutes after her friend has been shot. The police write it off as a mugging, but Flora has a feeling there’s more to it. The deeper she digs, the more attention she gets from the real killers. Soon, her family and best friend are in danger. Will Flora drop the case to protect the ones she loves, or is already too late? Publish date: June 23, 2020 #netgalley #YoureNext #KylieSchachte

What a great book! I enjoyed all the characters and the story was well done. It made you guess at every turn. The one draw back I found was some of the language, especially near the beginning. I think the story would have been fine without some "f-bombs". I will definitely be looking out for the next book.

You’re Next reads to me like a posterchild (posterbook?) for why there should be an intermediate age group in publishing between YA and adult. Because it was a good book, yes, but the plot just felt ridiculous when you consider that the main character, and most of the people involved, are just sixteen.

I mean, the writing is solid. The mystery is solid. The characters were great and I loved their relationships and the development.

It’s just I couldn’t get past the age thing.

I know, I know. Suspend your disbelief, you say. But I could not. I tried, and I failed.

But let’s back up a moment and look at what you, the hypothetical reader who is more successful at suspending their disbelief than I, might enjoy about this book.

The mystery. It’s a very tense and tightly plotted mystery, for all that there were a number of times I said, incredulously, they’re SIXTEEN. And Kylie Schachte is very good at incrementally increasing the tension until you’re desperately reading to find out if everything’s okay.

The characters and relationships. Probably the central relationship in the book is Flora’s family relationship, which is full of angst, even though they all love one another (which, let’s be real, is the best sort of angst). But there’s also a ride-or-die friendship going on. And a very good romantic relationship (though 16/18 was a little ehhhh for me, but the dynamic was great).

The writing. I loved the writing, to be honest. Like I said above, Kylie Schachte is excellent at ratcheting up the tension, and I think that’s down to just how good her writing is.

But, as I mentioned at the start of this review, all of this was tempered because I couldn’t get past the characters being sixteen. I mean, the plot was more intense and dark than a lot of adult mysteries I’ve read, and I’m supposed to believe it’s all carried out by people who are still 9 years from a fully-developed brain? Okay.

So if you think you can suspend your disbelief sufficiently, go ahead, read this book. (I mean, read it even if you think you might not be able to, because you never know. Also it’s a very good book in itself.)

One last thing: I want it noted I do not appreciate that ending, thank you.

Veronica Mars meets One of Us is Lying. Scenarios were a little unrealistic at times but a decent choice for certain readers who are fans of fast-paced murder mystery/thriller.

Such a good book that kept the pace the entire time. I think this is going to be such a great book for the YA genre and this is feeding into this true crime spree that is reaching all age groups. This is exactly the kind of book we are looking for!

You're Next by Kylie Schachte is a stand-alone, ya mystery/thriller.

It took me a minute to get in the story, but then, o girl what a ride it was.
The storyline kept me in suspense til the end and don't get me started with the twists and turns. I was reading, sitting on the edge of my seat, a well written book I liked to read.

This book was really good. The characters and storyline were well developed. If you love a good YA mystery thriller then pick this up now. You will not be disappointed.

#YoureNext #NetGalley
I think that with it's shorter chapters and fast paced writing young adults will enjoy this murder mystery with a more diverse set of characters.

A decent YA thriller that teens of all ages will enjoy (and due to the Patterson name, it will likely fly off shelves). It reminded me a bit of Riverdale mixed with an April Henry mystery. The shorter chapters and fast pace will keep YA audiences intrigued.

This book was not written in the tone I was expecting; I didn't end up finishing also due to other commitments.