This is my first Karen McManus book and it's probably not what I should have started with because I was fairly disappointed (which surprised me because my students all love her as an author). I like the opioid storyline but the whole set up is very far fetched. And I'm always uncomfortable with books where a teacher and student have an inappropriate relationship. Definitely for mature 8th graders and above. I guess I'll have to read "One of Us is Lying" to give McManus another shot.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
This book is written in the three perspectives of the main characters like the authors previous books have been.
In "You'll Be The Death Of Me" three high school students skip a day of school together, after having not spoken to each other for a few years. They each have their own reasons for not going to class that day. While they're out, they come across a murder and one of them fits the description of the person seen fleeing the scene. Together they attempt to find the real murderer and why they did it. In doing so, all three get put into danger.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was more interesting than some of the authors previous books. My favorite pov was Ivys
the only girl narrator.
For everyones information, the end was left a little open ended for a possible sequel.

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus follows three old friends Ivy, Mateo, and Cal. The three plan on reliving their best day ever together, since the current day isn’t going well for any of them. Ivy lost the school council election to a boy who ran as a joke. Mateo has been working two jobs since his family’s business went under. Cal got stood up. They decide to ditch school and go into the city. When they get there, they spot a schoolmate who has also ditched school. They unwittingly follow him to the scene of his own murder. Things escalate quickly. Ivy, Mateo, and Cal are keeping secrets, and they all have connections to the dead schoolmate. These old friends must open up to each other for the first time in a long time if they want to get justice for the murdered schoolmate. And for themselves.

I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I am not usually one for thrillers, but Karen M. McManus had me within a few pages. I definitely need to read more of her books.

You had me at Ferris Bueller and add the word thriller. Then you throw in a rekindled friendship and a crush, and I was so excited to read this one.

While I connected the least with Cal, I liked all three of the main characters and that as you read, things weren’t always what they seem as everyone had a few secrets. The secrets unfold slowly, when you least expect them to, and the plot gains speed as you advance through the book. You get a sense of why the three were friends and root for them.

I flew through this one and found it unpredictable. Just as I thought I had it all figured out, a twist changed everything.

Such a fun twist on Ferris B! It took a bit of time to get into it but once I did things start to unravel quickly. This author definitely knows how to hook teens and I think even reluctant readers of any gender would enjoy this!

Classic McManus- great teenage protagonists with interesting backstories, tons of twists and turns, and a little romance for fun. The plot of this one got a little outlandish for my sensibilities, but my students are still going to fight over who gets the first copy.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for giving me an eARC to review.

You'll be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus does not disappoint. This thriller is told in alternate perspectives of Ivy Sterling-Shephard, Mateo Wojcik & Cal O'Shea-Wallace. They became best friends in 6th grade when they snuck out of a school field trip & had the “Greatest Day Ever” roaming Boston together but, by their senior year, have drifted apart. Ivy has just lost the student council election, Cal was just stood up by a love interest & Mateo is tired from working 2 jobs. They run into each other in the parking lot and decide to skip & try to recreate that day from Middle School.
Their day becomes less <i> Ferris Bueller’s Day Off </i> & more <i> One of Us is Lying </i> after they follow another classmate to his own murder. Now they must figure out who the murderer is before one, or all of them is arrested for the crime.
This one has it all: a diverse cast, murder, mystery, secrets, lies, misunderstandings, a love story, criminals, drugs, McManus’ signature plot twists & a “What The Heck!” ending.
Suggested for grades 9-12. Some language.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley.

Ivy, Cal, and Mateo were best friends in middle school after skipping out of a field trip to spend the day together. However, they fell apart when they went to high school. Now the three are finding themselves skipping school again. Each of them needs it for a different reason. Ivy just lost the student council election to possibly the worst choice, Mateo is burnt out from working two jobs to keep his family afloat, and Cal just got stood up again. The three spend their morning in Boston before finding another student skipping and witness their death. All three of them are connected to this student in some way and all could be suspects.

Once again, Karen M. McManus writes a mystery that has me hanging on the edge of my seat. Ivy, Cal, and Mateo are all interesting characters in their own right. They each have secrets to hide and different things keeping them together, that it draws you to them. The story definitely keeps a quick pace throughout the novel. The beginning is a little bit of a struggle to plug through, but the story line of each character gives you enough information about them to care a little in the beginning. While the plot does feel to have some connection to other stories that came before, it's more of a hint instead of a full fledged connection. The only issue I have with the story is that it was tied up very easily that still had quite a few pages left over to have to trudge through.

Definitely recommend this book to mystery lovers who are a fan of discovering secrets throughout the book.

The queen of teen suspense is back! I loved all of Karen McManus’s past books and this one is no different.
Three ex best friends randomly reunite while skipping school and stumble upon a murder. Mateo, Cal and Ivy must figure out how they are involved and figure out how to fix what should of been a day off school instead of a day possibly ending being arrested for murder. Figuring out the twists and turns while trying to see how these three now interact now that it’s been years since they’ve been friends was just a fun fast read. Finished it in a day! Yes some stuff was very unbelievable but it was highly entertaining so it doesn’t matter.

Ok I have to start off by saying this was 3.5 stars for me. The first half of the book really dragged - which is really unusual for a KM book for me. The latter half of the book is really where the books picks up. I honestly couldn't stand Cal throughout the first half of the book he seemed entirely too jealous and petty. Definitely pick it up --- digging all these sleuthy books coming out. Book 2???

Ivy, Cal, and Mateo haven't talked in years. A perfect storm of all three of them having a rough time ends up with them skipping school to rekindle the greatest day ever. Well the greatest day ever turns into the worst day ever as they stubble upon the body of a classmate. Chaos ensues.

I usually enjoy Karen McManus's books but this one was just not it for me. Why were two students allowed to continue with their nonsense reporting of unconfirmed rumors without consequence? Why oh why were they then allowed on the actual television? They slandered a classmate and nothing happens to them! The irresponsible reporting in the book boiled my blood so bad. The in-fighting between the characters was also uneven. Give me a break! Taking someone's sugar babies is not the same level as getting someone's mother's business shut down. I also saw the end coming. It was pretty obvious to me from early on what was going to happen. I'm sad but I will still recommend this to teens looking for a quick cookie-cutter mystery.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc of this book.

This standalone YA thriller follows three old friends who run into each other and decide to skip school together. But they find themselves wrapped up in a web of trouble when they discover one of their classmates dead …

I felt like the first half of the book was a little slow due to learning about the main characters. I really liked getting to know Ivy, Cal, and Mateo, but I would have liked their backstories to be more sprinkled throughout the plot. However, once the twists started coming, they did NOT stop! I didn’t see the culprit coming at ALL, which I always appreciate :D

I loved the themes of friendship throughout the story, and while there is a cute romance, the friendships are what really shone to me. There were definitely Ferris Bueller’s Day Off vibes (and even a couple of references), and since I love that film, that was perfect for me!

Overall, this was a solid thriller that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves McManus’s books or generally want a twisty mystery with friendship themes!

You'll Be The Death of Me follows a trio of friends, Ivy, Mateo and Cal. They used to be the best of friends in middle school, until high school came, and then they all lost touch, for reasons revealed in depth in the book. The day after Ivy loses the student council election, she happens upon Cal and Mateo, and they spontaneously decide to skip class that day. That decision puts them right in the middle of a situation that may change their lives forever.

This book is a perfect young adult book. It has secrets, action and a "whodunit?" quality that will appeal to both young adults and lovers of young adult literature. The characters of Ivy, Mateo and Cal are so likeable, and you feel like you know them from your own high school days. I have enjoyed this author in the past, so this book was a "no brainer" for me to request.

The book is fast paced, and keeps you on your toes. Just as you think you know something "for sure" there is a twist and everything is up in the air again. Although there are many twists, all of them are plausible, and none are so far fetched to question it. Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I would recommend this to lovers of young adult books, mystery/thriller and domestic thrillers.

The only slight complaint I had was the last chapter. I felt like it was rushed, and ended with a OMG moment that wasn't developed or explained well. It was like the author just threw it in there, when the story had concluded well. I felt like it wasn't super necessary, but overall, I enjoyed the book anyway. I just didn't find the last chapter too necessary, and felt like it detracted from the overall book. Some may like it, but it was something that I could have done without.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Another interesting YA mystery/thriller by Karen M. McManus that's a spin on the Ferris Bueller adventure of ditch day from school, but this one has murder, drugs, secrets, and twists throughout the story.
This is about 3 friends getting together to hang out on a ditch day in high school, who haven't been in touch with each other for a long time and how they reconnect like no time has gone by. They go wandering around to have an adventure together for ditch day and come across a dead body and everything goes wrong. They try to figure out who's involved and what happened with their fellow student and what led to his own murder. They each have their own issues and try to figure things out for themselves and all sorts of adventure, intrigue, and secrets are discovered and revealed. There are also some great twists in the story.
I enjoyed this story a lot and thought it was another great book by Karen M. McManus that everyone should check out most especially all the YA mystery and thriller lovers. Thanks so much to Random House Children's Publishing/Delacorte Press and NetGalley for letting me read and review this great read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You’ll Be The Death of Me is a YA thriller/mystery.
Ferris Bueller’s day off with a deadly twist!
I love that movie so it made me that much more excited for this book.
I have loved all of Karen McManus’s books so far and this one didn’t disappoint me. It’s not my favorite of her books but I still liked it.

Three high school teens, Ivy, Cal, and Mateo, spontaneously decide to skip school one day. As you may guess, this isn’t just a normal ditch day. It had murder and mystery that you’ll want to solve.

As someone who really enjoys YA thrillers and reads them often, I tend to solve the mystery fairly quickly. Sadly I did guess it about halfway but it didn’t take away from the plot. I’ve learned I’m just too good at solving mysteries 😅

I really couldn’t put this book down. The story definitely had me hooked. I loved that everything happened in one day! It made it that more intense.

I have to say I didn’t love the characters though. I just didn’t connect with them like I wanted to. Ivy was not very like able in my opinion.

That ending was not my favorite either!

Overall I did like the book and I look forward to the next one!

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus makes for an interesting twist on the day-off adventure, a la Ferris Bueller. Instead of having fun playing hooky from school, Ms. McManus’ story has our three friends stumble upon a murder and decide they have to be the ones to solve it. Except to say they are friends is a stretch. They are more like former friends, which only adds to the stressors of the day.

Thankfully, Ms. McManus does not attempt to stretch our imaginations by trying to convince us that three high school students are more competent than detectives. Instead, Ivy, Mateo, and Cal only uncover clues through dumb luck and wild guesses. In truth, their missteps are almost comedic. The fact that they are even close to solving the murder mystery is a testament to their collective stubbornness and stunning ability to stumble upon the puzzle pieces rather than their sleuthing skills.

For all their bumbling, I still found You’ll Be the Death of Me to be quite clever. In addition, there is also a real poignancy to the story as the continued investigations force the three former friends to confront the circumstances which broke apart their friendship. Even better, Ms. McManus plays the resolution close to her chest so that the ending is as much a surprise for you as it is for our three amateur detectives, which is exactly what you want in a murder mystery. In the end, You’ll Be the Death of Me is another strong offering from Ms. McManus, who is rapidly making a name for herself in the young adult thriller world.

Karen McManus has done it again! She knows how to share teenage characters who have depth and complex personalities. It makes the audience want to read one chapter more every time. I can understand how her novels are being turned into tv series. The writing lends itself to the screen. Another success for Karen McManus!

Karen McManus has given us another fast-paced thriller in You'll Be The Death of Me. While this story has many similarities to her previous books, it's a pattern that works. In this book, the three main characters, teens who drifted apart when they entered high school four years ago, have unique backgrounds and value systems which impact the decisions they each make. As they take turns narrating the events of "the worst day ever" from their individual perspectives, we learn the secrets, or a least a few of the important ones, which define them and their relationships. Along the way, they create and re-create bonds as they learn more about themselves individually and as friends. Some excellent life lessons arise in this story, and there is something in this story for every reader to connect to and grow from. I'm going to go ahead and declare myself a lifelong fan of McManus and will be recommending her books to the teens in my life.

Thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, Netgalley, and the author for early access to a digital copy of this book.

Time for a YA fiction read! Karen M. McManus is one of my favourite teen fiction writers. Her newest is You'll Be The Death of Me.
Cal, Mateo and Ivy were the best of friends in Grade eight. They've since drifted apart and are now seniors. A chance meeting outside the school entrance has them all deciding to pull a Ferris Bueller day. They've each got their own reason for wanting to ditch school. It's a great idea - until it's not. They stumble across a crime scene....

McManus has created three very different protagonists. They're all likable and each brings a different dynamic. McManus always captures and portrays her teen characters in a believable manner. You'll Be the Death of Me is told in rotating chapters from each of the three. As readers, we're privy to their thoughts, angst - and secrets. McManus devotes time to the romantic entanglements as well as family issues of the the three, but this only adds to the overall feel of the book.

That crime scene? Each of them has a connection to what has occurred.....

McManus gives us lots of choices for the whodunit. The final aha won't be overly hard to suss out, but it's the journey there that's the most fun. And I did have fun reading this one. Ferris Bueller with a side of Scooby Doo. McManus has a formula that works - and she had me happily ensconced on the couch for on rainy Saturday afternoon.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off but make it murder.

Over the past few years, Karen M. McManus has cemented her reputation as the go-to author of young adult mysteries. Her streak of hits continues with her latest novel You’ll Be the Death of Me. Three former friends try to capture the magic of an epic skip day, but stumble into a murder instead. They spend the rest of their ditch day trying to solve the murder and figuring out why their tight knit-bond ended before they made it to high school.

There’s plenty of twists, secrets, and even a bit of romance to satisfy any reader. The three main characters are personalities that teen readers will easily recognize and relate to. Ivy is a stressed out overachiever who was just knocked down a peg when she lost the student council election to the kid who treated the election as a joke and who happens to be the murder victim. Mateo is the brooding hunk. His family’s business went under and he works two jobs to help out. Cal is a shy, artistic loner who always seems to fall for the wrong person. Can they overcome the past mistakes of their friendship to work together to find the murderer or will they become the next victims?