Karen M. McManus is one of my favorite young adult authors. One of Us is Lying is still my all-time favorite of her's, but this comes as a close second. The Ferris Bueller's Day Off vibes were amazing and I felt nostalgic for my own high school ditch days (just ya know, without the murder parts and that sort of thing). This is the perfect YA thriller. The only reason it's four stars instead of five is because McManus set the bar too high with OOUIL(Nate and Bronwyn still have my heart okay?) and I don't know if much can top that one for me. Anyways, be sure to pick this one up on November 30th! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Karen McManus is a master storyteller and brings the reader through another mysterious journey to find a killer that no one expected!

In middle school Ivy, Mateo, and Cal were best friends but have drifted apart since then. Now, it's senior year and life is infinitely more stressful for each of them. Early one morning they happen to run in to each other in the parking lot before school. In a fit of senioritis, they decide to recreate their best day ever - a day in middle school where they skipped out of a field trip and never got caught.

Everything is great until they get into the city and realize that they really don't have anything in common anymore. They are each separately wondering if this was a bad idea when they notice a classmate who's also skipping school. They decide to follow him and end up at the scene of his murder. The day spirals out of control from there. Will they be the next victims? Or, will they be blamed for this one?

As always, McManus will keep you turning pages. She's a master at suspense and plot twists that you don't see coming. Her characters are real and their life situations are authentic and relatable. You'll understand why Mateo makes the choices that he does and why Cal has a hard time trusting and why Ivy can't just fess up. You'll care about what happens in their lives and root for them the whole way through.

I was happy with how everything turned out until the very, very end and now I want a sequel!

5 stars for this fast-paced ride that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, a good friendship story, or YA lit in general.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for early access! Another great read by Karen M McManus! Kept me guessing the whole time and an ending leaving me wanting more.

I freaking love Karen M. McManus! Ever since I read One of Us Is Lying with my 8th grade book club (which they had a fabulous discussion about), I have devoured everything she's created. I was a little less thrilled with The Cousins, but could not have been more excited to get an ARC of You'll Be the Death of Me. And I was not disappointed!

Ivy, Mateo, and Cal shared an experience in 8th grade they dubbed "Best Day Ever," but since that long ago time of a wonderful memory, they've drifted apart and formed new bonds and identities during high school. But each them is experiences personal difficulties that bring them together again in the hopes of replicating a day they have always cherished. Until they get caught up in a situation none of them understands. All of them are in serious danger because of their unwitting roles.
In order to get out of this mess, they need to track down a drug dealing killer that will hold the key to their innocence, while unraveling each other's secrets in the process. This definitely isn't there best day...it might be their last.

Such a good book! The mystery had me enthralled until the literal last page! I can't wait for this to be released in November and look forward to recommending it to my students.

I loved this new Karen M. McManus book! It really took me back to what made me fall in love with this author years ago. A ditch day that starts off as fun turns into a twisty murder day filled with drama (and romance)! This read quickly and the mystery kept me guessing. I know this will be popular with my high school students! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this!! I enjoy a good thriller, and Karen McManus is probably one of my favorite YA authors at the moment. Can’t wait for everyone else to read it so I can talk to them about it!

This book was pretty good. I Read through this book in less than 24 hours - I just needed to know who was responsible for the mysterious death. The twist at the end was something I did not see coming!

Karen McManus does it again! Another great, super fast paced YA thriller. This time with former friends teaming up to solve a crime before it’s pinned on one of them.

Karen McManus is a great writer and her latest is sure to do well. Compared to her previous works, though, You'll Be the Death of Me somehow falls short. I believe that the comparison to Ferris Bueller is part of the problem. If you read this with the idea that it's going to be a modern take on "Ferris," you're going to be disappointed. This book takes the idea that it's "Ferris' uptight sister" who plays hookey with two friends, but there's nothing similar to the original plot beyond this. These kids skip school and spend the day solving a mystery, without any fun excursions or any clever tricks to get out of trouble. Aside from recognizing which book characters are counterparts to the movie characters, there's not much to compare.

McManus does get credit for modernizing "Ferris" by flipping the narrative: she's humanized the sister while making Ferris out to be a spoiled, selfish jerk. By today's standards, Ferris really wasn't a nice guy was he?! The movie doesn't stand the test of time as far as the way we percieved him then vs. now.

Overall, I'd have enjoyed the book without thinking of the movie at the same time. It should stand on its own!

I enjoyed this book. McManus does a phenomenal job of twisting a mystery. It was a little more predictable than I have come to expect from this author. Still enjoyable, though.

I enjoyed You'll Be the Death of Me, although I don't think it's one of McManus's best. I will definitely purchase because all of her books are must-haves for my students.

I really enjoyed this book! The whole series is intriguing. I felt that the author wrapped up the book and the series quite nicely.

Anyone who has ever read a Karen M. McManus book will know the basic plot structure of this novel. A group of teens stubble into a murder mystery. Each teen has their own secret that they must keep from getting out. The novel is told in alternating chapter POVs. The characters in question are usually some form of high school stereotype that was established in 80s films like "The Breakfast Club." Oh and definitely at least two members of the group are getting together at the end. I do wish that McManus or her publishers would consider a different formula or genre but I guess if it "ain't broke," but it is starting to get old.

The greatest strength of Karen M. McManus books is that they are really easy to want to binge read. She typically gets the reader hooked into the plot of the mystery and the secrets that the characters have. For this one, it took a while for the mystery to grab me and I was ultimately disappointed in the conclusion. However, like always, it was very readable and after finishing a chapter I could easily jump into the next.

I think if you aren't tired of the Karen M. McManus formula, then you'll probably get at least some enjoyment out of this one. But it certainly isn't her best to date.

I enjoyed this YA mystery. It is a fast-paced novel with some twists. The story does reference opioid abuse and inappropriate teacher relationships.

Thank you for the advanced arc of this novel!

Karen McManus has done it again. I devoured You'll be the Death of Me in just two days. True to its description, this novel is the nightmare version of Ferris Bueller, but with more complex and relatable characters. I loved what is now McManus' signature style of including the characters' alternating viewpoints, and the slow burn of revealing secrets chapter after chapter. There were some minor plot holes and moments where I had to suspend my disbelief, but I cannot wait for the sequel!

I picked up McManus' first book a few months after it came out because I needed to buy several more copies to keep up with the demand working in a HS library-- the teens knew what they wanted and they wanted her first book. I've kept up with them all and I think this one is my favorite.

I read it in one day because I *needed* to know where the story was going and what would become of these three friends who had fallen out of friendship with each other- Mateo, Ivy, and Cal. They all skip school because they all need a break from various stressors in their life and end up at the scene of a crime of a fellow classmate which begins the thrilling mystery along with the humorous hijinks mixed together for an intoxicating blend of fabulousness that readers will devour in one sitting like me. It's a whodunnit I can follow. April Henry and Karen McManus with a side of Holly Jackson have created a mystery reader out of me and I'm forever grateful.

There are secondary elements to the story like the relationships with parents or siblings and school (in addition to the sensationalism that is social media) that all play out well too and deserve their due diligence in a shout out for the way McManus handles it all.

The Best Day Ever becomes one of the worst. Told through the three main characters' points of view, Ivy, Cal and Mateo must figure out who killed one of their classmates. I enjoyed how the story is layered. and as each narrator gives information, I was trying to piece together the bits and figure out who was the killer. The pacing is good and there are a few unexpected twists. I think teen readers will enjoy the clues (and red herrings) that McManus uses. The narrative kept me interested. The characters are relatable and come from diverse families. Adults are present in the story, but it's the teenagers driving the action. The murder is solved and explained, so I don't think a sequel is needed, but I could see a few areas that could germinate another story.

Ah.... Karen McManus. If nothing else, you know you're going to get a good read from her.

The summary of this book via the publisher/McManus is very much a good summary; usually I have something witty (or at least I think it's witty) to say or add. Not this time!

If you've liked McManus' other books, then you're going to like this one. This one does end up feeling a little similar to her previous books - there's definitely some tropes/characterization techniques of hers that I've become used to (for example, one character had a crush on the other, it didn't work out but they still like each other. Ivy definitely resembled Browyn in terms of characterization). Regardless, the use of these familiar tropes doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book. McManus still writes great plot twists that keep you guessing right until the end. The pieces of this book fall together so nicely that, upon finishing the book, all I could do was sit back and sigh and be amazed at how well McManus does her job.

If nothing else, this book definitely makes up for the hot mess book The Cousins. This definitely reminds me more of One of Us Is Lying.

Definitely a book I recommend picking up when it comes out later in 2021.

This book has been advertised as a Ferris Bueller's Day Off with a dangerous twist. While completely accurate and awesome, I wonder how many young adults will understand the reference! In You'll be the Death of Me three friends decide to skip school for one last day of fun, just like when they were younger. As they are leaving, they notice a classmate of theirs also leaving so they decide to follow him.

And then he is murdered, leaving Ivy, Mateo, and Cal as they only witnesses to the crime. Soon Ivy is suspected and the three friends need to figure out a way out of this together so else all three are in deep trouble!

Every book Karen McManus writes is thriller gold. I have many on my classroom shelf so if you see this blog, come grab any of them. Unfortunately you are going to have to wait to grab this one as it is set for publication on November 30th. But, trust me, it'll be worth the wait!