The last step before Izzy is ready to spend a semester in Italy, fulfilling her mother's dream of studying art there, is to host an Italian foreign exchange student. Alberto can help Izzy practice her Italian and give her tips before she travels to Italy herself. Despite Alberto's charm, Izzy can't help but notice some red flags, and her obsession with a current serial killer mystery isn't helping things. Will anyone help Izzy put together the pieces before more people get killed?

Four Letter Word is an engaging serial killer mystery. The ending was both expected and unfulfilling, although teen readers might not be so difficult to please. The title is explained, but didn't seem to be a strong enough link for a title. I especially struggled with the relationship between Izzy and her mom. Although realistic, I don't think the book did enough to depict how unhealthy their relationship was and I wanted more about how Izzy could break free.

Thanks to Disney & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't realize this was a YA book when I requested it, but that didn't dim my enjoyment of it. Other aspects may have done, however.

Izzy is 17 and being required by her frustrated-artist, bipolar mom to live all of her own missed dreams: specifically, to study abroad in Italy. Izzy's not really into it, but her older brothers have all left the nest and it's just her trying to keep her mom afloat, as her dad seems to be working all the time. Izzy's mom arranges for them to host an Italian exchange student, ostensibly so Izzy can get more immersive practice in her Italian lessons (really? Since she's just doing Duolingo or whatever, this seems like a stretch),

Alberto arrives and Izzy is quickly smitten with him: he's blond and blue eyed, and ever so charming. McNeil sets up the story so that a typical teenager wouldn't suspect the handsome student of doing anything untoward (at least initially). While all this is happening, Izzy is reunited with her best friend's boyfriend's pal, with whom she's been texting (and hoping for a deeper relationship).

The plot chugs along and doesn't deliver many twisty moments (aside from Izzy's daring move to check out Alberto's personal possessions). I have a couple of teenagers at home, and the teens depicted here are way more like the teen I was (or perhaps McNeil was). No one is on a phone except to text, and the general tone of dialog really sounds more like adults than teens, can't quite put my finger on why exactly. Also, Izzy has some TSTL moments, which, granted, might be attributable to being 17.

The plot splices itself around the threat of an oncoming storm, and it delivers in a way that assists the plot tremendously (as one would expect). There is a decent twist in the plot arc, and the book isn't *bad*, per se; it's just less sophisticated than I'd like. Izzy is not especially likeable, despite all the running around and people-pleasing she's been doing, and her so-called "best friend" is repellant. Probably the best character is Izzy's love interest, who seems like a solid dude and seems like love Izzy in spite of her lack of foresight in getting involved in these situations.

2.5 stars rounded up

I have been gearing away from young adult for a bit now but there are still some YA authors that I enjoy reading. Gretchen McNeil is one of them. I had fun with this book. It was a very fast read, a little predictable, and yes a bit unrealistic. But sometimes that is just what I need in a comfort read. I enjoyed the main character. She was a regular teenage with everyday problems. She had a good life but really just wanted to escape to another country. When her family takes in an exchange student her regular life with everyday problems becomes not so much that and it all goes crazy. I enjoyed the ride, the characters, the story. It was just a bunch of fun. I also very much enjoyed the narrator. She was good with the characters and bringing the story to life.

Izzy loves murder podcasts! And with her boyfriend Jake in the past, she is open for a new relationship. Her senior year is only months away and she is semi-ready to practice Italian with her family’s new foreign exchange student, 19-year-old Alberto. There is also a serial killer on the loose. Summer might be getting interesting. Everyone finds Alberto irresistible. When the clues about him don’t seem to add up, and she starts to have “accidents” will everyone believe her, or do they view her as the girl who cried wolf? Is Alberto the killer or is it someone else she might know?

Fans of Gretchen McNeil and murder mysteries will love this fast-paced thriller. Eliza Summers skilled narration fits the characters and their personalities. 5 Stars, Grades 8-12.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

I received a complementary copy of this book from Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a little slow at first, but I was interested. I figured it out pretty early on, but kept waiting for our protagonist to figure it out. The last 25% or so was very action packed and I was on the edge of my seat. There were some surprising parts in the story. If you are a fan of thrillers and mysteries give this one a try.

I struggled with the first 15-20% of this book BUT if you can get through that it gets so good. I struggled with the family problems and dynamics in the beginning and that is what caused me to be like can I continue?? So glad I did.

The family makes me want to scream. The mom who can't live with HER own life choices. She made them and blamed everyone for not so luxurious life without actually saying as much. The checked out dad. Just all around with everything. (And calling out Izzy at the dinner table about what she went to him about in CONFIDENCE! What?! Not cool.). The brothers not taking responsibility for anything home related. Kind of only about themselves. Which good for them to an extent but jeez help out your sister. Stand up for her. And Izzy. Fully taking the burdens and not living her because her family sucks. The brothers need to be a little more like Izzy and she a little like them. Her best friend the absolute worst.

Jake!! Absolute favorite character in this book.

Alberto also equally the worst.

I also wanted to scream at everyone most of the book.

Anyway if you get past the beginning its is so good!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

Another fantastic thriller from Gretchen McNeil. Add this to collections where her previous works and Karen McManus' books are popular. My only complaint about this title is that the identity of the killer was very clear early on. However, McNeil did throw in a few ending plot twists that kept me guessing.

The reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because I figured out who the serial killer was very quickly. It was a great read though. It held my attention from the first word to the last. There was a twist at the end I didn’t see coming.

This YA thriller was a really slow burn. It took half of the book setting everything up. So many details that I could have been paired down. It needed to get on with the story much sooner. Once it finally got moving it was a really great read! Because it started off so slow I can only give it 4 stars. If I were rating only the second half it would have been a 5 star read.

Four Letter Word had an interesting plot and some flawed characters. I thought the narrator did a great job.