Predictable and a little derivative I feel like I've read this story 100x before. Murders are happening on campus and our protagonist is the top suspect so she is racing to solve the mystery before she's next.

I love me a good murder mystery but this one just didn't do it for me. It was an enjoyable read but left a lot to be desired. I thought it was slow and way too redundant and overly descriptive. The mystery aspect was intriguing, but this book was way too YA for my tastes. I think I would have rated it higher if there was a little more character development. The characters fell a little flat to me and I felt disconnected and not as invested in them as I prefer. I overall enjoyed this book and would probably read more from the author.

Boarding school. Murder. Mayhem. Jessica Goodman's books and YA murder mysteries are hit or miss for me personally because I'm a mood reader. I couldn't get into this one. I think I was looking for more of a gothic dark academia vibe. As a Librarian, our YA patrons eat this stuff up. Definitely one for the public collection.

I'm a sucker for thrillers—this one delivered nonstop suspense and sharp twists. Loved it all! 4 stars!

A slow burn, YA thriller set at a boarding school rocked by a double murder. With dual POVs, secrets, with a focus on privilege and ethical dilemmas. Good read for YA murder mystery fans.

I am a sucker for mysteries that take on private school campuses and was excited to read this YA novel. I felt that this was a decent read, but not really my favorite. It centers on Amy, whose roommate Sarah (along with her boyfriend) were murdered in their shared dorm room. While much of the story is told from Amy's POV, we also get chapters from Liz, who is the school newspaper editor, desperate to make a name for herself. Amy ends up getting moved to dorm with Liz since she obviously can't stay in the crime scene room, and they warily work together to try to absolve Amy from suspicion.

I enjoyed the flashbacks to previous times that let the reader know that there was more to Sarah and Amy's relationship than meets the eye. I did think that some of the things they fought about were a little petty, but then again I was once a teenage girl and know how big things can seem at the time. I almost immediately figured out who the villain was and was really hoping to be proven wrong, but alas, had it right from the get-go, which was a bit disappointing. That being said, the author did introduce a couple believable red herrings, which added some suspense. I wasn't sure if I liked Amy and I really didn't like Liz, but I do feel that both grew as characters over the course of the story.

Overall, a decent read in a genre I love, but was a tad disappointed that it all seemed too easy to untangle. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Meadowbrook Murders is a great YA murder myself. Amy is a senior at an exclusive and prestigious New England boarding school and suddenly finds herself thrust into the spotlight when her BFF roommate Sarah and Sarah’s boyfriend are found murdered in her bed in their dorm room. Desperately hoping to clear her name as well as her boyfriend’s, she reluctantly teams up with Liz, the editor of the school newspaper, who’s more interested in breaking the story and making headlines than she is in Amy’s innocence. While it felt a little uneven at times with the pacing and plot details, it was still an entertaining, quick read.

This is a dual POV YA Murder mystery that will have you second guessing your main characters connections from the beginning to the end.

When Amy's best friend Sarah and roommate ends up dead in the room next to hers, yet she didn't wake up when it happened, how does she not look guilty? Amy's boyfriend has a secret connection to Sarah. Now Amy has even more motive.

Amy is quickly stuck with the editor of the school newspaper, Liz, as your new roommate and you must balance living with her and dealing with outside ridicule and speculation on the role she played in the murder. Will Amy discover the truth about Sarah's mysterious friend, and who killed her before she gets pinned with the murders?

Huge shout out to @prhaudio and @netgalley for the #gifted copies of The Meadowbrook Murders! This YA thriller takes you to a chilling boarding school where a girl and her boyfriend are murdered in the room next door, yet her best friend hears nothing. 😱 Jessica Goodman masterfully weaves a twisty dark academia tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you're a fan of murder mysteries, drama, and unlikable characters, this one's for you! Have you read it? What’s your favorite Jessica Goodman book?

This was a great murder-mystery set in a private school with compelling characters and lots of twists and turns to the plot. The dueling point of view characters added to the suspense, each with their own good reasons to go sleuthing.

Just finished The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman and it was a super solid four-star read ⭐️!

If you’re into YA murder mysteries with campus drama, messy friendships, and a journalist MC chasing the truth 🕵️‍♀️📚—this one’s for you.

It starts with a hangover and a murder (new fave trope??) and takes off from there. Suspicion, secrets, and so many sus characters 👀

As a journalist, I loved Liz’s POV—torn between grief and ambition, and always chasing the story. ✍️

The vibes are sharp, fast-paced, and full of tension. Bonus points for the Susan Orlean mention! 💛

A twisty, satisfying read I’d totally recommend to fellow journalism nerds and thriller fans alike. 🔎💀

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6754372083

BLOG: https://open.substack.com/pub/beawritesandreads/p/the-meadowbrook-murders-by?r=fjvxq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

IG and TIKTOK: posts coming to @beawritesandreads on May 29th at 9 am PST

"The deeper Liz digs, the messier the truth becomes – and with a killer still on campus, she can’t afford to make any mistakes."

This was a perfectly acceptable YA mystery/thriller. Nothing groundbreaking, but I didn't hate reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing with an ARC for review.

I have read everything Jessica Goodman has written and I have to say this might be my favorite so far. I fee like I connected with the characters so much and I really wanted to find out who the murderer was.

I definitely had an inkling as to who did it but there was nothing to blatantly hint to it. It was more of a hunch and I got it right. That didn't take away from the story for me though. I still thought everything came together really well and the ending was satisfying.

Safe to say I will read anything Jessica Goodman writes at this point. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

I don't know if it's because I recently read a book with a journalist (and I didn't like him that much), but when the second POV was introduced as Liz, the outcast high school newspaper editor, I was immediately disinterested in the rest of the story. I do think this one would be good for someone who isn't prejudiced against journalists (never thought I'd be typing that sentence) but just not for me.

Never found myself a fan of the dark academia genre, but did enjoy this thriller. I do recommend this book for those that enjoy a mystery thriller with a great twist.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In this gripping story, the brutal murders of two high school seniors, Sarah and Ryan, within the walls of their elite prep school send shockwaves through the community, igniting a desperate search for answers and raising fears of further violence. Utilizing a suspenseful dual POV narrative with viewpoints of two teenage girls, each approaching the unfolding mystery with their own motivations. It was a fascinating exploration of the benefits and drawbacks of real-time true crime analysis, as well as the personal cost of revelations that can shatter one's perception of loved ones. Despite it being a YA novel, the mature writing style and engaging plot ensures that adult readers will also find this book equally captivating.

A fast paced mystery that will keep you hooked until the end! I enjoyed seeing the two girls different pints of views and following them through the story

When two high school seniors, Sarah and Ryan, are found murdered in the dorm of their prestigious prep school, everyone on campus is wondering who did it and who will be next. Amy, Sarah’s roommate, and her boyfriend Joseph are suspects, but as people’s secrets are uncovered, it soon becomes clear that there is more going on with this school and its students than anyone realized. Alternating between Amy and school newspaper editor Liz’s perspectives, this is a great fast-paced YA mystery about friendship, secrets, and rich people misbehaving. Jessica Goodman can always be counted on for a good YA thriller!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for my copy! ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"A page-turning murder mystery set at a prestigious New England boarding school and the dark secrets a killer desperately wants hidden."

When Amy's best friend Sarah and Sarah's boyfriend are brutally murdered in Amy and Sarah's dorm, all of Amy's plans for senior year are out the window. Not only has she lost her best friend, everyone at school thinks she had something to do with it. Liz, the school's newspaper editor, is determined to solve the case in hopes that her reporting will get her into the university of her dreams. What is the cost for these girls to uncover the truth of the murders?

The main draw of this book for me is that there are two POVs from two girls trying to understand this case for very different reasons. It makes a great point about the pros and cons of true crime reporting in an active case, as well as the price of truth when it can change your relationships with people you thought you knew. It was well-written and didn't present as super YA, even though it is definitely appropriate for YA audiences. I think adults will enjoy this as well!

Great YA read! College student murder with lots of suspects and drama. Teen emotions run amuck with the savage death of two students in the dorm. How did Amy not hear the tragedy, while sleeping in the adjoined room? Did it happen before she returned to the dorm or while she was sleeping. Is she guilty of killing her best friend and the boyfriend because of a jealous rage? Read to find out.