Dark academia? YA? Murder mystery? Say no more I’m in!

I really enjoyed this ride. I liked how it changed between narrators. I did not guess the ending so that’s always a plus!

Wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked the way the dual point of view pushed the story along and kept the suspense. My favorite character arc was Liz's, because it felt so relatable to me for reasons you can find when you read this book once it comes out! Overall a great, suspenseful read for those into murder mysteries and boarding school settings!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the digital advanced copy of the book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC—

I always want to love Jessica Goodman’s books because generally I love the prep school vibe her work encompasses, but I usually end up slightly disappointed. I was super excited for this one because not only was it prep school vibes but BOARDING SCHOOL, which is my favorite and I’ve mentioned that so many times I sound like a broken record. Ultimately I did enjoy this book, maybe more than her others, but unfortunately it did not break the spell.

From the beginning, one of the characteristics of the story that really stood out was how graphic and violent the murder was. It felt emphasized to the point that I thought it had to be relevant to the killer. In the end, that’s not the case and I just don’t think it was necessary to make these murders so..brutal? While I wasn’t bothered by it to the point of being upset, this is theoretically a YA story and the brutality of the murders felt almost like clickbait for the book to make it seem more intriguing and ultimately did not relate to the killer at all.

The other piece that didn’t work for me was that one of the two POVS, Liz, seemed kind of random. She was annoying and I really think there could have been a more powerful impact in choosing a different character to alternate Amy because Liz didn’t add anything. Mostly she seemed obsessed with reporting for her own sake and I can understand why the school was bothered by it because her attitude rubbed me the wrong way at times. Her and Amy were not a fun pair to read about and their relationship felt forced and weird, even at the very end.

Like I mentioned, I did enjoy this! It’s very quick and I flew through it. Although I guessed the killer before the book ended, I was definitely intrigued and compelled to keep going and find out if I was right. It was an easy book to get lost in and not have to think too hard about and despite my criticism above, I was always eager to pick it back up. I’ll follow Goodman wherever she takes us at this point because even if the stories never wow me as much as the descriptions make me think they will, I appreciate that her work is consistent and solid!

I love everything this author writes! She knows how to draw a person in and keep them hooked until the very last page! Love the way the story played out, giving a couple misdirections for suspects till the big reveal!!! Great time, great reading!!!!

The Meadowbrook Murders revolves around a murder mystery set against a prep school backdrop.

I thought this book was enjoyable, but nothing that special. The characters were a bit one dimensional. While I did want to know how the story ended I wasn't that intrigued by story.

And randomly...was Joseph supposed to be in high school? It seemed weird he worked as a 'chef' but maybe was a teenager? Unclear.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Jessica Goodman does it again! After a double murder at the prestigious Middlebrook Academy, students are left trying to cope with the tragedy and figure out who would commit such a violent crime against their friends Sarah and Ryan. As we follow Amy — who was best friends and roommates with Sarah — and Liz — a student journalist who is desperate to truthfully cover the story — we find that there is more to the murders than everyone originally wants to believe.

I found The Meadowbrook Murders hard to put down. The mystery drew me in and I could easily visualize the characters and the school as if I was there myself. I found the contrast and unlikely pairing of Amy and Liz compelling and the perfect addition to the story. I also liked that Goodman included a student journalist character, as someone who studied journalism myself I found Liz very relatable while reading. This is a dark academia murder mystery that you don't want to miss!

Twisted, dark, suspenseful mystery set in a New England boarding school full of rich and privileged teens-what more could you want for the beginning of the fall season! Jessica Goodman has crafted a page-turner that kept me reading lat into the night. I could not wait to see how this one would play out and felt happy that the drama in my high school was relatively benign compared to what Sarah, Amy, Liz, Ryan, Joseph, Evan, Peter and the rest of the senior class endured.

Thanks to #netgalley, the publisher #gpputnamsons and the author for this ebook to read and enjoy. All opinions are my own.

YA thriller but definitely wide appeal.
Engaging plotting & pacing.
Polished, knowing narrative voice.
Lots of red herring suspects all leading to a satisfying resolution.

With thanks to NetGalley & Penguin Group for this e-ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was thrilled to receive this ARC as Goodman is on my YA author must read list. Her books are always engaging quick reads. This book was no exception. I enjoyed this thriller set in a boarding school although I found myself wishing the characters were older and in college.

If this kind of YA book is your thing, you won't be diasappointed.

A murder takes place in a boarding school and two young women get stuck together. One a best friend of the victim and one a budding journalist. I thought this was a fun read, even thought it was slightly predictable.

This author is an auto-read for me and this book did not disappoint! I was immediately swept up in this murder mystery and loved the academic setting. I was particularly drawn to the theme of wealth and privilege and how this interacted with the overall detective work. I found myself on the edge of my seat, racing through the pages to reveal the twists and solve the mystery. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a twisty mystery with fall vibes!

Okay, you can't really call this dark academia just because it takes place in a boarding school. School wasn't in session. There was no school. There were no classes. There was no academic stress. It was a conveniently isolated place for teenagers to run around for a week with minimal adult supervision. They had parties, ate in a cafeteria, and, you know, did murder.

"The Meadowbrook Murders" had an interesting storyline that pulled me in and kept me turning pages!

This whodunit mystery takes place in a prestigious Academy after one of the students wakes up and finds the bodies of her best friend and the guy she was dating in their shared dorm room. It doesn't take long before everyone is pointing fingers and I was guilty of doing this also. My well-crafted theories were correct this time around but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

I enjoyed the characters, plotting and pace of this mystery. If you enjoy YA Thrillers, Dark Academia and fast-paced whodunit mysteries I think you should definitely check this one out!

Thank you Jessica Goodman, Net Galley and Penguin Group - Young Readers Group for providing me with an ARC of this book!

The pacing in this was good, but the leads felt younger than they were. Some of the choices they made felt so childish it was hard to believe they were seniors. That threw off the book a bit for me, and I clocked who the killer was fairly early on. This isn’t the strongest of Goodman’s novel (and I especially hate this cover in comparison to her others, but it was a quick one and fun enough.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a thrilling dark academia novel that hooks you from the very first page. Set in the prestigious Meadowbrook Academy, the story revolves around the shocking murder of Amy's best friend, Sarah, and her boyfriend, Ryan, right next door. The tension is palpable as Amy, embroiled in a public argument with Sarah just hours before the tragedy, becomes a prime suspect. Goodman crafts a gripping narrative with short, punchy chapters that keep the pacing brisk and the suspense high.

The dual perspectives of Amy and Liz provide a compelling look into their contrasting lives. Amy, the once-popular girl suddenly facing scorn and suspicion, struggles to clear her name while grappling with the horror of her friend’s death. Liz, the ambitious editor-in-chief of the school paper, is determined to uncover the truth for her own future, despite the backlash she faces from her peers. Their reluctant partnership is fascinating, as they navigate their differences and uncover deeper truths about themselves and the community around them.

Goodman excels at creating an atmosphere filled with intrigue and tension, making the reader question every character's motives. The dynamic between Amy and Liz is particularly well-done, showcasing how their socioeconomic backgrounds influence their experiences and perceptions at the academy. Their growth throughout the story adds emotional depth, making their ultimate confrontation with the truth all the more impactful.

While the plot is engaging, I found the resolution a bit predictable, though it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. The real highlight for me was the character development and the exploration of themes such as privilege, friendship, and the consequences of lies. Goodman weaves these elements seamlessly into the narrative, making it more than just a typical murder mystery.

Surely a binge-worthy read that delivers on suspense and emotional complexity. It’s perfect for fans of dark academia and anyone looking for a captivating thriller. Jessica Goodman has certainly created a compelling tale that kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I’d give this one a 3.0, rounded up from a 2.5. It’s a quick and easy YA thriller that can be read in a single sitting and will appeal to those who like Karen McManus books. It’s fairly entertaining and keeps your interest to the end. It’s also fairly generic with characters who all sort of run together. I didn’t really care about any of them; I kept reading just to see if I figure out whodunit before the end.

Not the worst book I’ve ever read, but also not the best. It was….fine!

Thank you NetGalley for this electronic copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was my third book I’ve read by Jessica Goodman, so I was very excited when I got this ARC! I love the boarding school setting for a YA mystery, giving me a similar vibe as her other book They Wish They Were Us. I enjoyed the changing POV from Amy, the one who finds the bodies, and Liz, the student journalist looking for her big break. I loved Liz, an outcast role I could see Paris Gellar from Gilmore Girls filling instantly, though Liz was much much kinder. While an enjoyable read the timeline felt a little drawn out, and the ending wrapped up so quickly. Overall not my favorite of her books, I think with the other ones there were more characters we got to know, whereas in here, it’s really only Amy and Liz who feel fully fleshed out. I look forward to reading more of her work and seeing what others think of this one when it comes out!

This is my first dark academia novel and I really enjoyed it! Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for early access!

I can’t remember the last time I read a YA book in a day but WOW was this book unputdownable. I enjoyed every heart pounding moment of this thriller in ways I didn’t think possible. A girl whose roommate and boyfriend and murder right next door and she didn’t hear a thing? Accusations are thrown around and everyone at Meadowbrook Academy can’t help but wonder, could it have been someone close to them? Someone on campus? One of them?

Ugh this book was the perfect thing I needed. Sometimes you just need a good, bingeable thriller. I usually can figure out the killer in these books and it is always a pleasant surprise when the author fools me. I did NOT see that ending coming. Goodman does a fantastic job dropping little clues inside a bigger plot to lead the reader on a wild goose chase.

I have always enjoyed Goodman’s books and will continue to binge them FOREVER! This is the perfect campfire read that will keep readers up to finish the very last page. Goodman played with my anxiety so well that I felt like I was a part of the investigation. Chef’s kiss, no notes, go preorder this book!

I absolute devoured this book! Love the premise of the book. It could use a little bit more detail, but overall it's a great and easy read.