Jessica Goodman is an author that I will immediately purchase from, no questions asked. I thought this was fantastic. I love a prep-school vibe.

A fast paced, suspenseful ya thriller about the murders of two students at an elite boarding school. The two main characters, Amy and best friend to one of the murder victims, and Liz, a reporter for the school paper, form an unlikely alliance to figure out who murdered them. This was a fun read that kept the pages turning for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Goodman, and GP Putnam’s Sons for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a boarding school mystery. However, I will say, I was confused and mixing up Amy and Liz at times.

It’s the first week of school, with the backdrop of New England fall, when a young girl (Sarah) and her boyfriend (Ryan) are brutally murdered in her dorm room. Amy was Sarah’s best friend, roommate, and a suspect. As time passes and Amy starts to investigate, she begins uncovering more questions. It appears Sarah had quite a few secrets and Amy’s own boyfriend has exhibited some suspicious tendencies.
However, Amy isn’t the only student trying to find answers. Liz, the editor of the school newspaper, begins investigating on her own for personal gain and putting herself in danger.

I would rate this book at 3.5 stars. It was gripping for the most part, but I didn’t love the characters. I liked the twist at the end but thought it dragged on quite a bit.

I always enjoy a boarding school mystery and this one did not disappoint. The characters are enjoyable, especially the ever-determined Liz and her unlikely partnership with Amy. Overall a fun dark academia story.

If you like teens solving crime, dark academia, prep school settings, or murder mysteries, you'll enjoy this one. I really appreciated the dual point of view and how Liz and Amy both grappled with trying to discover the truth from their own perspectives. I think Goodman did a great job of balancing telling us enough details to make it horrifying without becoming overly descriptive and traumatizing. I absolutely felt for Amy finding two of her friends dead but it didn't feel so traumatic that I couldn't keep reading. While the characters were weighed down with grief, I didn't feel that way as a reader and was able to enjoy the mystery while acknowledging the pain the characters were going through. Another stand-out feature that makes this one unique is Goodman's discussion of journalism, particularly student journalism and its challenges and ethics. Liz struggles throughout the book with the push and pull of feeling like an outsider and trying to both be a part of the community and report on it. I appreciated both of these characters' bravery and how they didn't let an awful, traumatic time dictate their future. While neither Amy nor Liz is necessarily a likeable character, they definitely had a place in my heart and I felt proud of them as the story wrapped up. I also appreciated that the end felt realistic: The author wasn't promising any ongoing romances or friendships and charted futures that felt attainable for each character. This will definitely be an addition to our high school library! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

A dual POV mystery focusing on Amy, the roommate, and Liz, the school newspaper editor, as they work to untangle the threads.

Jessica Goodman has been great at setting up premises of mysteries that intrigue me, and The Meadowbrook Murders was no different. I enjoyed the dual POV and seeing two separate views on solving the same mystery, as well as being able to put the pieces together a little bit faster than the narrators, as I had more of the information.

However, I would have loved more from Amy. I found Liz's motives to be pretty obvious about wanting to earn a scholarship with a news worthy story, while Amy was running around and being reckless, in my opinion. It was a great mystery, though, that I look forward to sharing with teen sleuths.

"The Meadowbrook Murders" is an intriguing mystery novel that ultimately delivers a satisfying read. The plot centers around a series of chilling murders in the small town of Meadowbrook, and the author does a commendable job of weaving together suspense and intricate character development.

While the book starts off a bit slow, requiring some patience to fully immerse into the story, the pace picks up significantly as the plot thickens. The initial chapters are more about setting the scene and introducing the characters, which can feel a bit drawn out. However, once the groundwork is laid, the narrative becomes gripping and hard to put down.

Overall, "The Meadowbrook Murders" is a good book that rewards readers who stick with it through the slower beginning. The twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end, making it a worthwhile read for mystery enthusiasts.

This book was very "mid" to me. I enjoyed the dark academia/boarding school setting and some of the characters were interesting, but the entire story felt pretty surface level and I also found it a bit difficult to keep some of the characters straight - Joseph, Ryan and Peter all blended together throughout the book. I liked it enough to finish it but not enough to rate it more than 3 stars.

I have been a big fan of Jessica Goodman for some time now, so I was delighted to receive her latest novel: The Meadowbrook Murders. If a book has a dark academia theme, I am going to love it. If Goodman writes it, that's icing on the cake.

This is a slow burn mystery with a dual POV. The character voices were engaging, and while readers will likely figure out the murderer before the final page, Goodman's writing will keep readers turning the pages.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

So, I knew going into this that Jessica Goodman's M.O. is prep school murder mysteries. I knew this. Yet I was still slightly annoyed by it. How do I say this... I thought the story was intriguing and the beginning started off with such promise, but then everything grounded to a slow churn and many of the characters started to grate on me. I appreciated that Goodman spent a lot of time with Amy's character arc of exploring her complicated grief over her best friend's murder -- so many YA novels tend to gloss over this for the sake of the mystery itself. You could feel Amy's pain throughout this entire novel. That said, the entitlement (while duly noted several times) is so annoying and Amy is so rude to Liz (the other MC) that it makes me care about her grief a heck of a lot less as the story goes on. Amy's so-called friends are awful people, too, which I'm sure is part of the point but also makes for an annoying read, TBH. The twist wasn't all that surprising, but it was a nice touch to acknowledge that even innocent people can't be trusted and that trust sometimes can't be repaired. Goodman nailed the morality in her latest release, but I would like to see her stories branch out a bit from the spoiled prep school murder mystery. As a YA mystery, though, this would make a juicy addition to a high school mystery collection and a solid recommendation for Karen McManus fans looking for a bit more intrigue.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

An elite boarding school. A murder. Two students must work together to find the killer before they're next.

I love a boarding school mystery and this one was an extremely fast-paced, entertaining read. After a late-night party, Amy wakes to blood. Her best friend and roommate Sarah has been murdered along with her boyfriend. During the investigation, Amy's moved into a dorm with the last person she wants to room with: Liz, the editor of the school paper and the person who broke the news to the world about the crime.

While this was a fine way to spend the afternoon, two weeks after having read the book, I can't recall any major details.

I was so excited for another Jessica Goodman academic YA thriller! I also enjoyed the fast pace of this book and how it takes place over just a few days. It kept my attention and wanting to know more. I did spot the murderer from the beginning, but I still enjoyed the book. I liked the pacing, characters, and that Liz was not just a reporter, but also a bit layered and felt shy and antisocial. I'd recommend this book if you want a quick YA thriller palate cleanser! I look forward to reading more of Jessica Goodman's books.

Rich kids at a boarding school being messy? Count me in.

I absolutely devoured this slow burn YA mystery and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. At first I absolutely despised Liz’s character, but she really grew on me as she learned what it meant to be a journalist. Amy could have used better critical thinking skills before just did things without thinking of the consequences. But that’s just how teenagers are I guess. The dual POV was perfect for this story and I definitely think I’ll pick up a Jessica Goodman book again someday.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Penguin Young Readers Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a slow burn story that I would categorize as a very young YA Mystery. It's honestly not a terrible read. I would say if you need a palette cleanser that doesn't require a whole lot of deep thinking and isn't anxiety inducing but a rather slow, one-dimensional read that you don't need to get too invested in, then this one may be for you.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3⭐️

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

God I love a good thriller set at a boarding school. Spoiled kids are so messy and I love it. It makes for such good media. Jessica Goodman is so good at writing these type of books and I consume them like no other.

Having a dual POV with the roommate of a murdered student and the school journalist was chefs kiss. I loved to see both sides. Liz was such a great character and I hope we can see her again in a different story.

Listen, did I figure out the killer pretty quick? Yes. Does it matter? No. There was so much going on throughout that kept me so invested in the story.

I recommend this if you enjoy YA thrillers and mysteries.

Amy and her best friend Sarah are seniors at Meadowbrook Academy in Connecticut when Sarah and her boyfriend are murdered in Sarah’s dorm room; Amy was asleep in the next room when they were killed, along with her own boyfriend. As the investigation begins it turns out that Sarah lied about a lot of things.

Liz, the editor of the school newspaper and social outcast wants to find out what happened, hoping she’ll win a journalism scholarship. As she searches for answers she risks bringing the murderer’s wrath down on herself next.

This story is told from each of their POVS. I do enjoy multiple POV story, but even with these short, quick chapters, I felt I was waiting for something to happen.

It’s a murder mystery with a suppperrr slow build. I wanted more action. It’s was a fine read though.

What a ride! I adore Jessica Goodman, and this book was no exception in terms of her excellence in YA thrillerland. With a dual POV that felt unique, the mystery of a murdered prep school girl and her boyfriend unraveled, with multiple suspects cropping up, and a trail of clues to follow. I did not foresee the ending unfolding as it did -- so surprising, as well as satisfying. 5 stars!!!!

Sarah wakes up one morning to find her roommate and her boyfriend murdered in bed. This book is set at a boarding school type place and many characters are suspects. Best friends. Ex boyfriends. Jealousy plays a big role. Is the school hiding something?? What role does the journalism student play? Great book! Super engaging. Kept my attention. I really enjoyed it!

This is a quick and easy read about the murder of two students at an elite boarding school in Connecticut. And even though I realized that this is a YA book and I figured out the whodunit fairly early on, I still enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down. At Meadowbrook Academy, the seniors get to campus a week early for special events. During Senior week, Sarah Oliver and Ryan Pelham - the golden couple at Meadowbrook, extremely popular and the envy of many - are brutally murdered. Sarah's roommate and best friend Amy Alterman came back to their suite that night very drunk and didn't see or hear anything until her gruesome discovery of the bodies the next morning. Liz Charles is an outcast who is the editor of the school newspaper. She is extremely determined to figure out what really happened, write the story, and use it to get a coveted journalism scholarship. While discovering many secrets, lies, and clues, Liz also learns a lot about journalistic ethics and how to become a true friend. Thanks to #netgalley and #The Meadowbrook Murders for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating 2.5

The main thing that didn't quite work for me had to do with the dual POVs. Both characters are the same gender, same age, at the same school. Their voices and tone felt similar enough that it was difficult to keep them separate for the first portion of the book, and if I set the book down in the middle of one of their chapters it was hard to remember whose POV it was when I picked it back up.

The solution to the mystery was also a bit underwhelming, and the solution wasn't entirely satisfying since there were no real clues or possible hints until the very end. It felt weird to have such a gruesome murder juxtaposed with the rest of the somewhat trite feeling teenager interactions and angst.

Despite that, the pacing was consistent and kept the story moving and it was an okay read overall. If you like YA murder mysteries in academic settings (but this certainly doesn't classify as dark academia) then you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read this work.