—— 4⭐️

This was a fast, twisty read for me! The kind of thriller you pick up to get you out of a reading slump. It’s more of a novella, being on the shorter side but I enjoyed that. The story didn’t have any filler material in it.

The story follows Charlotte, a 16 year old protagonist, who is convinced that her life would improve once she overcomes the obstacle of Bellany, her best friends twin sister. But during Bellany & Bridger’s 17th birthday party, Bellany is found dead in the woods. While the police search for who could have murdered Bellany, Charlotte realizes a lot of people had motive, including herself.

I would like to give a huge thank you to Netgalley & Michele Leather for providing me with an ARC of They All Had A Reason in exchange for my honest review.

As a high school English teacher, I’m always searching for contemporary young adult fiction that will not only capture my students’ attention but also spark thoughtful conversations. They All Had a Reason by Michele Leathers fits that need perfectly.

Leathers has crafted a suspenseful, character-driven story full of mystery, tension, and unexpected twists. The narrative unfolds in a way that keeps readers questioning every character’s motives, making it a great choice for encouraging students to think critically about perspective, reliability, and the consequences of secrets. The shifting dynamics between the characters reminded me of classroom discussions we often have around trust, morality, and how our choices ripple outward.

What stood out most for me is how accessible the writing style is while still offering layers of complexity. It’s approachable for reluctant readers but rich enough to engage more advanced students. I can easily see this book generating lively discussions in a literature circle or independent reading setting, particularly around themes of guilt, responsibility, and truth.

Michele Leathers’ ability to weave suspense with authentic teen voices makes this novel both entertaining and thought-provoking. I’ll definitely be recommending it to my students who love mystery, drama, and a good psychological twist.

This book was….not great. The writing itself wasn’t bad, but the plot was just not there. It made so little sense, and the big reveal at the end was just so far-fetched. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and the pacing was really off. I would not recommend.

🔪 ┊ “ a rumor. a secret. a lie. a murder. ”

The premise immediately caught my attention: Charlotte, who has always been enemies with Bellany, the popular girl, suddenly finds herself a suspect after Bellany’s death. The synopsis was intriguing enough that I requested this novel on NetGalley. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the promise.

The biggest issue lies in how the characters (especially Charlotte) don’t follow any laws of common sense; their decisions often feel forced or nonsensical rather than realistic. On top of that, the story is riddled with plot holes that weaken the mystery instead of deepening it.

I believe there are five or six more books after this one, but I honestly have no interest in continuing. Maybe some of the unanswered questions will be resolved in later installments, but the combination of weak plotting, characters who lack common sense, and too many loose threads has already lost me.

Worst of all, Charlotte was insufferably unlikeable, constantly making petty, snarky comments in her head.

I'm not totally sure how to rate this one. It checks off everything on the list of things I typically love in YA thrillers: best friends, worst enemy queen bee, drama, mystery, suspense - this has it all! But the writing and lack of depth make this feel more like a middle grades story than YA. While YA characters do and say a lot of things that don't always fit into real life, this one just left me with too many questions and plot holes that ended up being more distracting and entertaining to me in the end.

Overall, was it a bad story? No. Did it feel YA? Also no. I think this would go much further if it were marketed toward a younger age group!

They all had a reason was such a great thriller. It sure kept me guessing from page to page. I absolutely loved it.

A fast paced, addictive thriller full of secrets, rumors, and twisted friendships. When Charlotte finds her bully murdered, she’s caught between relief and suspicion especially when the town starts pointing fingers at her. With shifting loyalties and a haunting mystery, this story keeps you guessing until the very last page. Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars.

Absolutely loved this. Loved the characters and the plot of the story. Was a good who done it ya thriller book. First time reading this author and looking forward to reading more from them

Thank you for the ARC
Good book!! Had all the feels of high school drama with a twist of whodunit. Unexpected ending and a good way to go into the next book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

THEY ALL HAD A REASON (Oct 7)

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the earc

Charlotte is convince someone is out to get her, that Bellany is out to get her. When Charlotte find Bellany d*ad in the woods, she's relieved. Free from torment, etc. But as rumors pick up, the police have a suspect: Charlotte. So she investigates.
THEY ALL HAD A REASON is a YA m*rder mystery. Before I even start, let me just say I'm so glad Sourcebooks Fire picked this up because I've been wanting to read it. Onto the review...
THEY ALL HAD A REASON is a short and quick read. At under 250 pages, I flew through this in no time at all---working my way through the mystery that seemed to go deeper than a d*ad body. Seriously, I was suspicious of everyone. These characters were shady. With a capital S. It was hectic in that way, but I feel like we didn't get enough of the characters to really get a read on the whodunit.. There were times where I as sure I had it figured out, though---in my head the most likely suspect was the least suspicious person because, and I don't know if this makes sense, they're obviously the most suspicious...which in turn made them the suspect. And I was wrong. Like, more wrong than I've ever been, which is a plus because I love a mystery I cannot solve.
I think the ending and reveal came super abruptly. But like, how crazy was that? I knew it was a possibility because that was one of the things that the main character thought, but I never thought it to be true.
THEY ALL HAD A REASON is twisted, it's thrilling, and there is so much suspense to go around. In the end, this book baffled me. Shocked, dumbfounded, flabbergasted---however you want to describe it, that's how I'm feeling as I write this review. Seriously, I cannot wait to read more by this author and see what happens next in the THEY ALL HAD A ____ series.

Out October 7th, 2025
It kicks off with Charlotte, who’s dealing with the usual mean-girl chaos from Bellany Silverfield—until Bellany turns up dead in the woods. Suddenly, Charlotte’s not just the bullied girl anymore; she’s the prime suspect. The book dives into secrets, lies, and shifting friendships that feel super real, especially when you’re trying to figure out who’s got your back and who’s ready to stab it.

What makes this story extra juicy is how fast things spiral. Rumors fly, evidence piles up, and Charlotte’s world starts crumbling just when she thought she might finally be free. It’s like Pretty Little Liars meets One of Us Is Lying, but with its own twisty edge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this tense ARC!

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Fire for providing the copy of They All Had A Reason by Michele Leathers. The reviews are all over the place for this one. Luckily, I didn’t read any reviews until I finished reading the book. Apparently, it’s book one in a series from 2021. I wasn’t expecting great literature, so I enjoyed what it was, just an easy, fun read with a great reveal. The only thing I hated was when a character explained how the murder was pulled off, instead of showing some of the action. In all fairness, though, that would have been difficult to pull off without giving the reveals away. While I’m not sure I liked this book enough to read the rest of the series, I did enjoy the read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are me own. A thrilling read! Charlotte has a bully, the pretty and popular Bellany. So when Charlotte stumbles across a dead Bellany she has mixed feelings about the situation. On the one hand someone killed her on the other she’s no longer able to make Charlotte’s life miserable. Or can she? When evidence and rumors start to point the finger at Charlotte herself she’ll have to rush to prove her innocence. And the people Charlotte thought she could trust may not be so trustworthy after all. Can Charlotte save herself? Or is whoever killed Bellany now after her? Full of twists and turns that kept me flipping the pages! Michele Leathers They All Had A Reason is thrilling, intense, and will have you hooked!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Michele Leathers’ “They All Had a Reason” is a YA thriller that leans hard into high school drama, fast-paced chaos, and a tangled web of secrets, lies, and revenge. It’s a story that is dripping with gossip, suspicion, and a murder mystery that turns an entire school on its head.

The story kicks off with the murder (or possible disappearance?) of Bellamy who is the school’s untouchable Queen Bee, feared and admired in equal measure. She’s the kind of girl who makes life miserable for those she dislikes, and Charlotte, our main character, has been in Bellamy’s crosshairs for years. When Bellamy turns up dead the night of her birthday party, Charlotte becomes a prime suspect despite being the one person who saw her body and isn’t convinced she’s truly gone. What follows is Charlotte’s descent into a nightmarish social spiral, as secrets are exposed and someone goes to great lengths to frame her.

There’s definitely fun to be had here, especially if you're in the mood for high-drama teen angst and relentless twists. The book reads like a Netflix YA thriller—fast, messy, and heavy on emotional stakes. The writing style reflects the frantic, scattered thoughts of a teenage mind, which gives it a breathless momentum but can also feel chaotic and unpolished. That tone might resonate with younger teens, but for older readers, it may come across as amateurish or melodramatic.

Charlotte is a bit of a mixed bag as a protagonist. She’s relatable in her fear and confusion, but also incredibly naïve and frustrating at times. Her loyalty to backstabbing friends and her questionable investigative choices make it hard to root for her completely. The romance subplot, particularly with Wyatt, feels rushed and underbaked as it’s more of a plot device than a fully believable relationship.

The mystery itself has some decent hooks and a twisty structure that keeps the pages turning. There’s no shortage of suspects, and the paranoia builds effectively. But the story doesn’t always hold together logically. Character motivations can be murky, decisions often feel implausible, and moments that should carry emotional weight fall a bit flat due to the lack of depth in the character development. There’s a lot of surface drama but not much beneath it.

That said, “They All Had a Reason” could be a great pick for younger teens or readers in a slump looking for something fast, twisty, and undemanding. It’s a book that feels like it’s trying to be edgy and mysterious, and while it doesn't always succeed, it certainly entertains in a pulpy, popcorn-thriller kind of way.

Overall, if you’re in your teens, love messy high school drama, and don’t mind a bit of implausibility, “They All Had a Reason” might be a binge-worthy guilty pleasure.

Unfortunately, this was the lowest quality book I’ve seen traditionally published. The writing was at a particularly low level, the main female character spoke like she was much younger, and characters were just forgotten after a few chapters. The ending was predictable, and unfortunately, this one was just not good.