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Writer's pictureKayla Isabel

They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman (Book Review)

A murder mystery set against the backdrop of an exclusive prep school on Long Island.

In Gold Coast, Long Island, everything from the expensive downtown shops to the manicured beaches, to the pressed uniforms of Jill Newman and her friends, looks perfect. But as Jill found out three years ago, nothing is as it seems.

Freshman year Jill’s best friend, the brilliant, dazzling Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill tried to move on.

Now, it’s Jill’s senior year and she’s determined to make it her best yet. After all, she’s a senior and a Player–a member of Gold Coast Prep’s exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, highest grades and the admiration of the entire school. This is going to be Jill’s year. She’s sure of it.

But when Jill starts getting texts proclaiming Graham’s innocence, her dreams of the perfect senior year start to crumble. If Graham didn’t kill Shaila, who did? Jill is vows to find out, but digging deeper could mean putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy. (taken from goodreads.com)

Jill and her friends are finally seniors at Gold Coast Prep, they have overcome a lot of things to be here including the murder of their best friend Shaila. They are ready to help haze the newest crew of players, but when Jill starts getting texts that are bringing Shaila’s case back to the news things start to get tricky. Jill has to choose if being a player is truly worth all of the trouble its causing right now.

I loved this so much. I have very recently started reading more murder mystery/thriller/suspenseful novels. This reminded me as if Gossip Girl and A Good Girls Guide to Murder had a baby. This was also the November Stoney Clover Lane book club pick, I have been following their book club picks since August and none of them have let me down. They have all been so amazing.

Jill Newman is a Jewish girl from Long Island going to private school on Long Island. As a Jewish girl from Long Island who went to private school on Long Island, I felt like I could relate to the pressures that Jill was feeling to be perfect. While it’s not necessarily pressure being put on her by others, its the pressure her and her friends put on themselves.

Henry is my favorite, he’s Jill’s sweet boyfriend who just wants to make her happy and loves her more than anything. But poor Henry doesnt know that Jill’s heart belongs to someone else.

While the story follows all of the senior Players, Jill is our main character and we get to know her the best. Jill deals with falling in love, trying to be the best she can be, learning who she is, making her family proud and so much more.

This was by far one of my most favorite books I have read this month! I highly recommend picking this up!

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