You’ll Love You’ll be the Death of Me If You Love…

You’ll Be the Death of Me Review

This is not your typical murder mystery…

The first Karen M. McManus’ book I read was One of Us is Lying, and that book got me back into reading again after a 3 year slump, so I was really excited to be gifted another one of her books, and boy she did not disappoint.

I enjoyed the main plot of solving the murder. I thought the clues that were dropped were very clever, and I wasn’t able to piece everything together until it was happening. The multiple subplots included were neatly woven into this action-packed novel. I found the ending to be very satisfying, and when I turned the next page expecting another chapter, there was only the acknowledgements and I was flabbergasted. It’s safe to say that McManus left more room for a sequel to this book, which I will gladly read.

A unique aspect of this book that I appreciated was the short timespan the

Meet Ivy, Mateo, and Cal!

Ivy Sterling-Shepherd is straight-A three time student council president, but after a humiliating event at the end of her junior year, and losing her presidency to someone who ran as a joke, Ivy is fed up. 

Cal O’Shea-Wallace is an art-enthusiastic hopeless romantic, always looking for “the one.” After breaking up with his ex, he’s not quite sure if he made the right choice dating a new girl.

Finally, Mateo Wojcik is busy day and night working two jobs after his mother got diagnosed with bone cancer, and his cousin, Autumn, decides to take a job that puts the family at risk. 

I found all three characters to be very likable, and each to have their own distinctive personalities. McManus does a very thorough job at giving the characters their own voice. She makes the characters very fleshed out by showing readers character motivations. Because of this, the characters were also compelling, and experienced growth throughout the book. Characters were able to come to terms with their flaws, and determine how they can improve themselves. McManus is able to touch upon themes such as pressure from academics, finances, and themes of friendship through the character development. Even though all three characters have their likable personalities, I will say that Mateo is my favorite among the three.

Writing

McManus writes this novel from multiple perspectives: Ivy, Cal, and Mateo’s. Her writing style caters to each perspective to giving the characters a distinct voice, adding to their characterization. Additionally, her writing is able to keep the mood light and airy, while being suspenseful simultaneously. Although the setting of the book was only a short amount of time, I found the pacing to be perfect, especially towards the end where it sped up, making it impossible to put down the book. 

To Conclude…

With fast-paced action, layered characters, and just the right dose of mystery, You’ll Be the Death of Me is another win for Karen M. McManus. Whether you’re new to her books or already a fan, this twisty tale of friendship and secrets is worth the ride.