I loved this book! This is the type of book that you will be unable to put down, so addicting. I was invested in this story right from the 1st chapter. The character's are wonderful and the plot was wonderful. Great Job! I will be recommending this book on my youtube channel and goodreads.

I started this book just after a dnf, and at first, I thought I had a second dnf on my hands. But I'm really glad I plowed through that initial "meh" feeling, because I really enjoyed this, cliches and all. I would definitely be down for a sequel.

When I first read the blurb for The Lost Causes, I was determined to get my hands on it. Stories of “otherness” draw me in like a bear to honey. And the cover is really atmospheric, dark and gloomy and oh so promising. But despite really liking it (truly, I did---see the 4 stars?), it also fell a little flat for me, probably because my expectations were set too high (by me, myself and I).

The story was good, but formulaic. Five troubled teenagers who have been written off by the world are forcibly injected with a serum that gives them superpowers AND takes away all their mental health issues (anger, depression, OCD, addiction, etc.). These self-proclaimed “lost causes” are then presented with the opportunity to help the FBI track down a killer and save the world. Naturally, there are twists and turns, but as much as I hate to say so…the who and why weren’t much of a shock. Basically, it felt like The Breakfast Club (yay!) meets Heroes (also yay!), but what I really wanted was Heroes meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer, know what I mean? It wasn’t a surprise to find that the author team has been writing TV and movie scripts since graduating college. That isn’t a bad thing (awesome for them, yes?), but it wasn’t what I was expecting. The characters were a little one dimensional, there was no real suspense, and I was hoping for a lot more grit and kick-assery.

It was a good read. Good. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes their YA clean and safe. Like I said, The Breakfast Club meets Heroes lite. It was entertaining, but not everything I wanted it to be.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

A group of High School Students are summoned to a meeting with the School Therapist, but instead of the Therapist the group are met by two FBI agents - Nash and Patricia. It turns out the FBI need the students on board to solve a local murder. The group have been specifically singled out as they are misfits whose parents don’t seem to bother about them. And the students develop super powers to help them solve the case.

It’s a bit like Scooby-Doo Mystery Gang meet Buffy’s Scooby Gang. Its a good yarn. The baddies would definitely have got away with it if it hadn’t been for those pesky teenagers that solved the case. The friendships are strong, and the pace is perfect. It does teeter on cliché at times, but it’s a good read.

And from the ending it looks like there could be a sequel. Can't wait.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected! There is a definite underlying feel of The Breakfast Club and I am such a sucker for those vibes. I need more stories from this group! This is such a fun and exciting read! If you get the chance please check this one out - you won't regret it!

I loved this book! It's my favorite book this year! The writing was great, every page left you wanting more. The characters were totally relatable and believable and I really enjoyed reading how the they learned of, dealt with and developed their 'powers', The plot was fast-paced, intriguing and clever. Paranormal mysteries are my kind of books and this one did not disappoint!. This is a YA novel but adults, like me, will love it as well, which is another favorite type of book of mine. I highly recommend this book.
I'm not gonna lie-I totally read the name Kevin Beeswax instead of Kevin Beswick.!

The publisher provided me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for providing feedback. (via NetGalley)

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this one. It was intriguing, fast paced, and full of suspense with a few twists I didn't see coming. I hope there are more in the series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The concept was innovative and the mystery keeps you gripped throughout. the characters are well developed and the plot well executed.

I have never read a story like this before . I found this story unique and even though it started off a little slow I did actually enjoy this book .

Wow. I don't usually read these because while they're great, sometimes they're more like great reads for a sitting, but this one? I think it's their slightly sci-fi angle that really makes it more like something I'd happily devour for the rest of the series.

Five troubled teens are given the chance to do something amazing for themselves, and I really liked how they took that and made it something positive, despite the shadiness of the whole thing. I was left in suspense with the story and though it felt a bit predictable, it was only so because some of my guesses ended up true at the end. Otherwise I kept wondering if I was right or if there was another twist I hadn't anticipated. The buildup was nice, starting off normal and slowly introducing the paranormal bits before full-on getting into it. I liked the teens' individuality, how they all had their own problems but still clicked. I liked that.

This is definitely one of the few, more unique reads I've come across and I totally recommend it to those who love high school, suspenseful thrillers, special abilities and the underdogs getting some good light.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for letting me review an e-arc. Even though I received this book for free to review, all thoughts, opinions, and reviews are honest and my own.
This was great! I was hooked from the first page. I loved the concept of it. I love anything with powers, friendships, murders, and crime solving. This book was just fun for me.
It was kind of a mash-up of Criminal Minds, with a pinch of X-Men, and the fun of Scooby-Doo. It just really worked for me all around.
I enjoyed all the characters. Each one was different from the other, and each one had a special place in the group. I also loved how they acted like immature teens from time to time. They weren't written as little adults in teen bodies, they felt realistic.
I found Andrew to be the most annoying of the bunch, but I still liked him. His hypochondriac status before the serum was extreme, as well as a little amusing. To all those people that really suffer from that, sorry, I wish you didn't. When Andrew got his super brain, he was still annoying, but likable. Always bragging about his super brain. He reminded me a lot of Spencer from Criminal Minds.
Z was the hardest character for me to pin down.
I liked Sabrina's character, but I can't say I was the biggest fan of her romance. I don't know why I didn't love it, it just didn't do anything for me.
Justin and Gabby were great too! I think their issues were well thought out and felt real. And I absolutely loved their little romance! It was so sweet and adorable.
I love super-power anything, so I really enjoyed them getting their powers and learning how to use them. I'm glad each power was unique and different. Powers are just so fun!!
My favorite part of this book was the friendship this group formed. It was kind of heartwarming. And it didn't feel rushed, it felt like a natural thing.
I found the whole case really interesting too. I had no idea how it was going to go or how everything was going to turn out. The twists and turns were great! I had to keep on reading to see how everything would end.
I just thought this book was a really fun ride. It kept me hooked. I loved this little group of Lost Causes, and I want to see what happens to them next. I want more books in this series! This one did end on a cliffhanger, so I really hope we get to learn what happens next. Thanks again to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for letting me review an e-arc. I definitely recommend picking this one up when it comes out.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.2/5
So Addicting and Fun!

This was the story of five teenagers that were marked out as “Lost Causes” by their family and other people close to them. They get to know each other and have to find a murderer.

I don’t want to say too much about this book because I didn’t remember the summary when I started reading it and I think that’s how it’s best.
I really enjoyed it.
The characters were interesting even if they seemed cliché at first.
The intrigue kept me guessing the entire time and I could not put the book down.
The relationships between the main characters were all very interesting, whether it was the friendships or the romances; I found myself rooting for them.
All in all, a very good read.

I wasn't sure about this one at first, because the characters were sort of unlikable at the beginning of the story, but they grew on me and so did this book.

The FBI dosing a group of "throw-aways" with a serum, which gives them psychic powers is a rather compelling concept. After a little bit of a slow start, the story picks up, and I was sort of impressed with a few of the big twists, which made the story quite interesting. Oh, and just when I thought this tale was all tied up in a neat bow, we get another big reveal on the very last line of the very last page. Nicely played.

Overall: A paranormal Breakfast Club filled with murder and mystery.

Although the characters in this book were extremely plausible and the interaction good I'm afraid the storyline was just too farfetched for me to take it seriously. A well written book nonetheless and worthy of 3 stars.

The Lost Causes is not one I would have picked up myself and I was glad I was sent an arc copy! This is the book any teenager (and even those older) will love. I wish I had been able to read this when I was a teenager.

The Lost Causes is about a group of misfit teens (similar to The Breakfast Club). They are teenagers who are considered ‘lost causes’ that no one seems to care about and they all have their own issues. They are then given special abilities and the FBI pulls them into a murder case to help solve. Here is where you need to totally suspend your belief in reality. There is no chance this could actually happen. Every bit of the novel is outlandish and unbelievable, but it is in a great way! I did not want to put it down at all and you go on a roller coaster where one thing happens then something else happens. I didn’t know who was going to end up being the killer and then we have that ending! I really hope this is to become a series as I became attached to all of our ‘Lost Causes’. I need more stories with this group of teenagers!

This is a book I would definitely recommend for teenagers. Every teen feels like they don’t belong anywhere at some point in their life and this book covers those feelings and giving our ‘lost causes’ these abilities makes them important and special which all teens have that need. Yes, there is some teen drama and a totally inappropriate relationship, but it’s a book about teenagers so you are going to get that.

The Lost Causes was a young adult thriller with paranormal twists. It’s different from what I usually read, but I really enjoyed it. It is 100% recommended.

Thank you to KCP Loft for sending me a print arc and NetGalley for my e-arc copies.

A YA mystery I couldn't solve is rare, so high marks for that. It's a little farfetched in some ways, but the relationships between the four main characters are realistic enough. I will definitely look for the sequel.

I know what you’re thinking – it’s yet another take on the Breakfast Club genre but it’s not so if you give it a try you’ll see judging a book by its back cover can be unfair.

You do have a motley crew thrown together that probably never would’ve breathed the same air before willingly but the rushed character development, sci fi like aspects and intriguing mystery will prove that this plot device was the perfect set up for the story.

Although at times it feels like the characters jumped from point A to point N in their development you still feel very much by the end that you know who they are, how they became the way they did both pre and post enhanced and that these were all basically good kids who just needed someone to tell them they worth it. I ended up liking all of them and really feeling for their struggles and being happy for their successes.

Yes there is an ethically horrendous, although not unprecedented in reality, plot device where government agents kidnap and without their consent use drug enhancements on these kids to move the story along. No that’s not okay and the author doesn’t try to convince you that it is but seeing as how this is done ad nauseam in the comic world without people having a major hissy fit I’m not going to give the author flack for using it here either.

Overall I think teens should like it. The authors have an extensive career working in the YA world both with Literary and Visual Media so they know what this fan base is into and they’ve managed to capture various points here. It’s easy to see this becoming another of their shows or multi-book serials.

First thought: 5 misfits forced together --- okay, so Breakfast Club. But after the exposition that feels like an unfair comparison. While the characters are nicely developed, their changes happen quite rapidly, but I suppose that is because they all want to leave their problems behind. Although there are elements of the supernatural, the way the mystery is solved also showcases problem solving skills, which I appreciated. It makes the reader feel that the characters abilities were with them all along - they had it in them despite things that were forced upon them. Sometimes it just takes someone believing in you for you to reach your true potential. And that's why, for all the darkness in the story, it has a bright message. Having said that, I picked the cover because it was midnight blue, but now that I've read the book, I want a brighter visual to accompany the story. And I want to read the sequel (there has to be a sequel!).

About: The Lost Causes is a young adult thriller written by Alyssa Embree Schwartz and Jessica Koosed Etting. It will be published on 9/5/17 by KCP Loft, an imprint of Kids Can Press, also an imprint of Hatchette Book Group, 344 pages. The genres are young adult, fiction, and mystery/thriller. This book is intended for readers ages 14 to 18 and grades 9 to 12.

My Experience: I started reading The Lost Causes on 7/22/17 and finished it on 7/31/17. This book is a fantastic read! I love how the authors reveal little clues here and there to keep the story interesting. I love a good chase and a good puzzle and this book has it. It’s great to be able to follow the characters as they analyze and unravel the mystery among themselves. Despite being lost causes, I like that they are smart and can think for themselves when situations became suspicious. This book has enough suspense and mystery to keep me reading on and I like that I couldn’t see where the ending was headed.

In this book, readers will follow 5 high school students who are deemed the lost causes because their parents/teachers gave up on helping them to overcome their personal problems. Gabby with her OCD, Justin with his anger issues, Sabrina with her drug abuse, Z with her depression, and Andrew with his body pains and constant ambulance calls all are varies in background. One day, the 5 got summoned to a therapy session, they were under the impression of meeting the school’s psychologist, Dr. Pearl but in fact were met with the FBIs. After the initial meeting, they woke up with enhanced senses: Z can hear other people’s thoughts, Andrew becomes a genius, Justin can throw people off with his minds, Gabby can see people’s past by touch, and Sabrina can see dead people. When they confronted Patricia and Nash (FBIs), they were given the choice to go back to being themselves as they were before with their issues or join a secret mission to solve a recent murder with their enhanced abilities. The best thing about this enhanced abilities was that it suppressed their prior problems. When they realized that this secret mission will give them a purpose in life compare to their being outcast in the past, they all agreed to take part in the mission. The group find themselves not only solving the murder but also questioning whether they can trust the FBIs.

This book is written in the third person point of view. It has great characters and an interesting plot. It’s very well written and makes an addictive read! This thriller is light hearted so it’s ideal for readers who doesn’t like to read gruesome killings. I love how the characters were all are flawed and that they are trusted with an important mission to do something they normally couldn’t. I love the sense of humor and the shyness in romance, despite very little romance there is in this book. I love how through this mission, the lost causes become confident in themselves and find the meaning in friendships among each other that they previously lacked. The Lost Causes is an unexpected but satisfying read and I highly recommend everyone to read it!

Pro: friendship, crime investigation, secret mission, enhanced abilities, page turner, fast paced, flawed main characters, problem solving, strategy analyzing

Con: none

I rate it 5 stars!

***Many thanks to the authors Alyssa Embree Schwartz and Jessica Koosed Etting, publisher Kids Can Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for a detailed review

Amazing! I fell in love with the characters and was so engrossed with the story that I couldn't possible stop reading and in the super intense scene at the end I was reading so fast, convinced something terrible was going to happen to the characters I'd come to love.
Also huge round of applause to the authors for the cute and fluffy relationship in this between 2 characters in this which DID NOT INCLUDE INSTA-LOVE!!!!!!! J ust two teenagers who were adorable and started dating and hanging out because teenagers don’t start going out and then start saying ‘I love you’ a couple days later, not unless they’re twelve or something. Yes A+!
My only problems with this book was that 1- I wanted a bit more of their background and seeing into their family lives more, especially with Gabby (I loved her she was my favourite) and Sabrina and Andrew too.
2- Lost Causes was said far too much in the beginning to the point where it started becoming cheesy and comical.(But I loved it when they named their group that, kind of like The Avengers or whatever)
3- The pacing at the start, just for the first couple chapters, but everything seemed to happen really fast, mainly with them all becoming such fast friends.
I'm really hoping there's a sequel! PLease say there's a sequel!!!