I have no idea what I expected with this book. But it definitely was nothing like what I had in mind when reading the title.

It was suspenseful, a rollercoaster ride, a bit unbelievable... yes but it was still really enjoyable. I just had to know how it ended. This book is a powerful LGBTQ YA thriller. It will keep you on your toes. This book could definitely be a movie. Actually it should be! It was insanely good.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read this book in exchange for honest review.

Fast paced. Twisted. Sleep with the computer off and lights on. Enjoyed this thriller. Recommended for someone looking to read in one sitting!

I was almost halfway through this book when I decided to put it down. It just wasn’t for me - the storyline didn’t grip me. It was too fast-paced and reminded me of an action movie with a lot of scenes of the main character running from somebody, but we don’t know who or why...and I just wasn’t invested. Not for me.

I was really interested in this one, but unfortunately I don't feel the execution really paid off. It felt very chaotic and all over the place in both pacing and content, and I struggled to push through some chapters where everything seemed to come out of left field.

I was so excited to review Swipe Right for Murder for my school library; it looked like an engaging and unique story to add to the collection. Not only did the plot sound great, but it also had James Patterson's stamp of approval. Unfortunately, within a few pages, I found the narrator to be whiny and ignorant. Milman's writing comes across not as a self-conscious teen, but rather as an adult trying to embody a teen's voice with slightly out-of-touch language. The sense of entitlement of the narrator (complaining about a trip to Mexico in the first few pages and later griping about the fancy college he intends to go to). As a result, I could not appreciate the story - it was a frustrating reading experience overall.

I purchased this book for our teen collection before reading it, but once I got the ARC, I started it. The narration was conversational and more mature than I was expecting. The first chapter didn't really suck me in like I was expecting. However, I can see this book doing well in our collection, and up to this point, it has circ'd well!

I received an ARC of Swipe Right for Murder from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. It was published on August 6th.

I must have forgotten what what Swipe Right for Murder was about by time I got around to reading it, because it ended up being completely different than I originally thought it was going to be? But now reading the description again after finishing the book, I see that it was exactly what the description says haha. :P I think that's part of why I gave it a 3 out of 5 stars. I was expecting something totally different, but totally my fault since I didn't read the description again before starting the book, lol.

With that being said, I still really enjoyed Swipe Right for Murder. I had a lot of fun reading it and it was a pretty interesting story. There were quite a few twists involved and a couple that I didn't see coming. I really liked the main character, Aidan and I really felt for him and was rooting for him the entire way through. He is dealing with so many things in his life and then he's thrown into this crazy situation. He doesn't know who to trust and I honestly had no idea who to trust either. I was just as confused and frustrated as Aidan was throughout the book.

I don't want to talk about too much, because I don't want to give away any spoilers and it's hard to do with thriller books; at least for me, haha. Overall though, I thought Swipe Right for Murder was a really good story even though it was completely different than I originally thought. Totally my fault with that though, lol. I had a lot of fun reading it and it kept me guessing and questioning what was really happening. It also has a lot of LGBT themes and I felt like it was relevant and relatable. I would definitely recommend picking this one up. Don't let my three star rating fool you, because it really was a good book.

So glad I was given an arc of this by netgalley in exchange for a
My honest opinion. I absolutely loved this book so much. Great plot and writing by the author.

I tried to like this one, but it just wasn't for me. It happens. I just couldn't really get into the story, and found it a little confusing at times. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset for this one, because I honestly thought I would love it.

I get what MIlman is trying to achieve here. First, we have the ease with which marginalized people can be radicalized. And the ways in which law enforcement manipulate people who find themselves in trouble. Those two things alone are important for people to know and understand. And I can understand, to a degree, the protagonist sympathizing with the terrorists' sentiments. I understand that when you feel hate and judgement heaped upon you by strangers the impulse to return that hate. I can see feeling vindicated by an attack. But the levels to which the terrorists attack is pretty extreme. I found a lot of the reactions by various characters disingenuous.

I did not realize going into this book that it was a modern retelling of an old Alfred Hitchcock movie by the name of North By Northwest. I loved those old movies, and although I don’t think I have seen this particular one, I definitely got that Hitchcock movie vibe from this book. Just like those movies, this was a very fast paced book that was hard to put down.

Aiden was a very likable teen, even though he tended to fall in like with every good looking guy he met. His hooking up with random guys is also what gets him into trouble in the first place. He does have a troubled past which is doled out slowly through flashbacks through out the book. His family is not exactly supportive of him either, I really did not like his mom, but his sister at least tries. Aiden’s strength comes from his friends, who also have some issues, but they are there when he needs their help.

The focus of the story is very much on Aiden, and the other characters are not as well developed as they could be. But as this is a plot driven story, we can forgive that. Although there is one secondary character that does need to be mentioned, Silas. He appears out of nowhere and helps Aiden out of a jam. Aiden doesn’t know him at all, but hey he’s cute so why not? Even though I really liked Silas, I never really trusted him, which sometimes I was right about.

The plot was pretty riveting, although somewhat predictable. There were some mighty big twists, that weren’t always foreseeable. But sometimes the narrative was moving so fast that you didn’t have time to stop and think, just like Aiden. There is one minor plot point that really bugged me though. Aiden and Silas were rushing off to save the world when they suddenly stop to have this five minute conversation about their feelings for each other. I was just sort of put off by that, come on guys, people’s lives are depending on you. Stop being emotional and get the job done. Just saying. The ending was great and pretty realistic, with everything not ending tied up in a neat bow.

Overall a pretty captivating and entertaining read that I really enjoyed. If you like the old Hitchcock films, certainly give this book a try, you won’t be disappointed.

After I finished this book, I had to take a day to gather my thoughts before I could write a review.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and would probably recommend it to others who enjoy YA mystery/thrillers. It was entertaining and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. I love finding new books that have LGBTQ+ characters and relevant topics.

While the book did have a defined villain, I couldn’t help but have some of the same feelings that the MC did regarding what the terror group was trying to accomplish. Terroristic acts and murder are bad but especially as a queer person it’s easy to see the hurt and anger behind them. Having some of the same back and forth feelings like the MC did made for an interesting read.

I did have a few issues with this book. The book covers some heavy topics and for the most part did that well. However, I didn’t feel like the teen/adult relationship was properly discussed. IIRC, only ONE time in the entire book was it mentioned that the adult in this relationship was wrong and had taken advantage of a teenage boy. I know from Aiden’s pov he was heartbroken and in pain and it did explore that. I just wish the book had taken a harder stance on inappropriate relationships.

Also, another review had mentioned that the characters seemed more like college kids than HS seniors and I have to agree. Several times while reading I would forget the characters were as young as they are because for the most part they did not act their age. In some parts the characters would be saying things and acting like more mid 20’s kids and then out of no where they’d do something immature or petulant. As if the writer just remembered that they are supposed to be teenagers.

This book was definitely entertaining and thought provoking. I was only going to read a few pages before bed but ended up staying up late to finish. I’d be interested to read more by this author.

I LOVED Scream All Night and was so excited got this book. I wanted to love it but I struggled with it. I can’t pinpoint the issue though. It was fast paced and I loved the LGBTQ aspect but I never really connected with the main character.

I didn't know much about Swipe Right for Murder and would recommend going into that way. This was a fast-paced thriller that kept me wanting more. I would definitely recommend reading Swipe Right for Murder and would love a sequel!

James Patterson is sometimes viewed as a controversial figure in the book world, but there is no denying that he knows a good story when he sees one and he has always been a champion for diversity in the literary landscape. So, it is no surprising that his young adult imprint, “Jimmy Patterson,” picked up Derek Milman’s Swipe Right For Murder, a lightning-fast thriller with a gay teen lead and a plot designed to both entertain and educate.

While not quite as short as some of Patterson’s chapters, Derek Milman echoes that bestseller’s style in crafting breezy episodes that end on cliffhangers designed to keep readers glued to the pages. Readers will continue to turn pages until the wee hours of the morning, never realizing that time is passing.

Swipe Right For Murder begins with seventeen-year-old Aidan checking into a swanky hotel in New York City. What’s a horny teen with an evening free from parental control to do? Check out DirtyPaws, the latest gay cruising app, of course. This unfortunate decision sends Aidan down a path that will overturn everything he thought he know about the world at large and about himself, specifically.

After a brief tête-à-tête with a closeted classmate ends in shambles leaving Aidan reeling, he hooks up with a handsome older man in that man’s hotel room. All proceeds as expected on this adventurous evening until Aidan wakes up to find this man dead beside him on the high-thread-count sheets. It quickly becomes clear that Aidan is going to take the fall, but escaping only puts his life in greater danger. Everywhere Aidan turns, people seem to be after him, hunting him for unknown reasons.

With some help from his buddies, Aidan uncovers a conspiracy that seems both ludicrous and understandable – depending on one’s vantage point. With the specter of terrorism shadowing every development, a chance encounter with a sexy-as-fuck college student – one who may or may not be on Aidan’s side – Aidan’s confusion and stress reaches unforeseen, and dangerous, new levels.

Derek Milman packs his fast-paced story with pop culture references and enough contemporary turns-of-phrase to make it feel extremely relevant and realistic, but it is his skill with weaving in LGBTQ+ history that will awe readers. Wrapped in this thriller is a story about a boy discovering where he fits in a community that continues to be viewed in negative ways by far too many people. As he watches things unfold, Aidan learns just how fine the line between activism and fanaticism really is – they are two sides of the same coin.

Befitting today’s brand of young adult literature, Aidan is a complex character, flawed in significant ways, but also looking to mature despite society’s desire to ignore his existence. Milman makes Aidan a sympathetic character, easily relatable to a vast swath of the young adult population. He is a boy grieving the loss of his brother; a boy confused by his feelings about a lost love that was equal parts enticing, forbidden, and fractured; a boy shedding his innocence while trying to find himself, to understand his role and place in our world. Ultimately, it is Aidan’s growth that will stick with readers long after the thrilling action set-pieces fade from memory.

Swipe Right For Murder is a story packed with LGBTQ+ concerns that lets young readers know that bad decisions do not make one a bad person; we all have the ability to change, to improve, to learn to treat others – and ourselves – with the dignity and respect that is earned. But make no mistake about it, this novel is also a rousing, sexy, and satisfying thriller tailor-made to keep readers up all night long, cheering on this reluctant hero as he navigates each new challenge in the face of imminent death.

I was quite surprised by this book! It started off okay and then it really lost my interest but then it really picked up! I really like how LGTBQ+ friendly this book was! I didn't find the book flowed super well with some parts being super short with others dragging on. Overall this was a thrilling read with a few turns I didn't expect!
Thanks, to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.

Honestly am surprising myself at this rating, but not in a bad way. I absolutely loved Aidan’s voice, his friends, his family, and his inner conflicts. His outer conflicts are absolutely bananapants and like a gay YA Ethan Hunt/Jason Bourne.

Aidan absolutely makes terrible choices and it felt delightfully real, to me. It didn’t feel like he was on a track going through the motions of the story, but that he was tripping over his own feet to get out of the frying pan and ending up in the fire.

I’m very glad I stuck with this, because most of the problems I had with it at the beginning have resolution or are addressed by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown/Jimmy Patterson Books for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Eek.

Unfortunately there was not much I liked about this book. On the plus side, it was a quick read. That may be the only plus.

The story felt rushed and jumbled. I feel like there was supposed to be some political espionage in there, but it didn’t quite work.

There were pop culture references that fell flat. A RuPaul line, calling someone Katniss Fuckerdeen. Eye roll.

There was a random sacrifice of a bunny and that hurt my soul.

I debated on and off DNF’ing. If this wasn’t an arc I probably would have. I hate to leave such bad reviews but I just did not like this story.

This book overall just isn't that great. The beginning is great and starts off well but then it just starts to go downhill and I couldn't manage to care for it anymore.

A lot happens in this book so there is never a chance for it to get boring, but the shocks and turns of the book are not even great. This book talks a lot about inclusion and Queer Rights while at the same time mainly focusing on White Gay Males, which makes this incredibly unrelatable.

One of the few books I have ever not finished. I wasn't enjoying the writing style, the story, nor the character. I will still usually push through but it was clear this was not a book I could use for any required reading program because of the mature content so I just put it down. I have to give it a rating which will be low simply because I didn't finish the book. However, I don't think my rating will be truly reflective of the book for others who have read it. (Apologizing in advance...)