Top 5 Reasons to Read Dead End Girls:

The writing! There is so much beautiful wordplay in this story. Especially from Maude, who wants to leave behind the sham of her life and has thought long and hard about what life means and what living it means. It would be so much easier for her to decide to just deal with life until she graduated and could move on, but she doesn’t. But, when Frankie makes a muck her plans, she drops such beautiful sentences as this: “My whole body is my heartbeat, furious and hurt.

Dead people. Seriously, this is not a book for the faint of heart. In their quest for freedom, Maude and Frankie make some not great friends and some not great choices. Plus, they want everyone they know to think they’re dead, too. So, yeah, if death bothers you, this is not the book for you.

Someone might be trying to kill someone for money. There is more going on than meets the eye as we look past what we think we know about Frankie and Maude. One of them might just be in too deep and need help getting out – but who can she trust?

Family who can’t see past their own noses. Dead End Girls definitely plays into family drama, especially fancy people family drama. There are a few cliches here: the overly pompous grandmother, the ne’er do good son, the possibly just in it for the money new wife…

Pronouns! There is a subtle pronoun shift toward the end of the book as a character comes to grip with their sexuality that isn’t explained or pointed out – it just happens, and it’s beautiful!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free ARC! I loved Dead End Girls so much, I read it in one sitting because I could not put it down. Pseudocide has always fascinated me and the way it was looked at now in our digital age was awesome. The sapphic love story was also very well done and it was beautiful. I also loved the examination of gender identity.

*3.5 Stars

I've really been in the mood for YA thrillers lately and when I read the synopsis of Dead End Girls, I was immediately intrigued. Two girls faking their own deaths to escape their apathetic families but incidentally leaving a trail of crimes sounded so entertaining. Bonus points, it's also Sapphic.

This is one of those books that has you hooked from the first few pages. I love it when books just throw you straight into the thick of the plot and doesn't waste time beating around the bush and when Maude says "We fly to Hawaii on Saturday, and a few days later I'll be dead. It will be a tragic accident. I seriously cannot wait ", I knew we were going to be in for a wild ride.

Heard keeps up the pace throughout the novel and knows exactly when to slow things down and then ramp them back up. The little twists and moments of misfortune are perfectly placed to keep us turning the page. I really liked that we get a dual POV and a timeline switch in order to see how past events have lead to Frankie needing to escape, it's teased to us slowly and works really well mixed in with the current events. The writing style is clear and concise, and obviously Heard does a terrific job of keeping her action thrilling and her characters likeable.

That's one thing that did surprise me; how much I just loved Maude and Frankie. They were just my favourite part of the book as I found both of them so fascinating to follow. Maude is a so incredibly intelligent and determined in her quest for a brand new life, what she's willing to do in order to achieve it is remarkable. She comes across as slightly sociopathic at times but surprisingly it didn't bother me cause she had her reasons, ok?! Frankie is just so loveable, all she wants is to feel accepted for who she is and it broke my heart at times when it came to light all that she was struggling with.

Their relationship progresses nicely over the course of the book. From step-cousins (which is a bit weird but we'll overlook it) to semi-girlfriends. It took me a while to feel the chemistry between them but in the end I was all heart eyes for them.

My reservations with this book lie with the believability of it. I could absolutely overlook a few cracks in the plot due to overall how entertaining it was but the more I read the more my scepticism grew. When we reach around 70% in, a lot of what happens after just felt too convenient for the circumstances. And it wasn't just one thing, it was a few of them and everything leading up to the ending felt too easy for our two MC's even with all the roadblocks in their way especially when you consider that these are teenage girls.

This was a fun, all or nothing thriller that has some lovely contemporary/romantic moments mixed in with all the action. It explores reinvention, sexuality, gender identity and shitty families getting what's coming to them in a compelling mystery suspense. The ending is very satisfying for all that I found faults with the build up and I'd definitely be up for picking up more by Wendy Heard. Pick it up if you love the craziness of Pretty Little Liars and Riverdale.

This book was a ride from start to finish. I enjoyed the MCs, the love that grows between two girls as they run to both escape something in their lives. As I read more, the book creates such great character building, and explains why they felt they had to “die” to be truly happy in life…and possibly with each other. Here are a few of my favorite quotes.

“We fly to Hawaii on Saturday, and a few days later I’ll be dead. It will be a tragic accident.”

When I first read this, I wasn’t sure what to think but it does set up the book really well & how the plot will unravel itself to the reader. I was hooked 4% into the eBook.

“‘Hey, don’t freak out. I’m not going to rat you out.’ A moment of silence hangs between us, and then she says, ‘I want in. Take me with you’.”

Maude’s careful plans come crashing down, so what is she to do? This is the beginning of the relationship that grows between Frankie and her. She resents Frankie, but something inside won’t call it quits, even if she has to adjust & add Frankie to her plans.

“‘I already got my girl a drink.’ She smiles at me in a weirdly sweet way.”

While this isn’t exactly true, Maude and Frankie are getting closer with each bad choice they have to make in order to not be found. Maude is definitely attracted to her, but is not sure if it's just an act on Frankie’s part to get the skeezy party boy’s attention off of her.

- “I hate it when my conscience suddenly decides to get involved. Where have you been this time? I’ve been leaving dead bodies in the Hawaiian wilderness and conducting wanton thievery, but now I need an intervention? Honestly.”

I love Maude’s inner dialogue with herself. It is a big part of the story & I love the insight it gives into her train of thought, motivation, and how is starting to slowly up to (and genuinely) care for Frankie. Enough to derail her escape plans again, risk being caught, and get arrested to make sure Frankie is okay.

“‘What are you doing?’” I hear myself ask from far away. [...]The muzzle presses against my breastbone. My heart, formerly silent, pounds like a drum. ‘I’m not doing anything. You’re doing this to yourself”.

I don’t want to spoil any twists or the ending, but not everyone is who they are. Who is going to believe that one of the runaway girls, who allegedly killed, stole, and committed fraud was murdered? No, it's more likely she was tired of running, felt guilty and took her own life.

What would you do if you knew you were going to die? Who would you become? Where would you go? That’s just what Maude has been planning for years, until her plan is almost halted by being found out. Now on the run, Maude and Frankie are trying to become someone new. Their story comes with huge twists, huge heartache, and action to keep you reading straight through the very end.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½⭐️ (4.5 stars)

WOW! 🤯 After really enjoying the thrilling romp that was She’s Too Pretty to Burn last year, I definitely had my eyes on Wendy Heard’s newest novel, Dead End Girls. And boy, did it not disappoint!

Firstly, what. a. concept! The book kicks off with Maude in the throws of committing pseudocide (i.e., faking her own death). She’s been playing the part of the perfect student, daughter, and girlfriend all the while secretly working side jobs, procuring fake but inscrutable IDs, and creating her new British identity, Elizabeth. She has it all planned out and is ready to set it in motion during her step-family’s annual trip to Hawaii.

That is – until her step-cousin catches her in the act.

But Frankie is battling her own demons, and rather than rat Maude out, she wants in herself. But Maude never anticipated a tagalong on her journey, and her intricate planning quickly unravels under the stark reality of their situation. But the girls are in it together now. And there’s no going back.

One of the things I loved best about this novel’s predecessor, She’s Too Pretty to Burn, was Heard’s ability to build such intense and sinister suspense throughout her story. And Dead End Girls definitely capitalizes on this strength. It starts on a high and just keeps getting more and more nail-biting, hair-raising worthy; an absolute thrill of a ride.

Honestly, Maude and Frankie do not catch a break! And consequently, neither do you as the reader.

I’m talking up-all-night, checking-the-clock-and-promising-yourself-just-one-more-chapter, going-to-bed-way-too-late-even-though-you’re-supposed-to-be-a-reasonable-adult, seriously, impossible-to-put-down suspense.

Both Maude and Frankie were really interesting characters to follow as well. Maude was instantly appealing to me as a protagonist. Super unique and very driven. Despite knowing she wasn’t doing The Right Thing, she was so easy to root for. Frankie took a little longer for me to warm up to because she does start out kind of annoying. But that character development? *chef’s kiss*

Dead End Girls reads like this wacky mix between a dramatic thriller and a totally unconventional road trip. Unexpected? Yes. But it works, in a really fun way.

It was easy to get swept up in the adventure along with these characters and feel for them as things continue to turn from bad to worse. Definitely a read worth checking out! 💥

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours and the publisher, Christy Ottaviano Books/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

This book had me so stressed in the best kind of way! When I reached the end I felt like my head was spinning and I was just so happy for them. Frankie and Maude have my entire heart and watching their journey was a really great time.

This book is told through two povs. We primarily follow Maude, the mastermind behind the pseudocide plot. She’s spent years being shuffled between divorced parents who would both make the other take her permanently if they could. She’s been plotting her escape for years, spending every moment until now pretending to be someone she’s not, and the double whammy of having to suddenly adjust her plans the night before she was due to fake her own death to account for an extra person and having someone see through to the real her for the first time in years means that she’s under a lot of pressure and doesn’t always make the best decisions. She’s undeniably highly intelligent though, and while she might not be very good at honest relationships and social interactions, she can quickly analyse a sticky situation and figure out the best way to get away with relative ease, and when you’re a fugitive that’s a very important skill to have. I enjoyed watching her pull off her various plots and escapes. I support women’s rights, but I also support women’s wrongs 😌

The other pov character, Frankie, is very special to me. I don’t think I’ve read a book before with a main character who is in the middle of questioning their gender identity. For the majority of the story Frankie has much bigger and more immediate problems than their gender, but their uncertainty is something that’s very much on their mind throughout the book. After running away with Maude, Frankie truly blossoms and comes into their own, seizing the opportunity to explore their presentation and identity. They’re referred to with she/her pronouns for the vast majority of the book, but after they conclude that they’re not a girl after all Maude’s narration switches to using they/them for them without fanfare and I loved that approach so so much. Their emotional maturity through everything was also really refreshing to see. They weren’t the expert on the best course of action when on the run, but they were much better than Maude at talking to other people and at sorting through the feelings that they and Maude had for each other, which were both vital skills. Their side of the story and reason for deciding to join in Maude’s plot is slowly revealed through their own flashback chapters which slowly catch up to the present day, and I think this was executed really well! When non-chronological storytelling hits it Hits, and this book Definitely Hits.

A major overarching message of this book is that if your family sucks you’re under no obligation to stay anywhere near them, and there will be people out there who accept you for you. Obviously, faking your death and assuming a new identity halfway across the world is an extreme and deeply inadvisable action to take, but as a fictionalised version of going no-contact with a family that has zero respect for you it makes an effective point. There could very well be people who read this book and see their own families in that of Maude’s or Frankie’s, and this book could very well be the inspiration they need to start setting things up so they can leave. If that’s you, then I’m rooting for you. Just, maybe try not to kill anyone in the process.

I would 100% recommend this book to people who like fast paced thrillers, morally grey sapphics, and anyone who wants to read about a questioning non-binary character.

Thank you so much to Christy Ottaviano Books/Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story has many great elements that I look for in a thriller. Not only was it fast paced and exciting, but there was also discussion of so many important conversations. Gender identity, being gaslighted by family, sexual orientation, and fatphobia are key themes in this story.

I think our main characters are great. Maude in particular is reserved, quick on her feet, and a meticulous planner. On the other hand, Frankie is more impulsive, outspoken, and intuitive. They contrast each other well, and it's awesome to watch play out. Although there was one point in the story where I wanted to literally shout at them to be more careful, it reminds us that they are young and just trying their best given the circumstances.

Overall, I really loved this one! There's some great romance which I'm not usually a fan of and lots of elements that cater to my love of true-crime and mystery obsessions as well. I highly recommend, and I'll be checking out more from Wendy Heard! t

Dead End Girls is a book that pulls no punches. Heard has crafted an explosive and deeply addictive thriller that is so meticulously woven together.

As ever, Heard’s plotting was meticulous with an intense atmosphere and unsettling tension that only ever increases. The tension only ever increases and gives you a constant unsettling sense of dread. Every time you think it can’t escalate more, it does as Heard takes it into even more trepidatious territory. I loved how Heard makes this story all the more complicated, both in terms of plot and of ethics. This is such a fantastically constructed story, with so many layers and nuance to it. Of course, it helps that so many razor-sharp twists are deployed, unbalancing you at every turn.

I loved how Heard constantly made this story all the more complicated both in terms of plot and ethics. This book is not one that offers any easy answers, instead Heard pulls you into this mire of murky decisions and questionable motivations. She really forces you to question what you would do in this situation, where all you can try and do is survive and break for freedom at all costs. This matches the intricate plotting Heard has crafted perfectly.

Our protagonists are fractured, flawed characters that are not particularly good. They are so set on survival and choosing their own paths in life, at any cost. Inevitably, one mistake leads to another and Heard unleashes this domino effect of death and destruction. These are fairly ruthless and manipulative people, but their motivations are steeped in years of mistreatment and marginalisation. Watching their elaborate plans unfold was fascinating. The representation is also wonderful to see, with an exploration of non binary identity and sapphic relationships.

Dead End Girls is a slick, smart and shocking book that trades in the dubious world of survival, escape and reinvention at all costs.

3.5 stars rounded off!

Honestly, the book was really good and well thought of. I literally just have two issues with it-

1. The writing style: It was not bad, but it felt very .... low, I guess? Like even the action packed scenes didn't have my heart racing and I just didn't feel any passion in the writing. It was very bland.

2. The dating your step-cousin thing:
Look I get that they are not blood relatives or anything, but the step cousin thing still weirded me out. Maybe that's just me but yeah.

Otherwise, the book was pretty great, and I enjoyed reading it. Would recommend to everyone who enjoys psychological thrillers.

TW include: car accident, homophobia, manslaughter, gaslighting, and others.

Overall, I enjoyed this story, even if it was (really) far-fetched. I am on the fence (STILL) about how I feel about [redacted] & [redacted] becoming a couple.
I did enjoy the fact that even though all the facts were laid out and it seemed clear that the culprit was X person, that Y person came out of left field and is the actual bad guy!


For a full review, please visit http://sltrbooks.home.blog/2022/04/12/dead-end-girls-arc-review/


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I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Receiving these materials in no way impacted my review.

This is a fast paced, wild Sapphic YA thriller. I've heard so many amazing things about Wendy Heard's first book, and I couldn't wait to read this one - but I sadly didn't love it. The plot is entertaining enough, but it was so over the top that it almost feels dated. It reads very much like Pretty Little Liars - but with better rep - instead of the the more recent trends we've seen in YA thrillers which feel a little more grounded in reality.

I will definitely recommend it to people - and I'm curious to see where the final text ends, as I did think the pacing in this could use some improvement. The very end is pretty fantastic, though I wish he had gotten a little more about it.

I think this book definitely has its reader and I would definitely pick it up if you like fast paced, over the top YA books.

DEAD END GIRLS is a big, queer, rollercoaster of a book. I read at night, but I couldn't wait that long to find out what happens to Maude and Frankie. I eeked out daylight hours to swipe page after page after page of this YA thriller.

If you loved NONE SHALL SLEEP as much as I did, DEAD END GIRLS is your new favorite read. Comes out May 10th!

Maude is a bada$$, queer, criminal-mastermind teen who has planned her own death. Frankie is a non-binary teen who finds out about Maude's plan--and wants in.

A nail-biting sequence of events brings the teens to LA and Las Vegas. The snags in their plan are relentless, but slowly, they gain ground and fall in love (because isn't love the biggest snag of all?).

In the end, all seems lost. I had no idea how Maude and Frankie would recover from the quicksand around them. Then, in true thriller fashion, @wendydheard surprises us with a triumphant comeback. You'll jump up and cheer for these teens who have the audacity to claim their lives for themselves.

I'm celebrating 20 years of being out of the closet. When I was a teen in the 90s, there was one tiny shelf labeled LGBT and you had to kneel down on the floor to look at it. It was scary to be seen looking at this shelf. More than once I was proselytized by a stranger. "There's still time to be forgiven..."

Fast-forward. Now my book queue is FULL of awesome, positive, joyful, entertaining queer books. Thank you to authors like Wendy Heard for writing stories about queer life, love, and...crimes.

Thanks to @netgalley and @littlebrownyoungreaders for the e-ARC.

Maude has spent years being shuffled back and forth between her mom and dad. She literally lives out of a suitcase and her mom only acknowledges her to rangle her two, bratty half brothers. All that’s about to change.

Maude has a plan. She’s going to fake her death and head to London to start a whole new life. She’s got the perfect plan, until Frankie, the daughter of her step dad’s brother discovers her fake papers. She doesn’t want to snitch, though, Frankie wants in. Changes to Maude’s carefully executed plan leaves bodies in their wake from Hawaii to LA, Las Vegas, and maybe, hopefully, somewhere far away.

This book was bananas, in the best possible way! I was in it with Maude from the very first page. Though I knew things wouldn’t go smoothly for her, I was rooting for the plan, and as she and Frankie grew closer and we learned more of her story as well, I wanted both of them to get what they wanted, even when they didn’t make the best decisions, in terms of their plan or each other’s feelings.

The fact that there was a queer relationship was just the cherry on top for me. Girls realizing that things are fucked up and doing whatever they have to do to change that and get what they want. That’s what I’m here for. 10/10 do recommend for a good time. It’s out on May 10th, so keep an eye out for it wherever you get your books.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Little Brown Books for Young Readers and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This one was very dark and a lot. It was a good read but intense.

Ohh I'm very sad about this one, DNF at 20%, this book absolutely has an audience and as Ive seen by reviews people have been loving this. But it's just not for me, and I thought that it would be. I obviously didn't get far enough into it to give a proper rating and its for sure not a bad book at all. The kicker for me is some of the things being said are making me personally kind of uncomfy enough not to continue, but again its just my personal preference. I will say, I loved Mauve for as much as I got to know her she seems like she's got an incredible mind and Frankie seemed interesting too, and I enjoyed what I got to see of the family and setting. I wont be posting this to my social medias or my Goodreads because I don't want my personal opinions and DNF to reflect badly on it or deter anybody from reading it since I loved She's too Pretty to Burn and its not the authors fault that I just didn't mesh well with the book. Looking forward to whatever Wendy Heard puts out next! Thank you to the publishers for giving me a copy, I appreciate the opportunity to read this!

I was a huge fan of She's Too Pretty to Burn by the same author, so I was really looking forward to this book! I think this sophomore novel was definitely good, thought it lacked the same "oomph" that STPTB carried. I enjoyed how wild the story was, though I wish the pacing was a bit more sensical; the beginning was a bit slow and the hook of the action didn't grab me as soon as it should have. I loved the queer rep, just as I did with STPTB and have no qualms with it at all! I'm not sure if I will be recommending this on my page, as I would prefer to support Wendy Heard and my review for this book is somewhat critical; perhaps if the pacing improves with the final copy I will enjoy it more!

The plot sounded quite interesting, but the pacing of this book was a real problem for me. Too many details and it takes forever to get to any interesting events.

I barely finished this.

Was an easy read, was able to finish in one sitting. Was definitely a wild ride. Lgbta+ representation.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this title!

3.75 stars, rounded to four

Maude has planned and plotted for two years to fake her own death. She’s thought of everything, gone through every possible scenario. She’s saved every possible cent for her escape. The one thing she didn’t plan for was her cousin Frankie needing to get away just as badly (or even more so) and wanting to come along. All of a sudden, Maude’s careful planning is destroyed and everything that can possibly go wrong, does. As the girls race from their past, they are faced with new challenges Maude could have never predicted or planned for in her wildest imagination.

This is a very suspenseful book. Things quickly go off of the rails - maybe slightly past the point of being believable at times. There are many, many twists and turns. The pace moves very quickly, bordering on hectic. Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the readers I encounter who like suspenseful teen crime romps.