I will try and write this review without too many spoilers, because although some of the revelations were predictable (I read a lot in this genre), there were a few that got me good and made me return to the drawing board.

This is a twisty- turny high school adventure, that combines commentary on the wealth gap, the 2008 financial crisis, the opiod crisis and the culture around jocks and sports teams with the investigation of a decades old murder. It's as if the cast of Riverdale were transplanted to a slightly less anachronistic setting and were let lose with even less adult supervision.

It's a fun read, that was compelling, but not utterly mind-blowing. A safe recommend for the Pretty Little Liars/ One of Us is Lying/ Riverdale crowd of students. Due to addiction and parental suicide references, would recommend to Yr 9+.

I absolutely loved this book! It was hilarious! Izzy and her twin brother Axl live with their mom in a run-down part of Florida. Axl is a gifted high school quarterback and is recruited by an expensive private high school up the coast. They manage to convince their donor, Dalton Wolfe--an extremely rich businessman who basically owns and runs Bardo, the town the school is in, to give Izzy a full scholarship too. Izzy is not so sure about the move to Bardo but soon they are living in one of the Wolfe's homes on the beach and starting school at the elite Bardo Academy. She soon meets a few students including her new boyfriend Blaine (whose parents went to Bardo), Axl's girlfriend Sophie (granddaughter of their benefactor and also daughter of Junior Wolfe, class of 1983), and finally, Elton Jones-Davies (who has Aspergers Syndrome). Izzy soon pairs up Elton to write an article for the school newspaper about the great football team championship win of 1983, and also to investigate the suspicious murder of the star quarterback from said team which was solved as a drug deal gone wrong. Izzy and Elton are the best pair because he is so straight and serious, does not joke or hug, remembers every single fact he has ever read, and follows all the rules, contrasting to Izzy, who is SO opposite of him, being sarcastic, funny and suspicious of everyone while breaking as many rules as she can. They start investing the murder of QB Ricky Lee who was also recruited on a scholarship. The book alternates between Izzy/Elton now and Ricky in 1983 before he is murdered. Izzy and Elton interview so many different people while chasing their story--characters who make the book so hilarious with their personalities and problems--as they are questioned about the 1983 game and murder. Most of the adults in town are former Bardo students who were in the class of 1983. Uncovering many buried secrets, Izzy and (sidekick Elton) continues the investigation in spite of death threats, possibly losing her scholarship, getting hooked on painkillers, almost getting arrested, and continuous warnings to stop, which she ignores. They do not give up and the outcome of the book is quite a surprise to all. The characters are all so memorable and funny and have fabulous personalities. Izzy is unrelenting in her search for the true murderer. I highly recommend this book!! I haven't read a book recently that I have enjoyed as much as this one! Chad Alan Gibbs has written three hilarious books in a row and is one of my absolute favorite authors who has yet to disappoint me! Do not miss this one!

I loved this mystery novel! A flawed narrator, riveting cast of characters, and a beautiful and memorable setting. This novel explores class, the opioid epidemic, and how far some families will go to protect their wealth and livelihood. Looking forward to the sequels already.

Thank you so much to #Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

While I really think the book was well written, it just didn't keep me engaged. I wasn't really invested in the book and its not the authors fault. I just couldn't get involved with the book and I'm so sorry to say I DNF'd it about 30% through.

Izzy Brown receives a scholarship to a private school, along with her twin brother who is recruited to play football. She hangs out with the popular kids and starts dating a seemingly charming, rich kid. Then she and Elton, an autistic student, start investigating the unsolved murder of star quarterback, Ricky Lee.

I've always been a sucker for books set in private school or college so I was pleased to receive a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book and the way they juxtaposed the wealthy families with the poor ones. Izzy's family life is rough. Her brother is the favorite child and all funds have been spent on him. I also was surprised by several revelations in this book, although I did figure out one ahead of time.

The book ends with the promise of future adventures for Izzy and Elton. They are great characters and I look forward to future books that feature this duo.

Izzy Brown thinks she's fortunate when she receives a scholarship to Bardo Academy even though she only earns it because her star quarterback brother received one first. Once she's there, she decides to research a decades old murder of the star quarterback. What she uncovers is a dangerous secret that goes to the roots of not only Bardo Academy, but the town as a whole. Will Izzy's search for the killer end in her family's ruin or even possibly cost her her own life?

This is a page turner for sure. I loved every page and the author keeps you guessing. This is a winner for sure. Set for publication May 17, 2022, this would make a great summer read for any student!

This was a fun read. We get to follow our main character (and her new best friend) solve a murder mystery at her school that took place long before she was there. This is a young adult book but was still a good read as an adult.

I enjoyed the characters. Everyone seemed like a suspect through most of the book. Some of the characters seemed a little stereotypical (QB of the football team, head cheerleader) but it worked. I really liked that we featured a student with ausperger’s. A great way to add in representation of different students.

I think the book taking place during in 2008 during the great recession gave the story a different way to play on the rich vs the poor.

I did figure out the one twist right away in the first chapter, but it was fun watching out young detectives get to that conclusion as well.

I am very intrigued to see where this series goes with Izzy & Elton. I will definitely purchase another book in this series.

Thank you Borne Back Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this one early.

If you have been missing crime sleuths Pip from 'A Good Girl's Guide to Murder' and Stevie from the 'Truly Devious' books, feel bereft no longer, as we now have Izzy, Elton and the cutthroat mystery and intrigue of the insular community of Bardo by the Sea to entertain us. Axl and Izzy are twins, elevated to the hallowed halls of private school Bardo Academy due to Axl's skills on the football field. Whilst Axl immediately joins the popular crowd, Izzy finds herself finding solace at the school newspaper and investigating the notorious 1983 murder of the star quarterback. Was this truly a drug deal gone wrong, or something more sinister? And is history destined to repeat itself?

As a launch to a new series, this was an excellent starting point. Whilst I did guess the twists early on (including about a certain relationship), I did enjoy Izzy and Elton as they follow the trail. Izzy is completely fearless in the way she speaks to adults and I enjoyed the candour and confidence evident throughout. My favourite aspect of this story being the Watson style prophetic narration. Izzy is telling this story many years in the future, giving us some flashes forward, as well as the flashback chapters to 1983. This is a rich tapestry of characters from Bardo by the Sea, layering the timelines, highlighting clever parallels and shining a light on how horrible most of these people are (horrible both as teenagers and adults!).

The story is fast paced, clever, and set really interestingly with the backdrop of the banking crisis in 2008, this intertwined in the story in an intriguing way. I also recently finished watching Dopesick, something else which has had a huge impact on this narrative (no spoilers here). So, not only do we get a murder mystery but the choice of contextual time period is really unique and fascinating.

Overall, I cannot wait for Izzy and Elton's next crime busting story! 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

Books that move back and forth between timelines can be daunting, but Bardo by the Sea by Chad Alan Gibbs was done well and kept me interested. I liked the Izzy and Elton characters and that Elton was on the autism spectrum. This had a good story and mystery. I loved the quote in the book by Nellie Bly, "I didn't like the story I was given, so I wrote a new one." Quite powerful.

The story was good, the mystery solid. I am hoping there are more books about these characters. I would also read more from this author.

#BardobytheSea #NetGalley @VE_NetGalley

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for this ARC! I’m telling you, once this author gets some hype, he’s going to be popular. I, for one, am happy to add to the hype. I get some strong John Green vibes from his witty writing. This book had A LOT in it, and I was worried it was going to be too much. The dilagueis great follow (I can’t resist a teenager smart a**). There was a good murder mystery, football and money corruption,info about the crazy housing market in Florida 2008, the start of the opioid crisis, you name it. However, it was handled well and not hit so hard that it made you spin but just enough to get you more into the book. The main character and her new best friend are excellent and enjoyable to read. The mystery kept me guessing for a while, rich is rare. I can’t say the ending is completely realistic, but it sure was fun. It’s not often I get an ARC and think-I need to get the next one-but here’s one. Got that, Chad Alan Gibbs? I want kn the list for the next Izzy & Elton; I’m hooked! Consider me a Gibbs fan. Now excuse me while I go blow up all the places I can review this book because more people need to read it! FYI profanity, talk of sexual situations
Same review on Goodreads. I am having trouble linking it.

Bardo by the Sea is a great YA mystery book about a girl who moves to a rich area to attend high school with her star-athlete brother. The characters were great, I really liked the Izzy - Elton combo. They really played off each other well. The other characters were also well-written with some being pretty awful but you kind of expect that with poor kids go to rich kid school scenario. The mystery is really solid and will have you guessing up till the end. I enjoyed how it played out and the twists and turns along the way. I thought the story was fantastic and really look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bardo by the Sea follows Izzy, twin sister of Axl new quarterback star at a prestigious school in South Florida. Attending the school on a scholarship Izzy finds herself propelled from living in a trailer to a mansion in the Florida Penhandles. After joining the school newspaper, Izzy finds herself drawn into the murder of a former student, 1983 Quarterback Ricky Lee, alongside another student, Elton. But the list of suspects keeps growing, and plenty of people have a lot to loose from their investigation.

I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but boy did it deliver. The story is set alongside the housing market crash of 2008, and the opioid epidemic, which both come to bear on the main characters. Characters who are real and imperfect and ultimately loveable. It is told primarily by Izzy as she investigates, dipping into 1983 to give insights as the murder itself unfolds. The switching of POVs was masterfully done and each change was deliberate and added to the narrative.

The book built wonderfully to the final chapters and delivered some hefty gut punches along the way. The ending itself was fantastic, with all the emotional beats and plots unravelling that you desperately want when you begin a mystery novel. I CANT WAIT for the next instalment of the series (!!!) later this year.

Overall this is an excellent YA novel, a gripping mystery and an insight into murder, power and money in America… Some things are more important than life and death.

This is such an easy, fun, fast paced read which gave me the Truly Devious trilogy vibes!

The characters are so lively and I can totally relate to the sibling energy.

The writing is really easy to get into and the plot a fun one even though we are talking about a murder mystery here.

The book lives up to the blurb it provides. Well explained plot, good development of the characters and a good ending the book has got everything right.

However, I liked the first half better than the second half. I was expecting too much from the ending I guess.

Overall a fun easy, one sitting read.

Thank you, Borne Back Books, for the advance reading copy.

A scholarship student at boarding school sign me up. This was a page Turner of a book for me. The dual timeline of this book was handled well. I found the ending slightly abrupt.