This is a fantastic historical mystery for teens. I do wonder if maybe it's not too advanced for them, but I am probably not giving them enough credit.

I love Stacey's writing and how she describes what life was for all of her characters "back in the old days."

KILL HER TWICE is no different. Her writing shows how times were back then for Asian Americans and how things were not fair, but also, how they were not taken seriously in class status situations and careers.

I enjoyed the small amount of romance, although I could have used more!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group for an e-copy of KILL HER TWICE to review.

I rate KILL HER TWICE four out of five stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me with an eARC of Kill Her Twice in exchange for my honest review!

This was a good old thriller to ride through as it pulls me into 1930s Chinatown and drapes a noir atmosphere over the setting that makes it all the more riveting to follow. The suspense and the romance are woven throughout the tale as the Chow sisters endeavor to solve the mysterious death of movie star Lulu Wong. I do think that parts of the plot run into some slow pacing and that Peony, the third sister, doesn't get all too much depth written into her. But they don't stop me from generally enjoying this book as it guides me down its twists and turns and as it displays the bigotry that our world aims at the Chinese community.

Overall, I'm officially rating Kill Her Twice 3.75 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 4 stars. I'll have to look out for more of Stacey Lee's books down the line.

I'm a sucker for old Hollywood and mysteries with the 1930s noir feel and this one gave me both. And even though it was a YA mystery it still had grit. What I love about Lee's books is that they don't shy away from the hard issues. And she write's historic fiction and mystery with heroine's of color. She's brining diversity to YA Historical fiction. Something I wish I had when I was a teen.

There is something about 1930s Hollywood that is so fascinating to me that I knew I had to read this book. I had never really thought about the Chinese American perspective of the era, and I am so glad Stacey Lee wrote this book. There is plenty of the Perry Mason style murder mystery, with clues and twists and chases, but there is also a lot of heart poured into a community of people who have been overlooked for too long. Chinatown is as much LA as Hollywood, and should be explored just as deeply.

I fell in love with the flower sisters. Gemma was as spunky as any Girl Friday I've seen, and May's love for her childhood friend was genuine. I really enjoyed the switching perspectives, and the who-done-it had just the right amount of suspects and clues to keep me on my toes.

It feels wrong to say I had fun with this book, since someone died and a whole lot of bad things happened to the Chinese American community, but it really was a lot of fun!

I don't think it should be confined to the YA shelves.

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

I loved the mystery in this book and all of the old time Hollywood vibes. I loved how different May and Gemma were and how they worked together to solve Lulu’s murder. This was a great novel and was so interesting.

This book was a classic “Who done it?” wrapped up in the glamour of old Hollywood, and told from an unprecedented perspective. I loved every minute of it.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Penguin Random House for sharing this copy with me. I was initially intrigued by the storyline—1930s Hollywood, rising star Lulu Wong, and an unsolved murder, all wrapped in a gorgeous cover. However, I struggled to fully connect with the story and wish I could have enjoyed it more. That said, the book shows promise, and I may give it another try since it has potential to be something special.

"Kill Her Twice" was not what I expected at all. This was my first Stacy Lee novel and I was thinking it would be more of a historical fiction, but instead I got a historical thriller with some of the best thriller writing style and use of metaphors. I really enjoyed this book, I love alternating viewpoints and the culture sprinkled throughout was incredible. The characters were enjoyable and the romance/relationship was sweet. This was an all around winner for me. I will be looking into more Stacy Lee novels in the future.

DNF: 25%

Ooh how this book contains one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL book covers that I have seen in 2024. And honestly, it was this very cover that motivated me to request this book. Unfortunately, however, I could not get into this as much I was hoping. Trust me when I say that: IT IS A ME THING MORE THAN THIS BOOK!!!

Between the reading slump that I am currently in and the need for a quick read, this book was just not hitting me the way that I was hoping.

However, if you enjoy:
✨Historical Fiction…
✨Multiple POVs…
✨Sister relationships…
✨Murder Mysteries…
And
✨A pretty page layout…

Then this book is MOST DEFINITELY for you!!!

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for grating me an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!

This was a 3 star read for me. I do really like the culture and setting of the book; it seemed to stick to the 30s theme and the racism/prejudice the characters faced very well. But the mystery was meh for most of the book, and I feel the end was rushed. Overall it was just not my cup of tea.

The struggles of Chinese in LA during the 1930’s. Being forced from their home and the dismantling of their whole communities for the sake of progress. Villainized on screen while trying to honor family and tradition. When May, Gemma, and Peony find an old class mate dead after making it into the lime light. The sisters are determined to find out the truth even though the powers just want to have it all forgotten.

Beautiful mix of historical fiction with murder mystery. The sisters are all so individual but each personality plays a huge part to finding the truth for Lulu. Such a powerful underdog story.

Thank you Penguin Teen & Penguin Random House Audio for the free hardcover & complimentary audiobook.

This book transported me right away. I had a long drive ahead of me and I sunk into the audiobook and the Chow sisters’ lives in LA’s 1930s Chinatown during the Great Depression. When they find their childhood friend turned movie star murdered headlines twist the story as another reason to tear down Chinatown for a railway stop. The Chow sisters must solve their friend’s murder and do everything in their power to save their town.

What I enjoyed most about this story were the historical and cultural perspectives. Chinese turns of phrase and idioms are sprinkled throughout the story and they always drew my attention to them. I hadn’t considered what the Great Depression was like for various cultures in America and the stigma against Chinese citizens in the media were heartbreaking to discover.

Where I struggled was in the murder mystery aspect. I did lose interest in the whudunit mid-way through the book. I could have used a little more action or romance overall to keep my interest but all that said this book has a lot to offer.

It's 1932 in Los Angeles and Lulu Wong is Chinatown's star. When she turns up dead in an alley, the police aren't concerned due to her race. The Chow sisters, May, Gemma and Peony decide to solve the murder of their friend, and bring the justice she deserves.

This was definitely a cover buy for me, absolutely gorgeous! The murder mystery was okay, and I did want to know what happened to Lulu. BUT it was nothing that blew my mind in the end, although I do think the ending was clever it felt slightly rushed. The book dragged for me for the majority of the book, which was a bit disappointing. I did really enjoy the sister dynamics between the three Chow sisters. I liked how different they were from one another, but how much they cared for each other.

An actress found dead in 1930's Los Angeles' Chinatown. Three sisters who know they must investigate the murder of their friend turned actress because the police won't. May, Gemma, and Peony take matters into their own hands and use their unique skills to solve the murder and discover their own strengths.
Told in alternating points of view, Kill Her Twice brings in elements of romantic love, sisterhood, friendship, and racism into a murder mystery complete with spying, secrets, and threats of injury. Reading the story from both Gemma and May's perspectives helps develop the two sisters as independent strong women who love their family fiercely despite their different personalities and strengths.

I love this author so much. I always walk away feeling like I learned something important. I was looking things up the entire time I was reading. I studied the history of Max Factor Makeup for example.
It was so delightful and so sad. I loved how it picked up in the second half of the book.
Bravo.

The beginning was a bit slow for me but once it picked up, it PICKED UP!!! I’m not the biggest fan of historical fiction but this was pretty good.

I loved the premise, and really enjoyed the historical setting!! I wish I had been able to spend more time with the story, and I will definitely be picking up a copy of my own soon.

Stacey does it again and again and again. This is solid as always. Nobody does research like her, nobody picks settings and time periods like her!

Old Hollywood with the well-known glamor and the lesser-known girls. Kill Her Twice shines a spotlight on 1930s Chinatown and the formidable strength of those within. Stacey Lee is inimitable in enthralling historical fiction

Amazing book! Watching the girls explore their friend, community, and themselves was amazing. The mystery was well done and just made you feel for Lulu.