This is a powerful book not only about the mystery of Remy and River but of girls and what the world expects of them and how it forces them to see themselves. Jules suddenly finds herself very alone when her two best friends are gone unexpectedly. She has to begin to figure out who she is without them even as the loss is swallowing her whole. As the secrets come out Jules examines more of herself and her body and what that means as a woman, how we feel beautiful and how the male gaze affects that. This is a mystery but ultimately about the strength of young women as they face the world.

This book deals with some heavy content for a YA novel including grooming, SA, suicide, etc. Please check trigger warnings.

This is Not a Dead Girl Story is about Jules as she grapples with her identity after the death of her best friend and the disappearance of her cousin. Overall, I thought the story had an interesting premise and was a quick read; however, I found some parts to be repetitive. I wasn’t entirely thrilled with Remy’s character and personally found her to be unlikeable despite being universally loved by the characters in the story.

This Is Not a Dead Girl Story is an emotional, dark, and twisty young adult mystery that delves into grief, friendship, and the secrets lurking in a small town. Remy Green is missing, and her cousin Jules is determined to find her despite everyone else believing she’s dead. The story takes readers through the complicated dynamics between Jules, Remy, and River—three best friends whose lives have been shattered by tragedy.

Kate Sweeney crafts a haunting atmosphere as Jules unravels Remy’s hidden life, exposing secrets that threaten to upend everything she thought she knew. The book offers an honest portrayal of grief and identity, with Jules navigating her insecurities and the shadow of her popular cousin. The mystery itself is gripping, and while it’s light on the "whodunit" aspect, the emotional depth and character development more than make up for it.

Fans of Courtney Summers and thrillers with a focus on complex female friendships will appreciate the rawness of this novel. Though some of the darker themes, including violence and sexual exploitation, make for difficult reading, they’re handled with care. The pacing is solid, and Sweeney’s portrayal of teen voices feels authentic.

Overall, this is a strong mystery that will linger with readers long after the final page.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a teen who is looking for her missing cousin. Everyone thinks she is dead but Jules is hopeful that she will find her cousin alive.

I was not a fan of this book. The characters and the plot just seemed so cliche in every way and I had a hard time getting into the story. I don't think the mystery was very interesting and I just didn't care for the story.

I hope others love this book.

This is a really well crafted story. The characters are well written. The pacing is good. The subject matter is handled well. Special Thank you to Kate Sweeney, Penguin Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Remy goes missing shortly after her boyfriend dies everyone thinks that she must have met the same deadly demis. However, Jules knows this can not be true, she can feel it in her bones. As Jules starts to dig into Remy’s life she soon discovers that there is so much more to her cousin than she knew. Could something that Remy did in her past be the reason she has disappeared and her boyfriend’s death? Jules must get to the bottom of all the lies to find out what truly happened to Remy before it is too late.
Overall rating 3/5
I feel like this is another Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. It has almost the same plot and twists. I do feel that the ending message is a great and powerful topic for young adult readers. I also enjoyed that Jules’ character was able to find her voice and come into her own by the end of the book that I felt was being overshadowed by Remy.
*Thank you to Kate Sweeney, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

If you like emotions that really do feel like teenage emotions, then this is the book for you. Our girl is close with her cousin Remy. I love the parts in the beginning with them sharing a bed, or even bathing together, I have a best friend like that too.
Then Remy goes missing and I cried.
The stuff with the app crushed me because they are still teens.
This is really heavy. If you aren't expecting heavy stuff this is not the book for you. I loved it though!

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for this book ARC. This was a great 3 star young adult mystery read with a hint of crime podcasts. This was my first book by Kate Sweeney and wont be my last.

Kate Sweeney's book THIS ONE'S FOR YOU is one of my favorite YA novels in recent years, so her turn to a mystery worthy of a true crime podcast was a surprise. The premise is strong and the book starts off without blinking, fully confident that her reader is going to jump in with Jules. It made me think of All That's Left to Say by Emery Lord, which is also built on a relationship between cousins. However, Sweeney's book didn't have the emotional core I expected, especially compared to her other work. It's always exciting to see authors trying new things and stretching themselves. This is Not a Dead Girl Story felt a bit rushed, especially with the ending. Maybe it just needed a little more time. I look forward to seeing what Kate Sweeney does next!

"This Is Not a Dead Girl Story" is quite intriguing in its premise, but the book left me somewhat torn. It's very easy to get into, fast-paced, and intense, like Courtney Summers' Sadie, with the same high-stakes plot, but it raises some red flags with the content.

It is set in Black Falls, New York, and follows the story of Jules Green as she tries to trace what really happened to her best friend, River O'Dell, who died mysteriously, and her cousin, Remy Green, who subsequently vanished. Jules is an awkward and shy narrator, making her very much a refreshing change of pace from the usual teen detective stubbornly eschewing the police. Instead, she makes practical decisions and shares crucial information with adults rather than stumbling alone to solve everything on her own.

Deals with certain important themes of body autonomy and the hiccups of teenage friendships. It also has some worthy real messages through Jules' mother, the voice of reason here. The subplot and mystery elements are decent and keep one engaged throughout.

There are, however, some quite major problems. Jules' obsessive fixation on some of the characters borders on a mental health problem that is never actually dealt with. The book glosses over the legal impact of what the girls do, and that felt a bit irresponsible for the intended audience. I was also left frustrated by plot threads not being tied up—specifically the unresolved issue of money and a very abrupt ending.

While "This Is Not a Dead Girl Story" does offer something, hence does not result in a waste of time for readers of YA crime thrillers, it would have been improved if the main problems had been better resolved and the ending had been much more satisfying.

3.5 stars

I initially thought this would be a story about a missing girl and the attempts to find her before she turned into a 'dead girl'. Instead there are themes of violence against women and how it doesn't always look like abuse at first. Taking away women's choices or making it seem like the abuser is the only one who cares or who can do something also fall into it.

The main character is flawed and it makes her more of a real person. Sometimes she makes bad decisions, hurts her family, and can be jealous and shallow. I felt like she made some positive strides forward and have hope for her future.

The other characters fell kind of flat for me and the cousin was not a good person. I didn't understand the obsession everyone had with her, other than her being pretty in a small town.

A decent mystery and quick read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the copy.

Missing teen stories can be fun to read, but this one was a skim read for me. I thought the cousins' relationship was fairly realistic and even interesting at times. That was the highlight for me.

The characters were a mixed bag. I liked Jules, the main character, well enough. She never actively annoyed me, so that's a plus. I found it harder to relate to the other characters though.

This isn't a light, easy read. It's quiet and moody and slow and deals with some tough issues. It's worth reading if you're in the mood for that.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Jules, River and Remy, her cousin, have been the best of friends for years. River and Remy have been a couple for a while but have always been close with Jules. Tragedy hits the small town in NY and River dies. Eight days later, Remy disappears and Jules is lost without her cousin and River, best friend.

Jules feels something isn't right and Remy must still be alive. She is hearing her voice in her head to keep looking for her.

While trying to figure out what happened to Remy, she finds out so many secrets in her little town. She isn't sure who she can trust, the popular girls, local police, and even River's cousin Sam.

I really enjoyed this YA Thriller. This book shines a light on grief and the pressures of being a young teen. I kept thinking I knew what was happening but the twist got me. It was fast paced and I had to know the ending.

ARC Review

1.5 stars rounded up

Initial thoughts: Absolutely the fuck not.

This book had such a promising premise and it just lost the plot, its mind, and the thread. I'm not going to post spoilers but the minute this book made a certain decision that involves a certain crime and tried to turn it around, no. I understand the attempt at the message, but no. Absolutely the fuck not.

Just no.

Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one! It was a lot of fun and such a nice break from the fantasy I'd been reading. I love a story you can get lost in and this is exactly what this did!

I didn't mind this book but I do feel like perhaps I am aging out of the YA genre. I like that YAs are branching into heavy hitting topics and delving deeper into mysteries, but as the characters become more modern/current, they're very unlikable. This is at no fault of the author, I am just too old for this nonsense.

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen and NetCalley for giving me carly access for an honest review. This Is Not A Dead Girl Story is a powerful commentary on what it means to grow into womanhood. The book discusses body image, virginity, consent, female rage and a handful of other topics that girls face when growing up. The blame and prevention of brutal crimes are put on the girls of the town after pretty and popular Remy goes missing. Jules is determined to find her but through the mystery more and more dark secrets are uncovered. While questioning herself and her idolized cousin, Jules also begins to question the men of their small town. Who can Jules really trust? What does it mean to be a woman? And is Remy still really out there?

A well done, if somewhat predictable, YA thriller/mystery. Slow and repetitive in parts, it does build to a pretty tight and compelling final third.

"This Is Not a Dead Girl Story" by Kate Sweeney is a gripping and poignant exploration of trauma and resilience, told with raw honesty and emotional depth. Its powerful narrative and complex characters make it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

This Is Not a Dead Girl Story by Kate Sweeney was a perfectly fine little thriller. If you are a fan of Courtney Summers, you should probably just read her work, but you won't hate this.