Addie knows that her sister never would’ve committed suicide, but nobody is listening to her alternative theories of what happened to her sister. It’s been a whole year and she’s lost her sister, her friends, and she’s still grieving the loss of her mother from years ago When the family that she thinks is responsible for her sister‘s death reappears in their small town. Among the family members is Seth, the boy she last saw when she spent the night with him on the same night that her sister died. When another death of a young person happens in the town, Addie and Seth know that they need to figure out what has happened. As Addie investigates her sister‘s death, she also has to come to terms with some difficult truths about her own family and make choices about her life to come. I read this book in a day. It was definitely a page Turner and I changed my mind about who the killer was about as many times as Addie did. Definitely can’t wait to bring this one into my classroom.

The premise of the book drew me in, and I’m a sucker for genre-bending books (in the sense that I would consider this both a thriller and a romance). I had a feeling from reading the synopsis that there would be a romance involved as they tried to solve the mystery, but I am so here for it. I thought the book moved at a good pace, and kept the reader engaged through the end. I didn’t guess the twist until it was happening and had to put down the book for a few moments before proceeding - a sign, to me, that it was well-executed. I look forward to reading more books by MK Pagano!

This was a twisty YA thriller that I enjoyed very much. The writing kept me engaged, and I couldn't wait for the mystery to unravel. I look forward to more from this author.

This book was so well written. I loved the twists the story took. I was totally engaged throughout. I couldn't put it down!

This one didn't add anything to the deadly mysteries that are flooding the YA market. Rich privilege. Death of a ballerina prodigy sister on the cusp of stardom. Mysterious circumstances. And in this one, a rivalry between other sister and rich brother of the possible murderer. Lots of hatred... until these two fall in love. In between a lot of drama and questions.

It's not that it wasn't exciting at times, but as mentioned, it was derivative.

Girls Who Burn, what can I say? We have Seth, a rich boy, and Addie. Addie lost her sister a year earlier, and she wants to find out what actually happened to her. Cue help from her once rival, Seth.

I love the writing of this book. M.K. Pagano has a gift of writing as if she’s experienced everything she’s writing about. From descriptions of touch, feel, smell, etc. to descriptions of places, she knows what she’s doing. I’ll be on a lookout for more of her books.

The characters get confusing. Addie isn’t really likable, and Seth is questionable at times, too. But I think I was supposed to feel that way. The whole teenagers trying to solve murders trope isn’t one I’m a big fan of, but I didn’t hate it here.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

this was so thrilling and truly kept me guessing till the last page! I am excited to see where the author goes from here and see so much potential .

I really enjoyed this book and kept me guessing who did it?! Addie is grieving the loss of her sister in trying to figure out who killed her while the police say it’s an accident. Addie has her doubts about the boy who loved her until he winds up dead. Addie is determined to figure out what happened and teams up with Seth who was her alibi on the night her sister was killed.

I enjoyed this one! I liked that it wasn't so cut and dry as many mysteries are now. This one had many different suspects with several different motives.
Fiona was found dead last summer at the bottom of a ravine close to her home. While the police investigated they ruled her death as an accident. Her sister Addie doesn't believe that it was an accident, she thinks that her sister's privileged boyfriend Thatcher Montgomery killed her in rage after they argued. Everyone that would listen including the police Addie would tell them several times that Thatcher was guilty, but nothing came about it. However, his cousin Seth is a complication for Addie. The night that her sister died Addie was cheating on her boyfriend with Seth and losing her virginity, and she carries the guilt for that night and her sister's death. Addie then does not talk or call Seth for the rest of the year because of her guilt.
When this summer comes around Addie tries to avoid Seth however he wants to talk to her and reluctantly she agrees but, she has alterior motives she wants to question Seth about her sister's death and if Thatcher ever told him anything. The only problem while they were talking they heard a yell and soon they found Thatcher's body, he had been murdered as well.
Soon Seth and Addie are both questioned and suspected by the Police, and they decide to investigate together to find out who really killed Fiona and Thatcher. As they spend more time together their feelings start to grow and secrets start slipping out in the investigation Addie realizes that she does not know everyone as well as she thought that she did and someone wants to kill them to make sure their secrets stay a secret! You should check this one out it's so good! Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for young readers/Nancy Paulsen Books for the opportunity to read and review this one!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

what's it about? ⬇️

It was the summer before Addie's senior year when her older sister was found dead at the bottom of a ravine in the middle of the woods, hours after the sisters had a horrible fight. But though the police rule her death an accident and imply even worse when pushed, Addie has a clear suspect in mind in the following year and refuses to keep quiet about it. But when the wealthy Montgomery family she and her siblings have grown up playing with when they visit town in the summers returns for the season the next year and Thatcher becomes the next body found at the bottom of the ravine, Addie is left to question everything...including the motivations of everyone around her and her own memories of her sister and the night she died.

Could Thatcher still be the killer she suspected him of being despite his own death? Could someone else have killed him to make it look that way? Or most terrifying of all, were both falls really just accidents, leaving no meaning to either of these awful deaths? Despite her mistrust of the family as a whole and her long standing rivalry and frenemies relationship with Seth Montgomery, she has to rely on his help to find what happened to her sister and his cousin and to make sure neither they or their loved ones are at risk of becoming yet another victim. But will they figure things out before it's too late? And even if they do, will the secrets they uncover about their town, their families, and the people they care about most crush them instead?

A story all about reforging breaking connections in the midst of heartache and the importance of friendship and trust over fear, Girls Who Burn was a mystery gold mine from start to finish.

my thoughts? ⬇️

I don't know how to express how much I adored this book. I loved following Addie through the mess of unraveling the mysteries of the town she grew up in, the sister she loved, and even her own relationships and choices. Addie and Seth were a refreshing pair of sleuthing partners with an incredible story of tension and passion and sadness and regret and love between them that meant no interaction between them was ever a dull moment, and the tenderness and understanding of one another that they managed even in their darkest moments was a beautiful layer of the story.

I also loved the relationship between Addie and her father and brother as well as with her ex-boyfriend and former best friend. Watching all of the messes between them all unwind as the book dragged on and she learned more about them, about herself, and about her sister gave so much more depth to each of the characters and made them feel so real.

Also, the red herrings? I felt like I was so busy suspecting each new person who came on the scene that I didn't have the time to spend trying to catch out the real killer in the end, but once it was there, is was so obvious. Genuinely, I loved this so much and I hope that others will too!

based on your other likes! ⬇️

If you enjoyed any of these other stories, I think this one will be perfect for you, and vice versa!

🩰A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (the whole trilogy)
🩰 You'll be the Death of me by Karen M. McManus
🩰 This is Not a Dead Girl Story by Kate Sweeney
🩰 A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis
🩰One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain

trigger warnings ⬇️

murder, violence, gun violence, death, suicide, death of a loved one, abandonment, infidelity, gaslighting, misogyny.

Girls Who Burn isn't my favorite of all the YA mystery/thrillers I've read but I can really see its appeal. It follows Addie who is still reeling a year after the murder of her sister a year ago and is absolutely shocked when the boy she believes is responsible comes back to town with his whole, rich family, only to wind up dead himself. Addie teams up with the cousin of the murdered boy to solve the crimes and clear their names, giving us a frenemies to lovers romance, and a twisty a look at years of complex friendships between the two families. I thought both Addie and her love interest were too stubborn for their own good, and got so frustrated with them at times, but really enjoyed reading a thriller with romance at the forefront like this. I also love rich family drama, so that hooked me in. What took me out of the story a tiny bit were the mentions of certain compelling plot points, like a lost treasure and several complicated love triangles that are barely explored. It's a very strange choice to mention treasure at abandoned estate over and over, and then never have it amount to anything.

That being said, I think some teens will like this. Karen M. McManus and Jessica Goodman readers should be recommended this immediately and will devour it. I'm intrigued to see what MK Pagano writes next.

This has become a fairly standard set-up - a girl and her estranged crush investigating a murder officials dismiss. We're playing with the standard elements, the wealthy and power struggles that sort of thing. There are some missed opportunities to go deeper, to explore gender and power or complex families. It's pretty surface and ultimately forgettable.

This book is yet another example of a book I think I would've loved if I had it as a teenager. The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed how invested in solving things the characters were but ultimately, the ending fell super flat for me. The big reveal and the things the characters were saying were so ridiculous that it almost completely ruined the ending for me. Overall, I had a pretty good time until that final climax. I did enjoy a lot of the other reveals and I enjoyed learning things alongside the main character!

Addie is an angry girl who lost her sister and what they deem as a freak accident. She believes that her sister was murdered, and she blames the rich boy who is obsessed with her sister. But things take a strange turn when the rich boy ends up dead in the same location as her sister. Now she has to work with her sworn enemy to solve what could’ve happened her her sister and the other boy. Will she be able to solve her sisters, murder and uncover the truth of what really happened to her?



I see enemies to lovers and I am instantly going to read the book. Boy, did it serve on that trope too! I really loved this book. I felt like it kept me on my toes the whole time. I was enthralled by the whole story. Immediately after finishing this book I looked up to see if the author had any previous books. I was shocked this was a debut and it was a solid debut. 4 stars out of 5. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wasn't too sure what I was getting into with this book, BUT.... it was amazing.
Fast-paced, suspenseful and sooo much going on but in a good way. Such a good book. Loved it!
Lots of drama and family dynamics, very interesting and crazy how it all played out.
The twists will shock you, I am usually really good at being able to figure out a mystery but this one messed me up and I wasn't able to figure it out til too close to when the book told me, so that's a huge win in my book. lol. Good luck figuring out all the mysteries
This is a YA thriller, but it is def an adult read also. It will keep you hooked and entertained.
The main character- Addie, she is one deep in her head but also in real life, kinda hard to explain. she is a complex character but that is a big part of this story and makes it good. You will understand once you read the book and see into the life of Addie. She has a lot going on for such a young girl. Some things she did to herself and others def not.
There are some teen-type life issues plus relationship/friend issues in this book that you can relate to as an adult as well.
Went to see what other books this author wrote (because this was such a great book) and found out that it is a debut novel. I'm so excited to see what they come out with next.
Go read this book, I think you will enjoy it, def doesn't disappoint.

3.5/5 Stars

1 year ago, Addie and her sister Fiona got into a fight, and left each other saying some regrettable things. Addie was never able to apologize for what she said to Fiona as she was found that night, dead at the bottom of the ravine. The police deemed it an accident, but Addie knows something more sinister must have happened involving Thatcher Montgomery after she witnessed a fight between the two. One year later, Thatcher is found dead, in the same spot Fiona was found. Addie teams up with Thatcher's cousin, Seth to discover what happened to their family members and who was behind their deaths.

This was a fast-paced read with interesting dynamics between the characters. Everybody is cheating on everybody, and it is a messy, drama-filled ride. It was fun trying to figure out the mystery behind both Addie and Thatcher's deaths. I had my suspicion of who the killer was, and they do go on quite the long villain monologue at the end, but I still enjoyed my time reading. I don't think it will be anything I will pick up again, but it was fun while it lasted.

Thanks to Netgalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for an ARC of Girls who Burn. The atmosphere of the book was absolutely dark and grey, and I loved it! Addie's sister Fiona is found at the bottom of a ravine one summer night. Fast forward to a year later and Addie's world is still a wreck, the days leading up to Fiona's death they were fighting, Fiona was keeping secrets and now Addie is determined to find out what those secrets were. Together with Seth, a childhood friend who Addie was with that night of Fiona's death, the backdrop a mansion with woods a plenty surrounding it and secrets of its family's inhabitants already deep in place, will Addie and Seth uncover the truth or become victims of those dark harbored secrets of the rich and the not so rich. Pagano does such a wonderful job of describing Addie's world and feelings, you really feel the guilt she has pent up within her. The misdirection in this book is amazing, so many characters that could be involved in the event and the reveal was satisfying. I look forward to more from Pagano is the future I am absolutely ok with bleak and gray atmospheres.

I’m really sorry but this felt like so many other YA thrillers that I’ve read. Plus what is that title? There was so much cheating just to cheat in the book which is something I hate in books. All in all this book did not do anything for me.

Loved this book! Loved the plot and it kept me hooked highly recommended. Was a quick read for me and hoping to read more from this author.

The vibe of this book really works—full of angst and tension, especially between Addie and Seth. It’s got that YA flavor, but I didn’t mind at all. There were a few moments where you just have to roll with it, and I guessed the killer pretty early, but—but overall, it was a good read!