I have enjoyed books by Faith so I was very excited for this one and it did not disappoint me. I loved how the mystery and secrets unfolded throughout and Posey really grew on me the more we got to know her.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of if you can hear this. I was a little unsure if I would enjoy this book early on but it really grew on me. It has a similar vibe to a good girl's guide to murder but with more friendship. Posey is a little bit of a strange protagonist but I warmed up to her. It's definitely a YA mystery and if you don't like YA this isn’t the book for you. I do wish we could’ve explored more than romance storyline between Posey and Sal but I’m ok with how it ended.

The idea of this was intriguing but the execution of said idea was less than ideal. I found the main character to be hard to deal with--I just found her annoying, to be blunt. I think that Posey was supposed to be neurodivergent, and as an ND person I welcome the representation but I wish that her hard black and white thinking had been challenged a bit. Outside of the characters, the actual plot was not my favorite. The investigation, the conversations, the plot lines that showed up and went nowhere, the ending--I didn't vibe with it. The side investigation into the teacher-turned-parent felt bizarre. I don't know. I just didn't enjoy this, and reading it felt like a punishment.

Short and Sweet Review

Posey and her father just moved to the small town of Wild Pines. Posey immediately knows she wants to join the high schools AV Club, what she didn’t realize is that the other members of the club aren’t as motivated as she is. When the club’s sponsor Ms. Moses goes missing, Posey sees this as her chance to lead the other members of the club to make groundbreaking news and find their teacher.

This book had a great concept but failed at execution. Posey is our main character and she’s determined to get things done, she comes in a bit hot and ready to throw out ideas, but she doesn’t know any of the other members of the club to come in like their leader. There’s five other members of the AV club and the most important one is Sal because he’s actually their leader. I feel like the rest of the members of the AV club were just their so it could seem like it was a club that had members, they’re in the book but don’t really add anything important. Sal on the other hand is a romantic interest for Posey but the sparks were not flying off the page and there were times when Posey thought he was a suspect. There were rumors going around the school that Sal and Ms. Moses were too close but once we figure out she’s just one of those teachers who cares about her students at an above and beyond level it made sense. When the AV club starts making content about Ms. Moses going missing it starts making waves in this small town. I enjoyed reading the transcripts and seeing the comments on their videos. I don’t want to spoil anything but what happened at the end just isn’t possible, I even did my own research and it’s just not happening. I feel like the ending was okay and some of the side plots weren’t completely answered.

Overall, this was an okay book. I love mysteries but I think when I read the ending I was just upset at the outcome it also didn’t seem like there was an urgency at finding their teacher but more of an emphasis on making content. I personally didn’t enjoy this book as I went into it thinking I would have, but I can see people liking this book and looking past the issues I had with it.

Posey Spade, a budding journalist, moves to a small town where she must inspire a group of misfit students in the AV Club to investigate the mysterious disappearance of their teacher. As they unravel the town's secrets, Posey learns the importance of friendship and teamwork in solving a dangerous mystery.

This book is definitely geared towards a teenage audience, but I found it to be quite enjoyable. The writing was well-crafted, and the characters were not only likable but also quite clever. Each character was well-developed and displayed a level of intelligence beyond their years. This was a refreshing change from the typical Young Adult novels that tend to focus on drama and simplicity.

The plot of the book was intricately woven and slowly revealed, keeping me engaged throughout. I found it particularly frustrating when Posey and the AV club attempted to intervene, only to receive no support from the authorities, leading to an unexpected outcome.

I have noticed that this book has received mixed reviews, but personally, I found it to be quite engaging. The book cover is also quite appealing. The narrative, plot, and resolution were all enjoyable, and I highly recommend giving this book a chance. If Teen YA novels are not typically your preference, you may not enjoy this book, but I usually steer clear of them myself and am glad I gave this one a chance. I am looking forward more work from this author.

Thank you, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Release: Nov 18, 2024

Publisher: Harper Collins

Rating: 4/5 ★

If You Can Hear This by Faith Gardner is a compelling story about a young protagonist who must piece their life back together after a traumatic event changes everything. As they navigate feelings of isolation and confront challenges in their relationships, the journey becomes one of self-discovery and resilience. The novel touches on themes of trauma, healing, and finding one’s voice, blending moments of struggle with hope and the power of connection.

If You Can Hear This by Faith Gardner is an emotionally resonant novel that explores trauma, identity, and the struggle to reclaim one’s voice. The story follows the protagonist as they navigate the aftermath of a life-altering incident, dealing with feelings of isolation, the complexity of relationships, and the weight of rebuilding a sense of normalcy.

Gardner’s writing is raw and heartfelt, effectively capturing the protagonist’s inner turmoil and gradual journey toward healing. The characters are deeply layered, showcasing both flaws and strengths that make them relatable and compelling. The novel does an excellent job portraying themes of resilience and the power of human connection, creating an inspiring and thought-provoking narrative.

One of the strengths of this book is Gardner’s ability to write authentically about heavy topics, balancing moments of darkness with hope. The plot is paced thoughtfully, allowing readers to fully absorb the emotional depth of each chapter without feeling overwhelmed.

Overall, If You Can Hear This is a powerful read that will resonate with anyone who has faced difficult challenges or sought to find their voice after hardship. It’s a story of hope and recovery that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Favorite Quote:

"we're all just stories. But we don't get to choose which one we're born into"

If You Can Hear This by Faith Gardner is a Young Adult Mystery & Thriller novel about a high school AV Club and the search of their teacher who is missing. The expected publication date of this book is November 19, 2024. I'd like to thank NetGalley for sending me an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Overall, I can say that I really enjoyed the storyline. It reminded me of the Point Horror Books of the 1980's and 1990's and followed a similar formula. There were plenty of suspects and motives throughout but was a bit predictable.

Additionally, I liked that the author had a diverse group of characters in the book, including two or three from the LGTBQ+ community, a couple that were people of color, and one that had a mental illness. I think it's important to include a diverse group of characters so that everyone has a book to read that depicts someone like them as well as educating others on people who are different from them.

What surprised me the most is that the school newspaper was disbanded and that there was actually an AV Club. I'd think that it would've been called something more updated like the Multimedia Club or having a school television show. Do kids these days even know what an AV Club is? I know that the television show Stranger Things might have brought some light to these type of clubs, but I don't know if that would be enough for it to be relatable to kids and teens today.

Four out of five stars is what I gave If You Can Hear This by Faith Gardner. It's great for tweens and teens as I think they will find certain situations relatable. Adults who like to read YA should enjoy this book for the nostalgic features.

3 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't like Posey at first, and that colored my initial perception of the novel as a whole. But she grew on me. She was earnest and ambitious and I ended up loving her, and the rest of the AV Club, by the end of the novel. The mystery itself was solid, and the reveal was great. I didn't see it coming at all and it really worked for me.

Solid 3 stars, would def recommend if you like YA mysteries being solved by a fun friend group!

This is definitely a YA book, so be warned if you plan to read it. Overall it's a decent mystery for that age group, but I don't think it will connect with adults as well as it will connect with teens.

If you liked A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, you'll probably enjoy this one as long as you don't compare them too closely because they are very similar. The characters are engaging and the storyline will appeal to its intended audience. We need more cozy type mysteries for YA readers with likable characters.

1.5⭐️

This book tried very hard to be A Good Girls Guide to Murder and it fell very short.

Posey was absolutely infuriating. I’m all for unmasked neurodivergent people, but Posey was a robot. It’s never explicitly said she’s ND, but as an ND person myself I can see it. Between her overly formal way of speaking to her stiff convictions of right and wrong, this turned into a painful read quickly. The fact that she allowed Sal to park his van that he was living in on her driveway but never once asked the homeless kid to come inside was also wild to me. None of the conversations anyone has in this book feel natural. The ‘investigation’ left a lot to be desired. And the ending felt lazy.

There’s also an ‘investigation’ into inappropriate behavior between a teacher and a student. But the student was a kid abandoned by his parents with no place to go and the teacher stepped in as an almost foster parent for him. I feel like there’s a big difference between an inappropriate relationship and stepping in as a parent. Posey was so scandalized by the teacher giving him a hug after finding him drunk sleeping outside. I’m sorry, would you rather him have nothing? Posey at one point refers to Mrs. Moses as a woman with a ‘savior complex and boundary issues.’ Again, she was the only adult who ever did anything for Sal?! Mrs. Moses was a safe space for almost everyone in the AV Club but Posey was so scandalized by everything that it made no sense.

Also, there were so many sub plots that were never completed. Was the cult important? What is Posey’s obsession with bears? Who is Hannah and why do you keep mentioning her?

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing this ARC to me.

Wow, another great read by Faith Gardner! Such an easy mystery to sink into. Dual timelines and fantastic characters made this book impossible to put down. I flipped pages into the wee hours. I connected with this story, such great energy and emotion all packed into one. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this one.
Thank you NetGalley , Faith Gardner and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The whole book felt rushed a discombobulated. The mystery didn’t really develop, and the female main character tipped from precocious to annoying very quickly. A plot line would be hinted at/introduced and never fully developed, but it would be referred back to as if the reader was supposed to have the background knowledge. It was very frustrating.

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins publishers for allowing me to read this prior to release date. This is my first book by Faith Gardner. I loved the concept, I was not a huge fan of the main character I found her to be very annoying. The story though was very interesting and it had me wanting to know more. I finished this book within about 3-4 days.

3.75 stars rounded up! 💫

Something about this book had me hooked almost immediately. There's something about a good young adult novel that just gets me sometimes, and I really enjoyed this one. I do want to say right away, the inspiration from series’ like AGGGTM was glaringly obvious at certain points, most notably within the dynamic between Posey and Sal, and some of the investigation format. But it deviated more than enough to be it’s own original story, in my opinion.

The author was able to write young characters without making them seem like stereotypes or too obviously written by someone who is NOT that age. Some of their dialogue and interactions actually had me laughing. The only character who spoke in a less than realistic way was our main character, Posey - however, it’s brought up by other characters and explained, so at least it’s self aware, and I can’t say I minded it. In general, Posey was really likable. All of the kids in the AV club were. (I think Jeremiah and Lexy were my favorites, if I had to choose.) The friendships within that group were the heart of the book for me, and my personal favorite parts.

Also, I have to say, I wish the books I read as a teenager had this kind of casual diversity. Multiple characters of color and queer characters on the pages is just refreshing as hell, and I think it's amazing that young readers have this kind of representation now.

The ending of this book left a little to be desired, it felt a bit anti-climactic, but it wasn't enough of a letdown to change my overall rating or opinion of the book. If the author decides to turn this into a series of some sort, with the club diving into other investigations, I'd absolutely read it. There was a lot going on in Wild Pines that the surface was only scratched on and I think there's a lot left to uncover there. (A cult? Hello? Let's unpack it.)

I’d recommend this to any YA reader or anyone who wants a lighter read that still has a dose of mystery to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins!

when posey is the new girl at wild pines high school she joins the AV club, as she wants to be a journalist. not even a week a the new school and the multimedia teacher suddenly goes missing. posey and the AV club make it their mission to find out what happened to mrs. moses. this was such a good YA thriller and totally gave me a good girls guide to murder vibes.

I, honestly, really enjoyed this book. It was a definitely a YA Mystery, however, it could easily be for middle grade. If I was looking at this book purely from an adult perspective it would rate a 3 for me but because of the age range, it gets a 4. I felt the characters were very well written, however, some falling into some stereotypes. I suppose that happens a lot in high school though.

Posey, the main character, is a neurodivergent overachiever and is brand new at her school. With no newspaper to join, she decides the AV club will have to do. Upon joining the group, the others are less than enthused about her presence. Yet, when their teacher, Ms. Moses, goes missing, the group bands together to write and publish news on her disappearance.

Each child in the group, except for Posey, has a meaningful relationship with their teacher, yet it is slightly inappropriate. She is the 'cool teacher' to the misfits and although I do believe the character was acting out of kindness and not malice, her actions crossed lines. That's neither here nor there, though, as the story mostly focuses on the kids looking for her.

The ending was not some crazy twist but it was still interesting and realistic. I enjoyed how it all came to be. Just some kids trying to figure some things out and looking for their beloved teacher. Cute read.

This was a little too YA for me, I’m sure if I was in high school I would have enjoyed it. Also, the twists didn’t quite do it for me.

this book sounded so up my ally. and i picked it up for a spooky little suspenseful read... and found it lacking a little maybe i have just outgrown ya horror/thriller/suspense. but this was so... mid to me it genuinely broke my heart, especially when so many of my favorite books seemed to have the similar synopsis’s to this read. in all i am sure this book has its audience, and i believe my 13 year old sister would adore it and for that i am still rating it 3 stars. i believe i am just past the age group for this read.

THOUGHTS

This book feels so perfectly YA, and at the same time, it is so not geared toward me! It's a fun and quick read, and it feels absolutely geared toward the target audience in a way that is (unfortunately) hard to find. But it doesn't reach the depth that I personally crave from a thriller, and I did have to suspend a lot of disbelief. And I do mean A LOT.


PROS
Friends? Yes, Please!: I really, really appreciated the group dynamic to this investigative team. So many YA thrillers have a lone-wolf type investigator, someone who is convinced they can solve something nobody else has. At best, you get a duo of friends standing up against the haters. But this book has a really dynamic friend group digging into this missing persons case, and I like the life this group of friends breathes into a saturated market.

Group Dynamic: Not only does having a whole group of investigators shake up the genre conventions but these characters have great chemistry as a group. Honestly, even though this book didn't suit my personal style of thriller, I would absolutely love a whole series following this AV-club-turned-mystery-investigators as they track down the lies and the cover-ups of their small town. They just play off of each other that well.

Perfectly YA: I've said it above, and I'll say it again: this book is perfectly YA. I could absolutely recommend it to anyone in that age category, whether they're moving up from MG or on the verge of stepping out of YA and into the general adult market. And that's really, really nice. So many books skew toward the older crowd, and those that don't push the upper limit feel like they aren't interesting for the older YA reader. There's not a lot of middle ground in the current market. Finding something that hits the sweet spot so well is like finding a gem. It's wonderful. It's magical.


CONS
Annoying MC: Not going to lie. I found Posey particularly annoying. On, like, a personal level. I absolutely wouldn't have been friends with someone like Posey back in high school, someone who ignores all social cues and absolutely tramples on people's toes left and right while justifying herself in doing so. She's so pushy, and while I appreciate that makes her an interesting character, she definitely wasn't for me.

OTT: There are a lot of character and plot elements that were too much for me, personally. There's a lot of melodrama here in the character backstories. There are a lot of crazy things woven into this story. Everybody just lets these kids interview them, and they reveal the most out-of-pocket tidbits about this small town and its history. I was flabbergasted. And somebody else will absolutely love how unhinged all of this is; it just wasn't for me.

Trust Issues: Posey and Sal are in this together... until they're suddenly not. And to be honest, I just didn't buy Posey suddenly not trusting Sal. She had all kinds of reasons before this particular point, and she just wasn't bothered by anything she learned about her AV Club co-president. But one more dubious rumor causes her to question everything (even though I think, on a character level, she probably wouldn't have been upset with him in this case). So that was a bit of mischaracterization, as far as I'm concerned.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7/10
Fans of Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder will like diving into the dubious histories of this small town. Those who enjoyed the over-the-top nature of Kate Weston's Murder on a School Night will appreciate how unhinged and wacky this investigation proves to be.

A lot of YA thrillers are tough to read because they are too Venice and unrealistic. This was different! The dialogue was amazing! The banter was quick, and the characters were smart. Loved it!