Well, this book was certainly an interesting cross between horror and mystery. There is a serial killer playing this small Florida town. That wasn’t bad enough now Ruby is being visited by the ghost of her dead self. As an amateur sleuth who’s determined to bring down the rich and untouchable in her town, Ruby has made quite a few enemies. Now it’s a race against Time to find the serial killer and whoever is going to make Ruby’s ghost become reality. this is definitely an interesting read that along with dealing with horror and ghosts it also deals with issues like classism and gentrification. All a really interesting read.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"You're Dead to Me" by Amy Christine Parker is a fun YA thriller set in a richly detailed Florida setting where Ruby Toller, a scholarship student and social outcast, becomes the target of the elite Bling Brigade's bullying tactics. In retaliation, she creates a fake social media persona, the "Reputation Killer," to expose the secrets of her tormentors. As Ruby navigates the treacherous waters of high school politics, she finds herself facing not only the wrath of the Bling Brigade but also a chilling encounter with a ghostly apparition that foretells her own demise. With the help of her friends Xavier and Anton, Ruby sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding the ghost and the elusive serial killer known as Mannequin Man.

Parker created a story filled with suspense, humor, and unexpected twists that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s not enough that Parker sees her own dead body haunting her; no, there is also a serial killer that seems to be hunting her down and killing those close to her. Not only that, but the juxtaposition of Ruby's personal struggles with the larger backdrop of her family's fight to save their animal theme park, Wonderpark, adds depth to the story. I almost wanted a book focused solely on Ruby wanting to save the family’s attraction as I thought that was a very unique part of the story and separated this book from other YA thrillers. There are a few stereotypical troupes in this book, which is why I enjoyed the family drama even more. The descriptions in this book also sold the story to me as through vivid descriptions and relatable characters, Parker brings the setting of Oleander Bay to life, capturing the essence of Florida's unpredictable charm.

There was witty dialogue throughout the book as the characters felt like actual teenagers. I will say that Ruby did feel a bit younger than an 18-year-old senior about to graduate; some of her actions were very impulsive, and she sometimes acted immature (like throwing food in someone’s face). Some of the reactions of both Ruby and other characters seemed a bit stilted as well, especially when it came to the serial killer. There is a legitimate serial killer in town and there didn’t seem to be much concern about the killer, even when Ruby personally knew the victims.

However, “You're Dead to Me" is a must-read for fans of young adult thrillers due to the unique setting and unique plot points. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book! Whether you're drawn to the intrigue of high school drama or the thrill of a supernatural mystery, this book has something for everyone.

I wasn't sure what to expect of this one, but I'm glad I picked it up! I'll admit, I'm not usually a big paranormal fan, but this one did a good job of tying it in with the major themes and motifs without feeling too cheesy or over the top. It was a quick, easy read with plenty of twists to throw readers off as they try to figure out who's behind everything! I think this would be better for younger teens, but entertaining nonetheless. Thanks for the ARC!

You’re Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker is a gripping tale about Ruby Toller, a high school senior at Oleander Bay Academy in Florida, a prestigious private school home to the Bling Brigade, a cadre of rich, arrogant teens. Ruby, a scholarship student and social outcast, is daily fodder for their jokes, harassment and taunting. To get revenge, she creates a fake social media account called reputation killer established for the sole purpose of gathering scandalous dirt on the Bling Brigade, which she does successfully. When Queen Bees, Violet and Daphne, discover that Ruby is behind the fake account, her life at school becomes unbearable. Simultaneously, Ruby is attacked by a menacing and mysterious ghost dressed in a prom gown so hideous and grotesque that Ruby thinks she is losing her mind. She is convinced that the ghost is a sign of her impending and imminent death which is to occur at her senior prom. Meanwhile, Ruby’s single mother, Nadine, is trying desperately to save their family's legacy from bankruptcy, an animal theme park called Wonderpark. Overshadowed by Ruby’s personal problems is Mannequin Man, a serial killer, running around town shooting victims at random. When Ruby’s friend and park employee, Eva, becomes Mannequin Man’s latest victim, she enlists the help of her two best friends, Xavier and Anton, to solve the mystery of Mannequin Man and bring him to justice.

Convinced that her ghost is a premonition of her impending death, Ruby sets out to find the truth. One might think that Ruby’s ghost is a figment of her imagination, which manifests when she is in turmoil, yet it is the one plot element that creates a sense of implausibility and uncertainty. The reader is thrust into the conflict from the onset by the introduction of Ruby’s doppelganger, which sets the story apart from other stereotypical novels about mean girls and outcasts. You’re Dead to Me does not disappoint with its engaging, fast-paced and suspenseful narrative. Ruby unmasks the scandalous and unscrupulous behavior of the Oleander elite and how corruption of money, power and influence reaches far beyond the school walls. The mercurial nature of the rising action throws the reader off balance and derails any sense or predictability and monotony. Parker creates likable characters such as Alexander, one of Oleander's elite and the anti-hero of the story, who is redeemable and joins forces with Ruby to bring the perpetrators to justice. You’re Dead to Me has humor, poignant moments, and irony. It is clever, well-written and extends beyond the boundaries of cliche and convention. All the pieces come together in the end but not before secrets are revealed, surprises unearthed, and the scoundrels brought to justice.

I really wanted to take my time with this book, because I will never get over how good Amy’s book are. She has one of those minds that you have to be happy is on the side of good, because if she was a villain, world domination would be in the cards. I imagine her in high backed chair, sipping a martini, twirling her curly mustache and cackling as she kills off characters… GREAT! Now I’ll never get that out of my mind.

Excellent story--lots of tension. I wanted to stop reading after the main character was outed for her behavior but I found myself getting sucked in. Taut writing and fun twists.

Death by Reputation by Amy Christine Parker is a fun, YA mystery.
Ruby is a senior in high school as well as writing an anonymous blog called Reputation Killer. When she posts her latest blog taking down the king of the senior class, she's outed as the writer. Things only go downhill from there. In addition, Ruby has started seeing her ghost dressed in a prom dress leading her to believe that she'll be killed during the senior prom. What's a girl to do?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

Firstly, thank you for the copy of this book. I appreciate Amy Parker for writing this. I found that it was a great read. The style does read very High School and that is fitting due to the character being the narrator. I found there were a lot of tropes such as extremely attractive antagonists and the wealth status constantly used as a reference. For example: Jansport vs Prada backpacks. The plot is very compelling, and it is interesting how it mentions death figuratively frequently at first. There were a ton of twists which I definitely love. I found the idea of a ghost version of her and how she is trying to stop the future. This really was a solid read and perfect for a spooky evening. 4 Stars out of 5 because I am personally not massively into the beauty tropes constantly. This also reminded me of Mean Girls in a way. I will be suggesting this for the library and recommend it to patrons.

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a fun read and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire thing! I loved the ending and all the twists and turns to try and figure out what was happening and who was trying to kill her! This book was right up my alley and I can't wait until it comes out so I can start recommending it!