A dual POV mystery focusing on Amy, the roommate, and Liz, the school newspaper editor, as they work to untangle the threads.

Jessica Goodman has been great at setting up premises of mysteries that intrigue me, and The Meadowbrook Murders was no different. I enjoyed the dual POV and seeing two separate views on solving the same mystery, as well as being able to put the pieces together a little bit faster than the narrators, as I had more of the information.

However, I would have loved more from Amy. I found Liz's motives to be pretty obvious about wanting to earn a scholarship with a news worthy story, while Amy was running around and being reckless, in my opinion. It was a great mystery, though, that I look forward to sharing with teen sleuths.

"The Meadowbrook Murders" is an intriguing mystery novel that ultimately delivers a satisfying read. The plot centers around a series of chilling murders in the small town of Meadowbrook, and the author does a commendable job of weaving together suspense and intricate character development.

While the book starts off a bit slow, requiring some patience to fully immerse into the story, the pace picks up significantly as the plot thickens. The initial chapters are more about setting the scene and introducing the characters, which can feel a bit drawn out. However, once the groundwork is laid, the narrative becomes gripping and hard to put down.

Overall, "The Meadowbrook Murders" is a good book that rewards readers who stick with it through the slower beginning. The twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end, making it a worthwhile read for mystery enthusiasts.

This book was very "mid" to me. I enjoyed the dark academia/boarding school setting and some of the characters were interesting, but the entire story felt pretty surface level and I also found it a bit difficult to keep some of the characters straight - Joseph, Ryan and Peter all blended together throughout the book. I liked it enough to finish it but not enough to rate it more than 3 stars.

I have been a big fan of Jessica Goodman for some time now, so I was delighted to receive her latest novel: The Meadowbrook Murders. If a book has a dark academia theme, I am going to love it. If Goodman writes it, that's icing on the cake.

This is a slow burn mystery with a dual POV. The character voices were engaging, and while readers will likely figure out the murderer before the final page, Goodman's writing will keep readers turning the pages.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

So, I knew going into this that Jessica Goodman's M.O. is prep school murder mysteries. I knew this. Yet I was still slightly annoyed by it. How do I say this... I thought the story was intriguing and the beginning started off with such promise, but then everything grounded to a slow churn and many of the characters started to grate on me. I appreciated that Goodman spent a lot of time with Amy's character arc of exploring her complicated grief over her best friend's murder -- so many YA novels tend to gloss over this for the sake of the mystery itself. You could feel Amy's pain throughout this entire novel. That said, the entitlement (while duly noted several times) is so annoying and Amy is so rude to Liz (the other MC) that it makes me care about her grief a heck of a lot less as the story goes on. Amy's so-called friends are awful people, too, which I'm sure is part of the point but also makes for an annoying read, TBH. The twist wasn't all that surprising, but it was a nice touch to acknowledge that even innocent people can't be trusted and that trust sometimes can't be repaired. Goodman nailed the morality in her latest release, but I would like to see her stories branch out a bit from the spoiled prep school murder mystery. As a YA mystery, though, this would make a juicy addition to a high school mystery collection and a solid recommendation for Karen McManus fans looking for a bit more intrigue.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

An elite boarding school. A murder. Two students must work together to find the killer before they're next.

I love a boarding school mystery and this one was an extremely fast-paced, entertaining read. After a late-night party, Amy wakes to blood. Her best friend and roommate Sarah has been murdered along with her boyfriend. During the investigation, Amy's moved into a dorm with the last person she wants to room with: Liz, the editor of the school paper and the person who broke the news to the world about the crime.

While this was a fine way to spend the afternoon, two weeks after having read the book, I can't recall any major details.

I was so excited for another Jessica Goodman academic YA thriller! I also enjoyed the fast pace of this book and how it takes place over just a few days. It kept my attention and wanting to know more. I did spot the murderer from the beginning, but I still enjoyed the book. I liked the pacing, characters, and that Liz was not just a reporter, but also a bit layered and felt shy and antisocial. I'd recommend this book if you want a quick YA thriller palate cleanser! I look forward to reading more of Jessica Goodman's books.

Rich kids at a boarding school being messy? Count me in.

I absolutely devoured this slow burn YA mystery and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. At first I absolutely despised Liz’s character, but she really grew on me as she learned what it meant to be a journalist. Amy could have used better critical thinking skills before just did things without thinking of the consequences. But that’s just how teenagers are I guess. The dual POV was perfect for this story and I definitely think I’ll pick up a Jessica Goodman book again someday.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Penguin Young Readers Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is a slow burn story that I would categorize as a very young YA Mystery. It's honestly not a terrible read. I would say if you need a palette cleanser that doesn't require a whole lot of deep thinking and isn't anxiety inducing but a rather slow, one-dimensional read that you don't need to get too invested in, then this one may be for you.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3⭐️

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

God I love a good thriller set at a boarding school. Spoiled kids are so messy and I love it. It makes for such good media. Jessica Goodman is so good at writing these type of books and I consume them like no other.

Having a dual POV with the roommate of a murdered student and the school journalist was chefs kiss. I loved to see both sides. Liz was such a great character and I hope we can see her again in a different story.

Listen, did I figure out the killer pretty quick? Yes. Does it matter? No. There was so much going on throughout that kept me so invested in the story.

I recommend this if you enjoy YA thrillers and mysteries.

Amy and her best friend Sarah are seniors at Meadowbrook Academy in Connecticut when Sarah and her boyfriend are murdered in Sarah’s dorm room; Amy was asleep in the next room when they were killed, along with her own boyfriend. As the investigation begins it turns out that Sarah lied about a lot of things.

Liz, the editor of the school newspaper and social outcast wants to find out what happened, hoping she’ll win a journalism scholarship. As she searches for answers she risks bringing the murderer’s wrath down on herself next.

This story is told from each of their POVS. I do enjoy multiple POV story, but even with these short, quick chapters, I felt I was waiting for something to happen.

It’s a murder mystery with a suppperrr slow build. I wanted more action. It’s was a fine read though.

What a ride! I adore Jessica Goodman, and this book was no exception in terms of her excellence in YA thrillerland. With a dual POV that felt unique, the mystery of a murdered prep school girl and her boyfriend unraveled, with multiple suspects cropping up, and a trail of clues to follow. I did not foresee the ending unfolding as it did -- so surprising, as well as satisfying. 5 stars!!!!

Sarah wakes up one morning to find her roommate and her boyfriend murdered in bed. This book is set at a boarding school type place and many characters are suspects. Best friends. Ex boyfriends. Jealousy plays a big role. Is the school hiding something?? What role does the journalism student play? Great book! Super engaging. Kept my attention. I really enjoyed it!

This is a quick and easy read about the murder of two students at an elite boarding school in Connecticut. And even though I realized that this is a YA book and I figured out the whodunit fairly early on, I still enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down. At Meadowbrook Academy, the seniors get to campus a week early for special events. During Senior week, Sarah Oliver and Ryan Pelham - the golden couple at Meadowbrook, extremely popular and the envy of many - are brutally murdered. Sarah's roommate and best friend Amy Alterman came back to their suite that night very drunk and didn't see or hear anything until her gruesome discovery of the bodies the next morning. Liz Charles is an outcast who is the editor of the school newspaper. She is extremely determined to figure out what really happened, write the story, and use it to get a coveted journalism scholarship. While discovering many secrets, lies, and clues, Liz also learns a lot about journalistic ethics and how to become a true friend. Thanks to #netgalley and #The Meadowbrook Murders for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating 2.5

The main thing that didn't quite work for me had to do with the dual POVs. Both characters are the same gender, same age, at the same school. Their voices and tone felt similar enough that it was difficult to keep them separate for the first portion of the book, and if I set the book down in the middle of one of their chapters it was hard to remember whose POV it was when I picked it back up.

The solution to the mystery was also a bit underwhelming, and the solution wasn't entirely satisfying since there were no real clues or possible hints until the very end. It felt weird to have such a gruesome murder juxtaposed with the rest of the somewhat trite feeling teenager interactions and angst.

Despite that, the pacing was consistent and kept the story moving and it was an okay read overall. If you like YA murder mysteries in academic settings (but this certainly doesn't classify as dark academia) then you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for allowing me to read this work.

🗞️Book Review🗞️
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Thank you @prhaudio for the advanced copy of The Meadowbrook Murders. I’m a big fan of Jessica Goodman, I think she writes fabulous YA thrillers. This one was pretty good, the case definitely held my interest. It was clearly inspired by the Idaho murders from a few years back, but I still enjoyed it. I didn’t buy some of the stakes in this, it should have taken place in a college rather than Highschool with all the emphasis on the importance of the school newspaper. It was a fast paced read and a great audiobook.
*
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My thoughts- It’s the first week of senior year at Meadowbrook Academy. For Amy and her best friend Sarah, that means late-night parties at the boathouse, bike rides through their sleepy Connecticut town, and the crisp beginning of a New England fall.

Then tragedy strikes: Sarah and her boyfriend are brutally murdered in their dorm room. Now the week Amy has been dreaming about for years has turned into a nightmare, especially when all eyes turn to her as the culprit. She was Sarah’s only roommate, the only other person there when she died—or so she told the police to cover for her own boyfriend’s suspicious whereabouts. And even though they were best friends, with every passing day, Amy begins to learn that Sarah lied about a lot of things.

Liz, editor of the school newspaper and social outcast, is determined to uncover the truth about what happened on campus, in hopes her reporting will land a prestigious scholarship to college. As Liz dives deeper into her investigation, the secrets these murdered seniors never wanted out come to light. The deeper Liz digs, the messier the truth becomes – and with a killer still on campus, she can’t afford to make any mistakes.
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QOTD- any fun weekend plans ?! Saturday is my birthday, I’m going to be 32😅 so spending the weekend with family and my husband! ❤️

Two teenagers at a boarding school are brutally murdered. Switching between Amy, the best friend of one of the victims, and Liz, a reporter for the school newspaper, the two work together to try to find out the truth of who is responsible.

I wanted to like this one more than I did. I thought the premise and setup were good, but the investigating felt meh. I also think Goodman never really established a good relationship between Amy and Liz. I expected them to work together more or have a breaking point that then turns into a begrudging relationship - idk something more than I got. I also didn't think any of the twists/turns were all that surprising either, which always takes away from a mystery.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book. #TheMeadowbrookMurders #NetGalley

Actual Rating: 3.75 stars, rounded up

A group of private school students, ready to begin their senior year, are shocked by the brutal murder of a popular couple - in one of the campus dorm rooms. The murdered girl's best friend & roommate gets paired with another student who's an outsider to most of the school community, and who is eager to find out more about the crime, since she's the campus newspaper editor. Although they don't trust one another's motives, they end up investigating the murder - and stumble into solving the crime. It was an enjoyable whodunit mystery, and I appreciated the resolution at the end.

This book was a mystery that had all of my favorite things: dual POV, relatable characters, an underdog heroine, and a twist. My students would love to read this and try to figure out whodunnit!

Jessica Goodman keeps up her streak of extremely readable campus novels with The Meadowbrook Murders. At the beginning of her senior year at the prestigious Meadowbrook Academy, Amy finds her roommate/best friend Sarah, and Sarah's boyfriend, Ryan, murdered in Sarah's dorm bed. With suspicions running wild on campus and in the media, ambitious student journalist Liz sees the opportunity of a lifetime. Both girls are seeking answers, but will they work together to find justice or clash over motives? I enjoyed the dual narratives in this book, as both girls felt like outsiders at times for various reasons. I would have liked a bit more depth to the characters, but I did appreciate the quick pace of the book. Overall, I thought this book was a fun, quick read. Perfect for fans of Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious series and other boarding school thrillers! Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for my eARC in exchange for my honest review!