It took me a long time to get into this book as it is not normally the genre I read. It was a decent thriller/mystery with some intriguing twists and turns throughout. Although the characters were quite well written, there were times that I found them very stereotyped. On the whole, this is one that I would recommend to teens looking for a contemporary mystery.

I love mysteries, thrillers, true crime, etc. kinds of books and those are the bulk of what I read before I jumped into the young adult genre, admittedly a little later in life. I'm definitely not the target audience for YA, but I still love the stories. I've been reading a lot of books involving psychopathy and serial killers for adults lately, and I feel like that changed how I would have originally reviewed this book if I hadn't. I'm used to getting more of a psychological analysis of these criminals, from a psychologist or members of law enforcement and I didn't get that in this book. And that's ok! I can't fault a book for not being something that it never set out to be. I just think it wasn't the right choice for me. It is suspenseful and exciting, though, and that was great. I wish there'd been no romantic elements, but again... that's a personal choice. The book kept me interested and I didn't figure out the mystery, so I call that a win!

I enjoy a good crime/mystery book, but this one wasn't for me. Not this book's fault - I just have trouble following and got easily confused, but I know a lot of people loved this book so I think it's just me.

I had high expectations for this book, seeing as I loved Jenn’s other stand alone Cut Me Free. Jenn has a way of writing that grabs you and doesn’t let you go until you turn the last page. She managed to do that here as well.
I basically made up my mind whether the father hand done it or not before I even opened the book. This is the dilemma that Riley is faced with and she doesn’t know with to do with it at first. My thoughts kept lingering in the back of my mind during the entire book, but there were certain points in the book where I wasn’t so sure of my convictions. It is almost spooky how well Jenn knows how to portray characters and make them real.
No character was unnecessary and they were all very real to me. Even though I’ve never been in a situation like that and hope I never will be, I felt their emotions and I could relate to them. I felt their fear, happiness and their helplessness. The combination of Riley and Jordan was epic! The connection and the banter that they have rivals the Gilmore Girls. She is the daughter of the convicted murderer who may or may not have done it. He is the son of the man who arrested her father. This brings a lot of conflict. I almost wanted to take out some popcorn, but I couldn’t let go of the book.

I’ve never really come across this subject in YA and it felt like a breath of fresh air. There are books that center around this, but not in such a way. I learned a lot from this book. Prejudices are front and center here and it can’t hurt to be made aware of how it can destroy a person in the world we now live in.

They only thing I would have done differently is the cover. It is certainly fitting for the story, but I don’t really like it. I loved her other covers better.

I can’t wait to read her new project. She told me some things about it and I am really happy. As soon as I can tell you more I will.

So go out and buy this awesome book, because it is certainly worth it!

This was not quite what I expected, but I enjoyed this twisty, suspenseful read. Plot twists and tense narrative make this a page turner.

Though the premise did capture my interest when I requested this copy, the story itself didn't seem to fit up to my standards. No disrespect toward the author or publisher, though. It ended up not being for me.

3.5 Stars

'The Row' is an intriguing young adult mystery that takes a hard look at family and how certain situations can change you. I love mysteries, so this book sounded like a good fit for me, which it was. The story was very well written and engaging. We really get to know the main character, Riley, throughout the book - both the good and the bad. The author used the first person point of view to tell the tale, and if you read my reviews, you'll know that I'm a huge fan of that writing style. The reader forms a much deeper connection to the narrator, making it easier to identify with them. This was definitely the case with this novel, and I think it's a great fit for the story. Riley is an interesting main character and goes through a lot of really hard situations during the book. She's a very loving and devoted daughter, especially considering her father is on death row for murder. She fully believes that he's innocent - as he's said the entire time - until a rogue confession causes her entire universe to collapse around her. She can no longer completely trust her father - because now she knows for a fact that at least one thing he's told her is a lie. Riley can't get the idea out of her mind and sets out to discover the truth once and for all - for her own peace of mind.

The mystery that follows is a bit slow at first, but picks up speed the further into the book you go. I loved the twists and turns that are thrown into the plot - they keep you guessing for a really long time. But it's not just the mystery aspect of the story that I liked. The novel gives us an up close and personal look at the lives of a daughter and wife of a convicted serial killer. We learn their hardships and struggles - both in everyday life and having to do with the trial.

Riley's a brave and strong character, and she displays these traits multiple times. However, there was something about her character that bugged me. I can't exactly put my finger on what it was, but it stuck in my mind the entire time I read and put a bit of a damper on my experience. I think she comes across as a bit whiny and "woe is me" - even though she has every right to feel this way. It makes her sound weak, and she's continually trying to prove the opposite is true. Another thing that bothered me was the way she spoke - she sounded much more immature and younger than she was. I'm not sure if it was the vocabulary or just the way it's presented, but it bugged me. This is a great mix of mystery and contemporary fiction that fans of both genres will enjoy - definitely recommended!