If you love twisty high school mysteries with elite cliques, complicated friendships, and secrets ready to explode, this one's for you! "They Wish They Were Us" brings Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars vibes, complete with glamorous settings, hazing drama, and a strong female lead in Jill. The character development is authentic, and fans of YA thrillers who enjoy a not-so-perfect prep school world will be hooked. There’s a great focus on loyalty, power, and the pressure to fit in while staying true to yourself.

Who May Not Like This Book:

This book might not be the best fit for readers who dislike stories about privileged, unlikable teenagers or who are looking for a clean, middle-grade mystery. Some found the themes of underage drinking, drug use, and sexual content too mature for younger readers, and a few felt the mystery was a bit predictable or struggled to connect with the morally gray characters. If you’re over reading about rich kids behaving badly, this might not be the escape you’re after.

A suspenseful, drama-filled YA mystery perfect for fans of high school secrets and social intrigue. Just be aware: it leans mature and serves up plenty of prep-school drama with a dark twist.

About:

"They Wish They Were Us" by Jessica Goodman is a gripping murder mystery set in an exclusive community on Long Island's Gold Coast. The story follows Jill Newman, a senior at Gold Coast Prep and a member of the elite Players secret society. When new evidence surfaces suggesting that the person convicted for her best friend's murder may be innocent, Jill is torn between uncovering the truth and maintaining her reputation in the privileged world she inhabits. The book delves into themes of power dynamics, friendship, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations, all while navigating the dark secrets of the wealthy and privileged.

The narrative style of the book immerses readers into the luxurious yet sinister world of the one percent, where teenagers engage in casual sex, drug use, and manipulative power plays. Goodman skillfully weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Jill navigates through the complexities of high school life, friendship, and the quest for justice in a society where money can buy privilege and cover up dark truths.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Jill, are complex with evolving motivations, illustrating both strength and vulnerability within a privileged high school context.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and immersive, effectively capturing teen emotions and weaving suspenseful elements into the narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Jill's quest to uncover the truth about her best friend's murder while navigating the complexities of high school social dynamics and friendships.

Setting:

The setting is an exclusive high school environment in Long Island, highlighting the contrast between privilege and the darker realities behind its surface.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally steady, with a gradual build-up of suspense and well-placed twists that maintain reader interest.

THE FIRST DAY of school always means the same thing: a tribute to Shaila. Today should be the first day of her senior year. Instead, she is, like she has been for the past three years, dead. And we ar...

Notes:

The story revolves around Jill Newman and her complicated last year at Gold Coast Prep.

Jill's best friend, Shaila, was murdered three years ago by her boyfriend, Graham, who confessed and was arrested.

Jill is now a senior and part of an elite group called The Players, which is a secret society at the school.

Throughout the book, Jill receives messages claiming Graham is innocent, prompting her to investigate.

Initially, Jill's friends are portrayed as spoiled rich kids, but their characters develop throughout the story.

The book has strong themes of female friendship and loyalty, showcasing how teens deal with societal pressures.

The setting reflects a wealthy, prestigious environment, with lots of social dynamics involved.

The narrative includes themes of hazing and exclusivity in high school cultures.

There's a focus on character development, particularly Jill’s growth as she seeks the truth about her friend’s murder.

Readers found the twists surprising yet believable, making it an engaging murder mystery.

The book is compared to popular series like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars, appealing to fans of those stories.

Some readers felt the book contained mature themes including language, sex, and drug use, making it more suitable for older teens and adults.

The author, Jessica Goodman, is noted for her engaging writing style and ability to create suspense.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include graphic language, sexual content, drug use, and themes of murder and violence.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance present as Jill navigates her feelings toward her friend Adam amid the mystery.

From The Publisher:

"ONE OF THIS SUMMER'S BUZZIEST YA READS"-- Entertainment Weekly

AN INSTANT INDIEBOUND BESTSELLER

Gossip Girl meets One of Us Is Lying with a dash of The Secret History in this slick, taut murder mystery set against the backdrop of an exclusive prep school on Long Island.

In Gold Coast, Long Island, everything from the expensive downtown shops to the manicured beaches, to the pressed uniforms of Jill Newman and her friends, looks perfect. But as Jill found out three years ago, nothing is as it seems.

Freshman year Jill's best friend, the brilliant, dazzling Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill tried to move on.

Now, it's Jill's senior year and she's determined to make it her best yet. After all, she's a senior and a Player--a member of Gold Coast Prep's exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, highest grades and the admiration of the entire school. This is going to be Jill's year. She's sure of it.

But when Jill starts getting texts proclaiming Graham's innocence, her dreams of the perfect senior year start to crumble. If Graham didn't kill Shaila, who did? Jill vows to find out, but digging deeper could mean putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy.

Ratings (9)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (4)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (35):

Read It (10)
Want To Read (18)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (6)

1 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

It Was OK

5 months

It had an intresting premise with a murder mystery where Jill's friend was murderd 3 years ago and her bf was accused and in prison for the crime. But suddenly texts starts coming to Jill, saying that the bf was wrongly accused. Its all mixed with a private school and rich and spoiled kids, which can be fun to read about bit sadly it wasn't as enjoyable or exciting as I had hoped. At the half way point I had almost lost interest in the plot but overall its an decent book. Not just my cup of tea

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They Wish They Were Us

Jessica Goodman

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