They Wish They Were Us- Jessica Goodman

Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre: YA Thriller/Mystery
Pages: 336
Dates Read: May 10-12, 2021
Format: Hardcover provided by publisher

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My Goodreads Review

GoodReads Synopsis

A 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.

My Review

4 STARS
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jessica Goodman wrote one of the summer’s most anticipated books and it packs an intensive punch! This was such a suspenseful and unpredictable YA thriller. They Wish They Were Us is an addictive murder mystery set in the backdrop of one of Long Island’s most exclusive and prestigious school, Gold Coast Prep.

It was a fast read for me because the storyline was completely absorbing and I couldn’t find a point where I could let myself stop reading. The characters were very realistic of high school teenagers and the problems they face. This is a chilling read where you aren’t quite sure what lengths someone will go to, to achieve the best grades, popularity and get everything they desire.

I highly recommend this one if you love a good murder mystery or if you love a good YA about rich kids who do crazy things. Looking forward to more from Jessica Goodman in the future!