Order in the Court (The Survivors Club, #2) by Casey Lawrence

Order in the Court (The Survivors Club, #2) Reviews

• 
  Miranda

  I received a copy via netgalley.
  
  This was over too soon, I blazed through the first one this afternoon after finding out this was its sequel and I'd never read the first so I had to pick it up before I could read/review this one. And neither was disappointing. They're both amazing. This one tied up the trial and you got to experience how Corey was trying to figure life out after the murder of three of her best friends, it's unimaginable how that would be. It was a really good court read the first was more in depth with characters than this one but that's ok since we didn't really need massive character info dumps in this one. Loved the writing and everything about it couldn't put it down. Definitely a page turner for sure I would recommend this to my reader friends.
  
  Update/edit: in my bliss about the fact this one so good I neglected to rant a small bit on one major part that REALLY irked me.
  So Corey does go on a coffee "date" with Valerie a new girl she meets through the LGBT group from school and whom coincidently goes to the same therapy group. They argue dramatically at the date over wether bisexuals are a thing and not a myth for straight girls to just get drunk and kiss friends etc. Valerie had her points as did Corey it was a whole clusterfuck but honestly with the way it ended this in a sense falls under the cliche that the guys always gets the girl in the end...they had a moment at a used bookstore in which Valerie tells her most of the LGBT books she's looking at are bad because they are cliche guy gets her and she stays in closet, lesbian suicide, double suicide, murder etc. because back in the day most novels written within these guidelines made it out that if we make it seem that the LGBT community doesn't have a happy ending they won't do it as much etc it's complete bullshit and it's mostly true it's a rare gem to find one in these categories were the ending is happy. Not saying she couldn't be happy with a guy but mostly thought she would end up with a girl. These whole story centered around her being bi and prideful, but really? She mostly checked out chicks the whole time... Whatever floats your boat. Storyline was amazing other then all of that.
• 
  Abbie

  (I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
  
  This was another okay read, although there were points where it started to lose my interest a bit. There were times where it started to drag slightly too, but luckily, as it was only a short read, it wasn't too bad.
  
  Overall, An okay read.
• 
  Laura

  This is the second book in the series of the story of Corey and the murder that took her three best friends. In this book, we go through the court trail of the man who murdered her friends while she hid in the bathroom. One thinks that that is all there is, that you have the murder and then the trail, but life is not wrapped up in a bow, as someone in the book says. There are shades of gray, and life in-between.
  
  We go through the grieving, and the trauma, and Cory just trying to get her life back together, as , like the first book, we jump forward and backward in time.
  
  Well written, though not as much as mystery this time, as a study of what happens afterwards. There is some suspense, as to whether the jury will find the murderer guilty, but it is not quite so nerve wracking.
  
  If you read the first book, you have to pick this one up. If you didn't read the first book, then you should read these two back to back.
  
  
  Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
• 
  makayla

  the girl i want is— SHUT UP
• 
  Sarah Elizabeth

  (Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Harmony Ink Press and NetGalley.)
  
  

  “I never really saw him much.” I paused again and looked at Haywood carefully. “Until the night he killed my friends.”

  
  
  This was a contemporary story about a murder trial.
  
  I felt quite sorry for Corey in this story, especially when the lawyer was badgering her. It was awful that she had to go through a trial at all, without it looking like the killer could walk free.
  
  The storyline in this was about the trial following the events of book 1, and also about Corey moving on with her life. We did once again get loads of flashbacks in this book though, and I once again felt like the book dragged because of it.
  
  The ending to this was good, and I was satisfied with the way things turned out.
  
  
  
  6 out of 10
• 
  Melissa Mendoza

  3 mysterious stars!!! Intriguing and suspenseful!!
  
  Wow, this book was so different than what I was expecting! But that's not a bad thing at all. It will throw you through a loop, you'll constantly be second guessing everything and everyone. You feel the anguish that Corey is going through and the conflict she faces. This is not my usual genre, but I really loved the book, I was definitely drawn in and couldn't put it down once I started it.
  
  
  ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Melissa from
  Alpha Book Club
• 
  Stephanie

  the storyline was well planed, plus there were lots of flashbacks to fill in the reader. However I found myself losing interest quite a lot, because as good as the story was, it reached a point where reading felt kind of tedious. overall I'd give it 3 stars
• 
  na

  i’m forcing myself to click four stars because i hated the ending
  
  not because the ending was bad, i think it was what the story needed and i think it made sense and it was what was right for the main character—
  
  i’m just sour because i miss kate and i never even really got to have her.
  
  usually not a fan of non linear plots but i think that it was done well
  
  i’m surprised this has a higher rating than the first book though i suppose that’s because less people have read the sequel
  
  i would only recommend this book to people who loved corey, if you were a fan of the relationships or the mystery or the other characters or whatever, this book isn’t gonna do it for you
  
  i love corey so it was good w me
  
  BUT I MISS KATE.
  corinnakate forever in my mind
• 
  bri

  3.5
  
  needed more corinnakate💔
• 
  ً

  2.5
• 
  Faith

  I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (Thanks!)
  
  Rating: 3.75 stars.
  
  This book was something I quickly requested because I saw it was about a college student. (Of course I didn't realize that I hit the "read now" button and that this book was the second in a series, but I quickly recovered from that shock.) Overall, I am really pleased with this book. I think it does a great job of portraying grief, mental illness (specifically anxiety/PTSD), racism and sexuality.
  
  This book is the continuation of Corey's story. Corey is now in college, but she is still experiencing the aftereffects of her best friends' murders from
  Out of Order. Not only does Corey have panic attacks, but she's also prepping to testify, as the only witness and the most compelling evidence, for the trial of the murderer.
  Order in the Court is a story that has suspense around this murder case, but also questions society's views on sexuality and race.
  
  I'm very happy to #ReadTheNorth with this series. I love that the Survivor's Club Series is really short and fast paced. But above all, I really like Corey and what she stands for. Corinna is an Asian girl, who is bisexual. In this book, she faces adversity because of both of these things. I found it very interesting to watch Corey debate with a peer about bisexuality and then later, hear how upset she was about racial prejudices. She brings up very important points and I felt a lot more knowledgable/aware now after reading
  Order in the Court. (I serious didn't know about all the prejudice surrounding bisexuality, so this really opened my eyes.)
  The way Corey's panic attacks were described allowed to imagine what it actually felt like, which was another thing I appreciated in this book. Corey's relationships, especially with Brandon, her parents and her new college friends, were all very interesting to watch in this novel.
  
  Again, I'm left wishing this book was a bit longer so that some things could be better expanded upon. For instance, Corey is now in college. I would have liked to know a bit more about her experience. Yes, I got to see her join her school's Pride association and meeting her first new college friends, but I would have liked a bit more. I also feel like things wrapped up too easily and too well. (I felt this way with the last book,
  Out of Order, too).
  
  Overall, I did like this book. (I'm really hoping the series will continue, but
  Casey Lawrence kind of did wrap things up pretty nicely at the end of this book) I would like this book more if everything didn't resolve itself so quickly, but otherwise, I appreciate seeing a diverse character like Corey in this kind of novel.
• 
  A.M. Leibowitz

  Like its predecessor (Out of Order), the second book in the Survivors Club series relies on an unusual narrative timeline to tell the continuing story of Corey Ngyuen in the aftermath of the brutal murders of her best friends. As excited as I was to read more about Corey and the people around her, I was admittedly doubtful that a second book could keep pace with the first. Any misgivings I had were quickly laid to rest. The sequel is every bit as good as the original, and the variable timeline works equally well with the new story.
  
  As before, Corey alternates between current events and past actions which led to the present day. The format works well because each snapshot is situated to give us pieces of the puzzle. There isn’t a murder mystery this time around, but there are some surprises for both Corey and readers. Reality is juxtaposed with Corey’s perceptions, keeping readers on their toes throughout.
  
  In this installment, Corey is preparing for and testifying at the trial of her friends’ killer as the only witness. Meanwhile, she’s trying to navigate life as a college freshman and stay under the radar to keep from being found out as “murder girl.” She’s also maintaining friendships with the two boys who had emotional connections to her friends—hence “survivors club.”
  
  Corey is an excellent narrator. She is imperfect, but it’s in her flaws that we are able to both relate to her and see how strong she is. One of my favorite parts of the book is when she attempts a new relationship and it sours on the first date. Corey calls her date on some bisexual-antagonistic behavior, but she does it in such a way that it’s almost impossible to find her any more likable than the other young woman. What I appreciate here is the balance; Corey has the right to defend herself, but she shows little compassion. Yet afterward, she realizes her method of handling the situation is a red flag. Her flaw becomes a turning point toward healing from trauma.
  
  Similar to the first book, there is an underlying relationship arc which is hinted at from the beginning and explored through flashbacks. Its full potential isn’t actualized until the end, and while it isn’t necessarily surprising, it doesn’t feel like a cliché, either. In fact, there’s one particular scene which I may be the only person to pick up on and which I think merits further exploration. It’s such a small detail, but it’s an especially intimate moment. I would love to know if it means more than what it appears to be on the surface.
  
  This time around, I was much more drawn in by the supporting cast. I suspect it’s because we are now seeing Corey move from being mired in the past toward creating a future. Her two new close friends are terrific, and both of them surprised me in multiple ways. At the same time, her relationships with her friends’ boyfriends provides an interesting dynamic.
  
  Once again, this is a well-written piece of LGBTQ+ (emphasis on the B) literature. The themes are mature enough this is best suited for older youth, yet it remains age-appropriate in terms of content. It’s an excellent companion to the first novel. I have no idea if Ms. Lawrence plans to write more in the series, but if she does, guaranteed I’ll be reading and sharing.
  
  For plot twists aplenty, superb writing, and an engaging hero, this gets 5 stars.
• 
  Nicole Sobon

  Every now and again you come across a book that sticks with you long after reading it. Casey Lawrence's The Survivor's Club series will be those books for me.
  
  When I finished the first book, Out of Order, I was hesitant to read Order in the Court as I just didn't think this was a story that needed to be stretched out in multiple books. However, now that I've finished Order in the Court? I can safely say that Lawrence did an excellent job with this sequel.
  
  The story picks up a few months after Out of Order and covers the span of the trail regarding the murders that took her friends. To say it's a powerful story would be putting it lightly. See, Lawrence doesn't just use this book as an opportunity to tell a gut-wrenching story about a girl coming to terms with the trauma she experienced. She also uses it to tackle the stigmas surrounding bi-sexuality. It's something that most books, especially Young Adult & New Adult books, don't typically cover, and yet, Lawrence does it with such skill and ease.
  
  In fact, I enjoyed this book so much, my only problem was the ending. I liked where we left off with Corey, yes, but there were still many questions left unanswered. Most notably? The pregnancy. I do wish that there'd be an epilogue for this book, but even without it, Order in the Court is still a highly enjoyable read worthy of your time.
• 
  Gina Marie ~books are my drug of choice~

  Order in the Court by Casey Lawrence
  5 stars
  
  This is book 2 in the YA series by Casey Lawrence. She is just getting better and better. I really, really liked the first one but I absolutely loved this one.I found that things flowed much smoother in this book. This book is about the final end of childhood for Corey.In this book she is hit by the fact her parents can't fix everything and life is unfair especially when lawyers get involved. Her safe places are invaded and there is nothing anyone can do to keep these things at a distance.On the other hand it is not purely hopeless, she made a couple of new friends, she holds on to the friendship of the two boyfriends left behind. They form the survivors club a place for the three of them to remember the good times, to focus on something other than the murders.
  Corey grows and discovers she has more inner strength than she ever thought she did. She works through her grief and has found some peace by the end. This is a coming of age book where Corey has to growup faster than her classmates, despite being a year younger. I would recommend this book to most young adults. This may be triggering to especially sensitive readers as it includes Corey'scounrt testimony and several panic attacks. Her pain comes through clear. I received this book free in exchange for a fair and honest review.
• 
  RaShae Brown

  I really liked this book too. It kept the same pace and great writing of the first one. I could feel Corey’s grief and anger and understand why. Corey was still amazing and lovely. The book approached race and bisexuality really well, I think. I can only really praise for the bisexuality part as I’m black. I still don’t remember Valerie from the beginning tbh.
  
  The only things I didn’t really like was her having it to where Ricky was still doing drugs and Corey/Brandon. The Ricky thing is obvious but the Corey and Brandon thing: I didn’t feel like they were written well enough for me to have a positive feeling about them being together. Like I got the how. But when we first see her talking to Brandon again: he’s complaining about them talking about the others deaths/sad things like Corey wasn’t in the middle of preparing/going to court to put the brother away. Then we have her randomly calling him the same nickname that Jessa did. Then she admits to not thinking of Jessa as much as the others. Like I get having her move on and even more having her move on with a guy. But I think it would’ve been better for her to move with a guy from college. Just not him.
• 
  Shaddow Wolf

  This is the first book I read from this author but this book is the second book the first book is called out of order. This book is based round the murder of Kate, Ricky, Jessa and Jacob Hastings who were murdered at a dinner. Corey Nguyen is the only witness to the murder of her best friends and she was hoping that she would not hove to testifie at the trial but killer change's his plea to not guilty so she has to testifie and relive the night of prom to the court. Corey has been suffering with anxiety and panic attacks and nightmares her dad realised what was wrong helps her through them. Corey also thinks her mother is sleeping with the prosecuting DA. I would recommend this book to people to read but read the first book first before this one but is a good read.
• 
  Serena Yates

  For some reason I missed the fact that this book is a sequel - but have to say that it stands pretty well on its own. There was enough retelling during the court case for me to understand the basic facts. However, I don't think that was the point of the story as much as the focus on Corey dealing with what happened, her fears, and the way she ultimately overcomes the obstacles and begins to recover from the trauma. Her inner battle had me spellbound!
  
  If you're looking for an intense emotional experience, if you enjoy coming of age novels and want to watch a young woman grow up before your eyes, and if you're looking for a read that's a successful mix between external tension and learning to deal with your own fear, you will probably like this novel.
• 
  Alex McQueen

  Another one of those books you can't put down. Just like Out of Order, I loved it! I'm not the target audience, but it still gripped me all the way through. I particularly like the way race and sexuality were talked about so honestly, without ever making the book an "issue" book. These are just things that LGBT and nonwhite people go through every day. Corey is of course going through a lot of other stuff as well, like PTSD and anxiety, and all the mental health stuff was dealt with really well too. I hope there's a third book, because like the last one, it ended on an open note, and there is a lot more that can be explored with these characters.
• 
  Gabrielle Messier

  Sadly, this book did not entertain me nearly as much as its predecessor. Some plot points don't add anything to the story, while others get unnecessarily dragged out.
  
  After loving the first book, this one is underwhelming.
  
  Note: I received a digital copy of this book for an unbiased and honest opinion.