Bad Like Us by Gabriella Lepore

Bad Like Us Reviews

• 
  caleigh (semi hiatus)

  ➳ 3.5 stars ✰
  
  if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that i love a good ya mystery/thriller. so when i saw this on netgalley i HAD to have it.
  
  and it delivered! this was a really easy, fast paced read and perfect for a good summer read (it takes place during spring break when it’s still cold but it just gives summer read yk?).
  
  i really liked the characters + how they were portrayed. i feel like in a lot of ya books, you can tell that the author is writing teenagers how they perceive them, but the authors are never teenagers so it ends up a little awkward? for the most part in this, the teenagers felt like actual teenagers and i didn’t really cringe while reading them.
  
  as far as the plot goes, i liked it enough. i didn’t entirely guess the ending (only a part), but it also didn’t really come as a suprise. there was also a subplot that was a bit of a mystery (involving miles), and what happened there i didn’t see coming. it was clever how the author worked all of it in together. plus that little romance subplot? oh i was living for that. the flashbacks that were worked in were also helpful and i liked having the extra insight when it would be important later.
  
  what i didn’t like? some of the characters felt underdeveloped. noah and javier in particular, i just didn’t really connect with them because i felt like i didn’t know them. other than that i enjoyed everything well enough! i’ll definitely be looking for other books by gabriella lepore.
  
  thank you to netgalley + inkyard press for the arc!
• 
  Kimberly R

  Eva and her friends go to a private lodge for spring break. Their friend Piper is a social media influencer who likes to stir things up. A murder occurs and they all have something to hide. This story goes between past and present and I couldn’t hardly put it down. It was a great read with fascinating characters. Thanks NetGalley and Inkyard Press for this ARC that will be released March 5, 2024!
• 
  kristyn ☼

  [3 stars]
  
  Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
  I'm a person who enjoys a classic murder mystery like this, so the premise intrigued me. Since the book only takes place over a handful of days while at an off-the-grid beach house on spring break, I expected it to be character-driven as the teens grapple with the before-and-after drama they are thrust into.
  
  Two friend groups merge into one when two members of separate quartets start dating. Not all of them like each other, though, and a dramatic breakup a few months prior has things tense even before the characters arrive at their spring break destination: an off-the-grid beach house where they're the only people for miles.
  
  I found this to be an entertaining, quick read that can be done in one sitting. The plot moves quickly, the chapters are short, and enough things happen that there's no boring lull.
  
  I wish the characters were more fleshed out. To me, they felt one-dimensional at best, and for some of them, I couldn't even tell you a single thing about their personalities. I liked Eva the most, as we spend the most time in her POV, but I wish I knew more about what drives her, what her motivations are in life, and just more about her in general. Is the fiercely loyal? Clever? Witty?
  
  As for Colton and Eva's dynamic, I just couldn't feel the chemistry between them. We are told that they feel a connection, but I certainly couldn't. I wonder if this is partially due to how flat the characters are in general— I couldn't tell what things they had in common aside from surfing. More background info would also have been nice— have the friend groups just not talked since middle school? Or do certain members cross over, just not that often? Knowing these things would have made Eva and Colton's instantaneous click seem more understandable.
  
  And then the location. The off-the-grid beach house is a cool setting, especially since they have crappy cell service... or do they? There are several group chat conversations that seem to go on without a hitch. This could have added to the suspense in the story, but it didn't really amount to anything.
  
  I don't understand why nobody was told about the body until the police showed up and had the sheet over it. The fact that the characters weren't immediately woken up and alerted by the character who found the body was odd. Due to the setting being so remote, it would have taken a WHILE for the police to arrive, so there was plenty of time to tell the others.
  
  Some of the chapters were unnecessarily short with random endings that cut off in places that are supposed to add suspense, but only do so superficially, like someone knocking at a door. The next chapter would then pick up exactly where the previous one left off, in the same POV, so I was confused about why the other one ended.
  
  I also felt that there could have been more tension between the characters for turning on each other. Eva was adamant that Miles didn't do it, but Colton proposed the idea that he did, and Eva was fine with that??? More mistrust would have raised the stakes.
• 
  Hannah Gampe

  3.5⭐️I liked this. It was high school but not overly high school to where it was cringy for me. I liked the slow, behind-the-scenes, not-in-your-face romance. This was a quick read. The chapters switched point of views and were very short, which I didn’t mind. It helped make the story more fast-paced and quick. One thing that was iffy for me was the pacing of the plot. There were flashbacks that were unclear to me and made me confused. Sometimes, I felt left out. Like I wanted to know what was going on during some of the memories, but I.. was lost. Obviously, a lot became clear as I read. However, there were a couple moments where I’m like ‘why did I need this?’ This book was perfectly spooky in a mysterious, murderous way. Definitely a page-turner that I didn’t want to put down and did not want to end!
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Inkyard Press, for this dark, suspenseful, and gripping ARC!
• 
  Jackie

  My Thoughts

  
  Spring break for these 9 teens means heading to a remote beach lodge owned by one of the boys’ Uncle Paul.
  
  The atmosphere there is peaceful as it is far away from city noises but also city amenities, the lack of which also means a lack of easy accessibility for help and even reliable communication once things start going wrong.
  
  What happens during these few days will stick with everyone involved for their entire lives as the worst vacation ever!
  
  Unlike what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas what happens to Alice, Colton, Danny, Eva, Karly, Miles, Noah and most especially Piper must be revealed and the truth told.
  
  This tale is why I am so glad that for spring break I stayed home.
  

  [EArc from Netgalley]

  
  
• 
  Rachel Dalton (relisedreads)

  3.5⭐️
  
  
  It was supposed to be a relaxing spring break trip for their senior year; time spent surfing and hanging out by the water. True, they weren’t an expected group to go on a trip together, but romantic relationships between the two friend groups brought them all together.
  
  But as the trip went on, emotions are high and jealousy and conflicting personalities have lead to arguments. Then on the day they were all supposed to leave, they woke to the police pulling up outside and one of their group being murdered. Everyone is a suspect and some have more motive than others.
  
  I’m the first to admit that I love trashy teen dramas a’la Riverdale and Teen Wolf. And this started out as a good comparison to those. Each of the characters tilt the archetype of a teen drama and the events that lead to the group going on this trip together was interesting.
  
  I feel like if we had different POV’s this might have worked better for me. Eva and Colton were interesting enough but still left a lot to be desired. And while part of the big reveal made sense to me, the other parts motive was just bored rich kids which I hate.
  
  Thanks Netgalley and Inkyard Press for providing this ARC to me!
• 
  Raymie

  This is a good YA thriller who done it.
  
  Eva is going to a cabin in Oregon for Spring break. When one of them ends up dead. Every one of them has a reason.
  
  This book was a good fast paced thriller that kept you thinking. I was very impressed with a the storyline and the character back story.
  
  The storyline kept me invested through out the book and was face paced.
  
  I like how the story kept jumping from months before and present time.
  
  Definitely up there with Karen McManus One of Us is Lying.
• 
  Roslyn

  Solid four stars, this was ALMOST amazing. I loved the way it was set up, I loved getting the transcripts from Piper's videos and the police interviews. I do think there could have been a little more in the police interviews. But, this was ALMOST so great. I just felt like the characters needed a little more depth. Everyone was just very surface level, even our MCs. I feel like I don't know much about Eva at all. There wasn't enough identifying information for me to even tell you who is who in the cover. This really has five star potential, but it just fell a little short.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Calamity Ayne

  A group of friends goes to spend spring break at a remote lodge in the woods, and one of them dies. Secrets and lies come out as the remaining friends form allegiances and try to figure out which of them did it.
  
  This one started off a little slow for me, and I had to orient myself a number of times to get the characters straight in my head (there are a lot of them!) But the pace picked up around chapter four and continued til the end. I admit, I pointed the finger at every character in the book before figuring it out. A classic murder mystery; 3.5 stars rounded up.
  
  Thanks very much to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
• 
  kenzie ➳❥

  ❤︎ NETGALLEY REVIEW ❤︎
  
  thank you inkyard press, gabriella lepore and netgalley for this arc for free in exchange for an honest review.
  
  i was in a reading slump and this book caught my eye and got me out of it. this book definitely gave off pretty little liars vibes. i liked that we got first person pov in multiple povs. the flashbacks were a bit much and had me a little confused but it added to the plot. the police interviews were a nice touch. i was definitely second guessing myself on who i thought may have done it. i didn’t trust anyone, not even paul. it was an enjoyable easy read that keeps you guessing and wanting more.
• 
  Barbara Schultz

  Name of Book: Bad Like Us
  Author: Gabriella Lepore
  Publisher: Inkyard Press
  Genre: Mystery Thriller, YA/Teen
  Pub Date: March 5, 2024
  My Rating: 4 Stars!
  Pages: 384
  
  Book promo~ Two friend groups collide when someone turns up dead over spring break in this heart-thumping YA thriller for fans of One of Us Is Lying and We Were Liars
  This blurb got my attention as I liked both
  One of us is Lying as well as
  We Were Liars
  
  It is spring break and these Seattle high school teens are doing what most teens do or want to do on spring break and that is go to ‘get together and party!. In this case friends: ~ Colton and his twin brother Danny Demardo, Javier Ramos, Miles Brynner, Noah Lauder, Piper Meyers, Karly Davis, Alice Moloi, and Eva head to a cabin in a private cove off the beaten path in the woods near the ocean.
  
  Now seven friends must try to solve who killed their classmate and friend.
  
  I know I am not the target audience for this story but as a High School Guidance Counselor I love to read YA books as I not only enjoy a good YA story but it pleases me when I can recommend a book to my students.
  As I was getting ready to start this I decided to check some reviews and saw many so-so comments,
  I then went into this not expecting much and was so delighted that it turned out so much better than expected!!
  
  Want to thank NetGalley and Inkyard Press for this early eGalley.
  Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 5, 2024.
• 
  R.J.

  A spring break holiday goes horribly wrong when a body shows up on the beach. Two friend groups collide in a battle of pointing fingers and attempting to discover who killed them...and why?
  
  This book is ideal for Teen Readers and brought with it a realization that I am, unfortunately, no longer in that category. I struggled with the characters and the way they spoke to each other. It was a lot of teen drama and today's teen lingo that made me cringe. Looking at the story / mystery, it was okay, but I wasn't engaged. The storyline bounced all over the timeline and we almost spent more time in memories and flashbacks than we did in the mystery.
  
  I had hoped for a fun and easy mystery to binge during the summer, but I spent most of the time cringing at the immaturity and annoyingness of the characters (I hope Piper was supposed to be annoying, because I eventually started skipping her chapters. I physically couldn't read it). It took me much longer to finish this book than it should have.
  
  I don't really know if this book would be better suited in the hands of today's teens, or if they would find the characters just as annoying, so I'll close the review by saying that you should read it if you like big friend groups--unsupervised--navigating the drama of who's dating who and a little murder mystery thrown in.
  
  Content: Typical YA; There is a higher amount of cursing and some mild romance (no spice).
  
  I received this book from the author via NetGalley. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
• 
  Maxwell Duff

  It's been a while since I've read anything young adult so I decided to give this one a chance. Bad Like Us follows a group of seniors who take a spring break trip to a secluded beach. What begins as a fun vacation quickly turns into a murder investigation. And everyone is a suspect.
  
  So in theory this book has everything I love. It has beaches, secrets, and murder. But what it has in its aesthetics, it lacks in its execution. This is the first book by Gabriella Lepore I've read and while I enjoyed her writing, I just don't think the story was for me.
  
  I found it quite hard to feel close to the characters because there was just. so. many. While there are five teenagers on the cover, there are another four that are in the story. There's so much information being thrown at you between nine different people that it's hard to keep track of who's who and what their motives and personalities are. It's fast-paced for the first half but then quickly becomes repetitive and slow and everyone just starts pointing fingers at each other. The twist wasn't too surprising and by the reveal, I was just ready for it to be over.
  
  Even though I didn't like it, I think the target audience will definitely enjoy it! It has a Pretty Little Liars and Thirteen Reasons Why vibe that I think a lot of teens will find entertaining. I'd like to give another book by the author a try at some point.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press, and the author for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review! :)
• 
  Erin crackedspinesandbookishvibes

  3.5 / 5 stars
  
  Gifted ARC provided by HarperCollins Canada.
  
  This is a ya murder mystery that centers around nine teens that are at a secluded lake in Oregon. But when one of them turns up dead everyone begins to look like a suspect. But who really did it? Could one of their friends really have killed someone?
  
  As someone who loves mysteries I was thrilled when this showed up in my mail box. I don’t normally read ya mysteries, but this was an easy, enjoyable read. I feel like it would be great for someone who wants to dip their toes into reading mysteries but also wanting some drama and friend group dynamics.
  
  I found Colton and Danny’s family dynamic interesting and I almost wish it had leaned into that a little bit more. It gave Colton’s POV a reason for being in the book, but I’m not sure it was entirely needed either.
  
  I didn’t see the ending coming, but some of the twists in this book were predictable.
  
  The video transcripts were an interesting addition and I felt like they added some depth to the story and the plot.
  
  I didn’t overly love the characters, they read a little flat and when the one character did wind up dead I wasn’t overly mad about it. I just wanted more, but maybe that is a me problem.
  
  This mystery had layers and a lot of moving parts but it all worked in the end and came together to make a satisfying conclusion.
  
  Overall if you want a ya murder mystery with friend group drama add this to your tbr for March 5, 2024. #ad
• 
  Kelly

  Bad Like Us is a YA murder mystery/thriller. Two friend groups get together for a senior spring break trip at a secluded resort not yet open to the public. There are some messy connections between these friend groups and some secret scandals that are revealed throughout the book. One of the members of the group turns up dead under suspicious circumstances. No one in this group trusts each other, but they know the murderer is among them. This was a fast paced “ who dunnit” mystery that kept my attention.
  
  What I liked: The chapters were short, so it felt very fast paced. The dual timeline gave the reader context on all the messy relationships and situations leading up to the trip. The dual POV gave the reader context to different POV and opinions on who the murder could be. I did not predict the twist at the end.
  
  What I disliked: There were so many characters I had trouble keeping track of the characters that weren’t mentioned as much. I felt like there could’ve been more clues leading up to discovering the murder. The ending felt rushed and I felt like the epilogue should have included how Miles situation resolved, what was the outcome of the trial, etc.
• 
  Tori

  5 ⭐
  I've said this before, and I'll say it again, any book that starts with a death is going to be a pretty good book. I liked the mystery of BAD LIKE US and the use of flashbacks(like what did Miles see on the computer that he wasn't supposed to see?) and messages to add to the story (especially the "did you know." from piper...."I'm sorry about what I said" from Colton..."He's made a mistake and is paying the price" from Eva's mom... like what? Know what? Sorry for saying what? What mistake? Who did what?  Oh my gosh, the suspense. So many questions.  So many shocks. Once I finally sat down and read this, I couldn't stop. Yeah, it's your typical YA mystery(friends, secrets, murder) but there's something about a YA mystery that keeps you guessing, and BAD LIKE US kept me guessing.  I was so intrigued, and I couldn't wait to find out who was murdered and who did the murdering. I was utterly shocked to find out who was responsible and why. This was such a gripping novel. Nail-biting even, especially  in the last few chapters.
  
  What I Liked About It:
  *the mystery
  *the huge twist
  *that ending
• 
  Tiff

  Bad Like Us
  Gabriella Lepore
  YA Mystery and Thriller
  Coming 3/5/24
  ☆☆☆☆
  
  Two friend groups clash over spring break after someone turns up dead. With almost no trust to go around, can they figure out who did it or why?
  
  This YA thriller was enjoyable, and definitely a fast read for me. It was interesting enough from the beginning, but it did pick up in pace while bringing about some feelings of frustration from me towards the end. I wasn't expecting the burst of emotion, but I really felt for the characters and wanted to see things improve for them. Some of them anyways. 😜
  
  Thank you to Inkyard Press for approving me to read this ARC on netgalley! This book comes out on 3/5/24. If you enjoy YA Thrillers, give this book a try!
  
  #badlikeus #gabriellalepore #inkyardpress #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyarc
  #readeveryday #readandreview
• 
  Dario Pacheco

  A group of friends go for a little getaway, drama unfolds and one ends up dead.. who killed them?
  I for sure love a who-dun-it!? Books and this book falls into the basic territory from the get go. There’s one particular character that I’m hoping is the one that gets murdered, if you know you know.
  This book for sure had its generic moments where I was rolling my eyes but slowly but surely it sucked me in. It had me guessing and then second guessing again. I was right on 50% of it lol
  Overall this book was a quick read, I finished it within a day or so. A little entertaining book that is a treat for those who love the who-done-it genre. I would recommend It. 3.5 stars
  
  Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a ARC of this book. My review is honest reflection of my feelings towards this book
• 
  Kalla [A Bookish Nerd]

  Jam-packed with high stakes, a fast-moving plot, and a mystery that leaves you second guessing yourself, Lepore's Bad Like Us is the perfect read for fans of Karen McManus. The isolated cabin setting paints an incredible backdrop for non-stop twists with nowhere to run and the overall sense that no one can truly be trusted—even your friends. Even the people you desperately love.
  
  Lepore did a great job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. Her prose is perfect for thrillers—clear and consice to create steady pacing while unique enough to keep me interested in Eva's story. Will definitely read more from her in the future!
• 
  Cici

  Bad Like Us takes you for a ride as a complicated group of high-school seniors enjoy some of their spring break at a beachside cabin in Oregon— that is, until one of them turns up dead. Told through multiple POVs, flashbacks, Instagram stories, and police interviews, we follow Eva as she attempts to unravel the death of her classmate, even if one of her friends is the killer. I really enjoyed this book, and I can honestly say I didn't see the reveal coming! The writing does a great job of setting the scene and evoking an ominous, paranoid feeling. I would definitely reread this book, and I'm excited for its official release!
• 
  Sarah

  Bad Like Us
  By Gabriel Lepore
  March 5, 2024
  
  Bad Like Us is a YA thriller that takes place over spring break and is about two groups of friends coming together and someone ends up dead.
  I liked all of the characters. I’m not really a fan of dual timelines but this one did it very well. I wasn’t confused as much as I normally am with others of its kind. It kept me guessing who was the murderer to the very end. Was it Colton or was it Danny, or Javier or Miles or how about Eva or there’s Alice as well.
  Bad Like Us played like a movie in my head (a good movie) and I kept coming back to this who-done-it mystery book.
  
  Thank you Inkyard Press and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own in exchange for this eARC.
• 
  Anna Qualls

  I absolutely loved this book! Even though it takes place during spring break, it feels like the perfect fall mystery to me. Gabriella did a great job of writing these characters! There are definitely times where late high schoolers are written seeming too young, but these characters were perfect to me. The only things that I wish were in this book is more of a story from Colton and Eva because I love the chemistry they have. And then also just a touch more background on the test stealing and selling. I know there isn't a ton in the beginning to add more suspense throughout the story, but I think I wish there was a bigger reason of "why?"
• 
  Megan

  Overall, this was just okay. The mystery definitely had some fun twists and good whodunnit moments, but parts of the writing felt a little clunky at times and there were so many characters to try to keep track of without enough time to really get to know some of them at all. The lead up to the discovery of the body felt a little rushed as did the ending and wrap up while the beginning part seemed to drag on a little for my personal taste. Once we finally got to the “good stuff” it was like I blinked and it was over. It’s a good story, but I think it needed a little more to be fully fleshed out.
• 
  Erin Cunningham

  ARC from Edelweiss
  
  So I followed along for about 2/3 maybe a bit more of the book and was really enjoying it; I typically don't like split perspectives because I tend to get them mixed up, but these overlapped enough that I could keep it straight. 2 issues I had was I felt like there was no or maybe a hurried resolution to the event, and that made me the reader feel a bit like there were loose ends. Like I know teenagers move on quick, but this was a bit too quick? Also this is a larger critique of YA, but WHERE THE HECK ARE THE PARENTS/ADULT SUPERVISION?! Seeing as I was a teenager not that long ago, I don't know anyone whose parents are like the ones in YA books.
• 
  Matt.

  ‘Bad Like Us’ is a thrilling exploration of trust, friendship, and the unraveling of secrets in the most unexpected places. The story keeps you on your toes with an intriguing plot and well-drawn characters. The tension in the love triangle adds an extra layer of suspense, making it a highly engaging read. A solid 4-star recommendation for fans of mystery and suspense, as it delivers a rollercoaster ride of surprises and revelations.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the advanced copy.
• 
  Katherina Kunz

  I’m a sucker for a good locked room (or in this case secluded cabins) and this book delivered on that atmosphere.
  
  The dual POV brought dimension and I enjoyed seeing each characters motivations develop throughout the story. The flashbacks and clues spread throughout the book had me putting on my sleuth hat and trying to piece everything together along with Eva and Colton.
  
  I do wish that the pacing and tension were bumped up a notch or two, but overall the story kept me hooked through to the end.
• 
  Kat Ninteau

  Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
  
  This is a really fun little mystery about a group of kids on spring break trying to piece together each others lies. When one of them dies suddenly the teens have to try and figure out if it was an accident or if it was murder. And if it was murder, which one of them is responsible?
  I read this book really quickly and enjoyed it thoroughly. If you like murder mysteries with without much violence and high school kids behaving badly this is the book for you.
• 
  Katie Murphy

  Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
  
  This book is a YA suspense/thriller. At first, it reminded me a little of a good girls guide to murder. It was a quick read with fairly short chapters. But the characters felt quite shallow to me so I had a hard time rooting them on through out the story. There were definitely some suspenseful parts that I found engaging but the pace didn’t feel consistent which is something I like in a thriller or suspense book.