Here lies a mystery and a sort of fantasy that is intriguing and surprising. It is best to open your mind to new possibilities as you read. It will make the story come alive in really interesting ways.
I appreciated the author using a gritty family life as well as seeing the bad relationships between several characters. I also loved the true friends and relationships. You really get pulled into the story.
This is probably better for an older teen reader as it is about vengeance.
Enjoy!

Here Lies a Venegeful Bitch was easily the best book I've read this year! If you love books about revenge or books with Halloween vibes then you will love this one!

Annie Lane wakes up dead in a river on Resurrection Peak but she only remembers small snippets of what happened to her and she doesn't quite realize that she's dead. She soon meets a group of others living on the mountain that are just like her. They let Annie stay with them and they help her out while she tries to figure out what happened.

Annie sets out to find out what happened to her starting with her ex, Morgan "Gun" Donovan. As she begins to question people from her past life, she must also figure out how to be a ghost and what sorts of abilities she has in the afterlife.

As I saw how poorly Annie was treated while she was alive, I couldn't help but root for her. I will say this book has some difficult language that was confusing, especially from the character Sam. I'm assuming that it's purposely written that way, and it's supposed to be common language from the time period he was alive. There were also some questions I would have liked to have had answered like who was the burning girl and why did she say the things she did to Annie? But overall, neither of these things were enough to change how much I enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide | Disney Hyperion for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This book started off really weird, and I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. But about 30% in, I was hooked and ended up finishing it in a single sitting. There were several twists, so what seemed like a really straightforward mystery ended up much different. The main character isn't very likable, but that's kind of the point. The slang from the other characters was a little annoying at times, taken to an extreme, but it was a minor issue. I also wish that we could have learned more about the other characters' background stories. I would recommend this book.

I loved the premise of this book. Girl discovers she’s dead and tries to figure out how she died. This was a fast read and kept me interested. I did feel like it was a ya book. Be aware that the characters are not all that likable and some of the language could be a concern for some. Overall a fun read!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

This was definitely an original book, but although the concept was interesting, I feel that the story fell short. There was a lot of filler in the book that felt unnecessary- it just stretched out the story instead of adding to it. There wasn't a lot of "vengeance," so the title was a bit misleading. Yes, it was mentioned, but no, it doesn't feel warranted. I also had a hard time caring about any of the characters. I tried but just couldn't connect.

Teens may very well like this book as a casual read, but I don't see it as being a must read for my kids.

What a debut by Codie Crowley! Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch is funny, relatable, and tugs at your heart strings. The story follows the main character, Annie, after she has been murdered. She is on a quest for vengeance (hence the title), and she doesn’t disappoint!

You get to follow Annie as she tries to piece together what happened to her before her death, as well as watch her navigate difficult relationships—her gross boss, her absent mom, her cheating ex-boyfriend, and her best friend.

What I love most about this book is juxtaposition of old slang vs new. The way Sam talks is hilarious to Annie; however, the way Annie talks is perplexing to Sam.

Watching Annie struggle with figuring out who she is relatable to teens. She is almost gaslighted into believing everything is her fault. Instead of agreeing with everyone, Annie pushes back. She is strong, brave, and an inspiring hell-raiser.

I highly recommend this book to teens who feel misunderstood or adults who may have lost touch with growing up can entail.

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A very quick read but enjoyable nonetheless. The bad: There are some pacing problems (especially in the beginning and the end — I feel like we should have been quicker to start and had more time to breathe after the big ending), characterization is quite thin, and the plot falls together in such a way that I truly don't know how you could deduce it without just guessing before it's revealed. The good: It's fun! Even with the flaws I enjoyed every minute of reading it. It's funny, it's gory, it's thrilling, and it managed to unnerve me in a hyper specific way that, luckily, I don't think anyone else will have to worry about. Truthfully, all of the above will be forgiven by the right teen reader. I know exactly which of my kids will go crazy for this and can't wait to give it to them. If you have any reluctant, older teen readers, I'd recommend this for them as well; short chapters + easy language makes it a great fit.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

I enjoyed this debut novel! Annie Lane was murdered, and once she figures that out, her ghost is out for revenge. I thought the setup and story was interesting and it kept my attention. Annie was a tough character, but one I rooted for easily. The only thing that I didn't enjoy about this book was some of the language, especially the way that Sam spoke. I know why he was speaking in 195os slang, but it was distracting to the point that when he was on the page, I felt taken out of the story a little bit.

Overall, this is a fun read for any teens/readers who enjoy a little horror, true crime, and the paranormal!

If you enjoy young adult mystery/thrillers with a supernatural element to them, then you should definitely read Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

When Annie Lane wakes up at the bottom of the river (on land infamous for reviving the dead), it’s clear that something tragic has occurred. As she pieces together what happened the night before and what her future may look like, Annie realizes that it’s never too late for revenge.

There is a lot to like about this book! The plot is unique and Annie is a ferocious and compellingly character. The ending was satisfying, With enough mystery mixed in to the revenge plot to keep the reader hooked. There were also a few drawbacks- I found some of the dialogue and afterlife explanations to be a little corny, and a few plot lines (like the burned ghost who plants seeds of doubt about Annie’s new friends) could’ve used a bit more follow-through in the end. Overall, however, I enjoyed the book!

Thank you to Disney Hyperion, NetGalley & Codie Crowley for giving me the opportunity to receive this book as a DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Who doesn’t want to read about a ghostly girl seeking revenge?!

This book started off with a fast pace and quickly gave me a Hocus Pocus like vibe - if Hocus Pocus was a murder mystery. Quirky characters and a great YA read that adults could enjoy as well. Annie was compelling and her friends made for some dialogue that is like nothing I’ve ever read. She is easy to root for and the book makes you want to keep reading for hours!

I could see this becoming a Halloween must!

I love this story. I loved the idea iof the mountain as a safe haven for the in-between spirits. The characters were compelling and I would love another book with them!

Strong concept, fantastic title, perfect fall vibes, and I truly love reading characters like Annie. PSA: main characters do NOT have to have bestie potential or whatever for a story to be great! I agree with reviewers who mentioned the historic lingo was sometimes irritating, but overall I would definitely recommend.

Teenager comes back from the dead and tries to solve her own murder. Fast paced murder mystery with ya elements. Great idea but not my thing. The main character was unlikeable and so were the other characters. Fast read but struggled enjoying the story.

"Murdered bad girl Annie Lane is back from the grave and hellbent on revenge . . . she just has to figure out who killed her."

Annie is only a teenager when she is murdered and dumped on a haunted mountain, which is why she decides to investigate her own murder, because she has no memory of it at all. Little by little she pieces it together, and we get to discover the clues alongside her.

I loved the premise of this book, and did enjoy reading it, but the fact that Annie was unlikeable took some of the joy away for me. The story did move along at a rapid pace, so it was a quick read, and I guessed who the murderer was before they were revealed, but I still enjoyed the big reveal.

All in all, I did enjoy this story and recommend it.

4/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Disney Hyperion, and Codie Crowley for the opportunity to read and review Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch.

Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch by Codie Crowley is a debut novel that will keep one looking for more from the author. When Annie Lane wakes up dead after being dumped by the road, she takes on a hunt for her killer. Being a local "bad girl", Annie has her work cut out but nothing stops her from getting her vengeance! A very fun read.

Annie Lane was murdered, and her body tossed on the mountain called “Resurrection Park.” She wakes and discovers that the legends are true. The dead do come back on Resurrection Park. Trying to figure out what happened to her to get her revenge, she meets five other teens. They tell her that as long as her body remains undisturbed, she can live forever. One of the teens, Sam, can be seen by others. She decides to enlist his help figuring out what happened to her. Dark secrets, hidden toxic misogyny, and more unearth themselves as they delve into her murder. Will they find out who murdered her? Will Annie get her revenge?

The plot is well-developed, intriguing, and engaging. Annie’s rough around the edges, witty repartee, and sardonic personality are entertaining and authentic for the story. The other characters are likable and well-developed. Readers who like murder, mysteries, ghost stories, and afterlife novels will want to pick this one up. Due to more mature content, this is recommended for most high school and public library collections.

Please note: This was a review copy given to us by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No financial compensation was received.

Ok, so this book was below average for me. I read it based on all of the rave reviews, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

The title is definitely attention-grabbing, and the description peaqued my interest. Unfortunately, those are the only things I found interesting. I didn't like the main character Annie and didn't connect with her at all. I thought the concept of a recently deceased teen trying to find her murderer was a good one, but Annie's character was unlikeable and uninteresting. The supporting characters were equally as uninteresting and annoying. I didn't think that any of them brought anything positive to the story itself.

If ghost stories and supernatural storylines are your jam, you might enjoy this book more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide/Disney Hyperion for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I would highly recommend this book. It was intriguing from beginning to end and did not disappoint even when I wasn't sure where the author was going with it. I have already pre-ordered this title for my library. If you have patrons who love paranormal mixed with murder this one will be a hit.