Girls Who Burn by MK Pagano is a young adult murder mystery romance book. When Addie's sister Fiona and Seth's cousin Thatcher are killed, Seth and Addie having been blamed for the crimes, and having developed a lack of trust in the police officers on the case, decide to take matters into their own hands and try to discover who murdered Fiona and Thatcher. As well as trying to tackle their feelings of love for each other and their doubts about each other's involvement, they must be very careful and not take too many risks as the murderer is someone very close to them both.

I liked this book because it was somewhat of an interesting murder mystery book, perhaps because it was two teenagers conducting the investigation which adds interest for the reader, especially because many murder mystery books involve amateur adults doing the investigations. The romance themes throughout this book for a number of the characters were both happy and upsetting during different times. In some parts it was nice to see the love and the characters having feelings for each other, however, other parts of the book considered the less pleasant parts of love, for instance when the person you love walks away without ever telling you. The author's aim of showing that one's mistakes do not make one unloveable is also a very valuable part of this book which I think is very important.

However, although there were several good, positive things about the book; the story started very slow and remained rather slow for most of the book with the story only picking up pace and getting more gripping towards the end. One way to overcome this which would have been nice to see is shorter chapters or at least more variation in chapter length. Furthermore, the romance themes in this book were arguably under-developed so it would have been nice to have a bit more focus on the romance, at least with the main characters, Addie and Seth, because some of the other characters appear to have a close romantic relationship but they are not the main protagonists of the story.

Altogether, I rate this book 3 stars, making it a good book because although the romance themes were slightly underdeveloped and the story started slowly, the book inevitably got better with an increase of pace, excitement, and tension, which made the book more gripping for the reader. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Hachette Children's Group for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in return for an honest book review.

Solid enough thriller with enough twists and turns in the plot to keep most teen readers turning the pages. One to add to the Mystery/Thriller shelves.

MK Pagano's Girls Who Burn is a raw and intense novel that delves into themes of power, trauma, and resilience. With a gripping narrative, Pagano explores the lives of its fierce, multifaceted characters as they navigate a world that often tries to silence them. The story is haunting yet empowering, depicting both the darkness and the strength that emerge from challenging circumstances. Pagano’s writing is sharp and unflinching, drawing readers into the protagonists' inner battles and their quest for liberation. Girls Who Burn is a powerful, thought-provoking read that confronts harsh realities while celebrating the fierce spirit of those who refuse to be broken.

Another entry into the modern YA twisty murder mystery, rich vs poor, genre. This one was a quick easy read, and I did find the plot really gripping and easy to follow. The character relationships were really well developed and I liked the eventual "reveal" and how things fell into place. Good stuff.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

A page-turner, full of twists and solid entertainment.
Our main character, Addie, is struggling with guilt because the last words she said to her sister before she was found dead at the bottom of the ravine near their home were unpleasant ones. In the year since Fiona's body was discovered Addie has hassled the police to continue their investigation. They believe Fiona's death was a suicide, though many in town believe Addie may have pushed her. Addie herself believes Fiona's boyfriend Thatcher knows more than he's let on...and the argument she witnessed earlier that evening may have been a spur for him to murder Fiona.
We're given this information pretty early on, and it's hard to know what to make of it. Then, almost a year to the day Fiona's body was found, Thatcher is also killed. Again, the police think it may have been a suicide, but Addie and Thatcher's cousin, Seth, were in the woods on the night it happened...and they heard Thatcher cry out, which they take as evidence of someone pushing him.
The police question those linked to Thatcher. There are still questions about the events of the year before. Someone knows more than they're telling, and Addie is determined to find out the truth...no matter how dangerous.

This is one of those stories that keeps you guessing throughout. Grieving the loss of her sister, Addie refuses to believe that it was suicide that left her lying dead at the bottom of a ravine.

The enemies to lovers trope is well represented by Addie's relationship with Sean Montgomery, which is further complicated by her conviction that his cousin is responsible for her sister Fiona's death.

But Thatcher's death in a remarkably similar way to Fiona's just a year later would seem to clear him of that charge - or at least, to muddy the waters significantly...And where will that leave Addie and Sean's chances?

This story is eventful and a little unevenly paced, but quite entertaining. It gets 3.5 stars.

This was interesting and gripping but wouldn’t say it was amazing and something I would rush to
recommend

I love reading a thriller in the summer! I had a fun time here, it was fast paced and entertaining and fun. I wanted it to delve deeper into the conversation on wealth and classism, but I had a good time and I’ll probably read from this author again in future.

It's always nice when you expect to love something and it completely meets your expectations. Girls Who Burn, whilst not the most original of murder mysteries, was fast paced, tense and surprisingly heartfelt.

The girls and their relationships with each other and their families are at the forefront of this story. I loved the exploration between Gen and Addie and how their friendship changed as they got older and how they came to accept that. The murderer (who shall not be named in this review because spoilers are mean but also because the killer actually surprised me) had complex motivations that stemmed from her privilege as someone wealthy but also her experience as a young woman in a world of wealthy men. "Powerful men don't get that way by playing fair."

The characters were all really fleshed out, especially our main character Addie and the plot really came together in the end.

Thanks so much to the publisher for this e-arc. 3.75 stars.

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

Well this was a wild ride! If you enjoyed A Good Girls Guide To Murder then this will be perfect for you!

This follows a murder mystery where the cops are useless, trolls in forums are pointing fingers like its going out of fashion and our poor FMC and MMC are at the heart of the conspiracy.

The book is kind of slow in parts, and I feel like the person responsible is obvious but you couldn’t guess the reasoning if you tried!

This is a brilliant YA mystery/thriller - set in summer in small town USA, it touches on grief, loss, privilege, power and second chances. A really interesting, well-written but easy to read book and very enjoyable.

When Addie's sister Fiona is found dead at the bottom of a ravine the police rule it an accident but Addie's not convinced but unfortunately she has no evidence because she was a little preoccupied with Seth Montgomery the boy next door she loves to hate. Her number one suspect is Thatcher Montgomery, Seth's cousin, he's always had a thing for Fiona and they were arguing shortly before her death. But when one year later Thatcher's discovered dead at the bottom of the same ravine Addie is forced to admit she was wrong and begins to look elsewhere for answers. Will she find them before she becomes the next victim?

I loved this. This was fast paced gripping and I honestly couldn't put it down and finished it within a couple hours. If you liked AGGGTM I think you'd like this too. With a murder mystery and a cute romance thrown in too I was hooked. Highly recommend.

Honestly I loved this book so much! Hands down my new favourite YA thriller. Think Good Girl’s Guide To Murder vibes. Loved the relationship/chemistry between the main characters. Storyline that literally kept me guessing until it was revealed. I seriously didn’t have a clue, but in the best possible way!
I will be looking out for more by this author!

A solid YA thriller which is also pretty heavy on the romance. I didn't guess the killer and it was a good final reveal. I did get A Good Girls Guide To Murder vibes from it but that's probably because I am currently watching the TV show

This sits nicely alongside the other YA thrillers out there by the likes of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, Jessica Goodman and Diana Urban. I look forward to reading more from the author.

I love a mystery book and this one is great. Addie is grieving the loss of her sister. The police have marked it down as suicide but Addie doesn't think so. She knows her sister had an argument with Thatcher Montgomery the night she died and she's sure he knows more about it than he's letting on.

This story deals with so many of the emotions that go along with a sudden death. Addie feels guilty because she had an argument with her sister just before she died. She was also cheating on her boyfriend with another boy (Seth, Thatcher's cousin), really close to the spot where her sister fell at the time of her death, so feels guilty about that too. Everyone else is saying it was suicide so there is anger mixed in with her grief. And to top it all off, she is sure that Thatcher's rich family have paid people off to say it was suicide. Addie has pushed her friends away. Her focus is on getting justice for her sister and protecting her little brother.

During the course of the story, Addie reunites with Seth, who is dealing with the death of his grandmother. When Thatcher dies in the same circumstances as Addie's sister, they decide they need to work out what is actually going on. But Addie isn't sure who she can trust. Her old friends, who are saying not to trust Seth and his family? Seth, who swears he's trying to solve the mystery - but is he really? The police, who might have been bought by the Montgomery family? It's hard to know what to do.

I really enjoyed this book. It felt very of it's time in some ways, a rich family with all the power who seem to be able to get away with anything and a dead girl from the local area whose death isn't been looked at very closely. The ending has a big twist, that I didn't see coming. I would definitely recommend this book to any mystery loving older teens. However, caution is advised because some of the subject matter is quite mature.

Girls Who Burn: A Fiery Exploration of Female Friendship
MK Pagnato's Girls Who Burn is a captivating exploration of female friendship, resilience, and the complexities of growing up. With raw honesty and vivid imagery, Pagnato delves into the heart of teenage experience, capturing the intensity of emotions and the search for identity.
The novel follows a group of girls navigating the tumultuous waters of adolescence. Their bond is both a source of strength and a catalyst for conflict, as they grapple with issues of loyalty, betrayal, and self-discovery. Pagnato's characters are complex and relatable, their voices authentic and compelling.
What sets Girls Who Burn apart is its unflinching portrayal of the challenges young women face. Pagnato doesn't shy away from difficult topics, but handles them with sensitivity and nuance. The novel is a powerful reminder of the strength and courage it takes to survive adolescence.
Ultimately, Girls Who Burn is a story of hope and redemption. Pagnato's writing is both lyrical and gritty, and her characters leave a lasting impression. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt lost, alone, or misunderstood.

Really enjoyed this book, relatable characters, great storyline that was gripping and had so many twists and turns, it was a fast paced read and the ending was amazing!

I enjoyed this book, it was a quick read with short chapters which I loved.

When Addie’s sister died last summer, it was ruled a suicide. She wasn’t convinced. Infact, she believed it was Thatcher, the boy who was in love with Fiona before she died. But when he dies in a similar way this summer, and the police are looking at her as a suspect, she is forced to look elsewhere and find the murderer. And who the next target it, if there is one.
In order to do this she teams with Seth, Thatcher’s cousin who seems the only person she can trust. However, can Addie really trust anyone to help her find justice?

The romance was cute, although I wouldn’t call it enemies to lovers - more like ex-friends to lovers. I liked the characters, I felt as though they were well written. There is a heavy focus on the rich-poor divide which is carried throughout the book, and the writing at times was very YA. I did suspect who it was early on in the book, but the book was written to make me unsure and suggest others who it may be, meaning I was never entirely sure. It also meant it was a satisfying ending.

Overall, I rated this 3.5stars. It was a good book which I enjoyed reading, however I think the enemies to lovers trope was lost and the writing was a bit too YA for me.