Everything You Want Me to BeAuthor: Mindy Mejia
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: January 3, 2017
Format: eARC
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher
High school senior Hattie Hoffman has spent her whole life playing many parts: the good student, the good daughter, the good citizen. When she’s found brutally stabbed to death on the opening night of her high school play, the tragedy rips through the fabric of her small town community. Local sheriff Del Goodman, a family friend of the Hoffmans, vows to find her killer, but trying to solve her murder yields more questions than answers. It seems that Hattie’s acting talents ran far beyond the stage. Told from three points of view—Del, Hattie, and the new English teacher whose marriage is crumbling—Everything You Want Me to Be weaves the story of Hattie’s last school year and the events that drew her ever closer to her death.
Everything You Want Me to Be is the first book of 2017 that I read, and I have to say, it started my year off on a good note. I wasn’t sure I was even in the mood for it at the time, but I was quickly hooked. It isn’t exactly spectacular or mind-blowing, but it’s still pretty good mystery that kept me intrigued. There’s definitely an addictive quality about it.
I like how this is told in a nonlinear way and with tree points-of-view. We get Hattie’s story about what transpired up until she was killed, all while we follow the sheriff investigating her murder. We also get the POV of Peter, the English teacher, who plays an important role in the story. In addition to figuring out who the murderer is and what exactly happened, a big question is: who is the real Hattie?
The characters can be a bit unreliable at times, leaving the reader wondering what’s true and who is really responsible for the murder up until the end. I mean, it’s kind of predictable, but it does have some nice little twists in there. The author does a good job weaving it all together.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Ohhhh this book! So many good reviews that I am just eating up before I can get my hands on a copy! Great one!
An unreliable narrator is one of my favorite mystery elements. Neat that the victim herself is also a mystery. I’ll have to snag this one. Thanks, Christy!
Sounds like an interesting read and cause I am a cover judge I would never have picked it up, but maybe I will put it on my list. 🙂
I liked this one too. I agree it was addictive but it didn’t move super fast for me which sounds completely contradictory but it was true! Glad you enjoyed this as well!
Glad this still managed to throw in some twists that worked, I always love the unreliable narrator in these type of reads, it can be fun.
I like the unreliable narrative and that the mystery kept you guessing till the end.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I wasn’t sure that I would like the nonlinear timeline but I think it worked out well in this book. Glad that you liked this one!
I really enjoyed this one, too. I love the twists and the turns and the unpredictability of where the story was going to go.
Ohh this sounds juicy. I haven’t read any good YA thrillers in long time. I might have to check this one out.
This could be interesting
I think I can get behind an addictive read, even if it’s got an unreliable narrator. This one sounds like a great mystery to lose myself in with all the rain going on outside my window. Great review, Christy!
Totally agree with everything you said. I loved the change of POV. It gave more insight to the story so that was great. I admit, I didn’t like that there wasn’t any justice done, because… well you know why. That bothered me a lot. Anyways, lovely review!
I like the unreliability of it. Sounds fun. and knowing that she dies is kind of a trip. I like the sound of it.
It’s nice to see that it was a good surprise. A great start for 2017!
Nice review. I had this one to read, but I just wasn’t in the mood for it. So I put it back on my TBR Later shelf. Maybe I will move up on the list and read it sooner than planned.
This is the first I’d heard of this one. Overall it sounds pretty good.
You had me at not really feeling it but became hooked. Oh I need a book like that in my life right now. I do think this one needs to go on the never ending wishlist. 😀
What a brain tease! I’d love to try this just for the guesswork, the rest is a bonus.
Happy weekend!
Sounds like a good read. I know I’ve had times where I didn’t know what I was in the mood for. I’ve kinda been there for a while lately. Glad you enjoyed this one.
I just saw this on Joy’s blog and it’s totally up my alley, I love unreliable narrators and books with alternate realities!