The Hunger Games Vol. 2: They Wish They Were Us

Christopher B.: Very well written. Kept me guessing and really painted the picture like I was there. Keep up the good work Jessica.

United States on Nov 30, 2023

Morgan Stokes: I like this author’s books, but this one was a bit odd. There were some things I could not suspend my disbelief about.

United States on Oct 28, 2023

Predictable: Boring

Poland on Sep 22, 2023

LuzLuz: At first this book was slow, I thought I will hate it because of how slow it was, I even started reading the first pages and moved on to another book but I decided to take it back, and boy it did not disappoint, everyone talking about the plot twist but to be honest I was suspicious of everyone, every single soul and when it all came to the killer I was so happy they were able to get him and send him to jail, this book kinda reminds me of agggtm which is the book who got me into thrillers, and to be honest this book what’s amazing, yes it’s way to slow and yes you have to be suspicious of everyone but it’s right under your nose literally the good guy, cause psycho are always the nice ones, 10/10, I will recommend this book.

United States on Jul 29, 2023

Sofia: I tried so hard to like this book. I tried so so hard to give it a chance but oh my god it was awful. I could almost feel my brain cells dying as they processed what i was reading. I’ve only ever DNFd two books before as I like to give them a chance but I had no choice with this one. I could waste my time forcing myself into reading it or I could do what this book deserves and DNF.

The plot sounded interesting and comparing it to One Of Us Is Lying intrigued me, if it does the same to you please do not waste your time or money.

There are too many characters and names to keep up with.
The characters are boring hand have no dimension.
The Players and their whole premise is unoriginal and boring.
The killer is so easy to guess. I guessed them straight away and even flicked to the end to confirm my guess.

Please do not waste your time like I did. This is not a mystery/thriller whodunnit book but instead a “we’re popular and pretty and you want to be us” borefest.

United Kingdom on Feb 14, 2023

Shantanu Tambe: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

India on Dec 28, 2022

James A. Glynn: To say that Jessica Goodman’s debut novel, “They Wish They Were Us”, is set in an exclusive community in New England doesn’t really convey the image that one needs to hold while reading this sophisticated and absorbing book. The setting is on Long Island’s Gold Coast where the titans of industry in the late 19th and very early 20th centuries built their mansions. I’d recommend googling “images: Gold Coast mansions, Long Island, NY” to get in the right frame of mind.

The book is marketed as a YA novel, but it is absolutely suitable for any adult who has access to the Urban Dictionary in order to look up “beer pong” or “gorpcore attire.” It’s narrated by Jill Newman, a senior at exclusive Gold Coast Prep and a member of the even more elite Players, a not-so-secret secret society. Each year, eight freshmen are carefully selected to undergo the initiation process, and they eagerly endure humiliation, embarrassment, and even life-threatening “pops” to be considered part of the select few.

But Jill and her best friend Nikki are determined to change things, now that Nikki is “toastmaster.” When they were freshmen, Shaila Arnold was killed,...

United States on Jun 13, 2022

Steven Stacy: I enjoyed this book a lot, it had this whole world built inside the normality of high school and was really interesting. The ideas were fascinating for this secret sorority. The characters are a lot to remember as there's just so many of them and a lot of them are similar,but I loved the main characters and thought they were well fleshed out. I loved that it wasn't too edited for YA and could easily cross over to adult. I did guess who the killer was or might be quite early on but it was still a really fun read. Although I can't imagine anyone destroying that APP haha. Never.

United Kingdom on May 23, 2021

Jenni: Sehr spannend und toll zum lesen. Das Ende war überraschend, jedoch wurde es sehr schnell "durchgekaut". Insgesamt ein tolles Buch, das schnelle und aprupte Ende hat einen kleinen Dämpfer versetzt.

Germany on Feb 24, 2021

Southern reader: Jill, along with five of her senior year classmates at Gold Coast Prep in Connecticut is a member of The Players, a group that taps in eight freshman each year though a long hazing process which will ultimately leave them as a part of the most prestigious clique in school, and provide access to the Players’ remarkable koofer files (this is what we called them, anyway.)

There were eight in Jill’s class too, only during initiation Jill’s best friend was killed and another pledge class member admitted to her murder. Now it’s senior year and these Players promise to change things - no more sexism, no more ridiculous, humiliating or dangerous “pops” or tasks. But that doesn’t seem to be happening and since Jill’s little brother is a tap, Jill is unhappy. Plus, Jill is getting texts from Rachel, the alleged murderer’s sister saying she can prove her brother didn’t kill Shaila, and asking for Jill’s help.

Who isn’t a sucker for a good prep school murder? Jill’s a scholarship student, but has never admitted as much to any of her friends, so some of the most harrowing passages, for me, involve Jill’s fight to keep grades high, get scholarships,...

United States on Sep 02, 2020