Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow Review

Title: Bad Things Happen Here

Author: Rebecca Barrow

Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Pages: 352

Release Date: 28 June 2022

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Hello Fellow booklovers, today I’m back with my review for Rebecca Barrow’s Bad Things Happen Here, an incredibly addictive YA thriller with flawed but compelling characters, twists turns and deadly secrets that had me glued to the page!

I read this during an Insta readalong for Tandem Collective that I was soo grateful to be apart of and which I really enjoyed being apart of. If you’re interested you can check out my readalong journey via my Instagram highlight. If you’re interested you can also download the readalong question cards here.

Synopsis

The island of Parris: paradise or poison?

Luca Laine Thomas lives in Parris, the beautiful island plagued by the unsolved deaths of young women - most significantly, Luca's best friend. All Luca wants is to heal from the traumatic loss and leave her feelings of guilt and helplessness behind.

Then Luca comes home to find the police at her house. Her sister, Whitney, is dead.

Luca and Naomi, the new girl next door, decide to take the investigation into their own hands, and along the way their connection deepens. Soon, their casual touches and innocent flirtations become something way more real. But finding out what happened on the night of Whitney's disappearance reveals lie upon lie.

Nothing is as it seems. Will Luca's search finally reveal truth about her sister's murder? And will she unravel and escape the clutches of the curse and survive Parris?Perfect for fans of WE WERE LIARS, ONE OF US IS LYING, ACE OF SPADES and ASKING FOR IT.

Review

I really enjoyed this and loved just how suspenseful it was. I was fully immersed int he small town, close friendship atmosphere and was on the hooked by all the lies and secrets that Luca uncovers—my perceptions of characters was constantly changing and I loved that!

Luca, our protagonist was a really three dimensional character with flaws and emotions that really endeared me to her—I’ve never experienced loss in quite the same way she has but it was heartbreaking to see how the deeply grief affected her. It also puts a spotlight on the lives of the victims’ nearest and dearest and how gossip and malicious rumours can affect them.

But personally it’s the very important (and relevant) issue surrounding privilege and race that I found really significant. It shouldn’t be surprising to know that privilege leads to discrimination when a person doesn’t fit in the boxes already ascribed to them. And on an Island like Parris, wealth and privilege go hand in hand which means the case (and Luca) are unfairly judged based on discriminatory biases which do nothing to help the actual investigation.

Thankfully, Luca does finally get closure, but like real life the truth is messy, complicated and not nearly as satisfying as she hoped it’d be. I really liked the ending (as bittersweet as it was) because it really does capture Luca’s emotional journey and growth.

Overall, a beautifully written and thought provoking, YA thriller that explores the nuance of life—in all it’s messy, complex and morally grey glory.

TW: self harm, suicidal thoughts, death, grief, murder and references to physical and sexual assault

Also a huge thank you to Hot Key Books & The Tandem Collective for the ARC & finished copy, & for including me in the Readalong—I really enjoyed it!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/ 5

About The Author

credit: Rebecca Barrow

Rebecca Barrow is the critically acclaimed author of Bad Things Happen Here, Interview with the Vixen, This Is What It Feels Like, and You Don’t Know Me But I Know You. She is a lover of sunshine, Old Hollywood icons, and all things high femme. She lives and writes in England.

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