Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten is a book that I put down after a chapter. I was binging psychological thrillers and this seemed too young for me at first. The characters are in high school and I graduated nine years ago, so I just couldn’t relate. A few months later, I picked it up again and gave it a real chance and I was not disappointed! While the characters may be young, the issues they deal with are very much adult. In fact, I bet my school would have banned it in a heartbeat.
Synopsis: Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls
“They say Delia burned herself to death in her stepfather’s shed. They say it was suicide.
But June doesn’t believe it.
June and Delia used to be closer than anything. Best friends in that way that comes before everyone else—before guys, before family. It was like being in love, but more. They had a billion secrets, binding them together like thin silk cords.
But one night a year ago, everything changed. June, Delia, and June’s boyfriend Ryan were just having a little fun. Their good time got out of hand. And in the cold blue light of morning, June knew only this—things would never be the same again.
And now, a year later, Delia is dead. June is certain she was murdered. And she owes it to her to find out the truth…which is far more complicated than she ever could have imagined.
Sexy, dark, and atmospheric, Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls will keep you guessing until the very last page.”
Goodreads
What I Loved
This book surprised me, which doesn’t happen too often. I expected something silly, juvenile, kind of like The Cabin by Natasha Preston where the characters were a little older but acted much younger. This was not the case! The book was dark, suspenseful and full of twists leading up to an ending that blew my socks off. I can’t say any more about it or I’ll spoil it but WOW it was completely unexpected! I also read the book in a day, something I haven’t done in a while. Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls may even be the book that gets me back into a reading frenzy again!
What I Didn’t Love
I guess I don’t understand why authors take topics such as rape, abortion, alcoholism, suicide and sex as a means to get something from others and choose to incorporate them into a book for high school students. Although I don’t believe in sheltering children, these topics should be discussed with their parents, counselors and/or teachers. It would have been just as powerful if this was set in their first year of college.
My book was used and had notes that were clearly written by someone young and I cringed picturing a young girl reading like this. But how many 28 year olds will actually read this book other than me? It’s meant for younger readers but it isn’t necessarily appropriate. I read dark books at a much too young age too, but I also had a mother who explained adult topics to me at a really young age I wasn’t shocked. That being said, I’m glad I didn’t read something like this at 15. I also don’t think that books should normalize children growing up too soon and making excessive underage drinking seem glamorous.
Yes, I realize how old I sound writing this, but I’m not even a mother and I’m worried about the message that a book like this will send to young children. Plus, targeting a younger demographic almost kept me from reading it, which is a shame because an older audience would appreciate it more than a teenager that reads this then goes to loose their virginity ‘just to get it over with.’
Summary
I thoroughly enjoyed this book once I got over the age of the characters. Just like watching movies where the actors are in their 20s pretending to be much younger dealing with adult issues, I had to just deal with it. That being said, this book was worth the read! Grab a copy of Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls by Lynn Weingarten on Amazon using this link.
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