Review: Social Suicide by Gemma Halliday

Social Suicide
Gemma Halliday
Series: Deadly Cool, #2
Release date: April 24th, 2012
by HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase

Twittercide [twit-er-sahyd]: the killing of one human being by another while the victim is in the act of tweeting.

Call me crazy, but I figured writing for the Herbert Hoover High Homepage would be a pretty sweet gig. Pad the resume for college applications, get a first look at the gossip column, spend some time ogling the paper’s brooding bad-boy editor, Chase Erikson. But on my first big story, things went... a little south. What should have been a normal interview with Sydney Sanders turned into me discovering the Homecoming Queen-hopeful dead in her pool. Electrocuted while Tweeting. Now, in addition to developing a reputation as HHH’s resident body finder, I’m stuck trying to prove that Sydney’s death wasn’t suicide.

I’m starting to long for the days when my biggest worry was whether the cafeteria was serving pizza sticks or Tuesday Tacos...

*An advanced review copy was provided by fellow blogger*

Think you've heard it all? Think again! Twittercide... Death by Twitter? Not the worst way to go I suppose... *Eyes her Twitter suspiciously*

Yep, she is at it again; finding dead bodies is basically a regular pastime for our dear old Hartley. I adored her in Deadly Cool; she's still a fantastic protagonist in this sequel and I continue to love her attitude. Regardless of her wit, though, we clearly see some more maturity in her character. She is clever in her cunning ways, and knows when to stand her ground without becoming whiny. Her friends Sam and Chase come along for the ride as well. Like Deadly Cool, the side characters show as much charisma as Hartley herself. Likewise, the mother/daughter relationship is one I am truly enjoying in this series. Trying out online dating, her mom putting herself out there in the dating world, but Hartley kinda finds it gross. Not only is this a realistic portrayal of teenage behavior, it gets downright amusing.

As usual, you can expect plenty of humorous quips and crazy antics in this sequel. This aspect still remains my favorite part of the series. I did find Deadly Cool a tad more laugh-out-loud funny than this one, but I may simply be getting more used to the narration so that I'm not as shocked by her remarks. Regardless, Hartley's attitude cracks me up, and even though I was able to predict a good chunk of this novel, its entertainment value does not falter. It's a story you can easily plow through and highly enjoy without effort.

Romance does make a small appearance in this one as well. Much as the first, it's mainly by dropped hints and awkward moments. To me this is even more fun than a lust-filled novel, or worse - the always cringe-worthy insta-love. Teenage romance is complicated and, in most cases, embarrassing. Halliday is spot on when it comes to this notion.

Another delightful mystery with refreshing priceless humor; Social Suicide is yet again a fun filled break from reality.  

4 Hot Espressos

 The Deadly Cool series so far:

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Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Deadly Cool
Gemma Halliday
Series: Deadly Cool, #1
Release date: October 11th 2011
by HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren’t enough, now he’s depending on Hartley to clear his name.

But as much as Hartley wouldn’t mind seeing him squirm, she knows he’s innocent, and she’s the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school’s resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer’s next victim.

There are a ton of funny books out there, and sure, plenty have made me chuckle, but very few have made me laugh out loud. Deadly Cool is one of them. Add in an engaging mystery and a dash of romance, this is perfect for a fun, diverting read. It's exactly what I was in the mood for.

Hartley's cheating ex-boyfriend is the #1 suspect in a murder. Convinced it wasn't him, Hartley is determined to find the real killer. Besides, how can she kick his ass if he's in jail? If you know me at all, you know very well that humor and sarcasm are my friends, thus it's safe to say that Hartley and me would easily become fast friends. I love her mindset, her way of thinking is in sync with my own; I could not have related to her more. Above this amusing attitude, she's feisty, smart, and super sweet. She is perfect for the tone of the story.

Although it's a murder mystery involving more than one dead body with a constant threat for more, Deadly Cool keeps it on the lighter side. It does have a surprisingly tense ending, but in no way is this a scary or dark book. It's delightful entertainment that's perfect for a pick-me-up book; in my case, it was a great change of pace from all the dystopians and dark paranormals I've been reading. The mystery itself kept me engrossed; I kept theorizing who the killer might be. In the end I can't say it would be impossible to predict, but I was satisfied with Gemma's ability to keep me in the dark, while having all the clues fit undeniably well together in the end. Honestly, I was so consumed by the amusing tone of the book that I didn't stop to ponder very much about the killer. Even if I would have guessed it on page one, it wouldn't have spoiled my enjoyment of the book whatsoever.

As fun as it is, it's not just fluff; there are some real emotions throughout. Overall, from Hartley's relationship with her mom, to her encounters with the ever present police officer, to the copious modern day details - we've got a very realistic teenage life representation that is built through quirky observations and amusing behavior from Hartley herself. I mean, who doesn't consider Ice Cream (with nuts and fruit!!) a balanced meal, or drive in a car that runs on cooking oil?

Witty, clever, and carefree - Deadly Cool an all around great time that's sure to bring a smile on your face. It's a perfect escape that will leave you craving for more!

4 Hot Espressos