Haddie, Livie, Reggie, and Val. Four girls with secrets to tell.
A murderer is loose on the FU campus, and despite their best efforts, the police are nowhere near making an arrest. It’s beginning to look like Jackson’s murderer may walk free — until someone calling themselves The Fifth begins threatening each girl.
Suddenly, The Fifth starts revealing the girls’ darkest secrets: Reggie is the campus drug dealer, Livie is a kleptomaniac, Haddie hasn’t remained a virgin, and Val is struggling with her sexuality.
With no option but to work together, the girls dive deeper into Jackson’s web of lies, and hope to unmask The Fifth while solving the mystery of Jackson’s death.
The more answers they get, the more dangerous life at FU becomes — not just for the girls, but for the people they love the most.
Which makes a girl wonder, who’s next on the murderer’s list?
Murder Madness Such Sweet Sadness!!! First things first: I received this book through yaboundbooktours. The book is already out and if you like books like Pretty Little Liars, this is worth checking out.
Let's be completely honest I wasn't a big fan of the first book and back when I read it, I wasn't entirely sure if I would pick up the second one. Part of me kinda forgot about the book and the story until I saw it on yaboundbooktours and thought I would try to get a review copy cause you never know. Maybe I would like the second book much better.
And I kinda did. The second book reminded me much more of Pretty Little Liars than the first one.These books just have less likeable characters.
Livie is just too much for me. I just can't find one likeable thing about her. Also the whole thing with her and Haddie's father. Don't get me started. Haddie, I feel bad how the other girls and her father treat her. But she still irks me a lot. Like in the first book, when it comes to characters I like and characters that I feel like are starting to actually grow through all this, I really like Val and Reggie. I feel like they both know they can't go on like this and actually try to change things. That doesn't mean that they have all amazing moments, they sometimes get on my nerves too. But these two are the closest I have to favorite characters in these books.
Storywise. We got a few more details about the night Jackson died. We got another dead body. And we got The Fifth.
Like I said, I'm still not sure about the whole story but I'm invested enough in Val and Reggie to actually continue reading. Mainly because the writing is really great to and it's just a pretty quick read (except I'm currently reading too many books at once and took forever to finish this one).
I received this copy from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Let's go :D
The Story
Reggie, Haddie, Livie and Val. Four girls with only one thing in common: the desire to uncover Jackson Landis’ murderer.
Jackson Landis had dirt on all of them, but apparently, he wasn’t the only one. Someone that calls themselves The Fifth leaked Val’s secret to her parents with awful consequences.
Now the four girls have to find a way to trust each other and work together for the sake of the case, as the police is getting nowhere with official investigations. Val has nothing else to loose, but her best friend is still dead. Reggie is determinate to forget that she once loved Jackson and to be a new person. Haddie needs to know what happened to the only boy she truly loved to this day. Livie is hell bent on going until the bottle of Jackson’s lies and find out who really was her childhood boyfriend.
The game keeps going, the clock keeps ticking. Will they find out the culprit before The Fifth leaks any more secrets?
The Analysis Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader :)
I WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT I HAD BOOK TWO WITH ME WHEN I FINISHED KISS KILL LOVE HIM STILL! But I never thought I’d be left hanging and dying once again at its end… And I did. Now I have to wait until OCTOBER for book 3, omg!! I could seriously cry… I may have seriously cried at that information, haha!
Just as the first, Murder Madness Such Sweet Sadness had an explosive plot (almost literally), awesome characters, a mind-blowing end, a beautiful cover and a killer (haha) title! It would be impossible for me to rate it anything less than 5 stars!
The narrative followed the previous book pattern: it was first person with switching points of view between the four girls. And, once again, despite the whole extra insight and info to work with, I STILL AM NOT SURE OF THE IDENTITY OF THE KILLER! =O I NEED TO KNOW, OMG!
I really like Blair and Miller’s writing style, they make each character sound unique and necessary each time they are in scene <3 We got to see more of old characters, we met new ones… It was a rollercoaster from page 1 to 246, haha!
The plot was once again perfectly planned and executed, with the right amount of solved and new mysteries + twists for good and bad. I’m not a big fan of cliff hanger ends, but I made an exception to Murder Madness Such Sweet Sadness, haha! Once again, it was the strongest asset of the book. Plus, this title is amazing <3
The characters had a wonderful development, especially Reggie and Val. Reggie changed her life completely and Val was forced to face several of her fears, which left a huge impact on her. Haddie also grew up, but not as much as I’d have liked. But maybe on the next book, right? Haha! Now, Livie… Livie was a disappointment. She still only cares about herself and her life, so no growing up was felt here :( It is still hard for me to like her as I do the other three girls, but she’s not completely awful yet, haha!
Also, can I just say how afraid I am of Haddie’s father and Livie’s mom? Because THEY FREAK THE HELL OUT OF ME, OMG! And they are included on my suspects’ list, as they don’t help themselves, hunf.
Blair and Miller once again nailed the art of showing the daily life and transition of people leaving teenage and entering adulthood. They portray all the feelings, insecurities and problems we have on such age and add a murder to the mix. I still think it sounds a lot like Pretty Little Liars, but not in a bad way or completely copy cat way. Just in an essence way?
Overall, if you like mystery, YA, awesome characters and writing and macabre stories, you have to start reading Kiss Kill Love Him Still series and start the countdown to October with me, haha!
Thanks for reading and thanks again to YA Bound Book Tours for my review copy!
I really like the transformation of Reggie in this novel. She, without a doubt, is my favourite. She's bold, "bad-ass" yet her new caring side becomes visible in this book. Reggie has sharp eyes, she noticed the way Val likes Livie. She's a dear BFF, as she actually got "torn" on Marcus's death. Yes, he got murdered too! So, he isn't the killer. She's more mature, trying to get out of the whole drug-dealing business, dressing more appropriately and finding a more respectable job, it may be working at the FU library with Haddie, as her boss! I love her.
I like Haddie too, she's coming out of her "shell", is slowly becoming outspoken like Reggie! She annoys with her Madam Zola, hocus-pocus/magic stuff, though. But overall, I sympathise her.
Livie, simply, is a bitch. She's the rich, proud, overconfident, pretty, spoiled-brat, and a kleptomaniac! All at the same time. She is a bit sensitive from the inside but, has to act like a total bitch in front of others. It's actually her own choice and I HATE her. She's always where she finds her "profit". She doesn't mind selling her body, or really having sex with Haddie's dad who is about twenty years older than her! It's shameful. I PITY her. She lied about not being with Val when she was chasing Jackson. She's a bunch of lies, as Jackson was. She lied about her mother, Alicia Barnes, who knew what kind of boy Jackson was, and threatened to kill him. Livie hided that, until Val regains her memory and remembered being with her when Jackson died. In those woods. Liv was chasing Jackson. And let's not forget, she has a court date for prostitution charges.
On the other hand, Val, is.. sensitive. She got sober over her drinking habits! Congratulations to her for making it that far! < 3 I would like her more if she doesn't agrees to Livie as she (Livie) is clearly USING her (Val). And Val knows it yet she doesn't teach her a lesson, she so DESERVES. Why does she long for Livie's attention when she has such a caring boyfriend like Paul?
I hate Rad, Heddie's dad who got physically attracted to Livie, who is the same age as his own daughter, "makes out" with Livie when Haddie needed him to take care of her, as she got her foot injured so much so, that she had to get an operation.
Can't really much say about Alicia Barnes.. It may turn out she's the killer. I also doubted Stephanie from rad's office. But no, she can't be the killer, not after knowing Chloe.
In this book, "The Fifth" is revealed. But, she isn't the killer. Wait for the third book to know! It's getting a bit stretched and I don't even care anymore to know who is it. That's not because I lost interest, but because Jackson was... A man-whore.. Cheating on all these innocent, well not innocent, but yeah, he cheated on these girls, recording videos of all his "adventures".
But, after all, I know I'll still read the third book because my interest in the story has been created. And now I can't wait for the next book to come out in January '17.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review also posted at underthebookcover.blogspot.com
Thank you to YA Bound Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for review!
Murder Madness Such Sweet Sadness is a great continuation from Kiss Kill Love Him Still. While this book series seems more fit for the "older" young adult crowd (is that just considered new adult?) simply due to the near constant references to drug use/selling by Reggie and Jackson's numerous videos of his...conquests, this is a great light read that I easily sped through. Not because I wanted it to be over, but because I was dying to learn more about who the killer was!
I got a very Pretty Little Liars vibe from this book once The Fifth was introduced. A was a constant threat to the girls in the PLL series, and The Fifth gives me the same feeling due to the whole revealing secrets about Haddie, Livie, Reggie, and Val.
What I really enjoyed was the character development between this book and the first. Reggie and Val are probably my favorite characters and I liked reading about them trying to grow out of their old lives and how they were when Jackson was alive. Reggie getting out of the drug dealing business and trying to be a respectable college student was great character progression, and Val coming to terms with her drinking problem was great for her. Haddie and Livie are not my favorites, and I really didn't see much change or progression with them, sadly. Livie is still self-centered, and Haddie's issues with her father are still prominent and both seem kind of...stuck. Hopefully we see more growth with them in the third book because I feel like Livie has great potential!
One thing that really bothered me was that Livie was so caught up in the person that she thought Jackson was that she couldn't really accept and see him for the slimy scummy guy that he truly was when he died. Again, hopefully this will just mean more development for Livie in the third book, but it just got on my nerves at times.
Also, I STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHO KILLED JACKSON.
All in all, I really enjoyed the second installment in this series and felt it was a good bridge from the first book to what will be the third book. I'm definitely invested enough to read more and am eagerly awaiting the third book in October! If you like mystery/contemporary series, then definitely pick this book up! But don't forget about the first, Kiss Kill Love Him Still!
I'm hooked on the story, but I'm ready to know the truth. The books are good. I very much enjoy the writing style and how the chapters are. The characters are each their own and I'm invested! With the being said, I'm ready for the end!!! I sincerely hope the third book is still happening. I've had an extremely difficult time finding information on it, and most of what I have found isn't recent. I saw somewhere saying it should be out next week... here's to hoping there's no heart break for me on that note!!! Love the books.
If you are a fan of series like Pretty Little Liars and The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard , Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas ? Then you will love the Kiss Him, Kill Him , Love Him Still series as it follows similar storylines. Jackson Landis - the school hottie and the guy everyone wanted and had is dead and it seems that four girls are the murder suspects . As each of them were closer to Jackson than any of the other girls he had sex with. From Liv , his main girlfriend , Reggie - the drug dealer , Haddie - the Librarian and Val - the Bisexual. Though these four girls are the main suspects and it's up to them to not only clear their names, but find out the truth before it's too late as someone out there knows the truth and also the four of them - their dirty secrets and they are willing to expose their secrets as an email is circulated with a cutesy rhyme from someone known only as "The Fifth" . Now the girls must dig some more and go to extremes to find out who "The Fifth" is and why she/he is targeting them specifically ? Warning to readers : This book does end on a major cliffhanger and the next book isn't released till October , so if you are like me and don't normally like Cliffhangers then I would say wait till October. I am really looking forward to reading Book #3 as I am curious to find out who really killed Jackson as I have a couple of ideas. If you love Teen Suspense stories and Ulterior Motives where everyone could be a killer , then you will love Jamie Blair and Dawn Rae Miller's series KKLHS.
Man I am slowly getting obsessed with this series & I totally have to be honest that was a hell of a cliffhanger and I really really really can't wait for book 3.
So this books has been compared to Pretty Little Liars... well maybe, but this Pretty Little Liars for adults and this is more like Pretty Little Bitches. I have never read such hateful characters in my life, that being said I freaking love each character for their own reasons. Also I really think if they would quit the slut shaming, the hate & the vengeance they would wake up and solve the mystery but they all have their own secrets and agendas, which makes this one solid bitch fest. A bitch fest I freaking love.
We learn more about our girls, and yes there is another murder. I didn't really see it coming until probably two pages before it happened so I love how the book kept me guessing. I am just so sad that I will continue to guess until book three comes out.
Also I have decided that Reggie is my favorite. I really hope she isn't the killer ;) Go read this book, well read book 1, if you haven't read it. Trust me it is quite the page turner.
After reading the first book in the series I wanted to know what happened next. Well I finally read what happened next... When I first started the book I couldn't even remember what happened in the first one. But as I continued to read little bits and pieces started coming back to my memory, it had been a while since I read the first book. This one was interesting, I got a few more details in what happened and once again got a look into the minds of the way the girls think because each chapter was in their point of view. But I also felt, like in the first book, that some things were left out or like I was missing something. It might just be because not every little detail and discussion was put down in writing in the chapters. Like a conversation that happened between two characters but we find out about it only when a different character over hears something, stuff like that. Over all it was a good book and there were a few interesting twists in there. Now I have to wait for the next book so that MAYBE I can finally know or figure out who killed Jackson. I already have a couple suspects in mind, but I'll keep them to myself.
This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it much more than first one. The plot was fast paced and we could piece together the story more. I love the 'fifth' character I think it's really interesting and aim looking forward to reading Secrets lies,dirty little alibis and finding out who the murderer is!
Ehh, first off, I didn't realise when I started that I was reading the second book in a series. It didn't say that on the cover. So, I started this book and was already behind. It kept introducing situations and people and because I hadn't read the first one I was confused.
The story was fine, but not great and I had a hard time connecting or caring what happened with the people.
I initially rated the story at a 2, but bumped it up to a 3, maybe if I had read the first book I would have enjoyed it more, not likely, but maybe.
I received this book in a good reads giveaway, but the opinion is all my own.
This has been an intriguing read from page one! A read that keeps your turning the pages and guessing as you read page by page. I found myself saying over and over the all too well famous words... one more page...just one more... Pages and chapters later, I was still drawn to the story. The story and characters are so well developed that you can't help but to finish this book in one sitting!
Just like the first novel, I finished reading this baby in one sitting.
God! The drama increased by a ten-fold and I was getting a total Pretty Little Liars A vibe from The Fifth. I think I might even love this more than the first. All that drama, good Lord! I'm super excited for the exploration of Livie and Rands relationship in the third novel and what The Fifth'll bring to the table.
I AM SO DONE! I HAVE TO WAIT TILL OCTOBER TO SEE HOW THIS CONTINUES! I sat here since 5 in the afternoon and now its one am and I can't sleep, because I just want to know what happens next! I am going to seriously just suffer for the next four months!