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Easy Prey
Secrets and revenge run rampant in the Internet age—Easy Prey keeps you guessing until the final reveal
Only three students had access to a teacher’s racy photos before they went viral. There’s Mouse, a brainy overachiever so desperate to escape his father and go to MIT that he would do almost anything, legal or not. Then there’s Drew, the star athlete who can get any girl’s number—and private photos—with his charm but has a history of passing those photos around. And finally there’s Jenna, a good girl turned rebel after her own shocking photos made the rounds at school last year, who is still waiting for justice. All three deny leaking the photos, but someone has to take the fall. This edgy whodunit tackles hot-button issues of sexting and gossip and will have readers tearing through the pages to reach the final reveal.
Only three students had access to a teacher’s racy photos before they went viral. There’s Mouse, a brainy overachiever so desperate to escape his father and go to MIT that he would do almost anything, legal or not. Then there’s Drew, the star athlete who can get any girl’s number—and private photos—with his charm but has a history of passing those photos around. And finally there’s Jenna, a good girl turned rebel after her own shocking photos made the rounds at school last year, who is still waiting for justice. All three deny leaking the photos, but someone has to take the fall. This edgy whodunit tackles hot-button issues of sexting and gossip and will have readers tearing through the pages to reach the final reveal.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 16, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
April 12, 2018
I am a person who reads a lot of psychological thrillers. I love nothing more than a book that messes with my head. But since I read so widely, I can often see the twists and turns coming.
Well, not in EASY PREY.
I don't know how to review this book because I don't want to give away any of its surprises. What I can say is that Catherine Lo is masterful at writing the moral gray area and creating multifaceted characters you can love and hate in the same chapter. This book is smart, sharp, and legitimately shocking. I was kept guessing until the very end, and immediately wanted to read it again with knowledge of its secrets.
Speaking of secrets... I'm not giving any away! You'll habe to read the book to find out more!
Well, not in EASY PREY.
I don't know how to review this book because I don't want to give away any of its surprises. What I can say is that Catherine Lo is masterful at writing the moral gray area and creating multifaceted characters you can love and hate in the same chapter. This book is smart, sharp, and legitimately shocking. I was kept guessing until the very end, and immediately wanted to read it again with knowledge of its secrets.
Speaking of secrets... I'm not giving any away! You'll habe to read the book to find out more!
August 4, 2018
We all remember high school. Everyone is put into some kind of category. In this novel, we have the jock, the nerd and the wholesome girl gone goth. Each of them have their own issues and when put together on a school project, they start learning there's more to each of them than meets the eye.
Here's what I love about a smartly done YA novel. Lo takes hot button topics such as sexting, privacy, the blame game and even parental liability into a high school scene where teenagers think there's nothing else in the world but the one that they live in. If I had known that high school really wouldn't have made a difference in my world afterwards, I may have looked at it differently. But hey, it's all part of our learning process, right? The author smartly brings these topics into play and grasps the fine line in how differently gender roles and expectations fall into the blaming process.
I was intrigued from the beginning of the book straight until the end. I wasn't quite expecting that ending, which was a surprise that brought a large smile to my face! We all have our secrets... and secrets have a tendency to come out, whether you like it or not. Be careful what you do and who you do it to and for goodness sakes, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES.
I do think there may be some controversy about the ending as I even questioned certain parts of WHY IF THIS OR THAT? However, rather than reading way too much into it, I'm just going to revel in the ingenious of it all. Well done Lo, well done!
Here's what I love about a smartly done YA novel. Lo takes hot button topics such as sexting, privacy, the blame game and even parental liability into a high school scene where teenagers think there's nothing else in the world but the one that they live in. If I had known that high school really wouldn't have made a difference in my world afterwards, I may have looked at it differently. But hey, it's all part of our learning process, right? The author smartly brings these topics into play and grasps the fine line in how differently gender roles and expectations fall into the blaming process.
I was intrigued from the beginning of the book straight until the end. I wasn't quite expecting that ending, which was a surprise that brought a large smile to my face! We all have our secrets... and secrets have a tendency to come out, whether you like it or not. Be careful what you do and who you do it to and for goodness sakes, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES.
I do think there may be some controversy about the ending as I even questioned certain parts of WHY IF THIS OR THAT? However, rather than reading way too much into it, I'm just going to revel in the ingenious of it all. Well done Lo, well done!
November 21, 2018
3.5 stars - easy and enjoyable read with a satisfying yet predictable ending.
October 16, 2018
Review on my blog The Fictional Reader
Listen, I don’t like writing negative reviews on books that haven’t been released yet/review copies. It always makes me feel guilty. But I just couldn’t not write a review for this book. I don’t give 1 star to books often. In fact, I almost never do it. But this book made me so angry I had to stop reading every 2 to 5 pages. It actually managed to give me heartburn, because the anger was riling up my weak stomach.
I want to preface this review by saying I am clearly an outlier on this book. That’s why I was left wondering whether I had read the same book as everyone else had. The early reviews on this are as following: 37 ratings. 12 of those are 5-star ratings and 16 of them 4-star ratings. Clearly, the majority of early readers really enjoyed this book. I hated it. Let’s talk about my reasons as to why.
THE PLOT
This book revolves around three students, one of which leaked nude photos of their law teacher. It’s split up into several parts: the ‘today’ when the photos were leaked on Twitter, and then a few other timelines each spanning a week which all take place before said point (like ‘three weeks before’, ‘two weeks before’, etc.).
You’re trying to find out who leaked the photos, as well as how the three students actually got their hands on naked pictures of their teacher. First of all, can I just say EW??
I was hoping this was going to be an empowering read on privacy, how women are mistreated and the double standard of nudes. And I can’t lie, there were a lot of parts in this book where the author highlighted how messed up the double standard is, and where the characters really called people out on their bullshit. It was going to be the ONE saving grace of this book. Until the ending came. I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that the ending completely erased the one positive message this book had -at least, in my opinion.
I was so happy to see some things being called out! One of the three students, Jenna, had her own nudes leaked on Twitter as well. This is a conversation she has with the school director (or counselor, I can’t remember):
Jenna really calls him out on his bullshit, and I was so happy to read this. The stereotype of the ‘golden’ and ‘good boy’ makes me sick every single time. That’s how they escape all the consequences, while the victims are the only ones who are left punished.
Yet all the positive messages regarding victim blaming, double standards, and more were completely ruined by the ending of this book. It still makes me angry.
THE CHARACTERS
This. This is what made me so angry I wanted to gouge my own eyeballs out with a spoon. I hate EVERY SINGLE PERSON in this book, aside from Jenna’s mom and little brother who aren’t even that present. Let’s look at them one by one.
Mouse
Mouse, you make me want to punch you in the nuts. Mouse is the ‘nerd’ of the group, the stereotypical smart and unpopular guy. The quiet and shy one with big dreams of going to MIT. He also has feelings for Jenna, who has been his friend for years. And guess what, he is friendzoned. Surprise, surprise.
He constantly complains that Jenna doesn’t see him, and that she should be with a nice guy like him instead of the jocks like Troy and Drew. Barf. First of all, just because you are nice to a woman doesn’t mean that she owes you anything at all. It’s called basic human decency. Second of all, you are NOT a nice guy, Mouse. In fact, you are so far removed from nice that you might as well be another shitstain on the floor. Don’t even get me started on the way he kissed her without her consent at a party, after which she pushed him away, and he tried again because if he only tried again she would see that they were perfect for each other. Great, sexual assault. Wonderful.
The things he does to Jenna… I can’t even comprehend. And how after all that he still thinks he is a nice guy??? Are you delusional, mate???
And once again, I will say that an abusive home does not excuse your horrid behavior. Yes, his situation is horrible. But that doesn’t excuse your actions at all!
I can’t talk about him anymore, because I will pop a blood vessel if I keep going.
Drew
Another person I want to strangle, for multiple reasons. Another shitstain on the surface of humanity. Let me tell you why.
First, he thinks it’s a game to collect as many nudes from girls from his high school as possible. It makes him feel accomplished. So he has nudes of more than 30 girls from his high school (probably underage, even though I think he is underage as well). THAT IS SO DISGUSTING, I CAN’T EVEN DEAL. And he doesn’t even learn anything throughout this book. He’s like, “Oh, it’s awful for Jenna that her nudes got leaked. I’ll delete hers from my phone, but I’ll keep the others’ because I just like to know they’re there.” What the actual flying fuck.
Then his little sister talks to him about it. About how other girls have told her that her brother is someone they have to be careful of, that he asks for inappropriate pictures. His little sister asks him about it. Then he says that she should be careful of men because they don’t have good intentions. That men don’t respect girls who send pictures like that. That he never asked for them. Are you fucking serious??? Yes, you did! You manipulated those girls until they sent you a picture, and now you’re blaming them?
Drew also plays on the basketball team of the school. At some point, Troy (the captain, I think) doesn’t pass to him but to another guy because Drew had been missing shots the past few weeks. Afterwards in the locker room, he confronts Troy and tells him that he needs Troy to believe in him, and he says the following:
What. The. Fuck.
And of course, Drew also comes from a rich family. At some point, he comes to Jenna’s place of work to talk to her. He then says that ‘it must be nice to have a job and all that responsibility’ and that he wishes he could experience it too. Are you shitting me? She doesn’t work there because she loves it. She works there because some people actually need the money!
Jenna
Marginally less of a shitstain than the other two, but still a shitstain. Listen, I liked the way she called people out on their bullshit. The way she didn’t let anyone walk over her, or treat her in this horrible manner because of her leaked photos. But guess what? She is still a bad person! As is pretty much everyone else in this book.
I just… I can’t deal anymore.
Miss Bailey
Miss Bailey is the teacher whose nudes were leaked through Twitter. In general, I just felt bad for her. I also think she’s not a good teacher, and that she treated people terribly. Still, that doesn’t mean she deserves to have something so private put out there.
I just can’t deal with this book. I don’t understand how this book’s average rating on Goodreads is so high. Did I read the same book as everyone else did? Anyway, go check out their reviews on Goodreads if you want to see a different perspective on this book! For some fun, read my Goodreads updates while reading. There are far more of them than usual because I just needed to vent while reading.
Listen, I don’t like writing negative reviews on books that haven’t been released yet/review copies. It always makes me feel guilty. But I just couldn’t not write a review for this book. I don’t give 1 star to books often. In fact, I almost never do it. But this book made me so angry I had to stop reading every 2 to 5 pages. It actually managed to give me heartburn, because the anger was riling up my weak stomach.
I want to preface this review by saying I am clearly an outlier on this book. That’s why I was left wondering whether I had read the same book as everyone else had. The early reviews on this are as following: 37 ratings. 12 of those are 5-star ratings and 16 of them 4-star ratings. Clearly, the majority of early readers really enjoyed this book. I hated it. Let’s talk about my reasons as to why.
THE PLOT
This book revolves around three students, one of which leaked nude photos of their law teacher. It’s split up into several parts: the ‘today’ when the photos were leaked on Twitter, and then a few other timelines each spanning a week which all take place before said point (like ‘three weeks before’, ‘two weeks before’, etc.).
You’re trying to find out who leaked the photos, as well as how the three students actually got their hands on naked pictures of their teacher. First of all, can I just say EW??
I was hoping this was going to be an empowering read on privacy, how women are mistreated and the double standard of nudes. And I can’t lie, there were a lot of parts in this book where the author highlighted how messed up the double standard is, and where the characters really called people out on their bullshit. It was going to be the ONE saving grace of this book. Until the ending came. I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that the ending completely erased the one positive message this book had -at least, in my opinion.
I was so happy to see some things being called out! One of the three students, Jenna, had her own nudes leaked on Twitter as well. This is a conversation she has with the school director (or counselor, I can’t remember):
“No. You chose to ignore the evidence because without Troy and his friends, our basketball team would never have made it to championships.”
“You’re simplifying what happened. You have to understand that those were very serious allegations that could have ruined a boy’s life and destroyed a very promising career before it even got started.”
Jenna really calls him out on his bullshit, and I was so happy to read this. The stereotype of the ‘golden’ and ‘good boy’ makes me sick every single time. That’s how they escape all the consequences, while the victims are the only ones who are left punished.
Yet all the positive messages regarding victim blaming, double standards, and more were completely ruined by the ending of this book. It still makes me angry.
THE CHARACTERS
This. This is what made me so angry I wanted to gouge my own eyeballs out with a spoon. I hate EVERY SINGLE PERSON in this book, aside from Jenna’s mom and little brother who aren’t even that present. Let’s look at them one by one.
Mouse
Mouse, you make me want to punch you in the nuts. Mouse is the ‘nerd’ of the group, the stereotypical smart and unpopular guy. The quiet and shy one with big dreams of going to MIT. He also has feelings for Jenna, who has been his friend for years. And guess what, he is friendzoned. Surprise, surprise.
He constantly complains that Jenna doesn’t see him, and that she should be with a nice guy like him instead of the jocks like Troy and Drew. Barf. First of all, just because you are nice to a woman doesn’t mean that she owes you anything at all. It’s called basic human decency. Second of all, you are NOT a nice guy, Mouse. In fact, you are so far removed from nice that you might as well be another shitstain on the floor. Don’t even get me started on the way he kissed her without her consent at a party, after which she pushed him away, and he tried again because if he only tried again she would see that they were perfect for each other. Great, sexual assault. Wonderful.
The things he does to Jenna… I can’t even comprehend. And how after all that he still thinks he is a nice guy??? Are you delusional, mate???
And once again, I will say that an abusive home does not excuse your horrid behavior. Yes, his situation is horrible. But that doesn’t excuse your actions at all!
I can’t talk about him anymore, because I will pop a blood vessel if I keep going.
Drew
Another person I want to strangle, for multiple reasons. Another shitstain on the surface of humanity. Let me tell you why.
First, he thinks it’s a game to collect as many nudes from girls from his high school as possible. It makes him feel accomplished. So he has nudes of more than 30 girls from his high school (probably underage, even though I think he is underage as well). THAT IS SO DISGUSTING, I CAN’T EVEN DEAL. And he doesn’t even learn anything throughout this book. He’s like, “Oh, it’s awful for Jenna that her nudes got leaked. I’ll delete hers from my phone, but I’ll keep the others’ because I just like to know they’re there.” What the actual flying fuck.
Then his little sister talks to him about it. About how other girls have told her that her brother is someone they have to be careful of, that he asks for inappropriate pictures. His little sister asks him about it. Then he says that she should be careful of men because they don’t have good intentions. That men don’t respect girls who send pictures like that. That he never asked for them. Are you fucking serious??? Yes, you did! You manipulated those girls until they sent you a picture, and now you’re blaming them?
Drew also plays on the basketball team of the school. At some point, Troy (the captain, I think) doesn’t pass to him but to another guy because Drew had been missing shots the past few weeks. Afterwards in the locker room, he confronts Troy and tells him that he needs Troy to believe in him, and he says the following:
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to be the only white guy on the team, constantly battling for respect?”
What. The. Fuck.
And of course, Drew also comes from a rich family. At some point, he comes to Jenna’s place of work to talk to her. He then says that ‘it must be nice to have a job and all that responsibility’ and that he wishes he could experience it too. Are you shitting me? She doesn’t work there because she loves it. She works there because some people actually need the money!
“You’ve never had a job, have you?”
He shakes his head, looking sheepish. “Nah. My parents want me to focus on school and sports.”
“Must be nice,” I mutter.
“Not really,” he says, clueless. “I’d love to have a job like this.”
Jenna
Marginally less of a shitstain than the other two, but still a shitstain. Listen, I liked the way she called people out on their bullshit. The way she didn’t let anyone walk over her, or treat her in this horrible manner because of her leaked photos. But guess what? She is still a bad person! As is pretty much everyone else in this book.
I just… I can’t deal anymore.
Miss Bailey
Miss Bailey is the teacher whose nudes were leaked through Twitter. In general, I just felt bad for her. I also think she’s not a good teacher, and that she treated people terribly. Still, that doesn’t mean she deserves to have something so private put out there.
I just can’t deal with this book. I don’t understand how this book’s average rating on Goodreads is so high. Did I read the same book as everyone else did? Anyway, go check out their reviews on Goodreads if you want to see a different perspective on this book! For some fun, read my Goodreads updates while reading. There are far more of them than usual because I just needed to vent while reading.
November 19, 2018
I thought this was going to be a book about strong women who don’t take shit and call men out on their bullshit, and in a way it was, but the ending and the “collateral damage” surrounding it just f’ed it all up. I have no excuses for this. Nothing in this book is okay.
October 16, 2018
"This time I'm ready. I'm not easy prey anymore"
* * *
3 / 5
Easy Prey reminded me a lot of One of Us is Lying, but around the theme of sexual photos being leaked rather than murder. This was a really compelling book, but it was also quite confusing. The characters are complicated, complex, and also despicable and made my skin crawl at different points. I really wasn't sure what to make of this book.
Easy Prey has three main characters:
Jenna, an ex-good girl turned goth/rebel after her nudes were leaked online and she didn't get enough support
Mouse, a boy desperate to escape his father with dreams of attending MIT
Drew, a boy who wants to be seen as more than some dumb jock, a boy with mistakes in his past
These characters are clearly play-on stereotypes - the goth, the nerd, and the jock - but they each have their own clear points of view and complex problems. There's more to each of them than meets the eye. The three characters are drawn together when they are put in a group for a class; they are given a topic with history for the group: online privacy and sexual photos.
"I can't even swallow, my throat is so full of all the things I want to say but can't"
Suddenly, it's not just a topic of the past when their teacher's nudes are leaked on an online blog. But there's only three people that had access to these photos and they all seem to have motive. The mystery of the book was high compelling, there's all these theories floating around, all this suspense that made me frantically press that forward button on my Kindle. But the narrative was also quite confusing; the text flips between the present and the past, between characters, and there's all these secrets that I struggled to keep straight in my head.
"I wasn't about to leave my fate in someone else's hands, especially not with dreams as big as mine"
Easy Prey is a current book that really tackles some contemporary issues. I thought the ending was easily guessed, but the delivery was fantastic; this book gave me seriously mixed feelings.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * *
3 / 5
Easy Prey reminded me a lot of One of Us is Lying, but around the theme of sexual photos being leaked rather than murder. This was a really compelling book, but it was also quite confusing. The characters are complicated, complex, and also despicable and made my skin crawl at different points. I really wasn't sure what to make of this book.
Easy Prey has three main characters:
Jenna, an ex-good girl turned goth/rebel after her nudes were leaked online and she didn't get enough support
Mouse, a boy desperate to escape his father with dreams of attending MIT
Drew, a boy who wants to be seen as more than some dumb jock, a boy with mistakes in his past
These characters are clearly play-on stereotypes - the goth, the nerd, and the jock - but they each have their own clear points of view and complex problems. There's more to each of them than meets the eye. The three characters are drawn together when they are put in a group for a class; they are given a topic with history for the group: online privacy and sexual photos.
"I can't even swallow, my throat is so full of all the things I want to say but can't"
Suddenly, it's not just a topic of the past when their teacher's nudes are leaked on an online blog. But there's only three people that had access to these photos and they all seem to have motive. The mystery of the book was high compelling, there's all these theories floating around, all this suspense that made me frantically press that forward button on my Kindle. But the narrative was also quite confusing; the text flips between the present and the past, between characters, and there's all these secrets that I struggled to keep straight in my head.
"I wasn't about to leave my fate in someone else's hands, especially not with dreams as big as mine"
Easy Prey is a current book that really tackles some contemporary issues. I thought the ending was easily guessed, but the delivery was fantastic; this book gave me seriously mixed feelings.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
January 2, 2019
Holy unbelievable ending, Batman.
Three students see Ms. Bailey’s naked pictures. At least one shares them. The suspects: Jenna’s whose topless pictures went viral last year; Drew, the obnoxious jock with a history of requesting nude pictures from girls; nerdy computer whiz Mouse.
Catherine Lo created three complicated characters who were both frustrating and endearing. Glimpses into their home lives show even more. EASY PREY is a slow burn which at times left me wondering if the story would be a letdown. Every detail is important, leading to a shocking twist that, looking back, should have been right in front of my eyes.
Lo seamlessly weaves in conversations about misogyny, privilege and victim blaming through Jenna’s experiences, never once making EASY PREY feel like a cautionary tale or *message* book.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, grab EASY PREY and enjoy the ride.
Three students see Ms. Bailey’s naked pictures. At least one shares them. The suspects: Jenna’s whose topless pictures went viral last year; Drew, the obnoxious jock with a history of requesting nude pictures from girls; nerdy computer whiz Mouse.
Catherine Lo created three complicated characters who were both frustrating and endearing. Glimpses into their home lives show even more. EASY PREY is a slow burn which at times left me wondering if the story would be a letdown. Every detail is important, leading to a shocking twist that, looking back, should have been right in front of my eyes.
Lo seamlessly weaves in conversations about misogyny, privilege and victim blaming through Jenna’s experiences, never once making EASY PREY feel like a cautionary tale or *message* book.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers, grab EASY PREY and enjoy the ride.
April 3, 2019
i’d like to preface this by saying that this would have been at least a three star book were it not for the ending.
also...... there will be spoilers
in general, i liked the plot and concept of this book. i found the writing style and format to be clear and enjoyable, but nothing extraordinary. the only issue i found with the writing was that the dialogue felt extremely forced and at times it felt like the dialogue was straight out of one of those psa videos you watch in health class. i think that the messages the author wanted to get across were valid and important. however, the main theme of this book was destroyed by the twist reveal at the end. i feel that the book would have been much more powerful had the male main characters been challenged on their toxic masculinity and learned from it. had they been able to develop and change their toxic mindsets and behaviors i feel it would have been more powerful than them just being manipulated and punished and their dreams ripped out from under them. instead of painting women and strong in a positive way and portraying men as being able to grow and change, it portrays women as violent and manipulative at best (and catty and materialistic at worst) and men as either violent and unfeeling or womanizing and stupid.
i feel that this book adds nothing productive to the discussion of gender equality and instead perpetuates unfair stereotypes.
basically, this book is about three students who work together on a group project and get sidetracked into cat-fishing their teacher into sending them nude pictures. when the pictures are leaked on twitter, they get swept up into the investigation.
the twist ending (which i predicted from very early on) was that the main female character, Jenna, was the one who leaked the photos because *surprise* the two male characters were responsible for leaking her own private pictures earlier in the year. i personally predicted this from very early on in the story, but from reading reviews it seems that others did not. i don’t know why it was obvious to me, but i tend to be very critical and analytical (hehe it rhymes) while consuming media.
it turns out that everything, down to them all being in the same class and being paired on the assignment together was orchestrated by Jenna. as i mentioned earlier, i feel like this strips this story of it’s moral as it puts Jenna in the role of the villain, and shows her to be manipulative, vindictive and cruel. this doesn’t show society, or men with harmful beliefs that victim blaming and slut shaming is wrong. it just shows them that they should watch out because women are crazy. also, the fact that the two main characters were caught in Jenna’s “trap” doesn’t make a lot of sense. first of all, because although they were not the most likable of characters, we had spent the book reading from their perspective and gaining empathy for them and hoping for them to grow and change. second of all, the fact that Jenna framed them leaves me wanting justice for them even though i don’t like them as people. i have never read a book where the ending is that the main character lied and got away with it. and we are supposed to celebrate Jenna for being a strong female character?
i just don’t understand the purpose of this book, because none of the characters developed in any way and the only message i could feasibly gather from this story is “don’t leak private photos— not because it’s morally incorrect or anything, but because the person whose photos you leak might turn out to be a scheming sociopath who will get you kicked out of school.” this book was definitely original, and i would like to see more YA books that challenge toxic masculinity and victim blaming, but this...... was not it, chief.
also...... there will be spoilers
in general, i liked the plot and concept of this book. i found the writing style and format to be clear and enjoyable, but nothing extraordinary. the only issue i found with the writing was that the dialogue felt extremely forced and at times it felt like the dialogue was straight out of one of those psa videos you watch in health class. i think that the messages the author wanted to get across were valid and important. however, the main theme of this book was destroyed by the twist reveal at the end. i feel that the book would have been much more powerful had the male main characters been challenged on their toxic masculinity and learned from it. had they been able to develop and change their toxic mindsets and behaviors i feel it would have been more powerful than them just being manipulated and punished and their dreams ripped out from under them. instead of painting women and strong in a positive way and portraying men as being able to grow and change, it portrays women as violent and manipulative at best (and catty and materialistic at worst) and men as either violent and unfeeling or womanizing and stupid.
i feel that this book adds nothing productive to the discussion of gender equality and instead perpetuates unfair stereotypes.
basically, this book is about three students who work together on a group project and get sidetracked into cat-fishing their teacher into sending them nude pictures. when the pictures are leaked on twitter, they get swept up into the investigation.
the twist ending (which i predicted from very early on) was that the main female character, Jenna, was the one who leaked the photos because *surprise* the two male characters were responsible for leaking her own private pictures earlier in the year. i personally predicted this from very early on in the story, but from reading reviews it seems that others did not. i don’t know why it was obvious to me, but i tend to be very critical and analytical (hehe it rhymes) while consuming media.
it turns out that everything, down to them all being in the same class and being paired on the assignment together was orchestrated by Jenna. as i mentioned earlier, i feel like this strips this story of it’s moral as it puts Jenna in the role of the villain, and shows her to be manipulative, vindictive and cruel. this doesn’t show society, or men with harmful beliefs that victim blaming and slut shaming is wrong. it just shows them that they should watch out because women are crazy. also, the fact that the two main characters were caught in Jenna’s “trap” doesn’t make a lot of sense. first of all, because although they were not the most likable of characters, we had spent the book reading from their perspective and gaining empathy for them and hoping for them to grow and change. second of all, the fact that Jenna framed them leaves me wanting justice for them even though i don’t like them as people. i have never read a book where the ending is that the main character lied and got away with it. and we are supposed to celebrate Jenna for being a strong female character?
i just don’t understand the purpose of this book, because none of the characters developed in any way and the only message i could feasibly gather from this story is “don’t leak private photos— not because it’s morally incorrect or anything, but because the person whose photos you leak might turn out to be a scheming sociopath who will get you kicked out of school.” this book was definitely original, and i would like to see more YA books that challenge toxic masculinity and victim blaming, but this...... was not it, chief.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2018
Pure, twisty goodness!!!
I loved every page!
I loved every page!
October 11, 2018
Summary:
Three students had access to a teacher’s revealing photos before they were posted to the internet. There’s Mouse, the genius level overachiever that will stop at nothing to get into MIT, Jenna, once bubbly and popular now mistrusting miscreant after her own pics found their way onto the internet; and Drew star athlete with more charm than any one boy should have. All three deny posting the pictures, but someone knows what’s going on. This is an interesting who-done-it for the internet-crazed times.
My thoughts:
I liked the premise here, it was definitely interesting as well as the questions raised by it- these days nothing is completely private anymore it seems. Who is to blame when pictures that should never be shared leak out? The girl that sent the pic? The boy that received it? Anyone that saw or re-posted it? Why should all the weight be on the girl? The characters were all interesting, and all had their own issues that made the way they were a little more understandable. I didn’t agree with most of the things that happened in this book, but maybe that’s just me being old.
Technically speaking this is a good book; well written with good character development. The chapters jumped a lot from character to character, and going back and forth in timeline but it wasn’t hard to keep track of. Faint praise, I know. I can’t even put my finger on a reason that I didn’t love the book except that I didn’t see enough character growth. For me, there just weren’t any likable characters- no one I could connect with. Maybe this one just wasn’t for me. I will be interested to see what other bloggers and reviewers say. I am going to give this one three stars.
On the adult content scale, there was substance abuse, language and shaming/ bullying. It is listed as a YA novel and I see little reason not to give it to a teen 15+. Let’s give it a seven.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Amulet Books in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!
Three students had access to a teacher’s revealing photos before they were posted to the internet. There’s Mouse, the genius level overachiever that will stop at nothing to get into MIT, Jenna, once bubbly and popular now mistrusting miscreant after her own pics found their way onto the internet; and Drew star athlete with more charm than any one boy should have. All three deny posting the pictures, but someone knows what’s going on. This is an interesting who-done-it for the internet-crazed times.
My thoughts:
I liked the premise here, it was definitely interesting as well as the questions raised by it- these days nothing is completely private anymore it seems. Who is to blame when pictures that should never be shared leak out? The girl that sent the pic? The boy that received it? Anyone that saw or re-posted it? Why should all the weight be on the girl? The characters were all interesting, and all had their own issues that made the way they were a little more understandable. I didn’t agree with most of the things that happened in this book, but maybe that’s just me being old.
Technically speaking this is a good book; well written with good character development. The chapters jumped a lot from character to character, and going back and forth in timeline but it wasn’t hard to keep track of. Faint praise, I know. I can’t even put my finger on a reason that I didn’t love the book except that I didn’t see enough character growth. For me, there just weren’t any likable characters- no one I could connect with. Maybe this one just wasn’t for me. I will be interested to see what other bloggers and reviewers say. I am going to give this one three stars.
On the adult content scale, there was substance abuse, language and shaming/ bullying. It is listed as a YA novel and I see little reason not to give it to a teen 15+. Let’s give it a seven.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Amulet Books in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!
May 23, 2018
Catherine Lo’s brilliant latest novel tackles the timely subject of sexting and its consequences. Lo’s dialogue is so crisp and whip smart that I instantly fell in love with all three characters, each telling the story from their point of voice. A masterful storyteller, Lo crafts a plot that ensnares predator and prey and leaves the reader guessing right up until the end. EASY PREY isn’t one you’ll want to miss.
February 26, 2023
I ended up liking this quite a bit. It wasn't as didactic as it could have been, and I think she was doing a lot of interesting things with the narrative choices...
Shelved as 'abandoned'
December 30, 2020NO, FUCK THIS. I'M DONE. I CAN'T FUCKING DEAL WITH THIS BOOK.
Poorly written with shallow, uninteresting characters. I don't care that they're all bad people to varying degrees, the problem is they're poorly written. A book I read while listening to this audiobook featured a fascinating, dynamic, and well-written villainous protagonist who straight-up kills people and still comes off as a better person because she's more than the shittiest things she's done. Mouse, Drew, and Jenna are defined solely by how awful they are. Mouse is a Nice Guy bordering on being an incel, Drew is a child porn collector, and Jenna has taken her trauma and turned it into hating other girls who are written as strawmen for her to destroy. She's Not Like Other Girls, you see.
The novel's outcome is obvious. I don't have to finish the book to know where it's going and realize the only reason the characters aren't figuring it out is because they're so sexist they couldn't possibly consider a woman getting one over on them.
I kept meaning to listen to the last two hours of my audiobook and finish the book just to give a full picture. But no. The excellent book I mentioned before has highlighted just how awful and inept Easy Prey is. The idea of finishing the book sends chills up my spine in the worst way.
Poorly written with shallow, uninteresting characters. I don't care that they're all bad people to varying degrees, the problem is they're poorly written. A book I read while listening to this audiobook featured a fascinating, dynamic, and well-written villainous protagonist who straight-up kills people and still comes off as a better person because she's more than the shittiest things she's done. Mouse, Drew, and Jenna are defined solely by how awful they are. Mouse is a Nice Guy bordering on being an incel, Drew is a child porn collector, and Jenna has taken her trauma and turned it into hating other girls who are written as strawmen for her to destroy. She's Not Like Other Girls, you see.
The novel's outcome is obvious. I don't have to finish the book to know where it's going and realize the only reason the characters aren't figuring it out is because they're so sexist they couldn't possibly consider a woman getting one over on them.
I kept meaning to listen to the last two hours of my audiobook and finish the book just to give a full picture. But no. The excellent book I mentioned before has highlighted just how awful and inept Easy Prey is. The idea of finishing the book sends chills up my spine in the worst way.
September 10, 2018
This book isn't what I was expecting. Judging by the premise, the reader would expect that the good girl turned rebel (Jenna) is the easy prey (get it?) but there is so much more to this book than what one may expect.
While I appreciate the author's cautionary tale of sexting and privacy with the added complication of having personal stuff spread in the internet, I don't think this book is without flaws. For starters, this book can be problematic. The premise, for instance, is about a girl who had revealing pictures of her shared all over twitter. HOWEVER, she eventually stoops to the level of the perpetrators. I can't properly explain because of spoilers. Just know that everybody has a secret and that anyone can be "multifaceted." They say one thing but mean the other, or that some people can readily stab someone behind their back (metaphorically speaking, of course).
Even if I wasn't completely engrossed with the author's writing, I liked the author's morally gray characters. Nobody's perfect, just like in real life. Even the prey can have their shining moment of revenge while the corrupt characters think they did nothing wrong. This book had some interesting moments despite the blandness in writing.
I especially wasn't a fan of the tropes portrayed throughout the novel. For instance, Mouse was a meek character hence the nickname Mouse stuck. He's smart and unpopular. Everyone calls him Mouse now especially his father. Then Jenna, the popular beautiful girl turned into a rebel, listening to Black Veil Brides and wears all black thinks she's a rebel? This became her persona after everyone saw her inappropriate pictures. Finally, the jock, Drew is a chick-magnet? He thinks that he's really good at flirting and asking girls for racy photos. I just wasn't a fan of these awful tropes. These somewhat reminded me of inaccurate or over the top (too much) teen dramas like Riverdale and/or Degrassi. Ugh. I immediately wanted to put this book down but if it weren't for my curiosity on how this book's going to end, I wouldn't finish reading this book.
One positive thing to note, however, is that this book does talk about ethics (and morality) in regards to racy photos being spread in the internet plus its repercussions. I liked how it didn't come off as preachy - "don't do this" sort of thing. Although some parents in this novel were sort of like this and they had been predictable minor characters. Then again, I also didn't think that any questions regarding controversial issues in this book were properly addressed. This book dealt with a pretty complex issue so different responses from different characters were to be expected.
This could be a novel I'd recommend to OPEN-MINDED fans of One of Us Is Lying. I actually wasn't sure what to rate this but I did saw the plot twist coming from afar.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for approving my request to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
While I appreciate the author's cautionary tale of sexting and privacy with the added complication of having personal stuff spread in the internet, I don't think this book is without flaws. For starters, this book can be problematic. The premise, for instance, is about a girl who had revealing pictures of her shared all over twitter. HOWEVER, she eventually stoops to the level of the perpetrators. I can't properly explain because of spoilers. Just know that everybody has a secret and that anyone can be "multifaceted." They say one thing but mean the other, or that some people can readily stab someone behind their back (metaphorically speaking, of course).
Even if I wasn't completely engrossed with the author's writing, I liked the author's morally gray characters. Nobody's perfect, just like in real life. Even the prey can have their shining moment of revenge while the corrupt characters think they did nothing wrong. This book had some interesting moments despite the blandness in writing.
I especially wasn't a fan of the tropes portrayed throughout the novel. For instance, Mouse was a meek character hence the nickname Mouse stuck. He's smart and unpopular. Everyone calls him Mouse now especially his father. Then Jenna, the popular beautiful girl turned into a rebel, listening to Black Veil Brides and wears all black thinks she's a rebel? This became her persona after everyone saw her inappropriate pictures. Finally, the jock, Drew is a chick-magnet? He thinks that he's really good at flirting and asking girls for racy photos. I just wasn't a fan of these awful tropes. These somewhat reminded me of inaccurate or over the top (too much) teen dramas like Riverdale and/or Degrassi. Ugh. I immediately wanted to put this book down but if it weren't for my curiosity on how this book's going to end, I wouldn't finish reading this book.
One positive thing to note, however, is that this book does talk about ethics (and morality) in regards to racy photos being spread in the internet plus its repercussions. I liked how it didn't come off as preachy - "don't do this" sort of thing. Although some parents in this novel were sort of like this and they had been predictable minor characters. Then again, I also didn't think that any questions regarding controversial issues in this book were properly addressed. This book dealt with a pretty complex issue so different responses from different characters were to be expected.
This could be a novel I'd recommend to OPEN-MINDED fans of One of Us Is Lying. I actually wasn't sure what to rate this but I did saw the plot twist coming from afar.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for approving my request to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 14, 2020
I can’t believe how good this is. Realistic YA fiction dealing with the topic of sexting in an exciting plot that reads like a thriller. Would be great for an upper high school book club; there is so much to discuss! A major point of discussion is the double standard we have for boys and girls in terms of responsibility. I can’t imagine any high school student reading this and not devouring it and wanting to talk passionately about it. So good.
February 18, 2019
"Easy Prey" is a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me guessing throughout. It was a single day read for me, and that doesn't happen often! Recommended for those looking for something quick and engaging that is based in real world issues.
This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for honest feedback.
This review is based on a copy provided by the publisher in exchange for honest feedback.
September 2, 2019
A speedy read about the aftermath of a nude photo leak at a Canadian high school. It was entertaining, if predictable, and reminded me a bit of a television teen soap - in a good way.
April 26, 2018
OMG Y'ALL...I can't say a lot here because of spoilers, but HOLY MOTHER OF TWISTY PLOTS. This is an addictive psychologic thriller that keeps you guessing till the very last page. Sharp, unpredictable, and masterfully written, EASY PREY is absolutely brimming with multifaceted, interesting characters that you will love and hate in turns. Perfect for fans of ONE OF US IS LYING.
JUST READ IT, ALREADY.
YOU CAN THANK ME LATER.
JUST READ IT, ALREADY.
YOU CAN THANK ME LATER.
June 28, 2018
THIS BOOK!!! Following the story of these three teenagers from different time points leading to a huge scandal had me hooked. The ending threw me for a loop and I can honestly say I didn't see it coming. Gotta love a good twist. Overall this was such an entertaining read but also a very stressful one because I almost feel attached to the characters and I found myself worrying for them.
October 10, 2018
Thanks to Amulet Books for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Leaked photos are a big issue in recent years. People’s personal photos taken and shared with the world which creates big controversies. However, when it takes place in a high school and the owner of the photos is a teacher, that causes alarm. When only three students have access to these photos before they go viral, they have to figure out which one of them did it.
We have three very different characters that could be to blame. The quiet overachiever, the star athlete, and the rebellious girl. All with their own secrets and potential motives. I think Lo did a fantastic job giving all of these characters their own voice and they were all well-developed. She also sets the scene so well – back in those hallways of high school!
The readers get to dive into the topics surrounding privacy and sexting – which are very real hot button issues people are facing today. Invasion of privacy and then culpability are the more controversial parts of the story. I will say that I was not expecting that ending! I really liked the direction that it went.
Despite this being a more YA novel, it didn’t read like one to me. There’s enough mystery to it and realism that it doesn’t feel like a YA novel – I feel like the real reason it fits into that genre is because the main characters are high school age. I think Lo approached these topics very well and created an incredibly realistic story for us. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Lo in the future!
Leaked photos are a big issue in recent years. People’s personal photos taken and shared with the world which creates big controversies. However, when it takes place in a high school and the owner of the photos is a teacher, that causes alarm. When only three students have access to these photos before they go viral, they have to figure out which one of them did it.
We have three very different characters that could be to blame. The quiet overachiever, the star athlete, and the rebellious girl. All with their own secrets and potential motives. I think Lo did a fantastic job giving all of these characters their own voice and they were all well-developed. She also sets the scene so well – back in those hallways of high school!
The readers get to dive into the topics surrounding privacy and sexting – which are very real hot button issues people are facing today. Invasion of privacy and then culpability are the more controversial parts of the story. I will say that I was not expecting that ending! I really liked the direction that it went.
Despite this being a more YA novel, it didn’t read like one to me. There’s enough mystery to it and realism that it doesn’t feel like a YA novel – I feel like the real reason it fits into that genre is because the main characters are high school age. I think Lo approached these topics very well and created an incredibly realistic story for us. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Lo in the future!
April 20, 2019
If you have been keeping up with my social media, you will know that in January I went back to university and have been way too busy to read for pleasure. I am winding down the semester and over the holiday break decided I would pick up this book since I had been eyeing it for a while and I am SO glad that I did. I managed to break through my reading slump and finish this book in less than 48 hours, I could not seem to put it down!
I have read a few comments posted by fellow readers, and the biggest complaints seem to be the juvenile writing and the cliche ending. I understand these perspectives but I do have to disagree, specifically with the writing style. This novel changes between three perspectives, two male and one female seniors in high school. These students are barely eighteen years old, and I found it more realistic having their perspectives written as they’d be thinking, in an almost continuous thought process. My issue with this novel and the reason that I could not give it five stars does come from the writing, in that there were a few times where I struggled to differentiate between Mouse’s and Drew’s perspective. I would have preferred for them to have more distinct tones considering their personalities are quite different from each other.
Check out my complete review on my blog!
https://theprincessgummybearreviews.b...
I have read a few comments posted by fellow readers, and the biggest complaints seem to be the juvenile writing and the cliche ending. I understand these perspectives but I do have to disagree, specifically with the writing style. This novel changes between three perspectives, two male and one female seniors in high school. These students are barely eighteen years old, and I found it more realistic having their perspectives written as they’d be thinking, in an almost continuous thought process. My issue with this novel and the reason that I could not give it five stars does come from the writing, in that there were a few times where I struggled to differentiate between Mouse’s and Drew’s perspective. I would have preferred for them to have more distinct tones considering their personalities are quite different from each other.
Check out my complete review on my blog!
https://theprincessgummybearreviews.b...
July 27, 2018
My full review can be found on the Epilie Aspie Chick blog!
These three start their project and quickly end up playing a game with their teacher Miss Bailey by pretending to be a guy on her dating site. Things escalate (you'll find out when you read!) and suddenly nude pictures of their law teacher end up in their hands. Everyone promises to delete the photos and move on, but when they appear on a blog and the school is notified - who will end up being the one who leaked the photos of Miss Bailey?
This is such an amazing story how tge author makes it look like such a simple story and then rips the rug out from under you in those last couple pages. Watching the end play out totally changes your perspective and definitely changed how I looked at these characters. A big moral question asked here is who is responsible when someone's privacy is broken? Why is the blame put on women so often when guys lash out? What's considered crossing the line? I got to end of the line and dropped my jaw in shock, but unsure of some of the answers to these questions. It's a great sign when a book makes you question your perspective and reconsider your outlook.
These three start their project and quickly end up playing a game with their teacher Miss Bailey by pretending to be a guy on her dating site. Things escalate (you'll find out when you read!) and suddenly nude pictures of their law teacher end up in their hands. Everyone promises to delete the photos and move on, but when they appear on a blog and the school is notified - who will end up being the one who leaked the photos of Miss Bailey?
This is such an amazing story how tge author makes it look like such a simple story and then rips the rug out from under you in those last couple pages. Watching the end play out totally changes your perspective and definitely changed how I looked at these characters. A big moral question asked here is who is responsible when someone's privacy is broken? Why is the blame put on women so often when guys lash out? What's considered crossing the line? I got to end of the line and dropped my jaw in shock, but unsure of some of the answers to these questions. It's a great sign when a book makes you question your perspective and reconsider your outlook.
June 14, 2020
I listened to this book, and I think my dog got longer walks because of it. Easy Prey is fast-paced and plot-driven, but the characters are also well-developed. This is a unique story - I haven't read anything else like it, and I had no idea how it was going to end. That being said, I'm not sure the author gave us enough clues along the way for the ending to make sense, but if I had a hard copy of the book, I would be curious enough to go back and check. I loved that the characters were not all bad or all good, and even the ending could be controversial (I personally found it satisfying). This is a clear YA book, so it may not have much cross-over appeal.
April 10, 2022
It was a hard book to get into. I didn’t enjoy it and found it dull for the first 80 pages. Once it picked up though, I got very invested.
I thought the premise was interesting. The author portrayed Jenna really well, I appreciated the way she fought back against the common narrative of girls who have their photos exposed being “sluts” or that it was their fault.
I was really disappointed by the ending. Like, insanely. That twist made me hate the book.
I thought the premise was interesting. The author portrayed Jenna really well, I appreciated the way she fought back against the common narrative of girls who have their photos exposed being “sluts” or that it was their fault.
I was really disappointed by the ending. Like, insanely. That twist made me hate the book.
Shelved as 'abandoned'
February 6, 2019I gave up on this one about 50ish pages in - I didn't like the characters, the story was boring, and I didn't overly like the way it was written (it seemed more like how adults think teenagers talk.) I skimmed the rest, just to see how they got the teacher's pictures and who was the one who posted it, but I didn't even care by the end of my skimming.
Unfortunate, because this book seems to have gotten a lot of good reviews, but this wasn't the book for me.
Unfortunate, because this book seems to have gotten a lot of good reviews, but this wasn't the book for me.
September 15, 2020
3.5 stars I like the 24 hour rule and the idea of not remaining a victim.
February 13, 2022
2.5.
The mystery was interesting but somewhat predictable. The theme made me a bit uncomfy but if it doesn’t make the reader feel icky then I can understand how this book could be enjoyed. The ending was quite abrupt. Pace was really fast though - quite a quick read.
The mystery was interesting but somewhat predictable. The theme made me a bit uncomfy but if it doesn’t make the reader feel icky then I can understand how this book could be enjoyed. The ending was quite abrupt. Pace was really fast though - quite a quick read.
October 15, 2018
Although I saw the ending in this well-plotted YA novel coming, it took me several pages before my suspicions were raised. I loved how the book could have been torn from the pages of current events as it tackles nude photos, sexting, blaming, friendship, family dynamics, and privacy, all issues that are preoccupying many of us. And honestly, I could see just about any of the events described in this book actually happening. Moving back and worth in time, the story revolves around three friends--Matthew (Mouse) Maguire, tech-savvy straight A student who barely rates a glance from his classmates, Drew Wilson, basketball player and best friend of the team star, and Jenna Bradley, whose nude photos posted online drew scorn and ridicule from her classmates and prompted a break-up with her boyfriend, Troy. As the book opens, the three are meeting to discuss how nude photos of their law teacher, Miss Bailey, ended up posted online. Since they are the only ones who had access to those photos, one of them had to be the one to release them. But all three deny having done so. Flash backward to the events that led to this moment, and the author leads readers on a merry chase across the pages and through some of the more unsavory parts of high school life. She is careful to throw a few red herrings in the mix, casting suspicion on everyone even while driving the point relentlessly home that revenge is, indeed, sweet, no matter how long it is in coming. If the poor teacher or anyone else is part of that collateral damage, then too bad. This book will certainly make readers think and definitely convince them to hold onto their own phones and computers, never letting them out of their sight.
July 25, 2018
Easy Prey is, in a short sentence, a digital feminist mystery thriller. Narrated by three students back and forth throughout the course of a month, there are compromising pictures of students, a contest between the jocks of who can get the most photos, and a database created for them to store everything on. Easy Prey gradually becomes more intense the further you venture, and ultimate twists that will astound you in the best kind of way. I devoured it, thrilled not just from the story but from the results. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one.
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