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A Trio of Sophies
by
Secrets, lies and love.
Mystery and unsettling revelations keep up the suspense in this page-turning novel.
The last time I saw Sophie A, she was kissing James Bacon. She could have any guy she wanted, but she was kissing an English teacher who was eight years older than her.
Right back when Sophie MacKenzie started primary school, she was befriended by Sophie Twiggs and Soph ...more
Mystery and unsettling revelations keep up the suspense in this page-turning novel.
The last time I saw Sophie A, she was kissing James Bacon. She could have any guy she wanted, but she was kissing an English teacher who was eight years older than her.
Right back when Sophie MacKenzie started primary school, she was befriended by Sophie Twiggs and Soph ...more
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I think Eileen Merriman is one of the cream of the crop of writers for young people right now. She writes stories that are immediately engaging, that are the perfect pitch for the audience of young adult readers. Her books have depth and breadth and tackle issues which are current and curly. I think this book is one of her best.
There have always been three Sophies, each different but all good friends. They are in the same class, they have known each other since they were little and their lives a ...more
There have always been three Sophies, each different but all good friends. They are in the same class, they have known each other since they were little and their lives a ...more
4.5/5 stars
Wow. This past year has sure been the year for YA thrillers, hasn't it? I DEVOURED this in about 2 hours and didn't stop to put it down once. The pages almost kept turning themselves.
Sophie A is one of 3 Sophies and she has gone missing. Sophie M (or Mac to her friends) has been writing in her diary in the days since her disappearance. As we journey through Mac's diary, will we find the secrets to unlock the mystery of Sophie A?
The way this story is told reminds me of the movie Mement ...more
Wow. This past year has sure been the year for YA thrillers, hasn't it? I DEVOURED this in about 2 hours and didn't stop to put it down once. The pages almost kept turning themselves.
Sophie A is one of 3 Sophies and she has gone missing. Sophie M (or Mac to her friends) has been writing in her diary in the days since her disappearance. As we journey through Mac's diary, will we find the secrets to unlock the mystery of Sophie A?
The way this story is told reminds me of the movie Mement ...more
Oh my gosh the ending was such a cliffhanger. I’m kind of wondering if there’s going to be a sequel but I’m not really sure how good it would be.
Initial thoughts: wow. I don't think I truly grasped the depth of deception in this novel until the end. A Trio of Sophies is a highly addictive, fast paced read. I did ruin this one a little by accidentally glimpsing the title of the last chapter while checking the page count, but overall a great read.
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~I received a physical proof copy from Penguin NZ and willingly reviewed it~
Once there was a trio of Sophies, a close-knit group of three girls, all named Sophie. But it’s been ...more
————————————————————
~I received a physical proof copy from Penguin NZ and willingly reviewed it~
Once there was a trio of Sophies, a close-knit group of three girls, all named Sophie. But it’s been ...more
A Trio of Sophies, 4⭐️
Big thank you to @turningpagesnz for the ARC!
What a roller coaster! A Trio of Sophies was written in a series of wild diary entries belonging to Mac. Counting backwards until the day of her best friends disappearance we came to understand the relationships Mac had with her pals, her crushes, her teachers and her mother. The apparent secrets and lies and twisted memories in Mac’s life were slowly given answers, which (especially in the last half of the novel) had me h o o ...more
Big thank you to @turningpagesnz for the ARC!
What a roller coaster! A Trio of Sophies was written in a series of wild diary entries belonging to Mac. Counting backwards until the day of her best friends disappearance we came to understand the relationships Mac had with her pals, her crushes, her teachers and her mother. The apparent secrets and lies and twisted memories in Mac’s life were slowly given answers, which (especially in the last half of the novel) had me h o o ...more
Holy. Freaking. Hell.
(I got an early copy of this book in return for a review)
This book was intriguing from the start, and I started flying through it. It only took me two sessions to finish because I just could not put it down.
I absolutely loved the way this book was written out, going backwards through the story was a very unique and interesting way to do it. I was so drawn in to the plot and the characters, and the ending absolutely shook me. I was sort of expecting a light-ish YA novel and ...more
(I got an early copy of this book in return for a review)
This book was intriguing from the start, and I started flying through it. It only took me two sessions to finish because I just could not put it down.
I absolutely loved the way this book was written out, going backwards through the story was a very unique and interesting way to do it. I was so drawn in to the plot and the characters, and the ending absolutely shook me. I was sort of expecting a light-ish YA novel and ...more
This book was so much darker than I was expecting, and I was very pleasantly surprised by it!
A Trio of Sophie's is told in diary format, however we start at day 64 and then work our way backwards to day 1. It did take me a minute to get accustomed to, but once I got it I was hooked! It's a super fast read- mainly because you just have to know exactly what has happened, and how! I had a lot of fun guessing, and it was a really enjoyable, engrossing ride that did manage some really good twists and ...more
A Trio of Sophie's is told in diary format, however we start at day 64 and then work our way backwards to day 1. It did take me a minute to get accustomed to, but once I got it I was hooked! It's a super fast read- mainly because you just have to know exactly what has happened, and how! I had a lot of fun guessing, and it was a really enjoyable, engrossing ride that did manage some really good twists and ...more
A big thank you to penguin for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I can’t rave about this book enough. The murder mystery vibe that is wrapped up in teenage drama went way beyond my expectations.
This book is based off of diary entries from a young New Zealand high school student named Sophie (MAC) She starts this diary on the day her friend Sophie A goes missing. The book starts off on day 64 and progresses backwards. Events unfold, lies are told, truths are brought ...more
I can’t rave about this book enough. The murder mystery vibe that is wrapped up in teenage drama went way beyond my expectations.
This book is based off of diary entries from a young New Zealand high school student named Sophie (MAC) She starts this diary on the day her friend Sophie A goes missing. The book starts off on day 64 and progresses backwards. Events unfold, lies are told, truths are brought ...more
3.75/5 Stars
A Trio of Sophies by Eileen Merriman is a YA thriller set in New Zealand. The story follows seventeen year old Sophie M aka "Mac" and counts down the days to the disappearance of one of her best friends, Sophie A aka the prettiest Sophie.
The story is full of twist and turns and as soon as you think you know something, another aspect comes into play making you question everything you thought you knew.
A feature I really like about this book was the fact that it counted down to day 0 ...more
A Trio of Sophies by Eileen Merriman is a YA thriller set in New Zealand. The story follows seventeen year old Sophie M aka "Mac" and counts down the days to the disappearance of one of her best friends, Sophie A aka the prettiest Sophie.
The story is full of twist and turns and as soon as you think you know something, another aspect comes into play making you question everything you thought you knew.
A feature I really like about this book was the fact that it counted down to day 0 ...more
A huge thank you to Penguin NZ who sent me out a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I gave A Trio of Sophies by Eileen Merriman a 3.5 star rating
Wow this was such an interesting book to read! It was set out as diary entries starting from 'Day 64' making its way back to 'Day 0'. I loved this concept but it did take me a while to realise that the days were going backwards instead of forwards! It felt really strange at first but how entry was written it really added to the build up t ...more
I gave A Trio of Sophies by Eileen Merriman a 3.5 star rating
Wow this was such an interesting book to read! It was set out as diary entries starting from 'Day 64' making its way back to 'Day 0'. I loved this concept but it did take me a while to realise that the days were going backwards instead of forwards! It felt really strange at first but how entry was written it really added to the build up t ...more
My heart is bruised. This was such an intense read. I felt like I wanted to keep my fingers over my eyes and scream, no Sophie Mac! Don't go there! It's such a fascinating exploration of power dynamics in friendship and in sex. Merriman has such a sure hand. Her characters are so believable and the stories are painfully real.
...more
Gripping, great pace, devious plotting. Recommended for older teens. Nice one Eileen!
Jan 02, 2021
K.
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
contemporary,
crime,
difficult-topics,
library,
2021,
audience-young-adult,
setting-oceania,
thriller
Trigger warnings: disappearance of a friend, sexual relationship between a teacher and a student, (view spoiler).
I had really high hopes for this one, but the prevalence of a teacher/student relationship honestly made this a struggle to get through. In part, that's a Me Thing. I work in a school, I spend hours and hours and HOURS every year doing child safety and man ...more
I had really high hopes for this one, but the prevalence of a teacher/student relationship honestly made this a struggle to get through. In part, that's a Me Thing. I work in a school, I spend hours and hours and HOURS every year doing child safety and man ...more
*IMPORTANT!!!*
This book romanticized the idea of a student + teacher relationship as well as romanticizing the idea of abusive relationships. The main character Sophie M is sexually involved with her English teacher James Bacon. This alone was slightly disturbing as this barley ever happens in real life but then there came the abuse. James Bacon repeatedly harms Sophie M (and Sophie T later on in the book) but he always 'makes it better' when Sophie gets hurt with big romantic gestures. Then aft ...more
This book romanticized the idea of a student + teacher relationship as well as romanticizing the idea of abusive relationships. The main character Sophie M is sexually involved with her English teacher James Bacon. This alone was slightly disturbing as this barley ever happens in real life but then there came the abuse. James Bacon repeatedly harms Sophie M (and Sophie T later on in the book) but he always 'makes it better' when Sophie gets hurt with big romantic gestures. Then aft ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Wow. Thrilling, suspenseful, clever story by New Zealander Eileen Merriman - whew, it was hard to put down.
We have an abundance of students who adore her books, can't wait to share this one with them. ...more
We have an abundance of students who adore her books, can't wait to share this one with them. ...more
A thrilling page-turner from Eileen Merriman, with a mystery that cleverly unfolds via the pages of Sophie Mac's diary; a diary that's read backwards, inching the reader through the past and towards day zero—the day when Sophie A disappeared. Can we trust what Sophie Mac is telling us? What is she hiding? Dark and clever, with a fascinating structure. You'll pick it up and won't want to put it down.
...more
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK.
Merriman has written another winner. The author doesn't spell out exactly what happens through most of the novel, but so much is implied. Wonderful work.
Merriman's unique approach and how the narrative is handled means 'Trio' doesn't fall into the pattern seen in novels such as Sebastian Faulkes' 'Engleby', though it shares an equal excellence. This is fresh and original storytelling.
And I can't tell you how much I liked the ending without giving too much away.
The stuf ...more
Merriman has written another winner. The author doesn't spell out exactly what happens through most of the novel, but so much is implied. Wonderful work.
Merriman's unique approach and how the narrative is handled means 'Trio' doesn't fall into the pattern seen in novels such as Sebastian Faulkes' 'Engleby', though it shares an equal excellence. This is fresh and original storytelling.
And I can't tell you how much I liked the ending without giving too much away.
The stuf ...more
ARC kindly provided to me by Penguin Random House NZ in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. The world has been sleeping on Eileen Merriman! This is the first of Eileen's books I've read, although thanks to her stunningly beautiful book covers I had noticed her books on the shelves of my local bookstore. I wish I had picked one up earlier because now I have to find time for her entire backlog!
'A Trio of Sophies' is a YA mystery which follows the diary of Sophie M (Mac), one of three friends named ...more
Wow. The world has been sleeping on Eileen Merriman! This is the first of Eileen's books I've read, although thanks to her stunningly beautiful book covers I had noticed her books on the shelves of my local bookstore. I wish I had picked one up earlier because now I have to find time for her entire backlog!
'A Trio of Sophies' is a YA mystery which follows the diary of Sophie M (Mac), one of three friends named ...more
This was a super enjoyable read, and towards the end, I could not put it down. I especially enjoyed, that it was set in Auckland, New Zealand, though I wonder how much mileage those teenagers must have on their cars.
The story: There are three Sophies, three friends:
• Sophie Abercrombie
• Sophie Twiggs – Twiggy
• Sophie MacKenzie - Mac
and ONE IS MISSING. Nobody seems to know what happened. She was last seen kissing her teacher.
The book starts with Mac's diary entry on the 64th day after Sophie Abe ...more
The story: There are three Sophies, three friends:
• Sophie Abercrombie
• Sophie Twiggs – Twiggy
• Sophie MacKenzie - Mac
and ONE IS MISSING. Nobody seems to know what happened. She was last seen kissing her teacher.
The book starts with Mac's diary entry on the 64th day after Sophie Abe ...more
3.75/5
I just want to give a big thank you to Penguin NZ and the Turning Pages book group here on Goodreads for sending me an arc of this book.
A Trio of Sophie's is a YA thriller written by NEw Zealand author Eileen Merriman. This book is about Sophie M and what was going on in her life before, during, and after her friend Sophie A went missing.
I really did enjoy this book, there were so many twist and turns and what the f*** just happened moments. However, the only reason I didn't give it a full ...more
I just want to give a big thank you to Penguin NZ and the Turning Pages book group here on Goodreads for sending me an arc of this book.
A Trio of Sophie's is a YA thriller written by NEw Zealand author Eileen Merriman. This book is about Sophie M and what was going on in her life before, during, and after her friend Sophie A went missing.
I really did enjoy this book, there were so many twist and turns and what the f*** just happened moments. However, the only reason I didn't give it a full ...more
Jan 10, 2020
Trisha
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
family,
friendship,
contemporary,
mystery,
suspense,
secrets,
metoo,
conflict,
grief-loss,
rso-review
For fans of books like We Were Liars and One of us is Lying.
Twisty & turn-y.
Twisty & turn-y.
The title and blurb and also the cover, drew me to select and read this story. From the opening lines, "Today is the first of September, the first day of Spring and it'd been sixty-four days since I last saw Sophie Abercrombie ... Sophie Abecrombie. The prettiest Sophie. The missing Sophie. The trio of Sophies is no more" to the closing of the novel I was hooked into the story, the characters and the fast pace and action.
The story is written from back to front, starting 64 days into the future. ...more
The story is written from back to front, starting 64 days into the future. ...more
*2.75
I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but it really didn't live up to what I thought it was going to be like. As someone who has grown up in the area that Merriman writes about, it frustrated me that the book drifted between real locations (which I could vividly picture in my head) and fake places. Although this is part of writing a book... for me, as the places were so close to my heart, it made it more difficult to read and picture as I knew some were real and others weren't.
T ...more
I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but it really didn't live up to what I thought it was going to be like. As someone who has grown up in the area that Merriman writes about, it frustrated me that the book drifted between real locations (which I could vividly picture in my head) and fake places. Although this is part of writing a book... for me, as the places were so close to my heart, it made it more difficult to read and picture as I knew some were real and others weren't.
T ...more
The main reason I read this novel is because one of the school librarians said she wouldn’t stock the book because it dealt with a teacher student relationship where the teacher had groomed the student.
I didn’t see that take on the story at all. James Bacon meets Sophie “Mac” MacKenzie when she has tripped while out running. They quickly form a friendship and then a relationship. He thinks she is at University, not 16, and she doesn’t know he is about to become the new English teacher at her sch ...more
I didn’t see that take on the story at all. James Bacon meets Sophie “Mac” MacKenzie when she has tripped while out running. They quickly form a friendship and then a relationship. He thinks she is at University, not 16, and she doesn’t know he is about to become the new English teacher at her sch ...more
Fabulous story and a gripping read. Eileen Merriman has nailed the teenage girl as far as I'm concerned. I could relate to the main character, her smugness and justification and besottedness. I loved the way the reader had to work at understanding the story, piecing it together as more was gradually revealed. I don't think it could be better.
...more
This was such a phenomenal read! "A Trio of Sophies" is probably one of the most uniquely written books I have ever read. Eileen has a true talent for keeping the reader deeply invested and the pages turning. I devoured this book in a day. I cannot wait to read Merriman's other works! For sure pick this up and give it a read. You wont be disappointed!
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Honestly it felt kind of predictable and boring to me. I read it but sadly wasn't really engaged. The diary entry's being out of order and daily led to a lot of repetition for me and I just couldn't really connect to the story. 3 Stars because it was an okay read. It felt like a mediocre thriller and that's the rating it got.
...more
A confusing, but enthralling read.
Must be read in conjunction with this piece from The Spinoff's Books Editor Catherine Woulfe: https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/29-02-... ...more
Must be read in conjunction with this piece from The Spinoff's Books Editor Catherine Woulfe: https://thespinoff.co.nz/books/29-02-... ...more
I read this book in one day! The structure is brilliant, and it really was fun to read a YA novel set in New Zealand.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| NZ Intermediate S...: A Trio of Sophies | 1 | 8 | Jun 23, 2020 01:03AM |
Readers also enjoyed
Eileen Merriman works full-time as a consultant haematologist at North Shore Hospital. Her writing has appeared in a number of national and international journals and anthologies, including Smokelong Quarterly, The Island Review, Literary Orphans, the Bath Short Story Award Anthology 2015, the Sunday Star-Times, F(r)iction, takahe, Headland and Flash Frontier. Her first novel was Pieces of You, wi
...more
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