Prom House by Chelsea Mueller
Product details
Web ID: 16223516Good Thriller
This is a great book for those tweens out there, although I have to admit I enjoyed it as an adult reader. There’s a good build up at the beginning that carries through for this story. It keeps you guessing to figure out whodunit! Very good characters that many teens can identify with. Don’t miss out on this one.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
For Teen Creeps, Not for Reading
Two stars _Prom House_ is billed as a mystery/thriller based on the focal point: murders at "prom house" (i.e. the apparently $10,000 per night beach house that the group of high schoolers rent for post-Prom activities. Relatable). After reading, the most mysterious part to me is how this is getting published. What I DO appreciate about this work is its vintage Christopher Pike this-isn't-supposed-to-be-funny-but-will-still-make-you-laugh plot points, character development, and language. It pains me to not be able to quote from arcs because there are some real zingers throughout. Although the language is highly entertaining for the wrong reasons, the characters are not. Most are flat. There is an attempt to make the main character more layered by randomly highlighting her previous trauma, but it's too little and too late and feels quite forced and in some ways exploitative. One other character-related situation of concern cropped up a few times. Two characters have parents who enter into a romantic relationship and ultimately move in together. The children of these adults are also maybe or maybe not (discussed further in the novel and not spoiled here) in a sexual relationship. I found it so odd that this was considered just a normal occurrence that could be happening. These characters are entering into a potential sibling-style relationship. Is one possibly abusing the other? Does ANYONE think this is worth mentioning or discussing? These characters are complete fools, so I it's not shocking that they don't go far into this issue, but the author and/or editors might have put some more consideration into the possible implications here. I worry for readers who will see this representation without further conversation. My central concern is that I had no interest in these characters living. They are wildly privileged (forget the $10,000 per night - wait until you see their whiteness in play with the police), and they are flat and unlikeable. There were times I rooted for the killer, and I don't think that was the goal. Please, Teen Creeps podcast. I need you to make an episode on this book. If you enjoy full circle so-bad-it's-good YA, you *may* enjoy this. Otherwise, RSVP your regrets to this post-prom event.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com