Sharing the spotlight can be murder …

Hannah Mary McKinnon has crafted a spectacular thriller about a rock group, The Bittersweet, that will evoke memories of your teenage years and early twenties. I was transported back in time by reading the girls’ high school experience and the bands/songs referenced.

McKinnon’s story not only showcases the author’s immense talent at crafting a spectacular, twisty, and creepy story but also at penning the beautiful lyrics featured in Bittersweet’s songs. I went back and re-read some of the lyrics and was amazed at how they gave insight into Vienna’s thoughts. McKinnon’s ability to intertwine the main and subplots with blog posts, news articles, radio transcripts, and social media comments is astounding.

I enjoyed the spotlight on friendship, peer pressure, and dysfunctional relationships, as much as I liked McKinnon’s characters (yes, even the fantastic villains and no, not their actions), the wonderful character development, and her twisty plot. I had to reign in my indignation, ease my discomfort through the creepy parts, and read slowly and reread to make sense of the ‘nothing is as it seems’ plot. It was interesting to see the parallels between the transition of EmVee to Bittersweet with the growth of the girls and stardom.

For someone who has worked with teens for years, I could almost imagine the body language and facial expressions of Vienna and Madison ‘that day’ in the school office. I smiled, re-read it, and nodded as my smirk grew. I’d seen it many times before. McKinnon aced it.

I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Tade Publishing, MIRA and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.