Good Girl, Bad Blood
Ratings413
Average rating4.2
This book is amazing. The beginning was a bit slow at first so it was harder for me to get into but when it picked up I couldn't stop turning the pages.
And it made me cry and any book that makes me cry automatically gets 5 stars from me
while the first and the last book are my favourite this book was a little dry compared to those. i know the ending did add a little spice to the next book like the ptsd which caused pip to hear gunshots but it just wasn't to that level.
i personally felt that though the mystery was well written but the choosing stanley as the victim and charlie as the killer was a little bit iffy. well nobody saw that coming because neither of them are mentioned more than 3 times in this book. i didn't feel connected to stanley so after he was killed i didn't really feel much sympathy. and while charlie's motive to kill stanley was there it just didn't seem right.
This was a great read. The best parts were the parallel but slightly unfocused storylines of the trial and the survivors; and the way Pip unravells until she can't separate herself from her work at all. Definitely keen for the next book!
Chapter 41 was a huge roller coaster OMG, I couldn't put it down so I ended crying at mignight.
easy and compelling read. entertaining for sure, the conclusion felt kinda drawn out of a hat though, which was somewhat unsatisfying.
I was NOT expecting that ending bro
I dont understand how those people can hate Stanley
he was a CHILD?!?
These fictional people be making me madd
Loved this book as much as the first one
I found it a bit challenging to keep track of all the characters and their connections; this may be more of a personal issue than a flaw in the book, as it is very character-heavy.
Since we only spent a short time with the villain, the twist ending didn't have much of an impact on me, especially since they played a relatively minor role in the plot.
The romance between Pip and Ravi is sweet and understated, although it sometimes felt a bit random, particularly considering how calm Ravi remained throughout. Then I remembered everything that he and his family had experienced, which made it clear that his demeanor made sense. It's great for Pip to have solid support when she feels unstable.
Overall, it was an easy and enjoyable read with a bittersweet ending. I just wish Max had gotten shot, though.
I was sobbing at the end - it has been a while since a book has been able to do this to me 👌 Definitely an unexpected twist, even if one of the reviews here spoiled it a bit for me 🙄
Another great read, a sequel on par with the first book. The format is still something that largely interests me, but it has moved onto a podcast one due to the release of her AGGGTM podcast.
Pip still has her can-do attitude, knowing what her previous endeavours into crime solving had led her, yet she can't say no when her friend's brother has gone missing. Her relationship with Ravi has taken fruit, and they're actively dating. As for her friends from the previous book...after the events from there, I'm not surprised that it's a little strained (Lauren/Ant I really don't like you two).
The mystery behind this one feels a little unrealistic at times compared to the previous. There's a lot that's thrown into this, from drug dealings to witness protection. And while the initial two-thirds of the book seemed quite light-hearted despite the missing person investigation, it takes a much darker approach than what some would expect towards the latter third.
Overall, I still enjoyed it, finding it easy to read and difficult to put down.
In Good Girl, Bad Blood, Pip finds herself reluctantly drawn back into the world of crime-solving, despite promising herself she was done with investigations. This time, her focus shifts when her friend Connor's brother, Jamie, goes missing, and Pip feels a sense of responsibility to help. What's fascinating is how the story explores the psychological toll her past investigation took on her—she's tougher, less idealistic, and even a bit jaded.
Pip's character arc in this book goes to a much darker place. We see her questioning her morals, pushing boundaries, and doing things that would've shocked the Pip we first met. I think Jackson did a great job showing how these experiences are slowly changing her, even blurring her own sense of justice. While I loved how intense and suspenseful the plot was, I couldn't help but feel a little sad for Pip. She's lost some of her innocence, and the toll of constantly uncovering dark truths is clear.
If you enjoyed the first book but are ready for a grittier, more intense story, Good Girl, Bad Blood dives into that moral complexity with Pip's darker side emerging. It adds a whole new layer to her character and really raises the stakes for what she's willing to do in the name of finding the truth.
Hey everyone! I just finished “Good Girl, Bad Blood,” the second book in Holly Jackson's “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder” series, and I've got some thoughts to share.
First off, this book picks up right where the first one left off, which is great for continuity. It ties up some loose ends from the first book while introducing a new mystery. I appreciate how Jackson managed to keep the familiar elements that made the first book work while still giving us something fresh.
The writing style remains consistent, which is a big plus. It's still engaging and easy to read, making it perfect for a binge-reading session. The main character and her sidekick continue to have great chemistry, which really helps drive the story forward.
However, I have to say, I liked the first book a bit more. The mystery in this one felt a little less gripping compared to its predecessor. Don't get me wrong, it's still good, but it didn't quite reach the same heights as the first book.
One area where I felt this book fell a bit short was in character development, especially for the new characters introduced. They didn't feel as fleshed out as I would have liked. The pacing is still fast overall, but there were a few spots where it felt like it dragged a bit.
The book still has its share of shocking moments, but I found the clues a bit more obvious this time around. In the first book, the hints were subtle and cleverly hidden. Here, if you're reading carefully, you might find yourself guessing the ending a bit too easily.
On the plus side, the emotional aspects of the story are well-handled, and there's a nice touch of romance woven throughout. The ending was satisfying, and despite my criticisms, the overall story is still very good.
I'd rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's a solid sequel that fans of the first book will likely enjoy. While it may not quite live up to the high bar set by its predecessor, it's still a very enjoyable read with strong characters and an intriguing plot.
If you loved the first book, definitely give this one a shot. It might not blow you away, but it's a worthy continuation of the series that'll keep you entertained from start to finish.
4.5 Stars
Compared to the first book, this was dark. And I think I liked it?
While I loved both, I definitely prefer the first book. The twists in this one were slightly more predictable and I caught on a little bit earlier than intended. Still, Holly Jackson has this very suspenseful, cinematic writing style that makes me just love the story no matter what. I can only wonder how dark As Good As Dead will be... I can't wait. For now though, I'm going to read the novella since it was released between books two and three.
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0 ⭐⭐
The first book is one of my all time faves but this one just wasnt it for me.
Felt slower even tho it takes places over a shorter period of time. and the whole story felt very out of character for the Pippa we met in book 1
damn.....
still missing something though, it's good but sadly not that 5 star flavor
Pippa te amo, recomendación para los asustadizos y los que sufren insomnio, no lo lean de noche con el ruido de los gatos en el techo. De rento muy recomendado.
This series has so much potential in my opinion. The first book was golden. Perfect. An amazing mix of murder, mystery, romance, and the late 2010's magic. This book was just okay. It lacked what made the book so good. The mystery. It seemed unfulfilled when it was over, as though there was one final mysterious detail Pip was missing. But as I got closer to the very last page, I got sadder. Finding out that Stanley had such a double life with no prior details was annoying and felt rushed. Seeing Pip solve the murder with really no struggle after having only solved one murder before was also slightly annoying. Pip is made out to be this genius that is able to take any detail and solve it's missing piece but it just didn't seem real.
The town sucks, the killers suck, Stanley sucks, and the justice system sucks.
I haven't heard many good reviews on the next books so that scares me. I'll have to read this to see for myself but I can only hope that it's more like the previous book (the first).
I have a suspicious feeling that Pip's humanity will be tried a lot in the next book(s). I just hope that the author doesn't try to feed into shock factor and just writes a book that is similar to the first book and has an enjoyable mystery to solve.
La empatía que se puede tener con el personaje Pip me destroza.
Amo la mente de Holly para hacer tremenda serie; soltar pequeñas piezas y luego ir juntándolas a la historia. Estos libros son fascinantes.
4/5
This is a worthy successor to the addictive A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. While it doesn't quite recapture the greatness of the first book, it delivers a fresh mystery with its signature true-crime podcast hook.
The plot is well-crafted, keeping you guessing until the very end. However, Pip's decision to broadcast her investigation raises the stakes in an interesting way, but it also feels a touch unrealistic. You can't help but wonder if a real-life investigator would risk jeopardizing the case (and potentially lives) for a podcast.
This sequel also introduces some intriguing neew characters. However, they feel underdeveloped, leaving you wanting to know more about their motivations. Pip, on the other hand, continues to be a compelling protagonist. But there's a hint of recklessness in her actions this time around, blurring the lines between passionate investigator and someone perhaps a little unhinged.
Despite these minor drawbacks, this was still a thoroughly enjoyable read. The fast pace, chilling twists, and the signature Pip-and-Ravi dynamic will keep you glued to the pages. While some characters deserved more depth, the central mystery remains captivating.
Honestly, the police in this town are USELESS and couldn't solve a puzzle let alone a crime.
Ultimately, I felt like Connor was too close to the incident to be an impartial detective, resulting in his presence just annoying me. He was consistently interfering with Pip's investigation and expected everyone to go above and beyond just because it was his brother that was missing. I also didn't find this case nearly as interesting as it was a missing person case rather than a murder case. The twist at the end though really got me and resulted in the book going from a 3 ⭐️ to a 4 ⭐️ read. I feel like the follow up book needed to be a longer period after the previous case (maybe when Pip was finished with university and this turns into her career). I did enjoy the aspect of her posting updates to her followers whilst she was solving the case and viewers could input their ideas and suggestions that Pip then followed up on. Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable read with a good twist at the end regardless of how left of field the twist was (honestly it felt like I was reading another book when everything unfolded) and I would recommend this to anyone that enjoyed the first novel.
“Good Girl, Bad Blood” by Holly Jackson delivers a gut-wrenching ending that left me reeling and heartbroken. The last few chapters were an emotional rollercoaster, and finding words to describe the impact feels nearly impossible. The unexpected turn at the conclusion took me by surprise, defying all initial expectations.
The character development, especially regarding Stanley Forbes, was masterfully executed. Jackson skillfully made me feel for his character within just a few pages, transforming my indifference into genuine emotional investment. His death, difficult to read, left a lasting impact, and I secretly hoped for a miraculous survival that never came to pass.
The evolution of Holly Jackson's writing in this sequel impressed me, and the anticipation for the third book is palpable. While the ending was a bitter pill to swallow, it speaks to the author's ability to evoke deep emotions. A break from the intense feelings might be necessary, but the prospect of what the next installment holds is equally compelling.
This book was absolutely awesome. I remember not being able to put AGGGTM down, and it was the same thing with this one. I literally finished this like five minutes ago, at 4:30 am... It's just SO GOOD. I don't know how Holly Jackson does it but I could feel what Pip felt. Incredible.