Call me crazy, but I figured writing for the Herbert Hoover High Homepage would be a pretty sweet gig. Pad the resume for college applications, get a first look at the gossip column, spend some time ogling the paper’s brooding bad-boy editor, Chase Erikson. But on my first big story, things went... a little south. What should have been a normal interview with Sydney Sanders turned into me discovering the Homecoming Queen-hopeful dead in her pool. Electrocuted while Tweeting. Now, in addition to developing a reputation as HHH’s resident body finder, I’m stuck trying to prove that Sydney’s death wasn’t suicide.I’m starting to long for the days when my biggest worry was whether the cafeteria was serving pizza sticks or Tuesday Tacos...(From Goodreads)
I absolutely loved Deadly Cool. It was smart and fun, and it felt like it was saying something very important. The ending totally snuck up on me, not only because the killer is revealed, but because I realized the book was a commentary on an important and relevant aspect of society. Plus, Hartley is one of those characters that you come to feel is one of your best friends by the time the story ends. So I was so excited for Social Suicide because I couldn't wait to see how it would surprise me, and I really missed the characters.
Hartley is still her sparkling self and Sam is still a great sidekick. Chase is still dreamy and he still has that little bit of an edge. And there's a whole new parade of high school students who each are wrapped up in their own dramas and schemes. I do think, minus the body count, Gemma Halliday does an excellent job of portraying snap shots of high school life - as far as I can tell anyway. There are a few issues raised, particularly the nature of cheating and the competition between teenagers. But I was a little disappointed that I didn't get that same dawning realization that there was something really important behind the drama and the humor. This book just didn't hold the same weight as Deadly Cool did.
My other disappointment was the lack of growth in the characters. While they've all gone through so much, they still seemed to be in pretty much the same place they were at the end of the first book. But, it's a good thing Hartley and her Scooby gang are so likeable. This really is a group of people I'd love to be friends with.
Even with these few minor short-comings, I still thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. It's a quick read and it's thoroughly entertaining. And while I know that if more people drop dead around Hartley, it's going to start being slightly more implausible, but I will definitely will keep reading if the series keeps going.
