*I received a free copy of If You Wrong Us from Flux via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
If You Wrong Us by Dawn Klehr Published by Flux on 8 October 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Psychological Thriller, Young Adult
Pages: 240
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
"An intricate psychological page-turner that explores the darker side of vengeance and reads like Gone Girl through a teen lens." - Kirkus Reviews
Becca and Johnny become entangled after a car crash steals the lives of two people they love. Officially, the crash is an accident. But Becca and Johnny are convinced: someone did this.
As they plot revenge against the person responsible, a bond—intense, unyielding, and manic—takes hold of them. And in an unexpected turn of events, they fall for each other.
Or so they think.
In an upside-down world where decay is beautiful and love and hate become one, Becca and Johnny find themselves grappling with reality. Nothing is exactly what it seems, including what they've come to believe about the crash. Question is: will they learn the truth before it's too late?
No. The question is: when they learn the truth, will they care?
If You Wrong Us is a chilling psychological thriller, where the characters feel entitled to revenge, not thinking about how revenge could lead to much more hurt for everyone involved.
My If You Wrong Us review:
If You Wrong Us started out innocently enough, with Becca and Johnny trying to heal together after a car accident took the lives of Becca’s twin sister and Johnny’s mom. Both of them had trouble believing it was an accident, though, and they put a plan in action to make the guilty party pay as much as they felt they had paid, too. Becca was a very smart girl straight A student, and she tutored Johnny to help him with chemistry to help him pass the school-year.
As the story in If You Wrong Us unfolded, it was clear that things weren’t exactly as they had seemed at the beginning of the story. There were several reasons for this, and most of them had to do with secrets. And because the story is written in dual points of views, from both Becca’s and Johnny’s perspective, the reader is privy to some of the secrets, while the other characters aren’t. And that actually made the chill factor greater in my opinion. And because of the first person present tense the readers really experiences everything right there with the characters, every detail, every part of the final plan.
In order to keep If You Wrong Us chilling for everybody else as well, there isn’t a lot I can say about what happens, but I can tell you that if you enjoy psychological thrillers you should definitely pick this one up! The pace is great, as it starts quite slow, then goes faster as the plot builds up and becomes more complex as the story keeps going.
Some of my favorite If You Wrong Us quotes:
Revenge, I’ve come to learn, is not impulsive, or reactionary, or blind. It is calculating, patient, and observant. And if it’s going to work, the timing must be perfect. Just like in baseball. Swing too early, risk a pop p. Swing too late, risk a strike.
But in less than twenty-four ours, that will all change. Travis Kent will be extracted from my life forever.
“Omen,” I corrected her, even though it still wasn’t the right word. My twin was incredibly obtuse at times. Still, I always knew what she was trying to say. A fact that frightened me to the very core.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I enjoy stories that aren’t straightforward, especially when it’s about such a powerful emotion like revenge. Great review!
I really enjoy Klehr’s stories because they are so different, and it was impossible to figure things out in If you Wrong Us 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Verushka.
I definitely love psychological thrillers and your review makes my mouth water 🙂
It was definitely a mouth-watering story, Iza 🙂
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I love psychological stories and don’t read enough of them.
This one is really well done, Melanie, you should check if it’s available in audio…
You know I love a psychological thriller, Lexxie. And you definitely have me curious about If You Wrong Us – particularly as it seems there may be an element of teen entitlement. I think that theme is very relevant these days…at least in the US. Hmm, that’s a chat topic for us! 😉
Oh, and Molly and Lincoln too. *sigh* Happy Wednesday! **BIG HUGS**
Yeah, there is some of that, and some of quite a few other things as well, Brandee 🙂
*BIG HUGS*
Twitter: bmreviewsohmy
This sounds like an interesting book and I am really curious. 🙂
It was really good, Stormi!
This sounds really good and it’s one I haven’t heard of….
It was really good, Kate, I was never able to figure everything out, either 😀 and that’s always a plus IMO.
This will make my YA maybe list for next year–it sounds sort of like a story I would really like!
It’s really good, Felicia, and I think you’d enjoy it, too! I hope you’ll pick it up!
sounds chilling, its been a while since I read a good psychological thriller.
It was chilling, Lily, and it was well done in the way that each character kept things to themselves, but I knew what both were thinking…
This isn’t my usual kind of read, but you have me intrigued! I like that Becca and Johnny plan to draw out the culprit!
I enjoy mysteries, and thrillers quite a bit, Naomi, and psychological thrillers are the best when they are as well done as this one 🙂
Need! This is so my kind of book. And now I’m dying to know what’s really going on.
You should pick it up, Christy! It was really good, and I love not getting it before I’m supposed to 😀
I kept poking around at this one. I am thrilled to hear that this one worked. I still might give it a shot when it published.
It worked really well for me, Lyn, and I have enjoyed another YA psychological thriller by the same author.
Twitter: kimbacaffeinate
I love this kind of twisted thriller. Is this dark or does it stay firmly in YA?
It’s dark, even if it stays YA. There is a lot of intricate things going on, Kim, and I really think you’d enjoy it!