Little Monsters by Kara Thomas - OPTIONAL

Thomas, Kara  Little Monsters, 324 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2017.  $18. Content: Language: R (100+ swears; 79 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence; PG-13. 

After an abusive up-bringing by her mother, Kacey has come to live with her father and his family.  Kacey loves her half-sister and step-brother and likes being a part of their family, but her two new friends, Bailey and Jade, always want to hang out with her and sometimes Kacey just wants to be with her family.  On one of the nights that Kacey decides to stay home, Bailey doesn’t come home from a party.  As the search for the missing Bailey ensues, the newcomer Kacey starts to look guilty. 

I couldn’t put this book down.  It’s the ultimate mean girls novel.  It’s an intense mystery with great characters and a chilling setting.  I enjoyed the way they mystery unfolded.  Mature content is crass sexual talk and the violence is murder. The swearing was so over-the-top it was distracting and it makes this book optional, which is sad because it was a fun fast read otherwise. 

HS – OPTIONAL.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson.