Preview Post- She's So Dead To Us by Kieran Scott

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
"Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends -- friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.

Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.

But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.

Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?"- summary from Amazon

Let me tell you something to start off- read summaries before picking up a book. This doesn't mean that it was the kind of book I don't like or anything, but it definitely helps to know what you're getting into. See, looking at the title, I thought it was some sort of paranormal/mystery/suspense/ghost novel, but as it turns out, it's just the usual teen girl drama of "she is SO dead!" wherein no one actually BECOMES dead. This kinda made me sad since I was expecting it, which is why it is good to read summaries before starting a book. Thank you.

Now, on to the preview. This was a good book, and it's my first by Kieran Scott, though I do own one of her earlier novels and it may even be signed too. But I imagine it's very much like her Kate Brian books, specifically the Private series, in that it deals with petty drama, rich kids, gossip, etc. This isn't a problem, but just wanted to set the feel of it all.

I am intrigued by these kinds of novels since I'm a poor college graduate, so it's a bit nice to escape into a world filled with money that grows on trees, at least for a select few families in a town. What makes this one stand out a bit more is the fact that these rich families are having to rebuild their empires, and we see all the emotional drama and cracks start to unfold from that.

OK, so this preview is getting long, so let me stop being vague and get a little more specific. I will say that reading this book made me want to slap some of the characters or maybe murder them (thus making it the ghost/mystery type book I want!). Mean characters always get to me and I'm just wishing for the main character to strangle them. It's probably why I try to read as little of these sorts of books as possible. These girls are mean, and are in fact very close to the mean girls seen in Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, though it's not as united a front here as it was in that book.

There was a very good romance here and a swoon-worthy guy, who we get to see part of the story from! Yes, it's told in alternating POVs- that of Ally, the girl returning back to the place she had to run away from, and that of Jake, the new guy who came in after Ally's departure and is now living in her former house. The depth of these characters are really shown and fleshed out, and even some of the mean girls have their redeeming qualities (very little though). I'm excited to see where the story goes from here and can't wait for the second book.

A full, more detailed review will be up closer to the book's release date, which is in late May. It will include more character names and specifics rather than vague ramblings! YAY!