Books I've read: Ride or Die

 

I kind of loved this book.  The main character is just the kind of impulsive, badass, troublemaker I aspired to be when I was a teen.  Luckily for me, I had far fewer resources available to me, so my troublemaking tended to be on a limited scale.

Loli in this book doesn't have that limitation.  Her family are wealthy enough (and clearly give her way too much money) that she can throw elaborate parties at the drop of a hat.  Which is where this book begins.  With Loli throwing an elaborate party just because she needs to retrieve a necklace that has gotten into the wrong girl's hands.  While on her mission, she meets a mysterious stranger is a coat closet and is pulled into  an elaborate game that will challenge even her sense of danger.

She and X are soon on a mission to outdo each other with their increasingly challenging and perilous tasks for each other.  And of course, because she has a group of loyal friends around her, those who are closest to Loli also get pulled into the game.  Including Loli's long-suffering partner in crime, best friend Ryan.

But as the games become increasingly dangerous, Loli and Ryan's relationship becomes strained in a way it has never been before.  In testing how far she might actually go to win, Loli might lose the most important thing in her world.

This was a fun, thrilling ride of a book.  Loli is a fantastic character and so very, very teenaged.  She has very little thought of consequences to any of her actions and as such, is thoughtless with people's feelings.  I ached for poor Ryan whose devotion to her was crystal clear, even while she seemed completely oblivious to it.  And by the climax, I wanted to scream at the stupid child to wake up and stop putting herself into situations that were endangering herself and everyone around her.

So I'd recommend this one to anyone who likes a fast-paced thrill with larger-than-life characters.

But don't just listen to me.  Here's the blurb:

This adrenaline-packed joyride of a debut is an ode to Gen Z and teens who love chaos—perfect for fans of Grace D. Li, Ebony Ladelle, and Baby Driver.

Best friends Loli Crawford and Ryan Pope have earned their nickname, the “Bonnie and Clyde of Woolridge High.” From illegal snack swapping in kindergarten to reckless car surfing in high school, they have been causing trouble in their uptight California town forever. Everyone knows that the mischief starts with Loli. When it comes to chasing thrills, drama, and adventure, no one is on her level.

At least until Loli throws the wildest party Woolridge High has ever seen just to steal a necklace and meets X, a strange, unidentified boy in a coat closet, who challenges her to a game she can’t refuse—one that promises to put her love of danger to the ultimate test.

Loli and X begin an anonymous correspondence, exchanging increasingly risky missions. Loli’s fun has always been free and easy, but things spin out of control as she attempts to one-up X’s every move. As Loli risks losing everything—including her oldest friend—she’ll face the most dangerous thing of all: falling for someone she shouldn’t.