Post by oldmeanie on Jul 14, 2023 18:56:03 GMT -5
First time reading this one. I prefer these lower key mysteries. No criminals, the perp is a student, and it's overall pretty light-hearted.
That being said, I couldn't super get into this one for some reason. I've been feeling really tired and down lately, so maybe that's why? I also thought the subplot was meh. Not terrible, just... exactly like every other BSC subplot lately lol, why does everything have to be an event for the sitting charges?
I did think that Mathew's crush on Mary Anne was a cute mini subplot (I hope that's not weird to say. Just can't think of a better way to word it because my brain is mush right now). Tbh, I'm kind of surprised that this sort of idea hadn't been explored in the series before. It's pretty feasible for one of the charges to develop a crush.
The main plot is pretty good. I don't really buy that Pete and Stacey were able to get out of that many classes, but it was entertaining to read about all the different grams. I feel bad for Alan Gray.
Cary is weird in this one. He's definitely a bit... off. I think he's less creepy in other books.
I am totally blanking on how I felt overall with this book, but there are a couple quotes that stood out:
This is one of the weirdest quotes in a chapter 2, and it made me giggle: "Workers in the Ring-Ding factory probably toil away beneath a gold-framed portrait of Claudia." Wtf?
I like how Kristy makes gross comments at lunch again. That hasn't been in the series since... I think the 80s (not the decade, but book numbers). Stacey out-grosses her, which is pretty cool.
Stacey also said that Robert used to call her Toots, and for one second my stupid brain thought that was because Stacey farts a lot. No, it's slang lol. I think it's more of an East Coast thing. This sounds familiar, but I can't remember which book it was in. Speaking of Robert, I think it's kind of cool that he reappears here. I was certain he'd stolen the hearts, but I'm kind of glad he didn't. Must be foreshadowing to Ex-Boyfriend (which I haven't read).
Dumb Claudia moment:
“Check,” said Claudia. “Should we syncopate our watches?”
Hasn't Kristy mentioned this enough by this point? I think it's usually her.
Overall, I think this is a better late mystery, and I like that it's not as serious. I just wasn't super into it, and I wish I was! 5.5 feels right.
That being said, I couldn't super get into this one for some reason. I've been feeling really tired and down lately, so maybe that's why? I also thought the subplot was meh. Not terrible, just... exactly like every other BSC subplot lately lol, why does everything have to be an event for the sitting charges?
I did think that Mathew's crush on Mary Anne was a cute mini subplot (I hope that's not weird to say. Just can't think of a better way to word it because my brain is mush right now). Tbh, I'm kind of surprised that this sort of idea hadn't been explored in the series before. It's pretty feasible for one of the charges to develop a crush.
The main plot is pretty good. I don't really buy that Pete and Stacey were able to get out of that many classes, but it was entertaining to read about all the different grams. I feel bad for Alan Gray.
Cary is weird in this one. He's definitely a bit... off. I think he's less creepy in other books.
I am totally blanking on how I felt overall with this book, but there are a couple quotes that stood out:
This is one of the weirdest quotes in a chapter 2, and it made me giggle: "Workers in the Ring-Ding factory probably toil away beneath a gold-framed portrait of Claudia." Wtf?
I like how Kristy makes gross comments at lunch again. That hasn't been in the series since... I think the 80s (not the decade, but book numbers). Stacey out-grosses her, which is pretty cool.
Stacey also said that Robert used to call her Toots, and for one second my stupid brain thought that was because Stacey farts a lot. No, it's slang lol. I think it's more of an East Coast thing. This sounds familiar, but I can't remember which book it was in. Speaking of Robert, I think it's kind of cool that he reappears here. I was certain he'd stolen the hearts, but I'm kind of glad he didn't. Must be foreshadowing to Ex-Boyfriend (which I haven't read).
Dumb Claudia moment:
“Check,” said Claudia. “Should we syncopate our watches?”
Hasn't Kristy mentioned this enough by this point? I think it's usually her.
Overall, I think this is a better late mystery, and I like that it's not as serious. I just wasn't super into it, and I wish I was! 5.5 feels right.