Happy release day to Dangerous Boys by Abigail Haas!
I was freakishly excited to get onboard with this blitz because a) I loved Dangerous Girls and it messed with my head so badly and of course I need more trauma like that in my life, and b) I definitely want to support this author. Abigail Haas is a genius. SHE IS. Her thrillers absolutely smack my brain around. I still…
Nope. Still can’t even.
I’ll attempt a sensible review, but just warning you fairly: this book was all kinds of freaky awesome. My thoughts are basically still like this:
Oh! And if you haven’t read Dangerous Girls, don’t worry! You don’t need to.
It’s not a sequel really. It’s a completely different and unrelated story. But if you want to read my gushy review for Dangerous Girls, it’s here. Good to go? Okay, let’s party.
Three teens venture into the abandoned lake house one night; hours later, only two emerge from the burning wreckage. Chloe drags one Reznick brother to safety, unconscious and bleeding; the other is left to burn, dead in the fire. But which brother survives? And is his death a tragic accident? Desperate self-defense?
Or murder?
Chloe is the only one with the answers. As the fire rages, and police and parents demand the truth, she struggles to piece together the story of how they got there-a story of jealousy, twisted passion, and the darkness that lurks behind even the most beautiful of faces…
You should probably buy this book (just sayin’…) at:
How do I even…where? What? HOW.
I just want to cling to my keyboard and cry basically, because IT HAPPENED AGAIN. Dangerous Girls (book #1) absolutely messed with my brain. I did. not. see. it. coming. So I went into Dangerous Boys completely ready to guess the puzzle early. I was even suspecting that baby, peoples! I WAS PREPARED. The baby was only mentioned once and wasn’t even born. But whatever. It sounded suspicious.
And I still got totally done.
My brain is a mess right now.
This is a thriller that will play with your mind. I promise you that.
What I particularly love about Abigail Haas’ style is that she gives you the end and the beginning. You have to read to figure out the middle. We start the book knowing a) someone is dead, b) it’s murder, and c) there will not be a hug big enough to hold you through this mind-trickery.
I read it in two sittings. I was turning pages ravenously on my kindle. I was screaming (albiet quietly because my family thinks I’m weird enough as is) “NO DON’T DO IT” for everything. Even them eating pie. I was suspicious, okay? Very suspicious of everything and everyone.
It’s hard to review this without spoilers, so I will only lightly mention the characters.
It’s narrated by Chloe who wanted to go to college but…things happen. Her mother has severe crippling depression and Chloe stayed home to help her through this. (Nice, Chloe.) But, of course, Chloe has Little Town Syndrome, wherein she’s terrified of being stuck in a one-horse town foreeeeever.
Bring in Ethan. He’s nice. The kind of boyfriend who smiles at you and gives you a cuddle when things are bad and wants to live in the one-horse town (why the heck do I keep saying horse?! there are no horses in this book, not literally) and have his babies and be Mr. Normal Nobody.
Bring in Oliver. He is Ethan’s brother and, hey, I’m not being judgy her, but he’s probably a sociopath. Brilliant. Charismatic. Dazzling. And dangerous. Ohhh, hold my common sense, while Chloe swoons.
Ah, yah it’s a love-triangle.
But it’s the most warped love triangle in the history of ever, and I guarentee you the outcome is not normal. NOT NORMAL AT ALL.
The writing is absolutely hypnotising and perfectly paced. It’s a thriller. It gives thrills.
I’m suddenly addicted to thrillers. Although, this one is more NA then YA. It’s that iffy time when highschool has finished and college is ready to begun and you’re supposed to be an adult but you still have the brain of a teenager. Awkward. Lots of bad decisions. (Hopefully, though, murder is not the usual decision in most teens lives.)
I’m trying my hardest not to compare this to Dangerous Girls.
To be fair, they’re completely different books and not even related except for the author and the “dangerous” bit. The plot is 100% different. It only reminded me of Dangerous Girls with the way it was written: with the ending first and mixed with the beginning. (I love that, by the way.) But if I had to pick a favourite…it’d be Dangerous Girls. There is more romance and adulting in Dangerous Boys, both of which are not my favourite topics. But both these books completely got into my brain, took my breath away, and simultaneously HORRIFIED and INTRIGUED me.
I loved it. (In case it was hard to tell.) I was going to give it 4.5 because I liked Dangerous Girls better but then…why would I do that?! I loved this book and it deserves every shiny 5-star sticker ever. This is a psychological thrill-ride that’ll make you glare suspiciously at every character and STILL be gob-smacked at the reveal. It’s horrible. Humans are scary.
I would like a third book. Perhaps Dangerous Babies? Or Dangerous Pets?
Cait is in recovery. Well, trying to be. She has the most massive book-hangover of EVER after this. She feels like yelling about this book’s brilliance from the rooftops and flailing and making dangerous cake in celebration or something. It’s okay, it’s okay…she’s calming down now. She’s considering starting GOOD OMENS, which she’s reading purely because she wants to write a review and use Crowley gifs.
THIS IS THE BOOK THAT WILL END MY BOOK-BUYING BAN. Well, okay, it'll be Dangerous Girls, but STILL. I SO WANT TO READ THESE BOOKS AHHHH. They sound amazing. Everyone is raving about them. And I like having my mind blown. As for your question – I don't mind unrelated books. That's like Anna and the French Kiss and such. If I love the author I won't mind 🙂 *Adds to TBR immediately*
OH yeah! It's exactly like Anna and Lola! Although Anna made cameos in Lola's book whereas I don't think there were any references to Dangerous Girls in Dangerous Boys. *shrugs* I may have just missed them, being absolutely traumatised while reading and all.
STOP MAKING ME WANT TO READ BOOKS! My to-read list is too long already!!I have to read this one now.But, the book buying ban I'm on means I'll have to wait until either a) it shows up at the library or b) January.My main problem is that I both love and hate creepy books. I was tempted to read it, but I'm fairly certain I'll seriously regret it afterwards (because I mainly read at night time…you know, right before I try to sleep).Fine, I'll read it. You've convinced me.
I'M SORRY NOT SORRY BECAUSE THIS IS WORTH IT, I PROMISE YOU. Nudge your library. BEG your library to get it in. I love creepy books, omg, I absolutely love them. I especially love being surprised and astounded. Usually I guess books, but with Abigail Haas' I neeever ever guess.
Conveniently, I just bought Dangerous Girls yesterday, so this one is officially on the list for when I finish that!
Yaaay! I hope you like Dangerous Girls and even if you don't, this is kind of different. ^_^
I have to get both of these, I've seen a few reviews on my rounds today all saying the same thing, and my socks are ready to be blown off. I love creepy books, sinister storylines that leave you moments from.peeing yourself and this sounds perfect. To read, not pee. Obviously no one WANTS to per themselves, it'd be uncomfortable and totally awkward when you find people asking what that smell is. You could just pretend it's expensive French perfume oui del la wee wee. Incredible review, I can't wait to grab a copy. Let's hope it comes with plastic pants.
Oh my gosh Kelly. HOW DO YOU MAKE ME LAUGH SO HARD?! *finishes snickering* Okay, okay, you do need to read this because MIND BLOWING and also all the cool kids are doin' it. Come on.
I keep hearing so much about these books! Now I definitely need to read them. As for sequels that aren't related–I don't know, really for me, it just depends on the author. I was really hoping that THIS SHATTERED WORLD was going to follow on from the characters of THESE BROKEN STARS, but I'll reserve judgement on that until I've actually read the book, I think. I honestly prefer when a series follows on from the same characters…but it's not a deal-breaker if it doesn't. 🙂
I have to agree…I'm going to miss Lilac and Tarver because THEY SOUNDS AWESOME. Maybe they'll make a cameo?? I nearly squeaked at the blurb of This Shattered World though, so I'm not worried if I'll like it or not. I will most likely hug it tightly.
YAAAAAASSS. I already commented on your Goodreads review so you already know my thoughts but still, YAAASSSS. This was so Gloriously Brilliant. I capitalized that without even thinking about it, proving just how gloriously brilliant this is. Let's just hope there are many more Dangerous things to come. Dangerous Pizza, Dangerous Fish, Dangerous freaking Bunnies. (I mean, hey, that bunny in Monty Phyton and the Holy Grail was pretty freaking dangerous, so…)
AND I KNOW YOURS BECAUSE I READ YOUR REVIEWS AND THINGS SO LET US AFJDKLAF TOGETHER, YES? Dangerous Freaking Bunnies <– I vote for that one also. And Dangerous Pizza. I can imagine the anchovies attacking people.
I have added both Dangerous Girls and Dangerous Boys to my reading list and I'm quite excited to read them! I'd never even heard of them before, so clearly my bookish information systems need a check up. Anyway, these books sound exactly like my type of books. Thanks for the review!~Sarah FaulknerInklined
They're sadly under-read actually. Which sucks, because they're AMAZING. I would happily shove these at anyone, well, maybe I would politely hand these to people instead of, you know, violently shoving them. But I recommend them 1000%.
I love getting tricked by books and getting shocked by really unpredictable endings. I think I might try Dangerous Girls, but not Dangerous Boys, because I don't like lots of "romance and adulting" in the books that I read, either. To answer your first question, I really like sequels that are semi-related to the previous book, but not directly related. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because semi-sequels give me a chance to read something like some of my favorite books, without requiring me to read a really long series.Also, I just checked on your last post, and how do you reply to 66 comments so promptly?!? I'm already getting behind commenting on a few comments from some of my old posts!
In that case, YUS. Go for Dangerous Girls first, though the romance is a huge and crucial part so….*shrugs* I loved them obviously, but it depends on each to their own taste, right?!Omg, I did NOT reply to them promptly! I feel bad because it took me over 2 days to reply… *hides*
YES! Haha! So glad you liked it Cait! <3 And I completely agree…this was such a twist-y ride and I absolutely loved every minute of it, and I'm glad you did too. I know we discussed this on Twitter together, and I know that we both prefer Dangerous Girls to this, but I agree that this is a darn good book and that Haas needs to write something else. Dangerous Pets FTW. 😉 Thanks for sharing! <3~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf
DANGEROUS PETS FTW! *throws dangerous confetti* We should petition for this, Zoe. And we have epic twitter conversations, just sayin'.
Oooh. A warped love triangle.My library's giving me Dangerous Girls, so I'm pretty sure I'll hope on the bandwagon soon. Perhaps Dangerous Teens would be a good name? Or Dangerous Adults? [shrugs] You never know, right?
Warped and warpier. (Gee, my spellcheck even says that's a word….awesome. Warpish? Warpierish. HEH. Ok…sorry, moving on.) YAY FOR YOUR LIBRARY. I hope you enjoy it. I'll look out for your Goodreads review, eh?! 😉
I've actually never heard of Dangerous Girls before, either! *adds to list* These books sound like just my thing.Nice review!
Noooo one has! I can't believe they're so under-read because a) they're amazing and b) they have nice covers [legit reason there] and c) they're kind of unique and not your "average YA disaster". I just want to tell ALL THE PEOPLE about these amazing books.
YESSSSSSSSS! I was waiting to see what you thought of this one! :DI'm kind of torn between sequels that aren't really sequels, depending on how much I loved the first set of characters (like with These Broken Stars) and since I haven't read Dangerous Girls yet, I wasn't too bothered. BUT OH MY GOD. I just, nope. I can't. Really. I kind of suspected where the twist was going (because I obviously have a twisted mind *cough*) but I kept second guessing all of it along the way, AND IT STILL SHOCKED ME. I'm really glad I wasn't reading it in public either, because I was just HOLY CRAP and that would be awkward. I do love how my feelings toward Ethan changed along with hers though, is that weird? I liked him in the beginning and then I was just ugh, go away please.These are the types of thrillers I love (see, twisted mind.) BUT NO COHERANT THOUGHTS AND I READ IT WEEKS AGO AND DAMN. THE END.
Yes! Yes! YES! Your review is genius. I reposted mine when I did the blitz today and I cringed whilst reading it, it's terrible. It definitely doesn't show all my love and appreciation for the book, and it definitely doesn't gush enough about how much of a genius I think Haas is. I want a third book too, I don't even care what she calls it as long as there is another! I felt bad that I only gave it 4.5 too, looking back I think it definitely deserved 5/5, I'm happy you realised that haha! 🙂
Welll, I've decided I'm going to read Dangerous Girls first (I've never read a book set in Aruba, and also it's on my traveling bucket list) and after that I might read Dangerous Boys too. Deal? Deal! I quite enjoy your reviews. You do well with them!
I've never heard of this book. But it sounds amazing! I will definitely have to read it. I don't think I've read anything in the NA genre. I am slightly curious/hesitant about it. Thrillers, though. Are fantastic. 🙂 And I love the Sherlock gifs. I would probably love any thing with Sherlock gifs, just for that reason. I don't think I've really ever read any sequels-that-weren't-really-sequels either. Though I do really, really want to the read the short story collection Four by Veronica Roth. Does that count?
I love thrillers that keep you guessing. I'll have to check this one out!
ALMOST EVERY OTHER BOOK REVIEW ON MY BLOGLOVIN FEED IS EITHER DANGEROUS BOYS OR DANGEROUS GIRLS AND I MUST KNOW MORE! I've had a hunch that the two are separate books, but then are also slightly connected. Though truthfully I'm not sure if this is something for me, I think I'll try it sometime down the road soon! 😛 BUT STILL. THRILLER! MYSTERY. A PUZZLE TO BE SOLVED! GAH
I thought this book was amazing, but because I read Breaking Butterflies recently I saw it all coming a mile away, especially with Oliver being a sociopath. I loved how it was like putting the puzzle pieces together though.
I need Dangerous Boys in my life so badly, and it comes out today so getting a copy is actually be possible. I want to experience more of Haas' undeniably awesome work, and it's so comforting to hear that Dangerous Boys is right up there with Dangerous Girls. I really do have high expectations for Dangerous Boys, but I'm confident that Abigail will meet them. I just adored the dark atmosphere and psychological elements in Dangerous Girls, so it's good to see that they're present in Dangerous Boys too. I've read a few reviews for Dangerous Boys and each of them have mentioned the characters and how they're so complex and twisted. I'm really intrigued by these characters and can't wait to experience them. Really, with Haas' writing you really do experience being involved in their dark minds. I'm also intrigued by the love triangle, and let me tell you that in Dangerous Boys it sounds like it's definitely not like any other love triangle I've read before. Lovely review Cait! Made me even more excited to dig into this one 🙂
DARN MY BOOK BAN. I am literally seeing this book EVERYWHERE. You guys are all going to kill me, I swear. I REALLY want to read this book. Dangerous Girls destroyed my brain so I cannot predict what this book will do to me. I love that even if you compared the books, you gave it the rating it deserved on its own, not despite of it 😉 Great review, Cait!!
How did I not know this came out today?? It wasn't on any of my new release lists and so I left it off my new release post and now I'm on my phone and can't add it. But I totally will and I will also read it ASAP….Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics
Let me just say that while I like reading all your reviews, the ones that you totally love are ever so much more fun. Well, ok, the sarcasm on the not so great books are good as well, but… I like books that people like. I've not read this book (and never will) but your review was very intriguing and makes me want to just know what happens. I would love to someday write a book that makes other people respond like this. 😉
Ciat, you have just totally convinced me with this brilliant review that I NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. I *love* thrillers that leave me shocked and/or amazed, and these Abigail Haas novels seem to really deliver that. *grabby hands* this is shooting straight up there in my reading list!
AHHH This is on it's way from Book Depository to me, and I CAN'T WAIT!! Definitely going to move aside my to-read pile to read these two (not-in-a-sequel) books 😀 I hope the love triangle won't make me not like this book, I really really hate love triangles. Oh, and the review is even better with Sherlock 😛
CAIT YOU JUST NEED TO STOP WITH THIS, OKAY? This is how you must feel whenever anyone talks about Daughter of Smoke and Bone . . . I can't take it!!! I haven't read this yet and everyone else has and the mystery is too much!!! But I feel like I need to read Dangerous Girls soon, so I'm all caught up. Is that necessary? GAH.(Love triangle? Hmmmm . . . I no like that)
Okay you won me over. I NEED TO READ ONE (or both) OF THESE BOOKS. You know how much I LOVE thrillers that completely mess with your mind and are super hard to figure out. This sounds.so like my kind of book. Ahhh. By the way, *in Stitch's voice* hiiiiiii *Stitch hand wave* I'm back and have missed you so much! I can't wait to catch up on your life!
WELL HIIIIIII. It's been years since I visited your blog, omg, I'm so sorry! *dashes there now*
Ethan was just a bit…needy. Like REALLY needy. I didn't like Oliver though. This was one of the few instance I was absolutely NOT shipping anyone…except I was shipping Chloe with, like, college. I'm so sad for her. 🙁 ETHAN AND OLIVER WERE JUST DODGY NEWS. I want to read more of these thrillers too, honestly. *hi fives for twisted minds* They're the best.
Pfft, your review was awesome! I'm surprised most people gave it 4.5 but I think it was in the back of everyone's minds that DG was better. But still. Omg, I could not rate this lower. I AM BLOWN AWAY.
DEAL. But honestly, haaaa, I don't feel like going to Aruba now. ;)Aw, thanks! I'm glad my reviews are interesting because, you know…sometimes reviewing is the driest part of blogging and that sucks, so yay for flails and gifs!
I actually loathe NA as a genre. I haven't read any good ones…until this. This is like THE BEST. *commences crazy dance* But you and me both for the Sherlock gifs. He's just awesome. Ah. Sherlock. Oh! Oh! I'm about to start Four (today hopefully). I think it doesn't really count because it still matches, you know? But have you read These Broken Stars?? The sequel is This Shattered World (coming out soon) and it's about unrelated characters, so that's awesome. Or Anna and the French Kiss series.
Woot! I hope you enjoy it if you get a chance to eat it.
THAT IS GOOD. YOUR BLOGLOVIN' FEED SPEAKS TRUTH, TO BE HONEST. JUST GO READ IT, VAL. BOTH OF THEM. They're not actually connected at all, except for "Dangerous" in the title. Not even any cameos. Which is sad, but understandable…*ahem*
Yes! Same. I've read a few sociopathic books now so I can sniff out the signs.
Woooooot!!! *parties wildly* I'm pretty sure you'll like this Larissa, especially since Celine and Mel are raving about it too, right?! YUS. I wasn't worried that it'd flunk my expectations. I just knew Abigail Haas would deliver again. Happiness. I love characters that are complicated and twisted. Well, you know, sad they're twisted. Scary even. You may need to cuddle something while you read this. Probably don't read it at night. All those usual tips.
BOOK BANS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN. It's just as good I promise, I do. I actually had rated it 4.5 on Goodreads…and then I went back and changed it because I'm a fair reader. *nods*
Shame, Jen! You're behind on the news. 😉 lol I think it didn't sell in the US though…just in the UK? That might have something to do with it.
N'awww, Aidyl, lemme tackle hug you AGAIN. You honestly make me feel too happy. 😉
I actually prefer my name like that, to be honest. It makes me way more exotic, like I will pop out of Aladdin's world. Okay, okay, I digress. ABIGAIL HAS NOT FAILED ME YET.
HUZZAH! BOOK DEPOSITORY IS THE BEST. I think the love triangle is so weird and warped it's hard to focus on it, and both boys are epically developed. *whispers* Every review is better with Sherlock.
BUT GUESS WHAT. I'M GETTING DAUGHTER OF SMOKINESS FROM THE LIBRARY THIS WEEK. Ha! I will join in the flailing soon, I know I will. You don't need to read Dangerous Girls to read this one, but they're similar, kind of, in romance levels. The love triangle is good, trust me.
WE TOTALLY SHOULD PETITION! ;)I already have an epic tagline for Abby to use: "A dog bone has disappeared. The suspect of the crime: Spot the dog. DUH DUH DUH!"Okay…that's a bit cheesy, and I'm sure Abby can do better than me, but it's a start, right?AND OMG! We so do! 😉
I recently bought Dangerous Girls and I'm excited to read it. I have a few books ahead of it in my pile, but it is definitely high up. This sounds fantastic. There are very few things I enjoy more than books/movies that are total mind fucks. I just looked to see if this book was available in the states, like, two days ago (it is in ebook), so that may have to happen. Especially after reading this review!!
Okay, you've convinced me. The author actually contacted me for a review of this one, but I hadn't read the first book and I'm silly and need to read books in the order they're written. Now I feel like an idiot. Your review has me questioning my own sanity. I'm always looking for a book that can trip me up, keep me guessing, and they are far and few between, let me tell you. Wow, Cait. I mean, seriously…you've sold me.