How We Fall Apart by katie Zhao

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Justification

I happened across How We Fall Apart when I was browsing SORA shortly before Spring Break. The premise was intriguing and I haven't had a miss when it comes to picking an engrossing YA mystery thriller. Spoilers ahead!

Response

Unfortunately, this was definitely a miss for me. Zhao is a great writer. The premise was spot on--but I kept waiting for the plot twist to punch me in the face. And it just didn't. At best, I can describe it as lackluster. I really, really wanted to like it.

Murder mystery plots are always an attention grabber for me, but it felt forced with How We Fall Apart. I never felt vested in the mystery aspect and I think that if Zhao had focused on the aspect of the novel where she examined the intense pressure Asian students face from their families and created some sort of drama surrounding that, it would have come together in a more engaging way. Instead, we have a forgettable murder mystery that I just couldn't seem to get invested in. Jamie was ultimately unlikable, which I think Zhao intended. But there wasn't enough to garner sympathy and any sort of emotional investment into the "poor little rich girl" type character. 

Nancy had potential, but was ultimately disappointing. Character growth in the form of her becoming a manipulative jerk wasn't the greatest plot twist. Neither was the Em/Louisa character. There was absolutely nothing that pointed us towards Louisa. We knew nothing of Emily until the end, where she reveals herself at prom. I was expecting the subtilties of One of Us Is Lying or Black Queen. I think the story could have been better served with a focus on the aforementioned pressures that Asian students face from their families and how that can take a toll on mental health. I mean, I've taught high school and I'm a middle school librarian--kids can be so very mean to each other in general. Add in those familial pressures, and that absolutely creates the perfect stage for the dramas of cheating, drug abuse, and blackmail that Jamie engages in to stay on top.

Conclusion

This book is something that is right up my students' alley. If I managed a high school library, I would probably consider purchasing, but it wouldn't be my top recommendation for the genre.