Thanks to Carrie for bringing August’s What Have You Done? book club discussion and scooping our online book club on this juicy summer thriller! We’re so glad you’re here!
For this month’s book club, we decided we were due a thriller, and a thriller we got! It was a perfect read for mid-summer and I blew through it in a day. This book made me go back to see if I had read any of Shari LaPena’s earlier works. Turns out I’ve only read The Couple Next Door (which was great!), so now I have several new books to add to my TBR. What’s five more books added to a pile of a thousand???
What Have You Done? Book Club Discussion
Let me set the scene for you. A body has been found, surrounded by vultures, by a farmer in a secluded area of his land. It’s a young girl, Diana Brewer, a popular high school student on the verge of graduating and starting a new life. The town is obviously shocked and horrified by the news and the search for her killer commences. Who could have done such a thing in this sleepy town where no one locks their doors?
Ok, so here are the prime suspects:
- Her boyfriend – he was the last to see her, was it true love or did they have a fight that night and he’s covering it up?
- The school counselor and track coach – engaged to be married and well-liked by students, but how appropriate was he with his female students?
- A local grifter who often frequented Diana’s place of work making her feel harassed and unsafe. Where has he come from? And why wouldn’t he leave Diana alone?
- Someone else??
This was a fast-paced, page-turner, covering various people’s perspectives (including Diana’s!). The clues and relevant information (and sometimes irrelevant information) were doled out perfectly. There wasn’t a chapter that didn’t get you closer to finding the killer. You didn’t have to wait too long to gain a new piece of evidence. Of course, you’re thrown off the track a few times, but that’s the fun of it!
Diana’s ghost, stuck between worlds, can’t seem to remember exactly what happened that night either, so she is on the ride along with all of us. You get a real feel for this seemingly normal town and its residents, providing captivating, interesting characters. You get to see just how devastating the loss of Diana is to her mother as well as her best friend.
And what does the principal of the high school have to do with it? Secrets are revealed that are both devastating and crucial. Diana’s death allows for people to talk about things they had kept hidden for a long time. Do those secrets have anything to do with Diana’s death?
So … what did you think of the ending??
Without giving anything away, I’m not going to lie, I was a little disappointed in who the murderer turned out to be. I didn’t feel like this person had a solid motive – or at least one that would warrant murdering someone. I did appreciate all that led up to the murder and how you could see how it could have been any one of the suspects.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this one!! Have you read all of Shari LaPena’s books? Any one your particular favorite? Thanks for joining our What Have You Done? book club discussion! Let us know in the comments!!
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Gah! Guess who has a new book out?! Rainbow Rowell!! I am beyond excited to read this one. I have just loved all of her previous books. This one comes out July 30th, so keep your eyes peeled!! Read on for a description of this sure-to-be smart, romantic, and funny summer read!
As always, we are giving away a copy for free! Leave a comment on this blog post or the Instagram post by 8/9/24 by 5:30 am ET, and as long as you are 18 or older and live in the continental United States, you are eligible to win!
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Back in high school, everybody thought Shiloh and Cary would end up together . . . everybody but Shiloh and Cary.
They were just friends. Best friends. Allies. They spent entire summers sitting on Shiloh’s porch steps, dreaming about the future. They were both going to get out of north Omaha—Shiloh would go to go to college and become an actress, and Cary would join the Navy. They promised each other that their friendship would never change.
Well, Shiloh did go to college, and Cary did join the Navy. And yet, somehow, everything changed.
Now Shiloh’s thirty-three, and it’s been fourteen years since she talked to Cary. She’s been married and divorced. She has two kids. And she’s back living in the same house she grew up in. Her life is nothing like she planned.
When she’s invited to an old friend’s wedding, all Shiloh can think about is whether Cary will be there—and whether she hopes he will be. Would Cary even want to talk to her? After everything?
The answer is yes. And yes. And yes.
Slow Dance is the story of two kids who fell in love before they knew enough about love to recognize it. Two friends who lost everything. Two adults who just feel lost.
It’s the story of Shiloh and Cary, who everyone thought would end up together, trying to find their way back to the start.
Thanks so much for joining our book club discussion! As always, we love hearing your thoughts and opinions! Keep them coming!!
Thanks to Penguin Random House for providing copies for our What Have You Done? book club discussion. All opinions are our own.
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Erika Haak says
I love Rainbow Rowell! I think I have read every book and short story or very close to it! Would love to win a copy, I am on the hold list at the library 🙂
Meredith says
I am so excited for this book! Here’s to Rainbow! 🙂