Find out what Mumsnetters thought of Megan Abbott's books

[SorchaMumsnet]

Megan Abbott is an award-winning writer of contemporary crime fiction and these three books are bound to have you up all night.

Lizzie and Evie are inseparable - until Evie goes missing, and Lizzie suddenly realizes their friendship wasn't quite what she thought. The End of Everything is a suspenseful novel of friendship, loss and the more sinister side of adolescence.

There's something dangerous about the boredom of teenage girls - Coach said that once. She said it like she knew, and understood. Dare Me tells the dark and tension-filled story of the new cheerleading coach and the deadly game she's playing.

When Lise Daniels collapses to the floor during maths class, unfortunately she's not the first. As hysteria swells in The Fever, the safe world they've been building for their children starts to come apart.

We ask all winners to share their thoughts about the book(s) on this discussion thread. Everyone who gives detailed feedback on the thriller of their choice by end of day, Friday 29 September will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher.

Buy books by Megan Abbott on Amazon from 99p

This giveaway is sponsored by Macmillan

Book giveaways T&Cs apply

I won a copy of Dare Me (thank you!). I was hoping it would stand alone as a thriller, without too much reliance on the background of the cheerleading squad. The culture is one I knew nothing about, and have never been remotely interested in. Many of the terms used, from cheer and from US teen culture, meant nothing to me, and as I started reading I found the interactions between the squad (the jealousy, spite and bullying, the casual cruelty) overdone and depressing. None of these girls seemed to have families that mattered to them in any way at all, none of them ever seemed to be happy. At first I was pretty sure I wouldn’t enjoy this book.

I was wrong. It was so well written, the tension between the members of the squad, coach and various admirers and hangers-on was palpable, the storyline was tight and well-defined. The ending was unexpected, yet didn’t just appear from nowhere, as in so many books. It was entirely logical, looking back at the progression of the relationship between the various protagonists and the development of the main characters. All in all, I found this a thoroughly good read, and will be looking out for more of Megan Abbott’s books. And I certainly have a completely different view of the cheerleading sorority now. This is a sport, and a very ruthless, demanding, dangerous one. I was intrigued enough to do a bit of reading about it (thank you, Google!) and the figures regarding both participation and injuries are an eye opener.

Two minor negative points. The cover wasn’t in keeping with the book, and would have been more suited to a Mills & Boon. And the glossary (which would have been more use at the front, or could at least have been mentioned there) wasn’t comprehensive enough – there are still a lot of terms I just had to gloss over.

Received my copy of The Fever and although I was dubious that it would be a 'teen' drama it was extremely well written and a fast paced story with plenty of twists and turns. It felt throughout that this story could go in any direction and I had to keep reading to find out what was happening. Recommend as an easy reading book that you'll not put down.

Fantastic book. Can't put it down and looking forward to reading it later

I received a copy of 'Dare Me'. Thank you.

I took ages to get around to reading it. I think I was massively put off by the cover which feels more 50 Shades than thriller. Anyway, when I finally got around to reading the book it took me an exceptionally long time. I kept having to put it down and read a couple of other books instead. I found the writing style infuriating - almost trying to be too "writer-y", an abundance of commas to attempt to make it fast paced when really hardly anything happens.

The teenage angst and cheerleading background was okay. It did make me feel like I was reading teen fiction. The characters were pretty one dimensional and I didn't warm to any of them. I actually wanted to scream at Addy for being so pathetic! And by the end you're supposed to believe she is a strong leader - but really she is passive and lacks strength of character.

I wanted to turn the whole book into a drinking game for every time the word "tight" was used. Unfortunately I'm breastfeeding still and couldn't afford to get that drunk.

Overall, big thumbs down...sorry.

I received a copy of The Fever and just finished it this evening.

After a sticky start the story got right into in with a quick flow. The places, scenarios and characters seem to be well thought out in the author's head, but not well translated into the flow of the book. The shifts in perspective were also a good addition but not detailed enough for some characters.

I did have to re-read several bits to see where I actually was and whether I was in the right place in the time line of the story.

The plot itself was alright, with lots of twists and turns to keep one guessing till the end. However I was left extremely disappointed with how the ending was laid out, it was severely lacking in detail and closure like most books are. Almost like bringing you to the climax and leaving you hanging.
In conclusion, I did not enjoy the book very much. Sorry!

I received a copy of The Fever. It was very readable, got through it in a couple of days. Interesting story that kept you guessing right to the end. The end seemed a bit rushed though.

Normally I read a book in one or two days, but because I didn't enjoy The Fever it seemed to drag on forever, and forever.

IMHO none of the characters were believable, the story line was tedious, and I'm finding it incredibly hard to believe that others found the book thrilling and exciting.
At least I know to avoid Megan Abbott ''thrillers'' from now on.

I read The End Of Everything.
Quite a quick read. Interesting storyline and characters that you were invested in.
Overall though it was an uncomfortable read. Very much open to interpretation as to what was real and what was an interpretation of the teenage mind.
The overall storyline was good and kept me reading until the end but I wouldn't search out another book by this author. I wasn't gripped and wouldn't consider it to be a thriller.

Thank you for my copy of "The Fever" which I've stoically plodded through over the past week.

Not a patch on "You will know me" or "The end of everything" in my opinion. What a shame.

I found the characters hard to like or care about, there were far too many girls, I couldn't make head nor tail of who was friends with who, which ones were the parents, who were the teachers, and got a bit bored with the whole implausible storyline after the first 50 pages.

A barely credible and frantic melee of a book about pubescent angst, dotted with pseudo-woo and a scattering of dubious jiggery-pokery that was just plain daft.

Just finished The Fever and loved it. Thank you for my free copy! It was easy to read without being simple and had a great sense of atmosphere. The frenzy of the Parents at the school wanting to know what was happening and everyone trying to find something/one to blame was very believable. The ending was a little bit of a let down as so much was left unexplained. But maybe that was the point - that some things can't be explained? I'll definitely read another of Megan Abbotts books.

Thank you for my copy of 'The Fever.' I'd like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I would have stopped reading part-way through if I hadn't wanted to review it. I initially thought that it was written for the Young Adult market as the language and style seemed simplistic, but after researching and finding it wasn't, I concluded that it was just badly written. The 'mass hysteria' concept that was the basis of the book, was an interesting choice of story-line, but became annoying when the adults succumbed to it too - not physically, but by not realising what was happening to the girls. There is a mention of health-workers being concerned that it was caused by stress, but no rational voice was heard throughout the book. I realise that this direction was taken in order to increase the suspense, but I found it annoying.

Firstly the book cover for The Fever really lets this book down it a kind book one would just walk by in the book shop think books have to sell themselves and this one not saying stop me and buy me there no clue to what the books about could be a medical book or a medical plague drama, as the saying go's suck it and see, as for the story itself was slow at the beginning but the pace did start to move forward, as others have said the writing style is a bit child like at times and one wonders if the author paid to get it published as I cant see a publisher willing taking it on as it stands the quality of writing is so poor my be that why there offered in giveaways to try to increase sales. all in all just a ok book will not be looking out for others by the same author

Received my copy of The Fever late. Only starting to read it now. Sorry to say I'm not enjoying it but will persevere as many others have reviewed it and liked it but have to say am struggling with it at the mo.

I received a copy of The End of Everything and read it fairly quickly. Dealing with the sexual awakening of 13 year old girls is never an easy subject to tackle and it was at times uncomfortable to read. I felt some of it was fairly laboured and dragged out -especially the Dusty storyline. The relationship between the girls did not seem that realistic. I am quite undecided what I thought of it!

Just finished reading Fever - great story , lots of twists. Felt the ending lacked something, not sure what, will think about that!

I read The Fever, and whilst it isn't the type of book I would usually read, I was utterly gripped and read it very quickly. It's an interesting concept and the book deals well with teenage angst, issues and characters.
Thanks mumsnet for introducing me to an author I hadn't read before. I don't think I'll be rushing to read more of her books but it was good to read something different.

I finished reading "Fever" this morning. Overall I enjoyed it but I found the storyline very disturbing and was quite shocked about how cruel teenagers can be (I don't want to give too much away in case others see this and haven't finished it yet). Maybe I have led a sheltered life?! Also, I have a teenager who has just started high school so hope she experiences nothing like this! I don't know how I would cope if she did. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this as I have not come across Megan Abbott before.

THE FEVER
Lise has convulsions in class and is now really ill in hospital - but what has caused it? Is it the vaccination that most of the girls were given? Is it toxic shock? Is it something to do with the weirdly polluted local lake? Is it voodoo? Is it aliens?!? Then more girls from the school start getting ill too. Is there an epidemic of something? The CDC get involved but no-one seems to have any answers.
I thought I had this sussed out - how smug of me. But I was wrong and the ending was a revelation.
Full of hysteria, I loved the contrast between the teen angst and the parent's panic. A deep, dark compelling chiller.

Thank you for my copy of the end of everything.
The book began well exploring all the characters and the setting and leading to be a good thriller but in the end
found it to be too dark( not to my liking). The author was too ambiguous in the middle which left me kind of stranded at the end.

Thanks for my copy of The Fever - received end of Aug, just finished it now.
I did find this book a little confusing at times - but guess that's because I'm not so young anymore and this is about teenage life today...lots of technology related stuff and painted a vivid picture of how stuff goes viral. The suspense built rather slowly and it turned into something quite dark & disturbing - which is exactly as it's meant to be. It's no 'Gone Girl' for me - but I think as a Young Adult Thriller it's good.

Thank you for my copy of "The Fever". The beginning of the book was very jumpy & the characters were difficult to follow.

As it progressed the story was quite gripping, a great quick read - It would make a great tv drama. I was however, a little disappointed with the ending - only in that it could have been so much more. Just as you got a sense of who the characters were and why they behaved as they did - it ended.

It skimmed over events - which could have been more detailed. It felt like an over edited book - condensed to 300 pages - could have done with 600!!

Nonetheless, a good read and will certainly look out for the other books.

I received a copy of Dare Me.

It has taken me a long time to start reading this book. I am afraid for whatever reason the cover didn't sell it to me & I had another book I needed to get through.

However this all changed when I started to read it. I couldn't put it down! I (as a teenager) was always intrigued with the hierarchy in American schools (yes I have watched too many American high school movies...still do in fact I haven't grown up!)

It was un put downable. The ambition & underhanded ness of the cheerleading squad were scary & amazing in equal measures.

This really was a gripping read & I would recommend reading it (if you like this sort of thing).

PS I still don't think the cover goes with the book?

I received a copy of The Fever.

Unfortunately, I found this book really tedious but struggled through to the end. I found the whole thing totally unbelievable and dull. It seemed to drag on and on with nothing much happening. We find out what happened to Lise in the end, but what about the others? There was no explanation and that just felt like a huge let down, leaving the book feeling unfinished. In a way, I felt robbed - I'd read all the way through to the end for nothing; there were too many unexplained parts.

This was the first book I'd read by Megan Abbott, and it's put me off reading any more.

I received a copy of Dare Me and unfortunately I gave up after about 100 pages - I just could not get into the book - it did not grip me and I struggled to pick up the plot. Many thanks for the book - this is the first one I have not been able to finish.

Ok, I'm back. Got to page 160 and am going to give up. It is rare that I give up on a book but I really couldn't get into this one. Part of the problem is I think the American rhythm of language and speech which I find very jarring to read. I also, struggled to like or care about any of the characters. I found it kind of disturbing but not in a compelling way. I feel that I am missing something as others have stated that they enjoyed the book very much and found it a compelling read, but not me I'm afraid.