YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

A tour de force coming-of-age debut that traces the effect of a murder on three Harvard undergrads and their adult lives.

Within the gothic halls and tailored yards of Harvard, student life teems with excitement as graduation looms near. Dreaming of the possibilities their newfound freedom will offer, they never fathom that one of their privileged own would be left behind forever.

When a senior is found murdered on campus, her death becomes an immediate and shocking enigma. The handsome and charismatic master Rufus Storrow is a suspect, and there's talk of a jealous lover's spat gone horrifically wrong. As a role model among students and a faculty favorite, the possibility of his guilt is baffling. Moreover, Georgia, Charlie, and Alice are all connected to both the victim and professor in some way, and though they have an idea who the murderer may be, none can speak confidently to the truth.

A compulsively readable novel about promise, disappointment, and the truths we hide from one another, Bradstreet Gate is an accomplished and broadly appealing debut. Elements of Donna Tartt's The Secret History meet Meg Wolitzer's The Interestings in a novel that launches the career of an extraordinary new writer.

Chapters 1-3

(view spoiler)[Ermm.. Not sure what to make of this so far. The prologue was interesting, I wanted to know about the murder mystery and Georgia's connection to it. The prologue and first chapter set it up as though she would be the sole main character, but we've had two in deep chapters about Charlie. Is there a reason for all this information? I'm slightly bored... (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 4-6

(view spoiler)[I'm all for unlikeable characters in thrillers, but I'm not sure if we're supposed to like them or not?? Also, is this supposed to be a thriller?? 33% in and NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. We're getting all this back story but no plot.

And I hate characters like Georgia that it seems everyone on the planet is attracted to and wants to fuck or is obsessed with because they're so perfect and beautiful and aloof. Meh. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 7-9

(view spoiler)[The more we see of Sturrow, the more I dislike him and think he most definitely killed Julie. The arrogance of this man. Oh and his little outburst when Georgia said Alice followed her to New York and he was almost violently forcing her to come into the apartment with him. I was scared for Georgia, like really scared. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 10-12

(view spoiler)[Again, so much info dump! Do we really need to know every detail of Charlie's career after leaving Harvard??? (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 13-15

(view spoiler)[I hate that Georgia knew that Charlie was madly in love with her through college, never once told him she wasn't interested, led him on then they cut off contact, she gets back in touch with after their friend's breakdown and they sleep together, knowing she's not interested in him and knowing he might still have feelings for her. Oh then she disappears to fucking India for some reason????

(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 16-18

(view spoiler)[Not looking good for Georgia in India. Could Sturrow have arranged the whole thing in order to see her again? The whole situation was shady from the get-go and then he happens to be the person who comes to her help? Hmm.

I really feel sorry for Alice and her mental illness issues. But I can't help wondering what the hell does Georgia's trip to India and Alice's time in a mental facility have to do with Julie's murder?????? (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 19-21

(view spoiler)[Did Sturrow actually believe that Charlie would give him a job? Seriously???? Guy is so fucking arrogant and narcissistic! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 22-24

(view spoiler)[So Alice slept with Sturrow.. Why? To get back at Georgia? So if that was the night that Julie died, does that mean that Sturrow was innocent and was with Alice at the time? This book is confusing the shit out of me! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 25-27

(view spoiler)[The only mystery in this book is what the fuck is going on?????? I hated this book. I hated the whole convoluted plot, I hated the annoying unlikeable characters and I hated the lack of resolution. WHO KILLED JULIE???? And what happened to Sturrow. Did he truly disappear or was he killed perhaps? It felt like the book ended before it was supposed to end. Massive disappointment! (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 1-3

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Yeah I was interested in the Prologue! I like when Prologues are present day and then we find out what happened (although in this case I wasn't interested)

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 4-6

I'm all for unlikeable characters in thrillers, but I'm not sure if we're supposed to like them or not?? Also, is this supposed to be a thriller?? 33% in and NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. We'..."

No thriller vibe here!

And I agree, I hate Georgia! I was pleasantly surprised though when we saw Georgia arrive in Alice's POV. She was my favourite POV

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 7-9

[spoilers removed]"

YEAH I HATE THIS GUY! I'm glad she ran!

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 10-12

[spoilers removed]"

There was some info in there about the 9/11 attacks that I found interesting!

Ashleigh wrote: "Chapters 16-18

Not looking good for Georgia in India. Could Sturrow have arranged the whole thing in order to see her again? The whole situation was shady from the get-go and then he happens to be..."

Yeah I was worried for Georgia! How damn shady is that! And why did she run off to India so quick? Ugh

Wow it wasn't even resolved at the end?? What is it with these thrillers!

Maddie wrote: "Wow it wasn't even resolved at the end?? What is it with these thrillers!"

I know! I really really hated this book! What was the point of it???

Absolutely nothing. How can so many people tag it as thriller!