Challenge Corner discussion

What’s more important? Knowing the truth or keeping the peace?

Seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson is convinced her senior year is ruined when she's uprooted from her life in DC and forced into the hostile home of her terminally ill grandmother, Mama Letty. The tension between Avery’s mom and Mama Letty makes for a frosty arrival and unearths past drama they refuse to talk about. Every time Avery tries to look deeper, she’s turned away, leaving her desperate to learn the secrets that split her family in two.

While tempers flare in her avoidant family, Avery finds friendship in unexpected places: in Simone Cole, her captivating next-door neighbor, and Jade Oliver, daughter of the town’s most prominent family—whose mother’s murder remains unsolved.

As the three girls grow closer—Avery and Simone’s friendship blossoming into romance—the sharp-edged opinions of their small southern town begin to hint at something insidious underneath. The racist history of Bardell, Georgia is rooted in Avery’s family in ways she can’t even imagine. With Mama Letty's health dwindling every day, Avery must decide if digging for the truth is worth toppling the delicate relationships she's built in Bardell—or if some things are better left buried.

I'm a touch behind. I may start this today, but more likely it will be tomorrow

No worries. I’m almost done, I just have to upload my comments now.

Chapter 1
(view spoiler)[Ugh Kelsey sounds awful. I’m sure this won’t be the last time we hear about her though (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4
(view spoiler)[I was not expecting that story about Jade’s family omg. How terrible! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[I feel bad for Avery, first all this drama with her family, including her grandpa’s murder, and all this tension with Simone /: (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[omg I gasped when Avery asked if she was going to kill her too (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[That’s such a sad story about Avery’s and Simone’s moms ): (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[ omg I should’ve seen that coming about the murder. I figured it’d be closer to being resolved by the end, but for some reason I wasn’t thinking it’d be Mama Letty (hide spoiler)]

akacya ❦ wrote: "Chapter 1
[spoilers removed]"

Agreed, I hope she moves on from her

akacya ❦ wrote: "Chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ No kidding! That poor girl, how awful to think your dad might have killed your mom? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 7 (view spoiler)[ Okay, so Kelsey is even worse than I thought. Affirmative action? Racist remarks? Please drop her ass and never speak to her again. The other friend is just as bad because she doesn't speak up.

Simone and Jade are already much better friends. (hide spoiler)]

akacya ❦ wrote: "Chapter 12
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ the story about her grandpa was horrible and made me so angry (hide spoiler)]

Ch 14 (view spoiler)[ I'm glad Avery stood up for her grandmother. That was some bullsh!t that Tallulah was saying all those things.

I'm also glad Avery and Simone kissed! (hide spoiler)]

akacya ❦ wrote: "Chapter 13
[spoilers removed]"

Ha! I loved it, so savage

akacya ❦ wrote: "Chapter 15
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These poor characters have been through a lot

Ch 21 (view spoiler)[ I feel sad that Simone's mom isn't accepting of her, especially after she had feelings for Zora.

I did think Avery being surprised that her mom was mad was pretty juvenile. They stayed out all night until 5am, what did she think would happen?

Mama Letty didn't treat her daughter well, of course she stopped visiting. I hope she apologizes to Zora before she dies (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I'm surprised Letty killed the mom instead of Jade's dad. I thought he was the descendent? Maybe I'm wrong. It's a sad situation all around though.

I'm glad the girls all had happy endings and got to live their dreams. Too bad the town still sucks, but I think it's realistic (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 21"

(view spoiler)[I hate when teens in books are like ugh my parents are so controlling🙄 and it's just their parents having legitimate concerns??? (hide spoiler)]

akacya ❦ wrote: "Aly wrote: "Ch 21"

[spoilers removed]"

Ha, for real!