Mini Monday (4): Dead Ringer by Jessie Rosen

Goodreads synopsis

From the moment Laura Rivers steps foot into Englewood High, she notices the stares—and they aren’t the typical once-overs every pretty new girl endures. The students seem confused and…spooked. Whispers echoing through the halls confirm that something is seriously off. “That new girl looks just like her,” they say.

It turns out Laura has a doppelgänger, and it isn't just anyone—it's Sarah Castro-Tanner, the girl who killed herself by jumping into the Navasink River one year ago.

Laura is determined not to let the gossip ruin her chances of making a fresh start. Thanks to her charming personality and California tan, she catches the eye of Englewood’s undisputed golden boy, Charlie Sanders, and it’s only a matter of time before they make their relationship official.

But something is making Charlie and his friends paranoid—and Laura soon discovers it has to do with Sarah Castro-Tanner.

What really happened to Sarah? Why is Charlie unraveling? And how does Laura Rivers fit into it all?

After all, she’s the dead ringer for a dead girl.

Thoughts

At best this was an average YA thriller/mystery for me. Took a long time to get going and I didn’t find the characters very interesting. It gets a few point for having some “I Know What You Did Last Summer” vibes. Younger teens just getting into YA mystery would probably enjoy the most, especially those who are fans of Pretty Little Liars. This whole plot could have been a Pretty Little Liars episode.