review: deadly cool by gemma halliday

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When Hartley discovers a condom wrapper in her boyfriend’s locker (yeah, she was snooping), she doesn’t fall apart but goes to confront him instead. And that’s how she finds the body of her rival in her boyfriend’s bedroom. Despite his cheating, Hartley knows Josh didn’t kill Courtney, so in Nancy Drew fashion (as the local TV reporter dubs it) Hartley concocts a plan to find the killer with help from her best friend, Sam, and Josh’s bad boy neighbor who heads the school newspaper.

Deadly Cool may be a murder mystery, but it is absolutely hilarious with Hartley constantly snarking on life (including her mom’s health-craze and the Color Guard’s chastity pledge) and Sam’s attempt to clean up her potty-mouth. Gemma Halliday’s young adult debut is the perfect mix of comedy, drama, and high school.
5/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, HarperTeen.