Title: Get Even
Author: Gretchen McNeil
Series: Don't Get Mad #1
Genre: YA Contemporary, Mystery
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Release Date: September 16th 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: eARC received from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil’s witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process.

Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.

When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose.


Where do I start with this book. Well I guess I should admit that I have never read a book by the lovely and talented Gretchen McNeil and i am now kicking myself for waiting so long. This woman has the ability to create stories and characters that resonate beyond the page and a story that is so genuine you cannot help but become immersed in it.

First of all I loved the way this book dealt with the subject of bullying. Yes this book was lighthearted in many places, but in the background there was a serious undertone of intolerance, and I loved that. I found it seriously refreshing for four teenage girls to ban together and stop others from bullying, especially when those girls where from very different social groups. No, their friendship was not perfect and yes there were lies and deceit as in any high school, but for some reason this book felt different.  The tone was that of companionship and remorse, instead of backstabbing and cruelty. I loved every second of it.

The other aspect of this book that was amazing was the actual mystery. The twists and turns that came throughout this book were amazing, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading and it kept me guessing from beginning to end. The only issue I had with this book, and it is the reason my rating is 4 stars instead of 5 was the end. We get no resolution, we have to wait until book 2 or 3 to get the answers we want. I am not mad at Gretchen for doing this, but I am angry that I don't have any kind of ending. Just more questions. It makes me want to grab the second book in the series that much faster and I know I will be reading all 3 of these books in the series because it was just that good. A must read for all mystery lovers because it will be the fastest book you read this year, I promise :)