Review: The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher

Published by: Gallery Books
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Number of Pages: 304
How I Got This Book: e-ARC from Netgalley
My rating: 4/5

Goodreads Summary:

"First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.

But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie's looping scrawl.

Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she's caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie's own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out.

Debut author Chelsea Pitcher daringly depicts the harsh reality of modern high schools, where one bad decision can ruin a reputation, and one cruel word can ruin a life. Angie’s quest for the truth behind Lizzie’s suicide is addictive and thrilling, and her razor-sharp wit and fierce sleuthing skills makes her impossible not to root for—even when it becomes clear that both avenging Lizzie and avoiding self-destruction might not be possible."

My review: 

I had a hard time getting into this book at first. The story is mostly told in first person by Angie, but there are diary entries from Lizzie's viewpoint as well. I read this as an ARC on my kindle, so the different view points were not separated very well - I assume this issue is corrected in the print copies.  Once I figured this out, I was quickly pulled into the mystery of who drove Lizzie to kill herself. 

There are so many twists and turns and shocking details in this book...it is very hard to write a review without giving anything away...and I don't want to give a SINGLE detail away, because I want others to experience this book as I did. Once I got about 50 pages in, I read it all in one sitting! I went through many different emotions as I read this book, and my feelings for each character changed throughout the story. With Angie, at first I felt bad for her because, well, she caught her boyfriend in bed with her best friend - on PROM NIGHT. How can you not feel bad for her? Then, as her anger grows and grows, she kind of turns crazy, and I didn't really like her so much anymore. But by the end of the book, I love her again, and feel bad for her.   

For real, I wish I could say more...but you are just going to have to read it for yourself! If you are looking for a contemporary read, this is it. If you are looking for a mystery, you got it. If you are looking for an emotionally charged story - look no further. This book has a little bit of everything!