Kill Joy (Novella) Book Review

Written By MK

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS

Date: 4-28-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 8.0/10

Kill Joy True and Honest Book Review Book Cover

Book Cover Rating: 7.8/10

(My personal opinion)

Title: Kill Joy

Author: Holly Jackson

Pages: 130

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Subplots: Mock-Mystery

Romance Level: 0/3

Series: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #0.5

Publisher: Delacorte

Published: 2023

Number of Editions: 37

Formats: Hardover, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook

Goodreads Rating: 3.75/5

# of Goodreads Ratings: 141,127

Amazon Rating: 4.1/5

# of Amazon Ratings: 4,733

Common Sense Media Age Recommendation: 14+

Movie/TV Show?? : No

Book Type: Novella

POV Type: Single, Third Person

Pacing: Fast

Generally: 1920’s themed party, mock-mystery, friends, a few months before A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Blurb:

Pip is not in the mood for her friend's murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920's fancy dress and pretending that their town is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder.

But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn't the only case on her mind ...



My Review

Main Characters:

  1. Pippa Fitz-Amobi- Pip is the main character of this novella. She is 17 years old. In this book, she is acting out the character Celia Bourne, the governess. She is smart, and always wants to know the truth. She isn’t satisfied with anything less.

  2. Connor Reynolds- Connor is one of Pip’s friends. In this book, he is acting out the character Humphrey Todd, the butler. He is carefree and loyal.

  3. Cara Ward- Cara is Pip’s best friend. In this book, she is acting out Dora Key, the cook. She is easygoing and fun-loving.

  4. Zach Chen- Zach is another of Pip’s friends. In this book, he is acting out Ralph Remy, the son. He is Pip’s neighbor.

  5. Ant Lowe- Ant is another friend. In this book, he is acting out Bobby Remy, the oldest son. He is headstrong and passionate.

  6. Lauren Gibson- Lauren is the final friend invited to this party. She is acting out Lizzie Remy, the wife. She often feels like a third wheel.

    I LOVED these main characters. Their interactions felt unique, they went well together, and had fun personalities. I always love groups of friends as main characters, and this was an AMAZING example of why. There wasn’t much character development, but that made sense given the novella format.

Character Rating: 9.6/10

Setting:

This book takes place at Connor Reynold’s house in Fairview, Connecticut.

This was an average setting. I liked the tense atmosphere, but the physical setting itself was nothing special.

Setting Rating: 5.1/10

Plot:

Since this was a novella, there wasn’t much room for an in-depth mystery plot. I would say this was an interesting, enjoyable plot, if you read it in relation to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. But, if you’re reading it as a standalone, it would probably be much more boring.

Plot Rating: 8.1/10

Writing:

Wow! Holly Jackson (no surprise) did an AMAZING job with this book. Even though it was a novella, Holly Jackson packed it with interesting details and fun mock-mystery moments.

Writing Rating: 9.9/10

Ending:

I mean, since there wasn’t too much build up, there wasn’t much room for a strong conclusion. I did like the conclusion there was, and loved to see how this could spark Pip’s behavior in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

Ending Rating: 7.3/10

The Overall:

Overall, I really enjoyed this novella. The characters were amazing, and I LOVED Holly Jackson’s writing. Since this was a novella, there wasn’t much room for buildup or plot-development. But, the plot that was included was well executed and interesting. I loved how this book showed a clear path into the rest of the series. Reading it as a standalone would likely be much more boring, but it was a great intro to the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series.



Overall Book Rating: 8.0/10

I would obviously recommend this book



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ChatGPT’s Opinion: Kill Joy is a short, engaging prequel to Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series that offers insight into Pip’s character before she becomes a detective. Set during a murder mystery party, the story is lighter in tone and uses classic whodunit elements to show the early spark of Pip’s investigative curiosity. While it may feel brief or less impactful on its own, it adds meaningful depth for fans of the series and gives a fun, clever look at what sets Pip on her path.

What did you think of this book??

Reach out below anytime! Whether to share your opinion of this book, comment on mine, ask for similar suggestions, or ask for more clarity/spoilers for this book. I’d love to answer any questions, share more opinions, or hear your thoughts!! Thanks so much!!

MK https://alltruereviewsbymk.com
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