Author: Beth Fantaskey

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

Hardcover: 368 pages

Format: ARC

Rating: 4/5

WARNING: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Millicent 'Millie' Ostermeyer is trying to figure out who murdered Honeywell Stinger's football coach, Coach Killdare. This proves to be quite a difficult feat since most people have a reason to murder the widely unpopular Coach Killdare including Millie's father who quickly becomes the prime suspect. Desperate to prove her father's innocence and beat her archenemy, Vivienne, she partners up with the mysterious Chase Albright. Will she be able to find out who the murderer is? Will she be able to solve the puzzle that is Chase Albright? Will she fight her attraction towards Chase or will she give in?

To be perfectly honest, I didn't instantly like this book. I thought that it was unfair how Millie immediately accused Vivienne of being biased in her article then did not even apologize when she later realized that the facts were technically true. I thought that Chase was a total douche bag. I thought that Vivienne's attitude was entirely unrealistic. I thought that it was very disrespectful to Coach Killdare how none of the students seemed to care about his death. All Vivienne and Millie wanted to do was write a good article about the murder and earn a Pacemaker award. It was as if nobody cared at all. Needless to say, I started out disliking this book but as the story progressed, I found myself liking the characters and the story itself more and more.

Millie may have been selfish at times but she knows how to do the right thing when needed. She obviously loves her father and wants the best for him. She may have flipped out when she found out that her father was dating her librarian but soon calmed down and  realized that the two were really perfect for each other. She loves her parents, even her mother who's dead. Her extreme dedication to her parents and her determination to prove that her father is innocent is very admirable. She is smart and creative. She is a fun, quirky character that still has her flaws.

Chase may have been a bit of a douche bag at the start of the book but he quickly redeems himself. He is one of the few people who can see the good in the people most hated. He is one of the few people who sees beauty in rare places. He obviously cares about Millie. His past self has made many mistakes but even as he improves he never forgets what he has learned there. He didn't forget what happened but he soon learns to deal with it. Even his love for fancy, slightly deppressing movies didn't come off as pretentious because the author was able to right that well.

I  was not expecting who the killer was. I didn't really expect it to be one of the people that Millie listed down but I couldn't really think of anyone outside that list who would be able to kill someone. I was completely surprised when the killer was finally revealed but looking back at the book, it did make sense. Chase's big secret was actually pretty easy to guess but I don't mind all that much. Buzz Kill is more than just a murder-mystery. It's a story about young love. About how death affects all of us. About how moving on can be just as difficult as losing someone you love.

The writing was good with just the right amount of sarcasm and wit. The story isn't the kind that will grab you and never let you go, it's the kind that will interest you but let you read it at the pace you'd like. It's a cute, fun story that will be ideal for those who are young or young at heart. If you're looking for a light and easy read that will still be able to touch your heart, this would be perfect.

Buzz Kill was good mix of ambition, dedication, sarcasm, fun, friendship, guilt, and love. Partner that with an awesome bassett hound that is so ugly he's cute plus conversations that are so awkward it's endearing, and you get one of the most fun books you'll read in a while.

Have you read Buzz Kill? What do you think about it? Leave a comment!