Kill Her Twice

"3.5. At first, I enjoyed the story, though I struggled a bit with the writing style. I also felt the book didn’t benefit from the dual POV structure—both sisters narrating the story seemed unnecessary. That said, I did appreciate how distinct May and Gemma were as characters. May is the dutiful, sometimes meek, and undeniably beautiful older sister, while Gemma is headstrong, spirited, and determined to take action. Their contrasting personalities made them compelling, as neither would work as effectively without the other. However, I often found both sisters frustrating. Gemma’s intelligence was overshadowed by her bullheaded and thoughtless decisions, while May’s excessive selflessness and adherence to duty made her neglect her own happiness and what was morally right. Other characters annoyed me as well, particularly the sisters' mother, whose strict, sexist expectations for her daughters felt stifling. Still, given the time period—the 1930s—and their Chinese heritage, her mindset and parenting style were understandable within that historical and cultural context. The setting was the highlight of the book for me. The 1930s in California, especially Chinatown, provided a rich backdrop filled with historical significance. The societal expectations for women, the emphasis on marriage, and the perceptions of Chinese Americans were thoughtfully woven into the story. Despite enjoying the setting and some elements of the writing, I found the mystery itself a bit dull and felt the pacing dragged at times. Overall, Kill Her Twice was a fine read. While it didn’t fully meet my expectations, I see promise in the author’s work and would consider reading another book by them. If you’re interested in 1930s history, Chinese American culture, or strong sisterly bonds, this story might resonate with you."

"Yep, this was my fourth book from this author and this is probably the only one I will heavily encourage people to read. This was my first murder mystery in a while, and it was a fun one, it was a bit complicated but that’s exactly what I like in a good murder mystery. I do think some people may find the murderer to be a bit obvious, but the motive and the other secrets the character had were shocking. Also, it’s nice to have some more sisterly bonds in YA, as the Chow sisters clearly connected with each other. I do wish Peony appeared on page a bit more, but I do understand that she is a bit young for a YA protagonist. But there’s still a little bit of romance involved (and it’s a fake dating subplot!), however it’s far from the main focus. And the historical setting was really immersive. Also an amazing part of the book is the themes relating to gentrification and stereotypes in Asian American communities, which are really worked into the actual mystery. Even though other books from this author aren’t my favorite, I actually was a huge fan of this one, and I’d recommend it for anyone looking for a diverse story with important scenes but also a great mystery. "