Review: Rosebush

Author: Michele Jaffe
Pages: 304
Publisher: Razorbill
Source: Library
Synopsis (from Amazon): Instead of celebrating Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey Shore, Jane is in the hospital surrounded by teddy bears, trying to piece together what happened last night. One minute she was at a party, wearing fairy wings and cuddling with her boyfriend. The next, she was lying near-dead in a rosebush after a hit-and-run.


Everyone believes it was an accident, despite the phone threats Jane swears were real. But the truth is a thorny thing. As Jane's boyfriend, friends, and admirers come to visit, more memories surface-not just from the party, but from deeper in her past . . . including the night her best friend Bonnie died.


With nearly everyone in her life a suspect now, Jane must unravel the mystery before her killer attacks again. Along the way, she's forced to examine the consequences of her life choices in this compulsively readable thriller.

Oh my, what have I just read? Rosebush was a roller coaster of a read. It's a who did it story but it was done very well.

The main character was Jane, a plain girl who felt lonely and needy. She'd do anything not to be alone, even hurt her supposed friends. The truth was that Jane was not really alone. She had a wonderful family and friends who care for her but she couldn't seem to see that. When someone drove a car into Jane after some party, she started to question her friends, history, and her sanity.

Jane was a complex character. I didn't know whether to love her or hate her. She had so many needs and acted so weak, but she felt so real. What I liked about the characters in Rosebush was that they all had their reasons for doing something. They all had faults, but there were many good things about them too.

The story kept me guessing till the end. Seriously, I guessed 4 or 5 different people and until the end, I never got it right. The motive of the killer was a bit weird but they're insane which is clear. And the murder plan is well thought out. It's very creepy and interesting.

Overall, this book kept me flipping the pages and guessing. It's a bit of a psychological thriller but ultimately it's the story of a girl who needs to realize that the people she needs are already there. 4 stars,

****