If Anything Happens to Me

By: Luanne Rice

Narrated by: Marli Watson

From celebrated New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice comes a hotly anticipated YA thriller about two girls desperate to catch a murderer who's still on the loose.

It's been eight months since the body of Eloise Parrish was found in the woods.

Eloise's surviving sister, Oli, is numb with grief and shock. But Oli's also angry. Her sister's killer was never identified or caught. There are no leads, no clues. The case is growing cold, and only Oli seems to care.

Until Oli finds another girl left for dead, in the exact spot Eloise's body was found. Except this girl is alive. She can't remember how she got there, but Oli knows that she's the key to solving Eloise's murder.

The two girls join forces to unravel a mystery that is all too real -- and all too dangerous. As their search leads them around Oli's seemingly idyllic hometown and into the paths of people Oli knows well, Oli begins to wonder who she can trust... and how much she'll risk to learn the terrifying truth.

New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice delivers a tour-de-force thriller, full of breathtaking writing and heart-pounding suspense, about sisters, secrets, and the lengths we're willing to go to for those we love the most.

©2024 Luanne Rice (P)2024 Scholastic Audio

The characters

3-Star Review of If Anything Happens to Me by Luanne Rice

This book was really good, but I felt that three stars might actually be a little low for it. There were some strong aspects, but there were also parts that kept it from being a full 4 or 5-star read for me. Overall, it was a solid read, and I really enjoyed it, but there were a few things that I think could have been better. The characters in this book were definitely the standout. Matt was an incredible character—he added so much depth and backstory to the plot, and I just really liked him. He felt real and layered, which made his character one of the most memorable in the book. Ollie, the main character, was also really strong, and her perspective on everything just drew me in. All of the other characters were well-written too, and they each brought something important to the story, which kept me engaged. However, while the characters stood out, the plot didn’t quite measure up for me. I wouldn’t call it predictable, but I also wouldn’t say it was amazing. It felt like the story could have been expanded a lot more. I would have loved to meet Eloise before she passed away, which could’ve added more emotional weight to the plot and helped deepen the overall storyline. The book was a little too short for the depth it was trying to reach, and I felt like it lacked a bit of the emotional buildup I was hoping for. The pacing was a bit off, and I found myself wishing that it could have gone deeper. This was actually my second time reading the book. The first time, I didn’t get past the first four chapters—I DNF’d it because I thought it was horrible. I had trouble understanding the direction of the plot and just didn’t connect with it at all. But I decided to give it a second chance, and I’m glad I did! The second time around, I really enjoyed it much more, and I’m glad I stuck with it. In the end, it was a good book and I did enjoy it, but I think it had the potential to be so much better if it had been a little longer and had more of the emotional depth I was hoping for. I would still recommend it for those who like character-driven stories with a touch of mystery, but just don’t expect an overly dramatic or mind-blowing plot.

Compelling

4.5 STARS

Ollie knows lost. Her parents died when she was younger. The grandmother who raised her has Alzheimer’s. And her beloved younger sister’s murderer remains unknown after six months. She wonders if one of her nature group, her closest friends, is responsible. Isolating and trusting no one hasn’t worked. When she revisits the murder scene Ollie finds a young girl half-buried in the exact spot of the murder.

I enjoy Luanne Rice’s young adult novels more than her adult ones. I wasn’t certain whether to trust Ollie as a reliable narrator or the young teen she found, or any of her friends.

I recommend IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ME to all YA mystery and thriller readers.

this was so interesting to read

I love this book so much it had a good plot I just love it