Review of Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead

My Review of Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander, with SPOILERS and the Ending Explained! This book, with its gorgeous cover, is about a woman trying to move on from a tragic event in her past. But an upcoming documentary is filling her with dread! This book gave me major déjà vu , so let’s discuss it!

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead

Published on February 6, 2024 by Minotaur Books. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review. I read this book in January 2024.

Review of Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead

The set-up of Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead felt a bit familiar to me:

• main character who was part of a tragedy at a school decades ago
• main character works at a women’s magazine in Manhattan
• main character is engaged to a rich WASPy guy
• wedding dress shopping and trips to Nantucket
• main character terrified about an impending story about her past trauma
  

As I’ve said before, a similarity in premise can just be a coincidence.

Plus, in a subgenre like thrillers (or romance or cozy mysteries) there are only so many original premises and a LOT of ways to remix the tropes we all know and love (like Dark Academia elements, podcast elements, and so on.)

WHAT BOOKS DID EVERYONE WHO CAN FORGIVE ME IS DEAD REMIND ME OF?

For instance, this very popular book also has some similarities to Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead: (tragedy at an elite boarding school that no one wants to talk about and then an impending podcast that shakes everything up.)

But still… the MANY similarities between Everyone Who Could Forgive Me is Dead and this book were were quite distracting to me.

However, I’m happy to report that Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead started out feeling very similar and then went in a different direction.

What did I think of Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead?

In my review of that other book, I said that it was slow to get started but then built to a surprising and satisfying conclusion.

I felt the opposite about Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead.

It started strong but then:

• the main character had memory loss and was in therapy
• the book took FOREVER to explain what even happened at “Scarlet Christmas”
• What did happen was a bit underwhelming, tbh

It wasn’t a direction that I (or some other reviewers on Goodreads) was excited about. To explain, I have to have SPOILERS so..

Spoilers for Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead and the Ending Explained

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So first off, what did you think of this whole notion of “Scarlet Christmas,” because that sounds very British.

Second, I hadn’t predicted that it was a spat between a bunch of girls that turned deadly.

What Happened During Scarlet Christmas?

Elise (who had a history of psychiatric problems) was jealous because Jordan and Charlie were into each other. She began to stalk and harass Jordan.

Elise flew into a rage and started stabbing people (Cate, Jordan). Two other people (Michael and Salvatore) were injured trying to intervene. Michael died.

THEN Steph pushed Elise out the window.

AND Dee (Dhiya) died because Elise fell on her as she was coming into the building.

BUT Charlie told the police that Elise jumped. But it seems like that’s what Steph told Charlie.

AND Dee just happened to be Tripp’s ex-girlfriend?

What Happened After Scarlet Christmas?

Cate, who clearly had a drinking problem, went to rehab.

Charlie developed amnesia and was also convinced that SHE pushed Elise.

Questions I Still Have About Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead

Did Charlie’s hypnosis create or bring up false memories?

Also, why did Steph roofie three of Cate’s friends? Because they were annoying her?

Please leave your questions and comments below. I will read and respond. Spoilers are fine!