e-ALC, 08:40:01
Narrated by: Ashley J. Hobbs
Release Date: July 28, 2026
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: July 8-9, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio App (I received this ALC from the publisher and their app. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Death, Injury/Injury Detail
For Readers of: Action, Audio, Contemporary, DEAR, Sparkly Cover, Most Anticipated, Mystery, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Thrillers, YA“Bring It On”, but with murder, this heart-pounding YA thriller follows Jonty, a star cheerleader forced to track down a killer and achieve her dream—before it’s too late.
With competition this fierce, bodies are bound to hit the mat…
All Jonty has ever wanted is to lead her cheerleading team, The Exalted Ones, to win a NCA championship. Cheer is not just a sport, it’s her legacy. Her mother cheered for T.E.O. before she died, and Jonty would do anything to snatch the crown and honor her mother’s memory. This year she has a real shot, finally beating her rival Tommie and becoming the team captain.
But Jonty’s perfect season is shattered when Tommie shows up dead on the first day of practice. Now the team is down a flyer and everyone is convinced that Jonty killed her. Everyone except Adam, her co-captain, who was with her the night that Tommie died.
As the season progresses, girls keep dropping like flies, and one thing becomes Someone is sabotaging The Exalted Ones, and they’re willing to commit murder to get their way. But with the police still convinced it’s her, will Jonty be able to save herself, her team, and her perfect season?
Tense and full of twists, Too Perfect to Die is perfect for readers who
• True Crime
• Competitive Cheerleading
• Scream Queens
• Holly Jackson Books
• Karen M. McManus Books
*MY THOUGHTS*
This was so good! Y’all know how much I love sports books. And I’ve read a couple cheerleader books this year, but none of them showed the athleticism like this one did. And the mystery was also cool af. I did guess it, but that’s how you know it was good. I didn’t even mind it.
Ok so the main thing about this that I liked was the actual cheerleading and competition and stuff in this book. I’ve read so many books with cheerleaders and there was nothing like this. They talk about how much they practiced and the way they were tumbling and more. I loved that Goodman depicted it as the sport that it is. I was glad she was able to show the grit and glory that they deserve.
The mystery was also good af. I was on pins and needles. In the end I guessed it, but damn, the ride to discovering it was still so interesting I couldn’t look away. It didn’t even matter who did what I was still going to finish it because I was invested. I wanted to know who was going to win nationals and if they were ever going to be caught and what in the world the cop was doing when she finally realized it wasn’t them. Like how did you feel girl? I hope she felt dumb lol
The characters were cool. I really liked the MC and her best friend. I hated all that they were going through tho. I’m at the Auntie age now, and I just kept thinking I wanted to give her a hug. Even besides the whole obvious situation, I don’t believe she ever fully grieved her mom. I was glad when she made the decision at the end, but I also was sad. I felt like her talent was wasted. I remember hoping she changed her mind. but she didn’t in the end, so now I’m like ugh I’ll never know lol She had so much potential. I knew she needed that break, but she also needed time to grieve.
This was so good. This was my first Goodman novel and now I know it won’t be my last. I must read her back list. I need to know if everything is as good as this one. Because I can’t stop thinking about it. And if you pick it up, you won’t be able to think about anything else either.
Overall, I give this
