Review of The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

To be published by Bloomsbury on June 2, 2015

Source: Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC for review

Plot Summary for The Devil you Know by Trish Doller

Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it’s just the risk she’s been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions. 

Review of The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

I’m a big Trish Doller fan — I love the way she writes about tough, imperfect girls who find romance. So I was excited that she wrote a young adult thriller novel!
But I’m sorry to say that The Devil You Know hit some wrong notes for me. I loved the Everglades atmosphere the book sets up and I felt a lot of compassion for Cadie, who lost her mother and had to take on a lot of adult responsibilities.

I’m a veteran thriller reader and I felt that all the twists in this book were pretty easy to spot. As in another YA book with a similar premise (Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick) I struggled with the juxtaposition of a swoony romantic vibe with some very disturbing violence, but maybe that’s just my issue. 

I also struggled with Cadie’s decisions, all of which were explained by the fact that she needed to cut loose from her responsibilities at home. But for me, the biggest stumbling point in this book was the romance. 
My thoughts on that are spoilery, so if you want to read them, they are under protection on my Goodreads review.  Overall, I’ll say that I think I would have liked The Devil You Know much better as a female empowerment story than a romance.

Have you read either of these? Let me know what you think in comments!

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14 Comments

  1. I haven't read either, but I did peruse reviews of Kissing in America, and I was pretty sure that I wouldn't read it after all. I'm disappointed about The Devil You Know though. It seemed to have so much promise. Sigh.

  2. I've been reading reviews for Kissing in America for a while now and most of them say similar things as you Jen. I liked the synopsis for it, but ultimately it seems like it just isn't for me. Also, i'm not a hundred percent sure how I feel about The Devil You Know now. I did enjoy Black Ice but I've got my own reservations about it now…
    Lily @ Lilysbookblog

  3. I was excited about Kissing In America, but I kind of lost interest somewhere along the way. It's a shame that the book started off really well for you, but then went downhill. 🙁 I just read your spoiler for that one, but wow! I think I would really hate the MC for what she does.

    I liked The Devil You Know, but I agree that it should have been more of an empowerement story too. I was irritated by how blind Caddy was to what was going on around her. I liked for being a thriller, but I wasn't a fan of the romance either.

    Lovely reviews, Jen!

  4. Kissing in America isn't really for me. For one, I don't really read that much contemporary, and even if I didn, it doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy. But I actually liked Black Ice and I like Trish, so I'll give The Devil You Know a chance, but I'll keep my expectations on a reasonable level.

  5. I felt pretty much the same way about Kissing in America as you did – while the writing was quality, the plot and romance didn't work for me, as well as Eva's selfish actions.

    Have yet to read The Devil You Know – but am a huge Trish Dollar fan – I'll be interested to read it in light of your thoughts!

  6. I don't know Trish Dollar but I've seen this one making its way around the blogosphere. Sad that it's a cookie cutter of thriller. I feel that I've read so many thriller books that it's hard to be impressed anymore. Blah. Thanks for the reviews Jen!

  7. The Devil You Know is one I have been thinking about because I have seen it everywhere, but maybe I shouldn't be too excited? I am shamed that this was such a huge disappointment to you 🙁

  8. I haven't read any of these yet, and I'm a bit on the fence about them as your problems with it are making me wary! A lot of thriller books don't really shock me these days either, although I don't blame them because it's hard to surprise a veteran thriller reader as originality is hard to come by. That's why I just look forward to how they are executed!

    As for Kissing in America, it's not my kinda read anyway, so I'd probably pass on it.

    Faye at The Social Potato