YA Book Review: Let’s Split Up is a Fun Scooby Gang Thriller
Let’s Split Up kicks off with a mystery that immediately pulls readers into the quiet town of Sanera, California, where things suddenly take a dark turn. After the town’s “it-couple,” Brad and Shelley, are brutally murdered inside a supposedly cursed remote manor, rumors begin spreading that the deaths are tied to the ghost of a former landowner seeking revenge. Not everyone is convinced by the supernatural explanation, though- especially a certain group of skeptical Gen Zers.
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A group of teens made up of Cam, Jonesy, Amber, and new girl Buffy decides to investigate for themselves, determined to figure out what really happened that night. As they begin digging deeper into the mystery, every answer seems to create more questions, and they quickly realize they may be putting themselves directly in danger.
There are some really fun aspects of Let’s Split Up, and the story itself is very reminiscent of early Scooby-Doo cartoon episodes that showed the gang taking on strange cases and trying to uncover who was really behind everything. I enjoyed seeing the friends slowly begin to trust each other, especially Buffy as the new girl in the group, as they work together to figure out what happened to two of their classmates.
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There is also some old-fashioned detective work sprinkled throughout Let’s Split Up, with the teens following clues and even speaking with a realtor who had recently sold the old property. Those moments made it feel less like just a typical slasher book and more like an actual mystery readers could piece together alongside the characters.
There is also a queer romance aspect in Let’s Split Up between Cam and Jonesy, which adds another layer of drama to the already tense dynamic between the friends. The book slowly reveals character traits, and I think it’s the fleshed-out characters that really make this book feel realistic and entertaining. While it absolutely delivers on the slasher side with suspense and danger, it also spends time showing teens trying to figure out who they are while dealing with family expectations, friendships and the very real pressure of being caught in the middle of a murder investigation.
I really enjoyed Let’s Split Up because it manages to balance the mystery and horror elements with character development, plus it has some fun sprayed edges, which makes it a great version for those who collect!. It has the fun energy of a classic teen mystery, and the Scooby-Doo comparisons are hard to ignore in the best way possible. By the end, it definitely leaves readers wanting to know where the rest of the trilogy is headed.
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