Kane Richards Must Die by Shanice Williams

“After an unexpected transfer to the States for her senior year, Suranne’s new friends give her just one instruction: stay away from Kane Richards. According to everyone, he’s a heartless playboy concerned only for himself. With one glance, it’s easy to see why he gets away with it. But things aren’t always what they seem- especially when he sets his sights on her and whispers that she’s different. Despite all the red flags, Suranne considers whether or not his intentions are genuine or if she’s simply another name on his list. In the process, she may just uncover the real Kane Richards. But, when it comes down to it, the real Kane Richards may not want to be found. Filled with raw emotion, Kane Richards Must Die explores relationships, trust, love, and what can happen when life takes an unexpected turn.”

From the book’s title, I imagined a book similar to the movie John Tucker Must Die. This book is so much more than that, it’s actually a heartfelt story about a guy who does sleep around with…everyone, but there’s something else. It’s a really quick read; I managed to read it one night I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t feel like getting out of bed.

Kane Richards easily makes it as one of my favorite literary guys, not because he’s hot (and he is!), but because he’s so well-developed. He has a cocky attitude and knows he’s the hottest boy, but he also has an amazing vulnerability that isn’t often seen in male characters. His backstory is heartbreaking and seriously makes this book so much more. At times he’s seriously a jerk, but you are given a peek into his actions, and reasoning in the chapters told from his POV.

I feel for Suranne, she’s drawn to the school’s most popular guy, the one all her friends have warned her about because of his reputation, and she’s seen it with her own eyes. Yet he shows her small parts (and, as the story goes on, bigger parts) of his real self, so she knows there is good there too. Her friends Kate and Lawrence annoyed me with how they treated her as the story progressed.

This story is surprisingly deep and emotional. It’s definitely a book to keep your eyes open; I plan on recommending it to my friends & family.

Caution: There are a lot of sex scenes and some cursing, so take that into consideration.