Review By: Tami Rigling
Published: 2025
Genre(s): Young Adult, Romance, LGBTQ+, Contemporary, Mystery, Coming of Age
Audience: Grades 9–12
Content Warnings: Anxiety, Depression
Goodreads Link: Try Your Worst
Summary:
When academic rivals Sadie Katz and Cleo Chapman are framed for a string of escalating pranks, they must team up to find the real culprit before being expelled. What starts as a quest to clear their names turns into a deeper journey of self-discovery, mental health, and unexpected connection.
Review:
Try Your Worst by Chatham Greenfield is a cozy mystery with heartfelt character development and a contemporary tone. The story follows Sadie and Cleo, lifelong competitors turned reluctant partners, as they navigate suspicion, friendship, and growing affection. While the mystery is secondary to the emotional arc, the book excels in portraying mental health challenges with honesty and care.
Sadie’s struggles with burnout and depression are sensitively written, and her questioning of identity and ambition resonates with teens under academic pressure. The supporting cast reflects diversity across gender, sexuality, and ability, though at times the representation feels more structured than natural. Still, the themes of self-acceptance and empathy are impactful.
Readers seeking a balance of humor, heart, and realism will appreciate this title. It is less about solving a mystery and more about understanding oneself and others.
