Most Likely to Murder by Lish McBride

Yearbook superlatives turn deadly in this darkly funny young adult thriller.

The rumor mill has never been kind to Meadowvale High seniors and best friends Rick and Martina, labeling them outcasts (sure), stoners (no comment), and pranksters (okay, this one’s fair). But for the most part, they have successfully flown under the radar.

That is, until they’re targeted in a prank that replaces yearbook superlatives with grisly forecasts of student and faculty deaths. Sure, Rick and Martina were never going to be voted Most Likely to Succeed . . . but Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses? Thanks for the cute, no thanks on the corpse.

At first, the senior class is annoyed by the prank. But when the body of Mr. Stephens, Most Likely to Sleep with the Fishes, is dredged from the bottom of a lake, suspicions arise that something truly sinister is going on. And as more people turn up dead in the exact ways the yearbook promised, it becomes clear someone’s killing off the student body one page at a time.

Now Rick and Martina must find the yearbook killer before their vicious superlative comes true. So much for surviving high school without drawing attention. Now Rick and Martina just want to survive.

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A darkly funny YA thriller where yearbook superlatives predict real deaths, forcing two misjudged outsiders to hunt a killer before their own title comes true.

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Pre-Reading Thoughts

The premise sold me immediately. Yearbook superlatives turning lethal is exactly the kind of high-concept, slightly unhinged setup YA thrillers do best, and I was expecting something fast, funny, and self-aware.

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Post-Reading

As I thought…
This is genuinely funny, with a sharp sense of humour about high school labels and the assumptions people make about each other. Rick and Martina are easy protagonists to root for, and the story moves at a brisk pace that makes it very readable.

It surprised me by…
Being more thoughtful than expected about how quickly people are boxed into roles — by classmates, teachers, and rumours — and how dangerous those assumptions can be when things start going wrong.

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Overall Thoughts

Compared to The Heirs, this is a much less complicated mystery, which I actually appreciated. I found it easier to follow and easier to sink into, especially coming off a heavier read.

My one reservation is that I personally would have liked a little more help along the way when it came to the whodunnit. I’m sure some readers will spot the culprit early on, but I found myself wishing for a few more breadcrumbs to chew over before the final reveal.

That said, this is a fun, fast-paced thriller with a smart hook and a surprising amount of heart beneath the dark humour.

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Vibe Check

• Colour palette: black, neon pink, highlighter yellow

• Soundtrack: pop-punk, upbeat alt rock

• Season: autumn (school year energy)

• Mood: snarky, tense, irreverent

• Scent: paper, ink, and cold night air

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Tarot Pull 

🃏 Seven of Cups (Witches Tarot) — Too many possibilities, too many secrets, and not all of them are what they seem. Just like Meadowvale High, some choices are cute, some are terrifying, and some will eat you alive. Rick and Martina have to navigate a world of rumours, misdirection, and deadly “opportunities” — and hope they pick the right cup.

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For fans of…

• Dark humour mixed with mystery

• High-concept YA thrillers

• Stories about outsiders, rumours, and reputations