You'll Be the Death of Me

You’ll Be the Death of Me is the sixth book by best-selling young adult novelist Karen M. McManus. The novel tells the story of three former friends—Mateo Wojcik, Ivy Sterling-Shepard, and Cal O’Shea-Wallace—whose impulsive decision to skip school has deadly consequences. As the trio try to solve the mystery and clear their names, they each struggle to hide secrets of their own. Major themes in the novel include the Ethical Problems With True Crime, the Rewards and Risks of Trusting Instincts, and Tensions Inherent in Parent-Teen Relationships. The narration alternates between the perspectives of the three protagonists with the subtitle of each chapter indicating the narrative point of view.

Other works by this author include One of Us is Lying, The Cousins, and Nothing More to Tell.

This summary is based on the 2021 Random House e-book edition.

Content Warning: The novel contains depictions of violence, drug use, and inappropriate teacher-student relationships.

Plot Summary

One day after losing her senior class election at Carlton High, perfectionist Ivy prepares to speak at her mother’s award ceremony. Her former friend Mateo works two jobs to support his disabled mother, whose failing business was bought by Ivy’s developer father.