{"product_id":"people-like-us-by-dana-mele-book","title":"People Like Us by Dana Mele","description":"\u003ch2 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout People Like Us by Dana Mele – A Dark YA Mystery of Secrets, Murder and Betrayal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeople Like Us by Dana Mele is a young adult mystery thriller set at Bates Academy, a private school where popularity, friendship, reputation, and secrets matter a lot. The story follows Kay Donovan, a star soccer player who has worked hard to build a new life for herself. At school, she is part of a popular group of girls and seems confident, successful, and in control. However, Kay has things in her past that she would rather keep hidden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHer carefully built life starts to fall apart when a girl's body is discovered in the school lake. Soon after the death, Kay learns that the dead girl has left behind a computer-coded scavenger hunt. The clues lead Kay through the private lives of students at Bates Academy and begin exposing secrets that many people would do almost anything to protect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs Kay follows the clues, different students become possible suspects. Friendships become harder to trust, old problems return, and Kay slowly finds herself connected to the investigation. The closer she gets to the truth, the greater the risk that her own past will be revealed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor readers who enjoy dark academia, private-school mysteries, complicated friendships, LGBTQ+ characters, secrets, and murder investigations, People Like Us offers a fast and tense reading experience.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeet Kay Donovan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay Donovan is at the centre of the story. She has already learned that a person can change the way other people see them. At Bates Academy, she has created a version of herself that appears confident and successful.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe is a talented soccer player and belongs to a popular social group. From the outside, Kay seems to have found her place.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHer past, however, is never completely gone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay understands better than most people how dangerous secrets can become. She also knows how quickly a person's reputation can change when private information becomes public.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis makes the murder investigation especially difficult for her. She wants to understand what happened, but every new clue creates the possibility that someone may discover something about her.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay is not written as a perfect main character. She can make difficult choices, hide information, and protect herself when she feels threatened. This makes her more interesting because the reader has to decide how much to trust her while the mystery develops.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMurder Changes Life at Bates Academy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBates Academy is a private school where students live inside a small and competitive social world. Friend groups, popularity, academic success, sports, and reputation can all affect how students see one another.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen a girl is found dead in the lake, that normal school life changes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe murder creates fear and suspicion. Students who once seemed easy to understand begin looking different when their secrets are examined.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay soon becomes involved because the dead girl has left something behind specifically designed to lead her from one clue to another.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe computer-coded scavenger hunt becomes one of the main parts of the mystery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach clue gives Kay more information, but it also creates new questions. People she knows may have reasons to lie. Friends may be hiding things from one another. Someone may know more about the death than they are willing to admit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe school setting keeps these characters close together, so avoiding the investigation is almost impossible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Mystery Built Around Secrets\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeople Like Us works well for readers who enjoy mysteries where almost everyone has something to hide.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe investigation does not depend only on physical evidence. Personal secrets, relationships, old arguments, social pressure, and past choices all become important.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe dead girl's scavenger hunt points toward different people and slowly changes how Kay sees the students around her.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis creates a useful mystery structure because readers receive information at roughly the same time as Kay. A new clue may make one person look suspicious, while another discovery can completely change the situation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book encourages readers to pay attention to what characters say, what they avoid saying, and what they may gain by keeping the truth hidden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause Kay also has secrets, she cannot approach the investigation as a completely neutral person. She has to think about solving the mystery while also protecting herself.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFriendship Is an Important Part of the Story\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe friendships in People Like Us are not simple.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay belongs to a group of popular girls who appear close, but popularity does not automatically create trust. There are old disagreements, changing loyalties, jealousy, attraction, pressure, and personal information that can be used against someone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe murder places extra pressure on these relationships.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen students begin to suspect one another, friendship becomes difficult. A person Kay trusts may still be hiding something. Someone who appears unfriendly may know something useful. A relationship that looks strong in public may be very different in private.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDana Mele uses these friendships to add more depth to the mystery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders are not only trying to understand who may be connected to the death. They are also watching a group of teenagers deal with the fear that their private lives could become public.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis makes the school feel tense even when no direct danger is happening.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Pressure of Popularity and Reputation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReputation has real power at Bates Academy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStudents care about how other people see them, and this creates another reason for secrets to stay hidden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay understands this very well because she has already reinvented herself. She knows that a new environment can give someone the chance to become a different person, but that new identity can be damaged when information from the past returns.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe novel explores the pressure teenagers can feel when they are trying to fit into a certain group or maintain a certain image.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePopular students may look confident but still fear rejection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuccessful students may still feel pressure to prove themselves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClose friends may hide things because they are afraid of losing their place in the group.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese problems make the mystery more believable because the characters have personal reasons to lie even when those lies are not directly connected to murder.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Dark Academia Setting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders who enjoy dark academia may like the atmosphere of People Like Us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe story takes place in an elite private-school environment filled with ambitious students, social groups, hidden histories, academic pressure, and secrets.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBates Academy provides a closed setting where the same people study, socialise, compete, and deal with the murder investigation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis gives the story a feeling of isolation. The characters cannot easily leave their problems behind because school life keeps bringing them back together.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe contrast between the respected school environment and the darker behaviour happening underneath it also supports the mystery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBates Academy may look organised and successful, but the murder begins revealing problems that were already present before the girl's body was discovered.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Computer-Coded Scavenger Hunt Keeps the Mystery Moving\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the most interesting parts of the plot is the scavenger hunt left by the dead girl.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInstead of giving Kay one simple message, the clues require her to continue searching.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis keeps the investigation active and gives the story a clear direction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach stage can reveal another secret or point toward another student. Kay has to understand what the clues mean while also deciding what she should do with the information she finds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe scavenger hunt also raises an important question: why was Kay chosen to follow it?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe answer becomes connected to the larger mystery and to the parts of Kay's life she would prefer not to discuss.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor readers who like puzzles, hidden messages, anonymous information, and clues that slowly connect, this part of the book adds extra interest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay's Past Makes the Investigation Personal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay's past is important because she has already spent time trying to move away from it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe has created a new identity at Bates Academy, but the murder investigation makes keeping the past separate from the present much harder.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs the scavenger hunt develops, Kay has to deal with the possibility that someone knew more about her than she realised.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis gives the story a personal reason for Kay to continue investigating.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe is not simply curious about what happened. Her own future, friendships, and reputation could depend on understanding why she has been pulled into the mystery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe pressure also affects the way she makes decisions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSometimes solving the mystery and protecting herself may require different choices.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat conflict helps keep Kay from becoming a simple detective character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLGBTQ+ Representation and Complicated Relationships\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeople Like Us includes LGBTQ+ characters and relationships as part of its wider story about friendship, attraction, secrets, and identity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay's relationships with other characters are not limited to one simple romantic storyline. Attraction and emotional history can affect the way characters trust, protect, or hurt one another.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese relationships also add another layer to the mystery because strong feelings can create reasons for people to hide information.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book treats sexuality as a normal part of its characters' lives while still showing how relationships can become complicated inside a close school environment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders looking for YA mystery fiction with queer representation may find this aspect especially relevant.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Fast YA Thriller for Mystery Readers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeople Like Us is written for readers who enjoy a story that keeps introducing new questions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe murder happens early enough to establish the central mystery, while the scavenger hunt gives Kay a continuing reason to search for answers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe private-school setting also keeps the group of possible suspects connected.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders can form theories, change their minds, and look again at earlier details as more information becomes available.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe publisher categorises the book as Teen \u0026amp; Young Adult Mystery \u0026amp; Thriller, and that description fits the reading experience well. The novel combines school drama with a murder investigation instead of focusing entirely on police procedure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat makes it accessible for readers who want suspense without reading a traditional adult crime novel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThemes Behind the Mystery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough solving the murder is important, People Like Us also deals with bullying, betrayal, pressure, mental health, friendship, identity, and the consequences of past behaviour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese themes help explain why the characters act the way they do.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA harmful decision may continue affecting people long after it happened. A secret may protect one person while hurting someone else. A friendship can provide support while also creating pressure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book also looks at the idea of reinvention.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay wants to believe that her past can stay behind her, but the story asks whether changing your environment is enough to escape the results of earlier choices.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis gives readers something to think about after the mystery itself is finished.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWho Should Read People Like Us?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeople Like Us is a strong choice for readers who enjoy young adult murder mysteries, psychological thrillers, dark academia, private-school settings, complicated female friendships, LGBTQ+ characters, hidden secrets, and unreliable or morally complicated characters.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt may also appeal to readers who enjoy books where several people appear suspicious instead of stories with one obvious villain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe publisher lists the book for readers aged 12 and above, although the murder, bullying, mental health themes, and darker subject matter mean individual readers may respond differently to the content.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdult readers who regularly enjoy YA thrillers can also read it without needing to be part of the intended teen age group.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGood for Mystery Book Clubs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis book can work well for a YA or mystery book club because readers can form different opinions about Kay and the other characters.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome readers may sympathise with Kay's need to protect herself. Others may disagree with the decisions she makes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe story also gives groups several topics to discuss, including friendship, bullying, social power, privacy, guilt, sexuality, mental health, and whether people can successfully leave their past behind.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe scavenger-hunt structure can also create discussion about which clues readers noticed and when they began suspecting particular characters.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePremium Printed Quality from Bookish Wonderland\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBookish Wonderland offers People Like Us in a reader-friendly printed format made for comfortable reading and better durability.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book uses \u003c\/span\u003epremium eye-soothing cream paper, giving readers a softer page tone during longer reading sessions. The crystal-clear print keeps the text sharp and easy to follow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA high-quality stitched and glue binding\u003cspan\u003e provides better longevity and helps keep the pages secure through regular reading.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis makes the printed copy suitable for personal reading, gifting, rereading, book-club use, or adding to a YA mystery and thriller collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrder People Like Us Across Bangladesh\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders searching for \u003c\/span\u003ePeople Like Us by Dana Mele Book price in Bangladesh\u003cspan\u003e can order a premium printed copy from Bookish Wonderland.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNationwide delivery is available, including delivery inside and outside Dhaka. Cash on Delivery is available for convenient payment when the order arrives.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCustomers in Dhaka can also ask about fast or urgent delivery when available.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBookish Wonderland offers a large collection of premium and durable English books, including young adult fiction, mystery, thriller, dark academia, romance, fantasy, classics, and other popular genres.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdd People Like Us to Your Mystery Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeople Like Us by Dana Mele combines a private-school setting, murder investigation, coded clues, complicated friendships, and a main character whose own secrets make the case personal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKay Donovan has worked hard to create a new life at Bates Academy. She has friends, status, and success as a soccer player, but the discovery of a dead girl in the school lake begins to threaten everything she has built.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe computer-coded scavenger hunt left behind after the death forces Kay to examine people she knows closely. Each clue can expose another secret, create another suspect, or bring Kay closer to information she would rather keep hidden.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe result is a YA thriller that gives readers more than one mystery to follow. There is the question of what happened to the dead girl, but there is also the question of what Kay is hiding and why her past matters to the investigation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders who enjoy dark school settings, secrets between friends, changing suspects, queer representation, psychological tension, and mysteries where the main character cannot simply trust everyone around her should find plenty to enjoy here.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrder \u003c\/span\u003ePeople Like Us by Dana Mele from Bookish Wonderland\u003cspan\u003e for a premium printed copy with nationwide delivery, Cash on Delivery, and fast or urgent delivery options in Dhaka when available.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you require any customization or have any questions, please inbox us via FB or Insta.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bookish Wonderland","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43727220768865,"sku":null,"price":230.0,"currency_code":"BDT","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43727220801633,"sku":null,"price":304.0,"currency_code":"BDT","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/1788\/8609\/files\/People_Like_Us_by_Dana_Mele_in_BD.jpg?v=1790467641","url":"https:\/\/bookishwonderland.com\/products\/people-like-us-by-dana-mele-book","provider":"Bookish Wonderland","version":"1.0","type":"link"}