Based on the massively successful CW show, Riverdale, this prequel novel explores what the gang was doing before Season One.

Why did Jughead and Archie have a falling out? What did Veronica’s life look like in the Big Apple? And how long has Betty really been in love with Archie?

Told from multiple POVs, your favorite characters tell their story their way.

The Day Before covers just that in this prequel to the popular show, Riverdale. I love the show, though I’m way behind and haven’t watched past Season 2. When I was reminded that this book (and more) existed, I restarted the show and picked up a couple of the books from a nearby library. 

So in this book it follows the main characters – Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Veronica – the day before July 4th, when Jason Blossom disappears and is proclaimed dead by drowning. Betty is in LA for her internship and Veronica is still living in NYC, not knowing that her dad is about to be arrested. Meanwhile, Archie and Jughead are on the outs because Archie has been preoccupied. But through their points of view we find out how some of these characters got to the place they were before the show.

What I liked about the book is that you can hear the character’s voices, and you can tell who it is when reading. None of the characters deviated from their TV counterparts, though Veronica is more spoiled and bratty, but she admits that’s how she was right at the beginning of the show, so it’s not really off for her. In the case of characters though, I would have liked to get more of Jason and Cheryl in this; like, actual POV chapters. It would have been nice to learn more about Jason before his demise.

However, what I didn’t like was that there was no real plot, per se. I get that this book is just meant to precede the events of the show, but it would’ve been nice to have more of an actual story. It was just more like random events happening. I still enjoyed it though, because I love these characters, and I hope the following books are more interestin to read and have a real story to them.

Rating: 3 stars