It does work about half of the time. I tend to read genres - so I'll read a lot of Sci-fi for a while, then switch to detective mysteries, or historical etc. Or I'll work my way through all of an author's works if I like them. So when I saw 'First to Die' at the library I grabbed it as I had liked the first book, but I'm sort of in the middle of re-reading all my Terry Pratchett books, in order, so I had the wrong mindset.

Of Adam Silvera's books I've liked about half of them, still have to read 'What if it's Us', so I'll get that and 'First to Die' when I know I'm in a more receptive mood.

Like you I loved the first book. But I struggled with this one. I thought I might come back to it in a while, when I'm in a different frame of mind, to see if I apprecite it more.

I re-read it in the last year. I think I plodded through, just to finish it. I don't remember it now as being so long, but the different episodes are interesting and worth persevering. Can't say that I loved it, bu glad I reaqd it. It's one that you can pick up and put down as you feel like it.