Lisa Springer (2)

All the tropes, all the time, for all the scares!

There’s No Way I’d Die First may be author Lisa Springer’s debut novel, but it reads like a book from a talented veteran. It’s got every horror movie trope worked into its story, yet it still feels fresh and new. It’s one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year!

The main character, and the person from whose viewpoint the story is told, is Noelle Layne. She’s strong, smart, and sassy, and she is certain she would be the show more “Final Girl” in the horror movies she loves. I liked how she was so goal-oriented in her social media endeavors and plans for college and how she managed to marry the two together. Despite her regrets over her internship maneuverings, she seems nice and a good friend. She is surrounded by a tight-knit core of friends who all seem to support each other. Everyone has a skeleton in their closet, though, and someone they know is going all out in a big way to shame each teenager for what they perceive they’ve done wrong. It was hard to see any partygoers eliminated, but losing or having someone in her immediate circle of friends get hurt was heartbreaking. (I definitely got emotionally involved with these kids.)

The story is full of blood, gore, murder, and craziness right out of a horror flick. There are numerous scenes of graphically described injuries and death. Social media plays a large role in the story, and many of the issues the “Killer Clown” has with the partygoers have to do with their fame online and their families’ fortunes.

The author’s writing style drew me into the story from the start, and as I mentioned, I was invested in these characters. The descriptions were vivid, and I could easily picture the action and the setting. The dialogue was natural and felt authentic to the speakers, their ages, and points in life. The chapters were nicely sized, with many ending on an exciting note that compelled me to read “just one more chapter.” I look forward to this author’s future books with great anticipation.

I recommend THERE’S NO WAY I’D DIE FIRST to readers of contemporary young adult horror stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from TBR and Beyond Book Tours. show less

There's a lot to love in here, and a lot that's confusing. The love: Imani's family -- they work together, they support each other, they have their own interests and talents and they are lovely people. Loved the appreciation for both Ghanaian and Caribbean culture and food. Loved the interest in fashion and textiles. Loved the conversations about appropriation. And a particular shout out to a storyline in which an immigrant family strongly believes in the Arts as a wonderful career choice. show more So often the conflict in a middle grade book is about family steering kids away from their passions and that is not the case here.

The confusing: why on earth would the school just believe Harlee over Imani on the plagiarism question? The book is spinning this as a one parent gives money to the school, so they just won't even investigate Harlee, but that seems very unlikely to me. I'm also glad that Imani's parents show up for the conversation, but they certainly don't advocate for her, which is so weird given how much they support her in every other matter. And I love that Imani advocates for herself with her teacher, but there's a kind of throwaway mention of restorative justice in that conversation, and I would have liked that to be more central/reasoned out/actually proposed as opposed to dropped in. Finally, the Fashion Week adventure is just odd -- why is that representative of Sanctuary? How is it necessary to actually be at fashion week if you're going to take a photo of a dress on a rack?

Eh, on the whole, I like the messages, I like that the book is accessible, interesting and a quick read, and I love the characters and the fashion subject. I definitely think this will resonate with the intended audience. show less

Noelle Layne is a horror movie buff. She leads her school's horror movie club and is aiming to boost her social media and launch a new podcast this Halloween. She has planned a super-exclusive Halloween party with her horror movie club friends and some top influencers that is sure to drum up some followers. Noelle has the perfect setting, perfect costume, awesome decorations, playlist, movies (of course) and to top it off, she has hired a creepy clown to play a fear induced game of tag. show more However, the creepy clown soon turns on the group and begins killing the teens. Noelle and her friends are now faced with a real life horror movie, but Noelle has prepared her whole life for this scenario. She knows she won't die first, but will she make it out alive?

There's No Way I'd Die First is a fast paced young adult horror with many different elements from your favorite horror flicks. I loved the homages to classic horror films including killer clowns, a call from inside the house and blood soaked prom dresses as well as the quotes at the beginning of each chapter to set the tone. The setting of Castle Rock, the secluded, Long Island home of Noelle's affluent parents on a stormy night provided the perfect backdrop for Noelle's party. I do wish I could have envisioned the house and layout better, other than a large house on a hill, since all of the action took place there. The characters were all intriguing, but difficult to feel empathetic towards at the same time. All of the teens are from wealthy families who have gained privilege from that wealth and have benefitted from that wealth in ways that others may deem unfair. The clown, Gage, provides the mystery as Noelle and her friends try to figure out his identity and how he knows their secrets. As Gage hunts down the party guests, the writing offers plenty of gore, strategy and scares. I really wanted to see all of Noelle's horror movie knowledge come through for her, but Gage seemed to anticipate her actions as well as operate exceptionally well while injured. Overall, an action packed, young adult horror with a contemporary twist.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. show less

WHO’S ALL GOING (TO DIE)? is a shrewd young adult horror thriller that blends the wellness industry with mystery and unnerving cult vibes. There are devilish spa treatments and mesmerizing egomaniacs, all set in a luxury wellness retreat. Captivating and an intriguingly eerie take on the sinister intricacies of the wellness industry. There is excitement, suspense, and twists. A compelling and dark narrative that will leave you unable to stop reading! (8/10)

Thank you, Delacorte Press, show more Penguin Random House, and Lisa Springer. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own. show less