Tag:

Young Adult

Review

I’ve Got Plans for You

by Dodie Ownes

Celeste and Rory are enemies from the minute newcomer Celeste takes Rory’s spot on swim team in 7th grade. Now, they are about to graduate from high school and there has been no slowdown in them thinking about ways to hurt each other—while still being in the popular-kids friends group. A trip to Celeste’s family’s beach house sounds idyllic, until they both seek to up the ante. Secrets can be kept, but at what price? As misdeeds unfold against the background of a storm and power outage and mutual suspicion, the tension heightens and readers are left wondering who is telling the truth and who can be trusted. Blackmail? Yes. Teen angst? Yes. Musical chairs on the relationship front? Double yes! At the root is Celeste’s pastor father badly misbehaving, sabotaging her social status. What’s a girl to do? Clarke captures all the anxiety and self-doubt of not-quite-fully-cooked adults being thrust into the real world, with a wicked and surprising twist.—Dodie Ownes

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Review

The Murder Party

by Dodie Ownes

June’s older sister Lily is perfect—gets all A’s in school, has a gorgeous boyfriend, and is respectful to Ma and Pa and their Asian heritage—while June is messy, not a scholar, and questions everything. When Lily dies in an accident involving a malfunctioning prop knife during a secret Murder Club, her family is devastated, and June blames herself, since she knew that her sister was sneaking out at night. But something doesn’t seem right, and with the help of best friend Zoey and cute guy Alex, she starts to put together the pieces and decides to throw a Murder Club of her own. As June continues to pull on the strings holding together the lie about what happened on the night Lily died, we discover that her sister’s perfect circle of friends are anything but that. June wants justice for her sister and is willing to put herself at risk to out Lily’s murderer, no matter the cost. Author He constructs a tightly wound thriller against the backdrop of high-school reality with a shocking conclusion that will leave readers breathless.—Dodie Ownes

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Review

If We Survive the Night

by Dodie Ownes

Being at a residential treatment center for girls is just another stop on Quinn’s journey through juvie and foster homes, but it’s not too bad—if she can keep it all together a bit longer, she’ll be released, get a place, go to college, do all the things normal kids do. But Quinn is not normal, and nor are any of the other residents. She notices Keisha, who always sneaks her meds into her pocket, and the two become fast friends. One night, they sneak onto the roof and discover that the world around them has gone bad—carriers, zombie-like humans, are roaming the streets, biting and killing people. The problem is, the dead reanimate when there are loud sounds. A little bit A Quiet Place, a lot twisted “final girl”, the story takes off as a small contingent of staff and girls decide to leave the treatment center. Quinn’s true self is released, that of a heartless psychopath—helpful for survival but terrifying nonetheless. The debut author, a licensed clinical social worker with experience working in juvenile detention facilities, draws characters so believable that teens will find themselves and others experiencing mental illness on the page. Readers will know one thing: you don’t want to be on the wrong side of Quinn’s machete. The breakneck pace and wicked creativity she demonstrates keep the blood-slicked action going to the very end.—Dodie Ownes

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Review

Body Count

by Dodie Ownes

Crowley’s sapphic feminist slasher thriller and sophomore YA title follows Sundae Valentine, who, seven years ago, made a fateful deal with a monster at the bottom of a motel pool in Wildwood, New Jersey. The creature offered her three wishes, which she soon realized came with a deadly price. After barely escaping with her life as a child, she has spent years trying to forget the encounter. Now 18, Sundae returns to Wildwood for prom weekend with her squad, with all competing for the “Slut Cup.” Our protagonist is much haunted by the debt she still owes to the mysterious man at the bottom of the pool, while her friends are focused on boardwalk rides and tequila-fueled partying. Even as all hell breaks loose, Sundae finds herself drawn to a mysterious, guitar-strumming girl, Lia, who is with the band playing at the prom party, adding a layer of final-girl romance to the high-stakes survival story. And Sundae is not the only one who should worry about surviving the night—everyone she knows is in danger. A lot of spatter and a bit of steam makes this fast-moving tale a ton of fun, with a touch of Scooby Doo and the gang!—Dodie Ownes

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Review

All Her Ghosts

by Dodie Ownes

Prith’s YA debut is set in a world where the dead have lived alongside the living for nearly 20 years. Persephone Green is 17 years old, and her whole life people have been talking about the mysterious Ghost Wars. She and her mother, Chloe, move every few years, always suddenly, making Persephone the weird new kid at school over and over again. Chloe spends all her time in a locked laboratory with strange equipment and warning systems and refuses to discuss her work, even when alarms start going off. When Persephone meets Sebastian, something pulls her to him, and they recognize that they share one very unusual trait: neither has a heartbeat. When ghost swarms begin to grow and threaten to overtake their high school, the two decide it is time to find out who, and what, they are. The teens light out for the secret and now deserted facility that may hold the truth, pursued by Chloe, the military, and ghosts, as well as Sebastian’s friend Cain, who seems to know a lot more about Persephone than she does. This genre blender will appeal to teens who share feelings of alienation, distrust of adults, and love a good conspiracy tale—with spirits!—Dodie Ownes

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Review

Unnamed Bones

by Dodie Ownes

Harrow Lane is 16 years old, and frankly, a mess. It doesn’t help that her mysterious hometown, Seeker’s Rest, seems to morph its landscape at will—a mountain that suddenly appears, a lake that shouldn’t be there, and a new island that shouldn’t have old-growth trees on it. Why doesn’t anyone else find this odd? Don’t they remember when those people disappeared in the lake? Considered an outsider, Harrow is surprised that when she announces she is going to explore the island, her ex-best friend and others want to join the expedition. As readers get to know Harrow, they may recognize that she is experiencing dissociative identity disorder; she has built a motel in her mind that houses Guilt, Fear, Hope, and other feelings. Her mental health struggles intertwine with the horror that waits on the island—trees that attack, water that poisons, a killer fungus—and as the group attempts to escape, their chances of survival dwindle, as do their numbers. Only when Harrow confronts her emotions is she able to see the clear path, but will the monstrous terror this island holds let them go? Themes of grief, isolation, and loneliness, as truly experienced by these trapped teens, will resonate with both young adult and adult readers.—Dodie Ownes

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Review

Two Perfect Lies

by Dodie Ownes

In Two Perfect Lies, Richards crafts a “Freida McFadden for YA” thriller that explores the dark side of loyalty. Clara Cutler is a social outcast with a criminal record until Lily Dalton, the school’s It girl, takes her under her wing. For two years, their friendship is Clara’s lifeline until mysteriously a folder is found in her backpack containing a deadly hit list and recipes for explosives. Though Clara knows it belongs to Lily, Lily denies it, and even suggests that Clara’s knowledge of chemistry proves that the folder is hers. As the targets on the list begin to meet “accidents,” Clara is forced into a desperate race to clear her name while everyone—including the authorities— already views her as the primary suspect. One by one, former friends of Lily concede that they too were framed, and it becomes clear that Clara’s savior is a predator. This breakneck, atmospheric read cements Richards’s status as a master of the YA mystery genre. Readers who love stories about toxic friendships and “perfect” girls with murderous intentions will eat this up.

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Review

Most Likely to Murder

by Dodie Ownes

This engaging young-adult mystery follows best friends Rick and Martina, social outcasts at Meadowvale High who are known for staging elaborate pranks. Their lives take a deadly turn when the school yearbook is hacked, replacing traditional superlatives like “Most Likely to Succeed” with terrifying death predictions, such as “Homecoming’s Cutest Corpses.” This perceived cruel joke quickly becomes a nightmare when students and staff start dying in the exact ways described. As the primary suspects due to their history of practical jokes, Rick and Martina must find the real killer before they become the next victims on the list. McBride’s snarky dialogue rings true to teen talk, and emerging romances add a little spark and normality to the out-of-control happenings at school. A group chat shared by the high-school seniors who fear they are targeted adds a chorus effect, and grown-ups prove completely useless when it comes to finding the murderer—and oh, what a reveal that is. Don’t miss the acknowledgement, in which McBride reveals where she got the story idea!

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Review

The Escape Game

by Dodie Ownes

Book of the Week December 4, 2025

Veteran YA author Marissa Meyer and up-and-comer Tamara Moss (Lintang and the Pirate Queen) deliver a fast-moving YA murder mystery by skillfully blending the high-stakes world of reality television and a clever, puzzle-centric plot. The opening premise is gripping: season five of popular game show The Escape Game is underway, but the shadow of a murder at the close of season four looms large. Six months ago, contestant Alicia Angelos (the pretty one) was found murdered. Now, her sister, Sierra Angelos (the goth one), returns for the new season—not just to win, but to seek justice for her sister, even though most people believe she was the killer who “got away.” Louis and wife Rani are the Game Master and the show’s producer, respectively, and they will do just about anything to keep ratings high and Hitflix, the network, happy, while assistant Vera is left cleaning up after everyone. Sierra is paired with three other teens who have their own reasons for wanting to win—fame, fortune, and a chance to be on their own. Forming Team Helsing, the teens discover their found family and commit to not only solving the mystery of Alicia’s death but to finding themselves. There’s a hint of forbidden romance, ‘cause why not? Escape-room clues add heightened tension, and the intertwined relationships make everyone a suspect, especially after a second murder occurs. Teens and adults who love reality shows, word and math puzzles, and escape rooms will eat this one up.

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Review

The Fall of Iris Henley

by Dodie Ownes

Senior year of high school can be tough—the cliques, the academic pressure, the romantic entanglements—but for Iris Henley, it’s even harder. Last school year, her boyfriend, Rocky, murdered her ex-best friend before killing himself at the Koenig ranch, and the rumors and scandal are still swirling. But Iris has her cheer squad besties for support. And good thing—she’s not getting that from her overachiever parents, who want her to just get over it, or from her younger cosplayer sister, who bears the brunt of family criticism. When a message shows up on the Sekrit app that states “Iris Henley is a murderer,” her life unravels. As her sports-camp crush, Jonah, begins to text her, Iris finds herself opening up to him. But, when the secrets she has shared with Jonah begin to appear on Sekrit, Iris starts to suspect that Rocky isn’t the killer he’s been made out to be, and Jonah may not be who he says he is, either. Graham captures all the angst of high school alongside the narrative of a botched murder investigation in a small insular town, where everyone has secrets that they want to keep.

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