The three of them are the Final Girls, sole survivors of terrible events that seem like they came straight out of a horror movie. Lisa wrote a book about the massacre at her sorority house. Sam disappeared from public view years ago. Quinn runs a baking blog and tries to get on with her life. She can't remember the details of that night at Pine Cottage and doesn't want to. Then suddenly Lisa is dead by her own hand and Sam bursts into her life, determined to make Quinn revisit her past. I can't tell you much more without venturing into spoiler territory and I never want to do that.

I read this one on the flight home from our trip and it kept me engrossed for five hours, even through clear air turbulence and worries about blood clots. At times, I thought I knew what was going on, but I was wrong. The plot shifts from Quinn's present life to that fatal night at Pine Cottage, but it never felt like the author was deliberate stringing me along. And, even though Quinn is kind of a mess, she never seemed whiny or childish. There's some blood and gore (because that comes with the territory when you're reading about horror-movie style massacres) but it's not the bulk of the plot and not horribly detailed.

I couldn't put it down. What a wild ride! I hope Riley writes many more books because this was just plain old fun. I do wish there was a bit more character development with the main character, fewer awkward sex scenes and that some details I thought would mean more would actually have been integral to the plot but I still loved it!

As the sole survivors of a massacre, Quincy, Lisa and Samantha have been dubbed "Final Girls" by the media. When Lisa seemingly commits suicide, Samantha seeks out Quincy, determined to connect with her. However, not everything is as it seems. Samantha seems to pull the rage out of Quincy, leading her from one bad situation to the other. In the middle is Coop, the police officer who rescued Quincy all those years ago.

I'm not going to give away the twist, but the author did a poor job of building up to it. It was expected rather than dramatic. Overall, not a book I would reread.

So I started Final Girls and finished it late in the night around 1:30 am. All I can say is YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED THIS BOOK. Request it on Netgalley, preorder it, go stand in line --- whatever you have to do to get your hands on a copy. I was reading along, pretty proud of myself that I had the killer figured out and the mystery solved and tra la la aren't I smart, and then Riley Sager slapped me in the face with the killer reveal and I still haven't picked my jaw up off the floor yet. If you read only one thriller this summer, let it be Final Girls. IT. IS. FANTASTIC!!!!!! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this heart stopping thriller in exchange for my honest review.

Extremely well written. This book kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. There was not one boring moment. The format of the story was very unique, how it was flip between past and present, and how the parts that took place in the past were told in third person so the source was reliable. This book had me fooled lots of times. At points I was very sure that I had it all figured out, but I was very wrong. This book will shock you. definitely a favorite and I will most definitely recommend it to friends.

I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars here.

This book kicked some serious a--!

"We were, for whatever reason, the lucky ones who survived when no one else had. Pretty girls covered in blood. As such, e were each in turn treated like something rare and exotic. A beautiful bird that spreads its bright wings only once a decade."

Ten years ago, Quincy Carpenter went to the woods with five of her friends to celebrate her best friend's birthday. But instead of the carefree celebration they planned, that night turned out to be something out of her worst nightmares. She was the only one to survive a brutal massacre. She can't seem to remember what happened, nor does she want to—all she remembers is being covered in blood and being rescued by a policeman after outsmarting a killer she can only refer to as "Him."

With that incident she became part of a group the press called the "Final Girls," with two other sole survivors of massacre-style attacks—Lisa, who witnessed an attack on her sorority house which left nine of her sorority sisters dead, and Samantha, who survived a late-night attack at the motel where she worked. The three girls want nothing more than to put their lives back together and somehow shake the memories that haunt them, as well as the guilt that they survived when their friends or others did not.

"Even before Pine Cottage, I never liked to watch scary movies because of the fake blood, the rubber knives, the characters who made decisions so stupid I guiltily thought they deserved to die. Only, what happened to us wasn't a movie. It was real life. Our lives. The blood wasn't fake. The knives were steel and nightmare-sharp. And those who died definitely didn't deserve it. But somehow we screamed louder, ran faster, fought harder. We survived.

Quincy has done fairly well pulling her life together, thanks in large part to her Xanax prescription, which helps keep any lingering anxiety at bay. She has a successful baking blog and a handsome, steadfast fiancée, Jeff. She also knows that Coop, the policeman who saved her life all those years ago is always looking out for her, ready to come if she needs him.

But then Quincy finds out that Lisa, one of her fellow "Final Girls," has apparently committed suicide, despite how hard she fought to survive all those years ago. If that isn't enough to cause Quincy to lose her composure, it turns out Lisa emailed her right before she died, trying to make contact with Quincy. And then Samantha shows up, ostensibly to check up on Quincy once she heard about Lisa's death (despite the fact that they've never met).

It appears Samantha has other motives in mind, too, as she is intent on getting Quincy to relive that night at Pine Cottage 10 years before, and challenges Quincy's carefully composed life. The more she forces Quincy out of her comfort zone, the more Quincy wonders why Samantha really appeared, and whether everyone else in her life is right to be suspicious. When new information about Lisa's death is revealed, Quincy doesn't know where to turn, or whom to trust, and whether she can handle reopening her memories to the trauma she survived 10 years ago.

Final Girls is full of suspense and twists and turns. Riley Sager is definitely a talented storyteller, and she knows how to throw a few misdirections the reader's way, so you don't know how things will be resolved in the end. She does a great job illustrating the dichotomy of Quincy's life, and how quickly the calm she has come to know can be shattered. I also like the way she developed Quincy and Sam's characters—I don't feel as if the other characters were given the same complexity and depth.

This is definitely one of those books which will make a terrific movie. I really enjoyed this a great deal, although some of the shifting back and forth between past and present was a little more jarring than it should have been. If you're a fan of suspense novels, this is one you'll want to pick up. It certainly will make you think the next time you hear about a sole survivor of a horrific incident.

NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

For being pegged a thriller, this book was a bit slow to start for me. To clarify, I enjoyed the beginning of this book, but I wasn't nervous or freaked out while the suspense slowly built. I didn't start feeling nervous or anxious about the plot until well into the second half of the book. Again, I enjoyed reading the entire novel, I just didn't peg it as a thriller.
Quincy is the prototype of the unreliable narrator. She simply doesn't remember anything after she found her friend bleeding to death on the night of the massacre up to the point where she found Coop, her rescuer. As readers, we know that the murderer was shot on the night of the massacre, but since this is a thriller, you know not to trust that the murder is actually dead!
In addition, you are given the suspense of the new investigation of Lisa (one of the other final girls') death. So, we get to be involved in figuring out what happened at two totally unrelated (or are they?) scenes that take place years apart.

I really enjoyed this novel. Its not a crazy and amazing literary masterpiece, but it is well written, it is fun, and it will keep you guessing until the end.

4.5/5 stars

I received a free e-copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. I highly recommend this book for horror lovers.

Quincy Carpenter is a survivor. Ten years ago, she was the only survivor of a horror movie-style massacre and joined the ranks of the "Final Girls." A term given to two other women who survived similar massacres. Quincy has determinedly put the past behind her. She can't remember much of what happened that night, and she has moved on, courtesy of Xanax and an obsession with baking. All she wants is to be "normal," and not to be identified solely as a victim. 

But her carefully constructed house of cards falls down when Lisa, one of the Final Girls, is found dead, her wrists slit. Soon the only other Final Girl, Sam, arrives on her doorstep. Sam's method of dealing with her past is an exercise in self-destruction, and her presence sends Quincy spiraling down into instability. When the police investigation of Lisa's death reveals that she was murdered, Quincy finds herself in a position where she can trust no one around her; not even her own memories.

This book surprised me. I went in expecting something leaning more towards the horror genre, and ended up with a tense little psychological thriller. I really enjoyed this book, and read it straight through in one sitting. The novel is told from Quincy's point of view, and we get a first hand look at the rituals she holds herself to in order to maintain her grasp on normalcy. It is all too easy for the rampaging presence of Sam to knock these habits into disarray, and Quincy's mental state with them. Interspersed between the chapters dealing with the here-and-now are chapters flashing back to the night of the massacre that Quincy survived as a college freshman. As both stories unfold, we must call into question everything we had learned before.

Sager does a brilliant job keeping the suspense going in this book. Her use of false leads and red herrings is masterfully done. Sager uses twists subtly telegraphed to hide other plot twists you will not see coming. We think we have guessed at a character's hidden secret, only to have that secret be revealed as surface clutter to a more cunningly hidden depth.

Fans of Lisa Unger, Ruth Ware, or Karin Slaughter will likely enjoy this book. Anyone looking for a unique and riveting take on the horror genre should also pick up this book. 
An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I smugly thought I had the murderer figured out early on (I was wrong), switched horses at the halfway point (wrong again), and my jaw literally dropped when what "really" happened at Pine Cottage was revealed. The full-circle ending was my favorite part of the book. It showed that Quincy had finally accepted, and even embraced, the role as a Final Girl assigned by the world. That ending was simply perfect.

Take nothing for granted, enjoy the ride, and recommend this one to your friends.

Quincy, Lisa, and Sam are "Final Girls." Meaning, they are the sole survivors of separate, horrific massacres. The story is generally told from Quincy's perspective as she tries to move on from That Night. Circumstances bring Quincy and Sam into each other's lives for the first time and twisty things ensue.

Stephen King rec'd "Final Girls" on Twitter and I was SO excited when I got approved on NetGalley to read this. "Final Girls" has everything I want in a book: psychological thriller, unreliable narrator, dark and sinister subject, and a WTF-type ending.

Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for letting me read!

I loved this entertaining and gripping psychological thriller. The plot, and subsequent narrative, felt fresh and engaging, while avoiding the overused tropes that plague the thriller genre. The story is told over two timelines with intense, heart-pounding flashback scenes contrasted against the light contemporary setting of the present day. This is a fantastic summer read.

This novel addresses the familiar horror movie trope of a "final girl", where one female who survives to the end of the story after watching everyone else die. This books answers the question of what happens to these women when they try to move on and have normal lives in spite of their overwhelming survivors' guilt.

The story is purposely quite ambiguous, building up slowly without giving away too much.. The reader blindly follows the story narrative without knowing exactly where the plot is going or which characters to trust. The massacres were grisly by their nature, yet they are described in ways that will make them palatable for the average reader.

The story manages to strike a delicate balance in tone. The bloody backstories are contrasted against the contemporary images of a entrepreneurial baker, without making the story feel cheesy. In the story, the main character uses baking as a coping strategy and a form of therapy. The baking scenes, themselves, are absolutely mouthwatering with descriptions of cupcakes and other delicious sweets. These paragraphs lighten the tone of the novel,offering the reader some much need tension relief. These descriptions of frosting and bread are guaranteed to to induce sugar cravings.

The writing is strong with a clean style that reads seamlessly. Sager's word choice was particularly striking, creating imagery that will stick in the mind of the reader. All the characters are complex and well developed. I was very impressed by Sager as an author and look forward to reading whatever she chooses to write next.

I requested this from the publisher via netgalley.

I loved this story! As a big horror fan it was so fun to see someone play with the popular Final Girl trope and put a unique spin on it. This was such a gripping thriller, I couldn't finish it fast enough!

REVIEW: Final Girls by Riley Sager
June 13, 2017rachandbooksEdit
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There is a term given to three women who share separate but similar stories: they have each been the last ones standing in brutal horror-story level massacres. Lisa lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife. Sam went up against the Sack Man during a late shift at the Nightlight Inn. And then there’s Quincy, who escaped the woods from Pine Cottage from the man she can only refer to as Him. Five friends went into the cottage and only Quincy made it out alive.

They were the lone survivors. They’re dubbed the Final Girls.

10 years after that terrible night at the cottage, Quincy Carpenter, despite everything, is trying to live a normal life. And she’s succeeding. Then, suddenly, Quincy finds out that Lisa is dead and it’s ruled an apparent suicide. This prompts Sam to suddenly appear at Quincy’s door, hellbent on figuring out Quincy’s past and current life, because Quincy’s memories of that fateful night have been blacked out since it happened. It’s something she used to be content with. All of this causes Quincy to question if she’s truly moved on. Each of the girls has secrets and Quincy is now trying to separate the truths from the lies from those around her. The story unravels from here. Secrets are exposed, intentions are revealed, and the reader is given glimpses into what really happened on that nightmare of a night so many years ago.

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Ever since I was a little girl, I loved horror movies–and mysteries and thrillers, as well. I was practically raised on them. I knew very well what I was getting myself into with Final Girls and couldn’t wait to be taken on this journey. I love rooting on “final girls” in films. Ellen Ripley, Sarah Carter, Laurie Strode… to name a few. They’re proof that women can prevail. There’s something empowering about there being a final girl. And you know what else I adore? When stories decide to slip tropes on their head. That’s what happened here because the story begins AFTER the horrible events that lead these women to be the final girls. And, more than that, our protagonist, Quincy, is rejecting the title, whereas Sam and Lisa embrace it. I was so excited by the premise and I wasn’t disappointed by it in the slightest.

This story has been compared to a rollercoaster ride and I think that’s truly accurate. It takes you on this WILD ride that grips you until the *very* end. Riley Sager is a fantastic writer. The pacing is fast and the intensity builds and builds, which is exactly what you want with this kind of story. You HAVE to know what happens next. I think the most exciting bits of the story happens when you read segments from the past and begin slowly piecing everything together. Or attempt to, at least. The twists and turns will leave you feeling woozy in the best way. I was blown away by this book. By the intriguing plot, the well-thought out characters, the REVEALS, the ominous tone, the layers of storytelling–everything!

This is one of those books that once you pick up, you find yourself not being able to put down until you know everything. The last 30% was utterly exhilarating. And the end of the novel has me sitting here reeling. I’m so impressed by this debut work. You should all go ahead and add this to your TBRs, pre-order it, all of that, because this book is going to be huge. Especially if you love thrillers, slasher films, and mysteries. I really enjoyed reading it. This book is certainly worth 5 stars. I look forward to reading more from Riley Rager in the future!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much to the the publisher, Dutton, Penguin Random House, and to the author, Riley Sager, for giving me this opportunity.

FINAL GIRLS will be available in stores on July 11, 2017!!

Wow this book was right up my alley! I was totally hooked right from the very first page. I have read so many thrillers that lately I have found myself able to predict the big plot twists, but not with this one! I did not see it coming. I find it difficult to review these types of books as I think it's best to know as little as possible going into it and I don't want to spoil anything. I will say though, that the characters were so so well written. I really felt like I'd formed friendships with each one of the main girls. Read this book!!!

Phew. I think I've been waiting to read this book since I first heard of it as far back as a year ago. A novel about three survivors of three separate serial killers that are suddenly in danger in present-day checked my mystery/thriller/slasher film boxes simultaneously.  I am so happy that this book met my expectations. Strong female characters and an excellent plot are not something I should have to mention, but I feel like I want to make sure I'm giving credit where it's well-earned. 

The protagonist of this novel, Quincy Carpenter was the victim of a murder spree that ended with all of her closest friends dead while she was saved by the intervening of a cop-now turned life protector, Cooper. She has no memory of the murders and has managed to successfully rebuild her life in New York City with a desserts blog and longterm boyfriend. In spite of her attempts at reinventon, she is forever linked in the media to two other "final girls", the lone survivors of their own mass murder sprees, but she wants nothing to do with fellow final girls Lisa or Sam. Quincy's perfectly curated world falls apart with news of Lisa's death and the arrival of Sam into Quincy's life.  As both women cope with their own unresolved traumas, they realize that Lisa's death may have left more questions.

I can't say too much more about the plot because I think this is one of the books that requires a delicate balance to avoid giving up too much. I will say that I read a lot of mysteries and I watch a lot of slasher movies and I was still surprised by the outcome of this book. 

This book doesn't officially come out for another month but it's the perfect add-on to your weekender bag this July. I couldn't put this one down and it may end up being on my favorites list in what is turning into a really crowded year. The plot moves without speeding too fast to enjoy and the characters all feel authentic without being too by the numbers.  Final Girls is worth the time I gave it, and satisfied my need for a good thriller this summer. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC!

This is how you do a psychological thriller!!!

Quincy Carpenter is the lone survivor of a grisly crime. Ten years ago she went away with a group of friends to a cabin in the woods (sounds like the setting for a horror movie) to celebrate the birthday of a friend. She is the only one who came home alive. Everyone that weekend was murdered, Quincy was attacked as well, but survived her ordeal only to not remember what happened. She remembers arriving at the cabin with her friends, she remembers events leading up to the night of the murders, and she remembers being saved by a police officer as she ran through the woods covered by blood. The police investigating the murders don't believer her when she does not recall the attack. How could everyone be murdered viciously and she survived with non-life threatening stab wounds?

Now the press has dubbed her a "final girl" She in not the only one with this title. Two other women who have survived vicious attacks have also been dubbed "final girls" by the media. The press and society are interested in how these women survived. The press wants to know everything about their attacks and what these "final girls" had to do in order to survive.

Quincy has made a life for herself since her ordeal. She lives with her boyfriend, she has a baking blog and gets through her day with the help of her Xanax prescription. She has also maintained a relationship with Coop, the police officer who saved her all those years ago. Even after ten years, she still can't remember the massacre that occurred at the cabin.

Then she receives word that one of the other "final girls", Lisa is dead, and the other final girl (Sam) shows up on her doorstep. Suddenly Quincy's life is turned upside down and she starts engaging in activities that are out of the norm for her. Sam wants Quincy to remember what happened the night she was attacked. She tells her that knowing will set her free....but will it? Do you really want to remember your worst nightmare? Will knowing set your free or will it make things worse?

Soon Quincy begins to have her doubts about her new "friend" Sam, about the night her friends were murdered. She learns more details about Lisa's death which make her even more concerned about Sam, her own recent behaviors and that horrible night all of those years ago. Suddenly the nice comfortable life she has built for herself begins to unravel.

Reading this book was like watching a really good horror film/psychological thriller and I do mean that as a compliment! This book had a lot of twists and turns. I like when a book can keep me guessing. There were so many ways this book could have ended and I think this book ended brilliantly. Quite a few times I thought I had this book figured out. I liked that it managed to shock me. I also loved how the Author wrote each character to be interesting - I didn't like all of the characters but they had depth and felt real.

Everything unravels at the perfect pace. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. I also enjoyed the way the story is presented. The reader is given glimpses into what happened ten years ago at the cottage as Quincy ,in the present day, is going about her life. As Quincy begins to remember more, the reader is shown more of the past. This was a very nice touch! As that "AHA" moment comes to Quincy it is also revealed to the reader. I felt like I was on the road to discovery with the main character. The story-line told at the cabin was very atmospheric. It was actually quite perfect and gave the story that "horror film" type feel to it. The atmosphere is foreboding, creepy and dark - this setting the "mood" for the massacre.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I wish I had the time to go back and read this book all over again. It really is that good! I have a feeling this book is going to be on my top 10 favorite books of the year list! I highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book from Penguin Group/Dutton and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (I honestly LOVED it btw!)

I had been looking forward to reading Final Girls for quite while and I can say that I really enjoyed it. The book is written from Quincy's perspective and flips back and forth between the present and the night at Pine Cottage, slowly telling the back story throughout the book. I do have to say that Quincy as a character was not my favorite and I found her quite annoying at times. It was very interesting to read about Quincy and Sam's relationship after Sam comes into her life and they start to get to know each other. I do have to say that there were a few parts of the book that seemed to slow down a bit and I kept waiting for the plot twist to happen, which of course thought I had figured out. The plot wasn't exactly clear at all times and sometimes I wasn't really sure where it was going. That is where there 4 stars comes from because I was quite impressed by the multiple plot twists towards the end of the book. I do have to say that after the impressive plot twists, the ending wasn't exactly what I expected. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to suspense and thriller fans.

Thank you to the publisher was sending me an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Riley Sager, and Dutton (Penguin Random House) for the advanced reader copy of Final Girls. I give this book a solid 3.5 stars (but oh so close to 4, especially for the first half of the book).

Let me begin by saying that I am not a huge fan of horror literature, so I was hesitant to review the book. After seeing all the great reviews and hype, however, I decided to request a copy. It did not disappoint, and if I was a fan of this genre, I would probably give it a higher rating.

The book starts out with Quincy, who has become a seemingly normal and very successful food and cooking blogger. She lives in a nice, semi-upscale apartment in a big city, and has a loving lawyer boyfriend to boot. As we soon find out, Quincy's normalcy is a ruse; she was a victim of a heinous crime that involved the deaths of all her close college friends during what was supposed to be a fun trip to a cabin in the woods (yes, it's that cliched).

Quincy is the only person to survive the massacre, and as a result she is known as a "final girl" by the media. Final girls are women who have been the lone survivors of violent killing sprees. To her knowledge, there are two other "final girls" out there: Lisa and Samantha. Lisa has managed to make her life also seem normal, and has written a bestselling book about being a survivor. Samantha, in contrast, has disappeared off the radar of society, and no one knows what she looks like or where she went.

Though Quincy seems to have everything (despite being a victim/survivor of a brutal crime), she is wounded. She takes Xanax to ease her constant anxiety. She bakes to exercise control over something, even if it is just a recipe. She feels like she cannot be intimate with or trust anyone, including her own boyfriend. Her scars are not visible to others, but she lives with them day in and day out. On top of this, Quincy has psychological damage that prevents her from accessing memories of the day of her attack, making her question what happened and even her own sanity.

Quincy's life is shaken up when Samantha, one of the final girls, shows up in her neighborhood after Lisa, the other final girl, has supposedly committed suicide. Samantha, or "Sam," is looking to connect with Quincy given their unique status as now the only two "final girls" left standing. At first, Quincy denies Sam's offer of friendship, and questions her motives for showing up at this particular moment in time. But something is off with Sam, and Quincy, desperate to relieve her daily anxiety and pain, befriends someone who seems just like her on the inside (but definitely not on the outside). As readers will soon discover, many people in this book aren't who they initially seem to be, which leads readers on a quest to discover the truth behind the final girls and the events that lead up to Quincy's attack.

The first half of the book was excellent, but it slowed down at about the half-way mark. Nonetheless, it makes for a good summer read, and is well written.

3.5, actually. It's definitely a page turner, it makes you itchy to know what happened and what will happen to the main character. My problem was that it still lacked some oomph and any character I could actually cheer for. But let's talk about the plot first.

Final Girls are what people call the sole survivors from massacres. Even in real life, there are three of those, Lisa, Samantha and the main character, Quincy. But Quincy doesn't feel she is one, she doesn't even remember what happened that night all her friends and boyfriend died. She only remembers being found by police officer Coop, who still now takes care of her. Despite what her current boyfriend thinks, secretly she still has a lot to deal with, like a compulsion to steal shiny things so she can see her reflex. She is under control until she hears about Lisa's suicide and so-far-off-the-radar Samantha shows up in front of her home.

The story is mainly narrated in first person from Quincy's point of view but there small parts done in third person, still from her point of view. This is a minor complaint but whenever they changed to third person, it would feel like a cold shower. I kind of understand the effect Sager was going for—this mainly happened for flashbacks to the night of the massacre—, but I don't think the pro was worth the con.

My big issue was that I couldn't cheer for any character. A big reason was that I suspected anyone, even some homeless guy who was mentioned once, lol. That's a good thing for a thriller, right? I still manage to pick a side, to want to protect someone there. It didn't happen in this book. No one came too close to being likeable. Which made this book not likeable for me.

We have quite a number of plot twists. Some I hadn't considered, so I can't call it predictable. And even those I considered, it wasn't the type I was sure it could only be that. That's why I repeat, this was surely a page turner. And very easy to read too. I'm not a fast reader but I read the second half in basically one sitting, I didn't even want to stop to go to the bathroom.

Nonetheless, the twists weren't much surprising. On the bright side, they weren't the type that makes you want to throw the book against the wall. Nor were they too expected, we had other possible options. This brings us back to what I mentioned, the book lacked oomph. The wow element. And it lacked good characters.

However, it's a book I can say very few could utterly hate. Some may even fall in love with it. If you're interested, go ahead and give it a try. As for me, I just liked it, nothing more, nothing less. In fact, I want to read more from Sager, because chances are high I'll find something I really love.