I thought Final Girls was a lot of fun. This book runs with the idea of what happens after the credits of a slasher movie. There are many twists and turns within a thoroughly entertaining and fast-paced story. I feel like this will be adapted into a film and it would make a good one.

<i>Final Girls</i> should have been a slam dunk. It has not just one but THREE (!) spunky, lady-survivors of horrific massacres. The "Final Girls" as they are dubbed, attempt to dodge the press and live lives of relative obscurity until a tragic death forces them to revisit their pasts. All of this sounds awesome, but unfortunately the book is bogged down with an unlikable narrator and a series of extremely illogical choices. I couldn't make the leap of faith required to follow along with the story. I just kept saying, "Why on earth did she do that? WHO would do that?? Arghhhhhhh, whyyyyyyy!"

Anyway, I would recommend this book to folks who like slasher films, and gruesome thrillers and who can suspend their disbelief for more than 2 seconds (unlike myself).

I'm not really sure the premise of this book holds up. The idea that there are "Final Girls" who are sole survivors of mass killing sprees (just like in your average horror movie!) seems a bit of a stretch. I can't think of one instance, but in this book there are 3 "Final Girls" who have survived infamous massacres at around the same time. Now, 10 years on, one of the three has contacted Quincy Carpenter, another survivor. Quincy has tried to get on with her life after surviving the cabin-in-the-woods horror that happened while she was in college. Although she was injured, she's been able (with the help of a non-stop flow of Xanax and grape soda) to carve out a successful career as a food blogger (not sure how that works, but OK . . .). Then one day she's contacted by Samantha, another Final Girl who's been off the radar for years. Coincidentally, just as they meet it turns out that the third Final Girl, Lisa, has been found dead. This ignites a press frenzy as reporters try to outdo each other in their attempts to get photos and quotes from the surviving girls. It turns out Sam really doesn't have any money or a place to stay in New York City (where Quincy lives with her public defender boyfriend, Jeff), so Quincy invites her for an indefinite stay. Sam for some reason keeps goading Quincy to do things she doesn't want to do, including pressing her on the details of her own horrific experience. It seems that Quincy has been unable to recall what happened on the night all of her friends were killed, much to the consternation of the police who investigated the crime at the time. Eventually, there will be a confrontation that forces Quincy to recall things she had buried for so long, and these recollections will (of course) put her in danger.

I didn't especially enjoy the book, from the wimpy Quincy to the abrasive Sam, and thought the ending was a bit of a stretch.

Grab some popcorn and prepare to be entertained as you dive into this entertaining and twisted thriller!
Horror movie aficionados know the concept of a final girl- the last female left alive after a killer's rampage. When Quincy Carpenter survived a massacre where all the rest of her friends were murdered, the press labeled her a Final Girl- a new member of a very exclusive club that consist of two other women who were the only ones to walk away from their own tragedies. Quincy has no desire to claim this label, though- she can't remember what happened to her during that terrible night, and doesn't see why she can't just forget what happened and move on. That seems to work for a while, but when one of the final girls dies, and the other confronts Quincy, claiming that a killer might be targeting them, Quincy's perfect new life rapidly unravels.
While definitely a fast paced read full of twists and surprises, Sager adds depth and interest to the story by creating a complex and evolving main character that is flawed but sympathetic. Readers will be very invested in seeing if Quincy can retain her status as the last one standing when the last page has been turned.

Overview…

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It was one of the most incredible psycho thrillers that I’ve ever read, kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and had a very, very good ending that helped pull the entire piece together. I first came across this book when Stephen King (yes, THE Stephen King) recommended it via Twitter, and I cannot explain how excited I was to receive an e-ARC and have the opportunity to read it. The best possible compliment I can give the book is that it reminded me somewhat of a Gillian Flynn novel, and was definitely up to her standards, although of course it was uniquely Riley Sager. But, if you enjoyed the likes of Sharp Objects and Gone Girl, I can promise you that you will adore this can’t-put-down read.

The Plot…

Wow. Just wow. That’s really all I have to say for this section. Sager did such a good job of creating a plot which moved quickly enough to be an edge of your seat read, but not so quickly that you felt as though it was rushed. Although there were elements of “action” throughout, there were also plenty of scenes which took their time to unfold, and the fast paced scenes were all the better for it.

Although there were plot twists, very good ones, it always seemed realistic, and in fact probable, after the fact. That’s something that I love about this book. It never felt like they were stretching to create a plot and thereby doing something which didn’t fit with the natural character flow. Twists were VERY, VERY surprising, but in hindsight you could see how/why.

What I think made this book special was that throughout the book, Quincy can’t remember what happened to her at Pine Cottage, the place where all of her friends were killed by a psycho named Joe and she was brutally injured. Because of the way it unfolds, you know that there is something more to the story but you don’t know what. To pull you in, Sager occasionally utilizes flashbacks to Pine Cottage so that you see what is happening slowly, as present day occurs. I think this offered a good change of pace and kept you hooked the entire time.

The Characters…

The main character, Quincy, has a lot of issues that she attempts to cover up throughout the novel. She seems afraid of facing her real self in a way that makes her at once vulnerable and strong. Even though she is a Final Girl– supposedly the toughest and the strongest– she has a plethora of weaknesses, and everything seems real.

Sam, the other mainest character, is a deeper, more mysterious personality, and that helps add a lot to the book. Whereas Quincy’s emotions are all laid out there for the readers to see, Sam is a mystery who you struggle to uncover, and yet she somehow seems so developed the entire time.

Reasons I Loved It…

It was overall an amazing read. Thrillers are always exciting, and I loved this one because the whole premise was likely to happen. 3 mass murders, 3 female survivors, all lauded by the media…. It’s just so cool and such a 21st century thing. After the general concept, Sager did a great job at actually DOING something with her plot and bringing it to life. It would have been easy to make a flat story line, but Sager did the opposite.

Ugh Moments…

Umm this is a 5 star review so I don’t really think there are any? Like I honestly can’t think of any flaws whatsoever and that’s worrying me slightly? I’ll edit this if I think of anything.

Diversity and Triggers…

I can’t really think of any diverse characters in this novel whatsoever, so you aren’t going to get any of that.

As far as triggers, there are TONS of mentions of mental illness. Quincy has anxiety and just a generally messed up brain and has to take Xanax for it. Her mental disorder causes her to steal things and drink too much wine, but IMO this is a normal reaction for someone who saw all of their friends murdered in college?? It never stereotyped or grouped all illnesses together, so it wasn’t making a comment on mental illness in general.

There was also a boy named Joe who was locked up in the mental institution, escaped, and murdered all of Quincy’s friends at Pine Cottage. That being said, once more it is not stereotyped and there is other development with this character.

Obviously, the book contains violence, including many deaths, stabbing, and strangulation which, although to me that sounds exciting, may be worrisome to others. Also there are drug and alcohol references.

Summary…

IF YOU READ ONE THRILLER THIS YEAR IT HAS TO BE THIS ONE. I know it’s early to say this, but I think it might be one of my favorite reads of 2017, and it most likely would have been in the top 5 of 2016 as well. I will be on the lookout for more of Riley Sager’s books in the future, because it was that good.

Growing up, my summers were spent walking to 711, drinking Slurpees, and watching slasher films. By high school, you could hardly get me and one of my closest friends to watch anything other than horror movies. Reading Final Girls by Riley Sager was so fun for me because it really took me back to that time.

"Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another.
Final Girls opens with a classic slasher film scene: a girl running through the forest soaked in blood. We soon find out that girl's name is Quincy, and she is the sole survivor of a massacre that just took place at her friend's vacation home. Throughout the novel, Sager continues to bring us back to that frightful night with flashbacks that slowly build up to reveal the truth of what happened."

In the present day, we find Quincy attempting to move on from her horrific past. Things seem to be going alright for her - she has a successful blog, her own apartment, and a serious boyfriend. But that all goes to hell when fellow final girl, Sam, shows up at her doorstep following the death of Lisa - the original final girl.

What follows is Quincy's attempts at finding the truth of what happened all those years ago. I tore through this book in a couple of days. It's exciting and quick - an engrossing guilty pleasure. If you're looking for a dark, twisty book for your summer TBR pile, put this book right on top.

I'll start by saying that this took me some time to finish. I read it on and off for around a month, which may reflect how I feel about it. I wasn't gripped enough to want to finish this. It took sometime to get going and while I was waiting for that I wasn't compelled to read, but once the twists and turns started, I was excited to finish it.

<b>Release Date: 07.11.17</b>

I finished this novel in two sittings, over the span of five hours. This debut release from Riley Sager is a story that must be completed once begun — so don't start it on a school or work night!

To discuss much of the plot would spoil the story, and that's no good. So, I'll say this: <i>Final Girls</i> is the story of three girls (though we see the story through the perspective of only one, as is necessary), all lone survivors of gruesome massacres. They share a bond with one another, and it is from this bond horrific secrets and ties come to light. I would love to say more, really, but I can't. I don't want to risk spoiling anything.

Written in the vein of Gillian Flynn (though this is grittier and scarier than Flynn's stuff, I found) while being its own thing, this is a stunning ride — one on which the brakes stop working just after it begins. This author successfully pulled the rug out from under me no less than six times; every time I thought I knew the direction in which this grisly thriller was going, it galloped somewhere else entirely. I had to give in and give up, and put myself totally at this author's mercy. If it weren't for a dinner break, I would have read this book even faster.

A totally original and complex exploration of a hellish scenario, <i>Final Girls</i> might just be the best book I've read this year. I suspect it will become a runaway success upon release, and rightfully so.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC, which was given in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Final Girls is about three girls who each had their own traumatic experience with murder, serial killings, massacres, etc. Lisa, Sam, and Quincy. Suddenly Lisa turns up dead and Sam shows up at Quincy's house to bond with her. This story follows Quincy regaining her lost memory of the events that transpired during her experience with the Pine Cottage massacre. I can't say too much more about this because it is so much better to go into it with as little knowledge as possible.

There are so many twists and turns in the book that we are questioning what is real and who we can trust at every turn. I was honestly surprised by where the story went and the conclusion left me breathless.

The characters were so relatable and real that I was easily drawn into their story and feeling their emotions along with them. It's not every day that I read a book where I can actually connect with the characters.

I know I have nothing really negative to say about this book so you are probably wondering why I only gave it 4.5 stars. Well, have you ever read a book that you loved but just couldn't bring yourself to give it 5 stars? This is one of those books for me. When I give a book a full 5 stars it almost instantly gets put on my favorites list. After I have had some time to think about it, it may come to be a full 5 stars but as of right now my brain is just too full. It could also be that I am pretty stingy when it comes to 5 star ratings.

I definitely recommend this book. It comes out July 2017 and if you are a fan of thrillers/mysteries/psychological genres then I say give this one a shot, you won't regret it.

<b> I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. My opinions are my own and have in no way been influenced by the publishers. </b>

Finished this book just the other day and I'm a little conflicted. While I enjoyed reading it (I particularly liked the ending, very satisfying), I had one problem with it that took me out of the story while reading. Towards the end of Sam's stay with Quincy, when the revelations begin - I felt like there were a lot of leaps in logic. Quincy seems to take the information from Nancy and the journalist and then BOOM! All is known. But the information that she received didn't warrant those types of conclusions. It was like 1 + 1 = Dog. It became unbelievable and pulled me out of the story

This might be the psychological thriller of the year to beat!

It's briiiilliant.

(And to think I almost passed on it because I saw "slasher"/"horror movie" across reviews, and Stephen King compared its likability to "Gone Girl." All turnoffs to me.)

I must've looked like I Krazy Glue'd my Kindle to my hand, because I did not put it down even to use the kitchen, the loo, or to sleep!! And then, after finishing the book, I couldn't sleep — couldn't stop thinking about the story (and wondering which talented author wrote it under this pseudonym).

Thank you, NetGalley and Dutton, for the advanced reader copy.

Too much of doing nothing going on. I made it 50-60% of the way through before giving up out of boredom. Which was truly surprising give how stoked I was to read this.

This psychological thriller is gripping and intense. It's a twisty drama that had me guessing until the end.

This is a must read for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train! Quincy spent the night in a cabin with a few friends who all got murdered except for her but she doesn't remember what happened. She is considered a Final Girl, along with two other girls who were the lone survivors of similar incidents. Quincy is doing well enough in life after the events until Lisa, one of the other Final Girls is found dead. Full of twists and turns, this story will grab a hold of you and won't let go. And that ending!!

This is an awesome thriller! Definitely going to be a favorite book for many readers this year.

If you are a fan of the old slasher horror films, have you ever wondered what happened to the survivors? What did they do after they escaped a masked murderer whom seemed like a legend, family member, or someone close to snap and change their world forever. This is the story of those survivors.

Final Girls is a brilliantly crafted thriller for the new age. It takes the question of "What happens next?" and blows it up to create this world that thrives on digging into these poor girls' tragic pasts and transforming them into celebrities who merely want to be normal again. Only they cannot be normal ever again nor can they hide from the cameras. These "Final Girls" have secrets and they are about to be exposed, but who will truly be the surviving "Final Girl" in the end?

I received this copy from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Final Girls follows Quincy Carpenter, the sole survivor of a massacre that killed all her friends some 10 years ago. She along with Lisa and Samantha, are sole survivors of horrendous massacres, and they have been dubbed Final Girls by the press. This is movie speak for the girl who is still alive at the end of a horror movie, and Lisa, Samantha and Quincy are the three unlucky real world members of this exclusive club. They are all survivors, they all have secrets, and unfortunately for them someone still wants them dead...

Final Girls is an excellent psychological suspense novel, it kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the fast thrilling pace and the killer plot twists. Just when I though I had figured out the ending, and knew who the murder was going to be- BAM another twist!

One of the best thrillers I have read in a long time, and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for Riley Sager’s next book.

I loved this book! One of the best I've read in a long time. It kept my interest, kept me guessing, and I didn't want to put it down. I can't say enough good things about this book and I would love to read anything else this author writes. I highly recommend it!

Any horror movie fan is familiar with the “final girl” trope. The one girl who makes it out alive from the massacre going on in the movie. Usually, she ends up killing the killer. This book looks at what life is like for the “final girl” after she is rescued and safe. Having to deal with the fame, and the constant media presence, people who just want a piece of her.

Quincy is a final girl, having survived a massacre at an isolated cabin in the woods. Lisa and Sam are also final girls, and the press keeps trying to lump all three of them together. Quincy is against meeting them, until she hears about Lisa’s death. Initially thought of as suicide, there is something suspicious about her death. And something suspicious about Sam, who shows up on Quincy’s doorstep shortly after Lisa dies.

Quincy does not remember most of what happened to her the night she and her friends were attacked. But she is unwillingly drawn into finding out what happened to Lisa, and what really happened to her that night in the woods.

This book was very exciting. The action was non stop and I was always interested in what was going to happen next. The story of Quincy in the cabin is parceled out slowly over the course of the book. By the end, we know the truth and so does Quincy. The ending was a real WTF moment for me. I did not see it coming, and I am not sure how I feel about it.

I loved seeing what happens to these women after the initial violence is over. The psychological damage is profound, yet they try to get on with just living a normal life. I enjoyed reading this book very much. 4 1/2 stars out of 5!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.