You Will Be Mine is a mystery/thriller that takes place around Valentine's Day. This book centers around Lylah and her group of friends right before they are about to go out to a Valentine's themed play. Right before they leave there's a creepy note that has been left on their doorstep made using letters clipped from magazines. They all play it off as a prank but that changes when Sonny never comes home.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I was expecting to. The mystery element was really interesting and what made me want to push through the story. However, there were more elements that I had problems with than I enjoyed. I didn't care for any of the characters. One person made a suggestion of who might be behind what was going on and they all just blindly went along with it even though there wasn't any proof. It frustrated me that characters constantly made terrible decisions even when they knew what they were doing was wrong. Also, I didn't find it very believable the way the investigators handled the whole situation. Overall, I thought this was an okay thriller but it's not one I would recommend for everyone.

I really enjoyed this mystery/thriller! The story flowed extremely well and I couldn’t read fast enough. It was entertaining to a degree that I was never bored and stayed up way past my bedtime to finish.

The major twist in this book was when the killer was revealed, I couldn’t believe it. I was convinced I knew who the killer was and then was thrown for a loop. Towards the end though, I was so convinced that I knew who was the murder that when they were revealed, I gasped out loud in shock!

While the characters were likeable for the most part, there were times where I wanted to hit them upside the head for acting so stupid. They were constantly doing things that put themselves in danger. I would understand it if they did it once or maybe even twice but then they should have learned their lesson.

Some of the characters actions are my only complaint about this story. It would have been a little more relatable and believable if they wouldn’t have done certain things.

I wish there had been flashbacks of somesort with the main characters and the prime murder suspect. Without spoiling anything, I think this would have given a bit more insight into who he was, instead he felt a bit like a stranger.

This is the exact kind of story that would make a great binge worthy TV show or movie! I hope it gets turned into one someday.

I really enjoyed the way this story ended and hope there will be a second book!

Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.

It kind of has an Agatha Christie feel to it.
And not just because at least one of the characters will annoy you. I'm sorry; but these kids have a giant target painted on them and they're so nonchalant about it.
But besides that it is a very "Christie" mystery. Very And Then There Were None.

Who's next? Who's doing it? And why?!

It makes it obvious who the killer isn't, so you'll definitely be making a long list of suspects.
And then, like with any great mystery, be completely surprised by the final outcome.

It's really great; not only will it keep you guessing but it'll leave you in suspense. Mysteries fans will absolutely enjoy it.

Lylah and her friends try to outrun a killer bent on revenge and fixated on their little household. They obviously don’t do too well though since more than one of them ends up murdered. The characters in this novel were ok, although I found Lylah to be a tad whiny, but I guess that’s to be expected when your friends are being killed off. The plot of the book was really good. Even though I did kind of see the plot twist at the end coming, it was still super creepy and dark/twisted and I thought it was great. The book was appropriately creepy too, I found myself looking over my shoulder for bad guys while I was reading it. I also like that this was a horror story centered around the Valentine’s Day holiday, I thought that was a fun twist on what is normally just a mushy day. My issues with the story line mostly consisted of what felt like holes in the plot or incomplete sections. At one point Riley and Lylah argue and I don’t think the reader knows what happens to Riley then but Lylah goes upstairs and goes to sleep with Chase. Just felt a little scattered with the plot line in some parts. Other than that I liked the book a lot and I thought it was a great book for what’s normally a romantic holiday.

I couldn't put this book down because I just had to keep reading to see who the killer was and I was suprised when I found out who it was. Totally didn't see that one coming.

This books had me on the edge of my seat.


I highly recommend.

I give You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston a 5 out of 5.

A young adult serial killer, suspenseful novel that I was able to read in one sitting !

Six college students trying to outwit and out play a serial killer, some with their own lives, makes for a great read !

Natasha has a way with twisting a story that makes your mind flit one way and then another, suspect to suspect ! I had so many different ideas, but when it came out and all fell into place I wanted to re-read to work it all out !

4 Stars

Donna
4TLOReading

Natasha Preston is a new to me author and this is not the type of book I would normally read. However, that being said, I was intrigued by the premise and decided to try it out.

I am so glad I did! I was sufficiently creeped out by this story. It was written so well. While the characters annoyed me at times, I thought the storyline was great. The twists and turns caught me off guard and I found myself on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. I was addicted to learning everything about what was going on.

I really enjoyed this. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Lylah has finally moved on from her past. She’s at college, and she has a great group of friends that she lives with. She’s doing well in class, but she looks forward to going out with her friends, too.

One evening as they’re all getting ready, the doorbell rings and they find a note. ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE. WATCH YOUR BACK, I'M COMING FOR YOU. Lylah is freaked out, but her friends laugh it off. Except Sonny never comes home from the club. And a new note arrives.

Now Lylah and her friends are the target of a mysterious killer with an agenda. A killer the cops can’t seem to find…or even figure out who they’re looking for. Incidents from Lylah’s past give them clues, and soon the group is desperate to catch the killer before any more friends are targeted.

I’ve read a couple of Preston’s books before, so the twists didn’t really surprise me...I usually decide the least likely suspect is the culprit until proven wrong (Note: this is not always accurate, but that’s how my brain works.). The creepiness level in this book was on-point, but the characters’ actions kind of ruined it for me. Um, I’m pretty sure that if several of my friends had been lured out of the house and murdered, I would not go anywhere by myself without telling a soul. Nor would I feel like the cops protecting me were in the way of my life and try to slip away from them. Maybe that’s just me? Verdict: great premise, creepy execution, but the characters just weren’t believable enough for me to be truly riveted. (I was actually quite annoyed at several points…to the point where I didn’t actually care if they died.)

Natasha Preston is the English author of The Cellar and The Cabin. You Will Be Mine is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review.)

I was really excited to read this because it reminded me of the old Christopher Pike and RL Stine thrillers I used to read as a kid. It would've been published under Scholastic's Point imprint with a red font for the title that looked like dripping blood. I have a ridiculous amount of fond nostalgia for those books.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't very good. It seemed to escalate really fast and, while I understood that Lylah and her friends were in danger, it seemed like Lylah was terrified immediately. I can understand being scared once there's a body count, but the first few notes were kind of low-key creepy, the kind that's only really scary once things start happening later. (Also, apparently they go to a school that's famous for pranks, which...weird, right?)

It's definitely a fun read, but I didn't really like any of the characters and I didn't like the identity of the note-sender. Ultimately, this one just fell short for me.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I choose to review this book because I'm a big fan of Natasha Preston since she wrote the Cellar. This book had me captivated since I read the description: Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Watch your Back, I'm coming for you!

I felt like this book was very suspenseful and I didn't guess the killer, which is rare for me. As I read each chapter I kept thinking someone else was the killer.

I would get so angry with the characters for constantly going out and drinking, haven't they ever seen the movies?!?! I did love the love story between Lylah and Chace...just kiss already! But it was a very sweet love story.

If you are a fan of Natasha Preston or if you are just looking for something new to read I recommend this book!!

Book Review: You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston
Publication date: February 6, 2018
Read courtesy of netgalley.com

The author did a really good job of throwing the reader off the trail of the real killer in You Will Be Mine. I normally don't pick up mysteries or murder mysteries to read, but I liked trying to guess this who-dunnit. However, the other possible victims hung around too long for me to read the rest of the story as any more than a Scooby Doo mystery ... a little too unbelievable to be true. Leaving the potential victims in the thick of the story doesn't make the story scary and suspenseful for me; it makes it a "how dumb are these people, and how can I believe this story?"story.

The fact that this British tale is sold in the U.S. won't detract from the story. I saw one reviewer who thought that some of the references or allusions were too vague for an American audience. I disagree; the author's contexts were enough to guide the reader through the minor cultural differences.

I was bothered, though, by the bungling, inept law enforcement depicted throughout the story even to the end. A plot of the-police-can't-solve-a-crime-but-young-adults-can perpetuated the Scooby-like mood. In spite of the author's ability to get me to speculate about the wrong killer, moving the action forward by way of an entirely flawed police force was wholly dissatisfying.

I did not see that ending coming. Mind. Freaking. Blown.

This whole book is a fast paced, edge of your seat, suspense thriller that will leave some guessing up until almost at the very end. I was torn between 3 people. By no means did that ruin the book for me when I figured out early on who it was. I did not expect the amount of crazy we were going to read and it was great!

The narrator, Lylah, at times drove me crazy. But I think that’s what the author was going for. She put us into her mind and we sure did feel the full effects of it. I wanted to slap her a few times and tell her to get a grip. But instead I took a drank of wine and moved on.

Despite that I did love her. She’s been through a lot and has overcome such a heartbreaking loss. She’s a strong feminine lead and you definitely see this near the end.

Overall, You Will Be Mine is a great book that has some unexpected twists and turns that will leave you second guessing who done it.

Lylah and her roommates are headed out to celebrate Valentine's day after a stressful week of exams and classes; their hoping some drinking and dancing will be the release that they all need. Lylah especially, since this very holiday is a reminder of the day she lost her parents, and it doesn't help that her brother has been pestering her all week to return home for the anniversary. But just as they are ready to leave they find a cryptic note on their front steps, and immediately Sonny chalks it up to a former scorned lover... but when he doesn't return home the next day they realize he had it all wrong. Someone is out to get them and they will stop at nothing to get their revenge... one by one they start to disappear, and Lylah begins to wonder if the police will catch the killer, or if her time is up too!

You Will Be Mine is a thrilling, fast paced, suspense novel that is sure to keep you guessing until the very end! This was my first title from this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but with each page I turned the more addicted I became, and the harder it was for me to put my tablet down! The story centers around a group of college age friends who have managed to wrong someone, and that someone is killing them off one by one to exact their revenge. From the moment the killing starts, so does the guessing game of who the killer is, and just when you think you have it figured out the story takes a different turn... it was a great game of cat and mouse! If you enjoy young adults suspense novels, I highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it's sure to have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!!

Requested an advanced copy from the NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed.

You Will Be Mine is a likable book, however, it isn't my favorite from the author. One of the main reasons why I didn't love it as much as I had hoped too is because the characters came off as extremely juvenile even though they are technically adults (they are college students). Even more, I had a hard time connecting with Lylah because she seemed... off. Now, this isn't to say that I didn't like the book because I did. I devoured it from page one all the way through to the end in one sitting. It just wasn't my favorite novel.

I liked this book, but there were a few aspects that I found annoying. The overall arc of the book was good and kept me interested in the story and wanting to know who the killer was. The characters were annoying though.

Lylah, from whose point of view the story is told, really got on my nerves sometimes. Mostly because she could not stop whining about her friends being murdered which I could understand, but her pining over Chace was what really annoyed me. Someone is killing her friends in very horrific ways and she focuses on his body and face and her feelings for him. At one point I found myself wanting Chace to be the killer, just so her focus on her lust would shift to horror. Also she often made horrible choices when it came to her safety (although to be fair, they all did this). Even though she knows she is the target, she chooses to sneak away from police protection. I know in thrillers you often have to have your characters do stupid things, but sometimes I wish there would be a story where the characters made the right choices and let the police do their jobs.

The plot was interesting and was what kept me reading. I liked the setting of a small college town and the fact that it was the week before Valentine’s day. I really couldn’t predict who the killer was and their motivation until the big reveal. Although the killer was one of my suspects, I was still a bit surprised, because I really didn’t think it would be him. The motivation for the killings was a little weak and could have benefited from a stronger connection between him and Lylah. It was there, but just needed some tweaking. There is one murder that bothered me, though. The body is moved out to a very public place during the day and no one saw anything or stopped the person! It was just too far over the edge of believability for me. But otherwise a good solid plot that left you guessing.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and although I found it a bit lacking, I will probably check out some of her other work. I liked her writing style and the plot was intriguing. Also her other books have some good reviews. If you are looking for a short thriller that will keep you guessing this would be a good one to pick up.

College housemates face surreal killings; a creepy game of matching wits with a killer. It's YA horror-lite on a platter. Good read to offset the saccharine of the Valentine Season.

Lylah's group of friends and housemates are all excited to make the most of February and the chance to couple-up before Valentine's Day. Lylah hates Feb 14th. Just two years ago, her parents were killed in a car accident, orphaning Lylah and her brother… She has finally gotten to where she doesn't lean on him as much. Now she's hoping THIS Valentine's day could bring her closer to her crush, Chace, and a more normal life again.

Someone ELSE has other plans, though. As the friends prepare to leave for the night, they find a note on the porch, a note that looks like it belongs in a horror movie, words cut from clippings, addressed to Connor. It's laughable as Connor is a heart-breaker… until Connor fails to come home. His body is found, and then.... another note. "You're Next!" Lylah, Sienna, Charlotte, Isaac, and Chace are now in a deadly situation where even the cops seem unable to protect them. One by one...

Great mystery, keeps you guessing till the very end, or rather, kept me guessing! I liked the characters. I would have liked to know more about Lylah’s background and the death of her parents.

Lylah hates Valentine’s Day… for a good reason. It’s the anniversary of her parents’ death. She feels uneasy about this time of year but when she and her housemates start receiving threatening letters this letter Lylah’s dread and grief for the holiday turn into fear. As her housemates begin to disappear, Lylah and her crush Chace must work together, with the police, to find who is targeting them. Preston (The Cabin; The Cellar) has written another suspenseful novel. The teen angst and the does-he-like-me-as-much-as-I-like-him scenarios are a bit tedious, but the mystery of the killer is what will keep readers turning the pages. Preston again is at the top of her game in creating a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.

I had to think through my feelings about this book overnight. I have been a BIG fan of Preston's since "The Cellar". I even downloaded Wattpad so I could read her online only writings, but I feel like she took a step back with this book. It may be an editing issue and the final copy will be better, so I'm holding out hope.
The premise is great, but I feel like the book is missing a lot of background. I wanted to know more about the narrator's past. She is attempting to recover from this terrible tragedy, but there's little to no backstory. As she and her friends are being stalked, they fixate on one potential suspect, again with little to no backstory. I would love to have seen less detailed descriptions of the stalkings and some flashbacks interspersed between the present day incidents. The end was unexpected, but I felt like back story would have made it feel richer. 2.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for the digital galley in exchange for honest feedback.