This was a very fast read, I started it late Saturday night, but I could not put it down once I began. The dual authors helps to give Lena and Campbell each their own unique views and perspectives, and I liked that each chapter went back and forth between the two. In many ways, the chapter progressions were conversations themselves.

I absolutely feel that books like these are needed, and are extremely important. This book in particular pushes us all to see both sides, where both people are coming from, and how remarks, while the intent may be innocent, can still cut like a knife. What I also appreciated was that there were incorrect assumptions made on both sides as well.

The book focuses only on the one night, and how the girls make it through. And don’t get me wrong, it is one heck of a night for anyone to try and survive. However, where I felt this book could have done a little more was in the closure. I was not done with Lena and Campbell, and it left me wanting more. But maybe that is the intent, it is up to us to do better. And if so, then well played.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced copy to review. All opinions above are my own.

This is a powerful little novel, taking place over the course of a few hours. A fight breaks out during halftime of a high school football game and Lena (African-American) and Campbell (Caucasian) find themselves together trying to escape. As tensions rise throughout the city they end up in another part of town where a social justice protest turns violent and then into a full-fledged riot. It’s wild and chaotic and while I was annoyed by some of Lena’s and Campbell’s choices, who’s to say I wouldn’t have made similar ones at 17 if I was in their shoes.

I’m Not Dying With You Tonight brings racial tension and discord to the forefront and makes you take a hard look at current events and possibly even your own prejudices. At times it felt a little uncomfortable, but I think that’s the point. In the end Lena and Campbell are survive the night but are left with more questions than answers as seems to often be the case in these situations. I think this books will serve well as a discussion opener among teens and adults alike.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This book was something that definitely needs to be read in today's time, especially for the YA/Teenage crowd. I felt this one might have been a little too young for an older reader like me, although I usually love YA stories. But it is definitely worth the read. It is fast-paced, and makes you want to keep reading all the way through instead of taking any breaks!

This book was a fast-paced and often chaotic read, which is exactly what is needed to convey the fear, intensity and emotions of Lena and Campbell's night together. This book did a great job of telling two narratives and making you care about and understand each character's motivations equally. Being from the Atlanta area, this story felt true to the city and our current political times. I hope this book has as a cultural impact similar to that of Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give.

Two girls, one white and one black, get caught up in a night of violence and protest and are forced to stick together to stay safe.

I generally enjoy YA books, but I think in this case a teenager/young adult would appreciate this a lot more than I did. It was definitely a page-turner and would keep any teenager invested.

I think I wanted more introspection & more reflection from the characters & the writing; it is very plot-heavy and ends rather abruptly. There were some plot elements that I questioned the need for, especially nearing the end. But, like I said, I think it will be perfect for teenagers and it will definitely get them thinking, talking, and asking questions about race, friendship, and society.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.**

I'm Not Dying with You Tonight is a gripping, fast-paced read that is a pure adrenaline rush. I flew through it in one sitting.. Even though it's a quick read, it's still a powerful one. The authors do a great job of portraying topics that are very relevant in society now - racial discrimination, white privilege, how tensions can escalate and get out of hand quickly, and so much more. I also liked both of the main characters, one white teen girl and one African American teen girl, and thought it was very effective to present this evening gone terribly wrong from each of their perspectives. As these two seemingly different girls try to escape what started out as a simple school brawl and escalated into a full-scale riot, they learn a lot about themselves and about each other. I think this is a riveting read that is going to be very popular with teens.

I read chapter one the first time I picked up this book. The second day, chapter 2. Fairly typical book opening, setting the stage. Then day 3, I settled in with it and ... Could. Not. Stop. I had to know how it was going to end. As a teacher and librarian, I kept thinking of ways this could be used in the classroom and discussion points with which I would want to engage students. I know this may be sacrilege, but I feel like it could *gasp* replace The Outsiders. Or at the very least be taught as paired novels - the concept of us vs. them only to realize there is much more common ground than not, the insecurities and home life struggles of the main characters, the need to connect with and even protect one another, the ways minor characters surprised us (and the main characters) by doing exactly what you didn’t expect. I will be putting this on my middle school library shelves, and I can’t wait to put it in the hands of students and colleagues this fall. #ImNotDyingWithYouTonight #NetGalley

I received an ARC for an honest review. WOW. This was a quick read-I couldn't put it down once I started it. The back and forth narrative keeps the pace moving, and the vivid descriptions of all that is happening are riveting. I think that books like this help foster important conversations about race and prejudice that lots of teens might not otherwise have.

This book is fast paced and exhausting. The authors really brought forth the fear and scariness of this night. I liked the commentary on white privilege. I do wish it had gone a little deeper. But I really appreciated this book.

* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.”
I read a lot of YA. I try to read diversely. In many cases, books show me a world that is real for many but far away from what I experience. I believe that enriches me.
The situations covered in this book are heart stopping and chilling. The heart of the story is an important one. However, the dialogue took me completely out if the story. The characters were not fully formed and I found it hard to connect to any of them. Most of the information I got about them was told not shown. I want an outline I can fill in with my imagination. This book only gave me half that outline.
There was a lot of action but again the dialogue/slang took me right out if the story.
I can see how some people will find this story compelling but for me it was just chaos.

I was originally excited, but after reading more reviews, the ratings and reviews have dropped quite a bit. I am not willing to invest my time when I have so many books to read that continue to pull strong ratings!

I have returned from my semi unofficial hiatus lol! But seriously, in all honesty, it feels good to be writing a blog post again and the fact that it is a review makes it tens times better. This review will most likely be one of my longest and one that I really want to mention spoilers but as said in the title I will leave those out. But when my video review comes there will be a spoiler section like a big section lol. That's enough rambling for now as tradition the synopsis first, then I will get into my personal thoughts, and lastly the ratings! Btw big shoutout too Netgalley for the eARC and then to myself for getting a physical ARC at Bookcon!

"Lena and Campbell aren't friends.

Lena has her killer style, her awesome boyfriend, and a plan. She knows she's going to make it big. Campbell, on the other hand, is just trying to keep her head down and get through the year at her new school.

When both girls attend the Friday-night football game, what neither expects is for everything to descend into sudden mass chaos. Chaos born from violence and hate. Chaos that unexpectedly throws them together.

They aren't friends. They hardly understand the other's point of view. But none of that matters when the city is up in flames, and they only have each other to rely on if they're going to survive the night."

Alright, so let's start by discussing our two main characters Lena and Campbell we know from that start of all this that they don't know each other and that their worlds are completely different. But these girls have similarities which I discovered very quickly is that they have stereotypical views towards each other without knowing each other. At first, I have mixed feelings about it because I am not a big fan of characters having those types of feelings towards another character without knowing them fully. But then coming to the realization that this book is meant to be real it's meant to have characters that are like everyday people, that are flawed, and that these two characters have a lot of reactions that are very accurate and on point for what they experience in this one night.  Now do I agree with everything these girls do no not at all lol, but do I understand why they did certain things yes I do and to be honest some of the things they come across they handled very well. I am going to analyze and talk about both girls characteristics and personalities separately and then talk about there weird but funny partnership later.

Now Lena is portrayed as the popular girl in her school everyone knows her on a personal level or knows about her in some way shape or form, whether it's because of her style or very outgoing personality! Now with this very outgoing personality, it does come with some pros and cons throughout this story. Lena is strong-willed and very determined which I love about her she doesn't take no for an answer and sometimes that was a good thing and sometimes I wanted the girl to chill out! I'd be like why??? Especially when it came to her boyfriend Black..... I am not going to go into details about certain events that corresponded between her and him but at times I was really not a fan like at all...... Another thing that I noticed was her first initial reaction towards Campbell and how she prejudged her before getting to know her but I will talk more about that for both sides when I take about there partnership. Was she a very real character yes and I think that's what I was grateful for in this book from the way she talked, the slang she used, her character demeanor as a whole reminded me of people I knew and even myself at times. Her realness is what made her the person she is as well as.

Onto Campbell is the new girl no one knows her, notices her or even tries to befriend her. At first, I feel for Campbell now one likes being the new girl or chooses that role but as the book goes on I detect certain things about her. To me at times she had a victims mindset with certain situations that go on in her life (not situations that happen with her and Lena), now I understand that some things are truly out of her control but that doesn't mean you should always take defeat. But Campbell I will say she had points in this book where I was like YOU BETTER GO GIRL! Like I had very proud mom moments lol. Campbell also displays a character we don't see a lot in YA books ( well for me at least) and that's the character that hasn't been exposed to a lot of diversity problems. There where certain moments in this book where it felt like she was kinda unaware of how bad police brutality and riots are. Which isn't really a bad thing at all because those where her character traits that made her real, that was her realness because they're people in the world like her.

Alright now, let us get into the meat and potatoes of both these girls but as a unit. This part I will be talking about the pros and cons I saw both characters display at one point or another in this book. Now for starters both of these girls had a few stereotypical views when it came to one another which was slightly uncomfortable at times but when you think about it this happens in real life every day. I love how the authors weren't scared to portray this either. Another thing about our lovely girls is that there is character development but to me, it's not the type that can be measured or something you can really weight out like in a normal YA book or in any book in that matter.  You can tell that both girls learned a lot and had valuable moments that made them think about themselves and to be honest, that is the best thing for a character is to just think about themselves not state that the learned a lot but at least know they though a lot. Now as a team I am going to give them a solid B+, do not get me wrong they kicked ass but on both sides, I just felt like they could have avoided a lot if one person stood up to the other in certain points whether it had been Campbell putting her foot down and taking the lead or Lena suggesting a different way to handle things. The last thing I will touch basis on has nothing to do with the characters but more with the authors, I WANTED THE BOOK TO BE LONGER!!!!!!!!! lol like I could've used another fifty or so pages not to say things didn't wrap up neatly but I wanted more details like pleaseeeeeeeeee that's all I ask I feel like I got an ending like I didn't get THE MOMENT (once you read the book you will understand lol).

One thing I will say is that this book is not going to be for everyone it's going to make you feel uncomfortable, it's going to make you view certain things and situations in life differently, and that's because this book is just going to be too real for some people to really understand. So my full rating is a three and a half stars I enjoyed this book I ate it up I appreciated the message but like I said I did want a little more to the ending and both of the characters made me really mad at some points lol! I hope you enjoyed this review it was a real hard one for me but we got it done lol! This book comes out August 6th, 2019, all the links to purchase it will be down below! I hope you have a great day and remember <3 Always Love Your Books <3

Lena and Campbell both attend the same school. Lena is confident, popular, she walks the school hallways like a runway. She's sure of herself, who she is and where she's going.

Campbell, on the other hand, is new to school having gone to live with her father after her mother moved away for work. She's just trying to keep her head down and get through her senior year.

Lena and Campbell are not friends.

When both girls, separately, attend the high school football game on Friday, they don't expect things to get so out of control. But they do when a fight breaks out between the football teams and the fans attending.

Left with no other option Lena and Campbell team up to get out, but what they discover outside the stadium is a city of unrest that boils into an ever-increasing dangerous situation. They'll have to rely on each other if they want to make it home unscathed.

With a deft hand, I'm Not Dying with You Tonight starts as a slow boil clearly showing the racial divide between Lena and Campbell. Two girls who know of one another, and while there's no open animosity between them, they are living completely different lives. Some of that is truth, and some of that is incorrectly assumed on both of their parts. Slowly over the course of the story we see that divide start to bridge, and it's honest and real and almost simple. The idea of setting aside differences in order to help another person, in order to do what's right in a situation while literal chaos is brimming around them. You clearly see instances changing with each step the girls get closer to home and how things continue to escalate from one moment to the next in a whirlwind of violence.

The story almost reads like a dystopian, but it's not. It's happening now. We are living in this world.

In the middle of everything is Lena and Campbell. The story is a quick read taking place over the course of one very eventful night and told in alternating chapters between Lena and Campbell. I loved getting the different perspectives from each of the girls. How they each interpreted situations differently and sometimes how it caused the other to change how they saw things, whether for good or bad. We don't have enough books - but I like that we're getting more and more of them - that show this connection. That show how this divide that we place on ourselves does no one any good, how we need to look past the assumptions and really see the person or people who are around us. That is has to start with us.

The problems may not be solved in one night, but it's definitely a start.

This book may be small, but she is mighty.

Lena and Campbell are two high school students. They don't know each other. In fact, they have very little in common, other than the fact they are both young and come from the same city. One Friday night, a fight after a high school football game escalates into violence. What starts as an exchange of angry words at a concession stand grows into a dangerous violence in the crowd at the game and then area neighborhoods. The two girls find themselves having to work together to make it home safely.

This story is fast paced and the perspective alternates between the two girls. I had a hard time getting into the characters at first. I think it might have been because as I would just start getting into one girl's story, the chapter would end and it would switch to the other girl. But as the story ramped up, I found myself pulled in...and it didn't matter whose perspective it was....I wanted to know what was happening! Emergency situations can bring together people who would not normally mesh....and also uncover the true nature of people we thought were familiar.

I enjoyed the story and the points this YA book strives to bring home. At the end, I found myself wanting to know what happens next! The ending was realistic and leaves the reader to think...imagine...hope. I hope that the events depicted in the book would lead the characters to change their lives, their opinions and their judgments of others. I wish our world was more about love and respect instead of hate and judgment. In the end, I left the story hoping at least the two main characters formed a bond and learned life lessons they won't forget.

Very moving story. I enjoyed it. The fast pace glossed over a few things I wish had been more fully developed.....but, I understand why the action was fast. The situation the girls were in left no time for thinking about things....they had to pull together to get home. The writing style and development perfectly fit the plot.

I'd definitely be interested in reading more from these two writers!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Really enjoyed this book! Engaging, thought provoking and an illuminating view of how differences can be overcome and connections can flourish even though the tough times. and its was so cute!!

Although this book was a bit rushed, I did enjoy the different views from both characters on the the same racial situation. I do wish it would have been a bit longer. Would I recommend it to friends? Probably not. I just think there are other books out there on this situation.

I have some mixed feelings about this book but honestly, it was a quick read and I ended up enjoying it.
I loved both the girls and their individual stories.
I kind of wish it was longer because I really was left wanting more but this was definitely a heavy but quick read that discusses racial issues within communities and with police.

Hello Bookies!

I have another book for you all brought to you by the lovely people of NetGalley! I was given the opportunity to read I'm Not Dying With You Tonight early, and I want to share my review with you all! I heard of this book when I was at BookCon 2019, and when I was given the opportunity to read it, I was super excited.

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight follows a couple of hours in the lives of Lena and Campbell, two girls who had never interacted with each other prior to the riot that ensued at their high school's football game. Racial tension has been a reoccurring theme in many novels these days, especially because of the Nation's state of being. But, Jones and Segal bring these themes into the novel easily and successfully. 

When I was reading I'm Not Dying With You Tonight, I found myself thinking about the butterfly effect. According to Google's dictionary, the butterfly effect is "the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere." When one thing happens in one place, it holds a large effect on something elsewhere. I felt that played a large role in I'm Not Dying With You Tonight because tensions from previous events in the town's history followed the main characters to the concession stand, where a fight broke out over racist comments from a man from the rival team. Soon after, shots are fired, riots are breaking out, and chaos ensues. The flow of events just truly represent real life in many experiences in our recent history, and it made it seem like you were reading something that has actually happened in real life. 

The flow of the events compliment the growth of the characters excellently. Lena and Campbell go from static and flat characters that seem to fall into stereotypes of themselves to round characters that care about the surroundings around them and the people that are being affected by the conditions of the town. They grew into their situations and grew before the readers eyes.

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight is a piece of reality in fiction that I haven't experienced since I read All American Boys back in college. This is a definite must read for all Young Adults, a book that should be in schools to teach about growth and struggle. 

4.5/5

I'm Not Dying With You Tonight comes out August 6th, 2019 via SOURCEBOOK Fire. Definitely check it out when it comes out!

I'm Not Dying with You Tonight was one of my most-anticipated releases of the year, and unfortunately it ended up falling slightly short for me. I think the subject matter is important and that this story fills a much-needed void in the YA canon, but some aspects of the storytelling pulled me out of the book and made it feel a bit disjointed.

I’m Not Dying With You Tonight by Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones, 272 pages.
Sourcebooks Fire (Sourcebooks, Inc.), 2019. $13.
Language: R (93 swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Neither Lena nor Campbell want to be at the football game, but Lena is using it as a cover to see her man and Campbell got guilted into volunteering at the concession stand. When things go south at the big rival game, Lena and Campbell have no one to help them escape the chaos except each other. They might not have chosen one another as friends, but this night of terrifying situations is not one Lena or Campbell want to spend alone.
Segal and Jones beautifully crafted a glimpse into the lives of the two main characters, Lena and Campbell. Readers only get to experience this one night with them, and, while I like how they wrapped the story up, I wish that I got to spend more time with these characters and see the further impact this night had on their lives. I love the contrast between Lena’s and Campbell’s voices in their alternating chapters and the different perspectives they share with each other throughout their time together. While the entire narrative takes place in one night, the lessons that can be taken away by readers are numerous. The mature content rating is for drug use, and the violence rating is for shooting and rioting.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen