Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Dead and the Dark was another eARC miss for me. I really want to read this book, but I have trouble with some eARCs and I feel so bad for giving it a 1 star, but I didn't finish it.

However, when this book comes out in August, I WILL be buying it and reading it. From the 25% that I did read, I LOVED it. The characters, the atmosphere, everything was amazing!! I'm sad I couldn't read it as an eARC but I will be in August, or I will wait until October because it has such a spooky atmosphere!!

For the characters, I love the gay dads' aspect of it. It's the first time I've seen same-sex parents in a book (that I can think of) and it was so fun! There are also other LGBTQ characters, but I didn't read enough to really talk about it.

I can't wait to get a physical copy and read it fully, and (hopefully) give it 5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould.

The small town of Snakebite is mourning over the disappearance of the young teen Tristan. Snakebite is a close knit community that struggles to accept that this could happen to them. But equally hard to accept is the return of Snakebite's notorious gay couple, with their teen daughter Logan. And now that they've returned, things have gotten even stranger.

Oh my goodness, this book has it all. Romance, friendship, old feuds, homophobia, ghosts, secrets, mystery and death. It's so dark, spooky, and intense, it would be a great read for October. I loved the intricate relationships, and complex plot. Even though this is essentially a ghost story, the author really put care into the actual story too, it's no wonder the reviews are so high.

My only real complaint was that sometimes I needed it to move a bit quicker, otherwise, very fun read.

Content warnings: blood, violence, murder, attempted murder, drowning, funeral, grief, death of a main character, homophobia, homophobic language, hate crimes, police, child death, claustrophobia (buried alive), mentions of adoption

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

Courtney Gould’s The Dead and the Dark was everything I wanted it to be, and more. As someone who isn’t much of a horror or paranormal person, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I was hooked from the very beginning, and could not put it down!

Snakebite, Oregon is everything you associate with a small town. It’s quiet, peaceful, and calm. That is, until Logan Ortiz-Woodley, and her fathers, Brandon and Alejo, move there as their latest location for their show, ParaSpectors — a TV show similar to Ghostbusters, Stranger Things but not fictional, or Buzzfeed Unsolved but paranormal. With it raining for the first time in thirteen years and more importantly, teenagers disappearing or worse, turning up dead, everyone’s quick to point fingers at the town’s newest additions: the Ortiz-Woodleys. In an attempt to clear her fathers’ names, Logan teams up with Ashley Barton, whose boyfriend was the first teen to go missing.

Courtney Gould has a way of writing that simply pulls you in. Snakebite, Oregon feels like a tangible thing, a place that I’ve visited in passing, even though it doesn’t actually exist. The Dark is surely something that’ll be visiting my dreams (or nightmares). The Dead and the Dark is beautifully atmospheric, leading you down a winding, twisty path until you’re not really sure where you are, who to trust, or what’s happening. The entire time, I was trying to figure out what drew the Ortiz-Woodleys to Snakebite, what drew them away in the first place, what happened to all the children, who the host of The Dark was, and so much more.

I loved following along Logan and Ashley’s investigation. I had no idea who was trustworthy, and who wasn’t. For a while, I was doubting both Logan and Ashley, their parents, and every single person they interacted with in Snakebite. While I did have my suspicions of who The Dark was, and who the host was, the twist completely blindsided me — simply because I was overthinking every single interaction. I’m so excited to reread The Dead and the Dark and pick up on all the foreshadowing and clues that I missed.

One of my favorite things about The Dead and the Dark is about how love and light will always prevail, how important community is, and how important it is to hold onto that light. The darkness can truly consume you, and I think Gould does a great job at portraying that. In general, I think Gould does a phenomenal job of writing a haunting read, family dynamics, loneliness, and how unresolved trauma can impact not just you, but everyone around you.

I found Logan and Ashley both to be characters that I instantly stood behind; I understood their motivations, and I was rooting for them the entire time. The romance between Logan and Ashley, while not a core focal point of the book, was one that I found sweet. Although The Dead and the Dark is a mystery-thriller, it does have some funny, light-hearted moments that made me chuckle.


While I often find interludes distracting, I really liked the creepy tone that the interludes in The Dead and the Dark has. Admittedly, the interludes did take me out of the story a little, but with the knowledge of how it ends, I’m excited to reread The Dead and the Dark, as I’m sure it’ll only add to the atmosphere of it all. The Dead and the Dark would be an absolutely phenomenal movie, and I can only hope it’ll be adapted for the big screen someday.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 / 4.5 stars

It's a YA ghost story thriller meets enemies to lovers romance.

With a slow burn sapphic love interest and an established marriage between one of the MC's two dads, I think this book is a great addition to the queer books collection.

It begins dark and ominous with slow building twists and turns. I found myself plowing through the pages eager to know what would happen next. By the end I was left feeling light and content with a sense of satisfaction and relief.

I find reviewing this book a bit more difficult than some others because it's hard to really get in to the meat of what I feel this book represents without spoiling the story.

It's Dark vs. Light, Evil vs. Good, Hate vs. Love, and I loved every word of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books / St. Martin's Press for the digital advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Dead and the Dark is a true ghost story. Full of twists and turns, this one kept me guessing. This is the type of suspenseful read that would likely not give you nightmares, but will leave you thinking. I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

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The Dead and the Dark is a creepy, atmospheric thriller that pulls you in and doesn't let you go.

I don't want to say too much about the plot because I don't want to give anything away. It certainly kept me guessing, though! I'll admit that I didn't totally understand everything at the end, but I think that's because I was so sucked into the book that I was reading too fast - I just had to find out what would happen next.

CW: character deaths (murder), missing person, past child death, attempted murder by drowning, homophobia, mentions of bullying

This review will be shared in a review compilation post on The Wellesley News in late July. I will also be including it in my TikTok book recommendation videos.

Fun fact, I was approved for the ARC of this book all the way back in February, and it literally took me until now to get to it. I was scared; I’d been going through a phase where thrillers really freaked me out. But after I finally read a few last month, and with the publication date of this book looming, I knew it was time.
When Logan first comes to her dads’ hometown, the one they’d left after facing the town’s endless homophobia, she knows immediately that something is wrong. Meanwhile, Ashley has been seeing her boyfriend’s ghost after he went missing. The two of them team up to figure out what’s going on, and they quickly discover a little too much about the town … and themselves.
The Dead and the Dark is unlike any book I’ve read before. Maybe it’s just because I don’t read a lot of paranormal thrillers — this is, I think, the only one I’ve ever read — but it so perfectly encapsulates all the vibes I expected. It’s a small town with a lot of mysteries; it’s creepy but also has some really sweet moments. It balances threads of family, queerness and the paranormal, and I was enraptured.
Do look up content warnings before you dive into this book; they can be found on the author’s website.

The Dead and the Dark
by Courtney Gould
St. Martin's Press

Logan is an adopted gal that grew up with two dads and both dads are on the ghost hunting show that is very popular. They decide to go back to their home town to do a show. One dad, Brandon, goes a week early to look for a shooting spot. A week after he is there a boy goes missing. There are secrets about why the two left town 13 years ago. This leads the town to start pointing fingers. No one will talk about it to Logan about why they left before.

Things get worse and Logan decides to try to figure it out you is taking kids with the help of another girl that can see images of the past and ghosts. This is when the story really takes a turn and suspense is cranked up to high! Twists and turns everywhere! Supernatural elements and dark human elements become terrifying.

Terrific fantasy, characters, suspense, plot, and world building. I hope this becomes a series! This is a great creepy book!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this paranormal thriller! Loved it!

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould is REALLY good. It's described as: ' Riverdale if it was actually good', and I have to agree. This fast-paced thriller rolls into action when Logan and her famous ghost hunting dads move to a rural town filled with secrets and paranormal activity.

The mysteries in this story had me HOOKED. Every chapter left me needing to know more. The eerie and dark atmosphere is incredibly gripping; so much so that I felt genuinely creeped out reading this book at night.

Not only are the dark, mysterious, and paranormal moments well done, but the more emotional themes, like grief and family, are as well. We get to see multiple family dynamics throughout this novel, each with their own nuances. The exploration of the struggles Logan and her dads face being gay in the conservative, rural environment is showcased multiple times throughout the story. And I can't miss mentioning the amazing sapphic enemies to lovers relationship!

I completely reccomend this novel. Not only will you be pulled in page by page into the thrilling, mysterious plot, but you'll also love the relationships between the characters and the emotional twists.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Wednesday Books for the ARC of this book and also Macmillan Audio for the ALC of the audiobook.

When Logan and her ghost hunting dads move to Snakebite, Oregon it’s clear something isn’t right. Teenagers are dying. The first victim hasn’t been found, but his girlfriend feels his presence, and the mysterious new girl is the only one she can trust. As Logan investigates the mysterious deaths, she’ll uncover more than just a murderer.

This book was a wild ride, and it definitely made my meh week a little less meh. The supernatural mystery kept me going, and I’m always here for some ghosts. I really liked Logan, her journey, and her struggle. Here dads were great, and the mystery of one of her dads kept me interested to find out more. Snakebite is a weird place, and I loved the worldbuilding of the town and its characters.

I alternated between the print and audio of this one, because I didn’t want to have to take a break when I had to work. It comes out August 3rd, so keep an eye out for it if you need some cool spookiness in your fall.

Calling all fans of everything spooky, thrilling, and queer, you NEED to pick up The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould! Fans of Sawkill Girls will especially love this.

We follow Logan and Ashley, two girls who both feel lost in life. Logan has travelled the country with her ghost hunting dads her whole life, never really having a location to call home. When her family returns to the town where her fathers grew up, Logan can tell that they are not welcome in the small town of Snakebite. Ashley has lived in Snakebite her whole life, but lately it has stopped feeling like the home that she had once loved. A darkness has fallen over Snakebite, and her boyfriend has gone missing. The two girls team up to figure out this mystery, and save the people that they love.

This book was so much scarier than I expected. There were times when I was reading that I felt genuinely scared, which almost never happens to me. Once I really got into it, I could not put it down. I loved both the protagonists, Logan and Ashley, and adored the romance between the two. I love reading queer books where the romance is not the only plot of the story, and this definitely did that. There was a perfect mix of romance and horror. Another aspect of this that I loved was the exploration of both girls' relationship to their family. Logan's was the more explored of the two (and I will admit that it did make me shed a few tears at one point). Unrelated to the story itself, this might be my favorite book cover ever.

I highly recommend that you pick this up. There are some trigger warnings for the book that you should check before reading, but if you can handle

The Dead and the Dark is a small town, supernatural murder mystery that is a perfect summer read. The setting of Snakebite builds tensions as you find out its hidden background. The book is full of queer representation and develops the bonds of family and friendship. Logan and Ashley are great leads with distinct voices and building chemistry. It’s a fast paced read that leaves you on the edge of your seat as you wonder who the Dark will claim next.

Riverdale, only better? I definitely fell for the marketing on this one. "The Dead and the Dark" was a wonderful read- I enjoyed the diversity and interactions between the characters.

The best part of "The Dead and the Dark" was its nightmarish atmosphere- something 'dark' is causing the disappearance of teens in a small, quiet Oregon town. The balance of creepy, bloody, violent, and eerie is a difficult line to walk, especially for a YA adult novel. As an adult, I found the setting to be the 'right' amount of spooky for both a young adult and adult audience. I also think that the story is appropriate for its age group. There is underage drinking, but no sex or extraneous gore.

"The Dead and the Dark" starts with the arrival of Logan to Snakebite, the town where her two fathers grew up. She immediately notices how unwelcome her family is, and she is determined to see why her fathers came back to their hometown and why they dragged her there with them.

The story mostly follows two teenage girls- Logan as the new arrival to Snakebite, and Ashley as the girl who never left the town. Their personalities are very different, but both characters are (often) likeable and I found myself not having a preference in reading one character or the other.

Now my problems with the story, which I am putting under a spoiler tag when it is posted on Goodreads: (Spoilers ahead)

WHY did this book have to fall into the "I didn't tell you to protect you" trope? Tropes can make books fun, but this is the one trope that ALWAYS causes me to eye roll. A little more honesty between Logan and her fathers would have resolved the murders quicker.
Second, I dislike convenient plot timing that is blatantly obvious. Of COURSE, Tristan is only found at the end when the story is coming to a close- Ashley sees the ghost of her boyfriend, but he only leads her to his specific spot when it is most convenient for the 'big reveal' of the murderer.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. In fact, it has been one of my favorite YA novels this year. I highly recommend it to someone looking for a quick and slightly unsettling read. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I see a lot of good press for this book already- and I agree with it! Thank you to Courtney Gould for writing such a stellar debut novel! I will definitely be following her for her next book.

Creepiness takes on a new form in this dark, YA horror novel. Logan just wants a normal life with her dads. They travel around the country hunting ghosts and visiting spooky places and Logan is tired. So when her dads tell her they’re leaving their home that they’ve lived in for a while, Logan is mad. Especially because they’re going to some small, isolated town called Snakebite, which just so happens to be where her dads grew up.

Something is happening in Snakebite. A darkness is infecting the town and a kid has gone missing. No body has been found but everyone believes that Brandon Woolley, Logan’s dad, killed him. So now with a whole town against her, Logan tries to figure out what’s really going on in the town and why everyone hates her dads beyond the homophobia.

Ashley has lost her boyfriend and her heart is breaking as less and less people continue to search for him, to find him safe and alive. When her searches bring her to Logan, the two form an unlikely pair on a search for answers that no one seems to want to give them. The two grow closer and closer throughout their journey and Ashley starts to feel things she never felt before, but everything is too scary and uncertain and her desires for truth and love tangle up inside her. The faster the two get to the bottom of it, the faster she can find Triston, the better. But then another kid disappears and everything gets harder.

I looooved this. So dark, so creepy, so absolutely wild with twists, turns, developments, and writing that is gripping. I never wanted to put this book down I was so captivated by it. I loved how the story unfurled and each new piece entered the board and slotted in its place. I loved the characters and how distinct they were. I wish the town had more of a presence, I don’t know how exactly, but I feel like it needed to be more…. More. How unhelpful, but that’s just me, the vibe was there but soft, I wanted it to be louder.

I did guess who it was, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the reveal and the whole story behind it. The whole thing is wild and fun even if it is dark and disturbing. I think it’s great that the reveal while important, wasn’t the sole action and twist at the end of it the story. It made it more dynamic and realistic. I’m excited to see how you all feel about it once it comes out, I’m sure you’ll enjoy just as much as I did.

I received this and as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for giving me access.

This story wasn't at all what I was expecting, I thought this would have more of a ghost story vibe. It did not. With that being said, the storyline was still enjoyable. Gould kept me interested even when the twist didn't seem to fit the story. This was a wonderful debut and I look forward to reading more from Gould.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this incredible arc!

Wow! What a great creepy read! This is perfect for fans of spooky and chilling reads that are YA and LGBTQIA+ friendly. All of these things combined made this one of my favorites while also getting me in the mood for Halloween and October and Fall in general, lol. Ya'll it's so hot where I live, give me some autumn feels!

Logan arrives to Snakebite (a very small town in Oregon) with her dad, Alejo, to meet up with her other dad, Brandon. However, so much makes them stand out in this town. Gay dads with a gay daughter and not only that (yes, this town is totally backwards) but when Brandon arrived 6 months prior to Logan and Alejo, a kid went missing and everyone thinks it's their fault. Oh, and I forgot to mention that the dads have their own ghost hunting show called Paraspectors! (So cool).

Now, meet Ashley Barton. A popular girl in this small town and also girlfriend to the missing kid, Tristan. Get ready for a slow burn romance (🔥) and some serious ghost hunting once Logan and Ashley start hanging out (to the rest of the town's dismay).

This book deals with some serious issues like, homophobia, grief, and true loneliness. Snakebite is a town full of secrets and the Dark is waiting for it's next victim.

I love Ashley and Logan so much!! And this book fr gave me CHILLS and goosebumps! Highly recommend for a scary read. I need to give trigger warnings for violence, grief and homophobia.

This story isn’t really a horror to me. It isn’t really scary. I was lucky enough to be able to try the audiobook version as well, and I while I wasn’t too fond of that of that one, this version is way better. I did feel like there were a few things that needed to be discussed further and also a few things that weren’t even addressed near the start which I think would have been in a normal setting.

I read The Dead and the Dark while listening to the audiobook narration. What a captivating book. I sat down to start and didn't get up until I finished. The characters were interesting and dark, the story was ominous and engrossing, and the narration was spot on. At every turn, I needed to know what was going to happen next and I needed to solve the mystery of what was happening in this dark town. Great read and a great listen, Highly recommended!

I loved this book. Though I guessed a couple of the twists, I didn't know what was happening most of the time. I really liked the characters and the writing. It was a slow-burn but a quick and easy read. I think it would make a good movie or mini series. If you like creepy small towns and stories about family, then I would recommend this.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Very captivating with amazing character development. A delicious mix of stranger things and paranormal events. Two dads and their daughter come back to hr town they grew up in to help solve a mysterious disappearance. But now people keep disappearing. Who is behind it all? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.