“You’ll always find your way back home” this line from the song really fits here. This book really captures the small town feel and the pros and cons of living in one, on the judgement and hatred that feels too big for a small town. The way the mindsets of the older generation shapes the younger generation and how harmful it is.

I loved the paranormal aspects tied in, the way Courtney gave the dark a name. The feeling of the dark and how it grew and grew. The dark wasn’t a thing but a feeling/thought in the back of your mind of all the terrible things you could do or be.

I love the way towards the end courtney really explored how hatred could become an identity and the way it takes up your soul to the point you know what you feel is wrong but helpless to stop it.

This book mainly was about Grief, all consuming grief and the way it could alter your actions and mind. The different stages you go through and not letting Grief be the thing you run from.

First off, the cover of this book is stunning! I love that the smoke element rises up from the cabin to profiles of the girls. It definitely gives off spooky vibes that pair well with the description. While I enjoyed this book, I did think it was going to be spookier. The supernatural elements were very tame and didn't dominate the story like I was hoping for. But the storyline was interesting and kept me guessing. I liked the main characters: Logan, Alejo, and Ashley. I wish we had a better look at the story from Brandon's perspective throughout the book and not just at the end.

I'd just finished Courtney Summers' The Project when The Dead and the Dark showed up in my queue. That cover reeled me in, and I couldn't wait to get started.

Logan's not thrilled about going to Snakebite. Scoping out a new location for their paranormal investigation show, Alejo and Brandon drag her anyway, but from the moment they arrive, nothing feels right. A boy has gone missing, and the newest arrivals become the objects of suspicion, regardless of their former ties to the remote Oregon town. But there's something much more nefarious lurking beneath Snakebite's surface, and paired with her sworn enemy, Logan is determined to find out what is.

Okay. So. I *LOVED* this book.

From page one, Logan's voice hooked me. Sarcastic, complex, and yearning, she was the perfect balance between clever and misguided. Where some YA can feel like an adult writing what they think teenagers sound like, Gould captured the essence of the in-between, what I usually think of in terms of "Crossroads" (I'm not a girl, not yet a woman...okay, I'll stop). Logan's on a gap year, searching for a sense of belonging and something more. Answers. Love. Home. She doesn't know, and that's okay--a topic I rarely see explored in the genre that feels so important in the changing academic environment. There's pressure to go to college, get a career, a family, but here, the pressure wasn't centered around this debate so much as Logan's choices were.

Because when it comes down to it, life is more than the college we choose, and Gould's exploration of the dynamics of Snakebite really highlighted bigger issues: identity, sexuality, discrimination, depression. There were a lot of really important conversations happening (in the best possible way), without being voyeuristic, accusatory, exploitative, or condescending. We see characters struggling with change, truth, and growth, and this struck me as both authentic and necessary.

The layers to The Dark--this aspect gave me serious Stephen King vibes. If you've read The Outsider, I think you'll love the atmosphere Gould creates here. I kept thinking The Outsider meets that one episode of Punky Brewster where she battles the darkness in the cave--archaic reference, yes, but I hope at least one other person gets it.

And while I'm not one for romance, I was invested in the relationship arcs here. No spoilers, but every single one won my heart. From romance to friendship to the fluid definition of family, I was ugly crying by the end.

Overall, The Dead and the Dark was a smart, creepy, twisty roller coaster of emotions from beginning to end. For fans of small-town horror with big-time ideas, add this to your TBR immediately and thank me later.

Big thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Before I pick up a book, I like to trawl the author’s social media accounts to see how they describe their book in their own words. Courtney Gould’s twitter revealed that, firstly, I desperately want to be friends with her, and secondly, that she describes ‘The Dead and the Dark’ as: ‘gay girl ghosthunters + an isolated small town + a darkness that lingers in the shadows’ and ‘teen lesbians fighting to save a town haunted by dead friends, buried secrets, and a history of hate.’ Ummmmmmm YES PLEASE.

Taking place the summer after Logan and Ashley finish high school, this book is somewhere in the nebulous place between Young Adult and Adult, and I think I let the YA aspect lull me into a false sense of security. I wasn’t expecting something so ominous and creepy...and I fucking loved it. This book caught me off-guard in the best way AND it managed to combine my favorite genres (thriller + horror) with my favorite romance trope (enemies to lovers).

Once you’re able to get past the sinister atmosphere of the book and the creeping sense of unease it leaves you with and come out from whatever blanket nest you’ve hidden yourself in, I implore you to really pay attention to the underlying messages of this book about hate and grief.

This book was dark, unique, and completely consuming. I loved that Logan’s dads were reality tv ghost hunters. I loved strong-willed Logan and courageous Ashley. I loved the setting and the atmosphere. I loved this book.

"The Dead and the Dark" by Courtney Gould is a fast-paced supernatural mystery with spooky scenes, a dark and malevolent entity, and a dash of romance. It won't be a surprise if this story becomes a highly anticipated teen fiction read with Gould's beautifully vivid and understatedly simplistic style of writing.

Dragged from one place to another, Logan's life is in a constant state of disruption with two dads who are constantly hunting down ghosts for their TV show ParaSpectors. To make matters worse, she's skeptical of the whole "ghosts are real" thing. Do they really exist or is it the work of technology and years of acting?

When the trio arrive in Snakebite, the hometown to Logan's dads, they are met with open hostility from the residents. Surprisingly, it's not the show that has people upset but bad history and the suspicion that the disappearance of a local teen has something to do with Logan's dads.

The story is split between Logan (who is desperately trying to uncover her dads' mysterious pasts and how it connects to the disappearance of a local teen), and Ashley (the girlfriend of the missing teen who is doing everything to find out what happened, even if it means befriending the daughter of the detested ghost hunters).

This is definitely a book to pick up and read. Audiences will find the writing is smooth and flows easily as Ashley and Logan's perspectives mix well together. Both characters are sassy, adventurous, and incredibly fascinating people to journey through this novel with as they offer their own insights into the strange events occurring in Snakebite.

A really lovely aspect of the story is the author's dark entity. Gould has successfully created a villain that isn't just a power-hungry figure with a desire to stop the good guys from erasing it out of existence. Rather, the villain is given a lot of agency and even has its own complex origin story that neatly ties in with the plot. The entity or villain of the story is fascinating in its design and its goals, guaranteeing to cause literal chills and paranoia!

The author also deserves major congratulations for being brave enough to write about controversial topics, such as homophobia, and not shying away from the reality of how cruel and prejudiced people can be. Homophobia is an issue that, unfortunately, is ongoing and one Gould has chosen to give some insight into.

Fans of the paranormal and straight-up spooky are going to love this fresh take on ghosts, murder mysteries, threatening entities, and the two teens who build an unlikely partnership to figure out just what kind of crazy has been stirred up in Snakebite.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books) for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel to read and review. If this novel interests anyone, add it to your reading lists and save the expected publication date: August 3rd, 2021!

I really enjoyed this murder mystery with a very dark twist! The characters made this a book that I wanted to keep reading. I especially loved the snarky way that Logan dealt with life and how Ashley found her true self.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This was an amazing book. It let me on the edge of my seat the entire read. I loved how there was a enemies to lovers trope in the book. I did think that the way that they defeated the bad guy was a little corny. But other than that I loved this book and I cant wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an arc!

This book was an absolute delight.

Logan, daughter of the famed ParaSpectors duo, has not really ever felt at home. When her dads decide that they should move back to their hometown to scout for their next season Logan is not too happy. What comes with their arrival to Snakebite is nothing any of them could've prepared for.

Gould exceeded at creating an uneasy atmosphere where you have no idea what could be lurking in the shadows. At one point I was just having a lot of fun being on for this ride.

This really ended up being a story about family and made my heart ache at some of the reveals. I know I say this in every review but I am genuinely looking forward to what Gould brings us in the future! Already have marked Echo Sunset on my tbr!

Something is wrong in Snakebite, OR. Teenagers are turning up dead, the weather isn’t normal, and all fingers seem to point to TV’s most popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town. Logan Ortiz-Woodley, daughter of TV's ParaSpectors, has never been to Snakebite but, she can feel there are a lot of secrets here.

Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she still feels his presence. However now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is Logan. When Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who—or what—is haunting Snakebite, their investigation reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves that neither are ready for. As the danger gets close to home, they realize home may not just be a place, but can be a person too.

Y’all this book is CREEEPPY and dark!! Like, it will give you nightmares. It’s an atmospheric paranormal drama with some heavy subjects spun throughout the novel. If you dissect it, you see it’s about what hate can really do to ones heart and soul. How hate can damage you so much and make you evil. It was wonderfully character driven. I loved Logan. She was complex, lonely, sarcastic and strong (even though she would disagree) I cannot believe this is Courtney’s debut because the writing is just that good. It reads like a movie. I had NO idea where this was going to go and to same from spoilers I will just say preorder this and do yourself a favor!!! So. Good.


Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my advance copy in exchange for my review!!

Brandon and Alejo are the loveable but melodramatic hosts of the reality television series ParaSpectors. Their eighteen-year-old adopted daughter Logan, tired of relocating, dreams of finding a place she can finally settle down and call home. Alejo and Logan must leave LA to travel to the rural town of Snakebite, Oregon where Brandon has been "scouting out the shows next location" for the past six months. Logan doesn’t know much about Snakebite other than it’s where her dad’s grew up. When they arrive Logan immediately feels that something is wrong with the town. It's not just that the residents are insular, especially towards her queer family, but it feels as if something sinister is lurking. Logan quickly realizes things are worse than she imagined... a teen is missing and Brandon is the prime suspect.
Ashley Barton's boyfriend, Tristan Granger, has been missing for six months but Ashley can still feel his presence. As soon as the other two members of the Ortiz-Woodley family arrive, Tristan's ghost becomes more persistent in delivering his message to Ashley...and then another teen goes missing. She soon realizes the only person she can trust with her secret is Logan. They decide to team up to uncover the truth in Tristan's disappearance, clear Bandon's name, and find out who or what is killing the towns teens.

The Dead and the Dark is an exciting YA paranormal mystery/horror about a queer family of ghost hunters who find themselves tangling with a small towns sinister entity. The beautiful cover was what initially drew me in but once I started reading this one I didn't want to put it down. Logan knows her dad's reality show is phony but once she arrives in Snakebite she begins to question her beliefs. Something dark and sinister is stalking the teens of the small town and targeting her family. Logan quickly realizes her family is keeping secrets that may hold the key to uncovering the truth. As the danger increases, Logan forms and unlikely bond with the town sweetheart, Ashley, who has a few secrets of her own. Together they struggle to piece together the mysterious disappearances before the killer strikes again. If you love paranormal mystery/horror then this is definitely a book to add to your read list for 2021!

oh my GOSH, this book was beautifully written, with a tensely woven plot and twists that kept me guessing! I'll be eagerly looking forward to what Gould writes next.

First of all, I could not put this book down! Small town spooky is my absolute favorite genre. Throw in an element of queerness and I’m hooked. I absolutely devoured this book. I never wanted to leave Snakebite!

There were family secrets, romance, friendship drama, mystery, and a hungry darkness. I loved how every piece of the story tied together in the end and nothing felt like a separate plot thread. There were just enough turns in the main mystery to keep you guessing until the very end. Logan and Ashley were adorable, relatable, and real.. The enemy/strangers to lovers played well with this story. Gould’s writing sucks you into the story from the first sentence and doesn’t let go even after the last. The book is an expertly plotted, very atmospheric, and satisfying. I will 100% be reading again!

4.5/5 - Well, damn. What a freaking book. This story is dark and gritty and heartbreakingly beautiful. Queer representation, a big hard look at bigotry and hate and what it means to find home - all wrapped up in one package and I ate up every bit of it. Courtney Gould has created vivid characters inside of a heavy, tangible world with a beautiful ending you’ll simply devour.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin Press for the Arc in return for my honest opinion.

If Courtney Gould was trying to creep the daylights out of her readers, well she succeeded for me. I don't really get freaked out too much and I've read a lot of Stephen King books, but this one, wow this one did me in. For what ever reason anything that is paranormal does sort of freak me out.

So even though this book did freak me out, I was so into it, I could not put it down. There are some tough things to read about such as homophobia and racial slurs, but it doesn't take away from the story. Its filled with characters that you can't help but become invested in and the story just keeps moving. This is another one where I don't want to give too much away because I really want readers to go into this with no expectations so they can enjoy the full ride!

Great book and I know its going to be a must read for the summer!

this book was just one big deja vu. maybe it was the fact that the writing was so bland, as well as the plot, but everything I read went straight through my brain. all the phrases used were so cliche, and just sooo ordinary. no SPICE.

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould is a thrilling debut about the horror surrounding a sun-soaked small town.

Logan's life has never been normal. Her dads are paranormal ghost hunters on TV, which means they're always on the road. But when they're forced to come back to the town of their origin, Snakebite, Oregan, there is something about their past that is determined to come back. With closed-off townspeople full of grief, the mysterious disappearances of several teenagers, and strange phantom apparitions, perhaps the past has a way of coming back...

Gould's career starts off strong. Logan and Ashley's prickly relationship fully blossoms on the pages. The horrors, while supernatural, feel and painfully grounded history full of tragedy and how it hurts to heal, and combined with their dynamics with the town, flesh out a history still bleeding. What has stolen my heart, however, is the relationship Logan has with her dads. They're given backstories throughout the book, unraveling a compelling past that makes the readers ache for more.

Fans of Sawkill Girls and Erica Waters will devour this in one sitting!

A digital ARC has been provided by Wednesday Books. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ebook ARC of The Dead and the Dark. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So, I am a fan of the CW show Supernatural so when I read the blurb on NetGalley about our MC Logan's dads returning to their hometown because something isn't right and they are TV famous ghost hunters, I clicked "request" on NetGalley right away.

The book begins with a POV of the sinister "thing" or "character" The Dark, and so I was pulled into the story right away. Then it shifts to Logan, she was likable right away and I loved that she wasn't just sitting around waiting for her dads to tell her what was going on, she was ready to investigate herself. We know as much as she knows so we don't know much. My theories were wrong too which always makes for a great read.

Overall it was a fun supernatural mystery/thriller with great characters and twists/resolutions I couldn't guess.

The Dead and the Dark is the perfect read for those who love shows like Ghosthunters. The story follows Logan, whose dads are TV’s popular ghost hunters from the show, Paraspectors. When Logan and her parents arrive in Snakebite, people have been going missing and the small town seems like it’s full of secrets.

The story is told from Logan’s perspective, and Ashley, a girl whose boyfriend is one of the missing people. The two team up to try to figure out what is happening. This book is atmospheric. It perfectly captures the small town vibe as well as the cheesiness that comes with a ghost hunter show. I highly recommend this book if you love ghost thrillers.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Brandon Woodley and Alexi Ortiz are ghosthunters on a TV show. Brandon and Alejo have traveled small towns searching for ghosts to hunt. While scouting for a new location he decided to return to his hometown Snakebite. After the first week of his arrival one of the residents vanishes.
Thirteen years ago Brandon and Alejo lived in Snakebite. They left to pursue their TV career. The town folk weren’t very welcoming upon their return. Despite the harassment from the group of teenagers Logan allied with Ashley to help find Tristan.
Logan didn’t want to leave LA to join her dads in Oregon, but she had no choice since she wasn’t eighteen. She didn’t even know her dads lived in Snakebite. In fact, they didn’t speak about there time before they met.
Logan has a strained relationship with her dad Brandon, yet her relationship with her dad Alejo is great. Brandon is always trying to reach out to Logan, but she continues to push away. Logan was closer to Alejo than Brandon. She never really knew Brandon because he kept to himself not revealing too much about himself.

There are two narrators to this story: the first is Ashley and her group of friends and the other is the dads and their daughter. Both groups are on opposing sides, yet wanting the same thing. The delivery of information by each narrator is confusing due to Courtney trying to hold back the past. It’s this hidden secret that sets the storyline back even though it is the main concept and drive for this book.

The cover is what drew me in initially. Then the description. This is my first read by Courtney Gould. I love a good ghost story however this one was off to a slow start. It was a character driven story with too much going on. With the past remaining a secret I felt like the story was being held back. Snakebite’s secrets along with this dark entity left me confused. Then toss in Logan’s nightmares and my mind was spinning in confusion.
The book has a paranormal vibe. I know others will be disappointed but I actually appreciated another reviewer who shared the spoiler. I needed this to help guide me through the confusion. Since Courtney wasn’t doing a very good job navigating this story by avoiding the spoiler I felt the spoiler pushed me in the direction I needed.
I felt there was too much going on in this book. Courtney was working with too many concepts. Explaining them all became too much. It would’ve been easier to follow what was transpiring if Courtney had kept this a dialogue driven story by focusing on one concept.

This was one of those on-the-nose narratives where every minute detail is explained. Unfortunately, I skimmed through sections of this book filtering thru the information. Too many unnecessary scenes with unrelated mini plots crowded this book.
After completing this book and now knowing the way it ends I have to say this book would’ve been easier to read if the concept had been more forthcoming. My preconceived ideas about the type of paranormal story was greatly different from the way Courtney described it.
I’m so disappointed by the way Courtney chose to execute the strong message in this book. If I was rating this book on the way it ended it would get a higher rating. Sadly, the journey to that message was a long arduous one.

An interesting take on horror/thriller. It had me guessing the entire time. I like that it wasn't predictable.