A wholly satisfying page-turner... Riley Sager fans will not be disappointed. I appreciated the nods to the '90s - just enough to make you feel like you're there, but not so much that you feel like the author is trying too hard. The plot has as many twists and turns as the dark roads the protagonists travel...

Survive the Night by Riley Sager (available this month) originally hooked me with a premise that seemed reminiscent of Taylor Adam's fun 2017 thriller No Exit. Set in the 1990s, Survive the Night follows a film-obsessed, blackout-prone college student named Charlie who is reeling from the death of her BFF/roommate at the hands of an unapprehended serial killer. Charlie decides to leave school to go back home out of state, hitching a ride with a stranger she meets off a bulletin board. Unsurprising, it turns out that her ride-share partner may be her friend's murderer. I usually can find plenty of positive things to say about books I do not like, but this one was just plain bad. Ridiculous twist after ridiculous twist, cliché after cliché, trying way too hard to remind the reader that it was the 90s; I found myself scoffing throughout. However, I will say that it is a guaranteed page-turner – and sometimes that is all you are looking for in a summertime read.

This book was everything that fans look for in a Riley Sager thriller: twists, turns, deceptions, disorientation. Sager is the master of misdirection which always makes for a fun ride. Am I a little bit sick of the *unreliable woman* trope? Absolutely, but Sager makes up for it with fun plot twists & exciting finishes. It wasn't my favorite of his 5 books, but I think anyone who loves his previous work will not walk away disappointed.

Mehhhhhhhhh. I just finished this book after admittedly devouring it faster than most of the books I’ve recently read. But fast reading and mysterious mysteries don’t an amazing story make. I was intrigued by the horror movie type plot of this book, about a young woman who may have just grabbed a long ride home from college with the Campus Killer, the one responsible for murdering her best friend. But the twists and turns felt acrobatic without finesse or skill, in this read - twists for twists’ sakes. I’m more of a literary mystery fan, myself, or into mysteries that get really original, and this just felt derivative. It was fine, don’t get me wrong, but not my favorite thing and ultimately a bit of a fizzle all in all.

Full disclaimer: I've been a fan of Riley Sager from the beginning and I look forward to his latest novel every year. When I see he has a new one coming out, it's automatically a to-read no matter what the synopsis is about.

This book. I don't know if it was the 90s nostalgia, or the movie references or a likeable main character or what, but as soon as I started reading, I was hooked. There are some excellent nods to the decade, from The Cure cover bands to grunge and Nirvana to Take Back the Night flyers with advice on staying safe. There are also quotes that sadly ring true, even now, like:

"She blamed herself and hated herself and punished herself because that's what women are taught to do. Blame themselves. Blame the victims. Tell themselves that since the Angela Dunleavys and Taylor Morrisons and Madeline Forresters of the world had sat through the same lessons on assault, received the same tiny bottles of pepper spray, and endured the same self-defense classes, it must have been their fault they were attacked. Or raped. Or killed."

"No one tells women that none of it is their fault. That the blame falls squarely on the awful men who do terrible things and the fucked-up society that raises them, molds them, makes excuses for them. People don't want to admit that there are monsters in their midst, so the monsters continue to roam free and the cycle of violence and blame continues."


Movies play a huge part in this book and not just because Charlie is a film major or named after a character in a Hitchcock film from 1943. It begins with a glimpse at the end much like a movie would, and every hour of the night and early morning begins with scene headings like "INT. DORM ROOM -- DAY" which was an interesting note and made me wonder briefly if the book was in screenplay format (it's not).

Charlie decides to head home just before Thanksgiving from college, and without a car, she has to seek out alternative methods. Ride boards were common in the 90s (and even now hitching a ride with fellow students isn't unheard of) and that's where she goes to find someone to take pity on her and take her home to Youngstown. As we're in the age of true crime podcasts, I was just checking off all the red flags as they arose from this point onward. After all, most probably wouldn't accept rides from acquaintances now, much less outright strangers. But Charlie does because she can't stand staying at school one moment longer. She also suffers from what she calls "movies" but which are actually hallucinations. Basically, she'll see a scene play out and some or none of it could be true and it could be warped beyond recognition even if it is. This makes for a few gotcha moments throughout the book, even as I kicked myself for knowing better at times. It's a great plot device in my opinion, because you frequently can't be sure if what you're reading is real or just happening in Charlie's head. And that combined with the red flags and learning why Charlie is heading home when she is all combines to make for a very tense read in the best way possible.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

What a suspenseful book! Survive the Night is a classic fast paced thriller. I thought I knew where the plot was headed, but I was very wrong. So many twists and turns, this book kept me intrigued the whole time!

Why did the cop pull over the U-haul? Because he wanted to bust a move.

Why are pigs terrible drivers?
Because they always hog the road.

Okay, I know you might be wheel-y tired of my car jokes and puns, but I promise I'm just getting started. Let's get this show on the road!

Charlie desperately needs a ride home to Ohio. She has not been able to cope with college life since the death of her roommate at the hands of the Campus Killer. Fortunately, Charlie meets Josh at the ride board, and he's going her way. However, there are some things about Josh that just don't add up; things that fill Charlie with fear, things that make her think she could be riding with the Campus Killer, himself. Down the dark, desolate highways on this long, lonely trip, who will Survive the Night?

Just like my sense of humor, this story took a wrong turn somewhere. Riley Sager is an amazing author. There's always a crazy anticipation for his newest work, and that was especially true with this book. You had me at "set in the 90s". Unfortunately, this one wasn't pulled off without a hitch. I feel like it was set in the 90s purely to be able to use a payphone in one scene. I appreciated the mention of some music I loved when I was younger, but other than those 2 things, nothing about the book felt like 1991 to me. It took me awhile to get interested, but to be absolutely clear, I did get interested. There is a good deal of tension and suspense during the car ride. It's what happens after that strains credulity. I didn't love the ending, either.

This is still a solid 3 star book, and I'm sure will be much higher for other readers, especially if they are new to the author. A middle of the road Riley Sager book is still more than most could hope for.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I'm <b>notoriously</b> bad at picking up on context clues throughout thriller books, but that usually just makes my experience that much more fun. And that's true for this one! This was a wilddddd ride. Every time I thought I had it figured out, we took a hard right turn somewhere else. I stayed on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed the entire thing.

Charlie is an incredibly likeable character. I would give anything to have friends like her and Maddy. The serial killer aspect was fun. Overall, just a blast.

And that *ending-ending*, chef's kiss perfect. I loved it. A+ Riley Sager. A+

**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I Love Love Love Riley Sager's books! Survive the Night is another great novel from RIley that really helps remind us how terrifying the world was without the safety net of a cell phone! Much like Charlie, without the ability to call for help, everything can seem that much scarier. Especially when you find yourself on a long car ride with someone who may be your best friends killer!!!!

Riley Sager does it again!! What a great book. He will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen. Love his books, I cannot wait for the next one.

Detective Pikachu voice: "twisty, very twisty."

Another great book by Riley Sager! I loved the characters and how they all puzzled together. The reveals didn't feel too rushed and it felt natural (well, as natural as it can in such a situation). If you've enjoyed other books by them, I definitely recommend it! Kept my attention throughout and I didn't want to put it down!

This was my first Riley Sager read but probably will not be my last. A local librarian recommended this author to me because I like Stephen King and psychological thrillers. It was a good mix of everything I like and a quick read. I didn't want to put it down!

Survive the Night wasn’t my favorite Riley Sager Book. It was a good book that kept me in suspense from page 1 till the very end. But It’s just wasn’t fantastic for me. 🙁 I loved that the book took place in the 90s (no technology to communicate); it set the tone for a fun thriller. Also, I enjoyed the random movie references that were mention throughout the book. What I didn’t like was the lack of action. Most of the action happens in the last 10 percent of the book. The ending was super predictable, which was a disappointment; usually, the endings are mind-blowing 🤯Overall, it was an entertaining read; it just didn’t wow me like his other books. I still planned to buy Survive the Night on pub day. It does deserve a spot on my shelf. 🖤 Thank you, @Dutton and @netgalley, for the ARC copy.

another amazing book by Sager. Such cool vibes and a story that is so captivating. I love following the main characters thoughts while trying to figure out if she has been with villain or not. I want to give this book to so many friends to read, a great summer nights read

At this point, I don’t need to know what the book is about, if I see that Riley Sager has written it, I’ll want to read it. All I knew before digging into Survive The Night, was that it took place in the 1990s. I love a different era for a book like this.

Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. I was so into it that I read it in two sittings!

It was fantastic.

If you are looking for a book that will literally keep you on your toes, this is one that you must read!

Synopsis:

Josh Baxter, the man behind the wheel, is a virtual stranger to Charlie. They met at the campus ride board, each looking to share the long drive home to Ohio. Both have good reasons for wanting to get away. For Charlie, it’s guilt and grief over the shocking murder of her best friend, who became the third victim of the man known as the Campus Killer. For Josh, it’s to help care for his sick father—or so he says.

The longer she sits in the passenger seat, the more Charlie notices there’s something suspicious about Josh, from the holes in his story about his father to how he doesn’t want her to see inside the trunk. As they travel an empty, twisty highway in the dead of night, an increasingly anxious Charlie begins to think she’s sharing a car with the Campus Killer. Is Josh truly dangerous? Or is Charlie’s jittery mistrust merely a figment of her movie-fueled imagination?

One thing is certain—Charlie has nowhere to run and no way to call for help. Trapped in a terrifying game of cat and mouse played out on pitch-black roads and in neon-lit parking lots, Charlie knows the only way to win is to survive the night.

Coming out on July 6, pre-order now!

It’s 1991, and Charlie Jordan decides she has to get away from Olyphant University She has lost her best friend to a serial killer, and feels responsible for leaving Maddy alone that fateful night. She decides to post a flyer asking if anyone is going her way, and surprisingly meets John, a stranger who just happens to be posting his flyer! The whole story takes place over one long night. In the beginning, she does question if it’s wise to be traveling with a man she never met across two states, but he seems nice and is cute, so what the hell! As they drive, Charlie begins to realize that good old Josh may not be who he claims to be, and in fact, catches him in several lies. From here we move forward with LOTS of twists, some of them downright comical, which I enjoyed! Also, Charlie is a lover of classic films and has “spells” where she gets lost in movie fantasy, sometimes revealing important points of the plot. If you like suspense and on occasion laughter, I highly recommend this to while away a couple of hours!

Okay, I'm a big Riley Sager fan, so it's a no-brainer that I enjoy his books. This was a bit different from his previous works, it's a tight story that takes place all in one night! This is going to be the most effective with fans of noir and stories with a Hitchcockian flair. Charlie was going to school to be a film major, but after a traumatic event she just wants to go home to Ohio. She catches a ride with a student named Jake heading the same direction, but as they get further on the road, she's starting to feel that Jake may not be who he says he is and she might be trapped with a dangerous person, but can she even trust herself?

Charlie is in a ride share with a stranger named Josh. He's driving her home to spend time with her grandma. Charlie's best friend was murdered by a serial killer and she can't spend another day at school. Josh is not who he says he is. It took until 44%, when we first get Josh's pov, for the story to pick up. Charlie is an unreliable narrator because she sometimes plays events in her mind like they're movies so she has moments where she doesn't know if it's real life or a movie. It's over the top but the second half reads so quickly. My real question is... hasn't anyone ever heard of hypnotherapy?

Survive the Night.  Great title and the plot was very enticing.  A college students decides to leave campus and accepts a ride home with a stranger after her best friend is murdered and she is having trouble coping.  So far so good.  But I just feel too many of the scenarios were just not believable.  Her boyfriend’s attitude when she is leaving with a stranger (although, it was the 80's I guess?), Josh’s behavior on the trip, and several decisions Charlie makes during the trip just didn’t seem plausible considering there was serial killer on the loose.  Having said that, I must say, I found myself unable to walk away from the book without knowing what happened.  The first half drags a little, but keeping reading!  It picks up during the second half.  Overall, a good summer read, especially for fans of Sager and similar thrillers!