Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group,Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions

okay, I am so glad I was chosen to read this early. I have seen Kierstens name around before, but it just feel out of my interests. I believe this is her first adult contemporary horror novel and it was fantastic. 14 have nots and have even lesses are gathered to compete in a game of extreme hide and seek with a large cash prize that everyone of them desperately need. our lead character, Mack is one of the more recently featured trope: the struggling final girl of grueling crimes. we have a wonderfully eclectic group of folks bused to a secret location, AMAZEMENT PARK. Rad.
I don't want to go to much further into things, so nothing is given away. but, I highly recommend this read.

While I overall really enjoyed the story, the first thing about the Hide that really irritated me was the writing, particularly some of the dialogue in the beginning. Conversations between characters felt awkward and very hard to read in a natural way. In the very beginning I was so put off by quotes that attempted, and in my opinion failed, at suspense that I almost didn’t even finish reading

It got a lot better once I started to feel for some of the characters more, particularly Mack and Ava, but most of them could’ve been dead from the start and it wouldn’t have made a difference to me. One character that stood out to me only made a small appearance in the story, and for good reason. This guy was comically conservative to the point that he felt like a character from an snl skit about baby boomers. He also had no impetus in the story at all aside from showing how politically aware Kiersten is and I had a hard time not cringing.

Onto the horror: A lot of the first encounters with the actual [horror elements] of the story (no spoilers here) did put me on edge (I think the second third of the book was the strongest). I was very intrigued by what the fuck was going on and actually kinda scared with close calls and cut scenes. By the end, though, and by the time everything was revealed, it felt kinda lacking to me. The middle was boring, and while the premise of the situation felt like it could be interesting, I just wasn’t hooked.

Fourteen people enter an abandoned amusement park under the dubious premise of participating in a contest sponsored by an athletic company in order to win a cash prize, some of them aspiring and some of them "stalled"; of course my heart was snared by an abandoned amusement park, a place from which only delicious terrors can spring. Going into this knowing nothing more than the premise that hide & seek + abandoned = bad scene and expecting a something rather along the lines of Squid Game, I was very pleasantly surprised at the horrible secret hidden in Amazement Park, divulged to readers through the device of a tortured journal, which is one of my favorite things. White writes enough inner process into about her contestants that most of them, even the ones who are found in the first few days, seemed real enough to care about (except the snoring guy, who I plumb forgot about), and I got a gross little thrill each time one of them got picked off. This wasn't as spectacular as I expected it to be for few reasons, one being after they've found their hiding places, reading about people hiding is not super exciting. Also, while I love a tortured journal, it's really a device that should only be used once per book, or at least remain confined to one journal; the second time characters found yet another hidden, helpfully spelled-out treatise on why all the bad stuff was happening, I rolled my eyes. But even with all that, I liked Mack and Ava and stayed rooting for them, and I loved White's afterword. This is no Fantasticland, but it's an entertaining if uneven experience.

Hell yes.

Fourteen people are offered the opportunity to participate in a week-long game of hide-and-seek in an abandoned amusement park for the chance to win life-changing money. None of these people appear to be familiar with the adage that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

There are several cultural reference points that could be mined to explain what kind of book Hide is, and most reviews will be happy to give them to you. However, half the fun of Hide is watching it go places you would never have expected, so for our purposes let’s just put it this way: Hide is a horror novel, and while it explores the “most dangerous game” theme that other properties have successfully brought to mainstream entertainment, ain’t none of them quite like this.

I have no prior history with Kiersten White or her other works, but in a book clocking in at under 300 pages, she masterfully weaves together a busy, quick-moving plot with some superhuman-level world building and a host of rich characters. It is to White’s credit that Hide’s biggest detriment is its brevity; she dives in face-first, lets the severed limbs fall where they may and gets the hell back out. Still, that economy produces one hell of a book for the time you spend with it.
Thanks to Net Galley and Random House/Del Rey for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with an advance copy of Hide by Kiersten White, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

Hide was a highly anticipated release for me, especially considering that it Kiersten White's Debut Adult novel. Wow, this totally disturbing, twisted thriller/borderline horror novel, did NOT disappoint! Plot, 14 20 something's chosen to participate in a modern "hide and seek" game at a creepy abandoned amusement park. Hide for seven days, and once found, you're "out", last person standing takes all. $50,000 for hiding! Sign me up! Without revealing too much, if you're a fan of The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner and something ancient I won't reveal, so not to spoil anything...we've got a mash-up on our hands!!! Like any shady reality show completion, our "contestants" began to plot, form alliances, the usual. This game is far from normal though. It is soon discovered that not all is at it seems in the abandoned amusement park. "Out" means something else entirely and "winning", well it's complicated! Fantastical spin on the twisty reveal that I felt was coming, but still was pleasantly surprised and satisfied. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and found myself rooting for many of the characters participating in this seriously, disturbing page turner of a quest and I know I won't be alone in that delight! Enjoy my bookish friends!!!

If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, this is for you!! It had elements of both, with a little bit of Greek mythology tossed in.

I loved this! I've read some of the authors other works and really enjoy her writing style.

I do wish it would've been longer. I wanted more background on how the game started and why. It gives a brief history, but I wanted more. There really could be prequels or even sequels to this, so fingers crossed!

That said, I will be recommending this.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. I was very excited to read Kiersten White’s first adult novel and it did not disappoint! I was very impressed with White’s writing style in this book. It was somehow beautifully descriptive, but also succinct. Every detail she provided served a purpose, which I think allowed the reader to bond with the characters quickly. I was rooting for all the contestants (except maybe one, ha). I was also very impressed with White’s ability to show the insecurities and brokenness that individuals carry with them, no matter how “together” or attractive or happy they may seem; as well as that people are generally good and deserve safety, security, and love. I would have loved an epilogue to see what happened after the end, but I also really love the final words of the book 😂

I also enjoyed the horror and suspense in the book. It was creepy enough to keep me invested, but I could still sleep after reading it (which is the perfect level for me, but I could see other horror fans wanting more scares). I think I would have enjoyed more history/detail about how the town situation came to be, but there was enough.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to others.

This book was a quick read, and entertaining. I enjoyed watching the character development, and the themes of cycles of violence and privilege were interesting. But I do wish the ending had a bit more closure. I was also expecting it to be more scary -- in my opinion, the "big reveal" came a little too early, which took away some of the horror for me. This also meant that the reader knew more than the characters did. Personally, I like learning alongside the characters (I dislike dramatic irony). All in all, a short, engaging read.

3.5 out of 5 stars.
I liked the basis of the book; fourteen people brought to an abandoned amusement park to play a high stakes game of hide and seek with the winner getting a cash prize. I liked that the amusement park isn't what it seems. I loved the journal entries, which added a glimpse into the past years leading up to this adventure. What I did not enjoy was the fact that there was barely any "looking" for the contestants. I felt like the monster could have been portrayed as scarier, because to me, it wasn't scary at all. I also have many questions about the black book Linda had them looking for... I know what it was, I know where it was found, but it never gets brought up again. More explanation about that would tie up loose ends. And finally, the ending rubbed me the wrong way. Too many loose ends with that one. My favorite character has to be Brandon, with all his love and selflessness. All the others had annoying qualities that made it hard for me to like the characters.

So I absolutely adored White's Conqueror Saga several years ago and I was psyched to see that she was trying her hand at adult novels. And then the synopsis was a deadly hide and seek tournament? Is this Squid Game, the novel? Whatever, I'm in.

What I liked:
+Diversity!
+Fast paced, easy to read
+Amazing setting
+Great characters, backstory

What I didn't like
-It was kinda predictable? Maybe I've read too many books, or maybe the synopsis was TOO descriptive, but I wish I had been more surprised by this
-I wish it had been about 20 pages longer

I also mentioned that the social commentary was very in your face, however now that I've read it, I don't think that's a bad thing. I wasn't expecting it from this book because of the type of book it is, but why should social commentary be restricted to "literature" only? Does it always have to be hidden in layers of symbolism and metaphors, or can the author just come out and say it because its 2022? Part of the reason some older books are still read today is because they contain social commentary about the times in which they were written. And although this isn't exactly <i>Great Expectations</i> I do wonder if it will be more common for "non-literature" novels to contain social commentary in the future. I also wonder if people reading Great Expectations right when it was published were immediately able to identify Charles Dicken's opinions in his works? Maybe I should actually read Great Expectations...

"Sleep has always been her great escape. The nightmares are saved for her waking hours." Definitely not what I expected but a very interesting premise. I loved the setting of an old, abandoned amusement park. Several twists that I didn't expect and a quick, fun read. Recommended!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An adult horror Hunger Game vibe with a set of worthy characters! I was enthralled with K. W.’s And I Darken trilogy.

I’ve been a fan of Kiersten White’s writing for quite a while, so I was so excited to learn of her adult debut. Hide definitely did not disappoint! It gave vibes of a paranormal type Hunger Games. I absolutely loved everything about this. The characters are so real and we’ll developed. The setting of an abandoned amusement park was so incredible (and I’d definitely be lying if I said I wouldn’t want to walk around it). Hide was dark, creepy, fun, and sure to keep you hooked until the very last page.

Overall I enjoyed this book, there were moments that I felt creeped out by the mysterious thing and the truth behind the game. I do have to say I was expected a different element of supernatural and was surprised by the ending. I'm likely to hand-sell, but I don't think it will be a go-to for a new horror fan.

In an undisclosed location, Linda the game hostess, welcomed fourteen contestants to a seven day competition, the Olly Olly Oxen Free Hide-and-Seek Tournament with the chance to win $50,000. The contestants chosen were unemployed or underemployed and in their twenties. Mack was a shelter resident who hid daily from the other shelter ocupants. Her backpack, left unattended on the bed, was stolen. Since she now only owned the clothes on
her back, entering the contest seemed like a good idea.

Ever since I read Hide's synopsis, I've been obsessed with this story and very curious to know more about it. Fortunately there, the book lived up to all the expectations I had of it.

Kiersten White has writing that makes you get caught up in the story and not want to stop reading. The build of suspense and horror made me shiver. White is really good at creating mysterious, scary and adrenaline-fueled scenarios. I look forward to reading more from this wonderful author I recently discovered.

Thankyou to netgalley for providing me with an
eArc.

3/5

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this one!

This was such a fun, quick read! It was the perfect thing to break me out of my reading slump. The characters are well developed and show real growth through the short book. The characterization is where this book really shines. While the characters might appear as stereotypes at the start, by the end they feel very much like real people, which is impressive with such a large cast. The premise is simple and great--it's what made me want to read this one.

While it only took me a couple days to read this, I don't know that it will be an extremely memorable book for me. The premise hooked me, but ultimately the reasoning behind the competition and why the contestants were chosen didn't hit the mark for me, and the reveal for this felt a bit clunky as an info-dump (as opposed to distributing this information in pieces throughout).

I would recommend this book to people who like thrillers with a twist or those who want a fun, quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Hide by Kiersten White was a ton of fun. There’s an interesting well paced plot, diverse unique characters, and a creepy amusement park where it all takes place. Although there are a lot of characters at the start you quickly learn who will be important to the story and who was added for competitions sake. I don’t want to talk about the plot much because I fear that I’ll give too much away, but it can best be described as horror Hunger Games taking place in an amusement park. Some may think this is a knock on the story, but it is quite the opposite. It doesn’t feel like a Hunger Games clone nor does it feel like any clone whatsoever. Hide does it’s own thing, and it does it quite well. Overall it was a fun read filled with great characters, an lgbt romance, and a creepy amusement park. What’s not to love!

Hide
Kiersten White
Review by Chris Ceary
Content/trigger warnings: Child abuse, domestic violence, cults, PTSD, homophobia, major character death, homelessness, suicide
Don’t get caught. When Mack enters a high stakes hide and seek competition, people tell her the money she could get from winning could provide a new start. For her, it is much more a terrifying reminder of trauma for the past. She decides her best option is to do what she has always done, avoid others, hide herself away, and get attached to no one. This plan proves harder than it seems when feelings are caught and the competition turns deadly. Hide is a high tension, queer horror set in a terrifying abandoned amusement parks which is certain to send chills done your spine and make you pump your fist in excitement.
Hide joins the ranks of horror that make the playful aspects of childhood into nightmare scenarios. With its Ready or Not type premise and its setting at the world’s creepiest abandoned amusement park, Hide is the type of horror that is just plan fun to get scared by. While you’re enjoying the ride, the story has a lot of intelligent things to say. White starts it off with the dedication, “to the youngest generation we’ve tasked with saving us all: You shouldn’t have to. I’m so sorry.” This sentiment sets the tone for a story about what it means to bare the burden of past generations, to be young and believing the world could be better, and the struggle against past generations who are not interested in changing the status quo. It also is inherently a story about queer love that can break cycles of trauma and the found families we make in the most unlikely of places.
Verdict
GET IT NOW. Hide is the most fun I’ve had with a horror novel in a while. If you enjoyed Ready or Not or Knives Out, you’re going to want to get this book into your hands right now. Just be sure you clear some space because once you start, it is hard to put down.


Link below is where the review will appear closer to the release date

Kiersten White is one of my favorite authors. Horror is a genre that I hold near and dear to my heart. When I found out that both worlds would be combining, I knew I needed to get my hands on it ASAP! I was not disappointed.

I love the idea of a hide-and-seek game in an abandoned amusement park where the contestants have a chance to win a prize. The setting was perfect! The characters were all well-developed and I loved seeing them interact with each other.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since I got Hide, I was very excited to jump into it. Mostly because I've enjoyed so many of Kiersten's books. I was also really intrigued in the book's setting because how cool would it be to go to an abandoned amusement park and play a game.

Well, long story short it wasn't all fun and games. Each year there's many sacrifices being held, and it all starts with this creepy amusement park. As we get to know the players it was kind of hard not to get attached. Some of the deaths really hurt my heart. While others made me happy with glee because they were truly horrible people.

Other than that, there's the whole mystery of the beast. It intrigued me that the people who saw it couldn't explain it. Like at all. While other's saw absolutely nothing. Not sure what's more terrifying. Seeing someone being murdered by nothing or seeing the actual beast. Either way, I wouldn't want to be in that park for long.

In the end, I absolutely enjoyed the heck out of this book. It was so hard to put down because I just wanted to see what would happen next. Also, the open ending and big eff you to a certain person was amazing (in my eyes). Definitely excited for this book to be published so that I can get my own copy.