This was such a fun play on a typical Agatha Christie story! The characters in the story were so much fun to read about and I had a lot of fun trying to figure out the mystery of who was killing them all off before it was too late. The twist at the end got to me, I was pleasantly surprised!

"Shutting the door on the monsters in the closet doesn't make them disappear. The thing about monsters is that they're patient. They can sit forever, just waiting for someone to open the door again."

Ten social media influencers are invited to a week in the tropics at Unknown Island, a mysterious social media campaign that recently went viral. It's exclusive, invite-only, and entirely free. It's also the soft opening, so there are bound to be some hitches in the execution, but none of the invites can pass up the opportunity to network and grow their follower base. What they aren't expecting is to be completely cut off from the world from the moment they arrive, or for Unknown Island to start revealing some of their darkest secrets. Everyone has something to hide, and someone is going to make sure they pay for it. Spoilers will be clearly marked. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Random House/Delacorte Press. Trigger warnings: character death (on-page, graphic), parent/sibling death, suicide, cancer, car accidents, fires, gore, poison, overdose, drug use (on-page, graphic), bug horror, snakes, bullying, homophobia, vomiting.

Much like the influencers traveling to Unknown Island, I feel a little like I was lured here under false pretenses. The blurb promises a beachy murder mystery, which... I guess is what it delivers, in the most basic sense, but the characters might as well have been trapped in a crappy Motel 6 for all the island plays a role in this story, even as a pretty backdrop. It lacks either a dreamy vacation atmosphere or a spooky one, and the only sense I really got from Unknown Island was slightly abandoned desolation, which isn't a very fun vibe for a thriller.

As one might expect, ten is far too many main characters to keep track of. At least half of them are just there for body count, and be warned that this book does have a very high and graphic body count, with brains-on-the-floor style gore. Unfortunately, like watching a Final Destination sequel, creative and increasingly unlikely deaths are about the only thing it has going for it. The narrative hopping among their perspectives doesn't do anything to ground the story or distinguish them from one another. Most of the characters are rather spoiled and self-centered at best, but I don't mind unlikeable characters. What I mind is the way even their own narratives don't offer any real insights into them, either because they lie to themselves about their histories and motivations or because the story skips around too much to go in-depth on any of them.

Despite a slow start in documenting everyone's travel to the island (fairly pointless), the deaths begin quickly and don't slow down. The course of the novel takes maybe two or three days. There's little mystery that someone is targeting them, but other than Emma Jane's interest in true crime (a sadly under-used plot device) no one is very good at unraveling the clues. There's a lot of screaming, a lot of drama and accusations, and a rather silly ending confrontation. Aside from an extremely unsubtle clue about who the killer is that's mentioned not once but twice within the same few pages, there's little opportunity for readers to piece together what's happening on their own.

Books rarely hinge on their endings for me, but the end of this book knocked it down a whole star, not because of what happened (which, whatever), but how. Rather than include it in the narrative, the killer's motivations and methodology are revealed in an excessively long "news article" and some blogging comments that pointlessly rehash everything we just read with some tidbits of new information. It's the ultimate crime in show-don't-tell and reads like an ego-tripping villain speech. Better writing would have included this information in pieces throughout the story, but the novel tries to hang on to its mystery for too long. Understandably, there's a lot of commentary on social media and internet anonymity (which is never really anonymous), but if there's a unified message on it, I'm not sure what it is.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. TURN BACK BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Rather than the silly shootout between Manny and Frankie, where the reader in no way believes one of them is the killer (and can hardly believe that they actually think that), I think some villain perspective chapters would have been more effective from the point where they found Justice's body. It would have given Celia the chance to internally gloat about pulling off her plan and reveal some of the hows of the murders without the tedious news article, and it may have added to the suspense. All things considered though, killing off every character but the villain is a bit of a drag, and I still had some questions. Why are the snakes mentioned half a dozen times and never used as a murder weapon? How was Emma Jane intended to die, because falling off a cliff was awfully convenient?

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

Hannah McKinnon is back with another dark thriller that will have you turning the pages late into the night! Lucas the main character is a devious cunning and charming psychopath that will have you laughing out loud at moments! You can't help but like and hate him at the same time! But it makes you wonder about yourself when you find yourself laughing at something a psychopath says. It was a little predictable but I loved the twists in this book! You don't really know who to trust and no one is what or who they seem to be. And the ending when everything finally came together was great! Overall it was a fun and addictive read!

Never Coming Home is an intense, fascinating story that examines our relationships to both social media and Influencers. Inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, ten Influencers are taken to an extremely exclusive mystery resort. Things are not all that they seem, and people start dying pretty quickly. I loved the pace and writing style, and this book was impossible to put down. It was interesting to get a look at the toll being popular on social media can have on a person, and I really enjoyed the exploration of the darker side of things behind the screens and photos that we all see. The Island was beautiful and was the perfect contrast to the horrors that happen there. I highly recommend this novel - it has all the makings of the perfect beach read! Thank you to the author for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Never Coming Home

Author: Kate Williams

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Queer Character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, abandoned, island vacation

Publication Date: June 21, 2022

Genre: YA Thriller Mystery

Age Relevance: 13+ (homophobia comments, gore, violence, death, suicide, drugs, cursing, racism, attempted animal murder)

Explanation of Above: There are some small and brief homophobic comments said in a flashback scene. There is some gore, including vomit and blood, death and murder, and violence, including allergy attacks and stabbings. There is suicide briefly mentioned in the book and vaguely shown. There is some drug abuse and drug use mentioned briefly in the book. There is some cursing in the book. Flashbacks including some racism are mentioned and one scene of an attempted animal murder is shown, but the dog is not harmed.

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 320

Synopsis: Everyone knows Unknown Island—it’s the world’s most exclusive destination. Think white sand beaches, turquoise seas, and luxury accommodations. Plus, it’s invite only, no one over twenty-one allowed, and it’s absolutely free. Who wouldn’t want to go?

After launching with a showstopping viral marketing campaign, the whole world is watching as the mysterious resort opens its doors to the First Ten, the ten elite influencers specifically chosen to be the first to experience everything Unknown Island has to offer. You know them. There’s the gamer, the beauty blogger, the rich girl, the superstar, the junior politician, the environmentalist, the DJ, the CEO, the chef, and the athlete.

What they don’t know is that they weren’t invited to Unknown Island for their following—they were invited for their secrets. Everyone is hiding a deadly one, and it looks like someone’s decided it’s payback time. Unknown Island isn’t a vacation, it’s a trap. And it’s beginning to look like the First Ten—no matter how influential—are never coming home.

Review: For the most part I enjoyed this read a lot! The book gave me creepypasta/Abandoned by Disney vibes combined with Clue vibes and I liked how all of the characters were not totally likeable at all. The characters ranged in their likability, which makes it hard to figure out the true murderer cause they’re all suspicious. I liked the character development of each character and I liked how it changed POVs often. I also liked the world building and thought it was a very creepy and atmospheric read.

However, I did think that the format of the book was a bit confusing to get into. The book follows 8 POVs and it makes it hard to keep them straight in the beginning. The POV also changes mid chapter, which is also confusing. The plot took a bit to get off the ground as well.

Verdict: I loved it! Definitely recommend.

I'm pretty sure that this just wasn't for me as a target audience, as I can see the appeal of this book in a broad sense. But I didn't enjoy it so much. In terms of what I did like (as I want to start with the positives), I think that there is a lot of potential in this idea, of a bunch of selfish and vapid influencers who have skeletons in their closets being tricked into a trap that spells their doom. As they are picked off one by one there is certainly schadenfreude, and the deaths are always creative and interesting. But the problem is that the characters are so wooden and two dimensional that there aren't really any high stakes involved in terms of the plot. It's not super suspenseful because I didn't find myself really caring about any of them. There is also a lot of suspension of disbelief that has to be implemented, and while I am willing to do that to an extent in most stories I read, I had a really hard time with it here. And finally, we get a HUGE amount of telling rather than showing at the end when it comes down to the big solution and twist, which just completely stalled out the pacing and flow.

Again, I'm not the target audience for this book. And I know exactly who I would recommend it to, and the audience that it would absolutely work for, and how I would promote it as a librarian. But on a personal level I didn't care for it.

This YA retelling of the Agatha Christie classic, And Then There Were None (but with teenage American influencers instead of a hodgepodge of old British people), was such a fun book. I reread ATTWN right before reading it, and Williams did a great job capturing and twisting the subtle details of each murder to mirror the original while creating unique characters who had each done terrible things and were being punished. I knew who the murderer was early on, but I still wanted to see what would happen (and who would die and how) next. Get this one to read on the beach/at the pool and never, ever accept a free trip to an island.

Never Coming Home is a intriguing premise for an adventure. However, I was quickly lost with too much information in the beginning. Switching pov, while a good technique, kept me from feeling like I could keep the characters straight. I struggled to maintain my interest.

Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ten famous influencers are invited to the exclusive opening of Unknown Island, an all expenses paid private resort, seemingly chosen to have an eclectic mix of personalities after the owners run a marketing campaign that goes viral. But their selection is not coincidental at all and each of them has something to hide. When they arrive on the island, it quickly becomes clear that something is not quite right about the place and it is nothing like the luxurious retreat they have been promised – instead, it is a trap that someone has laid with the intention that none of them ever leave.

Never Coming Home was like a contemporary take on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. The story spares no time in getting started as from the moment the group arrives on the island, they begin to notice things are off, and things just go downhill for them from there. This is something I really appreciate in books of this genre as it sets the mood early on, leaving things like world building, location and the bulk of information about the characters to be revealed as the story progresses. The breakneck pace of this story kind of surprised me as I thought from the sound of the synopsis that this might be a slightly slower kind of thriller that would take its time unfolding for maximum scary vibes. However, the pace worked well for this narrative, and it also fit given that the entire story takes place over less than two days. There was also some interesting commentary about the darker side of social media and the negative effects comments from haters can bring.

What was really interesting about this story was that every character had a POV, albeit third person, which meant that once it became clear that the group of influencers were the only ones on the island, the pool of suspects was just them. And yet it was so hard to find even a hint of who it might be. Despite the relatively short page count and fast pacing, the characters were very well written and distinctive, and it was easy to remember each of their backgrounds and motivations. I wouldn’t say any of them were likeable per se, but they were all extremely engaging characters.

It did get a bit gory at times, so I would add a warning for some disturbing content. Apart from that, the only other thing that struck me was that this premise was a bit unrealistic when you consider the characters were all between 16 and 20 years old, and famous social media influencers or not, they are still more or less kids and that they would all accept an invitation to a remote island, however luxurious, with such minimal details was rather implausible.

I have to say hats off for such an unexpected ending. It turned out to be possibly the least suspicious person of the lot, and given previous events, someone whom I had crossed off the list of suspects ages ago. It was a little faster than I would have liked, and I’m not too sure about the way it was revealed – it does require some suspension of disbelief for this to work. Nonetheless, it was a very clever ending and I was quite impressed. Never Coming Home was a thrilling read that I simply could not put down and I would highly recommend it!

Never Coming Home is such a well-done story. Ten super swanky influencers are called to a highly exclusive new island resort called Unknown Island. Everyone is desperate for a ticket to this promised paradise to unwind and get away for a week. Picturesque white sandy beaches, sipping fancy cocktails poolside, what could be better? However, little do they know just what they are in for. Nothing about Unknown Island is what it seems as it becomes shadier and shadier by the second. Everyone is there for a reason and one reason alone and that is vengeful retribution. Someone, potentially among them, is a masterminder and a schemer who wants to take them down.

I really enjoyed how each character confronts their struggles, past, internal self-hate, and how social media can be so destructive and deceptive if used the wrong way or over-abused. We all post snippets of moments in time that don’t reflect the ongoing nature of life and challenge inherent within it. And by getting away from 24/7 connection, and specifically curated content, these characters are forced to face themselves honestly and intensely, as individuals and within their relationships, some platonically and others romantically, as a group. Some are fascinated by crime and unpacking mysteries, others can’t stand to be near such horror-filled atrocity for extended periods of time, but regardless, each person is tested and pushed to their limit.

I also, throughout, appreciated the underlying message that just because someone does something bad doesn’t mean they are always a wholly bad person or deserve to get unthinkably punished when complexity and moral gray areas exist. Justice is an admirable, much needed goal in certain instances, but so is recognizing that sometimes the fact that someone has to live with themselves can be just as difficult and painful.

I felt as unsafe and skeptical as the characters while reading as no one trusts each other or fears someone will turn on them at any given moment. The book was action-packed and tightly, consciously paced so that no one word felt wrong or wasted. There was much needed truth in these pages that felt energizing to get lost in, even if tragedy lurked at every corner that simultaneously sobered me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for my advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

Quick and Dirty: I just happened to stumble across this gem without ever hearing about it before but, after reading the synopsis about 10 influencers going to an island and begin to be killed off... you can say it got my attention

Honestly this was a quick read. The writing was great and well rounded, especially with so many characters. It had its hooks in me. Due to life, I tend to take some time to get through but this I honestly flew through compared to normal. It has you guessing at who is killing them. Its twisty and has Agatha Christie feels all over it. I definitely recommend for an easy murder mystery. But warning, it is graphic in detail when describing the murders.

Thank you to Delacorte Press of Random House Children's via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Delacourte Press and Kate Williams for letting me read Never Coming Home early. I was lucky enough to receive a little promo set with the e-galley code attached. This one publishes on June 21.

I absolutely adored Kate Williams’ series, The Babysitters Coven, so when she reached out to me to see if I wanted to read her latest I squealed and said yes of course! I love this world of book reviewing because it grants me access to my favorite writers. There’s nothing quite as exciting as when an author responds to a post or sends an email to me. I hope that writers know how much that means to lil old bookstagrammers like me.

Never Coming Home was very different to The Babysitters Coven. The beginning definitely hooked me and I loved the idea of this modern day Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None style plot but I think this belongs more in the hands of Karen McManus fans. I just wanted more of a payoff in the ending and sadly, it didn’t quite land for me. This story focuses on a group of social media influencers given access to a free vacation so they can post about a resort named Unknown Island. It all seems very elite and fancy but then it kind takes a turn into the tragedy we know as the Fyre Festival world except people are getting killed. Like I said, if you loved One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus then get your holds and preorders ready! Trigger warnings available by request.

Take Fyre Festival and mix it with a game of Clue and then you have Never Coming Home! I absolutely loved it. I was hooked from the very beginning and absolutely devoured it in basically 24 hours. I never would’ve imagined the ending. I kept trying to imagine who the killer could be & what was going to happen next - a definite page turner!

Thank you Kate Williams and Delacorte Press for the advanced readers copy of this book!

Ten young influencers land on Unknown Island and will be the first guests during this soft open. Advertised as a luxurious private island for those under the age of 21 to gather, collaborate and have fun. Best of all it is FREE! The ten influencer have been specifically chosen for this mysterious launch and not because they are all social media savvy but because they all have secrets and someone is ready to make them pay.

If you have watched the Fyre Festival documentaries you know where this trip is heading. This is a great YA whodunnit book to take on vacation or sit at home with and wish you were on vacation. I did feel like early on I figured out what was going on but it did not stop me from devouring this book. I loved all the current references and use of social media which I think the YA audience will love too!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kate M Williams for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Never Coming Home.

First of all, I’ve read the Babysitters Coven and loved the books. So I was excited to receive this one!

I love that Justice is from Kansas City, even if it’s the Kansas side. Haha! I’m from Kansas City, Missouri.

Unknown Island felt very much like And Then There Were None for Gen Z social influencers, so I loved that! There are ten of them. They are deserted on an island with luxurious accommodations. They were invited there by invitation only. There are no adults on the island. The teens were excited to party, but then mysterious things start happening.

List of Characters
Justice Wilson- The Environmentalist
Chelsea Quinn- beauty influencer
Margo Bryant- CEO
Frankie Russh- the Superstar
Celia Young- the Gamer
Emma Jane Ohana - the Rich Girl
Robby Wade- the Chef
Manny de la Cruz- DJ/warehouse incident
Xander Lee- the Athlete
Graham Hoffman-the Politician

Overall, I loved this book! I wasn’t sure if I was going to because I don’t relate to the younger generation as much. But I love the Agatha Christie vibes. It was a short read, but I enjoyed the fast paced setting. There are only 10 chapters. Maybe it’ll be added later, but it would be nice if the chapters/sections had the character’s name and role. There are ten characters, so it can get a little confusing who is who. I thought there’d be a little more with Justice, but I thought it had a lot of suspense and mystery anyway. I wouldn’t change anything about it.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and social media.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was pulled into this book pretty quickly, and I enjoyed the premise, but the ending seemed too lackluster for me. It is the Agatha Christie classic meets teenagers, social media and Survivor.

Thank you to NetGalley for a ARC of this book.

Ten social media influencers are invited to a posh resort called Unknown Island. When they arrive things are not as they seem and suddenly they are fighting their pasts, their fears, and for theirs lives.

This fun take on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None will appeal to my high school readers who love a good murder mystery. I can see myself recommending this to fans of Karen McManus.

This is a YA murder mystery/thriller where 10 influencers are invited to the soft opening of a mysterious new island resort in the middle of nowhere. A private island location and a free vacation there? Our influencers, all aged 16-20, jump at the chance to be some of the first at the resort, which from their instagram photos, seems to be a gorgeous tropical paradise.

Once the influencers are brought to the island, they realize that something is going on. The resort isn't quite finished and there are no employees around, The beautiful photos on instagram aren't even of the island they've been dropped off on. And worst of all, there is NO internet connection, so they can't let anyone know where they are or how bad things are on the island.

And it turns out that each influencer was hiding a secret and someone is out for revenge. But who? The rest of the story has the teens dyng one by one. A page turner that will keep you guessing.

This book has a unique premise - ten teenage influencers on an island of terror instead of paradise. Why were these ten chosen? What did they do that landed them amongst the other sinful folks? I enjoyed reading about these interesting characters and their stay on Unknown Island.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a complimentary ARC in exchange for a fair review.

I was intrigued by the description of the book and am always up for a good thriller/murder mystery for some quick entertainment. Having read the first book in The Babysitters Coven series, I was already familiar with the author's work before this book. To recap, 10 influencers under 20 years old are invited to the soft opening of a new island resort. Once there, they realize that they haven't been brought onto the island because of their abilities to promote the island, but because they are all hiding a secret. The rest of the story is spent seeing the influencers being eliminated and figuring out who is behind the events and why.

Overall, this story didn't do anything for me. I found it pretty tedious to get through and it became a "slasher" story of sorts with the payoff being pretty lame. Maybe I'm not the target audience for this one, but I can't say I'd recommend it unless you're into a pretty flimsy story.