Theater camp and trying to find out how your mom died 12 years ago? Another great murder mystery. One you won't be able to put down one you start. A quick and easy read that will keep you guessing and wanting more

It's official. I love Ginny Myers Sain's writing. Wow. She has a way of drawing the reader in with beautiful prose but also an eery sense of place that is definitely addictive. I knew after reading her debut I would read her next book and I'm glad I did.

This is probably one of my favorite types of ghost stories - there's mystery, creepy fog, and a location to die for. I really liked the sense of the location and enjoyed the theater aspect of it. As a 'pit musician' I loved gettin g look into the theatrical side of things.

I also really liked how things slowly unrivaled to draw us in to the full story - the unveiling, if you will-and how that all came about. I also find it interesting the 'love interest' in her books always seems to be a little bit more broken than I would expect and yet it works.

I'd recommend to older YA readers (or adults) and those who enjoy the touch of paranormal without it being full-on.

Some (small negatives): Not a fan of all the underaged drinking/smoking. Probably a personal thing but I just don't enjoy that in books for YA readers.

!Language & underaged drinking/smoking in this one. Drug use mentioned.

My rating: 4.3*

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This book had so many twists it surprised me all the way through. The mystery thriller with a hint of paranormal is perfectly titled because the secrets really do run deep at the camp it takes place in. The characters are all complex with interesting back stories, leading to a variety of relationships that show the importance of support and loyalty. While it ended a bit abruptly it’s still very worth the read.

Secrets So Deep follows Avril whose mother drowned at Whisper Cove Theater. It was ruled an accident but Avril is not convinced. Avril returns to Whisper Cove to find out what actually happened to her mother. But the truth might be worse than not knowing.

This was a really good YA mystery book. I really liked the summer camp setting of this book. The plot twist at the end was really well done. I will say that I did have a hard time keeping up with this book sometimes. I think it was because of the paranormal elements. It was kind of hard to determine what was real and what wasn't. This was a very different type of mystery book, which I did like. This is one that I liked but I do not think I will read again. But I did enjoy it while I read it. Thank you NetGalley, Razorbill publishing, and Ginny Myers Sain for a copy of this book.

This book has so many twists and turns that left me completely unable to try to guess how it would end!

This YA novel gave me paranormal mystery thriller vibes.

Another easy page turning. I just kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. This was such a quick and easy read.

Thank you Penguin Teen, Net Galley, and Ginny Myers Sain for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Secrets So Deep by Ginny Myers Sain

YA paranormal thriller - 400 pages

Expected release date September 27, 2022

I first ran across GMS on Instagram and fell in love with the cover of her first novel Dark and Shallow Lies. The moment she said she was releasing a new book I knew that I needed an ARC. THANK YOU so much for allowing me early access to this book. It is just as amazing as your first novel.

GMS has a real knack for setting a mood. Her ability to make the atmosphere come alive as much as the characters on the page blows my mind. The story builds layer upon layer and makes you continue to guess the outcome. I had so many different scenarios running through my head with each turn of the page.

The story is brilliant and truly hope GSM writes countless more novels.

Recommended ages 16+
Rating 5 of 5 Stars

Secrets So Deep is an emotionally gripping book seeping with mystery. I loved the Long Island Sound setting and the theatre aspect! Avril and Cole were powerful characters who I was rooting for throughout the entire book. I loved that there was local legend incorporated in the mystery of what happened to Avril's mom. Between this, the creepy fog and the eerie things happening to Avril, this book certainly makes you wonder if something supernatural is going on! I loved Avril discovering herself and her supportive friend group along the way. I also enjoyed the slow burn mystery with something new always being uncovered. The ending and the truth was certainly not quite the twist that I was expecting and the author did a marvelous job wrapping everything up. What an ending though!

A deliciously dark treat of a thriller, this book dishes up all the right ingredients: an isolated theater camp filled with ambitious students, a mysterious drowning, and a nightly fog haunted by whispers and shadowy figures.

Avril has returned to the theater camp where her mother drowned long ago. She's seeking the one thing she doesn't have: memories of her mother, even if they are second-hand from people who knew her. But as soon as she arrives, she hears the legend of the sea calling to those it claims. And she's one of the ones who can hear the whispers. Haunting, atmospheric and creepy, this book draws you into its dangerous fog.

The camp begins to trigger memories, and every night the fog sets in, bringing ghosts and confusion. But Avril finds an ally and a romantic interest in Cole, the son of the playwright, Willa, who also happens to have been her mother's best friend. Together, they fight off the darkness.

This book is a page turner, with twists and turns will keep readers guessing. In the end, Avril and Cole may find out that the most dangerous thing of all is lurking in the fog: the truth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this book was a wild ride. The title fits perfectly secrets really did run deep!! I love Ginny's writing and absolutely adored Dark and Shallow Lies I will say I had really high hopes that this would be just as good if not better. I found that while I enjoyed it I didn't enjoy it as much as Dark and Shallow Lies.

I really enjoyed the characters. They were all so interesting and complex. I loved Avril's romantic relationship but I really enjoyed her friendships. Especially with Lex I feel like everyone needs a lex in their lives. I think the romance was good, I did think it was kind of insta lovey but progressed slow enough that it felt more natural. Also I loved the overall setting. The setting of a theater summer camp was so fun and added to that classic dangerous summer camp feel. I also appreciated how the book had great strong themes of finding oneself and processing grief.

I really enjoyed the overall mystery and the strange things that kept happening to Avril in Whispering Cove. The fog and strange sounds and visions and nightmares really helped make us the reader wonder what is real what is not real. I do think that the ending happened a bit abruptly and I think it was intentional but I would have loved a more conclusive epilogue. I just wanted to know more. I think this is where the disconnect happened for me I just wanted more it felt like such a big climax and reveal that I had to backtrack and reread the ending to see if I missed something.

Overall this was a good summer read and I do recommend checking it out. Fans of YA mysteries/ psychological thrillers should definitely check this out!

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group/ Razorbill and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.