The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Those are some BIG shoes to fill; unfortunately, I don't think Young's In Nightfall was able to live-up to that comparison. Now, this isn't the first time I've read a book claiming to be like The Lost Boys (one of my favorite films of all time); however, I try not to think about how disappointed I was in Mayhem by Estelle Laure, so let's move on.

I didn't hate this book; however, I feel like I would've liked it more had I not been expecting something on par with the two films listed above (I do say films because this book didn't really feel like the Buffy show at all... but there were SOME similarities to the film... so, take of that what you will). Though this may be the case, I don't think I would've picked this book up without those comparisons... so, like, I guess I get it.

The similarities are as follows:

The Lost Boys
- siblings moving to a small town with their single-parent
- vampires
- a group of young nerds seeking the "truth" about the town
- a cooky grandparent
- the beach
- summer break

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- vampires
- a teenage girl coming to terms with vampires
- said girl rises to the occasion

There are some other, more spoilery, similarities; however, though this book has similar elements (just like Mayhem by Estelle Laure), the vibes just WERE NOT THERE!

It was an interesting enough story. However, the characters are a bit two-dimensional, and there is quite a bit of info-dumping at the end to explain what's been going on throughout the story leading up to that point.

Despite all of the mediocre aspects of this book... one thing truly shined through: the relationship between the two siblings at the heart of the story. It was so beautiful to read, and it really helped solidify this book as a 3-star read for me. I definitely see this being a book that many young people could enjoy (it is YA, after all); however, it was just meh for me. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it; I definitely don't regret reading it.

Just know that if you're going into this book thinking that the vibes of those 80s classics would be there... lower your expectations.

When people have asked me what I’ve been reading the past few weeks, I’ve described In Nightfall as “if Twilight was written by someone who grew up on Tumblr instead of by a Mormon.”

Unlike Twilight, In Nightfall has decent diversity for both main and side characters. Those characters are fun, with strong motivations and interesting antagonists. There’s also some really interesting use of vampire folklore, especially in homages to Dracula.

Going in, I did not know what flavor of paranormal it was going to be. I originally assumed werewolves (not sure why), but it quickly became obvious I was way off the mark.

Gorgeous characters make weird comments about how much they hate sunlight, say things like “Thank you for inviting me into your home” (wink wink), charm everyone around them, and lick strawberry sauce (that probably isn’t strawberry sauce) off their fingers.

The narrative isn’t being coy, not obfuscating what these girls are or trying to do any misdirection. It puts up a big flashing sign from the get-go that reads THESE GIRLS ARE VAMPIRES!!! THEY DO NOT DRINK…. sambuca.

So. Painfully. Obviously. Vampires.

Despite this, the word vampire is first used seventy percent in.

The narrative doesn’t bother to clue the protagonist in on what’s going on until 200 pages in. Two hundred. This made the pace drag hard. As a reader, it’s frustrating to know pretty quickly Here Be Vampires, but have to wait another hundred pages for the main character to get the memo.

As a result, the narrative takes ages to get interesting. It was only in the last third—when Theo is finally clued in on the whole vampire thing—that I was genuinely engaged.

One of the main problems I had with In Nightfall is that most of the interesting things happen to or around Theo. She does a bit of surface level investigation here and there (such as talking to a pair of visiting podcasters and doing a little surface-level googling), but overall, Theo was incredibly passive for most of the narrative.

I found myself wondering why Theo is the point of view character. Other characters—such as the pair of podcasters, the love interest Parrish, and the three vampire girls—have far more interesting motivations and character arcs. They’re also the ones actually pulling their weight in the plot, up until Theo finally decides to pitch in and goes ham.

Speaking of Theo going ham, I was disappointed in the final vampire confrontation.

Up to that point, the sense of danger with these girls was palpable. They’re incredibly clever, manipulative, charismatic, and oh, yeah, undead blood-sucking monsters that can fly and have super strength. They’ve killed several people, including the sheriff and other vampires. They’re predators, through and through, and the narrative does an excellent job making how dangerous they are very, very clear.

After all that build up, you’re telling me that two podcasters and a high school student armed with nothing more than chair legs and a kitchen knife fended off four, killing three, with nary a single human team casualty? That Theo punching one’s face did nothing to her, but a kick to one’s thigh will send a vampire capable of throwing a grown man through the air sprawling?

Sure, it’s a YA book. Theo has to win in the end. But after forcing the reader to wait 200 pages for the climax, the execution is just disappointing. Honestly, I’m a little mad on their behalf. The girls deserved more of a fight.

Did I like In Nightfall? No, not really. Did I dislike it? Also no.

In Nightfall isn’t a bad book. It’s also certainly not a must-read for vampire lovers or horror readers in general.

In Nightfall is a book great for those who loved the YA vampire trend but did not enjoy the trend’s issues with racism, misogyny, and romanticization of abuse. In Nightfall does not directly engage with these negative tropes but does avoid them. I probably would have enjoyed the book far more when I was in high school and really into paranormal YA.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but only if you’re a part of the above niche, with a strong caveat that the pacing is slow and the climax disappointing. The book appeals to a certain audience. If you’re not part of that audience, you will probably not enjoy In Nightfall, and that’s okay.

I wanted to love this but the beginning felt like Twilight fan-fiction, I mean come on...a main character from sunny Arizona moving to a small town in the PNW with a population of about 800........
Other than that my biggest issue was that nothing happened for 80% of this book and by the time something was finally happening I was too bored out of my skull to care. This could have been really great and spooky and downright terrifying but it was very flat with a main character I didn't even want to root for. This is another 2023 beautiful cover but the substance just wasn't there.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While the premise was interesting I didn’t connect with the characters or the story in a meaningful manner. Felt a bit plagerized at points (see the Lost Boys). Some books just aren’t for us, and that’s alright.

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review:

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

This was my first Suzanne Young novel and I have to say it was a wild ride. I am not sure what her other books are like, but In Nightfall was a horror/paranormal book filled with twists and turns coming out of nowhere. It was a fun read, even if it was a bit overwhelming at times. It read like a horror comedy and was just as addicting as that genre is.

That being said, I am not entirely sure where I should start my review. A lot of my favourite parts are certainly spoilerly and this is going to be a spoiler free review. So I guess I will begin with the characters. Theo and Marco were quite likeable main characters, despite their general naivete and oblivious to the fact that all of their new friends are well, vampires. I loved their brother and sister dynamic, and for one it felt like reading siblings written by someone who knows what it’s like to have siblings. They were always bantering playfully, but could still have deep conversations that felt genuine.

My favourite character in the book was probably Nonna. Her characterization was really well done and I enjoyed the role she played in the story, even if her intentions weren’t always clear. I felt like as the reader I often understood what she was doing more often than Theo did, but again, see Theo’s extreme naivete.

I’ve never interacted with either of the comp medias for this book, but I can say that the supernatural aspects of this story were well written. There is a lot of use of stereotypical lore and ‘hunting’ methods, but it didn’t necessarily feel cheesy. It helped move the story forward without too much worldbuilding. The worldbuilding we were given was a bit messy, but the quick pace of the story helped to move through that.

In Nightfall was a very fun read, with quick paced prose that will keep you hanging on until the last page. This book is perfect if you’re in a spooky mood or just want an enjoyable paranormal read.

In Nightfall releases March 28, 2023

YA vampires? Count me in. Theo and her brother Marco are returning with their dad to his hometown of Nightfall, OR after being raised in Arizona. Their mom is getting married, so they’re stuck here for the summer. The locals are cool and gorgeoud and actually want to make friends, but something’s weird, and Theo’s determined to get to the bottom of it, particularly after her brother starts getting sloppy drunk and super sick after.

It’s a quick read that moves quickly, and even though the reader obviously figures it out before the character(s), there are still some surprises, and the characters really make the story. I love Theo’s grandmother. She’s grumpy and brooding but also super cute and loving in her own way, and she’s got an interesting history, too. Definitely recommend.

About 50% through and so far SO GOOD! I'm really loving the overall vibe of this book and I cannot wait to know what happens next. Hoping I can veg out and finish it this weekend, because things are spooky!

3 stars only because I have not finished yet. It all depends on how this is going to end!

*Thank you Netgalley for providing this egalley!*

DRC provided by Random House Children's, Delacorte Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had a good time reading this because I am a hard-core fan of The Lost Boys and this book felt like a gender-bent revisiting of the 80's vampire cult classic. I just wish it had been more original.

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

At this point, it seems Suzanne Young is not an author for me. Other books of hers have fallen flat for this reader, and this one I thought might be different. It wasn't.

Small plot threads weren't utilized to a level that made sense, the events relied way too heavily on inspiration materials, and the vampires were just meh. Lots of vamp stories have, to put it lightly, recently lost their bite.

Two stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Saldy, I stopped reading at the 20% mark.

This is literally a rip-off of "The Lost Boys" movie, with the "boys" replaced with "girls". That's it. The author doesn't seem to change anything or make an attempt to be creative with the premise. I wouldn't have minded it if they changed things around so, say, the main character decides to join the vampire gang in the end. Or the parent was more involved in the story. Or the vampire mythology is different from the movie. Nope, it's exactly the same as the movie except girls. Boring & unoriginal.

Also doesn't help that the writing style is incredibly bland and follows too many YA writing tropes.

I grew up in the '90s obsessed with all things vampire, and horror movies were my lifeline during my teen years. So when I read the description of this story I knew I instantly had to read it! As The Lost Boys is one of my all-time favorite movies and BTVS is one of my all-time favorite TV shows I knew I would love it if it had any similarities. As I was reading this book just gave me all the vibes I was looking for (yes it was especially very similar to The Lost Boys but enough difference for me to really enjoy it).
In the story, we follow Marco and Theo to their Nonna's house for the summer. What happens there will change them forever. Friends are made, creepy stuff starts happening, and all those ominous warnings from their grandmother that they choose to ignore add up to such a fun story that kept me fully engaged the entire time. This book is filled with a good amount of camp, horror, and some fantastic badass female characters, and these are just a few of my favorite things. This was my first time reading this author, but I will be picking more from them in the future. The description and cover are what intrigued me the most and I must say I was not disappointed! Very glad I was gifted an ARC from NetGalley, the author Suzanne Young, and Random House in exchange for my honest opinion.

Theo and Marco get in trouble throwing a party at their dad's house while he's gone and as punishment he takes them to his hometown of Nightfall - a creepy PNW small tourist town that has a lot of strange and suspicious characters that seem a bit too good to be true.

This YA supernatural/horror/Buffy-esque book follows the siblings as they discover more about the eerie happenings of Nightfall and discover some not so hidden secrets.

This was such a refreshing twist on most YA vampire books where the girl is completely helpless and doesn't see what's about to happen. I love a strong female lead and this did not disappoint.

The mystery of this book wasn't so mysterious that I had no clue what would happen (it seemed pretty obvious how it would turn out) but I still had fun along the way.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an EARC in exchange for an honest review.

Comp titles of The Lost Boys and Buffy the Vampire Slayer? A thousand times yes I wanted to read this book!

If you’re a fan of The Lost Boys, this is a must read. Some reviewers even classified it as a gender-swapped version. Theo and her brother, Marco, travel to Nightfall, Oregon with their newly divorced father to spend the summer. He grew up there, and they’ll be staying with his mother, the grandmother Theo and Marco have never met. Neither are happy to be spending the summer away from their friends, but it’s not long before they meet other teens their age in town.

But strange things are afoot in the town of Nightfall. Their new friends are unusually attractive and charismatic. Streets are abandoned by sundown. Disappearances are common occurences. Theo feels unsettled, but meets Parrish, a cute guy who distracts her from those feelings. Marco is immediately infatuated with Minnow and falls in with her group.

The sibling relationship between Theo and Marco feels very genuine with the way they take jabs at each other. But they’re also very close and protective of each other. With her creepy doll collection, unusual plants in the garden, and tiny, smelly stick dolls she continually places in their rooms, they think grandmother Nonna is a little weird. But don’t mess with her – she’s a badass, and I loved her. If the author wrote a prequel about Nonna, I’d totally read it.

This is an atmospheric, fun story I read in a couple sittings. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was made into a movie. My advice is to cue up The Lost Boys soundtrack, then dive into this book and enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I was drawn in by the cover and description. The story follows Theo as she and her brother, Marco, are forced to travel from Arizona to their father's small hometown of Nightfall, Oregon for their summer vacation, as a sort of punishment for throwing a massive party at their home. With a population of under 1,000 people, the town is quiet, rainy, but also a tourist destination. Theo and Marco are quickly welcomed into a gorgeous, popular friend group-- it almost seems to good to be true! Theo notices odd happenings surrounding their new friends, though. Their grandmother is making things all the stranger, as well-- warning them to always come home before dark. What exactly is lurking in the town at night, and why does it seem as if it wants Theo and her family to stay in Nightfall?

The book is promoted as The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That's not inaccurate, but the story leans far more heavily on The Lost Boys... I would even say it is a gender-swapped retelling of the film. As far as a YA vampire story goes, In Nightfall is fine. I found it to be a relatively compelling read, with an interesting setting and an endearing family at the heart of the story. If you are familiar with The Lost Boys, though, you will see straight through the mystery. The major plot points are almost exactly the same as those of the film. In Nightfall is more modern, with lore and a few interesting ideas of its own. However, the main plot is still the same. I could predict exactly what would happen to which characters, which sucked some of the enjoyment out of reading the novel.

I did like the setting. There is a unique contrast of Nightfall as a gloomy Oregon town but also as a tourist spot. So, it's foggy, chilly, and has an underlying sinister atmosphere, but there are also cute ice cream shops, an upcoming parade, and beach parties. Nightfall felt real and pulled me in. I was curious about the locals, the town's history, and the secrets everyone appeared to be hiding.

I also enjoyed our main characters. I found Theo to be a fine protagonist. She's snarky, independent, and stands up for herself and her family. She also reads very much like a normal teenage girl, so I imagine she's easy for readers to see themselves in. I also liked Marco and Nonna (their grandmother). Marco's relationship with Theo feels authentic, and I appreciated their conversations, especially at the beginning of the novel. Nonna is quirky and has a hard edge, but you can tell there was something earlier in her life that made her that way. I wanted to learn more about her and her motivations. The only main family member I didn't love was the father-- he's okay, but like most YA parents, he mostly disappears for 80% of the story (as the plot needs him to do).

The side characters are different, though. I found them to mostly be one dimensional. The three main girls are cardboard cutouts of the hot, popular girl trope. We learn a teeny bit about their backstories later on, but I would have loved to have seen them developed more (and earlier). Parrish is the stereotypical moody male love interest. Just like with the girl group, he's given some development near the end, but it was too little too late. The podcasters who Theo befriends appear to be a plot device to give her information on the monsters in town, but they didn't do a lot for me as characters.

The writing is fine. Young did a great job of building a town and a family that felt real, so I appreciated that. Her descriptions brought everything to life. Although, sometimes I felt like she spent too much time describing the mundane parts of Theo's day. Did it make it more realistic? Absolutely. Did it also make the story drag on? Yeah. There is probably a better balance that could have been struck to quicken the pace. Also, and I know that this is nitpicky, the story is told through Theo's voice, and she uses a lot of adverbs and redundant words (ex: she describes herself as "a bit nervous" or someone else as "a little mean" all the time). I did this so much in high school (and maybe that's why it bothered me here). It's realistic to how a teenager speaks, but it also makes the writing clunky at times. I doubt it would bother younger readers, though.

The main reason I can't rate this novel higher is just that it wasn't very unique or different. There are thousands of vampire stories out there. This one is alright-- I had a fine time reading it, and I don't regret picking it up. Ultimately, though, I know it's not going to stand out in my memory or be worth revisiting. I'm sure there are other vampire books out there that would have made more of an impact on me. Also, if you watched The Lost Boys, you'll have already seen a similar version of this story play out.

The last issue I had with In Nightfall was the pace. The beginning and ending were strong, but the middle dragged. A few minor plot points didn't go anywhere, and they could have been cut out entirely to speed things up (the item Erika has Theo give Parrish, the second podcast episode, and more). I don't mind a slow book, and I never really struggled to finish this one. However, after finishing, I looked back and realized that much of the middle felt like fluff.

Overall, this book is alright. I don't regret reading it, and it had some fun moments. I just didn't find it to be spectacular. And when you compare it to The Lost Boys, it does seem even less unique. I wish the author had used the film as more of a general inspiration, rather than as an outline of her plot. I do think teens will like this one, though. It's moderately well-written, and there are some interesting aspects of the story. If they haven't seen The Lost Boys, I predict they might even like it more. I'd recommend this to people looking for a gender-swapped retelling of the movie, to teenagers stepping their toes into supernatural books, and to folks who want a light, moody vampire read.

3 out of 5 stars.

In Nightfall was conceptually super interesting, and since I grew up with the Lost Boys and Buffy, I was very excited for it! It was fine, though I think I liked the premise far more than the implementation.

It's light and the shenanigans are high, so if you don't mind the plot holes and over the top parts, give it a shot!

I really felt Theo’s descriptions of Arizona and Oregon – I have lived in both states, and they are both on point. The mention of Mo’s made me long for Haystack, chowder, and the wind-whipped ocean air. I could feel the atmosphere of this book, and without the snarky characters, it would be gloomy indeed. The doll room!!! My grandma LOVED porcelain dolls as well, and I also have the same sentiment as Theo.

I loved Theo, Marco & Nonna – they were such a sassy bunch. Unfortunately, they made their dad feel like a wet blanket sometimes. We didn’t get a lot of character-building for him until close to the end, but it made sense because he never shared his life in Nightfall with Theo or Marco. Theo’s mom (the little she was discussed) sounded awesome, warm, and homey. I loved Theo’s snark, sass, her relationship with Marco, and all of her family. It felt entirely genuine – particularly the difficulty of their parent’s situation. The queens of Nightfall felt a little flat or one-sided for me, and I think that stems from not seeing what was appealing about them other than the obvious. Maybe if we had some page time from Marco’s point of view it would have helped to develop their characters better. Parrish was a boy after my own heart, and I can see why Theo was drawn to him. I did feel like the “rule” was pretty lax on being upheld – their dad should have done more, and I understand why Nonna did not want to overstep the newness of her relationship with the kids.

I would like to thank TBR & Beyond Tours and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this moody fantasy horror. I would highly recommend reading it if you like horror, supernatural, and snarky FMCs. This book has been associated with certain movies (or possibly TV series), and I think that spoiled the book a bit. I would rather go into books solely on their synopsis, which I usually do not read again before picking the book up to read it.

First of all the cover? It's so alluring and gorgeous I couldn't stop looking at it. With the story and the cover, I'm definitly buying, love vampire books!

Suzanne really invoked a sense of loneliness being pushed to go to a rainy town in oregan away from her friends and everything she knows because of a teenage house party. I really liked the sibling dynamic and Nonna, when she talked. The details of her constantly having her hair in rolls and track suit was semi hilarious. Suzanne really put little details of something isn't right in this cute rainy town. I stayed up for hours trying to get to the nail biting end. There was some plot gaps, the 7 days and less timeline. Overall I was very happy with this creepy body horror YA! Definitely recommend, there's even a true crime podcast crew investigating the town!

I was real iffy about starting this book…. I hate to sound cliché, but if you know anything about me, you know I don’t really care for vampire stories. I’m a product of the paranormal romance boom (I was an actual teen during it) and it seemed like every paranormal creature was a vampire. And I was over it. I said I wouldn’t read another one. Obvs that was a lie lol But it was the thought that counts lol

I took a chance on this because it didn’t sound like vampires who sparkle or have alternative blood diets. I saw that Horror was on the genre list and I didn’t hesitate to read it immediately. And it actually panned out! The horror was actually scary (ghosts, turning people and then drowning them), the vampires only ate one thing, etc. It was so good. Also, don’t read this at night. I ended up reading the end at like 2am and I had some weird ass dreams lol

The plot was so good! I wanted to know what was happening to the weird town and what the grandma knew that she didn’t want to talk about. I hated that we didn’t get too much information about the place, but I can admit that it made me want to keep reading. If nothing else it was because I was noesy and just needed to know what happened. And the plot twist at the end! I knew it, but to have it confirmed like that! It was like wtf the way it just nonchalantly happened lol I was not ready! And I really don’t think y’all will be either lol

The characters were what made me rate this what I did. Like Theo was too like naïve. I don’t get how all these things were happening and you were just like “Yeah, totally weird.” Or when your grandmother (who was nice the whole other time) started being mean because of something, and she just thought “Oh she changed a lot” It was so weird lol Idk maybe it’s because she was a teen, or maybe because I’m an outsider looking in, but it was just weird that she trusted the boy before her grandma. It made me want to Auntie shake her lol And the grandma was also weird. Like why would you keep that from them? Like I could understand if it was a few people, but like IT WAS THE WHOLE TOWN. And the brother?! Like BOY. Just head over heels and immediately. Didn’t know anything about them. I get it, that’s part of their allure, but did you even try?! lol

This book was interesting. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it, but I actually really loved it. It was really a fun book. I didn’t think I’d ever really go back to vampire books, but I had to at least try. If nothing else so that I knew how many my library would need and how the teens might receive this. They’ll be disappointed that there was some romance, but I think the horror, and the actual vampires would more than make up for it! I liked it and I really think they will too!

This was a FUN book! YA vampire thriller/suspense and it was done successfully! It’s compared to Lost Boys- and unfortunately I haven’t seen that movie- but if the movie is half as good as this book was, I’m definitely checking it out soon.

The characters were engaging, entertaining, and suspishhhh.

Do I think there were questionable plot points at times- yes.
Do I care? No.

Super fun book, fast paced and a real page Turner!

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for my honest review!

"One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, all the damn vampires."

Theo and her brother have just moved to Nightfall, Oregon from Tempe, Arizona. Fresh from their parents' divorce they're spending the summer with their eccentric grandmother. But Theo and Marco soon learn the town isn't everything that it seems. And while Theo is trying to puzzle what it is that makes this town so weird, Marco is enamored with a beautiful, enigmatic local.

It takes a bold author to take a beloved 1980s classic movie (a perfect gem of a film to be honest). While In Nightfall claims it's The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer (???). In actuality, it's pretty much The Lost Boys entirely (albeit with more girls). Now I have to say this here and now because I'm sure my review of this book is tainted by the fact that The Lost Boys is one of my favorite movies ever (like of all time - as in I used to dress like Jami Gertz's Star), and maybe Young's too. (I don't know her so can't say for sure.) Not to mention one of the best soundtracks in the history of soundtracks. And I think other fans of this film will agree with me when I say that Edgar and Alan Frog were (arguably) the greatest part of the film. Here they're horror podcasters (ticking off the token gay box). Sadly the podcasters don't even approach Frog status. Finally, how dare you rewrite The Lost Boys without a greased up saxophone player? The audacity! (That's a bit tongue in cheek.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. Unfortunately, In Nightfall had gigantic shoes to fill, and couldn't hit the mark for me.