[ Review time ]

Title: Going Dark
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Genre: YA Thriller
Release Date: January 31st 2023
Publisher: Union Square & Co.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOW!
This books put me out of a horrible reading slump, and I was hooked from page 1!
I couldn’t stop reading it and I stayed up waaaay past bedtime🤪

It was fast paced, extremely intriguing and I really liked the whole story and the way Melissa wrote the story. I liked how I as a reader followed so many different aspect and characters and all the details throughout the book.

It was easily a five out of five star read for me!⭐️🤌🏼

A big thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for letting me read this ARC for an honest review.

The twist in this book is very good, but It took too long to begin unraveling. I did like the idea of the main character playing the "long game."

WOW this was so good. I absolutely flew through this! I was entirely hooked and was shocked with every twist. I was in the mood to read a thriller type book about social media/influencers and this was the PERFECT book for what I was looking for!!! My mind will be racing for hours now thinking about this.

This book in 3 words: Modern. Erratic. Intimate.

Told through different POVs and mixed media elements, Going Dark captures authentic influencer vibes in a topsy-turvy plotline. I found this a solid thriller that kept the reader guessing, anxiously shifting POVs, and trying to determine what was to happen next. 

Without spoilers, here's what I loved:
1. Strong writing. Melissa de la Cruz ropes in the reader with visual and emphatic writing. 
2. Characterization. Different POVs for wildly different pieces of this book's puzzle. Each character had their own background and unique voice. 
3. The twists and reveals. I found myself surprised, with my mouth open, multiple times. 
4. Plot details. The entire storyline is detailed, complex, and calculated. I enjoyed how it was executed and it made for a fun read. 

I recommend this thriller for any fan of the genre. Going Dark is a quick read with enough elements to stand apart from other books and keep you entertained. I couldn't ask for much more from this book.... packs quite the punch.

I was given an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

My Review:

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

It has been a long time since I’ve read a Melissa de la Cruz book and now I am wondering what I have been missing. Going Dark blew me away! I couldn’t put it down. I think this book will become a favourite for many thriller readers, it certainly is going on a list of my favourite. As I’ve discussed previously, thrillers and mysteries are not usually my forte. I tend to not enjoy them, and because of that I don’t always pick them up on my own accord. However, when one comes along with a synopsis as intriguing as this one, I couldn’t help but sign up for this tour and I do not regret it one bit!

The writing was addicting, and so fast paced that the entire book flew by as I got more and more obsessed with needing to know how this story was going to end. The characterization choices were phenomenal, and I really cannot say more about this without spoiling the perfectly crafted narrative of this book. I think it is one you need to go into blind to be properly blown away.

It’s a mystery for the age of influencer’s, tugging on the true crime intrigue that has been building for a while, and giving the reader’s an ending they may or may not be satisfied with. The parts it was broken down into, especially the non chronological sections, really helped to keep the mystery spinning. I really don’t want to spoil anything, I’m trying to hard to not even give away a breadcrumb!

Going Dark is a book for lovers of thrillers, true crime, or mystery solvers. It’s haunting and addicting – you will not be able to put it down!

Going Dark was published January 31st, 2023

Going Dark has a YA Gone Girl feel to it. Multiple points of view keep the reader on their toes and not knowing who to believe. De La Cruz has created a gripping story that holds the reader's attention to the very last page.

It takes quite some talent to make a story with that many PoVs work, but Going Dark totally did that. The story was riveting and while I don't really read a lot of YA thrillers anymore, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth it brought with it.
While Going Dark takes a while to get going, once it does you're in for a wild ride. What I always love about de la Cruz novels is the way they keep you on your toes and invested enough to repeat the sentence "just one more chapter" about five times in a row.
Thought-provoking and not for the faint of heart, this was a total win!

Lately, I’ve read a few YA books that have read really young and I am pleased to say this one will appeal to readers of all ages. Told in the present and the past from multiple narrators and social media posts, I was drawn into the story wondering what could have happened to Amelia Ashley. I was invested in the story from the start and grew more intrigued as the secrets and twists unfolded. The story was more layered than I originally thought. It really fed into my thoughts on why the nation follows one story versus another. What is that piece of information that draws interest?

I am always a fan of mixed media in a story and this is the third book that the social media included video transcripts. While the first time I read these transcripts, I was a little unsure how I liked it, but I could see the video playing out in my mind for this one.

There was enough depth to the characters for you to get a sense of the players in this mystery and while I wasn’t a fan of all and my initial thoughts changed as the story progressed, they were intriguing enough that I needed more.

Whether you are a fan of social media influencers or like a suspenseful mystery, this book will appeal to a broad audience.

Slow moving at first, but once you get half way through it all makes sense. Melissa del la Cruz knows how to keep you on your toes. A story of how a strong a sister's bond can be and what she is willing to do for her.

Some may see YA and immediately think it'll read young but Going Dark proved to be a thought provoking and layered novel that appeals to all ages. Delivery of the story was unique, done through multiple narrators in the past and present and through social media posts. 

I was very quickly pulled into the story, desperately trying to figure out what could've happened to Amelia Ashley. The book is filled with twists and turns and every secret that was revealed threw another layer of depth and intrigue to the plot. The characters were well written and developed well as the story progressed. 

Overall a really enjoyable read. If you're a fan of social media, influencers and mystery then definitely pick up this book

#netgalleyarc I enjoy this author’s work, and while this isn’t my favorite book from her, I did enjoy this book. It’s not my fave mystery/thriller that I’ve read over the last year or so but it was a good one. Very enjoyable, a nail-biter and a definite purchase for my high school library.

Thank you to Union Square & Co. and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this YA thriller! The story was fast paced, and the multiple POV's and mixed media kept me engaged throughout. Multiple POV's, mixed media, and dual timeline seems like a lot for a book that's less than 350 pages, but it worked!

Additionally, the questions the story asked were incredibly relevant. (ie. Whose disappearances get media coverage? Whose do not?) I think this book is a great entry point into that conversation.

I would've loved a little more exploration into each of the characters' personalities, but overall this was a great read. I would definitely recommend.

Oh this was a fun one! Last year I read my first YA Horror and this was my first YA Thriller! Speaking of firsts; this is my first book by this author and it definitely will not be my last. The story flowed well and held my interest! I didn’t anticipate the twist or turns it would take but I was definitely entertained. Social media is a huge player in this story. If you’re into YA stories, thrillers, books that have social media as an element, you’ll enjoy this one!

Favorite lines:
✨ She was an enigma in so many ways, even if her whole life was online
✨ Sometimes the things we’re feeling are invisible to those around us, and people aren’t mind readers. They’re not going to be able to understand right off the bat that, because you’ve gone quiet, you’re dealing with something
✨Revenge is messy

Wow! What an entertaining fast-paced mystery thriller!
I’ve been craving to read a high suspense thriller and this one definitely deliver!

Interesting plot with multiple POVs, great writing style, filled with secrets and unexpected twists will definitely keep you on your toes and guessing throughout the story.

This story does a lot of showing with the different formats like the diary entry, Youtube vlogs transcripts and blog post in some chapters. It's a nice touch and gives the readers a different experience.
However, some of the chapters also felt a bit too long nonetheless I still enjoy the whole plot.

The last few chapters are intense and I feel satisfied with how it ended for all the characters. I felt relieved and yet sad at the same time but it was a fitting end.

Overall, this is a fantastic page-turner. Highly recommended for those who loves to read mystery thriller!
I’m really looking forward to read more books from this author in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour, Netgalley, author and pubsliher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!

Amelia Ashley, a popular social media influencer vanished while on vacation with her boyfriend, Josh. He has no idea where she is or why she went missing, he is questioned and not everyone believes him.

Harper Delgado is a hacker who investigates Amelia's disappearance and comes up with more questions. Will she find the answers she is looking for?

Who was the girl that went missing two years prior? Why did her disappearance not make headlines?

This started out on the slower side for me, but things did pick up. Readers are left wondering what happened to Amelia. Did she take off? Did someone harm her? There was blood in Josh's suitcase. Where is she now? Is she alive?

This book is told through social media posts mixed into the writing. This seemed very fitting as a social medial influencer has gone missing. I thought it was a nice touch and for me moved the book along.

As the book progresses, more is revealed and just when I thought I knew what was going on, I quickly learned that I was wrong!

I flew through this book and loved every minute of it. Action starts on page 1 and you are kept guessing. What happened to Amelia? Halfway through the book takes a turn and you are seen a new angle and I found it fascinating. It was so fun piecing it together and the ending was excellent. Well done! Definitely check this one out.

Top 5 reasons to Read:
1. Mysterious and thrilling
2. Dual POV
3. Captivating read
4. Relatable story
5. Excellent writing style

3.5/5 stars

Going Dark is a Young Adult mystery/thriller.

The book has a bunch of POVs. The social media influencer (Amelia). The boyfriend (Josh). The hacker (Harper). And another girl whose identity we don't know right away. The characters are all teens, but some of the characters are in college.

The book follows the hashtag #WhereisAmeliaAshley. Amelia and her boyfriend Josh go on vacation in Italy. But when he comes back alone nobody knows what happened to her.

The book is told from present POVs, vlogs, social media posts and past diary entries.

I liked the beginning of the book. And enjoyed most of the present. I was curious to find out what happened to Amelia. But I didn't love how so much of the story was told through vlogs/social media posts/diary entries. And I didn't love how the book spent so much time in the past. It was probably important to find out about the Rome trip. But it just didn't feel like I was in the story in the same way as the present.

There were definitely some interesting reveals. But I was able to predict a lot of it. And the ending was quite abrupt. But overall it was an interesting read.

I honestly enjoyed the book. This genre isn't really my go-to genre but I still found myself having a great time reading it.

This was an engaging young adult thriller, with a contemporary feel to it with the influencer storyline running underneath it all. It read like a telemovie, fast paced and quite punchy. It was difficult to point out who was telling the ‘truth’ in some parts which made it more interesting as it went on. One of the strengths of this book is the pull to keep reading to the very end even when what happened is revealed – that is a good sign for any mystery and thriller! Those mystery elements facilitated the page-turning elements in this book (even though they were a little implausible).

The mystery of this one is quite engaging though I did find each of the characters just a little bit flat. This was particularly glaring to me in the case of Amelia who we are repeatedly told is charming and exceptional yet seems glaringly unexceptional on the page. Still I enjoyed the mystery quite a bit