I've only ever read Melissa's (author) Blood Blood series, it was at a time when I loved the young adult genre, especially the paranormal. When I saw Going Dark I had to try it, could Melissa bring to me a good tale that wasn't a paranormal love story? Could she still write characters I loved and loathed and transport me to a world away for a short time. So I started Going Dark on a wet, cold afternoon... And finished it sometime later early evening. Yes this was read in one single sitting.

With Going Dark I recommend you go in blind. I won't talk to you about specific characters. For everyone in this story has a reason for being there and it's best you learn it as the book unfolds. I will say for the first part (Till around half way point) I was thinking I'd give this young adult mystery around a 3/3.5. Until we then delved into another part of the story and then I was hooked. I think that's why I couldn't put this down. I had to know, I began to realise that Melissa had set me up so well, for everything I thought I knew, maybe I didn't? I'm a mature reader, I still enjoy young adult books as I feel at times it brings back memories of your youth, when things were kinder maybe, more innocent. Sometimes you don't need all the blood and horror in a story for it to be good.

Going Dark is a very good story, one I'm glad I read. It isn't like anything I've read by Melissa before. Yes she still bring characters to life, makes them real. Yes she still makes me feel things for those characters (Whether it's empathy, hatred or even a kinship). But above all, she's wrote a story that twists and turns, yet ends just as it should. A solid 4 star read, if Melissa does release more books in this genre, I'll definitely be checking those out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing, Union Square & Co for this advanced readers copy in exchange of an honest review.

Nothing like a fun, twisty YA thriller! I felt like I devoured this book. It was so easy to get caught up in the story and keep reading. I loved the conversation about which missing girls get more media attention and resources than others and why. The different POVs really added an extra layer of suspense to the plot, but I will say I didn’t think Harper’s was really all that necessary. I was waiting for an “Aha!” moment with her character and it never came. I liked how the story started out one way and you think you know where it’s going, but halfway through, it becomes something different entirely. It ended up being a little predictable towards the end of the second half, but I liked where the story was going. My only big complaint is that the ending was waaaaaaaay too abrupt. I needed some closure or even an epilogue to really wrap things up. Overall, I enjoyed it and it kept my interest, but I would have just liked a more conclusive and satisfying ending.


Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Amelia Ashley is a beautiful, successful social media influencer. She goes on a vacation with her boyfriend Josh and ends up a missing person. Josh becomes the number one suspect as he is the last person to see her and his behavior is seemingly suspicious. Through social media, Amelia’s disappearance becomes a trending topic and hacker Harper becomes involved which just leads to more questions. Who is Amelia Ashley and what happened to her? The plot twists are really great and I didn’t see the reveals coming.

This book gave me true crime vibes in both the best and sad ways. It actually vaguely reminded of a case that just happened not long ago.
Starting this book I wasn't sure where it was going and I was not totally expecting the twist this book took. Though it was kind of the perfect way this book could have gone. It almost makes me wish real life cases could have turned out like this one did.
This was my first Melissa De la Cruz book and I will definitely be checking out more in the future because this book was written so well.

Gone Girl but for teens.
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Also, all the parts of bolder text, which are descriptions of the events as Amelia sees them, really took me out of the story. I found myself skipping past them, tbh.

#WhereisAmeliaAshley ??? When Josh Reuter returns from a vacation in Italy without his influencer girlfriend his friends become suspicious. Police however, do not suspect foul play. Amelia's influencer friends however, begin to rally interest and a hacker/detective gets involved.

Told via multiple points of view, flashbacks and social media posts this is a unique mystery that will keep you guess until the end. If you love thrillers, social media influencer stories or just are interested in a book that will keep you reading til the end, Going Dark is for you! #unionsquarepublishing #GoingDark #Melissadelacruz

Going Dark begins with Josh Reuter returning from his trip to Rome without his girlfriend, influencer Amelia Ashley. This might seem innocuous…but they argued before Josh left Rome and nobody has heard from Amelia since.
When Josh’s missing suitcase is returned, the police discover Amelia’s blood on a T-shirt inside. Suddenly Josh has gone from concerned boyfriend to suspect in a missing person’s case. He seems stunned by this twist in events, but there’s niggles of doubt from those around him.
Just as we have the shock news of Amelia’s blood revealed, we then shift viewpoints and start to learn a little more about Amelia. She is not who we thought…and sometimes going dark may be done for a very specific reason.
It was at this point that things become a little less predictable. While the story itself hinted at a darker and much more interesting focus - the way the media report on missing person’s cases and how easy it is for money to buy you anonymity - this shift in events made a tenser read than that which I originally thought we were in for.
The premise for this story really was absorbing, and it might have been nice to have some elements examined in greater depth. However, this was a tense and neatly plotted read, if a little predictable.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.

Going Dark is Gone Girl for the younger generation with the added social media/influencer element. The book has excellent crossover for adults and teens. Told in a multi-media format with diary entries, social media posts, and first hand accounts, the story is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Ashley, the influencer, disappears on vacation. Her boyfriend returns home without her thinking she abandoned him with no answers as to why there is her blood in his suitcase. A hacker who looks into unsolved cases looks deeper into Ashley's digital footprint and begins to realize...does anyone really know Ashley? The truth will come out. Full of twists, this is perfect for readers who enjoy mysteries. Highly recommended!

My biggest issue with this book is that Harper is not a character, she has no interior life and has like SO few chapters when compared with Josh or Amelia. It's really clear that she is just meant to serve as a "Computer Girl" and I think that's a huge waste of someone that could have been a good character. My second issue is this being labeled as having something to say about true crime (a genre I find deeply morally dubious) and it literally just does not!

This book for fans of Gone Girl, but for Generation Z. This book book is great for adults and young adults alike. Justin's girl friend is missing and he is suspect #1.

Started out promising. Interesting premise. Got lost on what seem to be tangential subplots with side characters. Lost interest pretty quickly.

Melissa de la Cruz’s “Going Dark” is a whirlwind of action and a study of sleight of hand. To whom do we show our “real” selves? What IS our “real” self in an age of ubiquitous social media?

Influencer Amelia Ashley has gone missing thousands of miles from home. Her boyfriend, Josh, claims that she walked away from him after a violent fight in Rome. Soon, the outcry on social media draws attention to the case of the missing teen. Josh isn’t wavering from his story, but a hacker’s investigation leads to more questions than answers about what really happened. What is real? What is manufactured for social media? In the modern world, how can you tell?

The fast pace and variety of sources used to tell the story engage the reader and enhance the sense of urgency. As the threads of truth and lie are gathered together you won’t be able to put it down. I appreciated the undercurrent about whose story gets attention when a young woman goes missing. I could see using this book to have a discussion with students about our own social media presence and how it reflects our true selves…or doesn’t.

This book is great for teens who like fast-paced thrillers and mysteries. It’s also great as a jumping off point for exploring issues in media such as “missing white woman syndrome” and questions around reality in social media. I will definitely recommend this book to my students.

Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for an ARC in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is outside of my typical genre these days, but that was part of its appeal. Unfortunately, I really struggled to settle into the story. I think part of the problem is that I connect better to character driven stories rather than plot driven stories. I didn't feel attached or at all connected to any of the characters and because of that I found myself skimming very early on just to keep the plot moving. In the end, this was unfortunately not for me. I recognize that there's a set-up for a good thriller here, it just wasn't my cuppa.

Going Dark

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story follows the disappearance of influencer Amelia Ashley. Amelia’s boyfriend Josh returns home after an argument with Amelia. Amelia doesn’t show up for their flight home from Rome and after several days the fact that she is missing starts to get traction and catches the media’s interest. Josh is the main suspect in her disappearance but what really happened is what no one really expected.

I liked the pace of the story. I didn’t have to take breaks in reading it. It kept my attention and the secondary plot had me really rereading this book. I really didn’t expect the outcome. I’m being purposely vague to not spoil the book for others. Overall this was a good read. Definitely suspenseful and intriguing. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

A couple has a misunderstanding argument at the end of their European vacation, and she doesn't show up for the plane trip home. He's concerned for her, but he knows she has a friend in France she probably went to stay with. But the longer she stays radio silent, the more he begins to worry, As he pursues her disappearance the guiltier he begins to look.

This is a mystery suspense thriller that started out seeming to be an adult novel, but ended up seeming YA, as the characters border that highschool/college age.

The story was good. I like that it took on the social commentary of blonde white girls going missing seem to be the only ones that get taken seriously, but minorities seem to fall through the cracks. It was written in a way that shows how unjust the legal/law enforcement system is.

I especially loved the sister arc. Sister love and loyalty always gets to me. There's just something about the bond that exists that's simultaneously petty and fiercely protective. I love it.

Thank you Union Square & Co. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh oh oh this was good!! Like Gone Girl meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and true crime case of Gabby Petito. Sooo good!

This book made me feel ALL the emotions. I was completely sucked in and trying to guess what was happening. I totally bought into all the characters, the lies, the twists… just really well done! I also loved the exploration of the fairness of our justice system and which cases get the most publicity.

I would highly recommend this for true crime fans, those who lose twisty mysteries, and anyone who follows a popular influencer!

amelia ashley is perfect—almost too perfect.

i'm not going to lie, i started going dark with the fear that i had gotten myself into a story that centred around a girl who was 'not like other girls' —not that there's anything inherently wrong with that; but seeing as we begin our story with the perspective of the boyfriend, joshua, the prospect leaves something of a bad taste in my mouth. his influencer girlfriend is nothing short of flawless, and we learn that whilst he reminisces on the fact that he's left her behind after a fight during their romantic trip in rome. so, as it turns out, not everything is as picture perfect as it seems. what we come to learn later is that this isn't the first time that our dear joshua has left a woman behind, either. and soon, the intricate ribbons that tie both his past and amelia's begin to unravel themselves, and the truth bleeds out.

[ SPOILERS AHEAD ]

"The deconstruction of a person on-screen"

"Where the world looked fake, she wasn't."

i loved the way that cruz gave us the perspectives of all parties, especially as we get to experience everything with them—the confusion to guilt to understanding. amelia's thirst for revenge, her undying adoration for her sister and taste for power; we know that, deep down, she's not the villain. but we watch as she slips further and further into darkness, dragging joshua down with her—and as he deserves! as a reader, i was in awe of the way cruz structured joshua as a character; how we're slowly revealed to his deceit and delusion, how we're made to feel as though he was the victim with anything but. the themes of racial injustice are palpable in ways that do make this read a very powerful one—the very fact that joshua was able to kill and move past mignon, the way the world did—speaks volumes against the movement of #WhereisAmeliaAshley. it was thoroughly rewarding to see joshua, to see bennet — "Terrible, handsome, grotesque, charming." — begin as getting away as the victim to being caught in the act by another woman who sought to protect amelia in a world that used her up. i can't help but hope that amelia lee finds peace the same way her sister eventually did. perfect for a YA audience and actually relevant. cruz has nailed it.

"Amelia Lee was dead, but Amelia Ashley was living her best life."

"The world was not a fair place. It was not made for girls like Amelia before her sister had disappeared. She had needed to become something else, and it only ended here, at this inevitable point."

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

Amelia Ashley seems to have it all. She's an influencer with over a million followers. She talks about her travel and does food reviews. Amelia has a small apartment in San Diego. And she found a perfect boyfriend. Amelia asks Josh to go on a trip to Rome with her. It was her dream location and she even had a friend there they could stay with for part of the time. They started in Paris and ended in Rome. Amelia vlogged everything. The day they were leaving, they stopped to get food. All of a sudden, Amelia yelled that she hated him and tipped the table over and broke the wine glass (or bottle?). Josh thought it was just a weird fight that he didn't understand. He figured Amelia would meet him at the airport and they would make up. But Amelia never shows. Josh still flies home since school was starting. He also didn't know what to do. Amelia wouldn't answer hit texts or calls. Because Amelia had such a following, the information leaked that she never arrived back. Josh had to report her missing even though he would be the prime suspect. Was Amelia dead, just angry, or was she kidnapped? The police find blood and Josh barely leaves his apartment. During this time, a hacker named Harper noticed the case. She was going to ignore it, but she couldn't help it. She started hacking to get all the information she could on both Amelia and Josh. She started to care and wanted to help Amelia.

The book has section from multiple people and different time periods. The story slowly unfolds as the book goes on.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

This one was OK but predictable. The influencer parts were cringey, but I'm an adult. For the target audience, it probably will be acceptable. Still an OK read; just not my favorite in the genre.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

A YA mystery novel that is both predictable yet highly engaging. There were twists that I was not expecting, and twists that I expected. Whilst some of the writing was also not the best, I was still engaged and quite enjoyed this book.