I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. I really enjoyed this book! It was interesting, captivating, and spooky. The twist toward the end was actually unexpected for me, so that’s always a plus! I also discovered that it’s based off of real locations/stories, which I thought was a really cool aspect! Definitely a good read if you like YA thrillers.

3.5 overall!

I was super excited for this book, I love the Lizzie Borden murders so I couldn’t wait to see how this all played out. It definitely started out strong and the spooky vibes were there and stay throughout the book. I enjoyed the POV’s of Tessa and Mariella and having the before and after of how everything plays out. I did feel it was a little predictable but there were some twists I didn’t see coming.

For me, it took a turn I wasn’t expecting and I felt a little eh about it. I was wishing for more creepy, ghost of Lizzie Borden vibe than the supernatural take it took. I did love at the end the author put what was actually real that she used in the book, which really gave an added spooky vibe to it.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and it would definitely be the perfect read for fall this year!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I absolutely DEVOURED this novel, couldn't put it down for the life of me. It was original, engaging, and creepy in the best way! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

This is an instant cult classic. I loved every edge of your seat moment in this book. I definitely didn’t see the ending coming

This book is really out of my comfort genre but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was creepy and eerie and I had to read with the lights on! If you enjoy horror, paranormal and some magical realism, this if for you! I recommend going into it as blind as you can and let the story take you on a journey.

Hatchet Girls by Diana Rodriguez Wallach is a wild journey in old haunted Massachusetts. If you’re open to an unpredictable story, it’s a great read.

Tessa Gomez and her brother Vik are newcomers to Fall River, once home to Lizzie Borden of axe-murdering fame (which is a pretty cool setting). Tessa knows that her brother Vik hasn’t been acting like himself. But she also knows that he can't be responsible when police find him standing over an axe and the lifeless bodies of his girlfriend’s parents. Tessa searches for another answer and finds that Lizzie Borden is only part of Fall River’s ghastly legends, legends that could explain everything.

It’s a departure from the ordinary, a horror story with a twist of the supernatural. That threw me off at first, but I ended up liking the unusual directions this story took.

Hatchet Girls is firmly a YA read, though it wanders into an older jaded tone on occasion. No matter the audience, the characters seem a bit flat.

Four stars for a book that breaks out of all the boxes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance read.

I really liked this book. I'm not normally into the paranormal/horror aspect but I really didn't see it all coming. I read it in a day. The only thing I would change is putting the explanation of Lizzie Borden at the front of the book, because I didn't know a ton about the case and had to Wikipedia it a little bit into the story.

Thank you Random House Children's, Delacorte Press & Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of Hatchet Girls!

Summary: Tessa sees her brother, Vik, on the news being arrested for the axe murder of his girlfriend's (Mariella) parents. The setting is present-day Fall River, MA. The town is known for the axe massacre of Lizzie Borden's family in 1892. Now it seems to be happening again. Did Vik kill Mariella's family or was it something even more sinister at hand?

This is a YA paranormal horror story with mystery and a love triangle. The author did well tying together Freetown - Fall River geography, history, folklore, and true crime with her story. She even provides some factual background after the story, which I appreciated. This story has some pretty gruesome, bloody parts to it. And the supernatural aspect, especially when Mariella was sleeping was pretty creepy. The timeline hops between the days before, during, and after the murder. I liked the characters in the story good & bad. The author touches on themes such as grief, abuse, and relationships.

A wonderful book for those who are captivated by the legend of Lizzy Borden .

Tragedy befalls Fall River once again in a horrific axe murder to a prominent family. This time though, there might be a more magical reason behind the murders.

Hatchet girls will take you on a wild ride as a sister tries to uncover the real reason why her brother has been accused of murder when he has no violent history. You will read the points of view from Tessa, Vik's sister trying to save him and Mariella, Vik's girlfriend who accused him of murder.

Diana Rodriguez Wallach knows how to tell a great mystery/ghost story. If you enjoy this genre you will love this book!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Great premiseand promise. The story just ended up losing its way a bit. Didn’t work for me overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

I'm a little torn on this one. I ultimately gave it three stars because there was some stuff I liked about it, but certain plot beats of the book really bothered me. I don't like going too much into spoilers but I feel talking about these beats is important for anyone who might be interested in reading it.

One of the things that really bugged me about this is that I was sold on the idea that the girls would be the instigators. It is called Hatchet GIRLS, after all. But no, a boy (a brown boy no less) is the one accused of being the next Lizzie Borden and his sister is trying to prove his innocence. So yeah, it really bothered me that the brown boy was accused and the victims were rich white people, with him being the boyfriend of the dead parents. But that's not all: later it's revealed that another boy basically drugged someone and was abusing her in her sleep. Just thinking about that scene where she's touched without her consent with no power to stop it upsets me.

If it had just been about the girls dipping into primordial forces or whatever other kind of magical realism was involved, that would have been fine. But because it was actually the boys-- either being blamed for the murders or controlling what was happening-- that made the whole book a lot less enjoyable. But I did still end up giving it three stars because I enjoyed the atmosphere and the magical realism. The ending did also tap into the way media treats white people versus colored in cases like this, which felt all too real, but also wouldn't have been necessary if the girls were the main cause of things.

So like I said, I'm torn on it. I think the author has some talent and the magical realism was very intriguing and creepy. Just let the girls have the power next time, for good or bad.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this book!!

I thought Hatchet Girls was an intriguing read and perfect for True Crime fans. The book was filled with twists, magic, and a little bit of ghosts. The book is told in two different perspectives. One of the perspectives takes place in the present while the other one takes place in the past. Where we see the story unfold and the puzzle start to come together. I'm not exactly unsure how I feel Mariella's perspective. I think it might have been better as Vik's. I also thought Hatchet Girls had an opportunity to address some of the ethical concerns surrounding True Crime; however, I am really glad the author respected Lizbeth's changing her name. Hatchet Girls is worth checking out!!

Review will be posted on social media closer to the publication date.

Crazy, fun and perfectly creepy. This will be a delight to read around Halloween. Highly recommended, especially to young adults.

Absolutely loved this one. A perfect halloween read. I recommend reading this around October! I had so much fun with this one.

Lizzie Borden took an axe,
And gave her mother forty whacks,
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

In the town and on the property that, that more than one hundred years ago Ms. Borden allegedly murdered her parents, history seems to have repeated itself. Vik is convicted of axing his girlfriend's family to death. But his family is certain he didn't dot it, couldn't do it. Tessa, Vik's sister and our main character, seeks to prove his innocence, and sets her sites on his girlfriend.

This was a horror roller coaster. Elements from nearly every horror genre and trope as well as lessons in society and justice weave through the shocking twists and explosive revelations. I couldn't put this down. A must read for Halloween.

Wow, really, a lot of wow. This book is so twisty and completely unexpected. Take the Borden murders, layer in a haunted swamp, zombies, city kids hiking, and a whole lot of crazy… I’m going to be thinking about this one for awhile, it’s multiple genres mixed up all together. The characters are great, I actually truly liked them. I only figured things out right before our main character-I bet you will, too. Read the last fifty pages way past my bedtime. Yes, you need to read this. And make someone else read it too, because you’re going to want to talk about it.

Once again I come back to having beef with multiple perspectives. It doesn't usually add anything to the story and it didn't add anything to this one for me either. It just left the narrative feeling disjointed. The story itself was interesting, if cliched at times.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Hatchet Girls is an absolute blood-soaked roller coaster of a novel. Wallach does a fantastic job of asking serious questions about morality and justice in a legendary setting. As a Massachusetts native, I loved seeing how Fall River was brought to life. It is the history of the place (the Bridgewater Triangle and Lizzie Borden) that makes Hatchet Girls a success. That being said, I do wish there was a bit more interaction between the original axe murders and the ones in the book—the narrative felt ripe for an exploration of history repeating itself. Still, the plot twists are well executed and make for a riveting read.

In Falls River, a town with a dark past, history has unfortunately repeated itself. More than 100 years after the notorious Lizzie Borden murders, Winthrop and Catherine are found murdered by an axe, and their daughters Mariella is accusing her boyfriend Vik of the murders. It doesn’t help that he’s covered in their blood. Vik’s sister Tessa knows her brother isn’t capable of the murders and goes on a missionto prove her brother’s innocence; but during the investigation she discovers something more sinister happening.
Since this book publication date is in October this will be the perfect quick Halloween read.I enjoyed how it incorporated not just the history of Lizzie Borden but the lore of the Bridgewater triangle area, but I did wish it would have went into more detail. Also I feel like some of the characters and plot points were developed more. Thanks NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review