Celia doesn't recognize her daughter. She doesn't remember her husband. And she has somehow forgotten her past. She runs a restaurant where, thankfully, the recipes come to her with ease. She certainly doesn't remember the grumpy old lady who harasses her regularly or the cop who responds in kind. And then the lady winds up dead in Celia's restaurant's dumpster.

Allie was supposed to be celebrating her birthday on a beach vacation with her two best friends. But plans soon change and they wind up at a remote cabin in the woods with the friends' boyfriends in tow. When she's awakened by strange noises in the night, she knows something is wrong. But as a horror movie fanatic, her friends are ready to write off her fears.

Maggie has somehow wandered into a red-life competition that resembles the dystopian novels she's so fond of. She and a handful of other women are set on a timed course where failure could literally mean death!

All three women quickly realize there's something very wrong with their stories. But even they can't imagine just how twisted the plot is!

I wasn't sure where this one was going when I first started reading.

We meet Celia first. As noted, she runs a restaurant, where she is most comfortable because at least she can remember how to cook the dishes they serve! But at home everything feels off. At first she thinks its her. But she soon becomes suspicious.

By the time we get to Allie, we know something weird is going on. But Allie's experience is completely different than Celia's. Allie is with her friends. Allie is supposed to be celebrating her birthday at the beach until her friends' significant others tag along and change the plan. But that's when things go pear shaped for Allie!

When we reach Maggie, we're well aware that things aren't going to go her way.

I don't want to spoil the plot, but this is truly a fun book for book lovers and a great addition to Henry's collection of work!

I simply could not stay interested in this. I had a hard time keeping track and I didn't like them coming together. And normally I don't care, but it was all just so unbelievable, I started mentally checking out.

Good Girls Don't Die was quite unique in both its construction and content. I had fun going on this journey and trying to figure out what in the hell was going on. This was a 5-star read for me for the majority of the book. Unfortunately, the last portion lost me a little bit. Honestly, I found it to be a bit anti-climactic after the exciting build.

Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed it, and ended up only dropping a star due to my discontent with the ending. A 4-star read is still highly enjoyable and I would recommend it to fans of Christina Henry's quirky and creative writing.

'Three women. Three stories. Only one way out.' This pitch from the publisher's synopsis is a great way to sell this story and it's accurate. We love to see that. This story is told in four parts, the first three each follow a different character: Celia, Allie and Maggie. The fourth, ties everything together.

The three women's perspectives were captivating. They each find themselves in a bit of a personal nightmare, but it's clear that they're awake. They're confused, they don't know what's going on, and are desperate to figure it out.
I found it so easy to empathize with these women. To feel their fear and desperation. In fact, I started to feel it myself. I was intrigued by the goings-on; so creepy. There seemed to be a relation to stories, as each perspective felt like a perilous journey through a different genre.

When you think about it, it was such a great example of Henry's skill as a writer. To be able to capture these different genre-feels in such a short space of time. It was really cool.

The fourth section, again, was a bit of let down for me, but it was eye-opening and interesting as to how these women were ultimately connected. Sadly, I just felt the villain was a bit of a joke; cookie cutter. They felt like an animated movie baddie, or something of that ilk. Also, the messaging around the who and the why was a bit heavy-handed for my tastes.

Overall though, this is well worth the read. A lot of fun. A unique twist of a Thriller, impressive in its creativity. I'm glad I finally got around to picking it up.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'll continue to look forward to any book wit Henry's name on the cover!

Christina Henry is one of my favorite thrillers author now! She makes me feel like I’m a part of the story! I love her thrills and chills. I never figure out the twists which keeps me on my toes! Great read!!!

Let me start by saying that I listened to the audiobook and it pulled me in right away. The narration was great. The whole concept of the story was intriguing. I was curious to see where it was going. However, at times I wanted it to move along so that we could find out what was really going on. By the third woman's pov I was over the gimmick and want what came next.

What an interesting premise with fantastic execution! GOOD GIRLS DON'T DIE introduces us to three women who all find themselves in lives that are not their own. Told in 4 parts we spend time with each woman and in the final part see how all of their stories are intertwined. This story surprised me with horror elements reminiscent of a 90s slasher film, but I found the revenge plots to be captivating. I appreciated the little Easter eggs referencing other books peppered throughout the story. With a satisfying ending and a feminist lean, GOOD GIRLS DON'T DIE is an original thriller that fans of the genre will surely enjoy.

Many thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this and I think if you are a scary movie/ horror movie fan you will too. There are several references to old scary movies. I appreciate when an author takes the time to do this, it adds that extra special element into a persons work.
This was a fun twisty dark tale of 3 women and the twisted situations they find themselves in. I think these day it would be classified as a popcorn thriller. You are eagerly anticipating how the twists will turn out. I would recommend this for a light read that will entertain you and keep you turning the pages until the end. I very much enjoy the writing of Christina Henry.

At New York Comic Con, I spoke to author Christina Henry about her latest book Good Girls Don’t Die. This book made me a horror book fan!

The concept for this book was great, but was not well executed. It was easy to get into (although highly unbelievable) and was entertaining enough. I liked the three separate stories, but did not like them all banding together for some reason.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

I got to say it, this was fantastic!

I know some readers didn't like the ending and I kind of agree with it but I loved the book so much and would love to see it as a movie.

Three women's destinies can be cut short unless they can survive what is coming for them.

The first woman we are introduced to is Celia. She wakes up one morning in a house she doesn't recognize, with a daughter she doesn't remember giving birth to and a husband with whom she doesn't feel any connection at all. The only thing that seems to bring a spark of recognition, is the restaurant she is working at. Cooking relaxes her and she knows how to do it. Her life makes no sense to her and she is pretty sure that this is NOT her life. Why can't she remember her past?

The second woman is Allie. She is in her twenties. She is supposed to spend her birthday at the beach with her two best friends. However, the two friends's boyfriends have decided to show up too. Worse while the girls were sleeping instead of going to the beach, they woke up in a remote cabin. Why are they there? And who is out there stalking them?

Third but not least is Maggie. She is abducted from her home. She finds herself in a container with other women who have been abducted as well. Men come in and the women are told that they need to enter a maze and survive it if they want to live and see their loved ones again. Maggie can only think about her child. She must survive at all costs.

You can feel the tension while reading Good Girls Don't Die. The sense that time was running out and their lives were at stake. I liked all three women. They were survivors and despite their horrible circumstances, they were going to fight until the end for their freedom.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think Good Girls Don't Die will appeal to a very specific audience of horror readers, but I'm not sure about it's broader appeal. I read it all the way through, I was certainly engaged, but there was a sort of lack of subtlety that I felt took away from the reading experience Henry seemed to be trying to cultivate. It was all very on the nose, enough so that - even though I was 100% on board with the themes and ideas Henry was working through - everything felt a bit predictable. That being said: it was still a good book! Henry is a fantastic writer. I just didn't personally think that this was as strong as previous books.

Good Girls Don't Die is the story of three women and the different nightmare scenarios they endure. Celia is trapped in a life she knows isn't her own, but can't place why. Allie visits a cabin in the woods straight out of a horror movie. And Maggie is in dystopian fight for survival. Three women, three different stories, until they all converge in the end.

I really wanted to love this novel. The concept was exciting and fresh, taking several popular literary tropes, and turning them on their head. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I didn't care for any of the characters other than Maggie. Celia's narrative I especially struggled with. Also, I was expecting a grand reveal at the end but it was rather lackluster. Allie and Maggie could have made good stories on their own as fully fleshed out books, but as a whole, this just didn't work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and views expressed are my own.

☠️ 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐄 ☠️

🔎Hunger Games/Squid Game Vibes
🔎Strong Women Lead Characters
🔎Escapist fun
🔎Murder Mystery Literary Tropes GALORE

What an UNSUAL book! Haha I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this one. For those who enjoy survivalist shows/books like squid game, or Will Deans latest novel The Last One, this book is for you!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

(Full disclosure the squid game/rich people watching poor people murder each other vibes are not my favorite literary trope so my rating is a little lower just based on personal preference but if this is your thing-deff be sure to grab a copy today, you’ll love it!)

I did love the authors previous novel, Near The Bone, and it is equally as twisty and gritty🖤

Quick synopsis:

“Celia wakes up in a house that’s supposed to be hers. There’s a little girl who claims to be her daughter and a man who claims to be her husband, but Celia knows this family—and this life—is not hers…

Allie is supposed to be on a fun weekend trip—but then her friend’s boyfriend unexpectedly invites the group to a remote cabin in the woods. No one else believes Allie, but she is sure that something about this trip is very, very wrong…

Maggie just wants to be home with her daughter, but she’s in a dangerous situation and she doesn’t know who put her there or why. She’ll have to fight with everything she has to survive…

Three women. Three stories. Only one way out. This captivating novel will keep readers guessing until the very end.”

It’s truly such a unique plot that you won’t be able to find anywhere else!!

Three different stories that turn into one...

I couldn't put this one down! You are hooked right from the beginning and throughout each woman's story. What is going on? How are they all connected? So many questions running through your mind. Perfect for thriller lovers who are looking for something unique!!

In Christina Henry's newest thriller, three women find themselves ensnared within the perilous confines of their beloved literary genres—mystery, horror, and dystopian. The mystery unfolds as they grapple with the question of how and by whom they have been confined to the worlds of their favourite books. To survive, they must apply the lessons gleaned from the pages of their cherished genres. I found this novel to be a refreshing and captivating take on the thriller genre.
"Good Girls Don't Die" is a fast-paced, action-packed narrative with high stakes at every turn. The plot is entirely original and exceptionally entertaining. While initially presenting itself as a trio of distinct short stories, the conclusion masterfully weaves these narratives together in a shocking twist, adding a compelling layer to the overall experience.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Celia, Allie, and Maggie are all avid readers who find themselves in situations they've been thrust into by someone else. Two are with strangers, another is with a close friend group, and all are fighting to survive.

It's best to go into this one as blind as possible, so I won't go into details. I liked the three horror storylines with strong, smart female MCs who are just trying to make it out alive as they wrack their brains trying to figure out how they got into their respective positions.

This one was a page-turner for me with tense pacing and a variety of horror scenarios to keep my interest. This is my first read from Christina Henry and it won't be my last!

This was a fun and unique read for me. I enjoyed how the three character final girl type stories were broken into separate parts and how the storylines merged together in the end. I liked all three main female characters and found each storyline to be interesting and thrilling in their own way. The writing and pace were good and kept me intrigued as well. My only complaint would be that the ending was quite abrupt and I wanted just a bit more from it.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the gifted print copy and access to the arc. #berkleypub #partner

3.5 rounded up

Good Girls Don't Die is kind of like a locked room mystery in that each main character is stuck in their own scenario. I loved the concept and I really loved how each scenario tied back to movies or books in some way. My YA dystopian loving soul especially loved Maggie's section.

The weird thing that really just knocked stars off for me was the whole man v woman thing. I'm sure that the author's intention was to make us feel uneasy about men controlling women and "putting us in our place" kind of thing but it was just too much and too cringey.

The ending was vey bizarre. The way it ended made it feel like a strange fever dream.

💐 Berkeley Book Tours: Good Girls Don’t Die 💐

⁉️: What would you do if you suddenly found yourself in a life that was not yours?

I would in so many ways definitely wince and freak out!! And, this is exactly what happens to the three main protagonists: Celia, Allie, and Maggie. Celia wakes up in a house that is not hers and meets a young girl and man who claim to be her daughter and husband! Confused and disoriented, Allie finds herself in a remote cabin in the woods and is invited by her friend’s boyfriend. Maggie finds herself in a dangerous situation and is unsure as to how she got there and why.

If you enjoy mystery with some thrills and chills, and then this novel was for you. Each storyline felt like it could be a movie adaptation. As each plot line unfolds, it reminded me of shows like Black Mirror and Squid Games when reality is questioned, and brought into focus. At the same time, Christina Henry invokes Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper in this novel. This is my first Christina Henry novel and won’t be my last!

Thank you @authorchristinahenry, @berkleypub, and @penguinrandomhouse for the gifted copy of the arc. The paperback edition released yesterday, and is out now!

#ChristinaHenry #BerkleyPub #PenguinRandomHouse #BerkleyBookTours #shnidhi #GoodGirlsDontDie

I didn't finish this book because I just couldn't get into it at all; I gave up about 20%. I think when I requested this ARC I thought this was a different author? Unfortunately, this just didn't grab me.
Gave 3 stars because required to rate