Yassss (begins slow clapping) I freaking loved this book!

“…she realized that she absolutely could stab someone if she had to. But only if she had to. She had not planned on spending her birthday committing manslaughter.”

“Beauty went through a door in a castle, and had tea with a beast, but only after he shouted and pretended to be angry. Later, her adventure became more wonderful but somehow less dangerous, for that beast was all bark and no bite.
Maggie always thought this was irresponsible storytelling, because beasts don’t stop being dangerous as long as they have teeth.”

“‘Typical’, the brunette said, rolling her eyes at the door. ‘Some man doesn’t get his way and suddenly I’m the bitch for not standing still when he wanted to stab me.’”

Good Girls Don’t Die is told in three parts by three different women. Celia wakes up in a house with a husband and daughter, but she has no idea who they are and she feels very strongly that this isn’t her life.

Allie is supposed to be on a girl’s trip for her birthday, until her friend’s boyfriend hijacks the weekend and takes them to a cabin in the woods.

And Maggie is thrown into a game where she must make her way through a series of obstacles to survive and rescue her daughter.

This book was such a page turner. I loved Celia and especially Allie’s narratives and Maggie was such a bad ass! This book was wild and had so many hell yeah girl power moments even when it was thrilling and scary af.

WOOF MAN! That was something else. I feel like I have to round that up to 4.5 stars, because the plot twist at the end when all of the narratives come together, for virtually no point other than toxic masculinity... hilariously done. I am so thankful to Berkley Pub, Christina Henry, Netgalley, and PRH Audio for granting me digital and audio access to this twisty, final girl escapade before it hits shelves on November 14, 2023.

Three women find themselves in scenarios they have no memory of walking into:
1. There's Celia, who doesn't recognize her supposed husband, child, and entire life
2. There's Allie, who gets tricked into staying in a remote cabin in the woods and then watches all of her friends die by a faceless murderer.
3. And then there's Maggie, who wakes up in a Hunger Games/Squid Games-like sequence and survival is everything.

After all of these stories play out, our FMC meet up in a random backroom, that feels staged and find out the explanation for their tormentor's games... and it's just silly, but to be expected of a misogynistic man.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley, and Christina Henry for the advanced copy of Good Girls Don't Die in exchange for my honest review.

This started off *so* strong for me, it gave me strong Black Mirror vibes, but it ended up just falling completely flat. I found there was just no "oh dang!" moment for me, and I kept reading hoping for that to come with the ending, unfortunately I found the ending to be the most lackluster part of the book.

Without giving anything away, the ending felt like SUCH a letdown after so much build-up. It happens super abruptly and just wasn't at all satisfying for me.

I was definitely entertained by the rest of the book, though, and won't hesitate to read this author again.

Good Girls Don't Die will be on US bookshelves November 14!

The writing was fine in this but the storyline wasn't really my taste. It felt a bit silly and I wasn't invested at all. I was frustrated that the character wasn't initially more panicked with her circumstances. It was hard for me to continue when I didn't feel any connection. However, I'm sure it will work for those who like these types of stories.

Christina Henry is well known for her reimaginings of classics like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Alice), Little Red Riding Hood (The Girl in Red), and Sleepy Hollow (Horseman). In more recent years, she's taken a stab at small-town murder mystery with 2020's The Ghost Tree and isolation horror with 2021's Near the Bone. Having enjoyed her most recent books, I looked forward to reading Good Girls Don't Die's self-professed twisty thriller.


Good Girls Don't Die tells the story in three parts with three different protagonists: Celia, Allison, and Maggie as each woman finds themselves in unusual and what some might even call surreal circumstances. Their paths haven't crossed and yet there is something yet unknown linking them together. Three women; three unique stories of peril.


Each chapter begins with an online chat conversation about favorite genres and the tropes within them. Leading Celia's chapter conversation is discussion about cozy mysteries and small-town sleuths, while Allison's is all horror, focusing on the cabin in the woods trope and slashers. Bringing up the rear is Maggie's chapter, all about YA dystopian like Hunger Games and The Maze Runner and the likelihood of survival. What ties these chats together is that they conclude with a man insinuating himself in the conversation, angrily spouting his opinion and being vehemently misogynistic.

Now for the meat of the story: Waking up with no clue where or even who she is, Celia's life is a complete blank. Imagine getting up out of bed to what seems like ordinary suburban life with absolutely no idea who the strangers' faces are staring back at you from the framed photos on the walls. Allie is supposed to be having a girls-only birthday trip to the beach but falls asleep in the car, only to wake up not to the sand and sun, but to an isolated cabin in the woods. Maggie has been drugged and kidnapped along with nine other women, each with a number on their shirts, and told they have twelve hours to complete the Maze or the people they love will die.


While I enjoyed Celia's and Allison's stories, Maggie's was the least engaging for me. (Is that because I'm not a fan of YA dystopian? Possibly.) For the most part, the characters were likable as they met with their individual challenges, though there wasn't a distinct enough divergence between the personalities. However, the conundrums they found themselves in made for page-turning action. Just when you think you are about to discover the mystery behind their circumstances, the focus shifts to the next character. Eventually, the three characters merge into one cohesive storyline in a surprising twist. While I personally found the ending a bit abrupt and perhaps overly convenient, the mystery and suspense still warrant placing Good Girls Don't Die as a must-read for Christina Henry fans.

Thank you to Berkley Pub and Netgalley for my e-ARC of Good Girls Don’t Die!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📖 have ever thought you could make smarter decisions than the MC
📺 are a huge fan of The Truman Show
🫥 once woke up with no recollections of yourself
🏹 enjoyed The Hunger Games series

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

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.
 
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This really caught my attention in the very first chapter! I wasn’t sure which direction this story would go in since I went in blind but I was really enjoying Celia’s POV, and wanted to know where she was, what was going on, and more. My first guess was that she was somehow trapped inside of a story, but the final reveal was a bit more nefarious! I liked how all three stories finally come together when the women all come into contact with another and finally figure out what has been going on. The ending was a bit too abrupt for my liking, but I also enjoyed the final line that really tied everything up!

This was super intriguing, keeping me invested from start to finish. Three women are all trapped in stories that they learn are not theirs, doing whatever they can to get out.

This was unique while still being something recognizable. I liked each of these women and loved how they caught on quickly that something was off.

There isn’t much that can be said about this without giving anything away, so I will just say that the writing is on point, and the characters are people you want to root for, with integrity and strength. I legitimately didn’t know how this was going to end!!

3.5 stars. Three women find themselves in three different situations reminiscent of horror stories, and they can't figure out who is doing this to them or why. As they run for their lives, they'll have to be smarter and quicker than the men hunting them in order to make it to the end...

This was such a ride! There are multiple POVs in the book, as you first get to experience Celia's story, then Allie's, then Maggie's. They come together at the end in a pretty unique way, and the final scene was honestly so satisfying! Bravo.

This is a fast-paced read that's not very long, so it held my attention and I ended up flying through it in a couple hours. I wish the ending hadn't wrapped up quite so quickly (I wanted a bit more suffering, maybe), but nonetheless I enjoyed the tale of these three women and their horror stories.

Thank you to Christina Henry, Berkley, and NetGalley for my advance digital copy.

I was expecting a little more to the stories (also thought that they would be scarier/creepier than they were) and figured out some details that I hopes to be wrong about (I wasn't lol), but overall this was an enjoyable read. And while the inner monologuing was on the cusp of being a little too much, I was pleased to read something with female characters who were strong and intelligent without being insufferable and liked how the stories all managed to come together without being disjoinyed.

**I received an arc of the book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review

This book had so much going for it...until the end. The ending felt completely rushed. I would have preferred a total cliffhanger to the ending it had. Overall, I really loved the way the author handled the 3 story lines and how they all came together, but again, the final climax totally fizzled for this reader. I will definitely check out more books by this author!

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an early copy of this novel. Below you'll find my honest review.

Christina Henry is a pretty much guaranteed amazing read... EVERY. DANG. TIME.

This one is no exception! This one weaves themes of misogyny, sexism, and toxic masculinity in with a genre-bending, plot-twisting romp following the lives of women who find themselves in very... interesting situations.

The three major players each wake up in a strange place, dropped into situation that isn't normal. One finds themselves smack dab in the middle of a cozy mystery, another in a slasher movie, and a third in dystopian death-games type story. But not all is at it seems, as these situations might be part of something much larger, and when it comes down to it, their lives might just be on the line.

This one was so hard to put down. Seriously, I read late into the night, trying to race to the end to find out what was going on. And honestly, I was both thrilled and frustrated each time the story for one woman ended and a new one started, because each new beginning sucked me right in.

Highly recommended for fans of mixed genres, strong women, and really great twists and turns.

“You come on with it, come on
You don't fight fair
But that's okay, see if I care
Knock me down, it's all in vain
I get right back on my feet again
Hit me with your best shot.
Fire away"~ songwriter Edward Schwartz. Performed by Pat Benatar.

*****************************************************************************
Originality 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Suspense 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Creativity 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Ending 🌟🌟

This read is presented in three scenarios.

1. Celia wakes one morning in a house she doesn’t recognize. With a husband and daughter that she has no memory of. Deep in her subconscious she knows this is not her life. How did she get here? More importantly, how does she get her real life back!

2. Allie was set to celebrate her birthday at the beach with her two college friends. Only they decided to bring their frat-boy boyfriends. One of which hijacked the beach vacation, taking everyone to a remote cabin in the woods. Allie wakes in the dead of night to a noise outside the cabin… the stark terror begins.

3. Maggie has been kidnapped and thrown into a maze she has no choice but to complete. The men who took her also have her daughter. Maggie must complete the maze. Her daughters’ life depends on it.

Wow! The characters all simultaneously questioning their reality. And I’m asking the same thing!

At this point, putting the book down was impossible. All three stories had me spell-bound and furiously turning my digital pages! I couldn’t wait to see how the author was going to stitch this all together for an explosive ending.

Wah-Wah! Cue the screeching brakes.😩

I’m not sure I’ve ever enjoyed a book so much only to be left so thoroughly disappointed by an ending. I’ll leave it at that. I’m very curious to see what everyone else thinks! This will be one of those love it or hate it book endings. Fingers crossed it will work for you!

A buddy read with Susanne

Thank you to Berkley Publishing via NetGalley.

I've read a few of Christina Henry's works in the past (I may be mistaken, but isn't this a pen name for a duo?) Some I've enjoyed and some I've hated; this fell in the middle. Not great but not terrible.

I don't know what to say... once again Christina Henry knocks it out of the park!! The atmosphere she builds .. character development. Everything sets you up for a great time. I don't know how she can make me feel so uncomfortable but in a good way that leaves me eager to continue reading

"A sharp-edged, supremely twisty thriller about three women who find themselves trapped inside stories they know aren't their own, from the author of Alice and Near the Bone.

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."

Come on, you know you need to know!

Three stories that grab you and draw you in immediately. You may wonder how they are interconnected but I quickly turned the pages to wait for the lives of these ferocious women to collide. I was not disappointed. What a wild ride!

I wanted to love this, but the twist left me cold. The genre writing is dead-on; I really enjoyed getting to know each of the characters in their very robust, individual, well-drawn worlds. But the overall story and the abrupt ending didn't work for me.

This was a fairly quick read, in large part because it was fast-paced and very engaging. I found the protagonists to be well-developed and relatable. The supporting cast was perhaps a bit less developed, and the villains were fairly one-dimensional. However, I got the impression that was on purpose and meant to be an underlying message in the story, especially after the big reveal at the end (no spoilers!). The ending did feel a bit rushed with an abrupt cut-off, but I don't know that an additional chapter or epilogue would have provided much realistic closure. And the overall feel of the novel was that this was over-the-top, cinematic style drama, so the ending fit well in that regard.

Recommended for fans of action-packed thrillers, especially those with bad-ass women who flip the script and come out on top.

Good Girls Don't Die is a sharp-edged and supremely twisty thriller that delves into the lives of three women who inexplicably become entangled in stories that do not belong to them. This gripping novel offers a deliciously original narrative that will captivate readers from start to finish. With breakneck pacing, compelling characters, and clever meta threads, the tension builds relentlessly, leading to a stunning and electrifying conclusion. Prepare to be enthralled by this exhilarating read that pushes the boundaries of the genre.

I have read one other Christina Henry book and absolutely loved it so I was excited to see that she was coming out with a new book! This book didn’t disappoint! It was fun to be confused with the characters trying to figure out why these women are in lives they don’t remember! It was semi predictable but in no way less enjoyable!