The pacing and suspense in this novel were masterful! The author does a great job with the fire plotline, it feels like it's lurking on the edges of the whole story. Some of the aspects of the relationships between the girls didn't quite hit the right note with me (I'm not totally sure what it was--too extreme in their feelings for each other, and moving between extremes in their feelings for each other a little too quickly/easily?), but I read the whole thing in one day and the pages kept flying due to the suspenseful tone of the writing.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the copy of 10 Hours To Go by Keely Parrack. I expected a revenge story, but it was really a survival story. As a survival story this works really well but the revenge part seemed unnecessary and I would have enjoyed the book more if it had more focus instead of trying to fold in the revenge, the survival and the friendships. But it was well-written and I really wanted to find out how it ended and who survived. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I would recommend this book to older teens as the wildfire scenes were really harrowing!

10 Hours to Go was a good read. I read it all in one day. 3 girls set off on a road trip back to their home state of California from Portland, Oregon. Lily needed the ride from her former friends- Natasha and Elke since wildfires in the area had forced her train trip back home to be cancelled. A prank gone wrong had added a few hours to the already 10-hour trip, and then a wrong turn and a low tank of gas had the girls wandering through a dangerous forest at night. Then the wildfires started to close in. Will the girls make it? This book was fairly fast-paced and kept me engaged the whole time I was reading it. There wasn’t really much character development and the girls, although young adults, seemed to act childish and couldn’t “forgive and forget” the events that happened when they were 12. There was a lot of bickering and once you look past that it was a great story on survival, forgiveness and mending friendships. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes survival stories. 4/5

This booked had me gripped, it was easy to read and I could put it down! The plot kept me hooked all the way through.

Don't ever accept a ride from ex-best friends.

Lily, Natasha, and Elke used to be best friends, but a middle school incident turned them into enemies. When Lily is forced to accept a ride with them to get home to her mom, no one is thrilled with the arrangement. Natasha and Elke never forgave Lily for what she did and want a little payback.

I requested this because I love a good revenge plot, but that ended up playing a very small role. At first, I thought the revenge Natasha and Elke played out was not as devious as I wanted. When I learned why they wanted revenge, the prank immediately was too much. Middle school sucks for everyone, but the sheer hatred they had for Lily was overboard. As more of the story came out, I was on Lily's side, except for one detail. It was silly and childish, and the punishment did not fit the crime.

The revenge arc was short-lived, and most of the book was about the three girls trying to survive the wildfire. It was very descriptive and atmospheric, with the wildfires slowly closing around them. I think the sheer amount of misfortune was overplayed, and Parrack repurposed some plot points from her book Don't Let in the Cold. There was also too much making up and fighting again, interrupting the dramatic atmosphere created.

This will work for younger teens just starting in the YA thriller genre, but anyone with more experience will find it lacking.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I finished it very quickly, it was that engaging! The road trip aspect was very exciting. I would recommend this to readers of young adult thrillers.

Book:
10 HOURS TO GO by Keely Parrack (thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ebook.)

Review:
5 ⭐
When I first read DON'T LET THE COLD in by Keely Parrack, I knew I would want to read more thrillers by her. When the chance to read and review 10 HOURS TO GO arrived, I took it. And I'm glad I did. 10 HOURS TO GO was everything I wanted it to be: full of drama, mystery, and thrills. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, turning pages after page because I wanted to know what was going to happen. (Would they get out of the woods?, survive the fire?,  make up? come across more danger and if so make it out?) I literally read this in 1 day. It was so descriptive, and such a pulse-pounding survival thriller. It's perfect for fans of ya thrillers and fans of Keely Parrack.

"10 Hours to Go" by Keely Parrack is a gripping YA thriller that unfolds over the course of a suspenseful road trip. Tensions run high as three former friends, Lily, Natasha, and Elke, find themselves trapped in a car amidst the dangers of a wildfire. As they navigate both the literal and metaphorical fires of their past, the story takes readers on a thrilling and emotional journey.

The novel begins with Lily's desperate need for a ride back home to California due to a train cancellation caused by a wildfire warning in Oregon. Natasha, her estranged ex-best friend, offers her a ride but with the condition that she'll also be giving a lift to Elke Azizi, the girl Lily got expelled from school four years ago. This sets the stage for a tense and uneasy atmosphere in the car.

The characters are well-developed, and their complex relationships are at the heart of the story. Lily's desire to get home clashes with the unresolved tensions and grudges between her and her former friends. As the journey progresses, it becomes clear that there are ulterior motives at play, adding layers of suspense and mystery.

The author skillfully uses the backdrop of the wildfire to heighten the tension and sense of danger. The descriptions of the fire's proximity and the characters' increasing desperation create a palpable sense of urgency. The decision to take a detour in an attempt to avoid the fire leads to unexpected consequences and a fight for survival in the woods.

Parrack's writing style is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. The shifting perspectives allow insight into the minds of all three main characters, revealing their secrets, regrets, and motivations.

"10 Hours to Go" is not just a thriller; it's a story about forgiveness, redemption, and the complexities of friendship. It explores the impact of past actions and the possibility of healing old wounds. The characters' development throughout the narrative is both believable and emotionally resonant.

The novel's pacing is well-executed, with each chapter building on the tension and suspense. The sense of impending danger and the characters' desperation to find safety keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

In conclusion, "10 Hours to Go" is a compelling YA thriller that combines elements of suspense, drama, and emotional depth. Keely Parrack has crafted a story that explores the intricacies of friendship and the lengths people will go to for forgiveness and redemption. This book is a thrilling ride that will leave readers eagerly turning pages until the very end.