I recently had the pleasure of reading this, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. From the very first page, I was hooked by the engaging style and the intriguing characters. The author does an excellent job of building a world that feels both immersive and believable, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would surprise me with something unexpected. I highly recommend this and all their work.

Natasha Preston’s The Haunting is a suspenseful and atmospheric YA thriller that blends supernatural scares with real-life drama. Set in a small town still reeling from the fallout of a brutal serial killer, the story follows Penny, a teenager haunted by her past relationship with Nash, the son of the convicted murderer. As Halloween approaches, the town is shaken once again when a new murder occurs, raising fears of a copycat killer. Penny, torn between her lingering feelings for Nash and the suspicions surrounding his family, takes it upon herself to uncover the truth.

Preston excels at creating an eerie atmosphere, making The Haunting a perfect read for spooky season. The tension builds steadily as Penny and her friends attempt to piece together clues while grappling with their personal traumas. The dynamics between Penny and Nash are particularly compelling, adding emotional depth to the story amidst the suspense. The book’s pacing is engaging, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end.

However, some readers may find themselves frustrated by Preston’s signature open-ended conclusion, which leaves several questions unresolved. While this approach adds to the haunting nature of the story, it may not satisfy those seeking closure. Additionally, the beginning of the book can feel slightly disjointed as it sets up multiple plot threads.

Despite these minor drawbacks, The Haunting delivers a gripping narrative filled with suspense, relatable characters, and chilling twists. Fans of YA thrillers and horror will appreciate its homage to classic slasher tropes while enjoying its modern take on small-town secrets and relationships. For those looking for an entertaining Halloween read with emotional stakes and plenty of scares, The Haunting is a solid choice.

I think our YA patrons will enjoy this one. It was fast paced and chilling. But the ending was very unsatisfactory.

Natasha Preston’s The Haunting is one of those books that offers an enjoyable escape, perfect for readers looking for something light and fun. With its chilling premise and short chapters, the novel presents a classic whodunit murder mystery, which immediately grabs attention. However, while it’s an easy read, it lacks the depth and engagement that some readers might crave.
One of the most appealing aspects of The Haunting is how quickly it can be devoured. The chapters are short, and the writing is straightforward, making it perfect for readers looking for a fast-paced, no-frills story. It doesn’t demand much of the reader’s attention or deep thinking. You can easily pick it up and read it in short bursts without losing track of the plot. For those who just want to unwind with a book without much complexity, it definitely serves its purpose.
However, while The Haunting is fun, it doesn’t quite offer the level of engagement that would make it a truly memorable read. The characters, for instance, are rather one-dimensional. Their development is minimal, and their personalities can feel somewhat stereotypical. The relationships between the characters don't feel very authentic, and as a result, it’s difficult to form a real emotional connection with them. The plot, too, can feel predictable at times, with a few obvious twists that don’t pack the punch they could have. For readers looking for something with a bit more substance, The Haunting may leave them wanting more.
The Haunting by Natasha Preston is an easy, enjoyable read that offers just enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. It’s perfect for a quick read when you’re in the mood for something light, but it may not be the most engaging or thought-provoking book out there. It’s fun while it lasts but won’t necessarily leave a lasting impression.

This book was not as great as I was hoping it would be. I really liked the premise of a copycat killer hunting these kids. A copycat killer that was imitating the kills done by the dad of the main character's boyfriend, no less! Well, ex-boyfriend at this point. But still! That was so interesting and exciting to me! And I actually started off really enjoying the book.

One thing I really liked about the book was the small-town vibes, especially because this took place on Halloween and the town went all out with decor and activities. That was really fun!

I was also really liking the characters in the beginning. I enjoyed Penny rebelling against her parents and finally trying to reconnect with Nash a year after the tragedy happened. And I really felt for Nash and his sister and the way the town ostracized them, basically making them guilty by association despite them having nothing to do with what their dad did. It was just so sad to see how these friends drifted apart after that, and how little support Nash had. Okay, let me rephrase, I liked Nash. I did not care for any of Penny's other friends. They were all suspicious to me. Lol. And Penny wasn’t the smartest protagonist at times.

The story was pretty fast-paced and tense though, which I enjoyed, but that ending was not it. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, despite the fact that I was enjoying this book up until that point. It was this weird combination of the bad guy overexplaining the hell out of their motives, followed immediately by an abrupt ending. I didn't hate the twist, but the fact that the story ended at the climax without a resolution was not it.

Aside from that, while I enjoyed many aspects of this story (excluding that ending of course), there was something about the writing that was just weird to me and I can't quite place my finger on it. The dialogue did feel kind of stilted at times. Idk. Idk what it was. Lol.

But yeah, I enjoyed this book... until I didn't. It had potential and that's what makes me sad. There were aspects I was eating up right at the start, and while I enjoyed the mystery for the most part, the way the book ended was terrible. I feel like that abrupt ending was only there for the sake of being shocking 🙄 But I only found it to be frustrating. And I have since learned that this type of ending is a favorite of this author and I just can't do it. So guess who's not reading any books more books by this author, unfortunately? 🙃

Natasha Preston is becoming one of my favorite authors. I just love her books. She has twists and turns. At one moment you think one thing is gonna happen then it’s something completely different. Also she leaves a open ending so you can make it how you want

Really fun and a great autumnal read! Would recommend for a beer book club or something of that nature!

I absolutely loved this book! It was the right amount of suspense throughout the whole read. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down!

This was my first book by Natasha Preston and I really really enjoyed this book and the plot twist was phenomenal. For being a young adult mystery/thriller it was very enjoyable and could compete with the top mystery/thriller books out there! Natasha Preston is becoming one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors.

A fun, quick, murderous Halloween read! Great for Scream movie fans, and definitely more for a YA audience.

It was fun and moved fast and had some cliffhanger moments, especially the end (though for what?)! Usually I can predict the ending, but didn't see this one coming which was a fun surprise, but did feel like a LITTLE bit of a stretch that came out of nowhere and was a little bit of an unrealistic scenario...

Though I let this go, I thought it was odd the whole town would ostracize 2 minors for their DAD being a serial killer...wouldn't they realistically get so much EXTRA love and attention and pity? Poor kids!

It was a fun teen thriller.

This will be a great addition to my high school library, but WHOOAAAA, that ending! Is this going to be a series? It had me wanting to throw the book across the room!

What a weird spot to end a book! It all climaxes, with no closure. I feel like the author is essentially saying: you don't care about these characters (or they don't), so here's the whodunit! But, uh, if you don't expect us to care about the characters, why write the book? I was so thrown, I cannot even begin to tell you. You don't even know the fates of half the remaining characters?? There were other issues: like Jensen (sp? I got the audiobook from the library so not sure how it was spelled) being a completely ineffectual red herring. Our narrator never actually met him, so he never really cemented himself as a possibility because to be the killer you'd have to be in the mix a bit more, then to stumble on his death scene it was like... what was the point of any of that then? He literally just took up space as filler because he never meant anything to the story. It all felt very slapdash. I gave it two stars because at least it was readable and I try to save one star for either reminding myself not to buy the sequel of something because it really isn't redeemable if that's the starting point or for just egregiously poorly written books.

The Haunting by Natasha Preston is another gripping thriller that delivers exactly what I’ve come to expect from her - pure suspense from beginning to end. Natasha Preston never fails to pull me into her dark, twisted stories, and this one was no exception. I was hooked from the very first page, and the eerie atmosphere kept me on edge the whole way through.

The plot is full of suspense, with just the right amount of twists to keep me guessing. Preston’s ability to build tension is unmatched, and she crafts characters that feel so real it’s hard not to get invested in their fate. The way she slowly unravels the mystery kept me glued to the book, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it even after I finished.

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with dark, haunting vibes, The Haunting is a must-read. Natasha Preston proves once again that she is a master of suspense, and I can’t wait to dive into whatever she writes next.

I really enjoy Prestons book but this one just didn't live up to it for me. I also had high expectations because the title drew me in however it just lacked the thrill of it for me. I would read some of her older books before picking this one up.

Always kept me guessing! Didn't love the slightly scatter brained narrator, other than that, great twists!

I have always been a big fan of Natasha Preston. I've read all her books, but this was probably my least favorite and of course it was left on a cliff hanger, but I'm not sure I will read the next part.

Natasha Preston's *The Haunting* is a chilling and suspenseful tale that skillfully blends mystery with supernatural elements. Preston’s atmospheric writing and well-drawn characters create a gripping narrative that keeps readers on edge. The novel's eerie twists and compelling plot make it a standout in the realm of contemporary horror.

The Haunting by Natasha Preston is a YA thriller that kept me hooked until the ending. The last few chapters were unexpected and left me wondering WTF.

I wrote these initial thoughts for a blog tour:

- Okay so first off, I do not trust Zayn. Something is just… off. Whether it’s because of his crush on Penny, which he insists is in the past, or whether it’s just his vibe, something doesn’t feel quite right. I don’t know what’s coming next with him, but I’m watching his every movement like a hawk!
- I feel hugely sorry for Nash and Grace. They’ve gone through so much, and are still being put through it by not just individuals, but by a whole town. Being judged for the actions of someone you’re connected with is just unfair.
- One of the things I’ve really admired about the book so far is that the action jumps in straight away, and the continued energy pulsing through it keeps you on edge, just waiting for one more thing to happen. It’s toeing that line between being uncomfortably scared and enjoying jumping every time something knocks against your window, which I love.
- I have to really hand it to the author for the emotional tugs that grab you pretty much immediately. Not just in knowing that there’s been murders and your empathy for the victims, but straight away for Penny, who has been tugged in different, difficult directions, trying to keep everyone happy, and knowing she’s made mistakes at the same time.
- At the half way point of the book, the action and drama has been pretty intense, and I’m waiting absolutely on the edge of my seat to finish the rest of the book later today. It’s one of those books that manages to scare you and drag you emotionally at the same time, and I really love it when a book does that! Here’s to the second half.

This book blends supernatural scares with real-life drama, keeping me reading from start to finish. Set in a small town, the story follows a group of teens facing unexplainable events, with secrets and traumas coming to light as the hauntings escalate. While the pacing is just right and the twists keep you guessing, the book suffers from a slightly choppy beginning and an abrupt ending. Overall, it's a compelling YA thriller perfect for fans of spooky twists and relatable characters. I would defiantly recommend this during spooky season!!!