Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for the ARC!

This is an edge-of-your-seat debut YA thriller about a teen who is forced to confront her past in order to catch a murderer before she ends up the next victim.

When I saw this was for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson, I had to check this one out. It was an original storyline and kept me on my toes.

The One That Got Away with Murder is a tale of old money and murder. A gripping YA thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful journey through a small town with dark secrets. Authored with edge-of-your-seat intensity, the narrative revolves around Robbie and Trevor Crestmont, two handsome and privileged brothers harboring a chilling secret— they have a body count, and their wealth shields them from any consequences.

Enter Lauren O'Brian, the new girl at school with a troubled past. As she embarks on a relationship with Robbie, the plot thickens. Lauren's chance for a new beginning is turned upside down when she discovers evidence that points directly at Robbie. The narrative deftly explores the complexities of trust and deception, keeping readers engaged form page one. The tension builds as the Lauren is forced to confront her past to save her future.
The One That got Away with Murder is a compelling debut YA thriller that seamlessly blends suspense, romance, and the chilling reality of a town hiding dark secrets.

This book was an easy read, it kept me gripped from the beginning. The author did a great job with the setting and the pacing was perfectly planned to carry the reader through each beat seamlessly.

Thank you to MacMillan and Tish Lundy for the ARC of The One That Got Away with Murder.

This was a YA thriller done really well for a mid-30s reader!

I always try to preface any YA review that I am in my mid-30s so I am not the ideal target demographic, but sometimes a YA just slaps and I'm into them and sometimes they are way too young.

This one? It was just write! IT was well written, believable and totally appropriate for the target demographic and those of us who are older, but still love a good YA from time to time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The One that Got Away with Murder by Trish Lundy

This debut novel follows Lauren O’Brian as she settles into a new town, new school, and new life following a tragic incident involving her boyfriend and a fire. She starts a casual hook-up with town pariah Robbie. Robbie and his brother are both town suspects in their girlfriend’s murders. Soon curious things start happening and a surprise death creates chaos.

It took me a while to get into this book. It starts with a hook-up between Lauren and Robbie. So without knowing anything about anybody, I felt it was a bit of a turn off. Overall, I never connected with Lauren, or really anyone for that matter. Somehow, I liked Robbie the best. There were things throughout this book that bothered me. For example, Lauren was extremely addicted to cigarettes and talked about it so much, yet she had quit smoking and would find herself surrounded with people who smoked and go on and on about it, all while being this tremendous star athlete. I know that this is probably something that really happens but I just wasn’t convinced. Also, the relationship between her mom and her was so scattered, so inconsistent, so ugh, it just drove me insane. In addition, the stuff with the coach was never resolved which was a bit confusing.

Overall, this book was an average mystery, suspense, young adult book. It had the element of surprise. I was sure I knew who the killer was early on but I was wrong. It did keep me wanting to know who it really was and what Lauren was hiding, so for that it gets a solid 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title for review.

I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Trish Lundy for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. My biggest connection is that this book is set in Happy Valley, PA. I loved how this setting played just a huge role in this murder mystery. As Lauren tries to figure out the mysteries behind Cresmont brothers girlfriends murders, I paid attention to the adults since I figure the brothers could not be behind these travesties. As a high school teacher, I wish Ms. Lundy would have done her due diligence in how high schools currenlty work. It is hard to read for plot purposes that common in place rules and guidelines are overlooked. While I was a disappaointed with the conclusion, I am looking forward to her next book.

Wow. This is such a fun, twisty ride. As a consumer of mostly adult thrillers, mysteries, and horror novels, I turn to YA thrillers as a refresh every now and then - but this one actually went so much deeper than your typical YA and had dark (and spicy!) elements which made me love it even more. I loved the main character, Lauren, so much and loved how her back story was revealed gradually, keeping you guessing on who she really is and what her intentions are. There were multiple times in the story where I was sure I knew who the murder was, and I was wrong every time which is so rare and makes it all the more exciting. I found myself sad when the book ended and wanting a sequel because I had started feeling attached to the characters! Overall absolutely loved this read and can’t believe it’s a debut. The writing is beautiful. Will be anxiously awaiting more from this author.

The One That Got Away With Murder is an absorbing YA Thriller packed with secrets, lies, and a relatable protagonist. Plenty of twists and a fast-paced read. I would recommend this any fan of YA thriller and fiction. Well-written and relevant.

Not the most unique story, and the relationships felt a bit undercooked, but a gripping thriller overall.

OK WHAT I FINISHED THIS IN 3 HOURS. Let me preface by saying I’m not a thriller girl - i love romance and fantasy but this was actually so good, and flowed so well - which is why I finished it in one sitting LOL.

This is also a YA thriller- so it reads like such, and there isn’t any spice or hardcore parts (though there are some trigger warnings: murder, eating disorders, fire, etc)

Lauren and her mom move to Pennsylvania from California after a horrible accident with her ex bf and she thinks it’s going to be a new start - until she ends up getting involved with Robbie - who’s hated by the town because he’s suspected of killing his ex girlfriend - AND Robbie’s brother Trevor’s ex girlfriend, has also died by overdose. What are the odds that she runs away from a crazy situation to end up in another one?

I can honestly say I didn’t see who the murderer was coming, I suspected literally RIGHT as it was revealed LOL. I enjoyed Lauren as a character- she’s definitely jaded and has a darker outlook on life which I can appreciate LOL. I feel like we could have gotten to know Robbie and Trevor a bit more BUT maybe that was the point. The whole girls soccer team annoyed me - I get why Lex and Mara acted the way they did, but the others were just annoying, but then again it is a YA thriller.

The One That Got Away releases April 16, 2024.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Overall, this is a fun whodunnit. The Crestmont family is mysterious, Lauren is a likable enough character, and it's not super predictable. I was a little more interested in Lauren's past, though. Having that little bit only at the end felt like a cop-out. I would have even enjoyed a book just about that, but YA suspense is all the rage right now.

Lauren is new to town, having moved after an incident back in California. Things are going well with her weekly hookup, Robbie Cresmont, until Lauren's new soccer teammates find out about it. Turns out Robbie was the main suspect in the death of Vic, their teammate, and Robbie's brother Trevor was involved in the death of his girlfriend, Jess. Then Lauren finds Vic's bloody bikini top in Robbie's family's boat. Now she's on a mission to figure out which Cresmont is a murderer, while enduring the bullying of her teammates and the threat of her past.

This mystery had so many twists, I absolutely didn't guess who it was until very close to the end. Lauren was an interesting protagonist because she wasn't afraid to make enemies due to her past. There were a lot of characters, but they were easy to differentiate and had strong personalities. The story moved quickly to the thrilling conclusion, with a solid amount of wrap-up to make the story feel complete.

Content advisory: Casual sex (in chapter one), sexual situations, teen drinking and drug use, murder, suicide, bullying, blackmail.

A worthwhile addition to the genre of YA thrillers. This book is edge-of-your-seat terror combined with the distinctly human experience of moving past trauma.

I cannot wait to have this book in my hands! I loved the twists and turns! This book really gripped my attention and I finished it in one sitting. I can’t wait to recommend this to all of my friends. So thankful I had the opportunity to read it!

Everyone knows the Crestmonts. Two brothers whose girlfriends "tragically passed," but everyone knows the truth--the brothers are guilty of their respective girlfriends' murders. Enter Lauren. Freshly moved from California, running from her dark past, she falls into a situationship with Robbie--one of the brothers. But someone else turns up murdered, and Lauren has to find answers, or end up being a victim herself.

I really liked this. I don't think it's necessarily the most unique mystery, but the inclusion of two teenage brothers guilty in the court of public opinion was interesting. The way the mystery unfolded and Lauren's past was revealed was done excellently, and I was guessing until the big reveal!

I don't understand the murderer's reasoning though. It felt flip-floppy and unclear--like they had two motivations. This led to it being a bit confusing.

I didn't feel like Robbie and Lauren had much chemistry, We don't see them meet or how they became hookup partners, we're just thrown into it. Add to that Lauren's (understandable) mistrust of Robbie, and it just doesn't add up to a great relationship.

Overall, it's an interesting murder mystery that will keep you guessing!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

3.5 stars!

This was fun. I love these types of books. I did find some plot points to be confusing, but overall I liked it. It wasn’t amazing jaw dropping book, but it was good enough!

Apparently, I just need to pick up a quick YA mystery/thriller book whenever I am in a reading slump because my god these kinds of books drag me by my ear out of a reading slump.

This book was such a fast-paced and addictive story, and it was exactly what I needed while on a slow vacation where I was stuck with a neverending head cold. My attention span feels so little at the moment and sleeping in constantly trying to drag me down, and yet this book had me binging. A full-on two-hour binge where I refused to set this book down. This was all due to the plot and the writing style because they are perfect for a mystery book. It's fast, it's sharp, its tricky, and obviously it's a fantastic mystery.

Books like these make me want to pick up more mystery books <3

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Be careful who you fall for...

Robbie and Trevor Cresmont have a body count—the killer kind. Handsome and privileged, the Crestmont brothers' have enough wealth to ensure they’ll never be found guilty of any wrongdoing, even if all of Happy Valley believes they're behind the deaths of their ex-girlfriends. First there was soccer star Victoria Moreno, Robbie’s ex, who mysteriously drowned at the family lake house. Then, a year later, Trevor’s girlfriend died of a suspicious overdose.

But the Crestmonts aren’t the only ones with secrets. Lauren O'Brian might be the new girl at school, but she's never been a good girl. With a dark past of her own, she's desperate for a fresh start. Except when she starts a no-strings-attached relationship with Robbie, her chance is put in jeopardy. During what’s meant to be their last weekend together, Lauren stumbles across shocking evidence that just might implicate Robbie.

With danger closing in, Lauren doesn't know who to trust. And after a third death rocks the town, she must decide whether to end things with Robbie or risk becoming another cautionary tale."

This book had me hooked from the very first page, on the edge of my seat the entire time, and was an outstanding fast-paced debut novel. My favorite thing about a thriller is when I think I have it all figured out and I'm wrong every time. With plenty of suspects and red herrings, it will keep you guessing until the very end. I was shocked to find out who the actual killer was and that twist at the end was perfection. I found the characters to be well developed with depth and relatability. The book will be incredibly gripping for the target audience of young readers, but any age will love and appreciate this well-executed, mystery thriller that personally had my mouth wide open at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a fast paced mystery, coming of age/healing story. It started strong and didn't fill us fully in to the background of what had happened to Lauren/what she had done to the very end, which was an interesting way to tell the story. She gets involved with a boy, a rich boy who had possibly killed his previous girlfriend. She starts to investigate him and possibly to punish herself. Overall better than the average YA mystery, think my students will like it

Read this in one sitting and I really enjoyed it. Through out the book, I had many guesses on who the murderer was based off what leads our main characters had. The main characters, Lauren and Robbie, weren't exactly what I was expecting them to be. I would definitely recommend this for fans of Holly Jackson and other YA thrillers.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.