Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the copy of 49 Miles Alone by Natalie D. Richards. Even though they were on a bonding/healing trip, two teen girls, taking a 49-mile hike alone, felt implausible. This was enthralling so I quickly stopped caring about their ages and started worrying more about the insects and humans they met along the way. I liked how the passing time was marked in miles walked, which gave more context to what was happening. Katie and Aster were really different and it was great how they both used their strengths to get through the trek. It’s a fast and easy read. If you love great characters, suspense, and surprising reveals, this is the book for you.

49 Miles Alone is an enjoyable adventure about two cousins hiking through the Utah desert, a place deadly enough without the killer using the wilderness trail. It's easy to burn through when you're looking to get lost in a story.

Katie and Aster have hiked together many times before - and had plenty of other things go wrong. Neither will be truly alone for this 49-mile hike since they have each other. But there’s a distance between them for the first time.

They face trouble from the beginning. The people they meet on the trail can’t be trusted. Weather makes their position perilous. For most of their hike, they’re a call away from canceling the whole trip. But when the danger becomes too much to ignore, they have no way to signal for outside help. Katie and Aster have no one but themselves to keep each other alive. But Katie is determined to continue into the heart of the danger, and Aster is determined to get to safety as soon as possible.

I enjoy Natalie D. Richards’ books for their fast pace. This is an adventure above all else - though a little mystery is always a plus. For most of 49 Miles Alone, the danger seemed more hypothetical than real.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this fast-paced adventure. Four stars.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
49 Miles Alone releases July 2, 2024

2.5

Katie and her cousin Aster are recent high school graduates, and decide to embark on a 49 mile off-the-grid hike in the Utah desert that will take them 4 and a half days to complete.
This story is told through multi-pov from the two cousins and an additional unnamed narrator.

About halfway into their hike, they cross paths with two other people. The question is: are these new characters tied to the unnamed pov? And if so, how?

A major plotline in this story, which I was unaware of going into it, is the trauma from being raped.
(@ publishers/authors: there really should be disclaimers for this in the blurb or front matter)
I think it was written well in the sense that it was a consistent factor throughout the whole story as opposed to being mentioned once at the start and then not having it affect the character ever again. We regularly see Katie triggered by the sounds of a zipper on a pair of pants, or the rustling of clothing, as well as her cousin’s lingering guilt associated with having left her at the party that night.

As a whole, I found this kind of unrealistic given the ages of the main characters and the difficulty of the hike they chose, paired with vast level of isolation. I would have loved this more if it was aged up a bit, especially taking into consideration the driving force of the conflict with Riley being jealous… it just doesn’t fit the YA narrative.
I also didn’t think that the third pov added much value in hindsight.

Book:
49 MILES ALONE by Natalie D. Richards (Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the arc...Out:July 2)

Review:
4.4⭐
I want to start by saying that Natalie Richards is one of my most favorite authors; her YA thriller/mystery books are instant buys, so I had high expectations for 49 MILES ALONE.  The first chapter had me hooked and from there, I didn't want to stop reading. In the first half, the most interesting parts were the Zero Miles chapters Those were intriguing. Yes, the other chapters were a little, but I felt like they droned on and on...until the halfway point. When I got there, I sped through the pages, grasping every word as I tried to put clues together to figure out what was happening on the trail. What was up with Finn and Riley and Isabel, even the runner and climbers and do Aster and Katie figure it out on time? I asked myself this question throughout the book, and I was shocked at the answer. I loved the descriptions that were used by the author, and I loved the use of foreshadowing---it was neat to learn that a scorpion was a sign of danger, and I couldn't help but wonder what the danger was. And, let me tell you, when the danger finally presented itself, it was crazy. It was like a full circle moment with all of the characters. 49 MILES ALONE is perfectly twisty, and though it wasn't my favorite, it's definitely a must read.

What I Liked About It:
*the ending where everything made sense
*the twist near the end

Four days alone in the desert. Except they're not as alone as they think. A year ago something terrible happened to Katie at a party after Aster left. Desperate to heal and leave the past behind them, they tackle four days of hiking in the Utah backcountry. The desert they've loved for years has tricks up its sleeve though. An illness, an injury, and a freak storm leave them short on confidence and supplies. When they come across a young couple with extra supplies on the trail, they're grateful and relieved―at first. Riley is friendly but Finn spells trouble. That night Katie and Aster hear the couple fighting. In the morning, they find the couple's camp empty. Katie fears Riley is in trouble. Help is a two-day hike away. The clock is ticking. Supplies and water are running low. Can Katie and Aster make it out of the desert and find Riley before it's too late?

49 Miles Alone is sure to please fans of stories of survival in the wilderness. The beautiful cover sets the reader up perfectly for what is to come. The descriptions of the Utah desert are vivid and beautiful. You almost want to step in and have a little adventure yourself. It's very clear, though, that there are dangers at every turn.

The chapters shift between Aster and Katie's point of view, with snippets from a mysterious young woman who is alone somewhere along the trail and badly injured. On top of navigating narrow ridges and steep climbs Aster and Katie are working through a problem in their relationship. It won't stop them from working together, but it does have everything to do with their perceptions of the situation and people they come across.

I was glued to the page, frantic for Katie and Aster to get a move on while they contemplated their situation. There is some repetition of dialogue, but it is all realistic. I was worried about the trapped and lost woman. The obstacles the cousins kept encountering added to the suspense. I would have liked a few more technical details on supplies and what they were using.

There is also the matter of the identity of the injured woman, and the person who pushed her, to ponder. Things might not be as they appear. I figured things out but it took some time.

Parts of the ending wrapped up a little too quickly., but I really enjoyed this book. It has so many elements of survival stories that I enjoy and I think others will too. 49 Miles Alone succeeds in what it sets out to do. I highly recommend it!

I’ve been a fan of Natalie D Richards for years now, and she’s pretty much an auto-buy author for me. So this book has been highly anticipated.Plus the cover is gorgeous!

This book follows Astor and Katie as they hike through the desert, and very soon things start to go wrong. The beginning was a bit slow as the story sets the scene and describes the brutal desert landscape. However, this makes the challenges Astor and Katie face much more nerve wracking as they fight to survive. There is a tense atmosphere and an overwhelming feeling of unease and uncertainty, especially after they run into Riley and Finn.

Astor and Katie’s journey through the desert, as well as their journey through life was surprisingly emotional. These two went through so much change and growth as they fought for survival. Overall, this was a great mystery/thriller that had me flying through the pages.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC.

49 MILES ALONE ⭐️⭐️💫/5. Aster and Katie are cousins who have grown up hiking together. When they go on a 49 mile hike through the Moab desert, they encounter several people along the way that make them question their safety and decisions. I felt this suspense in this book came at the wrong times. Sometimes I was hooked reading and other times I wanted it to be over. Also there was a lack of explanation near the end of the book that I’m still curious about I just wasn’t a fan of this one.

The premise of "49 Miles Alone" is compelling -- two girls set out on a wilderness journey, meeting with natural dangers as well as a human predator they must escape. What's not to like? It starts a bit slow with some plot and character building, but speeds up toward the. middle until the suspense is excruciating. Richards is great at creating tense and disquieting atmospheres ("Five Total Strangers") and a master at the survival thriller. Recommended for YA as well as adults. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"49 Miles Alone" by Natalie D. Richards delivers a powerful story that focuses on survival and the strength that comes from relying on others. The book combines elements of survival, mystery, and personal redemption. Cousins Katie and Aster embark on a backpacking trip in Utah's rugged wilderness, seeking to heal the rift in their relationship caused by a traumatic event. However, their journey takes a harrowing turn as they encounter unexpected dangers and face the looming threat of a sinister presence lurking in the wilderness. Before going into the review, I do want to provide a trigger warning about SA in the book as the summary does not clearly display that this is a pretty major part of one of the character’s past. While the actual event itself isn’t described, you do get to see the effects on the character, like PTSD instances.

Now, going into the book, I definitely enjoyed this one! While I do like Richards’s books that are set in Columbus more (I’m from Columbus, so I always love the vivid descriptions of the city with locations I’ve actually been in and grown up around), I liked how Richards changed up the setting to focus on the Utah backcountry. Richards skillfully immerses you in the stark beauty and unforgiving terrain of the Moab desert, painting vivid descriptions of the challenging landscape and the girls' struggle for survival. The tone is immediately tense in the book as things start going wrong in the hike right away. The attention to detail brings the backpacking experience to life, from navigating lesser marked trails to dealing with unexpected hail storms and dwindling supplies. I quickly found myself on the edge of my seat as Katie and Aster grapple with physical exhaustion, illness, and the ever-present specter of danger.

I do want to note that the overall plot of the story (the killer and being hunted down) takes awhile to get started. You don’t actually get to meet the two mysterious other hikers until around 40% of the book, which is really when the suspense starts. But, even though it does have a bit of a slow start, the purpose is to immerse you in the setting and the survival-aspect of the book. There is definitely a feeling of unease and uncertainty that pervades every chapter. The identity of the true villain remains shrouded in mystery until the gripping conclusion, and I honestly didn’t expect the exact twist at the end.

While the book primarily focuses on the girls' fight for survival, it also delves into deeper themes of guilt, trauma, and redemption. Aster grapples with overwhelming guilt over her perceived role in Katie's assault, while Katie struggles to come to terms with the lasting effects of her trauma. Their journey through the wilderness becomes a metaphorical journey of self-discovery and healing, as they confront their pasts and forge a path toward redemption. I will say that I thought Katie was a bit more developed; I was more invested in her story and her experiences while Aster, I think, needed more development, more motivation.

Overall, "49 Miles Alone" is a captivating and emotionally resonant read that will appeal to fans of survival thrillers and mystery novels alike. I definitely can’t wait to read another Natalie D. Richards novel!