Member Reviews

Wow, it really took me on a whirlwind trip back to Camp Lost Lake. Following Olivia, born amid a notorious murder spree, and Reagan, whose mom was accused of those crimes, the setup promised a juicy thriller filled with deep, dark secrets. The camp setting? Perfect for stirring up the old horror vibes reminiscent of classic slashers.

As the girls dig into the past, the danger escalates, making for some genuinely tense moments. However, I must admit, the plot twists were more predictable than I hoped, and the romantic subplot felt a bit like filler, detracting from the main thrill. Despite guessing some of the twists early, the overall journey kept me engaged enough to keep turning pages.

Valentine has a knack for creating an atmospheric setting, and her depiction of Camp Lost Lake did not disappoint. But, the last twist felt unnecessary and somewhat overdone, leaving me with mixed feelings about the ending.

Overall, it's a solid 3 out of 5 stars for me. "Two Sides to Every Murder" serves up classic camp scares with a modern twist, even if it doesn't completely reinvent the wheel.

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Let me kick things off by saying that diving into "How to Survive Your Murder" was a wild ride, and the ending? Well, let's just say it knocked me sideways in the best possible way.

Now, while this one might not have hit all the high notes I was anticipating, it still held its own as a solid read. Sure, I managed to suss out a few plot twists, but hey, credit where it's due, right? As for the characters, I was left yearning for a bit more depth.

Overall, it was an engaging journey that I found myself immersed in. Huge thanks to Danielle Valentine and her incredible team for the ARC, and a tip of the hat to NetGalley for opening the door to this intriguing novel!

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A great, short read about the horrific events at a camp in the woods. The story has many twist and turns, which lead the reader into a web of deception. But in uncovering the truth, the girls encounter danger of another sort. Great story with a shocking ending. I will look for more stories by this author and stay away from camps in the woods!

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I can honestly say Danielle Valentine is becoming one of my favorite authors. This book was SO good and thrilling that I read it in one sitting.

I can't even count how many twists and turns there were in this book, and it all was connected so beautifully. The author really did a fantastic job of linking so many things together that the reader would have never guessed. I tried to think of something constructive to say, and came up blank. I absolutely loved this book and am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to review this! Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin Group for allowing me to read this incredible ARC.

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Thanks so much to Penguin Teen amd NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was genuinely so different from my usual reads that I think that made me enjoy it more? You follow several characters, but mainly two: Olivia and Reagan, at a summer camp in the woods called Lost Lake. Sixteen years ago, a triple homicide occurred at the camp that causes it to be shut down for good, but now, Olivia's older sister is trying to re-open it in a different capacity for her company. Olivia is the former camp director's daughter, born at the camp on the day of the murders. Reagan is the daughter of the main suspect/fugitive, who escaped and was never found, and has returned trying to clear her mom's name.

This was a short read, but fairly entertaining if you're looking for that summer camp horror movie you've been missing out on since Friday the 13th. I enjoyed the flashbacks to the time leading up to/day of the murder from the victim's perspective, and while I did manage to figure out about halfway through who the Witch of Lost Lake was, I thought the way we got there wad a little far-fetched. But that's horror movies, right? And the twist at the end (the very very end, that is), I honestly didn't see coming and I need to know what happened next!

This was a really quick and entertaining read that started off with a bang, and didn't slow down until the very end. I had a good time and gave it 4 stars!

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This was a very spooky YA thriller that was reminiscent of Five Survive by Holly Jackson - a bunch of teens stuck in the woods being hunted by a killer. I was actually spooked a decent amount of the time reading this book, so it was obviously well done. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the tidbits of romance, and the twists. Very solid YA thriller!

*ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was a wild ride. It keeps you guessing pretty much the entire time, I was desperately trying to unweave all the threads of the past and present to understand what really happened. The two girls grew up worlds apart but the past linked them forever in a way neither of them even realized until the crossed paths while looking for answers. I really liked how you almost couldn't trust anyone other than the two girls because so many unanswered questions made everyone look guilty. Both were smart to be wary of any and everyone including each other. I didn't particularly like how a cute boy was so distracting in the face of danger it was weird but the character acknowledged how odd her feelings were. There was a nice flow of information that kept me interested and wasn't just an info dump, you really have to pay attention to the past pov of the characters and remember things to tie into the present. I did figure out the who but still needed the why and how of everything. The ending epilogue was... interesting I don't really know what to think of it but I'm glad it cleared up the final piece. Overall I really enjoyed this book and had a fun time reading it.

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Thank you Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons publisher for an ARC in exchange for honest review.

Sixteen years ago, a tragedy befell Camp Lost Lake, marked by a series of murders. Reagan's mother was implicated in the crimes, prompting them to live life on the run . Now, Reagan returns to the camp with the mission to exonerate her mother. Meanwhile, Olivia's seemingly idyllic life shatters when she uncovers long-held family secrets regarding their ancestry. Convinced that Camp Lost Lake holds the truth, Olivia seeks answers, unaware that someone is determined to bury the past at any cost.

This was a fun read! I liked the concept of the story. At first the two POV’s were confusing but once Reagan and Olivia personalities showed it was easy to differentiate. I did guess a few twists but not all of them! The blend of romance while running from a murderer was funny but it’s YA. Some parts dragged a bit and could’ve been trimmed.The rushed ending left lingering questions about certain plot points but overall I would recommend the book.

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I really enjoyed the dual POV of the characters as it allows for more story building and getting to know each person. The story was paced well, and I was HOOKED. I did guess some of the twists, but I was okay with it because the writing was good. It could be better as some things were cliche and very teenager-y but overall the book was good and I'd recommend it.

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2.5 ⭐️ oooof I wasn’t expecting to not like this given the plot summary! This was an ARC on netgalley, so it isn’t out yet.

This is a prime example of a good idea but badly executed. It had so much potential! This was VERY ya. At first I was kind of liking the book, but then it just got really cringy. I usually like YA books, but this one I was skimming just to avoid reading the teenager dialogue. There was teens falling for people they only met an hour before, and three pages about them flirting about what they put in oatmeal 😅 I get maybe the author was trying to be inclusive, but it felt forced. We don’t need a love triangle in a less than 300 page murder book.

It was honestly like watching a bad horror slasher movie lol. I was about to give it 3 stars until the ending because I figured maybe I’m just too old for this book and younger audiences would love it. But that very end was ridiculous 🤣

I really wanted to read delicate condition by this author but now I’m nervous I won’t like it.

Even though I didn’t like this, I’m still thankful I was given the opportunity to read and review this early!

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This takes place in a camp that's about to reopen, having been abandoned for years after brutal murders occurred, the killer never captured. It was a fast-paced, slasher-type young adult novel full of dumb decisions and all the clichés you can think of, giving it a more fun, campy vibe. I think it's because I am unfortunately older that I couldn't exactly connect with any certain character, although none were really all that likable either. That's not to say it wasn't good, especially if you're a fan of this type of story for which has a huge following. Three Stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group, for this ARC.

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Two sides to every murder. Infinite possibilities as to why.
Summer camp hosts games, sharing cabins with friends, fun at the lake, hikes in the woods, and archery at the field. Camp Lost Lake was exactly that camp, until the Witch of Lost Lake wreaked her havoc one summer day.
Sixteen years later, Camp Lost Lake is being resurreced back to life. After years of being closed, Andie D'Angeli is ready to clean up the camp and get it ready for a new set of campers. All in hopes the Witch of Lost Lake stays gone since the murders 16 years ago. A popular podcast brings the crime back to the spotlight, causing Lori Knight and her daughter, Reagan, to go on the run. Lori is thought to be the killer of her then-husband, her son, Matthew, and counselor, Gia North, who got something on camera. Soon after Olivia finds the camcorder, she and her friends are on the run from the Witch of Lost Lake. More murders, lies, and questions come to the surface as the teens try to get help and stay alive at the same time. Family secrets are revealed in this twisted account of bravery, fear, and family drama.

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I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the twistiest thriller I've read so far. For being a YA novel, there was more domestic drama/tension than I had expected, which makes me think that it could be interesting to even readers who prefer adult thrillers. The only caveat being that there are moments when it veers into the Lifetime movie category, which is when its YA vibes may be too off-putting for some. Nevertheless, it's a fun read that's good for dreary, rainy days!

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I was even more excited for this book after reading "How to Survive Your Murder" by @daniellevalentinebooks. Both books drew me in immediately and would not let me go until I finished them. Honestly, they still haven't let me go.

These are YA Murder mysteries, and sometimes I think YA gets judged too harshly. Both of these books were gripping, suspenseful, and Danielle Valentine is NOT afraid to brutally Murder a character for the sake of a twist or a jaw-dropping moment. Up until now, my favorite YA thriller author was Karen McManus, who I recommend to everyone, but I will absolutely be adding Danielle Valentine to that list.

This book has a web of lies that unravels all throughout the book and just like with "How to Survive Your Murder" Danielle Valentine throws an epilogue in there that leaves you with your jaw on the floor. I highly recommend checking this author out and pre-ordering this book for its June release.

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Ate this book right up! There are many twists and turns and I found myself glued to my phone trying to finish this one. It’s an enjoyable and quick read!!

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Thanks to Penguin Teen for sending me the ARC on NetGalley.
This was such a good book and it literally held my attention from the start! While reading it I had an hourlong roadtrip to the city, and not once did I take a break to scroll because it was just so good! I went to the city to visit family and could not put my book down at all while there! Which.. might be a bad thing, now that I think about it… Anyways, on the drive back home, I again kept reading and reading! And then when I got home I immediately sat on the couch and kept reading! And then I finished it. So, yeah, you should totally check out this book!

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The mysteries were pretty obvious and I think the ya aspect put me off being a horror thriller I think it would have been more effective with adult characters. Some parts were enjoyable and left me guessing until the end but the parts that lull outweigh the excitement.

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“She said that even strong people need to fall apart. And if you go too long without letting yourself do that, your body’s going to do it for you. We’re not made of stone.”

We follow two teenage girls who find themselves at the center of a chilling mystery. Olivia, who was born at the camp where a notorious murder took place, and Reagan, whose mother was accused of the crime, are both determined to uncover the truth. When Camp Lost Lake reopens and they start digging for answers, they soon realize that a killer is on the loose and danger lurks around every corner.

I enjoyed how we to experience the perspectives of both Olivia and Reagan and even got those flashbacks to the original Lost Lake murders from 16 years ago. I managed to guess a few of plot twists. Even though I had a hunch about what was coming, the overall pacing of the book still had me hooked and entertained. I felt like the inclusion of romance subplot didn’t need to happen as it took away from suspenseful moments in the story. I think the last twist at the end wasn’t needed.

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This one was pretty satisfying as far as ya thrillers go. It gave the 80's horror/90's thriller/slasher vibes that I was hoping for. It had a great, satisfying ending. The twists were pretty good. The characters were vivid, the comedic relief moments were on point, and it had a good amount of build up and intensity. Definitely a recommended read for lovers of this genre!

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"Two Sides to Every Murder" by Danielle Valentine delivers a gripping YA thriller experience with a captivating whodunnit plotline. The novel's dual perspectives, presented through the eyes of Olivia and Reagan, add depth to the narrative as they endeavor to unravel a mystery shrouded in secrets from 16 years prior. Valentine crafts a page-turner that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly flipping pages to uncover the truth. While some moments may be predictable, the overall journey is a delightfully engaging one. Fans of YA mysteries will find themselves thoroughly immersed in this tale of intrigue and suspense.

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