If it's a book set during filming of a reality show, I am IN, no questions asked!! And I think this was a very fun, very unique version of this style of story! 6 celebs/celebs-adjacent are competing on Iconic, a new reality show to determine who is the biggest and best out of some big names. Things take a turn when one of the contestants (the most hated one, surprise surprise) ends up dead on the beach. The real question- was he murdered or was it an accident?

Even just the writing style of this book was super cool- each chapter was an episode of the show, with confessional moments spliced in, a rare 3rd person omniscient narrator that followed each character in a way that was not confusing at all (as this style typically gets), social media comments from viewers, and then a quick little dive into the detectives trying to determine if the death was murder or accident. The characters were all a total mess- Rhys, a wannabe actor and classic manipulator; Araminta, a cut-off heiress and influencer wanting to be known for her art; Theo, a famous musician whose band is on the brink of stardom and scandal; Kalpana, a passionate activist whose intentions aren't clearly good; Isko, a semi-famous chef with a relatively normal life and famous friends; and Jerome, president of the he-man woman haters club (incel version).

What I loved here was everything about the reality show (done so wrong in so many cases, but this felt like something I would watch), the way the characters were so clearly defined and seeing them interact and manipulate each other and try to understand each other felt so real, and the way that everything unfolded in a way that kept up the intrigue throughout the book. Where the book suffered, in my opinion, was that there were quite a few threads left open in a way that made it feel incomplete- the subplot with the detectives (was I supposed to care about them? were they connected to the story more?), the scandals surrounding Jerome and Theo's outside lives, and then the abrupt ending. Overall, these didn't hurt the story, I just would have wanted more from these areas!

Thank you so much to Bea Fitzgerald and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Welcome to the reality TV show Iconic. Six contestants are on a desert island competing to accumulate the most points to win a $500,000 prize while trying to prove they are the most iconic person. The show has captivated audiences, as millions tune in to watch the live action of the cast which including the developing romance between actor Rhys and Araminta, an artist from a wealthy family. As the story begins, the police are questioning each cast member. Rhys, who went from favorite to most hated, is dead. Was it an accident or murder?

The beautiful cover of Then Things Went Dark by Bea Fitzgerald drew me in. I've recently read several intriguing mystery thrillers set within a reality show, so I had high hopes for this book. Perhaps I've had my fill of this sub-genre as this one wasn't for me. And I would classify this novel as a mystery and leave off the thriller. The characters in the book, which satirizes these types of reality shows, were all very unappealing and I wasn't invested in any of their stories and the secrets they were hiding. Rhys, the unfortunate deceased cast member, was the most unlikeable and I didn't care that much as to what actually happened to him.

Thank you Netgalley & Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing for an eARC♥️

Confession time: I'm a total sucker for reality TV shows. My friends might judge me, but I can't help it - I love the drama, the catty conflicts, and the over-the-top challenges. So, when I found out about this book, I knew I had to read it.

Six contestants are stuck on a deserted island, competing for fame and fortune in a crazy competition. They're all trying to outdo each other and win the public's favor, but things take a dark turn when one of them bites the dust. I won't give away too many spoilers, but let's just say it's a wild ride full of twists and turns that'll keep you guessing until the very end.

The characters are pretty relatable, even if they're not super complex. They're all flawed and quirky in their own ways, which makes them feel more real and human. And honestly, who needs complex characters when you've got drama, tension, and murder? It's like the perfect storm of entertainment!

I loved how Bea Fitzgerald captured the essence of reality TV, from the catty conflicts to the over-the-top challenges.🔥

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced copy!

This book follows a 24/7 reality show focused on celebrities who want to stay relevant and “iconic”.
While the premise was really strong, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this one. The beginning was really strong but as it went on and I felt the length it lacked a little for me.
The challenges were really cool and the dynamics between all the contestants was interesting. I wish the ending would have been more of a “wow” but the build up was really interesting.
Overall, it was interesting read and had a really cool premise!

Thanks again to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced copy!

This was a quick read. Overall it was ok. I did enjoy it but it wasn’t my favorite. The characters were unlikeable. It was a cool premise but just fell flat for me.

I went into this wanting a dishy, celeb, drama-filled thriller. I got whiny teenagers?

These characters are meant to be inherently unlikable - that's more than fine!! That's why we watch reality TV. Unfortunately these whiny jerks just ended up being boring and uninteresting. By the end I was like - dude I don't even care who killed this guy, let's just get it over with. Not to mention, side plots that went absolutely nowhere? There was so suspense, no building intrigue. I'm just disappointed.

I was super excited to read a book that read like a reality tv thriller. Out of the six contestants there were really no likeable characters, so it was interesting to see where their character development went! Overall a quick, interesting summer read!

This was satirical about reality TV and had some fun elements but was a little too cheesy for me. I think if you are big reality tv fans and want it in the form of a mystery thriller novel then give it a try.

So this was one of the ARCs that I requested that I was the most excited for because the premise immediately got my attention but unfortunately it fell flat for me :/ I think I was expecting this book to be more thrilling than it actually was. It started out well but half way through it I started to become bored with the story, but as unlikable as the characters were (though I’m sure that was the point), I wanted to continue to find out what would happen to them so that’s what pushed me to finish this book. (2.5 ⭐️)

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Starting this book and didn’t realize the format is not very conducive to the enjoyment of reading. A lot of jumping back and forth. Probably might be better as an audiobook. I’d much prefer to listen to it rather than read. Right now rating 2/5 stars cause I’m sure there’s still potential, even though I’m not a reality tv person.

This is one for fans of reality tv. Six incredibly vapid and unlikable people are competing for points and likeability (really?) on live tv except that there's a death on the very first episode and now two detectives are trying to figure out what happened. As is the reader. This is told episodically with bits from social media posted by watchers among other things, It's an interesting concept but there's really no one to root for. Thanks to netgalley for the arc. Over to others.

Bea Fitzgerald did it again!! She just always knows how to write the most beautiful stories. This book was hands down one of my favorites from 2024. Well done!! I loved it!

This was an enjoyable read that kept me flipping pages quickly! Six reality contestants are on an island together for a reality show watched by millions, and chaos surely ensues! These characters were all pretty darn unlikable, but I also couldn't look away from such a disaster of a scenario. While not super memorable, this was still a fun read!

This one had potential but ultimately fell a bit short. I think the narrative style was the killer here but the premise had so
Much potential

I unfortunaetly had to DNF @40%. I tried very hard to stick with it but decided that I would probably provide more insightful information DNF'ing versus finishing it out. The writing was very jumpy, convoluted, and seemingly repetitive. I thought the structure of the book was not helpful to the reader and thought that it should've been more clear as to how each section was broken down rather than just all of a sudden starting to write from a different perspective. I think making the chapters shorter and giving them more of a central focus would've helped this book, but I hope that others enjoy it more than I did.

The theme lately of reality TV shows for thrillers is always fun, and I enjoyed getting to know these characters - likable and unlikable. With a fast paced plot and entertaining characters, “Then Things Went Dark” is a great summer poolside read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Bea Fitzgerald for the ARC! “Then things Went Dark” releases August 27, 2024.

"Then Things Went Dark" follows six contestants who land on a desert island to participate in a reality TV show. The characters include a mix of influencers, chefs, actors, activists, and more, each eager to prove themselves and win the competition. The stakes are high, and tensions rise when one of the contestants dies under mysterious circumstances. The story then delves into a complex game of scandals, alliances, betrayals, and the dark side of fame, leaving every contestant a suspect in a potential murder.

Filled with clever plotting and the way it captures the essence of reality TV drama; this book is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that successfully blends suspense with social commentary, making it a standout debut in the adult thriller genre.

’m not sure why I’m even read this book. I don’t care for reality TV at all. I didn’t care for any of the characters and was rather bored with the entire book
It just wasn’t for me but others may love it.

Can we please stop putting books like these in the “thriller” category? This was a “mystery” at best— but mostly a contemporary/lit fiction.
I’ll start off by saying this book was LONG.. but, it did keep my attention.
Six *extremely* unlikeable people, put on a secluded island for a reality show, with cameras watching their every move— along with millions of viewers at home watching the 24/7 live feed. And of course, someone ends up dead. The premise of this book was initially intriguing, but it definitely fell flat in several ways. And….. I predicted the ending veryyyyy early on, unfortunately. (Always a bummer).
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because I enjoyed the detective/interrogation room POV’s.

Thank you NetGalley and SourceBooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I had such high hopes for this one. It sounds like something I'd love, the setting, the reality show premise, and the commentary on the price of fame and fortune. But, it just didn't fully live up to my expectations. I was hoping for a perfect summer vibes thriller, and it does give that atmosphere well. I really didn't think the detective parts were done well at all, it was a little too unbelievable. The characters were difficult to connect with or care about. And even though there was plenty of drama, I never truly felt invested in the stakes. It just didn't live up to my own hype.