4.4 (generously rounded)
Some (read: about half) of the characters were a bit underdrawn, and very nearly everyone seemed to revel in making bad decisions, but this one had a subtle (if slightly sadistic) charm that I kinda vibed with.

I am just now discovering Natasha Preston and I was so excited when I saw this book come up on NetGalley. I knew I had to request it and I was fortunate enough to get it. I have heard tons about Natasha Preston and her other books and I can see why now. Her writing is so easy to read and follow along with. Her characters are very likable and devious at the same time. Once I started this one I couldn't put it down. I had to know how things happened.

Marley is in her senior year of high school and towards the end of the school year. This is the time when senior games start for all the seniors that will be leaving. This is usually just fun pranks that are more like dares for them to finish orchestrated by one of the Wilder brothers. This year it is Rhett Wilder that is in charge of the games/dares. Rhett and Marley used to be close but he changed and basically dropped Marley as a friend of his. Marley was confused as to what she did to make Rhett stop talking to her.

Marley, Atlas, Jess and Luce are tight and seem like the best of friends until the dare happens. Marley is dating Atlas and they have made plans to attend the same college in the fall. Jess and Luce are dating and seem to be fine with their plans for the fall as well. Things get tense between friends when dares begin to take place. Some want to be in on them and some think that the dares are not such good ideas. When Rhett hands out the first dare to Marley's group they think that it is a good sign because they will get theirs over and maybe it won't be a bad dare starting out.

Little does everyone know, Rhett is determined to make Marley's group do more dares than anyone. It is like he wants to take out his and Marley's differences on the group. When an accident happens during one of the dares, the lies that are conjured up just keep compounding and Marley is not fond of any of it. Jess begins to change that night and their friendship is put to the test. The ending will leave you with your jaw on the floor. I totally did not see it coming and I think that is because of the excellent plot thought out by Natasha Preston, I really enjoyed this one and devoured it in no time. I can't wait to go back and read more of Natasha Preston's books now.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this books. You won't regret picking this one up to read!

Dare I say this is my favorite Natasha Preston. This book follows Marley and her friends as they receive dares from Marley’s ex friend Rhett, as the dares go on the risk grows. I loved the fast pace of the book and the twist, I thought I knew how the story was going to go but in true Preston fashion I was left shocked. You won’t see what’s coming as Marley starts to crack after a dare leaves someone dead, you start to root for her to plot revenge. Think I know what you did last summer vibes. Overall I loved the book and the characters, it was a good quick thriller.

Natasha Preston never disappoints. An easy read filled with suspense, a good read for any thrill seeker.

This book was fast-paced and still had me racing through the pages to see how in the world it would end! Marley is one badass character and the way her mind schemes is pretty fascinating. This is a new to me author and I’m thrilled to find her. Excellent read.

This is the first Natasha Preston book I’ve ever read & I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of the characters were just awful, but that’s the point. Every great story needs a true villain. The second half of the book is when things really started to pick up for me. I couldn’t put it down at times & I was trying to work out what exactly was going to happen. There were some elements I didn’t expect & others that I anticipated. Some moments were a bit juvenile, but it is centered around a group of high schoolers so I can’t complain too much. All in all I did really like this book & I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA thrillers. I already have The Island on my tbr, but I will definitely be adding more from this author.

The Dare by Natasha Preston
Publishing date - 05/07/24
Rating (4/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank You Random House Publishing and Netgalley for this eARC. This one was full of suspense!! I was on edge the whole time, wondering what would happen at the end. YA Thriller fans are going to want to pre-order this one!

Thank You Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own! The latest from Natasha Preston is as fantastic as the rest! It’s the end of Senior year, that means senior pranks. At Marley’s school there a lot more dangerous and a lot less prank. Marley would like to avoid them especially has Rhett is setting the pranks this year. His family is the richest in town and he and his five brothers always get away with things. Nothing ever touches them. Marley hates him but they used to be best friends. Now she attends the senior pranks meeting with her boyfriend Atlas, best friend Luce, and Jesse Luce’s boyfriend. As the pranks/dares increase Marley and Rhett continuously fight, each trying to win. The Marley and her friend are given the dangerous dare yet. When that turns into a disaster how far will they go to protect themselves? And as more and more deadly crimes happen who can Marley trust? This book has elements of I Know What You Did Last Summer but focuses more on the paranoia, mistrust, betrayal, and grieve that comes from doing something you can’t take back! Fast paced and had me up way later than I normal would be to finish! It’s a quick read and you’ll be consumed, I read it in less than a day! A story full of gray characters but sometimes to protect yourself you have to break a few rules… or laws. Highly recommend for mystery lovers! Can’t wait to read it again!

I enjoyed the will she/won't she of this book from when the dare goes awry. The twist was rather upsetting, though. I definitely felt like the ending was rushed and the character development was underdonr for multiple characters. It was, overall, a good read.

First off thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The story follows Marley, a high school senior during the last few weeks of school where senior pranks are at full force. Everything is fun and games until Marley and her friend’s lives change during a dare. They decide to keep that night a secret, but will one of them crack?

I was gripping the edge of my seat the entire time reading this book. I loved the twist and turns. The ending, I am still upset about but only because I did not see it coming. I did wish there was a little more character development and more background on a few things. However, overall this is a solid quick read that I really enjoyed.

Immediate “I Know What You Did Last Summer Vibes”.

Marley’s high school takes senior prank week a little too seriously. Instead of pranks, her ex friend, Rhett administers dares that everyone must complete or else. As you complete each dare, it gets riskier every time. When Rhett dares Marley and her friends, Luce, Jesse and boyfriend Atlas, to drive a dangerous road with their lights off, Marley isn’t so sure it’s a good idea. However, the ramifications for not completing the dare could be worse, so they do it. When it turns deadly, Marley and her friends have to do everything they can to conceal the truth. As she spirals, something feels off about that night. She starts to receive threatening messages. Someone knows the truth. But what is the truth exactly and how can Marley get herself out of this before it’s too late?

In true Natasha Preston fashion, this is fast paced and gripping. It also has more of an ending than any book I’ve ever read by her, so points for that. While I did enjoy the story, some parts were underdeveloped such as Rhett’s character and why he and his brothers did these dares in the first place. I also wanted more on his and Marley’s lost friendship and why she hated him so much for ditching her.

The ending was completely unexpected and while most people liked it and found it satisfying, I didn’t really. I felt like it was a bit out of character. Regardless, this had twists and turns that kept you engaged and wanting to know how it all plays out.

Natasha Preston again has crafted a story full of paranoia and mistrust. I found myself throughout most of this book questioning every person. The story really picks up around 50%, though I did feel like it dragged on in some parts. Overall, this is a wonderful “i know what you did last summer” style thriller that will keep anyone on the edge of their seat!

Thank you for the eARC NetGalley and Random House!

I've read a few of her books by now and I think this might rank as one of my favorites.
I love the "I Know What You Did Last Summer" vibe throughout the book with a bit of "Pretty Little Liars" thrown in.
This had some tense scenes and just when you think you've figured out parts like Marley has, another wrench is thrown in.
I liked the ending quite a bit. It's one of those where you want an ending like that to come about but usually authors take us somewhere else.
Overall a satisfying read foe the genre. Can't wait to see what else the author writes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

The Dare follows a girl named Marley at the tail end of her senior year. Her high school has become notorious for dangerous senior pranks with dire consequences for not participating, set forth by the Wilder boys, whose family goes back to the town’s founding. When a dare for Marley and crew turns deadly, she’s forced to cover it up, in order to save not only her future, but her friends’ as well. But the guilt won’t go that easy, leaving Marley ready to collapse under the pressure of keeping this secret.

This book gave me such “I Know What You Did Last Summer” vibes. This is definitely different for Preston, as a lot of her books in recent years have veered into murder mystery territory. Maybe that could be why I felt like the story dragged a bit? I’m not too sure. But it did take me leaving the book a few times, coming back, and getting myself to keep reading before I finally got to a point where I was fully hooked. I did like the twist in the end, definitely unexpected, and some of the characters. Some of the characters felt more fleshed out, while others seemed like props or side characters that were there without much purpose. Overall, I did enjoy the book, but it definitely is not one of my favorites of Natasha Preston’s.

I’ve come to learn that I enjoy Natasha Prestons writing a lot, because so far my experience with her has been absolutely wonderful. This book had me on edge, because although I was constantly trying to figure out who did what I never could. And when I thought I figured it out, I didn’t and there was another twist. All the characters in this book were extremely enjoyable and I didn’t find any lacking in character progression etc. Watching this friend group navigate all of the issues was such a treat. I’m excited to continue reading Natasha Prestons catalog of books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Childrens Delacorte Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one was full of suspense!! I was on edge the whole time, wondering what would happen at the end. I think there were a couple of characters I'd like to have seen a little more developed (Rhett, for one), and the reason why Rhett and his brothers put on these pranks/dares never felt fully explained. I enjoyed the suspense of it all though, and I would recommend this to fans of Pretty Little Liars for that reason. 3.5 stars

Natasha Preston is an auto-buy author for me. Her storylines will grab ahold of your attention and keep you turning pages from start to finish. "The Dare" definitely did not disappoint, YA Thriller fans are going to want to pre-order this one!

A little about this story:
Graduation is almost here which means it's time for Senior pranks and dares to begin, the crux is that in this town you're not allowed to say no to a dare without facing life altering consequences. It's a no-win situation, which is exactly how our main characters find themselves with a terrible deep dark secret that is threatening to destroy their close knit circle of friends. One dare, one night , extreme consequences-- buckle up this storyline is going to take you on a wild ride!

Those of you who are familiar with this author know that her endings will undoubtedly leave you stunned and this ending might just be my favorite yet. It's so good!

I will absolutely be recommending this book!

Thank you Natasha Preston, Net Galley and Random House Children's - Delacorte Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This was one of her best books I ever read. Couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for her next one. I loved the prank they pulled with the glitter and balloons.i hated how Rhett thinks he should be in charge of all the pranks.

This is a solid read that will have you flipping the pages like a madwoman, or madman, from the halfway mark on. What would you do if “the” popular kid was giving out dares to his fellow seniors, and you knew if you didn’t do it, he very likely would ruin your life? It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t type of situation.

Now what if, in the pursuit of that dare, something really bad happened. Like, you and your friends could potentially go to jail, bad.

How are your relationships with your friends after this? What if you notice your friends huddled together at school, but they abruptly stop talking the moment you walk up?

It’s enough to make anyone…paranoid.

Get your read on.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press and Natasha Preston for gifting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback, and also for making me infinitely cool in my teenage daughter’s eyes for at least a few days. 😁

Marley Croft and Atlas, her boyfriend of three years, only have a few days left of high school. Then they have plans to go to California for college — different schools but close enough to maintain their relationship. But all their plans threaten to unravel after a senior prank goes wrong, and suddenly Marley and her friends are plotting to cover up a murder. Marley struggles to maintain a normal life, knowing what she and the others have done. Meanwhile, her relationship with Atlas feels different, as do her relationships with Jesse and Luce, who were also involved in the murder. Marley suspects they are tying to set her up to take the blame for the accidental murder and a subsequent attempted murder on another person. Who can Marley turn to for help? How can she prove she isn’t the murderer?

The book got off on a slow start, but around chapter 9, things really take off. There is a lot of suspense as Marley tries to navigate the demands of a bullying classmate, the realization that she’s covering up a murder, and trying to understand why her friends are singling her out as the weakest link. Then it becomes a race against time as Marley forms a solid alibi before she takes the blame for murder. The twists and turns that ensue throughout the story make up for the slow beginning.

I would recommend this book for fans of Jessica Goodman and Karen McManus.