I featured this book in a new release video prior to publication and was very excited to read from this author again! Having read Our Crooked Hearts, I knew this author would be giving us top notch atmosphere and nuanced relationships. Will update when final review posts, but I'm expecting 5 stars!

I liked the premise and the audio narrator was good but this book just didn't work for me. It reminded me of childhood games we used to play but somehow became kinda muddled.

Love the vibes and the premise but it wasn't my favorite in execution. There were too many plot holes and random additions that didn't make sense. So close and yet so far.

The summary of this story caught my attention straight away, but the story was a little bit of a let down. The romance part of the story didn’t seem like it was necessary to the story, but once it got to the end it made sense why it was there, but it definitely wasn’t needed. Also, this story could have been wayyyy shorter and gotten to the point faster and I feel like it would have been better that way. I liked that this felt nostalgic talking about ‘goddess goddess,’ like Bloody Mary or those types of spooky lores we’ve all heard when we were kids. But it didn’t do a very good job of understanding like what was actually happening. It was very paranormal and I wish that would have been mentioned a bit more. Overall it didn’t keep my attention, it was too long, and even for paranormal it just felt very exorcist like, but not in a good way. The concept was great I just feel the execution was a little lacking.

My journey with this book has solidified the fact that I am NOT a mystery girlie. I am so impatient and get frustrated with the little hints dropped here and there throughout the book I’m like JUST TELL ME! So that is why it has taken me so long to finish, why I had to keep restarting (and literally tried taking notes so I wouldn’t forget who was who 😬)

However after I was finally able to sit down and FOCUS on this book I actually rather enjoyed it! It is very YA but I didn’t mind that. I think my favorite part was the romance which really plays such a small role in the entire scheme of things, but James is so sweet. Also watching a girl descend into madness was a lot of fun and perfect for spooky season.

This kind of gave me the same vibes as Wilder Girls, maybe simply because it was also a YA thriller in a school setting, but I think if you liked that book you would like this one too. Pretty interesting premise and as long as you have the attention span to look for and remember clues unlike me, this is a great read! 3.75 stars

I love to start books without knowing too much of the synopsis, and was intrigued based on the cover alone. The Bad Ones is a YA horror about four missing people and now Nora is trying to discover if there is something sinister going on in the town.

*many thanks to Wednesday Books, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

**3.5 Stars**
I am a fan of this author so I will pick up anything she writes without knowing what I am reading, and this is a prime example of that. I went into this with no idea what it was about and I can say that it was creepy and unique for sure. I was 100% invested in the book for at least the first half and then I was left floundering for the second half. The story went from a horror mystery to something...else, but I am not really sure what to call it. There was a lot going on, and even by the time I reached the end I am not sure I fully got the point or cared enough by that point to try and work through it, it got so convoluted and weird. The book deals with some dark topics of multiple types of abuse and hate, so be warned it was not light and fluffy read.
The narrator did a great job making the characters come to life, no complaints about her performance, and the overall audiobook quality was nice.

I felt some Wednesday/Riverdale vibes from this YA novel. If I were still a high school librarian, I'd be thrilled to purchase this for my library. The cover art caught my attention. 4 people vanish and Nora is trying to figure out what is going on in her town. Despite the absence of Becca, who was arguably Nora's BFF, Nora hears her voice, finds signs in her locker, and notes messages only Becca would know about. The novel covers heavy topics such as the death of a parent, grief and loss, and alcoholism.The mystery is well-developed, and the FMC's relationship with her male counterpart is enjoyable. However, the ending is a bit far-fetched, but the characters' ending is satisfying.

Emma Galvin does a great job with the audio. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC for an honest review

The Bad Ones is another greay YA book by Melissa Albert. I'm always down to read anything she writes and this was no exception. I loved the dark and eerie vibes throughout the story. It is the perfect book to read late on a stormy night. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters as the plot progressed. I also really enjoyed not being able to guess the twist ending. And the narrator did a wonderful job bringing these characters and story to life. highly recommend this to anyone looking for a slightly darker YA about friendship and goddesses.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this alc in exchange for an honest review.

Content warnings: death, kidnapping, body possession, sexual assault, inappropriate teacher-student dynamics, parental death

I liked the concept but felt like the follow through wasn't there... not enough was explained about the supernatural element and the wedged in romance just didn't make sense with the rest of the novel.

The pacing is painfully slow at parts and I had a really hard time paying attention to the plot while I listened because of it. Nora was a decent protagonist (though I was hoping the script would be flipped and she'd turn into something different), but overall I was left underwhelmed by this one. I finished this about 10 minutes ago and I honestly can't tell you what the reveal and outcome was other than that it ends weirdly with a kiss. I'm starting to think that Albert's writing just isn't for me so YMMV.

Emma Galvin does an ok job with the audiobook narration though I felt like it was kind of flat which didn't help my mind pay attention to the details.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t think there’s enough books that really explore the kind of fantastical worlds young girls build in their minds with their sisters and friends growing up. Stories that can keep them entertained for hours, that blur the line of fantasy and reality. I think The Bad Ones was trying to capture that in a way - with two girls' friendship centering around their dangerous “Goddess Game” that they create. Then one of them goes missing and this devolves into a fantasy lite novel with a strong investigative lean to it.

As always, I have only good things to say about Albert’s actual writing. I listened to this on audio and there were certain lines that did have me wanting to pause to consider them more thoroughly. The nuance in Albert’s word choice, the carefulness in her metaphor. It’s easy to go overboard with her type of writing style but I think she strikes a perfect balance.

That’s why I wish the plot had more holding the rest of the story together. It felt like something that could have been a novella. The flashbacks were unnecessary and more often confusing when I was jumping POVs. The random romance side plot with a manic pixie dream boy didn’t feel like it naturally meshed into the story either. If anything, it felt more like an easy way to throw the “YA Romance” tag to this work when it is not that at all. It’s a story about sisterhood, and a horror novel. Both of those things are strong enough to carry a story. Just not this one.

I’m feeling more and more that I want Melissa Albert into adult books instead of sticking with her YA niche. She has the chops for it, but it’s falling a little flat with the restrictions of YA.

Thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio for providing an audiobook ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

I had a lot of fun with this dark YA. It had interesting elements of horror and fantasy, and I loved how it touched on those close, close bonds you can make when you feel you have no one else and how toxic it can be. Maybe it's just me, but I wish this book leaned more queer. I felt like there was queer subtext to Nora and Becca's relationship that was totally ignored in favor of what I felt like was a pretty unnecessary romantic subplot for one of the characters. I also felt pretty confused with the ending in general, so I wouldn't recommend if you're a person that hates vague endings. Overall though I really enjoyed how spooky this book was!

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

This narrative has it all—mystery, horror, sadness, poisonous friendships, urban legend, and paranormal activity. Albert captures your interest right away with his enigmatic disappearances and retains it throughout the narrative with his turns and turns. This book exhibits Albert's superb narrative, which keeps readers guessing while delivering terrifying horror. The pace of this novel and the way Albert wrapped up the narrative were what I cherished most about it. Albert deftly changed the topic many times till the reveal of the truth at the end, just when I thought I had the title figured out. The audiobook was enhanced by the narrator, who did a fantastic job of expressing Nora's nervousness throughout the book.

Okay The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert was supposed to be a NetGalley review but I accidentally let it lapse and then felt bad so bought it.

This is my first book from this author and I have to say I enjoyed it, from what I gather from other reviews she has some better books out there so i’ll need to check them out soon!

Anyway this YA Horror centers around a girl named Nora who lives in a town where four people mysterious disappeared on the same night, including her best friend Becca. Nora can’t help but think there is something more at play here and as she sets out on her own search for Becca she discovers secrets and lore from her town that has her questioning her own reality.

While the first chapter immediately grabs you, the story itself does open up a little slow but builds up in pace as it goes one. I liked the tension of the story and liked the little mysteries of the clues Becca left behind. Although I do feel like there was a room for the clues to be woven into the story more.

I do think this did a good job of delivering believable characters with only a very slight need for the suspension of disbelief. I don’t think everyone is going to enjoy Nora’s narrative voice but I thought it worked for her character.
The story explores how far friends are willing to go for each other and what it means to hold power, as well as leans into urban legends which is always a good thing in my opinion.

I don’t think this does anything groundbreaking with the genre, but it was a fun read that kept me engaged and that’s all I really ask for in the end.

Ok this book had my attention from the start. Not only was the cover giving me Dr. Who crying statues vibes, but the description of the book also had me. I also have enjoyed Melissa Albert's other work and not to mention Emma Galvin's narration makes the reader want to keep listening to the book. I was so sucked into this book that I didn't realize the end was happening, the end just felt a little rushed to me and I was like what how did this happen and when did this person show up! Besides that I really enjoyed this novel and the mystery behind it. I will say is I wasn't expecting the plot twist and the end!

I found this one confusing and could not find interest to keep trying to figure out the plot and ideas. I went in expecting it to be a mystery or some kind of supernatural read, which I think it was? But ultimately I couldn’t stick around to find out where it was going.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This would be a fun book to pick up for the fall/Halloween season. The Bad Ones pulled me right in from the first page. The pacing and atmosphere for the majority of the book is fantastic. For me, the ending fell a little flat, so giving this one 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you for the arc. I enjoyed this audiobook, the narrator was great I just think I didn't fully connect with the story overall. It felt almost too long and like I'd read it before so I didn't feel totally wowed by this one. It could have just been a case of wrong time to read it but I usually enjoy Melissa Albert's writing a lot more than I did in this one.

The Bad Ones is a gripping YA horror fantasy mixed with some dark magic. Makes me question all the times we said Bloody Mary in the bathroom mirror with no lights on as kids! 😳 I haven't read any of Melissa Albert's books, but I am adding her to my list to keep me eye out for future published work! Actress Emma Galvin narrates the chilling story with such ease you forget someone is reading a book to you! It's quite fascinating the ease Galvin has with the words. I'm also quite impressed with her portfolio of audiobook narration! Audible pulled up 165 results! Just wow!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio , @netgalley , and @melissaalbertauthor for the advanced listening copy!

Thank you Macmillan and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Receiving an advanced gifted book copy does not impact or influence my review in any way.

Melissa Albert's latest masterpiece, The Bad Ones, gives off major creepypasta vibes! Packed with mystery, horror, toxic friendships, grief, urban lore, and paranormal activity, this book has it all. From the very beginning, Albert grabs your attention with mysterious disappearances and keeps you hooked with twists and turns throughout the storyline.

Albert's masterful storytelling shines through in this novel, keeping readers guessing while delivering spine-chilling horror. As an avid reader, I'm thrilled to hear about her upcoming adult debut because she has consistently pushed the boundaries in YA literature. Seriously! I loved Our Crooked Hearts and The Hazel Wood but The Bad Ones was beyond impressive to me.

What I loved most about this book was its pacing and the way Albert concluded the story. Just when I thought I had the title figured out, Albert skillfully shifted the theme multiple times until the truth was finally unveiled at the end. The narrator did an excellent job of capturing Nora's anxiety throughout the novel and made the audiobook more enjoyable. I will always recommend a Melissa Albert novel, but The Bad Ones will stay on my mind for a long time to come, earning a solid 4.5/5 stars from me!

This is definitely a must read for spooky season!

✨mysterious disappearances
✨friendship pacts
✨urban legend
✨paranormal activity
✨small town lore
✨horror/mystery
✨slight psych thriller

Seriously, this book has it all.