While I enjoyed The Ivies, I didn't love the twist, so I've been hesitant to pick up Alexa Donne's thriller titles ever since. But when she mentioned that The Bitter End would be a closed circle mystery in an isolated setting told from multiple points of view, my curiosity got the better of me. And thank goodness it did, because once I started The Bitter End, I couldn't put it down. Donne has become a more confident storyteller, and this mystery, in particular, was so compelling, I was feverishly flipping pages until the very end. I've become pretty good at guessing thriller twist endings, but this one managed to surprise me, which is really all a thriller reader is looking for. And while I'm not the target audience, I think teens will find it just as shocking.

Thank you to Random House Children's and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will always be a fan of anything Alexa Donne writes!
I'm not usually a person that likes a multi-POV book, but I was willing to give this book a chance because I have had such success with Aleza Donne in the past. And I'm so glad that I did because I love this book.
The "isolated closed circle mystery" is something I am new to, but I think it was done very well in this book.

I really enjoyed this. The suspense build up was perfect, the red herrings believable. And I hope the ending means there will be a sequel.

I did at times have a hard time remembering if I was reading Willa or Piper's narrative, but overall the differing perspectives worked very well.

"When a winter storm traps eight teens in a remote ski cabin, they find themselves stranded with a killer—who may be one of their own. From the acclaimed author of The Ivies and Pretty Dead Queens comes a YA thriller that will make your blood run cold."

"The trip of a lifetime might be the death of them all."

Thank you to Netgalley and the author Alexa Donne for letting read & review this advanced reader's copy. This was a three star thrilling mystery read that releases Tuesday October 15th 2024. This is the very first novel I have read by this author and it was a great young adult mystery. The Bitter End setting/ storyline reminds me of That Weekend by Kara Thomas. This novel had twists and turns that I didn't see coming.

I thought this was fun! It was a pretty out there plot but Donne made it work really well. I thoroughly enjoyed it - read it in less than a day!

This story is a play on the Agatha Christie novel, “and then there were none”. A group of high school seniors who were supposed to be on spring break got pulled to travel to this cold, lonely cabin on the top of a high Colorado mountain with no cell service…..what could go wrong? A lot when kids start dying. Good and horrific for the the ideas author puts out there.

What a wild ride!
This story was filled a whole cast of characters and literally everyone is a suspect. The story kept me hooked and guessing at all times. I really enjoyed it, as I usually do with Alexa Donne’s books!

My only complaints:
I was so confused about what happened to Noah? I’m not sure if I just didn’t understand or if it was under-explained. And I felt the execution of the dual timeline was a little bumpy. I would have enjoyed it more if it had consistently been a then/now rhythm.

Thanks NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I ate this book up! Such a page turner!

The students at LA's elite Warner Prep eagerly anticipate their Senior Excursion—a five-day, Instagrammable adventure in one of the world's most exclusive destinations. This is no ordinary field trip.
So, eight students are dismayed when they end up on a digital detox at an isolated Colorado ski chalet. What seemed like a boring trip quickly turns sinister as their classmates begin dying in a series of disturbing incidents. The message is clear: this is no accident.As a blizzard strikes, secrets are unveiled, betrayals come to light, and survival becomes a race against time.

I enjoyed this thriller. Was it different than other thrillers of this type? No. Did I have a good time? Yep.
This book reminded me of And then there were None by Agatha Christie which I loved but not as creepy.
It’s a good book if you are just wanting to read a light but intriguing thriller. I would read from this author again

Multiple pov mystery. The string is fabulous and spooky. The story weaves an excellent look at high school rivals and frightening personalities. I enjoyed the writing the twists were good but took a bit to get there. Thanks NetGalley!!

The Bitter End was a hard read for me: the characters were all vapid and unlikable and I had a difficult time tracking who was who. The thrill of it just didn’t grab me, but it might have been because I disliked the cast so much. The number of ways we learn about how entitled, rich and spoiled these high schoolers are is far too many for me. I appreciate the ARC, but this one didn’t work for me.

The Bitter End was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. It started a bit slow, and there are multiple characters to get to know, but the mysterious lies in not knowing which character is responsible for the deaths of others. Teen readers will relate to the struggles about authenticity, true friendships, betrayal, and keep reading as they are on the edge of their seats to find out who-dun-it!

The Bitter End is a captivating and thrilling read that kept me hooked until the very end. With its wicked and acid-tipped narrative, this book offers unparalleled fun and excitement for readers.

I have been in the mood for horror books lately. The Bitter End was the latest read. If you like horror books, this should be on your list of next reads.

This book had me gagged. Eight teens on a trip that none of them signed up for? Bodies dropping like flies? A locked door mystery? Alexa Donne? Sign. Me. Up.
As I said, The Bitter End follows eight teens (of whom we have the POV of 3) on a winter trip--one none of them chose to be on. Secrets start coming out, the past is dredged up, and someone is a murderer. I can all but guarantee you will not guess whodunnit. The ending is not concrete, and I do not like that generally, but I've come to my own conclusions about what happened and that is my canon. I was obsessed while reading it and cannot recommend it enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

All of the narrators sounded exactly the same in this. I would have preferred one narrator over three or four that are indistinguishable from each other.

I've only read one other book by Donne (The Ivies), but I think she's becoming one of my automatic must reads/buys.

I was so hyped when The Bitter End was announced. I love a good isolation mystery. And the cover?? Love it, chef's kiss, no notes. I requested an ARC as soon as I could.

The Bitter End is about eight teens isolated in a cabin on top of a snowy mountain where they are picked off one by one. Secrets come out, tension runs high, and a murderer hides amongst them.

I was hooked from the very first chapter and engaged throughout the rest. The characters were set up nicely and distinctly, and I did like following the alternate POVs with Piper as my favorite. I really wanted to know all their secrets and what happened at a party three years ago (which was presented as a dual timeline).

Donne's writing has improved in the short amount of time between this book and the one I've read. It was so easy to immerse myself in the characters' reality, and I could imagine everything so clearly— like a movie. In fact, I would watch this playout as a miniseries. 

I do think the ending was one of its weaker points, but I didn't dislike it. I was incorrect with my guess of who the killer was! I switched at the last minute, too! So that was fun. Just like with The Ivies, I love the final image/scene.

I will be getting my own copy upon release and totally recommend it to anyone looking for something thrilling, easy, and fun to read in the wintery season.

I read this in one day. I couldn't put it down.

I'm definitely loving Alexa Donne's books so far. This one had me thinking I knew who the murderer was and then second guessing myself the whole time. I love that. It wasn't a huge surprise, but there were still some twists. The idea of being snowed in on a mountain in Colorado is kind of terrifying so the setting was great too. Those roads are scary without snow. I honestly didn't like any of the characters. Some were worse than others though. The pacing was good. I just really enjoyed everything about this one.

I gave this book 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for my earc.

I love Alexa Donne's previous books, so I was thrilled to get an ARC of The Bitter End. (Also, the cover? So. Good.) While I'm always down for a locked-door thriller and an atmospheric setting, I'm a little bummed by the writing of this book. The author did a great job of setting up a series of creepy circumstances and a cast of people who could all be the killer. However, it felt like in trying to keep readers guessing, she added way too much confusion.

The flashbacks from three years prior, in which pretty much everyone's relationships with each other were different, was hard to follow. Additionally, the layout of the cabin (and the fact that everyone kept switching up sleeping arrangements), made it challenging to understand the layout and, therefore, make guesses about who the killer is. And, no spoilers, but it felt like the ending prioritized twistiness over giving readers a satisfying explanation. There was so much whiplash that eventually I stopped trying to keep track of the reveals.

All of this to say that it's still an interesting read, but one that I feel like could use some strong clarifying. And, of course, I'm still a huge fan of Donne's and will continue to read whatever she writes.

This was a great quick read. Finished in one sitting! High school friends who think they are friends, away in the mountains during a snow storm with no service and 1 of them wants revenge, need I say more?! This was a great thriller and Alexa Donne did a great job writing the story. I enjoyed it being from everyone’s point of view.

Thank you random house childrens for the arc, this book comes out 10/15/24, looks out for a great quick thriller novel

What a fun and wild ride. The Bitter End is a locked-room mystery thriller set amidst a severe winter snowstorm at a secluded mountain home. It is full of twists and turns and little surprises, toxic teenaged friendships/people, and murder.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.