A YA mystery by @alexadonne for fans of And Then There Were None.
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Eight LA prep school students are off on their senior excursion. While everyone else got to go to France or Alaska, this group is headed to the top of a mountain in Colorado for a weekend of digital detoxing with their school counselor. Only once the first body is found, more and more keep piling up. At first it looks like accidents, but soon it’s clear: someone in the house is doing the killing. As secrets come out, we learn more about each teen and how it all relates to a party from three years ago…
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This was such a great thrill ride! Trapped in a cold location where people start getting killed is one of my favorites in this thriller genre and this one was very well-done. Even when I thought I had guessed right, I got whiplash from the twist. Please tell me there’s another one coming!!! 🙏🏻 This thriller suspense #book releases October 15!

CW: death, murder, body horror, blood, injury, physical violence, emesis, alcohol and drug use, cyberbullying, bullying, death of a child, theft, allergic reaction, classism, COVID

Thank NetGalley and Random House Children's | Random House Books for Young Readers for this thrilling book.

Wow! What an amazing thriller! i was enraptured with this book from start to finish!

The story was fast moving, and there was never a dull moment. The book was full of suspense and had me guessing at every turn.

Highly recommend@

This was my first book by Alexa Donne, and I really enjoyed it. A group of privileged teens is on a senior trip to a remote mountaintop home in Colorado when things start to go very wrong. The weather takes a bad turn, and then people start dying one by one. Will there be anyone left to be rescued once the storm subsides?

The Bitter End is told in alternating timelines, and from multiple points of view. I thought the characters were really well written, and their flaws, fears, and attitudes towards one another felt realistic. I think the use of multiple characters telling the story from their point of view helped keep the mystery of who was behind everything happening a secret until the author was ready to reveal the killer. I also enjoyed the little twist at the book's conclusion. I am very interested to go back and read some of the author's previous work now that I've read this one.

Thank you to Alexa Donne, Random House Children's, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.


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Review will post to blog and socials on October 1. I will come back and add the additional links on that date.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Bitter End follows eight teens as they find themselves trapped in a remote ski cabin during a winter storm. As students of the elite Warner Prep, seniors always go on an exclusive, Instagrammable field trip that is more fun than educational. Except, these eight students were selected for a digital detox trip to an isolated ski chalet. To make matters worse, there’s a killer among the group and they’re out for blood. As their classmates start dropping like flies, the remaining teens have to figure out who is murdering them and why.

If you’re looking for a book to devour in a day, read this one. I was hooked from the first page and captivated all throughout the novel. The author does an amazing job at keeping you guessing and keeping you on your toes. There are so many things that happen that had me shocked. I thought I knew the ending but I was wrong! It was such a good reveal at the end and the twist is delicious.

The plot really keeps moving steadily to the point where I wasn’t bored at all. I obviously loved the survival element since they’re trapped on an isolated mountain during a blizzard—the perfect setting for a murder mystery. It reminded me a bit of Clue (one of my absolute fav movies) and the infighting between the teens was very well done.

All of the characters felt very realistic as teenagers in this day and age. Some were a bit annoying, which I think is part of the charm. I particularly liked Piper—she's definitely my favourite POV. I loved how into murder podcasts she was. The multi-POV was really great—all the characters felt very distinct. I don’t want to say too much about the characters since I think it’s best to go in blind and just experience the greatness that is this book. I think this will be the perfect read during winter—especially a snowstorm!

Overall, if you love murder mysteries in isolated settings, this is 100% the book for you!

Eight students from LA's elite Warner Prep are going on a digital detox ski trip for their senior excursion. It's not the trip they signed up for and they are not happy. Boredom is the least of their problems though as snow begins to fall. Everyone has a secret. Then one of them is found dead. Soon they realize a killer is on the loose and the snow has become a blizzard. Will they survive the weekend?.

This is a quick, stay up late until you finish kind of read. The isolated setting is perfect as there isn't much they can do to avoid danger. And danger lurks everywhere. Not only is someone killing in cruel fashion but everyone's secrets are on the verge of being revealed.

The characters are mostly unlikable except for one I liked and never suspected. There are a couple others that are somewhat likeable. We switch between present day narrated by three characters and a party that happened three years ago. The two timelines is very effective at revealing the type of people these students are. The pacing is good as well. I mostly suspected two people and switched back and forth on which of them it was.

My need to know kept up with the increasing danger. The secrets revealed felt very realistic. Even at the end when things fully come to light you don't know what's going to happen and that is a scary thing.

This book gives strong slasher vibes but with the murder mystery of A Good Girls Guide to Murder. There are parts that are funny, parts that are serious, and part's that are a bit silly, but overall it's a great vibe. If you liked heads will roll, you'll vibe with this.

unfortunately around the 30% mark i had to dnf this book. it was just SO MUCH! a lot of characters that were extremely unlikeable, which got confusing with all the back and forth when there was chapters that went back in time. it was also sort of cringey?? i feel awful for saying that because i really wanted to continue this book i just couldn’t.

This story feels like a teenage slasher film, but instead of the usual slashing, there's a series of murders. A group of friends embarks on a school trip to the mountains, where they're stranded with no cell phone service in the midst of a severe storm. As one of them starts killing the others, the question becomes: who is the killer?

The narrative alternates between the present and a party from several years ago that sparked some drama.
Overall, this is an engaging, fast-paced read that would translate well into a horror movie. Fans of slasher films and books will likely enjoy this one.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!!
ya mystery thrillers are always a good idea! The story takes place up in the mountains during a blizzard which sets the perfect eerie atmosphere.
We get to meet all the characters in the beginning & I really enjoyed that we find out more and more about them while reading. Also the changing perspective and present and past chapters kept me on the edge of my seat.
Once you think you figured out of did all of it comes another plot twist along. You really never know who to trust!
This definitely won‘t be my last Alexa Donne book! Highly recommend.

This is like a teenage slasher minus the slashing and insert all kinds of murder. A couple friends go on a school trip into the mountains with no cell phone access during severe weather with no way out. One of them starts killing people, but who is it?

I suspected different people at different times and everyone is suspicious in a way. I was surprised when I found out who it was. The book flashes back and forth between a party that happened several years ago that cause some drama and now. To be honest, one thing that bothered me was that at the end there was a mystery that was never solved or explained of what happened. I am not sure if this will be corrected by time they release the official copy, but I feel that it should be.

Overall, this is a fun and fast paced book. It would make a good horror movie for sure. I think people that enjoy slasher type films and books will really enjoy this one. There is never a dull moment.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

"The Bitter End" is a stand-alone YA thriller/mystery novel by Alexa Donne. A group of high school seniors go on a trip to a remote hotel in the Colorado mountains for a senior trip "tech detox," with no phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Accompanied by their strict guidance counselor, things don't seem to be shaping up for a fun senior trip. Everyone has secrets that they are hiding from each other. POV in the novel jumps between a few of the characters. When they are completely snowed in and one of the seniors is found dead, everyone starts to panic. A fun and quick thriller that will keep you guessing. A recommended purchase for YA collections where thrillers are popular.

Extremely well written novel featuring high school students at a prep school getaway. Reads like a script for a teenage horror movie.

Alexa Donne delivers another heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat thriller in The Bitter End. Set against the chilling backdrop of a snow-covered Colorado ski chalet, eight high school seniors find themselves trapped in a deadly game of survival. What starts as a promising senior excursion quickly turns into a nightmare as their classmates start dying under mysterious circumstances.

Donne expertly crafts an atmosphere thick with tension, where secrets are unearthed, and trust is shattered. The dual timeline adds depth to the story, allowing readers to piece together the dark history that binds these characters. Each character is distinct, and while some may initially come off as unrelatable due to their elite status, their backstories eventually draw you in, making their fates all the more gripping.

The alternating points of view keep the narrative dynamic, with Piper’s perspective standing out as particularly compelling. While the plot twists are plentiful and keep you guessing until the end, the final reveal might leave some readers wanting a bit more clarity. However, this doesn't detract from the overall thrill of the ride.

The Bitter End is a perfect winter read for fans of locked-room mysteries and survival thrillers. Donne's ability to weave suspense with complex character dynamics makes this a must-read, and despite its minor flaws, it's a book that will leave you eagerly anticipating her next release.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's | Random House Books for Young Readers for sharing this gripping YA thriller's digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Agatha Christie on a snowy mountain top!

What a wonderfully exciting and thrilling novel! Eight elite high school seniors go on a senior excursion. It’s a “Device-Free Weekend,” on a snowy mountain top. A storm surges in and the group is stranded. A killer is among them. They’re trapped and unable to call for help because all their devices were confiscated at the beginning of the trip! Who will survive the weekend and who is destined to die?

This is a wonderful story! Ms. Donne keeps the reader guessing as she weaves a tapestry of resentment, jealousy and lies. I found the characters original and the scenery stunning! This is one of my favorite books this year! I definitely recommend it!

***There is a typo on the first page of Chapter 36. W1hat instead of What. There are also formatting errors throughout with word spacing.

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.