thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read the eARC.
**4.5 stars on storygraph**

i’ve heard about this book from so many people and was excited to read it when it was published so i was quick to want to read it when i got approved for the eARC, but made myself wait a few weeks to give my review closer to its publication date.

i loved it as i expected. the main cast consists of six people and they were all introduced at the same time with a few others so it took me a little bit to remember who everyone was and how to tell them apart. it worried me a little, but i kept reading.

there were a few comedic moments here and there, but it didn’t take away from the horror aspect of the book.

the reveal wasn’t a surprise at all. i don’t try to guess the plot twist of books and instead focus on the story, but when the reveal came, i wasn’t surprised at all. it almost felt like unnecessary information since the answer felt so obvious. that might just be me though.

this was so close to being a five star read, but i wished that the author touched on how it all came to be. a few of the characters were very close to asking but didn’t. there was a storyline that was introduced towards the beginning that didn’t get attention again to tie it off, but i’m not too upset by it. i’m thinking the lack of it is the answer.

i really enjoyed this read and this author’s writing style. i purchased her debut while i was halfway through this book so i’m excited to start that and read any future books she might write.

Just phenomenal! I'm not much into horror/slasher movies or stories so I didn't expect to really love this story but boy, was I wrong! This story was great from beginning to end. Well-written, the character development was amazing, and the twist at the end was done well. I could totally see this as a Netflix original movie *hint hint* lol. So glad I already have the physical book pre-ordered cause I need it for my personal library!

I got this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion via NetGalley.

"The Blonde Dies First" is an engaging and suspenseful thriller/horror that captivated me from beginning to end. The storyline is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping me guessing throughout. The characters are well-crafted, each adding a unique dimension to the plot. Being the horror nerd that I am, I appreciated the nods to the horror community and of course the mentioning of "Friday the 13th," one of my favourite summer horror films. My only minor complaint is that a few of the scenes felt slightly predictable; Despite this, the book is a fantastic read for thriller and horror fans alike.

Thank you, NetGalley and Joelle Wellington for allowing me to review! As always, my review is my own opinion and thoughts. This review will be shared to my Instagram @fictionluxblog shortly.

THIS WAS SO GOOD! I can't wait to see what other readers think of it! Devon & Yaya were so good together and Devon was such a good protagonist to follow. I was worried the tropes would make this book lackluster but it worked well.

This was a fun read. It was a fun action pack thriller that follows this group of teens who comes together to kill this demon. I will say this was pretty predictable, but I don't think that takes away from the story as it is kind of hard not to be with this kind of plot. The plot twist at the end shocked me though! I didn't see that coming. I think I would have had an even better experience with this book had I did the audio so I honestly might revisit once this officially releases.

This book was so good I devoured it in one sitting. The characters all felt like actual teenagers and were each really unique, with palpable chemistry. The premise was so cool and I love the way it played with classic horror tropes - self-referentially too - and subverted them in interesting ways. The writing too was so good with such a strong sense of Devon’s voice in the first person narrative.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book.

I would say the best way to describe this is Scream with a demon as the serial killer. Lots of teen angst, weird, rude neighbors, likable characters.

"The Blonde Dies First" has all the makings of a good thriller; its fun, its campy, the characters are reckless and brash...but unfortunately, as with most thrillers, it also falls into the trap of being entirely predictable.

The story starts off with a bang: a group of teenagers ready to start their carefree summer, a house party with people to please and drinks to imbibe, and a Ouija board full of menacing promise and forbidden boundaries. As the plot progresses, Joelle Wellington's writing style caters to the level of creeping suspense that builds as the characters uncover more about the dark presence stalking their every living moments.

There's a level of predictability in a plot of this caliber, one that follows the horror movie framework to a T, darting from blonde girl to queer boy to asshole, picking off its victims one by one. But for me, this is not where the predictability of the plot lies. No, the predictability inevitably falls when Wellingtons tries to subvert these tropes. The attempts to set clues and lay preamble to the supposedly shocking plot twists are weak at best, with overtly obvious overtones masked as undertones and formulaic character realizations.

All the characters were entertaining, even if bit cliched, though I do wish there had been a more concerted effort to flesh out Malachi, Gael, and Leila as much as the other 3. However, the character development, and subsequently relationship development, between Devon and Drew felt overly drawn-out, to the point that the peak argument from their months of resentment felt empty. Yes, their conflict persisted, as high emotions don't dissipate after the course of a single argument, but the rationality behind their continued animosity felt redundant and overly repetitive, to the point where I left the book empathizing far more with Drew than with Devon.

For all my negativity, I do think "The Blonde Dies First" is a really great beachy/summer read, I just wish there had been more effort to make both the story and its characters multi-dimensional. That being said, I would still be interested in Joelle Wellington's next book PURELY based on how well the atmosphere of this book is written.

I really enjoy Joelle’s Wellington’s writing style *chef’s kiss* and the premise of this book. The characters quickly drew me in (I loved Dylan and Malachi the most). Similarly, I would say this book is definitely more character-driven than plot-driven due to the predictability. However, while I felt that the plot was predictable, that wasn’t as an issue for me as it also seemed to be expected. Tropes and & horror movie patterns play a big role in this book. I loved how the humor and unseriousness of horror movies like “Scary Movie” and shows like “Scream Queens” were met with amazing character depth and development. I adored the friend group and all of the complexities of their dynamic.

All in all, I think this is a great read if you enjoyed the author’s writing style in “Their Vicious Games” and enjoy YA/YA horror novels! (I use the word “horror,” loosely). It’s a very entertaining and engaging read from start to finish!

DNF

Was obsessed with Their Vicious Games, but this one fell flat for me. Too many characters. A lot going on and I found it hard to stay engaged whether it be the writing or the characters. May try again closer to pub day.

♡𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
3.5 🌟
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𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•ya
•horror | slasher
•black teen horror
•queer
•twin sisters
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𝑰𝒇 𝒋𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒃𝒚 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝑴𝑬! Because this cover is gorgeous 😍 I would love this cover as a special edition! Now, I LOVE Joelle Wellington, "Their Vicious Game," but for some reason, this book fell flat to me. It just wasn't keeping my attention! But I will definitely be giving this book a re-read a little late this year and see if it will change my mind.
♡𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 July.30♡
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Thanks Netgalley for the arc!
I was hesitant to read this book because I usually don't tend to read a lot of horror novels. However, I'm glad I took a chance because I ended up loving this story. It was very camp and didn't take itself too seriously, but it was well written and engaging to the very last page

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Shuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Blonde Dies First" by Joelle Wellington delivers a thrilling and entertaining ride through the tropes of classic horror. This book is filled to the brim with both suspense and humor, making this such a fun story! I absolutely loved this book. While Wellington’s previous book, “Their Vicious Games,” is more of a serious book, if you’re in the mood for some good, fun, and humorous horror, then you will definitely enjoy this book.

From the outset, Wellington's novel embraces its horror movie influences, following a cast of characters who find themselves hunted down in classic slasher style. As the deaths unfold, adhering to familiar personality tropes, the story takes unexpected twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the satisfying conclusion. I will say that one of the big twists at the end was a bit predictable (though this book is also filled with familiar horror troupes, so that is to be expected), but the following twist was one that I definitely wasn’t expecting.

One of the novel's standout features is its vibrant cast of characters, particularly the dynamic between twins Dev and Drew. Throughout the book, Wellington explores their complex relationship, adding layers of depth and authenticity to their interactions. The characters felt very realistic with their actions (they definitely seemed like real, stupid teenagers at times, which was the point!). I really liked how close the friend group was, though a couple of them didn’t get as much characterization as I would have liked.

While the character development shines, the plot was somewhat predictable, with the story following well-worn horror tropes. However, Wellington's clever writing and self-awareness inject freshness into the familiar plot points, offering a blend of humor and horror that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Again, this was such a fun book! I thought there would have been more killing in this book (like with Scream), but the way these killings were written was unique and innovative.

Overall, "The Blonde Dies First" is a fun and entertaining read that delivers on its promises of humor and supernatural thrills. While I didn’t enjoy this book as much as Wellington’s “Their Vicious Games,” I still really loved this book, and I can’t wait to read more from Wellington; she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

that was a lot of fun! funny, a bit unserious tbh lol, i had a hard time taking it seriously at parts, but a quick read you can enjoy in one afternoon with great sibling dynamics.

The Blonde Dies First is a campy horror novel YOU HAVE TO READ!

The Blond Dies First is Joelle Wellington's latest novel in which a fantastic cast of characters is seemingly hunted down 'Scream' style. With the deaths following the classic horror movie personality tropes, this was such a creative novel and I enjoyed it. This book is full of twists and turns at every corner and I wasn't sure exactly where it was headed. However, I was very pleased with the ending and felt that it was a complete story that made sense.

One thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the characters. Dev and Drew were one of my favorite aspects. Their twin/sibling bond was just such a fun dynamic in the book. The layers that Wellington was able to add in with Drew planning to graduate early and the breakdown in communication between twins is not something that I think you can find in many books out there. It made it a unique experience and I know that readers are going to love it. Another dynamic that I really loved is Yaya and Dev. There is obviously some desire on at least one side of this, but this romance had me ACHING to know more. Just such great potential and what eventually happens I know will shock readers!

The villain in this story is also absolutely horrifying. The shock factor happens after each kill and then as it continues to compound and add up. Where did the villain come from and how did it get there?! These are things I was DESPERATE to know by the end of the story. Seriously, I loved the ending and can't wait to read more by Joelle Wellington. Check this story out!

This is very in my niche and was definitely one of the strongest lesbian teen stuck in a slasher books. The emotional conflict begins before the book starts but very much makes sense so the character and relationship development was awesome! Also super fast paced which I love and is very horror movie. Good but not great!!

Incredible, chefs kiss. Will I read anything Joelle Wellington puts out? Absolutely. Will I end up loving everything Joelle Wellington puts out? So far, another absolutely.

This was so fun and a quick enjoyable read. Takes all things slasher teen horror and gives you what you know and love. Did I know what was going to happen? For the most part, yes, BUT that’s because I am a Gael and an absolute horror junkie. The characters are all great, Malachi is my favorite. And I didn’t think I would end up liking Drew, but she ended up being a complex character and when we found out more then I really felt for her and ended up liking her! I think the nightclub scene will be embedded in my mind for forever, the Patagonia vest 😩

Do NOT hesitate to pick this book up, I can’t wait to reread it in the fall even though it’s set in summer lol.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Supernatural slasher sign me right up! Devon’s twin sister Drea has always been the genius and when she graduates a year early Devon is determined to give her the best summer ever and bring them closer together. But when the attend a party of a guy from Drea’s fancy private school, they’ll find that the rich kids like to mess with things like Ouija boards. None of Devon and Drea’s friends are happy about it but Devon goes forward in an attempt to make her sister happy. However when something or someone begins hunting the twins and their friends they’ll realize they may be in for more then they can handle. This particular hunter seems to be following slasher movie rules which means Devon, as the blond, is up first. It also means her crush, YaYa, is the final girl. Can she save herself, her sister, and their friends? Can she forge a relationship between her and Drea? Will she have the courage to tell YaYa how she feels? A interesting way to mix the supernatural with slasher and I enjoyed it very much! I also loved that while you had those elements there’s also a story of two sisters who don’t really understand each other and have a lot of feelings towards one another! Plus there’s the queer love and crushes! The story all centers around strong group of friends, most of whom are black, and how gentrification impacts communities! Joelle Wellington weaves them all seamlessly into a story that is fast paced, funny, a bit of a mystery, and a whole lot of fun!

It was so clever and snarky, with great characters and wonderful tension. I should have figured out the ending! The clues were there. I absolutely loved it.

Loved the relationship between the twins and the friendship dynamic. Great LGBTQIA rep. I love how Devon was able to get the girl in the end and nobody from the friend group was seriously harmed or killed. It gave horror comedy and I loved every minute of it.