A thrilling and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of horror and YA fiction alike. With its clever premise, engaging characters, and suspenseful plot twists, this novel is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 336 / Genre: YA Horror

Devin is determined to give her twin sister Drew The Best Summer Ever before she starts college a year early. Drew has always had genius potential and even attended a private school away from her twin. As part of her plan, Devin and her friends make an effort to show some interest in Devin and her friends. But when they attend one of their parties and an Ouija board is whipped out and an evil spirit is unleashed, the twins and their friends spend The Best Summer Ever running for their lives.

This was a pretty fun coming-of-age horror story. I liked how the horror movie rules applied to who was being hunted. The teens here were, as usual, self-absorbed but not obnoxiously so. Well done!

Thank you, @NetGalley, @SimonTeen, and @JoWellington for my gifted copy.

I was given this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.

I'll start with I love Joelle's books but this one was harder for me to love than her others. To start that third scene twist, I'm yeah I saw that coming a mile away. It for a little weird in regards to how it's happened but I wasn't surprised.

This is also my second thriller in a row where the MC (Devon) it's hard crushing and really pulls you out of the story when they derail from the main plot to talk about the minor subplot. I'm now sure I love the push for Thrillroms? Rom-thrillers? They should probably leave that for Romantasy. It just doesn't work with the subject matter.

I love that the cast is diverse. I live the recognition of socioeconomic status and POC's here. The plot was okay but predictable. I like a little shock and awe and it didn't really happen with this one. The story isn't awful, it could've been better without the forced romantic subplot. But predictable isn't a five star rating for me.

It's honestly give it a 3.75 I wish we could more accurately represent that in our rating. It's worth a light beach read but an intense thriller, on the seat of your pants it is not.

love a good slasher and all its tropes so of course I had to read this one. It was fun! Lots of great callbacks to classic slashers. It was giving me scream meets the tropey satire of cabin in the woods meets final destination/Tarot. Depending on when this was written I’m halfway convinced Dead to Rites was based off of the very poor reception of Tarot 😂. All that but add LOTS of teen angst, primarily between or main MC Devon and her sister Drew. Miscommunication is still not my favorite trope but there was enough action going on that I can look past it. The plot did get quite chaotic and a tad hard to keep up with at the end (if I hadn’t already guessed a few of the twists) thanks to maybe one too many sub plots/red herrings but I still thoroughly enjoyed The Blonde Dies First.

This is my second book that i've read by this author and I am now certain that I love her writing. This story had me captivated and I had to stop myself from flipping to the last page to find out what was going on. This is a play on a horror movie come to life after a night at a party where someone has the bright idea to pull out the Ouija board. There is a demon on the loose and Devin is the main character and blonde, which means she has to die fight. This book was filled with humor and suspense and I was into it. It's the kinda thriller that doesn't leave you looking over your shoulder at night. The perfect amount of thriller for scaredy cats like me. I will say I enjoyed the twists of her first novel Their Vicious Games more however this was still an enjoyable read. I especially liked the "post credits" scene included in the end after the acknowledgments.

This was an insanely fast paced thriller. The culture was felt from the moment I started reading. Joelle Wellington does an amazing job with making her characters real and almost “life like.” This is a book where it may not be for everyone but it was for me and I enjoyed it!

The cover is fantastic, but this novel fell short of my high expectations after loving the author's previous book. Devon, the main character, wants one last big summer with her twin sister Drew, but things take a turn for the worse when their group accidentally summons a demon. The pacing was inconsistent, starting slow and picking up only after 100 pages, and the sister dynamic wasn't explored until too late. The gentrification theme felt underdeveloped, and the horror elements didn't quite deliver the thrills I expected. However, the twist at the end worked and bumped this up from a 2-star read.

I love the diverse friend group in this book! Might be one of my favorite parts of the book. I also liked the twist! The queer characters, the banter, the way the demon was written was all well done! I enjoyed this book!

NYC teens fight a demon in this send-up of slasher movie tropes. These teens hold no punches. They are loyal to and fiercely protective of their friend group, unapologetically candid about their alcohol and weed use, and out to have a fun summer, when a demon is unleashed and is tracking them down.

Heavy on found family, queer representation, and subversion of the horror tropes where you get killed if you are black, or queer, or have sex, or split up.

Recommending for HS library acquisition

Are you a fan of classic horror movies, but want a book with a modern twist? The Blonde Dies First is the book for you! The action picks up almost immediately after Devon and her friends reluctantly mess around with an ouija board at a summer party. When the board seemingly unleashes a demon, it’s not long before the teens are fighting for their lives.

I loved this author’s debut novel when I read it last year and am so happy to have loved this one as well. You can tell they are a horror fan as this was the perfect homage to films like Scream where the “rules” of horror movie survival are fully on display. This book may be YA, but there were some pretty gruesome kills involved. I loved the humor and comradery between this group of friends, and especially the complicated sister relationship between Devon and Drew.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy. I loved this author’s debut novel as well so I’m definitely looking forward to reading more in the future!

This book was EXCELLENT. Classic horror story! Its involves a group of teens who plays with a oujia board as a joke, thinking its harmless only to find out that they have actually awakened a demonic entity instead. It is a nostalgic read that takes the classic tropes of a horror movie. That mozes in with urban fantasy. Joelle Wellington is great when it comes to writing twist that have that leave you gaping. I throughly enjoyed this book and couldnt put it down!

Joelle Wellington's The Blonde Dies First is a 5-star thriller that delivers an electrifying reading experience from start to finish. This novel is a masterclass in suspense, skillfully incorporating the iconic tropes of horror movies while offering a fresh and insightful perspective. Wellington's writing is both sharp and engaging, with nuanced references to Black culture that add depth and resonance to the story. The plot is tightly woven, keeping you on the edge of your seat as it builds toward a chilling climax. The Blonde Dies First is a must-read for fans of the thriller genre, offering a perfect blend of tension, cultural commentary, and compelling storytelling.

I was intrigued by this book as I am a huge fan of horror movies, but i think the author forgot that they were supposed to be writing a horror story. The pace was slow and choppy and it was hard to stay interested in what was going on. Also the characters were pretty much two dimensional and unlikeable. I see what the author was trying to do with this story, but it was not accomplished.

A bit of a meta take on the horror genre! I think I would've appreciated this more deeply if I consumed horror more frequently, but I'm much more of a suspense/thriller lover when I'm looking for something scary. Loved the friend group's dynamic, but I almost wished I was spending more time with the characters in their normal lives instead of them fighting for their lives the whole way through.

Thanks NetGalley for this read. I truly enjoyed it. I thought this was a funny and smart read. I loved the Scream-like self awareness of the characters as they realize they are basically characters in a bad horror movie and are being attacked in the typical kill order of a slasher movie. Some of the lines in the book sounded so ridiculous, but in the funniest way which made me laugh out loud. I absolutely LOVED the friend group which I think was very representative of what I would think a young group of teens in New York would be. For me, all of the suspenseful scenes where the demon is after them were my favorite parts to read because I was at the edge of my seat, gasping, as if I was actually watching this scene play out in an actual horror movie (the hospital scene was EXCELLENT). I also enjoyed the social commentary (classism, racism, gentrification, etc.) that was weaved into the story very seamlessly.

Parts of the book were very predictable to me, but I soon realized that the point was to highlight or make fun of how predictable some of these slasher/horror movies can be. There were still a couple of surprises that I did not see coming though, so that was fun. Overall, this was a very entertaining read and I definitely want to check out more from this author!

Thank you Netgalley and Joelle Wellington for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I was really excited to read this after seeing the synopsis, especially since I loved the author’s previous book and couldn’t put it down. Unfortunately, this one didn’t evoke the same excitement. Although I usually enjoy YA horror, I found myself bored halfway through, as the story felt like it dragged. I did appreciate the friend group and enjoyed the humorous moments, found family theme, and queer romance. However, the reveal of the demon’s true nature was pretty obvious. Despite this, I’d still recommend the book for its entertaining elements.

I love a YA novel. This one fit that perfectly. I think it really read like a YA. I think it was a little slow in the beginning balancing both the horror and thriller aspect and in-depth relationships and identities. I really enjoyed the secondary characters for that reason I think they rounded out Devon and gave her internal monologue background and understanding. There was a realistic feel to what is paranormal and horror, as a reader I felt like I was on the adventure with Devon feeling what she felt and her opinions of the other characters. The complicated relationships and even romance within was a touch that isn't always expressed in a book like this. In some moments I felt like it over powered the adventure and horror speed and action.

As an adult reading YA I really enjoy the useless adults or scooby-doo mindset where kids are solving the mystery and coming together to fight the bad guy. The group of diverse, likable and relatable characters in this book were fun to read for that reason.

"I didn't leave you behind, you stopped walking next to me", this quote just stuck with me!!! There are so many relationships that you either feel like the Devon or Drew in this situation and I think this quote perfectly examined that. It was like a sucker punch of reality and emotion that I appreciated so much!

This book was perfect for horror fans and especially the movies of the 90's-2000's like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. The cover reflects that as well. It is a very enticing and exciting cover that gives a clear picture of what you're getting into as a reader I love it!!!

My Fable book club will be reading this for Spooky Season!!!

I'm going to try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible while also hyping it up as much as it DESERVES BECAUSE OMG!!

The characters were all so incredible. Something about a tight-knit group of people facing unimaginable horrors just hits different LOL. Everyone in the "Team" was amazing and they all complimented each other so well. Alexis, Keith, Kendra, and the parents were all also such fun characters to read about.

While sometimes I feel like the plot was a bit predictable, I believe it was also a great way to tie in classic horror elements and make it seem like it's following the "rules" of slasher/supernatural horror (as the title implies). I've been on a slasher kick lately, so getting approved for this on NetGalley was such great news!

I loved the first-person POV and getting everything from Devon because I feel like she was incredibly unreliable. She had a lot of issues with her twin sister, Devon, and she has a crush on one of her best friends, Yaya. Devon is also headstrong, bold, and a fantastic character to get all of the perspective from.

And the MONSTER!! It was so scary! I could feel the fear that the characters felt when encountering it. It was so well done.

Overall, 5/5 stars, could not put it down. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC!!

The Blonde Dies First is a perfect YA Horror for Scream fans. The Characters are not just relatable, they are real. These are the friends/cousins I grew up with, and I'm sure you did too. This relatability makes caring about them so easy. I do not understand the hate this book is getting. Give it a chance and remember it's YA.

All Devon wanted to do was have the “Best Summer Ever” with her sister Drew and their friends before Drew leaves for College. Only things start out rocky when Drew invites the gang to hang out with her “New” friends from her private school. It gets worse when they pull out a Ouija Board. I would already be out the door. Now, they have to follow the movie and survive the Demon.

Joelle Wellington's ability to pull you into this paranormal story, making it feel relatable while unbelievable, is Storytelling at its best. I can't wait to read more. I'm headed to the store to get Their Vicious Games Now!

Thank you to NetGalley, Joelle Wellington, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this ARC copy in return for an Honest Review.

The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington is the chaotic horror-comedy I didn’t know I needed. It’s like Scream meets a Gen Z summer road trip, and I was totally here for it. Devon’s whole “I refuse to play by the demon’s slasher movie rules” energy? Perfection. The way she’s trying to navigate the Final Girl trope, a demon with an oddly predictable MO, and her complicated crush on Yaya is both hilarious and oddly relatable. It’s self-aware, filled with enough twists to keep you on edge, and you’ll definitely be side-eyeing Ouija boards for a while. If you love horror with a dash of humor and a good old-fashioned rebellion against the genre’s tropes, this one’s a blast!