Joelle Wellington's "The Blonde Dies First" is a self-aware summer slasher that delivers a fun, fast-paced read perfect for fans of YA horror comedy. If you loved the irreverent spirit of "Scream" and enjoyed Wellington's debut, "Their Vicious Games," you'll likely find something to enjoy here.

The story follows a group of friends battling a demonic force that operates by classic horror movie rules. The characters are relatable, and the plot unfolds quickly, making it an easy book to devour in a single sitting. The trope-savvy humor adds an extra layer of enjoyment for those who appreciate a good meta-reference.

However, the book isn't without its flaws. The first few chapters can feel a bit disorienting as the author establishes the story's unique angle. While the ending is a surprising twist, it might feel a tad out of place for some readers.

Overall, "The Blonde Dies First" is a solid 3.5-star read (rounded up to 4). It's a fun and engaging story that will keep you entertained, even if it doesn't entirely stick the landing. If you're looking for a lighthearted horror read with a touch of humor, this could be your perfect summer companion.

Story was a little slow, I had a hard time staying interested. Overall I thought the plot was solid but I didn’t enjoy it as much.

This book is about a group of Crown Heights, Brooklyn natives who goes to a party to have the ‘Bsst Summer Ever’ and gets a summer no one was prepared for. I personally liked ‘Their Vicious Games’s better but this book put up a good fight. Suspense and imagery allowed this book to be a decent read for me. The group of friends stuck together and figured it out, despite the fighting and failures. The book also showed how you never know people that well. Be mindful of everyone around you. You never know who’s thinking what.

This book was a ride from start to finish!

I really loved that it leaned into the self-aware nature of horror. Like Scream, there were rules and tropes to follow. While sometimes I did think they were over-emphasized or repeated too much, I did like how it ended.

I really liked the characters and how the relationships/friendships between them was a main part of the story. I really would like to read more from this author, and she did not pull any punches in the horror. I did not want to put it down.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so gripping and I could not put it down. I will read anything Joelle writes, and most likely in one sitting. I was on the edge of my proverbial seat the entire time I was reading!!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington in exchange for an honest review. This was a great late summer read, it got me excited for October and fall and scary movies.

Honestly I had so much fun with this. An homage to classic horror movies - it was a wild ride. I really loved the mystery and horror happening alongside these young people finding themselves: Devon and drew coming back together and Devon realizing so much about herself. So much horror is also a coming of age tale and Joelle does that so well.

The twists were fun. The snarkinsss of gen z high school students was on point. The vilification of gentrification while celebrating summers in Brooklyn was FAB. I really had fun with this.

*the “boy mom” quote killed me tho. Like that feels so meta to me I loved it.

Such an excellent NYC story! The teens felt very authentic and I love that it's exploring gentrification through horror. Horror is really at its best when it reflects real life, and this is done in the best way.

3.5 stars rounded up. I wouldn't say this was a top tier YA thriller, but it was fun and kind of campy. I liked the characters in this one. The friend group made the book.

The main relationship was cute. The sisterly bond was solid. The diversity was a plus. The twist wasn't a huge twist, but it's about the journey with this one, not the destination.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

4.5 stars!

Devon is determined to make this summer the absolute be for her twin Drew, who is a literal genius and is leaving for college a year early. However, while attempting to keep Drew happy, the girls and their friends attract the attention of a demon after interacting with a Ouija board. And if they're going by classic slasher movie kill order, which the demon seems to be intent on doing, Devon being blonde puts her first on it's hit list.

This book is amazing! I'm definitely older than the targeted audience, but as a slasher/thriller fan I enjoyed this a lot! The characters are hilarious and have amazing chemistry. I thought the commentary on stereotypical slasher movies and kill orders is very Scream-esque.
The ending was definitely not what I was expecting, the twist was very well done. There was a set up for the possibility of a sequel, but I genuinely hope they don't- only because it works so well as a standalone.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the eARC, that I unfortunately did not get to until it was already published!

thank you to netgalley for the ARC. I loved this book! I read Wellington’s other book earlier this year and really loved it so I was so excited for this one. It was a lot different but in a good way! the characters, the humor, the horror all come together perfectly. Also, as someone who lived in crown heights, I can’t help but love the setting a little extra. I highly recommend for a fast paced, fun, and scary but not too scary read!

Devon and her identical twin Drew (Andrea) are as different as night and day except for the fierce love between them. They share four other lifelong friends from daycare until present day who they can't survive without. Devon is fun loving teenager and wears long bleach blonde hair as well as eyebrows and the most unusual standout makeup whereas Drew is deeply serious and excels in her studies and attends an exclusive private high school as well. So when Devon discovers Drew will graduate a year early she decides to throw the best (and last) summer that the six friends will always remember with joy.

A graduation party for Drew given by her school friends and also to meet Devon and their crew, but it's not what the gang quite expected. The two groups are from two different worlds financially and socially so it is awkward for the two groups to mesh but then one of the boys suggests playing with a Ouija board containing a twist and even though Devon's crew does not like this idea, instead of speaking up Devon agrees to play. First mistake, never go against your own gut instincts especially when they are calling to you loud and strong! Within a few days all hell will break out and life will never be the same for some of these kids!


Sound good? I thought so, unfortunately this book wasn't meant for myself but for an older teen audience not less than 16 years of age yet under 25-30 years old. I enjoyed the premise of the story but for me it was just way, too slow so it became a DNF at 40% read. I dislike not finishing a book but I could not continue with this one.

There wasn't enough scares or thrills and it was just much, too talky instead of exciting action (imo). To be completely fair, maybe this book picked up on the excitement factor, further on but sadly I couldn't hang in any longer although I think it could be perfect for older, teen readers But the content was was not geared for the younger, innocent minds that parents would like to stay in that mode. Parenting is hard enough as it is without wild actions, promiscuity, foul language etc. I do enjoy YA horror books but this one was not for me but I can see many younger readers enjoying this one!

I want to thank the publisher "Simon and Schuster Children's Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given a rating of 2 1/2 CREEPY UNFINISHED 🌟🌟🌠STARS but rounded up to 3🌟🌟🌟 since I could tell the author worked hard in writing this story!!

Thank you for the ARC, I’m reviewing this book voluntarily.
This book is a queer paranormal slasher. I thought the book was decent and was a fast read. I was expecting a slasher book like scream or halloween. It ended up not being what I was hoping for, but it was still a good YA read. Some of the characters needed to be fleshed out a bit more, there isn’t enough information on them and it feels surface level. Some parts of the book were predictable, which follows the slasher genre (following a kill order, who the villain is, etc). The final showdown didn’t seem like it went long enough or that it was hard to destroy the demon. Still an enjoyable read, a good starter horror book for young readers.

I think this is the first time I’ve ever not known what to say about a book that I’ve loved. There was so much about it that I liked and so much taht I want to talk about but there’s like spoilers (because this is a horror novel) and just ugh I’m going to do my best because this was so, so good.

Ok so the main characters in this book were the only things I didn’t care for. And it was mostly the twin’s fault lol I loved Devon because she was able to admit her wrongs when it finally came down to it. But Drew was just mean and nasty the whole book. And like she was so angry that these people were trying to do these things for/with her but she got mad because no one asked. But she didn’t come out and say she knew it either. And that annoyed me. Like y’all are TWINS! I get letting go of toxic family members, but you’re like only not talking because of a miscommunication. You don’t know if she’s toxic. Ugh if you can’t tell I don’t like the miscommunication trope period.

And the way she wrote the characters as someone that you’d find in a horror novel was also pretty bad ass. Seeing her change the way she saw herself was honestly one of the best parts of this novel. And then the romance that also bloomed from that? Adorable. I liked the subtle looks they gave each other and I really liked how they gave Devon the strength and confidence she needed. The whole way she came to and realized all this WHILE THERE WAS A DEMON GOING AROUND was just bad ass.

This book was very much like another book I just read that detailed all the things you need when you’re in a horror book. And this one talks about the rules of horror, but mostly through a slasher lens. But there’s a demon in this one. But for the most part it gives the stereotype for the people in the book and then there’s rules for staying alive too. Which I find hilarious. Because they kept basing it off of a terrible movie that none of them liked lol And I LOVED the whole. Even though this is the second book I’ve read like this lately, I still say this is a hella unique and interesting book.

So because this was horror with the demonology trope, I did expect this to have a certain amount of spooky to it. But it was mostly funny. I know I’m in the minority here, but I wanted this to be a real horror book but it was more like black comedy. And I know that’s on me because I don’t read the synopsis of books by authors that I already trust lol But still, I wanted to have my heart thumping.

BUT besides that I loved everything else. Like specifically the writing style. The way the demon came, like I would have been mad at them too. Because who tf brings out a Ouija board at a party? Absolutely not. I would have left with the friend. And I loved the way she incorporated the ending. Ugh I can’t even explain what I mean because I don’t want to spoil it. If you want to know more, message me and I’ll tell you!

This book was so much fun. I wanted more scary, but I still enjoyed this. As a fan of horror, I enjoyed getting this in-depth look at the genre. I wish this was a movie. I definitely want an unnecessary sequel for this one. I hope she dissects another trope in the horror genre!

Devon is convinced that it's going to be The Best Summer Ever™. It has to be-her twin sister, Drew, is graduating early and everything feels like it’s about to change. One party with Drew’s rich school friends, and The Best Summer Ever™ is thrown off course by an accidental demon summoning with a Ouija board. This group of teen friends must band together to save themselves and each other. Full of horror tropes, teen angst, and those coming of age growing pains. I enjoyed this Queer YA summer slasher. Thank you to NetGalley for access to this ARC for review purposes.

That was such a fun book! I love slashers and paranormal horror, so this was a perfect blend of both as they were chased by a demon unleashed through a ouija board at a party. I also love when the characters are self aware and play along with the movie tropes of who dies in what order. Just ordered my copy for my library!

I would give this book 3.75 stars. I really enjoyed it. I have never read anything by Joelle Wellington but I definitely will in the future. Her writing style was very clear and bright and I could really feel Devon's voice. I enjoyed the reality of the characters, how they were all fleshed out and uniquely interesting entities. Devon and Drew's relationship was a storyline I liked. Wellington's writing really made me care about their relationship and growth. The handling of growing up and family relationships was relatable no matter who you are.

I am a huge horror fan and found that the slasher theme was well-done but fresh and funny. The characters being so specific but also so tightly knit made the story move seamlessly and I was absolutely invested.

My only gripes with the book was I thought it was a bit slow in the beginning and I thought the reasoning for the demonic possession was anticlimactic, just that it was because the neighbor was irritated by them.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

I was so excited to receive this as an eARC. I loved Joelle Wellington's previous novel "Their Vicious Games". This was such a different YA novel than any I've read. The Blonde Dies First is a mix of horror, thriller, and movie tropes. Devon has a list things to check off to make up the perfect summer for her friends and twin sister Drew. Night one of the list at a party and it all goes wrong. Messing with an Ouija board means bad things when a demon suddenly starts following them around and killing those close to the group. I loved the exploration of family dynamics, queer love, and coming of age going into senior year of high school. The demonic part of the book was wild but fun when you take it for what it is! Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC.

I got this ARC book from Netgalley. Thank you so much for this early read.


So, honestly, I couldn't finish this. I got to 20% and it wasn't for me.
I just finished her other book
Thier vicious games. I enjoyed and was excited to read this.

"The Blonde Dies First" is a teen horror adventure that plunges a tight-knit group of childhood friends into a summer they'll never forget. Devon is determined to make this the "best summer ever" as it's the last one she and her twin sister Drew will have together before Drew heads off early to graduation.

But what starts as a quest for unforgettable memories quickly becomes a nightmare when a session with a Ouija board at a party unleashes supernatural chaos. Now, their sole focus shifts from fun to survival as they confront a malevolent demon unleashed by the board.

This story pays homage to classic horror films in a way that feels like a love letter to the genre—think "Scream" with its clever, trope-heavy, and meta approach. While some twists may be predictable, plenty more unexpected turns keep the suspense high and the pages turning.

I would recommend this for ages 16 and up, especially if they are fans of slasher-type movies. I am not a big fan of that genre, but I can see how someone who is a fan would enjoy this book. It’s a good “Summerween” read.

I appreciate the diversity in this book as the gang of friends is comprised of diverse personalities and backgrounds, including Black, white, and Latino members, as well as queer representation.

This was 3 out of 5 stars for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author, Joelle Wellingthon, for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.