Happy release day to The Blonde Dies First! What were the chances that I finished this book on the exact day it comes out?

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington is one of my all time favorite books so I knew I had to give this book a chance even if it was outside of what I typically read and enjoy.

This book follows a group of friends as they deal with a demon that appears after a party with an ouija board. This book was outside of my typical genre as I tend to lean more towards thriller and mysteries and away from horror and supernatural stories but I really enjoyed it and it has inspired me to try some more horrors. I think that the way this book was written really made it easy to understand and connect with the story even if this isn’t your typical type of read.

This book took me a minute to get into. The first about 20% of the book I was kind of struggling to feel any investment in the characters and it was struggling to see where the book would go. However, after the beginning the book was fast paced and easier to read. Once things started happening, I was hooked until the end and just waiting to see what would happen next. I did want just a little bit more from the ending of this book though. It just felt like it was missing a little something. I was still surprised by the ending but I just needed a little bit more of a bang.

This book also had a plot that wasn’t super predictable and that really helped me to feel invested throughout the whole book. I liked that it followed the typical horror movie plot line but strayed from it just enough as to where I didn’t see what was coming next. It also wasn’t too long or drawn out and was the perfect length.

I also really liked the friend group in this story. You could tell how close they all were and I loved seeing their characters show through throughout the book. I also loved the little romance subplot and wish we got a little more from that at the end. And I loved all of the diversity in the friend group and their experiences.

I would definitely try another horror book from this author. What other horror books would you recommend to someone new to the genre?

I probably would have been more into this if I'd watched any of the Scream movies, but alas, I went into this sheerly on my enjoyment of Wellington's Their Vicious Games. But to be fair, I went in expecting a slasher-esque book but instead got a supernatural twist? I honestly want to revisit this in the fall, because I expect I'll be more mentally in the mood for this type of story!

A group of teens have their summer plans compromised when they release a demon from an Ouija board. The entire book was filled with teen angst, twin sister rivalry, and a trope heavy plot. This was a really unique take on a slasher film thriller. Unfortunately, for me the plot didn’t really work, though I did find the characters fun to follow. I think this may be a bit better suited for someone who is heavily into thrasher films and tropes as a lot of this (while explained in the book) was a bit out of my realm. Overall, it was still a pretty quick and fun read.

Joelle Wellington created one of my favorite books of 2023 (Their Vicious Games), so I was BEYOND EXCITED for this book. I planned on reading this before I saw it on NetGalley, but when I got approved, I squealed like a child on a Christmas morning. First, there was tentative worry that I wouldn’t love this as much as “Their Vicious Games” but this author has solidified herself as an auto-buy author from me. This book was just as good as her debut, and I know I will read every book she ever writes. Even if she writes a story about paint drying on a wall, I’ll be fully invested.

My favorite horror/slasher movie franchise is Scream, and this book did my favorite movie such justice. It stands on its own as a separate, enticing entity, but it plays homage to the “kill process” while making sure I fall in love with every single character...well, almost every character. Gael reminded me so much of Scream’s Randy in the best ways, but there’s more layers to him than his film counterpart.

However, it is the differences from Scream that I love the most. This friend group is so well written, and I truly feel their connections. Malachi is a great calm to Devon’s storm, and vise versa, while Gael’s rare moments of vulnerability when he tries to take the blame about the drugs or shows his true feelings for Leila.

And don’t get me started on Devon and Yaya! I normally am not a fan of friends-to-lovers, but this one was done so well. I kept wanting to yell at Devon that Yaya has feelings for her, then yelled at both of them to just admit it already. The angst was definitely there, and I was here for it. Also, I enjoyed the relationship between Gael and Leila. The only person I didn’t care for was Drew, but I loved that her asshole behavior was one of the twists of the book. It made me feel validated by how much I disliked her haha. Admittedly, I saw the twist behind the demon & final girl coming, but I did NOT guess Kendra’s role at all!

Regardless of guessing most of the ending right, it was still such a fun & wild ride. Joelle Wellington is such a talented author, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

***TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mention of Suicide and drug use**

The Blonde Dies First follows Devon and Drew who are twins. Drew is smart and is graduating early and leaving for college in the fall. So Devon is determined to make this summer the best. They attend a party where a Oujia board is brought out. After the party, they find that they are being haunted by a demon. They have to figure out how to stop it and survive. 

I really YA horror books so I was very excited to read this one. I thought this book was just okay. The characters felt a bit childish and this book was repetitive at times. But I did think that the story was entertaining. I didn't really feel scared while reading this which I do expect with a horror book. I also felt like this book was trying to hard to make the characters seem cool. But I did think the last 50 pages of this book were pretty wild. This is the first book I have read by this author and I do think I will read more of her books. 

Thank you Joelle Wellington, Simon & Schuster, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

I was super exited to read "The Blonde Dies First". I have read my fair share of fantasy but this novel excited and scared me at the same time due to the fact it involves Slasher/Horror film tropes. Upon starting the book I was definitely drawn in by Devon and Drew and the dynamic of her friend group and how they both developed her own identity/fashion sense while apart academiclly .

It was a great read and a perfect introduction to YA/Horror. Plus the end-credit scene was a bonus!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review "The Blonde Dies First"

Devon Harris makes it her mission to make her twin sister Andrea Harris’s last summer home, the best summer EVER! One night, during a party with Drew’s friends, an oujia board is pulled out & the story takes off from there! The Blonde Dies First is definitely a thriller worth reading!

Okay this book was fun & I truly enjoyed it because I’m a fan of thriller movies & books & this gave me exactly that. I’m not new to this author so I was already familiar with her writing style also. The book follows six teens as they are trying to enjoy their summer but accidentally conjure up a monster thats out to end them one by one. They workout a plan to out smart it & end it before it ends them. During the story it gives insight on each teen but primarily focused on the twins Devon & Drew. The twins are polar opposites and Drew is graduating early & leaving and although they haven’t been getting along lately, Devon is determined to give Drew the best summer ever before she goes. That is up until they are fighting off this monster every day. This group of friends are tight knit & I enjoyed reading about them but the twins were hard for me like until I got closer to the end of the book. I wish there was more character development but overall I did enjoy this horror YA. Appreciate it the complimentary copy for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

I'd give this book 3-3,5 stars, ultimately. This is the story of a group of friends in NYC who wind up being hunted by a demon, and have to use their horror movie knowledge in order to defeat it. Once the action picked up, I was hooked and wanted to see how the story ended, but the first 30% or so dragged so badly that I almost DNFed this one. There's a lot to like in this book for horror movie fans, and the sibling relationship between Devon and Drew will appeal to readers who enjoy character development.

thank you netgalley for this arc!
this is a PERFECTTTTTT summerween book. lots of fun, def reminded me of scream with the fun horror movie trope obsession aspect. i had a great time with this :)

I'm definitely adding Joelle Wellington to my auto purchase list. "The Blonde Dies First" is an action-packed novel had me hooked from chapter one to the final page with its thrilling plot twists and horror elements. I didn't see that plot twist coming at all! The story follows a tight-knit group of friends trying to give their friend Drew the "best summer ever." Things take a dark turn when an Ouija board comes out at a party, and the friends find themselves being hunted by a demon who somehow knows the order of slasher movie kills. As they try to survive the summer, they realize they can't rely on their knowledge of horror movies to save them.

The Blonde Dies First is a queer YA horror. Immediately loved the title and the cover. It fulfills the tropes of a slasher story, it is a solid read, with exciting and funny moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank You to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC.

I really wanted to love this book due to the fact that I read Their Vicious Games and ate it up. While her second novel was entertaining and thrilling, it fell a little flat on my end. I was shocked at the plot twist and her I love her writing style. I wasn't in love with the characters as much and I did enjoy the horror aspects of the book. Joelle Wellington is a great writer and I look forward to reading more of her work. Overall, a solid 3 starts.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Blonde Dies First tricked me because I expected a slasher, but it’s actually a supernatural storyline. I almost quit reading when I realized that because I just wasn’t in the mood, but I stuck with it & found myself mostly enjoying the book.

It’s one you can’t take too seriously, which was hard to adjust to because I think Joelle Washington’s book Their Vicious Games was a story with a lot more meat on the bones. This one has attempts at deeper social commentary, but overall it felt a bit repetitive and heavy handed.

BUT again, you just can’t take it too seriously. I think this will be a fun October read for lots of people who want a lightly creepy story about a demon.

One thing I think this book suffered from is being too precious with main characters. Considering a demon was hunting them, the main group of friends really didn’t suffer too much. It took me out of the story a bit because it never felt like they were in true danger; that could be a selling point for some people, but it just made the action scenes a bit boring to me.

I’m giving this a 3.5 and plan to read whatever Washington comes up with next. It was entertaining and had some true moments with creep factor; I just wanted a bit more.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.

When a group of teens accidentally summons a demon using an Ouija board at a summer party, they realize they’re in a real life horror film. They argue about their roles, the death order the film would follow and what they need to do to beat the demon.

While I guessed the final twists in this one, I really enjoyed the ride despite the predictability. Like a typical horror film, you have a feeling you know how things will end but it’s the journey that matters. While this one is supernatural, slasher fun it has some serious themes beneath about race, class and gender roles. I thought all of that was laid out really well and deepened the plot without being heavy handed. I also thought for YA, the characters were really likable and without the inane drama you often get in stories like these. This is a fun read for sure!

For fans of Scream and campy slashers, this book is perfect for you! A Summerween thriller that hits all the right tropes and makes putting the book down impossible!

This was just as good as Their Vicious Games. My first suspicion was Avery, but for some reason, it became clear that it was Keith. He was just around too much and his obsession with Yaya was telling. The people who died in their places, Alexis, Not-Marco, the doctor, was tragic, but was it really though? And it doesn’t surprise me about Kendra. She was a horrible woman, but for her to do that to her son? That takes the cake. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

SN: I’m glad Devon worked up the courage to tell Yaya, and for Yaya to express the same, even though she knew. Also, Devon and Drew finally telling each other how they really felt was a sigh of relief. They’re sisters. Twins. They should be the closest, but they are a prime example of what happens when you assume.

4.25. What a fun, trope-y YA horror book with some depth! A group of friends in Brooklyn accidentally summon a demon while using a ouija board at a party. Devon and Drew are twins, but Drew has graduated early and the two have grown apart some while attending different high schools. Devon decides that this last summer together must be THE BEST SUMMER EVER, but her summer fun list didn't include a demon that kills and is stalking her and her friends. I loved the diversity in this book and in the characters--each character is well-developed while still filling a Scream-like archetype, which completely works with the plot, and the teen banter is fresh and authentic. I loved the queer representation and the slow-burn build-up of Devon's relationship with YaYa, as their friends-to-lovers arc is perfectly placed with both of them having to figure out who the true final girl is.

My only complaint was how fast the resolution came to a head. It was so quickly explained and then seemingly over, and I didn't feel like it matched the true depth of the characters and their relationships, which I was heavily invested in. Devon and Drew's self-realization at the end is carefully crafted and shows their growth and understanding of one another. Overall though, this is another great book from Wellington that horror/thriller lovers will love and fly through quickly!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

*The Blonde Dies First* is a teen horror adventure that feels like being dropped into a Stephen King novel. Devon aims to make this the "best summer ever" before her twin sister Drew graduates early. The diverse group of friends, including Black, white, Latino, and queer characters, faces supernatural chaos after using a Ouija board at a party, shifting their focus to surviving the demon they unleashed. The story, reminiscent of *Scream*, blends classic horror tropes with meta-humor. While some twists are predictable, the narrative remains engaging and fun. The dynamic of the friend group, reminiscent of my own summers, feels authentic and compelling. Though I preferred the premise of Joelle Wellington's *Their Vicious Games*, I was more invested in the characters here. This is a quick, enjoyable read, and I look forward to more from Wellington.

This is the perfect summer read for anyone who enjoys horror. The teens enjoying the last magical summer before graduation, before adulthood responsibility sparks nostalgia. The closeness of the characters draws in the reader. The widening chasm between the sisters is heartbreaking. The peer pressure during the party scene is palpable. But it's not drugs, alcohol, or sex, it's a Ouija board and demon summoning.
Then, like Scream, the rules of surviving a horror movie are explained. The blonde dies first--but our hero is also the blonde. Her sister and her best friends have to overcome their roles to survive. The story plays with the rules to keep the readers guessing and the suspense high.
Anyone who likes horror like the Scream franchise, Nightmare on Elm Street, or Friday the 13th will enjoy this book.
Be sure to stay past the closing credits.
Thank you NetGalley, Joelle Wellington, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the ARC.