I am a fan of Luanne Rice’s adult novels, but have to say this young adult novel fell completely flat for me. The plot twists didn’t deliver and the story was hard to fathom. Perhaps it will resonate with a younger crowd, it just didn’t work for me. I will read Luanne again, but I’m going to stick to her adult novels. Thank you to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Gripping and suspenseful, this one kept me guessing until the end. While it's an adult read, I think older YA readers would enjoy it, too, as it centers on teen sisters. Luanne Rice is prolific and she never disappoints! Thanks for my copy!

Luanne Rice has never written a book I didn’t like and this one is no different. Even taking on a new genre with YA and thriller I was still enchanted by her words and her story telling and am loving getting different kinds of stories from her outside of her typical romances.

To start off I’ll say this book was predictable for me. But it was so enthralling anyways. The plot alone had me hooked from the start. I couldn’t imagine going through what Oli did. I mean, finding someone buried in the grave of your dead sister? Sheesh, talk about giving me goosebumps. Although I felt it was predictable, there were a few things I didn’t see coming so I was still kept on my toes. It was altogether a great book!

This was an amazing ya thriller! I was hooked from page one. The relationship between the sisters felt very real even with one having been murdered. I really didn’t see where this was going and I loved that I took me for a wild ride.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because it *is* a YA book.
So this one was filled with intrigue for me. It started off with a bang and kept on going. It was dark and mysterious, filled with sciece and fokelore. I enjoyed reading and seeing how everything was intertwined. There was teenage romance, that I didn’t feel needed to be, but again YA so I get it. Also I thought the story was going one way, but it went another, and I was disappointed (hence the 3.5 stars). Overall it was a good book, and I enjoyed it.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This book had me hooked from the very beginning! I think it will grab YA readers attention as it starts out with Oli who is grieving the loss of her sister, who was murdered and how she searches for answers. I liked the twist in the middle as the story starts to unravel. The ending was a little meh for me due to the happily ever after vibe, but I think it will hit just right for YA readers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader’s copy.

I used to love YA thrillers but lately have been put off by them (maybe I'm getting old) but I thoroughly enjoyed Rice's <i> If Anything Happens To Me </i> and think younger readers and adults alike will really appreciate the read.

The twists were clever and well-written, the character arc and development was well-crafted, and the motives were honestly thought provoking. There's a little bit of everything in this thriller- friendship, romance, and suspense but it made for a well-done story.

This is great for an intro into thrillers or if you want something that is fast-paced and keeps you on your toes.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review :))

If Anything Happens to Me by Luanne Rice is a young adult thriller that had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. It begins with Eloise Parrish’s murder. Her body was found in a shallow grave in the woods, and her killer was not found. Her sister Oli misses her terribly and goes to the spot where she was found to have a pic-nic with her sister hoping to feel closer to her. While she was there, she found another girl buried in the same shallow grave. Her name was Iris and she didn’t remember how she got there. As the story unfolds and Iris starts to remember things, she realizes that the killer also has her little sister, Haley too. This book is the story of how Oli and Iris team up to solve the mystery of this killer and hopefully get Haley out alive. There are lots of twists and turns and a little bit of magic, and a strong bond with the sisters.

I pushed through this book and really didn’t like it :( I’m so so sad I didn’t. This is one of my fav thriller authors. But this book didn’t flow well, and I didn’t really like it.

If Anything Happens To Me, by Luanne Rice, is a twisty, fast-paced, YA thriller that easily held my attention until the end. The characters were relatable and I couldn't help but finish the book before putting it down. While it is marketed as YA, and I think that age range will love it, I also know this old girl enjoyed it too!
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Sadly I took my time reading this. It took a bit for me to get into it, and I kept picking up other books in my TBR pile.

Then, suddenly I was into it and ended up really enjoying it.

It's not quite the typical storyline, but the various narratives were compelling.

The ending was particularly well done, and beautiful

This had all the right elements of a good YA mystery but it just did not come together in a way that will grip young readers, something about it, mostly the way Oli and Eloise talked felt like less like teens and just off?

The bonds of sisterhood are showcased in this ya thriller debut from Luanne Rice. I have personally never read any of Rice’s adult fiction, but I am intrigued now.

At the site of where her sister was found dead and buried, our protagonist finds another girl buried, though she is still alive. The two decide to work together, one to find answers to what really happened to her dead sister, the other to recover her own kidnapped sister from the same person who has been tormenting all of them.

I went in with high hopes, but this one just felt a little dated and juvenile. I know it is YA, but it felt like a ya book from 15 - 20 years ago… I wanted to love this one. The characters are well written and there is a lot that happens between these pages!

When teenager, Oli (Olivia) visits the site in the woods where her sister Eloise was murdered and buried, she finds another young girl nearly dead and suffering from total loss of memory covered by leaves in the same spot. All the nameless girl can remember is that her younger sister Hayley is in grave danger and must be rescued. The stranger refuses medical and police intervention as she feels it will put her sister at risk. Oli decides to work with her new friend and ally to help her regain her memory and to solve Hayley’s kidnapping which appears to be linked to Eloise’s disappearance and death.

As the two teens join forces, they trust no one. Even the boy Oli has had a long standing romantic interest in. is suspect. Rare blood type AB appears to be a factor in the kidnappings but WHY? As the girls delve into local history some interesting revelations come to light.

This quick easy YA novel written by a noteworthy author, Luanne Rice, has lots of appeal for young woman. It has a well developed plot with a few twists and turns., with characters who think and act like kids I found it somewhat slow, particularly when it veered off on a tangent about bird watching. But then I am certainly not the target audience. Young pre teen and teenage female readers would identify with the cast of characters and feel the tension in this creative who done it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic Books for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my review. Teen girls and middle /high school librarians will want to watch for publication on Sept17,2024.

This was a REALLY great YA thriller. Very much in line with Holly Jackson and Karen McManus.

Equal parts thrilling and poignant, this should definitely be on your fall TBR.

If Anything Happens To Me by Luanne Rice is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Rice crafts a gripping narrative with a chilling mystery that unfolds at a breakneck pace, blending intense suspense with emotional depth. Oli’s quest for justice for her sister Eloise, paired with her desperate attempt to save the new survivor, makes for a compelling and often heart-wrenching read. The way Rice explores the impact of grief and the lengths we’ll go for those we love is both powerful and poignant. The plot twists are sharp and unexpected, ensuring that you’ll be guessing until the very last page. For fans of dark, twisty thrillers that combine personal stakes with high-stakes danger, this book is a must-read. Prepare for a thrilling ride that’s as emotionally charged as it is pulse-pounding.

It was a very good book. I couldn't put it down because I wanted to find out who did it. I think high school students would enjoy this book because the characters are very relatable. It would be a great addition to a school library.

I wanted to like this, but the characters fell flat for me, and I felt like the whole plot was overly forced. I do not think I will add this to the library’s collection.

This was something of a psychological thriller and I think the targeted YA audience will enjoy it for the murder mystery, romance, science, historical, and fantasy mix. In reading with a critical eye, I felt there were too many elements thrown in without enough time to delve into any of them very well. Overall I think readers will have to suspend their disbelief frequently as they read this.

This is the second Luanne Rice book I've read, and in both it seems like the mystery is solved at about the 50% point, and it takes a long time to resolve anything. I also feel like the villain is often incredibly dumb, as they give up the ghost right away and confess to everything. In IAHtM, many characters appeared to be very very dumb for not figuring out what the villain was doing. It was hard to get past for me, as an adult. I don't think teens will mind though.