"We Were Warned" by Chelsea Ichaso was a fun, simple YA adult thriller, that I read quickly. The story is quite interesting, the plot twists are really shocking (some definitely more than others!), and it's nice. I do think that at some points the story is a bit monotone and the characters are not as fleshed out as they could, with the secondary characters feeling very two-dimensional - it might be a personal choice due to Eden's first-person narration but it doesn't work so well for the reader, I would argue. I enjoyed the small surprise at the end and how open-ended it felt, as it was for the reader to decide what is the truth according to them. So, overall, a quick, easy and fun read, but lacking dimensionality of characters. I would read more books from Chelsea Ichaso, though. Thank you so much NetGallet and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for this arc!

“We Were Warned” by Chelsea Ichaso, is a book with potential, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights it aims for. The story starts with a compelling hook, weaving a mysterious warning into the plot that hints at an intense and thrilling ride. However, as the narrative unfolds, the suspense fizzles out, and what could have been a gripping tale turns into a fairly predictable sequence of events.

The characters are functional but not particularly memorable. They serve their roles in the story, but their personalities and motivations often feel shallow or underdeveloped. The protagonist has moments of intrigue, but these are overshadowed by repetitive inner monologues that slow the pacing. Secondary characters, while present, don’t add much depth to the overall story.

Ichaso’s writing style is clear and accessible, but it leans heavily on exposition, leaving less room for the atmospheric tension the premise promises. The settings are described adequately, though they lack the immersive detail that could have elevated the suspenseful tone. Key scenes that should have been nail-biting instead feel rushed, leaving readers wanting more buildup and payoff.

While We Were Warned has a few bright spots—occasional twists that catch you off guard and a strong initial setup—it struggles to maintain momentum. Fans of light thrillers might find it an okay read, but it doesn’t stand out in a crowded genre. It’s not bad, but it’s not particularly great either—just somewhere in the middle.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Of course, all opinions are my own.

Read this one if you like suspenseful mysteries! A small-town tale featuring an old murder, supposedly solved, that seems to repeat itself every generation. Is it a paranormal event or something the police missed in the original case? Eden and her ex friends have seen the ghost-so they are trying put aside old grudges to solve the case before their deaths might be next. You’ll be guessing the identity the murderer right along with the characters. Nice twists at the end. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

It was just ok, I was a bit confused in the middle but the action had me in suspense! It’s always crazy to me how high school kids are always trying to solve murders before the detectives

First, thank you for allowing me to read this ARC.

I'm not big on the paranormal or supernatural, but it definitively has its place in this book. This book will leave you shaking your head because right up until the very end, you believe you know how it ends. The twist is nicely played out at the very end and it was an extremely satisfying ending.

Thank you to the publishers & Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance!

This book had me HOOKED. It contains twists and is very fast paced which I love and knew how to kept me reading right until the very end.

If you love thrillers then this book is definitely the one for you.

Once again thank you to NetGalley for choosing me to voice my thoughts on this book!

The plot for this book sounded like a thriller-y horror movie, so I knew I needed to read it. I'm a big fan of Chelsea's books ever since I read her debut, so, of course I would request it the minute I saw it!

A lore legend? Check. Kids partying at ruins at an abandoned beach resort where teens died years ago? Check. A new death while our MC is there? Check. Our MC and her friends being stalked by this possible mysterious killer? Double check! I'm in!!

This story absolutely hooked me from the beginning! It's faced-paced and the mystery with hints of horror in it really drew me in. I just love Chelsea's writing and the stories she comes up with and this was no exception. Her books are so easy to read and fun, and I was really rooting for the characters in this one. I loved Eden and Caleb. Really enjoyed the little romance sprinkled in it, too.

Will always recommend it :)

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks fire for the arc.

I’d have to give this a high 3.5 star rating rounded up to 4 for this young adult novel.
A story of a small town with a 20 year old murder that hangs over it with a curse. A group of teens search to find out what really happened 20 years prior and what is causing their friends deaths

20 years ago, a brutal murder shut down the beach resort. Since then, deadly legends have surrounded the crumbling ruins. When Eden attends a party there, she discovers a dead classmate. The death is ruled an accident, but soon, Eden and her bullies are being hunted by a killer. To survive, they need to uncover the dark secret of Fairport Village. Can she trust her enemies, or will she end up fighting for her life alone?

💭
After reading #TheSummerSheWentMissing, it was clear: #ChelseaIchaso is one of my top #AutoBuyAuthors. So, my expectations for her new #YAMysteryThriller We Were Warned were high... and let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed!

From the first page, this book pulls you into the eerie atmosphere of Fairport Village, an abandoned beach resort surrounded by #UrbanLegends and creepy secrets. Ichaso nails the balance between the idyllic small-town setting and a tense, gripping plot. The story unfolds like a puzzle, with every chapter offering new clues, suspects, and perfectly placed #redherrings, keeping the suspense high the whole time.

Eden is such a well-developed protagonist. Her personal backstory—a family scandal that made her an outsider—makes her relatable and complex. Watching her grow throughout the story is both believable and engaging. The dynamic between Eden and Caleb adds emotional depth to the plot. Caleb initially seems problematic because he’s friends with Eden’s bullies, but his character development is believable and heartfelt. Their romance strikes a good balance between suspense and emotional moments.

The side characters add to the story’s richness. Vic, the jealous "mean girl," seems stereotypical at first, but she gets some moments of depth that set her apart from typical YA antagonists.

What really stands out in this book is the perfect mix of mystery and horror. The supposed curse of Fairport Village creates some seriously creepy moments, and you’re left questioning whether supernatural forces are at play right until the end. The intense atmosphere Ichaso creates is chilling and fits the spooky setting perfectly.

The final showdown felt a bit too long for my taste, but the amazing plot twist made up for it big time.

💡
We Were Warned is a fast-paced, thrilling ride with clever twists and an intense atmosphere. Chelsea Ichaso proves once again that she knows how to keep readers hooked with a story that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

#ChelseaIchaso, I’m a bit of a mystery-thriller nerd and have practically studied the genre, so trust me when I say: you nailed it! Thanks for this amazing book—I can’t wait for your next one!

I was hooked from the first chapter! It definitely gave a spooky and eerie vibe. The story follows Eden as she investigates the murder of a classmate at Fairport Village. Eden has to work with a few other students who also saw something that night. This story has a lot of friendship drama, suspense and romance.



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

2.5 rounded up for YA. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was a pretty silly YA thriller with underdeveloped characters and not much depth. A quick spooky read but very forgettable.

All I want in a YA thriller is for the mystery to be fun and this book delivered! Though the writing was a bit clunky at times (a bit confusing or it felt out of character slightly) I still had a fun time trying to figure out who was behind it all!

I was also quite surprised (in the best way!) to see the author didn't shy away from having real big stakes, I felt the characters were truly in danger.

I'll look at the author's other books 👀


Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Oh, I think my high schoolers are going to really enjoy this one. I really liked finding out who was behind the mystery of Fairport. At times I did not really like our main character only because it bothered me how much she seemed to play the woe is me card and then be okay then back to woe is me. Though it has been a while since I was a teenager I guess that is how teenagers act.
I did like the plot and how it just kept going and going. You were left guessing who or what was behind it and the surprise of it all. Embezzlement, murder, ghost stories. Read on and see what happens next. Will be adding to my library as soon as it comes out and I have a budget.

Excellent! Twisty and shocking. I enjoyed this book more than others the author has written. We will definitely puchase for our teen collection.

Suspenseful and spooky. The setting was perfection! I was glued to the pages and could not wait to see how the plot played out. I was left hanging because I got 90% of the way through and then had to do adult things and I just couldn't stop thinking about this book and what happened. I really enjoyed getting into this story and felt fully immersed. Don't let the "young adult" fool you, this one is creepy!

Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire | Sourcebooks Fire for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Summer She Went Missing has been one of my favorite books this year! I was blown away by new-to-me author Chelsea Ichaso and the way she wove her stories. So I was thrilled to get this one from NetGalley and couldn’t wait to read it! Add it to your TBR now; it’s out March 4!

The old abandoned resort at the beach is the sore spot of the coastal town, the site of murder and a supposed curse from 25 years ago. So obviously it’s the perfect spot for the senior class bash. But not everyone survives and maybe the curse is real? Eden was there and when others there begin to feel the effects of the curse they’re all forced to work together to stop it and figure out what really happened long ago.

Again, I was just captured by Ichaso’s writing. The characters have depth and unique personalities. There’s action every step of the way, but we still get backstory and understand the delicate relationships within this small town. The mystery was great and I had no idea what twist was coming and I could not turn pages fast enough! I loved this!

Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebooksfire for an advanced digital copy! All opinions are mine

I really enjoyed reading this book. I devoured it in two days. Couldn’t put it down
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this in advance

Twenty years ago, there was a shocking murder on a property in Fairport Village. Anyone who steps foot in the ruins is supposedly cursed to die. However, teenagers have continued to party in the ruins of the property. Eden Stafford decides to join a party at the ruins one night and ends up finding one of her high school classmates dead. Now Eden and some other classmates who were there that night are being followed by a cloaked stranger. They must work together to uncover the truth about what happened before the cloaked stranger kills them all.

I really liked the idea of this story. The curse and the ruins plot were creepy at first and drew me into the book. I liked the lead-up to the reveal of the cloaked stranger. However, I didn’t love the motivation that was revealed for the murders. I also felt some of the characters lacked full development. I grew to like Eden and Caleb, but the other characters were underdeveloped, so I didn’t care as much about them. Overall, it was a quick and somewhat enjoyable read. I would give it 3/5 stars. I have enjoyed other books by Ichaso, but this one wasn’t as twisty as her others.

think this authors books are just okay. They are entertaining but nothing super life-changing. I just wish this was a little better.

🔪 ┊ “ a legend carved of sand and stone. a tale rooted in ruin. a lore built on lies. ”

3.5 STARS

Going in, I assumed that the main four would have a much stronger relationship and interact more. It's why I requested this book, actually! However, other than the finale and a couple of short meetings, it felt like they didn't spend much time together. I also thought they'd become better friends by the end of the novel, so I was disappointed in that aspect. The relationship that got the most attention was definitely Eden (the FMC) and her love interest, Caleb.

The romance was kinda meh. I get that Eden didn't trust him, but it was frustrating to witness for over half the book. There were a handful of times where the misunderstanding that destroyed their friendship was brought up and then she'd say, "Oh, we don't have to talk about this," or "Let's not talk about this." I thought I was going to go insane. She was just so combative, to the point it made her look kinda dumb. At one point, when her love interest tells her she shouldn’t be walking around alone (this is just after a member of the group was nearly drowned), she gets angry about him "telling her what to do" and runs off.

I really did sympathize with her, but she made some really stupid decisions. One of the bullies uses a sports metaphor to suggest they should buddy up and lock themselves in their houses in order to, you know, not get murdered. She simply replies, "This isn’t a sporting event," and then straight up leaves. ALSO, she accused literally everyone of being the murderer at one point.

Still, I thought the finale and the reveal were really good; I didn't expect that plot twist at all. That goes for the epilogue as well! I ended up bumping up my rating because of them.