I found this to be a “chilling” YA suspense thriller that blends eerie atmosphere with gripping tension. The story follows a group of teens who are warned about an ominous curse hanging over their small town. The tension builds as they uncover more about the dark forces at play and realize they may not escape its grasp. There is a spooky vibe throughout the novel, making the reader feel as if they’re constantly on edge, unsure of what will happen next. The curse adds a supernatural layer to the suspense, and you can’t help but wonder whether the characters will be able to break it—or if they’re doomed from the start. There’s a nice balance of suspense, character development, and twists that keep you turning the pages.

Overall, it’s a great pick for fans of YA thrillers with a supernatural touch.

3.5 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
A lot of books haven’t been hitting lately, so while We Were Warned wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever read, I’m glad to say I had fun. It’s thrilling and a bit creepy in the best way, and one of my favorite aspects was the atmosphere of Fairport Village, and digging into the lore and legends behind the central mystery. There’s a crossover between the mystery and the typical teen drama, and while I wasn’t as invested in the latter, I did like how the two complemented each other.
The characters are probably the weakest part of the book, but that’s probably not shocking, as they function more to move the story along than to really connect to the reader. With the teen drama also not resonating with me as much, I will also own that it’s an aspect that I’ve simply outgrown.
But the plot is where the story really shines, taking these otherwise boring characters on a truly wild ride. The stakes are fairly high, and while the story was sometimes bogged down by pacing issues, it only slightly impacted my overall investment in how it would turn out.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this one, and with the caveat that I’d encourage looking to teen readers for critique on aspects relating specifically to their experiences, I’d recommend this book to readers in search of an atmospheric YA thriller.

I do enjoy YA thrillers from time to time and this one specially looked good to me. It was fast paced, suspenseful and had a great storyline. The book was spooky with its abandoned resort and I loved the whole embezzlement scam touch to it. Of course there’s amateur sleuths, which is always fun. Oh, and who doesn’t love a small town mystery? Definitely a great YA thriller but, I think anyone could read it and enjoy it.

Im convinced any book with the flame on the cover is just amazing! I really liked this one! I didn’t love it as much as others, but this was still a super fun ride. I loved the cursed location aspect!

Twisty ride through and through, especially the epilogue! Didn’t expect to have a gut wrenching moment involving our fmc’s dad. Loved the mystery aspect of it and that I couldn’t figure out who did it.

I was nervous starting this book it felt like the plot had started before the first chapter, but by the time I was 10% in I was already invested. You may have to suspend so disbelief to really enjoy this book but I think it's worth it. It was creepy thrilling and engaging. It kept me on my toes trying to figure out who did and and the final twist really got me. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends.

A deeply suspenseful and poignant story that dives deep into the challenges of small-town life and the secrets we keep from the next generation.

It has been a while since I've read a book that had me reading into the early hours of the morning. I loved Eden! She was such a strong lead, and I really enjoyed reading this book from her perspective. I was so happy to see that the romance was a secondary plot and (at least for me) didn't take away from the main plot. I also really liked that the suspense. Was something paranormal happening or was it an actual person committing the murders? And I definitely didn't see the end coming! I will definitely be purchasing this book for the teen collection!

"Everyone knows the legend of Fairport Village: twenty-five years ago, a shocking murder closed the place down. This year, the ruins will be bulldozed at last. But tonight, it's not too late to die.

All her life, Eden Stafford has heard the lore about the abandoned beach resort at the edge of town: ever since the notorious murder there, anyone who sets foot on the property is cursed to die, It's more than just a story: over the years, two high school students who dared to explore the ruins of Fairport Village were killed there.

Eden is no stranger to notoriety, having endured a family scandal that's made her a target at school. So when she reluctantly attends an overnight party at the ruins, she's on edge - not because of some legend, but because the clique that has made her life hell for years is there, too, including Caleb Durham, the worst of them all.

Yet out of all the things Eden expected to happen that night, finding another student dead at Fairport Village wasn't one of them.

Though the death is ruled an accident, Eden knows she saw something suspicious at the ruins - and Caleb and her other longtime tormentors did too. Now they're all being followed by a deadly stranger, and to save themselves, they must work together to uncover the truth about Fairport Village. But after all that's happened, can Eden really trust Caleb and his friends? Or will they leave her to face a killer alone?"

I'm getting peak Wes Craven vibes from this book!

This is a YA thriller that was just OK in my opinion. It does start out pretty slow but does eventually grow .Couple of twists. Eden and her friends investigate who has been carrying out the killings which started 25 years ago. Now they are all at risk.

We Were Warned by Chelsey Ichaso is a gripping murder thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story is full of twists, false trails, and shocking revelations. There’s a constant sense of uncertainty about who you can actually trust, especially when it comes to Caleb. Every time you think you’ve figured him out, another twist makes you question everything again.

The ending delivers a major shock, though there is one part I wish had been explained a little better. Just when you think the story is wrapped up, bam – another jaw-dropping turn. This is classic Chelsey Ichaso: a fast-paced, engaging tale that will have you turning the pages non-stop. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good thriller!

Chelsea Ichaso always crafts a twisty and thrilling book, and this one was no different. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and all of they journeys that it took me on. What a ride!

This was a great book that I really enjoyed reading. Lots of mystery and twists and turns. The ending was great. Thank you for my ARC!

This was such a fun read. All the mystery and the twists made it such an enjoyable experience. I think what pulls me in when a thriller or mystery has an old mystery that kinda haunts the town. It always adds such an interesting part to the story. Overall I really enjoyed this story. This is the second book I’ve read from this author and it has been a great experience both times!

This had the usual plot points for a YA thriller - small town murder and a tight knit friend group recently fallen apart trying to mend their relationship and solve a mystery together. The storyline was decent and the twist was pretty good. I think if you are a big fan of YA thrillers, you'll find this to be enjoyable.

Absolutely love a YA thriller/ murder mystery so as soon as I saw this cover I knew I had to pick it up. Thank you to the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC. I felt like I was guessing who done it alongside the main character Eden and her friends. Haven’t read any of Chelsea’s books before but definitely will be looking for some more titles.

Thank you again netgalley and to the publishers.

Eden is on the outs with all of her former friends after a falling out among their parents. When Eden visits the local abandoned resort that was shut down after a murder years ago, she intends to help her classmate Henry with a documentary. But when a classmate ends up dead and rumors fly, Eden is thrown into a mystery that quickly spirals out of control.

We Were Warned starts off very slowly, but has a lot of great suspense and murder once it finally gets going. I think there are students who will stick with it long enough for the big reveal, but ultimately, I think it moves too slowly for a lot of our mystery readers.

I’m a total sucker for YA thrillers! This did not disappoint. I loved the curse/witchcraft aspect of it as well! The twists kept coming & those last two blew me away! I loved the pacing & the friend group. This was a quick read & I really enjoyed it! Thanks for the ability to read early in exchange for my honest review!

Eden Stafford is ready to enter her Senior year of high school, but before school starts, she finds herself at Fairport Village, the creepy ruins on the outskirts of town. Fairport Village is known for a murder that happened twenty years ago, but it’s become the spot for upcoming Seniors overnight party, even though two other students have been murdered there in the past. When Henry, the student Eden is helping film at the ruins, becomes the newest victim, she must work with a group of fellow students that used to be her friends, but became her tormentors following a scandal involving her father, to find out what is happening at Fairport Village.

We Were Warned is a fast-paced, YA thriller with just the right amount of suspense and twists. Ichaso’s writing is very straightforward and it was easy to follow the story. I really enjoyed the whole setting of the book…a spooky deserted tourist area, unexplained murders, stereotypical high school students, and a supernatural feel to the mystery.

Eden was a strong main character, and I enjoyed having the story told from her POV. She has been ostracized from her group of childhood friends, because of a business deal gone bad with her father and his partners. Unfortunately, she now has to trust her ex-friends, as they investigate the murders, while protecting one another from becoming the next victim. I also enjoyed the love interest story line, with Eden’s former friend Caleb, and not knowing if he was 100% trust-worthy during the story.

The mystery in the story develops really well. I did figure out the murderer earlier in the book, but there were some other surprising twists that I didn’t expect, revealed at the end of the book. I also loved the creepy, paranormal feel that Ichaso brings to the book, and not knowing if the murders are being committed by a person or supernatural forces. The ending of the book is also the perfect wrap up, that connects what happened 20 years ago with the family that lived at Fairport Village with the present day story line.

I definitely recommend We Were Warned if you love creepy small towns, untrustworthy characters, a suspenseful atmosphere, and teenagers who have to work together to solve a town mystery.

Chelsea Ichaso’s We Were Warned is a gripping thriller packed with twists, suspense, and a chilling sense of foreboding. With a tightly woven plot and a cast of flawed, intriguing characters, the story keeps readers guessing until the final shocking revelation. Perfect for fans of dark secrets and psychological tension, this novel will have you turning pages late into the night. A must-read for thriller enthusiasts!