
Member Reviews

The internet is a frightening place where the dead are never truly gone, leaving their footprints behind forever. Teresa is dealing with some trauma and make her self trapped in her room. The only connection she has to the outside world is through streaming, but this proves to be a dangerous activity as well.
This YA thriller/horror is so bingible, and thanks to multimedia format (streaming chat, messaged, Teresa POV) you will be flying through pages.
This thriller is marked as combo of Rear Window and The rind vibes.
I liked the concept of the story, and loved how digital this book felt. All the chats and texts chapters were my favorites.
I definitely recommend to check it out , if you want paranormal/digital YA thriller/horror book.
QOTD: Do you like multimedia format in the books? I absolutely love

This, I felt, was an eerie take on how tech has taken over our lives. The connection we sometimes feel more online than in person. And for Teresa, after the horrible accident that caused her to lose her best friend, it was where she felt safe. Also, the fact that she wanted to be a streamer and stay indoors for the rest of her life was her coping mechanism. But when Brick, the most popular streamer she was following and aspiring to be, was seen acting strange, Teresa starts to investigate. What she discovers is unbelievable!
There was a lot that went on that I’ve never seen done in a horror story based on streaming or technology. Loads of suspense and twists I didn’t see coming. Tackling PTSD, mental health and loss like this book did was fantastic. While this can be seen as horror, there was more paranormal elements used. The horror factor being the use of those elements. If you like both of those genres, this is a good read for you.

This was a fun fast paced YA thriller that had me flying through the pages. In this book we follow Theresa who is a streamer, one day when another streamer goes catatonic on stream she starts to look into what’s causing it and finds it may be more supernatural than she first expected. I had a fun time with this book it was entertaining and a quick read it wasn’t anything groundbreaking but still a fun read. This was my first book by this author and hope to read more in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this for an honest review.

This was such a fun YA horror novel that fans of movies like The Ring or Unfriended will definitely enjoy. The inclusion of the multimedia kept the pacing of the book so quick, it felt like I was watching a tech based horror movie; I loved it! It definitely creeped me out reading it at night.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Viking Books for the ARC 🤍
This was… certainly something. The premise was neat, but it was poorly executed. A very large majority of it was just cringey streamer chats, reddit posts and made up internet ~lingo~.
I don’t really understand what the main character’s background had to do with much of anything. What anxiety and ptsd so bad she can’t leave her bedroom has to do with internet ghosts is beyond me.
Random queerness, while not bad a bad thing, just felt like it was slapped in there just for S’s & G’s. Especially when they finally met their internet friend and then they’re all of a sudden making out??
Big cringe overall 🥴

This one had my head reeling with possibilities. It will make you think of murder. It will make you think of paranormal activity. It will even make you second guess what you think. I like that it makes all readers think about the amount of time and energy spent online and the side effects that could have on reality. Overall, this one was thrilling, suspenseful, and spooky. I enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who likes a chat style narrative. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my work copy of this title. All opinions on my own.

This was wild. It was nothing like I expected either. It was all over the place and I really can't decide if I really liked it or not lol I will say this is a weird book tho. And if you're not a teen or someone who works close with them, this may not be your jam.
Ok so I liked that this was different than the other ghost technology books that are out there. It's different because it had like the ghost but there was no rhyme or reason to how they got there and there was no way to tell who was next. And no one really believed that it was a thing either. I think that was the weirdest part. Some of these things were the kid sitting in front of their computer for hours and just rocking and muttering. Like be for real lol
But the ghost itself was ok. It wasn't exactly creepy tho. The author doesn't give an explanation of what it looks like besides a figure. And the door was crazy. It was so creepy to think that it just appeared and people were just like eh ok let me walk through it? Absolutely not. And then there was the addition of the cloud. That was the weirdest part. Just thinking of how connected we are now a days and the type of things that could float into the ether because of us. Lordt I can't even imagine.
The characters were all over the place. I didn't like any of them. And they were all ridiculous. And then how one person got it and no one else did? And I got pretty pissed off that there were some instances that they were trying to dox a teenager. Please, don't be that person. Get mad yes, but doxing (no matter their age) is never ok. And I don't actually understand the way. But every single one of them was annoying.
The ending was terrible. To be honest I couldn't even understand it. But it wasn't enough for me to get mad at or be pissed about. Even still, I'm still a little on the fence about this one. I might try another of her books later, but for right now I'm ok with just this one.

I had a rough time with this one. I liked the premise so much, but I struggled with the execution I think. I had a hard time following along as so much of the story was in chats and there wasn’t a lot of information on who these characters were. Her friend group was barely introduced so it was hard to really follow who they were and why they mattered. I think there’s definitely people who will love this story!

Deadstream is fast paced and creepy. I had fun reading this book but I couldn’t stop comparing it to another book I read (that I really loved) and this wasn’t quite as good. It’s not bad! I think if I hadn’t read the other one first I would have rated this one higher.
Teresa’s life has been becoming smaller and smaller. Ever since the accident that killed her best friend, she hasn’t been able to leave her house. Thankfully, she found a group of friends online and uses streaming as an outlet.
One night something weird happened during a popular livestream— there’s someone, or something, in the bedroom doorway! Things have been getting weirder ever since the chat told him to open the door.
Teresa watched it all happen live and managed to clip the video to share to her channels. She’s convinced this isn’t a hoax and she is determined to find the truth.
I loved the mix-media with use of the chats and text chains. It’s one of the reasons why the book was such a quick read (every book doesn’t have to be long and complicated, ya know?)
I also love love loved the queer representation in this story.
I found the title of this book to be so clever! Truly recommend this book to anyone who also enjoys queer/digital horror.
stars: 3.75

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
This one totally hit the creepy vibe I love in horror. It reminded me so much of those early 2000s internet horror movies like Pulse and FearDotCom, but written for a YA audience. It was a quick read. The eerie, someone’s-watching-you feeling was spot on—and maybe I’m a little biased because I definitely have that irrational fear sometimes 👀
The reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me is mostly the main character. Without spoiling, I just didn’t feel like there was much development there. It felt a bit rushed, like it tried to cram in all the “relatable teen issues” too quickly without really diving into any of them so some things could have been opted out or just fleshed out more.
Still, if you’re into creepy tech-based horror with a nostalgic twist, this is worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a great fast-paced, supernatural YA thriller that I didn't want to put down. I read it so quickly. There were scenes that actually scared me, which made me like this book even more. The ending was the only thing that I didn't like too much because it felt a little preachy.
Will definitely be reading future books by this author

This book has a lot of potential. I love the main protagonist and I felt for her. But I am her mom's age so I just could not relate. I was like "why are all these kids living online and being influencers", even though that is explained in the story. I am old.

When a book says Rear Window meets The Ring I'm in 100%. That is a lot to live up to for a book and while I'm not sure I got Rear Window meets The Ring vibes in the book I did enjoy the dark, tense non stop book. If you are looking for a dark YA thriller than this is the book for you. I loved the fast paced page turning thrills the author gave us.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me access to the ARC. This was weird. creepy. & overall just okay! Was such a quick read. Literally started and finished in 2 hours. I definitely could see this getting someone out of a reading slump but there are better books that can do that as well.

This was genuinely terrifying. Taking on both the importance of online connections and relationships contrasted with the danger of the need for views and attentions, while also describing a very specific and unique kind of haunting.
After a tragedy, Teresa - known online as RePlay - turns to streaming to find comfort and friendship as her trauma makes her offline life smaller and smaller, to the point that she won't even leave her bedroom anymore by the time the story starts. Teresa is a fan of a big streamer named Brick, and one night he does a random stream that gets stranger and stranger, and then changes his behavior. The stranger part is that the behavior seems to be catching, like a shared psychosis or a internet media disease. Teresa's online alter ego, Replay, starts investigating what's happening and the truth of it...truly scary. Even the ending, while a resolution, will leave you looking over your shoulder at your image on the screen.
Quick and fierce, written by someone who clearly values online relationships and community, but also aware of it's dangers. Loved it. Certifiably creeped out too.

The book is creepy, grim, and mysterious. Expect the unexpected, creepy happenings and paranormal possessions. A paranormal entity is attacking and possessing online streamers. A shadowy figure appears and strange things start happening then an online streamer is found dead and whoever watches their live videos becomes unmovable while Teresa is trying to solve the mystery of her favourite streamer’s death but the mystery tangles her and becomes more creepy and complicated turning her world upside down. She must get to the bottom of it or she will become the victim of it. I wasn’t expecting that ending and the book kept me on the edge. The book really scared me.
Thanks to the Publisher and Author.

This was a well written suspenseful thriller, perfect for any paranormal reader fans out there. I love stories that take place behind screens, as it gives it a more "real world" feel to them, even in fictional, horrific situations. This gripped me from the beginning and kept its hold until the end.

Okay so, I need to start by saying I could not read this one at night. I had to stick to lunch breaks and sunny afternoons like I was prepping for emotional damage. 😅 Deadstream is a spooky little YA thriller that feels like Smile meets Unfriended—but make it Rear Window meets The Ring, as promised. And honestly? That combo slaps.
📱💀 What’s it about?
Teresa’s been holed up in her bedroom ever since the car accident that killed her best friend. She’s grieving, anxious, and terrified of the outside world—but she lives for livestreams and the online community that makes her feel connected. That is, until her favorite streamer dies on camera, right after a creepy shadow figure starts popping up in his videos. Now that same figure is starting to show up in other streams—including hers—and it wants in. 👀
🌐 The vibes? Immaculate and terrifying.
* Multimedia horror? Yessss. The livestreams, chat boxes, DMs—it’s all done so well. Sometimes a little cheesy, but in a fun way that actually ramps up the tension. I was STRESSED.
* Even though Teresa barely leaves her room, the book feels weirdly expansive and claustrophobic at the same time thanks to the digital elements. It’s a haunted house story, but the house is the internet and your bedroom is no longer safe.
* The ghost/entity thing totally gave Smile energy. That creeping dread? That slow build? It delivered.
🧠 Also, let’s talk about the themes:
* Teresa is grieving hard, and the book ties that emotional isolation to the entity and how people online feel invisible all the time. There’s definitely something to be said about being seen.
* Not totally sure what the exact “lesson” is, but I kept coming back to legacy—like, what do you leave behind when you’re gone? How are you remembered?
* Plus, I really appreciated the LGBTQ+ rep and the sense of community Teresa finds online. Not saying we should glamorize living in front of a screen, but finding your people—even virtually—is valid.
💬 Final thoughts?
Quick read, super eerie, and a fun mix of old-school haunting with a modern twist. If you're into digital horror or want something that’ll make you paranoid about your webcam, this one’s for you.
A big thank you to Mar Romasco-Moore, Viking Books, Netgalley, and Colored Pages Book Tour for the ARC.

Deadstream by Mar Romasco-Moore delivers an eerie, tech-savvy twist on paranormal horror, but despite a chilling premise and some tense moments, it doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential.
The setup is strong: Teresa, suffering from intense agoraphobia after a tragic accident, spends her days in isolation, plugged into the streaming world for connection. But when she witnesses the on-screen death of a streamer—preceded by the appearance of a mysterious, ghostly figure—her digital safe space becomes a nightmare. As more people fall victim to the same presence, and the entity begins to haunt her feed, Teresa must confront her fears in order to survive.
The premise is so compelling. It’s Rear Window meets The Ring, with a dash of creepypasta energy, and the book excels in capturing that creeping dread that comes from watching something terrible unfold in real time. The idea of a digital haunting feels fresh and unsettling, especially in a world where so much of life is lived online.
Where the book struggles, though, is in pacing and depth. The plot feels a bit stretched, especially in the middle, and the side characters lack development. Teresa’s internal struggle is sympathetic and realistic, but the emotional payoff feels muted by the supernatural elements, which are more eerie than terrifying. The rules of the entity also remain vague, which makes the resolution less satisfying.
Still, Deadstream is a solid YA horror read with modern appeal, especially for fans of streaming culture and supernatural thrillers. It just doesn’t quite reach the chilling heights it aims for. A decent, atmospheric read with a few standout moments—but not a must-read.

I tried to get into it, but I think it’s just a bit too YA for me. I can’t relate to being a content creator/streaming and wanting to do it for a living.