Actual Rating 2.5

<b>THANKS TO THE NETGALLEY AND PUBLISHER FOR THIS DIGITAL ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW</b>

Lucia had a terrible and sad year. She just wanted to stay in throughout the summer. But her Mom had other plans, and now they are in Nantucket to stay with her new boyfriend, who lives with his son. Nantucket is a small and safe island with nice people and many summer visitors. Life in Nantucket is not bad until Luica stumbled upon a corpse on the beach which brings back a lot of the trauma. The identity of the corpse is a mystery and apparently, no one knows her. Lucia really wants to know the dead girl's story. But this is not an easy task when no one is giving away anything.

I won't label this book as a mystery, as it took 80 pages to find the corpse. Then the story rotated around several other things so the mystery element was like 30% of the book. I really liked the world-building of the story and a few relationship dynamics. Lucia's mom's idea to stay with Todd didn't make sense as their chemistry wasn't convincing. Lu is one of the stupidest MCs, I've encountered, her moral compass is really skewed. The trio and their character were one-dimensional, and why everyone enabled their actions? The story was slow-paced so after 150 pages I skimmed a lot. The ending was so lacking and the story had several loopholes. Ending also proved that, Lu is not only stupid but also a HUGE hypocrite.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5)

NOTHING BAD HAPPENS HERE by Rachel Ekstrom Courage
Thank you so much Netgalley and GetUnderlined for the earc(Mar 18)

When Lucia's mom drags her to New England to meet her boyfriend, Lucia is reluctant. Her mother says it will be good for her, help her dwindle less on the past. When Lucia finds a body on the beach, she's taken back to the accident, and all she wants to do is figure out who and what happened to Jane Doe. As she investigates, she becomes entwined with The Three and their world.
NOTHING BAD HAPPENS HERE was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and I was happy to get a early copy. It was everything I wanted and more.
This book delivered. Like capital delivered. Everything that happened was nonstop boom, boom, boom as the mystery grew deeper and more things happened. This book was thrilling and it gripped me. Though it took me longer than I would have expected to read, it was great. Interesting, mysterious, and twisty. Oh the twists. The first one I sort of called when said character was introduced because it felt obvious. I even called another one, though that was never proven to be true (mystic and supernatural). Now, when I tell you my jaw hit the floor when that final twist flashed across the page. For real!? How? Why? Shocking.
I loved this. I loved that it was intriguing and action packed. I even loved how the ending left room for the reader to decide what happens next. 10/10 would recommend to thriller lovers and even supernaturally lovers.

Lucia’s mother drags her off to a summer in Nantucket with her new boyfriend. Lucia recently experienced a tragedy and feels alone in the world and is looking for new connections. In her first week there, she finds a body on the beach. She is also suspicious of other things that start happening so she starts trying to figure out who killed the girl found on the beach.

This was a good, fast-paced young adult thriller. There were also some fantasy type vibes that were never truly confirmed but made you wonder what truly happened. In the end Lucia finds out the truth but it just brings her more drama and problems.

There are a lot of twists and turns throughout this and there was even some romance vibes too. This was a very quick read for me, because I wanted to know who was guilty of the crime. This will be a good spring break or beach read. The descriptions of the beach town made me want to go to the beach right now.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I came for the rich people behaving badly murder mystery and stayed for the surprise sirens. I had so much fun seeing how this story unfolded and I loved Lucia and wanted to shake the adults in her life. I didn't totally buy into the final twist but the ending did feel satisfying.

I loved this book so much. It's a beautifully written page-turner with a protagonist that feels so real and relatable. The underlying themes—no spoilers, but: wealth imbalance, grief/healing, mental health, a little bit of female rage—feel so relevant to this particular moment in time. Publishing in March . . . and the author also wrote a Golden Girls mystery that's publishing in April!

have some mixed emotions about this. Overall, I liked it as a fairly standard YA mystery/thriller. I did figure out who the killer was, and that part was a little predictable for me.

I was both intrigued by and irritated by the other twist. It was unexpected for sure, and it opened up some great misdirection, but I also felt a little tricked into reading something that turned into something else. Fortunately, the fact that it still remained a mystery/thriller overrode my annoyance.

Given the twist, I can’t help but eye roll a little at the names of the dead girl and the killer, though.


I’ll definitely read more from this author in the future.

Thanks, NetGalley and Delacorte for the ARC.

Rachel Ekstrom Courage’s "Nothing Bad Happens Here" is an emotionally charged and gripping novel that intricately weaves themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the shadows that lurk beneath seemingly perfect surfaces. With its complex characters and compelling narrative, this novel keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

The story centers around Lily, a woman who has always believed in the idyllic nature of her hometown, a quaint, picturesque place where everyone knows each other, and nothing bad ever seems to happen. However, when a tragic incident shatters this illusion, Lily is forced to confront the dark secrets and hidden truths of the place she calls home. The novel follows her journey as she seeks answers, battles her own demons, and discovers the strength within herself to face the harsh realities of life.

Lily is a well-developed and relatable protagonist. Courage paints a vivid picture of her internal struggles, capturing her feelings of betrayal, grief, and determination with sensitivity and depth. As Lily delves deeper into the mystery surrounding the incident, she undergoes significant personal growth, transforming from a woman who blindly trusted her surroundings to one who bravely confronts uncomfortable truths. Her evolution is both compelling and inspiring, making her a character that readers can root for.

The supporting characters in "Nothing Bad Happens Here" are equally well-crafted, each adding depth and complexity to the story. From Lily’s supportive best friend who stands by her through thick and thin, to the enigmatic figures who hold pieces of the puzzle she is trying to solve, each character plays a crucial role in Lily’s journey. Courage skillfully weaves their backstories into the narrative, enriching the overall plot and providing a multifaceted view of the community.

One of the novel’s standout features is its exploration of the contrast between appearance and reality. Courage masterfully depicts the facade of perfection that many communities maintain, and the often painful truths that lie beneath. This theme is resonant and thought-provoking, challenging readers to consider the ways in which they might be complicit in maintaining such illusions in their own lives. The setting of the novel is a seemingly perfect small town that serves as an effective backdrop for this exploration, highlighting the tension between outward appearances and hidden realities.

The plot of "Nothing Bad Happens Here" is intricately woven and expertly paced. Courage balances moments of high tension and suspense with quieter, introspective scenes, creating a narrative that is both gripping and emotionally resonant. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, compelling readers to keep turning the pages. The mystery at the heart of the story unfolds gradually, with carefully placed clues and red herrings that keep readers guessing until the very end.

Courage’s writing style is both engaging and evocative. Her prose is crisp and clear, with vivid descriptions that bring the setting and characters to life. The dialogue is natural and reflective of the characters’ personalities, adding authenticity to their interactions. Courage’s ability to convey emotion through her writing is particularly noteworthy, making the novel’s most poignant moments hit home with powerful impact.

"Nothing Bad Happens Here" also delves into themes of resilience and the human capacity for growth and healing. Lily’s journey is one of uncovering painful truths, but it is also one of finding strength and hope in the face of adversity. The novel’s exploration of these themes is both uplifting and inspiring, offering readers a message of hope and the possibility of positive change.

Courage has created a story that is both entertaining and deeply moving. “Nothing Bad Happens Here" is a masterfully crafted novel that combines elements of mystery, suspense, and emotional depth. With its well-developed characters, intricate plot, and thought-provoking themes, it is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction and suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for the arc!

Lucia is on vacation in Nantucket with her mom and her mom's new boyfriend. While there, she stumbles on the dead body of a girl no one seems to know. Lucia decides to investigate and send some old wounds in the process while meeting three girls who may not be what they seem and discovering new secrets about the people around her.

I really loved this one! I love the setting of a summer on Nantucket and the author did a great job bringing it to life. I also loved the writing and the characters, especially the Three.

Could not put this one down! Not only did the author make Nantucket come to life, she created believable (and flawed) characters to care about. Twisty and fun - highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I really loved the Three. The writing and characters were amazing! I didn’t feel like it really had any slow parts and it kept me reading more to find out what happened. I will probably be thinking about this one for a while! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

Lucia is on vacation in Nantucket with her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. While on the beach one morning, Lucia stumbles upon the dead body of a teenage girl on the beach. Finding the body opens old wounds from her past and the dead girl is unclaimed and unknown. Lucia feels the need to investigate it herself to give the girl a name and find out what happened to her when not everything is as it seems.

"Nothing Bad Happens Here" is a fun and gripping page-turner that hooked me from the first page. Rachel Ekstrom Courage's expertly crafted pacing drew me deeper into novel's central mystery with each chapter. With unexpected twists, relentless tension, and a touch of the supernatural, "Nothing Bad Happens Here" kept me guessing until the last page. It's a must-read for anyone who loves suspenseful and addictive YA thrillers.

So the whole premise is girl finds corpse, girl kinda investigates, right? Except what happens is that girl finds corpse and corpse is not mentioned again until the book is 75% over. Seriously.