Wasn’t able to read this one digitally but I did order a copy of the book so will be reviewing it after I’ve read it. I’m really excited for it as I’ve only heard great things about it.

Unfortunately, this book was not what I expected it to be. I enjoy slasher books and movies where there is an emphasis on characters being killed off in creative ways, but I do not think this needs to happen at the cost of developing interesting characters in the first place. Here, sadly, the characters were rather flat, which prevented me from developing an interest in them and therefore caring about their demise.

Especially the main character was very enervating - she was unspeakably naive and lacked any sense of self outside of how others perceived her. Whenever she once again assessed a situation through the lense of what her father, or teachers of her, had said, instead of having her own thoughts, I wanted to jump into the book, grab her by the shoulders, and shake her.

I did like the premise of a horror thriller set in a small-town theatre, and enjoyed the moments where the topics of drama and acting were foregrounded.

Drama Queens, secrets, lies and murder abound in Final Dress by R. Saint Claire’s Final Dress,
Set in a community theatre in small town America, Final Dress follows the ups and downs of budding actress, Shawna Anthony as she interns at her local college as a famous director is putting on a musical adaptation of some Greek tragedy or other.
However, the theatre that they are performing holds a dark secret. In the not so distant past a young woman killed herself in the theatre and now there are whispers of it being haunted.
Charged with being the general dogsbody in the group. Shawna’s only ambition is to act, and when she gets her chance, bloody murder ensues.
Pulling from the tropes of slasher movies like Scream or My Bloody Valentine, Final Dress is a good romp of a story. The book is easy to read, if not a little predictable. But in the end, who the hell cares when you’re having fun.
The story builds up the action, but this does take its time, and it is not until the last quarter of the book that the action actually kicks in. Prior to this, the reader gets to watch as careers implode and follow Shawna as she moves up the ranks to become the leading lady.
Final Dress is a fun little book that keeps up the pace and pretty much does the job of keeping you entertained.

Final Dress by R. Saint Claire offers an intriguing mix of fashion, suspense, and drama that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story takes place in the glamorous world of high fashion, and Claire’s vivid descriptions bring the setting to life, immersing you in the beauty and intensity of the fashion industry. The plot is fast-paced, with enough twists and turns to keep the suspense high as the main character unravels a mystery while navigating the competitive, cutthroat world of design.

The protagonist is strong and resourceful, with a great sense of determination and drive, which makes her journey all the more engaging. The relationships and dynamics between the characters are complex, adding depth to the story and creating moments of tension and camaraderie. Saint Claire’s writing is sharp and filled with tension, making it a compelling read.

While the pacing is generally well-balanced, there are moments when the plot feels a bit predictable, and some of the character motivations could have been explored more deeply. However, these minor flaws don’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Overall, Final Dress is a stylish and exciting thriller that will appeal to fans of both fashion and suspense. It’s an entertaining, well-written novel that blends glitz and mystery in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I . Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you Netgalley ,BooksGoSocial and R. Saint Claire for the eArc of Final Dress.

Final Dress is a great fun slasher read. A cracker of an opening and loved the balance between the characters and the plot. Our MC's are a great mix of personalities and the barn come theatre that Final Dress is set in has a wonderful ambiance and perfect. The gore/killing balance is just right for me which made Final dress is great quick read.

4 stars

Acknowledgements and grateful thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial publishing for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC: 'Final Dress by R. Saint Claire'. All opinions are my own and are not a reflection of the publishers and/or author, of which I have no association with.

Three out of five stars (3/5 stars).

'Shawna Anthony, a sheltered recent college grad with stars in her eyes, is overjoyed to score a summer internship at her local community theater. However, her excitement quickly turns to terror when a knife-wielding maniac crashes the final dress rehearsal, transforming it into a harrowing struggle for survival. Will Shawna and her fellow performers live to see the final curtain drop?' — blurb from the official NetGalley website.

Okay, so it wasn't bad, got this read in a few sittings. I did, however, think this was a middle-grade horror novel, not an adult book. Everything screamed kiddie horror from the average, but fast-paced writing to the predictable twists and turns. The end came too fast to give it a good finish off, it could have been a four star rating from me, but it's a two point five rounded up to a three star.

But, just because it doesn't work as an adult horror doesn't mean it doesn't work at all, it just needs a little fleshing out at the end and perhaps a new genre.

It wasn't very scary either, but it was pretty thrilling and I still appreciate that.

As I said, this would be good for a middle grader or teenager.

Being a huge horror fan, I found this book quite enjoyable! I found myself drawn into the theater and the characters of the story. The book does have a slow start, but I still found myself very interested in the story..The writing flowed just right throughout out the book, which I greatly appreciate. This book is for every slasher fan! I would recommend you pick it up!

R. Saint Claire’s Final Dress is a gripping and blood-soaked thrill ride that blends the drama of theater with the terror of a classic slasher horror. With its high-stakes tension, well-drawn characters, and a sinister, knife-wielding antagonist, this novel will leave horror fans on the edge of their seats, anxiously turning pages until the final curtain falls.

The story follows Shawna Anthony, an idealistic and somewhat sheltered recent college graduate, who eagerly accepts a summer internship at her local community theater. What begins as a promising opportunity to chase her dreams quickly turns into a nightmarish fight for survival when the final dress rehearsal is interrupted by a masked killer. The theater, once a stage for creativity and ambition, becomes a claustrophobic death trap, where the characters are forced to confront their worst fears.

Saint Claire’s writing shines in its ability to capture both the glitz and grit of the theater world. The backdrop of a community theater is evocative and atmospheric, and the author uses its narrow corridors, shadowy backstage areas, and eerie silence to build a sense of dread. The theatrical setting also provides a unique and fitting stage for a slasher story, where the line between performance and reality begins to blur.

Shawna is a relatable and compelling protagonist. Her journey from a starry-eyed newcomer to a determined survivor is well-paced, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as she fights to outsmart the killer. The ensemble cast of performers and staff adds depth to the story, with their interpersonal tensions and secrets fueling the drama and making each character a potential target—or suspect.

The novel’s pacing is relentless, keeping the suspense high as the body count rises. The killer’s identity is cleverly concealed, with red herrings and twists that will keep readers guessing until the shocking reveal. Fans of classic slasher films will appreciate the homage to the genre’s tropes, from the masked villain to the isolated setting, while Saint Claire’s sharp writing breathes fresh life into these familiar elements.

What sets Final Dress apart is its ability to balance horror with character-driven storytelling. The relationships between Shawna and her fellow cast members add emotional stakes to the carnage, making each loss hit harder. The book also explores themes of ambition, trust, and survival, elevating it beyond a simple slasher to something more substantial.

Saint Claire’s talent for crafting vivid, cinematic scenes ensures that Final Dress is as terrifying as it is entertaining. With its fast-paced plot, chilling atmosphere, and memorable characters, this novel is a must-read for fans of horror, thrillers, and stories set in the dramatic world of the arts.

⭐2.5 stars-
The cover is beautiful I'm obsessed!
Found the story started slow and I like a story where I'm hooked straight away
However I overalled enjoyed the book

The concept was great but the book fell a little flat for me.

This is about Shawna, a recent college grad, spending her summer internship at the local town theater. Everyone who works in the theater are twice Shawna’s age, and there’s tension between them all. Shawna’s dad is the town mayor, who isn’t thrilled about Shawna working at the theater.

The plot is all over the place, the story is fun but the last act felt rushed and I wasn’t a fan of the twist. It is a quick and fun read though!

The ending was pretty abrupt, which kind of killed the book for me to be honest. The level of horror was also not quite up to par with what I was expecting based on reading the blurb.

What I did like? Shawna was quite likable. The characters were all unique and diverse.

Going to try more by this author!

If you enjoy slasher films or if you enjoy theatrical themed stories, you'll love this. If you like slasher films set IN a theatrical setting - hooboy, you are in for a treat.

Fast paced, holding back on nothing and keeping the reader engaged throuh each blood spurt; Final Dress is a fun, fast and fabulous gorefest that is also an anjoyably fast read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read it and I look forward to reading more words by R. Saint Claire.

Do you know the saying “Never Judge a Book by its Cover”? This was that book for me. I loved the cover. Too Bad Inside had a poor plot, stereotypes, and contradictory writing that left you with whiplash. After so many great reviews, I expected to be on the edge of my seat. Instead, I was left with a book that I thought was AI-written.

The characters were just stereotypes. There was not a single likable character. I found the FMC vapid, judgemental, holier than thou, and just contradictory. One minute, she looks down on anyone drinking, then she downing 4 or 5 drinks? What? She bounces all over the place. She describes almost all the females by their weight or body. There's no growth in her character. I'm still not sure how she even survived. It's like the killer just never got around to her by the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an Honest Review.

I really love a nice slasher novel and this really hit the spot. I'm on edge the entire read, just the way I love it. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

Not a bad book actually, the first two thirds of the book played out like a movie and kept me interested with the creepiness and suspense of old empty theatres and fearful warnings to the young aspiring actress.
The last bit of the book seemed a little rushed though and all of a sudden spiralled into a major deathfest after a slow burn and creepy thriller. Which knocked a star off for me unfortunately.
Not too keen on the end either but all in all a solid thriller/horror.

This was beyond brilliant!
Taut, scary and terrifyingly fun.
Packed with an assortment of despicable characters and with a massive twist you’d never guess, this creepy story packs a blood stained punch!
Fans of the late Richard Laymon will love this fast paced tale.
Highly recommended.
5 Stars.

As soon as I saw the premise for this book I knew I had to read it and it definitely didn't disappoint. It hooked me into the darkness and kept me in its clutches for the entirety. I loved it

I was hooked from the cover and description, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the genre. It had that horror element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed figuring out what was going on. R. Saint Claire has a strong style for this genre and was glad I read this.

A slasher with a 20 year vengeful spirit 🎭

Too slow coming into the action and then wedged all in at the end. There was no build up of tension. And the character’s were really like character’s being play acted.