I was kind of shocked by this one. The middle school bullying and general dynamics really hit me hard in a way that I was not expecting. This book perfectly captures the way that everything at that point in your life feels so life or death because it’s the first time you’ve ever experienced crushes, popularity, peer pressure, etc. I felt actually nauseous at the way Alison was treated in middle school because it felt so believable and awful. Rachel’s development throughout the book was really well done, and watching the guilt eat away at her over the course of the writing of her article for the school paper was gut-wrenching. I was fascinated by the small-town and class dynamics that subconsciously drove middle school life and the similar way that politics dominated Rachel’s college experience despite her desperation to avoid choosing a side. Just a sickening and fascinating read. I thought the ending was a little rushed, and I wish her relationships with the other girls who worked at the newspaper were better fleshed out, but overall, I loved this and have already started recommending it to people for when it comes out.

Rachel learns her childhood rival, Alison, is found dead in the same pond where they parted ways years ago. Rachel, who saw Alison the night she died and said something regrettable, feels implicated. Joining the murder investigation, Rachel confronts their complicated past, uncovering cruelties that challenge her understanding of their relationship and the events leading to Alison's death.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Putnam and the author for providing me with an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This was a hard book to read, to remember how awful teenagers can be. But I thought Kate Russo did a great job of getting into the head of someone who was in that middle ground of not quite bullied/not quite a bully, and acknowledging the guilt that accompanies that position. I only wish we had learned more about Alison’s life between high school and college, to get a better understanding of who she was at the end.

Also, maybe spoiler: it frustrated me that the police said they “thought” the body was Alison. They held a press conference with the entire town without having a formal ID? That seemed completely unprofessional and made me expect that there would be some body-switch/“she’s been alive the whole time!” nonsense.

I devoured this book in one day. I loved the small town Maine settings. The cast of characters all felt so complex to me which made it even more interesting and I found myself thinking about them, even when I wasn’t actively reading. They all seemed deeply flawed and real and I appreciated that. I will recommend this to my friends and social media.

Love everything by this author. Always suspenseful, fast paced and sorry to fet to the final page. GReat story great intrigue and great entertainment.

i liked this book. the themes of loss, growth, guilt, and relationships were interesting and well written. I think the writing was good, and the pacing of the book was pretty good.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

*Until Alison* by Kate Russo is a gripping exploration of love, grief, and the complexities of human relationships, set against the backdrop of a small coastal town. Russo's evocative prose and keen emotional insight make this novel both a poignant and unforgettable read.

The night Alison was murdered, Rachel could have stopped it. When Rachel Nardelli finds out Alison Petrucci her childhood rival is found dead in Pleasant Pond, the same place the two girls had first said goodbye to each other back in eighth grade, the town of Waterbury is outraged by the fear of losing one of their own the heir to Maine’s largest construction company. But it’s a little more complicated for Rachel. She saw Alison the night she died. Callous, she said something she shouldn’t have. She stirred up the past. The next morning, Alison was gone! Good book! This book had suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, a good who done it and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was interesting, it wasn't one of my top favorite but still worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

this was a strong murder mystery novel, it had that element that I wanted and enjoyed the elmeent of this. I was hooked from the first page and was engaged with what was happening with what was happening. Kate Russo wrote this perfectly and left me wanting to read more in this world. It had that mystery element that I was looking for and glad everything worked.

This was a great book. There was some mystery and lots of thrill. I liked that the story had duel timelines so you could see the relationship between Alison and Rachel and what happened to their relationship. The writing was gripping and intense but oh so good.

Rachel is a senior at Denman College, living a quiet life with just a handful of friends and her deep commitment to the college newspaper driving her. Her dream of becoming a journalist consumes her focus, leaving little room for anything else. But when a body is found in Pleasant Pond—her hometown—it shakes her carefully constructed world. The shock turns to disbelief when the victim is identified as Alison, her former high school nemesis. Rachel is left reeling. Can she cover the story with journalistic integrity? And what will the unearthing of their shared past mean for her future?

Through a series of expertly crafted flashbacks, Kate Russo masterfully builds tension and delves into the complex relationship between Rachel and Alison. The slow unraveling of what drove these two apart is as compelling as the central mystery itself. Russo shines in her portrayal of personal relationships, vividly capturing the stressors, fears, and conflicts that high school and college students often navigate.

While some aspects, such as the boyfriend character, occasionally feel like convenient plot devices, they are still grounded enough to remain believable. The emotional depth and authenticity of Rachel's journey, paired with the gripping central mystery, more than make up for any minor shortcomings.

Until Alison is an engrossing tale of secrets, rivalries, and self-discovery that fans of coming-of-age mysteries will absolutely enjoy. Russo’s talent for exploring human dynamics and crafting suspenseful storytelling ensures this book will linger in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page.

#Putnam #UntilAlison #KateRusso