I really liked this author's debut novel, That's Not My Name. So, I assumed I'd like this one to. A thriller with gossip girl characters and a tragic backstory.

However, it fell flat for me. I predicted the outcome of this book a mile away, and just to prove it to myself, skipped to the end to confirm. None of the characters are likeable or even nice. Even the people trying to get justice break the law in order to get their way.

Overall, it just wasn't for me. It wasn't poorly written, and Lally has a lot of potential, but this story just wasn't it.

High school students are vicious. Brooke appears to be the perfect student, seemingly headed for Yale. But beneath the surface nothing is as it appears. While heading home from a bonfire beach party with her best friend, an old Bronco tries to run them off the road. What secrets has Brooke been hiding. Will they keep her from her dream college? How far will Brooke go to protect her image and snag the guy of her dreams? This edge of you seat thriller packs a big punch with some crazy twists.

The narrator was great. The production quality was top notch. A very enjoyable listen. Thank you to RB media fir the ALC.

4 STARS

DNF. I couldn't get into it and then the main character made a comment that I didn't like and it made me stop reading. A personal choice, so I can't provide a complete review. But the fact that I dnfed says it all. Sorry.

Megan Lally crafts a fast-paced and engaging YA thriller in No Place Left to Hide. The story grabs your attention early, pulling readers into a whirlwind of suspense and intrigue. The main protagonist’s journey is relatable and filled with moments of tension that keep the pages turning.

With its straightforward writing style and action-packed plot, this book is a great introduction to the thriller genre for younger readers or those seeking a quick, exciting read. The twists and turns, while somewhat predictable at times, add a layer of fun that keeps the story moving.

Though it may not dive deep into character development, the focus on pacing and suspense makes it an enjoyable ride for fans of light thrillers. No Place Left to Hide is a solid choice for anyone looking for an accessible, high-energy YA read.

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally is an intimate, raw, and thought-provoking memoir that offers a candid and sometimes heart-wrenching look into the life of a woman dealing with profound personal and societal challenges. Written with a striking combination of vulnerability and strength, Lally delves deep into her journey of self-discovery, survival, and the pursuit of safety in a world that often feels threatening and uncertain.I really enjoyed this audiobook and look forward to more books from this author!!

Thanks to NetGalley for this review copy!
3.5/5
13+
YA Thriller/Mystery

This follows Brooke, who goes to a prestigious private school, comes from a reputable family and has the perfect life. The novel switches between two timelines, "before" and "now". Both take place over the course of one night, so it feels as though you're reading it as it happens. A character who died in the "before" scene plays a big role, and people keep targeting Brooke and blaming her for Claire's mysterious death a year ago. After Brooke attends a party for college acceptances, she realizes that someone is watching her and that she's going to be chased down for the rest of the night until the anonymous stalker finds her.

Not too long ago, I read "That's Not My Name" by the same author and LOVED it. The plot twist, the flow, the dual perspectives, and it was really fun. So I'm giving this one a go, and since NetGalley had this up for review, I thought it was perfect! I liked it but didn't love it. It was a nice read, and the plot twist and ending were really satisfying. I would totally recommend it for a YA thriller if you're looking for something specifically like this. I've always loved thrillers which take place at a lake house so it was no surprise that I felt drawn to this novel. It's very different from her first book but the writing is really nice.

I listened to the audiobook of this one and the narrator did a good job. This is.a quick read and a fast paced thriller. I didn’t think it was as twisty as some reviews (I saw the ending coming) but it was still the kind of book that keeps you glued to the pages. This one is hard to review since it’s hard to talk about the plot without giving anything away. Brooke has worked hard to be perfect and achieve her dream of Yale and it comes down to today Ivy day. She doesn’t want to go to the party to celebrate the Ivy acceptances even if she gets in, but her best friend is persistent. Unfortunately for Brooke some secrets won’t stay hidden. This one is a fun read and quite entertaining. I gave it3.5 stars rounded up because it was action packed and a fun read.

This read like one of those 2000’s “horror” movies we watched back in the day. You know like Hitcher or Wax House. Something like that.
It was good but it was also had some extremely disturbing characters. I found it to be not super believable and kind of shallow.
I loved Megab Lally’s first because it’s YA without feeling super young. This one just didn’t do that. It felt very YA and immature. Either way, very entertaining.
Thank you netgalley!

Going into this book, I didn’t realize it was a young adult thriller, and despite that it was entertaining, but I did not feel like I connected at all to the characters and the twist and conclusion felt pretty rushed I am sure it is a really good book For the younger crowd.

Synopsis

To Brooke, maintaining a flawless image is crucial. She diligently strives for top grades, impeccable looks, and an ideal life—especially after "the incident" that almost shattered everything. Getting accepted into her dream university brings her closer to a new chapter. How could she resist celebrating with her peers? Chilling by the bonfire with her crush feels like the perfect way to end the night. But the night is far from over. An old truck starts to follow Brooke and her best friend closely on the lonely road home. Someone seems to have uncovered the truth about "the incident," and they won’t rest until it’s revealed. This nerve-wracking drive is about to unearth Brooke's greatest fears… if she can survive it

My Thoughts
First off, I have to say that Megan Lally is an incredibly talented writer. The audiobook was super fast-paced and really easy to listen to. I was hooked and wanted to know what was going to happen next, so I flew through it. The story jumps between the past and present, with different points of view, and each memory sheds light on the mystery of what went down at the lake. Some parts were a bit predictable, but there were definitely twists I didn’t see coming! It kept me on my toes right until the very end, which totally blew my mind. I think this book/audiobook is perfect for its intended audience of young adults.

Thank You @netgally and @RBmedia for allowing me to review this audiobook

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book and audiobook in exchange for my honest review

This book is a FANTASTIC YA thriller!! Trust me, you will not believe the ending/twist of this story. It was crazy. Megan Lally certainly knows how to keep a reader hooked! If you are looking for a fast paced YA thriller in 2025, I highly recommend this book. I do think it is best to go into this book blind so I will not be sharing much about the story, but just trust me...you definitely need to pick up this book! Justis Bolding does an super job with the narration of the audiobo0k, so I highly recommend you pick that up as well!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a fantastic read!

Thanks netgalley and Megan Lilly for an arc in exchange for honest review.

I’d give this 3 stars, it was very fast paced but predictable. Overall the ending wasn’t terrible but also major plot hole with her friend ! I also wished Brooke got a pov in the aftermath at the end ! I enjoy thrillers where everyone’s a villain & includes a good dual timeline. I’d still be interested in checking out that’s not my name.

The narrator is really good at conveying the characters' emotions to the point the whole listening felt like a movie. I think the way author used the dual line is another reason for this. Characters were what you would expect from a YA novel. I think if the plot wasn't predictable and characters were more developed, it would read better. What I had the problem with is what you call "teenage drama". I tend to avoid books with this theme and thoroughout the book again and again I was reminded of why I dislike it so much. I think ending was kind of rushed and could have been explored further. However, the multimedia chat ending also added some lighthearted content. I suggest you listen to this as an audiobook because it elevated this book. My advice to the author would be to move from young adult to adult thrillers. The novel was really thrilling and I would like to see how she shows her writing in an adult novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and RBMedia Recorded Books for giving me the chance to listen to this story. I will follow this author for her new books.

I finished No Place Left to Hide and, while I didn’t absolutely love it, I did enjoy it for the most part. The plot has a lot of potential—Brooke’s desperate need for control over her image, the lingering trauma of "the incident," and the constant tension of someone possibly exposing her secrets definitely kept me hooked. Lally does a great job of building suspense, especially with the second half of the book. That terrifying road chase scene that had me on edge!

That said, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit uneven, and I wasn’t as emotionally invested in Brooke’s character as I wanted to be. The twists were solid, but I saw a few of them coming, which took away some of the thrill for me. Still, it's an engaging story if you're in the mood for a quick, twisty thriller. I think it's a perfect read for the audiobook format. I enjoyed the narrators a lot. Would I call it a standout? Not quite, but I can definitely see fans of young adult suspense enjoying it!

This book was super predictable. The FMC was acting so dumb, like really clueless about who was setting her up when it became so obvious. Then the ending was too predictable for me, I wasn't surprised in the least by the FMC or her family. They we're rich and entitled. It was semi entertaining up too the second half. Hence the 3 stars, rounding.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook of this novel in exchange of my honest review.

The narrator did an amazing job at bringing the story to life. She added some thrill to the book. This was a nice read. I kind of suspected some of what happened to happen so when the twist came it didn't surprise me as much. I don't think I liked how it frequently flipped from past to present so much but the action was fun.

3.5/5
Audiobook

YA thriller that was an easy and entertaining listen... however, I found the "who is behind it" predictable. The story is full of snotty, entitled characters so I found it difficult to really get invested in the overall outcome.
With that being said, Megan Lally has a talent when it comes to character development, and laying out a good story/plot. Even though I was able to figure out the twists and turns, this story was still full of elements that made it easy to listen to.

3.5⭐️ Brooke is determined to have the perfect life, but when an “incident” occurs, she’ll have to work even harder to maintain her image. Soon Brooke is receiving mysterious phone calls from a stalker who claims to know what happened, all while trying to win over her crush and escape to an Ivy with her and her family’s imagine intact.

I am such a huge fan of Megan Lally’s debut That’s Not My Name, a book they easily made my top reads of 2024. It therefore pains me to say that this much anticipated follow up, while still bingeable and fun, didn’t quite meet the bar the previous book set. While it doesn’t lack for drama, twists or intense plot lines, it did feel way over the top at times particularly in the second half of the book. I also struggled to connect to the characters as literally every single one is unlikeable.

That said, I flew through this one on audio. If you are looking for a popcorn thriller with some subtle “scream” vibes, I would suggest giving this one a try. My favorite part - the sing song automated voice was creepy AF. It’s giving “where are you Mrs. Preston vibes,” and is reason enough to read this one via audio on a cold winters day.*

Read if you like:
▪️rich behaving badly
▪️dual timeline
▪️unlikeable characters
▪️epistolary format

Thank you Recorded Books for the advanced copy.
.
.
.
.
.

*reference to Midnight Lace with Doris Day and Rex Harrison (1960)

There is a lot going on in the book but can be followed. It flips between two different time periods. You need to pay attention or it can get confusing. Good characters. Interesting storyline.

No Place Left to Hide is a fast paced and gripping young adult mystery/thriller.

With unlikeable characters, twisty secrets and revenge, this is ideal for answering looking for a dark and mysterious read. There premise of being pursued on a dark isolated road is creepy and compelling, and the pieces of the mystery slot together for a thrilling and satisfying ending.

This was great as an audiobook, the dramatisation creating a heightened sense of emotion and risk. It’s a quick and easy read - I couldn’t stop listening until I had all the facts.

Thank you RB Media for a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.