Megan Miranda is my favorite author, so I was really looking forward to this book but I would say it’s about 3.5/3.75 stars for me. It was a good and easy read, but I didn’t feel that it had the quite same allure as her books usually do.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of You Belong Here.
Megan Miranda’s newest novel is perfect for fans of dark academia thrillers. Single mother, Beckett Bowery, has done what she hoped to never do —- drop her only daughter off at the college campus she had hoped to never set foot on again.
Hoping to hide from the spotlight of a 20 year old scandal involving her old roommate, Beckett is drawn back to campus after her daughter, Delilah, suddenly disappears one night. Despite her best efforts, Beckett must face up to her past in order to protect her daughter.
Overall I very much enjoyed You Belong Here, however the ending seemed a bit disjointed and rushed. I would still 100% recommend it to a friend!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel. Local Woman Missing was a favorite of mine and I was excited to get my hands on this new release.

The story begins with Beckett (how cool is that name!?) returning back to a place she left long ago. A place with deep roots and past tragedies. She returns to escort her “adult” daughter to college. The novel escalates into a slow burn of past secrets, former relationships, and a key detail.

The novel is told in 3 parts with chapters alternating between the past and present. I found the setting to be too complicated for the plot of the book. The “howling” tradition is explained in so much detail but diluted with too many secondary characters. What’s a secret? What is a red herring? This novel keeps you guessing until the end.

A thrilling book that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Full of twists and turns and shocks. Brilliant! I highly recommend reading this book! 📖

The cover captivated me plus I've enjoyed other Megan Miranda books I've read! This book was everything I was hoping for and more. Although I figured somethings out there was too many twists to figure it all out. Thanks to the publishers and NetGallery for this arc!!

Megan Miranda does it again! I have always loved her books and they pull me in definitely recommend. Does have some twist that I did not expect as do all of her books!

I didn't love this one. The plot felt convoluted and forced. The writing was what I've come to expect from Megan Miranda- good for a twisty thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I mean, you can’t tease me about a past character and the only give me A FEW sentences about how they came back. It felt like such a let-down.

Now, was it well-written? Sure, I still enjoyed the plot. The story was fun enough that I really wanted to finish it.

But it didn’t feel as twisty as her other books and I felt like I was heading to the ending the entire book. Nothing too exciting happened unfortunately 😫 Also, that ending was RUSHED!

Beckett returned to the place she thought she never would when her daughter Delilah got into the very college she herself had left. 2 people were killed in a fire 20 years ago and this story brings you through twists and turns right until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I have loved Megan Miranda’s work beginning with the first book of hers I ever tried (and now I have read her entire library!), and this book is no exception. It is very well written, easy to read, and kept me engaged from start to finish. I definitely would recommend this book to others!

Honestly, I’m still trying to figure out my thoughts on this book. It definitely wasn’t my favorite Megan Miranda book. It was a slow burn thriller and the results were unexpected. I still confused by it and feel like we could’ve gotten more answers in the end. I wish I liked the characters more and I wish there was more character development. I will note, however, that Megan Miranda did a great job in the details of the small college town the story took place in and I could imagine the setting. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley.

I know it would be a great story as I enjoyed Megan Miranda's other books.

She did not disappoint!

I loved the pace and quick chapters as it made you want to see what was going to happen next.

You said:


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ChatGPT said:
Here’s a condensed version of your letter, keeping the tone heartfelt and impactful while meeting the 1000-character limit (including spaces):

In 27 years, I’ve written many recommendations—but Daniel is the best student I’ve encountered. I met him through our Summer ELL Program, where he volunteered to improve his Spanish while helping newly arrived students. His empathy and leadership made everyone feel welcome, and he continues to support many of those students today.

Daniel’s leadership extends well beyond the summer. As school newspaper editor, he transformed it into a platform for social justice and proposed stipends for under-resourced staff. He also manages our 70-member tutoring team, coordinating over 100 weekly sessions. His organizational talent and dedication are unmatched.

Daniel is a powerful speaker and has helped lead hunger advocacy events. He combines intelligence, drive, kindness, and a passion for equity. I know he will make a lasting impact wherever he goes.







You said:
So I met with princeton university in september about having tutors come in and volunteer with students. then they got a meeting set up in november. Finally they emails me two weeks ago and its been soooooo long that 1. i dont think thy have their shit together 2. I don't have time to work on this 3. there is only one quarter lect in the school year. let's outline a nice way to tell them this project will be shelved until next year. I dont want to offend them but really these tutors arent that great. I ugess one compromise would be to have some come in and help with ap test prep. but I think it's insane that I dont know their abilities, their schedules or anyting like that and I would have to supervise them which would really cut into my other work

2/2

ChatGPT said:
Totally get it—and you're being more than generous with your patience here. It's a delicate balance: you don’t want to burn a bridge with Princeton, but you also need to protect your time and make sure any partnerships are actually helpful. Here’s a warm, diplomatic outline for your message that communicates the reality without offending them:

Subject: Re: Princeton Tutoring Partnership – Looking Ahead

Hi [Name],

Thank you so much for following up. I appreciate the time and energy you've put into trying to move this project forward.

After some reflection, and given where we are in the school year, I think the best course of action is to pause this initiative for now and look ahead to next year. With just one quarter left, it would be difficult to integrate a new tutoring team in a way that’s meaningful and manageable for students—and for our existing programming.

As you know, strong tutoring partnerships require coordination, structure, and time to build relationships with students. Unfortunately, I don’t have the bandwidth right now to onboard and supervise a new group properly, and I wouldn’t want to launch something that doesn’t set your students—or ours—up for success.

That said, if a few of your students have experience with AP content, we might be able to explore a limited collaboration specifically around AP test prep in April or May. I’d be happy to revisit that possibility with you if it seems feasible.

Otherwise, I’d love to stay in touch and revisit this idea in the fall when we can plan and structure it more intentionally.

Thanks again for your interest in supporting our students—I truly value the potential of this partnership, and I hope we can reconnect when the timing is better.

Warmly,
[Your Name]

Let me know if you want to make it more casual or more formal—totally flexible. And yes, you’re absolutely right to be cautious about bringing in unknown volunteers this late in the game.







You said:
I think that is really good but it's going to be a zoom meeting so maybe I need an outline
ChatGPT said:
Ah! Got it—if you're delivering this in a Zoom meeting, it definitely helps to have a clear and kind outline so you can keep the tone warm but set boundaries. Here’s a suggested outline you can have in front of you. You can adapt your tone based on how the conversation goes, but this will keep you anchored:

Zoom Meeting Talking Points: Pausing the Tutoring Project
1. Start with Appreciation & Acknowledgment

Thank them genuinely for their time and effort trying to get this project off the ground.

Acknowledge their interest in supporting your students—it means a lot.

“First, thank you so much for staying in touch and for being committed to this. I really appreciate the time and energy you've put into trying to get a tutoring initiative going with us.”

2. Gently Address the Timing & Realities

Be honest, but kind, about how late in the year it is.

Mention that meaningful implementation just isn’t realistic with only one quarter left.

“That said, I’ve had to step back and think about the logistics and what’s feasible with the time we have left this year. With only one quarter to go, I don’t think we’d be able to meaningfully integrate a new tutoring team in a way that really benefits students—or uses your volunteers’ time well.”

3. Share Your Bandwidth Limits (Subtly)

Let them know your plate is full and you can’t give this what it needs right now.

Emphasize the importance of supervision, structure, and alignment.

“To do this right would require time to onboard volunteers, understand their strengths, coordinate schedules, and provide oversight. And at this point, I just don’t have the capacity to give that kind of attention without compromising other essential work I’m doing.”

4. Float a Limited Compromise (Optional)

Offer a narrow window of collaboration if it’s truly manageable.

Keep the bar low—maybe AP prep, maybe nothing.

“If there are one or two students who are particularly strong in AP content, we could possibly discuss a small-scale effort to support AP test prep in April or May—but only if that’s a good fit and low-lift for both sides.”

5. Reframe for the Future

Express interest in revisiting the idea in the fall with more lead time.

Let them know it’s not a no—it’s just a ‘not right now.’

“I’d love to keep this conversation open and revisit it in the fall when we have more time to plan, match students thoughtfully, and ensure the experience is positive for everyone involved.”

6. Close with Warmth

End on a friendly, forward-looking note.

Leave the door open while reinforcing your decision.

“I really value the potential of this collaboration, and I’m hopeful we can reconnect at a better time. Thanks again for being flexible and understanding.”

Let me know if you want a little one-liner if they push back (“But even a few tutors could help now!”) or if you want to roleplay any part of the meeting!


2/2







You said:
other words for kind, committed, caring
ChatGPT said:
Absolutely! Here are some great alternatives to kind, committed, and caring—each with slightly different vibes depending on the tone you want to strike (warm, professional, or heartfelt):

Instead of Kind:
Compassionate

Thoughtful

Warm-hearted

Generous

Considerate

Gentle

Gracious

Supportive

Good-natured

Big-hearted

Instead of Committed:
Dedicated

Devoted

Engaged

Invested

Reliable

Passionate

Driven

Consistent

Dependable

Intentional

Instead of Caring:
Empathetic

Nurturing

Compassionate (can work for both)

Attentive

Heartfelt

Understanding

Responsive

Protective

Altruistic

Benevolent

If you're using these in your Zoom conversation and want to sound both appreciative and clear-headed, a few combos might be:

“I appreciate how invested and thoughtful you’ve been throughout this process.”

“It’s clear how dedicated your team is to making a difference.”

“Your willingness to support students in such a warm and intentional way really stands out.”

Want me to plug a few of these into a revised Zoom script or quick response phrases for the call?







You said:
make this into two sentences:LLS Student Visionaries of the Year, JCYF, Food Aid,etc) I do want to let you know that I just completed the 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign as a chosen Candidate, where I individually raised over $13,000 and helped lead my team to over $40,000. I also ended that campaign winning its Mission Pillar Award for Patient Education and Support. 
ChatGPT said:
Sure! Here's a revised version in two sentences:

I recently completed the 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign as a chosen Candidate, during which I individually raised over $13,000 and helped lead my team to raise over $40,000. I was honored to end the campaign by receiving the Mission Pillar Award for Patient Education and Support.







You said:
The Woman in Suite 11 is a sequal to the Woman in Cabin 10! Catch up with Lo Blackenstock as she reenters the workforce from her stay at home care for her kids. She recieves and amazing invite to the opening of a luxkourious hotel in Switzeralnd. She is able to get a few of her old contacts modereately interewsted in a potential travel article so she takes the leap and heads off.

It's an eclectic bunch but she finds quickly that many of the peopl who were on that infamous boat with her have also been invited. What doulc this mean? Lo is then invited to the walthy hotel owner;s private suit and the suprise of her life wait for her.

Can she

#gallery #thewomaninsuite11 #ruthware
ChatGPT said:
Ooooh, I love where you're going with this! It has that perfect Ruth Ware vibe—eerie luxury, secrets behind polished smiles, and a heroine who can’t quite escape her past. Here's a polished version of your blurb that still captures your energy and excitement, while smoothing out grammar, spelling, and flow:

The Woman in Suite 11 is the highly anticipated sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10!

Catch up with Lo Blacklock as she reenters the workforce after stepping away to care for her children. When she receives an exclusive invitation to the grand opening of a luxurious new hotel nestled in the Swiss Alps, she can’t resist. With a few of her former contacts showing moderate interest in a potential travel feature, Lo takes the leap—and the trip.

The guest list is eclectic, but something quickly feels... off. Several attendees were also aboard that infamous cruise years ago. Is it coincidence, or is something far more sinister at play?

Then Lo receives a personal invitation to the private suite of the hotel’s wealthy and enigmatic owner—Suite 11—and what she finds there will change everything.

Can Lo stay ahead of the secrets unraveling around her, or will history repeat itself?

#gallery #thewomaninsuite11 #ruthware #thrillerreads #whodunnitwithwine

Let me know if you want it more dramatic, more bookstagram-friendly, or want to make it look like a fake book listing or Instagram caption. I’m here for it.







You said:
Ella Winters became a start 20 years ago as the final girl in a slasher film called Grad Night. But the wrap party lead to a disaster and she decided that was enought for her. She disappeared from actiibng to care for her mother who supported all of her work.

Folloiwng the death of her mother, 20 years later, she is ready to rentered the acting world. 20 years later its not as easy7 to break in and she is forced to agfeee to a reunion of the grad night crew. It all comes slamming back when she reaches the property - all that went wrong and the few things that went right.

Flashing back between then and now we learn what happened and whos at fault the qiuestion is who is trying to get revenge now?
. #randomhouse #smileforthecameras #mirandasmith
ChatGPT said:
Yesss—this has serious Final Girl meets The Reunion vibes and I’m totally here for it! Here's a polished and slightly amped-up version of your blurb that still keeps your voice and tone intact, with some suspense layered in:

Smile for the Cameras by Miranda Smith is a gripping thriller about fame, memory, and the final girl who was never allowed to forget.

Twenty years ago, Ella Winters became a star as the final girl in the cult slasher Grad Night. But after a disastrous wrap party and a personal tragedy, she walked away from the spotlight to care for the one person who had always believed in her—her mother.

Now, following her mother’s death, Ella is ready to step back into the acting world. But Hollywood isn’t kind to women who’ve been gone too long, and her only real offer is a Grad Night reunion special. Against her better judgment, she agrees.

But the moment she steps back onto the remote estate where it all ended, Ella feels it: the past hasn’t stayed buried. Flipping between then and now, secrets unravel, loyalties are tested, and Ella begins to question not just what happened that night—but who might be seeking revenge now.

Because someone’s still watching. And this time, the cameras aren’t the only ones rolling.

#randomhouse #smileforthecameras #mirandasmith #finalgirlenergy #thrillerfiction #gradhorrorsurvivor

Want help turning this into an Instagram caption, ARC review pitch, or back-of-the-book style copy? Just say the word!







You said:
This is a crazy twisty tale of academia.

Beckett never wantted to retruned to her old college town -her parents till reside there and love it dearly - she is named after the building they taught in! But when Beckett's college daughter applies and is accepted to Wyatt. She is forced to open herself to old memories - when she was a college students there was two deaths and her roommate disappeared that night. The authrooities believed she was at fualter as well and covering for her. The school made her take a leave and she vowed to never returnd.

Here she is again at teh school when her own daughter disapears.
#simonelement #youbelonghere #meganmiranda
ChatGPT said:
Ooooh this is giving classic Megan Miranda energy—dark academia meets generational secrets with a haunting return to the past. Here’s a polished and suspenseful version of your blurb, perfect for drawing readers in and still keeping that intense, twisty vibe:

You Belong Here is a chilling, twist-filled tale of memory, motherhood, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Beckett never wanted to return to her old college town. Her parents still live there—and even named her after the very building they taught in at Wyatt College. But when her daughter applies and is accepted to the same university, Beckett finds herself forced to confront the place she swore she’d left behind.

Because when Beckett was a student, two people died—and her roommate vanished without a trace. Authorities believed Beckett knew more than she admitted, even suspecting she helped cover it up. The scandal forced her out, and she promised never to come back.

Until now.

When her daughter disappears from campus, Beckett is dragged back into a world she’s tried desperately to forget. But the past isn’t finished with her. And someone is determined to remind her that at Wyatt… you never really leave.

#simonelement #youbelonghere #meganmiranda #darkacademia #missinggirls #thrillerreads

My review will be biased with my longtime love of this author. This is a very fast paced mystery with very few unexpected twists. The overall story was exceptionally engaging and I couldn’t put it down. Beckett and the love she feels for her daughter shone through every page, as did the fear and distrust she had for her home town and college. The ending though fell flat, enough so that I reread several pages in fears I had missed something. The whole resolution to Beckett’s story seemed unreasonable and forced. That resolution ends up negatively affecting the enter book. 3 1/2 stars rounded to 4. Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Megan Miranda is an auto-request author for me. Each book she writes manages to out-do the last. I loved the decades-old collegiate mystery (and the small town setting!) of You Belong Here. It was the perfect backdrop for the story.

While I really enjoyed it, it feels very unfinished to me. I'm not a fan of flashbacks — and, honestly, didn't find them necessary in this book — but if you're going to have them, commit to them. Adalyn and Beckett's relationship felt underwritten. I couldn't understand the trajectory of their friendship and how things culminated the way they did. The ending also left a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions.

If Miranda had tightened up the story just a little more, this might have been my favorite book of hers yet. That said, even with the gaps I mentioned, it still outshines many other authors.

Beckett's daughter is a freshman at Wyatt College. She lives a few hours away and is awoken by a call from her daughter late one night. No one answers but Beckett can hear the wind and a small gasp. She tries to contact her daughter and when she doesn't get in touch with her, she travels to the college where there are no signs of her. Beckett doesn't know who to trust at Wyatt. When she was a senior at the same college, two men mysteriously died and her roommate was the main suspect. Her roommate disappeared the same night and was never seen again. Beckett was also considered a person under suspicion and was eventually asked to leave the college. She wonders if her daughter's disappearance is tied to the events that happened when she was in college. There are a few eerie scenes when she knows someone has been in her parent's house. Overall it's a good mystery.

Megan Miranda delivers another gripping thriller with You Belong Here, weaving past and present into a suspenseful mystery. Beckett, a mother haunted by a tragic fire from her college years, must confront her past when her daughter Delilah mysteriously disappears from the same campus. While the slow start made me hesitant, the tension builds masterfully, and the family dynamics add emotional depth. The alternating timelines enhance the suspense, revealing secrets that kept me hooked until the final twist. Though I wished for more danger and intensity, the quiet terror and atmospheric writing made for an engaging read. A solid four-star thriller that lingers long after the last page.

Beckett Bowery has long history in Wyatt Valley. She grew up there. Both of her parents taught at the local college, Wyatt College. She was named for the campus building where they taught. A tragic incident during her senior year cause her to leave and she didn't think she'd be back. But fast forward 18 years later, and her daughter, Delilah, has now chosen Wyatt College. Beckett is forced to return and relive the tragedy that ended her time in the picturesque town.

I got lost a couple times in this one or maybe I checked out. I'm still not entirely sure I know what "the Howling" is. There were definitely twists and turns near the end, but it was a slow burning read to get there. And then everything just got wrapped up in a few pages. It had a few moments that were great, but otherwise pretty flat.

Love anything Megan Miranda writes. Her twists are always good and keep me guessing. This one is no different.

I had to sit on this one for a little bit before reviewing. The story starts with Beckett sending her daughter, Delilah, off to her alma mater against her wishes due to her own traumatic experiences. When Delilah suddenly goes missing, she worries her biggest fears are coming true.

The pacing of "You Belong Here" was unique - I'll admit that I had a hard time getting into it with the first few chapters, but once things picked up I couldn't put it down until I finished it! I really enjoyed Beckett and Delilah's characters and relationship, leaving me wanting to read more! Lots of twists and turns, but my biggest gripe was with Beckett's backstory. Every few chapters we'd get a snippet of what happened with her friend when they were students, but they were few and far between. Unfortunately, due to this lack of development, the ending felt more confusing than shocking/suspenseful, and I had a hard time keeping the characters and their involvement straight - I finished with a lot more questions than answers! That being said, I still had a great time reading this one and would have no hesitation to read more from Miranda! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thanks for the ARC!