I love young adult mystery thrillers. This one had a lot of twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and I loved the mysterious aspect.

Maybe I’m just not the demographic for this book but I couldn’t finish it and it’s super short. This was formatted very oddly and hard to read.

I think a lot of reviewers didn't understand that this is a high-interest/low-level book, which Orca Publishing is known for. As a Special Educator, I've used many of their books in the past with my middle schoolers.

I am giving five stars because I can't, in good conscience, give lower. It was VERY difficult for me to read this e-ARC though, due to formatting. It was very hard to comprehend because it was not formatted properly for my Kindle. I'm not sure if this is/will be fixed elsewhere.

I think the story is very high-interest, especially for a high school level. The reading level also seems appropriate for those who need low-level stories. Some of the issues I've had with Orca books in the past is the length and the hefty paragraphs. This one appears to be more of a mixed-media type book, which I think would be very conducive to high schoolers needing a lower level book.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC, and my apologies for not getting this review up sooner!

This didn't feel like the whole novel; it felt more like an outline. The concept of a man being blackmailed and realizing that he has been a bully for much of his life is present, but it is completely undeveloped. It might have been much better if the author had gone back and given the plot and characters more depth.

This felt like an outline of a book, not the full thing. There's an idea there about a guy being blackmailed and realizing that he's been a bully most of his life, but it's bare bones and not fleshed out at all. If the author redid this and added more details to the plot and characters, it could have been much better.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley for the copy

⭐️⭐️

𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙈𝙮𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧.

📍 Read if you like:
• YA Mysteries
• Quick Reads
• Dark Secrets
• Blackmail Stories

This book is about 80 pages so it was such a quick read I finished it in like an hour. When I requested it, I didn’t realize it was this short!

The premise sounded so interesting. Blackmail stories are always so intriguing and I like stories that follow school students, specifically a valedictorian.

I didn’t love this book, I found it a bit dull and the mystery aspect was a bit lackluster. I did like that the story took place for a few hours, before the big valedictorian speech.

However, the book itself wasn’t something I enjoyed. I understand what the author was doing, but I found so moments to be over the top.

While this book wasn’t for me at all, I can respect what the author did. I did enjoy the pacing and quick story that I could read in one sitting. I liked the graduation and valedictorian part of it!

Short and confusing story. While I understand it is supposed to be for those who don’t want long reads, I feel nothing came from this story. What was the point? Someone called him on six times he was awful? And magically that changed how he lived his life? When “the worst” time he was awful he actually was the one who stopped the hazing? I don’t know. Not for me I guess.

What would you do if everything you worked for could be gone in a flash with just one text? Myles is preparing for his graduation as Valedictorian of his graduating class when he receives a strange and mysterious message from "O" that threatens everything. Myles has a choice to make and time is clicking.

These are fantastic! A perfect bite size thrill for young adults. I could definitely see these being great for young readers in-between classes or on the go. A great story that had ended with positive messaging for young readers.

I am way too old to be reading this book. I am 27 and I read a lot of YA. But this book just felt super young. I didn’t like the writing or the plot.

Countdown is a quick suspenseful read. I got through this one quickly because I wanted to know what would happen! Definitely add this YA book to your list when you need a quick read! Thanks, Netgalley

The Orca series of books is geared towards YA. The premise that the stories are usually socially themed and aimed at YA who may not want to read a long book.

I read a lot of these because they are perfect for our English titles and they are almost always excellent.

Countdown is no exception.

I kind of knew what the "secret" would be before even opening the book, but I have to say that the author did a wonderful job of pacing and giving us just enough information to propel the book forward.

Engaging writing and the main character is fleshed put and I actually found myself involved in how the life story would end.

Let me start out I like Young Adult novels and I love mystery, thrillers, and dark twisty reads..this was a miss for me.. Before I get to deep let me explain why..
I get no gratitude out of giving a bad review. 😮‍💨
.
1) The format.. I understand it was all text messages you were clear on the copy write page. So was the first chapter (beginning on the same page). But when you read text messages they are on different lines no two messages are on the same line it was so confusing! No quotation marks, And not knowing who's texting what in hope to catch a name somewheres..
2) The whole find me game over a picture..seems over used 😒 It was a Pretty Little Liers all over again. It didn't capture my attention.
3)The ending.. could have been way better, all this nonsense over a failed grade 😮‍💨 it wasn't executed well. It was thrown together and wasn't thought out.
4) I read later this is written for reads on 1.0 and 2.0 reading levels.. even for them this isn't an ideal book 😕 and losing virginity in a second grade book (mentioned not a scene) definitely puts this past that.

This book was okay. I think it was extremely short and the entire book was written in text messages (personally that is not my style), however this could be great for people looking for a quick read and for people that are looking for something new (the plot idea is amazing and the text messages dialogue is very unique), overall the plot was good, it just didn’t reach a big climax (that could be because this book felt like more of a short story). Overall, this book wasn’t bad, but not great. I’d give it like a 2.75/5.

Thankyou Netgalley for allowing me to review this title early in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't like this story. I found it very strange and not very interesting. The mystery element was very underwhelming and hard to understand. The writing felt very congealed. I didn't mind the characters but nothing unfortunately sticks out for me with this title. Love the idea and cover though.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC. I am leaving an 100% honest review.

I really enjoyed the Countdown. It is not a long story but it grabs one's attention.

I really enjoy the care that was used to make this book Dyslexia friendly. Having interesting and age appropriate books is important to encourage anyone to read, this book does that.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from Orca Book Publishers and #NetGalley. Thank you to the publishers, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


I DNF this one and that says it all. I found it confusing, messy and jumbled.

A great mystery book for teens! It was able to hold my attention and I had no trouble following it. I finished it in 2 days! Great read.

I enjoyed this young adult mystery novel, it did what was promised from the description. I really enjoyed the way it was written and the plot going on in this. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their secrets. It was what I was hoping for and really glad I read this. I don't know if everyone will like the way it was formatted and that's why I rated this 4 stars.

"You ditched me. I know I screwed up. That’s on me. But you just stopped talking to me. As soon as they kicked us out, it was like we were dead to you."

Countdown by M.J. McIsaac was an interesting quick read.
McIsaac did a good job keeping the mystery going and holding my attention throughout.
I believe teens will find this book enjoyable.
An intriguing whodunnit. With characters that kept me tuning the pages.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Orca Book,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

First, thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for my advanced copy! I have recently started reading YA books more often and the cover and description of this one really intrigued me!

I liked that Countdown was written mainly in text messages but I do think the execution fell a bit flat. For example, some of the text messages made it seem like the person was talking aloud not texting because of the stammering and use of excessive punctuation.

Overall, it was a fast-paced "whodunnit" that kept my interest until the end. There is lots of potential here!