The audio book was very well-performed.

The story was fine--"teens survive plane crash and are marooned on deserted island" seems to be a trend.

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, Recorded Books, Laura Bates, and Justis Bolding for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of No Accident in exchange for an honest review.

The book took me a little while to get into just because it was a bit of a task getting to know the seven different characters featured in the story. Though once I got to know them and really got into what was happening in this book, I could not stop listening to the amazing audio version narrated by Justis Bolding. 

No Accident (called The Trial in some countries) starts with the plane crash already having happened, images of the disaster reflected in the eyes of the characters, prominently Hayley, who is the main perspective character of the story. As the seven teens are stranded on a deserted island, there are of course some Lord of the Flies elements to what happens in this novel. It is a teamwork fight for survival when it comes to scrounging up any supplies that can be found and aiming to make a plan to return home. No cell phone service certainly doesn't help anyone.

When strange things start happening to those on the island--someone almost being pushed off a cliff, or someone having bait put in their pocket to perhaps lure a shark--the teens suspect they might not be alone on the island. Or, though they dare not want to think it, one of their own is putting the rest of the group's lives at risk. And if so, why?

Flashbacks and conversations to a not-long-ago party lead to revealing secrets. This novel does talk about rape very openly in force, as well as exploring gender norms with toxic masculinity and acceptable roles for boys versus girls on the island. The conversations that come about from the seven characters are quite intriguing, though be warned for something that might be a trigger.

While there seems to be a lot of hate on this book, I found that it had more than one message to send about the way rape is perceived, especially in the United States, considering each state has its own laws. It all comes down to the perspective of the people involved in the act. There is a lot to say about gender and society as well, like how women are often so cautious and prepared for the worst compared to men, seemingly "living in another world," as one of the boys puts it. No Accident is a fast read that is certainly a good one for the right audience. It's not a cozy fluff novel by any means. The writing craft is fantastic, and there is a lot to be gained for a young adult audience to read this book.

Reading Between the Wines book review #106/135 for 2022:
Rating: 2 1/2 🍷 🍷 🍷 (rounded up to 3)
Book 🎧: No Accident
Author: Laura Bates
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers | Teens & YA
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: If I’ve said it once, I have said it a thousand times, but I love a whodunit that takes place in a one setting. So, reading this blurb, I was too excited to jump in. This book started so promising, and I couldn’t read it fast enough to find out what was happening. Once the reveal came, I really had a WTF moment but not in the way I wanted it. The ending was really a letdown for me. When I say that I mean the rationale behind what was happening and why. With that said, I appreciated the lesson behind it and know that is a very hot topic button that needs to be addressed. I just didn’t feel like it gave what it was meant to give.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @RBMedia for an advanced copy of @NoAccident.

#NoAccident #LauraBates #RBMedia #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #TeensAndYA

That's a very extremely big no for me.

The message could have been done better with a more contemporary drama in high school without all the plane crash and survival on deserted island, with a side of thriller. The "someone is here for revenge" happens only at the 46% mark, that's too long. The story is dragged on, the characters are one dimensional as much as I thought they all were pretty much the same, we got the whoddunit with a big message that basically happens out of nowhere because it suddenly change the book's plot. And I just finished the book and I don't even recall them being actually rescued at the end?? It's so blurry.

And yeah it's a big nope: I completely disagree with how the message of this book was done. I'm going to explain better in a spoiler-y way but to be quick and non-spoilery: acts against the crash's survivors are NOT justified AT ALL, and the person who done it had NO REASONS to do all of this, it's sick and they need mental help. Also as it doesn't says in th blurb: BIG TW for rape, sexual assault and harassment.

!! SPOILER STARTS [[[[[ So, let me explain. The message for this book is all about the rape and the blamming of rape victims, not trusting them, how women can feel on a daily basis, being scared and all, etc.

BUT. We're clearly saying here, through how this message has been done, that it's completly justified to try to hurt and even kill someone (even an innocent person) because you've been raped??? NO. HELL NO!!
There's NO justifications at all for a rape victim (and they are indeed a victim, let's be clear) to act as revenge to someone and try to hurt/kill them just because they're here, on that island, with them. They may have done sexist and disgusting jokes (he can be a total a***ole there's no reason for him to be victim of that) or just thinking the rape victim's was happy the last time they saw them, or just never saw anything, they DON'T deserve being victims of attempted murder. Big no.

Really nothing was ok here. The message could have gone better if they talked about it over a firepit instead of doing horrible things to them to "show them how that feels" ??? The rape victim is a 100% a victim. But the others are also victims, and the way it was told here was completely disregarding the attempted murder victims because they're men and some of them are d*cks. ]]]]] SPOILER ENDS !!

I'm sorry but no, this book is almost saying that vengence is justified, that the attempted murders (because they are) are justified, we don't talk at all that the rape victim needs help for their mental state, they could have snapped because of being on the island and need help, we don't even know what happens to them at the end (or it's said but it's too blurry to be noticed).
I think it's extremely toxic specially comming from an author who are known to be a gender equality activist...

3.5 Stars ~

A group of students are stranded on an island off the Gulf of Mexico and one of them is trying to teach everyone a lesson. Although some of the students think things have gone too far, but the perpetrator isn't going to stop until they all understand what they have done to contribute to their pain and suffering.

This book is a very YA way to discuss some significant topics about sexism, sexual assault and more. Although it was great to bring those topics into the discussion, the fact that it all resulted from basically torturing their fellow classmates and causing serious bodily harm to get revenge on them seems a bit counter-productive.

Thank you, NetGalley for an audiobook ARC in return for an honest review.

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars

Thank you to netgalley & RB Media for the Audio ARC!

First off, Justis Bolding was an absolutely FANTASTIC narrator for this story! I couldn’t get enough !!!
I also def will be looking out for more from the author, Laura Bates. This ya mystery/thriller was filled with intriguing narrative, and a freakish set of events sets our big cast of characters stuck in a dangerous, mysterious situation.

A group of star jocks & cheerleaders on tour are on a plane that strangely crashes on a deserted island. The accident has everyone reeling…. Or is it an accident?!

As the teens attempt to survive, to make matters worse, someone or someTHING is toying with them, “playing some nasty pranks” increasing in intensity as the novel progresses. This leaves them feeling even more helpless & traumatized… and sows seeds of intense mistrust between thing group of “friends.”

It seems as if the island is hiding one doozy of a secret. Is the mysterious prankster one of their own? Is it a stranger? Or is it… the island itself… that seems to be trying to prove a HUGE, potentially deadly point?

A YA survival story with a thrilling twist, and an underlying, 100% relevant, at this point in time, for a long time now, issue between teens & even adults!

I couldn't finish this book. I was really excited about it, but between the narrator and the slow progress, it just did not hold my attention.

<i>"We should take the scars we don't see as seriously as the ones we do."</i>

What starts out as a YA thriller about a plane crash that lands (see what I did there?!?) seven teenagers fighting for survival in a deserted island ends up being a social commentary on consent, assault, rape, misogeny, class, and privilege. I thought the narrator did a fantastic job, but I found the story clunky and lacking substance. A huge thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Laura Bates for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

No Accident
by Laura Bates
Narrated by Justis Bolding

Rating: 4.2/5.0 Stars

**Trigger warning and possible spoilers below**


No Accident by Laura Bates is the story of a handful of popular teens from a private school that has just crash-landed on a small, seemingly uninhabited island after the plane that they were returning home on crashed. Strange things start happening to the teens as they wait, day after day, for someone to come and rescue them. They think they're alone, but are they? Someone or something seems to be attacking the students, one or a few at a time.

This story was definitely geared toward the Teen/YA audience. It felt a little slow-paced throughout, but the story was still an easy and entertaining listen. Things really came together in the end; I just wished that it had moved along a little quicker. That's really my only complaint about the book. I think the book had a good message that should resonate with teens/YAs and educate them on what exactly constitutes ***SPOILER*** rape quite well. The narration was very well done, and Ms. Bolding did a great job handling all of the various characters and bringing them to life.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. This was my fist time reading anything from this author. She had me hooked from the beginning. I couldn’t wait to come back and listen to more when I got free time. This story is full of action and mystery. It kept me guessing the whole time as to who the villain was. I also really appreciated and loved that consent was deeply discussed. . I think this is a great read for teens that would keep them engaged and also open their eyes to some of the social norms that are simply unacceptable. This book inspired me to have yet another conversation with my teen boys about the weight of “harmless” jokes about women in our society. As a bonus the narrators voice was very easy and soothing to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. To start with, I want to say this audiobook and narration were wonderfully done and it made for a very enjoyable listening experience. Now for the crux of the review based on the content of the book. "No Accident" tells the story of a small group of teenagers whose plan crashes on their way home from a sports competition and the post competition party. Hayley is the narrator and isn't super close to the other girls on the trip, so she makes for a fairly impartial person to be trying to uncover the mystery on this island amid the crash. Because this group of teens don't just have to worry about whether they will be rescued and how to survive until they do, but it also soon becomes apparent that someone on the island is out to hurt or kill the survivors. The mystery is interesting and well done. We get to learn more about each of the survivors and how their story's entangle with each other and hopefully lead to finding out who is threatening them. The only part that really detracted from the book for me was the way the final reveals unfolded. It becomes very much a statement on women and the challenges they face as women that men so often don't recognize. I am here for all of that as I can personally related to those themes. But they come out of left field in this book as the reader is expecting a typical YA mild thriller and gets a really deep dive into some dark topics. If there is a trigger warning on the book, I didn't notice it in the audio format. I'm not super sensitive to these things, but others might find a warning helpful here. Overall it was still a good read but wasn't anticipating it to go into the territory where it went. Also the very ending of the book and their will they or won't they be rescued situation was over in the blink of an eye and that too felt jarring.

Link to review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5138560923

I got to listening to this book and it caught me instantly. I was into it but I couldn’t figure out the purpose of the book. Halfway through once the characters started releasing more details I started forming my own opinion. The crazy thing though, the author did such an amazing job. I changed my opinion of the characters and their reasoning behind them. As a reader, I love when an author can help me see another perspective. Thanks for the listen Net Galley.

I’m gonna be honest, I don’t typically read survival thrillers, but this one intrigued me. It for some reason reminded me of the show Flight 29 Down, with Corbin Bleu way back in the 2000s.

Once I started listening, I couldn’t stop. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I wanted to know what was going to happen. Or even who kept messing with the teens. I’m gonna be honest, I was quite surprised with who it ended up being; I didn’t see it coming.

I also wasn’t expecting the social commentary on sexual assault and the realities of being a woman. But I ended up liking how it was handled-- it's definitely a conversation starter. Especially considering, the author is an activist focusing the topics mentioned, this was one of the best commentaries I’ve read.

In the end, this was a solid thriller and I hope I’ll read more books from this author at some point in the future.

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

At first, this was a little disjointed. I wasn't sure how I would like it, either due to the way it was read, or simply because of story telling decisions. But once it got going, I was thoroughly hooked, and Justis Bolding did a great job of lulling me into the story, as well as keeping me engaged.

Following a basketball and cheerleading tour before school begins again, 7 teens find themselves stranded on an island, amidst their wrecked plane. A surprising leader steps up, and attitudes quickly change as they realize they might not be rescued as soon as they expected. When accidents begin happening, they're forced to wonder if they're alone on the island after all. Or if one of them is really targeting the others.

This is a powerful book, that asks hard questions about what we are willing to accept. How attitudes and comments made flippantly can have a powerful effect on how we view other people. What it can make us view as normal, or even ok. How that can have a deeper impact later in life. It's a brave stance, not allowing you to hide, but really making you evaluate how you will move forward in the future.

I highly recommend, especially to teens. 4 stars.

Unbeknownst to the reader who thinks this is just a wild story of being stranded on a desert island and people are being "randomly" targeted. This book explores a deeper meaning of how important consent is and what girls go through and how their experiences are viewed not only by boys, but also their friends as well.

Thank you to the NetGalley for sending me an advanced audiobook of this book.

3/5 Stars

This book follows 7 students being stranded upon a desert island, where soon strange things seem to happen. To me it felt like it was a Lord of the Flies whodunit retelling. While the story is compelling and touches upon some important topics of sexual assault and harassment. I feel as though these topics were only touched upon towards the ending of the novel. I would have loved for the story to have continued once the students were rescued. Seeing then how they cope back into everyday life and dealing with the issues each student was dealing with upon the island.

Stranded on an island? Gimme more!

Ok this was such a fun read! I liked that it kept me on the edge of my seat a bit trying to figure out what was happening. And the narrator definitely made it a very enjoyable read.

This book was just okay. I kept waiting for a twist that never really came. Instead it was a story that ended with a lesson about gender inequality and sexual assault. I needed message but not what I was looking for in a YA thriller.

This book is a YA thriller. A group of high school students ( a team and cheerleaders) are on a small plane that crashes on a small deserted island. Aside from trying to survive, strange things start happening to each of the teens. No one knows whose responsible for these things happening.
There is much more to this book than is seems at first - and I was surprised as it took a turn.

I listened to this book as an audiobook and I did find it hard to track the multiple characters at first. Who is dating who and the relationship between them. Although this was an issue it didn't affect the enjoyment of the book. It's still easy to follow the overall story without knowing all the details of each character.

I would like to thank NetGalley and RB Media for the opportunity to review this book.

I love deserted island stories and tales of survival against the odds. But more is at play to this particular story when deadly secrets begin to surface and pit survivor against survivor. The action and intrigue move this story along at a fast pace and leave you guessing until the very end!