No idea if it's just me? I wanted to read this but it won't let me open it lmao. I also wasn't aware till later on there's not a kindle option so unfortunately I can't even read this. Of course it's no one's fault. The cover, and premise intrest me and I'll most likely purchase a final copy to read.

Josh Winning has done it again! A fantastically creepy horror story that takes social media fears and summer camp tropes and creates a story that will surprise you, scare you and certainly entertain you!

Camp Castaway is a place to take a break. Away from phones, media and all the cancel culture that may have brought you there. Upon arrival,
campers choose a new name and Willow has done so....even if it is her Television character name. She is kicking herself for that choice, but hoping no one recognizes her. She quickly fits in with the small group and begins to enjoy the social media break. But one by one, the small group shrinks. Is someone hunting the campers? It's a matter of life and death for Willow to find out!

I loved this book and thought it was amazing. I loved feeling like I was at a camp and has the same stress Willow had at every turn. If you like a scary book, Heads Will Roll is for you!
#penguinputnam #headswillroll #joshwinning

I enjoy these kinds of thrillers, and this one had so many of my favorite tropes, such as a campground, an urban legend, and everyone being cut off from communication.
The cancel culture theme was fun, too, and I enjoyed the twists as we learned the backgrounds of the characters.
However, the violence was kind of cartoonish and I didn't buy the ending. I still enjoyed it and would recommend it, because I liked the characters and the atmosphere.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Could not get this title to download and open despite trying various devices. Unfortunately cannot give accurate rating, thus my average stars.

Absolutely devoured this novel!!! Horror classic done exceedingly well! The imagery was so on point I felt like it played like a movie in my head while reading! Read in one sitting! Definitely recommend to everyone loving a classic trope with a super fresh spins!

Heads Will Roll is such a flash back to the past. I love the mix of vintage horror with present day issues. Josh Winning is easily becoming an auto buy author for me. His take on the horror genre is so fascinating.

Heads Will Roll is the perfect horror for summer. Who doesn’t love a crazy killer in a summer camp setting. This book was so fast pace and sucked me in from the very beginning. I loved the main character Willow and her struggle with cancel culture. The killer was a bit predictable but the back story wasn't, so I did appreciate that.
4/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love horror and the cover of the book was so appealing I knew I had to read this. Unfortunately, there was one thing that was bugging me right off the bat and stayed with me the entire book: the dated horror references. I got them, I loved them, but Willow read to me more like a mid-30s character instead of, I'm assuming, 25ish. But it wasn't just her age that left me confused. There were several characters that acted/sounded younger than their silver-haired descriptions implied. It's mostly a nitpick from me, but I found it difficult to properly visualize the characters. Another nitpick was Willow saying she couldn't apologize for her insensitive tweet due to legal reasons, and I just didn't buy that. There have been plenty of celebrities that have tweeted stupid things and still apologized. I just think that was a weird, unneeded addition. I appreciated the look at cancel culture, but at times it really felt forced in. The writing style, which I enjoyed, was fast paced, even if the story itself wasn't, and flowed nicely. Unfortunately, I just didn't care for the reveal. It just seemed cheesy and farfetched. Overall, while I didn't care for this book, I'd still be willing to read other works by him.

Man, this was disappointing. I absolutely loved Burn the Negative but this felt like an overly sanitized book in comparison. None of the quirky and meta horror style was there. Maybe it was a fluke. I’m hopeful for another good one.

This was such a fun campy classic horror story this book will leave readers extremely satisfied i enjoyed this book very much im in a spooky reader mood an this hit the spot

A bloody, campy slasher in the middle of the woods with a bunch of cancelled celebs/troublemakers/people wanting to "escape reality"

Could you hand over your phone for 2 weeks surrounded by strangers in the middle of nowhere? I've read enough horror so no thanks. I'm ALSO not getting cancelled for any heinous tweets, as our FMC is, so I have noooo reason to need electronic escape.

This book has near perfect pacing which is hard to do with a plot people tend to read over and over. Josh brought something new into this story and it was the uneasiness of not knowing anyone's real names or identities. I really enjoyed the use of creepy, bonfire horror stories to further the plot as well.

Typically with a story like this you wouldn't get any profound meaning out of it (and thats perfectly good in my book) but this story did hit some thinking points with its small focus on social media.

Thanks so much to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the ARC

I consumed this book in record time. I love, love, loveeee a creepy summer camp story and this one delivered!

Our narrator has worked her way to the top and landed her own Netflix show but that came to an abrupt halt when she thoughtlessly tweeted something and became the latest victim of cancel culture. Now her agent is sending her away to Camp Castaway for two weeks. When she arrives, the camp is beautiful and serene with cozy cabins surrounded by a thick forest. There’s only one road in, one road out, and no cell service. It’s a place to escape to. Having lost her job, her fiancé, her best friend, her money, her home, she welcomes the camp with open arms but when other campers start to disappear, she senses that something is off at Camp Castaway.

This novel is a fascinating meditation on LGBTQ+ rights and cancel culture. From the first few pages, I was deeply invested. The characters and the plot were well written and the story unfolds in a way that is truly addicting and so fun to read. The imagery was strong and played like a movie in my head. This is a horror story that is guaranteed to leave readers satisfied. Would recommend to readers who love slashers, summer camp vibes, incredible world-building, and horror stories that are thought-provoking.

Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the digital copy! Out 07/30/2024!

"Heads Will Roll" by John Winning is a rollercoaster of a thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. Picture this: corporate espionage meets high-stakes drama, and you're in for a wild ride.

Our main guy, Alex Johnson, isn't your typical corporate drone. He's got brains, sure, but he's also got a knack for stumbling into trouble. When he uncovers a shady scheme within his own company, he's thrust into a world of deceit and danger that'll keep you guessing until the very end.

The characters in this book? They're not your run-of-the-mill corporate suits. From the cunning CEO to the mysterious whistleblower, each one adds layers to the story, making you question their motives every step of the way.

What really sets this book apart is its pace. Winning doesn't waste time getting to the good stuff. The tension builds with every chapter, keeping you hooked and eager to see what happens next. And just when you think you've got it all figured out, bam! Another twist hits you out of nowhere.

"Heads Will Roll" isn't just about corporate greed and power struggles, though. It's also about redemption and doing what's right, even when the odds are stacked against you. Alex's journey is one of self-discovery and resilience, and you'll find yourself rooting for him every step of the way.

In short, "Heads Will Roll" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good thriller. With its fast-paced plot, intriguing characters, and unexpected twists, John Winning has crafted a debut that'll keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Loved it! Slasher realness. Fully fleshes characters, even though we dont learn real names until the end. Beautifully done!

“‘Listen,’ she says, 'this is the best piece of advice I can give. As long as you’re kind, and unprejudiced, and haven’t hurt anybody: Refuse. To. Be. Ashamed. Wear your mistakes with pride. Look them in the eye and own your space on this Earth. Own it shamelessly, without regret, and no fucker has any power over you.’”

After a fateful Tweet that went viral in the worst way, Willow’s life is falling apart. She’s been fired from her sitcom, her fiancé’s left, and the internet as a whole is calling for her head. A retreat to Camp Castaway, where adults who want to put their mistakes behind them and disconnect from their phones, comes at the perfect moment. But Camp Castaway hides a dark history, and when campers start to go missing, it’s clear someone wants to cancel all of them… for good. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Penguin/Putnam. Trigger warnings: character death (on page, graphic), decapitation, child abuse, gore, cancer, severe injury, addiction, homophobia (countered), strong religious themes, bullying.

This is a perfectly fine adult slasher novel and a nice addition to the genre. Winning doesn’t skimp on the gore or the body count, and, not surprisingly, the horror scenes were my favorite parts. They’re nicely cinematic and well-paced, as well as a loving (bloody) homage to slasher films of days gone by. There are a couple of powerhouse Final Girls as well, and I especially loved Juniper as the aged, tough Final Girl who takes no shit and offers wisdom to the younger generation. It’s harder to get a read on Willow since she’s having a bit of an identity crisis, but she’s a worthy heroine who always tries to help her fellow campers, even before the heads are rolling. There’s also a sweet but complicated wlw romance, representation that still isn’t as prevalent in horror as I’d hope.

One of my favorite things about horror and what basically cemented my love for George Romero movies in high school is horror’s natural ability to be a vehicle for social commentary. Winning targets cancel culture with Head Will Roll, and one has the sense many influencers would rather be chased through the woods by an ax murderer than be “canceled” on Instagram. Not being much of a social media person myself, it’s not an issue that particularly resonates with me, but it’s nicely developed throughout the novel. Occasionally, I did feel like the issue was overshadowing the story and the horror a bit, but had I connected more to it, I might not have felt that way. All in all, it’s fun, gruesome, and meaningful, as horror should be.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

Heads will roll gives off the early 90’s slasher vibes that one like myself grew up with. There was darkness in horror in a way that screamed slasher flick of the 90’s with a twist of current century references and dialog. Overall, I thought the story was good. It took me a minute to get into, but once the story picked up it was hard to put down,(again screams basic 90’s setup). I think the only downfall for this book is the random text messages and articles thrown into the mix with no real context. It left me confused and wasnt really resolved in a clear way. Yes, i ended up understanding where the texts came in, but why were the relevent at that point in time in the story and who was even sending the text messages to begin with… its all unanswered. I also wished they gave more insight on what happened when the cops showed up, i feel like it wouldve been a great way to wrap everything up more, but again i guess you dont really see that in slasher movies either so it makes sense! At the end of it all i did really enjoy this read and the nostalgic vibes it gave me as someone who loves horror movies and grew up in the 90’s.

I was instantly drawn into this book by the cover and premise alone. My hopes were high, and the result exceeded them! This was devilishly fun from start to finish.

After being cancelled Willow escapes to Camp Castaway to get away from social media and regroup. All attendees must give up their cell phones upon checking in so the camp is completely cut off from the outside world. This is fine by Willow, until she starts hearing knocks in the night and campers start disappearing.

This was a super fun read with 80s/90s slasher vibes and lots of twists and turns. I liked that it keeps you guessing as to whether the legend of knock knock Nancy is real or if there is a killer on the loose. And while there is mystery and tension and murder, it’s also has emotional moments.

Would recommend to those looking for a fun summer read that will keep you guessing.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The best way I can describe Heads Will Roll is Friday the 13th meets Nine Perfect Strangers. Our protagonist "Willow" is the star of a popular show who finds her show and herself cancelled after a tweet gone bad. To regain some perspective, space, and security, she goes on a digital detox retreat to Camp Castaway. There she meets her other campmates and Camp Director Bebe, all of whom have their own secrets. Not the least is the story of Knock Knock Nancy, a girl who may or may not haunt the very woods of Camp Castaway.

This is the second Josh Winning book I've read, and I had a blast with it. Willow is a character I was trepidatious about when we first learn about her situation. Since social media "cancellations" have been extremely controversial lately, I wasn't sure how it was going to play in this novel. Nonspoiler: it played just fine; the interpersonal relationships between the characters are far more interesting than the circumstances of the social media plot point. A relief, to be sure. This novel was cinematic in setting, and I could easily see it being a successful film were it to be optioned. Creepy, clever, and a whole lot of fun.

This one's okay there's something significant about it that stands out, but there's also nothing about it that makes me angry. It's a pretty average rate overall

Who grew up in the 80’s and doesn’t love a good summer camp story? After being canceled for a Tweet, Willow is sent to a technology free summer camp for adults. After a night of camp fire urban legends, campers slowly start to disappear and the bodies pile up.

What a fun read!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC!