Thank you so much to NetGalley and Josh Winning for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Heads Will Roll coming out July 30, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Willow’s worst nightmare was being canceled. But the shadows in the woods of Camp Castaway might destroy more than her reputation.

After sitcom star Willow tweeted herself into infamy and stumbled blind-drunk into a swimming pool, her agent shipped her off to Camp Castaway. Tucked away in upstate New York, Castaway is a summer camp for adults who are desperate to leave their mistakes behind. No real names, no phones . . . no way to call for help.

Willow’s fellow campers seem okay. Her own favorite actress is even here, making a s’more. And did that jaded writer, Dani, just wink at her? But the peaceful vibe is shattered when one of the campers vanishes and Willow finds a mutilated doll in her room with a threatening message rolled up inside its mouth. Terror grips the group, campers begin to lose their heads—literally—and disturbing past deeds come to light.

Is Willow about to get cancelled all over again, this time for good?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was definitely intrigued by the title. I really loved the summer camp feel of the book. It felt a lot like Friday the 13th. I thought there was a lot of horror and scary parts, which I love. I thought the format of the book and the dialogue was really good. Some of the characters didn’t feel as fleshed out, such as the backstories for some of them. But overall, I thought the main characters were awesome. There were some horror movie type decisions, but I thought it was fast-paced and fun.

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves summer camp horror stories!

This had everything that I was hoping for from the description. It uses the horror element perfectly and had that Camp element that I was looking for. It was everything that I was hoping for. I enjoyed following Willow's story and thought once the terror happened it worked. Josh Winning has a great writing style and I hope to read more from him.

What would happen if you combined “28 Days” and “Friday the 13th”? I tell you what would happen; “Heads Will Roll” would happen. Josh Winning jumped to the top of my favorite authors last year with “Burn The Negative” and this book solidifies that even more. This is an absolute thrill ride that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let you go. Winning’s character building and descriptive writing style shine through brightly. I would be shocked if Hollywood isn’t knocking on his door soon!!!

Yes Yes and YES! A good ole’ summer slasher read. This book had me digging my nails into the arms of my chair along the way. I absolutely loved this! I read the description and as I started reading decided it was even more than I thought it was.

I loved each and every one of the characters and each for their own reasons and the setting couldn’t be better. Summer camp vibes + adults = the childhood summer camp you remember but sprinkle it with horror fan Easter eggs, gore & horror…A summer must have read on the TBR.

I really enjoyed this horror novel. Josh Winnings has a way to draw you into the story until the end. Such a fast, fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Heads Will Roll is a new adult horror book about a summer camp turned deadly. When a young woman is cancelled for a tweet, she looses everything. Her job, her boyfriend, her house, and her savings. She decides to go on a "retreat" to escape where no electronics are allowed. When people start disappearing at the camp, everything starts to go dwonhill.

A deadly summer camp is one of my favorite tropes but this one was just ok for me. I liked the setting and the characters. Everyone had secrets and it was interesting to see them all unfold. I liked the ghost stories and the creepy atmosphere that was developed.

I do feel like it was a bit slow for me and focused too much on the drama. I just wish it was a bit more horror. I was just a bit bored unfortunately. I think it was a bit cliché at parts too. I know others have loved this one so it probably is just me.

Thanks so much to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When sitcom star Willow is a victim of "cancel culture" following an ignominious social media post, she goes away to Camp Castaway, a completely tech-free getaway for adults who need to distance themselves from everything, especially their cell phones. While things seem to be going better than expected as Willow tries to reinvent herself among other troubled but welcoming people, everything takes a turn for the worse when a local boogeyman legend, replete with an axe for chopping off heads, looks like it may be true. As campers start to disappear and die, Willow finds herself in her very own slasher movie.
Though the story was a little clunky at the start, it soon smoothed out as the true nature of Willow's tale is slowly but steadily unveiled as the narrative builds. Definitely a love letter to summer camp slashers, the book is full of surprises and plots twist like any classic horror movie. My only real issues were the fact that one of the biggest plot twists resulted in what felt like an unrealistic self-actualization, and the reality behind the killer was even a bit cheesier than slasher movies tend to be. But those gripes aside, the rest of the story was really well written.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review Heads will Roll by Josh Winning.

The main character Willow is a sitcom star that wrote a comment on social media which got her canceled and harassed online. This is where her life starts to fall apart. Looking for a way out and getting away from her phone she books herself a spot at Camp Castaway to commune with nature and quiet along with other campers that are in similar situations as herself. Upon arriving she starts making some connections with the other campers, but before long campers start losing their heads, Will Willow suffer the same fate.

You know when people say a book reads like a horror movie? Well, this one really does. I immediately felt nostalgia for my younger years and the horror movies from the past. A true slasher situation at an isolated camp. What could go wrong? Right? Heads Will Roll is just a good ole fun time. Heads Will Roll will be released on July 30th. Check it out and see if you also feel the nostalgia for the good old 80s and 90s horror films.

We are always up for a gripping novel by Josh Winning, and Heads Will Roll is no exception. This thrilling summer camp slasher horror had us hooked, eagerly turning the pages to uncover its next chilling twist.

The story follows Willow, a sitcom star who finds herself in a nightmare scenario at Camp Castaway. As the tension rises and campers start disappearing, Willow must confront her own past mistakes while trying to survive the horrors lurking in the woods.

The plot of Heads Will Roll is well-crafted and full of unexpected twists and turns. From the moment Willow arrives at Camp Castaway, you can feel the tension building as she tries to navigate this strange and dangerous place. The author does an excellent job of creating a sense of unease throughout the story, keeping readers guessing about what will happen next.

One of the strengths of this book is its characters. Each camper at Camp Castaway has their own secrets and motivations, adding depth to the story and keeping readers engaged. Willow, in particular, is a compelling protagonist who must confront her own flaws and past mistakes in order to survive. The interactions between the campers are also well-written, adding another layer of intrigue to the narrative.

As the mystery at Camp Castaway unfolds, readers will find themselves racing through the pages to uncover the truth behind the disappearances. While the pacing starts off a little slower, Heads Will Roll picks up with just enough suspense to keep you hooked without feeling overwhelming. The author does an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension as Willow and her fellow campers try to unravel the dark secrets hidden within Camp Castaway.

Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning is a gripping summer camp slasher with a modern twist that is a perfect match. What feels like a classic horror movie in book form that we could see getting a film adaptation in the future.

Review posting to our website on March 14, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

This horror gem weaves an immersive nightmare, marrying atmospheric settings with spine-chilling suspense. Characters navigate a sinister labyrinth of terror, unveiling dark secrets and delivering relentless scares. A macabre masterpiece, it transcends the genre, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's psyche. A must-read for horror aficionados.

Classic slasher with a twist. I loved this and flew through it. A fun and wild ride. Not A boring paragraph to be found.

I just finished reading this book today on the netgalley app and it was so good!! I enjoyed this book a lot! Definitely recommending to everyone! Such a great read!!

So fun! Heads Will Roll is a classic camp slasher with a queer twist. I loved it. The characters were a blast - all “cancelled” for one reason or another, escaping to Camp Castaway to unplug and unwind. As promised.. the heads will roll.

Heads Will Roll comes out May 21, 2024!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced readers copy of this new book in exchange for an honest review.

ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Camp Castaway, is the epitome of a perfect quiet getaway retreat to escape from all your problems; atleast that’s what Willow thinks upon arriving there. Willow is not only looking for some tranquil recharging, she’s also hiding from her own personal problems after losing her job. Willow is welcomed with s’mores and good vibes at camp but the peacefulness doesn’t seem to last long. One by one fellow campers are vanishing only to be found with their heads missing. Who knew a few weeks of relaxation would be such a killer good time.

Heads Will Roll… with a title like that you can only imagine what you are in for and boy does Josh Winning deliver! This horror/thriller has all the campy slasher vibes that will keep you reading to see who will be the next victim. From the setting of the hidden away secluded camp to the diverse cast of characters this had everything it promised to be and more. The book had so many fun horror fan Easter eggs and pop culture references making it a very meta and fun read that fit the slasher atmospheric vibes perfectly! Each character you are introduced to is unique in their own way and easily discernible, which helps with the multiple POVs you get. Sprinkled throughout and usually found at the beginning or ending of each chapter are screen grabs of text conversations, news articles, and found police reports giving the reader inside glimpses of what and who these campers really are. Fair warning there is some gore but what else would you expect from a title about heads rolling. I most definitely will be recommending this and checking out more of this authors works in the future.

If you are a fan of summer slashers, 80’s classic horror films like Friday the 13th, and thrillers that leave you guessing as to who our characters can trust and not then you will absolutely enjoy this book and every “campy” second of reading it.

Heads Will Roll comes out July 30th, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group, Putnam for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Fast-paced, entertaining, and fun. A recommended purchase for collection where horror and thrillers are popular.

Camp Castaway is a special camp for people running away from something. They are directed to leave their phones with the "camp mom" for the duration of their stay to disconnect from the outside world. Taking part in camp involves stone circles, yoga, cabins, mysterious disappearances. All your normal camp tropes.

In the same vein as Friday the 13th and other summer camp slashers, the campers quickly learn about some terrifying lore that causes them all to slowly become suspicious of one another. It doesn't help that no one knows anyone's real names or why they came to camp.

Josh did it again with his humor and cursed celebrities.

Thanks Penguin and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a unique thriller. Honestly the possibility of this being a reality was so high that it was quite scary. So easy to read, i flew through it.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc!

Ahh, where do I begin. This was such a fun, quick horror. This gave me 80’s slasher vibes and while maintains a very meta way about it. I’m new to this author but now I’m eager to read more

Willow (not her real name) is the star of “We Love Willow,” a sitcom, but she’s been canceled and now she’s jobless, homeless, fiancé-less and friendless, all after drunk tweeting and falling face first into a pool (like it would be that easy.). Her agent sends her to Camp Castaway in upstate New York, a sort of rehab for those with image problems- no real names and no phones, which means that no one can call for help if things go wrong. And boy do they go wrong.

Things start off well, Willow’s favorite actress is there, but then a camper disappears and Willow is receiving threatening messages. Are the campers going to be canceled forever?

The book is like a slasher film in novel form, just a bit of fun. Don’t expect great literature here. And it’s a little too long. But a fun beach read.