Initial reaction: I haven't decided on what I'll rate this, but 3 stars might be where I land. This book I've had as a galley for the longest time and it was a quick read, enough for me to fly through it. Lena and Campbell are teen girls, Black and white respectively, trying to survive a night of violence that takes place in multiple locations, starting at a high school game and escalating through the city as they try to make their way home. It ends up with a lot of revelations for them both as they both try to help each other where they can amidst the chaos. I thought it was okay, but definitely felt moments in this short narrative that seemed to drag on more than they should have.

Chuckled a little at the fact that Lena nicknamed Campbell "Campbell Soup". XD

Full review:

"I'm Not Dying With You Tonight" is a book that I've meant to read long before 2025, since it was published in 2019. I had it as a galley, but given a number of different events *gestures to current reality on a number of levels*, I did put this read off to a point where I had the headspace to be able to read it. I found it to be a very quick read which touched base on a nightmare of an evening for two very different girls. It's a full experience and short read, though I'll touch base on some of the issues I had with it in retrospect.

Lena is Black, Campbell is white. Both high school girls are working during a football game that turns violent very quickly. The situation doesn't give them much room to escape, so they have to rely on each other to get through the night and get home safely. Lena can't get ahold of her boyfriend to pick her up. Campbell isn't able to get ahold of her father since he's out of town. As the violence escalates, the girls have to rely on each other to make their way through town, between clashes of police officers, protests, and looters/rioters that take to the streets. Lena and Campbell are definitely distinct for their viewpoint of events as the night wears on, but you learn to understand them (and how they come to understand each other) as they interact. There are lighter moments interspersed through the heavy - like the fact that Lena calls Campbell "Campbell Soup", lol. But I definitely found myself tensing over whether these girls would be able to get home and if their friends would come out of the night's violence safely.

I think the biggest part of this that I could critique, despite "I'm Not Dying With You Tonight" being a short read, certain events did feel like they were drawn out longer than they had to be for the plot. I definitely felt the unease and confusion for each transition to a different locale, considering how far the girls were moved and their witness of events. Some of these had a direct, jarring impact on both Lena and Campbell with respect to those they loved and knew. But it did feel like at one point, as I was going through, that one thing kept being added to another. While I understood the point of the climax towards the end of the book that had a certain reveal (which I won't spoil), I did feel like the stand-off that happens as a resul felt like "one more thing" added to prolong the horrible night these girls were trying to get through to get home. Not unrealistic at all, but just the fact it was like "OMG, they're so close to getting home, why the heck did this have to happen?"

The characters feel like real teens caught in a whirlwind of a night's events, although I think some pieces of this may feel like the protagonists didn't have time to fully grasp the weight of certain things they learn/experience over the course of that time. But I did find the actual event realistic in that when you're caught in moments of violence with escalating tensions, you can get caught in the swell of it very quickly. And the attention to police brutality is worth noting and apt to current events.

It's a solid read for what it offers and I am interested in reading more from both of the authors contributing - Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal. First read from both of them.

Overall score: 3/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.

This book came out a few years ago, but still definitely resonates today.
Campbell is new in town and although he has seen Lena around school, she doesn't really know her. Campbell has volunteered to help with the concession stand at one of the schools biggest football games. As Lena is trying to get her money back from her purchase at concessions, all hell breaks loose. The girls are forced together to try and find a way out of the melee and safely home. Obstacles await them at every turn. Will they make it to their destinations unharmed???

I’m Not Dying with You Tonight is a gripping and timely novel that follows two girls, Lena and Campbell, who are forced to rely on each other when a night out turns into a violent protest. It's told in alternating perspectives, the book explores themes of race, privilege, and survival in a tense, fast-paced narrative. Segal and Jones create a compelling, thought-provoking story that feels urgent and real.

I usually hate do this. It really hurts me to bash a book so I am going to try really hard not to. It’s a big accomplishment to create and sit down and actually write a book. So big props to the author.

First I want to say that this entire book seemed like a cluster of craziness. Just one event after another. The positive is it made it fast-paced but the pacing was off and it was rushed and at times just incoherent.

I realllllly hated Lena. I hated her POV. As a WOC I tend to look for other WOC in books but I always feel like when authors do black women their voice is always so stereotypical. “For example “I followed the uniforms in the crowd.” Really??? “Girl, they fightin’” I have never actually heard a black woman speak like this outside of a reality tv show or “ratchet tv.”

Id like to end this review on a positive note so I’m going to reach here and say that the moral of the story is that we need to stick together to overcome the obstacles life throws at us. No matter what the color of our skin is, if we stick together we can make it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a digital ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review

This book was absolutely heart wrenching and so sweet! Really great educational book for my students without being too adult.

The dual POV's was handled really well. A good look at the world today through different lenses. I think some of the scenes were a bit over the top, but overall the story was well-written and well-handled.

This was a short quick read. It all happens over the span of one night. It is a young adult contemporary about two girls who spend the night trying to survive after a riot breaks out at a school football game. They are complete strangers yet possibly friends at the end. The chapters alternate between the two girls throughout the book. Over all this wasn't a bad book. I wish it would have been a little bit longer though. The ending felt like it was lacking. I did enjoy the different world views you get from each of the girls. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis held so much promise, but the book failed to deliver as much as I hoped for from it. I enjoyed it well enough, but with a few tweaks it could have been an even more enjoyable read.

I’m Not Dying with You Tonight is a young adult contemporary read about two girls Lena and Campbell who are brought together when a race fueled fight breaks out at a high school football game. The dual POV perspective showed just how strong these individuals are during the trying times and the riot scenes were quite graphic I could paint a picture so vividly in my head. This is a very compelling read, strong characterization but my only complaint is that I wish it didn’t end rather abruptly.

A good concept that could have been a little better executed. The ending fell a bit flat for me and could probably have used a bit more to it so it didn't feel quite as abrupt as it did. Overall, the dual point of views worked well even though it could be a bit predictable.

This was an engaging look at a challenging issue from two angles. In doing something similar to <I>All-American Boys</I>, both characters feel very authentic. This book doesn't settle for easy answers.

Two very different high schools girls must work together to escape one Friday night of violence and riots in their town. Like Lena and Campbell, the authors are African American and Caucasian, and tell the story from each point of view. Throughout the night, the girls discover their similarities and strengths despite their different backgrounds. I would recommend this book for a YA book club. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!!

Lena and Campbell Soup are double trouble!


If I understand where the author was trying to go with this book it was a great concept. However, I think it could've been executed better. I feel like this book was all over the place. Some of the scenes were just too unbelievable for me to digest. Lena and Campbell Soup's relationship seemed unrealistic at times. I liked how they stood up for each other when needed.

I'd like to thank Sourcebook Fire for the opportunity to read this title.

Apologies for the delay, we did end up purchasing this one, and I felt the story offered a new perspective on recent political events that would be helpful to teenagers.

I'm Not Dying with You Tonight is an exceptional novel demonstrating how relationships and bonding can occur anywhere with anyone regardless of race or background. It was nervewrecking and difficult to put down as Lena and Campbell struggled to survive among the dangers the night presented. It reminded me how we are all God's children.

I loved the dynamic of the two main characters in this book. They were virtual strangers before this one night and then were together in some very intense situations. I love the two perspectives and couldn't stop reading. I had to know what happened next. I do wish I knew more about where their lives took them after this one night.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for the free book.
This book jumps into the action from the very beginning and doesn't stop until the end. It's a story about two young women who are thrown together by circumstance at a high school football game. Lena and Campbell are nothing alike, yet they must learn to trust each other quickly to survive the night in their town. I liked how riveting and thought provoking this book is. I think it would be a great one to read with a group of high schoolers and have open, moderated discussions about. There are lots of stereotypes and racist thoughts addressed head on, and I liked how the authors were able to illustrate different ideas with the plot events. There was a decent amount of character development for Campbell. I wished there was a bit more for Lena, but I wasn't unsatisfied, either, because this is a heavily plot driven novel. It's easy to binge in a day.

From the Publisher:
Lena has her killer style, her awesome boyfriend, and a plan. She knows she's going to make it big. Campbell, on the other hand, is just trying to keep her head down and get through the year at her new school.

When both girls attend the Friday-night football game, what neither expects is for everything to descend into sudden mass chaos. Chaos born from violence and hate. Chaos that unexpectedly throws them together.

They aren't friends. They hardly understand the other's point of view. But none of that matters when the city is up in flames, and they only have each other to rely on if they're going to survive the night.

This book is perfect for:

Sparking conversations about prejudice and the racial tension that exists in America
Parents and educators looking for multicultural and African American books for teens
Fans of Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, and Jason Reynolds
My Thoughts:
This YA book is a co-written product from two female authors: Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal. It is about one chaotic night and two girls from very different backgrounds trying to survive while also facing very in your face scenarios that bring forward race relations, privilege, stereotypes and trauma.

I like that the two authors were able to switch characters from one chapter to another and therefore bring their individual voice to the characters, but just like the awkward first day in a new school, I found the beginning of the book until the booth fight a bit stilted and awkward for both characters. Perhaps Lena and Campbell needed to play into cultural stereotypes first so that the rest of the night could show their own growth and awakening. Although I was going to abandon this book, once the need to escape school started, the story sucked me in quickly.

I think this is another option to sit on the classroom bookshelf along with The Hate U Give, Dear Martin, and Long Way Down (in order: Angie Thomas, Nic Stone, Jason Reynolds). Another urban African American experience writer: Nikki Grimes, Between the Lines.

This was a quick, impactful read about 2 high school students finding friendship at the height of danger. I appreciated the different perspectives provided on racial issues and the way the authors handled things like challenging the common white perspective. This is a very thought-provoking piece on a movement that gained so much attention over the last year and helped me to dig deeper into my own thoughts on the subject. While I enjoyed the story and plot, I felt the short length of the book didn't give much room for real character development, so it was hard to strongly relate to the characters before it was over, I think this could have been stretched into a full-length novel and easily been a fantastic read.

Two teens--one Black and one white--rely on one another despite their mutual animosity when a shooting and a riot threaten their lives.

I liked the concept of this book a lot. The dual perspective was well done, and it gave this situation a more nuanced feels. I actually would have liked this book to be a bit longer. The ending felt a bit abrupt.