What happened that night is about a girl named Clara who’s big sister Emily is on trial for the murder of family friends son, Griffin. Clara has been infatuated with Griffin, then one night after a tragic event everything changes.

The chapters jump around from present to past, we find out more about what happened the night in question and the aftermath how Clara copes. In the present Clara and her new friend Aniston are trying to solve a series of murders.

I found that part a bit far fetched but other than that this was an absolutely gripping read I really enjoyed. I thought the issues it dealt with were handled excellently. It was hard hitting at times and I really admired Clara’s bravery.

Thank you to netgalley and Wattpad books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book right from the start, I was hooked from the first few pages!
I liked the characters and I thought the story developed at a good pace
The end twist also blew me away.. speechless!!

“ What Happened That Night” is classified as a YA novel but deals with very adult issues and is not a book I would think Is for every young reader. Subjects such as date rape, stalking, spiked drinks, abusive relationships and murder are all included in this really well done debut novel.
The book opens on the Porterfield family Mom, Dad, Emily and Clara the youngest daughter at breakfast the day after a neighborhood party. They notice crime scene tape at their neighbors’ house, the Tomlins and call thinking it must have been a robbery only to learn their younger son Griffin is dead
The book then jumps ahead four months. Emily Porterfield has been arrested for the murder of Griffin and Clara knows she did it- she confessed to her though later denied it.
The book alternates between what happened before and current day. Griffin was the golden boy that everyone loved or was he? It shows how each of the family deals with this in their own way, their mom retreats into her garden, their father becomes obsessed with proving Emily is innocent and Clara isolate herself from friends and the things she loved.
A new girl at school named Taylor won’t take no for an answer though- she keeps trying to get Clara to talk for an interview for the school paper. This turns into a real look into what really led up to the events of That Night.

I recommend this book to readers of any age but it does have subjects that may be triggers for some readers. They include the numbers for hotlines in the beginning of the book, please use them if you need to. This would be a great book for discussion among teens as well. Thank you to #netgalley and #wattsbooks for the free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a young adult book however be very careful not to let anyone under the age of 14 read this book. The descriptions are very detailed and though the subject matter is real it is disturbing as well. The main character Clara has had a crush on the boy next door Griffin. He is not the good boy however.
I think this information should be given out to the public so people can be aware of it but this book could give nightmares to a younger child.

What Happened That Night by Deanna Cameron really took me by surprise. I don’t usually read murder stories but something made me pick this one and it really sucked me in. While I figured one part out pretty quickly on my own, there was a turn later that I did not expect at all. I liked the idea behind this story and it kept me on my toes throughout but I do wish it was longer and had more developed characters. But overall, the story kept my attention the entire way through and I couldn’t wait to find out the truth in the end.

There were several things in this book that got me excited and hooked, and several that fell flat... I'm giving this 4 stars though because it was a very compelling read and kept my attention the entire time.

It starts off with a great hook: The opening chapter is a family of four, mom, dad, two girls, eating breakfast as they notice police at the house across the street. Mom decides to call over and check on the family (they're close with them) and she finds out their youngest son is dead.

Next chapter: Clara (youngest daughter from the family of four) is home with her mom... and we find out that Clara's older sister, Emily, was arrested for the murder of the boy across the street, Griffin, and maybe Clara knows more than she's admitted about why Emily would want to kill Griffin.

There, the story just explodes.

(spoiler) When Aniston shows up and starts comparing notes with Clara and how Griffin acted, I was SUPER EXCITED when the two realize maybe Griffin was on his way to becoming a serial killer. I kind of wish the story had went in that direction. to be honest. It really could have been something. Then it starts exploring the fact that maybe Emily is the one with serial killer tendencies.

What I didn't like: Some parts were rushed and others were drawn out. I really disliked Aniston. At first, I thought maybe she was the manifestation of Clara's trauma and wasn't really a person, but she was basically just a plot device for convenience's sake. Aniston pushed Clara into looking into the death of Griffin... Aniston was there when they needed a place to stay... Aniston was there anytime Clara needed someone to talk her down. Meh. Too convenient. Too neat. Also, what happened to Emily and Griffin to turn them into these people? Most of the time, there's some sort of background as to what caused these two to have such mental issues... it seems too much of a coincidence that these All-American, happy-go-lucky families BOTH had children like this without anything happening in their past - and living across from each other.

What I did like: The fact that in our #metoo era, we are given some experiences of men being sexually assaulted. We don't hear about this often enough. It happens. I really liked the juxtaposition of Kolby and Clara's relationship, since Kolby was best friends with Griffin, and them learning to trust the other and the blossoming of their relationship. I liked the female killer aspect and how Clara's grows: from her rape, dealing with guilt over Griffin's death, coming to realizations in her life that helped her help others like her.

REVIEW 〰️ WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT 〰️ BY DEANNA CAMERON 〰️ SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 〰️ WATTPAD BOOKS 〰️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT

A boy is dead and only two girls know why— the killer and her little sister. ▪️

One of the things I really liked about this book, which someone pointed out in the author’s insta takeover of @wattpad’s stories today, was that this was more a “whydunit” than a “whodunit”. We know from the very beginning who killed Griffin Tomlinson, but it seems like no one really knows why. It’s a fairly straightforward answer after a few pages but things get a bit more complicated as the story progresses. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll just talk about how I felt about the book. ▪️

▪️ A couple of the scenes seemed to not quite translate on page. For example, near the end, I didn’t realize where we were and it threw me off when it was mentioned. It felt a bit jumpy. It may have had to with my own reading ability right now, but a few things just didn’t click.

▪️I felt like some things dragged just a little bit. I know it was about growth and a lot of that isn’t as “juicy” as parts of the book, but it felt like some of it was repeating.

▪️ LITTLE SPOILER BUT I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT: As this book contains sexual assault, I thought it was important to either write and explain the whole thing or fade to black completely. There were a few times after the initial scene where I kept thinking, “wait, did he full on rape her?” Everything he did was disgusting, it’s true, but I kept wondering what the extent was. It was cleared up later, but I would have liked not to wonder.

▪️ I really loved the last couple of chapters of this book. I felt like they explained everything and they felt very fleshed out and real. ▪️

I have read a lot of books on this subject matter and it was a good book. I would definitely read another from this author in the future. I just wish things were a little bit more defined. ▪️

#Netgalley provided this book in exchange for an honest review.

The characters in this book are well written and the chances are that you could relate these characters to people you know or have known in life. There is plenty of suspense, action, and a bit of a twist that made me want to finish this book as soon as possible to find out how it ended. There are definitely some triggers that could make some people be upset when reading this book. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reading copy of this book via NetGalley.

In “What Happened That Night (What Happened That Night #1)” by Deanna Cameron we are led through the “before” and current story of Clara Porterfield. Her world has crumbled around her as her sister is jailed for the murder of Griffin Tomlin, small town golden boy; but Clara knows something that no one else does that would change their view. But her secrets are not the only ones out there.

3.5 stars

What Happened That Night follows the murder of school golden boy and long-time crush of Clara, Griffin Tomlin by Clara's sister, Emily. No one knows why Emily killed Griffin but Clara, haunted by the murder and unspoken questions, is determined to uncover the truth behind the murder.

This novel features dual timelines- before the murder and after. The plot was fairly predictable after reading a few chapters though there were a few twists throughout. I was expecting a darker, more sinister atmosphere from this book, but the tone had very little tension and suspense.

What Happened That Night is told through Clara's POV but I think it would've been even better if Emily got a chapter or two. Clara was a worthy MC and I liked that the author wrote her in a way that made her seem unreliable, leaving the reader to read between the lines and examine the facts more closely. However, I feel like Emily and her motives are never fully justified or explained by the end of the novel- she's such a complex character but has such a limited presence in the book. I think it would've been very interesting to see her thoughts. Overall, this was a decent YA binge-worthy thriller.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Book publishers for providing a free ARC

Clara Potterfield is living in a nightmare. Her next door neighbor, Griffin Tomlin, is dead. Clara's sister is the one who killed him.

The family is falling apart. Emily is in jail waiting for her trial. Her mother is in complete denial, filling her days with digging in the dead garden. Her father also in denial, supports his daughter fully and doesn't understand why her mother doesn't. He is close to packing his suitcase and leaving.

And Clara ... is filled with guilt. Because this story didn't die with Griffin Tomlin. There's another story that needs to be told. And sometimes, the lies we're told are nowhere near as deadly as the lies we tell ourselves . . .

Excellent story premise. Outstanding, well defined characters. Twists that leave your stomach clenching. Well written and thought provoking. The story is told in BEFORE and NOW in Clara's voice. What led up to the killing? This is a page-turner that just doesn't let go of the reader.

Many thanks to the author / Wattpad Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this YA crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

This book was a little hard for me to get into with the beginning content. I knew going in that there would be a trigger warning. I was also not prepared for the twist. I was thinking there was only one way this story would end, but it took a huge turn, I did not expect. I’m glad I read to the end it was a surprise ending.

Happy Pub Day to Deanna Cameron’s What Happened That Night! This book was a wild ride that I couldn’t put down. It was so much more than what I initially thought and I’m so glad I requested to read it when I did!⁣
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This is a dark thriller, there was nothing cute or sweet about it. But it captivated my attention! Why is the nice popular guy Griffin dead and why did Clara’s sister Emily do it? Clara’s life is turned upside down and what the reader is lead to believe isn’t even half of the truth. ⁣
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I loved watching the progression of Clara and the different relationships around her. The flashbacks paint a disturbing past but the future looks a lot more hopeful. I don’t want to give a single thing away because I thought the twists were executed so well and should be enjoyed and not spoiled! ⁣
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Shout out to @netgalley and @wattpad for the advanced copy of this one that’s out today!! ⁣What pub day book are you more excited for this week? ⁣
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Happy Pub Day to Deanna Cameron’s What Happened That Night! This book was a wild ride that I couldn’t put down. It was so much more than what I initially thought and I’m so glad I requested to read it when I did!⁣
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This is a dark thriller, there was nothing cute or sweet about it. But it captivated my attention! Why is the nice popular guy Griffin dead and why did Clara’s sister Emily do it? Clara’s life is turned upside down and what the reader is lead to believe isn’t even half of the truth. ⁣
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I loved watching the progression of Clara and the different relationships around her. The flashbacks paint a disturbing past but the future looks a lot more hopeful. I don’t want to give a single thing away because I thought the twists were executed so well and should be enjoyed and not spoiled! ⁣
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Shout out to @netgalley and @wattpad for the advanced copy of this one that’s out today!
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#wattpadbooks #netgalley #arc

I couldn't put this down. You are literally hooked from the beginning. Clara let's you know right away that something happened the night that her sister killed Griffin but what, you don't know for sure. Little details begin to emerge and paint a picture for you. One that doesn't shed a very good light on some people. And wow, are these little bits of the story that you learn good. They keep you needing to learn more. This is definitely a fast paced book that you will devour, so don't start it unless you have time to finish it that day! Like Anniston, you're going to want to delve into this and not give up until you know what happened for sure!

Cameron writes a gritty Young Adult thriller about some rather tough subjects and does it nicely without going into graphic detail. Griffin, the town golden boy has been murdered. Emily (Clara’s sister) has been arrested for his murder and Clara knows why, or at least she thinks she does. Told in two timeframes, Clara narrates before Griffin’s murder and in the present day. While there were some unbelievable aspects of this book, it was still a good read. Filled with some great twists, Cameron also left just enough doubt as to whether Clara was an unreliable narrator. Aniston was quite the character and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of her in future books! A debut novel that was well worth the read.

The old, battered barn on the cover grabbed my attention and, along with the publisher's blurb, I was eager for a creepy suspense read. There is a mystery surrounding a murder, but I thought more time was spent skimming along the surface of teen relationships than building a ominous suspense read.

Unfortunately, I struggled quite a bit with this story for a few reasons. First, while I appreciate the author's note of warning at the beginning, I wasn't ready to read the graphic rape scene. In fact, I put down the book for a couple of days but when I picked it up again, I felt underwhelmed by the plot and disconnected with the characters.

It felt like Cameron wasn't sure what kind of book she wanted to write. A Contemporary Teen Fiction? Teen Romance? Mystery? Or graphic suspense read? The writing suggested it was a Teen read but the subject matter was too mature for that genre (in my opinion). The story teetered between being predictable and far-fetched (other reviewers said a couple of teens solving a mystery that stumped police gave this book a Scooby-Doo quality to it and I can't totally disagree).

What Happened That Night has a good premise but suffered from weak execution in a few areas. With more depth, focus and tension, this book would have garnered a higher rating from me.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Wattpad Books for providing me a complimentary digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

'Griffin Tomlin is dead. And Clara's sister killed him.'

That's when it all began. Or is it? Was something else was already going on behind the curtain of truth? or lies?
I had a good time reading the book as much as I could. However, a certain depth of the story was still missing. As if everything was in its place, and yet not quite there. I think it was Clara’s views of people that started off a little detached (You won’t blame her though after finally realizing of the issues she had to go through). Every other characters’ parts are what kept this book from falling apart.
I repeat, I had a very good time reading What Happened That Night – finished it within four days – which I recommend a read everyone should give a try.
And for the author, I must say that not everyone can come up with a twisted and thrilling story as she did. In fact, I look forward to reading more of similar novels by her in the future.

And thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to obtain the digital ARC of the book.

Let’s talk about the book title first. I love titles that start with a question. It's engaging, and it makes me want to read the book already. I feel like the author is giving me a good reason to read it. Deanna Cameron couldn't have chosen a better title than this!

In “What Happened That Night,” The school’s golden boy, Griffin is killed by a girl named Emily. Clara, her sister, thinks she knows why. But the truth will come out, and Clara will need to face reality, even when it hurts. The book starts with Emily waiting for her trial, while Clara and her friends are investigating the reasons why her sister did it.

The story is told from Clara's point of view and occurs in two perspectives: the present and the past. The "before" part leads up to the last months of Griffin's life and the relationship Clara had with him and her sister. The "present" section shows up how characters, especially Clara and her family, face the whole situation at home while she deals with pain, uncertainty, and bullying.

I am a big fan of descriptions. So I loved how the setting was written concerning the feelings and experiences of the characters, especially Clara.

I also enjoyed the plot twists in this thriller. Clara is an unreliable narrator, which made me stay until the end, waiting for more, even when I felt secrets were revealed too soon.

The question about “what happened?” was responded satisfactory, but the “why it happened,” was not very clear. I know the book was mainly about Clara; however, there were some gaps in Emily’s behavior. I would have liked to know more about this essential character, like why she did it and specific details about her life that influenced her to make those terrible decisions. I also felt the actions sequence were constantly repeated (house-school-car-house-car-school) and they could be trimmed, but as I said, I kept reading because Clara is a compelling main character, and it is well developed.
Sexual assault scenes is a hard topic to write about, but Deanna did it with respect, honesty, and sensitivity.

“What Happened That Night” is a good psychological thriller. Even when there are many stories with the same topic out there, the plot is more complicated than you could imagine. I think the twists and turns make it harder to stop reading it, and the idea of the dual timeline was pretty accurate for this kind of story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free e-copy of What Happened That Night by Deanna Cameron from NetGalley for my honest review.

A very powerful and emotional read that will leave a lump in your throat and tears rolling down your face.

This is a story of the murder of a local boy named Griffin Tomlin. Emily (Clara Porterfield's sister) is in prison awaiting trial for his murder. All along, she has sworn she is innocent.

A junior reporter, Aniston Hale, speaks with Clara because she wants to know the real story. Clara tells Aniston that she doesn't know anything but wants to help her investigate. Clara, however, is hiding things and is pretty sure she knows what happened.

I really enjoyed the time line changes of the story being told before the murder and after the murder. Very clever writing with so many amazing characters. This is a very clever, and well thought out book.

Please keep in mind that if you want to read this book it does deal with rape.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Wattpad Books in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb of this book makes it sound like a YA thriller along the lines of Pretty Little Liars or something similar. Honestly this reads more like a YA contemporary, though admittedly the lines are a little sketchy. What Happened That Night is the story of Clara, whose sister Emily has just been arrested for murdering the golden boy of the school. You soon learn that said golden boy raped and brutalised Clara earlier in the year and she believes this is why her sister killed him. Most of the book is focused around Clara coming to terms with being assaulted and the fact that she hasn't told anyone besides her sister. She is also struggling with having romantic feelings for someone new. There are a few other elements but I can't really discuss them without spoilers.

This book had a very different tone than I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised. As a Wattpad book, I wasn't expecting stellar writing but actually the writing is fantastic. It flows well, is paced brilliantly and you get a good sense of the characters in a short amount of time. I wouldn't class this as a thriller but there are some twists in the plot and factors that will keep you guessing. It handles the topics of rape and abuse mostly sensitively, bar one exception which I will discuss in a spoiler section on Goodreads.

Overall, this book manages to be a breath of fresh air in a rather saturated market. So long as you don't go in expecting breakneck twists and constant action, What Happened That Night is a brilliant example of a darker contemporary book handled some tough topics well. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author and I'm happy that Wattpad can result in quality like this.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5