A solid YA thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. A nice change from the traditional holiday-themed books out there.  YA readers will definitely be drawn into this quick read from Richards.  Highly enjoyed it!

This book was kind of a let down. I have been so excited to read this but what I was looking for just wasn’t there. It wasn’t as exciting and didn’t hook me like I wanted. I found some parts of this book to be boring and too drawn out and those outweighed the parts that were more thrilling.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I've really enjoyed Natalie D. Richards books before, so I was excited to read this one, and it was pretty intense, and I loved it! I loved Mira's story of just trying to get home for Christmas-but a serious of events making that less and less likely.

There was a bit of a dichotomy in this book, because there's the whole Christmas spirit where things are light and joyful. But then there's the, trying to get home in a very bad storm, and things keep getting worse, and it's intense in a bad way for the characters, but great for us readers!

We did get these letters that were written by some unknown character to Mira-but they were pretty creepy. We to got to see this "relationship" develop, from when they first meet, to right before this book starts, and it just added so much tension to the story! 

Between the storm, the accident, the gas station incident, and someone stealing their stuff, tensions continually mount in the car. And it all builds up, and I loved how it ended! I mean, there were a limited number of suspects, and there had been a moment or two when I suspected him, but wow, I didn't expect that ending! It was fantastic! 

Loved reading this book, I just really enjoy Natalie D. Richard's mysteries!

If you are looking for an action packed book to read during a snowy day, this is it! This story is extremely atmospheric and the suspense amps up from the first page to the surprising revelations. I found myself shaking my head at the poor decision making skills of the main character but loved going along for the ride. I also loved the "road trip on Christmas Eve during a blizzard" setting. Not a deep story but very entertaining. 

I received this book from Netgalley for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book- it was just creepy, wintery, mysterious, and psychologically twisted enough without being too scary...I could not put it down! YA is usually hit or miss for me, but the author did a great job of making all of the characters relatable, honest, and thrilling. I was definitely on the edge of my seat, and loved the premise of Mira getting into a car with a bunch of strangers because she's desperate to get home. All of the strangers agree to ride together, for their own reasons, and things quickly escalate from there. It was definitely a crazy ride...until the very end!

4 out of 5 stars for Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards. A HUGE thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book...all opinions are completely my own!

This book was a nice mix of creepy and snowy - sounds odd I know, but I like that it was wintery themed and yet still fit that October creep vibe I was looking for.  It’s not ‘in your face’ scary or gory at all, more psychological and a bit of a guessing game. I enjoyed it, especially toward the end where things really picked up.

I felt that, through most of it I wasn’t exactly scared so much as curious. It’s definitely more psychological in nature, and feeds off of fears any of us would have in the situation the main character finds herself in. Toward the end I pretty much knew what was going on, but I was still interested to see how it worked out.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys more of a psychological thriller versus an all-out creepy/scary book.

Note: There is quite a bit of language and also drug use mentioned in this book.

——
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free. All opinions expressed on my own.

This book was nothing special, but I think that's because I have read too many YA thrillers for them to excite me anymore. However, it was enjoyable and very readable, plus there were a few great scenes!

This was a great who did it story! I honestly am not sure why the reviews are only a 3.5 on good read because this book had me on the edge of my seat the whole entire time. WHAT A RIDE! I was nauseous and scared all the way until the end!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards. All opinions are my own. 

I was really excited about this book. I had previously read No Exit by Taylor Adams and this sounded like a YA version of said book. Not only was this a creepy read, but the ominous feeling of the characters driving in bad weather kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I genuinely didn't see the end coming and was thrilled about that. I highly recommend this for thriller loves, although it may seem too juvenile for most adult readers.

Hello!

I really think when I do my monthly wrap up , I am going to be hitting a personal record (which for the last month of the year) will be really cool! Recently, I noticed I had a bunch of borrows left on my Hoopla account, so I borrowed a bunch of graphic novels (including the last Giant Days, the one that is like a year later, but honestly I do not know if I am ready for that, like emotionally to say goodbye to these amazing characters) but I also borrowed some audio books. I knew I still had a bunch to do this month, in the way of work and getting ready for the holidays (wrapping gifts, mailing things, decorating, etc..) so audio books are perfect for all of that. One of the audio books I listened to (in nearly a day, I finished all but one hour of the book) was Five Total Strangers, I was addicted to this book, I needed to know what was going to happen next, I could not put it down.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Mira, is flying home for Christmas but during one leg of her flight the weather gets way to frightful outside and the plane experiences some turbulence. After they are safely on the ground and inside the airport, Mira learns that all the planes are grounded and she will not be making it home for Christmas. Mira, is worried but not in panic mode yet, as she is waiting in a line, the girl who was sitting near her on the plane offers to give her a ride home (even though it’s hours away), she tells Mira, she is going to rent a car and drive! Mira, declines at first but when she gets on the phone with her step-dad she learns that her mother and step-dad have separated and she knows she needs to be there for her mother. Mira, rushes to find this new ride home, and luckily catches the ride however, its not going to be just Mira and her plane friend. Its going to be five people, five people she has never met, but as long as she gets home things will be okay. But once the group gets out the road things are dicey, the snow is worse then they thought and there are accidents everywhere, its going to be a very long drive and Mira is not entirely sure everyone in her new travel group is here just to get home.

I was riveted by this book. At first I was honestly a little unsure but things picked up so quickly and we were in the thick of things before I knew it. Mira, was in the car, and the weather was crazy and the people seemed to have no idea of who the other was but they all agreed to get in the car with one another for different reasons (and it was wild). I honestly, never expected the twisty part of this story and I kept shouting out loud who I thought it was and I was always wrong (I got it right once but I immediately changed my answer because for some reason I was like noooo that is so not right). I absolutely enjoyed my time with this book! I know there is another thriller book about a long winter drive and now I really want to pick that one up as well (so if you know the title to that one please tell me, I have been unable to find it again since I read this book)! If you have Hoopla and are able to definitely give this a try, or just put it on your TBR cause it is a wild ride!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The first portion of the book was very chilling and the description of the snowstorm was frightening, like you were experiencing it with the characters, but I felt like the ending was very rushed.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the perfect twisty creepy stalker thriller for an autumn or winter night. I ended up marathoning it when I couldn’t sleep (probably not my best plan, given how caught up in the story I became!) and really enjoyed it.

We follow Mira, desperate to get home to be with her mum in their first Christmas since her aunt died. She hitches a ride with people she meets at the airport, and they all become more suspicious and over exaggerated by the second. It becomes clear pretty early on that Mira has a stalker and they are with her, in some form, on this journey.

The whole story hinges on the fact that some weird stuff happens, the weather is massively against them, and we know the stalker is trying to engineer things so Mira feels she is stuck.

I did find the characters a little three dimensional, and we never really get enough background on anyone to really get to know them. However, that doesn’t really take away from the thriller element, especially if you read through in one go, it just means it probably wouldn’t hold up well to a re-read. We also end with a lot of unknowns, both about the other passengers but also about other people they meet on the way.

But honestly, at the time of reading, this didn’t affect my enjoyment at all - the pace and tension was easily enough to keep me reading along. 3 stars.

This book blew me away and I got serious holiday/cold/winter vibes. Trapped in the middle of nowhere with strangers and everyone has a motive and everything goes wrong. WOW! That ending!

Thank you to NetGalley, Natalie D Richards and Sourcebook Fire for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Well if you are looking for a quick and easy, but thrilling read - this one is for you! I really didn't realize this was a YA novel because it was quite detailed and dark. I really enjoyed how quick this novel moved along and how there wasn't much fluff to fill the pages. It was quite a dark and twisty novel that leaves you wondering which of these sketchy strangers is up to no good. It was the perfect read for a dark and snowy day!

Natalie Richards has a way of crafting YA Thrillers that keep teen readers engaged and hooked into her books. I think it is because her characters are relatable and authentic--as an adult reader I cannot help but cringe at decisions made because I would not make them, but I am not a teen any longer. As an adult reading a YA book, we have to remember to take a step back and put ourselves back into a teen's mindset--do you remember how impulsive you were? Do you remember making bad decisions? Do you remember what it was like to crush on a guy or miss obvious signs of bad behavior when you can take a step back and observe from a safe distance away? Sure you can, because you have the life experiences to do so. That's what reading great books do for us--they help put us in situations without having to actually LIVE these situations to learn and grow from them. Richards is a master at doing that and it is because of this her characters always ring true and authentic even when I wish they would not make those choices!

Her latest features her trademark style of engaging writing style coupled with authentic believable characters that create a highly readable and enjoyable YA Thriller. I would not hesitate to put this in the hands of any of my students (grades 7-12th). Content warnings for drug use, drinking, and violence.

YA thrillers are getting so popular and it's so thrilling. Combining my two favorite genres to make this wonderful mixed genre is giving. me. life. So when I heard about Five Total Strangers, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

Christmas Eve. Mira is stuck at the airport because a massive snowstorm has cancelled her connecting flight. It's the one-year anniversary of her aunt's death, and worried about her mom's mental health, she's desperate to get home to her. So when her previous flight's seat-mate offers her a ride in the rental she's secured, Mira crams herself into the SUV with four complete strangers to venture her way across the state to make it home to her mom before Christmas. But something's not right with her fellow passengers, and soon things start going wrong and are getting increasingly worse with each passing minute. Is someone in the car purposely sabotaging the trip or are the all just unlucky coincidences? Is Mira ever going to make it home?

This book pulled me in almost immediately. The premise was reminiscent of another winter favorite No Exit (which I read in literally one sitting because I could not put it down) - winter weather leaves an unsuspecting MC stuck with strangers while trying to get home for the holidays. And while Strangers didn't leave me quite on the edge of my seat the way that No Exit did,  I was still immersed in this story of desperation, fear, and complete anxiety. 

There were definitely some snags in the storytelling - unexplained characters and events, unanswered questions, and a totally abrupt ending - but I was able to forgive those things because of how much I really enjoyed the book overall. Though a bit irritating and entirely irresponsible, I connected with Mira and could empathize with her situation. I can't say that I wouldn't have done the same thing in her situation, though I hope I wouldn't. The interweaving of these weird and creepy letters, and the small discrepancies with each character really had me biting my nails, because I literally had no idea who the hell the bad guy was. Seriously, up until the very last second of the book I didn't know who to suspect because they were all suspicious in their own ways. This was really one of the most suspenseful books I've read in such a long time, so I was more than happy to forgive the few things that irked me. 

"I’ve learned to pay attention when the hair at the back of my neck prickles - when a carnal, bone-deep instinct tells me something is wrong. And that’s what my instincts are saying now." - Five Total Strangers, Natalie D. Richards

If you're looking for a thrilling winter read that isn't all ice-skating and hot cocoa kisses, I highly recommend picking up Five Total Strangers. It will definitely leave you second guessing whether or not to accept small kindnesses from strangers ever again.

I love the world-building, the way the author explained it, It was so easy for me to imagine myself with them in that car. The character building was also quite interesting, how they were from different backgrounds and the way their character unfolded while travelling for hours. The way the author tried to divert attention to different people also grabbed my attention. But the problem was pace, it felt unnecessary dragged, I wish it wasn’t that stretched and we get to know a little more detail in the ending.

This book was pretty great! There were a few parts I had to push myself through but ultimately I’d give a solid 4/5 stars. I loved the premise and strongly recommend this book!

We got our first snow of the season and I sat here and read/listened to two books about people stuck in too much snow.  Maybe that put me in the mood, because I really did enjoy this book.  Desperate to get home after her connecting flight is cancelled, Mira accepts a ride with her seat mate from the previous flight.  Along for the ride are 3 other stranded travelers.  Traveling through a snow storm that grounded all of the planes with people you don't know seems like a good plan, right?

I can understand the decision.  Who hasn't been stuck and desperate?  And a lot of us have driven through weather we definitely shouldn't have.  I had flashbacks to the Vail Pass two years ago the entire time! There is room to excuse Mira's choices.  She is really young, which she hides from her traveling companions.  I think this is why I saw the book described as young adult literature.  I will agree with Stephen King on this one.  There really is no such thing.  

These people are not normal and it becomes clear pretty soon that one is dangerous.  I was on the edge of my seat while they got themselves more and more in trouble in the snow.  I shouldn't have read it while my own college aged kids were driving in the thunder snow outside.  But maybe that is a contributing factor in the tension.  Didn't hurt.  I'm not saying to send your loved ones out driving in the snow so you can enjoy a book a little more.  That would be crazy.  But if someone is out there anyway...

It wasn't really hard to figure out who they really needed to watch out for.  The author did a good job of making everyone a little shifty and shady.  Little hints throughout made me questions myself, but ultimately were just false leads.  All in all, an author I need to look up and read more from.

A good story that keeps you on edge throughout! While it is not on my top for young-adult thrillers, I still think it's a good story that both teens and adults will enjoy!