I really, really wanted to love this book. The story sounded very promising, but it fell flat. I had to literally push myself to read it..
The characters aren't bad, I really liked all of them, it's just the story didn't grip me. I didn't feel any connection to it. Yes, I've gone through loss and everyone's loss is different. Maybe it was the paranormal aspect that I just couldn't get behind?
Unfortunately sometimes books that sound really good just don't resonate with you for whatever reason that may be. This book is that scenario for me.

The Dead and the Dark is a compelling YA ghost-story/supernatural murder mystery, where small-town prejudices get in the way of catching a killer. Gould's prose flows very well, perfectly balanced between action and introspection the whole way through, carrying the reader along for the ride. It's a delightfully *easy* read, one that doesn't ask too much of you (and is therefore perfect when you're a little tired or just not up to reading something terribly complex) but is *interesting* enough to keep you turning the pages long after you should really have started making dinner!

I loved the entire premise of one of the main characters being the daughter of the stars of a ghost-hunting tv show; that was just brilliant, and a bit of humour in what's otherwise a fairly grim story. Although I have to admit that I desperately want to know how exactly all the ghost-hunting gear works, which isn't touched on. Alas!

I thought the F/F relationship grew a little too quickly, even allowing for the multiple two-week timeskips, but it's not so jarring that it jolts you ought of the story. The timeskips, on the other hand, did annoy me a little bit; they felt like cheating, just hand-waving the inconvenient parts of real life, but on the other hand, it did help keep the story moving quickly instead of getting bogged down in the realities of shock/grief/waiting. So, a little annoying, but definitely forgivable.

Even though it wasn't quite my thing, I ended up enjoying it a lot, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a horror-esque supernatural YA novel.

The Dead and the Dark is a spine chilling debut novel by Courtney Gould with hooking twists and turns. I don't usually read paranormal books but I surprisingly ended up enjoying is this so much and it just gave me chills. The romance between the main characters turned into a slowburn that left ME yearning. (full rtc closer to release date)

Cute story. Loved Logan and her dads, and how the story unfolded a little more with each chapter. Kept me interested and wanting to know more the entire time.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this YA LBGTQ+ paranormal mystery/thriller, but it wasn't what I was expecting. The forced awkward romance kind of took over the plotline. At times it felt like this was a YA romance novel and that isn't exactly my thing. I was kind of hoping this book would have some more paranormal activity than what actually happened.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

If you like chaotic lesbians repressing their feelings, ghost hunting shenanigans and the feeling of awe and dread that small rural towns encapsulate - look no further!

The Dead and the Dark somehow managed to capture a creepy and intense atmosphere in a way I seem to miss in a lot of YA horror/mystery. I quite literally devoured the book, Gould built up this huge mystery that was so enticing that I simply couldn't put it down. I also really liked the contrast between our two main characters, they truly showcased what different upbringings and environments can do to a person and how it will influence their development. Their chemistry was amazing, seeing their relationship grow was an absolute pleasure and I do hope that we maybe return to these two chaos lesbians in the future - as much as they deserve a quiet and uneventful life, I feel like reading about more of their ghost adventures would be incredibly fun!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC of this in exchange for my honest thoughts!

3.5 stars

tws: homophobia, homophobic slurs, child death and endangerment, violence (on page strangulation and drowning)

The Dead and the Dark is a YA mystery and supernatural novel with a little bit of romance. The story follows seventeen-year-old Logan Ortiz-Woodley, the daughter of TV's most popular ghost hunters, as she returns to her dads' small hometown Snakebite. However, the moment they arrived, weird things started happening and teenagers started disappearing without a trace left behind.

This was a very entertaining read. It's very short with a fairly easy writing style to get into. The mystery plot line was done well as it kept me on my toes for the entirety of the book. The plot twists, although were kind of expected, it was still quite a surprise when the big reveal happened. Furthermore, from the beginning of the book I was immediately hooked and invested in the mystery, and it follows through for the whole of it. I also really love the queer representation this book has. I love how the main characters, despite their differences, were very likeable and even the adult characters were written well. I do feel like aside from Ashley, there wasn't really much character development from Logan by the time the story ends, nevertheless I do understand that this is more of a plot-driven book so it's not really a big issue to me. With that being said, this book could've been even better if the paranormal aspect was given more depth and focus. We never really get to fully understand what the entity is and how it manifested in the first place. But overall this was a good debut! I had a fun time reading it and would definitely recommend it to those who love mystery/thriller books.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

This is one of the most LGBTQIA+ friendly books I have ever read. The two main protagonists are women, one of whom, a young lesbian named Logan, comes to the mysterious Snakebit, Oregon with her two gay dads. They are filming a program about the disappearances of several teenagers from the area, some of whom end up dead. Ashley is a local whose boyfriend was the first to vanish, and when she meets Logan it is instant sparks. They team up to try and figure out why the teens keep disappearing. As the investigation, the book gets creepier and creepier as something awful lurks. If you do not like horror, you will not like this book. It is truly, and delightfully scary and you probably will get goosebumps more than once. Don't read right before bed. I did and had trouble falling asleep. It really is that good. The best horror book I've read in awhile, and it is YA and queer-friendly.

I thought it was a pretty good paranormal mystery book. Although I felt like the twist at the end was not too surprising I still enjoyed the things that filled between. Although I feel like reason for the treatment Alejo and Brandon get from the down seems a little bit extreme for what they have "done", that may be due to my unfamiliarly with rural small town life.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with an eARC of this!

I love everything about this book. Paranormal is one of my favourite genres, so this was my perfect cup of tea. The characters were great, the setting was so well-described and the mystery kept me guessing until the reveal at the end. But, unlike a lot of other mysteries, where the resolution can be somewhat lacking after the hype of the story, this resolution was incredibly satisfying. It wasn't completely out of left field, and it made sense with the story. I'm not sure what I expected this book to be, but it was something different than what I got, but I did adore what I did get.

Overall, this is such a sweet story. I was rooting for all the main characters - they all felt so real and fleshed out so it was easy to be on their side, even if they weren't perfect. The Dead and the Dark is a lovely, cozy read that will give you all the feelings and just leave you feeling hopeful and happy. Absolutely recommend it!

It was truly fantastic to read a YA book that featured a gay couple that go far beyond stereotypes. Even better was the messy, on-again, off-again young lesbian relationship. When you tie all of this into a thriller, it was almost perfect. I loved this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

I felt like this was a well done mystery/horror story. The characters were well developed. I didn’t want to put it down.

I must say that I am so tired of authors slamming Christianity with little digs. In this one it was a line about “Bible shit”. It was unnecessary to the story. In a story about intolerance, I found this rather ironic.

LOVED IT. Where was all of this YA horror when I was younger?

So many good things here, starting with this GORGEOUS cover. This is a f/f enemies-to-lovers romance, one of the protagonists has two dads that are TV ghost hunters (!!!!), and there is a significant amount of spooky, dark, atmospheric ghost hunting. I seriously could not ask for more from a YA horror/paranormal mystery.

I read this book so fast because I desperately needed to know what was going on, and the resolution of the mystery aspect was unique and satisfying. Without giving away too much, I did think there was a bit of hand-waving of certain parts at the end, but overall I thought it "stuck the landing", which is always the most important thing for me in these type of books. I feel like I have to say though, the GHOSTS CAN TEXT and it was completely unnecessary and took away from the mood for me whenever it happened.

But seriously, read this book. It was so unique and enjoyable, and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Definitely check for trigger warnings on this one (the ARC has them listed in the beginning of the book, which I think is great), because there are some dark moments.

*eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! The plot had a lot of suspense and the multiples perspectives kept me on my toes. I also loved the representation of queer romances and how they can be treated in a small closed-minded town. It's fast paced and reads like a blend of mystery/thriller and urban fantasy. What a ride! I highly recommend.

I am never, ever going to be able to stop thinking about this book. The Dead and the Dark is absolutely incredible - it’s dark, and haunting, and sad and tinged with hope. The writing is rich, and every page sinks deeper and deeper into you, keeping your eyes glued to the page until the very end.

As far as spooky ghost stories go, this one is pretty good.

I really enjoyed Logan as a character and learning what really happened to her and in Snakebite

There are a few characters that may surprise you, and I loved the LGBTQ aspect to this book.

Definitely a recommended read!

The Dead and the Dark is the most enjoyable book I have read in a while. It’s certainly one of the best young adult mysteries/thrillers I have ever read. Even though the plots are totally different, it's right up there with Sadie in terms of how well-written it was.

What you really need to know about this book is that it’s a paranormal mystery/thriller about one lonely girl, her two ghost-hunting dads, and her unlikely new friends.

I loved everything about this book. The characters were phenomenal. The setting was creepy. The plot was amazing.

The plot, indeed, was one of the best things. I didn't find it boring or predictable or contrite. Sometimes mystery books (especially ya ones) can fall into a trap where the solution to the big mystery isn't all that satisfying, but I didn't feel that way at all. The plot was always keeping me on my toes as it slowly uncovered layers of mystery and haunting. You can tell from the beginning that there’s something deeper going on than what appears on the surface, and the book keeps you guessing.

I am so sorry that I just don’t have a coherent review right now, but the point is that I really liked this book. It was intriguing and creepy, and also incredibly relatable and full of hope and love. I will definitely be recommending this book to others, and I will be reading whatever Courtney Gould puts out next.

Courtney Gould's debut novel is a nailbiter! Logan has just arrived in Snakebite, Oregon with her dads and everything is not okay. The dark is lurking throughout the town, teenagers are disappearing and everyone believes Logan's ghost hunting dads are responsible. So what does any teenager do? She sets out to find out what is happening and prove her dads' innocence. This novel is dark and dangerous, spooky and a bit creepy. The first quarter or so was confusing, I won't lie. You're introduced to the darkness with no explanation and it's like you're left blindfolded with no one guiding you to any answers. But the answers slowly come around so buckle up for this wild ride. This novel is worth it - I loved that it was queer friendly, paranormal but not out of this world too much, a thriller but not really horror, well paced, and characters well fleshed out.

I feel that I am just cranking out these ebooks left and right this year and also that I am reading more new releases than I normally do. Mostly my reading consists of backlist titles, but this year, I want to read what everyone else is because I feel that when I do read a book that is hyped, it usually falls flat. This time, I read a book that is not going to be released until August and I can be one of the people hyping up a book.

Going into this, I did not know much except that it is a YA paranormal and it is LGBTQIA+. Also that it took place in a small town in Oregon called Snakebite. When I first started reading it, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the main character's parents have their own paranormal investigator TV show. Something like Ghost Adventures but fake like Ghost Hunters. I am loyal to Ghost Adventures. Also I know that it mentions the tv show in the synopsis, but I try to stay away from synopsis if I can help it. Anyways, right off the bat where some of the dialogue was included when out MC Logan was watching her dads was VERY CRINGE! That is the only con I had with it.

The small town vibes was cliche. Not all small towns are like the one described and there is a sentence in the book that states that all the other small towns that they stayed in were exactly like Snakebite where the citizens hated every outsider and they were very old school and brought the pitchforks to the people if they were gay. While reading I thought I knew who the bad guy was and BOY WAS I WRONG! It was plot twist after plot twist. It also spooked me a couple times and I read this at night when I had some peace and quiet and my husband was sleeping. There was a particular moment where I was reading about Logan, the MC, hearing thump thumping noises and then my husband moans the word no in his sleep. I was freaked and did not sleep good whatsoever.

I ended up giving this a 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the paranormal and spookiness. It was thrilling and mysterious and it did bring a tear to my eyes maybe once or twice.