Courtney Gould has an authentic way of writing. It's true and honest, interesting, and at times, poetry on the page.
Whenever possible, put the good things about a book or author upfront. "Now that he knew what it felt like to be loved, he could never go back," is a true encapsulation of the theme. We are all looking for love and acceptance, a place to fit in, where we find our people. While this is a paranormal thriller, at the heart, it's about human relationships and the human condition of needing love and acceptance.

The Dead and the Dark is a young adult thriller like none I've ever read. It's unpredictable, intriguing, and kept me wanting more. On my quest for LGBT horror/thriller, most use the representation as a footnote. It's refreshing to have LGBT authors writing stories where the characters simply are also part of the community. It's not forced, it's not to push the plot. These characters are simply existing in their world and experiencing things - in this case, an otherworldly entity set on destroying happiness.

This was good! Every character that was introduced had a purpose. No one was left behind! This easily became one of those books where the characters become familiar and homey. While I didn’t love each character (some of them were douche bags), they fit in well with the story.

I finished in a day without feeling like I needed to rush through. It just flowed very well which made it easy to keep reading.
Loved the Ghost Hunter aspect. I feel like it really broke up specific areas while adding value to the story.

There only thing that slowed the story a bit for me was where the darkness was present. I could have done without or had it be formatted a different way.

Over all really enjoyed this!!

I reached this ARC from @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Dead and the Dark is a creepy and gritty read that sucked me in from the first page and kept me guessing throughout.

This book is an interesting look into the insidiousness of small towns, how they can treat outsiders or those from the community who don't fit in with the norm how that can be a breeding ground for hate and how it affects the community.

Paranormal mystery with romancy diversions make this YA novel difficult to put down.
When Logan and her fathers move to yet another new town, Logan is ambivalent. They've done this so many times throughout her life that it's just another day. She's not happy to leave LA where, sometimes, she feels like she fits in.
Upon arriving in Snakebite, she senses something is wrong. A teen boy has disappeared without a trace. To make matters worse, some of the town folk are trying to pin the disappearance on her father.
Can Logan clear her father, negotiate troubles with the "cool" kids, and survive the ominous vibe of this place?
You'll have to read it to find out.

A slow burn romance and mystery...what more can you want? This was an easy read and highly entertaining.

This was such a treat to read from start to finish, wow! I fell in love with Logan, her dads, and Ashley all - the characters in this were incredible, thoroughly written and very well developed. I loved the "voice" of our main character - her kind but sarcastic inner monologue had me giggling to myself a few times; I would've really loved this as a teen, too! Part horror/thriller, part romance, this has a little bit of something for everyone - especially those seeking queer, diverse reads. So, so good - can't recommend highly enough!

This was not a book for me or for my students, though probably some of them would like it more than I did. I didn't know it would be more of a horror novel than a mystery. And one character deciding out of nowhere she was gay was not realistically presented

THE DEAD AND THE DARK caught my heart after about 0.3 seconds of reading. It has one of the most chilling, atmospheric opening chapters I've ever encountered, and Courtney Gould does not. let. up.

This is the eerie, rural American gothic of my fondest nightmares. We've got a murder mystery brimming with paranormal elements, a beautifully complex father-daughter relationship, a sloooowburn sapphic romance to die for, and a lonely small down dripping with dark secrets. Add in Gould's GOREGEOUS prose, and if you aren't already sold, there is absolutely nothing I can do for you.

I mean ... just look at the cover. LOOK AT IT. Now whisper "gay ghost hunter horrormance" to yourself slowly and tell me you don't need THE DEAD AND THE DARK yesterday.

Overall an easy 5/5 recommend.

Lesbian ghost hunters!

This book was all I ever wanted. The characters are so loveable (especially Alejo) and the romance is really cute.

The paranormal mystery kept me hooked from start to finish. I could not put the book down as I was nearing the ending.

I can’t express my feelings towards this book properly. It was just SO GOOD. But paranormal stuff and lesbians - why wouldn’t I love it?

The book comes out august 3rd and I highly recommend it! I really need this book to have a fandom so I can see fanart of the characters. please.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

cw: murder, slurs, homophobia, child death, violence, death, blood, drowning, hate crimes

"The dead and the dark" is by far one of the best books I've read this year. It had me hooked from start to finish and I simply could not stop thinking about it.

The plot worked really well with the small town setting. It was really interesting to see how Ashley figures out how many secrets are buried in so little space, in a town where everyone knows everyone. I especially enjoyed the bits we got about the past and the unexpected ties between some characters.

I adored the characters A LOT. Logan and Ashley made an interesting duo and I loved the "enemies to lovers" elements (but don't expect knife to the throat enemies to lovers please). I appreciated the fact that the romance doesn't happen right away and that it's not that big of a plot. I expected a lot more romance and I'm glad the author chose to focus on the other aspects of the story as well. Besides the two girls, the dads were my favourite characters. The author made a phenomenal job with the way they were written!

Among the things this book does well, the writing is the shining star. It's so so good. I flew through the book because it was so easy and fun to read. The added jokes and the sarcasm made everything even better.

The blend of paranormal, thriller and the romance part of the book made this book very well balanced, which will probably keep the reader interested to the very end. I loved the subtle horror undertones and the slow romance.

One thing I wished the book focused more on were Ashley's friends. I feel like they weren't that well fleshed out in comparison to the other characters. They had potential to do more than what happened to them in the book.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so spooky and eerie and I loved the gay elements. Gay dad ghost hunters and their teen daughter all move to a small town to try and help with a missing person case. The switching POVs do a really good job of establishing the characters and the town. I would recommend this to readers who like horror and diverse LGBTQ storylines.

This is it! This is the content the gays want! While a little slow in the beginning, The Dead and the Dark winds up becoming a delightfully spooky, poignant read. I've always wanted a f/f frenemies horror novel, and alas, here one is before me. I'm extremely grateful to have been approved for a galley of this because it's what I would've loved to have had available to me when I was mid-late teens like Logan and Ashley. Even now at almost 30, I'm thrilled to see its presence, so I can't imagine how it will make LGBT+ teen girls feel when they can relate to it so much more presently than I can.

Some of the twists were predictable (mainly the big one), but I don't necessarily consider that worth knocking the novel over. I would've liked to be surprised, but I also read/watch a lot of horror, so I could just be too tuned into little clues to look for. I really found myself rooting for Ashley and cheering whenever she did something gay or to break away from her mom. I liked Logan, but Ashley was a standout character for me. Overall, I'd recommend this book, especially for LGBT+ girls who love horror like me!

The Dead and the Dark is a fast-paced mystery centered around a small town named Snakebite. When Logan and her dads (a paranormal investigation duo) find themselves in the middle of a series of murders, Logan joins forces with one of the affected teens to find out what's haunting Snakebite.

I liked this book! It doesn't take long to get into the action of the story, and the characters are great. I enjoyed the fact that we get to know more about Logan's dads (who both grew up in Snakebite and left) as the story progresses, and their relationship was one of my favorite aspects of the book. I also think Gould did a great job in creating a heavy, dark atmosphere over Snakebite. There was such tension as the story progressed, especially in terms of Snakebite residents vs Logan and her family. I do wish this had been explored a little more––it's fair and obviously true that LGBTQIA+ folks have a harder time living in small cities, but I also think that can be a bit too surface level, especially once we get the reveal. I almost think that takes away some of the seriousness of the issue.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to my students if they want to read more contemporary gothic-esque stories and 10/10 would love to see more adventures from Logan and her family.

Wow! This book was so cool. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be recommending it, and it will be in time for pre-spooky season! :)

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I flew through this book in two sittings in just over 24 hours (and during a work week, so that's really something!). This story in GENUINLY CREEPY and will be the perfect Fall read for Fall 2021 (it releases 8/3/2021). I also really appreciated the Eastern Oregon setting, as it's somewhat similar to Western Idaho where I live! I have to say, the insular, small town community portrayed in this story is all too real out here...as a East Coast transplant to Idaho, I can relate.

THIS BOOK IS SO ATMOSPHERIC! You can tell the author did a lot of travelling and research around Eastern Oregon, and it really shows in the level of detail of the setting of the novel, Snakebite OR (not an actual town, but it definitely feels like one). There is also a paranormal show aspect of this, which also drew me in to the story. I don't even like ghost hunting shows because they're so cheesy, but this book acknowledges the cheesiness of these shows while also making you interested in them. Just trust me on this. :)

Let's talk representation! The book is sapphic and there is a really great female-female relationship. The parents of the main character are a bisexual man and a gay man. I adore them with all of my heart, but the story really sends you on a rollercoaster with one of them. I can't say much else without spoiling the story!

If you ever watched Riverdale but gave up because it just got way too ridiculous, this book is for you. It will give you all of the small town, creepy vibes but without the plot soup/ridiculousness of that show.

I recommend this book for fans of The Devouring Gray, Sadie, The Accident Season, The Broken Girls, and The Sun Down Motel. This book will appeal to teenagers and adults, as there are themes that transcend age and the writing is SO COMPELLING.

There are some trigger warnings here that readers should be aware of. Many of these triggers come up often throughout the book, and some are main plot points/themes of the novel. TW include but are likely not limited to: homophobia, homophobic slurs, hate crimes against LGBTQIA characters (specifically attempted murder and graffiti), murder of teenagers, microaggressions against LGBTQIA characters, intense loneliness, loss of friends, childhood death, childhood terminal illness, and coming to terms with ones sexuality/coming out to family who are homophobic.

I will provide a "Why You Should Read This Book" review on my bookstagram closer to release date. (IG is @monstrouslybookish).

I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!

I am unable to rate this book because it would not download on my phone - wish I could have had a chance to read it.

This is dark. This is disturbing. This is ominous and haunting and eerie. This is amazing. That's it. That's the review. I loved this so much.

There are books that I read that absolutely hit all of the right buttons for me. The Dead and the Dark is definitely that kind of book.

Logan Ortiz-Woodley is a recent high school graduate living with her dads; waiting patiently to turn eighteen so she can set out into the world to discover herself and where she belongs. At the start of the story, Logan, along with her dad Alejo Ortiz are packing up for a short-term move to Snakebite, Oregon — where her dads grew up — to meet up with Logan’s other dad, Brandon Woodley. Adding a little twist to the mix, Alejo and Brandon are TV’s ParaSpectors, ghost hunters with a pretty opinionated following.

Things in Snakebite are weird. While Alejo and Brandon grew up there, and eventually left (under semi-weird circumstances that is poked at through the entire novel), not much else has changed over the years. Of note, though, is a malevolent shadowy evil called the Dark that seems to be involved in the disappearance of at least one local teen. There is definitely something going on in Snakebite that involves the history of Alejo and Brandon, and Logan is going to get to the bottom of it.

Supernatural YA mysteries are my absolute bread and butter, and The Dead and The Dark does not disappoint. Yes, there are a couple of plot points that are a touch clichéd, but, for me, that is what locks it right into the genre. You have to have these signposts in order to say “Welcome to this familiar ride. Just wait until you reach the twists.” And boy howdy, there are some twists.

Ms. Gould really nailed this one in regards to little town attitude, teen angst and a whole lot of institutional hate and mistrust. Most of the way through the book I found myself questioning why the Ortiz-Woodleys would ever put up with what they are going through, and why they wouldn’t, rather, just find another location to scout. It is painfully obvious that Snakebite is not a place anyone should be. It seems to be an absolutely awful place, but it sure makes for some compelling reading.

Bottom line: if you like spooky queer YA, then do not sleep on this one. The Dead and the Dark is Ms. Gould’s debut, and I could not be more excited about what she puts out next.

Something isn’t right in Snakebite, Oregon. Things haven’t been normal since the return of Brandon Woodley, co-host of ParaSpectors and former Snakebite resident. When his husband, Alejo Ortiz, and daughter, Logan, join him in Oregon, it’s under the guise of location scouting for their television show. But Logan isn’t convinced, and the second she steps into town she has a feeling secrets are buried there. Ashley Barton’s boyfriend, Tristan, disappeared without a trace six months ago, just a week after Brandon arrived in town. Since the family reunion, more teenagers have gone missing, and some have even turned up dead. Logan is convinced something far more sinister is behind these disappearances, and teams up with Ashley to uncover the truths about Snakebite and unravel the dark forces at play.

I thought this was such an incredible debut. It was dark, sinister, atmospheric, full of characters you may want to hit over the head with a shovel (I mean, I’m not condoning violence perse, I’m just saying…) and at the heart of it all there is Logan, a girl who knows she doesn’t belong and isn’t accepted in the unforgiving town but is forced to find the force behind the madness. Then enters Ashley, a girl living in a small town her entire life, surrounded by like-minded people who aren’t as loving to outsiders as they are to each other. She is conflicted about associating with Logan because the entire town thinks her dads are behind the murders, and additionally they don’t approve of a relationship that may form between the two of them. The mystery itself, especially interludes from the Dark’s point of view, had me itching to know what would happen next, wanting to warn the characters before they met their untimely fate, and overall kept me guessing as to who or what exactly I was dealing with here. The force itself became such a metaphor for the hatred and discrimination that can fester for generations in a place where people just aren’t open to the idea that people can be different than them. This book showed how a place filled with that hatred was able to push Alejo and Brandon, two men who loved each other and just wanted to raise a family, fully outside its bound, and did not welcome them back. This book was tough to read at times, because I could see how the adults’ world view of people who are different rubbed off on their children, who tried to incite violence upon Logan and her dads any chance they could, and in turn people who associated with them. I found it to be excellently crafted, and I will say I did not guess then ending, nor was I even confident about how the book was going to end 90% of the way through. I’d say that’s good thriller storytelling right there.

If you haven’t already surmised this, I thought The Dead and the Dark was an excellent paranormal mystery/thriller debut that will have people guessing what is amiss in Snakebite, Oregon the entire way through. I am will certainly be keeping a lookout for future works from this author, as I’m sure they will be just as spooky (and, in turn, just as gay) as this one. *Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for the e-copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*