I enjoyed this novel and the paranormal aspect to it. The author nailed the small town characters and attitudes. However, I felt that the ending could have been stronger, especially when it came to defeating The Dark. I expected more in general from that scene and the end of the book as a whole.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review
I had no idea what to expect going in to this book. Let me tell you it did not take long at all for me to get sucked in and taken for a wild ride. The book was an absolute thrill and I was constantly trying to piece things together like a jigsaw puzzle I had no point of reference for. I did not expect the book to be so chilling but it absolutely was and I really enjoyed it. Both Logan and Ashley, the MCs, were very fun and interesting characters. Two strangers brought together by odd and horrifying circumstances. Logan and Ashley want answers yet everyone in this small town is so tight lipped and judgmental it was clear there was a lot more going on than met the eye. I loved that Logan had two ghost hunting dads but they also had too many secrets. Logan herself was also gay and was like a breath of fresh air in this backwater town. I still love the contrast between her and Ashley. The two are like polar opposites and I’m so glad Logan helped expand Ashley’s world. Logan may have questioned her dads profession’ up to now but she’s about to be dragged into her own haunt.
When the pieces came together in the climax I was pretty shocked. I felt a bit blindsided because I still had zero clue where the author was taking me or how she’d bring it all together. I was worried a HEA wouldn’t be possible with so much darkness shadowing everyone and everything, but it was. *spoiler* [Logan and Ashley essentially riding of into the sunset together was certainly not something I saw coming but it made for such an epic ending. Even better now that she knows the whole truth and could work on re-bonding with her dad. I’m only sad she lost so much time with Brandon and thought he didn’t even love her for so long. I can’t imagine feeling that way and not understanding why he pushed her away and was so cold. It’s hard because I want to say they should have been more honest with her but at the same time I get why they kept their secrets. Even her just knowing she was brought back from the dead would be a hard pill to swallow, let alone the knowledge of what the darkness was and did. (hide spoiler)] This was my first read from this author but certainly won’t be the last. If you’re looking for an edge of your seat thriller that’ll keep you guessing, look no further.

THIS BOOK! I've been interested in reading it since I first read the blurb, and boy does it hold up to my hype! It's every big as gorgeous and spooky as the cover, with a great slow-burn romance and a chilling mystery. I don't want to get into spoilers, so I'll just say if you're looking for a paranormal/horror mystery, I couldn't put this one down!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really couldn’t put this book down. It was creepy and quite the thriller! I didn’t figure it out before the end. I’m not a huge fan of “ghost stories” but this one was intriguing. I wasn’t expecting the relationship that developed. I did like both Ashley and Logan’s personalities.

There was an opening dialogue . I wasn't into. I like the name logan for a bit like the characters. The dialogue were okay not super interested. The pace was okay

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own!

I don’t know if I have words? I love dark and twisty, but this was next level.
TW: child death, talk of death

This was absolutely spell binding. I was encapsulated from the first chapter. The concept behind this book is so different and so well executed. Also the yearning? Top notch. I can’t get over that. The tropes within this book are very specific, but right up my alley.

This book follows Logan as she heads with Alejo, one of her fathers, to meet her other father Brandon in their hometown Snakebite. But, going home brings darkness and it doesn’t seem as if there’s any light in sight.

What beautiful character building. Each one of these characters were complex, but understandable. The plot was well thought out and executed. The words flowed well together, connecting the characters, the plot and everything in between. I absolutely ADORED this!

Gays ghost hunting? Yeah. Sign me up. Every single time.
True rating: 4.5/5

Normally I'm not a fan of science fiction, but this was a great read. Two girls who go from enemies to partners to a couple was fun to see. The characters were well rounded and the side characters like Logan's Dads. The payoff of the mystery was really well-done. A solid debut novel and I can't wait to read more from this author

What a completely creepy, mysterious book. The cover is what intrigued me the most but the story itself was fantastic. Thankful to NetGalley for allowing me a copy of this book.

This one was so creepy and good! I requested based off a recommendation and I am so glad I did - I read through it in like one day! Super good!

Awesome book, with an amazing cover, this was a 4.5 for me. This was an interesting deep dive into the ideas of death, love, and trauma. Having grown up in a small town too, I really appreciated the clear sense of setting and how intertwined the past and present can be in those environments.

I thought both girls made for fantastic narrators and I liked that their love story evolved so naturally. In fact, ALL of the teen characters seemed like very clear, realistic, and well fleshed out to me (they seemed like kids you would actually meet IRL.)

However, the dads were another story. While Brandon is supposed to be an enigma, I almost felt like the writer kept him (and his reality) too far removed from the reader. Rather than someone wrestling with something that we're supposed to have empathy for, he more comes across as an unkind dick. That made it hard to stay invested in uncovering his connection to the murders.

I wasn't totally in love with the ending (which felt a little abrupt--the dark seemed like very strong supernatural force that would take MUCH effort to defeat) and the book kind of petered out in the final chapters, but overall I thought this was a great book.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a beautiful yet Haunted book!
I thought I had it figured out..... But guess what I was wrong!
I enjoyed Logan and Ashley's character so much!
This is one for the books and I believe this book is going to take off in 2021!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53141419-the-dead-and-the-dark

I got an ebook of THE DEAD AND THE DARK from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all - look at that cover! Amazing.

Do you like stories that take place in a small town? Do you like ghosts? Do you like f/f romance? If yes to all, then definitely click 'order' on this one.

Typically, I don't much like books where the Bad Guy is this amorphous non-character, more of a concept than a thing. But with Gould solidifying this Bad Guy as a representation of hate in the community, it worked for me.

I liked Ashley. I liked Logan even MORE! Where the two end up at the very end was really satisfying to read. Definitely going to read more by Courtney Gould.

Ultimately, I am going to give this book 3,75/5 stars rounded up. Once I picked it up, I just could not put it down. The plot was very fast-paced, and I adored Logan's character. She brought new energy to YA characters that I needed. Instead of being quiet and misunderstood, Logan was unapologetically herself and sarcastic.

While the atmosphere, characters, and pacing were nearly perfect, the plot did feel a bit less unique to me. If you've read Sawkill Girls, Ghost Wood Song, Devouring Gray, etc. this small town paranormal mystery may seem like nothing new to you. However, if you enjoyed any of these books and want more, definitely give this a shot. Another missing link for me was the connection to the "metaphor". Most of these YA paranormal books have a deeper metaphor of who/why the villain exists. I realize the explanation was there, but it didn't blow me away.

This may be addressed to a niche crowd, but this is more Sawkill Girls than Wilder Girls. Do with that information what you will.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

If you love Stranger Things/The Outsider/Supernatural then this book will definitely be up your alley! This book was absolutely phenomenal! Super dark and twisted, and had me going WTF so many times.

Highly recommend

This is such a haunting debut and I'm so happy I got the opportunity to read it! I don't always lean towards paranormal books, but I love horror and TDATD does horror so, so well. It is engaging, and I love how I was immediately drawn into the setting. Having never lived in a small town, I loved how Gould weaved the characterization of not only the residents, but the town in such an accessible but creepy way. It was alive on the page. A highly recommended read!

Oh myyyyyyyyy.... I couldn’t even finish my sentence! This is sooooooooooo darrrrkkk!

This is disturbing! This is uniquely mind blowing! That’s the earth shattering, WTH I just read, head spinning, inner demons summoning novel I was looking for so long!

My moviemaker mind worked overtime during my reading because I truly saw the scenes in my head!

Something eerie, terrifying, extremely ominous, haunted is watching you behind at each chapter! It slowly gets under your skin, captures your mind, paralyzes you! You get speechless and numb! That’s what I felt when I was reading this book or watching it in my mind!

It was like the mash up of best Supernatural episodes meet Stephen King’s Outsider with amazing LGBTQ representation! Especially the conservative, hostile, agitated townies against ghost hunter reality show producer gay couple ( once upon a time they were two of them, they were born and raised at this land! ) and their adopted 18 years old girl who is also gay is a delicious story line to hook you up!

But that’s not the main story: darkness lure around the town, hunting young adults, sucking the last drip of hope and happiness from its people’s hearts!

Two main feelings you get when you read this stunning, original story: loneliness and pure hatred!

Logan Ortiz-Woodley, dragging from town to town because of their fathers’ longtime popular show and cheap motels become her second home.

She feels so lonely, her fathers keep secrets from her: she can feel it! And their last stop Snakebite made them feel like they bit more than they can chew. It could be literally their final stop as something so dark and dangerous hunt the young population of town!

Logan wants to clear her fathers’ name because entire townies think the disappearance of Tristan connected with their return to town!

Logan teams up with Ashley Barton who is girlfriend of Tristan, seeing his ghost, feeling his existence which make her friends worry about her. Logan gets used to witness irrational things and she wants to know what happened to Tristan because searching the secrets of town may help her to learn more about herself.

Ashley and Logan forms an unconventional friendship which gets negative attention of townies. And another young boy gets disappears! Things get more heated! Are two young girls ready to fight against the invisible monster? Maybe the real monster is already at their inner circle and they’re so clueless about the danger lurking around!

Prepare to scream and hide under your bed as like I did during my read. Even after finishing the book, it took two hours to leave my hiding place!

It’s brilliant, twisty, surprising reading which earned my full, eerie, creepy, bleak five stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I wish that in the book description trigger warnings would be placed rather then within the first few pages if the book. Due to triggers I was able to read it. From what I’ve gathered it is a well written novel.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's press for allowing me a chance to review this book. It was actually a surprise that I was chosen since I don't remember requesting or asking to read it.

But I did, and I feel this book will certainly appeal to people who are looking for something along the lines of Stranger Things.

It is difficult to focus on any level of this book without letting a spoiler come through. Yet, picture a girl who lives with her two dads. One of them is distant, the other present. They both run a paranormal investigation team that has a show that is quite popular. The father who is distant is currently residing in Oregon where a teen has gone missing. Reluctantly the girl and her other father return to Oregon where they meet up with him and that's when things start hitting the fan. Because her parents have a history in this town, and their return is not taken too kindly.

Homophobia is a big part of this book and what spurs a lot of the actions of the characters. At times, I forgot this is a supernatural book because it felt more or less like a thriller or a fiction book without a supernatural angle. I feel the mixture of the supernatural bit weighed down the homophobia and the two did not blend together so well by the end. I felt the supernatural reveal was not as strong or emotional as it should have been. Personally, I would have chosen one or the other as the focus. Or perhaps the author was not that strong with writing for both of the topics.

In any case, it is what sunk the book down two stars for me. This book is getting a lot of 4/5 star reviews which had me excited to read it. Yet I felt coming away from this that I was missing something. Oh well.

I read a Digital ARC of this from Netgalley. I definitely think there were good parts of this book. The idea behind it with the Dark was interesting. I did like most of the characters. There were also definitely some good twists that I didn't see coming. Some things that I didn't like as much is that there would be big moments and then it would cut to either another character or two weeks later. The book had many times where two weeks went by since the last reveal or big event, and there would be a brief summary of an event or two that happened and some reaction. It was hard to believe that nothing much happened during those two weeks. For instance, Logan discovers two big things on the same night and the reader is left with a cliff hanger at the end of the chapter and the next chapter starts two weeks later and we don't get many details as to what happened during those two weeks and it seemed like then those two events weren't really a big deal since life just went on mostly normal during the two weeks. I also feel like Alejo and Brandon treat Logan like she is a young teenager, more along the lines of 13 in some cases and her real age of 17 in other cases. They don't really seem to care a lot about what she does and leave her on her own frequently, but when she wants to know the truth about some of the mysterious activities going on they treat her like she is much younger.

When the publishers reached out to me with a copy of this book I hadn't heard much about it. This is one of the most intriguing YA thrillers I've ever read.

This is a very emotional read and I enjoyed the way the author dealt with trauma and the different obstacles that had to be crossed in this book. The world building was amazing. A small eerie town where young girls are vanishing, lgbtq ghosts (there's some homophobic issues in this book that the author tackles well), The Dark and the whole concept of it was interesting and and I felt like the reveal was satisfying an not very predictable.

My review can also be found on my goodreads which is linked, as well as my tumblr blog Prettygalsread, closer to publication date.