The Dead and the Dark is a YA thriller about Logan, who’s come to the small town of Snakebite for her dads’ paranormal ghost-hunter show. She hates it here and can’t wait for her dads to stop acting so weird so they can film the episode and leave. Ashely has lived in Snakebite her whole life, but six months ago, her boyfriend went missing and now the whole town assumes he’s dead. Despite their differences, and a family history neither set of parents are willing to get into, Logan and Ashely decide to team up to solve the mystery of what happened to Ashely’s boyfriend so both of them can get back to their normal lives. But Snakebite isn’t all it seems to be, and it’s keeping secrets.
YA thrillers aren’t my normal go-to, and especially not paranormal ones, but this one really worked for me. It was unlike anything I’ve read before and I mean that in a good way.
The plot was the best part about this book. Sometimes I didn’t feel super connected to the characters, but the plot kept me super engaged. If a chapter didn’t end in an explicit cliffhanger, there were other threads I was eager to learn more about, that I read the last 60% in one day. And I’ve heard that one big failing with a lot of thrillers is that the ending twist is a disappointment; that definitely was not the case for this book. The last 30% might be my favorite part, if only for the family dynamics we got.
The book was also spooky! I found myself getting creeped out at some of the descriptions!
I always feel bad when I say I didn’t connect with characters because it really means nothing but it’s true for this book. Logan and Ashley were fine protagonists, but I wasn’t like, connected to the heart for them. I am excited that Logan said she was a lesbian on page, which is a rarity in YA. Their scenes together were cute as well!
I rated this book 3.75 stars. It was an amazing introduction to YA thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Courtney Gould for this EARC in exchange for my honest review.
There is a significant disservice to The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould by comparing it to Riverdale. I, unfortunately, stuck with Riverdale for about three seasons longer than any person should, and The Dead and the Dark is so much better.
I got stuck in a major reading funk over the summer months, I slowly pushed through my NetGalley backlog, and some TBR’s that sat and waited. I even DNF’d a book I have been dying to read, and then Logan and Ashley came along.
Courtney Gould’s writing style has flow. She keeps interest, builds suspense, and masterfully mixes real life with fantasy and paranormal, to the point I kept forgetting I was reading a ghost story. I found myself googling Snakebite, Oregon, because it felt so real. Gould’s use of language made this fictional town come to life.
She left me chilled to the point that I went to sit outside camping the day after finishing and had flashbacks to murders in the book followed by a serious ‘Hell Nah’ and went back inside my camper, locking the door behind me.
If you are looking for a story with gorgeous LGBTQ representation mixed with suspense and thrill – not to mention.. THAT COVER.. Come on! Please get on The Dead and The Dark for spooky season 2021.

As with most books I read, I didn’t know too much about this one going into it. I knew it was going to be a young adult thriller with a supernatural element, which is exactly the kind of book I’ve been consuming lately, and I knew it was going to be queer. I’m glad I didn’t know anything more than that, however, because taking in this book as it unfolded before me was an amazing experience, and one I wish I could relive.

Logan arrives in Snakebite, Oregon with her two dads, and something is off about the small town. It starts with the fact that a teenager has gone missing, but beyond that, there’s a darkness that lives just below the surface. As the mystery deepens, Logan realizes she’s more connected to this town than she ever could’ve imagined. Her dads are keeping secrets, the town has turned on her family, and there’s a girl she shouldn’t like but can’t stop thinking about.

My favorite part about this story was the pacing—it’s perfectly written to give us a slow burn while simultaneously teasing a new aspect of the mystery in every single chapter. As one question was answered, another three would float to the surface, and the final reveal was undoubtedly worth the wait. But this book was so much more than the mystery—it’s also about that feeling of darkness and depression that lives in all of us; it’s about standing up to hate and realizing we’re not as different from each other as we might think; and it’s about queerness, love, acceptance and, most importantly, hope for the future.

More of a 3.5 star, but this was a really touching story! I think if I had prepared myself a little more for the immense amount of homophobia working throughout the plot of this book, I would have been in a better mindset for taking the story in. However, I understand why it was included and what points were made, though I think at a certain point it became redundant. Overall I really enjoyed the queer relationships and representation of family, and I loved the ghostly aspects. This is a creepy and lovely story about grief and queer connection!

This book is perfectly creepy for spooky season. In addition to the perfect fall vibe, it centers on a queer dysfunctional family and a small town where discrimination still runs rampant.

Logan's relationship with her fathers is mostly that of an absent relationship - her fathers are typically on the road filming their paranormal tv show as seasoned ghost hunters. Then Logan is forced to return with her fathers to their hometown, Snakebite. There, Logan is faced with instant bullying from the other teens in town. Despite the underlying current of discontent, Logan teams up with an unlikely ally as they try to solve the mystery of the unexplained disappearances and deaths plaguing Snakebite since the arrival of her fathers.

The character building in this book is spot on and the plot keeps you guessing throughout. The journey of finding happiness, even in the worst of situations, struck a chord for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Gould’s debut is moody and atmospheric, just what I wanted from a mystery in a small Oregon town. A great read as we head into fall for some spooky vibes—but also, it may have made me cry, because Gould isn’t afraid to also tug at the heartstrings. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

I received a digital advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF due to life circumstances. Husband gravely ill, so I just don’t have time to get to all the books! Sorry!

I really enjoyed this book! The sapphic romance was a nice slow burn, enemies to lovers, and so sweet. The paranormal aspects were really interesting-I especially enjoyed the scenes from the perspective of"The Dark"-that was so chilling to read!

This was a really excellent and atmospheric book with complex (and often unlikeable) characters, a unique voice, and a macabre look into small town American life. I will definitely be interested in future works by this author!

This book is so dark and twisty, and I absolutely love it. It was a bit creepy, but not so much that I needed to put it down at any point. I love the way that ghosts guided Ashley through her parts of her story. The twist in the end about Logan was shocking! I never had any idea that it was coming.

This is a great book, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

"The Dead and the Dark" is a deliciously dark tale about two girls - one born of darkness and grief and one surrounded by hatred and. paranoia. When Logan comes to Snakebite, the town seems to hate her family for more than just homophobic reasons - their children have started to disappear and blame is being shifted to her dads. Ashley is the golden child of Snakebite, girlfriend and friend to the vanished teenagers - she just wants her friends back and is curious about the mysterious new girl. Together they work together in this haunting story about love, grief, and the lurking darkness in all of us.

Wow did I not enjoy this. Logan and her dads were the only things that kept me reading. everybody else sucked. Snakebite is such a weird combination and the entire plot hinges on how unaccepting the whole town is. The ending saved it from being a one star read, but that's about all I enjoyed. Also the author lists Riverdale as an influence/inspiration for this book--enough said.

Okay, but this book is a must read for everyone. Queer, spooky, small town vibes. Ghostly elements. And everything in between. I’ve been excited for this book for longer than I can think of. And it did not disappoint. It gave me everything it was meant to. I feel like the more I enjoy a book, the harder it is for me to find the words to describe it. And I’m lacking words majorly right now. I would recommend this to everyone. It’s so worth it.

This was a slow, creeping mystery that isn't quite your typical love story. I didn't really know exactly what to expect going into this book, but I was instantly hooked on the mystery of a missing teen and some mysterious presence that seemed to be haunting this small town. As it dragged on I lost some of that interest, but stayed for the compelling characters and the intensity of the few dramatic scenes that cropped up from time to time. I really liked our two main characters and loved seeing their development, but I would have liked to see a bit more action building up to the dramatic conclusion

The Dead and the Dark is a deliciously creepy and quietly grieving story that makes for a perfect autumn read. Come for the queer rep and the chills, stay for the well-written relationships. Highly recommend giving it a read!

I had no idea that the relationship between Logan and her dads would be my absolute favorite thing about the book, and yet it was. Brandon especially was so interesting and heartbreaking.

This book is quite literally about queer girls and ghosts, and how the shadows we carry can hurt as well as save us. The mystery is engrossing, the setting compelling and tangibly alive, and the characters a delight. I will admit that the only thing that didn’t quite land for me was the romance between Logan and Ashley just because it didn’t seem that they interacted all that much to form such a profound relationship, but I still enjoyed it. Honestly it was just so nice to read a story about queer girls, being one myself. This book hit so many of my favorite things that it was easy to enjoy it and have fun.

I was lucky enough to end up getting an ARC of this book (in audio and ebook format) However, I was busy at the time and thought I would start the audiobook as I love to multitask. Unfortunately, I feel like I would have enjoyed the ebook more. Because weeks after listening to it, I have already forgotten most of it. The Dead and the Dark had a captivating ambiance and as teenagers disappear our main character is trying to figure out what is really going on in this creepy town. Again, it might have been my fault for choosing the audio instead of the ebook. Perhaps I'll take the time to re-read it in another format but I don't think I will considering my never-ending TBR.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

The dead and the dark is a story about a small town and family secrets.

I was expecting this to be a bit more of a horror and mystery theme. I do like how it flips points of views between the darkness, Ashley and Logan. I think this added to the story. However I think there was a bit of unneeded filler and I found myself getting bored during it and losing interest. This is where I enjoyed the print over the audiobook. When you can skim it quicker than having to listen to every single word read. I think one of the things that helped redeem this story for me in that area was I didn’t see the end coming. I was sure I knew who the killer was and it was a nice suprise finding out there were surprises I didn’t see coming.

I also believe the author did a good job of putting a spot light on how people in some small towns treat members of lgbt+ community. It shows it both in the past when Alejandro and Brandon were growing up in snake bite but also in the present when they return.

Overall I wish I had enjoyed this story more because it’s not a bad story. Just too slow for me at times which is never a good sign for me when it comes to mystery novels. I feel like it pulls me from the story.



I received a copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Although I was a bit disappointed overall by this book, I did enjoy a lot of this book. I especially enjoyed the family relationship. I didn't really get the eerie, haunting vibe that was supposed to peppered around the prose. Overall, a solid thriller.

I started this story and quickly found out some terrible news. I'm sharing this because my mind was totally consumed by sadness and grief. Yet, this story was something that I was able to focus on for short periods of time and kind of escape. So, I have to give credit to a story interesting enough to do that.

Aside from that, the story was pretty unique. Personally, I haven't read anything quite like it. If I was a Young Adults Librarian (Systems Librarian), I would absolutely add this to the collection. And my recommendations would be going out regularly especially for the horror fans that love a good Halloween read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the read. My apologies for the late review. That terrible news has kind of taken over my life.