This debut YA thriller is CRAZY-in the best way possible. Logan finds herself back "home" with her two dads, Alejo and Brandon, in tiny Snakebite, Oregon. This town hasn't changed much over the years and is definitely on the traditional side. When teens start to disappear, it is all-too-easy to blame the gay paranormal investigators.

Though Logan has no real connections in Snakebite, she eventually gets close to Ashley, a popular daughter of a family that seems run the town. Together, Logan and Ashley set out to see if they can uncover the truth behind the disappearances. Are these kids the victims of small town crime or is there something sinister and other-worldly at play?

The mix of real life themes and paranormal activity will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the writing style and the realism in which the story was written, perhaps especially because it makes the potential threat of true evil all the more real.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for granting me an ARC. The Dead and the Dark is set for release on August 3, 2021. It is definitely worth checking out!

Interesting supernatural mystery, I felt the author did a good job portraying the different characters handling their traumas and certain personal realizations, and the author didn’t give away too much too quickly. The only things I have to say against it is that it felt a bit choppy at times with the way time would progress and I felt like I needed a bit more explanation about the Dark. But overall an enjoyable book. I read it in a day.

This book was an incredibly well written book about dealing with uncomfortable subjects. There are characters that can see ghosts but are having a hard time accepting this skill. There is a town dealing with the hatred towards gay/lesbian couples. There are people with secrets. There is a malicious entity looking to cause pain and chaos. All of these ideas made me stop and think about my own biases. This book is a good way for people to read about situations they cannot handle and observe how fictional characters dealt with strong emotions.

“‘We know that spirits are made of unresolved pain that lingers somewhere between life and … beyond. Theoretically, I’d say pain that leaves a deep enough impact–pain that kills a piece of a person–could leave ghosts, too. Ghosts are death, but maybe death can mean different things.’”

Teenagers are going missing in the small town of Snakebite, Oregon. Logan Ortiz-Woodley and her dads, hosts of the famous ghost-hunting show ParaSpectors, have arrived to investigate, but their welcome is hardly warm, and their history in Snakebite is fraught. Most everyone believes they had something to do with the disappearances, and Logan has to deal with their suspicions on top of the usual small town bigotry. Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first to go missing, just days after Brandon Woodley arrived in Snakebite. Now his ghost is haunting her, and working with Logan might be the only chance she has to find him–alive or dead. The girls launch their own paranormal investigation, and what they find is a darkness that lurks at the heart of Snakebite, a darkness that may only just be getting started. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin’s Press. Trigger warnings: death/child death, drowning, severe injury, homophobia, hate crimes, slurs, threats, bullying, grief.

This is so much my kind of book, it’s ridiculous. I love it so much; I’m not even sure where to start without descending into fangirl shrieking and incoherent rambling. I guess I’ll start by making a list of my favorite things: strong family themes, good representation (mlm, wlw, poc), a delightful mystery, scorching social commentary, and a Gay Dads ghost hunting show that I fervently wish was a real thing. (Every Supernatural Destiel fan and I would watch the shit out of that.) There isn’t a lot about the book that’s overtly frightening, and I think Gould could have played up the haunting aspects a bit more instead of relying on a general sense of “wrongness” in the town, but it’s still effective. In the tried and true tradition of horror, the humans are often a greater threat than the supernatural. More than the horror aspects, it was the mystery that kept me turning pages. Who or what is the Dark, and where will it strike next?

There’s an excellent cast of characters, beginning with Logan, who’s complex enough to take over whenever the action lags. She’s a combination of sophisticated city girl and a kid who desperately wants her fathers to love her. Alejo is an absolute gem of friendliness, jokes, and solid advice. Brandon is distant and hard to read, and the strangeness between him and Logan characterizes much of their family relationship. Ashley is a little more run-of-the-mill, a big deal in her small town, who occasionally makes painful statements about how “people just aren’t gay” in Snakebite. Fortunately, we have Logan there to call her on it, and Ashley probably sees the most personal growth of any of the characters. There are themes of family, grief, and self-discovery that all see excellent arcs.

The book is also a critique of homophobia and generalized bigotry found everywhere, but that seems to be especially concentrated in certain kinds of rural small towns. I’m way more afraid of an entitled white dude than I am of ghosts, frankly, and The Dead and the Dark has plenty to fear on both sides. The horror is expertly woven in with the social commentary, and while I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, I love the direction Gould takes it. I love the way everything in the book is connected, and she pulls it all together for a tense and satisfying ending. Easily my favorite book of the year so far. If you liked Sawkill Girls, this is for you.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

This group was so well written; the detail and the descriptions within the book are well done without feeling like they are dragging out. The suspense and mystery in the book are well done and unravel in a way that makes sense but not a slog. I was interested and hooked from the story early on. I think that one of the things that really shines is the side characters! I really enjoyed the cast of the story as a whole, which is not always the case. Overall a well done YA story.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me an arc of The Dark and the Dead by Courtney Gould in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a mix between castle rock, rosewood, and “riverdale, but good” as the editor aptly labels it. I can’t even begin to describe how much I LOVED this book. It was, and I cannot stress this enough, ADDICTING in every sense of the word. It was dark, twisted, and utterly captivating.

Logan and her dads find themselves back in a small town in which they grew up, but something is different in Snakebite. The weather is changing, a darkness lurks around every corner, and it seems as though secrets are the only thing holding the place together.


Reading this book was like watching a movie-the description was so good that I had to remind myself that I wasn’t actually there, that I wasn’t actually in the woods of Snakebite. The world building was effortless and the way the author included queer representation into this book felt like something other authors could learn from. I will not stop thinking about this book any time soon. READ THIS BOOK!

Young gay love, the paranormal, and a good mystery - the formula for an addicting read that keeps you wondering how the world will settle at the end of it. The little girl that I once was that stay up watching "Scariest Places on Earth" grew up to be the woman I am today who loves True Crime podcasts and thriller novels. Love that this book can combine several of my interests.
And the cover is breathtaking!

4.5/5.

This book had me questioning everything! Very early on I thought I knew what was going to happen, and it was very quickly twisted around to create such an interesting plot that left me gasping in surprise. It kept me invested in the characters and all I wanted was to keep on reading so I could find out more!

In general, I thought the dialogue and text messages were realistic for the characters' ages; lots of times, text messages between teenagers and young adults aren't portrayed accurately. So that was refreshing. The chapters were short enough to make you say "just one more chapter" and keep you engaged. I tend to LOVE stories involving small, tight-knit towns and boy did this book deliver. The characters and the town itself is where this story shines - I loved Elexis, and Brandon and Alejo's relationship, and enjoyed following the somewhat impulsive Logan.

If I had any criticism, it would be about the ending. I find it a bit cliche to have two people fall in love and then immediately run away together/dedicate their lives to each other. Maybe that's just because I'm getting older haha. But the ending was written well, and I still read it and ate it up so...

What an amazing read. If a book makes me laugh or cry or gasp, it's good. And this one definitely delivered.

The Dead and the Dark, by Courtney Gould, is an entertaining story. I enjoyed the character development and world building. The characters were fleshed out well enough to evoke emotions (I really disliked one of them). It was well paced but in places the wording was redundant. I can't tell you how many times "Ashley parked her Ford." While unique, I felt like there were holes in the story line. I had been teetering between a 3 and 4 star rating for most of the book. I decided on 4 stars because, although mildly flawed, I was able to read it without worrying about the page number or time- which means (for me) it was overall enjoyable. I will keep an eye out for more work by this author. Thank you to NetGalley for granting me a copy.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this digital ARC. The views expressed within this review are my own and unbiased.

I really enjoyed this spooky LGBT YA novel. Both of the main characters, Logan and Ashley, were well developed and felt real to me. Their emotions and reactions to the situations they faced seemed reasonable for teenagers, and were not sugar coated. I often find YA plots to be predictable, but I did not see the direction that this one was taking at all and I appreciated that. That is not to say that what happened was inconsistent with the action, it was just not the simplest conclusion.

I appreciated that the author took some time to develop side characters so that they did not feel stiff or interchangeable. I did take some issue with the father characters, simply because I'm sick of the gay parents with a gay kid trope. It's like the writer wants to cram as much homosexuality into one book as possible, but it isn't always realistic. I found the adopted lesbian daughter of two gay men to push the limits of my suspended disbelief -- the supernatural part was more believable to me. While the author made this aspect very important to the overall plot, I feel it could have been worked around. Nonetheless, this is a minor criticism as I did quite enjoy this novel and look forward to reading more by this author.

This was so good! Logan and her parents find themselves in a town filled with disappearances, deaths, hate, and so much darkness. The plot hooked me from the first few chapters and the ending was not what I expected. This is a great thriller, LGBTQ, and enemies to lovers book for anyone looking for a unique take on small town crime.

“You’ll always find your way back home” this line from the song really fits here. This book really captures the small town feel and the pros and cons of living in one, on the judgement and hatred that feels too big for a small town. The way the mindsets of the older generation shapes the younger generation and how harmful it is.

I loved the paranormal aspects tied in, the way Courtney gave the dark a name. The feeling of the dark and how it grew and grew. The dark wasn’t a thing but a feeling/thought in the back of your mind of all the terrible things you could do or be.

I love the way towards the end courtney really explored how hatred could become an identity and the way it takes up your soul to the point you know what you feel is wrong but helpless to stop it.

This book mainly was about Grief, all consuming grief and the way it could alter your actions and mind. The different stages you go through and not letting Grief be the thing you run from.

First off, the cover of this book is stunning! I love that the smoke element rises up from the cabin to profiles of the girls. It definitely gives off spooky vibes that pair well with the description. While I enjoyed this book, I did think it was going to be spookier. The supernatural elements were very tame and didn't dominate the story like I was hoping for. But the storyline was interesting and kept me guessing. I liked the main characters: Logan, Alejo, and Ashley. I wish we had a better look at the story from Brandon's perspective throughout the book and not just at the end.

I'd just finished Courtney Summers' The Project when The Dead and the Dark showed up in my queue. That cover reeled me in, and I couldn't wait to get started.

Logan's not thrilled about going to Snakebite. Scoping out a new location for their paranormal investigation show, Alejo and Brandon drag her anyway, but from the moment they arrive, nothing feels right. A boy has gone missing, and the newest arrivals become the objects of suspicion, regardless of their former ties to the remote Oregon town. But there's something much more nefarious lurking beneath Snakebite's surface, and paired with her sworn enemy, Logan is determined to find out what is.

Okay. So. I *LOVED* this book.

From page one, Logan's voice hooked me. Sarcastic, complex, and yearning, she was the perfect balance between clever and misguided. Where some YA can feel like an adult writing what they think teenagers sound like, Gould captured the essence of the in-between, what I usually think of in terms of "Crossroads" (I'm not a girl, not yet a woman...okay, I'll stop). Logan's on a gap year, searching for a sense of belonging and something more. Answers. Love. Home. She doesn't know, and that's okay--a topic I rarely see explored in the genre that feels so important in the changing academic environment. There's pressure to go to college, get a career, a family, but here, the pressure wasn't centered around this debate so much as Logan's choices were.

Because when it comes down to it, life is more than the college we choose, and Gould's exploration of the dynamics of Snakebite really highlighted bigger issues: identity, sexuality, discrimination, depression. There were a lot of really important conversations happening (in the best possible way), without being voyeuristic, accusatory, exploitative, or condescending. We see characters struggling with change, truth, and growth, and this struck me as both authentic and necessary.

The layers to The Dark--this aspect gave me serious Stephen King vibes. If you've read The Outsider, I think you'll love the atmosphere Gould creates here. I kept thinking The Outsider meets that one episode of Punky Brewster where she battles the darkness in the cave--archaic reference, yes, but I hope at least one other person gets it.

And while I'm not one for romance, I was invested in the relationship arcs here. No spoilers, but every single one won my heart. From romance to friendship to the fluid definition of family, I was ugly crying by the end.

Overall, The Dead and the Dark was a smart, creepy, twisty roller coaster of emotions from beginning to end. For fans of small-town horror with big-time ideas, add this to your TBR immediately and thank me later.

Big thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Before I pick up a book, I like to trawl the author’s social media accounts to see how they describe their book in their own words. Courtney Gould’s twitter revealed that, firstly, I desperately want to be friends with her, and secondly, that she describes ‘The Dead and the Dark’ as: ‘gay girl ghosthunters + an isolated small town + a darkness that lingers in the shadows’ and ‘teen lesbians fighting to save a town haunted by dead friends, buried secrets, and a history of hate.’ Ummmmmmm YES PLEASE.

Taking place the summer after Logan and Ashley finish high school, this book is somewhere in the nebulous place between Young Adult and Adult, and I think I let the YA aspect lull me into a false sense of security. I wasn’t expecting something so ominous and creepy...and I fucking loved it. This book caught me off-guard in the best way AND it managed to combine my favorite genres (thriller + horror) with my favorite romance trope (enemies to lovers).

Once you’re able to get past the sinister atmosphere of the book and the creeping sense of unease it leaves you with and come out from whatever blanket nest you’ve hidden yourself in, I implore you to really pay attention to the underlying messages of this book about hate and grief.

This book was dark, unique, and completely consuming. I loved that Logan’s dads were reality tv ghost hunters. I loved strong-willed Logan and courageous Ashley. I loved the setting and the atmosphere. I loved this book.

"The Dead and the Dark" by Courtney Gould is a fast-paced supernatural mystery with spooky scenes, a dark and malevolent entity, and a dash of romance. It won't be a surprise if this story becomes a highly anticipated teen fiction read with Gould's beautifully vivid and understatedly simplistic style of writing.

Dragged from one place to another, Logan's life is in a constant state of disruption with two dads who are constantly hunting down ghosts for their TV show ParaSpectors. To make matters worse, she's skeptical of the whole "ghosts are real" thing. Do they really exist or is it the work of technology and years of acting?

When the trio arrive in Snakebite, the hometown to Logan's dads, they are met with open hostility from the residents. Surprisingly, it's not the show that has people upset but bad history and the suspicion that the disappearance of a local teen has something to do with Logan's dads.

The story is split between Logan (who is desperately trying to uncover her dads' mysterious pasts and how it connects to the disappearance of a local teen), and Ashley (the girlfriend of the missing teen who is doing everything to find out what happened, even if it means befriending the daughter of the detested ghost hunters).

This is definitely a book to pick up and read. Audiences will find the writing is smooth and flows easily as Ashley and Logan's perspectives mix well together. Both characters are sassy, adventurous, and incredibly fascinating people to journey through this novel with as they offer their own insights into the strange events occurring in Snakebite.

A really lovely aspect of the story is the author's dark entity. Gould has successfully created a villain that isn't just a power-hungry figure with a desire to stop the good guys from erasing it out of existence. Rather, the villain is given a lot of agency and even has its own complex origin story that neatly ties in with the plot. The entity or villain of the story is fascinating in its design and its goals, guaranteeing to cause literal chills and paranoia!

The author also deserves major congratulations for being brave enough to write about controversial topics, such as homophobia, and not shying away from the reality of how cruel and prejudiced people can be. Homophobia is an issue that, unfortunately, is ongoing and one Gould has chosen to give some insight into.

Fans of the paranormal and straight-up spooky are going to love this fresh take on ghosts, murder mysteries, threatening entities, and the two teens who build an unlikely partnership to figure out just what kind of crazy has been stirred up in Snakebite.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books) for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel to read and review. If this novel interests anyone, add it to your reading lists and save the expected publication date: August 3rd, 2021!

I really enjoyed this murder mystery with a very dark twist! The characters made this a book that I wanted to keep reading. I especially loved the snarky way that Logan dealt with life and how Ashley found her true self.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This was an amazing book. It let me on the edge of my seat the entire read. I loved how there was a enemies to lovers trope in the book. I did think that the way that they defeated the bad guy was a little corny. But other than that I loved this book and I cant wait to read more from this author.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an arc!

This book was an absolute delight.

Logan, daughter of the famed ParaSpectors duo, has not really ever felt at home. When her dads decide that they should move back to their hometown to scout for their next season Logan is not too happy. What comes with their arrival to Snakebite is nothing any of them could've prepared for.

Gould exceeded at creating an uneasy atmosphere where you have no idea what could be lurking in the shadows. At one point I was just having a lot of fun being on for this ride.

This really ended up being a story about family and made my heart ache at some of the reveals. I know I say this in every review but I am genuinely looking forward to what Gould brings us in the future! Already have marked Echo Sunset on my tbr!

Something is wrong in Snakebite, OR. Teenagers are turning up dead, the weather isn’t normal, and all fingers seem to point to TV’s most popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town. Logan Ortiz-Woodley, daughter of TV's ParaSpectors, has never been to Snakebite but, she can feel there are a lot of secrets here.

Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she still feels his presence. However now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is Logan. When Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who—or what—is haunting Snakebite, their investigation reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves that neither are ready for. As the danger gets close to home, they realize home may not just be a place, but can be a person too.

Y’all this book is CREEEPPY and dark!! Like, it will give you nightmares. It’s an atmospheric paranormal drama with some heavy subjects spun throughout the novel. If you dissect it, you see it’s about what hate can really do to ones heart and soul. How hate can damage you so much and make you evil. It was wonderfully character driven. I loved Logan. She was complex, lonely, sarcastic and strong (even though she would disagree) I cannot believe this is Courtney’s debut because the writing is just that good. It reads like a movie. I had NO idea where this was going to go and to same from spoilers I will just say preorder this and do yourself a favor!!! So. Good.


Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my advance copy in exchange for my review!!