I’m a huge Riley Sager fan so I was ecstatic to hear he releasing a new book this year, Survive the Night. This thriller takes place in the ‘90s and dives into cat-and-mouse chase, grief, guilt, and instinct. I really loved the concept and plot of this book, but unfortunately, the execution fell a bit flat for me which is surprising because I loved Riley’s previous books. I noticed in the beginning I kept comparing this book to No Exit by Taylor Adams which is unfair since they’re different type of books but they both involve abduction and takes place in the winter. The beginning of the book was a bit slow for me, but as we got 60% through, I found Riley Sager’s familiar adrenaline type writing which I love. I found Charlie’s character to be a bit dull, but I liked the complexity of the other characters. Overall, this was a 3.5 star read which I rounded to 4 stars. I’d recommend this book to fans who love Riley Sager’s work.

For starters, I sat down with the book, blinked, and was all of sudden 80% done with it if you need a gauge of how fast-paced Sager’s latest thriller is.

I was thrown off multiple times. I was so mad (in a good way) at some of the realizations; others left me pleasantly surprised. I thought the premise and the ending were SO stinkin creative! However, I did figure out the big twist.

Riley Sager has quickly become one of my favorite mystery/thriller writers. I love how addicting his writing style is, and how his mysteries always have me on the edge of my seat and take me by surprise. This book did not disappoint when it comes to the tense, suspenseful atmosphere that I’ve come to expect from this author. My reason for the 3 star rating is I found the plot twist a bit predictable, and the motivations of this character did not feel believable to me.
Overall, I did enjoy this book. The premise was intriguing, the 90’s setting was great, and even though we follow only 2 characters for most of the book, it never felt dull. Throughout the story, I was thoroughly engaged in Charlie and Josh’s interaction as they travel lonely roads on their late night road trip. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Like most of Riley Sager's books, I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put this down until I reached the end. Strangely, though, I had too many problems with the story to really say I enjoyed this book. The main character was too "unreliably" unreliable, going to extremes between moments of self doubt/instability and moments of extreme clarity/competence. The plot twist was one that I kind of saw coming, but hoped I was wrong (it took the story in a direction that changed the book too much for me). And most of all, I couldn't buy into the relationship between this girl and the driver of the car. The interactions between the two of them are disturbing enough - for both of them - that there's no way either one would extend their time together to the extent that they do (especially at the end).

....But like I said, I still could not put it down in spite of all this. I'll categorize this book as a guilty pleasure for Riley Sager fans. Not one of Sager's better stories, but still somehow a page-turner.

What would you do if you were trapped in a car in the middle of nowhere with a person you suspected was a serial killer?

My short answer to this question is: Pretty much exactly the opposite of most of the things protagonist Charlie Jordan does. Buuuut we wouldn’t have much of a story if Charlie had thought right at the outset, “gosh, my roommate was just murdered by a serial killer. I probably shouldn’t accept a ride alone at night with a stranger.”

Sager attempts to pass this decision off as recklessness and guilt, which unfortunately only kind of works, much like the unreliable narrator variation he creates for Charlie with the “movies in her mind.” It sorta kinda makes sense if you don’t think too hard about it or fixate on the details too much.

Charlie gets braver (which seems believable) and smarter (which seems less believable) as the story progresses. But despite the fact that she’s kind of a dingbat, she’s a likable gal who you very much want to see safely to the end of her journey.

I’ve seen some reviews saying that this book was scarier than Sager’s last book, Home Before Dark. I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with this, as I didn’t think this book was scary AT ALL.

Usually I find Sager’s book to be just the right amount of scary for a sorta horror wuss like myself. Creepy and chilling, but not too grotesque. This book was fun, but it’s more of a puzzle than a spine-tingler.

I suspect that part of the reason I felt this way is that I figured out the ending realllly early on. As in less than halfway through the book. It’s a clever way to go (if a touch easy to guess at too early in the narrative), but I suspect being confident that I knew the ending perhaps made it less creepy. Thus if you don’t guess the end, this one might be satisfyingly scary for you.

Because I expected to be delightfully creeped out and wasnt, this was probably my least favorite of Sager’s five novels. But it’s still a fun, entertaining read that is compelling and satisfying, and I still very much consider myself a huge fan of Sager’s work.

I have *almost* read all of Riley Sager's books, and for the most part they have either been amazing (Home before dark) or super disappointing/glaringly obvious (Final Girls). So At best. can say I've had a love hate relationship with Sager's works. HOWEVER!!!!!! I really really enjoyed this one! I love a somewhat unreliable narrator when done well and this was DONE WELL! I know I have read this book, but I will still be buying it on release day so it can sit right next to it's amazing sister, Home Before Dark!

Riley Sager’s new book was chock full of 90’s nostalgia. As a 1983 baby, it felt like I dig up a time capsule I buried and reopened it to find some of my favorite things growing up — Nirvana, stonewashed jeans, and pay phones! To top it off, there are tons of references to movies, which I loved, especially since Riley hosted movie nights with a fellow Bookstagrammer during the quarantine. It’s like he was giving us a clue about his new book!
In terms of the main character, I thought the way that Riley included the “movies in her mind” was creative.
The only thing that didn’t surprise me was the actual Campus Killer. I guessed the serial killer’s identity before he was revealed.
Also, I would change the length of the paragraphs. There was too much wordiness at times that felt like it stretched on.
This is my second favorite Riley Sager book, after The Last Time I Lied.

Say hello to my new favorite book by Riley Sager!

Wow. This is the definition of UNPUTDOWNABLE. Especially the second half.

Major Ted Bundy + CoEd Killer vibes.
Also, the whole book happens in one night, which gave me No Exit vibes.

The year is 1991 and it was a little more normal to hitchhike.

Charlie needs to leave the university dorm immediately. A couple months ago, her best friend was brutally murdered by the Campus Killer and she feels guilty. If she hadn’t left her friend in the bar by herself, she might still be alive.

She can’t get over her guilt, and she needs to get back home for a break.

Charlie accepts a ride from Josh who’s also driving to Ohio.

Less than an hour into the drive, she realizes that Josh maybe can’t be trusted.
Nevertheless, Charlie is also not a very trustworthy narrator. She is obsessed with movies and from time to time, she dozes off, entering her own thoughts and everything seems so real, she has a hard time distinguishing what’s real and what’s not.

Every single chapter will leave you with a feeling of “WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON? WHO CAN I TRUST?”

I had to constantly remind myself to breathe. And I love this kind of book.
Also, I love the fact that the story takes place in 1991. No cellphones, no google maps, oh boy!

What in the world did I just read? Twisty plot lines, unreliable characters.... this novel was full of entertainment and I couldn’t put it down. I don’t know that it was my absolute favorite from Sager but it was still really great!

Whew! That was an intense two days of reading. Okay, so Riley Sager is always a 5-star for me but this one is a 4-star for a few reasons. To list all of those reason would reveal spoilers, and I don't plan on doing that, but I will talk about one of those reasons, and it's Charlie, our main character. Charlie's roommate and best friend Maddy has just been murdered by a serial killer. Charlie has a lot of feelings about this, namely grief, guilt, depression, and fear. Charlie is also a huge film buff, it's what she's going to college for, but it's more than that. Charlie has her own tragic backstory and in times of stress she creates "mini movies" in her mind, a safe space to retreat. These mini-movies blur the line between fantasy and reality. This is why I struggled with the idea that she would accept a ride home from a total stranger. It's also why I found it hard to accept that, when she became concerned that her life might be in danger and she had a chance to get away, she chose not to take it. Now, these actions did propel the story forward, but they seemed to be unrealistic choices. There were some other things that happened in the last few chapters of the book that I found highly unrealistic for other reasons, but that would be getting into that spoiler territory that I am avoiding.

Still, a 4-star Riley Sager book is quite amazing. I love that it takes place in the 90's and the focus on films and film history makes this book really stand out. None of the characters are ever who you think they are, and even Charlie is not the most reliable narrator based on her inability to sometimes separate fact from fantasy. Once you hit the halfway point in the book you are in for never-ending twists and turns. .

Closer to 4.5 stars, but rounded up because I devoured this book. Sager does an excellent job setting the mood and setting, you feel like you're there. You feel Charlie's pain, anxiety, her hardened heart. A lot of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. Highly recommend!

Another page turner from Riley Sager! What first interested me in this title was how the main character is obsessed with movies and I was guessing there would be a lot of movie references - and it did not disappoint. I felt like the main character throughout most of the book - unsure what was real and what was imagined - which kept me enthralled. I enjoyed that the chapters skipped between difference characters' perspectives, but still kept the protagonist, Charlie, at the center of the story. Charlie also had a lot of great character development, so readers will understand her past and present. I think there could have been a bit more for some of the other characters, but since the story revolves mostly around Charlie I didn't mind. There were chapters that I just couldn't finish quickly enough because there was so much tension and I just had to find out what was next. The only reason this is not a 5 star for me is I ended up figuring it out before the end, and I'd like to know where others fall on this. Overall, I would definitely recommend this title for those seeking thrillers and mysteries, and anyone who really loves movies.

Ok Riley Sager has a way with character development and storytelling! Charlie Jordan has decided to leave college after the death of her roommate Maddy. She’s stopped going to classes & talking to friends, everything on campus reminds her of Maddy so she puts up a flyer on the ride share board. Her flyer is answered, Charlie gets inside a car with a man who might be the “Campus Killer”! Hello stranger danger! The assumed serial killer & driver is Josh Baxter. He offers her a ride home to Ohio in exchange for gas money. The warning signs are there but let’s just ignore them! This was an edge of your seat, unputdownable, intense read while screaming “get out”! Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Dutton Group and author for a gifted copy!

Fast paced, twisty read. Some twists a bit predictable, but nevertheless keeps you guessing. Definitely tense in a way that only books set before cell phones, social media, gps, etc., can be.

Sager is for sure one of my favorite authors. Only he can take such a simple plot of two college kids sharing a ride home for break in 1991 and turn it into this amazing thriller with several twists and turns. The first half of the book, I thought if this turns out to be so simple and obvious, I'm going to be so mad. This book really did not disappoint. I did call the killer in this about 3/4 of the way through, but it was just because I was out of other options at that point. lol. I loved it. I was on edge the whole book and that's my favorite place to be. He gets all the stars for this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this advanced reader's copy for an honest review.

Ok guys ... don't come for me ... but I didn't love this 😲 I'm a HUGE Riley Sager fan but this one just didn't do it for me. I just found the premise so hard to believe and clearly that was a me issue, but I just couldn't shake it. If my friend was murdered and the killer was still out there I really couldn't see myself accepting a six hour car ride from a complete stranger. No mam, no sir! And while I realize there couldn't have been a storyline without this, it was just so hard for me to let go of. Like I said, a me issue ...

I really struggled with the characters motives, the twists were predictable and it missed the mark with that WOW ending I have come to expect from Sager.

I am certain others will really enjoy this but it just wasn't for me. Sad face.

Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for my review copy!

I really enjoyed SURVIVE THE NIGHT! In some ways, it exhibited some of the typical Riley Sager attributes, like a somewhat unreliable narrator who is into something (in this case it was movies) and crazy twists at the end but in other ways I found this story to be refreshingly different than his previous books. At first, I was so annoyed by the main character and the terrible choices that she made but when I finished the book and realized that I was reading a screenplay, it actually made more sense and reminded me of other thriller movies where the characters do things, like going alone in the basement, and you are screaming at your TV because you know it's a terrible idea. All in all, I really enjoyed it! What a fun, thrilling ride.

Riley Sager always comes through with a fun, compulsively easy to read thriller. I was a little disappointed with his last novel, so was nervous to start this one. It was fantastic, read it in one sitting.

Riley Sager does it again! I loved this book so much! I wasn't sure where it was going for awhile because it seemed predictable at first. As usual and as I should have known, Sager is king of throwing you for a loop and doing the unexpected. Survive the Night was creepy and mysterious and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Charlie is lost and having a hard time assimilating into daily life now that her best friend and college roommate Maddy has been murdered by the Campus Killer. Charlie will do anything to get away from campus and return home, even if it means she has to accept an offer from a stranger to hitch a ride so that she can ditch town quickly. Her boyfriend Robbie has reservations and wants her to wait for him to drive her, but she doesn't think the relationship can stand long distance anyway. She promises to let Robbie know she arrives safely and takes off with Josh. On the heels of losing Maddy, Charlie is overly aware of the situation she currently finds herself in and begins to notice "red flags" about Josh. Simultaneously, she can't escape the movies that play in her mind. Charlie is a movie buff and is well versed in film theory. Yet, these hallucinations prevent her from differentiating the movie in her mind from reality or a past memory. Could Josh be the Campus Killer? Or is she imagining the holes in his story? To find out, she must survive the night like the heroines in her favorite Hitchcock films.

The story itself is intriguing in that it keeps you guessing until the end, especially since the main character has visions that sometimes cloud her judgement on whether something is a real event or not.