Wyatt Green thinks the small town she lives in is sick. Every November, dead bodies begin piling up in Wolf Ridge, a small quiet city in Vermont with a low crime rate. Wyatt’s mother was killed last November and she is determined to know the truth behind her death.

Wyatt was the one who who discovered her mom’s body. She was torn apart and still griefs her death. She is also in a mentally abusive relationship with her friend Cash and it is only when she distances herself from him, realizing they have an unhealthy relationship, that she is able to figure out what is going on.

I sympathized with the protagonist, feeling for her pain. Like I mentioned before, she is a broken 17-year-old girl who suffered a huge trauma and who made bad decisions. The writing style keeps you hooked and I liked how the story ended. A great debut YA novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for my unbiased review.

After finding her mother brutally murdered last November, Wyatt is convinced the town of Wolf Ridge is cursed. She believes that every November the townspeople are consumed by the need to commit violent act. It seems that this year Wyatt's best friend and love interest, Cash, has become more and more angry and prone to the curse of Wolf Ridge. When Wyatt is paired up with Cash's nemesis, Porter, for a school project she begins to learn more about both Porter and Cash. While trying to find out what happened to her mother, Wyatt must learn to face harsh truths and the truth about what makes people turn to violence.

The premise of this book was interesting enough to me. Though I found the plot to be quite predictable, I still felt invested enough in the story to keep reading. There is a lot of tension in this book as you are trying to determine whether or not there is something supernatural at work in the town. I enjoyed the author's writing style but wasn't bloen away by it. I would have liked the characters to be a bit more fleshed out, I found Cash to have the most depth as a character. The love triangle started off interesting but by the end a lot od the aspects to the love triangle didn't really add up for me. The ending wasn't super satisfying for me since I was able to predict what happened pretty early on. I also was expecting there to be more supernatural elements in the book. I do think that the book explores the difference between love and obsession well. It also shows a pretty accurate description of a toxic relationship and the effects of drug and alcohol abuse. Overall, this wasn't a bad read but it wasn't anything groundbreaking either.

If you are looking for a psychological thriller to read during the spooky season, I think this is a good choice. If you are expecting supernatural/fantasy elements then you are going to be disappointed. I would recommend checking the trigger warnings for this, but if you enjoy books that portray toxic relationships pretty accurately, you will probably enjoy this.

A perfectly readable thriller, in the same vein as many that have come before it. Nothing groundbreaking, but a good read to pass the spoopy season by

***The Violent Season starts off with a disclaimer about unhealthy relationships and a website to offer supports in need.

Every November, the town of Wolf Ridge gets the thrist to hurt others and become violent. Wyatt, like everyone else in town, doesn't believe this rumor... until her mother is brutally murdered one fall. Now a year later and her best friend, Cash, who she wants to be with desperately, seems to have come down with this curse. As Cash starts to hurt Wyatt, and she meets Porter, Cash's nemesis, she starts to feel drawn to him. But secrets about last fall start to come out, Wyatt is forced to rethink everything she thought she new about her relationships.

Violent Season had me hooked from the beginning. Although the narrator's voice initially irritated me (it was a tad whiney), it fits the character more and more as the book goes on. Wyatt is absolutely in love with her best friend Cash, but he doesn't want to feel the same and tells her over and over he's not good for her. As November huts, Cash has a change in personality and needs Wyatt by his side, no matter what.

Then in walks Porter, seemingly perfect Porter. The track star to Cash's outsider vide, the light to his dark. Cash's opposite, and the best part is that he actually listens to Wyatt when she talks. But Porter has his own ghosts and secrets that he tries to keep hidden. Will Cash be taken down by the curse? Is Porter really as innocent as people believe him to be? Will Wyatt ever find out what happened to mother last year and who her killer is?

I rated this book with 3 🌟. It keeps the reader engaged and always wanting to know what happened to Wyatt's mother and what other secrets the town my be hiding. Although not as suspenseful or fast-paced as I thought it was going to be, it was still an enjoyable read and I can't wait to read more from this author!

I'd like to say a huge thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

#reading2021 #fallreading2021 #booklover #booksofinstagram #audiobook #netgalley #violentseason

November in this small town is different then anywhere else- here violence becomes rampant. Wyatt takes the reader on a wild ride of the human psyche, trauma, love and trust.

Wyatts’s mother was murdered and every November she hears about more and more people dying. She believes that there is a “sickness” that causes the townsfolk to become violent- after all, they have a higher death rate than other cities. The problem is Wyatt can’t remember what happened the night her mother dies, she only remembers the blood and body. With Cash, her best friend, by her side, Wyatt starts to look into this “sickness”- until she gets too close to the truth.

The trauma Wyatt lives with gives her a relatable air to her that makes it easy to empathize with. As the reader gets swept up into the story, we learn that Cash isn’t what he seems. Wyatt’s new love interest Porter gives her the fresh eyes to see how the world actually is and to find the truth of what happened that fateful night.

This was very good. While the ending wasn't surprising, I thought it was well-written and it definitely held my interest. I'm always looking for good thrillers for my library and know students will enjoy this one.

This is a story about deadly Novembers.

I loved this concept & was thrilled to read the book, especially during spooky season.. but I think I wanted more violence & fidelity to the terrifying premise.. instead this book felt like a horror novel about abuse & trauma bonding. So, it wasn’t what I was hoping it would be- but it was a beautifully written, frightening work.

Thank you so much Netgalley &
Dreamscape media for the Alc!

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

The Violent Season gave me all kinds of spooks, chills, and the creeps. There's something strange about the town Wolf Ridge but there's also something strange with the people once November rolls around the corner. It was interesting to come into this town and know that someone dies once a year. Always in November too. As to why that was happening? Well it all starts with patient zero.

Honestly, this entire town was creepy and haunted. It's like every corner within this book kept me on my toes. I wasn't sure what exactly happened a year ago but I was eager to find out. Even though it Wyatt's mother who died back then, I felt like I wasn't getting all the pieces to what happened. With each clue that came way, I kept thinking that it was someone close to her that betrayed her. As to who that exactly was? Well, I had a lot of suspects on my mind.

Other than that, there's hints of a freaking love triangle and I don't really want to talk about that. It didn't make sense to me and I wasn't fully getting the vibes from it either. Overall, it just seemed kind of pointless to me and did absolutely nothing to move the story along. I came for the mystery murder and stayed for a town filled of violet people once a year.

In the end, I'm still in shock with the big reveal. I might need some wine later to help my brain dissect and accept it all. Maybe something stronger. It was still a really good book and I need another one by Sara stat!

This one was more thriller than horror, so be prepared before you get into it. The narrator was so good. I am always so hit or miss with audiobooks, but she nailed it.

It was a slow start for me, and I kept losing interest and having to backtrack the audiobook to get into it. The theme of this book centrals around abuse and toxic relationships. It was way darker than I initially thought.

This book hooked me from the beginning. It feels almost like a Nordic Crime Novel. The author does a wonderful job setting the scene. I love the name Wyatt, so I already felt a connection with her. I do feel like the internal monologue-Ing had a tendency to bog the story down towards the end.

Over all a solid 3.5. I would definitely suggest this for fans of dark YA.

This one was not what I thought it would be. I thought this was going to be a paranormal thriller/horror. That was not at all the case. Instead this book is a deep dark look into abuse, trauma, PTSD, and a touch of psychosis. More a psychological thriller/mystery it delves into the mind of Wyatt, an young woman whose infatuation with her best friend ramps up after the murder of her mother, which she blames in an urban legend, and dies down after she befriends his nemesis and starts learning his dark secrets.

This is very dark and depicts scenes of sexual assault, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, self harm, off page violence, and a questionable narrator. A fast read but a little misrepresented in the description.

Also, a bit repetitive for such a short novel. Not to mention the constant reminders of Wyatt being not like other girls and “cuss words and cigarettes”. It was very “pick me” which I guess was the point. It made her unlikable.

The narrator nailed it tho. She did great job navigating the characters

Rating 3.5

Hmmm. I have mixed thoughts on this one. I listened to the audiobook and yikes, that was a huge mistake. The narrator was okay and only okay. She was a little too breathy for my liking. After every sentence she would take a huge breath of air and it kept distracting me from the overall story. It was super loud. I think if I would have read the book rather than listened, the rating would be higher.

This book was above okay and at the lower end of being good. The story was really slow moving and it took me a while to get into it. However, I don’t regret sticking with it. This book is super dark and has disturbing aspects. It deals with death, murder, abuse, toxic relationships, and depression. The overall plot was interesting and the main character was likable. I did hate the insta-obsession between the two characters. One minute they weren’t close at all then I blinked and now they were almost kissing. Honestly, I didn’t understand their relationship at all except that it helped the main character understand that she was in a toxic relationship with the other guy. The author did a great job of demonstrating abuse within a toxic relationship and how hard it is to get out. When in that situation it is easy to feel trapped.

If you're looking for a quick dark young adult mystery to read during October then pick this one up.

**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

Wow, this one was dark and gloomy. It really shines a light on the darkest parts of ourselves.
I really enjoyed listening to the audio. The narrator did a wonderful job of portraying the darkness of the book through their voice.
I've been seeking out dark stories like this one lately, and I think this one will stick with me for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an early copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I liked this story. The narrator was talented and the story was fast-paced. This is a YA mystery novel set in the small town of Wolf Creek, VT. Every November, a mysterious sickness descends on the town and inspires its denizens to commit acts of violence. Last November, Wyatt’s mother was murdered. A year later, there are no leads in the case, but Wyatt is convinced the perpetrator is a local. Wyatt passes most of her time with Cash, the boy she loves but who keeps her at arm’s length. When Wyatt is paired up for a school project with Porter, town golden boy who Cash can’t stand, she finds herself drawn to him.

The plot was a little predictable but I enjoyed this listening experience and would recommend it. It’s a highly entertaining and immersive story.

The Violent Season by. debut author Sara Walters is as gripping a psychological thriller I have ever read (or heard). From the first words you feel the anticipation, the tension and the fear that envelopes 17 year old Wyatt's psyche.

Wyatt believes with all her heart the urban legend of her town. Every November, as the winter cold creeps into town, there is incomprehensible violence. Murders, suicides, and beatings seem to be rampant and when Wyatt's Mom is brutally stabbed she knows there is evil lurking when winter is coming.

I must give a standing ovation to narrator Jorjeana Marie. Her calm almost sedate voice brought chills as I listened to her speak as the despondent Wyatt. What blew me away was the breaks in her voice during Wyatt's most gut wrenching realizations. The writer's words and her performance brought me to tears. I have no doubt this will be an all star movie and my popcorn and tissues are ready!

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the Dreamscape Media via #netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

There’s a sickness in the small Vermont town of Wolf Ridge. Every November the residents are struck with a sudden urge to hurt their neighbors and themselves. For decades the death toll in the town skyrockets as soon as the 11th month begins.

Wyatt lost her mother the previous November and is still reeling, trying to put the pieces together and work through her feelings for the emotionally unavailable Cash and resident Mr. popular, Porter.

This is a perfect little book for spooky season with just enough suspense, mystery and a dash of the supernatural to balance it out. The love triangle is very basic for YA, but I did appreciate the way an abusive relationship was portrayed from the inside. It felt rote to me as an adult, but I can see how important it could be to the intended audience.

In a similar vein, the plot was fairly easy to figure out and the ending was rather abrupt, but overall it was a good, atmospheric fall read.

I could not listen to this audiobook as the narration continuously skipped in and out. Leaving a neutral rating.

I liked her relationship with cash, it was very interesting and well written. The actual romantic interest was kind of bland and forgetful but whatevs

Absolutely amazing!!!

Thrilling, suspense and perfect for the YA loving community. I read this in one day and I couldn’t stop listening to it!

The narrator did a great job!

Well written, perfect for spooky season and damn, those twists! Mind blown.

The Violent Season follows the Story of Wyatt, and her life in Wolf Ridge. There is a rumor that every November her little town seems to go through a violent streak, and unfortunately, Wyatt lost her mom to it the previous November. As a new suspect for her murder comes up, Wyatt tries to uncover the truth as she deals with her feelings for her friend Cash, and maybe also his nemesis, Porter.

The book starts with a trigger warning, so I think it is only appropriate to start my review with one as well. The book explores a very toxic relationship, and there is an attempted rape. My copy also provided information to a good resource, and I loved that. I give this title 4.5 stars rounded down to 4. The book was not what I expected it to be, but I really enjoyed it. It is very centered on Wyatt's relationships, but Sara Walters did great with the character development. I give major props to the author for exposing toxic relationships without romanticizing them at all. It was realistic, and she does a great job of showing Wyatt's perspective. I was able to predict part of the ending but still got a twist there. I was thinking at first this would be something like the show inspired by Stephen King's work, Castle Rock, but it took a different turn. Even though this is now what I was thinking, and I kind of still wish I read a novel with a similar premise, I would love to read something else by this author. If you don't mind a story-heavy on the relationship side, this is a great read and I really enjoyed the ending. This would have not been something I usually pick up, but I am glad I did.