I found this one to be average. I think I just had my expectations too high because I was expecting a super scary horror novel but it didn’t really deliver. I liked the aspect of Alice going back in time though and reliving the day over to try and stop the killer but I wasn’t super invested in the entirety of the story. I also didn’t really enjoy the references to all the slashers as I haven’t really seen that many older horror movies so it didn’t really add anything to my reading experience. The twists were good, but again didn’t do much to salvage my enjoyment. Overall, I think if you’re a slasher/horror movie lover this will be a book for you but for me it just wasn’t what I was expecting.

What the freak did I just read?! This book was an emotional roller coaster that ended with the best slasher/horror book ending that a slasher junkie could ask for.

There were a few things that I really liked about this book: the chapter titles, the horror movie references, and how everything played out. The chapter titles were funny and just self-deprecating enough for a gen z audience to love. The horror movie references were frequent and spot on. Even though there were many that I haven't seen, the ones I have were well represented. And the way things played out....well, I'll just have to say it was awesome.

The Groundhog day aspect of this story definitely allowed the plot to be shaped in a way it wouldn't have been able to otherwise. And I appreciate the fact that the author allowed us a glimpse into Alice's life (our main character) a year after her sister's murder before catapulting us back to the night it all went down. That way, we got a really good sense of everything Alice had lost that night and where she'd end up if she didn't find the killer.

I have to admit, there were a few moments where I was just bored with this book. I pushed through because I felt like the ending was going to be worth it (and it so was), but I can't deny that I wasn't completely interested in this book at times. Also, for me (a slasher movie/murder-mystery fanatic), the killer was pretty obvious about halfway through. It was satisfying to see I was right in the end so I wasn't too peeved about it being so obvious. I think maybe for the normal slasher/murder-mystery lover, it won't be so obvious and will be a fun ride.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! And I'd recommend it for its amazing ending alone.

I requested a digital copy in order to sample the prose on my phone (since I don't have a eReader) before requesting a physical copy for review. I will update Netgalley once I read & review a physical copy.

My review will be based on the physical ARC I read.

How to Survive Your Murder is full of 90's nostalgia and slasher film references...and I ate it up.

This book pays homage to all the classic horror movies that I watched as a teen. We have a Sidney Prescott look-alike, a few Skeet Ulrich/Billy from Scream comparisons, and the main character, Alice, even has the creepy Halloween theme song as her text tone. (every time she got a text, I could hear this song in my mind, adding an extra creepy touch to my reading experience.)

Reading How to Survive Your Murder felt like watching a 90's slasher film, too. Whether it was the creepy corn maze at night, the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere in the shadows, or the "OMG the killer is right behind you...run, girl, run!" moments, I always felt like I was experiencing the story the way I would watching a scary movie. My heart raced. I held my breath. I looked over my shoulder.

Oh, it was fun.

It's no secret this book has a time-traveling aspect. Alice travels back in time to last year's Halloween and watches her sister's murder play out again, but this time, she can intervene. I think this will work for some people, but not others. While I think it elevated an otherwise been there, done that story, I know true slasher film fans love them for their simplicity. There's something truly scary about regular people being hunted by a regular person. Throw in a twist where the character has the chance to change things, and I think you lose some of that edge. (don't get me wrong, I personally loved the whole Scream meets Cinderella plot...just want to be transparent for those who may not.)

Did I figure out certain twists early on? Yes.
Was I pleasantly shocked by the ending? Yes.
Do I hope and pray there's a sequel? Absolutely.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the advanced copy!