I have to rate this book average. There are a few things lacking. First, the use of the first-person point of view – it works well when just one person is narrating the story, but this book has several narrator-characters in a diary-like format, and that fails to give the uniqueness of each character.

The style of storytelling means that the characters’ thoughts, expressions, sarcasms, etc., seem like they’re coming from just one person. And yet the second voice is the antagonist. Also, there is no clear intention or motivation for the bad guy, resulting in a climax that lacks thrill and excitement.

Lastly, the plot sequence is problematic. It mixes present and past, including flashbacks spread throughout the book. At first that goes smoothly, but as the story progresses, the to-and-fro causes a loss of momentum for readers, especially where things get exciting only for the plot to suddenly shift backwards. And that happens quite a lot.

However, I appreciate the creativity. The author tries to make a very strange character out of a unique setting. I also like the touch of gender neutrality and the different races and cultures highlighted in the book.

The start was a bit slow, but it picked up after Sam disappeared. Did anyone else keep picturing Sam as Dustin from Stranger Things?

I only really requested this book because I love Sara Farizan, because I really hate horror. However, this was so good and so scary. I'm still not a horror fan, but I'll read it if Sara does it. Spooky, nerve wracking, fun, funny, and thrilling. Definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! I loved loved loved the Stranger Things vibes and the representation in this one. The pacing was a little weird for me but still a super enjoyable read with a great payoff!

Perfect for Stranger Things fans, Dead Flip will have you invested from jump! The alternating timelines work really well and keep you hooked. A really fun departure from Farizan and I hope she keeps exploring new genres!

Dead Flip by Sara Farizan doesn't quite live up to the "edge-of-your-seat YA horror perfect for fans of Stranger Things". It's a solid read, but I wouldn't quite say that its all that scary. Also the pacing kind of jumps around more than it ought to. I will say that it does a great job with the atmosphere and there are plenty of nostalgic 80s and 90s references. Between the 80s and 90s segments, I definitely found myself more interested in reading about the 80s.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC I’m exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this one!

I just didn’t vibe with the whole feel of this book!

This is a fun book to read for fans of Stranger Things and old school arcade games. It's got that fun mystery Goosebumps kind of feel to it too. Definitely one to add to your list while we wait for Stranger Things season 5!

This book is being compared to "Stranger Things", largely on the basis of it's horror set up and 80s/90s setting. That comparison is, frankly, a bit overblown. While they share some elements, this book is lacking the pathos and complexity of the show. It's a pretty standard horror story, a missing kid the result of a seemingly normal object. It's reminiscent of movies like "Big" or "Flight of the Navigator" as much as it is "Stranger Things". While the interplay between characters is interesting at first, it isn't enough to drive the whole book. There are some solid creepy images but it's not especially scary. The conclusion gets a bit muddled which also damages the scare factor.

I thought this was a fun read!! If you are a major stranger things fan this book has many elements that I think you woud love. It give you more 90 vibes then 80 vibes. I also really liked the focused on friendship!! I also enjoyef the duel time line of the story as well. I loved the diversity of the main characters!! I also thought it was quick read that was fun take on 80's technology!! I was left on a small cliffhanger and curious if we will get more in this world!!

This was a fun enough throwback YA. I loved the premise of what was happening, but the characters just fell pretty flat for me. I had a hard time finding myself really caring for any of them which is why this was just a three star read for me.

This is the perfect Halloween read! I re-watched Stranger Things this year and have been impatiently waiting for the next season, so when I saw Dead Flip's comp to it I knew I had to request this. I also read and adored Farizan's /Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel/ when I was a teen, and was excited to puck another one of her books up.

Dead Flip follows a trio of friends, Sam, Maz and Cori, as they deal with Sam's mysterious disappearance in middle school - and his even stranger reappearance five years later. I really, really loved how these three balanced each other out, and the way that their friendship was at the center of the plot. Maz and Cori have a falling out after Sam's "death," and the story is very much focused on the trio relearning and rebuilding their friendships with one another. I also loved Maz's friendship with Derek and Cori's relationship with Janet. Also in general I just kind of loved Vickie's story arc, but that might just be a me thing. Either way, Farizan writes complicated relationships so beautifully. She truly understands the complexity of human nature and interaction and how to transfer it over into words.

The horror aspect of the novel is pretty fun too! I don't usually get freaked out by horror, and that was the case with Dead Flip as well, but it definitely had some moments that I think people will find nice and creepy. There's some suspension of disbelief needed for it, but I don't think it's any more than the usual for a paranormal horror story.

The novel fluctuates back and forth between the eighties and nineties, in order to show how things were before and after Sam's disappearance, as well as his reappearance. Past chapters are still narrated by the characters, but with additional information, as though they're looking back at the past and explaining it to the reader. It felt odd the first time or two, but I feel that it was actually pretty helpful for telling the story. My only complaint about the novel was that I found Maz and Cori's POVs to be written a little too similarly. I struggled to remember who's POV I was reading at times because their voices felt the same, despite having distinct personalities and clearly being different people when viewed through a different perspective.

If you're looking for a fun, horror read for spooky season, or are just looking for something to tide over your Stranger Things cravings, definitely check out Dead Flip. It's a wild ride full of fun throwbacks and friendship, complicated relationships and of course, horror.

3 stars!

Cori, Maz, and Sam used to be inseparable. That all changed when Sam went missing Halloween 1987. Now, Cori and Maz don't speak to each other anymore, Maz is a chronic partier, and Cori is trying to fit in as a stereotypical, girly girl. Things change when Sam returns and the three former best friends uncover secrets.

Although I did really like the characters, I felt that this novel lacked a lot of the horror vibes that I wanted. It was pitched for fans of Stranger Things, but I honestly didn't get Stranger Things vibes outside of it being partially set in the late 80s. I think this would be a great novel for people on the younger end of the YA spectrum, but not entirely for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I don' have a good reason for why I did not enjoy reading this. It was just eh for me honestly. I will give it another try some time in the future.

This book was a lot of fun! There were definitely a few spooky moments, and this will be great for lovers of the late eighties.

I can see this book becoming a movie, which I also will enjoy watching!
It's a queer supernatural horror comedy YA(more supernatural, than horror, but it has its moments 👀)
and a pure nerd nostalgia in book form! I wasn't even born when they were twelve, and I was only 3 years old when they were in high school, but every single page here took me back in time.
The ending was kind of a cliffhanger and now I want to know what happens next and what will the characters do in the next book. Hopefully it is being written.

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for letting me enjoy this digital arc in exchange for my honest review!

I had such a blast with this book but I’m not shocked because I love Sara Farizan. This is a story about friendship, growing up, holding on and letting go set in the early late 80’s/90’s so the vibe is perfect. A young boy - one of 3 best friends - goes missing and his friends suspect something sinister and supernatural may be at play.

It was so fun to read, like I said the setting was amazing, the supernatural aspects blended well with real life and everything flowed really well. I loved the characters. Another win for Sara Farizan.

i have so say that i did really enjoy this book. i liked the characters and structure of the story and it inclined towards its climax. The main criticism i have towards this novel though is the narration. this very much felt like it was just coris story rather than maz’s too. while cori is introduced as closeted and as the novel progresses she comes out, maz really didn't have any major issues for character development. yes, his drinking problem is there but it kind of just disappeared and he decided to be better with no real development towards it. I also didnt like have no questions were really answered and the novel kind of just ends, but it leaves alot of room for a sequel, so its definitely not as bad as im making it out to be.

An entertaining and fun mix of Stranger Things and Jumanji that will entertain any reader! Full of 80s nostalgia and thrills to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Cori, Maz, and Sam used to be inseparable. But after Sam went missing, everything changed for Cori and Maz. It's now 1992, and Sam returns claiming he's been stuck in a pinball machine for the past 5 years. Cori has mourned her friend and moved on with her life, grown up and isn't ready to believe Sam's story. Maz however is ready to pick up where they left off, excited to have his best friend back and believes every part of his story.
This felt like a rough draft of a great story. All of the beats are there, the story is interesting and the plot exciting. But the writing/narration feels flat and dry. Even being a shorter book it still felt like it was going on for ages.