Title: Dead End Girls
By: Wendy Heard
🎧 Narrated by: Natalie Naudus and Taylor Meskimen

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received the audiobook arc from @netgalley and @hachetteaudio in exchange for my honest review.

The Story 📚
Dead End Girls is a saphic thriller about two teenagers who fake their deaths. Maude is the mastermind, and Frankie is her step-cousin who figures out Maude’s plan at the last second. Both girls are desperate to start a new life away from their families. Maude's plan took years of scheming and did not include Frankie coming with her. The extra complications of Frankie coming along throw Maude's getaway plan out the window. The girls must work together to get away, but the longer it takes, the more complicated things get.

This book was great. It's a sapphic thriller that also has a romance. The author described it as Thelma & Louise, but they fall in love. This book keeps you guessing, even if you think you know, right to the end. It’s told in multiple timelines and from each girl’s perspective.

The Review✨
There were two flaws I couldn’t get past. First, Maude’s reason for faking her death didn't seem big enough to justify all of the crimes she would need to commit instead of waiting to turn 18. Second, while Natalie Naudus and Taylor Meskimen were both amazing as narrators, the voice ages of the characters (is that a thing) didn’t match. Natalie played Maude with a more mature teenage voice, while Taylor did a younger adolescent voice. Since the characters are roughly the same age, especially since there is a romantic plotline, it was a little offputting.

The Narration 🎤
The narrators were great! Separately, they conveyed the characters well. There was only a problem when looking at the characters as a unit.

Listening speed 🏎:
1.25x

Would I recommend this book?
Yes! It was a great thriller, and I loved the ending.

CW: domestic abuse, bullying, murder, sexual harassment, SA, addiction, kidnapping, parental abandonment, etc.
*Be sure to check content warnings for other potential triggers.

I'm a full fledged Wendy Heard fan now! After reading She's Too Pretty To Burn in 2021, I knew the voice of this author was something special. I loved her characters and their unique journeys she put them on. So when I saw Natalie Naudus recommend this book on Instagram because she narrated it and loved it, I had to check it out. And I'm so glad I did. It's the YA sapphic thriller I didn't know I so desperately needed.

Told in 2 POVs, we follow 2 high school girls on vacation in Hawaii with their families when one of them is ready to ditch the crew and make their plans a reality. And it is crazy well planned out. Like to a T! But her plans are for her and her alone. Maude has had enough of being shuffled back and forth between parents and not being wanted by either one of them. She hasn't felt loved and she hasn't felt like she could be herself in a very long time. So for the last couple of years, she's meticulously planned her death so she can live. But when circumstances lead to Frankie tagging along, that's when everything gets turned upside down and Maude's plans now have to include 2 people. And Maude doesn't have the resources for it. With fast thinking and intelligent minds between the two, we are lead on a roller coaster of events that is heart pounding, touching and unbelievable, but oh so dang good.

Oh my goodness! I absolutely loved this story and the great narration from Natalie Naudus as Maude and Taylor Meskimen as Frankie. They rocked their portrayals of our two teens on the run. To have 2 strong female teenager protagonists on the run from their families in search of better lives and getting caught up in some serious crimes was pretty darn entertaining. It's non-stop action and never for one moment are you ever bored. There is always something happening. And even within the action, we get to see a story of 2 teenagers figuring out their identities and who they want to be. Maude finally is comfortable in her own skin to come out and Frankie realizes they may be nonbinary because they feel like one gender just doesn't fit them. I loved that Wendy Heard dove into these characters identities all while having them being on the run and perhaps falling for one another in the midst of it all. It was high octane, nail biting, full speed ahead for these characters all throughout. While some aspects were a bit over the top, you gotta love the tenacity of these two and everything they overcame

WIth that said, if you're looking for a YA Thriller that is smartly written, full of action and with 2 very strong characters, please give Dead End Girls a chance. Maude is my new favorite YA bada$$ chick. I could read more and more about her well thought-out plans and what these two will do next. Frankie and Maude are ready to take on the world. Watch out!

"...We fly to Hawaii on Saturday, and a few days later I'll be dead. It will be a tragic accident. I seriously can't wait."

What a way to start a wild fun coming of age thriller. Dead End Girls by thriller author Wendy Heard is a non stop fly by the seat of your pants ride that once you get on you can't get off.

Almost 18, Maude has meticulously planned and saved for her "death" day. Her body won't be found and she will be far away. Why all this trouble to leave her family; to not just run away but cause them grief believing she is probably dead? Is she just an evil genius or a brilliant girl needing to escape?

Everything begins to go haywire when Maude's step cousin, Frankie, finds out her plan. But Frankie doesn't want to stop her she wants to join her. Why? Frankie gets her trust fund when she turns 18 but at what cost. Conformity, pretending to be something she is not, is something she can't live with another day. Then there are the "accidents" that could have killed her. Are they accidents? Who benefits if she isn't around to get that trust fund?

I read and listened to this teen sapphic story that was very much about adulting and taking matters into your own hands to be your authentic self. Narrators Natalie Naudus and Taylor Meskimen are perfectly cast for this dual POV giving the girls the right balance of teen angst and uncanny maturity. The author's talent kept me up all night. She made me care about these girls and at the same time I had to know how it would all end. I had no clue.

So what if Thelma and Louise ran away when they were teens? Would they have survived? Some moments were a bit far fetched but books are about imagination and hope. Dead End Girls has both.

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

Summary:

In one week, Maude will be dead. At least, that’s what she wants everyone to think. After years of research, Maude has decided to fake her own death. She’s figured out the how, the when, the where, and who will help her unsuspectingly. The why is complex: revenge, partly. Her terrible parents deserve this. But there’s also l’appel du vide, the call of the void, that beckons her toward a new life where she will be tied to no one, free and adrift. Then Frankie, a step-cousin she barely knows, figures out what she’s plotting, and the plan seems like it’s ruined. Except Frankie doesn’t want to rat her out. Frankie wants in.

The girls vault into the unknown, risking everything for a new and limitless life. But there are some things you can never run away from. What if the poison is not in the soil, but in the roots? This pulse-pounding thriller offers a nuanced exploration of identity, freedom, and falling in love while your world falls apart.

Review:
First off, I loved the narration. Overall, I liked this book. I loved how quickly paced it was. I really liked the dual timelines and POVs. I enjoyed both Maude and Frankie, and all the twists they had to overcome throughout the book. The sapphic slow burn romance was a nice addition to the book.

Me for 0-80%:
Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Me for 80-95%:
Oh no oh no oh no oh no
Me for 95-100%:
Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh yes!

Really, I loved this book. It has incredible "Be Sapphic Do Crime" energy and I am here for it.
I also really love female characters who are both insanely smart, but also a touch unhinged, so Maude was the perfect main character for me. I want to watch her burn the world down.

I listened to the audiobook and then pre-ordered the hardcover copy before I was even finished.

I now have a new favorite author after finishing this book! Immediately adding her other books to my TBR. WOW!!!!

I love love love YA thrillers and this one did not disappoint. In a propulsive attempt to fake their own deaths, two teenage girls are in a race against time. Maude had it all planned out for years. She saved, she researched, she planned. Everything was perfectly set in motion for her to finally be free from her family binds. Then her step-cousin, Frankie, picks up on her vibes and Maude’s plans start to crumble around her until Frankie decides she wants in on the escape as well.

The obstacles and tragedies that these two girls experienced in their pasts push them through the ones they are experiencing now on their escapes to freedom. Full of family drama and heart-pounding suspense, this book is a thrill even after it’s finished!

I really enjoyed this one. Fast paced ya thriller with intresting plot. It didn’t end how I was expecting and the twist threw me off but it was super cute and exciting

I loved She's Too Pretty to Burn, when I seen a new Heard novel I jumped at the opportunity to listen to the audio book of Dead End Girls.

Wendy continues to blow me away each and every time I open her books up.
I had so much fun listening to this story and following Maude and Frankie's journey.
It's intriguing, totally different and completely an unputdownable novel.
The plot builds until you feel that you can’t possibly look away.
With compelling and interesting characters that had me hooked immediately. And I was utterly absorbed.
The narrators did a wonderful job. I never once lost interest and to me that says alot.
A glorious and fast-paced adventure, this is not one to miss.
Fake death, dangerously addictive, revenge YA thriller, that had me wanting more and not wanting this book to end so soon.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Hachette Audio|Christy Ottaviano Books,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

What do you do when your step cousin finds out about your plan to fake your own death? Bring her with you!
This was a gritty and suspenseful, slow-burn Sapphic thriller/romance and I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. It was angsty and full of twists and turns, but it was a fun ride.
The main characters were good counterpoints and I really enjoyed the offset timelines of their chapters. I liked uncovering the mysterious background spread out through the current suspense plot line.
I got the audiobook ALC and the narration was wonderful! Both narrators did a wonderful job of embodying the main girls.
This was my first Wendy Heard novel, but after this I'm looking forward to reading more!
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

I really enjoyed this pulse-pounding queer YA thriller featuring two teens who fake their own deaths to escape from dangerous family situations. This book was great on audio narrated by Natalie Naudus and Taylor Meskimen. I loved the dual timeline story as we learn more about what caused Maude and Frankie to take the drastic steps they did. I got a lot of Thelma and Louise type road story vibes from this book with lots of important queer rep thrown in for good measure. Not your average thriller, this had a little bit of everything - murder, romance, intrigue, etc. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance listening copy!

Punch me in the face.
This is like Too Pretty To Burn.
Girls making horrible decisions because they don’t feel seen by their parents. They’re misunderstood. Not beaten. Not terrorized. Just not really loved.
Vomit.
If this wasn’t an ARC from Netgallery, I would’ve DNFed it way early.
As for the voice actors, Natalie Naudus, as always has a sultry voice. Taylor Meskimen feels miscast. She sounded too young and fragile for the character.
It’s sapphic, so that’s something.
D

CW: Attempted Sexual Assault, Blood, Bullying, Car Accident, Death, Drugs/Overdose, Minor Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gun Violence, Kidnapping, Murder. Mentions of Vomiting. MAJOR Queerphobia.

The Good.
I loved this book, and it goes hard from the initial moment you hit play. This book has the best hook I have ever seen in an Audiobook.
Natalie Naudus' narration is exquisite as always. Still, the choice of explicitly taking on a News Anchor voice for all pieces of reporting the girls run into raises the bar for this production exponentially. It just further pulls you into the emersion of this book.
Further props to Naudus and Meskimen, I usually am a person who listens to books at a sped-up rate of 1.5+ just because that's typically how my brain best processes Audiobooks typically. But I never felt the need to speed up this book, even listening to it in one sitting.

The final chapter gave me such a level of gender affirmation/gender euphoria.

The Meh.
The choice to use "l'appel du vide" in the summary is weird because at no point did this phrase come up.

I have some mixed feelings about this pseudo(?) Incest romance. It still makes me feel a little ew.

We have a long internal monologue from Frankie in the early part of this book regarding how they feel about their gender identity. It felt forced, whereas most of our other interactions regarding Frankie's consideration feel like a more natural glimpse into how thought processes work.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Christy Ottaviano Books in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warning: poisoning, bullying, physical assault, death, murder, pseudocide.

Ok, so I thought SHE'S TOO PRETTY TO BURN was a wild ride, but I was not prepared for what Heard had in store for readers with DEAD END GIRLS. This plot is BONKERS... in the best way possible. The stakes are high from the start and the intensity does not let up throughout the entire novel, making it nearly impossible to set aside once you've started reading because you HAVE to know what happens next.

Can two teenagers pull off faking their own deaths and can they really disappear for good? You'll have to read DEAD END GIRLS to find out. I'll admit that how well Maude planned everything out does make it hard to believe she's just a teenager, but the storyline was good enough that I didn't care.

Natalie Naudus and Taylor Meskimen do a great job with the audiobook narration. The way Heard wrote this story, and how events play out throughout the book, make this a really good novel to consume as an audiobook. Almost like it was the final confessions of two people before their time is up.

[Review will be posted on Reader Voracious on 5/4/2022]

Told in dual timelines, Dead End Girls is the sapphic thriller you didn’t know you needed in your life! Tightly plotted, the book is full of action and high stakes that is utterly addictive and impossible to put down. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time while listening. Protect Maude & Frankie!

This plot is bonkers in the best of ways. From pseudocide to accidental murder and running from the cops (as well as their past), Maude and Frankie are going through it in this book and just trying to start over. Maude’s a mastermind who’s probably watched way too much True Crime Content and I’m honestly in awe of her brain. But as they find out: even the best laid plans cannot account for everything.

I love that we learn about Frankie’s reasons for wanting to disappear through timeline POV chapters, slowly piecing together everything as the chapters get closer to the present-day. We learn so much about Frankie’s character through these flashbacks.

Words cannot express how much I adore Maude and Frankie. They start out as partners-in-crime but their chemistry sparks and the their slowburn romance so good. Because honestly, falling in love while on the run from the police is just iconic.

Dead End Girls is explosive, gripping the reader from the first page until the last. I love the way things get more and more unhinged as they stray further from The Plan, doing their best and making some of the worst decisions possible. But this book also explores identity: as Maude and Frankie escape their lives, their narratives explore question the sexuality and gender, making Dead End Girls a beautiful coming of age story of self-acceptance in addition to a captivating sapphic thriller. Highly recommended and this won’t be my last book from Wendy Heard!

Audiobook notes: 10/10 performance from Natalie Naudus & Taylor Meskimen! They really brought the story and characters to life and somehow managed to instill the page-turning sense of urgency with their narration.

Maud's been planning to fake her death for two years in order to escape her terrible family. But just when she's about to go through with her plan, she's discovered by her step-cousin, Frankie. And Frankie wants in.

The narrators did an incredible job with this audiobook. It was so addictive to listen to, I was hooked from the beginning! Wendy Heard's writing style is so good!

The story starts with a little build up, but once both girls go on with their 'fake death' plan, things start getting wild! It's fast paced, full of action, and there's never a dull moment. There is so. much. chaos. And I was there for it.

Maud and Frankie were great characters and the relationship between them was perfect. They made the reading experience so much better because I loved both and it made me root for them!

The minor complaint I have is that I'm not completely convinced by their reasons to fake their deaths. And while it wrapped up in an awesome way, there was one thing about Maud's character that seemed rather unbelievable to me.

Other than that, it was an awesome (sapphic! :)) read, and I urge everyone to read/listen to it.

I was seriously so stressed for these girls but it was so much fun!

The synopsis for Dead End Girls was incredibly intriguing. I am always looking for thrillers that don’t follow the same old patterns and this one fit the bill. Another major selling point was the comparison to None Shall Sleep, which was a mature young adult novel with genuine creepiness and thrills.

This was not that at all.

Perhaps the target audience will love it. I cannot say. I’ve enjoyed many YA books so I wouldn’t say that I’m too old for them. But this book felt childish and poorly written to me. Certain elements felt superbly unnatural. And I did not feel it was riveting at all. I am incredibly disappointed.

I am immensely grateful to Hachette Audio for my audio review copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.