Cover Image: Tell Me What Really Happened

Tell Me What Really Happened

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Member Reviews

Five friends, Nolan, Petra, Abigail, John and Maylee head off to Salvation Creek for a camping trip. Only four come back, which puts all of them under suspicion. Each one of them who returns, has a secret, and which one will tell the truth regarding what happened.

This is the first book I’ve read from Chelsea Sedoti. However, the idea of “The Breakfast Club” meets the” Usual Suspects” was just to much of a hook to pass up. The entire story is framed as police interviews. Each chapter starts with a question, and four of the five answering, so the POV switches up as each one gives a frame of reference to the goings on at camp. I wasn’t sure I was going to like this writing style, but I got hooked,

The characters are well developed and carry their own baggage and secrets. Petra, the perfect one, who needs to control her surroundings and everyone. John, the requisite athletic and good looking one, with trouble already. Nolan, who I did not, like, he was whiny, but he is an introvert and conspiracy theorist who doesn’t belong in the woods camping. He is better served sitting behind a computer. Abigail, who’s sole purpose being there was because she is Maylee’s BFF. And Maylee, the beautiful, popular, social media star, who wants nothing more than to be famous.

The five all have issues, of course. As they sit in the interrogation room, and share their POV, we see their take on the events and their own issues come to light.

This is a quick read, given the format. I finished in just an afternoon. I was definitely hooked, and ended up loving the style and the story. My only complaint, and I wouldn’t even call it that, is the posed question from the police at the beginning of each chapter, perhaps it could be put in quotation marks? Or something.

Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for an eARC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

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God this was such a good read, I loved the idea of "The Breakfast Club meets The Usual Suspects" and this book did not disappoint. It was written so well and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed that this wasn't a typically written book. I was invested in what was going on. I look forward to reading more from Chelsea Sedoti.

"Don’t look at me like that. I’m not just saying this in hindsight, okay? As soon as I saw Maylee was gone, I felt sick. I asked John where she’d gone, and he rubbed his eyes and said, “I thought she was right here.” I turned and shined my light around the rest of the campsite, but there was no sign of her. That’s when I shouted for Nolan and Abigail to wake up."

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Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire I received this book in return for a review. All views are my own.

Salvation Creek doesn’t seem like the ideal place for a camping trip, but Petra, Nolan, Abigail, John, and Maylee are determined to have a good time. When one of them goes missing, it throws the four that came home under suspicion. Everyone has their secrets to keep, but who’s telling the truth?

I just want to start off by saying I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book when I started reading. The book is framed as a police interrogation, and each chapter is a question asked by the police, with the point of view switching between the four kids who came back throughout the chapter.

I gotta say though, it definitely hooked me. Each character has their issues and their secrets.

Petra is the goody-two-shoes control freak. She tries to make sure everyone sticks to the schedule and that everything goes according to plan. Nolan is the conspiracy theorist. A nerd who usually keeps to himself and is happier to spend his time talking to friends online. Abigail is the one who doesn’t really fit in. Unsure as to why she’s been invited, she’s just happy to be there with her best friend Maylee. John is the good-looking one. The athlete, the not quite top-tier popular kid. With a recent accident looming over him, should he be a person of interest? Maylee is the beautiful one. A wannabe influencer who is all about a photo-op.

Throughout the story we’re introduced to their struggles, and we see the story from four different angles. What happened in the woods? Was it something sinister? Was it an accident?

I devoured this book, reading it in one night. Once the story picked up I just couldn’t put the book down.

There were a few downsides to the book, in my opinion - there are no quotation marks so at first I wasn’t aware that someone was talking. The ending is a little abrupt, it kind of came out of nowhere for me. It was a good place to end, but I just wanted the story to keep going.

Overall I’d give the book 5 stars. If you’re a fan of thrillers or conspiracies, this may just be what you’re looking for.

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Sorry this book was all over the place for me especially the format and it’s just weird with the characters, they seem to have no personality and this book personally feels like it’s not edited and the characters are talking to themselves. I wish it was more fleshed out personally but that’s just my opinion. It wasn’t satisfying .. 2 stars for me only because I did constantly fly through it

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I love stories about creepy camping trips, This story is told in alternative first person by several characters, each narrative provides a clue in the overall mystery. Highly enjoyed this winner!!!

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