*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's & Delacorte Press for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.*

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book I knew I needed to read it. I love thrillers and theme parks, so combining the two sounded great! The story follows six teenage influencers, including a gamer, a booktok-er, two beauty gurus, a true crime blogger, and a movie buff, who are selected to spend a weekend at a new luxury hotel and theme park on a private island in exchange for posting about their experiences to their social media accounts. Things take an unexpectedly dark turn shortly after arriving, and they're soon fighting for their lives.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I initially thought this would be from multiple perspectives, which I was worried about because some of the characters seem immediately insufferable. We follow true crime blogger Paisley as she meets the other influencers, explores the resort, and tries to figure out what is happening and why. I devoured this book. I kept catching myself trying to skip chapters because I needed to know what was happening next, but in a good way. I was really satisfied with the twists and turns that this story took- I did guess a couple of things, but there were definitely reveals that shocked me. And the ending?! I have questions.

I hadn't heard of this author before I read this book, but I am definitely open to reading more from them!

This book was so good. It was action packed and kept me flipping pages. I literally did not put it down until I finished it.
When 6 social media influencers are invited to a theme park on a private Island so much goes wrong. Who is going to make it off alive? This ending was not what I expected. I definitely recommend this one.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Natasha Preston has written quite a few YA books in the past several years and The Island is her most recent hot release. Reading the synopsis of this book, I was intrigued–a sneak peek weekend at a theme park on its own private island where a murderer is on the loose sounded like something I might be able to get into, even if it wasn’t the most believable plot.

And so, I began reading about a group of influencers who have been invited to experience the amusement park on Jagged Island, hosted by the mastermind behind the island himself, Malcolm. Malcolm struck me as part hermit part evil genius, which could be way off the mark but that’s how I imagined him. He’s not around a whole lot throughout the book which I found odd, but maybe that was part of his persona.

We get to know each of the characters just a little bit; the protagonist, Paisley, being the one that is focused on the most. Paisley is a true crime junkie and this weekend is right up her alley. Until it all gets to be too real and she starts to regret her decision to visit the island. She finds murder fascinating from afar, but she has no desire to possibly witness it herself.

The storyline hooked me from the beginning, but then major things started happening in rapid succession and it all seemed very sudden. Major things as in people start going missing and then showing up dead. Although I was hoping that there would be a bit more to the story than shock and awe, the rest of the book was a bit predictable at times with only a few twists here and there. All in all, this was an entertaining book that just fell a bit short for me, and I was left wishing there was more to it. 

Review of a Digital Advance Reader’s Copy from Random House Children’s Books

Natasha Preston is a name synonymous with tense, gripping YA thrillers and having released at least one thriller novel annually over the past five years (with a backlist stretching back a decade), the prolific New York Times bestselling author has this formula down pat. Place a bunch of teenagers in a remote location like a cabin, a summer camp, or small fishing town, stir in an inciting incident like a meme about your biggest fears, a car accident or childhood secrets rising to the surface, season liberally with murder and voila!

The Island is her newest thriller set in a bigger and better killing ground than ever before—an exclusive amusement park island which isn’t yet open to the public and to which six influencers have received the privilege of an invitation to visit before the grand opening. Their purpose is to promote the Gothic luxury island with restaurants, resort and amusement park over a long weekend, but how many of them will survive the experience is hard to say…

YA books about influencers are becoming more common these days as a testament to the iron grip this niche group of young people have over their peers, and increasingly these influencer-based stories wind up veering into the thriller/horror genre. You’re So Dead, Never Coming Home and Lord of the Fly Fest are recent examples from the past couple years which all feature a plot about influencers stranded on a remote island in a brutal struggle for survival. Natasha Preston’s version distinguishes itself by incorporating a Gothic-themed hotel and amusement park laden with stone and dark wood to match the aesthetic, carved gargoyles around every corner and a medieval weapons cabinet display in the lobby. It’s our protagonist Paisley’s dream come true, suiting her macabre-loving heart and certain to boost her following to even greater heights—but social media content will be far from her mind once the bodies start dropping, their ways off the island and communication with the mainland are sabotaged and the teens finally realise that their survival is not guaranteed.

Alongside Paisley on the influencer team are beauty bloggers Ava and Will, gamer Liam, movie buff James and bookstagrammer Harper. Key island staff members include the attractive duo of Gibson the driver and Reeve who acts as head of maintenance, chef Kenna and assistant Camilla who works under the billionaire Malcom Wyatt. As you might expect from a thriller with a high body count, there isn’t much chance for the side characters to receive character development, especially as a few of them are only inserted into the story to serve as cannon fodder. For a reader prepared for and anticipating bodies to drop, this will pose no issue as it’s all part of the fun. There isn’t much gore or graphic content which will recommend this book to some readers, but anyone hoping for more bloodshed will need to adjust their expectations as it’s a fairly tame read, not pushing any boundaries with the teenage demographic.

A Natasha Preston thriller is guaranteed to be an addictive, adrenaline-fuelled reading experience and it’s difficult to resist bingeing the book in one hit. There may be flaws in the formula, but these are flaws typical to the genre itself such as a teenage girl being too trusting of attractive guys or people making foolish decisions in stressful situations (splitting up is NEVER a sensible idea!) and are easy enough to overlook while compulsively turning the page to see what life-threatening escapade our protagonist narrowly survives next. What will be divisive is the final line that the author chooses to end this book on—a very provocative and frustrating choice that is sure to induce agonised screams in readers everywhere…

A heart-pounding, pulse-raising thriller perfect for readers looking for an entertaining YA slasher-lite story with sneaky twists you won’t see coming!

3.5 stars, rounded down.

Before the opening of his swanky new amusement park, Jagged Island, billionaire Malcolm invites six teenaged influencers to come for an exclusive weekend to TikTok and stream to their heart's desire, hoping to drum up buzz for the resort. But once there, things start to go wrong. As a storm is headed for the island, someone goes missing. Then there's signs of sabotage on the power grid. Soon, the only thing on these teen's minds is making it home alive.

This books a lot of fun or me because I love a good slasher film, and this was basically the book equivalent - like "Scream" or "Halloween" on paper. And it really did deliver, with bloody death scenes, great chase scenes with glimpses of the masked killer in the shadows and packs of survivors roaming through the resort planning their next moves so as not to become the next to fall. I loved it!

So why then would I give three stars - THE ENDING!

I just did not like that ending! There's cliffhangers, then there's just abruptly stopping. And that's really what it felt like to me. There I was, having sat through all the twists, the drama, and the ending is coming along, I'm satisfied, sure, maybe something else could go down, but surely then there would be an epilogue or something - NOPE. Just BAM - then end. It was disappointing.

So while I greatly enjoyed reading this book all the way up to the very last sentences, those last sentences were frustrating. That's where I have to say, reader beware. You will love this book for the slasher/thriller vibes, and it is indeed great for that. But if you hate unresolved endings, this book will frustrate you.

After seeing Natasha Preston's books every time I search for thrillers for some reason I had never picked one up and I'm so glad I did and simultaneously annoyed it took me this long.

Imagine if you will if The Hills and Final Destination 3 came together in an epic mash up and you'd have The Island and I love every page of it.

A group of influencers asked to attend a preview weekend of an exclusive amusement park and hotel, there will be rides, games, spa treatments, and murder (that last part wasn't on the official invitation).

Paisley is a true crime buff, brought into a dark and disturbing world way too early in life but has turned it into a career and it has given her opportunities most people will never dream of, and like the other five on the island, she's at the top of her game.

When people start turning up missing everyone turns to her to try and solve the case and why not, she's been doing it on her podcast for years now and how different could it be?

It turns out that when you're being chased by a sociopathic serial killer it can be a lot different, the things that look fantastic in the daylight can turn into horrific places for someone to hide, either themself or a body.

I will say when I got to the last few pages of this book I thought I had the killer figured out so many times and I was wrong so many times only to be wrong over and over and over again again, I loved it.

In the end, we find out who survives, who doesn't, and who was part of it all, those last few pages had me wracking my brain for clues I might have missed.

If you're looking for a thriller that will have you looking at every person you've met as a possible killer this is the book and the author for you. Since I finished The Island I've read two more books by this astounding author and they were both fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for providing an advance copy of this ebook, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fast paced creepy and intense YA Thriller. The author led me to suspect everybody and that changed for me from moment to moment. I never saw any of the twist coming. I was completely shocked at who the actual killer was. The ending left my jaw hanging on the floor. Hoping for a sequel. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed The Island because it's a fast-paced thriller geared toward young adults. This is typical Preston with great characters, a suspenseful tale, and a wow ending.

Not bad, but not great either...seemed very much like several other YA books I've read. Admittedly, this was a bit creepier than some, but it took a long time for the action to pick up. Once that happened, it got easier to read; but, the ending was just terrible. I thought my ARC was missing some pages at the end, let's just say that much. The characters were kind of hard to get to know just because there was so many of them, but I did like the main character. There were also definitely some plot holes, but being that it is a YA novel meant for those who probably want something easier to read, I'm not super upset about that part. This would be good to recommend to reluctant readers and those who like more gory books.

Teen influencers arrive on an island after being invited for a fun-filled weekend to post online reviews and build excitement for the upcoming opening. The island is an amusement park and resort all in one. The six influencers have a variety of online posts and followers. Before they can enjoy much of the island, the killing starts. One by one, people are being chased and killed. Those who remain must work together to outsmart the killer and survive until help arrives.

Likes/dislikes: I enjoyed the premise of inviting influencers to review and build hype about a new place. The mystery was fun and suspenseful. I liked learning about each character’s background.
Language: R for 121 swears, no f-bombs.
Mature Content: none other than the violence.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: mixed

I was ecstatic to be approved to read The Island by Natasha Preston. The author's writing style reminds me of one of my favorite authors growing up . . . Diane Hoh.

Natasha Preston weaved an exciting and heart pounding story that actually gave me nightmares . . . as an adult! That takes some talent. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and thought I knew who was the culprit, but I was completely faked out.

I would definitely recommend The Island to tweens, teens, young adults, and adults alike who enjoy horror and suspense books. The only complaint I had was how the story ended. Four out of five stars.

I had a lot of fun reading this one! Preston is a master of red herrings. Once I thought I had the killer figured out something would change and I’d go to the next. I swear, I must have suspected everyone at least twice.
The pacing here was great, it played like a 90 minute slasher, which I am always here for. I liked the atmosphere of the theme park, as well. 10/10, would definitely visit (if I was rich, I guess). The idea of bringing influencers to promote it was great! (Can y’all share my posts so I can get enough followers to visit an island?)
Issues I had - character development. We had six different bloggers who dominated different parts of online culture. They all felt sort of flat, almost like caricatures. I was pretty disappointed with how the female beauty blogger was represented, and everyone else just felt stereotypical.
The reveal - eehhhh. Like I said, I was guessing until the end, which I loved. The killer ended up being someone I suspected but during their reveal speech I was like “…really? That’s why?” The reason was believable, but their actions throughout didn’t support it very well.
The last couple sentences are a trip. Based on the reviews it’s either love or hate. As for me, I can’t decide if it’s an homage or a rip-off of a classic Golden Age Slasher flick. I’m leaning towards homage, though. You’ll see.

What a wild ride this one was! I've been wanting to read something by Natasha Preston for a while, so I was thrilled to have a chance to check this book out. This was the perfect thriller I'd been looking for that kept me hooked and absolutely glued to the pages just needing to know what would happen next. The twists and turns absolutely came through and I was constantly excited to see what twist Natasha Preston would throw at us next. I found myself a little taken out of the story because of some more 'out of the blue' events and reasonings by the killer and other characters at various points, but overall it was a lot of fun. I love a locked room mystery, so this hit all the right notes for me with everything being stuck on this island with nowhere to really run or hide. Can't wait to read more from Natasha Preston!

The premise of The Island is promising: Six teenage influencers are invited by an eccentric bazillionaire to his secluded amusement park/resort island and people start dying. Kind of Glass Onion vibes, except instead of Benoit Blanc, we have Paisley the true-crime blogger. Everyone is suspect—Malcolm (the island owner), the staff, the influencers.

The plot definitely kept me guessing right up to the end. I was fooled by several red herrings! In the last 15% of the book, I was most engaged, pulse actually pounding. However the rest of the book was a struggle for me.

This author’s style is not for me. So often during the reading experience, I found myself frustrated. Many chunks of text—both sentences and paragraphs—feel disjointed from the adjacent text. Conversations are separated by multiple paragraphs of unrelated narrative, and it’s hard to keep up with who is speaking to whom and what about. Several times, there are pronouns with extremely unclear antecedents. In general, there are lots of issues with continuity—seemingly important things that are never mentioned again or references to never aforementioned events. (I recognize that these *might* be errors in the uncorrected proof that are now fixed in the final publication, but their pervasiveness seems more a matter of style rather than a rash of typos.) Also, the characters frequently make leaps in logic and then carry forward confidently, assuming their conjectures are fact. I know that, as an adult reader of a YA book, I may have more issues suspending disbelief than the intended audience, but I want to give teens credit. They’re smart. As I read, I kept shouting aloud to the characters, “But you don’t KNOW that!” about assumptions that they make over and over and OVER.

ANYWAY.

We have ordered multiple copies of this title for our library system. I would be willing to recommend this book to teens at my library who are interested in mysteries, especially those in the style of Agatha Christie, but with the caveat that they might get angry and throw the book across the room—especially when they read that ending. 🙃

I went into this books with high hopes, and had quite a roller coaster reading it.
First, the writing style and some of the phrasing felt like it was trying a bit to hard to be current, and the characters felt more like caricatures than actual people.
The story was intriguing, and I found myself constantly switching who I thought the killer was. Most people seemed suspicious the whole time, which was fun. Some of the actions done to throw readers off were never explained at the end, however.
Overall i enjoyed this book until the last like 3 sentences of the book, but those made me feel like I wasted my time reading it. I’m choosing to ignore those instead haha.

Having read a couple of other books this past year with the "influencers trapped on a creepy island" plot, I was worried that I would be so sick of the premise by the time I got to this one that I just wouldn't like it at all. However, this was not the case at all. I thought the characters were really interesting and dynamic, and I enjoyed Paisley as the narrator a lot.

I will say that I guessed who was behind it all before the halfway point of the book, but then again I'm usually pretty good at guessing the plot twists. Yet, somehow, I'm still surprised by them when they come up, and I think the reveal in this particular book was done really well.

My only criticism of the book was the ending. It was unresolved, but purposefully done. I think that if I was the kind of gal who liked mystery endings, I would have loved it, but unresolved endings usually just make me super mad. That being said, it made sense for the book—I'm just not happy about it for personal reasons.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind an unresolved ending!

Natasha Preston seems to be a fan of innocuous names. This one, called The Island (Does the island have an actual name? If so I missed it), is about six social media influencers who are invited to an expensive island resort before it opens. Problem is, there’s no plans for anyone to leave the island.

The book started off a little slow in my opinion–do I ever regret thinking that at all. The rest of the book is nonstop murder and mayhem. The book has a bloodbath that can almost put the Hunger Games to shame. You feel the chaos that Harper, the MC, does. She’s having to figure out motives and strategies to survive on the go instead of having the time to organize her thoughts into videos on cold cases like she normally does. The very first rule that everyone knows about being trapped somewhere with a killer is never go anywhere alone. Rule two: Rule one never works out. The only issue I had with the book was a matter of personal taste about the ending of the book–which is MY preference. The book is still phenomenal, just maybe don’t read this on a weekend when nobody’s home.

It must be a sign of the times because Natasha Preston’s The Island has to be the fourth or fifth book in the last year that has centered around social media influencers. I wonder if actual influencers are worried since it seems every book I’ve read about them centers around them being stalked or killed, lol. I loved the set up for The Island: a billionaire builds an exclusive luxury amusement park/resort on an island and in an attempt to build positive buzz about it he invites some of the hippest young influencers to come experience it before it opens. I loved the description of the park, the entire gothic vibes just sounded so cool. And for our influencers everything seems wonderful at first. But of course it wouldn’t be much of story if things didn’t go wrong. First one of the influencers goes missing, then one of the staff. And it’s not before people start dying, the power/internet goes out…and basically everyone ends up scrambling to stay alive. Is it wildly original? No, not really, but it is a fun, fast-paced story, which quite honestly would make an excellent slasher-type film or Netflix series that I’d love to watch. My only real issue (and it may very well just be me) is that I never totally connected with the characters. I know who I was supposed to connect with/care about and yet I didn’t, not totally. Don’t get me wrong, as I said I enjoyed it, am glad I read it, and would gladly watch a movie or series if one were made, I just wish I’d connected a tad bit more with the characters. I’d like to thank Random House Children's and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Island.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2KZ6FP8MFUA49/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Reminiscent of Hide by Kiersten White crossed with Never Coming Home by Kate Williams, this novel of young influencers visiting an exclusive amusement park and resort on a private island kept me on the edge of my seat every moment. I had no idea which character would turn out to be the murderer. As each event revealed more information about the Gothic, scary park and its owner, my guesses got wilder and more wrong. The writing is excellent and I now plan to read the author's backlist as well.

There are so many literary islands out there, and this may be one of my favorites! The small group of influencers invited to a theme park have the island all to themselves and it should be one of the best trips of their lives! But it may be the last! The first third of this book flies by! The imagery is so vivid and I want to go to this park! The characters are believable (if not relatable) and everyone is there for a good time. Until someone turns up missing. From there, the writing gets a little muddy, the flow between action and conversation and drama and speculation a bit choppy. The characters are a little lost, trying idea after idea, hoping something will finally work. The ending comes up quick, back with a lot of action. The very end did leave me with a lot of questions. Overall, I love this for the YA audience and will recommend it to my students!