I was going with five stars… until the last page. I don’t even understand. Like I get suspenseful endings and all but this felt like the author just forgot to include the next chapter… I’m so confused. What a bummer because this five star read turned 3 real quick.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book in return for an honest review.

This was a pretty good thriller. Some parts were a little repetitive but it kept you guessing who was lying. I gave this a book a 4 star rather than a 3.5 because the ending. I didn’t see that coming at all. I love Natasha’s other work and this one didn’t disappoint. This would be the perfect summer read if you are looking for a thriller. I loved the amusement park setting. Overall, great story full of twists and turns.

Thrillers aren’t really my thing but I wanted to try this one because I was so drawn to it by the description.

It never really grabbed me.. it was easy for me to put down. And the ending.. ughh.. not good.

3.5 stars

This was a entertaining thriller book that reminded me of slasher horror movies. There are a few thing that I didn’t really enjoy about this book though. For starters, it took a while for the mystery aspect of it to start, and I didn’t really feel like the stakes seemed that high until the last fourth of the book. I also didn’t feel that attached to any of the characters and didn’t feel sad when they died. And I predicted the plot twist half way through the book. It was still a fun read, I just think some of these things can be improved, especially since this isn’t Natasha Preston’s first book.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of this book!

The last page will haunt you!!!’ I loved this book as a fan of Natasha Preston this might be he best so far. Teen influencers get invited to an isolated island amusement park owned by a mysterious billionaire. Paisley is the narrator and she was my favorite character. Paisley is a true crimer tik toker and when murders start piling up on the island you want her on your side.

Natasha Preston's The Island is a fun, modern twist on And Then There Were None. Using the concept of a gothic theme park was a stroke of genius on Preston's part. While the setting has all of the modern trappings that we're accustomed to, the aesthetic is dark and brooding with plenty of creepy imagery. All you have to do is let a killer loose on the island, throw in a few unfortunate complications, and enjoy the events as they unfold.

The only criticisms I have for Preston with this story are focused on the beginning and ending. Both felt a little more rough than I would generally expect. Getting to know the protagonist and other characters came across somewhat stilted, and it didn't allow us to capture the depth of some of them. Additionally, the twists within the story were a bit on the predictable side. I knew who the killer was halfway through, however, the main body of the book had me so spellbound that I didn't really care all that much. I'm still not sure of my feelings on the final few sentences, and ultimately, it doesn't matter because the story is more important.

The Island was my first Natasha Preston read, and I can honestly tell you that I am hooked. I IMMEDIATELY went and checked out four more of her books upon finishing this one. I'm reading these for spooky season, and the vibes are just right!

This book started really strong for me and I was invested. But about half way through I just lost interest and didn’t fully care anymore. The twist ending really didn’t surprise me much either. The last sentence of the book had me rolling my eyes and deep sighing. But I was glad it was over. All thoughts and opinions stated in this review are solely my own. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this! It very much felt as if I was reading a horror movie and I couldn’t get enough.

We follow six influencers who have been invited to an island resort before it opens to the public, but this island resort isn’t exactly what you’d expect when you hear those words. Paisley is the main character we follow, a true crime blogger, who I absolutely loved. She can tell something seems weird her first night there when she feels like someone is following her and things only get weirder and more intense from there.

The ending is truly what made this feel like a horror movie, it’s twisted and definitely something I never saw coming. It also made me angry, but yet it fit so perfectly with the plot.

Highly recommend reading this for all its twists and turns. It’s a thrilling read that’s seriously hard to put down.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House for sharing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!! The Author has done it again!! Such a thrill ride!! Who makes it off the island and who doesn't?? You'll definitely want to read this book and find out!! The ending!! Wow!!

Natasha Preston has done it again. Thankfully I remenbered not to throw my phone as I have been known to do with a her books.
5 influencers are invited to a private island that was turned into a luxury hotel and amusment park before it opens to create a buzz, I mean what could possibly go wrong??
Things definitely don't go as planned. Murder, a haunted house, 5 kids that have never met, and 5 workers. Who makes it off the island and who doesn't??? You don't want to miss this book!!!!

I fully understand that this book probably wasn't for me. It's for fans of Scream, etc. And while I appreciate those movies, I'm not sure I'm interested in them in book form, which is essentially what this is. It's full of who-dun-it energy, trust no one atmosphere, and rampant running around. And that's mostly it. I did hang on for the ride--wanting to see how this was going to shake out--but the ending really made me wonder why I hung on as long as I did.

But, you know, it's not really a book for me! I'm in the minority here, so I'll step out of this publishing niche and let its fans enjoy it.

Ummm wtf did I just read?! THAT ENDING!!! And every single thing before it 🤯 This book was the definition of unputdownable and I need a minute to pick my jaw up off the floor. Would give this 10 stars if possible!

This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year!! I love the plot twist! I absolutely adore the main character shes amazing!!!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The premise to this one is fun. Six teenage popular social media influencers get invited to a private island where a newly completed hotel and amusement park for the rich is located. While the hotel is obviously meant for those who prefer luxury, the amusement park has a gothic theme with gargoyles and rides meant to spook. The question is, is this just a fun, free vacation as a perk of being internet famous, or is something else at play?

This book kept my attention. I didn’t want to stop reading. I liked the main character. There were a couple good twists. It would make a good movie.

Natasha Preston has a great writing style for mystery novels, it has great tense atmospheres that keeps you until the mystery is solved. I enjoyed the way the characters were written and how they work in this universe. I'm glad I was able to read this. I look forward to read more from Natasha Preston.

"Gibson raises Liam’s scowl with a glare. “A lot. He had a hard time, but he’s doing really well now, getting his life together. After everything he’s overcome, to die here now, in a place that’s helping him get on his feet . . . He doesn’t deserve that.”

Thank you! NetGalley and Random House Children's

What we have here is a thriller you won’t be able to stop reading. The rocky and remote Island is home to a theme park. It’s elaborate and exists exclusively for the wealthy, and, of course, very expensive to visit. Creative in their advertising strategy, the park’s creator invites six teenage, successful, social media influencers to enjoy the park and blog about the awesome experience. That sounds quite plausible.

James a movie buff
Liam a gamer
Paisley crime novel enthusiast
Ava dancer
Will makeup and skin products
Harper a book blogger
Each has a Multitude of followers.

When the influencers arrive, they are stunned and surprised to be welcomed into such luxurious digs.The park’s themed rides are incredible, like none ever. And there are no lines in which to wait. Also, the island is hauntingly beautiful. The itinerary is fun filled and jam-packed for the weekend.

But not all is well. On the very day they arrive, all hell breaks loose. The influencers start to go missing and experience weird tamperings going on in the technology room. Now there is no cell service and no internet. The only way off is by boat as they had arrived or by helicopter but no way to summon one. Since this is just a test opening, the park is staffed by a skeleton crew, along with the founder and his personal assistant.

Everyone is a suspect. This is a thrilling and gruesome read as the characters are helplessly being hunted down to kill

This is a fast-paced read with lots of atmosphere and scares. A bunch of teenaged influencers stranded on a spooky island with a vicious killer? The author did a wonderful job of capturing a range of teenaged characters without slipping into tired cliches (not easy to do in this genre), and built a deliciously scary setting. This was lots of fun, and a great spooky season read!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I post reviews on Amazon and they will not let me post curse words. This is probably good, because the words that came out of my mouth when I finished this book were foul. Extremely. Loudly. Foul.

Now, I read an ARC of this so there’s time. Time for someone – a partner, a good friend, a beta reader, a fairy godmother, a FRIGGING EDITOR – to take the author aside and say, “You know how you ended the book? Don’t FREAKING DO THAT!”

Excuse me. Blood pressure. Rising.

Whew.

The thing is, until the ending, the stupid, lazy, cheat of an ending, the book was good. It wasn’t an award winning masterpiece of literature (and who even needs that), but it was entertaining and fun and bloody and I loved our characters. And even though I knew the ‘who’ of things way too early, I didn’t care.

And then I read the last bloody sentence and I said, wait…that’s it? I tried to turn the page because surely there was more. There wasn’t.

And ebook hit virtual wall.

The 2 stars are ONLY because I was so entertained…until the last. Bloody. Sentence.

*ARC via Publisher

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Natasha Preston has a hold on me that I don't ever want to shake. She writes such suspensfull, creepy atmostpheres that has me looking over my shoulder as I read each of her books. Will always highly recommend her works. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

The Island is a fast paced thriller that grabs your attention and then doesn’t let go until the stunning conclusion. Six teenage influencers are invited to visit The Island, an island with an amusement park and giant hotel for the rich. They spend their first day riding thrill rides and visiting the haunted house, and then things get really spooky on day two. Only 11 people are on the island, and suddenly one of them is dead and everyone is a suspect.

Paisley, a true crime buff, is our narrator and she is suspicious of everyone as the bodies begin to pile up. There are several twists, and a very chilling scene in the haunted house that had my heart racing. I was picturing the book as a movie in my head the whole time, the descriptions were fantastic. The plot and setting for the book are just plain fun and it was a great spooky read for October!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/ Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.