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Mystery Thriller
Blurb:
Liv's best friend disappears on their first night aboard their dream semester-at-sea program-but is he really sick, like everyone says, or is something darker lurking beneath the water? It should have been the trip of a lifetime. When Liv lands an all-expenses-paid opportunity to study aboard luxury cruise ship The Eos for a semester, she can't believe her luck. Especially since it will offer her the chance to spend time with Will, her ex-best friend, who's barely spoken to her since the night their friendship changed forever. But as soon as she steps on board, Liv realizes just how far in over her head she is......
Thoughts :
Thanks to @netgalley for this gifted book..
I had mixed feelings about this book... I loved the idea of a sea voyage with creepy sea creatures....
But a luxury cruise liner with claustrophobic conditions ... was a bit contradicting for me.. I also had a difficult time connecting with the characters. It became too predictable and I struggled to finish the book..

This started out slow and in my opinion, stayed that way. It never took off. It went from nothing happening, to the MC floundering around repeating the same concerns over and over for 300-pages.

Those We Drown by Amy Goldsmith
Those We Drown is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that grips you from the first page. Goldsmith’s writing is sharp, with a creeping sense of dread that builds beautifully, though the resolution felt a bit abrupt. Perfect for fans of dark, suspenseful mysteries.

As far as YA horror debuts go, I enjoyed Those We Drown, despite a few flaws that earned it three stars. The inclusion of Greek myth felt a little clumsy at times, but the overall fast pace and spooky ocean vibes balanced nicely. If you have YA readers who enjoy darker books or horror as a genre, I would recommend passing them this book.

I own this and intend to read it in the future I'm just clearing this off my board to reduce stress. I will update when I read/review.

The main thing I can say about this book is simply, claustrophobic! When it all goes down there is literally no escape and I loved it. The plot was fun and the vibes are pretty decent. Honestly wish it was a bit more creepy overall but still good. The characters though? Not a fan. They kind of suck, but I already knew I didn't like stories about rich people before this book. Not to mention rich teenagers. If you want a darker, slow burn mystery with a claustrophobic ocean setting, this is for you. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

for a debut i thought this was good! this was a fast paced, if not a bit predictable which isn't necessarily a bad thing. following a young, unreliable narrator was frustrating at times, but I do think that just added to the creepy atmosphere. the characters were in my opinion extremely unlikeable but again i love those types of characters and I think it worked well with they mystery. this book had me engaged right from the start, and read it in one sitting

I love this cover! While I was hoping to enjoy this a little more than I did, it was very creepy and atmospheric! I did enjoy it overall.

I wanted to love this book. I was excited to read it as I’m a big fan of campy reads… unfortunately this just missed the mark for me

Going into the story, I had mixed expectations due to conflicting reviews. Now that I’ve finished, I’m still on the fence about it. I appreciated the horror/thriller elements, but something about the book didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It felt like there was a missing ingredient that prevented it from being truly great.
The author’s writing style was commendable; the flow and pace were easy to follow, and I enjoyed that aspect of the book. However, I struggled to connect with the characters. Despite finding the storyline and plot engaging, the lack of connection to the characters left me feeling like I was missing a crucial element of the experience.

As much as I really love sea/deep water horror (a personal fav.) I really didn't *love* this book. A bit of the eerie vibes, but just really missed the mark for me. I feel like some parts were very rushed through and others unnecessarily slow, and thinking about a YA POV I'm not sure if some parts might be a bit confusing.

This review I considered not writing for a long time because I don't like writing negative reviews. I know I know how hard it is to write a book and how much work goes into it and the last thing I want to do is hurt anyone's feelings. This is a very ya story I was intrigued by the cruise boat setting thought it would be a really fun spooky book I saw on Amazon that they had it placed in the Greek mythology so I was super excited because I was born in Greece and I'm a huge Greek mythology nerd. With that being said it is the first book I wish did not have Greek mythology in it it came out of nowhere I don't feel like it helps the story in any way it didn't even feel like it belonged in the story the story was super confusing and oddly paced. I think a young adult would be confused by this book I'm an adult and I certainly was I feel like the book needed more time I feel like the author rushed a bunch of ideas and squished them into a book this could have been a series of books with everything that was just in the one and just written better and explained more

The concept behind this was fun, but the execution didn't fully work for me. The packing was a bit too uneven for me, with some parts too jam-packed and other parts dragging. The atmosphere was creepy though.

An engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed! Modern folklore/myth was exactly what I was after. Highly recommend and will purchase several physical and digital copies for library collections. Thank you!!

"Those We Drown" is a chilling and atmospheric horror debut that plunges readers into a world of mystery and suspense aboard the luxury cruise ship The Eos. With its ocean-drenched setting and eerie atmosphere, the novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Liv's journey to uncover the truth behind the disappearances is riveting, and the dynamic cast of characters adds depth to the story. With its blend of psychological tension and supernatural elements, this book is a must-read for fans of suspenseful and atmospheric horror.

Rating: 4 stars
A delightfully eerie experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this YA horror, finding its level of creepiness quite commendable. Considering it's the author's debut, I'm impressed and eagerly anticipate her future works.

“Those We Drown”, with its dark, haunting cover and strong premise, was a fun read but was ultimately pretty forgettable. It stars Liv as she begins a study abroad program aboard a luxury cruise ship. As soon as she arrives there is an eerie atmosphere on The Eos, and she quickly discovers the all-expenses paid opportunity she’s just embarked on may not be the gift she thought it was. As strange disappearances affect the ship and vivid nightmares plague Liv, only time will tell what further secrets the trip may hold. And time seems to be running out.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it was a tad predictable and the characters didn’t really click with me. The promised atmospheric horror was minimal. It just didn’t have that extra chill that really pulls you into a story and produces just a bit of unease in the pit of your stomach. If it had, I think I would have been able to push aside some of the plot decisions and character arcs, ultimately enjoying the book a lot more.
I would still recommend this book to the right person and I'll be on the lookout for any promising future releases by Goldsmith.

This was an interesting book concept. A horror/thriller set on a cruise ship. An all-expenses paid semester-at-sea, what could go wrong? This book hooked me from the beginning! I could not put it down, and the story kept me guessing the entire time. The cover is very pretty, this is what originally drew me in. The atmosphere is so haunting but beautiful. Thank you netgalley for an arc.

Liv, an ostracized student, lands a scholarship on the luxurious "Eos" for a semester at sea. But her dream trip crumbles when her best friend, Will, disappears mysteriously. Fueled by a mix of grief and suspicion, Liv embarks on a desperate search for the truth, uncovering secrets and facing the darkness that lurks beneath the seemingly perfect facade of the ship.
"Those We Drown" is a captivating debut novel that blends coming-of-age themes with chilling horror. It's a perfect read for those who enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a touch of the supernatural. However, readers seeking a fast-paced story with clear-cut answers might find it lacking in certain aspects.
This book is recommended for fans of YA horror and thrillers, particularly those who enjoy stories with a sense of claustrophobia and unreliable narrators. Be prepared for an unsettling and thought-provoking journey, but keep in mind the potential for a slower pace and an ambiguous ending.

This book is a lot of fun. I think teens will really enjoy the vibe it gives off. It almost feels like it should be a Freeform or CW show. It doesn't do anything crazy, but it really doesn't need to. It does what it said out to do.