I was really excited to read this one. The premise sounded amazing - horror set in the deserts of Arizona, a creepy small town and the secrets of a recently deceased mother.

I found this book to be pretty average though. The twists were easy to see coming, the horror aspects not to scary. The town itself was uncomfortable to read about in parts but I found most of the book to be a bit boring.

Beck and Riley were interesting characters and I loved their dynamic. I wished we had more of them together. I think this could have really been so good had the two sisters had more time on page. Some really good conversations were had on grief, anxiety and moving forward that i did really connect with.

Though I wanted more from this, it was still a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the earc.

I didn’t love this as much as I was hoping. Cool premise but I didn’t vibe with the writing style. The plot was intriguing but it moved a little slow for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! I really enjoyed the atmospheric writing and character work in this one! The setting really worked for me as well, I loved the desert vibes and eeriness of Backravel. The plot twist was a little obvious to me and certain moments weren't as hard hitting as I would have liked, but overall this was a solid read and I'm looking forward to more books from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC!
I loved this authors first book and this new book was no exception; this book was twisty, action packed and fun to read! I ripped through this book in one sitting, highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this!! I liked the first book from this author too but this one was even more my speed with elements relevant to my interests (mystical and otherwise) that kept me curious. There was an element of the fantastical but nothing too far from reality, from things that could actually happen, which made it that much more worrying.

The main character was super unlikeable: however,the story overall was very good. I loved the small town vibes

OH MY GOSH! I am simply convinced I can trust Courtney Gould with any book and I will end up loving it. She's done it again after writing her sapphic ghosty paranormal book The Dead and the Dark, Where Echoes Die is a beautiful story of grief, sisterhood, and obsession that all leads back to a town that just doesn't quite make sense. I can't wait for more people to read this one when it comes out, y'all are NOT ready.

I picked this ARC hoping I’d get an eerie small town mystery and what I got was that and so much more. Where Echoes Die (which is, in my opinion, a genius title) is a mystery sewn together by what it means to grieve and be human. Relationships are the focus in this story, twisting characters’ actions and driving the plot forward.

Beck is instantly drawn to Backravel, Arizona by a curious note left by her deceased mother, piquing her interest (as well as the reader’s). She brings her sister, Riley, to the small, desert town. It’s the perfect setting- secluded, sleepy, and a little too perfect.

She meets several characters while staying in Backravel who add to the mystery even more. Avery is at the center of Beck’s focus which added a little bit of first love and romance to the story. The more Avery shared, the more questions Beck had and I couldn’t help but feel the need to figure out the secrets of Avery’s town alongside Beck.

If you want a story with a lot of heart, one that gives you time to feel the pace of the world it’s set in, some mystery and a little bit of shock value, I highly recommend this book. One of my favorite reads of 2023.

Courtney Gould has done it again. She took a creepy thriller horror (what even is the genre?) and gave it so much heart. Our protagonist, Beck, is unflinchingly relatable in the midst of the greatest loss, searching for meaning. This book is so much more than the story. The message is important and forever timely. Characters I expected not to care about became so important to me and each moment believable. Her words truly make you feel as if you are there, nausea and all.

While I would never want to live in a world with Backravel, it is so compelling. This will be a book that I recommend and reread! Don't miss out on this incredibly delivered second novel! I will be reading absolutely everything she writes forever!!

This book was wonderful. An amazing follow-up to Gould's first novel. I enjoyed every moment of this book and savored every word. Fantastic mystery with a much-needed and impactful message. I also loved the slow-burn, tender romance as well.

Gould is a master at setting and establishing a definitive vibe within her work. While I loved the atmosphere, and unique story, I found the characters uninteresting at times and the plot a little slow overall. I will continue to check out everything the authors writes, but this, sadly, didn't land for me.

Was thrilled to read Gould’s new release before it hits the shelves. Once again I was drawn in by the captivating cover which showed similarities to “The Dead and The Dark”.

Gould’s writing keeps you wanting more. Being drawn into the lives of Beck and her sister Riley was one that kept you on your toes. Two young girls searching for answers to their mothers on going research turns into a compelling story of determination, trust and drop thought. Gould builds strong images that transplant you directly into the background of the story with ease.

This is a great story if you are looking to escape without having to put much thought into what you are reading. I look forward to the next novel by Gould and for the world she builds for her readers in the future.

I really enjoy Courtney’s writing style. It’s kind of horror, mystery and sci fi all rolled into one. I was very intrigued by this story that I just couldn’t put the book down. I disliked how Beck treated Riley so I wasn’t too enthralled with her character even though she was the main character. Overall it was an interesting story.

I made a mistake! I thought this book was written by Courtney Summers! When the publisher reached out asking if I wanted to read it I was so excited. After starting it, I quickly realized, while I have read this author before, I wasn't in love with her other book. I will say, if you enjoyed the Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould then you'll probably like this one too.

Here are my main complaints.

-I found the book boring. Nothing really happens, we just follow two sisters (one mostly) who is sad.
-The book lacked purpose. Yes, we have a reason for these girls to be doing what they're doing, but the plot and story just felt like things happened.
-Why should I care about any of this? The characters weren't intriguing enough for me to care about them, and the setting wasn't interesting enough for me to want more.
-Characters were hard to tell apart. I caught myself rereading so many parts because I got confused about who was talking.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday publishing for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an review.

4/5 Stars

TL;DR - This book is an anomaly of the best kind, so much so that it’s hard to put it into words. Come for the spooky desert mystery, stay for the brilliant and heart-wrenching exploration of grief and trauma - bonus sapphic subplot included!

Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

‘Where Echoes Die’ by Courtney Gould is a genre-bending story of loss, regret, and learning to live in the wake of tragedy. The story follows 17 year old Rebecca “Beck” Birsching and her younger sister, Riley, as they journey from the Pacific Northwest to the isolated small town of Backravel, Arizona. Beck wants to see for herself the town that consumed her mother before her death, and she soon finds that something is very wrong there, something that makes the residents forget themselves and their pasts, and soon, Beck finds herself slipping away, as well. It’s a race against time, and through time, to figure out what’s wrong with this town, and ultimately, how to keep herself from going down the same ill-fated path as her mother.

Where to even begin? Normally I take copious notes while reading, but this story consumed me to such an extent that I barely have anything written down. It’s just so engaging, walking a careful and addictive line between the mystery of what the heck is going on in this isolated desert town and why its residents act so strange, and a very earthy, visceral story of a teenage girl dealing with seemingly insurmountable grief and the near-obsessive desire for closure after the traumatic death of her mother. The writing throughout is just gorgeous, and no matter the focus, the author does such a wonderful job if immersing the reader in whatever Beck is focusing on - every line is atmospheric and gripping.

I generally don’t like mystery stories, but this one hooked me from the start. Honestly this whole book reads like an episode of the X-Files, but with a lot more emotional depth - and, seeing as that’s my favorite show of all time, I was absolutely obsessed. Part mystery, part speculative sci-fi, part psychological thriller, part love story, part coming-of-age…all of it adds up to a book that defies the confines of genre but satisfies deeply nonetheless.

The plot is…a wibbly-wobby mess, but I know that's exactly what the author intended. Backravel is a place where the past and present collide, and that’s beautifully mirrored by Beck’s journey and her inner struggles. The story slips between the present and the mystery of Backravel, then back through the past 10 years that Beck’s mother spent obsessed with the small town. We see in gut-wrenching clarity how her mother’s mental illness affected Beck growing up, and how it still affects her today. She feels lost, we feel lost, and it’s one hell of a ride.

Beck is so relatable as a character. She struggles with anxiety and depression, and experiences instances of slipping back into her traumatic past, even before Backravel gets its claws into her. She’s real and she’s wounded, and doing the best she can to stay above water in many respects, and I really enjoyed experiencing this book alongside her. She’s clever and caring but also struggling with her mental illnesses, but through it all, she’s relentless and resilient and I love her.

Everything about Backravel is so creepy and insidious. It seems normal and welcoming at first glance, but the longer you stare, the more you realize that something is very wrong here. I want to say this book is gothic horror, for the isolation and the slowly-creeping dread, and the fact that the town itself almost feels like a character instead of a setting, but I struggle to firmly place it in the genre for some reason. The vibes are certainly there, so I think if that’s your thing, you’ll appreciate this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I do wish that we got a more concrete explanation of The Weird Thing than we do by the end of the book. I was waiting for Scully to come in with some hard facts and creepy 90s music to give me some closure on what the hell just happened, but I also appreciate that the whole point of this book is that in life, we so rarely get the closure we want, and it hurts, but it’s okay. I’m salty I didn’t get a full explanation, but I’m still very happy with everything else this book delivered.

Final Thoughts:

This book is a lot. It hits you hard in the feelings and then tosses you out into the desert with nothing to go on, and I was more than happy to be dragged and thrown and muddled all to hell.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC!

I was absolutely over the moon about Courtney Gould's "The Dead and the Dark" so when I was offered a chance to read this one I was thrilled and while I didn't find it as intensely creepy as "The Dead and the Dark", it packs a powerful punch.

"Where Echoes Die" is at it's core, a story about grief and longing. It starts out a little slow but revs into something truly magical. I loved it!

4⭐️

This first 1/3rd of this book was a bit of a slow start but it then really picked up and I was really invested in figuring out what was happening.

This essentially is a story about grief and lost, what someone would do to get their loved one back or figure out a mystery about them. To feel closer to the person they lost. While others around around you are moving on. Then how this can then turn into an unhealthy obsession.

Beck and her sister Riley go on a trip together after the death of their mother. They tell their dad they are going to go visit a friend but really they are heading to a random desert town called Backravel. A town their mom was strangely obsessed over and slowly began to lose herself. Beck is also obsessed to find out more about her mom and why her mom wanted her to come find her there.

I thought the writing of this book was beautiful. Courtney Gould did a great job making me feel as a reader that there was something bubbling under the surface in this town. Something I never could put my finger in until it was revealed.

I liked Beck and Avery's characters. They were enjoyable to read. Beck's sister I wasn't quite sure about. I found myself regularly forgetting she was even there.

I will be reading more from Courtney Gould. I really enjoyed her writing style. I would recommend this book of fans of Blake Crouch. As this town was giving me Wayward Pines vibes. A contemporary story however with sci fi elements.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

I will be posting my review to my Instagram page the.floofs.booknook and retail sites close or on publication.

This was a really cool book! I loved the idea and some parts took me a bit to wrap my head around, but it was worth it! I especially loved the protagonist, Beck was chill and nuanced and fully-fleshed. The antagonist was so well written, I had no idea if he was good or bad until almost the very end! Great story, I’d love to read more from her!

A fun queer, YA sci-fi thriller! I don't usually read much YA or sci-fi but love that queer fiction brings me to new genres.

I thought the plot set up was really compelling; a girl who has recently lost her mother is sucked into the very world that sort of destroyed her family's life. How you can hate something, but also be intrigued by it and become obsessed with it. I loved the mother/daughter dynamics, and Beck is such a great eldest daughter character for those of us who relate.

My issues with it definitely came with the genre. I think I'm too practical brained to enjoy sci-fi, I always find it hard to get used to the rules of the world. It's just harder for my to be enveloped by the book when I'm trying to figure out how things work and what the bounds of the story are. I will say though that this book reminded me a lot of two sci-fi-lite movies that I love, which are Don't Worry Darling and the Stepford Wives. This picturesque closed off world, devoid of time or place. Setting up the setting for the story got me really interested because it reminded me of those two. It was when we started diving into the why's and how's that I started to feel myself losing interest.

I also thought the queer romance subplot was very sweet. Their relationship felt very flushed out and natural - they took time to warm up to each other which felt authentic to both girls and how they're closed off for two different reasons. The sweet little scene where Beck kind of "comes out" to the reader was lovely. It didn't feel like a plot twist or shock value. It was just us, as the reader, getting a little bit more information about the character filled in. Wasn't her whole identity, just another part of her. I think this is perfect for a YA novel and wish I had read about a character like Beck when I was younger.

Final thoughts:
A story that has really sweet and complex relationships at the center with a setting that really hooked me, but started to get a bit too convoluted for my taste, as someone who doesn't particularly enjoy the sci-fi genre. If that genre is more of your speed, I highly recommend.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

where echoes die follows beck as she travels to a town her journalist mother, ellery, was fascinated by before she died in search for the truth about her mother's death. this book shines in its multifaceted depiction of grief and i really loved beck as a main character. the worldbuilding is also immersive- i felt like i was really in backravel, and i felt genuinely unsettled. however, without spoiling anything, i wish there were more supernatural elements and parts of the book felt a little rushed.