Not as hooking as Gould’s first novel, but I know there will be kids who are interesting in a haunted town.

I couldn't get into this. I felt like it was up my alley, but I felt my mind drifting and not wanting to read. It might be my own personal reading slump.

I got a physical and e-ARC of this book which is fantastic for because I loved The Dead and the Dark and this did not disappoint! Lesbians and mysteries go hand and hand and this book gives you both! I especially enjoyed the setting, which Courtney does so well, and the voice! Themes of family, grief, and secrets make this a deep and interesting read. 10/10, would recommend :)

This book was alright. I preferred the author's previous book over this one, but that could also be because grief horror isn't my thing and neither is the trope that this book utilizes. I would still recommend this to the teens who come to the library.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Super slow start to this book. I was hoping the second half would ramp up and be full of action and twists and turns. That never really happened. I’m still not even sure what the conclusion was and the plot. Kind of wish I would’ve DNF’d.

"Where Echoes Die" by Courtney Gould delivers a chilling and captivating narrative, masterfully weaving suspense with the supernatural. Gould's eloquent prose and expert pacing keep the pages turning, while the intricate plot and well-developed characters invite readers into a hauntingly immersive world. 5 stars

In Where Echoes Die, Courtney Gould weaves a YA tale of suspense and horror. Beck Birsching, adrift after her investigative reporter mother's death, receives a cryptic message leading her to the isolated town of Backravel, Arizona. Backravel is shrouded in mystery. There are no cars, cemeteries, or even online records of the town's existence. The residents seem strangely complacent, unable to recall their pasts. As Beck digs deeper, she uncovers a connection to her mother's unfinished investigation and a darkness at the heart of Backravel.

The novel excels in building a creepy atmosphere. The strange town and its unknowing inhabitants create a constant sense of unease. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace but can be a little slow at times, but it will keeping you guessing until the shocking reveal.

Overall, Where Echoes Die is a captivating read for those who enjoy a good mystery with a touch of the supernatural.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. the existential desert vibes are immaculate!

This one was unfortunately not as good as I expected. I honestly felt confused for a lot of it. Mainly, I think that was because I was waiting for this big mystery to be revealed and it never really happened. The characters were ok but it was easy to tell who was good and who was bad. The twist(s) seemed obvious to the story and left little room for anticipation of what might happen next. That's not to say it wasn't an interesting concept, and the author is a talented writer for sure, I just never got the full intrigue and atmosphere I had hoped for.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I absolutely love this book. Gould has a way of creating characters that just stick with you and follow you long after the story has ended. Seriously, I probably think about this little desert book once a week.

I wanted to like Courtney Gould’s newest novel so much, especially after I had enjoyed The Dead and the Dark. However, I know I can be picky with my young adult suspense and thrillers, and this unfortunately just did not hit the mark for me.

Claustrophobic and eerie - secrets and mysteries woven into a complex story, revealed piece by piece as the sisters investigate the disappearance of their mother. The ties that bind, get tighter and tighter in an almost deserted and mysterious town that seems to trap whoever lands there. No spoilers - but a fun mystery

It was nice but no as nice as the author's previous book. Characters slipped through my fingers despite a solid characterization. The plot was interesting but the resolution too neat.

This is my second book by Courtney Gould and I enjoyed it much like I enjoyed the first book! I also think if you were already a big fan of dead and the dark, then this will likely work well for you too.

I think the biggest thing I appreciate is that these books are casually queer, it feels good to be seen on the page of a book and it not be a coming out story.

Otherwise, I think the horror/mystery elements were great, they kept me on my toes and kept me turning the pages. I also enjoyed the characters, flaws and all. Lastly, I think the ending wrapped up in a satisfying way and I appreciate that in these types of horror/mystery books!

Atmospheric writing that made me feel like I could picture each scene, good character development, and nice pacing made this a quick read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the ARC!

I always love Gould's bookcovers, however I never really like her books it seems. This is very disappointing as the premise sounded really cool.

This was my first book by Courtney and I do want to go back and read her first book.

My first impression...what a weird book. I mean it was creepy and well, different is probably the best way to say it. Just weird. Not so weird that I hated the book. I did not hate it. This is a solid 3 starts for me, only because I did enjoy the writing style here (which is why I want to read her other book)

Just be warned, this book does start off very slow. In fact, while it wasn't terrible to really deserve for me not to finish, I did consider it for a hot minute but decided to force through it. It picks up for sure.

Thank you so much to #Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Courtney Gould might just be my favorite newer YA author on the scene. Her books just hit every time, and Where Echoes Die was no exception. From start to finish, I was a ball of anxiety, frantically flipping through pages, hoping desperately for some sort of resolution. The story was weird and interesting and tremendously well developed, to a point where I could so easily see where everything was taking place. The commentary on grief driving people to extremes and losing themselves in desperation was so very real, and as was the bits of grieving people being taken advantage of by others. The romance here was sweet and felt very perfect for the story. I will say I didn’t quite connect to the characters the same way here as I did in Gould’s debut and that I saw many of the major plot twists coming the very first time they were even sort of foreshadowed, but it was still a really enjoyable and captivating story. I even got a little misty eyed in the final chapter.

I really enjoyed THE DEAD AND THE DARK from this author in the past so I was excited to check out another story from her, but unfortunately it felt a little too similar to me and I've personally lost some interest in reading young adult novels since I last read from Courtney Gould so it didn't work out for me.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.