I want to say thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start by saying that the cover, synopsis and the queer aspects of this book are what brought me in.

The book gives off series 1980 killer vibes (I kept picturing that season of American Horror Story.) That being said, there are enough dabs at those films to make a horror fan happy.

However, this book was a struggle at parts. Slow beginning, followed by an annoying middle, and capped with a logical, yet almost predictable end. I was left with questions that were never answered. Some things didn't make sense and others felt overplayed.

There are times where the characters seemed to have a very toxic relationship and times where there was some tenderness. I'm just left wanting more from this.

3.5/5

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting book, and I feel like the ending felt almost like a short story in a way? I wish we had gotten more information on our main’s past, because it was very vaguely acknowledged and fed into the plot but we didn’t really know a whole lot of what was happening. I don’t know how I feel about the ending - maybe if we got a bit more flashbacks on the camp and what happened there I might like it better? Or more in our main’s unraveling? I don’t know.

I did read through this book pretty quickly though, I just wish there were more answers. So if you’re fine with the book being more open ended I’d say definitely go for this book!

I loved the premise of this book and I devoured it in less than 2 days. It kept me guessing and it was hard to put down. I wanted so badly to have all the answers right along with Sloan but I feel like I am still searching even after finishing the book. I wanted more from the ending. More resolution but I was left unsatisfied. With that said, the writing was great and I will definitely read more from Dugan in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Setting: New York
Rep: sapphic protagonist+ relationship

I have always enjoyed Jennifer Dugan's queer YA books - she has become an auto-buy author for me - so naturally I had to request this eARC when it became available as mystery is one of my favourite genres. This didn't feel like a Jennifer Dugan book, though. It's like it's a totally different author. The characters are flat and the writing feels amateur and I'm not compelled to continue because everyone is annoying and I don't care about the camp murder. It lets itself down by being set in the aftermath because there isn't enough intrigue and the protagonist is annoying as hell, and her girlfriend is a toxic bitch.

Wow! This book grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go until the end of its roller coaster ride of a story. The main character, Sloan, and her girlfriend, Cherry, are sleep-away camp massacre survivors. However, Sloan doesn't remember what happened. Even though Cherry tells her the events of the night of the massacre, Sloan is convinced there's more to the story. I was drawn into Sloan's confusion and frustration and when she fell into a conspiracy theory rabbit hole, I fell with her.
The terror and dread Sloan feels is palpable and the romance/relationship is sweet and realistic. This is a great book for anyone who loves mystery and horror. I couldn't put this book down, but I didn't want it to end.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Jennifer Dugan's previous YA queer romance novels, including "Hot Dog Girl" and "Some Girls Do." When I discovered that she had ventured into the thriller genre, drawing inspiration from 80s teen slashers like Friday the 13th while incorporating queer/LGBTQ representation, I was instantly intrigued. Without reading any comments or reviews, I eagerly embarked on this chilling ride, ready to be captivated.

Throughout the narrative, Dugan skillfully pays homage to the classic 80s slashers, weaving in references and nods that will delight horror aficionados. As a fan of those iconic movies myself, I relished in the familiar tropes and atmosphere that she expertly recreated. It's evident that Dugan has a deep appreciation for the genre, and her homage to the era shines through.

However, the pacing and execution did present challenges for me. The slow start and difficulty in connecting with the characters hindered my initial engagement with the story. It felt like an uphill battle to become truly invested in the outcome. Nonetheless, I pushed forward, hoping that the momentum would pick up as the plot unfolded.

To my relief, the story did gain momentum as I reached the middle, and the final twist proved to be both clever and thought-provoking. It challenged my assumptions and left me questioning the motives and actions of the characters. While the journey to get there was a bit arduous, the destination was ultimately rewarding.

Despite my reservations, I recognize that this is Dugan's first endeavor into the thriller genre, and it shows potential. With her strong writing skills and knack for creating relatable characters, I am confident that her future works in the YA queer thriller realm will be more polished and compelling. I look forward to witnessing her growth as an author and eagerly anticipate her future releases.

In conclusion, while this particular book may not have fully met my expectations, it still offers an enjoyable read for fans of queer representation and 80s slasher nostalgia. I encourage readers to approach it with an open mind and appreciate the efforts made in diversifying the thriller genre.

I give it three solid stars and express my gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for granting me the opportunity to delve into this digital reviewer copy and share my honest thoughts.

The Last Girls Standing looked like a new and interesting take on the psychological thriller. Unfortunately, the book itself didn't have the same pull that the summary did. I struggled to connect with the story, and the pacing wasn't enough to keep me motivated. However, I've heard wonderful things about Jennifer Dugan's books, so I'll definitely be watching for her next one.

A LGBTQ+ thriller?! Um, yes please!!

This gave me real Friday the 13th vibes with a twist.

Sloan and her girlfriend, Cherry, are survivors of the Money Springs massacre which ended the lives of their fellow summer camp counselors. As Sloan tries to work past her trauma and pick up the pieces of her lost memories, she can’t help but to think her girlfriend knows something she isn’t saying. Is it possible Cherry was in on it or is Sloan actually going crazy?

I loved ‘Some Girls Do’, but this was honestly hard to get into. The premise sounds so promising, but it just didn’t hold my attention. When it did start to get interesting, I felt like there wasn’t enough information at all. The twist at the end was good, but once again, didn’t make sense. I’m honestly not even sure what I just read, and maybe that’s on me, I don’t know. I think a large majority of people will love this, but there were too many loose ends in this book for me.

This is exactly my type of read. Camps, murders and whoddunits. I am obviously a child raised with Jason (Friday the 13th) and Michael Myer.

This book could have been better. Its not a horrible read, but as I read I always got the feeling the writing could be more suspenseful. The pacing was a bit off for me, which usually means I don't finish a book. I did finish this one and honestly was intrigued enough, but there was something missing.

In this YA thriller, Cherry and Sloan are the "last girls standing" in a camp massacre. Once Sloan begins investigating what happened, she finds out more than she bargained for. The story is told in Sloan's POV.

I was really excited to read this - the cover art is amazing and the book description sounded right up my alley. After what they experienced at the camp, it's not unimaginable to see how these two ended up being together and being each other's everything. But the relationship is very toxic (to the point of full-blown obsession, including stalking). Things started picking up in Chapter 5. Once I hit Chapter 15, I couldn't put the book down because I *needed* to know what happened next. Without giving away the meat of the story, I wish the storyline didn't feel rushed. The progression from being paranoid about her girlfriend's involvement in the cult-related murders to believing in the doctrine of the cult was a bit rushed. There was no gradual decline of mental facilities. Bam, boom, it's done. One chapter she's investigating, the next shes in a full fledged mental break. I would have liked to have seen more development in that regard.

That being said, I really enjoyed The Last Girls Standing. It's dark, it's LGBTQIA inclusive and it definitely sets itself apart from the standard lone survivor trope. Being geared towards ages 14+, I feel like the content is appropriate for those not wanting to read heavy sexual content.

Jennifer Dugan you have my heart. I have already been a huge fan of J Dugan but I didn’t know she could do mystery and murder like this. Chefs freaking kiss.

It was alright. The story didn't immediately grip me and it took me some time to warm up to the book. However, it definitely had its good moments. I can see young readers liking this one.

Two final girls, survivors of a camp massacre, and girlfriends. Sloan and Cherry survived the massacre at their camp where two masked men with machetes attacked their fellow counselors and killed everyone but them. Now months later they are inseparable, their trauma bonding them because what they went through only both of them understand. Yet Sloan is left with so many questions and it doesn’t help that she doesn’t have any clear memories of the night except for what Cherry told her what happened. The more she tries to unlock those memories the more questions she has as to why she survived, why the men wanted to kill them, and what their motive was....., but as she digs deeper she begins to question if she can even trust Cherry and how far this conspiracy goes. Her memories are unreliable, her love for Cherry is being questioned, and everything is being scrambled. Can she figure out the truth before its too late or is Cherry also a monster? This was a mystery that jumped back and forth between the present and past and deals with an unreliable narrator. The overall ending was meh, and Sloan was constantly back and forth with whether she loved Cherry and trusted her and if she even cared because she knew she was dependent on Cherry. If you enjoy unreliable narrator mystery thrillers then definitely give this one a go.

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I adore Jennifer Dugan - her writing is always so fantastic and relatable - and I've read nearly all of her YA fiction. As a horror fan, I was especially excited to see that she'd tackled a YA thriller/horror novel, as I have a real soft spot for YA horror and I was excited to see Dugan write outside her typical genre. "The Last Girls Standing" is a sapphic story about two girls who were the sole survivors of a massacre occuring at summer camp. Our protagonist is Sloan, deeply traumatized by her experiences and haunted by the memories she can't quite remember about that fateful night. Her girlfriend is Cherry, vivacious, take charge and mysterious. When Sloan starts trying to get her memories back, she begins to worry that perhaps the massacre that permeates her nightmares isn't as resolved as the police had led her to believe.

This was a quick, enjoyable read. Dugan as always is really good with creating layered, interesting characters that have good qualities and bad, and uses those bad qualities to make an interesting thriller that keeps you guessing. About 60% through I was certain I knew where the book was going and I was wrong, which is awesome! Unfortunately I feel like the ending was weak; without going into depth, a character did an about-face and it wasn't telegraphed quite well enough to feel realistic once it happened. Still, any fan of YA horror will enjoy this book and it's certainly a wonderful late-summer horror tale perfect for staying up late wtih!

I was not impressed with this book. I was promised a cultish murder mystery and I got… a traumatize girl going psycho.

The opening was incredibly slow and nothing major happens until like 100 pages in. And then when things do start happening, everyone brushed Sloan off like her suspicions don’t hold any possibility and that maybe she needs to really see that things are coincidence.

And then we get to the end and Sloan kills Cherry because in the span of two pages suddenly the cult stuff makes sense to her. Like.. what?

This queer YA psychological thriller, written by Jennifer Dugan, is a gripping and intense read that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows Sloan and Cherry, two survivors of a summer camp massacre who are trying to uncover the truth behind the horrific event. The bond between the two main characters is palpable, and readers will be drawn in by the complexity of their relationship.

Dugan skillfully weaves together a story that is both emotionally charged and suspenseful. As the plot progresses, the tension builds, and the mystery deepens. The pacing is excellent, with just the right balance of action and introspection, and the narrative keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

The characters in this book are well-developed and multi-dimensional, and the author does an excellent job of exploring the psychological effects of trauma on the survivors. The relationship between Sloan and Cherry is particularly compelling, as they struggle to navigate the aftermath of the massacre and the unsettling realization that they may not know everything about each other.

Overall, this is a compelling and thought-provoking read that explores themes of trauma, memory, and identity. Dugan's writing is engaging and evocative, and the plot is both twisty and satisfying. This book is highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers and YA fiction.

I adored the story, the world building was amazing. I love meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it. The writing was also really nice. I couldn't put the book down and I can't wait for others to read and enjoy this story as well.

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for providing me with an eArc! I enjoyed the memory loss and Sloan's dire need for recovery. Cherry was ok, I liked that at one point that Sloan was worried they only bonded because of trauma, I liked that it didn't just die down. While I understand her attachment to Cherry as well as her attitude towards the people in her life from the "before" there were times when their relationship seemed a bit unhealthy and fragile. Cherry seemed manipulative at certain moments to me, I feel like the author left out some very important details like Sloan's birth parents. Instead of Sloan herself finding this out, the audience and her are told which I felt took away some of the impact of certain discoveries(at least to me).

I love Jennifer Dugan’s books so I was really excited to read her first YA thriller.

This book had a lot of elements I love! Summer camp setting, slasher vibes, cults.

I felt like this book was a little all over the place for me. The whole plot and the characters were just too disjointed. I didn’t love the ending 😅

This is a love letter to the 80s slasher genre I never knew I needed! Scream meets Friday the 13th, I was obsessed with the twists and turns, and I can't believe how many times I kept going back and forth about who was involved. It completely caught me off guard, which never happens, and it is seriously the perfect book for summer. It's everything I love in a book, complete with a summer camp setting and all the gory scenes you could want as a horror fan! Don't skip this.