This isn’t my favorite genre, but I feel like I’m growing to appreciate it more through books like YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT and ONE OF US IS NEXT.

I liked that SECRETS NEVER DIE starts with a close-knit friend group in which everyone hides a secret. I definitely didn’t predict the direction that some of those secrets took the story. There were a few things that I did successfully predict. They were pretty minor, though, so mostly, that made it satisfying that I was right.

One particular plot bend shifted the focus of the story away from the main characters. I found some of the things that happened at that juncture to be a little less engaging. By that point, though, the stakes of the story were so high, and it seemed like whoever had it out for Sam and his friends was closing in on them.

In one scene, Sam and his girlfriend need to make up after a fight. She sits at her desk reading her favorite book, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER. Sam wants to talk to her, but he says she makes him wait until she gets to the end of the chapter she’s reading. I thought that was funny because PERKS only has four chapters in the whole book, and they’re like 40-60 pages. That’s a LONG wait unless she happened to be near the end of one already.

On the whole, I think the book does a great job in the way the story builds tension. I liked the characters, and I kept finding reasons to sneak another chapter in so I could keep reading.

I think readers who enjoy suspense/thriller stories will want to check this one out.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

When you're alone in the dark, some things won't stay hidden...

I absolutely loved this YA mystery/thriller! It’s got all my crucial elements…a high creepiness factor, a remote woods location, and everyone keeping secrets! Vincent Ralph had me guessing all the way through. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, he threw me a curveball, and I was sent off down another path. Secrets Never Die is not only perfect spooky season reading, but it's perfect anytime reading! Thanks for the opportunity to review!

This book was an interesting read, while I wouldn't have ever predicted the ending, the characters felt a little lackluster. All in all, this was a great read, and I will recommend this to all my friends!

I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this book!
While the book is touted for fans of Courtney Summers (who I adore) so I jumped at the chance to request it. It was hard to go into this book with no expectations because I wound up enjoying it a lot more then I would have if I went in with high expectations.
First, I was so grateful for the fast chapters. It kept the book moving. I don't understand why I like shorter chapters, maybe because I feel like I'm reading it faster.

I truly loved the twist, and a majority of the characters. My only issue with the book was Sam and Elisha's relationship. I didn't buy for a minute that they were a couple. That whole relationship story line was really not needed in the book.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the arc!

If you’re looking for the perfect creepy book go get you in the mood for spooky season… THIS IS IT!

This book honestly exceeded my expectations. The writing was haunting in the best way possible, the thrills were thrilling, and the chill factor was top tier👌🏼.

This was a pretty typical YA horror story. It was action packed and fast paced. The twists were a little convoluted but I did like the ultimate reveal. I liked that we didn't get a blow by blow of the school day and that there wasn't a ton of teen lingo to make the chatting bog down with slang. I also loved that it had a band of friends and their deep, dark secrets. Even though I thought some of the secrets were a bit silly to really be all that worried about, I loved that this was a layered story and you do get the laid out confession at the end, along with the reveal. It's a good little horror story, an easy & quick read.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This book started strong and continued to grow in suspense. The characters were well developed. This wasn’t exactly in my normal realm of reads but it was good.

I cannot believe that that was the ending we were left with. The suspense throughout the novel and how it continued to build was so good. One reason I always love Vincent Ralph’s novel is because of how short the chapters are which makes it easier to get into due to the fast pace. There’s no boring parts used to fill up space or add to a flow, we just cut from one scene to the next (and it’s done in a great way). The premise of this book didn’t have me as excited as his other books but grabbed my attention very quickly. I loved how it made me question everyone (even though I did not guess the villain). I grew to really like the characters and the idea of their secrets coming to life. The fear really started to build as betrayals were revealed. It made me question a lot of things and made me consider if we really know anyone at all. There were some very surprising plot twists that I did not see coming at all. I haven’t read a thriller quite like this before and it was super enjoyable!

Okay, so, I didn’t like this book as much as I liked Ralph’s prior offering, Lock the Doors, but I did enjoy it. I just enjoyed it on a different level. I found myself enjoying it like one enjoys a slasher flick or a fun horror film that you watch for kicks (yes, I’m one of those people who adores horror films and doesn’t get scared): You just lay back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Suspend your disbelief, beware the red herrings, and be aware this book can be extremely derivative at times. Because it is. I’ve seen more than one review comparing this book to one of my favorite horror films, “Scream”, and while that’s not totally on the mark it’s not totally wrong either.

Things I loved:

1. How each main character has trauma. They may almost all be in high school, but if any parent thinks their teenager hasn’t dealt with some sort of trauma by the time they get to their senior year of high school then they haven’t been paying close enough attention.

2. Flawed parents. I can’t count how many YA books I’ve read where there has to be one set of parents who are perfect. None of the parents in this book are perfect. If any kid gets to be 18 and thinks their parents are perfect, well, see above: you haven’t been paying enough attention.

3. The ending. I can’t spoil it, but I liked it.

4. Our main protagonist, Sam Hall, and his dynamic with his little sister, Molly. If only all big brothers loved their little sisters that much the world would be a better place.

5. The friendship between Sam and Haran. Their friendship is GOALS.

Things I didn’t love:

1. How many loose ends were left. Spoilers there be, so I’ll leave that there.

2. There were just too many twists, turns, and convolutions. The writing could’ve been tighter.

3. Did it really have to be so derivative? Or could Ralph have gone a little darker or deeper instead?

4. The book as a whole felt rushed because there was so much stuff packed into it. It felt a little green, like it could’ve used another editing round or two.

5. As much as I loved the teen horror-flick feel, I would’ve loved to have seen this topic taken on as a more deeper, darker, tone.

All that being said, Vincent Ralph is an incredibly talented and entertaining writer. It’s a fun book to read, even if it’s not something that’ll keep you guessing or have you quaking in your fuzzy socks. It’s a great bit of fun.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Coming of Age/YA Fiction/YA Mystery/YA Suspense/YA Thriller

Each year Sam and his friends visit the Dark Place, an abandoned hut in the woods, to confess their secrets and then leave them behind. It’s helped them to unburden themselves of deeply held secrets, but this year is different. Someone has been listening to their secrets, someone who wants revenge.

This is a well paced YA Mystery Thriller. We follow this group of friends as they are stalked and blackmailed for the secrets they revealed in the Dark Place. With several twists along the way, I suspected just about everyone at one point. While I didn’t love every twist along the way, I did love how the book leaned into the importance of true friendships.

This is a perfect spooky season book for YA readers; and adults who are looking for a fun read with a little bit of spooky sprinkled in.

⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)

Thank you to @netgalley @macmillam.audio @wednesdaybooks and @stmartinspress for the gifted copy of this book.

Personally, I had a hard time getting into this one. I liked the concept, but the writing style wasn't for me - I felt like the way the characters talk didn't feel like the typical experiences I have with most of the teenagers in my classroom all day. That being said, I found the story concept very unique (kind of a mix of thriller and supernatural?) and I will be recommending it to my students to read!

An atmospheric, fast moving thriller.

The story is about a group of kids that go into a cabin in a forest to shed their secrets. But after this last time, someone starts to follow them and threaten them to expose their secrets that they thought were safe in this cabin.

At first it felt like it might be a paranormal/horror thriller. There's a feeling of impending doom. That these secrets are going to implode their worlds. And that something evil and paranormal came out in those woods. I loved the atmosphere.

However, towards the end.. It kind of fell flat. Yes, I liked the reveal of the secret person. But no, I did not like the secrets. It was one of those moments where having a conversation could have solved a lot of heartache and anxiety for these kids. From that perspective - the lesson is, please talk to those you think you hurt. Sometimes our secrets are bigger in our head and heart, than they would be in real life.

I liked how fast this moved. It was an easy and a fun read.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

This was quick-paced and has a fun ensemble. I liked the idea of the story more than the execution, but will still recommend it to readers looking for a thrill.

While I didn’t totally connect with the main character, the story still got my attention and kept me fully engaged from start to finish. Former child star, Sam Hall, and a small number of his friends have an odd Halloween ritual. They come together at an old hut in the woods every Halloween. They’ve named it the Dark Place and they take turns going inside, holding private ‘funerals’ where they burying their secrets and fears. This year is things are a little different. They get interrupted, but they don’t know by who. And then they all start to receive bizarre text messages from someone called Sasha Craven, a person who supposed doesn’t exist, that was made up as a way for one of them to get out of a relationship. That might sound odd, and perhaps I’m not explaining it well, but it’ll totally make sense when you read it in the book. But why is everyone receiving these messages? Who knows their secrets? And what do they intend to do with them? This is a quick read with short chapters, the kind that make you say I’ll just read one more again and again until you suddenly realize that one more chapter you intended to read has now become ten more chapters. The pacing is good, the story intriguing and twisting. Like I said the only real issue I had was not totally connecting with Sam, but maybe that’s just me. Totally worth the time. I’d like to thank St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Secrets Never Die.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1MSCJFOXEZJ3T/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I enjoyed the creepy moments and the twists in this book were lots of fun. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy thrillers and mysteries. Special Thank You to Vincent Ralph, St.Martin's Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an arc copy!

Secrets Never Die follows our heroine Sam and his group of friends as they complete their yearly ritual on Halloween at the Dark Place. There, they whisper their secrets into the dark of the woods, and leave feeling a bit light.

But this year, something sinister comes of their routine. Sasha Craven emerges, threatening and increasingly more violent as she stalks the group. It’s up to Sam to figure out what exactly is going, before his big secret goes up in flames much like his childhood acting career.

This book was a fun, easy read! The characters were a bit two dimensional, but it worked well enough with the story that it didn’t drag it down too much. The plot was fast and easy to follow. A bit convoluted at times, maybe, but all in all, entertaining. I loved the emotion and the rawness the author captured in his characters.

This story is both chilling and thrilling like a cross between a horror movie and a crime mystery. It is extremely compelling and hooks you in immediately and doesn't let go. The characters are interesting and the story is unique and satisfyingly unpredictable. It is quite an exciting ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

This listen was a wild ride. I picked this one up because I saw a lot of people hyping it up, and the cover is really cool. I went into this one blind, and I am glad I did. This book was a lot darker than I thought it was going to be, I thought it was going to be a YA thriller type, but it was a lot darker and it had so many scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. I listened to this book in 2 days because I was so hooked on finding out who was behind the blackmail and messages to this group of friends. There was a lot of sub plot in the beginning, and it was very interesting how it all came together at the end. I enjoyed the twists and turns, I did suspect a few things that were revealed at the very end, but the major person and mystery was a shock to me. A fun read and great for thriller lovers! Highly recommend if you're looking for a new fast paced thriller!

This is a great read for those who love the likes of One of Us Is Lying and Pretty Little Liars. Everyone has secrets and wishes they feel guilty about. In Secrets Never Die, a group of friends share their secrets in The Dark Place once a year. This year, someone else has heard their secrets and threatens to reveal them all.

Most of the book itself is pretty easy to guess. It's not hard to figure out what the secrets are, although I wish it was written in the third person and we saw other characters' POVs instead of just the main character, Sam. The twist at the end of who is after the group was one I didn't see coming, and I enjoyed how it all played out.

Fair YA mystery, didn't like the ending.

Every Halloween, Sam Hall and his friends visit this cabin in the woods they call "The Dark Place" where they go inside one by one and confess their deepest, darkest secrets, hoping to assuage their guilt for one more year. This year, someone else is there, and that someone is blackmailing them with their secrets.

The way the story is told is exciting and intriguing, but in the end there are two issues with this book:
First, the secrets are not really that deep and dark. Some of them could have been eliminated with an honest conversation.
Second, the ending was blah. I liked how the story worked out, the reveal of the person behind the blackmail...then we go OTTM (One Twist Too Many) and throw in some random extra thing that made NO SENSE.

I listened to the audiobook of this one and the narrator does a great job at keeping the tension mounting throughout. I did speed up the narration, but overall I didn't get bored, I kept listening to find out what would happen.

Despite its ups and downs, this book will appeal to the YA audience and fans of Vincent Ralph's mysteries.