It was a good enough concept that kept me interested but certain things were a little too plot convenient. LIKE WHY THE FUCK DID DEARIE WALK AWAY FROM SOMEONE WHO COULD HAVE DIED JUST TO MAYBE GO FIND SOME CELL SIGNAL. WHY DIDNT HE USE THE PHONE TO RECORD A VIDEO OR SOMETHING. IT WAS TOO MUCH TRYING TO SET UP A TWIST IN THE END
All the characters felt like their sexualities were both stereotypes and also making fun of said stereotypes? They just all felt very one sided to me, but again the concept was interesting enough where at least I could hold out until I got to more of Cole's POV. Dearie absolutely drove me insane with some of his decision making. But the epilogue still got to me and hearing it tie into the author's acknowledgements was very sweet

I really enjoyed this take on a horror/slasher high school story, with a heavy focus on queer friendship and community. It's a quick read, with good pacing and interesting characters.

Your Lonely Nights are Over was a book that surprised me! I loved the friendship between the main characters and how they uplifted each other but at the same time weren’t afraid to have the hard conversations. Their friendship was complex and tender and unapologetically queer. I thought the suspense and was great and the mystery unfolded at a satisfying pace. The more the narrative approached its climax the more tense I felt. The build up was quite good. Everyone felt like a fully realized character, which is always good.

My initial hesitation was due to one of the main characters being Latinx and the author not possessing that as part of his identity. However, as soon as it started the book gave a brief explanation as to the work that had been done to ensure the character was portrayed as best as possible. This level of care already communicated great things. I wasn’t disappointed in the least about the portrayal. Thy being said I myself am not the ethnicity being represented in the book, so there could be things I missed.

This was a great horror about friends who will go through it all with you. If you’re looking to get into horror or like true crime-esque stories this one is for you!

During my Xennial schooldays, the YA genre was not nearly as well developed as it is today. But we did have one thing: horror books. Starting with In a Dark, Dark Room and then jumping to the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, we could not get enough from being scared. We collected books by R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike, among others.

Part of the reason I am so behind with reviews is because I started working at a middle school. There are many children who are never seen without a book, and invariably, the titles are usually either fantasy books or horror books.

That is a lot of preamble for me to tell you that kids like being scared. They can’t get enough of scary books, and this book is an homage to the horror genre. It’s clear that Sass grew up reading and watching the same things that I did.

Dearie and Cole are equally savvy kids who know what to expect from a serial killer who has reappeared decades later in THEIR town. The pacing is taut and the tension grows as the seemingly larger than life killer evades detection as more and more kids from the Queer Club are targeted. But what they don’t know is why the killer is making it seem like THEY are the ones responsible for the deaths. This places the two friend groups in the unenviable position of having to prove that they are innocent AND avoid being the next target.

I would absolutely recommend this book. I don’t like being scared nearly as much as I did when I was younger, but I still enjoyed reading this book. This is the perfect intersection of queer friendship and horror movies. I have read most of Sass’ books and they have all been insightful and unapologetic in their messaging. I am looking forward to reading more from Sass in the future.


I received a digital ARC of this book from Penguin/NetGalley.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into Your Lonely Nights Are Over, and the author's skillful storytelling and ability to create tension and suspense had me hooked from the very first page. The characters were well-developed, adding depth to the plot.

What I particularly enjoyed was the unpredictable twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was perfect, making it hard to put the book down once I started reading. Overall, I highly recommend Your Lonely Nights Are Over to anyone who loves a fun read filled with mystery and unexpected surprises. It's a must-read for fans of the genre!

Decades ago, Mr. Sandman killed the lonely in San Francisco, delivering them messages promisng them their lonely nights would be over, but after years of terror, he disappeared. Now, Dearie and Cole are seniors in high school, best friends, and outcasts from their schools Queer Club. But when texts come in reminiscent of Mr. Sandman, the club meets again, only for Mr. Sandman to seemingly strike again. Cole and Dearie need to figure out why the Queer Club is under attack, who is framing them for the murders, and who the next victim is going to be.

I loved this book. Even for YA horror, I thought it had a lot of very fun kills. The cast of characters was great, from Queer Club to all of their families, there were suspects aplenty for Cole and Dearie to investigate. Cole and Dearie were wonderful protagonists and the book balances both of their stories well. Adam Sass creates complex and messy histories and relationships for his characters that are slowly revealed. The central mystery was extremely satisfying and the book moves quickly between some nice horror set pieces. The queer representation is well done in the book, showing the variety of what representation can look like. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to read a gay slasher.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for a free copy of Your Lonely Nights are OVer in exchange for a review.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me and it’s a long stretch to compare it to Scream and Clueless. I loved the idea of it, but it fell flat. It’s campy with lots of representation so that’s fun. My biggest issue was that the book time skips over two months that would really be helpful for the reader to have experienced. We’re supposed to believe that Dearie had a deep relationship with Grover and that Grover ruined Cole’s life with accusations, but we don’t see any of it. And there’s so many other little things that didn’t add up. Additionally, there’s a whole lot of teenage sex without mention of any protection. Don’t love that.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy. All opinions are my own.

Adam Sass's "Your Lonely Nights Are Over" is a captivating and heartfelt novel that masterfully blends elements of romance, mystery, and personal growth into a story that is both uplifting and thought-provoking. With its unique premise, compelling characters, and a narrative that is as entertaining as it is meaningful, Sass delivers a novel that resonates deeply with the contemporary reader's quest for connection, understanding, and love.

From the outset, Sass weaves a tale that is rich in emotion and complexity. The novel introduces readers to characters that are immediately relatable, their struggles and desires painted with a depth that invites empathy and investment. Sass's protagonists are a testament to his ability to create multidimensional characters who reflect the diversity and challenges of modern life, making their journey not just a story to follow but an experience to be shared.

The narrative unfolds with a pace that is both engaging and deliberate, allowing readers to savor the nuances of the relationships and the unfolding mystery that drives the plot. Sass's writing shines in his ability to balance moments of light-hearted humor with profound insights into the human condition. His dialogue sparkles with authenticity, capturing the voices of his characters in a way that is both true-to-life and deeply compelling.

What sets "Your Lonely Nights Are Over" apart is Sass's exploration of themes such as loneliness, the search for belonging, and the transformative power of love. These themes are woven into the fabric of the story with a subtlety and strength that elevate the novel from mere entertainment to a powerful commentary on the importance of connection in the digital age.

Sass also deserves praise for his imaginative and thoughtful approach to the novel's mystery elements. The suspense and intrigue are skillfully crafted, driving the narrative forward while deepening the reader's engagement with the characters' personal growth and discoveries.

Visually, the settings and scenes are described with a vividness that transports the reader, further immersing them in the world Sass has created. His attention to detail and atmosphere contributes significantly to the overall impact of the story, making the settings almost characters in their own right.

4/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy for review.

In Your Lonely Nights Are Over, we flip back and forth between two POVs, those of best friends Cole and Dearie. Cole and Dearie don't get along with the rest of their school's Queer Club, so when someone starts sending threatening texts to the rest of the Queer Club, Cole and Dearie are the most obvious suspects. Unfortunately, the threat might be real, as one student ends up dead after receiving texts from a serial killer that last showed up decades before.
I'm already a fan of YA horror, but this book was particularly delightful. The friendships (and enemyships) are well drawn out, and the plot is tight and fun to follow. It all moves so quickly that I didn't even realize it was over 400 pages long. One of my favorite things about this book is the relationship between Cole and Dearie. We don't often see representations of the kind of friendship that these two have, and it's so realistic and messy.

This book was absolutely everything and I adored the characters, plot, tropes, and entire vibe of this novel.

Queer YA horror? Sign me up! Your Lonely NIghts are Over is a “fun” murder mystery that is entertaining while maintaining depth. The docuseries portions added layers to the story. Both POV were perfection and while I figured out the murder before the end, it was a thrilling ride.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

2/5

so I really do enjoy horror and a good mystery, but this story just felt really cringe at times. it felt like the writing was just trying really hard to be modern and ended up feeling really forced. the characters were also just really unlikable and it made me not feel invested in the storyline and friendships. the mystery was fun but something about this one was just not for me.

Absolutely loved this book from Adam Sass--so much so I dived right into his backlist. This is a fun YA Horror with a lot of tension and laughs. I love how solid the friendship between the two main characters is, even when things are going horribly wrong. (I'm struggling not to leave any spoilers here but it's hard because I just wanna talk about these characters!)
If you are a fan of teen horror movies, absolutely give this book a shot. If you are a person who produces teen horror movies and you're just reading reviews of books desperate to find your next big hit. also give this one a shot. PLEASE.

Your Lonely Nights Are Over was a well-paced slasher for teens. I liked the subject matter and believed the killer. The motivation is very clear. I guessed part of the reveal but not the whole thing. I liked both leads, and felt it was a nice spin on final girls.

I felt as if Sass walked in with many things he wanted to accomplish and strongly believe he did just that, for the most part.

I felt like the weapon could've been a little different even if I understood the metaphor for it.

A solid 4.5 stars.

I could not hang with this YA LGBTQ+ "thriller". There were too many characters in this, and it was not for me. I am a sucker for an LGBTQ+ story, but this one did not do it for me. I get the references to Scream, and that part was fun, but honestly this book just missed the mark for me. And I know I seem to be in the minority by saying that, but that's the honest truth.

"Scream meets Clueless" in Adam Sass's thrilling YA horror, where Dearie and Cole, inseparable and unfairly blamed for everything, find themselves in a sinister game as a serial killer targets their school's Queer Club. As they face suspicion and danger, their friendship is put to the test. The story unfolds through dual perspectives, giving us deep insights into their complex relationship and their differing views on the terrifying events. The suspense and paranoia keep you on edge, with unexpected twists that make you question everything. The characters, especially Dearie and Cole, are beautifully developed, and the intricate plot keeps you hooked. This unique blend of horror and friendship is a must-read that'll leave you craving more from Adam Sass.

I loved Surrender Your Sons, and so when I saw Adam was doing another horror - I didn't even check the synopsis, just requested it then and there.

This YA slasher kept me gripped all the way through. Overall a very spooky (with bits of tenderness and romance sprinkled in) time.

Theme: It took me a while to start reading this book but once I started, it was hard to put down. I was immersed in the story that whole time to the point that it was hard to read when I was working evening shifts on my own and having to walk home. I love a book that can put that amount of paranoia in you while also being intriguing so you have to solve the mystery.

I had started being suspicious of certain characters but thought it was too obvious for the author to have gone that route which is what made reading this story so much fun. I didn't find anything that happened to be predictable at all. It got to the point where I was even questioning if our protagonist might be behind the whole thing or one of their family members.

Characters: In this story you are introduced to several characters through their interactions with our main characters. There's the main characters, Dearie and Cole, several members of their Queer club, their parents/guardians, and then our main villian, Mr. Sandman.

I really enjoyed getting to know each of the characters, especially Dearie and Cole. I like how we slowly get to know more about them through their interactions with each other. I also like how complex the relationship with Dearie and Cole is and how this is only complicated more as they begin dating people seriously. I thought it was great to see those two remain best friends and that friendship never turned into anything more.

Writing Style: This book is told through dual point of views, going back and forth from Dearie and Cole's perspectives. I really liked that we got to see both of their perspectives especially towards the end of the book when the action picked up. I liked that we got to see how both of the main characters viewed others in their lives and how they each came to the conclusion about Mr. Sandman differently. I liked that we got to see how their lives were affected by this event drastically differently.

Something else that I liked about the way that this story was told was how we got to see the frustration that Cole had with others. I liked how seeing things through his perspective meant that you got to see his anger when he was accused but also how hurt he was by Dearie's actions.