When a book is described as Scream meets Clueless, the expectations for it are VERY high. Luckily for me, overall, those expectations were met. I thought this book was an absolute blast. The suspense, the humor, the friendship, the queer representation, the twist, all very on point. I liked getting both Cole and Dearie’s POVs, especially with how different they were. Their friendship definitely had notes of a queer Cher and Dionne from Clueless and I loved it. I liked the exploration of the queer community and the bullying/abuse that can take place inside of it. Also, the theme of being single not equating loneliness was really well done. The big twist at the end, I legitimately didn’t see coming and I thought it was wild in the best way. I highly recommend this one for fans of YA mysteries with great queer representation and a really fantastic friendship.
TW: Murder, emotional abuse, homophobia, bullying


Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Your Lonely Nights Are Over is the perfect queer slasher. It was full of humor, queer joy, love, and friendship/community. It was also filled with loneliness, loss, emotional abuse/manipulation, and bullying. These were seamlessly blended together that it made the book hit harder than most.

Dearie and Cole deserve the world. They went through so much in this book that I just want to hug them. I won’t speak on the characters much due to this being a slasher. This group of characters might possibly be one of my favorites. Each character is well developed and add so much depth and humor to this book.

Now, on the topic of loneliness. While this book talks about all types of loneliness, I’m gonna focus on the loneliness queer people often feel. Queer loneliness is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Especially the loneliness that closeted queer people face. There is this preconceived idea, that most queer people are often raised with or told, that we are meant to be alone or don’t fit in anywhere. This book explores how coming together as a community can be enlightening and create a sense of belonging. It also explores *why* people are considered to be lonely. I think this book will resonate with a lot of people just with this topic alone.

I highly recommend this book. I couldn’t have enjoyed this more. Your Lonely Nights Are Over deserves all the stars. Don’t be a Flop, read this book! (Check CWs first!!) Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

*disclaimer: I was gifted an advanced readers copy of this book by netgalley and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
The tagline about this having scream vibes is SO spot on. Scream is my favorite franchise so I had to pick this up. Couple that with it being a queer YA book and it was fate that I would find it. I am most definitely buying a physical copy of this book (9/12/23 release date). This book is so good.
I wanted to touch on the recurring theme of queer loneliness real quick because it is so true. I didn't have a queer club in high school, and think that would have made a big difference about my self esteem and identity. It is lonely being queer, especially when you don't have community. Cole and Dearie are in the queer club, but for most of the book their only community is really each other. They got along with the others in the club (at least on a surface level) but at the end of the day they can only trust each other. So when they're faced with dark truths--about themselves and about the people around them--they go to each other for comfort. And their friendship remains stronger than ever, even when they don't know who in the queer club will be found with a razorblade necklace next.

I knew that I would love this… I didn’t realize the intensity in which I would love it!

Sass explains in the beginning, before the book starts, that in this story, he depicts the vast differences one of the main characters is treated than the other. I find the awareness of that in books, in life, is realistic and powerful in its injustice! Keep reminding people of it! Keep throwing that disgustingness in people’s faces and maybe it’s step for a change to be made!

Cole and Dearie are besties, twin souls, sassy queers with the kind of friendship everyone should envy. When The Sandman, a killer in a grim mask, resurfaces years after their reign of terror, targeting the queer club, Cole and Dearie are implicated. They have to race against time to save not only their friends, but themselves…

This book was wild! The way in which this person kills, TERRIFYING! And people are dropping like flies. Dearie, white, and the son of the police detective on the case isn’t treated the same way as Cole, with his brown skin… and this book is very aware of it. He has to work harder, be better… but it doesn’t matter how smart he is, how good he is. He was implicated and it’s enough to put a dark spot on his innocence.

My favorite thing about Your Lonely Nights Are Over, Cole and Dearie!!!! Their bond is unique. They love each other fiercely! They each always have a quip to toss out in any situation. And no matter the amount of death they see, they maintain their hilarious horny queer thirst… it never abated and I loved it!!

This was super fun and cute to read. It is a fair comparison to Scream. It had the same tropes as Scream but it didn’t feel like it was copying or it wasn’t original.

I want to give it five stars BUT this book was a little too horny for me and I almost stopped reading at the beginning because it wasn’t what I was looking for.

I am glad I stuck with it but it could be a turn off for other readers.

Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass is my favourite read of this summer! Now, I know you’ll have to wait until September 12, but it will be worth it.

If I had to describe this book, I would say it’s a lot of Scream with a dash of Heathers. If you’re not old enough to remember those movies... then this book is for you! If you are old enough – you'll love it.

If you’re lonely... you may be murdered by the Sandman. What is more terrifying than being dumped, being told you are not “the one” that someone wants in their life... being single or dumped when there is a serial killer who is preying on lonely queer people!

At its core, this book is a murder mystery/slasher story...but there is a lot going on beneath the surface. The story is told from two points of view; that of Frankie Dearie and Cole Cardoso. First, I cannot say enough about these two characters. Thank you, Adam Sass. It’s about time I got to read two queer characters that are this individual, realistic and have substance. And they can love one another and be friends and it isn’t a romance. And I am in love with their best-friending. I have been needing mold-breaking characters like these for a while.

Now, even though this is a serial killer mystery. The most important theme is loneliness, queer loneliness in particular. This is important. Queer folks can be lonely in a unique way... and this book explores many of the ways people can be lonely. I loved this. Adam approached this subject in a caring and intelligent way. There’s no feeling sorry for folks, but boy do some of the situations in this book hit home. These characters are truly individuals, and I loved the way they were so different from one another.

The dialogue is witty, natural, quirky, and clever but none of that surprised me. I’ve read all of Adam Sass’ books and dialogue is one of their superpowers.

A terrific book made from a recipe that absolutely has 90s films mixed in with 2023 spices! Sprinkle some non-stop action on top and you’ve got a book you’ll be up late reading!

E-ARC generously provided by Penguin Young Readers Group via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

4.5 stars rounded up. Starring a gaggle of semi-unlikable gays whom I loved, Your Lonely Nights Are Over is half campy slasher film and half serious examination of the horrors of queer loneliness.

The comparison to scream meets clueless pulled me in, and yet it was so many more I could feel within the pages. Much more gruesome than my normal reads, and if this were written in a contemporary style I think a serial killer targeting members of the LGBTQ community would not be accepted so warmly but it works. It's interesting, original, feels like you are watching a movie, and it kept me interested

Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass was a SCREAM ! It was a gay best friend scary good time. Thanks to Adam Sass, Viking Group for Young Readers /Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC. 4.5 stars rounded up. Minus half star for the Flops. So sad to demoralize the normies when you could have propped up the besties!

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the ARC!

4 Stars!

It's like you put classic 90s horror and comedy together, add in some LGBTQ+, and that's exactly what this is! As someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ and horror communities, I really enjoyed this one. The characters were entertaining and the entire book had TONS for you to be on the edge of your seat with its fast paced action scenes. Overall this will be a perfect and palate-cleansing fall read to get you in the mood for my favorite ghostly Halloween season.

I've never seen Clueless, but I am a huge fan of the Scream franchise. When I saw the comparisons, I knew that I had to get my hands on Your Lonely Nights are Over. It mostly didn't disappoint, and it definitely gives off Scream vibes without being a rip-off.

Following Cole and Dearie through this YA slasher novel was a fun ride with a few twists and turns. I don't read mysteries or thrillers with an intent on trying to solve anything before the book does. With that being said, my enjoyment of a book usually plummets when the solution is obvious enough for me to guess early on. Sadly, I saw the outcome from a mile away (it was rather obvious, in my opinion). Thankfully there were some other mysteries going on that weren't so straightforward, so I still found quite a lot of enjoyment during my time in Stoney Grove.

Our two POV characters were campy and provided ample laughs through their internal and external dialogues. Neither is by any means perfect (who is), but both readers and the book's denizens warm up to them. In the first third of the book I had difficulty remembering which POV we were following (both characters use first-person); the characters are very similar in a lot of ways. As the chapters progressed I felt each character come into themselves a little more, and it helped that they were more often in different locations. Cole's obsession with the word "flop", however, was grating.

The other characters were largely forgettable, but they were a good time while we had them. In many ways we don't get to know most of the other characters apart from their physical description. Both Cole and Dearie constantly use hair, clothing, and body size as major descriptors for the other Queer Club members, including themselves, and there are very few non-Sandman related conversations with the other members.

I think this would be a great read for the upcoming fall/Halloween season, despite being set in the spring. I found it easy to root for Cole and Dearie and was touched by their arcs. Your Lonely Nights are Over touches on societal issues - such as racism, queerphobia, and police brutality - that I feel incredibly under qualified to discuss. Adam Sass handled these issues in a way that makes me feel they have firsthand experience with many of the same things the characters undergo. I recommend reading the introduction before diving in.

I had high expectations, since this was comped to two of my absolute favorites: SCREAM and CLUELESS. I mean, come on. I’m SO GLAD it didn’t disappoint. This book is both funny and horrifying, extremely well crafted, and the characters were adorably likable. I was rooting for Dearie and Cole the entire time! Friendship stories are my favorite. Also, slashers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. Opinions are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This slasher novel is a dual POV. It follows queer teen besties, Cole and Dearie, who find themselves investigating the resurfacing of a serial killer. A serial killer who seems to be targeting their school’s Queer Club.

Intriguing from the start, this book was suspenseful, funny, and also quite deep. I really enjoyed the bond between Dearie and Cole. It was their own, and it didn’t matter that others didn’t get their relationship because all that mattered was that they themselves did.

Many of the characters we meet in the book were messy and you know, that was part of their charm. Cole was my favorite. He was so unapologetically himself and I loved that. Also, I feel like the author did a decent job at giving them all a reason for the reader to remain suspicious of them.

The dialogue did seem cringey at times, but it went well with the campy teenage drama feel that the book was going for. Though, I am gonna need a small break from the word flop after reading this.

Anyways, this book did a great job in keeping me engaged and I would definitely recommend.

CW/TW: vomit, blood, gore, anxiety, trauma, grief, physical violence, gun violence, stalking, injury, murder, attempted murder, toxic relationship, emotional abuse, gaslighting, bullying, outing, racial profiling, queerphobia, and some mild sexual content

When people say that this book is “Scream meets Clueless” it’s exactly that, but queerer. It’s equal parts hilarious, terrifying, and heartfelt.

Your Lonely Nights are Over follows two gay besties as their school’s queer club is threatened and picked off by a serial killer. Told in dual POV, Dearie and Cole have to try and prove their innocence in these murders as the evidence starts pointing towards them and their friendship is put to the test.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I’ve read it twice. Adam Sass is able to craft a story that not only keeps readers guessing, but offers up a nuanced perspective on the effects of trauma. There are lines in here I still think about on a daily basis. The plot is well-paced and each chapter leads into the next one so flawlessly that you can’t help but feel compelled to keep going. It is a perfectly executed horror book.

More than anything, I fell in love with the characters in this book. Dearie and Cole are tried and true best friends, connecting in ways that those around them don’t understand. They look out for each other and love each other as only the truest of best friends can. They’re open about who they are both as a pair, and individually, something that rubs everyone the wrong way since neither of them shies away from sex. This leads to a really interesting and necessary portrayal of not only queer friendships, but queer relationships as a whole. I found Cole and Dearie to be messy, realistic, and just so well-developed. Sass is a master of voice, knowing exactly how each of these boys speaks, their mannerisms, and the reader is left feeling as if they’ve known Dearie and Cole for longer than the 416 pages of this book.

During the third act when everything starts coming together, I looked at my watch to see what my heart rate was since my heart felt like it was about to beat out of my body. It was at 112bpm, and let me tell you. It didn’t go back to normal until after I had finished at one in the morning. That’s how invested I was in this story, these characters, and trying to figure out how it was all going to come together.

I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading this book, of noticing new things in each of the details. In fact, I might start it again right now.

5 stars!

Scream meets clueless but make it gay and that is essentially Your Lonely Nights are Over! This was a fun queer YA horror novel. The characters were fun and some good action scenes. Pacing sometimes was a little slow and the serial killer story line/motivation were confusing at times and I found myself saying this does not make sense. Overall this will be a great fun fall read to get you in the mood for spooky season.

What a wild ride this book was! And I loved every single second! Adam took everything I love about slashers and made it so unapologetically queer and I was living for it! It takes you on a wild ride with MANY twist and turns that keep you guessing what’s gonna happen next.
This book also did a great job of looking at racism and showing how quick cops are to point their fingers at anyone who isn’t white. It also does a beautiful job showing the harm and trauma manipulative relationships can give you.
My favorite part of this book though was the relationship between Dearie and Cole! They have such a beautiful intimate platonic friendship that just worked so perfectly for me! It also really helped at hurting me more anytime Dearie defended the characters being cruel, racist and committing micro aggressions against Cole.
Last thing I want to say is I love Benny! I would die for Benny!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

This book was really good, but not for me. I liked the plot and characters, but I wasn't super into it. If the description sounds interesting to you, I'd say go for it! I'm just not really the target audience.

This book grabbed me at Scream meets Clueless. The cover is beautiful. This is the perfect spooky read.

I loved this book. While some of the dialogue is cringey, it worked with the campy high school drama vibe. I love a good Scream-esque horror comedy, and this absolutely delivered.

Like any good slasher, the author does a great job at giving every character plausible motive. While I did end up guessing the killer, I enjoyed all the twists and turns so much that I didn’t care. The pace is quick, starting off with a kill at the beginning of the novel and keeping the tension going until the very end.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was the way it depicted queer loneliness and how everyone deals with it differently. One of the most isolating experiences is being a queer teenager and, having lived through it, I could see myself in a lot of these characters. The cast is very “Breakfast Club” but, while leaning into some of the tropes, none of the characters felt two-dimensional. I cared about the majority of them, and that’s not something you often find in slasher media.

Another thing I loved about this book was the friendship between Cole and Dearie. They are two very different people, but they are fiercely loyal to each other. They are always there for each other, no matter what. I loved seeing their friendship develop throughout the book, and I was rooting for them to the very end.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's a fun and suspenseful read. I would highly recommend it to fans of slasher films and queer YA fiction.

Queer, campy slasher with a good dose of social commentary. I loved the suspense of figuring out who the killer was and was surprised at the reveal. There is a great group of characters (the Queer Club kids) that is diverse and fun. I love the exploration of queer friendship and queer community.

Some important topics are covered in this book that make it so much better than just a thriller. From racism to emotional abuse/manipulation to slut shaming, this book was brimming with important conversations and reflections.

My few issues with the book are that sometimes the "flop" comments were a little too much and also that it took me about a third of the book to really feel the tension and suspense. Otherwise I loved this book, it's going up towards the top of my favourites list this year.