This book was one heck of a good time! It’s described as Clueless meets Scream, and I cannot think of a more accurate label. I was hooked from the first page, and it gave me all the YA slasher vibes that I have been looking for. I loved the friendship between Cole and Dearie, not to mention the found family dynamic that was created throughout the story with the Queer Club. The story was tense and suspenseful, and I felt like there were legitimate stakes that added to the intensity of the book, something that sometimes I find lacking in YA novels. While I was able to guess the twist, that did not take away from my enjoyment of the story, rather I found myself more invested, trying to determine whether my prediction was correct. If you are a fan of classic slasher films, then this is the book for you!

This was so well-written, please 😭 it was a perfect balance of bone-chillingly terrifying and intriguing, and it kept me hooked to it from start to end. I mean, I had to make myself stop reading at 1am coz I was super terrified, but apart from that, I didn't put it down at all 😂

This book follows a resurfaced serial killer, who is back to his old MO <i>but</i> this time around, he's mostly targeting queer people, especially queer students who'w formed a community for themselves at one small town's high school. And the primary suspects? Two queer teens from this school who don't exactly get along with this club. And the plot worstens, because one of them is white and one is brown, and racism also plays a role in their respective interrogations etc.

Initially, I had assumed that the focus of this book would be the solving of the murders and subsequent finding of the serial killer? While the book did have this, there was also an equal component of the serial killer playing his game of threatening and targeting the community, and it definitely bone-chilling. I have to mention again here how well-written this book was, I literally felt like I was in the plot 😭

This book also had emotional plotlines of loneliness, queers in particular feeling lonely, emotional abuse/bullying, as well as themes of friendship and love in high school, and all of them were handled super delicately and well.

TWs - murder written explicitly on page with various gruesome forms, death, grief, anxiety, emotional abuse, bullying, serial killing with an MO, gun violence, racism by cops

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I have two slightly silly bones to pick with this book before I get into the actual meat of the review. First, it’s pitched as “Scream meets Clueless.” I disagree; I think it’s much more like Scream meets Heathers, with its sardonic social commentary and campy theatrics. So take that for what it’s worth, marketing team. Second, and somewhat more meaningfully: the title of the book stems from the story’s serial killer’s schtick, which is to leave a note on the bodies of his victims saying “Your lonely nights are over.” The serial killer is nicknamed Mr. Sandman, after the song “Mr. Sandman,” where the line your lonely nights are over ostensibly came from. Except…it’s not? I happened to hear the song purely by coincidence while I was partway through the book, and the line is definitely “your lonesome nights are over.” I checked every single version and cover of the song I could find, including the original from 1950-something, and in every one it was lonesome, not lonely. And I simply do not understand why, if it’s meant to be a reference to this song, the author/editors wouldn’t just change it to lonesome. Is there some kind of bizarre copyright thing here? I don’t know, but it really bugs me. Not that it makes a real difference in terms of story and writing quality, but just.Why. Okay, moving on to things that are actually meaningful. There was a lot I really liked about this book. First and foremost, I loved Cole and Dearie’s friendship. It’s very unusual to see such a close friendship between queer men in media that doesn’t eventually become a romantic relationship; I’ve read more than one YA book that seems like it’s all about queer friendship until all of a sudden a romantic relationship between the two gets shoehorned in. And that wasn’t the case at all in this book; romance in general was really on the sideline. Cole and Dearie both have romantic and sexual relationships, but they aren’t the focus of the book, which I really liked. Similarly, I appreciated the exploration of the dynamics between the different queer students involved in the book. Too often there’s an assumption that all queer people will get along or will have each other’s backs, but that really isn’t the case, especially when there are other forms of privilege at play – for instance, Cole is dealing with the effects of both racism and homophobia throughout the book, and the other queer students are often responsible for his marginalization. In general the book does an excellent job of showing the complicated relationships between different people with different experiences – who are also high schoolers dealing with all the awkwardness and struggles that come along with that. But it isn’t too heavy or beating a dead horse, either; it very much feels like a campy 80s/90s slasher, complete with creepy jump-scare-esque scenes and a big, overly dramatic final confrontation. I would absolutely love to see a film adaptation. It plays with a lot of genre tropes in really clever ways as well. Probably my one criticism and the thing that kept this book from being perfect for me was that Cole and Dearie’s voices weren’t quite distinct enough. I kept forgetting whose perspective I was reading from and who had which relationships. Just slightly stronger character voices would have made this book just about perfect. Still, would very much recommend.

This was so good and dare a say CAMP. I loved everything about this and I am glad that the horror genre can make fun of itself and still have fun

Thank you to Penguin young Reader's Group for this ARC!

Firstly, I want to talk about what I thought this book did wonderfully. I loved how this book never took itself too seriously. It had moments where I felt myself laughing out loud despite the tense nature of a slasher. I also thought the pacing was really great.

My main issues lied in the language and the overuse of slang. As a young (ish) queer person, the verbiage felt entirely over the top, which might be the point, but it took me out of the story and made it hard for me to root for the main characters at times. I also felt Grover and Dearie's relationship was incredibly rushed and not explained super well.

All in all, if you want a fun quick read with complex queer characters/relationships, this is the book for you. I am excited to see what Adam Sass does next!

Was this perfection? Yes.
This was a ride; a wonderful, queer, there-may-be-more-than-one-killer, crazy ride.
The characters? Perfection.
The story? Perfection.

There isn’t anything I would change about this story.

<I>Your Lonely Nights are Over</I> centers around two queer teenagers who become murder suspects in the final semester of their senior year. Queer people are being targeted, and everyone is a suspect. It took awhile for me to warm up to this book, but, once I fully bought into the murder mystery aspect of this novel, I started to become invested in the story. There were several times I felt very strongly I had finally figured it out, only to be spun fully in the other direction. I enjoyed the misdirection, as it kept it a mystery for me to discover alongside the characters. While the reveal felt obvious in hindsight (I was kicking myself!), I enjoyed the journey.

However, the novel tone straddles a line of being too serious and not being serious enough, given the subject matter. Leaning more in one direction or the other would have helped tie the narration and plot more tightly together. I feel like more dark comedy throughout really would have made this book shine.

Overall, I’m glad I read this book. I like a good mystery and love the emphasis on queer friendship and community. Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP and Penguin Young Readers Group for my advanced reader’s copy!

Just finished my ARC of YOUR LONELY NIGHTS ARE OVER and lemme tell y’all how much I love a slasher that keeps me both on edge and HOWLING! Cole and Dearie and their constant banter had me rolling more than a few times.

Sass manages something (IMO) few YA authors manage to do well: He writes kids that sound like kids. Teens with ACTUAL teen voices with all their insecurities, dramas, and too easily injured confidence. Cole, Dearie, and the kids of Queer Club all have their own unique (hilarious) voices. Messy, hormonal, queer kids come to slay.

Or be slayed.

3.5 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this one!

"Your Lonely Nights Are Over" has a tone problem. Is it a serious look at the differences in justice between white people and people of color? Is it an irreverent comedy with over-the-top slasher violence? Is it a tender story of platonic love between two gay men? Yes, to all of these. "Your Lonely Nights Are Over" is charming - so charming that I was able to let my confusion over its patchwork quilt approach to genre go - funny and silly and felt very authentically "teenager". When queer kids start dying in a manner similar to an unsolved serial murders fifty years before, a town is plunged into a guessing game of homophobia, racism, and terror. Dearie and Cole are both distinct voices, telling their tale every other chapter, and I enjoyed seeing how their struggles both mirrored and diverged from one another.

The issue? This book wants to be Scream - that deft combination of knowing humor and terror - and it falls short. It's just a little too jokey in some places, too somber in others. Unfortunately, the killer is extremely obvious, which ruins a lot of the tension early on (maybe the killer isn't obvious to others who haven't read a lot of horror, but in slasher rules, there's one person who's likely to be it and that is glaring from chapter one).

All that said, Sass is clearly a talented writer and has put a lot of heart into this one. I may be a little too old and a little too cynical to fully appreciate what he's done here, but I think young readers new to this genre eager for some diverse queer representation will eat this book up.

I’m so jealous of Adam Sass cause he has written the blood soaked, bitchy, gay slasher of my dreams. I would have killed to write something like this, And would have loved to have had this when I was a teen. I love how he doesn’t give us pure, good, noble gay characters. He gives us real, messy, confused, horny gays and I’m totally here for it. Dearie and Cole reminded me so much of myself in high school it’s scary. He’s crafted a serial killer slasher whodunnit that can stand next to any of the Scream films. Action packed, tense, hilarious, and sassy as hell. I loved this book! Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

YOUR LONELY NIGHTS ARE OVER by Adam Sass is a super fun slasher story about queers. The Sandman, a serial killer from the 70s, seems to be starting another killing spree, and he's targeting the queer club and other queer people in the area surrounding a high school in Arizona. Two best friends, Dearie and Cole, quickly become the main suspects. This book has some tense scenes that are so exciting to read, and the witty dialogue is hilarious. I love the characters, who feel like genuine, present-day high schoolers. Additionally, the themes explored through the story, of queer solidarity and the concept of the "right" way to be queer, are so important and relevant. While the book does require some willing suspension of disbelief, it's all in keeping with the slasher genre and makes for a fun read.

Five big, bloody, gay stars for this one.

Horror is my thing. I love it, and the thing I love most under the umbrella are slashers. I also love gay shit. I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this.

My favorite film series of all time is Scream, I rewatch them all at least once a year, and this book is a worthy entry in the "Obviously inspired by Scream" category. There are a lot of things that try to emulate the magic of Scream, and very few of them are successful. This is one of the few who have managed to actually succeed.

That's not to say that it's all Scream, all the time. There are other influences, obviously the biggest one being the title of the book which is a reference to the song that was immortalized in Halloween 2 and has been used through the years in other horror properties to varying degrees of success. And then there's the obvious influences from the great teen comedies of the 90s, Clueless most of all.

It's a concoction that sounds strange on paper, but it somehow works. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll scream, you'll cringe at blood and guts. It's all there, folks.

The actual slasher aspect was great, and the mystery was intriguing. I can't say I was surprised by any twists, because I'm a hardcore veteran of the genera, but the journey to get to them was so much fun so even if I saw it coming I still enjoyed the ride.

If you like gay shit and 90s teen horror shit please do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

As someone who recently watched all 6 Scream movies in the span of two days, I can say I'm a lover of the teen slasher genre. Seeing a queer slasher a la Scream with all the petty high school squabbles alongside attempts to escape a serial killer was absolutely spectacular. I could not put this book down. This book is a thrill ride, fun in all the best ways, and tries very hard to be honest to its characters and put them in danger without endangering the reader's mental state at the same time. I HIGHLY recommend this. It was also really nice to see a queer friendship where there was a lot of physical affection but no relationship– it felt really accurate to queer friendships in a way I don't see represented and validated often enough.

Impossible to put down, gripping from start to finish. With a slasher that's both fascinating and terrifying, Mr. Sandman has the potential to be as memorable as the Ghostfaces and Michael Myers before him. If you've been looking for a queer Scream, this book's for you.

This book encapsulates everything I love in a good movie. It’s got this really riveting cast of characters who all simultaneously feel real and straight out a comic book, and there’s nothing I love more than a fun murder horror. The novel was fast-paced and overall a really fun read, like I could see someone reading this with their friends and arguing over who they think the killer is, so all in all, the vibes were immaculate.
The only reason this book doesn’t rate that high on my scale is because I feel like it starts a lot of deeper conversations that it never really addresses or explores, the whole concept of loneliness felt underdeveloped to me even though it plays such a prominent role in the book. For me, you either avoid those sort of discussions and make your novel fun or you explore them in a more nuanced way. I still genuinely enjoyed reading this book and I love how we’re finally seeing an era of books where queer characters are also allowed to be real and flawed characters outside of the typical mainstream narrative. So here are my final thoughts: somebody make this a movie ASAP.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Teen for the e-arc!

My first of Adam Sass' books and it certainly didn't disappoint! I find myself weary of thriller/mystery books for the most part, as I can usually guess the twist chapters beforehand, but this one took me completely by surprise at the end.

The friendship between Dearie and Cole was nice to see on top of everything, the closeness and affection between the two of them was a good change of pace from the otherwise suspenseful aura of the book. Seeing the way Cole was portrayed as well, and the stigmas that were pushed onto his character by the Flops, it was very realistic to how things play out even nowadays. I could also find myself, especially as a teenager, relating to Dearie, with the need to please everyone and anyone around even at jeopardy to yourself.

I can't wait to dive into another of Adam's books soon!

I thoroughly enjoyed Your Lonely Nights Are Over—it exceeded all my expectations! The story revolves around a chilling serial killer named Mr. Sandman, who haunted the lives of single and lonely individuals in San Diego during the 70s. Suddenly, the terror came to an end, but now a true crime show has been released, capturing the attention of everyone except Dearie. Unimpressed by the hype, Dearie remains disengaged.

However, things take a dangerous turn when someone starts sending threatening texts to two members of the Queer Club, and suspicions arise that Dearie and his best friend Cole are involved. Grover, an influential figure, contributes to the unfolding drama, and when he falls victim to an attack and another person ends up dead, accusations escalate. Despite being fueled by jealousy and manipulated by Grover's racism, the doubters point fingers at Cole. Determined to clear their names and uncover the truth, Dearie and Cole embark on a relentless pursuit. As more victims fall prey to the unknown perpetrator, can they solve the mystery before they themselves become targets?

One of the things I loved about this book is its unapologetic queerness. Adam Sass masterfully weaves a captivating mystery within a mystery, while also delving into the complexities of the characters. The queer banter in the story provided a delightful touch, and I found myself laughing throughout. Cole's quick wit, sharp tongue, and unwavering strength in the face of adversity were portrayed flawlessly. Dearie's trusting nature was endearing, and above all, the deep, personal, and authentic relationship between Dearie and Cole stole my heart. Your Lonely Nights Are Over fulfilled my craving for a richly queer narrative! This book will make you laugh, immerse you completely, keep you guessing, and leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I'm eagerly anticipating its release!

This might be one of my most enjoyed reads of the year, and it's only May. This is my first read from Adam Sass, and I will definitely be reading more. I wish more YA books portrayed friendship the way this does. The way relationships are portrayed are unlike most other YA novels, and I loved how realistic this was. The characters are super three dimensional and lively, and they pop off the page. Obviously, this is a YA and reads like one (dialogue will be very appealing to younger readers, especially young lgbt readers) but it was super creepy and haunting, even for reading it as an adult. This in general, is a novel full of heart, fear, bravery and wit. Some moments are downright SCARY, which surprised me!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC!

Well Adam sass does it again! Every novel he has written i have loved and enjoyed so much he just writes such great YA novels.

This was one of the books i really wanted to read this year so when i was sent the ARC i had to read it ASAP. This novel had so many things i loved the twists and turns had me guessing throughout the whole book i couldn't figure jt out and the twist at the end gagged me it was written so well.. Just when you think you knew who the killer was think again. This book had such a great diverse group of friends and i loved so many of them and the 2 leads Cole and Dearie in this novel were the best.. Adam is so good at writing such amazing characters to keep the reader reading and fall in love with the people! This book was dark at times and was written so detailed so many of the death scenes were graphic and written great. I loved the TV show docu series aspect and how it was split in many parts. This novel follows a serial killer from back in the day coming back to torment and murder a queer club and so through the novel its a cat and mouse game for people to try to figure out who is causing all this mess and killing people. If you like Slashers and YA this one is for you and also the cover is AMAZING. It was very scream vibes as the synopsis says lots of phone calls, text messages, Action packed and a GREAT twist! I could not put this book down i just needed to know what happened next.

Books like this with such amazing leads and diverse characters are the best it makes the readers feel seen in certain characters etc and i love that adam always showcases that in each of his novels ive read! Congratulations adam proud of you on another amazing novel!

Thanks Adam Sass for letting me be a part of the street team! Thanks to Viking Books and Netgalley, these opinions are my own. Your Lonely Nights Are Over was everything I wanted it to be! In the 70’s a serial killer known as Mr Sandman terrorized single/lonely people in San Diego, then one it just stopped. Now they’ve released a true crime show on it and everybody’s watching. Everybody but Dearie that is, who doesn’t see they hype. But someone is taking the show a little too seriously and sends texts to two of the members from the Queer Club, everyone thinks it was Dearie and his bestie Cole. A story helped along by Grover and when he’s attacked and someone else ends up dead that accusations increase! Of course the flops, as Dearie and Cole refer to them, are just jealous and have listened to Grover’s manipulations and racism. But fingers pointing to Cole, him and Dearie will stop at nothing to find out who is really doing this. As victim after victim is taken can the solve it before something happens to either of them? I loved how queer this book is! Adam Sass hooks you with the mystery inside of a mystery in this one, while also developing the depth of the characters! I loved the queer cattiness in the book and I also found myself laughing throughout! Cole’s wit, sharp tongue, and strength with everything he was going through was perfection! I loved Dearie’s trusting self! Best of all I very much enjoyed the relationship between Dearie and Cole it’s deep, personal, and real! Your Lonely Nights Are Over gave me all the queer slasherness that I needed!! This book will make you laugh, suck you in, keep you guessing, and have you on the edge of your seat until the very end! I’m so excited for when this one comes out!

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.