Member Reviews

*3.5 stars rounded up*

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A successful businesswoman has spent years trying to move on from her past - or at least, the parts of it she can remember - until an old classmate brings the events of Scarlet Christmas back to disrupt everything she's fought for.

The book is full of twists and turns, in a race against time for Charlie to figure out she was responsible for that bloody night (and find a way to cover it up, if need be). Charlie is a great unreliable narrator, and I loved the redemption arc she had despite how frustrating she could be at times! The overarching theme of redemption added a layer of complexity, which was appreciated. However, the ending fell a bit flat in terms of believability.

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This thriller is a nail-biting ride from start to finish. Between flashbacks to Scarlet Christmas, plus the tension of the black hole of memory and the movie that could ruin everything in the present, we are presented with a well-rounded main character in Charlie. Her increasingly erratic behavior and determination to protect her family and safeguard her future were compelling to read about, and the conclusion was both emotional and satisfying.

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This book had some really strong parts, alongside some parts that I just could not stay interested in. I really like the sections when Charlie is working with Noor to recall the memories her trauma locked away - it was like solving a puzzle , piece by piece, without looking at the design printed on it. Outside of this, there were sporadic moments that hooked my attention, but otherwise I found myself speed reading ahead or struggling to follow the point of the plot. It felt like there was a fair bit of fluff, some expendable characters, and a little too much going on that felt undeveloped.

The ending was just okay, for me. I’m not surprised by it, and the way it was revealed was lacklustre. It does raise interesting questions and thoughts around our memories, and the way they are largely unreliable; how this is both protective and a vulnerability - which Charlie’s story makes clear.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to review this arc.

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I went into this novel blind after receiving an ARC and it captivated me from the start. Charlotte (Charlie) is a successful editor in chief at a hot magazine and is about to marry a wealthy publishing magnate. But her past keeps coming back to haunt her. Her past that includes being a survivor of a college killing spree known as Scarlet Christmas. Charlie won’t talk about it. The trauma of that night has caused her mind to block out the events that she witnessed. She calls it a black hole. She has panic attacks when things remind her of the night. So she keeps herself in constant go-mode so she doesn’t have to think about it at all. Until she is forced to relive what really happened that fateful Christmas Eve and come to terms with her role in the murders.

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This was a fun and suspenseful psychological thriller. A little suspense, mystery and drama, this was a solid debut novel.

Charlie has rediscovered herself nine years after the so called Scarlett Christmas. A horrific nightmare of an experience that she doesn’t remember much of other than her friends are dead, she was covered in blood, and considered a survivor/ victim. Now nine years later, someone wants to do a movie about the incident which brings back a flood of anxiety over what really happened.

This started out strong and fast paced with the suspense adding up about her lost memories and the real events of that frightful night but to me it kind of lagged in the middle. The ending was also a bit anticlimactic but we did get answers. Overall though it’s a solid psychological thriller for most of the story.

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I think this would have been 4 stars if not for the ending. I loved the buildup, things kept getting a little crazier and crazier and I was really expecting to be blown away by how it all tied together. However I wasn’t.

It was a bit of a letdown with details seeming to be rushed. Still a very entertaining book though!

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i enjoyed the dual timeline and charlie being an unreliable narrator, but this book felt kinda dull.

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Good thriller, very compelling. A couple of the characters and relationships felt a bit undeveloped, but overall, loved it. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

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It was an enjoyable thriller/whodunnit story! Was a bit slow in the beginning, but it picked up in the middle for me. Definitely recommend!

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This book was a WILD ride, and I actually ended up really enjoying it!

Thanks Netgalley for an opportunity to read an advanced galley of this delightful thriller/mystery 🔎

‘Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead,’ by Jenny Hollander— REVIEW

College friends trying to live normal lives post ‘Scarlet Christmas’… It’s coming up on the ten year anniversary of the event that shaped their lives, but some things are still left unknown. Will a tell-all movie unveil secrets that have been hidden since the incident?

Final girl trope vibes (but not actually final girl trope) ✔️
Whodunnit ✔️
Dual timelines ✔️

I was riveted, invested, and actually surprised! I read 85% of this on a plane, and kept gasping and throwing my hands up. Let’s just say the strangers sitting around me must have been VERY confused about what I was reading…

Out in February!

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I enjoyed this mystery/thriller. Dark academia is popular right now so I can see this being a hit when it releases. I did feel like it dragged a tiny bit toward the end but still really enjoyed it.

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Loved the duel timelines..great characters that make you want to find out what happened.
Started off really slow for me took a few pick ups of the book but once into it was very enjoyable..the ending was just..wanted more of an ending.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

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I'm not sure what I was expecting, I actually had low expectations, but this was more enjoyable than I thought it would be. I liked the premise, characters, and the twists. It definitely had a thrill element to it.

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"Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead " was an enjoyable read. The cover is what initially caught my eye but the author's writing style held my attention throughout this book.

Things I enjoyed:
-The storyline had intriguing plot twists that had me questioning if I could rely on the narrator.
-The dual timeline (then and now) I think it added more depth to the plotline.
-A very complex FMC.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading in the Mystery Thriller Genre.

Thank you Jenny Hollander, Net Galley and St. Martins Press - Minotaur Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

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This was a fun page-turner that kept me up late reading. I enjoyed the setting and the different characters. My one issue is that the ending felt a bit anticlimactic after such a tense buildup. But overall, this was a very entertaining book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This thriller/mystery was an interesting concept but it moved a little too slowly for me in the beginning. When it picked up I was sucked in but then I felt like it ended with a few too many loose ends that made me want closure. Reminded me a lot of The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll. Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC.

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Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead is an absolute standout of a debut from Jenny Hollander. Piecing together a traumatic event from nearly a decade earlier while trying to thrive in society, Charlie is desperate to maintain her life while everything slowly unravels around her. I was rapidly turning the pages eager to see how this would all culminate. While the end was a bit lackluster for me, I absolutely enjoyed the ride and look forward to more from Hollander in the future.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

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What a TREAT. In this psychological thriller, we uncover the real story behind a 9 year old crime with our main character Charlie (Charlotte), who may have more involvement in the Scarlet Christmas tragedy than what public record believes.

So many things are uncovered throughout the plot that you DONT WANT TO PUT THIS DOWN and you NEVER are really sure what happened 9 years ago until the author wants you to know. The pacing was gripping, the story was so interesting, I was invested in the characters, I had so much fun reading this mystery. I personally love when books go back and forth between two timelines: Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead builds the pressure and stakes of the plot by quickly flipping between them as more truth is unveiled to the reader and easily makes this an addicting page turner.

I really liked how it all played out - you feel emotionally comfortable with how the characters ends up - which isn’t always the case for mysteries and may not be what all readers want. I can see how some people might call the ending too convenient, BUT I enjoyed it.

I also want to mention that Charlie is dealing with a lot of mental health issues and trauma related to what happened 9 years ago. Her experience with dissociation is at the forefront of the narrative and really drives how the story is told, so keep that in mind as a reader!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

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The debut novel from Jenny Hollander is one of the best I have read this year.
Mystery, suspense and thriller all in one.
An event known as Scarlet Christmas, is approaching it’s 10 year anniversary. What really happened? Who are the victims and the true survivors? We slowly learn the details throughout the book. I love the timeline and the foreshadowing.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

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Enjoyed this one! I can't believe this was a debut novel. Looking forward to reading more of their work.

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