Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the copy of Midnight on Beacon Street. I love debut novels! I think this one would appeal more to YA readers because of the story and the characters. It wasn’t clear why the story took place in 1993 except that there were no cell phones or social media, which didn't really add much to the story. The past timeline didn't really give any insight to the big reveal so it seemed superfluous and the ‘present’ timeline counting down the hours to midnight was confusing. I liked how Amy loved horror movies and wished that had been incorporated more into the story. In general, this was a pretty good read but I didn't love it. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Reading Midnight On Beacon Street served as the perfect introduction to the fall season. I found that the characters, especially M and B , were well written, captivating, and realistic. The book's obvious homage to John Carpenter's Halloween was made clear in the first few chapters, and it was done in the "coziest" way possible. The author did a great job of building suspense by introducing the horror elements first, then going backwards, which I thought was a great way to play off of Amy's anxiety. I gave this book a 3.5 rating but rounded it up to a 4 because I found the entire narrative to be so enjoyable.

Thank you Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for allowing me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you love 90s slasher movies, then you’ll probably enjoy this book.

Midnight on Beacon Street follows the “babysitter/break-in” trope that so many slasher movies use. Amy is in high school and is spending her Friday night babysitting two kids, Ben and Mira. It was supposed to be a quiet and easy night, but things quickly went haywire.

I haven’t read any other 90s slasher-type stories, but this feels very much like the movies you probably watched growing up.

The pacing was pretty slow for the majority of the book. For some reason, the story was non-linear and kept changing points of view, but it was always just another version of a scene you already saw. Towards the end of the book, the story picked up, but at that point, it actually started feeling rushed.

My emotion upon finishing the story was just “meh.” It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t great.

Overall, I gave this a 3/5?. If you’re just looking for nostalgia, then you’ll probably love this book. If you’re looking for a great story, you may want to keep searching.

I was unable to read the entire book to give a full review. Honestly, I had to give up on this book about 20% in. The writing was not for me. I liked the cover and the premise and that's the only reason I gave this book a star.

3.5/5 stars

It definitely fave an 80s/90s slasher, babysitter is home with the kids and there's a killer on the loose feel. It was nostalgic. I love the cover!

However, it just didn't feel like much happened. 90% of the book is inner dialogue and the good stuff didn't happen until the very end.

It read more like a YA book than a book for adults, which is fine, but just be aware of that, I think.

I didn't really feel like the little boy's perspective brought anything to the story and I found myself skipping his chapters.

It wasn't a bad book my any means, but it just didn't live up to the expectations I had.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC for my honest opinion.

This book was a pretty decent homage to the 80s/90s horror flicks. Those of my generation will certainly get that nostalgic feeling with this read. The drawbacks were the pacing of the plot, which I felt was scattered all over the place. There definitely could have been more action and less internal dialogue of characters, which at times seemed superfluous. I think YA would enjoy this the most and would still recommend to lovers of the genre. #midnightonbeaconstreet #emilyruthverona #netgalley #goodreads

As a huge fan of 90s horror movies, I enjoyed this a lot. The babysitter/break-in trope sets the perfect scene. While it is a bit predictable, that doesn’t take away from the book as a whole.
The opening is a bit slow, but sets the scene well and then the ending has all that 90s slasher thrill packed in.
Eleanor is headed out for a date on Friday night and Amy is arriving to babysit Mira and Ben. What begins as any typical Friday night soon unravels into uninvited guests, creepy phone calls, and a dead body.
This was a quick read and the writing did well to hold my attention from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Book Review: Unveiling the Chills of "Midnight on Beacon Street"**

"Midnight on Beacon Street" beautifully captures the essence of 90s horror slashers, channeling the babysitter-in-peril trope to deliver a suspenseful and nostalgic experience. I delved into the story, meeting the protagonist Amy, a capable babysitter tasked with looking after two unique children on a seemingly ordinary Friday night that quickly turns nightmarish.

Verona skillfully brings the children to life, a crucial aspect for me in stories involving young characters. Mira and Ben are portrayed authentically, endearing themselves to the reader. Amy's babysitting skills shine through, establishing her as a capable and relatable character in the midst of the chaos.

While the novel's length is relatively short, it bursts with intense fear in its final act. However, I found myself contending with a lingering issue in the form of a prolonged opening. A handful of scenes appeared unnecessary, not contributing significantly to the narrative. Additionally, I observed inconsistencies in Mira's age, a minor but noticeable detail that momentarily took me out of the story.

On the whole, "Midnight on Beacon Street" proves to be an engaging read. While it doesn't redefine the babysitter trope, its predictability still evokes enjoyment. Fans of 90s horror will likely relish this homage to the genre's iconic elements.

Transitioning to a different perspective, "Midnight on Beacon Street" draws us into a captivating narrative where a single mother's decision to entrust her children to a teenage babysitter during a date night unravels into a nightmarish sequence of events. Amy, the babysitter, confronts her own anxiety while taking care of the children, Ben and Mira. As the evening unfolds, unpredictability takes hold, culminating in uninvited guests, chilling phone calls, and a disturbing discovery that leaves young Ben standing amidst a pool of blood.

This debut thriller effectively navigates between past and present, building suspense that intensifies with every page. The author's nod to classic horror films of the 70s and 80s enhances the atmosphere, lending a nostalgic flair to the tale. The narrative encapsulates both electrifying twists and a heartwarming exploration of fear and devotion.

As someone who enjoys horror and psychological thrillers, "Midnight on Beacon Street" resonated with me. The author crafts an intriguing story, invoking the essence of vintage horror while delving into the depths of parental instincts and the lengths we go to protect our loved ones. Despite its strengths, there are moments of superfluous content and slight inconsistencies that, while not detracting from the overall enjoyment, caught my attention.

Ultimately, "Midnight on Beacon Street" offers an immersive journey into a chilling night where terror and devotion entwine, leaving readers on edge and eager to unravel the mysteries within.

This is full of 90s slasher vibes and it was a good setting/story. It was a fast read and overall it was pretty enjoyable. It feels almost like a mix between Scream and Halloween. It felt very nostalgic reading this. It did have a bit of a YA feel, just know that going in. I'm not sure if it was intended for YA or not. Overally, it is a relatively one-sit reading and it was fun and worthwhile.

3.5/5 stars

Apologies for not being able to read the entire book to give a full review. Regretfully, I had to put this down after a few chapters as the writing style felt juvenile and kind of all over the place. I just couldn’t follow in order to continue the story.

I did not to let the low ratings/reviews of this book discourage me, and good. Because this was fun. Not mind-blowing by any means. Not literature per se. But a fun slice of nostalgia all the same.
With mostly all of the characters being teens and younger this might have easily been YA, but it seems to have bene intended for adults. It’s certainly sold as such. Still …lots of kids. And their seventeen-year-old babysitter obsessed with scary movies. And one night where things go terribly wrong, one thing after another. Oh, and it’s a slasher.
So yeah, plenty of fun for the story and the page count. Any longer, and it might have dragged. It already relies on play-by-play, minute-by-minute narration to make even its meager, just over 200-page count. Mind you, I appreciate it. In fact, I salute a major publisher putting out such a slim book. There are enough overwritten, overdone, fat books out there that drag on for no reason but to meet the publishing’s standards. This one’s just lean and mean. Well, not too mean, but definitely lean. Easy one sitting read. And entertaining enough. Thanks Netgalley.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Midnight on Beacon Street was a fast paced, but quick read, and I really enjoyed that. I felt that everything wrapped up well, and didn't predict the outcome, which I really appreciate in a mystery/thriller. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

I'm not sure how many pages this was but it felt super short. As a result, everything is surface level. I kept thinking that it felt like it was written as an assignment for a creative writing class. There wasn't enough action and instead ends up being a lot of Amy's internal dialogue which unfortunately wasn't that interesting and I found myself skimming through a lot of it.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Midnight On Beacon Street was a fast-paced enjoyable read. The cover is what initially caught my eye but the author's writing held my attention from start to finish.

I thought the characters were well-developed and their interactions felt authentic. I really enjoy when stories are told from multiple POVs so I enjoyed that aspect as well .

Overall I would recommend this anyone who enjoys reading books in the Mystery Thriller genre.

Thank you Emily Ruth Verona, Net Galley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Spooky, chilling, and a taste of goosebumps, "Midnight on Beacon Street" by Emily Ruth Verona is a great read.

Single mother of two Eleanor goes out for a date night and leaves her children in the hands of a baby sitter, Amy. Amy is seventeen with anxiety and a love for horror films (because of their predictability). The night starts out as any babysitting night would, pizza and games. Then it takes a turn with unexpected visitors, mysterious phone calls, and a dead body at the kid’s feet.

Midnight on Beacon Street was a fun 90’s slasher. I enjoyed the setting, the story, and that it’s a fast read! This is a debut thriller and it was entertaining. I am looking forward to this authors future work and seeing Emily Ruth Verona flourish. Midnight on Beacon Street is out 1/30/24!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC and the chance to read and review it honestly.

Happy reading 📚

I normally avoid reading books so far ahead of pub day but the synopsis for this one immediately captures me. An homage to 90s horror? Yes, please! Unfortunately this one fell slightly below my expectation. Horror is my favorite genre and I think this is better off for someone looking for horror lite, or someone looking for an introduction to the genre to ease them in.

I think my biggest gripe is the non-linear timeline over the course of the day. It just didn’t add anything to book or seem to serve any purpose. All it did was confuse me and take me out of the story. I found the story to be slightly anti-climatic and wish it had a better twist or ending. Too many red herrings made the actual story feel dull in comparison.

Overall, I think this will appeal to fans of a 90s setting and it gave some nods to some of my favorite horror movies, which was fun. This will definitely appeal to some readers and I wish I had more fun reading it. I will admit that I couldn’t put it down so I’ll round up my 3.5 rating.

Well I've said it before and I'll say it again, I absolutely hate giving negative reviews so I will leave this brief. The story as a whole was good and even creepy at times. It's just all the stuff in the middle that I wasn't a fan of. I hate this because I read the acknowledgements and how hard this author worked on this and for five years at that. I think the point at where I started to skim through and got bored was Ben's inner dialogue. For being a short read, his thoughts were too strung out and at times, unnecessary. After that point I just felt that there should have been more actual dialogue and things happening than just reading everyone's thoughts. It was too excessive for me. That said, it's only my opinion and others may find that they love this book. So don't let this lead you away from it. Two and a half stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this ARC.

"midnight on beacon street" is an homage to the 90's horror slashers through and through. following the babysitter/break-in trope, we meet amy. amy is watching two peculiar, but lovable, children one friday night when everything starts to go haywire.

verona depicts the children well, which is one of my biggest asks for a novel that includes children. they feel authentic and real. mira and ben are good kids, and amy is a good babysitter. a damn good one.

this novel is pretty short, but it's jam packed with fear in the final act. my only grievance with this novel is the long opening. there are a few unnecessary scenes that don't add anything to the text. i also noticed that mira's age is sometimes eleven and sometimes twelve. minor issue, but one that caught my eye.

overall, this is an enjoyable novel. it does not really take the babysitter trope to a new level, but its predictable nature is still fun. this is a great book for 90's horror fans.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.