*3.5 stars rounded up*
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a YA thriller/mystery about a camping kill spree and two girls who are looking for the truth years later.

The main reason I like YA is because of the fast pacing. This one was very fast paced and I loved that! I was intrigued to find out the truth behind all of these secrets.

I thought the twists were interesting but a bit predictable. I find that for a lot of YA books. However, it wasn’t necessarily bad twists so it didn’t take away from my reading.

I do feel like some of the characters annoyed me a bit and that’s why I had to lower the rating a bit. I also felt like the characters weren’t acting how people would act if that makes sense.

Overall, a solid YA mystery thriller and I would recommend!

The absolute definition of page turner. I read this in two days because I simply couldn't put it down. This story was a perfect blend of mystery, thrilling action, and dark family secrets. I enjoyed how the storyline played out and I felt like the ending was actually realistic. Deff worth the read.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a fun, twisty YA thriller with a splash of The Parent Trap. The plot's a little on the slow side, but things do pick up eventually.

I liked the characters in this one. They kept me interested in the story. I guessed the killer's identity early on but the final twist was both predictable and bizarre. In a horror movie (which I could see this becoming), it would be a last second jump scare.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Danielle Valentine’s Two Sides to Every Murder is a captivating mystery that delves into the dark past of Camp Lost Lake. The novel follows Olivia, who discovers her true parentage linked to the infamous murders, and Reagan, who believes in her mother’s innocence and has been hiding from the public eye. As the camp reopens, both girls seek answers, but a dangerous figure is determined to keep the truth concealed. With its suspenseful plot, rich character development, and atmospheric setting, this book is a thrilling read that keeps you on edge until the very end.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC!!

16 years ago the Witch of Camp Lost lake took the lives of 3 people, taking many secrets wirh them. The camp has been shut down ever since. 16 years later Andie decides to open her family's camp at Lost Lake back up. Soon after the renovations and cleanup start at Camp Lost Lake the witch makes her return. Can their little camp survive another round? Will the town be able to keep their secrets hidden a second time?

Two Sides to Every Murder was such a fun read. I loved the camp setting, the myth of the witch, the secrets and the writing style. I felt like I was there with the characters running for my life from the witch while trying to dig up the truth about the families, witch and the camp. 4 ⭐️ read for me!!

So I literally just finished this book and this was only one of a few YA novels that really kept my attention and made me want to know what was going to happen.

𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 is a multi-POV horror/thriller YA novel. It centers around 16 year olds Olivia and Reagan.
Olivia's birth is remembered as the day of the grisly murders of Camp Lost Lake (her mother was found holding a newborn after police were called to investigate the 3 murders that happened on the camp grounds); while Reagan has lived on the run with her mother. Reagan's mother is the number one suspect in the murders.
Almost 17 years after the murders, the camp is set to reopen thanks to Olivia's older sister Andie. However, Reagan has decided to go to the camp that same day to exonerate her mother.
With the camp reopening, old secrets are bound to come out and someone is determined to keep the past in the past.

So I actually gave this book a 3.7 and rounded up. It definitely kept my attention but some of the twists were super predictable. And I was excited to read this because I did enjoy 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
This book felt like "Scream" meets "Fear Street 1986" meets a Disney movie that I cannot name because it'll give some of the twists away lol.
One of the twist you see coming very early on, and I appreciated that the author confirmed that twist as soon as you figured it out.
The book feels like it's going one way, then takes a turn and if you read between the lines, you can kind of figure out what is going on.
BUT the ending did have my jaw on the floor; so if you are into quick thriller reads this is for you. Even if you aren't, and want a book to keep you interested (or even in a reading slump) this will do it for you.

This book was amazing! I couldn't put it down at all. The twists and turns had me gasping left and right, you didn't see any of them coming. This book follows 2 girls on the search at a camping ground where secrets, lies and stories that didn't match up. A killer on the loose? What they had to go through to get the truth on what happened the day of the 3 murders will have you shocked!!

Fast-paced, action-packed, and with a definite horror movie feel, Two Sides to Every Murder also shocked me to my core. A clever plot that would be perfect for fans of Holly Jackson or Karen M. McManus, the only hint that this was a YA thriller was the age of the characters. After all, the plot was finely layered with shrewd observations about people and their behaviors. Altogether, it made the whole book feel much deeper than you’d expect a slasher-esque storyline to be given how thought-provoking it ultimately was.

The plot itself was truly impressive. From the creepy setting of a storm-riddled summer camp long left abandoned to the multiple twists and turns that kept me firmly in the dark, there wasn’t a thing not to love. I mean, the ever ratcheting tension and adrenaline-pumping action just didn’t let up. Essentially one long climax from beginning to end, it was no surprise that I inhaled this whole book in just one single sitting. So I’m not kidding when I recommend not picking it up until your chores are complete and you have no plans in sight. Otherwise, you’ll surely end up ignoring them all just to read one more page more times than you can count.

All in all, the binge-worthy premise was everything it promised and more. Told via dual POVs and with plenty of flashbacks, this plot will keep you on the edge of your seat whether you’re fifteen or fifty. I do wish the conclusion had had a bit more meat to it in the end, but all of my questions were answered before the last page. Ultimately, it was a masterclass in suspense and foreboding that had my fingers utterly flying, so do yourself a favor and grab your copy today. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Danielle Valentine, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

This is one of those books that is more about the journey than the destination. Although a bit predictable the story itself is so well-written and fun I didn't care. A quick read that grabs your attention right away.

Unfortunately, this was just too YA for me. I definitely prefer the lengths that an author can go to in an adult thriller more. Would likely still try another book by this author though. Will not be sharing as to not turn others off from trying this book!

Look, both of the YA murder books I’ve read by Valentine have been absolutely bonkers. I know they are ridiculous - and that’s why they work so. well.

Two Sides to Every Murder is like a 90s campy horror movie in the best way. It’s basically as if someone mashed up Scream and The Parent Trap, and I. am. here. for. it. Sure, you can’t think too hard about the plot (and the ending here was kinda mehhhh tbh). Yeah, the action is outlandish and over the top. And, of course, none of this would ever happen in the real world.

I do not care. I will keep devouring these books like popcorn as long as Valentine keeps writing them (and it felt like maybe this one was setting up a sequel …?)

You want some absurd, escapist, and addictive spooky fun? Definitely check this out!

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the ARC. Two Sides to Every Murder is out 6/25!

I rarely read YA but when I do, you can be sure it will be Danielle Valentine.
I loved that the publisher stayed true to the colors and font of How to Survive Your Murder which combined all the murder tropes into a campy (pun intended) rendition. The author also used the same voice, which fulfilled my expectation that this was going to be a gory, twisty, but sideways smile read.

16 years ago, the unthinkable happened at Camp Lost Lake, giving birth to the story of the person, most likely a woman, whose face was "misshapen, old, haggard, with green-tinted skin and long, stringy gray hair; and her eyes were black, sunken, surrounded by deeply lined, rubbery skin, her nose long, hooked, covered in warts..."

A witch, hunting down people at a summer camp? Yikes! But still, just as Camp Lost Lake is getting ready to reopen, two teens are searching for the truth about what happened - one for her bio father, the other to clear her mother's name. As their paths cross, the truth will come out. But not before more harrowing victims fall prey to the Witch of Lost Lake.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group for an advance reading copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Danielle Valentine for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Two Sides to Every Murder coming out June 25, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I was excited to get it. I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book. I loved this book a lot more. I thought it was fast-paced and full of suspense. Most of the characters were interesting and had a lot of secrets. There were a couple things I didn’t like. I don’t think the romance parts were really necessary to the plot. It felt a bit sudden since they didn’t know each other and the switching was a little odd to me. I don’t want to give anything away. I wasn’t a fan of the added on ending either. It made things feel like it wasn’t an ending. I don’t know if there’s supposed to be a sequel. But overall, I loved the story and it held my attention.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA murder!

Danielle Valentine’s "Two Sides to Every Murder" skillfully intertwines the lives of two young women with a shared, tragic history, creating a suspenseful and engaging narrative. The story begins with Olivia, whose entry into the world is marked by the gruesome Camp Lost Lake murders. Fast forward seventeen years, Olivia’s seemingly idyllic life shatters when she learns that the man who raised her is not her biological father. Her quest for identity leads her back to Camp Lost Lake, the infamous site of her birth and the secrets it harbors.

Parallel to Olivia’s journey is Reagan’s, a girl whose life has been overshadowed by her mother’s notorious reputation. Raised in the shadow of public scorn and legal suspicion, Reagan’s formative years were spent evading authorities with her mother, whom she staunchly believes to be innocent. Reagan’s resolve to clear her mother’s name brings her back to the same camp, now reopening, where the original horrors took place. Valentine masterfully develops Reagan’s character, making her resilience and loyalty to her mother both poignant and compelling.

As both girls converge at Camp Lost Lake, the reopening of the site sets the stage for a tense and thrilling quest for truth. Valentine weaves a complex plot filled with twists and turns, maintaining a high level of suspense throughout. The dual perspectives of Olivia and Reagan add depth to the narrative, exploring themes of identity, justice, and the haunting grip of the past. The story’s conclusion ties together the disparate threads of mystery and personal discovery, cementing "Two Sides to Every Murder" as a gripping read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

This book was the perfect amount of creepy! It truly left me on the edge of my seat. The imagery the author depicted, was so vivid, I felt like I was there. It gave me the perfect amount of anxiety and fear.

ARC Review: Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine (June 28th)
Synopsis: Most people’s births aren’t immortalized in a police report—but Olivia was born during the infamous Camp Lost Lake murders. Seventeen years later, Olivia’s life looks pretty perfect . . . until she discovers the man she calls dad is not her biological father. Now she wants answers about her bloodline, and the only place she knows to look is Camp Lost Lake.

Most people don’t spend their formative years on the run with an alleged murderer—but Reagan did. In the court of public opinion, her mom was found guilty of the deaths at Camp Lost Lake, and both of them have been in hiding ever since. But Reagan believes in her mother’s innocence and is determined to clear her name.

Luckily for Olivia and Reagan, Camp Lost Lake is finally reopening, providing the perfect opportunity to find answers. But someone else is dead set on keeping the past hidden, even if it means committing murder.

Review: I really enjoyed this book. A lot. I thought it was really interesting and I read it in a single sitting. The book kept my attention the entire time. I absolutely loved it. It's the first thriller in a while thats managed to keep my attention so well. Definitely recommend it

If there is one thing I can expect from this author it’s a thrilling and fast paced book with a few unexpected twists. I enjoy how this gives me enough thrills to keep me on the edge of my seat but not too much to where it becomes sensory overload. The author is great at setting a vivid picture to make me feel like I was a part of the story.

Having the story told in both Olivia and Reagen’s perspective and the flashback of the story really helped enhance the buildup to the wild end. I, of course, never predicted the end, but I had one hell of a time trying to. This is the kind of book that both adult and YA thriller seekers would find enjoyment in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Camp Lost Lake was made famous after three murders took place. Olivia's mother was the head of the camp and she was born that night. When her much older sister decides to reopen the camp, someone isn't happy about the secrets that may emerge.

This book was hard to explain. Not because of the content. It's a pretty straight forward camp slasher fic. I just don't know how I felt about it. I figured out most of the twists fairly early. The pace seemed both very quick and very slow at the same time. It's not quite silly enough to be campy and not dark enough to be serious, if that makes sense. This book is in limbo in a lot of ways. I'd still say it's an entertaining read.

Sadly, this book felt flat for me. Some parts were just cringeworthy. I do enjoy YA books, but I just couldn't connect with this one, particularly due to the dialogue. Characters were dull and underdeveloped. The twists were predictable. Some parts just felt forced. The love triangle really wasn't needed, and it took away from the suspense. I have heard good things about this author, so I would consider picking up future books.

This book left me on the edge of my seat, so Olivia is on a mission to try to find out who her real parents are after she found out her father isn’t her dad after taking a DNA test, then there is Reagan who will do anything to try to prove to the world that her mom is not that serial killer who killed her whole family over 16 years ago.

This all sounds wild, but I promise you this book is JUST THAT. The things we find out about these two girls and how they connect, they both get the answers to everything they were looking for and it was not pretty. I will say this, the scenes in the beginning and what happens when the girls are off at the camp site was pretty gruesome, and I was LOVING IT!

The secrets that started to unravel, this book moved really quickly. I feel like we need another part because the ending left me with my mouth open, and I need this RESOLVED!!! LOL