Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Danielle Valentine really knows how to write unputdownable YA mystery books. I am always so engaged in her stories that I don't even notice time passing when I read. I really loved these characters. The reveals were really well done, and I loved how there were secrets until the very end. Her books are just so much fun to read. The setting in this book was also really great, and I'm a sucker for revisiting old cases.

Was this review helpful?

I like this author. I feel like her books are typical YA thrillers. But I found this story very enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

I could not put this one down, the farther I got the more interesting the story became! This kind of reminded me of The Lake by Natasha Preston, but done better! For being in the YA genre it doesn’t feel like you’re reading YA. I really enjoyed this and it did not disappoint. No spoilers but if you’re looking for a super suspenseful, entertaining, quick read with a dash of romance, this one’s for you!! I would highly recommend this to everyone!

Was this review helpful?

I was given this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Our MC starts out learning her Dad is not her Dad. We learn about a previous double murder happening on the night of her birth.

In regards to this bring a thriller/mystery I had some of the big plot points figured out pretty early into the story line. So that was mildly disappointing.

However, the action in the book picks up rather quickly. You have some brief flashbacks that help you put the storyline together in case you haven't figured them out more than halfway through the book. There is one surprise I didn't see coming though so I will give the author her due.

I'm hoping maybe the story line might continue in another book with the way it ended but I am uncertain. It could've been an interesting way to close a book out or a bridge to a second novel.

It's definitely worth the read, especially if you aren't a sleuth detective like myself. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Was this review helpful?

This was a GREAT YA mystery thriller. If you enjoyed How to Survive Your Murder, I'd recommend you pick this one up as well. The backdrop of a killer camp makes for an eerie setting.

By addressing indirect victims of the killings as a child made famous by being born during the killings and a child made famous by being born to the killer, this story sets up a unique premise with great character foils.

Was this review helpful?

Illuminates the intensity of the Murders straight away setting up for the events of the book right away.

Captures the darkness of previous events through vivid descriptives of the environment layered in abandoned nostalgia of an earlier time. A time not quite old but left to settle & give it more age than the time past.

Imagine a twisted The Parent Trap or It Takes Two with Secrets of Sulphur Springs and a murderous mystery that will leave you with chills.
Seeing the parallel of two characters both determined to seek truth and exhibit determination. Different lives lived but slowly approaching a unique understanding.

Chased the puzzle of the murders years ago . Brought were the characters together.
Dangerous. Chaotic. Mysterious.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for gifting me an ARC of this thriller!

Y’all I could not put this down! Danielle Valentine does a fantastic job of setting a very eerie and suspenseful tone throughout the entire story. The pace was fast and engaging from the very beginning and so many plot twists happen that just had me gasping. I enjoyed reading this one immensely and the creepy summer camp setting made this the perfect thriller to usher in the summer. Definitely recommend for YA thriller fans!

Was this review helpful?

Having enjoyed the author's previous novel ( it was 5 stars for me,) I was looking forward to reading her latest -- Two Sides to Every Murder. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me.

I got confused with the characters. They just were not developed enough to differentiate one from another. And the changing timelines didn't help as they seemed to crossover randomly.

The plot is the typical whodunit. And while I do enjoy a good whodunit, Two Sides didn't grab me and take me away. I seem to think that the confusion with the characters and timelines took away any suspense the novel may have had.

Needless to say, I had to move on rather than struggle to continue. A one star DNF at 39%

I received a DRC from Penguin Group through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

Was this review helpful?

This was so, so good. I could hardly put it down, and the way information was revealed, the way the twists shocked me, was just so brilliant!

Olivia is heading to check out the Lost Lake Campground, but little does she know, she's going to find a lot more than a campsite. Reagan and her friend Jack are also heading there to see if they can find anything to prove that her mom, Lori Knight, was innocent in the murders that happened there 16 years ago.

Olivia and Sawyer find themselves in the woods, running from the Witch of Lost Lake, and they run into none other than Reagan and Jack. Both girls are shocked, and then terrified as an arrow goes through Sawyer.

A perfect blend of murder mystery and summer camp horror, this book was fantastic!

Was this review helpful?

The book is about Olivia and Reagan who are looking for answers as to what happened at Camp Lost Lake years ago which involved their families. The book is dual pov, so you get to read from both their perspectives and learn their every thought while they discover what truly happened that night at the camp.
This was a really great mystery book. Whenever I read mystery books I like to try to take all the small hints and try to piece them together to try and figure out the bigger picture. There were many twists and turns I did not see coming which I like because it was not as predictable for some portions of the story. The story is fast paced and can be read in one sitting. Overall I enjoyed reading this and would recommend to anyone who likes mystery books. Will definitely be checking out other books by Danielle Valentine.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

Ended up receiving a physical copy of the book. This book is one I read through on a weekend and enjoyed every minute of it. It took me back to the cheesy 80's Friday Fright Night movie nights at home. It is a great summer campy summer thriller. I will be recommending this to all my friends.

Was this review helpful?

I still can't believe this is the same author who wrote "delicate condition" (which I loved).

Facebook feels like a young adult version of Camp Crystal lake, in both good and bad way. The storyline was pretty predictable, twins separated at birth, but which one was the mom, it was obvious. who was the killer, it was obvious. who was sleeping with you, it was obvious..

I will say, for a ya novel, I enjoyed the characters and the description text of the campsite and the growth of the characters. It was the perfect amount of scary camp and bad guy chasing you for the ya world.

That ending though.. I hate when books and like that, like a cliff hanger but in a totally unnecessary way. If you've ever read Natasha Preston book you know what I mean.

I'm giving this a generous three star because I feel like I've read this book a few other times by a few other authors, and seen the movie. But I am glad I read it so that's why it wasn't a two.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Did I stay up till 2am trying to finish this book because the last 100 pages were absolutely fire. And the twist at the end hand me gasping. New auto read author for me if Danielle writes it I’m going to read it because the way she writes has me in a choke hold.

Was this review helpful?

This book is full of twists and turns. I really felt like I was in the woods running from the witch of camp Lost lake. There's lots of mystery involved in the night of the murders. The deeper you dive the more the crazy story begins to unravel. Couldn't put this down

Was this review helpful?

Olivia has always known the story of the night she was born. She was born during the Camp Lost Lake murders of 2008. After taking a paternity test for a school project, she starts to question the whole birth. As she digs deeper, she discovers there is more about that night than she was being told. Reagan’s mother has been on the run since the murders since she was the suspected killer. She is tired of running and just wants a normal life. She wants to prove her mother’s innocence and clear her name. Someone won’t let the girls uncover these secrets and anything to do with the night of the murders. Olivia and Reagan need to uncover the truth of what really happened that night.

I thought this book was good. I enjoyed the suspense and was kept guessing until the end. That ending was so crazy! I definitely did not see it coming. I liked the dual POV's from both girls and enjoyed how their lives intertwined. I liked the summer camp aspect. I wanted to get deeper into the lives of the characters and I wanted to hear more of their back stories. Overall, I thought this was a good thriller/mystery and it kept me going until the end. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Danielle Valentine for the ARC!! I loved how fast paced it was and how I could NOT put it down!! I was gripped the whole way through! The ending was a little predictable but it didn’t take away from the journey to get there!! Thoroughly enjoyed!!

Was this review helpful?

I couldn’t put this down because I wanted to find out what happened, but that doesn’t mean I fully enjoyed it. I didn’t love the ending or some of the plot lines. The ending felt so random and like an easy exit. I’m not the target audience for this book, so that’s likely one of the reasons I didn’t enjoy it as much as others might. Some of the things that happened were just so… unbelievable.

The Parent Trap x Friday the 13th

Was this review helpful?

In summary, this mystery thriller proved to be a highly enjoyable read. Its fast-paced nature allowed me to complete it within a mere two days. While the story and characters were intriguing, I found myself wanting more depth and development. The rapid progression of events, while adding to the suspense, left little time for contemplation and survival took precedence. Additionally, the plot twists were somewhat predictable. For those seeking a swift and engaging read, I would recommend this selection.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. all opinions are my own.

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed it! I'd recommend it. I am a lover of thrillers and this one just took me on a ride. I loved everything about it. I couldn't stop flipping pages. Valentine pulls you into the story and it feels like you hold your breath until the very end. A great read!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you @penguinteen #partner for the gifted eARC copy of this book!

📖 What it’s about:
One teen returns to the scene of the “Camp Lost Lake Murders” to dig into her family history. Olivia, was born at the camp 17 years prior while the murders were taking place! 😱 When she discovers her father isn’t really her blood related father she wants to poke around to see what details she can unearth about that fateful night. She meets Reagan, another teen, who has been in hiding ever since those murders happened all those year ago. Why you ask? Well her mother was blamed for being the murderer however Reagan never believed that was really the case. These two young women will find the shocking answers to their questions as they hunt for the truth!

💭Thoughts:
This one is a first by this author but I most certainly have seen her How To Survive Your Murder book floating around and so when I saw this one I jumped at the chance to read it. This is the epitome of a young adult thriller. Camp ✔️ Murders ✔️ A frantic run through the woods ✔️ And a mystery to uncover ✔️ I literally devoured this one in one sitting! I am telling you had I had this book when I was younger I would have eaten this one up! Some of the story was a little predictable but so much of it wasn’t! I loved the in depth twists and turns! Of course my favorite part is the summer camp setting. There is just something about camp that makes it that much more terrifying! If you’re a fan of young adult thrillers this is the perfect one for summer!

Was this review helpful?