Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review Heads will Roll by Josh Winning.

The main character Willow is a sitcom star that wrote a comment on social media which got her canceled and harassed online. This is where her life starts to fall apart. Looking for a way out and getting away from her phone she books herself a spot at Camp Castaway to commune with nature and quiet along with other campers that are in similar situations as herself. Upon arriving she starts making some connections with the other campers, but before long campers start losing their heads, Will Willow suffer the same fate.

You know when people say a book reads like a horror movie? Well, this one really does. I immediately felt nostalgia for my younger years and the horror movies from the past. A true slasher situation at an isolated camp. What could go wrong? Right? Heads Will Roll is just a good ole fun time. Heads Will Roll will be released on July 30th. Check it out and see if you also feel the nostalgia for the good old 80s and 90s horror films.

We are always up for a gripping novel by Josh Winning, and Heads Will Roll is no exception. This thrilling summer camp slasher horror had us hooked, eagerly turning the pages to uncover its next chilling twist.

The story follows Willow, a sitcom star who finds herself in a nightmare scenario at Camp Castaway. As the tension rises and campers start disappearing, Willow must confront her own past mistakes while trying to survive the horrors lurking in the woods.

The plot of Heads Will Roll is well-crafted and full of unexpected twists and turns. From the moment Willow arrives at Camp Castaway, you can feel the tension building as she tries to navigate this strange and dangerous place. The author does an excellent job of creating a sense of unease throughout the story, keeping readers guessing about what will happen next.

One of the strengths of this book is its characters. Each camper at Camp Castaway has their own secrets and motivations, adding depth to the story and keeping readers engaged. Willow, in particular, is a compelling protagonist who must confront her own flaws and past mistakes in order to survive. The interactions between the campers are also well-written, adding another layer of intrigue to the narrative.

As the mystery at Camp Castaway unfolds, readers will find themselves racing through the pages to uncover the truth behind the disappearances. While the pacing starts off a little slower, Heads Will Roll picks up with just enough suspense to keep you hooked without feeling overwhelming. The author does an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension as Willow and her fellow campers try to unravel the dark secrets hidden within Camp Castaway.

Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning is a gripping summer camp slasher with a modern twist that is a perfect match. What feels like a classic horror movie in book form that we could see getting a film adaptation in the future.

Review posting to our website on March 14, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

This horror gem weaves an immersive nightmare, marrying atmospheric settings with spine-chilling suspense. Characters navigate a sinister labyrinth of terror, unveiling dark secrets and delivering relentless scares. A macabre masterpiece, it transcends the genre, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's psyche. A must-read for horror aficionados.

Classic slasher with a twist. I loved this and flew through it. A fun and wild ride. Not A boring paragraph to be found.

I just finished reading this book today on the netgalley app and it was so good!! I enjoyed this book a lot! Definitely recommending to everyone! Such a great read!!

So fun! Heads Will Roll is a classic camp slasher with a queer twist. I loved it. The characters were a blast - all “cancelled” for one reason or another, escaping to Camp Castaway to unplug and unwind. As promised.. the heads will roll.

Heads Will Roll comes out May 21, 2024!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced readers copy of this new book in exchange for an honest review.

ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Camp Castaway, is the epitome of a perfect quiet getaway retreat to escape from all your problems; atleast that’s what Willow thinks upon arriving there. Willow is not only looking for some tranquil recharging, she’s also hiding from her own personal problems after losing her job. Willow is welcomed with s’mores and good vibes at camp but the peacefulness doesn’t seem to last long. One by one fellow campers are vanishing only to be found with their heads missing. Who knew a few weeks of relaxation would be such a killer good time.

Heads Will Roll… with a title like that you can only imagine what you are in for and boy does Josh Winning deliver! This horror/thriller has all the campy slasher vibes that will keep you reading to see who will be the next victim. From the setting of the hidden away secluded camp to the diverse cast of characters this had everything it promised to be and more. The book had so many fun horror fan Easter eggs and pop culture references making it a very meta and fun read that fit the slasher atmospheric vibes perfectly! Each character you are introduced to is unique in their own way and easily discernible, which helps with the multiple POVs you get. Sprinkled throughout and usually found at the beginning or ending of each chapter are screen grabs of text conversations, news articles, and found police reports giving the reader inside glimpses of what and who these campers really are. Fair warning there is some gore but what else would you expect from a title about heads rolling. I most definitely will be recommending this and checking out more of this authors works in the future.

If you are a fan of summer slashers, 80’s classic horror films like Friday the 13th, and thrillers that leave you guessing as to who our characters can trust and not then you will absolutely enjoy this book and every “campy” second of reading it.

Heads Will Roll comes out July 30th, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group, Putnam for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Fast-paced, entertaining, and fun. A recommended purchase for collection where horror and thrillers are popular.

Camp Castaway is a special camp for people running away from something. They are directed to leave their phones with the "camp mom" for the duration of their stay to disconnect from the outside world. Taking part in camp involves stone circles, yoga, cabins, mysterious disappearances. All your normal camp tropes.

In the same vein as Friday the 13th and other summer camp slashers, the campers quickly learn about some terrifying lore that causes them all to slowly become suspicious of one another. It doesn't help that no one knows anyone's real names or why they came to camp.

Josh did it again with his humor and cursed celebrities.

Thanks Penguin and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a unique thriller. Honestly the possibility of this being a reality was so high that it was quite scary. So easy to read, i flew through it.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc!

Ahh, where do I begin. This was such a fun, quick horror. This gave me 80’s slasher vibes and while maintains a very meta way about it. I’m new to this author but now I’m eager to read more

Willow (not her real name) is the star of “We Love Willow,” a sitcom, but she’s been canceled and now she’s jobless, homeless, fiancé-less and friendless, all after drunk tweeting and falling face first into a pool (like it would be that easy.). Her agent sends her to Camp Castaway in upstate New York, a sort of rehab for those with image problems- no real names and no phones, which means that no one can call for help if things go wrong. And boy do they go wrong.

Things start off well, Willow’s favorite actress is there, but then a camper disappears and Willow is receiving threatening messages. Are the campers going to be canceled forever?

The book is like a slasher film in novel form, just a bit of fun. Don’t expect great literature here. And it’s a little too long. But a fun beach read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC

A group of people gather at Camp Castaway to get away from their troubles and social media profiles. To find solace in nature. Obviously someone else had other plans for them.

I see this described as a thriller, but it read more like a horror/slasher. The cover is awesome. The story is exactly what I expected and wanted from the premise.

There was a large cast of characters, but each was unique and I had no problem keeping track of everyone. The plot was fast moving and fun to read. There was quite a bit of gore, but I think that's expected by the title and cover. I loved the text chats, reports and letters scattered throughout the story.

Was it a little cheesy? Yes. Over the top? Also yes. But that's what I was hoping for from this camp slasher story.

I read Burn the Negative last year from this author and enjoyed it. I will be happy to read anything he releases in the future.

Heads Will Roll was a horror filled thriller that kept me in the edge of my seat until the very last page. Josh Winning has created a great story, a must read.

Heads Will Roll follows Willow, a canceled sitcom star, as she travels to Camp Castaway and embarks on an adventure of self-discovery, free from social media, phones, and real names. What begins as a peaceful retreat for Willow and the other adult campers quickly turns into a twisted nightmare, complete with headless dolls and a whole lot of ominous knocking.

Heads Will Roll is extremely fast-paced and full of action, starting around the 30% mark and never really letting up. It is heavy on punchy dialogue, pithy sentences, and short chapters, so most readers will find the pages flying by. The novel is also full of (mostly) nostalgic references, particularly of the horror movie variety, that I think a lot of readers will appreciate. There are several twists and turns throughout the novel that I expect most readers won't see coming and will keep readers guessing until the very end, and you can't usually ask for more from a thriller. For me, personally, I can say that one of the biggest reveals didn't really hit the way I anticipated specifically because I didn't feel like there was anything actually leading up to it; it felt a little bit like Winning picked this particular bit to happen almost randomly. The other piece of this story that didn't work for me was the insta-love/attraction that Willow feels toward another camper. A thriller novel is not really where I go to find insta-love in my books, and the characters' immediate dedication to one another in this horrifying scenario felt misplaced.

I think this is a novel that a lot of readers will have a fun time with. It's quick to get to the action, and is really non-stop until the very end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Welcome to Camp Castaways, for all the ones who have been cancelled. After Willow joins the infamous club of cancelled actors, she's shipped off to Camp Castaways. This camp is tech free, leave your phone in a locker and enjoy what nature has to offer. Willow knows she messed up and is taking in the natural setting surrounding her. Once she meets the other cancelled campers, odd things start happening. Doll heads in cabins, missing personal items, and a "Camp Mom" who definitely leaves you with the chills. Willow will have to figure out what's really going on at Camp Castaway if she wants to make it out alive.

Josh Winning does it again. This book is perfect for the current pop culture, all so attached to phones. He not only plays off real world dynamics but also creates a truly creepy setting. Fair warning, not for the faint of heart. There are some very graphic scenes. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

This book is definitely a slow burn.. but once it picks up, the momentum is swift and addictive, you just have to make it past the 30% mark.


Castaway felt eerie from the beginning but also had a sense of ease & possible relaxation - in perfect thriller fashion.

I thought I knew where the plot was headed, but the twists and turns until the truth came out, were perfect. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book and I’m glad I stuck it out to get to the end.

Oh my god! This was so fun and so clever. I really had a blast with the humor and the horror. I love the classic horror nostalgia this author never ceases to provide. This is another win for Josh Winning.