The blurb sounded so interesting to me. I prefer YA mysteries to adult ones most of the time. I couldn’t, however, relate to most of the characters and it took me too long to be interested in what was happening next. I am sure many will enjoy it, though, it just wasn’t for me.

Enjoyable read with lots of drama. YA with a group of teens used to getting their way. A senior trip of seemingly selected students with a chaperone. The destination is a remote cabin for soul searching but murder turns out to be the top item. Who is seeking revenge? A great who done it

The Bitter End is a sharp, suspenseful ride through the world of high school cliques, romance, and the creeping horror of a toxic relationship. Holly, the protagonist, quickly gets tangled in a web of obsession when she falls for Aidan, the charming but dangerously manipulative new guy at school. Donne masterfully weaves a tale of growing unease as Holly discovers the terrifying depths of Aidan’s control.

The novel thrives on its slow-burn tension, gradually revealing Aidan’s true nature as Holly’s world crumbles. Donne’s exploration of emotional manipulation and the fine line between love and obsession is chillingly real. While you might want to shake Holly for not running for the hills sooner, her emotional journey feels raw and authentic.

The only downside? Some of the twists can feel a bit predictable, but the tension is high enough to keep you hooked. If you’re into psychological thrillers that make you want to delete your dating apps, The Bitter End will satisfy your craving for dark drama and suspense.

3.5/5 Stars

A winter storm traps 8 high schoolers in a remote ski cabin for their senior excursion. When one of them dies under suspicious circumstances, they quickly realize that they are trapped with a killer who is picking them off one by one.

This was a lot of fun, told in alternating perspectives between the past and present. The chapters in the past allowed the reader to understand how these characters are connected and the secrets they each are hiding from one another. None of the characters are particularly likeable, but they were still interesting to read about. It was fun trying to piece together who the killer could be, as everyone is suspicious at some point in the story.

Another twisty murder mystery from Donne!

I enjoy when mysteries are set in remote locations so everyone is stuck together. No one knows who they can trust and dark secrets start to emerge. The top of a snowy mountain, with no internet or way of getting down was perfect and added a nice extra piece to the tension.

This had various points of view from the high schoolers as they begin to see their friends die. It was fun not knowing who was telling us as the readers the truth and putting together the pieces of what has gone on in the last four years. I also liked the ending, somewhat resolved but with some lingering suspicions out there...

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for the copy.

I'm a sucker for a good locked room/trapped by a storm thriller and that's exactly what this one delivered. The story follows eight extremely privileged teens on their way to a digital detox retreat in a secluded cabin high in the mountains. With so many secrets among the eight, no one is happy when their guidance counselor/chaperone takes up everyone's phone. Then the bodies start to drop and panic ensues. The twists in the book were good, I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the flashbacks. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending but overall I enjoyed the story.

4.5 rounded up to 5.0

This is a mystery for teens and adults who want something seasonal and/or mind-bending. Readers hear and learn mostly from female characters and their complicated relationships. I did like having a few chapters from the males in the group, helping to corroborate facts or explain misunderstandings. Readers will feel the pressure as the story becomes Christie’s “And Then There Were None” situation. Who is it? Who is left? Shiver…..The use of two timelines is distinctive and I wanted to gather clues from both equally.



Thanks to the Random House Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the
e-galley. I listened to the audiobook on Libby for this review.

My ratings and reviews are my own.

First of all, the title is perfect. Like Donne’s other books, this one is full of twists and turns to the very end. Eight uber privileged teens are headed for a digital detox weekend at a remote house high in the mountains. They all have secrets, frenemies, and enemies on this trip and things go even more sideways when the first body is found. A locked room mystery/thriller with multiple POVs and flashbacks to a tragic party three years earlier. I thought I had it figured out, but it twisted in another direction. The POVs are little hard to keep track of, but I’m also a firm believer that a locked room mystery only really works with enough suspects to make it fun so the non-distinct POVs was easy to overlook. Overall, another solid YA thriller from Donne.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.

This was a deliciously chilling YA thriller. I am such a fan of trapped by a storm stories and this one was really good.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was like a teen slasher story, but without gore. It took me a little while to get into it, but about halfway through, I was hooked. Overall a great read!

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Slightly unbelievable, it was a page turner that kept you guessing.

This mystery suspense novel follows eight teens from an elite private school who travel to a secluded mountain cabin for a tech-free senior year retreat. Once there, a snowstorm traps them at the cabin and the top of the mountain.

This locked-room mystery has the usual tropes—no phones, a killer on the loose, and flashbacks to messy teenage drama at an influencer party. The frequent point-of-view shifts helped to build suspense, but, for me, the characters were unlikable, and the conclusion was disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexa Donne, and Random House Publishing for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

My new favorite winter thriller!!!! I was saving this one to read when it was snowy and I fully recommend doing this. Drama, suspense, the vibes. I loved it all!

I love a good locked room mystery and this one did not disappoint. It was the perfect wintery thriller. I enjoyed the different POVs and the writing and pacing were well done. Definitely recommend I by this book and will be reading more by this author.

This was fun and different. I was captivated from page one.
I thought this was well thought-out plot-wise, and the writing was great.
The alternating points of view add energy to the narrative, with Piper’s perspective emerging as especially engaging. hile the plot twists are plentiful and keep you guessing until the end, the final reveal might leave some readers wanting more clarity. Even so, this doesn’t diminish the overall excitement of the journey.

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne is a fun, fast-paced, locked-room mystery with Agatha Christie vibes—think And Then There Were None but YA. I really liked how Donne simultaneously put technology at the heart of the story through the flashbacks and then removed the teens' access to it at the cabin.

Alexa Donne always nails it with her mix of teen drama with characters you love and hate (this is a good thing) and high-stakes suspense. The Bitter End is no exception. How the past ties into the present-day mystery adds depth to the story and makes me suspicious of pretty much every character at least once.

If you’re into locked-room mysteries and survival thrillers, The Bitter End is the perfect winter read. Just maybe avoid reading it at a cabin during a snow storm…

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for the gifted arc.

I appreciate that the books I read by Alexa Donne I can never guess or predict what is going to happen! I devoured this within one setting. I almost feel like this could have a book two, but I fully love that it is a standalone book

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne is a fast paced closed room mystery set up that pulled me in from the first page and left me stunned by its ending.
Things i loved
1. Character motivations were well developed and added to the intrigue.
2. Pacing was perfect and kept me hooked
3.Scene transitions in particular were handled exceptionally well.

Who i recommend this title for

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne is a great entry point to the authors work for mystery fans while being a special treat for existing fans eager to see more of her style.

This book had me on the edge of my seat! I was not expecting the twist at the end, but holy cow was it out of nowhere! I really enjoy her writing, so I knew it would be good, but the concept and the way she pulls you in is on the next level. Fantastic storyline and plot, I felt as if it was executed brilliantly. This book had me speechless for five minutes after finishing. Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read it and review it!

This gripping teen thriller plunges readers into a tense, snowbound nightmare where secrets and suspicions escalate with every turn of the page. When eight students from LA's elite Warner Prep are trapped in a remote ski chalet during a winter storm, they find themselves in a deadly game where the killer might be one of their own. With shifting narrators and a large ensemble cast, it can be a challenge to keep track of all the characters and their relationships, especially in the early stages. However, once you're immersed in the story, the tension and mystery will draw you in completely.

The locked-room mystery setup is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s classic style, with the remote and snowy setting adding an extra layer of isolation and suspense. If you enjoy the intricate web of secrets and motives found in Murder on the Orient Express, you’ll likely appreciate this book's similar atmosphere. As the stakes rise and the characters’ hidden truths come to light, you'll find yourself piecing together clues and second-guessing every character's motive.

Despite the setting among privileged teens, the characters are surprisingly relatable and grounded, making them feel like real people rather than clichés. The author does a great job of balancing their flaws with moments of vulnerability, keeping the reader invested in their fates. The plot twists are sharp and unexpected, making the journey to uncover the truth both thrilling and intense.

While the book ends with a hint of a sequel, it doesn’t rely on a cliffhanger, so readers can enjoy it as a standalone story. Fans of tightly-wound mysteries with high stakes will find this a compelling read. Mark your calendar for its release on October 15th!

Recommendations:

Movie: Murder on the Orient Express (2017), for its locked-room mystery, snowy landscape, and intricate web of connections.
Book: One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, for another high-stakes teen thriller with shifting narrators, secrets, and plenty of twists.