I really enjoy Joelle’s Wellington’s writing style *chef’s kiss* and the premise of this book. The characters quickly drew me in (I loved Dylan and Malachi the most). Similarly, I would say this book is definitely more character-driven than plot-driven due to the predictability. However, while I felt that the plot was predictable, that wasn’t as an issue for me as it also seemed to be expected. Tropes and & horror movie patterns play a big role in this book. I loved how the humor and unseriousness of horror movies like “Scary Movie” and shows like “Scream Queens” were met with amazing character depth and development. I adored the friend group and all of the complexities of their dynamic.

All in all, I think this is a great read if you enjoyed the author’s writing style in “Their Vicious Games” and enjoy YA/YA horror novels! (I use the word “horror,” loosely). It’s a very entertaining and engaging read from start to finish!

DNF

Was obsessed with Their Vicious Games, but this one fell flat for me. Too many characters. A lot going on and I found it hard to stay engaged whether it be the writing or the characters. May try again closer to pub day.

♡𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
3.5 🌟
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𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•ya
•horror | slasher
•black teen horror
•queer
•twin sisters
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𝑰𝒇 𝒋𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒃𝒚 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝑴𝑬! Because this cover is gorgeous 😍 I would love this cover as a special edition! Now, I LOVE Joelle Wellington, "Their Vicious Game," but for some reason, this book fell flat to me. It just wasn't keeping my attention! But I will definitely be giving this book a re-read a little late this year and see if it will change my mind.
♡𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 July.30♡
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Thanks Netgalley for the arc!
I was hesitant to read this book because I usually don't tend to read a lot of horror novels. However, I'm glad I took a chance because I ended up loving this story. It was very camp and didn't take itself too seriously, but it was well written and engaging to the very last page

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Shuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Blonde Dies First" by Joelle Wellington delivers a thrilling and entertaining ride through the tropes of classic horror. This book is filled to the brim with both suspense and humor, making this such a fun story! I absolutely loved this book. While Wellington’s previous book, “Their Vicious Games,” is more of a serious book, if you’re in the mood for some good, fun, and humorous horror, then you will definitely enjoy this book.

From the outset, Wellington's novel embraces its horror movie influences, following a cast of characters who find themselves hunted down in classic slasher style. As the deaths unfold, adhering to familiar personality tropes, the story takes unexpected twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the satisfying conclusion. I will say that one of the big twists at the end was a bit predictable (though this book is also filled with familiar horror troupes, so that is to be expected), but the following twist was one that I definitely wasn’t expecting.

One of the novel's standout features is its vibrant cast of characters, particularly the dynamic between twins Dev and Drew. Throughout the book, Wellington explores their complex relationship, adding layers of depth and authenticity to their interactions. The characters felt very realistic with their actions (they definitely seemed like real, stupid teenagers at times, which was the point!). I really liked how close the friend group was, though a couple of them didn’t get as much characterization as I would have liked.

While the character development shines, the plot was somewhat predictable, with the story following well-worn horror tropes. However, Wellington's clever writing and self-awareness inject freshness into the familiar plot points, offering a blend of humor and horror that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Again, this was such a fun book! I thought there would have been more killing in this book (like with Scream), but the way these killings were written was unique and innovative.

Overall, "The Blonde Dies First" is a fun and entertaining read that delivers on its promises of humor and supernatural thrills. While I didn’t enjoy this book as much as Wellington’s “Their Vicious Games,” I still really loved this book, and I can’t wait to read more from Wellington; she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

that was a lot of fun! funny, a bit unserious tbh lol, i had a hard time taking it seriously at parts, but a quick read you can enjoy in one afternoon with great sibling dynamics.

The Blonde Dies First is a campy horror novel YOU HAVE TO READ!

The Blond Dies First is Joelle Wellington's latest novel in which a fantastic cast of characters is seemingly hunted down 'Scream' style. With the deaths following the classic horror movie personality tropes, this was such a creative novel and I enjoyed it. This book is full of twists and turns at every corner and I wasn't sure exactly where it was headed. However, I was very pleased with the ending and felt that it was a complete story that made sense.

One thing that I absolutely loved about this book was the characters. Dev and Drew were one of my favorite aspects. Their twin/sibling bond was just such a fun dynamic in the book. The layers that Wellington was able to add in with Drew planning to graduate early and the breakdown in communication between twins is not something that I think you can find in many books out there. It made it a unique experience and I know that readers are going to love it. Another dynamic that I really loved is Yaya and Dev. There is obviously some desire on at least one side of this, but this romance had me ACHING to know more. Just such great potential and what eventually happens I know will shock readers!

The villain in this story is also absolutely horrifying. The shock factor happens after each kill and then as it continues to compound and add up. Where did the villain come from and how did it get there?! These are things I was DESPERATE to know by the end of the story. Seriously, I loved the ending and can't wait to read more by Joelle Wellington. Check this story out!

This is very in my niche and was definitely one of the strongest lesbian teen stuck in a slasher books. The emotional conflict begins before the book starts but very much makes sense so the character and relationship development was awesome! Also super fast paced which I love and is very horror movie. Good but not great!!

Incredible, chefs kiss. Will I read anything Joelle Wellington puts out? Absolutely. Will I end up loving everything Joelle Wellington puts out? So far, another absolutely.

This was so fun and a quick enjoyable read. Takes all things slasher teen horror and gives you what you know and love. Did I know what was going to happen? For the most part, yes, BUT that’s because I am a Gael and an absolute horror junkie. The characters are all great, Malachi is my favorite. And I didn’t think I would end up liking Drew, but she ended up being a complex character and when we found out more then I really felt for her and ended up liking her! I think the nightclub scene will be embedded in my mind for forever, the Patagonia vest 😩

Do NOT hesitate to pick this book up, I can’t wait to reread it in the fall even though it’s set in summer lol.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Supernatural slasher sign me right up! Devon’s twin sister Drea has always been the genius and when she graduates a year early Devon is determined to give her the best summer ever and bring them closer together. But when the attend a party of a guy from Drea’s fancy private school, they’ll find that the rich kids like to mess with things like Ouija boards. None of Devon and Drea’s friends are happy about it but Devon goes forward in an attempt to make her sister happy. However when something or someone begins hunting the twins and their friends they’ll realize they may be in for more then they can handle. This particular hunter seems to be following slasher movie rules which means Devon, as the blond, is up first. It also means her crush, YaYa, is the final girl. Can she save herself, her sister, and their friends? Can she forge a relationship between her and Drea? Will she have the courage to tell YaYa how she feels? A interesting way to mix the supernatural with slasher and I enjoyed it very much! I also loved that while you had those elements there’s also a story of two sisters who don’t really understand each other and have a lot of feelings towards one another! Plus there’s the queer love and crushes! The story all centers around strong group of friends, most of whom are black, and how gentrification impacts communities! Joelle Wellington weaves them all seamlessly into a story that is fast paced, funny, a bit of a mystery, and a whole lot of fun!

It was so clever and snarky, with great characters and wonderful tension. I should have figured out the ending! The clues were there. I absolutely loved it.

Loved the relationship between the twins and the friendship dynamic. Great LGBTQIA rep. I love how Devon was able to get the girl in the end and nobody from the friend group was seriously harmed or killed. It gave horror comedy and I loved every minute of it.

A great YA thriller. The Scream vibes were definitely there. Recommended to every reader who wants a book that's a twisted rollercoaster ride.

Joelle Wellington has firmly cemented herself as a YA powerhouse, with her sophomore novel The Blonde Dies First! A pitch perfect one-sitting read! Tongue in cheek horror tropes injected into a powerful depiction of family and friends that become family and the relationships that tie them together. I particularly love the relationship between Devon and Drew and how it develops through their miscommunication as siblings, and twins. A phenomenal friend group, fun villains, and just enough blood to keep you on your toes, this book is sure to delight horror fans and thriller fans alike.

This is a very good YA horror/thriller with fully developed characters and a compelling plot. I liked it enough that I immediately added Wellington's first book to my TBR upon finishing this one!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. A fun YA horror, would rec to fans of horror movies

Joelle does it again! Although this is marked as a YA novel, as an adult, I loved it. It follows a diverse high school aged friend group through a summer in Brooklyn. The group has to contend with gentrification, respectability politics and a killer/demon hunting them à la Ghostface from Scream. Joelle both acknowledges the tropes that exist in the horror movie genre and subvert them. This book is hilarious and gripping. I cant wait to read whatever Joelle writes next!

This book was FUN. Honestly, this is the most fun I've had reading so far this year. It definitely had Scream vibes, but with a supernatural flair. I loved all the characters and the growth they had throughout the story. I loved the focus on twin sisterhood in particular, I thought it was done very thoughtfully. I had a roller-coaster of emotions reading this book, I was laughing, crying, and shaking in my boots (the night club scene!).

I loved Their Vicious Games, it was one of my top books of last year, and now with how much I loved this book, Joelle Wellington is now an auto-buy author for sure.

I am writing this review on Met Gala Monday and this book looked camp right in the eye, but actually served.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

Moral of the story: don't wear finance bro vests, y'all.

This was such a fun read! Coming-of-age YA irreverent supernatural slasher horror comedy. This is the perfect summer release. The final scene had me DYING. It went from a fairly self-aware but straightforward horror into pure comedy.

The book follows standard slasher beats and mocks them, a lot like Scream (which it also references). We get a convenience store scene, stairwell scene, hospital scene, all well done horror. There's also fun stuff at the end of some of the chapters, like a Wikipedia article on a bad horror movie and a personality quiz.

I really enjoyed Their Vicious Games but kinda wished it were gayer (I wanted an Adina/Pen toxic romance and if that's wrong then I don't want to be right). We do get a cute sapphic romance here, but it's a healthy friends-to-lovers one, don't worry! Nothing like my Adina/Pen dashed hopes.

Even though I got what I wanted there, the relationship that really worked for me was the twin sisters: the MC Devon and her perfect sister Drew. I legitimately disliked Drew at the beginning and loved everything about Devon (her makeup, her bleached eyebrows, her bravery, just everything). But Drew ended up being a complex character and I empathized with her. This sister relationship hit me hard and was the emotional tent-pole of the book.

Characters:
Devon = 5 stars
Drew = 5 stars
Gael = 3.5 (some comic relief)
The others = regrettably rather flat. This book is like a horror parody and I get that the friends are tropes (that's literally part of the plot), but they're still not super fleshed out. I was happy about my sapphic romance, but Yaya might have been the most boring of the friend group for me

About the deaths in this book... Not that I felt bad about any of them, but our MC and her friends just like totally stood there and watched these people get murdered! "Oh well there's nothing we can do, let's just enjoy our front row seats to this guy's strangulation" UM... You could try to help? Or at least run?? I know Do Nothing is a default setting that characters have in horror movies (like Friday the 13th Part 2...or maybe 3...whichever one had the girl who cowered and watched her bf die), and this is a parody, but like... grow a conscience y'all!! I know these people were terrible human beings, but did they really deserve to be brutally murdered by a demon thing?? Well...maybe that creepy finance bro did.

✰✰✰✰ 1/2
This definitely solidified the fact that I will read anything Joelle Wellington writes.
I went into this expecting entertaining, cliched horror, and that's what I got! I would have liked more supernatural stuff, but that's fine. I also loved Devon's tight-knit friend group, and it was fun to see how they navigated their situation. I really wanted to know more about the others, but the character development was mostly focused on Devon + Drew (which was well done, that's why I want the same for everyone else). Overall, I really enjoyed the writing and dialogue.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.