I was super exited to read "The Blonde Dies First". I have read my fair share of fantasy but this novel excited and scared me at the same time due to the fact it involves Slasher/Horror film tropes. Upon starting the book I was definitely drawn in by Devon and Drew and the dynamic of her friend group and how they both developed her own identity/fashion sense while apart academiclly .

It was a great read and a perfect introduction to YA/Horror. Plus the end-credit scene was a bonus!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review "The Blonde Dies First"

Devon Harris makes it her mission to make her twin sister Andrea Harris’s last summer home, the best summer EVER! One night, during a party with Drew’s friends, an oujia board is pulled out & the story takes off from there! The Blonde Dies First is definitely a thriller worth reading!

Okay this book was fun & I truly enjoyed it because I’m a fan of thriller movies & books & this gave me exactly that. I’m not new to this author so I was already familiar with her writing style also. The book follows six teens as they are trying to enjoy their summer but accidentally conjure up a monster thats out to end them one by one. They workout a plan to out smart it & end it before it ends them. During the story it gives insight on each teen but primarily focused on the twins Devon & Drew. The twins are polar opposites and Drew is graduating early & leaving and although they haven’t been getting along lately, Devon is determined to give Drew the best summer ever before she goes. That is up until they are fighting off this monster every day. This group of friends are tight knit & I enjoyed reading about them but the twins were hard for me like until I got closer to the end of the book. I wish there was more character development but overall I did enjoy this horror YA. Appreciate it the complimentary copy for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

I'd give this book 3-3,5 stars, ultimately. This is the story of a group of friends in NYC who wind up being hunted by a demon, and have to use their horror movie knowledge in order to defeat it. Once the action picked up, I was hooked and wanted to see how the story ended, but the first 30% or so dragged so badly that I almost DNFed this one. There's a lot to like in this book for horror movie fans, and the sibling relationship between Devon and Drew will appeal to readers who enjoy character development.

thank you netgalley for this arc!
this is a PERFECTTTTTT summerween book. lots of fun, def reminded me of scream with the fun horror movie trope obsession aspect. i had a great time with this :)

I'm definitely adding Joelle Wellington to my auto purchase list. "The Blonde Dies First" is an action-packed novel had me hooked from chapter one to the final page with its thrilling plot twists and horror elements. I didn't see that plot twist coming at all! The story follows a tight-knit group of friends trying to give their friend Drew the "best summer ever." Things take a dark turn when an Ouija board comes out at a party, and the friends find themselves being hunted by a demon who somehow knows the order of slasher movie kills. As they try to survive the summer, they realize they can't rely on their knowledge of horror movies to save them.

The Blonde Dies First is a queer YA horror. Immediately loved the title and the cover. It fulfills the tropes of a slasher story, it is a solid read, with exciting and funny moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Blonde Dies First tricked me because I expected a slasher, but it’s actually a supernatural storyline. I almost quit reading when I realized that because I just wasn’t in the mood, but I stuck with it & found myself mostly enjoying the book.

It’s one you can’t take too seriously, which was hard to adjust to because I think Joelle Washington’s book Their Vicious Games was a story with a lot more meat on the bones. This one has attempts at deeper social commentary, but overall it felt a bit repetitive and heavy handed.

BUT again, you just can’t take it too seriously. I think this will be a fun October read for lots of people who want a lightly creepy story about a demon.

One thing I think this book suffered from is being too precious with main characters. Considering a demon was hunting them, the main group of friends really didn’t suffer too much. It took me out of the story a bit because it never felt like they were in true danger; that could be a selling point for some people, but it just made the action scenes a bit boring to me.

I’m giving this a 3.5 and plan to read whatever Washington comes up with next. It was entertaining and had some true moments with creep factor; I just wanted a bit more.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for gifted access via NetGalley. All opinions below are my own.

When a group of teens accidentally summons a demon using an Ouija board at a summer party, they realize they’re in a real life horror film. They argue about their roles, the death order the film would follow and what they need to do to beat the demon.

While I guessed the final twists in this one, I really enjoyed the ride despite the predictability. Like a typical horror film, you have a feeling you know how things will end but it’s the journey that matters. While this one is supernatural, slasher fun it has some serious themes beneath about race, class and gender roles. I thought all of that was laid out really well and deepened the plot without being heavy handed. I also thought for YA, the characters were really likable and without the inane drama you often get in stories like these. This is a fun read for sure!

For fans of Scream and campy slashers, this book is perfect for you! A Summerween thriller that hits all the right tropes and makes putting the book down impossible!

This was just as good as Their Vicious Games. My first suspicion was Avery, but for some reason, it became clear that it was Keith. He was just around too much and his obsession with Yaya was telling. The people who died in their places, Alexis, Not-Marco, the doctor, was tragic, but was it really though? And it doesn’t surprise me about Kendra. She was a horrible woman, but for her to do that to her son? That takes the cake. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

SN: I’m glad Devon worked up the courage to tell Yaya, and for Yaya to express the same, even though she knew. Also, Devon and Drew finally telling each other how they really felt was a sigh of relief. They’re sisters. Twins. They should be the closest, but they are a prime example of what happens when you assume.

4.25. What a fun, trope-y YA horror book with some depth! A group of friends in Brooklyn accidentally summon a demon while using a ouija board at a party. Devon and Drew are twins, but Drew has graduated early and the two have grown apart some while attending different high schools. Devon decides that this last summer together must be THE BEST SUMMER EVER, but her summer fun list didn't include a demon that kills and is stalking her and her friends. I loved the diversity in this book and in the characters--each character is well-developed while still filling a Scream-like archetype, which completely works with the plot, and the teen banter is fresh and authentic. I loved the queer representation and the slow-burn build-up of Devon's relationship with YaYa, as their friends-to-lovers arc is perfectly placed with both of them having to figure out who the true final girl is.

My only complaint was how fast the resolution came to a head. It was so quickly explained and then seemingly over, and I didn't feel like it matched the true depth of the characters and their relationships, which I was heavily invested in. Devon and Drew's self-realization at the end is carefully crafted and shows their growth and understanding of one another. Overall though, this is another great book from Wellington that horror/thriller lovers will love and fly through quickly!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

*The Blonde Dies First* is a teen horror adventure that feels like being dropped into a Stephen King novel. Devon aims to make this the "best summer ever" before her twin sister Drew graduates early. The diverse group of friends, including Black, white, Latino, and queer characters, faces supernatural chaos after using a Ouija board at a party, shifting their focus to surviving the demon they unleashed. The story, reminiscent of *Scream*, blends classic horror tropes with meta-humor. While some twists are predictable, the narrative remains engaging and fun. The dynamic of the friend group, reminiscent of my own summers, feels authentic and compelling. Though I preferred the premise of Joelle Wellington's *Their Vicious Games*, I was more invested in the characters here. This is a quick, enjoyable read, and I look forward to more from Wellington.

This is the perfect summer read for anyone who enjoys horror. The teens enjoying the last magical summer before graduation, before adulthood responsibility sparks nostalgia. The closeness of the characters draws in the reader. The widening chasm between the sisters is heartbreaking. The peer pressure during the party scene is palpable. But it's not drugs, alcohol, or sex, it's a Ouija board and demon summoning.
Then, like Scream, the rules of surviving a horror movie are explained. The blonde dies first--but our hero is also the blonde. Her sister and her best friends have to overcome their roles to survive. The story plays with the rules to keep the readers guessing and the suspense high.
Anyone who likes horror like the Scream franchise, Nightmare on Elm Street, or Friday the 13th will enjoy this book.
Be sure to stay past the closing credits.
Thank you NetGalley, Joelle Wellington, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the ARC.

This was so good it gave final girl vibes and the mystery of Whatever came out of that board is after them

Fantastic novel for horror lovers who grew up on Scream like I did.

I'm a 90s kid who grew up watching the great teen slashers of the 90s/00 and I devoured this novel.

Its a fun, spooky, and entertaining book with vibrant and interesting characters who you actually root for and hope they survive! It follows the "formula" but with flair! Looking forward to reading more of Joelles work

Talk to Me-esque teen horror featuring complicated sisters, a summer that was meant to be perfect, and a demon hunting down a friend group. Devon and Drew are twin sisters, yet they couldn't be more different, from the way they have different styles to their opposing personalities... and the fact that Devon is the artsy wild child and Drew is the academic genius. Devon is determined to have one last great summer with Drew before Drew goes off to college.. but the more Devon tries to force it the less Drew wants to be a part of it.... yet everything goes wrong when Drew invites Devon and their friend group to meet Drew's friends at a party that ends with them using a ouija board and summoning a demon... that just happens to start hunting them down. Now Devon has to find a way to get rid of the demon chasing her, save her friends, save her relationship with her sister, and finally confess her feelings to the girl she's in love with. The story follows a complicated sister relationship and has a touch of Talk to Me, when a group of friends unknowingly summon a demon at a party and must find way to banish it before it gets them. This one was a bit of a miss for me unfortunately, I really wish I did like it more as its a sapphic horror story but I found myself not at all that interested in the story and I didn't really like Devon that much as a protagonist. When it comes to horror final girls its always hit or miss and this one unfortunately was a miss for me. I do think however that if you liked Talk to Me then you will like this one.

Release Date: July 30,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Sadly I’m going to have to DNF this one 35% in. The writing style is not working for me. It feels like the author rambles too much at times. I did really enjoy the characters though. I would love to give this author another shot in the future.

Thank you to publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

As a YA book, this is cool - horror tropes, the plot building around the knowledge of these tropes, the inclusivity and the engaging writing.
It is quite well-paced as well.

Thank you, so much to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc!

I have mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, I am a sucker for the cheesy thrillers like Scream. But on the other, at least the characters in Scream I liked. But I guess that’s also the point. They’re supposed to flawed teenagers. And, they were. So, yeah, the author nailed it. And it did make me laugh!

I do think this book is going to be a smash with the YA thriller readers out there. I may have to get this for my niece for her Summerween gift!