If you like Gossip Girl/Riverdale vibes with a bit of the supernatural, You’re Dead To Me is for you! This book had A LOT of things going on, but I felt like it did a pretty good job of not being too overwhelming or confusing. I was very invested in the characters and the story from the beginning and I really enjoyed where the plot took us. Ruby was definitely a very interesting and complex FMC and I really enjoyed her narration. I loved her friendship with Anton and Xavier, who were both utter delights. I also loved how atmospheric the book was! One thing I do wish is that we got a bit more of an explanation as to why Ruby was seeing her ghost. Other than that, I really enjoyed this YA thriller!
Mini spoiler: there is a scene with animal death. It’s not gory or gruesome, but just very sad.
CW: animal death, gun violence, bullying, death, mentions of suicide, child abuse

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an advanced digital readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I was reading the synopsis I realised that this was not your usual Young Adult Thriller. Here we have Ruby who to me was not as snowy white as you would expect but that is what I liked about the book. I loved the friendship group of Anton and Xavier they were so cute and funny.

I loved how Amy plotted the story during and after an event which no one will ever forget and adds another element which I am not going to say but what you get is a very clever addition. Then afterwards you think Amy will be finished but oh no she has an extra little something up her sleeves.

I highly recommend if you are looking for something extra in the Young Adult Thriller genre You're Dead to Me is a perfect read.

For all the above reasons You're Dead to Me receives 4 stars.

5 Reasons to Read You're Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker

Thrilling Blend of Gossip & Horror: Think Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day—this YA novel serves up juicy drama, sinister secrets, and a pulse-pounding race against time.
Unforgettable Heroine: Ruby’s snarky, flawed, and determined character makes her a relatable underdog worth rooting for as she unravels a deadly mystery.
High-Stakes Mystery: With a blood-splattered prom dress and her life on the line, the tension stays high as Ruby digs into Oleander Bay's darkest secrets.
Small Town with Big Secrets: The picturesque coastal setting hides layers of scandal, corruption, and deceit that make the mystery all the more addictive.
Prom Night Gone Deadly: What’s more iconic than a YA thriller revolving around a prom night countdown? It’s classic, creepy, and oh-so-entertaining!
If you love fast-paced YA horror with social commentary, scandal, and heart-stopping twists, You're Dead to Me is a must-read!

You're Dead to Me is a spooky and exciting young adult thriller which has plenty of twists and turns. The plot follows Ruby and her friends Anton and Xavier as they try to uncover who is her murderer after she has a vision of her own ghost. However, the more investigating they do, the more secrets of the town are discovered making this an intriguing read with lots of scares and shocking revelations.

The story begins with Ruby preparing to take down another Oleander Elite on her anonymous account @reputationkiller and from there everything starts to unravel. She is soon found out and when she sees her ghost, she realises someone is out to get her and that it is a race against time to find out who kills her before prom night to stop it from happening. Not only is she worried about her death, there is also a serial killer on the loose, dubbed the mannequin man who adds even more tension to the story. Will Ruby and her friends make it out alive?

Even though the blurb clearly says she sees her own ghost, I wasn’t expecting this to be a full on supernatural book. I thought it would be more about the investigation but there are a few scary moments that happen at unexpected times! The supernatural element isn't explained which left me feeling a little confused by the end and I was surprised that it was such a big part of the book.

I loved the 3 main characters and the friendship between them which showed that they would really do anything for each other to keep them safe. Even though Anton and Xavier are a couple, they never make Ruby feel like a third wheel and I enjoyed getting to know these characters throughout the story. I also enjoyed the setting of the Wonder Park and its back story, Ruby and her mother’s home that was inherited from her grandparents which is currently struggling financially. The animals were cute and dangerous and added an extra layer of complexity to the novel.

I also liked that each chapter name was a song title which gave the book a unique feel and felt like it had its own playlist. The chapters were quite short which kept me saying ‘just one more’ and as the story begins to reach the end, the plot really starts to pick up and you won’t want to put the book down until you find out the reveal and the reasons why which all comes together nicely. I did think that the ending was slightly rushed because so much happens and all at once but overall this is a thrilling and fast paced read with a horror vibe that will keep you on the edge of your seat

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this ARC.

Synopsis
Ruby, a sharp-tongued scholarship student at elite Oleander High, is outed as the anonymous gossip blogger ReputationKiller, turning the entire town against her. When she sees a vision of her ghost in a blood-soaked prom dress, Ruby realizes someone wants her dead—and she has less than a week to uncover the truth. As she investigates the dark secrets of her seemingly perfect town, Ruby races against time to unmask the killer before prom night becomes her final curtain call.

Things I Liked:
I loved the loyalty and warmth of Ruby’s friendships, which balanced the darker themes, and there was one twist near the end that genuinely surprised me.

Things I Didn’t Like:
Some parts of the story felt predictable, and the climax was a bit too convenient. The ending, while tied up neatly, felt rushed and left a few unanswered questions about the ghostly phenomena.

Who It’s For:
This is a quick, suspenseful read for fans of YA thrillers with a mix of mystery, and strong friendships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children/Delacorte Press Publishing for this advanced reading copy in return for my honest review.

Ruby is the scholarship kid at her prestigious school in Florida, but that does not stop her from finding the juicy details of the wealthy and reporting it on her secret TikTok account as the @reptuationkiller. When she tries to get her last revenge before the end of the school year, things backfire as the Bling Brigade uncovers her true identity and airs it on all social media accounts. The kicker in this is that Ruby keeps seeing a ghost of herself in a prom dress with various indications of how she will die. She can’t help but try to prevent her death while also trying to uncover who wants to kill her before prom. With her friends and a new possible love interest, she uncovers a plot more sinister than she expected.

When reading the summary and the book’s first few chapters, I thought Rudy needed to mind her business! They already look at you differently, so don’t cause too much attention to yourself, but as I read the story, I understand the reasoning behind Rudy’s intentions. I loved the story’s supernatural element; it was intriguing but also added a unique element because the reader never really understands why Rudy sees herself dead and what it all adds up to. It added to the thrill and mystery of the book and plot. I loved the characters! Especially her two best friends, Anton and Xavier! I loved the support they gave her throughout their whole experience and protected her no matter how outrageous she sounded. I’m not from Florida, but the Wonderland amusement park her family owns seemed like a staple of Florida culture.

Overall, I gave this book a five-star review. The book got right back into it and didn’t miss a step. The book flowed and continued to thrill, adding mystery to every chapter until the end. I figured out two parts of the mystery, but there were still some mysteries the author added in the end that summed the story right up. Once I picked up this book, I could not put it down. This book came out on December 10th, so if you are interested or have been eyeing it, I suggest you pick it up!

I've got a couple of things to say about this one.

I really liked how it was broken into sections by days of the week which makes the reading experience easier so that you can keep track of where you are last left off even if you forget to put in a bookmark.

It starts with the main character Ruby, Who's not really into popular trends and has a habit of taking scandal photos of elites.
The trouble comes in when she has a social media account dedicated to killing people's reputations. Eventually that kind of stuff backfires.

Actually think that I liked this character because of her viewpoint on uncovering societal problems and her dedication to her family's business. But she has a lack of realization on how can impact other people's lives which is what story mainly focuses on.

It also focuses on the fact that she is seeing what is to be her own ghost.
Really like that concept of her ghost coming back to warn her that she might die.

The sub plots have been woven in nicely.

One con I did have at the beginning was the fact it mentioned she doesn't consider herself plain but then...
It felt like it was trying not to say the typical line of "not like other girls" which felt "pick me". Kinda cringed.

Then there's also the juvenile nickname name for the "Bling Brigade". I did actually mind that because it's a book for teenagers so of course there's gonna be some sort of juvenile nickname which was actually quite funny. Especially the way the character is written to say it.

You're Dead To Me speaks to judgment of others, secrets, and the consequences of one's actions.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely.
The last 100 pages really solidified my enjoyment of this one.

You’re Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker is an intriguing & fascinating young adult mysterious horror novel involving a high school senior being an anonymous social media gossip that comes face to face with her own ghost dressed in a blood splattered prom dress. The chaos begins from there & takes the reader on a wild ride with ghosts, gators, the grueling secret-filled secluded town, a guy that’s surprisingly kind & interested along with so much more.

When I saw this advertised as Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day, I immediately was in. That is one of my favorite movies & comfort tv show & I thought this was such an interesting mashup that resulted in a curious & entertaining story.

You’re Dead to Me Is great for those looking to read…
📕 Young Adult Horror & Mystery
📕 Gossip Girls Meets Happy Death Day
📕 Resort Town Setting
📕 Elite High School
📕 Romance Subplot

I absolutely love the combination of horror/mystery with a subplot of romance & this one did it so well. I was invested in the main character, their history & their overall story. I appreciated the wonderful friend group around the main character. There was also the nuances & complexities of being the scholarship recipient amidst elite society.

There was a lot going on & it happened at a fast paced so it was an easy & enjoyable read. I loved that I wasn’t able to correctly guess & predict everything.

If you’re looking for a unique young adult horror that takes you on a ghostly adventure, I highly recommend You’re Dead to Me!

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Delacorte Press & TBR & Beyond Tours for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

You’re Dead To Me is a wildly entertaining read that hooked me from the start. I finished the entire story in just 24 hours! The short chapters make it impossible to put down, and I absolutely loved the chapter titles, all of which are song titles: How You Like That, Shake It Off, Teenage Dirtbag, Bad Guy, and more. I loved anticipating the next chapter as I sang each title. The whole vibe is really creative and fits perfectly for a prom-themed murder mystery.

The plot is incredibly twisty, filled with many red herrings that kept me guessing. I loved the addition of Ruby’s ghost, which added a nice horror-paranormal element to the mix. Throughout the story, I questioned whether the ghost foretells the future or subtly guides Ruby toward uncovering the killer. I’m not a huge fan of romances in YA thrillers. But here, the teen romance was delightfully understated, allowing the murder mystery to take center stage. Huge plus! While I did manage to predict a couple of twists, the overall experience was nothing short of thrilling entertainment!

Ashely Morton narrates the story and plays Ruby perfectly, adding to Ruby’s anxiety as she tries to uncover the killer.

Other highlights: Dark academia, destructive nature of privilege, revenge social media posting, alligator theme park

Florida, man…

Imagine finding out you’re going to be murdered from your own ghost. Ruby sees her own ghosts, Grudge style, randomly and the state of the ghost (dress, injuries, etc), begins to give her clues as to how she’s going to die. It changes as her present conditions changes and Ruby is trying to prevent it. The event isn’t in the distant future; it’s the upcoming weekend at Prom. So Ruby is working on a tight deadline to save herself.

This isn’t all that Ruby has going on. What did you expect? She’s a teenager. She’s dealing with trying to save her family’s theme park, getting bullied at school, her crush on Alexander who is part of the popular crew— and who’s leader she just took down in her anonymous blog @reputationkiller . Very Gossip Girl of her.

As she tries to solve her own murder and prevent it from happening, her investigation leads to a lot more secrets being exposed. She always knew the rich were shady, but she didn’t realize how deep everything was interwoven.

I found this an exciting, fast-paced read and was suspicious of everyone but her gay besties, Anton and Xavier. I was so glad she had them and their ride-or-die support, or not she may have actually died. I thought it kind of wild what the whole reasoning for everything was, but also not surprising. And the little whodunnit twist at the end! It’s also a little sad, but I can’t get into the details of why without revealing stuff.

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for having me, and for the book for review!

When I saw Amy Christine Parker's You're Dead to Me described as Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day, I knew it was one for me, and it definitely did not disappoint. I love a paranormal aspect to my thrillers, and, even though this was YA, I found it to be fun and entertaining, and I would recommend it to all my thriller-loving friends. The characters, the pacing, the plot, blood-splattered prom dress...loved it all,

This was an interesting one and was pretty average for me. I do not usually read books with a lot of paranormal elements but the way this book fused the paranormal with your typical ya thriller was fresh and kept me on my toes. This one was fun because while there were things I was able to predict, there were others that I couldn’t which was nice. Other than the first scene/interaction with her ghost, it doesn’t really feel like that contributed a lot to the overall story other than it being an omen of her impending murder but the reappearances of the ghost throughout the book just felt a bit random. I loved the gossip girl vibes I just wish we could’ve gone longer before Ruby was exposed. the cast of characters was fun and I enjoyed the eerie Everglades setting. Not my favorite ever but a nice switch up between all the fantasy and romance I’ve been reading.

This is Gossip Girl meets Death Day-well, without the repetition of the same day over and over again, and more focused on seeing your own dead ghost and having to figure out how to avoid your own death.

This story follows Ruby Toller, who is a scholarship student at an extremely wealthy school who likes to investigate and post the deepest secrets of her classmates on a TikTok account called ReputationKiller. When her identity is exposed as the person behind the account, everyone turns against her. Shortly after, Ruby begins to see her murdered ghost, and it is up to her to figure out who wants her dead and how she can stop her own death.

Overall, this is a fast paced YA Horror novel with interesting, well-developed characters. The plot moves quickly enough to keep you engaged and invested in finding out the answers.

This book was a mash up of Pretty Little Liars, Happy Death Day and a hint of Mean Girls for me.
Ruby (a scholarship student) has a gossip TikTok, exposing the elite at her boarding school. She’s pretty mean when it’s anonymous, but now that she’s been outed as the face behind the screen, it goes downhill, fast! Suddenly she’s seeing her own ghost, wearing a destroyed prom dress with a mangled arm and bullet wounds. It’s as though her ghost is trying to help her prevent her death.
Who is trying to kill Ruby? Will she be able to stop her own death?
If all of that wasn’t too much to handle, there’s a serial killer in town called the “Mannequin Man”, oils Ruby be part of his plan? Plus her family business, The Wonderpark, passed down by her grandma, is in the throws of bankruptcy and she’s trying to prevent her family’s business from getting shut down.

Whew. This book.
It's different from my normal reads, and it took me a bit longer than most books but I liked it. It was suspenseful and yucky and romantic and there was character growth and surprises and I would love to chat with anyone who read it.

If you like Gossip Girl, Florida, ghosts, mysteries, alligators, and twists and turns, this one is for you.

Reader expectations: language, gore, death, ghosts, murder, serial killer, affairs

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amy Christine Parker for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for You're Dead to Me coming out December 10, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really enjoy YA mysteries, so this one seemed up my alley. I really loved Happy Death Day and time loop books in general. I really enjoyed the first half of the book. I thought Ruby and her friends were good characters with some complexity. There were some things about the second half of the book that weren’t as clear. It was hard to imagine some of the things that happened. I would check out other books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA thrillers!

This book hooked me from the start! Ruby is outed as the @reputationkiller on TikTok, an account she uses to expose the secrets of her fellow schoolmates and faculty. Making sure they get what they deserve... At least until she is outed, and the fact that all the rich kids in her school are out for blood, but she also has her own murdered ghost showing up at the most inopportune moments. She is not content to just show herself, but also getting physical.
There is no end to the number of suspects that could want to kill Ruby, that's to her TikTok, thankfully she has her besties Andre and Xavier to help her weed through the suspect and hopefully change her fate.

I loved Ruby's journey of self-discovery, investigating who of the many possibilities wants her dead, and the supernatural aspect totally freaked me out. I loved her relationship with her friends and the new friendship she found while in the middle of the worst time of her life. This was a ton of fun from beginning to end, with a great spook factor, and moments that had me on the edge of my seat I will definitely be checking out this author's other books. I've already got Flight 171 in my Amazon cart!

If you want a teen slasher that is truly, absolutely brutal...you've got it. I kept waiting for the turn that people would survive or be near-misses, but nope...there's a lot of death, betrayal, and violence in this book. I was shocked, and then completely hooked so I couldn't stop reading and stayed up too late.

Ruby is a scholarship student at a fancy school in a town that is very haves versus have nots; she's got two best friends, Xavier and Anton, who are a couple but she's never the third wheel. Ruby runs in expose tiktok called reputation killer...and gets outed as the person running the account, but it's the least of her problems because she's also started seeing her own very brutally murdered ghost. So Ruby knows she's going to die and has to figure out how to stop it...

And that's when it actually gets complicated. Ruby is a mess with good intentions and the lack of forethought that is so wildly accurate of a young adult.

The ghost is also scary - while some of it's appearances feel familiar from horror movies, there are a couple that made me flinch while reading. That's some well done writing.

A perfect mix of ghost horror and slasher, with a splash of thriller, once I was hooked I really enjoyed this. It does start off a little slow as the world is introduced and it almost felt like it couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be, but once it really hits its stride you won't be able to put it down.

I absolutely loved the pace of the book, for me this kept it exciting, the characters were great and I found it quick and easy to read.

This book was great! It kept my attention and I struggled trying to figure out what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed it, was fast paced and interesting.