📖: You're Dead to Me-a standalone

✍️ By: Amy Christine Parker-new to me author

📃 Page Count: 361 eBook

🗓️ Publication Date: 12-10-24 | Read 12-3-24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children| Delacorte Press, and Amy Christine Parker for this ARC ❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

🌎Setting: Oleander Bay, FL

Genre: YA, Mystery, Horror

Tropes: revenge plot, small town, ghosts, dark academia

☝🏾POV: 1st person, single

⚠️TW: murder, bullying, serial killer, blackmail

💭Summary: Ruby is out to expose the misdeeds of the elite. She anonymously posts about the town's wealthiest families and their dark secrets. She wants justice from all their coverups and payoffs, but when she's exposed the town turns against her as she tries to foil a murder plot.

🚺Heroine: Ruby Tooler-18, scholarship student @ Oleander Bay Academy runs anonymous gossip blog "Reputation Killer" about the town elites' bad deeds. Her family runs Wonderpark resort for tourists included with an alligator pit.

🎭Side cast:

•Anton + Xavier-Ruby's BFFs, dating each other

• Magnus Bennett-part of school's most popular, wealthy, and entitled students of the "Bling Brigade." His father is a divorce lawyer Phillip Bennett

• Alexander Duquette-Ruby's crush who defends her against bullying. His parents own The Duquette social club where he lives alone.

•Nadine-Ruby's mother owns restaurant Nadine's Place @ Wonderpark. Ruby's biological father was a one-night stand that caused Nadine's divorce from her abusive husband, Stephen. She has a new boyfriend Hunter already moved in, who wants her to sell the park.

• Daphne-Alexander just broke up w/ her, but she still wants him. Her parents are Lizze and Ethan Cartwright.

• Detective Lombardo-investigating the Mannequin Man case


🤔My Thoughts: This gave off movie vibes from Heathers, Scream, and a little Carrie. Ruby uncovered Oleander's top-notch citizens' secrets that hurt people who didn't get justice. She was an amateur sleuth who saw first-hand the devastation of her actions. Magnus went through a lot with his father, and didn't deserve what happened to him. Daphne was a sympathetic character too because her family was ruined by scandal. Ruby's friends Alexander, Anton, and Xavier stuck with her through everything, and I loved the YA romance. Ruby and her mother's relationship went through it too because Ruby hated the men Nadine dated, and rightly so!

Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄
🌶️: Spice 1/5-kissing only
😭: Emotion 4/5
❤️: Couple 4/5
⭐️: Rating 4/5

After being outed as the anonymous blogger who has ruined the reputations of many of the elite students at her Florida prep school, Ruby faces more than just the animosity of her peers. She is being haunted by herself-a ghost from the future-complete with torn and bloody prom dress. She's racing against time to try to solve what might happen to her before prom--all while dealing with an unsolved murder spree happening in her community. An interesting premise for a fast0-moving mystery. Hand this to fans of Tiffany D. Jackson or even Stephen King.

This is the story of Ruby, who has a business of ruining people's reputations. We follow her as she makes her last "hit" and then starts seeing supernatural things.
I think that there are going to be many people who love this book but it will definitely not be for everyone. I think that the characters are decently fleshed out, but at 33% in I am fed up with Ruby and the ways she is willing to put herself and her friends in danger.

Thank you, NetGalley and Delacorte Press, for allowing me to read this book early.

This story had a lot going on. This was entertaining and initially I was really enjoying it, but there was just so much happening that nothing really got the screen time it needed. As the story progressed, there was just so much happening that it made me disinterested in the characters and what was going on. I think that if the author focused in on a few major things that they wanted to talk about/have happen, then the narrative and plot would be much more compelling and keep you hooked through to the end.

This was a super entertaining YA Horror, it felt like Gossip Girl meets Scream. A lot of it felt a bit unrealistic but that's not unusual for this genre so it didn't bother me. I really liked the alligator amusement park!

This is a fantastic YA mystery! The setting of the Everglades is almost its own character, it’s very vibrant and creates an even stronger sense of tension, as the swamp plays into the mystery. I also liked the horror element woven into the piece, alongside the typical YA mystery tropes. The Wonderpark was also a unique and interesting setting that I really enjoyed.

The pacing and twists were well-done, and while I guessed one of them, I didn’t guess the other. I do always love being surprised!! I also thought Ruby was an engaging and interesting main character, and I enjoyed the take on the prep school environment.

I would say that some of the side characters did not feel very well-defined, despite playing a significant role in the story. I also thought there were some dropped threads, particularly surrounding Ruby’s past and the loss of her grandparents. I also felt that more threads could have been pulled together at the end. Overall though, this is tense and spooky and engaging. If you like other such YA mystery authors like Holly Jackson and Karen McManus, you’ll really like this book!!

This book is a crazy ride. I love Ruby. Having her being faced by her ghost throughout the story adds a dynamic spooky feeling and has some lovely foreshadowing. Ruby is just a unique character so true to who she is and someone who wants justice for those she deems have wronged others no matter the cost. What I love is that throughout the story Ruby finally sees that not every story is one-sided. Readers are going to get swept away by this story and I can’t wait to recommend it.
Thank you so very much to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for allowing me read an advance copy of this title.

I need to figure out where to begin; this book was a wild ride from start to finish. Ruby Toller begins seeing her dead ghost everywhere. She's unsure why but is determined to figure it out and stop it all costs along with her best friends Anton and Xavier. I loved their friendship. Its beautiful 🥰they provided Ruby with some much-needed laughter when things were getting tough. There were so many players in this scheme that you can't help but wonder if any other clues were missed. Alexander was a really lovely addition to Ruby's friend group, and I loved that he was so open with his feelings and didn't hesitate to help whenever he could.

That one secret revealed towards the end was not something I had expected, but I had a slight suspicion about it.

Thanks to the Publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read this story!

Thank you NetGalley! I loved the premise of this book, what a different kind of story. It started out great and kept me entertained. But it fell flat with too much going on. I didn’t totally love the paranormal parts as much

“I’d rather be underwater right now. ”
Here are reasons to read the YA Horror book:

Truth Revealer - Ruby runs a social media account exposing the elite’s appalling secrets
Vision - A week before prom she is visited by a vision of her own ghost the foretells her death in 7 days
Revealed - Shortly after, her identity of a truth revealer is exposed
Serial Killer - and a serial killer named Mannequin Man is terrorizing her city

This book was a fast paced, enjoyable thrillery romp of horror. Plus, it takes place in Florida at a place that sounds suspiciously like it was based on Gatorland. IYKYK. There is a slight paranormal aspect to this due to the ghost sighting, but everything else is very plausible. Ruby has a really cool and supportive group of friends that doesn’t bat an eye when they hear about her visions, and do everything in the power to risk themselves to make it not come true. The mystery is also very well told, and I never really guessed what was happening. If you like YA Horror books, this is for you.

4⭐️

As a scholarship student, Ruby doesn't fit in at the elite Oleander High School. That's why she started the anonymous ReputationKiller TikTok account that exposes the misdeeds of her rich classmates and teachers. But when she's outed as the owner of the account, the town turns on her. While dealing with the fall out, Ruby begins to start seeing her own ghost, dressed in a ballgown covered in blood. She soon realizes that someone in their coastal town doesn't just hate her, but wants her dead.

I really loved the Gossip Girl vibes with a paranormal twist of this book. Sure, at times it's highly unbelievable that Ruby ran this successful anonymous account because she was awful at sneaking and keeping secrets and it was wild that there was a serial killer just killing people in broad daylight that no one seemed to be able to identify. But it just felt more like an episode of Pretty Little Liars than anything else, especially since the teenagers were just running wild and living alone with no one really paying attention.

I loved the way Ruby fought so hard to help her mom keep their family business open and her relationship with the animals in their rescue. I also loved how close she was with Anton and Xavier and how they immediately believed her when she said she saw her own ghost. All around, this book gave me the suspense that I love as well as allowing me to suspend some belief in what's possible.

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for providing this ARC to me!

I like the premise of this book, but I found the execution overly chaotic. There’s a lot going on, and I just found myself increasingly disinterested in the story and characters.

I want to start this review by thanking the publisher and author for allowing me to read an arc of You're Dead To Me.

This book is perfect if you loved Scooby Doo. The characters were loveable from the beginning, but there was great character growth from the fmc. There was lbgtq+ representation from 2 loveable sidekicks. I enjoyed the writing from the start and was at the edge of my seat for most of the book. Although I had some theories of my own, I was surprised in the end. I also really enjoyed the paranormal elements in the book. I think this book would be perfect for anyone who likes YA thrillers, especially during spooky season. I would recommend this book 100%.

I just finished You're Dead to Me by Amy Christine Parker, and it was such a wild ride! This book is a perfect mix of mystery, suspense, and a bit of supernatural flair that kept me hooked from the start.

The story follows Ruby, a high school senior who runs an anonymous gossip account. Things take a dark turn when she starts seeing her own ghost, dressed in a blood-splattered prom dress, warning her that someone wants her dead. With prom just around the corner, Ruby has to figure out who’s behind the threats before it’s too late.

What I loved most about this book was Ruby’s character. She’s strong, witty, and relatable, dealing with the pressures of high school while trying to uncover the truth. The friendships she has with her best friends add a great dynamic to the story, and their adventures made me laugh and cheer for them.

The pacing is fast, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing. Parker does an amazing job of building suspense, and I found myself on the edge of my seat, especially as the prom night approached.

If you enjoy a thrilling read with a touch of humor and a strong female lead, You're Dead to Me is definitely worth checking out! Have you read it yet? I’d love to hear what you think!

You're Dead to Me is being compared to Happy Death Day by the publisher and honestly that's what drew me in. I LOVE Happy Death Day. Alas, You're Dead to Me is not like Happy Death Day.

Ruby is a social outcast at her local high school. Little do they know she's the person behind a local reputation killing twitter account. When her identity is released, all hell breaks loose. It doesn't help that there is a masked murderer in her community killing people at random. Oh also, she's seeing a ghost version of her future self dressed in a prom dress who's very much DEAD. How can Ruby stop her own upcoming murder when she doesn't know who's trying to kill her? Is it he masked murderer? It is someone coming for revenge for what Ruby wrote online? She's only got a couple days to solve the mystery before her time is up.

Whereas Happy Death Day is repeating the same day over and over again to solve the murder of the female protagonist, Ruby is tasked with solving her future murder. We don't see any flashforwards to how she died so it's very different in that aspect. There were too many things going on in the novel, but everything didn't necessarily stick. Yes some of it is predictable, I did guess who the killer was, but that didn't completely ruin my reading experience. I wish Parker didn't try to put so much into this novel. I think it could have worked better for me.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

I saw "Happy Death Day" and "Gossip Girl" and immediately requested this. I would actually say this more closely resembles the show, School Spirits. I really enjoyed Ruby, she was fun and interesting to follow. I found myself excited to get through this one to find out what really happened on Prom night. Definitely recommend lovers of YA and paranormal check this one out.

totally dramatic. totally thrilling. totally fun. very interesting book with a LOT less supernatural that i'd guess from the description of the ghostly figure. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I couldn't wait until Prom Day happened! This book kept me interested in reading quicker than I normally do. I started to wonder why certain scenes weren't more graphically detailed, then I realized I was reading a YA thriller. I enjoyed a couple of the 80s references that some young adult readers may not get. The story was well written and I really enjoyed all the characters. I did figure out one twist, but the rest were just that, "twisty." Kudos on a great read!

ARC Review!!!

Ruby is a high school outcast and anonymous social media gossip, who comes face-to-face with her own ghost dressed in a blood-splattered prom dress. With less than a week until the dance, Ruby must unmask her killer—or die trying.

Ruby is a scholarship senior at elite Oleander High School with a chip on her shoulder and an attitude to match—which she puts to good use as the infamous local anonymous gossip blogger ReputationKiller. When she’s outed as the voice behind the account, the entire town turns against her.

But after she’s scared witless by a vision of her own ghost dressed in a blood-splattered prom dress, she is faced with an awful truth. Someone out there doesn’t just hate her—they want her dead.

With less than a week until the prom, Ruby starts investigating. Turns out Oleander Bay isn’t the picture-perfect resort town it purports to be. With so many secrets, scandals, and people hell-bent on covering them up at all costs, the murderer could be anyone. Can Ruby beat the clock counting down to prom—and her death—and survive the night?

This was such a fun read! A lot of death happening but such a good read! It flowed nicely and didn't feel overly long. I love the layout of it and the build up to prom night. Prom night is thought of such a fun night in high school but this anticipation of whether Ruby will die or not is something else. Didn't see the twist coming, it well really well done. The hint of romance is everything!
3 stars!

This book is for readers who are a fan of the One of Us is Lying series and Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. If you enjoy YA horror, high school drama and the paranormal - this is a novel you will for sure want to pick up. I enjoyed the investigation into the Mannequin Murderer and the reputation killer investigations, but I was not a big fan of the main character. The end was also all over the place as the author tried to close all story lines and tie it all together. There were many characters so I felt like it got a bit convoluted at the end.