This had everything that I was looking for in a horror genre, I loved that the cover was mysterious and I wasn’t sure what I was going into. It was great and I enjoyed the use of someone with horror movie knowledge. The characters were wonderfully done and I enjoyed the horror elements to this story. NoNieqa Ramos has a great writing style and I enjoyed the overall concept for this book and can’t wait to read more.

I DNF'ed this book.
I didn't really feel connected to the story or the characters. I had no idea how to picture the characters and their personalities.
I also didn't really understand what was happening at the beginning so I started out the book confused and continuing it, I was still confused.
It was a good idea and effort but the execution was, unfortunately, not great.

This book was okay. I liked the premise but felt the writing could've been stronger and more clear. I felt lost in several places and almost DNF.

Dive into 'They Thought They Buried Us' by NoNieqa Ramos for a journey that'll keep you glued to the page. This book is like nothing I've ever read before, and I loved every second of it. It's amazing and horrifying all in one. Yuiza's story isn't just gripping; it's eye-opening. Ramos seamlessly weaves in horror with real-life issues, creating a narrative that's as chilling as it is thought-provoking.

As Yuiza's journey unfolds, you'll find yourself hooked from the start, racing through the pages to uncover the truth alongside her. Each revelation sends shivers down your spine, both from the suspenseful horror and the stark exploration of race, identity, and privilege. Ramos masterfully blends elements of horror with a narrative that pulses with adrenaline, leaving you on the edge of your seat and prompting reflection long after the final page is turned.

I couldn't put it down and can't wait to see what Ramos does next. If you're after a read that's both thrilling and thought-provoking, this is it.

I can't say enough great things about this book. I have never been so stressed out by a thriller to the point that I questioned whether I would have to DNF because the feelings it evoked were so overwhelming. However, I knew that choice would only be too in line with the actions of the oppressors throughout this story. And while this is fiction, it is so closely interwoven with reality that to look away from this story would only contribute to the violence it describes. This story is horrific, unsettling, and disturbingly close to reality. However, I really appreciate the way that the author showed the strength of the characters, their cultures, and the communities they create to survive. This story is not only pain and sorrow, it is also a testament to the courage it takes to keep fighting, even when you don't want to, because it's the only choice you have other than to be erased.

I will be posting reviews to StoryGraph, TikTok, and Fable closer to publication date.

I really liked the premise of the book, but the writing style and a lot of the slang/references just felt too young, so this was a DNF for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"They Thought They Buried Us" by NoNieqa Ramos is a YA horror novel that is extremely unique, both with the plot as well as with the general formatting. Parts of the book are formatted like a movie script, which works with the main character’s aspirations, and I really liked how the author was willing to take risks with the plot, formatting, and even the language used throughout the book.

The story follows Yuiza, a future filmmaker who receives a diversity scholarship to an elite boarding school, only to find herself burdened with debt and subjected to grueling work-study conditions alongside other scholars of color. As Yuiza begins experiencing haunting dreams of her mother and aunt being mistreated at the same school, she is driven to uncover the truth behind these visions and confront the systemic injustices at play.

As stated earlier, Ramos employs a unique writing style, blending traditional prose with elements of a horror movie script, including scene headings and dialogue formatting. While this approach may not appeal to everyone (it took me a bit to get used to this formatting), it adds an innovative layer to the storytelling. It really worked to enhance tension and to establish an appropriate atmosphere throughout the story. My favorite part of the book was the atmosphere and the different horror elements; they kept me engaged throughout.

The ending is definitely the most unique part of the book that may not work for everyone, but I really appreciated the risk Ramos ran with this specific type of ending. It’s one I have never encountered before in a YA book, and it’s an ending that will stick with me for quite while, mainly because the ending was essentially open-ended with a “choose your own adventure” vibe with different plot twists. Again, it’s something I have never encountered before, and I actually enjoyed this type of ending!

In addition to the horror elements, "They Thought They Buried Us" offers commentary on issues of race, identity, and privilege, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about white saviorism and systemic oppression. This aspect of the book created a layer of complexity to the plot, which made me enjoy it even more.

I will say that getting into this book was challenging, both with the unique formatting and because of the language being used in the book. The book incorporates a lot of Spanish dialogue as well as modern slang, and it took me awhile to get adjusted to these language choices, especially when I was reading Yuiza’s inner thoughts. Additionally, the book's pacing and characterization felt a bit uneven at times, with plot holes and unresolved threads detracting from the overall impact of the story.

Overall, "They Thought They Buried Us" is a very unique story that focuses on both horror and social commentary, and I definitely can’t wait to read more unique creations from Ramos.

I think my primary issue with this book is how it read a lot like a first draft. Yuiza's inner monologue was often irritating and the pacing felt uneven and choppy, some characters and topics being established and then forgotten until they were of use again. I feel this way about the whole premise, about Yuiza and their love of horror movies, nothing is really explored beyond a base level. I'd be curious about Yuiza's relation with gender, about how the other work study/scholarship students feel, about Yuiza's relationships with her friend and on and on and on.

I did appreciate the ambiguous endings and the style of the book how it had callbacks to movie scripts, but I do wish that was stronger and Yuiza's connection to movies was elaborated on further. I think this whole story can be summarized in that it had potential and ideas that were all there, but they weren't meshed together, so it was more like eating a cake when the ingredients hadn't been mixed properly.

I thought this book was just ok. I wanted to like it but found myself at times struggling to figure out what was going on in the scenes. Also, the kindle version of this was not pretty, there were multiple pages for items that did not fit in one screen. The ending though was unique in where you could use your own interpretation. With all the user comments I think this book can be a 5 star, it needs a little more flow and plot.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book!!

I enjoyed this book, but it may not be for everyone. A basic understanding of some Spanish was helpful in understanding certain conversations and inner thoughts. It is written with screenplay directions, felt different, and I didn't mind, but it might not work for all readers. I did figure out what was going on pretty early in the book, so the mystery didn't hit for me as hard as it could have.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this early copy for my review.

This book is okay. I almost stopped at the very beginning because the language was so "woke". The story line had TONS of plot holes. It was very confusing at the end where you chose your own ending, but none of the endings made any sense. It ended abruptly and did not let us know if any character was okay. It was definitely not a horror novel.

A fascinating tale of intrigue and despair against a dark academia background. An excellent read for fans of horror, suspense, and mystery.

I usually don't like to say “for fans of blah blah blah”, but this YA horror by NoNieqa Ramos definitely will appeal to lovers of Jordan Peele’s movies of which I am one! You will scream “Get Out, Yuiza!” as you madly pour through every page of They Thought They Buried Us.


Future film maker Yuiza gets a diversity scholarship to an elite boarding school that is a pipeline to the Ivies, but like the other scholars of color, she quickly racks up debt on everyday essentials forcing them into a work study program with grueling hours and insulting conditions.


Yuiza begins having dreams about her mother and tias as children being severely mistreated at the very same campus. What do these dreams mean and how can she beat a rigged system?


Parts of the writing is formatted like a horror movie script: there are scene headings, voice overs, dialogue, character names in all caps, parenthetical. There are also a lot of humorous moments. I got a kick out of Yuiza mentally charging offending adults and students for their microaggressions. Let’s just say if it was real money, she would be a millionaire. The novel drips with social commentary about white saviorism (be grateful for this opportunity we gave you) and race relations.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me early access to this YA thriller.

This novel was not for me. Unfortunately I found the writing to be juvenile and incomplete. I couldn’t make it past the first 30+ pages.