Ichaso’s ‘We Were Warned’ brings about a modern YA thriller that centers around a creepy local lore curse. This novel was a good mix of twists and suspense but also a really nice easy read with great plot pacing.
My only note would be that there is a large rush at the beginning where a lot of the cast is introduced simultaneously but after that I eased into the story and the writing successfully immersed me into the mystery. I liked that I didn’t foresee or guess a lot of the twists and for a YA thriller it kept me intrigued until the very end.

We Were Warned is an edge-of-your-seat thriller set around an abandoned beach resort. This is a multi-layered story, full of murder, creepy vibes, teenage angst and whodunits. I found the story interesting and suspenseful, with a healthy dose of mystery and intrigue.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

This started out as a fast-paced thriller but unfortunately ended up being more non-sensical than entertaining. The writing was cheesy and repetitive and it took away from the enjoyment of the overall story. The characters were flat and uninteresting. I can see a younger YA readers maybe enjoying this, but any seasoned thiller reader can skip it.

This was really fun! It was genuinely very scary in some parts which i was not expecting. The atmosphere is really well done and really adds to the spookiness. I quite liked Eden, she was very compassionate and also pretty badass. Her banter with Caleb was really fun, and I liked that even though she was starting to see people differently, she still stood up for herself and didn't let them walk all over her.
There were some good twists in here, especially the epilogue??? That was truly wild, especially when you pair it with the prologue. I'm glad Eden got her happy ending (mostly), but i do wish the ending had a little more clarity on some characters (cough- Victoria- cough).
Overall I think this was a really good thriller/mystery, and I definitely had to stop reading it at night more than once because it was freaking me out.

This was a fast-paced mystery with a chilling curse and a haunting atmosphere. The teenage drama and angst were a bit much at times, distracting from the plot. I love a good YA novel, but this was one of the few times I felt that I would have enjoyed it more had I been the intended audience. While I predicted some of the reveals, this was still enjoyable and a bit intense at times. Three and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire, for this ARC.

We Were Warned was an excellent read with an intriguing mystery surrounding an abandoned beach resort.

Eden Stafford has heard about the legend of Fairport Village all of her life and how anyone who sets foot on the property is cursed to die. But then Eden finds herself agreeing to help a film student with a project about the legend and that means going to the resort. After a student is found dead on the property and the police rule the death an accident, Eden knows she saw something suspicious at the ruins. But the only other people who agree with her are the people who have made her life hell for years. Can Eden really trust that they'll help her find the truth?

We Were Warned opens with Eden arriving at Fairport Village to help Henry De Rossi with his documentary about the legend of the resort. Before the end of the night a student from the high school is found dead on the property and Eden is sure the death isn't an accident like the police say it is. The premise of this one sounded like so much fun and I was curious to see how the whole curse thing would end up playing out. Eden ends up having to work with the group of students that have been tormenting her for years to find the truth as they were with her when something strange happened before the discovery of the body.

The students Eden is working with are Caleb Durham, Jameson O'Sullivan, Diego Rodriguez, and Victoria Whitlock. Initially she doesn't trust them at all and has a hard time agreeing to work with them to figure out what happened. After someone else dies, the group becomes worried they could be targeted next and they put aside their differences to figure out what happened at Fairport Village. At this point I had a few ideas of who was behind the deaths of the students and I was interested to see how Eden and the others would figure out who was responsible. The suspense picks up as the book goes on and the ending where the group confronts the person responsible is fantastically done. I was surprised by who ended up being behind everything and I was happy with how the situation played out.

Overall We Were Warned was a great read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for an interesting mystery.

We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso follows a group of teenagers who are investigating suspicious deaths, believing it links back to a curse of a horrific murder that happened many years prior.

I loved the premise of a curse, and was excited to see where it would end up. My main concern with the book was how many characters were being introduced in such a short amount of time, I had a difficult time trying to keep everyone straight. Additionally, I found the budding romance to really distract from the premise of solving the murders.

However, I did find the mystery itself to be interesting and it's what kept me turning each page. I would definitely recommend it for someone who likes supernatural-esque elements with a dash of horrific murders.

Creepy beach ruins, a curse saying whoever trespasses there will die by the hands of the ghost of a mother who killed her son, and multiple deaths that occurred there? I definitely would not want to visit, especially at night, but I can see how it would become a high school senior tradition, a rite of passage. This novel was wonderfully creepy and I could really feel the spooky vibes in the ruins and also the suspense as the group of teens races to uncover the truth before the killer or ghost strikes again. Lots of red herrings and twists that kept me guessing and it was nice to not know if it was a ghost, a mad sister, someone or something else. And though I got a little annoyed by how people treated Eden for her father's actions and how she built a high wall, her interactions with Caleb were cute (once everything was cleared up between them). The author did a good job of making the stakes high, with being unafraid of killing people off, or having them be injured. It wrapped up nicely too with a climax of blood and diabolical reasons, plus that extra last bit was totally unexpected but good.

The book was a good, spooky read and I am glad I got the chance to read it.

‘We were warned’ is a fast paced, easy to read YA thriller where a group of high school seniors is investigating the mysterious accident/murder of one of their classmates. Throw in an abandoned beach resort and a curse, and you get a creepy and atmospheric story with enough twists to keep you hooked. In real teenager style, there is also an enemy to lover romance. Our main character, Eden Stafford, hasn’t had an easy life but that only made her stronger and braver. She trusts nobody and is used to taking things into her own hand. I was routing for her the whole time. Every twist and turn had me thinking about what could possibly happen next. The action-packed end had me completely at the edge of my seat.
I liked the writing, the plot was nicely worked out, the characters well developed. A great suspenseful novel for young adults and coming of age readers.
I’m not usually reading YA but I truly enjoyed this book. It is a perfect combination of mystery, high school drama and paranormal suspense. I’m looking forward to exploring more from this author.
I would like to thank Netgalley. Sourcebooks Fire and Miss Chelsea Ichaso for gifting me a free advance copy. The above is my own opinion and honest review.

If Chelsea writes it I’m here for it.

This town and these people are kind of the worst. And was I the only one traumatized by Henry’s death? I mean he was in the book for like 3 seconds but man, I grieved him and what I thought his character would be.

Anyways. Eden sometimes I wanted to scream at and sometimes scream with.

And Caleb? Was I the only one swooning from the beginning? But ugh. Others girls. Some boys are clueless. I know he means well but geez.

The plots keep twisting and I kept guessing (wrong mostly)!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

i really enjoyed this !! i love me a good ya thriller and i did like this i was a bit bored at some parts but it would then pick up and i’d really enjoy it again.

I loved the friend dynamic and the characters parents i wish we got more insight into the parents at the beginning of the book I feel as though that would’ve gripped me more but i would definitley recommend

We were warned about this place. People who go there die. Now, they’re finally bulldozing it into dust. So, what should we do? Well, it wouldn’t be a story if we didn’t go—obviously!

This YA thriller delivers all the teenage angst and hubris you’d expect. Our protagonist, an already anxious teen with a past that has kept her from making many friends, joins her classmates—including her biggest tormentor—on an overnight camping trip to the one place they’ve all been warned to avoid. And, of course, someone dies. Who could have seen that coming? But finding a dead body is only the beginning.

Reading this as an adult, I had my fair share of eye-roll moments. The characters make classic bad decisions, and the drama sometimes feels over the top. But I still enjoyed it. The pacing kept me turning the pages, and the mystery, while predictable in some places, had enough twists to keep me engaged. The writing is immersive, if occasionally melodramatic, and the story captures that mix of recklessness and vulnerability that defines adolescence.

I debated whether to review this from the perspective of its target audience, but then I remembered Stephen King’s take on YA literature: there really is no YA literature—just literature that features young people. If a story is good, it’s for everyone. And this one? As a preteen, I probably would have loved it. As an adult, I liked it, even if I saw some of the twists coming from a mile away. So, for what it is—a fast-paced, eerie, and dramatic thriller—it delivers.

We Were Warned was a fast paced mystery that kept me on my toes. I loved the little beach town setting filled with secrets and mysteries and there were certainly a lot of unexpected turns. I can say I wasn't expecting who the killers were and the twist at the end was really well done! It definitely gave teenaged sleuth vibes and I enjoyed how all the characters worked together to solve the mystery and uncover some very dirty secrets. At times the story was gritty and I always appreciate that in a YA book. Anyone who loves beach/small town mysteries that just uncover more and more are going to enjoy this book!

Oh this kept me entertained. I was hooked immediately. I love the innocent romance. Can't trust that boy but you want to. The other stuff is good too.

It's confirmed. I will follow Chelsea Ichaso anywhere she takes me. WE WERE WARNED is just another example of how great this author is at writing a smart, twisty thriller. This was a fast paced, unique YA mystery that had me fully invested and turning pages from the get-go & that ending? LOVED!

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*We Were Warned* is a visually striking, politically charged work that blends bold imagery with a direct narrative. Ichaso's art not only illustrates but also reinforces her urgent socio-political message, making for an immersive, thought-provoking experience.

The book's clear, unapologetic tone serves as a rallying cry, addressing modern issues head-on. While its powerful visuals and timely themes are compelling, the directness can sometimes feel heavy-handed, with less focus on character depth.

Overall, it's a bold call to awareness—ideal for readers who appreciate a confrontational and visually dynamic take on contemporary challenges, though its approach might not appeal to everyone.

This was my first read by author Chelsea Ichaso, and being a YA book, outside my usual genre. I really enjoyed the dimensions in this story, past/present, enemies to crush, finding the truth, etc. The story definitely had multiple aspects that would translate well on the big screen! The pacing was on point and with enough suspense to keep the reader wanting more. I highly recommend this to those that enjoy YA without any restrictions. Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for this arc!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Chelsea Ichaso for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for We Were Warned coming out March 4, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoy this author. She writes a lot of interesting spooky stories. I really love the first half of the book. I thought there was a lot of mystery. I think something went in a different direction than I was thinking. However, I thought Eden was an interesting character. She had a lot of things that she went through. I would say this was more on the YA side of things. I would definitely read more books by the author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA mysteries.

Anything that contains a documentary is right up my alley. So, the premise really hooked me. This was such a creepy and atmospheric read, and I truly flew through it. I was so compelled by the sense of dread and unease that permeated the story. I love a good YA thriller and this really scratched an itch for me. With a great setting, characters and plot, this story was a wonderful and fast read.

We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso is an intense and creepy atmospheric read! A YA thriller that definitely had me hooked!

Twenty years ago a murder shut down Fairpoint Village, a little beach resort town. Since then the property has been abandoned and rumored to be haunted. Now when Eden decides to help a classmate film a documentary about Fairpoint Village, the senior party falls on the same night. But instead of fun times and shooting scenes for the documentary, a classmate of Edens ends up dead. While the police are quick to call it an accident and close the case, Eden knows there's much more to it than that. Can Eden and a group of her former friends figure out the truth of what really happened that night, or will Eden be left alone to chase a killer by herself?

This was such a creepy but well written book! I absolutely found it impossible to put down. I really liked the sense of unease and dread that was prevalent throughout the entire novel. Filled with tension and twists this is definitely a YA thriller book that I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Chelsea Ichaso, and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC. Publication date is March 4th 2025.