This had the usual plot points for a YA thriller - small town murder and a tight knit friend group recently fallen apart trying to mend their relationship and solve a mystery together. The storyline was decent and the twist was pretty good. I think if you are a big fan of YA thrillers, you'll find this to be enjoyable.

Absolutely love a YA thriller/ murder mystery so as soon as I saw this cover I knew I had to pick it up. Thank you to the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC. I felt like I was guessing who done it alongside the main character Eden and her friends. Haven’t read any of Chelsea’s books before but definitely will be looking for some more titles.

Thank you again netgalley and to the publishers.

Eden is on the outs with all of her former friends after a falling out among their parents. When Eden visits the local abandoned resort that was shut down after a murder years ago, she intends to help her classmate Henry with a documentary. But when a classmate ends up dead and rumors fly, Eden is thrown into a mystery that quickly spirals out of control.

We Were Warned starts off very slowly, but has a lot of great suspense and murder once it finally gets going. I think there are students who will stick with it long enough for the big reveal, but ultimately, I think it moves too slowly for a lot of our mystery readers.

I’m a total sucker for YA thrillers! This did not disappoint. I loved the curse/witchcraft aspect of it as well! The twists kept coming & those last two blew me away! I loved the pacing & the friend group. This was a quick read & I really enjoyed it! Thanks for the ability to read early in exchange for my honest review!

Eden Stafford is ready to enter her Senior year of high school, but before school starts, she finds herself at Fairport Village, the creepy ruins on the outskirts of town. Fairport Village is known for a murder that happened twenty years ago, but it’s become the spot for upcoming Seniors overnight party, even though two other students have been murdered there in the past. When Henry, the student Eden is helping film at the ruins, becomes the newest victim, she must work with a group of fellow students that used to be her friends, but became her tormentors following a scandal involving her father, to find out what is happening at Fairport Village.

We Were Warned is a fast-paced, YA thriller with just the right amount of suspense and twists. Ichaso’s writing is very straightforward and it was easy to follow the story. I really enjoyed the whole setting of the book…a spooky deserted tourist area, unexplained murders, stereotypical high school students, and a supernatural feel to the mystery.

Eden was a strong main character, and I enjoyed having the story told from her POV. She has been ostracized from her group of childhood friends, because of a business deal gone bad with her father and his partners. Unfortunately, she now has to trust her ex-friends, as they investigate the murders, while protecting one another from becoming the next victim. I also enjoyed the love interest story line, with Eden’s former friend Caleb, and not knowing if he was 100% trust-worthy during the story.

The mystery in the story develops really well. I did figure out the murderer earlier in the book, but there were some other surprising twists that I didn’t expect, revealed at the end of the book. I also loved the creepy, paranormal feel that Ichaso brings to the book, and not knowing if the murders are being committed by a person or supernatural forces. The ending of the book is also the perfect wrap up, that connects what happened 20 years ago with the family that lived at Fairport Village with the present day story line.

I definitely recommend We Were Warned if you love creepy small towns, untrustworthy characters, a suspenseful atmosphere, and teenagers who have to work together to solve a town mystery.

Chelsea Ichaso’s We Were Warned is a gripping thriller packed with twists, suspense, and a chilling sense of foreboding. With a tightly woven plot and a cast of flawed, intriguing characters, the story keeps readers guessing until the final shocking revelation. Perfect for fans of dark secrets and psychological tension, this novel will have you turning pages late into the night. A must-read for thriller enthusiasts!

I usually love this author's works but this one just really did not connect with me. I felt like it took forever to get started and the characters we not that likeable. I am kind of disappointed and really wished I liked it more.

Eden Stafford has faced her share of ridicule, having fallen on the wrong side of the it crowd at school. She volunteers to help a classmate videotape for his documentary at the notorious Fairport Village, where a curse of death is said to follow all who enter there due to a notorious murder there. Over the years it has claimed additional victims, and while Eden is dreading attending due to the popular crowd, she needs the money and is determined to go. When another death occurs, Eden is committed to finding out what has really been happening all these years.

This book wasn’t my favorite. I found parts of it a bit confusing and the premise was much more interesting than the execution. Because of this, I rate it three stars, an average YA thriller.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

"We Were Warned" by Chelsea Ichaso was a fun, simple YA adult thriller, that I read quickly. The story is quite interesting, the plot twists are really shocking (some definitely more than others!), and it's nice. I do think that at some points the story is a bit monotone and the characters are not as fleshed out as they could, with the secondary characters feeling very two-dimensional - it might be a personal choice due to Eden's first-person narration but it doesn't work so well for the reader, I would argue. I enjoyed the small surprise at the end and how open-ended it felt, as it was for the reader to decide what is the truth according to them. So, overall, a quick, easy and fun read, but lacking dimensionality of characters. I would read more books from Chelsea Ichaso, though. Thank you so much NetGallet and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for this arc!

“We Were Warned” by Chelsea Ichaso, is a book with potential, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights it aims for. The story starts with a compelling hook, weaving a mysterious warning into the plot that hints at an intense and thrilling ride. However, as the narrative unfolds, the suspense fizzles out, and what could have been a gripping tale turns into a fairly predictable sequence of events.

The characters are functional but not particularly memorable. They serve their roles in the story, but their personalities and motivations often feel shallow or underdeveloped. The protagonist has moments of intrigue, but these are overshadowed by repetitive inner monologues that slow the pacing. Secondary characters, while present, don’t add much depth to the overall story.

Ichaso’s writing style is clear and accessible, but it leans heavily on exposition, leaving less room for the atmospheric tension the premise promises. The settings are described adequately, though they lack the immersive detail that could have elevated the suspenseful tone. Key scenes that should have been nail-biting instead feel rushed, leaving readers wanting more buildup and payoff.

While We Were Warned has a few bright spots—occasional twists that catch you off guard and a strong initial setup—it struggles to maintain momentum. Fans of light thrillers might find it an okay read, but it doesn’t stand out in a crowded genre. It’s not bad, but it’s not particularly great either—just somewhere in the middle.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Of course, all opinions are my own.

Read this one if you like suspenseful mysteries! A small-town tale featuring an old murder, supposedly solved, that seems to repeat itself every generation. Is it a paranormal event or something the police missed in the original case? Eden and her ex friends have seen the ghost-so they are trying put aside old grudges to solve the case before their deaths might be next. You’ll be guessing the identity the murderer right along with the characters. Nice twists at the end. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

It was just ok, I was a bit confused in the middle but the action had me in suspense! It’s always crazy to me how high school kids are always trying to solve murders before the detectives

First, thank you for allowing me to read this ARC.

I'm not big on the paranormal or supernatural, but it definitively has its place in this book. This book will leave you shaking your head because right up until the very end, you believe you know how it ends. The twist is nicely played out at the very end and it was an extremely satisfying ending.

Thank you to the publishers & Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance!

This book had me HOOKED. It contains twists and is very fast paced which I love and knew how to kept me reading right until the very end.

If you love thrillers then this book is definitely the one for you.

Once again thank you to NetGalley for choosing me to voice my thoughts on this book!

The plot for this book sounded like a thriller-y horror movie, so I knew I needed to read it. I'm a big fan of Chelsea's books ever since I read her debut, so, of course I would request it the minute I saw it!

A lore legend? Check. Kids partying at ruins at an abandoned beach resort where teens died years ago? Check. A new death while our MC is there? Check. Our MC and her friends being stalked by this possible mysterious killer? Double check! I'm in!!

This story absolutely hooked me from the beginning! It's faced-paced and the mystery with hints of horror in it really drew me in. I just love Chelsea's writing and the stories she comes up with and this was no exception. Her books are so easy to read and fun, and I was really rooting for the characters in this one. I loved Eden and Caleb. Really enjoyed the little romance sprinkled in it, too.

Will always recommend it :)

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks fire for the arc.

I’d have to give this a high 3.5 star rating rounded up to 4 for this young adult novel.
A story of a small town with a 20 year old murder that hangs over it with a curse. A group of teens search to find out what really happened 20 years prior and what is causing their friends deaths

20 years ago, a brutal murder shut down the beach resort. Since then, deadly legends have surrounded the crumbling ruins. When Eden attends a party there, she discovers a dead classmate. The death is ruled an accident, but soon, Eden and her bullies are being hunted by a killer. To survive, they need to uncover the dark secret of Fairport Village. Can she trust her enemies, or will she end up fighting for her life alone?

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After reading #TheSummerSheWentMissing, it was clear: #ChelseaIchaso is one of my top #AutoBuyAuthors. So, my expectations for her new #YAMysteryThriller We Were Warned were high... and let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed!

From the first page, this book pulls you into the eerie atmosphere of Fairport Village, an abandoned beach resort surrounded by #UrbanLegends and creepy secrets. Ichaso nails the balance between the idyllic small-town setting and a tense, gripping plot. The story unfolds like a puzzle, with every chapter offering new clues, suspects, and perfectly placed #redherrings, keeping the suspense high the whole time.

Eden is such a well-developed protagonist. Her personal backstory—a family scandal that made her an outsider—makes her relatable and complex. Watching her grow throughout the story is both believable and engaging. The dynamic between Eden and Caleb adds emotional depth to the plot. Caleb initially seems problematic because he’s friends with Eden’s bullies, but his character development is believable and heartfelt. Their romance strikes a good balance between suspense and emotional moments.

The side characters add to the story’s richness. Vic, the jealous "mean girl," seems stereotypical at first, but she gets some moments of depth that set her apart from typical YA antagonists.

What really stands out in this book is the perfect mix of mystery and horror. The supposed curse of Fairport Village creates some seriously creepy moments, and you’re left questioning whether supernatural forces are at play right until the end. The intense atmosphere Ichaso creates is chilling and fits the spooky setting perfectly.

The final showdown felt a bit too long for my taste, but the amazing plot twist made up for it big time.

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We Were Warned is a fast-paced, thrilling ride with clever twists and an intense atmosphere. Chelsea Ichaso proves once again that she knows how to keep readers hooked with a story that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

#ChelseaIchaso, I’m a bit of a mystery-thriller nerd and have practically studied the genre, so trust me when I say: you nailed it! Thanks for this amazing book—I can’t wait for your next one!

I was hooked from the first chapter! It definitely gave a spooky and eerie vibe. The story follows Eden as she investigates the murder of a classmate at Fairport Village. Eden has to work with a few other students who also saw something that night. This story has a lot of friendship drama, suspense and romance.



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

2.5 rounded up for YA. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was a pretty silly YA thriller with underdeveloped characters and not much depth. A quick spooky read but very forgettable.

All I want in a YA thriller is for the mystery to be fun and this book delivered! Though the writing was a bit clunky at times (a bit confusing or it felt out of character slightly) I still had a fun time trying to figure out who was behind it all!

I was also quite surprised (in the best way!) to see the author didn't shy away from having real big stakes, I felt the characters were truly in danger.

I'll look at the author's other books 👀


Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read this ARC.