3.5 ⭐️ This was an okay YA Thriller. It moved along at a great pace (2 sitting read) with a decent story but also a very obvious ‘bay guy’ twist and overall felt a little too YA, which is fine but typically not my favorite. I’ve read the YA thrillers that knocked it out of the park with original stories and shocking twists, but this story isn’t the most original and the twists are fairly predictable. The characters and their personal journeys are what make this story.

This story reminded me a lot of a mash up of other thrillers I’ve read when a group of people are left stranded in a deserted town, being watched by cameras and having to complete tasks, originally set up to be a survival TV show but then people start dying. It’s a story that can be so fun. This one starts with a group of 8 late teens/early 20s who all have survived something pretty terrible in their life and get asked to be on a TV show for a chance to win $100K. There are a lot of characters to keep track of in the beginning but it gets relatively easier as the book has decent pacing and it is a locked room type setting. I enjoyed the character development in this book the most. It has a great found family aspect from unlikely allies. LGBTQ friendly storylines. Please be aware of the trigger warnings, school shooters/mass shooters, stalkers and of course lots of various murder and death.

For Fans of:
*Locked Room Setting
*Escape Room - Survivalist Stories
*Young Adult Thrillers
*Found Family
*Late Teen/Early 20s Main Characters

Please note, I was gifted an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and that had troubles of its own that delayed my reading time. It was not in Kindle format and I had to read on a computer or iPad, ultimately I am glad I found a way to make it work but it wasn’t a great experience.

This was my 51st book of 2025
Format: NetGalley, e-reader app

Thank you to NetGalley, author Kate Alice Marshall and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

“Jamie loves the Greek myths. How the gods put the heroes among the stars to shine forever, and maybe it’s because that’s the only way they could endure it. The only way a mortal body can hold meaning like that. Because it’s so vast, and I am so small, and no one can bear the weight of the stars.”

I’ve read (and loved) a few of Marshall’s books, so when I saw this book on NetGalley, I requested it so fast! I’m happy to say that I absolutely loved this one as well 😍

A billionaire/survivalist, Damien Dare, invites a group of young contestants to come be apart of his new competition TV show in an old ghost town. Mercy Grey, having a couple years prior helped save people in a mall shooting, is dealing with mental and physical trauma. She accepts the recruitment offer so she can win the cash prize to help get her sister to college. She quickly learns that the other contestants have also been through traumatic events and no one is quite sure how much they can trust each other.

Arriving to the town that will serve as the set of the show, they notice there is no staff or crew anywhere. As they explore the town, the gates shut and they are trapped there. Forced to play the game (and try to stay alive) they’ll have to learn to try to trust each other or risk no one surviving.

If you enjoy a thriller book with characters overcoming traumatic pasts, survival game show setting, whodunnit murder mystery elements, unreliable characters, and a true twisty page turner, then I highly recommend giving We Won’t All Survive a try! 🖤

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Viking Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ✍🏻

I have loved Kate Alice Marshall from the first time I opened a book written by her. I have been trying to consume as many of them as I can. She knows how to write a page turner. The tension building was beautiful and I do love a good whodonit mystery. The entire premise around this book is truly intriguing. Taking someone who has already survived something horrible and then involving them on a survival show?! As if one trauma wasn't enough. I highly recommend reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if you signed up for a reality survival show... and it turned into a fight for your life?

That's exactly what happens to Mercy Gray in this pulse pounding thriller packed with secrets, betrayals, and survival at its most brutal. Two years after surviving a mall shooting that made her a household name, Mercy is still trying to pick up the pieces, physically, emotionally, and financially. So when billionaire turned TV host Damien Dare offers her a chance to compete for a life-changing prize, how could she say no? But when Mercy and the other contestants arrive, the set is empty. The gates slam shut behind them. And then...one of the dies!!

Was it an accident? Or something far more sinister? Who's behind the deadly "game" and how far will they go? And more importantly, who will make it out alive?

I will read anything Kate Alice Marshall writes! Every book l've read of hers has been a five star triumph, the kind that lingers long after the last page. So when I saw she had a new release, I didn't hesitate. I hit request without even reading a single word of the synposis. That's the kind of trust she's earned.

While this one didn't quite strike the same emotional depth or intensity as her previous novels, perhaps because its young adult. With that being said, its still a sharp, suspenseful thrill ride with a gripping premise and a heroine worth rooting for.

Though I will stick to her adult books going forward, where her storytelling truly shines, I remain in awe of her ability to craft a story that pulls you in for a ride. Even when the tone shifts, Marshall writes with a voice that demands to be heard and I'll keep following wherever it leads. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was a bit worried when I started reading because it starts off a bit slow. But I think that once it picked up, everything happened quickly. I was hooked! A survivor of a mall shooting incident joins a survivalist show? Imagine what could go wrong!!! I recommend this to anyone that enjoyed squid game.

“From the bestselling author of I Am Still Alive comes a new nail-biter that's part survival story, part murder mystery, and all thriller—perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson!”

I wasn’t sure what to expect- but this was a great YA thriller. It had me hooked from the start with believable twists and turns and characters I really liked! Even when I thought I knew what was happening, I didn’t know!

*thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this one!*

This was so good! The twists were crazy. It was a wild ride from start to finish! Definitely recommend.

What do you get when you toss a teen hero, a reality show from hell, and a remote deathtrap into a blender? A Kate Alice Marshall special, that’s what.

We Won’t All Survive delivers exactly what the title promises: a ticking-clock thriller packed with dread, secrets, and moral gray zones. Marshall has a signature style—bleeding tension through every scene—and this one doesn’t hold back. Mercy Gray, our guilt-ridden heroine with a literal bullet in her back and a mountain of emotional baggage, walks straight into a survival reality show that turns very real, very fast. Think The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor, if The Bachelor forgot the cameras and started murdering contestants.

The setup is sharp, the psychological stakes are brutal, and while the pacing might wobble in places, the payoff is a brutal exploration of what it takes to survive—both physically and emotionally.

Trigger warnings: gun violence, trauma, death, psychological manipulation, medical issues.

What a fun read!! The story centers on a group of 18- to 20-year-olds, each carrying a traumatic past, brought together for a high-stakes survival show—but of course, nothing goes according to plan. The group of characters is wonderfully diverse, and every character has meaningful growth and importance to the story. I thought the plot was well-developed, with everything tying together beautifully in the end. This was a fairly easy read (makes sense with it being YA), and I honestly loved every minute of it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me this digital ARC.

Kate Alice Marshall really knows how to deliver dark, emotional thrillers—and We Won’t All Survive is no exception. The setup? A group of teens with some serious baggage ends up stuck in what’s supposed to be a survival reality show. But surprise—it’s way more messed up than anyone expected.

The vibe is tense and moody, and KAM nails that slow-burn suspense. There’s a heavy emotional layer here too—lots of trauma, guilt, and grief. Some moments hit harder than I thought they would. And let’s not forget the creepy theme park setting—each area gets scarier than the last. Honestly, it might make you think twice about ever stepping into one again.

That said, the book isn’t perfect. The beginning drags a bit, and not all the twists really land. The second half picks up, but a few character choices had me yelling internally, like, “Seriously?! What are you doing?!” I usually love morally gray characters, but I didn’t connect with this group as much as I wanted to. And for a book with a title like We Won’t All Survive, the ending felt a little... meh. Like it tried to shock me, but didn’t quite get there.

Still, KAM’s writing is super immersive, and she’s great at making you feel the tension. The themes of survival and what we owe each other definitely got me thinking. Even though this one wasn’t my absolute fave, I’ll keep reading whatever she writes next—no doubt about that.

Creepy, intense, and emotionally heavy. Not all the twists worked, but still worth a read—especially if you’re into locked-in survival stories with a dark edge.

This thriller is based on a concept many of us have seen before. However, Kate Alice Marshall did such a great job… I supposed it’s forgivable that the survivalist TV trap caught her since “she wore it best.”

KAM is a fantastic author and this is yet another pulse pounder. I love the book, just like everything else I have read by her!

3.5 Stars – Dark, Moody, and Messy (in a good and frustrating way)

Okay, so I devoured this book in just a couple sittings. Kate Alice Marshall has this way of pulling you into a story with high-stakes tension and moody atmosphere that I usually love—but We Won’t All Survive left me feeling a little torn.

The setup is killer: a group of teens with a twisted past, stuck together as secrets unravel and survival hangs in the balance. I was definitely hooked by the premise and the slow drip of reveals. The emotional weight? Heavy. The trauma and grief themes? Raw and real. There’s a lot of pain in these pages, and some of it hit home more than I expected.

BUT—and this is where the stars start to fall off—the pacing felt off at times. The first half simmered, which I normally don’t mind, but the tension didn’t always pay off. The second half ramps up, but not all of the twists landed for me. Some of the character decisions had me internally yelling, “Why are you like this?!” And while I appreciate morally gray characters, I felt a little disconnected from the core group. I wanted to care more than I did.

Also, I need to say this without spoiling anything: if you’re going to promise me high stakes in the title, I need the payoff to match. I was left feeling a bit underwhelmed by the resolution—like it tried to be shocking but ended up muted instead.

That said, the writing is sharp and immersive, and the themes of guilt, survival, and what we owe each other definitely made me think. I’ll keep reading Marshall’s books—she always brings the mood and tension—but this one just didn’t fully hit the mark for me.

This is one of those books that will have you avoiding scary theme parks forever! Mercy goes on a dare but it seems things are not always as they seem as these "monsters" appear to be so real that even though she knows it's only a ride, she's somehow afraid for her life! And each part of the park is scarier than the last! How is this possible and where are all the other guests??? May have you avoiding theme parks for a long time!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this one, just as expected. I have loved every book by Kate Alice Marshall that I’ve read. The plot was so intriguing. I don’t think I’ve read anything like this before. Loved it! Highly recommend.

We wont all survive by Kate Alice Marshall

This book was Hunger games / survivor with a ….Just don’t die vibe. It was an intense book just like all her others although it didn’t have the normal hook like the rest. I enjoyed the book, but it just didn’t have the wow factor.

Mercy Gray and a group of other contestants are invited to participate in a challenge to win a grand prize. This character has been through her own drama, she has survived a mall shooting and feels like she is up to the challenge. Although things turn horribly wrong after the group meets up one of the contestants dies. things are not what you expect. The tension and chaos of this book is palpable.
I enjoyed this book but it was a little meh for me.it was tough for me to relate to the characters as they didn’t seem to be as fleshed out as others. Some were very topical.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin group.

⭐️: 3/4

Whenever a new release by Kate Alice Marshall comes out, I have to read it immediately. When the chance to read an ARC arose, I had to seize the opportunity. I went in without any prior knowledge.

For Fans of:
✩ Trapped Location
✩ Survival Reality Show
✩ Whodunnit

This was a fast-paced survival thriller aimed at a YA audience. It was a wild adventure that started off slowly but quickly gained momentum, leaving me with a sense of Squid Game vibes.
The characters were well-developed, but this wasn't my favorite Kate Alice Marshall story. The twists were enjoyable, yet it was still somewhat predictable. Although, it definitely won’t stop me from reading anything else she releases!

A super intriguing whodunit, that hooks you immediately. It was easy to forget at times that this booked is geared for a YA audience, so when it wasn’t as gripping or gritty as I felt it could have been, I remembered the main audience is meant to be a little younger than myself. I’m interested to read this author’s other books

4/5
I really enjoyed this book! The pacing kept me on the edge of my seat, resulting in me flying through the novel in just two sittings. I had high expectations going in, and was not disappointed. Perfect for fans of Holly Jackson, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun thriller this summer.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of We Won't All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall.

Gosh, I love a good reality show gone wrong. Mercy has just signed on to take part in an off-the-grid contest with a large cash prize that could send her sister to college. But once her and her fellow contestants get there, the place is empty, and the instructions are eerily minimal. Before long, they realize that they are trapped, but when one of the contestants end up dead, they know that they are in trouble.

It doesn't take long before the players realize that each one of them has been through a traumatic, near death incident, but why have they been recruited? And what might the strange man behind the whole competition want from them?

I'm giving this three stars. It had a great strong start, and a solid finish, but the threads of the story weakened in the middle. I struggled to really make sense of what was going on, and why all the theatrics. Still a solid YA thriller, just nothing to blow your mind.

"𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲."

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 7/29/25

*Thank you @NetGalley and @PenguinBooks/@VikingBooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions ons are my own.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: When Mercy gets invited to participate in a new reality TV survival show she can’t help but to go when given the chance to win money to send her sister to college. When she arrives, she meets the other contestants but something is off. The old guest town is deserted, no employees. Soon the gates slam shut, locking them all in- and the games begin. They soon realize they just might be trying to survive for real.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
🏚️ Locked door thriller
⛏️ Trans positivity
🏚️ Ghost town
⛏️ Survivor meets SAW

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: What a fun ride! Fast paced and well written. This YA thriller was a fantastic read. Marshall expertly introduced the characters slowly so there was not overwhelming information which made the story easy to follow. I loved the setting, an old western ghost town. With a chain link fence topped with barbed wire. Add to that abandoned mines…What could be creepier? This gave off complete SAW vibes mixed with Survivor. The villain was pretty easy to guess despite the red herrings, but the full reveal wasn’t. I appreciated how Marshall included trans positivity as well as self awareness after trauma.

TW: mass shooting, stalking

#WeWontAllSurvive