Thank you net galley for the early copy of this book. This is my first novel by this author so I had no pre-conceived notions going in. I found it very riveting and was glued to the page the entire time. I don't like to get into spoilers in reviews, but I absolutely recommend this book to all who love a good thriller.

Two years ago, Mercy Gray survived a mall shooting, and was lauded as a hero even though she doesn’t feel like one. Ever since, she has been trying to pick up the pieces both mentally and physically. She is offered the a spot on a new survival reality show, and while she really hates attention, she also really needs the money that comes with winning the show.
Almost as soon as she and the other contestants arrive, things start going horribly wrong and contestants start turning up dead.
Mercy soon realizes she can’t trust anyone but herself to get her out of what is now a very real survival situation instead of the game it was supposed to be.

I really liked this one! When I first picked it I didn’t realize it was classified as young adult, so I was skeptical but ended up highly enjoying it. The characters are all 18+, have traumatic backgrounds and therefore are all intriguing. The story was an interesting and quick read that kept me guessing who I could trust the whole time. I empathized with each of their backgrounds and it made me want to root for all of them.
I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fast paced, intriguing thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group/Viking Books and the author for providing me with this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

ARC Review

Thanks so much @netgalley and xoxo for this arc copy of We Won't All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall. I was intrigued by the concept of the story - our FMC is Mercy, a young woman who survived a horrific event and was dubbed a hero. She is recruited for a new survival type reality tv show where things quickly don't seem quite right.

This book grabbed my attention quickly and had me anxiously flipping pages to figure out what was happening to the members of the show and who is behind it all. It kept me guessing and had a few surprising twists!

I adored this for a relatively easy read that kept me hanging on to every word. I'd highly recommend checking it out if you enjoy a good mystery.

#WeWontAllSurvive #netgalley

Earlier this year I read What lies in the wood. It was a good thriller, so when I saw this one on netgalley I was happy to see that it was on "read now". I tried, I really tried to read it but I just can't. Due to the format of the book, I can only read it on my phone, and I hate that so not a good reading experience on that part, and honestly just that, made me stop and pause the read.
Have not been too far in the book so this review will help no one but maybe I will re attempt to read it on my kindle or physically when it will be released because I was hooked by the premises and the beginning of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers, and Kate Alice Marshall for the ARC–my opinions are my own.

Synopsis:
Two years after surviving a mall shooting, Mercy Gray is still haunted by guilt, trauma, and mounting debt. When billionaire Damien Dare invites her to join a high-stakes survival reality show, she sees a chance to win the prize money and secure her sister’s future. But once on set, Mercy and the other contestants find themselves trapped with no crew, no contact—and soon, one of them is dead. As more contestants start dying, the game turns deadly real, and survival becomes the only goal. Mercy must uncover the truth and choose her allies wisely… before she becomes the next target.

Review:
4 stars

I am familiar with Kate Alice Marshall and her adult novels, but this was my first time reading a YA novel written by her. The overall premise of the book was incredibly interesting and new to me–I’ve never read anything like a survival horror. Despite it being a YA book, I felt the tension and dread the whole time as the story progressed (not sure if I could handle a survival horror adult book, so this was perfect for me). I enjoyed Mercy and the other main characters and was definitely sad about the people who did not survive (not a spoiler cause it’s in the title right?). Damien Dare was a perfect representation of some of the issues with problematic ideologies and he made me furious.

The ending felt a little anticlimactic, especially for the amount of tension and buildup and the “deus ex machina” type of resolution. Overall, it didn’t necessarily deter my positive thoughts for the story–very much how Mercy felt at the end: “and I find that I really don’t care” (maybe intentional?). I definitely will pick up other Kate Alice Marshall’s YA novels!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this advance copy!

Diverse characters, trapped location, survival games, and a cast full of trauma and secrets! The makings of a great thriller. While marketed as a YA thriller it didn’t feel that way and takes nothing from the story.

Kate does an amazing job and grasping you from the first pages and never letting up from that point. I can truly say even with there being multiple characters they all were memorable and has depth to their own story.

While the ending wasn’t the most thrilling, it wasn’t predictable and i wasn’t able to guess who dun it!

4 stars
A wild YA thriller that reads like Hunger Games meets Big Brother with a dash of Saw—yes, it’s as unhinged as that sounds, and I loved it.

What starts as a high-stakes survival reality show quickly spirals into something darker and way more twisted. The tension stays high, the paranoia is real, and the whole thing feels like a panic attack you can’t stop reading. I genuinely liked Mercy as a main character—she’s flawed, fierce, and emotionally raw in a way that really worked for me. Some of the side characters could’ve used a bit more depth, and the ending came way too abruptly—I needed more! But the pacing, stakes, and atmosphere were all so strong, it’s an easy one to recommend. This gave me exactly what I wanted: thrills, betrayal, and trust issues for days.

Read it fast. Trust no one. And maybe skip that remote survival retreat, yeah? If you're into tense, YA survival thrillers with bite, this one’s worth the ride.

Thank you to Viking and Kate Alice Marshall for the ARC!

“There is no truth to be discovered in safety. If you have any expectation of rescue, part of you will hold back. Only when every layer of comfort and security is stripped away will the true raw heart of your courage be tested…”

Two years ago, Mercy Gray heroically saved people from a shooter at the mall. Still dealing with pain and trauma, she mostly feels bad about her sister using her college fund to help when she was in the hospital. So when she is invited by Damien Dare, billionaire turned TV host, to compete in a survival reality show, she can’t turn it down.The possibility of the prize money could send her sister to college. But when Mercy gets to the set location, something feels off. There are no people besides the contestants, the gates close trapping them inside and then one of them ends up dead.

I feel like there have been a lot of books lately with reality shows as the setting, but this one was unique. For starters, the show itself was truly off the rails! As more of the story is revealed, Damien Dare’s philosophy is front-and-center. I found his beliefs quite intriguing - the whole idea of “precursor events” being a turning point really makes sense even though Damien was a bit twisted! Told from Mercy’s point of view, more information about the shooting came out and despite it all, Mercy kept fighting to survive. This book truly had me on the edge of my seat, and for a YA thriller, I found the characters all pretty relatable too which was nice. The pacing was perfect and although I guessed one of the twists towards the end, I still really enjoyed seeing it play out!

”We Won’t All Survive” releases July 29, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Thank you to Kate Alice Marshall, Penguin Group, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this novel, but not as much as some of her previous ones. It had a slow start that I had trouble really getting into, but the pace did pick up. I think one of the things that make this book so tense is that it has elements of so many real world tragedies we experience today. The main character, Mercy Gray, survived a mall shooting and now she's invited to play in a survivalist reality show, where all the characters have experienced trauma. For all my reality tv fans- imagine Traitors meets Survivor with Saw type life or death games. We're not just snuffing torches out for elimination-we're permanently eliminating people. Each character comes with their own strengths and flaw and honestly I couldn't figure out who I'd trust in that situation, but I quickly realized you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Who can you trust and who will survive? There's only one way to find out.

Y’all!! Two years after surviving a mall shooting, Mercy Gray is broke, haunted, and just desperate enough to say yes to a billionaire’s survivalist reality show. But when she and the other contestants arrive, it’s clear something’s off. No crew. No cameras. Just locked gates and a rising body count.

What starts as a shot at prize money turns into a twisted game of survival—and trust is officially off the table.

Think The Hunger Games meets Saw, with a sprinkle of Nope, I’m not sleeping in the woods again. The pacing is fast, the stakes are high, and the vibes are full throttle panic. Mercy is a tough, flawed, guilt-ridden lead who fights like hell and makes you feel every ounce of her trauma and tenacity.

Kate Alice Marshall delivers sharp writing, high drama, and just enough gore to keep your pulse spiking. A few plot turns felt a little convenient, and I wanted a bit more depth from the side characters—but overall? This book absolutely delivers.

Read it fast. Read it with snacks. And seriously—trust no one.

Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers for providing this advance copy via NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review. #WeWontAllSurvive #NetGalley

When attempting to download via the NetGalley app I receive an error message stating "You are not authorized," despite being approved to access a review copy. My rating does not reflect the book's content, merely my dissatisfaction at the digital roadblocks here and the lack of an EPUB copy for Kindle reading. On the bright side, it's one less book in my digital review pile!

Kate Alice Marshall has been an author I have been wanting to read from for a while now and when this book became available to read; I immediately jumped on the opportunity to read it and I’m so glad I did. This follows a woman mercy, after experiencing and surviving a very traumatic event, she decides to join a reality survivalist show to deal with financial troubles but what started as a reality show soon turned sinister. This book has it all greed ,betrayal, obsession, and murder to name a few. I really enjoyed the concept of this book I felt like it was a unique storyline and a fun thrilling read. If you enjoyed movies like escape room and even house on haunted hill ( none of the insane asylum vibe but the game of survival concept) this book gave me similar vibes and it may be something you may enjoy. I did feel like the pacing was a bit slow at times but not too slow just enough to land my rating at a 4 star instead of 5. I do recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good thriller with some fun twist!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is an intense, fast-paced closed circle thriller with a survival show twist 👀

Eight contestants ranging from 18-20 show up to film a survival reality show with a $100,000 grand prize on the line. But when the gates shut and bolt in place on the set and none of the crew is around… they realize they’re stranded and are about to face a true test of survival.

The stakes are even higher when members of the cast start dropping like flies💀 While I clocked the culprit early on, I did enjoy the characters’ quick thinking and wilderness skills as they worked together to escape and find help. We come to find that they each experienced a traumatic incident in their past, and I thought the connections they formed over these experiences added some great character depth.

That said, the cast blended together quite a bit for me, especially the guys. I eventually learned enough about them to separate them in my head, but it took a long time to create that distinction.

While ultimately not my fave from Kate Alice Marshall, it falls in the middle of the pack for me out of the backlist books I’ve read. A good, quick read with an interesting premise if you’re looking for something that will make your heart pound and question if they’ll make it out alive! 3.5 stars

What a fantastic YA thriller! A random group of teens prepares to compete on a survival game show only to discover they’re truly trapped and must fight for their lives. I couldn’t put this book down! It’s packed with drama, suspense, and just the right amount of mystery. The twist at the end finished it up just right. This will make a great addition to our middle school library. Note for those recommending this book to younger readers–Each contestant had some type of trauma prior to going on this show. Also, there are several deaths. Know your audience! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy although I was annoyed I couldn't get it on my kindle. It took me a little longer to read because of this.

Kate Alice Marshall’s young adult novel "We Won’t All Survive" is an intense, fast-paced story that blends survival thriller with murder mystery. Eight young contestants, each with a traumatic past, are dropped into a creepy, abandoned town to take part in a reality show. At stake is a potentially life-changing cash prize being offered by billionaire tech mogul Damien Dare. However, things quickly turn dangerous, and Marshall doesn’t shy away from showing just how much trauma shapes these characters' choices.

The suspense builds quickly, and the escalating tension between characters serves to keep readers guessing. This is not just a story about surviving the environment; it's also about figuring out who’s hiding something and who can be trusted. Marshall's writing includes a solid mix of both action and character drama. Although some of the twists end up being slightly predictable, the story to get to them is still quite enjoyable. Main character, Mercy Gray, is a smart, well-written protagonist and readers will find themselves rooting for her until the end. While the narrative does tend to dip in some parts, this is an extremely atmospheric book, and the isolated, ghost town setting adds to the eeriness. Additionally, the idea of a billionaire playing "games" with traumatized teens feels incredibly uncomfortable and slightly anxiety-inducing.

While this is categorized as a young adult book, "We Won’t All Survive" is a very gripping read for all ages. Readers who enjoy high-stakes survival stories and isolated/locked room mysteries will find this one hard to put down.

With reality shows being popular right ow, this book seems right with the times. I enjoyed this book for the most part but was disappointed some characters ending wasn’t good. I guess I just like books with happy endings.

Kate Alice Marshall delivers another gripping, high-stakes thriller in We Won’t All Survive, a novel that blends the intrigue of a psychological game with the raw intensity of survival horror.

At the heart of the story is Mercy, a survivor of a tragic mall shooting, who becomes the unlikely heroine in a chilling social experiment. When reclusive billionaire Damien Dare offers eight individuals the chance to win $100,000 by participating in a survival game show, Mercy signs up—alongside seven others, each carrying their own secrets and scars. But what begins as a mysterious challenge quickly turns deadly when one of the contestants is found dead less than a day into the experience.

Cut off from the outside world in an eerie, abandoned town, the group is left to question everything: Where are the cameras? Where’s the crew? And more importantly—who among them can be trusted? As paranoia sets in and alliances fracture, Mercy must draw on every ounce of strength and resilience to survive what may be far more than a game.

Marshall masterfully builds tension, peeling back layers of each character’s past while escalating the dread with every turn of the page. The isolated setting feels claustrophobic and immersive, the stakes are high, and the pacing never lets up. With sharp twists and a satisfying conclusion that ties the threads together without feeling forced, We Won’t All Survive is a dark, thrilling exploration of trauma, trust, and what people are capable of when pushed to the edge.

Fans of survival stories with a psychological twist won’t be disappointed. This is Kate Alice Marshall at her most chilling—and most compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for Young Readers for this ARC!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for providing me with this arc! First off, I didn’t know this was going to be a young adult book, and I’m sooo glad it was. I’ve enjoyed some of her other books previously, and this one is no different. The premise of it starting as a fun survivor type of show, and then getting to be a bit more serious was an interesting plot line. YA thrillers are such a fun genre to read, and I’d definitely recommend this one to others when it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of We Won't All Survive.

I thoroughly enjoyed this YA suspense, thriller of a read. It was fast-paced and had me wanting to read more. In my opinion, I thought the characters were likable, considering the situation they were placed in. Overall, it was a good book, and it's something that I would recommend to others!

Kate Alice Marshall throws readers into a deadly game with We Won’t All Survive, and it’s exactly as intense as it sounds. Mercy joins a reality show expecting cameras and competition but walks into silence, suspicion, and murder. One of them is dead before the first challenge is over, and no one can be trusted.

It’s fast, tense, and packed with secrets. The setup is familiar but done with just enough edge to feel fresh. Mercy is a solid lead, flawed but easy to root for. Not Marshall’s most emotional book, but it still delivers. Creepy, clever, and impossible to walk away from.