What a fun ride! Smile For the Cameras is like getting two stories for the price of one! The storyline follows a group of actors who return 20 years after the production of a scary movie to film a reunion documentary. Throughout the book, you’re given flashbacks of the storyline of the movie they filmed, as well as the current story about filming the reunion. It was a nice twist on a common trope of dredging up old secrets. I really enjoyed both aspects- the movie and the book!

The pacing on this book was appropriate, just enough hype and suspense without dragging the reader down with long winded details. Though there were quite a few characters, they were easy to follow and relatable. As I neared the end, I predicted an ending that could’ve been plausible but was not true- so if you ever want an alternate ending, let me know! This story was a great example of life imitating art- all within the front and back covers!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this ARC!

In this slasher from Smith (Did You See Evie?), a middle-aged actress returns to her breakout role with deadly consequences. Ella Winters, a former star whose career has stalled, is offered a chance to revive her momentum: participate in a documentary about Grad Night, the horror movie that launched her fame, and she’ll secure a role in an upcoming blockbuster. The documentary reunion with old castmates at the Tennessee location where the film was shot stirs up long-buried memories, but Ella agrees. However, as filming begins, someone starts murdering cast and crew in ways reminiscent of the movie’s infamous killer.

The campy horror movie vibes were fun, but this one fell a little flat for me. Nothing about this story felt original. I was really hoping for an exciting twist and ended up disappointed.

Thank you, Random House & NetGalley, for the ARC!

A film reunion unearths secrets buried for over two decades. Former co-stars Ella, Leo, Aries, and Riley return for a special Grad Night reunion—the movie that launched their acting careers. But what begins as a nostalgic reboot soon spirals into a chilling weekend. As long-buried truths resurface, this comeback may not only destroy their careers… it might cost them their lives.

The book has some strong elements, with an engaging premise and moments of real intrigue. While the first two-thirds felt a bit slow and the details at times a little juvenile, the story definitely picked up toward the end, drawing me in more. The conclusion wasn’t quite as mind-blowing as I hoped, but it still provided a satisfying finish that wrapped things up neatly. If you are looking for an easy read between longer or more anticipated books give this a try.

Smile for the Cameras is an atmospheric, twisty thriller that blends Hollywood glamour, dark secrets, and a nostalgic nod to 90s slasher films. The story follows Ella, a former teen actress whose breakout role in a cult-classic horror movie ended in tragedy... years later, she is pulled back into the spotlight—and it quickly becomes clear that someone hasn’t forgotten what really happened all those years ago.

I enjoyed the dual timelines and thought the addition of chapters written as scenes from the original movie script was a creative touch. It gave the book a cinematic, behind-the-scenes feel that fit the story. While the pacing in the first half felt a bit uneven as the mystery slowly unraveled, once the tension ramped up, I was completely hooked.

The twists were genuinely surprising, which is something I don’t say often after reading so many thrillers. Ella's growing paranoia was really well done, and the cast of characters kept me questioning everyone’s motives until the very end. Even if a few reveals felt slightly convenient, the suspense and atmosphere made up for it.

Overall, this is a fast, addictive read with a clever structure and plenty of surprises. Perfect for fans of twisty thrillers and anyone who loves a good slasher vibe.

thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this e-ARC

Where is the movie?! I’ve got my popcorn ready, heart pounding with anticipation! This story is one of the best I have ever read — I couldn’t stop reading until the end. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, shocked by every twist and turn. My favorite films are Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, and reading this masterpiece transported me back to that first and second watch, when every moment was a shock. The surprises kept coming, until the very last breath of the story — I couldn’t have asked for more. It’s an absolute wild ride that I will never forget!


Thanks to Netgalley and pubsliher for the opportunity to read this title.

I always love a horror book that feels like a horror film and that’s what this one felt like. It was very much I Know What You Did Last Summer. I think it was just too much with the flip flop from now and then. I kinda zoned out during the flashbacks and it picked up towards the end. It was enjoyable but I already feel like I won’t remember it.

**Thank you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this title!!**

Smile For The Cameras is a super fun and VERY nostalgic story with multiple timelines. This one is perfect for all the 80s/90s slasher fans out there and I absolutely can’t wait to see more from this author.

Check this one out if you love edge-of-your seat rides and jump scares!! The perfect pacing and endless twists don’t hurt either…. Well maybe a little. ;)

Ella was an actress in a movie who is now caring for her ill mother but agrees to participate in a reunion. Smile for the Cameras was a book whose plot jumped between 2 time periods and film scenes as well as had many characters which was a little hard to follow.

If you love a good psychological thriller with 80’s slasher vibes, this may be right up your alley!

Thank you NetGally and Random House Publishing group for the opportunity to read and review this book.

After shooting to stardom as the final girl in cult classic 90s slasher film “Grad Night”, Ella Winters virtually disappears from the spotlight to care for her sick mother. In the midst of her mother’s poor health she is also holding onto a secret. In an attempt to reemerge into the acting world, Ella agrees to participate in a reunion… But things take a turn startlingly similar to the plot of the movie they were in.

As someone who loved horror movies growing up I was very excited to read this. And while this book was engaging and did have me dying to know the “secret” throughout, I did think the twist was a little lackluster. Without giving anything away I do think that it COULD have made more sense had there been *more* backstory to the struggles Ella dealt with throughout the years between the movie and the reunion. Overall I think this book had all the makings for a great thriller it was just missing a little bit of the meat and potatoes to get us there.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this early in exchange for my honest opinion!

2/5 ⭐️

This was okay. The plot was interesting, but between the two time periods and the scenes from the movie that didnt do much to forward the plot, It’s a lot to keep up with. I feel like the wide cast of characters was also a hindrance. You didn't have time to sort everyone out or form adequate connections.

The ending twist fell extremely flat for me. Both with how the plot was wrapped and what the big "twist" of the novel was.

I will be posting reviews on Instagram June 24th 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bantam for the advanced e-copy!

Smile for the Cameras is definitely one of those thriller that gives 80s slasher vibes. I honestly love the way this story started off. I was in a bit of a reading slump, but I'd periodically picked this ARC up and honestly got engrossed in the story. The story is told in the past and present and also had a bit of what seemed to me, like pieces of the script added into it.

If you want a fun, Psychological Thriller with 80s slasher vibes, smile for the camera is the book for you.

*Thank you netgalley, RandomHouse, and Miranda Smith for the opportunity to read this E-ARC*

I will be posting a review on Instagram, Goodreads, and Fable on June 24th (pub date)

Oh, how fun this one was! I was a teen in the 80's so I love me a good ol' slasher movie! Add a "final girl" and I am one happy camper! Ella is an actress. Twenty years ago, she starred in a slasher movie and something terrible happened on set that no one ever spoke of again. Cue the reunion back at that same set 20 years later. What could possibly go wrong?? The story goes back and forth between past and present, and we also get scenes from the movie script thrown in. That was a bit different, but I liked it. There are a lot of characters, but they did all seem to have a point so that was ok, just pay attention. This is a fun summer thriller that actually had some psychological suspense to it also. I will definitely be checking out more of Miranda Smith's works in the future!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Miranda Smith and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of June 24, 2025.

This book gave me I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes. I enjoyed the story and the main character. The journey, past and present, took a slow approach. While I did really enjoy one of the twists, the conclusion wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t particularly like most of the characters, and maybe that was why I didn’t enjoy it as much. All and all, it was a fun story, taking place in a spooky place.

3/5 ⭐️

This was okay. The plot was interesting. The format included the past, present, & descriptions of scenes from the film the story is based on. It’s a lot to keep up with, but if you’re invested in the story, it should be fine. I think the author could’ve done without adding the scenes from the movie though. They didn’t add any significance.

Also a LOT of characters to keep up with here! I would say everyone did have a purpose to the storyline, so I’m not saying any were unnecessary. Again, I think you have to be invested in the story to remember who is who.

Ending had a good twist, plus every question you’ll likely have while reading was answered come the end.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bantam for the advanced e-copy!

Smile for the Camera by Miranda Smith is a gripping psychological thriller. The premise is compelling—but this is definitely a slow burn. I didn’t find myself attached to any of the characters. Most, if not all of them felt under developed which greatly affected my enjoyment of the story. I didn’t find myself enjoying it until the last half or so, because I still wanted to know who did it. What I did enjoy was the atmosphere of tension and suspense. I also really enjoyed the flashbacks, but still felt like something was missing.

This book gives those immediate 90s slasher vibes. I am not typically a dual timeline person but I think it worked really well in this book. The book isn't immediately fast-paced and the beginning of the story is slower, getting to know the characters and setting the context, but once it kicks off, it is a lot of fun. It is based in film/hollywood so it uses script sections as a plot device and we have our film characters as well as their real life identities.

Overall I think this is a solid debut. I would give it a 3.5 (rounded up to 4). I think it's worth giving a try.

To All the Readers that Like Thrillers:
Imagine being on a movie set in a secluded forest with terrible cell reception, a few envious peers, and filming a horror movie with a cast that is holding a major secret.

🌟Rating: Highly Recommend
🎬Genre: Mystery & Thriller

What I Liked:
✔️ Short Chapters
✔️ Book Setting/Location
✔️Ella’s internal conflict and background story

Book Quote: “People always say they’d do anything to be famous. Some people mean it.”

The story is split between what happened in the past & the present. The main character Ella is battling a secret that altered her life on the set of a film with people she trusted.

This was my first time reading something from this author and it wont be my last. The reader is introduced to an actress who plays a Final Girl in a slasher movie called Grad Night. The cast is holding onto a secret that took place at Blackstone Cottage and it haunts everyone leading up to the reunion where the spooky vibes kick in full throttle. If you enjoyed movies like Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Halloween -- you will enjoy this fast paced thriller!!!

This book is definitely a page turner and I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. I loved how the author included the movie scripts that intertwined perfectly with the build up of story.

Check out my social media review on Instagram (@pageswithracquel) to see the animated review post.

I'm not a huge fan of horror/slasher books, but Smile for the Cameras was the perfect balance of insight into that genre without getting too gory. The premise is great and I really enjoyed the present timeline, but given the (intentional) parallels to the movie script and the past timeline, having both of those as alternate perspectives made things a little confusing.

I appreciate that I didn't know who the person behind the mask was until the reveal, but it felt like the author half set up a bunch of red herrings that could have been more fully developed.

Still, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to what Miranda Smith publishes next.

Miranda Smith’s Smile for the Camera delivers a smart, suspenseful twist on the “final girl” trope, blending slasher film nostalgia with psychological drama. The story moves between two timelines: Ella’s breakout role in a cult horror film twenty years ago and the present day, where she’s reluctantly returning for a reunion special that threatens to dredge up everything she thought she’d left behind.

The alternating timelines work well to build tension and slowly reveal the truth behind what happened all those years ago. Smith does a great job exploring the lasting effects of trauma, the dark side of fame, and society’s obsession with true crime and survival stories. Ella is a compelling lead—guarded, damaged, and very aware of the way others see her.

While I found the premise strong and the writing engaging, this wasn’t my favorite of Smith’s books. That said, I did love that I didn’t figure out the identity of the person in the graduation gown and lion mask until the reveal—it definitely kept me guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!