This book oozed suspense at a delicious slow-burn pace, the way Megan Miranda’s books always do. The mystery of the dual timelines in Beckett’s past and present drew me in. Fans of mysterious and suspenseful thrillers will like this one.

A mother is forced to reconcile with her past when her daughter decides to attend the same college she did. But that time had some dark secrets, that start to resurface the minute her daughter walks onto the campus. A dark academia thriller, with lots of twists.

I found the premise of this really interesting and went in with high expectations. The main characters all seemed to make questionable decisions at every turn, to the point I was just baffled by their choices. But I guess in a way that’s the point, showing how humans crack under pressure.

I think the author did a really great job of looping together the past and the present, as handling both timelines chapter by chapter is usually tricky. There’s a lot of Beckett’s past I wish we could have understood better and the howling really confused me, I understood it was a school tradition, but something about it was hard to follow.

Ultimately, it was interesting read, I just wish the twists flowed a bit more. They made the story a bit disjointed and a harder read. Overall, I really liked that the story felt complete and I didn’t finish it longing to know more.

Lots of pieces of intrigue that keep the story moving. A small college town with a history/story, interesting and questionable characters and a body found create a lot of possible answers. I always enjoy how Megan Miranda writes. Although not my favourite by her, I liked it.
Thank You to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada,and Megan Miranda for the opportunity to read this ARC.

If anyone was going to get me out of a 8 month dry reading slump, it was Megan. Every summer I look forward to reading her newest release, and You Belong Here did not disappoint.

I absolutely devoured this book.
The dual timelines were intertwined perfectly and Beckett’s mystery kept me guessing until the end.
I loved the added plot twists along the way surrounding side characters and was sad when Beckett’s story came to an end.

4.5 ⭐️

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Beckett Bowery is about to live the milestone that parents both dread and look forward to; her daughter, Deliah, is about to head to college. Now, while any college would do, Beckett is troubled by her daughter's decision to attend Wyatt College, in her hometown of Wyatt Valley. It is here where a tragedy occurred, and Beckett's roommate went missing. Beckett, herself, had to deal with the suspicions of the police until her parents allowed her to leave and finish her degree somewhere else. But Beckett's past is about to re-emerge, and this time, it spells danger for Deliah.

Once I began reading this story, it held me captive. I couldn't sleep until I reached the ending. I wouldn't say this book is perfect, but it entertained me. The plot took turns that I didn't anticipate( Beckett's parents- that was wild).

A good summer read!


Expected Publication 29/07/25
Goodreads review 28/07/25

You Belong here by Megan Miranda
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re looking for a good summer thriller, Megan Miranda is a great option. She is good, as always, at casting suspicion and turning a small town/community/college into a creepy threat, with dangers lurking in every corner and at every door.

📖 When unbeknownst to her, Beckett’s daughter Delilah chooses to go to her Beckett’s Alma mater in her hometown, Beckett fears her daughter might be faced with her own past secrets. Secrets that resulted in the death of two people and the disappearance of another.

I really enjoyed this creepy slow burn thriller, and while it hasn’t toppled by favourites of Megan Miranda, she continues to be a go-to summer thriller author for me and I will continue to eagerly anticipate all of her new releases.

Thank you to the publisher Simon and Schuster Canada and the author Megan Miranda for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Secrets don’t just live in the shadows; they major in hiding out in college towns. That setup always sounds promising but I’ve realized the academia premise just isn’t quite my thing, and that might be why this one didn’t wow me but I liked it.

3.5 ⭐️ Low simmer suspense, tangled loyalties, & quietly unsettling vibes!

I was interested enough to keep going even if I never felt fully pulled in. The mystery stayed at a low simmer through much of the book, but once I hit the halfway mark, the pace picked up and I found myself more engaged.

I did notice and appreciate the mother and daughter dynamic between Beckett and Delilah. There’s a quiet tug of war between trust and protection, truth and omission, that felt grounded and believable. Still, I didn’t feel a strong connection to either of them, and the characters overall didn’t leave much of an emotional mark.

The setting really worked. Dark woods, unreliable Wi-Fi, and old school campus rituals gave it a subtle dark academia vibe without overdoing it. But the premise didn’t have the kind of pull I tend to look for, and the college setting isn’t one I naturally relate to.

I didn’t trust a single person here and honestly, that felt intentional. The constant vagueness just didn’t quite spark the kind of suspicion or tension I usually enjoy.

Even though this wasn’t a favourite, I was still entertained and enjoyed the ride. I’ve liked many of Megan Miranda’s past novels and I’ll definitely keep reading whatever she writes next.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the advance copy. You Belong Here publishes July 29, 2025. I’m recommending this one to readers who enjoy campus set suspense and character driven mysteries with a slow burn, reflective tone.

3.5 ⭐️ rounding up to 4. Entertaining and solid, just not quite a standout for me.

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda
5 stars
Pub date: July 29


Though she thought she'd never return, Beckett heads back to her hometown to drop her daughter off at the college her parents taught at throughout her childhood. With Beckett's flashbacks, we are told the story of what happened in her senior year 20 years prior, which ended in tragedy, and her missing roommate.

I absolutely devoured this book. Megan Miranda's writing had me gripped from the beginning, desperate to find out what happened in both the past and present storylines. It crept under my skin in the exact way a thriller should. I think this may be one of Miranda's best yet.

You Belong Here will be released on July 29, and I'd highly recommend it for a quick, addictive thriller that will keep you enthralled.

Megan Miranda did it again. This is a slow burn suspense/thriller that is 100% worth the read. You will feel the suspense slowly build from chapter 1 until you’re awake way past bed time because you need to know what happens next.

Beckett Bowery left her hometown and college years ago but finds herself returning twenty years later when her daughter Delilah wants to attend the same college. Beckett has kept her daughter protected from the events that led to her departure many years ago, but the truth always finds its way out.

This book was truly filled with so many twists that kept me guessing until the end. Thank you Megan Miranda & NetGalley for the ARC 💗

I have picked this book up and attempted to read it numerous times and each time I feel zero connection with the characters or the story.

"You Belong Here" by Megan Miranda presents an intriguing narrative that immerses readers in her signature storytelling style, although it may not reach the heights of her previous works. It is set against the backdrop of Wyatt College in Virginia, where Beckett Bowery is helping her daughter, Delilah, settle in as an incoming freshman. Beckett's intense, protective nature showcases her struggle with helicopter parenting and hints at a troubling past that has haunted her for two decades.

Central to Beckett's backstory is a tragic incident from her college days, where two young men died and her best friend mysteriously vanished, leaving Beckett living in the shadow of suspicion. Despite her daughter receiving a full scholarship, Beckett’s decision to return to the campus is fraught with tension.

The turning point comes one fateful night when Delilah calls Beckett in distress, leading to her sudden disappearance. Is someone out for revenge? Who is behind Delilah’s disappearance? As Beckett races to unravel the past, the story unfolds through a dual narrative, alternating between present-day events and flashbacks. While Miranda typically excels at creating rich, resonant characters, the emotional depth felt lacking this time, making it challenging to connect with the protagonists.

Though the premise is compelling, it didn't spark the same excitement as her earlier works. I encourage readers to explore the book and form their own perspectives, as it undoubtedly reflects Megan Miranda's distinct style and storytelling prowess.


Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books, for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda is an atmospheric thriller set in a secluded mountain college town. When Beckett’s daughter disappears after enrolling at the school Beckett once fled, buried secrets resurface. The college’s haunting “howling” ritual and its network of mysterious underground tunnels add an extra layer of suspense and depth to the story.
Megan Miranda is a go-to author for me, and I really enjoyed this book. Loved the vivid setting, suspense, and town-vs-college tension.
Some side characters lacked depth by the end, but still a gripping, moody read.


Read this if you like…
• Atmospheric thrillers set in small, secluded towns
• College campuses with dark histories and secretive rituals
• Tension between tight-knit locals and the insulated college community
• Dual timelines unraveling long-buried secrets
• Mothers who will stop at nothing to protect their daughters
• Slow-burn suspense with vivid, cinematic descriptions
• Books where the setting feels like a character in itself
• Authors like Riley Sager, Lisa Jewell, or Jennifer Hillier
• Themes of: memory, institutional legacy, mother-daughter trust, secrecy, and confronting the past

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada, S&S / Mary Sue Ricci Books for this e-ARC that will be released July 29th, 2025.

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda

Megan Miranda is one of my go-to thriller authors. I am very picky when it comes to thrillers - can’t be too horrifying and also not too predictable. And Miranda usually hits the right notes. This one was enjoyable but not my favourite of hers.

When Beckett’s daughter returns to her hometown to go to University, Beckett is blasted back to the past and the secrets she wants to keep hidden. Having left after a fire that killed two local men, she has avoided the town ever since.

I loved the creepy university setting, the descriptions of the wind and forest were so well done. The writing was engaging and I was very hooked for the entire thing. Only complaints were that I saw the end coming and correctly guessed how it was going to play out. I did like how it wasn’t too much of a slow burn, with a couple twists and a good amount of info given along the way.

Thanks to @simonschusterca for my early copy! This one is out on June 29th and would make a perfect book to read in the fall.

I will read anything Megan Miranda writes, and this is no exception. I LOVED the vibes of this and the characters.

Overall, I enjoyed You Belong Here.

It had a good storyline, and was really well written. This was my first Megan Miranda read, and I am so very much intrigued to go read more by here!

As far as thrillers go, this is a good one. Without giving away spoilers, it had all the fun twists you don't expect, the shock factor, and the anticipation of just not knowing what is going to happen next!

Title: You Belong Here
Author: Megan Miranda
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: July 29, 2025

I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Digestible • Claustrophobic • Atmospheric

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Memories fade, but on this campus, legacies are never forgotten…or forgiven.

Beckett Bowery never thought she’d return to Wyatt Valley, a picturesque college town in the Virginia mountains steeped in tradition. Her roots there were strong: Beckett’s parents taught at the college, and she never even imagined studying anywhere else—until a tragedy her senior year ended with two local men dead, and her roommate on the run, never to be seen again…

For the last two decades, Beckett has done her best to keep her distance. Then her daughter, Delilah, secretly applies to Wyatt College and earns a full scholarship, and Beckett can only hope that her lingering fears are unfounded. But deep down she knows that Wyatt Valley has a long memory, and that the past isn’t the only dangerous thing in town…

💭 T H O U G H T S

I've enjoyed several of Megan Miranda's books in the past and still have several others to read on my shelf, so it felt right to add You Belong Here, her 2025 release to my list of anticipated releases. I knew basically nothing about it going in, besides it took place on a college campus, and I would highly recommend doing the same if you're thinking of picking it up.

This psychological thriller started out by gripping me, but the suspense petered out as it became more of a slow-burn mystery revolving around a decades old secret. I figured out the main twist early on, which definitely affected the rest of the reading experience. By the time I got to the end, I thought it was all left a little unfinished, leaving some questions unanswered.

One of the aspects I did particularly enjoy was the exploration of the mother/daughter relationship. And how there comes a time when a mother must let go, yet also trust her instincts when something appears to be wrong. I could understand Delilah's desire to know where she came from and learn more about her family history. But could also empathize with Beckett's weariness of returning to a place filled with dark secrets.

You Belong Here ended up being a middle-of-the-road thriller that started off strong, but tailed off to a degree. There were some really strong elements, yet there were also some plot holes I couldn't ignore. The thing I truly appreciated were the musings surrounding how well we truly know those we love and how one lie/omission can lead to life altering paths. Definitely not my favourite of Megan's books, but I look forward to continuing to explore her backlist and pick up any forthcoming works.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• slow-burn suspense
• dark academia
• mother/daughter relationships

⚠️ CW: death, murder, fire/fire injury, toxic friendship, injury/injury detail, drowning, campus lockdown

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"The lick of orange flames, the sound of wood splintering, and everyone dazzled by it, like they were standing around nothing more than a bonfire."

The story follows Beckett, whose parents were professors at Wyatt College, a small school tucked away in the mountains of Virginia. Through flashbacks, we learn that Beckett and her best friend Adalyn were involved in a fire that killed two men. After that night, Adalyn disappeared and has been wanted by the police ever since. Beckett hasn’t set foot back in her hometown or at Wyatt since it happened.

Now,twenty years later Beckett’s daughter Delilah gets accepted into Wyatt, which means Beckett has to return for the first time. As the semester begins, Delilah’s safety is suddenly in question and secrets from the past start to unravel. We slowly piece together what really happened the night of the fire and whether Adalyn might still be around, hiding right under everyone’s nose.

I thought I would have enjoyed this, but it was very slow. And then I remembered the last Meghan Miranda book I read was also this same slow writing style. Ill be honest her writing is good but this is really not my taste at all. I also found the howling tradition at the college kind of strange. It felt like it was meant to add a creepy or supernatural vibe, but it didn’t really do much for the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🪾ARC REVIEW🪾

“Hey there, Delilah. I can still see you. Did you think you could hide?”

This is definitely a slowww burn, small town, academic mystery. The cover instantly drew me in. Anything with hot pink💕 I would’ve loved more twists and thrills but overall still an enjoyable read by a very talented writer! Would recommend🩷

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley @simonandschuster

#netgalley #youbelonghere #simonandschustercanada #thrillerbooks #thrillerbooksaddict #thrillerreads

Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusterca for the early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda is an atmospheric, edge-of-your-seat thriller that kept me hooked from the very first page.

With her signature slow-burn suspense and layered storytelling, Miranda unravels the haunting mystery of a tight-knit community where secrets simmer beneath the surface.

The dual timeline is expertly woven, building tension with every chapter as past and present collide in chilling ways.

I loved the small-town setting, the complex characters, and the perfectly timed twists that caught me off guard. A compelling story about memory, trust, and the ties that bind—this one is a must-read for thriller lovers!

Publication Date: July 29, 2025

4.5⭐️ Megan Miranda is one of my favourite thriller authors and “You Belong Here” did not disappoint! Told in the POV of Beckett, a mother who returns to her hometown when her daughter starts college at her alma mater, the mysteries of why Beckett is so hesitant to return become unravelled. I was drawn in from the start and couldn’t put it down. I definitely got the spooky “someone’s watching” vibes throughout which really added to the dark academia atmosphere.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the digital ARC!