Beckett Bowery has spent twenty years not going home again. She had grown up in a small Virginia town with a good college. Her parents had taught at the college, so she got a free ride after high school. But things went badly her last year there, and she ended up finishing her degree in England. That was where she met Trevor and got pregnant.

Beckett adored her daughter Delilah, but she was not ready for her to graduate high school and go to college. Especially when Delilah announced out of the blue that she was going to Wyatt Valley for college, and that she’d gotten a full scholarship. Beckett had never told her daughter about what had happened to make her leave, and she’s worried that Delilah will find out the truth on her own.

There is a tradition, the Howling, an annual hazing of the freshman students by the seniors, that happens every fall. It’s a sort of hide-and-seek, with freshman running through the woods in the snow. The high schoolers from town know all about it too, so they like to go out there and mess with the college students. Beckett knew all about it, from growing up in town. She knew her way around the college, including the tunnels that were underground, connecting the buildings. And she knew how to get the master key to the tunnels from her dad.

Back then, her senior year, she had made plans for the night with her roommate and best friend Adalyn Vale. But it turned out that Adalyn had made plans of her own, and two local men had ended up dead. Adalyn had disappeared after that night, leaving Beckett to face questions that she didn’t have answers for. In the years since, Delilah would come to town to visit her grandparents, but Beckett stayed away. Until it was time for Delilah to start school.

Delilah does okay at school for a while, but the night of the Howling, Beckett gets a phone call from her. Delilah doesn’t say anything, but Beckett can hear the wind, the howling. Then the phone goes dead. And Beckett can’t get ahold of Delilah again. So she once again heads back to Wyatt College. And Beckett can’t help but feel like what’s happening to Delilah is related to what happened all those years ago. She is heading home to find her daughter and face her past, to save Delilah from her the sins of her mother.

You Belong Here is a twisty slow-burn mystery about the secrets of the past and how they bleed into the present. Bestselling author Megan Miranda brings her powerful writing voice to this story of secrets and lies and kept me guessing with red herrings and breadcrumbs. The more I learned about what happened in the past, the more I could make sense of what was happening in the present, and I thought it all came together brilliantly. I really enjoyed this story and had trouble putting this book down to do anything else.

Egalleys for You Belong Here were provided by Marysue Ricci Books through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

You Belong Here is another excellent mystery by Megan Miranda that keeps you up reading all night. I give it five stars.

You Belong Here is another thriller by Megan Miranda . The teists and turns throughout the book hold you captive until the end.
Beckett returns to the hometown she once was forced to flee when she’s accused of being an accomplice to the crime that her roomate committed. Her daughter, Delilah decides to go to Wyatt college and Beckett is forced to face her past. After a few weeks Beckett receives a dropped call from her fighter in the middle of the night and she rushes back to find her missing daughter .
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an arc for my opinion.

Beckett Bowery, daughter of two professors of Wyatt College, swore she would never return to her hometown in Wyatt Valley Virginia. Beckett left Watt College to finish her degree at a different college, after tragedy struck her senior year during Howling Night. The Howling is a hazing tradition at the college when the wind whistles, undergraduates run through the woods and back to campus without being caught by seniors wearing masks. It was supposed to be a fun tradition, until Beckett’s senior year, when two men were trapped and killed in a fire. The person suspected of trapping the men was Adalyn Vale, Beckett’s roommate. Adalyn disappeared that night never to be seen or heard from again. Beckett is guilty by association and ‘asked’ to leave the college, quietly, to avoid any issues.
Almost two decades later, Beckett’s daughter Delilah is applying to colleges, and unbeknownst to Beckett, she receives a scholarship to Wyatt College. Beckett had no idea Delilah even applied to that school. When she decides to go there, Beckett is concerned it’s not safe for Delilah to be there. And she’s right. After a a dropped call from her daughter in the middle of the night, Beckett know something is very wrong, and this begins a race against time to find Delilah, and clear her daughter’s name from a new tragedy the night of The Howling.
This is a dark academia book based on hazing, tragedy, revenge, and hidden underground tunnels through the woods. There are three parts of this book, all based on Becketts point of view. I found the book a little difficult to follow, predictable, and slow. It took a lot for me to finish. I really lost interest about halfway through.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Marysue Rucci Books and Megan Miranda for an and an Ed reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely an interesting read, it kept me intrigued and curious

I loved the mother daughter aspect

The past can’t stay hidden forever but eventually you’ll have to take responsibility and face it head on

This definitely kept me on my toes! I wasn't sure how it would all come together but I ended up enjoying it. Perfect for back to school season!

This is Megan Miranda's best yet. Riveting. Thrilling. A story to keep you guessing until the end.

I throughly enjoyed this story. It had so much. So many good thrills. So much family drama. So much to keep you guessing and most likely you will be wrong. Family secrets can be deadly. Or possibly they can keep your loved ones alive.

What really happened twenty years ago when two men died in a fire. And who actually started this fire. What was the motive? Did the perpetrator get away alive or did she die never to be seen or heard from. Or at least not to be heard from for almost twenty years whether dead or alive. Someone knows the truth and one mother doesn't want it revealed. A mother will do almost anything for her child. Even cover up a crime.

When Beckett's daughter Delilah is accepted at the university where she went all those years ago. Where a horrible fire took the lives of two men. Where she had to leave. Beckett is horrified. She didn't ever want Delilah to be caught up in what would always be a part of Wyatt College. During a night of howling winds, called The Howling. During a time when someone was going to have to pay for something.

This book kept me guessing. I did realize who did what but not until it was almost revealed. There are a lot of secrets in this story. Beckett's parents and Beckett for instance. I didn't much like Beckett's mom at first. She did grow on me after a while. After a long while. I thought Beckett was a little over protective but I also understood why. And I rooted for Beckett and Trevor to finally get together. I hoped things would end well and I suppose they did. In their own way.

I did love how this story ended. Seems justice did prevail. But at what cost?

Thank you #SimonElement/S&S/MarySueRucciBooks, for this ARC. Also BOTM... It was a BOTM choice for me and I'm so glad.

4.75 stars

This was a fantastic kick off to spooky season! Megan Miranda's latest novel had a keen sense of creepy. I found myself a little scared reading at night in the dark - is there someone in room with me? Did someone come into the house without me knowing? This was an emotional but poignant story of family, trust, and redemption. I enjoyed every moment of it!

I really enjoyed Megan Miranda’s latest release!! I actually got this one as an ARC but got so busy and didn’t get a chance to read it by pub day (July 29).

This one started out a little slow, but it picked up halfway and then I could not put it down! It was thrilling, atmospheric, and twisty. The reveals were so good and I was kept guessing the whole time!

Y’all this was ALMOST a five star read - until the ending. I’m not gonna spoil it, but that was not what I wanted to see at all. If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this end.

Overall, it was such a solid thriller that had some of my favorite themes - college campus setting, missing person, flashbacks, and multiple suspects. If any of these speak to you, I’d recommend picking this one up!

Megan Miranda has given us another chilling, atmospheric thriller that lingers long after the final page. The setting of Wyatt Valley added a chill and depth to the overall feel of the book. A deeply atmospheric, suspenseful read that blends motherhood, mystery, and the mistakes of the past into an unforgettable thriller. I have never hated a side character as much as I did Adalyn throughout this book.

This book would be perfect for a cold fall day in front of a fire place!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for an eARC of this book.

Beckett Bowery never thought she would return to her hometown of Wyatt Valley. She loved growing up there and attended the local college that both of her parents taught at. But in her senior year, that all changed when two men ended up dead and her roommate went on the run.

Since then, Beckett has kept her distance from Wyatt Valley and Wyatt College. However, she is drawn back to her home when her daughter Delilah secretly applies and decides to attend Wyatt College like her mother did. Beckett feels uncertain about her daughters decision, but hopes all of her concerns are in her head. But Beckett should really learn how to trust her gut!

This one was a bit of a slow-burn at the beginning for me, and took a little to get into. But as I got more invested into the stores, the puzzle pieces started to come into place and more twists and turns caught my attention. There was a definite level of suspense that was quickly introduced and it became a satisfying small-town thriller. I found myself guessing throughout, but the revelations were perfectly timed to allow me to solve the mystery seconds before Beckett. I will definitely be adding more books from Megan Miranda to my TBR list.

Thank you to Simon Element, NetGalley, and Megan Miranda for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The story kicks off with Beckett dropping her daughter Delilah off at college—an emotional milestone quickly turned into a nightmare when Delilah calls home, says nothing, and hangs up. What follows is Beckett’s frantic search for her daughter, a shocking discovery on campus, and the unearthing of a decades-old mystery when the dead body turns out to be Beckett’s long-missing college roommate.

I loved the premise—dual mysteries tied together by past and present had so much potential—but the execution just didn’t hook me the way I hoped. The pacing felt uneven, with too many side plots and withheld “secrets” that either came far too late or weren’t fully fleshed out at all. It made it harder to connect with the characters and feel the tension building.

A great concept with intriguing threads, but for me, the suspense fizzled instead of ignited. Still worth a read if you like layered mysteries and campus settings, but it’s not one I’ll be thinking about long after finishing.
3 out of 5

A new favorite from Megan Miranda! I thought this book was very atmospheric and I really enjoyed the college campus setting. A little predictable but it was definitely a page turner!

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda was not your twisted, dark, thriller. It was a slower start, but once I was about half way through it was hard to put it down. There were some shock and surprise moments that kept me guessing how the story was going to end. There were no loose ends that weren't tied up, which is something Miranda is strong at doing. At times, the "howling" wind and it was loud and cold got in the way of the quality of the story. I got that the wind was strong, but it didn't need to be said as many times. I guess that was part of her development of mystery. I was pleased in how it ended, but it did seem to be very quick once what really happened was revealed. Took a while to get there and then it was suddenly over. It could've been developed a bit more, but it was better than most I have read lately.

I think this is my last of this author. She has simply just become too popcorn thriller for me. Unfortunately, I had to DNF. I was just too bored

Rating: 5 ⭐️
Pub Date: July 29, 2025
How I Read It:📱

Synopsis
Beckett Bowery never thought she’d return to Wyatt Valley, a picturesque college town in the Virginia mountains. Beckett’s parents were professors at the college, so she attended the college herself, but in her senior year, a tragedy occurred, and her roommate was never seen again. With the town’s eyes locked on her, Beckett moved, doing her best to stay away from the small town. When her daughter, Delilah, secretly applies to the college and starts going to school there, Beckett receives a strange phone call from her one night, sending her into a panic, and her past hits too close to home and starts haunting her.

My Thoughts
Megan Miranda is an auto-buy author for me. Her books always make my heart race with the possibility of something bad happening around every corner. This book was no exception, she kept my heart pounding as characters went into dark tunnels with doors that locked behind them. The eerie scare factor was high! Beckett’s love for her daughter upped the intensity factory because of their personal connection, and I felt like I couldn’t trust any of the characters, which made things very interesting and even more intense. I thoroughly enjoyed this whole book and kept flipping page after page to see what was going to happen at the end. Once I thought I figured out the ending, Miranda would throw a wrench in my theory. I was really surprised that the ending played out the way it did!

Themes
- Family History
- Family Secrets
- College Traditions

Ratings
Characters: 5 ⭐️
Pace: 5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 5 ⭐️

Thank you Simon Element | S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Megan Mirand is an auto-buy author for me, and although this wasn't my favorite of hers, I will still read anything she writes! In You Belong Here we follow Beckett Bowery, whose daughter is starting school at her alma matter - the same place Beckett hoped to never return to. Beckett's senior year many years ago ended with two men dead and her roommate missing and presumed guilty. I loved the setting of this - campus novels are always intriguing to me, and this would be a perfect book for late summer/early fall. Unfortunately, I didn't end up loving You Belong Here - the story was just too unbelievable, and it moved too slowly for me to be fully engaged in the plot. I think you should still give it a try if you are a campus novel lover like me - it might be even better reading it at this time of year as we head into fall!

This held my attention in the beginning but the timeline, flashbacks, lack of memorable characters, and the predictable twist at the end made this a pretty big disappointment

This was so good. I was so entertained throughout and it was also very fast paced so I read it in almost one sitting.
I loved the setting the most and the theme of mothers love.
I can see why others might not like this one but honestly I was entertained and had a good time so props for that.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy!

I am a fan of Megan Miranda and really enjoyed her newest, You Belong Here. The audio was excellent; Cassandra Campbell did an excellent job with her narration of this book. I was vested pretty much from the start and read this over a few days as I wanted to know how this one would turn out (I had to travel for work, or I would have finished sooner). There were a couple of twists towards the end that I did not see coming, and I thought the dual timelines worked well in here. This was a slow-burn thriller that had an undercurrent of intensity running the entire time, which I loved. It all came to a head towards the end, and like I said, I saw none of it coming. I also love a dark academia setting; this was atmospheric and just overall another great read from Miranda.

Thank you to Simon Element #partner and Simon Audio for the copies to review.