Beckett is reluctantly returning twenty years later to her old college Wyatt Valley, somewhere along the Blue Ridge mountains, where her parents had been respected faculty (and still live close by). But she didn’t finish school — she fled with only a semester left after her roommate was accused of murder and disappeared. Beckett is only back because her own daughter, Delilah, received a full scholarship.

Of course, there are real and imagined ghosts. Beckett’s former roommate Adalyn is now superstitiously known as the “spooky voice” of the “howling,” the time when fierce winter winds replace the usually stagnant and humid summer atmosphere with a jarring entrance and the college/local kids traditionally run into the woods with nothing good in mind.

The story unravels in in two timelines: present day first person POV Beckett and twenty years ago when her roommate went “poof.”

The book’s action initially proceeds slowly. Beckett seems to be too overprotective — she drives four hours when Delilah doesn’t answer her phone just as the “howling” has begun, but it seems justifiable when Delilah really isn’t in her dorm room and can’t be found. By the halfway point, Beckett has contacted the police and college authorities (her college ex, a friend of the murder victims) is the Dean of students. It’s obviously frustrating every time Beckett is reminded that Delilah is old enough to do what she wants, including disappearing for hours. No matter what, something is off as Beckett suspected. Just what it is comprises the second half of this thriller as it ties present day to the incident of Beckett’s past.

I usually love Miranda’s thrillers. The pacing of this one was off — too slow at first and most of the action in the last 25%. Beckett, the main protagonist, was too untrusting (even though there were times she was justified) and I wasn’t as supportive of her as I thought I should be. But the late developing storyline mostly redeemed the book. 3.5 stars.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO But Violet has equally rare hazel eyes and Raven also has unusually colored amber eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Although the woods does play a part.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Megan Miranda is an auto read author for me, since The Girl from Widow Hills and The Only Survivors are some of my all-time favorite thrillers.

You Belong Here is a solid thriller, despite being a bit too implausible to fully enjoy. Miranda's writing is always great, and the story flowed along at a steady pace. It's not that kind of story that stays with you, but it could be entertaining enough for an afternoon at the beach.

This was great! I never knew what was going to happen next. I really liked the main characters and the plot. I did not expect that twist at the end!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I wasn’t sure I was going to finished this book. I’m normally such a fan of Megan Miranda’s twisty mysteries, but this one missed the mark which was so disappointing considering how much I enjoyed Daughter of Mine. You Belong Here follows Beckett Bowery settling her daughter, Delilah, into the same college she was chased out of after it was suspected she’d helped her roommate, Adalyn, commit a heinous crime. Set in a small college town where you either identify as part of the town or the college, Beckett is unable to feel like either. She grapples with her daughter going behind her back to attend this particular school and how to move forward from a 20 year old tragedy that no one will let her forget.

I couldn’t get behind the main character, Beckett. I found her to be unlikable. She continuously tells the reader how she’s disliked in both the town and the college and how suspicion still clings to her, except no one treated her with any disrespect. No one shunned her, glared at her or denied her service. I felt the stakes she was raising were exaggerated and that the tension she built wasn’t justified by the other characters in her orbit. I kept wondering if the point of the book was to dive further into what happened decades ago when Adalyn vanished and while that finally unfolds it wasn’t the main mystery after all. The main mystery didn’t arise until half way through the book and I didn’t find the plot compelling until 3/4 of the way through. The first half of the book just dragged and repeated itself.

So while I didn’t think this was Miranda’s best work, I do think it would make for a great limited series. The pace could be picked up sooner, the town and residents fleshed out, with the past and present converging. I wouldn’t read the book again but I’d definitely watch the show.

Thank you to Simon Element, and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There seemed to be a lot of threads in this one. There was the old mystery of how much Beckett knew and what happened to Adalyn, and the new mystery of who is messing with Delilah, the crime on campus, and questioning the roles of multiple characters.

I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied, but appreciated the look at the lengths people will go to in order to protect their children, even on the wrong side of the law.

The past has a way of haunting you and one can never really escape it. It becomes even harder when your daughter takes you back to the same college that you attended as a kid where you were accused of being part of your best friend disappearing. Beckett had been able to stay away for two decades but her daughter brought her right back. While her parents try to get Beckett to leave town as soon as possible, a strange phone call brings Beckett right back trying to find her daughter who supposedly is missing. When a body is found on the campus the plot gets even thicker, because everything Beckett thought she knew about her past is about to unravel.
Thank you so much to Simon Element and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I dunno......

I'm an avid fan of Megan Miranda. Always was and always will be. You Belong Here didn't level off on the same plane as all her other novels. Perhaps it was the academia setting or perhaps it was just me.

We'll swing into Virginia with the panoramic view of the Blue Mountains. Megan Miranda introduces us to Beckett Bowery who is at Wyatt College with her eighteen year old daughter, Delilah. It's move-in day for the incoming freshman. Beckett hovers over Delilah moreso than the average parent here. There's a deep backstory that will rise to the surface eventually.

Beckett's parents both teach at the college. They live within walking distance. Beckett purposefully lives in North Carolina now. She was involved in a terrible situation that occurred there on campus twenty years ago. There were two young men who died and Beckett's best friend has been missing since then. All roads lead to Beckett who has never been convicted but lives in a accusatory dark shadow since then. Even with her daughter's full scholarship, why oh why go back?

And then one night, Beckett receives a call at 2 a.m. with heavy breathing and no conversation. Beckett drives to the campus immediately. Delilah is missing. The rest of the novel will be faced with unlosing knots from the past involving Beckett. Someone wants to even the score. But who?

You Belong Here is still a worthy read. There are chapters of Present andchapters of Past. Megan Miranda is usually a pro when it comes to being invested in her characters as readers. I simply didn't feel the draw with Beckett, Delilah, and the rest. It wasn't a strong enough premise for me. But give it a whirl and see what you think. After all, it's still Megan Miranda.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon Element and to the talented Megan Miranda for the opportunity.

Megan Miranda is an auto-buy author for me and when "You Belong Here" was released, I was thrilled to obtain a copy through Netgalley.

When Beckett Bowery was a senior at Wyatt College, her best friend Adalyn set a fire that claimed two lives and then vanished. Beckett did her best to leave behind both Wyatt College and the questions about her own involvement. That is until her daughter, Delilah, decides to attend Wyatt College and participate in a traditional hazing game called the Howling, where there are hidden underground tunnels & woods that surround the school.
After Beckett receives a frightening, dropped call from Delilah, she returns to the eerie & atmospheric Virginia town she grew up in.

One of the standout features of the story is the seamless time-hopping between the past and present. This adds layers of complexity to the plot, creating an intrigue that enhances the overall mystery. I found myself completely hooked, unable to put the book down as I tried to piece together the clues. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with well thought out characters and a good storyline. The author did a great job painting a picture of the campus and the surrounding woods and town, where I could picture myself there.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery/thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. .

Did I mention the spotty wi-fi and cell coverage drops ?.... READ this one!

EXPECTED PUBLICATION DATE: July 29, 2025

Good characters and story. The tension builds and keeps your attention. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

You Belong Here is a well-crafted, emotionally layered thriller with strong atmosphere and a built-to-payoff mystery. It shines in its evocative setting and multi-layered structure—but you’ll need to settle in for a measured build and follow a hefty stack of characters. If you're in the mood for a suspenseful, character-driven story that rewards attention, it's a solid pick. But if you prefer lean, immediate thrillers, be ready to enter slowly before the tension hits high gear.

Megan Miranda - a favorite author - and dark academia - my favorite genre. What's not to love? This book did not disappoint in vibe but has some difficult plot holes to overlook.

Decades ago, two local men are killed by fire at a prestigious college. The arsonist and murderer is a young woman who disappeared that same night. Her roommate and BFF Beckett is suspected to be an accomplice, but was never charged. Her parents are both professors at the school. She leaves the school and the town and vows never to return. 18 years later, her daughter applies to the school. not knowing the dark history (I hate plots that center around a total lack of communication - just feels lazy). The semester has barely begun when Beckett gets an alarming call from her daughter with only a scream before the call drops - and then she can't reach her. She immediately comes to the school and begins a search for her daughter - and, inadvertently, answers to what happened 18 years earlier as well.

Miranda establishes a creepy vibe right away with the descriptions of the Howling - a long-standing game played by co-eds when the first of the autumn whistling winds sweeps through the valley where the school is located. Essentially, seniors chase underclassmen through the woods. Masks are involved, and it lends the requisite sinister vibe. Miranda keeps the tension high and the atmosphere and pacing are nice.

That said, there are some problems with the plot. There is an inexplicable relationship between Beckett and her daughter's father, and a pointless romance. Some of the backstory doesn't hang together that well once all is revealed - looking at you Beckett's parents.

But, I enjoyed it nonetheless. Not the best dark academia out there, but a decent attempt.

I wanted to love this one—I really did. Megan Miranda usually delivers the kind of moody, twisty reads I can’t put down, but this felt a little too slow and distant for me. The setup had promise (small town secrets, a character with a complicated past), but the suspense just never quite gripped me the way I hoped it would.

It’s not a bad book. The writing is clean, and there are moments where I thought okay, here we go—but then it would fizzle out again. The characters felt a bit flat, and the final reveal didn’t hit with the punch I expected.

If you’re a big Megan Miranda fan, you might still enjoy the vibes. But for me, this one just didn’t leave much of an impression.

Megan Miranda writes FABULOUS stories but this is my new favorite of hers. I could not put this done. I was amazed at each page.

When Beckett's daughter Delilah tells her she's attending college in the same small town where Beckett grew up, Beckett is fearful. The quaint college, from which both her parents recently retired as professors, doesn't seem like somewhere to be frightened of, but Beckett's own past there is mired in tragedy. On a fall night long ago, two young men died, and afterward, Beckett's best friend disappeared. So when Beckett receives a phone call from Delilah shortly after dropping her off at school and all she hears is a muffled scream on the other end, Beckett rushes to her daughter's aid. Only to discover that she, too, is now missing.

I've read and enjoyed most of Megan Miranda's thrillers, but this one just didn't work for me. I can consume a suspensful thriller in just two days, but this one took me over two weeks to read. Nothing seemed to be pulling the story forward. The red herrings seemed too obviously exactly that. There are multiple characters who feel hapharzardly thrown into the story without adding any substance to it. So many of the plot points seemed too unrealistic. And the ending? Hugely unsatisfying. I finally finshed the book a few days ago and had to re-read the synopsis to remember what it was about. It was that forgettable.

I read all of Megan Miranda's books. The premise of this one sounded awesome....mysterious college campus and town, didn't want to come back, forced to come back to the town for her daughter. Unfortunately, that isn't what I got.

I was expecting more things taking place at the school and more from the daughter's perspective. I felt a little tricked that it was all from a mother's perspective trying to protect her daughter. It was fine. That's how I feel about the book.

My main complaint is there is so much chasing and trying to find people. I see the reflective nature of the book, combining the past and present, but so. much. running. and chasing.

I’m a huge fan of Megan Miranda, and I recommend her books to my library patrons often. This one is going to leap to the top of my list of favorites! I loved getting to know the complicated characters. I always like the way the author plays with time, and I enjoyed jumping between the past and present timelines. Megan Miranda is a perennial favorite of mine because she builds suspense slowly, and without any graphic details. I was so sure I had figured out the ending and I was totally wrong. Loved this one so much!

Beckett was attending the small college in her hometown two decades ago when it happened. A fire was started. Two men died. And her roommate and best friend disappeared. To escape the questions and suspicion, Beckett was forced to leave the small town where she grew up. But now life is coming full circle as Beckett’s daughter, Delilah, begins her freshman year at the very same college. And then Delilah disappears. What secrets will be forced out into the open once Beckett returns to town?

Megan Miranda develops her characters well and weaves the story through two time periods, bringing them all together flawlessly as the pages turn. And I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! As with some of her prior novels, Megan Miranda masterfully depicts a small town tragedy with results that echo far and wide. This is a suspense novel you won’t want to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Megan Miranda is one of must read- no questions asked authors. In “You Belong Here” Beckett’s daughter has chosen to go the the college Beckett was asked to leave. Beckett’s roommate were accused of starting a fire that killed 2 men, and there is also some suspicions on Beckett.

A disturbing dropped call from Delilah brings Beckett racing back to the college, and many mysterious things happen. A long unsolved mystery is solved. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book. It was mysterious and had me guessing until the very end. There are still parts I’m questioning after finishing the book.

A fun mystery with a unique storyline! So many mysteries seem much the same these days so it’s refreshing when something new comes out. It was a bit slow in the middle but the last 15% was jam packed with action and answers. Would recommend!