Syl Jameson and Viola Harrison are best friends growing up in the insular, God fearing town of Love Hill. Syl has always wanted her parents to be as warm and caring as Viola's family, so she spends most of her time with the Harrison's. But the two friends, while close, are complete opposites. Syl can be needy, and Viola is just toxic. One night, tragedy strikes, leaving Syl "waking up" dead in Viola's car, and Viola is nowhere to be found. Now as Syl's ghost pieces together the final months of her life, and Viola tries to make sense of what happened, the once inseparable duo is torn apart by secrets, betrayal, and lies. Two best friends. One dead girl. One missing. Whose story do you believe?

This was definitely a unique read! Told from both girls POVs, the reader gets to choose which girls story to read first. Either story you begin with is multi-layered and complex. I personally started with Syl's version and then Viola's, and I really felt like my questions were all answered. Both Syl and Viola feel real, flawed, conflicted, and shaped by a town that never gave them the space to grow. In Love Hill appearances matter more than the truth and Paul really captured that small town toxicity. A couple of flaws: The main one for me is it is a bit repetitive. Because the girls recount the same events, some parts feel redundant. Another critique is some of the dialogue is way too overly formal and stiff for a teenaged girl. Overall, Dead Girls Don't Talk is not your typical thriller. It goes deep and examines trauma and the effect of silence and unspoken truths. With a unique structure and interesting premise, I would definitely recommend adding it to your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sandra Paul, and Skyscrape for this ARC! Publication date was July 29th 2025.

The compelling narrative and well-drawn characters had me up so late.
The way she creates her characters is seriously the best. They are intriguing and entertaining.
The story itself was suspenseful and enjoyable, The characters were great and the style of writing was perfect.
An intriguing story with characters who draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.

📚: Dead Girls Don’t Talk by Sandra J. Paul
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

Two best friends. One just died. One is on the run. Both have their story to tell, but who’s telling the truth?

So, the choose your own adventure quality is this (or, I guess in a prior edition, the “flipover” style) is kitschy in a way that is totally unnecessary but very much fun. (I will stand by the fact that I think I read the POVs in the order that they’re best in.)

This book is *definitely* YA - and with that comes some of the downfalls I find with YA. That said, I very much enjoyed this one for what it is.

Thanks to Skyscape via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This revised edition of Dead Girls Don’t Talk is out today.

So, Dead Girls Don’t Talk had me hooked at the title. Creepy, mysterious, full of promise and the setup? Solid. Small town secrets, ghostly vibes, and a main character who clearly watched one too many true crime docs. And kind of choose your side and who to believe? I was in.

I really wanted to love this, but somewhere along the way, it lost steam. The twists weren’t as twisty as I hoped, and a few characters were so flat. I kept waiting for that big "OMG" moment... and it kind of whispered instead of screamed.

That said, it's not a total ghost town, there's a cool mood throughout, and if you’re into light thrillers with a paranormal edge, it’s a quick weekend read. It wasn’t a total hit for me but I had a good time.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The concept of this book sounded extremely clever and I love a good thriller! However, I DNF'd this book after reading Viola's half of the book - I found the book hard to read, with unedited sentences and repetition.

The book follows Viola and Syl, two ex-best friends, after a car crash in which Syl ends up dead. The reader can choose to read Syl or Viola's recollection of events before reading the ending. I think this is a fantastic concept exploring the idea of three versions of events - mine, yours and the truth.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with the chapters I did read. The story felt like it was being spoon-fed to the reader, the story was focused on the deep friendship of the two girls but no evidence was shown rather than being told every couple of pages. The plot twist with Viola's father was predictable and the concept of being 'gay' in a small town felt like it should have been explored more rather than just a scapegoat. Viola was extremely unlikeable as a character and hence I had no interest in following her story.

I started to read Syl's chapters and it lost me when she was a ghost.

Thank you to Sandra J. Paul and Net Galley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, I liked that you could pick what story to read first.
It kept my guessing the whole way through and I was on the edge of my seat.

This was wild. Think Pretty Little Liars meets dual unreliable narrators and a big tangled web of secrets, lies, and toxic relationships.

Told in two halves — you choose whose to read first — we get completely different versions of the same events, and watching the pieces shift and reframe as we go was fascinating. Everyone is keeping something back, and it’s clear pretty quickly that no one is a reliable narrator.

There’s cheating, manipulation and enough emotional damage to go around. Honestly, no one in this is likeable, but that kind of worked — I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know what really happened. The last 10% had me absolutely shook.

Dark, twisty, slightly unhinged. I wouldn’t call it “enjoyable” in the traditional sense, but it was a fun, messy ride — and I couldn’t look away.

Thank you Netgalley & Skyscape for an eARC♥️

Two Best Friends. One Dead Girl. Two Sides to the Story—But Which One Do You Believe?
Viola and Syl were inseparable—born on the same day, raised as neighbors, tied together like twin flames. They shared everything: friends, dreams, even the same bright future ahead of them. Until one of them ended up dead in the other’s car.
Two weeks before Stanford and Princeton were supposed to change their lives forever,Syl’s body is found slumped in Viola’s abandoned vehicle. Viola? Nowhere to be found. The evidence points to her—but nothing about this feels right. Was Viola really capable of killing her other half? Or is there something much darker lurking beneath the surface?
This isn’t just another murder mystery. It’s a turnaround book—a brilliantly twisted narrative where you decide which side of the story to read first. Will you start with Viola’s version, where she insists she didn’t do it? Or will you dive into Syl’s haunting account from beyond the grave, where secrets don’t stay buried for long?
The writing is sharp, the tension unbearable, and the bond between these two girls so real that their unraveling feels like a punch to the gut. 😳
Final Verdict? Unputdownable.
Who do you believe?Pick a side. Then prepare to doubt it.

Loved this concept of choosing which girl's version to read first, the dead girl or the best friend who ran off.

Syl and Viola are friends. There is an accident, Syl dies, and Viola runs off. Syl's ghost is looking for answers, and boy, does she get them. It's definitely a slow burn, so give the book a chance because it really picks up and delivers twists and turns.

Thank you, Netgalley and Skyscape, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Their lives have been intertwined since the day they were born. Sharing the same birthday and living on the same street their entire lives, Syl and Viola were destined to be best friends.

But they're like night and day. Syl's family is cold and distant and she's desperately trying to hold onto everything that helps her feel loved and Viola's warm family is a safe place for her. But Viola is outgrowing their friendship and looking for ways to push Syl away.

It all ends when there's a tragic car accident and Syl is found dead in Viola's car and Viola is no where to be found.

The dual narrative gives us both girls' side of the story, but who's can we believe and what really happened to their friendship.

While I enjoyed the premise of this story, it was often repetitive and slow.

I liked the premise of this book. A you choose where to start and with whose story. Do you start with Syl’s story, the girl who died? Or Viola’s story, the one who ran?

This story was just an ok read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Skyskape for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy. I really enjoyed the concepts of this book so much. I love reading the different perspectives. And the plot twists were on fire. Such a fun and quick read.

So.... I wanted to enjoy it, I really did. The premise is good, the pace was slow. It was a great idea – to split the book into 2 POVs that you can read in whichever order you want to – but I just read it in the order that it was in the book. I didn't like any of the characters, which is not a problem, but I did find them boring and couldn't care less about them. And both of them talked in the same way. All of the characters, even though they had "different personalities" felt the same to me.

I do think that what this book needs now is a good redactor. Oh and the "plot twist" could have been done better.

"Dead girls don’t talk… but this one does" – well... I wished she didn't – 2/5

I'd like to send my thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

a 1.5, this was really rough, everything about the stylization of this was not enjoyable, in theory it worked but in actuality the language was immature and spelled everything out for the audience, the timeline and stories did not add up and frankly i felt there were enough plot holes to ruin the whole story, all of the characters sucked, none of the death makes actual sense, and everyone is unnecessarily seeking revenge in the wrong places

thank you to netgalley for an arc of this title in exchange for my honest review!

I finished Dead Girls Don’t Talk… and honestly, I wish I hadn’t.

This is a flip-over novel, meaning one side gives you the accused killer’s POV, the other side is from the victim’s, and the “truth” is somewhere in the middle. It could’ve been a masterpiece. A haunting, layered story of trauma, guilt, and conflicting realities. But instead, it was a chaotic mess of two unreliable narrators who were equally terrible to each other. No one was likable, and not in the compelling way—more in the “I’m forcing myself through this ARC just to be able to review it properly” way.

The structure had potential, but the execution? Flat. Bland. Lackluster. The twist didn’t twist, the emotion didn’t hit, and by the time I reached the middle “truth,” I was just relieved it was almost over. Glad I didn’t pay for this one.

2.5 ★★★☆☆

The idea is cool—a flip-book style ghost mystery with dual POVs—but it didn’t fully land for me. The idea had potential, but the two narratives felt too similar and repetitive. I liked the eerie vibe and pacing, but the characters didn’t feel super fleshed out, and the emotional beats didn’t really hit.

I think readers who enjoy twisty drama with a paranormal edge might enjoy it more, but it just wasn’t quite my thing.

If you liked One of Us is Lying this one might be right up your alley. Syl is dead, Viola is missing—and someone isn't telling the truth. What really happened in that car that night of the accident? The whole premise of this book was interesting as we—the reader, gets to decide where we want to begin reading as we get to decide who we want to trust and believe first before going into the point of view of the other girl. Not only that, one of the POV's is from the dead girls, so I immediately jumped in and decided to read hers first (because who wouldn't want to know what the dead believe happened?)

Overall, this book really highlights how life long friendships can turn super toxic and that both people can equally be the problem. I think my issue is that both POVs were a little too similar, we got to see both sides of the story sure, but ultimately I thought the grand reveal would be better.

Thank you NetGalley & Skyscape for the opportunity to read this arc!

Big thank you to Sandra J. Paul and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of Dead Girls Don’t Talk.

From the beginning I felt this book had amazing promise especially with having the option to do a kind of dual pov reading. This set up some great mystery surrounding the book but to me ultimately fell flat before the second perspective started.

Both characters felt irredeemable to me and made me not want to root for them throughout. Ultimately, I was not the biggest fan and wanted more development.

Book Review: Dead Girls Don’t Talk by Sandra J. Paul

Sandra J. Paul’s Dead Girls Don’t Talk is an unsettling and atmospheric psychological mystery that grips you not only with its chilling premise but also with its unique narrative structure. The novel invites readers to choose whose story to read first: that of Emily — the sister who died under mysterious circumstances — or Abby — the sister left behind, desperate for answers.

Set in a small town steeped in secrets, the story revolves around the tragic death of Emily, officially ruled a suicide. Abby, however, feels something isn’t right. When Emily begins “speaking” to her from beyond the grave, Abby is drawn into a tangled web of half-truths, guilt, and dangerous discoveries.

Paul’s crisp, evocative prose creates an atmosphere that is both eerie and deeply human. The dual narrative choice isn’t just a clever gimmick; it genuinely shapes the reading experience, offering two perspectives that reveal different facets of the mystery. Depending on which sister you follow first, your understanding — and sympathy — can shift in surprising ways.

Beyond the thriller elements, the novel explores heavy themes: the weight of grief, the shadows cast by family secrets, and the haunting question of whether we really want the truth once we find it. The pacing is thoughtful and deliberate, building suspense gradually while keeping the emotional core raw and real.

If you’re drawn to dark, character-driven mysteries with a supernatural twist — and especially if you love books that experiment with form — Dead Girls Don’t Talk is a standout choice. It’s haunting, clever, and deeply affecting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆

A gripping, atmospheric mystery made even more compelling by the choice to see the story through Abby’s eyes, Emily’s — or both. A fascinating way to read a book that I have not experienced before.

I’m really sorry to say this, but I wish I’d liked Dead Girls Don’t Talk more than I did. The premise was so intriguing: two best friends, one dead, one missing, and a dual narrative where you choose whose side to read first. I loved the concept, and I was hoping for a tense, emotional, twisty story.

But unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. The pacing was uneven, and I struggled to stay engaged. The characters felt flat and hard to connect with, even though the story tries to explore deep emotions like jealousy, obsession, and betrayal. The structure, while interesting in theory, ended up making the plot feel repetitive and a bit disjointed.

There were moments of potential, especially in the darker parts of their friendship, but overall, it didn’t land the emotional or suspenseful impact I was hoping for.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.