Let me start by saying I really wanted to like this book. It’s been sitting on my TBR for the longest time, and I was genuinely looking forward to diving into the mystery and watching the two sides of the story unfold.

But pretty quickly after starting, I realized Dead Girls Don't Talk wasn’t going to be a book I enjoyed. I was expecting spooky, mysterious vibes in a creepy small-town setting with unreliable narrators and a death to solve. What we got instead was a choppy POV and pages upon pages of completely unbelievable dialogue, all playing out in what felt like a white room. There’s a difference between using dialogue for exposition and using it as a dumping ground for background information, and this book leaned way too heavily on the latter. On top of that, certain events were flagged right from the start as obviously important later, but instead of letting those details surface naturally through subtle hints, the characters just kept circling back to “the tragic incident” every couple of pages without ever naming it.

All in all, the idea had real potential, but the execution just didn’t work for me.

Everything you want in a mystery type book. Had a hard time getting into it at first but once the plot picked up I could t put it down!

"Dead Girls Don’t Talk" by Sandra J. Paul is a gripping, twisty thriller that had me hooked from the first page. Syl and Viola’s friendship in the small town of Love Hill is intense, complicated, and full of secrets, and it’s clear from the start that it’s heading for a dramatic collision. When Syl is found dead and Viola disappears, the tension skyrockets.

I loved the dual narrative—choosing which girl’s perspective to read first made the story even more engaging, and the twists kept me constantly guessing. It’s a dark, suspenseful ride with complex characters and a plot that refuses to let you go until the very last page. For a YA novel, the characters were very mature and relatable. I loved this one more than I was expecting to!

Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: 7/29
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Two friends… well ex friends, one now dead. Two sides to the story, one from a ghost one from the one living. Who will you believe?
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This book slaps…. It was a super unique immersive read. It starts right off with the crash, you immediately know which of the two friends is dead. You hear the ghosts story first. I was immediately hooked on the drama (apparently I just love drama). You can actually choose to read the other part first which is fine but what is awesome and unique about this story is you read both sides to the story; I loved having both points of view. I will be honest and say I was more partial to the ghosts version of events - but you need to read yourself to understand why. Steady paced with an ending that wrapped up the story perfectly. Overall, this is a great story and a fun read.
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I listened to this via audiobook while reading my eARC. It was narrated by Gail Shalan, Brittany Presley and Emily Lawrence. While I usually enjoy all of these narrators, I really wasn’t the biggest fan of the audio. There was an accent that was given to the characters that just wasn’t my favorite. This is totally a meeee problem that I struggled to get over. I still would recommend the audiobook though.
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This book has stuck with me since finishing it - it was haunting in a way I cant quite explain.. So be sure to check this one out when you get a chance!

I loved this book, it kept me absolutely hooked from the first sentence. The writing was easy to read but also kept you engaged.

This one was such an interesting concept. I really liked the idea of Syl narrating her own story from beyond the grave while Viola struggles with her side of the truth. The dual POV structure made it unique, and I thought it was fun that you could decide which perspective to start with.
Overall, this was a solid read with a creative twist. If you like layered perspectives and mysteries with an eerie vibe, it’s worth checking out!

I had interest in reading this book when the flipper was released firstly, and when I found out about being traditionally publish I couldn’t be more excited. I couldn’t, unfortunately, read it has an ARC due to technical problems but I read it on Kindle. I read it on less than 24 hours and what an experience!

An interesting fresh look at at how both sides of a story. I rwally enjoyed this book. I was sceptical at first, but warmed up at around 30%.

Two best friends. One dead girl. Two sides of the story.

This is the story of Viola, and what happened before she killed Syl. She may be a killer, but she has something important to say.

This is the story of Syl, and what led to her death. Syl may be dead, but she isn't gone. Yet.

Viola and Syl were like sisters of different mothers. Born on the same day, neighbors from day one. The same schools, the same friends, the same lives. Nobody ever thought that these girls could be torn apart.

Until it happened.

Two weeks before Syl is supposed to leave for Stanford and Viola is ready for her new life in Princeton, Syl's body is found on the passenger seat of Viola's abandoned car. And Viola is gone.

The only evidence found at the scene leads to Viola. Was she really responsible for her best friend's death? Or are there other things at play?

Two versions of the story unfold, told from both Syl's and Viola's point of views in this unique turnaround book.

The reader decides which version to read first, and which one to believe. Or not.

Unique and thrilling. Loved it from start to finish and back again. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others

Dead Girls Don't Talk is a novel which describes its differences from other books by the start: the story is about a dead girl who is now a ghost and her friend, which is considered as the murderer. At the end of the book, you can decide where to start: you can read first the "ghost" version and going on with the "murderer" one, or you can choose one or the other and then read only about the final of the story.
I loved this kind of experience, it's really immersive and gives the power to the reader.

Sandra J. Paul created a thriller story full of sentimentalism, nostalgia, anger, jealousy. A lot of human feeling are being exposed as dead bodies under autopsy. The rhythm of the story is enthusiastic, but at the same time broken, as the life we discover page by page.

I absolutely recommend this to anyone who is in love with mystery and thriller books, but wants a different structure, that plays with our minds.

I liked the synopsis of this book but I felt like it was written too young for me. It’s probably my fault for not reading it. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

Dead Girls Don't Talk is a book full of twists and turns that keep you on your feet all the way to the end!

I really liked this book. The appeal to the book is the option of reading one of two POV’s. I think that inclusion is really cool. The story, itself, starts off slow but as you continue to read, it starts snowballing. You try to figure out who's telling the truth as you read both sides. The ending had me in a spin!
If you like unlikable main characters, friend-to-enemies, suspense and mystery, this one is for you!

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, though the execution didn’t quite meet my expectations. The writing style felt a bit choppy at times, and the dialogue didn’t always ring true to how teenagers actually speak.

One of the cleverest aspects is its unique “flipover” format—two possible starting points, each offering a different perspective on the events that shattered Syl and Viola’s friendship. You choose whose side to hear first, then piece together the truth behind the crash.

The mystery drew me in, and starting with Viola’s side made the ending an even bigger surprise. Although I felt the characters could have used more depth and the prose could have been smoother, the central puzzle surrounding Syl and Viola’s fate kept me hooked, particularly as the tension ramped up later in the book.

Overall, while it wasn’t a perfect read for me, its inventive format and surprising twists made it worth the journey, and I can see it appealing to readers who enjoy unconventional storytelling and layered mysteries.

This book messed with my head in the most delicious way.

Sandra J. Paul takes everything I thought I knew about toxic friendships, small-town secrets, and the weight of female silence, and shatters it. Dead Girls Don’t Talk isn’t just a psychological suspense novel. It’s a "choose your own reality" descent into obsession, betrayal, and the haunting power of perception.

Two girls. One friendship. One found dead. One vanished.
And one question that echoes with every single page:
Whose version do you believe?

Syl and Viola, oh, these girls. At first, they’re magnetic. They pull you in with their fierce loyalty, their unspoken dependencies, the way they orbit each other like planets about to collide. But page by page, Sandra peels back their polished exteriors, and what’s underneath is… brutal. Real. Relatable in a way that stings.

Syl, with her quiet ache for love and connection.
Viola, with her fire, her edges, her secrets.
The friendship feels like fate and a ticking bomb.

What I loved most is how this story dares you to choose. Two narratives. Two timelines. Two deeply flawed girls, each with their own version of the truth. You pick who to believe. You pick where to start. But no matter what path you choose, Sandra is in complete control, and you’re in for twists that will wreck your trust in everyone. Including yourself.

Love Hill is the kind of small town that festers behind closed curtains. The kind of place where everyone knows just enough to stay quiet. The atmosphere is claustrophobic and delicious, thick with secrets and shame and whispers that linger long after you put the book down.

And the title? Let me just say… I screamed when I realized what it really meant.

By the time you reach the end, and trust me, your jaw will drop, you’ll be questioning everything you thought you knew about memory, loyalty, manipulation, and how far a person will go to be heard… or to stay hidden.

Sandra J. Paul has created something dark, sharp, and deeply human. If you’re looking for a read that grips you by the throat, turns you upside down, and makes you sit in your feelings, Dead Girls Don’t Talk is it.

And fair warning: Dead girls may not talk, but their stories scream.

This was a fast paced read with lots of twists and turns! I had a hard time putting this one down!! I loved the multiple POVs and the characters as well.

This book seemed really interesting but right from the start I could tell I wasn’t going to like it. Both Syl and Viola sounded exactly the same. If you have different POVs you gotta change the voice, even if they are besties. Also, the conversations in the book never sounded like real teens. It never felt realistic no matter how many times I tried to read it. I just couldn’t get into it. 2.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

5)

“Two girls. One dead. One disappeared.” That’s all it takes for Sandra J. Paul to hook you into the dark, twisted world of Dead Girls Don’t Talk, a psychological suspense novel that lives up to its TikTok hype.

Set in the claustrophobic small town of Love Hill, this dual-narrative thriller follows best friends Syl Jameson and Viola Harrison—girls who are more like sisters, if sisters came with secrets sharp enough to kill. The structure is one of the book’s standout features: you choose which girl’s version to read first, a clever format that invites the reader to become an active participant in uncovering the truth.

Syl and Viola’s friendship is built on deep emotional need and hidden resentment. Syl, from a cold and unloving home, craves the warmth of Viola’s seemingly perfect family. Viola, meanwhile, hides a toxic streak behind her charming facade. When Syl is found dead in Viola’s car and Viola vanishes without a trace, everything the town thought they knew about these girls comes undone.

Paul’s writing is atmospheric and emotionally charged, capturing the intensity of teenage friendship and the slow unraveling of trust. The dual perspectives are executed with psychological depth, showing how truth can be slippery depending on who’s telling the story—and what they need to hide.

The book plays masterfully with memory, perception, and the stories we tell ourselves. As secrets unravel, you start to question everything you think you know about both girls. Who was the victim? Who was the villain? And in a town like Love Hill, is anyone truly innocent?

Pros:
• Innovative dual POV structure with reader’s choice
• Complex, emotionally layered characters
• Strong sense of place and tension
• Keeps you guessing until the final pages

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.