4.5 Stars – A Gripping YA Thriller That Kept Me Hooked

This book is an excellent YA thriller that really kept me engaged from start to finish. The mystery surrounding Fairport Village is eerie and compelling, and I loved how the story unfolded with tension and suspense. Eden is a strong, relatable protagonist, and her complicated history with Caleb and his friends adds an extra layer of drama to an already intense plot. The pacing was great, with just enough twists to keep me guessing, and the ending was especially satisfying. If you love dark, atmospheric thrillers with high stakes and great character dynamics, this one is definitely worth the read!

Thank you, NetGalley and Tantor Audio, for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley & Tanner Audio for this Audio Arc!

I don’t read many YA thrillers but I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I never quite had a pick on the whole who did it twist but I had so many theories!

This story is about a small town with some big secrets and a cursed haunted village, what could possibly go wrong?!?!
Short answer… everything!

Eden is our FMC and she is entering her senior year of high school. She finds herself at a pre school traditional party with a group of bullies that have made it their mission to make her miserable, but when a boy ends up dead, Eden is forced to work with the people she despises most! You see there is this curse and it’s known that if you see the woman in black then you’re next and Eden isn’t sure about a lot but she is sure she saw someone… or something!
Now it’s race to see if they can figure out the clues and find out who is behind all of the murders or end up another victim of the ruins!!!!

This one was full of fun twists and turns and I really enjoyed it!!

This book really kept me guessing until the end. I didn't see that ending coming.
The author weaves a complex story, where every person could be guilty. There are a lot of characters to get to know. New people were constantly popping up! The author did a great job crafting a creepy atmosphere. I enjoy thrillers that involve old mansions on cliff-sides!

I found Eden to be a likable character. I think young readers will find her relatable. Her budding romance with Caleb was woven throughout the story. Some of Caleb’s dialogue was a bit stilted, but he was still an enjoyable character.

If you are looking for a compulsive YA thriller with a touch of romance, then I recommend picking this book up! The audiobook is a great option too! The narrator did a great job bringing the story to life!

Eden Stafford, must join together with her once friends and now sworn enemies to figure out what happened to her former classmates and to save their own lives from the the curse of Fairport Village.
I love reading YA thrillers because they always get right into the action without any slow buildup and this book was no different.

The dynamic between these four was definitely tumultuous but as things got more dire you could see the walls coming down for Eden especially where her feeling for Caleb were concerned. I liked the interactions between the two. I also enjoyed the premise of the story and the supernatural elements. Always teetering between whether or not the murders we’re being caused by supernatural elements or by and actual person.

The narrator does a great job with the audiobook. Bringing Eden and the other characters to life and really making you feel their emotions and tension throughout.

This book gets off to a rocky start, but hang in there! Because of the complicated backstory of this novel, the story is murky at first, and it takes a bit to really get all of the pieces laid out before we start to understand the depth of the tales and which ones are invented and which ones are true. Suspicions about, and there are plenty of red herrings.

In the beginning we're thrown right in to the middle of a party at the ruins of Fairport Village, a resort with a tragic backstory. Is Fairport Village haunted? Is something sinister lurking in the shadows to frighten people away or to save them from their own tragic fate? To start, the narrative is slow, but it picks up and really flies after about half of the book, and ends with a shocking, albeit drawn-out, conclusion.

Please read the trigger warnings if sensitive to topics, including, but not limited to, death, grief, and suicide.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Inc, Tantor Media, Netgalley, and author Chelsea Ichaso for access to the e audio advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of We Were Warned.
I was given an arc of this book in the audio version.
The narrator was great. She really brought life to the book.
I was captivated from the very first chapter. Shortly after I started to lose interest. I felt like I’ve seen a movie or read something almost like this before. Then it started to became predictable.
The main character came off as Whiny and annoying. Always bringing up the past. Like girl let it go stop holding grudges and live your life.

4 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the ALC! 💌

We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso is a gripping YA thriller that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! 😱 Let me just say, this book was a RIDE from start to finish. The spooky vibes, the suspense, and the constant feeling of "WTF is happening next?" made it impossible to put down. 🔪💀

Here’s the scoop: Eden Stafford, our brave (and a little skeptical) heroine, is thrust into a chilling overnight party at the infamous Fairport Village—a place haunted by a legend and two unsolved murders. The legend? Anyone who dares to visit Fairport is cursed. Yep, that’s exactly where Eden ends up. And surprise, surprise, another student is found dead. 😳

Now, Eden’s forced to team up with her ex-friends, including the hot and mysterious Caleb Durham. These people used to torment her, but now they’re her only hope of surviving this creepy mess. Can she trust them? Or will they leave her to face a killer alone? 🤔

I loved Eden’s character. She’s strong, smart, and not afraid to face danger head-on. But let's not forget Caleb... is he a good guy, or is he hiding something? 😏

The atmosphere in this book? Creeptastic! It’s like you can practically feel the cold, abandoned beach resort lurking behind every corner. Plus, there's this perfect balance of mystery, teenage drama, and a bit of that eerie paranormal element that keeps you guessing. 👀 Is the killer human? Is it a ghost? The twists and turns will leave you second-guessing everything you think you know.

The mystery unfolds nicely, and even though I guessed a few things along the way, the twists at the end were still mind-blowing. Like, I did not see that coming. 😵

Now, let’s talk about the narration! Jennifer Jill Araya did an incredible job bringing the tension and suspense of this story to life. She perfectly captured the eerie vibes of the setting and really nailed the emotions of the characters. From Eden’s inner struggles to the creepy atmosphere, Jennifer’s voice made everything feel even more immersive and intense. 👏

If you're into:
Creepy small towns 🏚️
Mysterious deaths 🔪
Friends to enemies to maybe lovers 👀
Spooky legends 🧟‍♂️
YA thrillers that keep you on your toes 👣

Then We Were Warned is totally your next read! It’s a page-turner that’ll keep you hooked until the last twisty sentence. 🔄

This book was a suspenseful and eerie story that keeps you guessing until the very end. The story follows a group of teens whose overnight getaway takes a frightening turn when they realize they are not alone in this secluded area. The abandoned area already has a reputation for horrific events, therefore realizing someone is lurking sends them into a panic. When Eden finds one of her classmates dead, the teens begin to wonder if the urban legends are true. As they are stalked one by one, it is appearing more & more that the tainted past of this abandoned resort is not ready to let go. Several tense filled moments, in which the narrator did an impeccable job portraying.

Enjoyed this young adult novel, and if you are fans of shows like Riverdale or Pretty Little Liars, this one’s for you! First by this author and I am now intrigued and interested in more of her work. Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

I don’t usually read a lot of YA thrillers, but We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso was an entertaining ride! The eerie atmosphere and suspense kept me hooked, and while some twists were predictable, the fast pacing made it hard to put down.

The story follows Regan, whose school trip to an abandoned mining town takes a terrifying turn when she and her classmates realize someone—or something—wants them to stay. As strange warnings and disappearances pile up, Regan must uncover the truth before it’s too late.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with an unsettling edge—especially in a YA setting—this one is worth picking up!

I could not figure out who it was! My attention was completely locked in with this story. There were so many twists I didn’t know which one could be true.
I liked that while they were trying to solve the murders and the mystery behind what happened at the ruins, we still got that teen angst. Reminds you these are just kids trying to solve the crime and save themselves. You get the teenage drama and bickering, the sneaking around behind their parents backs, and a little bit of romance mixed in.

I did not expect that ending! It was such a twist through to the end. And that epilogue!! I did have some suspicion on that part.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!

A fast paced mystery that will keep you on your toes. While I quickly guessed the plot points, the execution was interesting and the final plot twist left me astonished! A recommendation to those that want a story that will entrap you.

3.5 stars

We Were Warned is a fast paced YA thriller. This creative story by Chelsea Ichaso is filled with twists and turns and kept me interested until the very end. Jill Araya did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & Tantor Audio for letting me read this ARC.

Absolutely LOVED this book, Chelsea Ichaso never ceases to amaze me with her incredible writing style and her amazing plots/ plot twists. This was a face paced read that kept me intrigued from the first page and at the edge of my seat the entire way through. The epilogue was definitely the cherry on top and left me with my jaw open.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publishers for the Audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc


I was really hoping this was going to be an unputdownable thriller, but unfortunately, I found this book to be very slow. I really tried to stick with it to find out the big "twist" but I just kept losing interest.

The twist was twisting! I was trying so hard to predict the ending with the most outlandish guesses and I still didn’t get it right. I am deducting one star for the Scooby Doo ending lmao. “Let’s see who’s under this mask! Old man Caruthers?!?!” 💀 I am a sucker for a good villain monologue though.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free advance copy!!

Creepy, fast-paced, and full of twists, We Were Warned is a fun YA thriller with plenty of suspense. When Eden gets stuck at the abandoned Fairport Village during a party, a student ends up dead—fueling rumors of the town’s deadly curse. Now, she and her worst enemies have to work together to figure out what really happened before they’re next.

The eerie setting adds to the tension, and while some twists were easy to guess, the mystery kept me engaged. A solid read for fans of spooky thrillers!

Thank you Chelsea Ichaso, Tantor Audio, Sourcebooks Fire, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complementary audiobook copy of WE WERE WARNED by Chelsea Ichaso in exchange for my honest review.***

4.5 STARS

Chelsea Ichaso keeps upping her game with each new release.

Teens today trying to solve a decades old murder is not a new idea. The way Ichaso develops unique characters with complex backstories combined with an interesting mystery, a number of plausible suspects and a killer/killers I never expected kept me on the edge of my seat guessing.

Ichaso’s word-building is more clever with each book. She’s an automatic preorder for me.

The narration was outstanding with so many different voices, both male and female, young and older, sounding unique and authentic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for providing an ARC.

🎧 We Were Warned by Chelsea Ichaso
🎙 Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
⭐ Overall Rating: 3.5/5

📖 Quick Summary:
When a student is found dead at an abandoned resort, Eden Stafford is forced to work with the people who’ve made her life hell—especially Caleb Durham—to uncover the town’s dark secrets. The story blends mystery, horror, and fractured friendships into a sharp, unsettling read.

💭 What I Liked:
✔️ The sleuthing!
✔️ A classic high school slasher vibe with a strong atmosphere
✔️ A few well-placed twists

🤔 What Didn’t Work for Me:
The romance took up more space than I expected.
While the mystery was solid, it leaned more toward suspense than thriller—I was hoping for more action, but that’s just personal preference.

🎙️ Narration & Audio Performance:
Loved the narrator—she did a fantastic job. No notes.

📖 If You Liked...
The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington
Dead Flip by Sara Farizan
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson
Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy
Girls Who Burn by MK Pagano

💬 Final Thoughts:
We Were Warned is a solid mystery with a unique spin that keeps you guessing until the end. The atmosphere and sleuthing were great, and the ending leaves at least one big question open—but in a way that works. The mix of mystery and character stuff was hit or miss for me, and honestly, I was hoping for more kills. But if you’re into YA slasher-style mysteries, this one’s worth checking out. It’s got a fresh feel and could definitely stand out in 2025.

I have a weird relationship with Chelsea Ichasos books. This is the 5th book I’ve read and most of them I rated rather low. Despite that I keep coming back when an ARC is available and I am glad I do because I really enjoyed this!

One huge improvement with this book and the last (which I gave 3.75⭐️) was that she thankfully moved on from her old narrator who was awful. For this book she had Jennifer Jill Araya who did a fabulous job! While the 1x speed was a little slow for me it was still recited very well. I sped it up to compensate and it was still delightful. Ms Araya has a skill for doing male voices and making them sound very authentic and not cringy like you can hear at times when the opposite gender is vocalizing characters. She gets 5⭐️ for her recitation.

As for the book itself. I planned on listening for a bit whilst i prepped dinner but ended up changing my household tasks so i could continue listening. Before I knew it i was at the end.
I enjoyed the story, how it unfolded, the mystery elements, the twists and more. It really is the type of aha thriller than I love to read. I highly recommend it!!

4.25⭐️
I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Tantor Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Hooked from the first few pages. Extremely well written and and fast paced YA thriller. The Ruins is a locally cursed abondoned resort with a jaded history. When s local teen turns up dead, his death is ruled suicide by the authorities. Eden does not think ghis is true. She is joined by her "peer tormentors" that she has avoided contact fot years. As tge group begins to uncover clues, it seems more and more that the student was murdered.  Who will heed tge warning? Who can be trusted?

Thsnk you to Tantor Media for the ALC. The narrator was outstanding and the production quality was top notch.