Hey, I am always going to be down for a homage to "And Then There Were None." The author, Cindy R.X. He I think does a great job of turning this into a young adult version but with a contemporary spin that really does work. The only reason that it didn't get 5 stars for me and received just 4 is that I think the jumping back and forth to the terrible secret the 6 teens shared was killing the momentum of the story in the present. I think I would have liked it better if the author had waited until the very end to reveal what happened in the past to bring the teens to this moment. Also, with six characters and all of them told in first person point of view, it just maybe would have been stronger told third person point of view. That's just a personal preference for me since I think that this book was really really strong.

"This is Where We Die" follows 6 teens: Sadie, Will, Isla, Anthony, Emily, and Charlie. We see that an event happens (we don't get details) that changes the 6 characters to the point that they barely function as a group anymore. On their graduation day they get the opportunity to go to an isolated island and stay in a fantastic house staffed with people, food, and drink. We quickly find out that Sadie is the rich one in the group and she has the means to rent the island and house and when the group has the ability to take a helicopter a day earlier than the rest of their group of 21 they do so. They quickly realize though something is wrong and then they all start to get picked off one by one.

I thought that the six characters were developed very well. Everyone's "voices" felt very distinct to me. I thought that the shifting perspectives though does not allow you to get into anyone's heads too long though which I think we needed a bit more of in some parts.

I already mentioned flow above when I said that showing the present and jumping back to the secret just hampered things after a while. I wanted to stay in the present and figure out what was going on.

The setting of the island and murders definitely set the right atmosphere.

When everything is revealed and the why behind it all, I thought it was really great. I also loved the little messages we got at the end of the chapters which were supposed to show I think message boards or chats and I thought that was a nice touch. Most true crime enthusiasts would be all over this if this was a true story, so I thought that was a nice add.

One of my favorite reads of the entire year--This Is Where We Die is a captivating tour de force from start to finish! With Agatha Christie vibes through a modern lens, Cindy R.X. He delivers a thrilling masterpiece that readers will be talking about for years to come.

With the hope of celebrating their graduation, Sadie rents a palatial glass mansion on a private island for her five friends and fourteen other graduating members of their class. When the six of them arrive early to get a head start on festivities no one is there to greet them. No staff at the dock, no one maintaining the grounds, no chef, no housekeeper. There's no one else on the island but them...right?

Cue anxiety!

Everything that follows is a masterful example of tension, paranoia, and deceit. Though there is a Donner Party theme throughout the plot, things take on a Lord Of The Flies energy as friends and exes turn on each other, and the body count rises steadily. They're forced to figure out if they're actually alone on the island, or if the killer is one of them...

This book is written at a breakneck pace, with twists that make your head spin and keep you turning pages rabidly. The ending is the heartbreaking kind that might not be every reader's cup of tea, but it was definitely my glass of whiskey!

This is a gripping and fast-paced thriller. Although reminiscent of books like Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, it is still quite unique and pleasantly unpredictable. You never know what will happen from one moment to the next. The ending is both shocking and refreshingly original.

This was just okay, I liked it and flew through it but not one I'd reread again. I think this is perfect for new to thriller genre readers or ones who don't read a ton of thrillers. I would still recommend it for readers of YA and anyone looking for a good popcorn thriller

Loved this sophomore thriller from Cindy R.H. He! Anything that can be comped to And Then There Were None is going to be my jam and this book didn't disappoint. Multiple POVs, everyone is a suspect, and the isolated island trope were all done to perfection. Chef's Kiss.

This was definitely a YA thriller through and through—fun at times, but I had to suspend a lot of disbelief to get into it. Like... we’re really just leaving a bunch of traumatized teens alone on a remote island with no supervision? Okay, sure. 😅 A group of teens—survivors of a traumatic avalanche two years prior—reunite for a weekend on a remote island. But things quickly spiral when one of them turns up dead and they're trapped with no way to call for help. Secrets unravel fast, and not everyone will make it out alive.

There are two timelines (before and now), but the transitions weren’t clearly marked, which made it a little confusing early on. A simple chapter header could’ve helped a lot. That said, once I let go of logic, the story moved along pretty well. The pace picks up, and I did enjoy trying to piece together what happened during the avalanche—and who might be behind the new deaths. The final twist actually caught me off guard, which was a nice surprise.

Overall, it’s entertaining if you’re in the mood for a dark, dramatic teen thriller and don’t mind a few eye-roll moments along the way.

Thank you net galley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
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Six friends graduate high school and want to have one last celebration at a mansion on a remote island. Relieved to finally be separated from one another, after being bonded together from a traumatic ski trip 18 months earlier that left them trapped for weeks and left 2 of their friends dead. The six of them head to the house a day early before the rest of the seniors, but the six are slowly dying one by one….and it would appear that whoever is doing it knows exactly what happened on that ski trip…
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I was so excited to get this ARC, Perfect Little Monsters completely blew me away. Ever since I read And Then There None in the 8th grade I have been an avid lover of locked room mysteries. When done right it is one of the most anxiety inducing plots. Let me tell you…this one was done RIGHT. It is almost horror-like with how dark and gritty it gets, but it also has the mystery of what they all did on the ski trip, and the thrill of trying to figure if one of them is doing it or if there is someone else hiding on this island. It really is almost like if Yellowjackets was a locked room mystery after they were rescued. There are a lot of POVs but the characters are so different I didn’t find it confusing. The twists and reveals are shocking and well done. It is clear Perfect Little Monsters was not an accidental success, Cindy R. X. He has IT when it comes to YA thrillers. It almost is like they are not YA at all, they have an almost adult quality to the plot that sometimes feels like you’re reading an adult thriller about teens. I will be desperatelyyyyy awaiting the next book!

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Twisted! To begin this review, I want to highlight that this is the first book I have read by this author, and I am thrilled to explore more of their work. I want to start by saying that this book was fantastic from start to finish. The cover was simple, clean, and captivating, while the synopsis perfectly described the content, enticing readers to dive in. Furthermore, the plot was engaging, and the writing style made for a refreshing and effortless read. I appreciated the fast pace and the multiple perspectives, as they allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding and develop connections with the characters. That said, I must mention that the characters were exceptionally crafted, and their development was executed very well. However, my favorite aspect of this book was the inclusion of references to the Donner party, which seamlessly advanced the plot and happens to be one of my favorite historical cases. In conclusion, this was a beautifully written book that has certainly piqued my interest in reading more from this author.

I loved this suspenseful, tension-filled and action-packed read! The shifting dynamic between the eight friends and the isolated setting created an atmosphere of dread. The author excelled at creating complex characters and delving into their psyches. I loved all of the twists and the ending! This book was a real page-turner.

Read this book in two sittings! Fast paced and kept you guessing until the very end! Best kind of binge worthy book! Definitely recommend!

I was sucked into This Is Where We Die from the first chapter. I read it faster than I’ve read a book in probably years - I couldn’t put it down. I did guess the twist around 75% in but she made me doubt myself again and I did turn out to be right but there’s something so satisfying about piecing together the clues correctly so I love that. The multiple POVs did get slightly confusing for me at times but that’s 100% a me-problem and I just love Cindy’s writing style so it really didn’t bother me at all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC.

This was an enjoyable, albeit predictable, YA thriller with a unique premise. I enjoyed my time with it but it was not a stand out for me.

Eight friends went on a ski trip, but only six have returned. They are the survivors. Only the survivors know what happened. When a private island. With all the bells and whistles becomes available, they decide that this would be great way to celebrate their graduation. What they don't realize is that none of them will be returning.

If you enjoy isolated atmospheric locked door thrillers and deserted Island troubles this book is for you!

Six friends are waiting for a helicopter island pick up that never arrives! As people start getting picked off one by one by an unknown killed they start to realize how dire their situation is. Given that this group of people are the remaining survivor from an incident a couple years back, it’s safe to say everyone already has trust issues which sends them into a heightened spiral of paranoia.

I enjoyed how the book was split into dual timelines and multiple POV giving the reader various perspectives on past and present events as well as the mind frame of multiple characters leading to a well rounded understanding by the time you get to the big reveal at the end.

A fast paced read I’d recommend for adults too, don’t be put off by the YA target audience :)

This would also work really well as an audio book!

Thank you to the author and Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted copy!

Publishes - July 1st

I came across this book by accident and then was unable to put it down.  It is completely out of my genre of books I read, but my goodness was it good!  A group of 6 teens who just graduated high school, decide to celebrate at one of the hottest locations around.  The group of friends are bonded together in a way they wish they weren't.  After a nightmare of a trip 2 years ago when 8 friends were on a trip but only 6 returned, it has been them.  Always the 6 who find their way back to each other. But now is a time for celebration and they head to the location for the party before the rest of their graduating class.  All starts out well, but slowly one by one each teen is being targeted.  Every time I thought I knew who did it, I was proven wrong. And was completely shocked when I found out who did.  I did not see the ending coming the way that it did.
I am glad I went with my first instinct and decided to read the book.  Cindy He is a wonderful story teller.  She keeps the momentum going and gets the reader to really think and analyze what is going on.  I would definitely recommend this book.

thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!

yeah I decided to give this a shot despite the fact that it's a YA thriller, when like... 90% of them are just Not My Thing at all. the writing just didn't fit what this book was trying to do. also as other people have said, I'm all for content warnings, but this one gives away like a lot of the plot/twists

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC

I loved it! I was hooked from the beginning and it kept the suspense and curiosity going throughout the book.
6 friends are graduating and want to do it with a bang. Renting an island with a big house with a chef and housemaids etc. They believe. First time the group get together alone after a horrible skitrip earlier were they were 8, but only 6 survived.
They are leaving together on a helicopter, were other classmates will arrive the next day by boats. The 6 friends will get the house for themselves long before others arrive.
What can go wrong?
Just that when they arrive, there are no personel there to welcome them. No wifi. No cellphone connection. They`re alone.... again.

I absolutely recommend this book to all who loves psychological thrillers.

This book was so eye catching with the way it was written. I loved it from start to finish and it kept me guessing the whole way through as to what was going to be the ending.

For fans of: That’s Not My Name, The Woods Are Always Watching
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
Genre: YA Thriller
Violence: 🔪🔪🔪🔪
Spice: 🔥
TR: Loads-read the TW listed at the beginning!

Premise: 8 friends take a trip. 6 make it out alive. Now a killer has 1 night to make the survivors pay for what they did & ensure no one returns this time.

Thoughts: I enjoyed R.X. He’s 2024 debut, Perfect Little Monsters, and found this sophomore offering equally engaging. The premise hooked me, and the almost frenetic pace kept me turning the pages. In a “one by one” story like this, the reader grapples with whether the culprit is one of the group or an outside party. He ups the anti by allowing us to see into the heads of all the main characters, meaning we could be listening to the words of a killer and forcing us to hunt for clues to who else could be to blame. I loved that the book pairs a rapid cadence with deeper ethical quandaries: What values will a person compromise to survive? And how does surviving one trauma recalibrate a person’s moral compass? I didn’t find all the characters sympathetic, but I think that adds complexity to the ethical questions underpinning the novel. And He surprised me with the ending, which I always love, revealing a final twist different from the one I expected. One that will make you want to reread this great YA thriller from the beginning.

Thank you to Source Books Fire & Netgalley for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

This Is Where We Die by Cindy R. X. He is a first person multi-POV YA thriller. Eighteen months ago, eight friends (Sadie, Charlie, Isla, Emily, Ant, Will, Tom, and Vera) went on a trip to British Columbia but Tom and Vera didn’t come back. Now, the others have graduated and are about to have one last hurrah before moving on with the rest of their lives. But when they start betting picked off one-by-one, it becomes clear that the past isn’t going to stay buried.

This is the first book I’ve read where there are six first person-POV characters in a while. It’s not terribly common because it’s not only hard to balance all those POVs but also to make each one distinct. I think that Cindy R. X. He solved these two pitfalls in two different ways. The amount of POV characters is reduced as the characters are murdered which gives room for the ones that are still alive to breathe. The chapters focused strongly on the characters’ wants in the moment and the lingering effects of their time in British Columbia, which helped to sell how these characters were different from each other and added a bit of voice.

Of all the characters, I think Isla was my favorite to read. She’s kind of terrible, she’s incredibly messy, she’s shallow but is unafraid to go for what she wants and does so with single-minded determination. It’s a very hard balancing act to depict a female character who is that messy and is also compelling and I think that was achieved. Isla will stand on the shoulders of others and she feels no shame in that at all, but when we get a flashback to her homelife, it does start to make sense and you do understand more why she’s not willing to be anything other than who she is.

After a character dies, there is a small section depicting a conversation between the detectives examining the mansion and looking at the bodies. This helps to provide some detail into what is going to happen once the book is over but also deepens the mystery of who is the one committing the murders. I was definitely trying to figure it out for a decent chunk of the book but the breadcrumbs were laid well enough that I could guess before the reveal.

Content warning for mentions of cannibalism and miscarriage and depictions of gore, deathly allergic reactions, and alcoholism

I would recommend this to fans of Yellowjackets and readers of YA thrillers who like a lot of first person-POV characters to follow