WHAT A THRILLER!!!!… This one caused me sleepless nights because I couldn't put it down!!
I highly recommend this book!!!!

This book got better, at first it was a little slow but then around 30% in things really picked up. It held my attention and the plot twist. I did not see coming. The moral of the game that is played in this book and how the characters change at the end was really cool to read to see the growth within those characters was good. I will definitely want to read book too. I’ve got to know what else happens and if he finishes the game if he beats the game master..

I had no idea what to expect when I picked this up, just thinking the premise was interesting - despite the fact I'm not much of a crime story fan. And indeed, reducing this to a crimebook really does not do this remarkable story justice!

Although they are close, Cassie and Sam's relationship is less like that of siblings and more like mother and child. Perhaps this is because Cassie became Sam's caretaker at the age of 19, when their mother died and he still was very young.

Given her own guilt over her shortcomings (and a key incident in the past), it is therefore not surprising that when Sam becomes the target for a group of criminals due to his ill advised actions, Cassie takes drastic measures to help him.

Accepting a series of increasingly problematic assignments through an app called DareMe, she soon finds herself seriously out of her depth.

It is hard to say too much about this novel, given its complexity and the important issues it raises regarding the impact of the internet on the fraying social fabric of countries like Britain and how people behave in this era of socialmedia madness. But I WILL say that this is a must-read.

Apart from being totally gripping from start to finish, the book gives us important things to think about. My only complaint is with one element on the final page - the reason why I downgraded the rating by half a star to 4. 5 stars instead of 5. But if you enjoy fast-paced action delivered alongside thoughtful social critique, this one is well worth your time!

This book was so good!! I couldn’t put it down after the first few chapters.
I loved the concept behind the app and dares, and you just never knew what was coming next! I never expected the twist towards the end 😱
Absolutely awesome thriller!

Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I loved the storyline and all the characters. I could not put it down, I had to know what would happen. I would definitely recommend this book.

Win or Die was such a great listen! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The twists were unexpected, and the suspense built up really well. The characters felt real and I was hooked on their journey. The narration made it even better really pulling me into the story. If you’re into thrillers that keep you guessing, definitely give this one a go!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It took me a little bit to get into this one, but once it clicked, I could not put it down.

As the oldest sister myself, I found Cassie so relatable. The way she felt responsible for her brother, even for his mistakes, really hit home. The slower start gives you the background you need to understand her choices, and from there it just takes off.

The whole idea of DareMe, a social app where people do increasingly risky dares for money, felt way too believable. I love speculative fiction that feels a little too close to real life, and this definitely delivered. The tension builds fast, and the multiple POVs added a lot to the story.

And finding out Darren O’Sullivan is friends with John Marrs? Makes total sense. If you love Marrs’ books, this will be right up your alley.

The ending didn’t totally match the flow of the rest of the book, which threw me off a little… but that final page? I NEED a book two!

Highly recommend if you’re into dark, fast-paced thrillers with a tech twist and morally messy characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I requested this book based on readers' reviews and its description, which mentioned it was "perfect for fans of...Blake Crouch."

I am in the minority, but I did not like this book! I found the prose childish and repetitive. After reaching the halfway point, I couldn't wait to finish it. (I did complete it so I could provide an honest review.)

I feel this book should be targeted at YA readers. As for me, I would probably never read this author again.

Regardless of how I feel about this book, a big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy!

This is one of those crazy on-line games that sounds appealing...to someone else! Cassie is excited to ;play Dare Me as the prize money is worth it, but there's also a time limit for each dare and of course the more money involved, the harder the victim will be to catch. Oh...and you must livestream to make the money! It's a race against time and opponents who will do anything to be seen. Imagine not being able to know if your best friend is playing and will "stab" you in the back for cash! It's a fascinating concept, but in reality it's frightening to think what people will do for money! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Kudos to the author for such an original and topical plot! Cassie wants to help her brother out when he owes a debt for some illegal activity which unbeknownst to them is no big deal. I can see people becoming obsessed via Social Contagion with an app like DareMe since wealth seems such an easily obtained goal nowadays. Build a app, start a company, become in influencer, etc, all paths to wealth people are told. I liked the fast pacing and the realism, but would have liked more character development. The characters were two-dimensional. I did enjoy the creepy ending and did not see that coming.

📱E-Book Review📱

Win Or Die
Darren O'Sullivan

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book was just so addictive and I was swept away from the very start.

When her brother Sam gets into trouble with the wrong people, she needs to find the money to help him out - before it's too late!

The concept of this new app that pays people to act out and film the ever increasing dares set, was brilliant.
I mean, I absolutely hated the idea ....thinking of how easy this could actually be to create or maybe, there's even been things like this in the past already?
But this was a scary concept all the same and yet so, so believable!

I was so worried for Cassie throughout.
The problem being just how far would you be willing to go, to keep your family safe from the wrong kind - but in doing so, actually getting into more of a mess yourself.

The writing style really sucked me in from the start and I literally had my heart in my throat for the majority of this read.
The atmosphere created was just so tangible and I raced through each page, desperate to find out how each date would play out and how on earth Cassie would deal with the consequences as the stakes were raised.

This was twisty and tense right to the end and I absolutely loved every second.
I can't wait to see more from this author soon!

The premise of this book was really intriguing, but it fell a bit short. There were parts that just felt unbelievable, and I trudged through them- some of the dares, the multiple attacks, the "hit." I did not connect with the characters and felt they were a bit two-dimensional.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC.

Win or Die is a story meant to keep you reading and it did! Fast paced with deadlines it kept the sense of urgency on the reader high. If you love a miscommunication troupe you need to read this book. Cass just wants to help her brother unknown to either of them her brother’s mistake is not a big deal to the people he was working with. Things escalated quickly when Cass joins a DareMe app, which pays people for completing dares within a deadline. She wants to raise money to help her brother but then it turns into dares on her. This book also has the huge message that from behind a computer or app, people forget other people lives are involved and think it’s a game without consequences.

WoW!!!! What did I just read?

Win or Die by Darren O’Sullivan was an intense read which was full of brilliant twists and turns that had me just wanting more!!! I was hooked when I read - it was a roller coaster ride. . . . I could not stop reading it!

"One week. Nineteen thousand pounds. A dangerous game. Can she win or will she die?"

OMG this was a excellent book from start to finish. . . . . . .Scary times if this ever happened!!!

Cassie and is raising her younger brother Sam, after their mother died when Cassie was 19 and Sam was 10. She tried her best and became so worried when Sam came home with a black eye and then starts crying out of the blue in his bedroom. Cassie knows something is wrong with her 18 year-old brother, and gives him some space hoping he will tell her.

Sam is beaten up again and now he is recovering in Hospital from this latest attack, he finally breaks down and tells Cassie that he owes some men £19,000's. Cassie knows it is up to her to pay her brother's debt and needs to find a way of doing it fast! She asks her bank and gets a loan for a small amount. But the clock is ticking. . . . . . . .
Cassie hears about a social media game app called DareMe! and signs up to it. DareMe is new, where players can earn money by accepting and completing dares/challenges and they have to film themselves doing them.
Cassie does a few of these dares and the money pot is slowly rising! But she has a big way to go to get the £19,000' to get Sam out of trouble!

These dare's have been simple but you only get small change for doing these!
1, Swim across a river.
2. Kiss a complete stranger,
3. Run down the street in your underwear etc.

Now, Cassie needs to start doing the higher paying dares, these dares are illegal or worse, can be Very Dangerous!!!

But, the clock is still ticking! . . . . . . . . and these men want their money and will Stop at nothing to get it

Will Cassie make enough money to pay back these men?
or
Will these dare's become so dangerous for the big money and will she survive them? .

WoW this book was EXCELLENT!!!!! I loved it. Win or Die would make a great film!

I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Darren O'Sullivan, and Joffe Books for this ARC!

OK... I'm still stat here thinking... wow... where do I even start with Win Or Die?

The story follows Cassie and her brother Sam and what happens when £19,000 is owed to some very dodgy people by Sam.

So how can Cassie collect £19k inside a week to save her brother? Well, by joining in the new social media craze DareMe. Things get dark and twisty very fast...

This book has some serious 'Nerve' vibes (2016 movie) but is incredibly realistic in its approach. I also love that film so it was a given I'd love this book too.

Cassie and Sam are great characters and I loved how Darren portrayed Cassie. I immediately empathised with her!

The whole concept of this book is exploring the depravity of social media and of course, just how low will someone go for cash...

I started reading this and didn't quite know what to expect as it initially starts off as a calm before the storm kind of thriller but when the adrenaline kicks in, boy does it kick in and I became hooked until I finished!

And... I DIDN'T GUESS THE BAD GUYS! This (to me) is the sign of an outstanding crime thriller as normally I can work out a bag guy really on in the book!

This is the first time I've read Darren but based on this book alone, I will definitely read Darren's work again as this was incredible!

A fast paced thriller that will leave you forgetting to breathe. Cassie's younger brother is in trouble beaten up and in hospital.she has to find 19k by the end of the week so she starts using the DareMe app that pays for dares, then thing escalates. Fast paced full of twists and the tension racks up to high. An unforgettable thriller that won't disappoint. Thanks to Joffe books and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Darren O’Sullivan’s Win or Die is a high-stakes, adrenaline-charged thriller that grips you from the start and doesn’t let go. Fast-paced and unpredictable, this novel takes readers on a wild, dangerous ride where every choice could mean life or death.

With echoes of Nerve and the unsettling intensity of The Purge, Win or Die blends psychological tension with pulse-pounding action. O’Sullivan crafts a premise that feels disturbingly plausible, immersing readers in a game of survival that’s as gripping as it is terrifying. The twists are relentless, and the sense of urgency is palpable, making it nearly impossible to put down.

Thrilling, twisted, and thoroughly entertaining, Win or Die is a must-read for fans of dark, cinematic-style thrillers. If you enjoy stories that keep you on the edge of your seat and constantly second-guessing what’s coming next, this one is not to be missed.

Win or Die by Darren O'Sullivan is a taut and gripping crime thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats!

Cassie and her younger brother Sam have been by themselves since their mother died when Cassie was 19 and Sam was 10. Cassie has always tried her best to provide for Sam, often missing out on her own life so Sam was taken care of. Now ten years later Sam has found himself in trouble with some very bad people. When Cassie finds Sam bound and beaten, Sam finally tells her that he owes these men 19,000 pounds. With Sam in the hospital recovering from operations from the attack, Cassie knows it is up to her to pay her brother's debt. Cassie signs up on a social media game app called DareMe where players can earn money by accepting and completing dares and filming themselves doing them. After completing a couple of easy ones (kiss a stranger, swim across a river, run down the street in your underwear etc) but only making a couple hundred pounds, Cassie needs to start doing the higher paying dares. Unfortunately some of these dares are illegal or worse. With the clock ticking down on when she needs to pay the people Sam owes, another dare is set and this time Cassie might not survive.

This was such a fast-paced and enjoyable book! The plot is unique and interesting and I really enjoyed diving into the dark side of social media and what people will do for fame or money. The whole mob effect towards the end was very well written, I could feel myself growing more paranoid and tense as time progressed. The twists are definitely well placed and absolutely believable especially in the social media driven world we are in today. One of O'Sullivan's strongest attributes in this book is his masterful character development. Seeing Cassie's vulnerability and love for her brother is just heart-wrenching. And don't even get me started on that ending.. absolutely wild!

Thank you to NetGalley, Darren O'Sullivan, and Joffe Books for this ARC! Publication date is April 16th 2025.

Cassie & younger brother, Sam, have been on their own since their mum died when Cassie was 19, & she has always looked after Sam who is 9 years younger. Now, ten years later Sam has gotten involved with some bad people & owes them £19K. When he is found badly beaten, Cassie steps in to pay his debt but she only has a week to find the money.

The only way Cassie can think of getting the money that fast is to play DareMe — an anonymous social media game where players can earn money carrying out dares whilst filming themselves doing so. The first few are fairly tame but don't earn much money, so Cassie has to carry out riskier & more reckless dares to find the cash. For the bad guys there's more at stake than just the cash & they will raise the stakes until Cassie fears for her life.

This is a fast-paced, high-octane thriller with an interesting plot & an excellent premise. The use of how 'mob mentality' makes people do things they wouldn't usually do is well-played. I really enjoyed it - right up until the author introduced a cute dog only for it to be killed a few moments later. That is one of my pet hates (no pun intended), but it's a good read up until then so I rate this one 4 stars,

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Joffe Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Taut, timely, and relentlessly gripping, Win or Die by Darren O’Sullivan is a thriller that feels uncomfortably close to reality—a pulse-pounding story about desperation, loyalty, and the deadly side of internet fame.

When Cassie’s brother Sam gets tangled up with violent criminals and lands himself in hospital, Cassie is thrust into an impossible situation: find nineteen thousand pounds in one week or risk losing the only family she has left. Her only option? DareMe, a viral social media challenge app that pays participants to complete escalating, reckless dares—each one riskier than the last.

From the moment Cassie signs up, Win or Die takes off at breakneck speed. O’Sullivan doesn’t just explore the thrill of the game; he dives into the dark psychology behind it. The dares aren’t just dangerous—they’re designed to strip away Cassie’s morality, safety, and identity. Each challenge pushes her further from who she was and closer to the edge, both literally and figuratively.

Cassie is a compelling protagonist—tough, determined, and painfully human. Her love for her brother is the heartbeat of the novel, and her descent into the dangerous world of online dares is equal parts heartbreaking and terrifying. O’Sullivan keeps readers on edge by layering suspense with timely commentary on social media addiction, voyeurism, and how quickly society can turn pain into entertainment.

The pacing is razor-sharp, the twists smart and unpredictable, and the stakes terrifyingly high. And while the premise is wild, it never feels implausible—in a world already obsessed with likes, clicks, and viral fame, DareMe feels like the next logical (and horrifying) step.

Perfect for fans of Black Mirror, Squid Game, and fast-paced psychological thrillers, Win or Die is a high-stakes tale that lingers long after the final page. It’s a sobering reminder that in a world where everything is for sale, the cost of survival might just be your soul.