This was a grabbing, quick read. The book had two main threads — filming an on-location slasher movie based on a real crime and having the daughter of the real killer secretly starring in it. I was worried if those two would be effectively and equally woven together, but I think the author did it really well. There was a great sense of building fear and mystery and the twists genuinely surprised me. It was very meta and campy, with lots of nods to Scream, which I liked.

I think that the premise of this book is fun and I liked the characters, but it’s not anything revolutionary. I dis REALLY like the multimedia elements with the film clips and the scripts! I do think some aspects of the book were a little inconsistent and there were some plot holes but was definitely a fun read. Nothing too out there.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc!

Final Cut follows the daughter of a murderer going back to the town where the murders were committed so she can film a serial killer movie.

I found this to be a really interesting book. And it was FULL of twists. I was constantly trying to guess the murderer, and I actually ended up guessing it around 10 percent in. I ended up being doubtful around the 70 percent mark before it came true, but it was always in the back of my brain.

The way the author handled relationships also felt realistic. Everyone has flaws. Although some people were a bit idealized, it still fit well. My main complaint was that it was hard to keep track of everyone in the book. It introduces so many names around the same time that it's hard to feel connection to any one person. In the book, there are also some POV shifts to other characters. While it felt a bit random, I still enjoyed knowing more than some of the characters at certain points. It allowed a certain level of dramatic irony.

The ending to the book felt like it could have been a little longer. I still had questions, that while hinted at, didn't provide much substance for me. Everything was resolved a little too quickly, and while this is a very fast-paced book, the action felt like it went from a hundred to zero. There was also a romance in this book. I typically don't like romance in my horror or mystery books because I feel like in some cases, it can end up ruining it. However, this book handled it well. I found myself liking it, and god forbid, wanting a bit more of it.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book and I'm glad to have read it. It kept me on my toes, and I actively looked forward to being able to sit down and read.

read if you like:
😱 the Scream movies
🔪 slasher films
🎥 stories about making movies

summary:
This is the movie Scream in book form — and I absolutely loved it. The story follows Hazel Lejeune, a recent college graduate who lands a role in a low-budget slasher film. The twist? The movie is being shot in her old hometown of Pine Springs, Louisiana — the very place where her father was convicted of a string of brutal murders fifteen years ago. As filming begins, things quickly go off the rails. Equipment malfunctions, strange occurrences pile up, and then someone is found dead for real. As fear spreads through the cast and crew, it becomes clear that someone is sabotaging the production and won’t stop until everyone is dead

Hazel, determined to find out the truth about her father and protect the film, finds herself diving headfirst into a mystery that’s eerily similar to the one playing out on screen. As the death toll rises, she’s forced to confront her past and the truth about what really happened all those years ago.

This book mirrors Scream in every sense — from the self-aware nods to horror tropes to the eerie small-town setting, dramatic twists, and killer third act. The tension is constant, the stakes are high, and it’s the kind of book you’ll tear through in one or two sittings. I do wish there had been more room to fully flesh out the supporting characters, but given the fast pace and ensemble cast, it’s a minor tradeoff for the thrill ride you get.

If you’re a fan of the Scream franchise — especially the original — you’ll love how this story plays out. And just like the movie, you won’t see the ending coming.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy! Be sure to check this one out when it releases on October 28 — it’s the perfect fall horror read.

From the first pages, I was immediately interested in this book. I don’t read many YA books but this book sounded so interesting and when it said “scream vibes” I knew I wanted to read it. The whole time I was reading this, it was giving scream and thriller/suspense vibes. I really enjoyed the writing and how I was able to visualize what was going on because it was written in a very clear and easy to follow way. I am someone who as I read loves to be able to imagine in my head what it looks like or what’s going (or is this something everyone does? lol) but not many books can do that and this one did. I felt like I was in those scenes. I really enjoyed the take on actual horror going on within a horror movie.

I’d also like to say that I am not someone who can easily guess who the killer is and I am glad to not have that skill because it really adds to my surprise when they share who the killer is lol. There were a few moments I thought I knew what was going to happen but then another twist would occur.

I recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers and suspense and are a horror movie fanatic. This book does not go into a lot of detail about gory scenes which I appreciate as it is intended for YA. You still get the suspense without all of the additional details that might make this too intense.

there’s something about a young adult horror that’s just gonna do it every time. so bingeable and that TWIST um hello??

This was fine. I read a lot of YA thrillers, and this one didn't really stand out to me. I didn't think it was bad. It just wasn't really super life-changing. But I did like it.

𝟜.𝟝⭐

This is what I'm looking for in a thriller, specifically a slasher! I read Worley's "people we follow" earlier this year and pegged the whole plot quite early on but with Final Cut I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! Binged the entire thing and highly highly recommend to those who love thrillers and slasher movies. If you aren't a fan, this might not be your cup of tea since it is a bit intense at times and more gory than some may like!

And the chemistry between our mc, Haze + the love interest, Cameron is a bonus sideplot!

"What's the nutrient breakdown on a toothpick?

A slow grin spreads on Cameron's face. "You know, Haze Lejune, I've got a feeling this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship."


👏🏼 A killer romance (pun intended)

.thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

This was a brilliant slasher. The concept of the book being a film about a slasher set against the real murders was very engaging. This book was unsettling, scary, and gripping. I was on the edge of my seat and I had no idea what was coming next. The ending was so satisfying and definitely not one I saw coming. This was a great book for adults and teens (who don’t mind a bit of gore) alike

I'm definitely not a thriller/horror reader but I received an ARC for this so I gave it a try. Immediately I was hooked and I was so glad I had a chance to read it. Couldn't let it go and read more than half of it in one sitting.

Because the premise was a high school slasher film, it felt more like a whodunnit than a horror which made it something I thoroughly enjoy than run away from. (I didn't realize this was YA until now, makes sense.) The small town swamp setting was well built and characters were distinct with personality. As I read more, I realized that Haze was an unreliable narrator which added more fun to the theorizing and guessing. Given that, it was pretty easy to guess who it was, but even so, there were few twists and unexpected moments. The only thing that bothered me was that the ending got really wordy with all of the explaining for me. This book absolutely deserves a high recommendation.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

3.5 stars

This was so fun!

Final Cut follows our main character Hazel Lejeune, who just landed the lead role in a slasher film. Heading to the town of Pine Springs, Louisiana, Hazel soon has to confront her past when strange occurrences start happening on set and crewmembers begin to be murdered. Racing to find the truth, Hazel must uncover the killer before she becomes a real-life final girl.

This was a great homage to horror movies. Filled with scenes that felt like they came straight from a slasher movie, great atmosphere, and intriguing plot, I had a fun time reading this and trying to guess the end.

The book does take a bit to set up the story, but once it started moving and the action started, I was flying through the pages. I enjoyed the friend group dynamic that was present, the acting/movie making premise, and the fact that the author didn’t shy away from killing off characters. Seriously, no one was safe, and it made me all the more invested in finding out who the killer was and who would survive until the end.

While the ending was slightly underwhelming, I was still thoroughly entertained while reading this, and if you love slasher movies, I highly recommend checking this book out!

Review: This was such a great YA novel! Haze was a really good MC, and following along on her journey to find the truth (and you know, survive) was super interesting. I didn't want to stop reading, because I needed to know how it would end! This had plenty of twists and turns, that I didn't see coming. As a scaredy cat, I will admit there were scenes I had to skim through (That one scene in the swamp was particularly gruesome.), but I was so intrigued with the story, that I had to keep reading. Overall, I would definitely recommend reading this book, to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I'll fully admit it, I'm not a slasher person. I'm no super fan of the genre, I hardly even remember watching Scream. Even for a woefully uneducated reader in the genre such as myself, I really enjoyed this book, read it all in about one sitting. It's suspenseful, twisty and keeps you guessing. Was it the most realistic thing ever? No. Was it having fun with itself? Absolutely. And I think that's what matters.

Super cool premise and great twists. I thought I had it figured out and was so wrong. I love when that happens! My only complaint is Haze’s constant reminders of slasher elements. For some reason that bugged me, liked readers needed to be told what slasher films consist of.

4.5 * The FMC, Haze, described another character as Billy Loomis early on and my Scream loving heart said, “Say no more! I’m in!”

What a fun homage to cult slashers. I loved every minute of this book! I thought I had the killer figured out multiple times and I was wrong every single one them.

Thank you Netgalley for the eArc

This book is a wild, blood-pumping ride from start to finish. It’s the kind of story that makes your heart race while keeping you completely hooked with its clever twists and chilling atmosphere. Olivia Worley has crafted a thriller that’s both a love letter to classic slasher movies and a fresh, sinister mystery that feels impossible to predict. The blend of real horror and film horror is genius, making every scene feel like a deadly game where anyone could be next. The characters are well-drawn, flawed, and relatable, adding to the sense of dread as the line between fiction and reality blurs. It’s intense, eerie, and brilliantly crafted; a must-read for anyone who loves slashers with a smart, unexpected twist.

I was hooked from the very first page of this book. It was so fast paced and constantly kept me guessing. I did not see the twist coming at all and that RARELY happens. I’m putting all of this author’s books on my TBR list now. If slashers are your thing, I highly recommend this one.

I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed Final Cut! It was a wonderfully atmospheric summer slasher read. Some of the slasher commentary got a little bit much, but for the most part I enjoyed it. More to come on TikTok.

This book was so so good! This is one of the few books that I haven’t guessed the killer! This thriller 👏🏻 THRILLERED👏🏻 and I’m obsessed!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

FINAL CUT by Olivia Worley

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the earc (Oct.28)

When Hazel Lejeune is cast in a low-budget slasher, it's a dream come true even if it's set in the town where her father m*rdered some of his students 15 years prior. When she arrives, it's more tha she expected. The the accidents happen....and then the b*dies start piling up. Is it a copycat or is the real k*ller still out there?
FINAL CUT is an addicting thriller that gripped me from the beginning and delivered twist after twist---body after body---until the final, never-would-have-seen-that-coming reveal. This book has everything. It's a twisted murder mystery that is gorey and the epitome of what a slasher book should be.
I devoured this book, and I love how it was inspired by slasher movies---and I love that that is becoming a trend in m*rder mysteries.
FINAL CUT is thrilling, and I didn't want to put it down. There was so much happening and it never dulled. I would read this again and again just for that major---and when I say major I mean major---twist. That was absolutely wild.
All of Worley's YA thrillers are phenomenal but this takes the cake.