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.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book, and HOLY MOLY Y'ALL.
This was the first book I've ever read from Olivia, and if she writes like this all the time, she is on my list of author's I will read ANYTHING they write.
I love being able to figure out who did it, but even more, I love when I'm wrong. I was wrong every dang time! I have been hyping this book up to all of my classes and now they are chomping for it to be our First Chapter Friday book.
PLEASE read this book when it comes out in October. It's an homage to slashers but also a dedication to the final girls. You won't regret it!

4.5 stars!

This was soooo twisty twisty and such a bloody good time. And for me, it’s finally a book that actually feels like Scream and how twisted it was. I loved the horror Easter eggs that were in this book too! I loved it.

the description was spot on and gave me everything I was looking for!
It pulls you in and won't let you go!

Thank you so much St Martins Press and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.


Im such a huge fan of slasher movies and this read did a good job of depicting one. The story did a good job of hooking me in from the beginning and having me constantly guessing who was responsible for everything occurring. I literally trusted no one. The reveal was also done nicely at the end and there were hardly any non active moments which is something I always appreciate! I also loved how Haze seemed to find herself and inner strength. I look forward to reading more from Olivia in the future.

If you're into fun slashers/thrillers where it keeps you guessing who the killer is the entire book - absolutely would recommend Final Cut by Olivia Worley!

The book is fast paced, keeps you entertained and engaged. I don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers - but I enjoyed the main character as well as the twist at the end.

Perfect read for around Halloween!
First book I've read by Olivia but it won't be my last.

Clever: showing intelligence or skill; ingenious.

Paying homage to the classic hits and roles of those slasher, 'heart in your throat' movies, this YA mystery/thriller delivered.

Clever, as to the mirroring of the movie characters' names, to the unexpected twists/motivations of the villain, and the bloodbath that ensued. The plot takes the reader all around town from the dingy motel to the small town police station and the gator filled swamp. At each stop, a little clue, a little mystery and, of course, more than a little terror.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a YA thriller book based on slasher films. The synopsis sounded great, and I read "People to Follow" and really liked it, so figured this was worth a shot.

It was a bit too YA for me. There were some great elements, but being trapped inside Haze's mind for most of the book was too much angst in a thriller. Also, I am not a fan of slasher movies (I can read just about anything but watching it - no way!). So, I maybe wasn't the target audience for this story.

I thought it moved way too slowly. There were some good parts, I enjoyed when we got the respite from Haze's point of view, and the dual story lines of the Pine Spring's Slasher versus the present day threats were well done.

There were some things that just didn't make any sense, namely, half of the thoughts Haze had and her actions, which I guess is typical for the slasher genre but didn't work for me in a thriller.

I appreciate the ARC and would definitely read this author again.

this was PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!!

i knew this was going to be five stars early on & i’m so happy that held up as the book went on.

the author did a fantastic job at developing the setting/atmosphere - small town louisiana, eerie dark swamps, & an amateur movie set…. the perfect setting for a horror/thriller book.

i loved the characters!! haze was a great FMC and i found her decision making to be (if slightly irrational) what i would probably do if i were in her shoes. the romantic subplot was so so good & i was hoping it would go in the direction the author took it.

the plot itself had me hooked! this book felt exactly like classic slasher x scooby doo - two of my all time favorite things! i loved all of the references to classic slashers & the concept of a final girl.

regarding the plot twist/killer reveal: i will say that i guessed it BUT i still had so much fun reading this!!! the reveal scene was great and had my heart practically beating out of my chest - i genuinely didn’t know where that scene was going to go after the killer was unmasked.

once again this is me begging you all to read YA thrillers!!!!! some of my all time favorite books are YA thrillers & this subgenre is so slept on.