I love horror films. I really liked the pacing of this one. Felt like a slasher film in the best way. Small town? Check. Cast of diverse characters who all seem to love horror? Check. Surprising, gory deaths? Check. It was a fun, quick read that enjoy reading again each spooky season.

Final Cut follows 18 year old Haze Lejeune as she and the cast and crew of a low budget slasher flick begin filming in Louisiana. People start dying and Haze tries to figure out who the killer is.

This is perfect for fans of slasher movies like Scream and Halloween. I found this super entertaining. The murder, the investigation bits, and the suspense were well balanced. I thought it was very well paced too. I liked the characters. I loved the ending. I especially loved that I couldn’t figure out who the killer was until it was revealed. I’ll definitely be reading more by Olivia Worley.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Olivia Worley's books. She has become one of my automatic buy authors. I originally got an arc of The Debutantes and it got me hooked into her writing. Traditionally I find mystery books to be predictable but her books have surprised me. I'm interested throughout the entire book and actually feel invested in the stories and the characters. This felt like watching an actual 90s slasher film which made for a fun read. Can't wait to read more from her!

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Olivia Worley’s “Final Cut” is a pulse-pounding YA horror-thriller that leans hard into everything slasher fans crave: a creepy setting, a high-stakes mystery, a mounting body count, and just enough gore to make you squirm. With a premise that blends “Scream” meta-commentary with “I Know What You Did Last Summer” tension, this is a book that practically begs to be adapted for the big screen. Like many slasher, there is a pretty high death count and some pretty interesting and unique death scenes (one including dismemberment), so be aware of this before reading in case you’re comfortable with reading about the blood/gore; I would recommend this book to older YA readers.

Hazel “Haze” Lejeune is starring in Swamp Creatures, a new slasher flick based on the infamous Palm Springs Slasher murders—five teens brutally killed by a high school teacher fifteen years ago. The kicker? Hazel is the daughter of the alleged killer, and the movie’s “final girl” character is based on her. When Hazel returns to her hometown for filming, she’s not just facing the ghosts of her past—she’s walking right into a fresh wave of real-life horror. As “accidents” start happening on set—each one gruesomely targeting actors playing victims from the original case—Hazel begins to suspect the murders aren’t fiction. Someone wants to finish what was started. But is it a deranged copycat? The real killer, still out there? Or something even more twisted?

The idea of making a horror movie based on a real unsolved case—and casting the daughter of the alleged killer as the lead—is juicy enough. But Worley smartly layers in classic horror tropes and cinematic interludes that make the book feel like you’re watching a movie inside your head. It’s Scream-core in the best way. Haze is an unreliable narrator with just enough vulnerability and grit to keep you rooting for her. She’s trying to escape the shadow of her father’s crimes, navigate the chaos of filming, and not get murdered in the process. Her voice is sharp and compelling, and while she may not always make the smartest choices, her heart (and trauma) feel real.

The writing shifts between Hazel’s 1st-person perspective and short 3rd-person chapters of characters in their final moments, adding a chilling edge and building tension masterfully. These death scenes are graphic and detailed—think dismemberment, animal death, and high body count—making this a darker YA read that’s best for older teens or adults who love horror.

Yes, some early moments feel like standard horror fare (mysterious accidents, creepy vibes, a rabbit meets an unfortunate end), but stick with it—the second half slays. The twists are genuinely shocking, with one reveal that turns the entire plot on its head. Most readers won’t see it coming, and even if they do, the execution is top-tier. The final act is a full-throttle bloodbath with an emotionally satisfying payoff.

The pacing builds slowly at first, but once the deaths start rolling in, it’s a full sprint to the end. It captures the feeling of watching a slasher movie unfold in real time—complete with fake-outs, red herrings, and a villain monologue that would make Ghostface proud.

While the final twist is solid, the beginning plays things a bit safe. The setup doesn’t subvert tropes as much as it leans into them, so seasoned horror fans might find the first third a little familiar. Though the villain’s backstory is intriguing once revealed, the character isn’t developed much until the final chapters. A few earlier breadcrumbs could’ve made the payoff even more impactful.

Overall, “Final Cut” is a slasher-flick-turned-novel that delivers all the blood, betrayal, and backstory horror lovers crave. Olivia Worley doesn’t shy away from gore or emotional trauma, making this a standout in the YA thriller scene. It’s part mystery, part horror movie, part emotional journey of a girl facing down both her past and a present-day killer—with a little romance that doesn’t overpower the plot.

🩸 Content Warnings: graphic violence, animal death, murder, dismemberment, parental trauma, unreliable narrator
🎬 Verdict: A suspenseful, bloody homage to slasher films that’s both smart and scream-worthy.

What a wild ride! I finished this book in a 24-hour period and could not put it down. It was fast and fun and just what you need to escape for a little while. My only complaint was that it got confusing with too many layers of main characters (the real victims, the characters names, then the actors playing them - Susie vs. Sam vs. Haze) that sometimes got REALLY confusing. Also, was EVERYONE a suspect at one point or another? Even Aunt Bea at the diner? But overall, I really enjoyed this one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Easy to read, fast-paced and bingeable!

This was an easy but deserving 5⭐ rating from me. I've read most of this of this author's books and have come to expect storylines filled with mystery, suspense and plot twists, "Final Cut" met all of my expectations.

The author did a great crafting an intriguing plotline that pulls you into the mystery. It easily held my attention and I was able to read this book cover to cover in one session.

I think Slasher fans are really going to enjoy this YA Thriller and I'll definitely be recommending it.

Thank you Olivia Worley, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press| Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Will anything ever live up to Olivia Worley's debut novel, "People to Follow"? "The Debutantes" was good, and I think "Final Cut" was just about at the same level.

I thought the pacing of this book was great! I did find that when it came to the actual filming of the movie, I wasn't sure if this was just how sets run (albeit poorly) or if it was intentionally all over the place. The setting & the slasher vibes were a lot of fun, but I definitely expected the reveal of who the killer was (though the second twist had me surprised!). However, Olivia Worley does really well at making you suspicious of anyone & everyone, so pretty much everyone ended up on the suspect list at some point! Also, how was EVERYONE from this little town??

To highlight one specific thing I really loved that she did as an author: I really appreciated that she chose to not fully redeem certain characters. She allowed them to be good & bad simultaneously, or different levels of bad, and that was a valuable choice in my opinion.

I'll almost certainly pick up her next book!

Thanks to NetGalley, Olivia Worley, and the publisher for the ARC! Final Cut debuts on October 28th, 2025!

I’m not supposed to be writing this because I wasn’t even supposed to be reading this book right now. I have a bunch of other books NetGalley books I’m supposed to be writing reviews for yet I’m here writing a review because I had to know what happened in this book. Did I love the MC? Not really, she was a particular brand of irrational I wasn’t used to and yet I still read on. Because I had to know how it all went down and who did it. That’s why I really liked this book. It had me reading deep into the night when I know I have other books I should have been reading. There was something about this story that made it a bit addictive and kept tugging away at my curiosity. Check it out, you might find yourself in a similar position.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

This was easily a 5 star read for me.

A slasher book with a strong final girl character who happens to be the daughter of an infamous killer? Yes. Please yes.

This book scratched all the right itches for me. We have a kill right from the start and then get into the story. Haze is on the journey of self discovery while filming a movie based on her father's kills. She may not realize it thinking she was there to prove his innocence or find further evidence of guilt. But that's my takeaway from this. She needed to find her true self. Not the daughter of a killer.

Not knowing who she can trust when people start dropping all around but still rooting for Caneron to be a good guy. Just beautiful slasher movie type stuff in a well written book.

I'll be honest, all the connections were a great way to deceive me of the real culprit. Normally I feel like I can just guess and be right. But this one definitely had me jaw dropping in a few places. And there were some big reveals that I couldn't see coming.

I can't wait for everyone to read this. And my hope is the author gets the love she deserves for this. Especially any final girls who helped inspire her to write this.

This novel follows Hazel “Haze” Lejeune, recent high school graduate and daughter of a serial killer, as she returns to the town where her father’s crimes took place 15 years prior. She’s been cast in a slasher film that seems based upon the original slayings, and soon art seems to be imitating real life. Haze desperately tries to figure out who’s behind the heinous acts before anyone else is harmed.

After a tantalizing start, I had mixed feelings about the work as a whole. It might be that I had a hard time deciding what I felt about Haze. However, the events at the end of the novel showed Haze’s true self, and I was impressed with her bravery and clarity.

Thanks to Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Publishing for the e-ARC of this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

I’m not a big consumer of YA books generally but the concept of this book intrigued me. I found the setting/plot of the story interesting but ultimately I wasn’t drawn in by the characters.

If you like the Scream movies, this is the book for you. Overall, this was a fast paced story with characters who were easy to get invested in.I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be checking out more of this authors writing!!

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️ “Everyone’s so fixated on the killer that it’s easy for the victims to stop feeling real”

Wow I really didn’t think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. I don’t typically feel “scared” from books the way I do when watching thriller movies, but this one actually had my heart racing a little. I devoured this book and couldn’t put it down once I really got into it.

The writing was great and I loved the way the story was told, from the very beginning all the way to the end. It was the perfect balance of 1st person storytelling from our main character with a small amount of third person interludes sprinkled in. The imagery was so good, details down to the creaky old fans and the soda cup with condensation really made it feel like an immersive story and it really felt like I was watching a movie in my head.

The pacing of the thriller was well done and built up and crescendoed perfectly. Our main character is definitely a bit of an unreliable narrator but it works really well in the story. The twists and the suspicions of whodunit were plentiful and I feel like I suspected almost every single character at one point even if just for a second. Personally I did not see all of the big reveals at the end coming and guessed maybe 15-25% of the twists.

Definitely recommend this book, especially if you like the slasher genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this ARC.

This was such a fun read! The layout, the setting, the characters, the backstory….it all came together nicely. I liked the big reveal at the end but felt it could have been delivered a bit more smoothly.

What a fun YA thriller novel! I read this one in a couple hours and it definitely kept me on my toes. The whodunit isn’t easily dispensable and has a great twist. I think I suspected just about everyone at some point in the story.
I definitely picked out some clues, and one major thing that happened (so I’m patting myself on the back,) but I don’t think it was obvious. I was totally with the narrator when she was like “so and so did it because xyz….” And then a twist and I’m like okay yes it’s this person, and then it’s not.
The only thing I wish we had more on was the actual murderer. The character wasn’t gave much personality until the big reveal. Would have loved more before then.
The villain’s backstory was fantastic though. I really enjoyed this scream queen slasher book.

Blurb:
Haze is a new actress who gets a dream part in a new slasher movie. The only problem is, is that it’s in her hometown where her father murdered 5 teenagers and became known as the Pine Springs Slasher. Haze decides to give it a shot and is instantly entranced. Her fellow actors are great, and a particularly handsome Cameron catches her eye. But when strange things start to happen, accidents, and actual murders, Haze needs to figure out if this is a new Pine Springs Slasher or something even worse.


Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc!

3.5 rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an entertaining and exciting story in the “slasher appreciation” genre.

This was an “ode to slashers” book about a slasher film in the making that’s loosely based on a series of murders from years prior, and quickly becomes the scene of multiple murders in itself. So meta and so good. I’m not one to watch slashers, but I love a good thriller novel. And just like any scary movie, the adrenaline rush that comes from the thrill of making it through to the end was so satisfying. The suspense and twists throughout were impeccable 🤌🏼 I loved trying to figure things out along with the main character, Hazel. Such a great book that captured my interest right away, but also had me holding off until daylight hours to read because I was getting too jumpy reading before bed 🙃 I’m definitely looking into more of Olivia Worley’s books.

BIG FAN OF EVERYTHING IN THIS BOOK! The second I read "slasher film" and "scream" in the blurb, I knew this book was for me. 🤭 This book felt like an homage to all 90s slasher films, the vibes were immaculate throughout. It was so well done that it felt like I was watching a movie in my head as I read the book.

The book follows Haze, who is casted in a low-budget slasher film and as they begin filming, "accidents" begin to occur on set and suddenly people start dropping like flies. 🫣 This thriller was THRILLING and yet I never once correctly guessed the killer (pretends to be shocked). Some parts had me SWEATING because I was worried for my favourite characters 🫠 but hey that's all part of the fun when it comes to slasher films: no one is safe!

If you're a fan of Scream, final girls and slasher films, do yourself a favour and read this book! You won't be disappointed.

Final Cut is a fun, engaging YA slasher that's self-aware and referential without being obnoxious. I had a great time tagging along with Haze and discovering how her past was manifesting into her present- reading this book felt like spending a lazy afternoon having a horror movie marathon in the best way. Multimedia in a horror novel is one of my favorite things, and especially when the premise is about a movie. The script inclusions were fantastic, but it was the narration that opens the story that really shone and I was on the edge of my seat whenever we switched to that perspective. The pacing is a little slower at the start of the book but there's a lot to establish and by the 50% mark, it's full steam ahead and I don't think I put the book down once in the second half. Like what usually happens for me in slasher flicks, by the time the big reveals come around, I was too sucked in to even try to put the pieces together but the ending was satisfying and I'm excited to read Worley's other novels. Definitely recommend this to anyone that loves a good slasher movie and I think it transcends age groups really well- not too gory for the intended audience but a great homage to slasher movies for adult readers as well!

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC- all opinions are my own!

Final Cut was an amazing slasher story. Haze Lejeune, our protagonist, is starring as Sam, the final girl, in a slasher flick called Swamp Creatures. The slasher is related to the case of the Palm Springs Slasher, a teacher who was arrested after murdering five of his film club students approximately 15 years before. Haze has always felt a connection to the case, so she eagerly auditioned for the movie after the director reached out. She, along with fellow cast Cameron, Lucas, and Nina, are dragged into the world of the Palm Springs Slasher after their castmates start experiencing odd and sometimes fatal accidents. Readers will delight in following along with the cast as they attempt to figure out what happened 15 years ago, as well as who the killer is today. The book reads like a slasher, with cuts from the script making you feel like you're in a movie. Haze is a likable protagonist, and the readers will be on the edge of their seats as they try to figure out, along with Haze, who she can trust and if she can stay alive. This was a great read - spooky, suspenseful, and very compelling. A must-read for YA fans of mystery and horror!