I was super excited to get my hands on this one because I've loved Olivia Worley's other books so far. I was hoping for another thriller that would keep me guessing, and FINAL CUT delivered!

I can't comment on this book's treatment of the slasher genre since that's not my scene, but as a murder mystery, it was atmospheric, well-paced, and full of twists. The Louisiana swamp setting came to life and was the perfect backdrop for the amount of murder that happened. (So much murder. So much.)

I can see why there are comparisons to THE REAPPEARANCE OF RACHEL PRICE, but honestly, the vibe felt more like FIVE SURVIVE to me. I feel like this would be a good recommendation for older teens looking for more books like Holly Jackson's in general, though.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing a review copy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Wow! This was a fun ride. I’m not a big fan of slasher movies so I didn’t know what to expect. The author does a good job of explaining what slasher movies are and it does give a lot of context to whats happening.

I was rooting so much for Hazel has she is trying to unmask the killer and finding the truth about her father. Just when you think you know who is behind all of the killings, you get new twists and turns and by the end, you don’t know who to trust.

I read this in one sitting, it was deeply entertaining and addictive as the pace is very fast. I can’t wait to read more from this author !

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC provided via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was really excited to read this one. I really enjoy the filming a movie and it gets too real kind of trope especially in a horror or a thriller. I thought this one was really well done. I’m usually able to predict the killers and the twists in thrillers, but this one kept me guessing the whole time. The pacing was really goos, and the creepy factor started out in the beginning with the slower start. Once the shit hit the fan, the pacing amped up and it was nonstop. I didn’t put the book down for the last 50%. The twists kept twisting and the tension was fantastic.

Haze was a good character. I liked her interest in trying to uncover the truth about her father and the past, and I really liked how the film was mirroring the events she was trying to discover. I also liked the references to slashers and how Haze really was a final girl. She was a character that I was rooting for immediately, and I liked how she went about looking for clues. I also liked how she handled things when people started to get hurt.

4.25 ⭐️

I have so much to say about this book, but all of the words keep excitedly sticking together in my head like AhhhThisWasSoFunAndSoMysteriousAndKindOfGoryAndIWantToEraseMyMemoryAndReadItAgain, so I’ll try to keep this organized! Ahhh this was so fun and so mysterious and kind of gory and I want to erase my memory and read it again!!

Olivia Worley’s Final Cut is a delicious Scream-inspired slasher novel laced with horror references. The writing style switching back and forth from narration to script format was such a genius touch as it perfectly captured the horror-movie vibe of the story. The plot twists were also really juicy and even though some of them were a bit predictable, the ending still took me by surprise. I also loved how, despite the dark plot, the author infused some fun lighthearted moments to cut the tension throughout the book. It really felt like Scream 3, but if Scream 3 wasn’t objectively the worst Scream instalment. Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin’s publishing for the early digital copy!

this was really good!!

solid slasher with lots of twists and suspects and more twists. you can tell the author put a lot of care into being faithful to the genre and paying homage to the classics.

i especially liked the way the movie script elements were incorporated into the narrative (not to give anything away but the last one was truly genius).

the little scenes between chapters detailing the murders were also really fun and helped add to the suspense.

my only critique is that there were way too many characters and names (between the cast and crew, the movie characters, the original victims etc.) that it was hard to keep track of who was who and limiting the impact of their actions.

FINAL CUT by Olivia Worley is a fun slashery thriller. The meta aspect of it is interesting, as real murders occur on the set of an indie slasher film, which is based on real events that involved the main character's family. The slow trickle of information about the character's past works well to maintain tension and interest, and the author does a good job of permeating every scene with anticipation of a possible murder. The ending is surprising too.

4.5 stars

If you're into slashers or final girls, this book is definitely for you. Final Cut follow Haze, the 18-year old daughter of a slasher, who is cast as the leading girl in a film based in the same town as the murders. While filming, people start getting killed, and Haze has to figure out who the killer is.

Not once did I ever know who the killer was. Every time I thought I had an idea, I then subsequently changed my mind a few pages later. If there is one thing I love about thrillers, it is being surprised (shocking, I know), and this book definitely was a page-turner. I was definitely scared while reading this book though, not going to lie. I think there is something about seemingly random murders that make me want to lock all my doors and hide lol.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking at Worley's other works since I enjoyed this so much. If you enjoy breakneck thrillers and are a fan of slashers/final girls, I think you'll really enjoy this.

From the first page, Final Cut delivers on tension. The pacing is tight, the stakes are high, and the structure—alternating between real-life action and movie scenes—is executed smoothly. I finished it in a single day because the momentum simply didn’t allow for breaks.

Haze is a well-developed lead, and while most of the supporting characters stay surface-level (as expected in a slasher-style story), the book uses that dynamic to its advantage. Thematically, it’s not particularly deep, but it doesn’t need to be—it knows what kind of story it’s telling and does it well.

The second half is where it really shines. The twists hit, the body count rises, and the mystery comes together in a satisfying way. I did predict a few pieces, but the final twist genuinely surprised me. My only critique is that a few elements (character choices, motivations) stretched believability at times, but the fast pace and fun factor made up for it.

Highly recommend for readers who enjoy slashers, closed-circle thrillers, or YA with a cinematic vibe.

My 14 year old loved this! She’s a scream queen and once I seen this I knew it would be something she should love ! I found a new author and genre to keep her interested! She loved the pace, the suspense and the mystery!

Her rating 4.5/5

This is my first book by this author and i absolutely loved it! Great flow, character development. I just wanted to keep reading it! Thanks for the ARC!

What an unpredictable plot! And O.M.G what a twist!
Slasher vibe, Young adult, eerie, dark and twisted! I loved it!

Haze returns to the town where she lived before her father was convicted of murdering his students… now they’re are making a movie about the happenings. As the shoot goes on, the slasher filming turns into a real life slasher as person after person drops dead. Can she find out who the murderer is before it’s too late?

This is a YA slasher book in true Scary movie spirit. I really enjoyed this book with its quick chapters and intriguing plot. I recommend everyone to read this!

I rated this book 4 stars.

Grippingly told, FINAL CUT is a clear homage to the slasher movie—from Scream to Slasher. The red herrings in the story are plentiful and well fleshed out, with lots of creepy twists and turns. Loved having it set in Louisiana, and the pacing was impeccable.

Thank you, Netgalley and publisher, for an early copy of this novel! It was an excellent read. Opinions are my own.

** A copy of Final Cut was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

What a ride! Probably shouldn’t have read this right before going to bed. You’ll enjoy this if you’re into dark and twisty slashers that keep you guessing till the end.

Terrible. Which was surprising, considering I liked Worley's other book I read (also through NetGalley), So Happy Together.

This one was a mess, though. From the cardboard characters, to the uninspired plot, to the twist that I didn't care about, this was not a great read. It took me FOREVER to get through because I kept putting off reading it. I actually preferred washing dishes to reading this!

I'd definitely recommend her novel So Happy Together, but skip this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-Arc!!
Oh my god??? I was immediately hooked when Haze talked about how much she loved slasher movies. I am a sucker for fans of slashers. And oh my god, Olivia really knows how to make such a compelling story.
I was on the edge of my seat for this story. I thought I had the killer thought out, but?? I was caught off guard at the killer reveal. Learning about the Pines Spring Slasher was sooo good too. Bro, I was eating this shit up.
And I loved when the chapters turned into script pages when they were filming the movie. Such a good way to translate the acting vs the actual story!!
I will definitely be buying this when it comes out and putting it on my fall TBR!

As a slasher movie enthusiast, I found this to be an incredibly fun and satisfying read. Sure, it leans into clichés at times—but that’s part of the charm. Slashers, by nature, are often formulaic, and that’s exactly where this novel shines. It embraces the tropes while still delivering surprises that keep you hooked.

Hazel was only three years old when her father, Cal, was arrested and convicted of murdering several of his students. He insisted on his innocence—until he suddenly confessed. Growing up, Hazel never knew her father. Her mother became distant, refusing to ever talk about him. Was Cal really the monster everyone believes he was? The answer isn’t what you’d expect, and it poses a deeper question: What truly makes someone a monster?

Years later, Hazel returns to her hometown to star in a film that’s marketed as a swamp monster horror flick—but is really a thinly veiled retelling of the gruesome events that took place 15 years ago. Haze thinks she’s landed her big break as a “final girl,” but soon realizes this role may be more fate than chance. As cast and crew start dying one by one, she’s forced to confront the possibility that her father may have been innocent all along—and that someone else is picking off the children of Pine Springs.

The story feels heavily inspired by self-aware slashers like Scream, with a dash of Clown in a Cornfield thrown in. It’s a recipe for horror greatness. If any of that sounds up your alley, give this book a shot—I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Genre : YA Horror/Thriller/Mystery
Release Date : Oct 28, 2025

When the set of a low-budget slasher film turns into a real-life horror movie…

When recent high school graduate Hazel Lejeune gets the lead role in a low-budget slasher film, it feels like a dream come true. Until suspicious "accidents" start to plague the set blurring the line between fiction and reality...

There is something about YA thrillers that I just can't get enough of, and this one was no exception. Set in small town Louisiana, surrounded by swamp land, throw in a creepy run-down motel, and you have perfect horror flick vibes. I loved the pulled back to the slasher classics and the Scream like commentary on the genre as a whole. It was fun, creepy, and full of twists that kept me guessing until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me a eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own

If you’re like me and love anything slasher related then this is a book that NEEDS to be on your radar. This was such a fun read, it’s fast paced and keeps you flipping the pages!

Sure! Here’s a 3.5-star review for Final Cut by Olivia Worley:

⸻

⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Final Cut by Olivia Worley is a fast-paced slasher that kept me flipping pages late into the night. With a cast of reality-show contestants trapped on a remote island and a killer on the loose, the book delivers all the drama, tension, and bloodshed you’d hope for in a YA thriller.

If you’re looking for a darkly entertaining read that combines slasher vibes with reality TV chaos, Final Cut delivers. Not perfect, but definitely a fun ride!

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!