If you love horror movies and smart, meta twists, this YA novel is a must-read. The story follows Charley, a horror-obsessed teen who starts her senior year at a remote all-girls boarding school, only to find herself in a real-life slasher scenario. Dunmore brilliantly plays with horror tropes—each chapter named after a “rule” for surviving a horror movie—and then cleverly subverts many of them, keeping the tension high and the reader guessing.

Charley is the perfect “Final Girl”: witty, resourceful, and relatable. Her encyclopedic knowledge of horror films becomes both her greatest weapon and a source of ironic humor as things quickly spiral out of control. The addition of ghostly victims who return for justice adds an intriguing supernatural twist and a fresh dynamic to the story.

The pacing is excellent, with fast-moving scares and mystery that pulled me in immediately. The tone balances genuine suspense with sharp humor and pop culture nods, making it both thrilling and fun. My only minor gripe was that some early victims felt underdeveloped, but the overall story and characters more than make up for it.

I wanted to like this. But my god is it slow. I enjoyed the horror name dropping but the actual story in this takes forever to get anywhere.

"How to Survive a Horror Movie" by Scarlett Dunmore is a cheesier, boarding school-style spin on Scream—and that’s saying something, because Scream is already pretty cheesy. This YA thriller had potential, but ultimately it didn’t quite land fully for me.

The first 50 pages felt overly peppy and lacked a strong hook to pull me in. Dunmore makes a clear attempt to infuse humor throughout, but the jokes often fell flat, and phrases like “pun intended” or “pun not intended” were overused to the point of distraction. The paranormal elements didn’t help much either—they just added to the absurdity.

The book gave mild Goosebumps vibes (à la R.L. Stine), which I might have appreciated more at 13 than I did as an adult reader. That said, I want to acknowledge this is a YA novel and may be a hit with its target audience.

The chapter titles—which double as "rules" for surviving a horror movie—felt forced and a little gimmicky. Instead of adding structure or wit, they often telegraphed what would happen next, making the story feel like a parade of predictable tropes: the mysterious past of our MC, the conveniently absent or incompetent adults, the protagonist often alone when danger strikes, etc.

Speaking of characters, our MC and her best friend were hard to root for. Their behavior was often inappropriate or oddly antagonistic—like cracking jokes at a dead classmate’s memorial. On a positive note, I really appreciated the casual, natural representation of a lesbian main character. It wasn’t made into a big deal, which is exactly how it should be.

The finale, however, was the book’s saving grace. The twist was unexpected and well executed—it gave the story a strong finish and left me curious about what Scarlett Dunmore might write next.

All in all, this was a very average YA horror/thriller. It didn’t wow me, but I do think Dunmore has potential, and I’d be interested to see how her voice develops in future books.

What's your favorite scary movie! The character always run into the room full of chainsaws but not with how to survive a horror movie. This book is fun, engaging, and comedic at times. Love that it references the classic horror films. This would be a great read for the month of October!

This was a really good thriller ready I enjoyed the flow and the storyline. The characters were likeable and I enjoyed it. Thank you for an arc of this

thank you netgalley and the publisher for gifting me advanced reader copy!

Unfortunately this one was a miss for me. I think this had a lot of potential and it just felt short.

I love slasher and horror books but I think the “horror obsessed” main character is so overdone and frankly cringy. I dont want to hear them talk about weird they are or “I’m not like other girls” because they like horror movies. Hey! I’m not a freak for liking horror!

Obviously some people are going to love how the FMC is horror obsessed and that’s fine, I love that for them. I think the writing in this wasn’t very consistent. It felt really choppy. We wouldn’t get details on major things happening in the book but a whole page describing how a cave looked?

I also really didn’t like the paranormal element to this. I think it was an easy way out of writing stronger conclusions. Also rolled my eyes at both reveals. Like be so for real 🙄

There’s a specific audience for this book and I hope the people who choose to pick it up enjoy it more than I do!

An addictive love letter to horror cinema with elaborate scare tactics, severed heads and gruesome murders straight out of slashers movies. A story filled with wry humour, an encyclopaedic knowledge of horror cinema and the pesky interference of ghosts. All the while a race against time to prove one’s innocence before campus becomes more graveyard than school. An epic addition to young adult horror slasher novels.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞 & 𝐂𝐨. 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

I DNF'd this book, I think the premise was good and that's what made me request it but I wasn't the target audience. A young adult audience would probably love this!

3.5⭐️ for fans of horror movies and slashers this book would definitely be for you! I loved a lot of the Easter egg movie references in this, and really did love the suspense and mystery throughout! I do wish the overall killer reveal had bit more of a build up as the deaths continued to rack up ! I also know there was quite a few plot holes , which I did ignore because of the nature of the book being a horror slasher (scream and I know what you did last summer both had plot holes in the movies but I still loved them regardless ) so I didn’t really take them too seriously ! I definitely think this is the perfect summerween nostalgic read. Finally I loved the ghost element it added an extra level of stakes to the overall plot !!

Thank you to net galley and little tiger group for the e-arc in exchange for a honest review

I had to temper my expectations on this one, as I went into it thinking it was going to be very much horror with a little satire along the lines of Scream, when it was actually much more dark comedy and slapstick like Scary Movie.

What I liked:
- Each chapter title being a horror movie rule: so fun!
- The MC Charley was both funny and relatable, while she has the horror movie smarts she's just super unco and not the most athletic (running from the killer whilst lamenting her missed P.E. classes as she's huffing and puffing did make me chuckle).
- The overly gory deaths were great and just that bit over the top enough that they ranged from disgusting to hilarious, and back again.
- The Killer. I did work it out but I didn't fully have the motive down and I thought it was goooood, so it was good pay off.

What I didn't like:
- Dumb adults everywhere, forcing the teens to have to do all the adulting and solving. I know this is a standard trope in Y.A. but it was bordering on ridiculous here.
- The horror hommages were not as subtle and clever as they could have been, Charley and her best friend Olive basically just name-drop several horror movies and franchises every chapter without actually being clever about it or using those references to subvert expectations.
- The humour. I wanted to like it but it was just too over the top, and as I mentioned earlier, moved this one from Scream territory right into Scary Movie silliness.

What The:
- Charley refers to Heathers as underrated... uhh, I think you mean the cult classic Heathers, Charley, come on now.

Overall, this was a fun read but definitely aimed more at younger readers, or the uninitiated when it comes to horror. Older readers and horror fans may find it just a bit too silly.

3.5 stars.

How to Survive a Horror Movie is a gripping YA thriller with a clever horror twist. Set in a remote boarding school on an island, the story blends isolation, mystery, and supernatural suspense in a way that keeps you on your toes the entire time.

I loved the dynamic between Charley and Olive — their friendship added a lot of warmth to the otherwise eerie atmosphere. The pacing is quick, and the author cleverly includes nods to classic horror movie tropes, including the most annoying: adults ignoring obvious danger.

The story had me guessing the whole way through, even making me question what I thought I knew about horror movie “rules.” I truly felt I was working along with Charley to find out who the killer is. While I wished the ending had been just a bit stronger, the ride getting there was absolutely worth it.

Overall, this is a smart, well-written, and entertaining read — perfect for fans of YA thrillers and horror movies alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How to Survive a Horror Movie- 4.5⭐:
A boarding school on a secluded island is the perfect backdrop for a slasher film. I like that this book is fast-paced. The ghosts helped add a spooky vibe because when ghosts come a-knockin', my imagination has me seeing things in real life. However, the ghosts also provide a comedy element (Do be warned that if you are squeamish, some of them are described in gruesome ways, so this might not be for you) because the idea of ghosts watching as the killer goes after Charley is pretty funny. Logically, I know I love slasher stuff like this and normally it doesn’t really get me super spooked, but for some reason this one had me way more scared than I usually would be. Maybe it was the ghosts, maybe it was the fact that I was home alone and my imagination runs wild, or maybe you should just read this book to find out if it gives you that same feeling 😉. Overall, it’s a good book reminiscent of slasher films like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream.

I was really excited to read this book based on the premise. I was a little disappointed with how the murders panned out so it didn’t really feel like a horror movie without group fear. I liked that the book also included humor. Without giving spoilers I did think there were some very unique aspects to this book that I haven’t read in others in the genre. I will say I did see both of the ending “plot twists” coming. I mean scream is my favorite horror franchise so I loved that little nod.

This was a fun read. Yes, there is a murderer on the loose only killing 6th year students. However, Charley who is horror obsessed has now started to see the dead girls and they follow her everywhere. Is she hallucinating or are they actually there? I enjoyed the mystery and did like the last minute twist. It was also a little funny along the way, especially some of the ghosts.

How to Survive a Horror Movie had an intriguing premise, a horror-loving teen navigating a creepy all-girls boarding school with a killer on the loose and ghosts in tow. I appreciated the nods to classic slasher tropes and the humor around horror rules, which felt like a fun tribute for fans of the genre.

That said, while the story had its entertaining moments, I struggled to stay fully engaged. The characters felt a bit underdeveloped, and the banter between Charley and Olive didn’t always land. It sometimes pulled me out of the tension rather than building it. The mystery was predictable in places, but the paranormal twist added some freshness.

Overall, it’s a decent YA horror with a creative setup and moments of charm, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

How to survive a horror movie is like Scream meets Goosebumps and Heathers, it's a very juvenile led plot with it reading young due to the dialogue. It wasn't a huge hit for me personally but I can appreciate the craft as slashers are becoming very popular even with the younger generation and if I was a young teenager this would definitely be a book I'd absolutely love to read.

The rules for surviving a horror movie as chapter titles is an amazing touch, overall it was an interesting read but not one for me right now.

3.5 Stars- I really enjoyed this book! Although there were a few plot holes that I questioned, overall, this book was funny and enjoyable. Definitely had a fun setting and some quirky characters and I had a fun time guessing who the murderer was. The dialogue was a bit juvenile but it fit the setting and wasn’t a turn-off for me. I look forward to more books by this author!

you know that feeling, when you're watching a horror film and you just can't help but mourn because of the main character's stupidity? well, in a fun turn of events, this book is NOT that.

instead, we have the fmc charley, who is also the type to cuss out the people in horror films. and becoming the protagonist of a horror + who done it mystery was so perfectly done.

i absolutely loved the twists and turns of this book, charley's attempts at uncovering the mystery, and all of the character building.

this was a really fun read!

Brilliant, fast paced, fun. That’s how I would describe this book. Teenage horror genre with hints of classic slashers? Sign me in!

I enjoyed this book way more then I thought I would and it helped set the mood for my other “spooky” arc reads. If you enjoy 2000s horrror movies, final girls, summerween, slasher movies and more this is the book for you. Our main character Charlie has at a new boarding school on a remote island, and then suddenly the bodies of her classmates are found. Charlie realizes there could be a serial killer on campus and she’s now in her own horror movie. She now is on the hunt to find who the killer is before it’s too late . Action packed, sometimes funny , and tons of horror references. Such a good read.