tense, taut, YA thriller about two characters who fall in love and then both become suspected for a murder. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Sadie attends Arcadia High School with her best friend, Quinn, and her star hockey-player boyfriend, Kai. One Friday night, Quinn and Kai’s on-again, off-again relationship comes to a dramatic end during a heated argument at the train station. Sadie overhears part of it, and when Quinn shows up at her house afterward, she lets her spend the night. But by morning, Quinn is gone. Then the news breaks: a teen has been found dead at the train station.

Told through alternating perspectives Sadie, Cason, police interviews, texts, and TikTok videos; the story weaves a tense, layered mystery. Readers are pulled through a series of what-if scenarios, left guessing who killed Kai and why. Was it the long-standing feud between the Arcadia and Hailing hockey teams? Or something even darker? After all, Sadie has been secretly meeting up with Cason; Hailing’s own hockey star.

Perfect for fans of April Henry and Holly Jackson, this twisty thriller doles out clues in just the right doses, keeping readers hooked until the shocking conclusion.

I had a lot of fun with this one! It’s the classic setup: a teen caught up in a crime investigation while also being a possible suspect. But what stood out to me is that—finally—we get a parent who actually cares and makes smart, realistic decisions. (Not trying to be cryptic, just avoiding spoilers!)

I’ve been really enjoying these romance/thriller mash-ups lately, and this one hit the balance perfectly. The mystery takes center stage, but the romance adds just the right amount of heart without ever feeling out of place. It also keeps things YA-appropriate—mature enough for teens but still something middle grade readers who want a challenge could totally dive into.

I’ll admit, I guessed the twist early on, but that’s pretty normal for me. Still, the author did a great job sprinkling in believable red herrings and enough hints that the final reveal felt satisfying and earned.

This book is such a cozy fall thriller pick—perfect for back-to-school season when you want something fun, fast, and suspenseful. Definitely one for teen sleuths (and mystery lovers in general) to check out.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Harper Collins via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

5 stars because I didn't expect the last twist. Quinn was the last one I thought that would have been lying and hiding stuff, and definitely never thought it would have been about that. I feel even more sorry for Kai now, to have been keeping that secret of what she did then turn around and get killed because of her. Very happy Larson and Quinn were caught and Sadie and Cason ended up together. They are all definitely better off without that so called friend.

Watch Us Crack's main draw is most definitely its mystery--I was so intrigued that I read it in one sitting! While I didn't particularly feel one way or the other for the book's dual POV characters--Sadie and Cason--I <i>did</i> want to find out who was framing them (or if they were even being framed at all!).

I'm still not entirely sure what to think about the ending. I definitely didn't see it coming! I kinda wish there had been more hints as to who the culprit was, as I don't think there was really enough to figure everything out. Nevertheless I think I'll have to re-read before I decide how ultimately feel about it!

In the end, it was a solid mystery, and though there were aspects I felt were rushed and some characters I felt dragged the story down (i.e. the TikTok true crime influencer), I wouldn't mind re-reading!

This is an emotionally charged Romeo-Juliet type of romance between two kids from rival schools. It is riveting and engaging. It must be kept in mind that this is a high school setting and highly focused on the hockey rivalry with a lack of serious character development. I enjoyed the read, though it does not top my favourites for the year.

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

Gabriella Lepore’s “Watch Us Crack” is a gripping YA thriller that is centered around a slow-burning murder mystery, which is complicated by high school drama and forbidden romance. With its Romeo and Juliet-style premise set against the backdrop of a long-standing rivalry between two schools and, more specifically, their hockey teams the book offers a suspenseful and emotionally charged story that will keep you hooked.

At the center are Sadie and Cason, two teens who reconnect after years apart and begin a secret romance despite attending enemy schools. Their budding relationship is complicated not only by the social fallout of crossing school lines but also by a murder investigation that pulls them both into the spotlight. When a body turns up near Sadie’s house—at a train station they both visited the night before—suspicion quickly falls on the pair, leaving readers questioning their innocence and motives.

Lepore crafts the mystery with clever pacing and a mix of narrative tools, including police interviews, podcast transcripts, and text messages. These multimedia elements add a modern, immersive edge to the story, drawing you deeper into the investigation and the messy world of teenage secrets as you consider different perspectives around the mystery, gaining clues and suspects with each new addition to the story. While some twists are more surprising than others, the final reveal is both shocking and satisfying, with one last twist that’s subtly foreshadowed but still impactful.

However, the book isn’t without its flaws. The high school drama, particularly the intense fixation on hockey, can feel over-the-top at times, and while the rivalry is realistic in its dramatization of teenage stakes, it occasionally overshadows deeper character development. Sadie and Cason's romance, though sweet and slow-burn in nature, feels slightly underdeveloped given its one-month timeline. More emotional groundwork could have enriched their connection and heightened the stakes of their secrecy.

Another element that felt slightly underutilized was a subplot involving a hit-and-run, which plays a critical role in the final twist but is sparsely developed earlier in the story. With more emphasis, this plotline could have added a compelling layer to the mystery.

Still, “Watch Us Crack” delivers where it counts. It’s fast-paced, emotionally engaging, and packed with enough suspense and twists to satisfy fans of YA thrillers. For those who enjoy secrets, shifting alliances, and the adrenaline rush of a good whodunit, this book is a compelling choice.

Gabriella Lepore’s Watch Us Crack offers a compelling blend of high school romance and a compelling murder mystery that kept me turning the pages. Sadie and Cason's history together adds depth to their connection, and the secret romance amidst fierce school rivalries creates a tense atmosphere that’s easy to get caught up in. The story’s pace is lively, and I appreciated how it balances the budding relationship with the darker threads of suspicion surrounding the murder. Lilting with emotional stakes and some gripping moments, the book drew me in enough to want to see how everything unfolds. However, at times the plot felt a bit predictable, and I wanted more complexity in the characters’ development—some of their decisions seemed a bit rushed or clichéd. Nonetheless, Lepore’s writing kept me engaged, and I enjoyed the suspenseful ride from start to finish. It’s a solid read for those who love youthful intrigue with a dash of danger.

Thank you Storytide and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This was so good I finished it in less than a day! Sadie and Cason knew each other in middle school and have begun to get reacquainted. The only problem is that they go to rival schools. Cason plays hockey and Sadie’s best friend’s boyfriend, Kai, is on her schools hockey team. Right now Kai and Quinn are also on the outs and Sadie is working hard to be there for her friend. To make things worse a month ago the two hockey teams got in a huge fight and Kai and Cason were at the center of it. So it’s safer if their relationship stays a secret. But then a body turns up at the train station a cross from Sadie’s house. A train station that her, Cason, Quinn, and Kai were all at the night before. Now Cason and Sadie are both suspects in a murder case. And they both have motive. In order to prove their innocence they may have to bring their relationship out into the open. How will their friends feel about them dating? Can they figure out whodunnit? Can they even trust each other? A fast paced thriller that had me hooked! I loved the mix of secret relationship with a whodunnit! I also liked the inclusion of the texts, interviews, tiktoks! It added to the intrigue and kept me guessing! Twists right up until the end make Gabriella Lepore’s Watch Us Crack a must read mystery!

Gabriella Lepore absolutely nails it with “Let us Crack”. This book had me hooked right away. The chapters are the perfect length and kept me wanting to read more and more. The suspense was absolutely fantastic and everything a thriller should be. Without giving anything away, the twist absolutely blew me away!