In WHO’S ALL GOING (TO DIE)?, Ariana finds herself reeling from the shattering of her volleyball dreams due to an injury. When she is offered an all-expenses-paid trip to a luxurious resort, she takes it. She’s ready for the wellness experience. Guru Juniper-Moon complicates her plans.

Moon’s insistence on her unconventional wellness practices means that the more treatments Ariana undergoes, the more she feels that something is wrong. "Accidents" begin to happen among the guests, and only Ariana and Jadon seem willing to expose her lies. A desperate need for truth as people begin to disappear.

When Juniper-Moon demands that “everyone give back,” Ariana and Jadon must navigate this treacherous path together to expose the guru's deceit before becoming irrevocably ensnared.

Verdict:

Lisa Springer's WHO’S ALL GOING (TO DIE)? is a shrewd young adult horror thriller that blends the wellness industry with mystery and unnerving cult vibes. There are devilish spa treatments and mesmerizing egomaniacs, all set in a luxury wellness retreat. Captivating and an intriguingly eerie take on the sinister intricacies of the wellness industry. There is excitement, suspense, and twists. A compelling and dark narrative that will leave you unable to stop reading! (8/10)

Midsommar, but YA Carribean edition?

A bunch of contest winners are invited to a trial run of Teenage Dream, a self improvement program at a luxury resort on the Caribbean. Massages, spas, yoga, parties, miles of luxury beach front villas, sounds like a win win! And, all for free, since it’s a soft launch. If it sounds too good to be true, it is, because Teenage Dream, despite the corny name, turns out to be some weird culty retreat with meditation and teenagers dying after getting bee venom facials. How this place gets away with giving psychedelic tea to teenagers in the first place is beyond me.

The first death is written off as a freak accident. But idk, if it were me, as soon as someone starts saying weird shit like “intention ceremony” with “adaptogenic teas”, and when you get there you find out there’s powdered weed involved and it’s led by someone named “Juniper Moon” I’d have left lmao. Tbh if this wellness retreat had people with culty ass names like Juniper Moon and Divinity Aster, and weird stuff like “moonlight intention ceremonies” I wouldn’t have gone to begin with, luxury be damned.

There is a bit of suspension of disbelief with this book that you’ll just have to roll with. After so many “accidental” deaths there should be no question. And there is absolutely no way the media, the parents wouldn’t be in an absolute uproar after 2 deaths, let alone 5 within a WEEK, and wouldn’t be pulling their kids out of this. These are teenagers, not adults! How would this not be all over the news and this resort being closed down because teenagers keep dying? It’s not exactly realistic but then again, neither is a wellness resort called Teenage Dream 😂

Is this book super realistic? No. But it’s fun, it’s a quick and easy read, and just what you’d want and expect when picking up a YA thriller. It’s not the darkest thriller I’ve read, but a fun beach read nonetheless! If you like books about cults, give this one a try.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

This really did not work for me. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly. The whole thing felt unoriginal and predictable. A character said the word “unalived” unironically, something that no one would ever say outside of a TikTok comment, which immediately made me rate the book a star lower. What a horrible choice of dialogue. More to come on TikTok.

Phew what a roller coaster! It’s late & I work tomorrow but I needed to know what was going to happen to Arianna and her friends. So worth it!

Pros:
-likable characters
- bad things happening in paradise
- luxury vibes
- mysterious deaths
- a bit of a twist
- easy to read, flowy, writing style
- dogs
- unique storyline
- romantic connection

Cons:
- after the first accident, why did Ari continue to sign up for events?
- why weren’t parents questioning more? Id have immediately gotten my child off of the island based off of the first questionable text.

All of that aside, this book was amazing. I loved the authors writing style, Ari the main character, and the unique cult-like storyline. Definitely recommend to those who want a wild ride of a book.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows a teen who goes on a vacation based around well being and relaxation for teens. Things quickly unfold and are not as they seem.

This book was not my favorite. I thought it started strong but then just went downhill. The characters were all annoying and the plot was predictable.

I hope others love this one but it didn’t work for me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

WHO'S ALL GOING (TO DIE?) by Lisa Springer (Out Sept 16)

Thank you Netgalley, Delacorte, and GetUnderlined for the earc

It was supposed to be a vacation.
When Ariana is invited to an wellness retreat, she's over the moon. The Dream resort seems perfect, but then things take a turn...accidents start happening and Ariana realizes that The Dream isn't what it seems.
WHO'S ALL GOING (TO DIE)? is a YA thriller that is equally parts thrilling and creepy with is cult-like vibes and "accidents." This book, based on vibes alone, reminded me of NEVER COMING HOME by Kate Williams (- the locked room part with limited people) and YOU BELONG TO ME by Hayley Krischer, and I am here for that. This book is interesting and left me pondering throughout. Like the title states, all I could think is "Who's all going to die?" And "Why?" And "Who's actually responsible?"
WHO'S ALL GOING (TO DIE)? starts off calm and serene, like one would expect from a resort, but everything isn't as it seems---and once the first body pops up, everything goes from there.
I think this book is the perfect end of summer read. Not only it set in the summer, but it comes out at the tail end of summer. It's great for those who want to question things, specifically: is it a calming resort or something worse? Wellness? Or something sinister?

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with this arc!

*** Spoilers Ahead***

This was such a fun, twisty ride! I really enjoyed the book's portrayal of being lured into a cult. Ariana was a strong protagonist to root for, and I loved the inclusion of her dog, Quincy. I liked the background romance between Ariana and Jadon (although I would have liked a flash-forward epilogue, explaining what happened between them after they left the resort, as well as what happened with Juniper-Moon. But perhaps a sequel could be in the works, given the message from the Balance Bestie app at the end).

The book had plenty of action, suspense, and harrowing moments. I do wish there had been a little more character development with the supporting characters so their fates hit a little harder, but overall, this was a solid thriller and I will definitely recommend it!

Thank you Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Super interesting! Ariana is given a chance for her and her two friends to attend a new island wellness retreat, and it’s all expenses paid. It’s owned by her friend Oakley and her family. And the General Manager is a guru by the name of Juniper Moon, who Oakley swears by. Ariana and her friends will be sharing a villa with Oakley and some of Oakley’s other friends. Ariana soon learns that most of them are really just acquaintances of Oakley. But no matter it should be a fun trip right? And with her future in Volleyball up in the air thanks to an injury, Ariana could use all the wellness she can get. The island is beautiful and there are a lot of treatments that sound amazing. But the more treatments that do the more Ariana feels like there is something off about them. And there’s something not quite right about Juniper Moon. As people started to experience negative side affects from the treatments as well as accidents, Ariana starts to think something more sinister is going on. Could they all be in danger? Can Ariana keep herself and her friends safe? Can they survive? An intriguing mix of wellness, mystery, and cult like activities! Lisa Springer creates a gripping, tense, dark tale that will have you hooked and unable to put it down!

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

Lisa Springer’s “Who’s All Going (to Die)?” is a sharp, fast-paced YA horror thriller that combines The White Lotus vibes with cultish creepiness and a dose of social commentary. The story is set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic luxury wellness retreat. With sinister spa treatments, charismatic manipulators, and secrets bubbling beneath the surface, this is a perfect pick for readers who like their thrillers with a side of satire.

Ariana, a teen volleyball star recovering from a serious injury, jumps at the chance to escape the icy New York winter and her looming uncertainty by heading to a tropical resort with her new friend Oakley. The Dream Island Wellness Retreat off the coast of Barbados promises peace, pampering, and the illusion of control. But paradise quickly curdles into something far darker.

The early chapters introduce a large cast of characters—friends, fellow guests, spa employees—which can be a bit confusing to track at first. But once you get your footing, the story quickly takes a deliciously twisted turn. Right from the start, there’s a sense that something is... off. Suspicious spa treatments (psychedelic mushroom tea ceremonies? bee venom facials?), missing guests, staff members who clearly know more than they let on—every element builds a mounting sense of dread. The resort, like a character itself, shifts from utopia to nightmare as the story unfolds.

Springer doesn’t shy away from body horror or cult-like dynamics. The retreat's guru, Juniper-Moon, is a glossy and unnerving presence, peddling dubious “wellness” in exchange for loyalty, valuables, and blind faith. While her villainy borders on stereotypical at times (as well as another villain revealed at the end of the book who could be developed more), her influence over the guests and the terrifying lengths the retreat will go to maintain control make for compelling horror. There’s a real undercurrent of critique here about exploitation, the commodification of wellness, and how privilege can blind people to danger until it’s far too late.

Despite the spiraling chaos, Ariana remains a grounded and sympathetic lead. Her struggles with identity, injury, and anxiety add depth to the story. There's also a sweet, understated romance that offers emotional balance without hijacking the plot.

The tension ramps up with a steady drip of “accidents” and disappearances, building to a climax that’s equal parts shocking and satisfying. Twists abound, and while the ending wraps most threads neatly, it leaves just enough open to hint at a possible sequel—without frustrating readers.

Bonus for sensitive readers: Yes, the dogs are safe. Priorities, right?

Overall, “Who’s All Going (to Die)?: is a slick, gripping, and darkly entertaining YA horror that skewers the dark side of the wellness industry while delivering thrills, chills, and enough twists to keep you flipping pages well past bedtime.