This was my first book by this author and it did not disappoint! It had a mix of everything you would want
It has vampires the scary kind not twilight it has a secret agency of vampire hunters! It has a YA vibe but scary creepy feelings too! You should absolutely check this one out ’
I also love that the author gives us a sneak peek of the second book which gives you just a taste of what’s to come and it honestly hooks you right back in!

Okay this book was like if Buffy and The Lost Boys had a baby and I'm not mad at it. It was like reading pure nostalgia. Connor and Jenna had me cackling with laughter with some of the things they would say and I love them, their friendship was brilliant. The mystery of why Jenna was being targeted kept me intrigued and guessing throughout. I definitely need to read the next one, as this book laid the foundations for what looks to be a brilliant spooky supernatural series filled with adventure and slaying.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I think this is a perfect YA horror! If you’re wanting to dabble in the genre, this would be perfect for you.

I thought the pacing was great and the story flowed nicely! I would recommend this book!

This was so much fun!
A YA book brimming with nostalgia for especially The Lost Boys and Vampire Diaries - it reminded me of a beachy version of Amy McCaw's Mina and the Undead YA series.
Jenna is just an ordinary teen in San Nico, a seaside town known for lazy small town vibes and beaches....and as it turns out, perhaps vampires?!
I don't want to give too much of the plot away, but I will say this was well constructed and the characters were just unlikeable enough to be relatable - I am glad this is going to be a series because I want to know so much more about this world!
3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Spooky Thing Books for this E-Arc.

This is a perfect starter to horror novel for youth. It was an entertaining vampire book with spooky elements. It is definitely geared more towards YA than Adult but if your looking for just a fun small town vampires live among us read for spooky season this would be it.

“People have spent my entire life telling me there is no monster under my bed. They weren’t wrong. There aren’t any monsters under my bed. They’re everywhere else.”

Jenna can see dead people. Literally. She gets bullied by her old friend, Georgie who doesn’t believe that she had a real life encounter with a vampire when she was little. She is haunted by the ghosts in her town, scared to tell even her best friend, Conner. But secrets in this town never stay secrets for long. Some of the descriptions of the dead bodies had me saying “gross” out loud but I’m also new to the horror genre. You get a surprise pov that will make you get into the mind of the killer... literally.
I'm excited to read more of the San Nico Slayers as it comes out. Thank you to NetGally and Xpresso Book tours for the advance copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for this wonderful ARC!

Blood on the Boardwalk is a YA horror story about a girl who finds out nightmares can be real. Every bit of information she finds makes you question both her sanity and whether or not you're piecing everything together correctly. It's a wild ride from beginning to end. I'm so glad there's going to be more, because I NEED to know what happens next. I have so many questions!

Synopsis:
There’s a gap in Jenna’s childhood memories, but the one thing she does remember is fangs. The vampire jokes have been relentless ever since her former best friend let her secret out so when she stumbles on a shocking crime scene at the boardwalk, Jenna hopes she can remain anonymous when she reports it to the police. Jenna quickly realizes that the crime scene resembles that of a former serial killer... who couldn’t possibly still be alive. As she works with her friends to unearth the truth, she fears that monsters may walk among us.

Review:
“Blood on the Boardwalk” is a fun and easy read and a great beginning to the San Nico Slayers series. The coastal boardwalk setting really drew me in. I felt like I could see the town of San Nico and it made me feel nostalgic for my childhood summers spent at the beach (Twilight books in hand).
I recommend this book for anyone interested in trying out the horror genre or anyone looking to feel some nostalgia; whether that be for summers spent at the beach, or for the resurgence of the vampire phase we definitely all had. 😉🩸

“Blood on the Boardwalk” is the first book in the San Nico Slayers series and is out on September 25, 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley, Spooky Things Books, and Donna Taylor for a ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I’ll admit that I’m always drawn to a great book cover and this one certainly got my attention. Now the story was a thrilling, mysterious and dark ride that kept me engaged the whole way through. It definitely gave me both The Lost Boys and Buffy The Vampire Slayer vibes.

The MMC, Jenna was a strong, protective, and fierce trying to solve mysterious murders, who may be tied to supernatural killer. There were certain points where the story slowed down for me, but it picked right back up, especially at the end. I believe this is going to be a series so I am intrigued to see what happens next.

I’ve actually rated it a 3.75!

I.. am on the fence about this book. On one hand, I liked it because it gives all The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes. It was a nice walk down memory lane.
But on the other hand, I feel like maybe it was a little young for me?

It’s a bunch of high schoolers enduring the horrors of San Nico, so maybe that’s why I couldn’t really connect with any characters. And also, the beginning felt a bit repetitive with the main female character constantly reminding everyone how she was betrayed by her once best friend. Once or twice would have been fine, but it was nearly constant that we got that reminder of betrayal for the first few chapters.

With that being said, would I recommend it to other readers? Maybe to those who are looking for books for their kids.
Would I read more from the San Nico universe? Yes, because I was getting Angel/Buffy vibes (if Buffy would have been more cautious of the vampire) from Rhami/Jenna and I need to see more of Rhami.

3.5 ⭐️

Listen. Hear me out! I know this was full of oddly formatted sentences and spelling mistakes, but this was such a fun time! Was the entire plot glaringly obvious from the start? Yes. Were certain plot points kind of glossed over or undeveloped? Yes. But it’s fine, it’s not that serious! In fact, it’s unserious! Besides, it’s meant to be a series anyway! So I think it actually works great as an intro to a series because it really showcases the characters in all of their chaos, while setting up an even bigger storyline. I also really loved the setting because there’s not a lot of vampire-beach media out there so it’s unique in that way. I do wish there was more romance in the story besides a sort of throw-in love-interest tease at the end, but I understand why it was written like that as it is only book 1. All in all, this book was very reminiscent of 2010s vampire fanfiction and I really enjoyed the chaos of it all! Sure, it needs to be edited before publication, but that’s not a complicated fix! If this came out when I was in high school I probably would have devoured the entire series on wattpad in a single weekend, so thank you NetGalley for early access to this book!

A chilling and thrilling, suspenseful novel that radiates “Lost Boys” vibes which I am 100% here for!

Blood on the Boardwalk is a breezy, satisfying horror with just enough bite. Perfect for readers who enjoy a good puzzle, beachside intrigue, and a touch of vampires

I'm not going to lie, with a synopsis like this one, this book had a lot to live up to. I am a huge Lost Boys fan. What childhood wasn't ruined by nightmares of vampires after watching this much-loved, cheesy, gore-filled film?

I can happily say this lived up to that synopsis. This story, from the very first gruesome chapter, pulled me right in and made me smile because I knew I was in for a treat. And while this most definitely isn't a Lost Boys knockoff or imitation, it does have very subtle and sometimes, not so subtle notes of the original. I absolutely loved this and maybe even more so because while reading this on vacation, I too was at the coast, and it made it that much better because of it. I am so excited that this is going to be a series, and I loved the teaser for book two at the end. I, for one, can not wait for it to hit shelves.

Donna Taylor is a thrilling and fresh take on the YA slasher genre, delivering a fast-paced plot that pays homage to classic horror while carving out a voice all its own. From the very first chapter, the story grips you with its tension and mystery, steadily building dread while sprinkling in clever twists that keep you guessing.

What truly sets this book apart is its sharp, emotionally resonant character work. Donna is more than just a final girl—she’s layered, flawed, and deeply human. Her growth over the course of the story feels earned, as she grapples with fear, friendship, and what it means to survive. The supporting cast shines just as brightly, with each character bringing their own energy and complexity to the table.

This is a love letter to the slasher trope with a modern heart—a story that delivers thrills, emotional depth, and a heroine you’ll root for long after the credits would’ve rolled.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Jenna is considered to be a freak by most of her classmates. Why? Because 10 years ago, she encountered a vampire and talked about seeing fangs. Even her former best friend, Georgie, has written her off years ago. But then a new guy appears in town, and he really, really seems like a vampire. He’s also got his claws into Georgie. What’s really going on? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

This was an entertaining YA novel. It’s also the first in a series, although I think that I’ll be content with reading just this one. If you like a YA series that says every type of supernatural creature really exists — and then tries to police them — this might be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the published for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.

I think there is something there, but goodness this book needs some depth.

It was just a lot of 'events', no real character development or downtime. I mean, I guess it's hard to write that when the plot takes place in the span of three or four days. I just feel like you got an interesting bunch of characters that remind one of Buffy / Supernatural / Lost Boys, other teen supernatural shows growing up, but there is just no connecting pieces.

I feel that for book two we need some depth, the characters need to be more relaxed and we get to know them outside of them being stand ins for the type of characters in such situations. The parts that were the best and probably the strongest described was how she would / could see ghosts. Otherwise, her acceptance of vampires and ghouls was pretty quick.

Our mystery man / vampire possible love interest was cool, but I felt he was more or less an 'insert Angel character here' then an actual character in the story.

Overall, it's fun for teens but it needs more.

Blood on the Boardwalk is a gory, nostalgic YA Horror that feels just like some of my favorite reads from the 90s/00's (LJ Smith or Meg Cabot's Mediator series come to mind). The setting of the rundown, seedy town and touristy boardwalk is fantastic, and the plot is so much fun! The characters are off to a solid start, hopefully with some growth as the series progresses. I really enjoyed so much about this book, and am looking forward to the next one in the series. I do recommend it for any fans of YA Horror, especially 80s and 90s era supernatural fare. However...

I would have considered this a five star read, except for just a couple of issues. Mainly, the fact that so much plot revolves around a maddening and unrealistic lack of communication between everyone in this book. Jenna hides vital information from her parents, Jenna's parents hide vital information from her, Jenna hides vital information from her friends, and her friends hide vital information from her. And all this unnecessary secrecy, for tissue thin reasons, leads to numerous deaths that no one seems too bothered by?! To avoid spoilers I won't say much more, except a lot of people should be fired.

This is related to my second issue, Jenna's special ability that is never explained or addressed. With all of the reveals at the end I was sure she'd bring it up, but no. I'm guessing that it will be used as a plot device for a later book, but hopefully with less runaround.

Super fun and suspenseful vampire book with some great characters and awesome set pieces. Reads like a much more violent and thoughtful Fear Street book, I zoomed through this in a day. It feeeeels like there is more coming with this bunch and I for one am very glad for that.

This young adult horror novel was entertaining! It is character driven, fast paced and easy to read. The opening scene in this book hooked me! The author did a great job at capturing my attention at not only the beginning, but also throughout the book. It definitely gave me nostalgic vibes, which was a bonus for me! This is an entry level horror novel and is good for readers that are interested in getting into the horror genre. It comes with supernatural elements and mysterious vibes. This book has a unique vampire lore and a great plot! It comes with twists and turns I didn’t see coming and intriguing characters! The vivid imagery and atmospheric scenes really stands out in this book! Overall, I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars! This is a series, so we can expect a second book coming out! I am really excited about the second book and will be reading it as well!

If you like vampires, ghosts, 90’s nostalgia, creatures, bloody bodies along with a game of cat and mouse, you would really enjoy this one! Content warnings include murder, violence, gore, stalking and bullying.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Donna Taylor and Spooky Thing Books for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 25, 2025!