** spoiler alert ** I think that the format of this book was very cool, but I was extremely disappointed with the ending. There is so much going on and the interrogation setup is actually really cool and innovative, and then plop, the ending happens. It's like all the build-up was just sort of dropped on its head.

Okay, so Maylee, who is not the greatest, has this very specific plan, and her friends are there with her and some know and some don't. One thinks that a bigfoot is around, the other feels left out, the other has a history dealing with racism and a car accident, and all of these things are supposed to come together to wow and amaze the reader with the complexity of each character and you go on this adventure with the narrator(s) and have all this investment and then that's it. The book gets wrapped up. Petra seems like she knows what she is going to do, but the others? Poof. Bye bye. Bigfoot? Nonsense. Dealt with an incident that you were profiled for? Oh well, get over it. Your family isn't a bunch of MAGA-loving rednecks? Congrats. I mean, I don't really understand why I even cared what was happening to the characters, it just happened. There was a lot of possibility with this book, but not even water laced with psychedelics was an answer. It was really lame. Oh well. There are some good ones and some bad ones. This one wasn't great.

I enjoyed how this book used a unique form of storytelling. The whole book took place in the interrogation room solely from the input of four teenagers recounting what happened to their missing friend. It was easy to read as each section was relatively short, but it did seem a bit repetitive. That being said, it kept me guessing as to what really happened, and I was eager to find out next. I did feel a bit let down by how the book ended.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks fire for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Petra - An organiser. Called bossy by her stepbrother Nolan and by pretty much anyone else who ever meets her. She likes to be on top
of things, so when her best friend Maylee suggests a camping trip to Salvation Creek the following weekend, Petra is a little annoyed it's so soon, but is quickly into action organising everything they might need and more. She is the daughter of a cop, knows how to use a gun, has learnt wilderness skills over the years and feels prepared.

Maylee - a free spirit. Or this is how she likes to think of herself. She is spontaneous, disorganised, Queen of the social ladder at high school and incredibly keen to be an influencer. She and Petra are polar opposites but besties. Maylee likes to turn conversations on their head, just to get a reaction. She is constantly taking photos or looking for opportunities to do so for her followers, but also knowing she needs something different for her feed. She takes a tent for the trip but is not properly prepared otherwise as is her carefree, don't give a care nature.

Nolan - Petra's stepbrother who is mocked at school for his quiet, insular personality. He'd much rather be holed up in his room on his computer than anywhere else. Ever since he had a terrifying experience on another trip, he has also been mocked for his insistence he saw a bigfoot only feet in front of him. He's certain of the sighting even though it's widely believed he just had a nightmare, and now he's keen to look for one at Salvation Creek. This is one of the hotspots for bigfoot according to cryptid experts, and where people have disappeared.

John - Maylee's boyfriend. More like Petra than Maylee, John is a good student and a sensible guy, especially after an event years previous that changed him for life. Blamed for a near tragedy because of the colour of his skin made him realise what society is really like underneath. Maylee's chaotic personality helps bring him some of the spark he lost before the event. But still, he can't understand why he came camping as he hates the outdoor wilderness, getting away from it all vibe. He's much happier with a vibrant city around him.

Abigail - Daughter of a man thought to be pure gun-toting hillbilly, Abigail has learnt her own wilderness skills and knows the area well. They have spent a lot of time in the outdoors. Living in a trailer park, and with her father's anti-establishment take on life, she is used to other's opinion of him. She ignores them as she is close to her loving, patient father as he is the only family she has. She is pleased to be invited along, but is wary.

Five teens arrive at the camping ground together, but by morning there is only four being interviewed by the police after something goes terribly wrong.


I couldn't put this book down. Told in four viewpoints by the way of police interviews, I felt like I was there in the wilderness with the teens as their camping trip turns into a nightmare.

The interview style of storytelling allows readers to get to know each character, and I enjoyed the different ways each character perceived behaviour of others. Eg. One character thought someone was thinking something, but in fact it was the opposite.

Having one character absolutely convinced a bigfoot was nearby upped the tension, and made me wonder... could there be a creature in the wilds with them or is it something else?

A fast paced, entertaining read.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the ARC of this title.

Age - 12+

This one gripped me in from the start. It’s a YA mystery that unfolds through police interviews, which I found to be a unique and compelling way to tell the story. The tension builds as each teen’s account adds layers to the mystery of their friend’s disappearance during a camping trip. What I appreciated most was the fast pace and the way the story kept me guessing until the very end. It’s a book that’s perfect for anyone who loves a good thriller with a twist. Sedoti’s storytelling had me hooked, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!”

Mixed Feelings

*I was provided this book free of charge by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

In my quest to devour all the books on my list this weekend, I eagerly delved into "Tell Me What Really Happened" by Chelsea Sedoti, anticipating a thrilling ride. Yet, despite its promising premise, my excitement was somewhat dampened as I can only bestow three stars upon it.

The narrative centers on Maylee Hayes and her friends embarking on an overnight camping trip to Salvation Creek. What begins as a seemingly innocent excursion quickly spirals into chaos when Maylee mysteriously vanishes from her tent, leaving her companions bewildered and stranded in the wilderness.

The novel's strength lies in its innovative storytelling format, structured entirely through police interviews with the remaining friends. This method effectively builds tension, keeping readers on edge as the plot unfolds. However, the conclusion falls short, feeling underwhelming in comparison to the escalating suspense.

Character differentiation proved to be another stumbling block, with the protagonists blending into a homogeneous mass, making it challenging to discern their individual voices. Additionally, the incessant focus on Bigfoot felt overwrought, detracting from the overall narrative.

Despite these drawbacks, "Tell Me What Really Happened" offers a gripping read, particularly suited for YA enthusiasts seeking a quick and engaging mystery. While it may not reach the heights of other thrillers, it serves as a satisfying palate cleanser between heavier fare.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book makes for a good YA high school mystery. I think my middle school or high school self would have enjoyed it. Although I did like the dialog between the police and the teens, I found that their stories could come across a little far fetched and seemed to drag on. I really liked that this story kept me guessing until the end.

raw and real, yet appropriate enough to share with my friends who are also in high school, it truly was a thrilling read and i would read again.

This was a decent and clever YA mystery. Five friends go into the woods and only four come out. I really enjoyed the interrogation format in this book where everyone tells the story from their point of view. Talk about unreliable witnesses! It kept me interested and intrigued throughout the entire book. It was rather enjoyable! Thanks to NetGalley, Chelsea Sedoti and Sourcebooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley (@netgalley) and the publisher (@sourcebooksfire) for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review

it was really good, i really enjoyed how the book was written. it kept me on my feet. i seriously didn’t see the end coming

4.5★stars

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This novel was absolutely WILD! I REALLY loved the dual timelines and how this unfolded. This was really well written with interviews of all the participants with the police as the truth slowly comes out. I really, really enjoyed how this novel was written.

I have always enjoyed novels with multiple points of view, and having (almost) all the characters tell their sides to the police after a friend goes missing was super intersting. How the 'who done it' was revealed was just wild and so unexpected! And even more so, the ending! This was just so damn enjoyable and I blew through the entire story! I will definitely have to pick up this author again.

I really enjoyed how grounded this book was. Chelsea Sedoti definitely has a knack for creating teen characters who sound authentic and like they could be walking the halls of any high school. Her choice to tell the entire story through police interviews, too, was an interesting one, and it worked most of the time.

There were some times, however, where the technique wasn't as successful and the characters ended up sounding a little flat or two-dimensional. This was most evident with John. Without the benefit of any description whatsoever or any outside writing mechanics to fill in the gaps about him, at times John's voice sounded slightly under-developed. His struggle as a young Black man with a system that could often include a double standard for him because of his race wasn't as present because all we had to go on were the interviews and his friends' accounts of him.

With Petra it was the opposite problem; at times, she came across as much too forceful. I know part of her character description was to be aggressive, but there were times where her overt self-assuredness felt out of step with what was happening in the scene at hand. It was also never really clear how Petra felt about Maylee. Was it friendship or obsession? Or something else? (I imagined her as someone who doesn't blink a lot.)

Sedoti did an excellent job of developing Maylee's character, even though she's never on the page representing herself. The author's experience and self-confidence shine in this aspect. The other characters share enough of Maylee that it's easy to put together a mental image of the type of person she is.

Occasionally the dialogue didn't sound realistic, though. I don't know how many teenagers would say they "peered through the darkness." There were times when the conversations sounded less like conversations and more like traditional first-person narrative.

Of all the characters, though, my heart hurt most for Nolan, and not just for the most obvious reasons. Abigail, on the other hand, almost felt like an after-thought in some scenes. I don't know how much her being in the story actually moved it along or how much taking her out would have affected it.

While I enjoyed some of Sedoti's other works more, this one was also pretty good.

This was definitely a book that kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. I think that the multiple POVs helped to add to the unreliableness of the characters. I think that the plot was simple and the ultimate reveal was a little lackluster in my opinion, but I do think that this was an enjoyable read. I think that each of the characters was well fleshed out and their flaws were what made them so compelling to follow. I think that this a story that fans of Good Girls Guide to Murder or the Truly Devious. I will definitely be picking up more from this author.

This book was great! It was very suspenseful, and I could not put it down. I loved the way the author made you think you had figured everything out, and then gave a new piece of information that changed everything. I especially loved the ending.

**** UNPOPULAR OPINION TIME****

Thanks to Netgalley, Chelsea Sedoti and Sourcebooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Already available.

MY REVIEW:

I am so glad this was a free ARC because I would have been PO'd spending money on a book that was such a waste of time. I did not like any of the charcters. An entire boring book about Bigfoot, really?! WTF?!

Not for me. cannot recommend. Do not waste your time.

5 friend go into the woods, 1 goes missing … This story takes place over the course of one night, when a group of teens decide to go on an impromptu camping trip.

I enjoyed this style of writing (once I found the pace), it’s unique in that it’s told from alternating snip-it’s of each person's interrogation, the truth of “what really happened” is slowly unwound in a twisty tale from the different points of view. Everyone has a different recollection of what happened, and some are pretty far-fetched. Is there a serial killer in the woods, a Bigfoot, a scorned lover? You’ll have to read it to find out.

"Tell Me What Really Happened" by Chelsea Sedoti is a gripping YA mystery that masterfully blends suspense with the exploration of truth and perception. Sedoti crafts a compelling narrative that pulls readers into a small town's biggest scandal, through the eyes of a relatable protagonist determined to uncover the truth. The storytelling is intricate, weaving together multiple perspectives in a way that challenges readers to question what they believe. With its clever plot twists and deep emotional resonance, this book is a standout, offering both a thrilling ride and thoughtful commentary on the nature of truth.

I was flying through this book until the very end. I loved the interview format and felt like it made it a really quick read. However, the ending absolutely ruined it for me. There was a lot of hype built up to figure out what happened to Maylee, but the final conclusion was just not it..... while i understand the direction the author was heading in, i don't think it is an ending that will appear to many readers. I also did not like how all of the characters are high schoolers, but are all being interviewed alone. Sure, maybe they have all turned 18 by now, but I didn't get that vibe. Overall, a decent read, but don't go in with high expectations for the ending.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for accessing this book.

2.5 star

The first half of the story is good but starting in the middle of the story gets me bored. I love the interrogation format of the story is a clever way to get the attention of the readers. I hate all the characters, The word BIGFOOT in this book is annoying. OMG! I'm waiting for the moment to scare me but nothing scary at all haha.

Overall, it was okay and not bad even though I planning to DNF this when I reached 30% but because I am a stubborn reader I did finish this haha

I was completely sold on this book from the blurb! I love a good mystery, and the camping in the woods element attracted me. It took me a minute to get used to the storytelling here. The whole book is told in interrogation snippets, and the reader keeps track of four characters this way. However, the flow really simplifies this process. There isn't a whole lot of jumping around, so you can keep things straight. Also, it was very interesting to read this way! The tension was definitely higher. Honestly, reading the four viewpoints is also helpful because I didn't find Maylee to be a sympathetic character. She was hard to like. The variety of perspectives and experiences gave me plenty of other material to keep me reading.

Great book! Very unique presentation. Definitely going to be added to my high school library.

{3.5 stars}

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.

This story takes place over one night when a group of teens goes camping in the woods. They are being interrogated by the police the next morning after one of them goes missing. In alternating snips of each person's interrogation, the truth of what happened is slowly revealed to us from the different points of view, not all of which are accurate... or sane... 

I liked the pace and because they are teens, the red herrings along the way are fantastical. But also, told in such a way that you think to yourself, well, maybe... There is definitely teen drama but I wasn't annoyed by it the way I some times am with YA stories. Here the characters were nuanced and all of their quirks and drama fed into the story. Definitely a fun read.