This was a highly anticipated read for me, and it fell completely flat! It was like an entire 180 from Their Vicious Games, and I was so disappointed.

We are thrown into the world of the twins Devon and Drew very quickly, which I can appreciate, but for some reason I wanted a buildup, especially for something that is marketed as a thriller. One minute we were dealing with the Ouija board, and the next a girl was dying from the demon that appeared so suddenly. This book moved cinematically fr. The twist was not predictable to me, but it did leave me with more questions than before. I also felt like more could've been done with the horror aspect of this, because I didn't feel it. I could see this on film for sure, and that's probably because there are nods to the Scary Movie franchise and Jordan Peele films.

I did love the friend group in this one, though. I wish we had more of them, as well as Drew and Devon. I also enjoyed the queer representation and think this will translate well for the youth that will read it. All in all, this one just wasn't for me, and I would not recommend this book because of that.

Joelle Wellington is officially an auto buy author for me! Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

This book made me feel like my cousins, my childhood friends, and I were all dropped into a Stephen King book. The Blonde Dies First is a teen horror adventure that throws a group of childhood friends into a summer of supernatural chaos. Devon is on a mission to make this the "best summer ever" since her twin sister Drew is graduating early, making this their last true summer together. The crew is a mix of personalities and backgrounds—Black, white, and Latino, with queer representation.

Things take an eerie turn when they use a Ouija board at a party and those plans are ruined. Their only focus now, is to survive the demon the game unleashed the story plays out like a love letter to classic horror film, reminiscent of Scream with its trope-heavy, meta-approach. Readers should keep in mind that this means some "twists" are intentionally predicable but there are still plenty of twists that make this a really fun read.

I love the dynamic of the friend group it reminds me of my summers with my cousins in Chicago and feels very authentic. I loved Their Vicious Games by the same author, Joelle Wellington and found that story premise to be more up my alley but I must say, I found myself more invested in the characters in this story. There's a surprising depth to the main cast that really pulled me in. This is a quick fun read, and I can't wait to see more from Joelle Wellington.

I don't typically gravitate towards horror/thriller novels but I decided to step out of my comfort zone since the premise seemed so intriguing! This begins with Devon and her friends going to a party to celebrate Devon's twin, Drew, graduating early. There, Drew's friend decides to bring out a Ouija board and use an athame to summon a demon. The group soon finds themselves being targeted one by one ala horror movie rules by a menacing and murderous dark presence. The author does such an incredible job cultivating an eerie tone as I frequently found myself on the edge of my seat. Although, the reveal was predictable, this did not take away from the ending as the author included some twists in the character's respective roles.

Additionally, I loved every single character and the relationships between them. Devon and Drew's differences, resentment, and eventual willingness to repair their bond, was so well done. Their scenes together were so authentic and their undying desire to protect one another was despite the tension was apparent. I absolutely loved the inclusion of queer relationships! The sapphic romance was so sweet and wholesome and AHH they own my heart. That being said, I wish we saw more of the other characters in the group since they were all so interesting.

This was definitely a great introduction to the genre for me since it was such a great spooky/summery read. The writing style was so engaging and I'll absolutely be picking up the authors upcoming books.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book! Following horror story movies, Joelle Wellington really knew her stuff and did her thing! Some things I figured out, but others were a complete surprise! I love how opposite twin sisters Devon and Drew are. I loved the dynamic of their friend group as well. Another 5 star read from Joelle Wellington!

I really wanted to get into this one but couldn’t with the supernatural element. I absolutely love slashers and hoped this book would have went a different way

I love a good campy young adult horror novel. Especially when it reminds me of scream! It was a really good and quick read. I didn’t want to put it down one of the reasons why I love young adult books.!

First off the cover is stunning and it is what originally drew me in.
Second this book has amazing representation which is love.
The blonde dies first is about a group of friends who start being stalked by a demon that wants to kill them all. Super normal nothing crazy here... It also talks about twins Devon and Drew. Drew graduated early and Devon is trying to make the best summer ever for them and their friends before she is basically abandoned by her twin. and of course a third act plot twist that makes total sense when you look back but when does a demon hunting you down ever make any logical sense?! It is also in large part about friendship and them working together to solve their problem before the end of summer block party.
Loved the characters and the story, recommend if you like fast paced teen/young adult
horror novels.

A huge thank you to Joelle Wellington and NetGalley for granting me access to the tantalizing world of "The Blonde Dies First" with their electrifying eARC! 📚⚡️

Imagine a summer filled with secrets, a tight-knit group of friends, and a sprinkle of supernatural intrigue. That's the captivating journey you'll embark on with this gripping tale.

As Devon and her crew set out to make the most of their summer, little do they know that a simple Ouija board session will unleash a nightmare beyond their wildest imaginations. Suddenly, they're thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a demonic force hell-bent on following horror movie rules. 😱

But what truly shines in this chilling narrative? The characters, without a doubt. From the fiercely independent twin sisters to the enigmatic Final Girl, each member of the ensemble brings a distinct flavor to the story, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. 🌟

And let's not forget the spine-tingling twists and turns! While some may see them coming, Joelle Wellington expertly navigates the murky waters of suspense, leaving readers gasping for breath with each unexpected revelation. 🔍

In summary, "The Blonde Dies First" is a pulse-pounding read that delivers thrills and chills in equal measure. So grab your favorite beach towel, settle in, and prepare for a ride you won't soon forget. Joelle Wellington, you've crafted a tale that's as captivating as it is haunting – consider me a fan! 👏

I wanted to love this so so much after inhaling "Their Vicious Games" but this was underwhelming for me. I feel like the pacing was off and the "demon" just didn't translate well *to me* on paper. The friend group dynamic was strong but the twins' dynamic could've been showcased more as opposed to the crush backstory. I'm loving the genre of black teen horror taking off so I'm sure YA readers may enjoy this.

Perfect for horror movie fans, with a lot more to it than your typical slasher. I loved that the heart of the book was a sibling story—this felt super unique, and I was rooting for the girls the entire time. The New York setting, representation, and sapphic romance were also great.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!  

I’ve wanted to read this book for so long. The cover, the title, the plot, they just draw you in. After reading this book, I certainly wasn’t expecting to love it this much.

The blonde dies first follows Devon, a 17 year old girl, and her best friends. She has a lot of things going on, she wants this summer to be perfect for her twin sister, she has been helplessly in love with one of her best friends, Yaya, and by movie logics, she’s destined to die first. The story only escalates, with lovable characters and sudden plot twists, which only engage you more.

Personally, what I enjoyed most about this book were the characters. Their strong personalities, their developments, the ability to distinguish one from another, all played a major role in this book. I quite enjoyed the storyline and the tropes blending together. Devon and Drew’s relationship was beautifully written, their differences, their resentment, one moving on and the other watching from afar not willing to take the same steps. I loved Yaya’s and Devon’s relationship, the way they complete each other while also being their own person. The writing style was admirable, engaging and most importantly easy to read.

In conclusion, The blonde dies first is an enjoyable book, full of memorable moments. Funny, emotional and compelling, I read it in a day. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.

I loved this! I love Joelle's work and this lived up to her last one. Plenty of laughs, lots of spooky vibes and nods to horror films. I'm lowkey a scaredy cat so definitely wasn't reading this in the dark lol.

When I tell you this book had me hooked from the first chapter!! Loved it so much, every character was so different and I can understand why they were all friends/family. I couldn’t put the book down and had to find out how the demon came to be, so basically I read it within 24 hours. Haha. This was my second book by this author and I was not disappointed.

As far as I'm concerned, Joelle Wellington can do no wrong and this is another five star read. This book is hilarious, just the right amount of spooky, and delightfully queer. If you enjoy horror movies, there are so many Easter eggs to many beloved classic films. I was able to put together some of what was happening - but the journey of how the characters got there was so wonderful that I didn't even care (and honestly I think that was Wellington's intention because in a horror movie you often know more than the characters do.)

Definitely maintaining her autobuy status.

This is the second book of Joelle Wellington that I've had the pleasure of reading and might I add she doesn't disappoint. First off Black author, black characters checklist checking IMO.
Second what we're here for the review
This book had a bit of horror inflections and I've not read a book like this before. With that said some parts made me nervous, and look behind myself, as I was reading in the dark 😂🤣. I enjoyed it thoroughly, I don't want to give anything away but 2 themes that it covered that are important. Self doubt and communication with others. Both are important to work on for a relationship with yourself as well as others. I like that they were interwoven in the book we're these themes. I like peeking into the lives of the friends group and high schoolers have the time to get into some shit. So the timing and ages worked well. All and all I'm ready for a block party.

I really enjoyed The Blode Dies First, more than Their Vicious Games, so I read it in only a matter of days! This has everything I look for in a supernatural horror. I loved most three things:
- the diverse cast of characters. Despite being a horror/slashed novel, there were some comic and dramatic moments.
- The metaliterary references to a fictional movie called Read Your Rites. It created a nice build up.
- The final revelation. Even though the most supernatural thing for me, paradoxically, is that all of the characters remain alive and unscathed, by the end.

Thank you for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for my early copy of "The Blonde Dies First" by Joelle Wellington. I am enjoying this book, and Joelle is now my favorite author.

I am a HUGE Scream fan and this definitely rang true/home for me. Funny, heart stopping and on theme the whole time. I guessed who it was about halfway through but it was still a cool twist.

From one Wes Craven fan to another - amazing job!!

This book started off fun and then just lost steam for me. The book starts out with Devon, her twin sister, Drew, and her friends Malachi, Leila, Gael and Yaya heading to a party at Drew's friend's Avery's house. He decides to break out an Ouija board and use an athame instead of a planchette to call forth a demon. Not a good idea.

One of my issues with the book was that before they use the Ouija board Gael talks about the movie Read Your Rites and the order the people die in. That part was honestly fine, but then everyone in the book's universe references it or is somehow attached to it. It's as if we, the reader, should know what the movie is about and/or have seen it.

I liked the dynamic between the friend group, but I felt like the demon appearances were dragged out sometimes and filled in with sister drama. I guess I went into this expecting it to be scarier than it really was. I also figured out what was going on before the characters and had to wait for them to catch up. This one just wasn't a good match for me.

thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read the eARC.
**4.5 stars on storygraph**

i’ve heard about this book from so many people and was excited to read it when it was published so i was quick to want to read it when i got approved for the eARC, but made myself wait a few weeks to give my review closer to its publication date.

i loved it as i expected. the main cast consists of six people and they were all introduced at the same time with a few others so it took me a little bit to remember who everyone was and how to tell them apart. it worried me a little, but i kept reading.

there were a few comedic moments here and there, but it didn’t take away from the horror aspect of the book.

the reveal wasn’t a surprise at all. i don’t try to guess the plot twist of books and instead focus on the story, but when the reveal came, i wasn’t surprised at all. it almost felt like unnecessary information since the answer felt so obvious. that might just be me though.

this was so close to being a five star read, but i wished that the author touched on how it all came to be. a few of the characters were very close to asking but didn’t. there was a storyline that was introduced towards the beginning that didn’t get attention again to tie it off, but i’m not too upset by it. i’m thinking the lack of it is the answer.

i really enjoyed this read and this author’s writing style. i purchased her debut while i was halfway through this book so i’m excited to start that and read any future books she might write.