What do you think?
Rate this book
This Is Where We Die
Eight friends went on a trip. Only six came back. Now a killer has one night to make sure the survivors pay for what they did . . . so that zero make it out alive. From the author of Perfect Little Monsters comes another incredible twisty thriller.
Sadie, Will, Isla, Anthony, Emily, and Charlie are survivors. They were the six (out of eight) to return from a ski holiday turned nightmare two years ago. Although… nobody knows exactly what happened; the details hushed up via the wealth and connections of Sadie's rich parents.
When an exclusive private island with a mansion for rent goes viral on social media, their graduating class persuades Sadie to rent it for the weekend. The six arrive first by helicopter and wait for the rest of their classmates to join them by boat the next day.
But nobody ever comes.
Cut off from the rest of the world with no cell service and no means off the island, paranoia and terror mount as they start to be picked off one by one by an unseen killer. Their past has finally caught up with them, and they'll need to figure out who is killing them before they all wind up dead.
Sadie, Will, Isla, Anthony, Emily, and Charlie are survivors. They were the six (out of eight) to return from a ski holiday turned nightmare two years ago. Although… nobody knows exactly what happened; the details hushed up via the wealth and connections of Sadie's rich parents.
When an exclusive private island with a mansion for rent goes viral on social media, their graduating class persuades Sadie to rent it for the weekend. The six arrive first by helicopter and wait for the rest of their classmates to join them by boat the next day.
But nobody ever comes.
Cut off from the rest of the world with no cell service and no means off the island, paranoia and terror mount as they start to be picked off one by one by an unseen killer. Their past has finally caught up with them, and they'll need to figure out who is killing them before they all wind up dead.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2025
84 people are currently reading
9385 people want to read
About the author
Cindy R.X. He
2 books280 followersCindy R. X. He is the author of the YA thrillers This Is Where We Die, and Perfect Little Monsters. Perfect Little Monsters is a Children's Book Council 2025 Young Adult, Teacher, and Librarian Favorites Awards Winner, an Arkansas Teen Book Award Nominee, as well as a finalist for the 2022 Daphne du Maurier Award, and the 2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award.
Born and raised in multicultural Singapore, she currently resides in the French Alps with her husband, children, and rescue cat. She skis in the winter, gets dragged on hikes in the summer (and sometimes, even worse still, camping), and hoards books all year round.
Born and raised in multicultural Singapore, she currently resides in the French Alps with her husband, children, and rescue cat. She skis in the winter, gets dragged on hikes in the summer (and sometimes, even worse still, camping), and hoards books all year round.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
March 23, 2025
This book was incredibly boring and disgusting to me. There were too many characters involved, the ending was not surprising, and I did not like the writing style. The cover of this book is what caught my attention, only to discover that this book was not what I was expecting at all. There are six point of views in this book. I give this book a 2 out of 5 stars rating! It was not my cup of tea at all. However, some people may love this book.
This book comes with tons of trigger warnings that include: death, murder, substance abuse, cannibalism, starvation, food trauma, miscarriage, anxiety, depression, and suicide.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Cindy R.X. He and Sourcebooks Fire for this digital reader’s advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book comes with tons of trigger warnings that include: death, murder, substance abuse, cannibalism, starvation, food trauma, miscarriage, anxiety, depression, and suicide.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Cindy R.X. He and Sourcebooks Fire for this digital reader’s advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 11, 2025
ARC for review. To be published July 1, 2025.
2.5 stars.
Will, Isla (I think everyone hoped she died first,) Sadie, Ant, Emily and Charles just graduated from high school. They are the six survivors of a hellish heli-ski (ha!) vacation where two people (really three people. I don’t know why they act like the third doesn’t count. I guess because he was just staff and there to serve the fabulous likes of them? Very nice.) were killed and where the group underwent a major trauma.
To celebrate graduation billionaire Sadie rents an island for the group of six plus sixteen of their classmates. The six arrive the night before the others. The rest never show up and neither does the staff.
Then the murders start. Who is killing them, and why?
SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read any further, though they give this away pretty early, and don’t go into any detail (too bad):
I liked this better when it was called “Yj.” Does it say anything about me that I think I could do this if necessary and not look back? Overall book was fine. I have to admit that I did guess who it was, but this is YA, so, you know.
2.5 stars.
Will, Isla (I think everyone hoped she died first,) Sadie, Ant, Emily and Charles just graduated from high school. They are the six survivors of a hellish heli-ski (ha!) vacation where two people (really three people. I don’t know why they act like the third doesn’t count. I guess because he was just staff and there to serve the fabulous likes of them? Very nice.) were killed and where the group underwent a major trauma.
To celebrate graduation billionaire Sadie rents an island for the group of six plus sixteen of their classmates. The six arrive the night before the others. The rest never show up and neither does the staff.
Then the murders start. Who is killing them, and why?
SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read any further, though they give this away pretty early, and don’t go into any detail (too bad):
I liked this better when it was called “Yj.” Does it say anything about me that I think I could do this if necessary and not look back? Overall book was fine. I have to admit that I did guess who it was, but this is YA, so, you know.
October 31, 2024
I read this book in 2 days and could NOT put it down. This is a page-turner, a modern-day YA take on And Then There Were None. Six teens with a dark secret in their past head to a graduation party on an island in the Long Island Sound. The party weekend starts, and we jump through each of their POVs as it soon devolves into a nightmare. He intersperses the current narrative with flashbacks to the incident that brought them all to be at the mercy of a killer, which ratchets up the tension as the teens start dropping, one by one, and the survivors have to figure out which one of them is killing them off before they all die. The final twist was pure perfection. Definitely not one to miss!
July 8, 2025
I read “Perfect Little Monsters” last year and loved it. This book, however, is not as good. Yes, there’s suspense, and you wonder who the killer is, but man—there’s just not enough plot and character development here. Everyone is one note. Also, the amount of gore is off the charts and, I think, dialed up on purpose to shock the reader. At the end, I was left with more questions than answers, and I felt distinctly unsatisfied. This book is a one and done for me. I know the author is capable of writing a better story, so I’d like to see what she comes up with next.
My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.
My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.
April 22, 2025
This is a fun "locked-room" mystery as the students were once trapped in the snow and now they've been invited to Christies Island which includes 10 bedrooms, a private chef, and a bar. But each of them have secrets--some that others know--and some they keep to themselves And a mysterious painting on the wall continues to have a big red X marking them out one by one! Who will survive, who will die...and why???
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 2, 2025
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Hey, I am always going to be down for a homage to "And Then There Were None." The author, Cindy R.X. He I think does a great job of turning this into a young adult version but with a contemporary spin that really does work. The only reason that it didn't get 5 stars for me and received just 4 is that I think the jumping back and forth to the terrible secret the 6 teens shared was killing the momentum of the story in the present. I think I would have liked it better if the author had waited until the very end to reveal what happened in the past to bring the teens to this moment. Also, with six characters and all of them told in first person point of view, it just maybe would have been stronger told third person point of view. That's just a personal preference for me since I think that this book was really really strong.
"This is Where We Die" follows 6 teens: Sadie, Will, Isla, Anthony, Emily, and Charlie. We see that an event happens (we don't get details) that changes the 6 characters to the point that they barely function as a group anymore. On their graduation day they get the opportunity to go to an isolated island and stay in a fantastic house staffed with people, food, and drink. We quickly find out that Sadie is the rich one in the group and she has the means to rent the island and house and when the group has the ability to take a helicopter a day earlier than the rest of their group of 21 they do so. They quickly realize though something is wrong and then they all start to get picked off one by one.
I thought that the six characters were developed very well. Everyone's "voices" felt very distinct to me. I thought that the shifting perspectives though does not allow you to get into anyone's heads too long though which I think we needed a bit more of in some parts.
I already mentioned flow above when I said that showing the present and jumping back to the secret just hampered things after a while. I wanted to stay in the present and figure out what was going on.
The setting of the island and murders definitely set the right atmosphere.
When everything is revealed and the why behind it all, I thought it was really great. I also loved the little messages we got at the end of the chapters which were supposed to show I think message boards or chats and I thought that was a nice touch. Most true crime enthusiasts would be all over this if this was a true story, so I thought that was a nice add.
Hey, I am always going to be down for a homage to "And Then There Were None." The author, Cindy R.X. He I think does a great job of turning this into a young adult version but with a contemporary spin that really does work. The only reason that it didn't get 5 stars for me and received just 4 is that I think the jumping back and forth to the terrible secret the 6 teens shared was killing the momentum of the story in the present. I think I would have liked it better if the author had waited until the very end to reveal what happened in the past to bring the teens to this moment. Also, with six characters and all of them told in first person point of view, it just maybe would have been stronger told third person point of view. That's just a personal preference for me since I think that this book was really really strong.
"This is Where We Die" follows 6 teens: Sadie, Will, Isla, Anthony, Emily, and Charlie. We see that an event happens (we don't get details) that changes the 6 characters to the point that they barely function as a group anymore. On their graduation day they get the opportunity to go to an isolated island and stay in a fantastic house staffed with people, food, and drink. We quickly find out that Sadie is the rich one in the group and she has the means to rent the island and house and when the group has the ability to take a helicopter a day earlier than the rest of their group of 21 they do so. They quickly realize though something is wrong and then they all start to get picked off one by one.
I thought that the six characters were developed very well. Everyone's "voices" felt very distinct to me. I thought that the shifting perspectives though does not allow you to get into anyone's heads too long though which I think we needed a bit more of in some parts.
I already mentioned flow above when I said that showing the present and jumping back to the secret just hampered things after a while. I wanted to stay in the present and figure out what was going on.
The setting of the island and murders definitely set the right atmosphere.
When everything is revealed and the why behind it all, I thought it was really great. I also loved the little messages we got at the end of the chapters which were supposed to show I think message boards or chats and I thought that was a nice touch. Most true crime enthusiasts would be all over this if this was a true story, so I thought that was a nice add.
April 2, 2025
Oh. My. Goodness. This book was THE most devourable YA thriller! This book is diabolical in the best way!
Six friends plan to throw an epic graduation party on a remote island, in a house that is off the charts luxurious. The six head there the night before to prepare, but it’s very tense. The six of them, a seemingly unbreakable group, haven’t spent much time alone together since they were once a group of eight…
At the age of sixteen, their Canadian skiing trip went horribly wrong. Two of their best friends died. Now, secluded and completely alone on this island, they are in more danger than ever before. Someone is bloodthirsty and none of them are safe. What really did happen in Canada, anyway?
Ahhh!! This was incredible. This was one of the fastest paced, cuckoo bananas books I have read in so long. Every single chapter gets you closer and closer to the ultimate answer, and let’s face it… by the end, you are SO invested.
This is fantastic because it demonstrates the animalistic nature of humans, but they are just teenagers, on the cusp of life… I loved and hated all of them.
This is definitely in the running for top 5 of the year. I can’t explain it. It was just a great time.
Six friends plan to throw an epic graduation party on a remote island, in a house that is off the charts luxurious. The six head there the night before to prepare, but it’s very tense. The six of them, a seemingly unbreakable group, haven’t spent much time alone together since they were once a group of eight…
At the age of sixteen, their Canadian skiing trip went horribly wrong. Two of their best friends died. Now, secluded and completely alone on this island, they are in more danger than ever before. Someone is bloodthirsty and none of them are safe. What really did happen in Canada, anyway?
Ahhh!! This was incredible. This was one of the fastest paced, cuckoo bananas books I have read in so long. Every single chapter gets you closer and closer to the ultimate answer, and let’s face it… by the end, you are SO invested.
This is fantastic because it demonstrates the animalistic nature of humans, but they are just teenagers, on the cusp of life… I loved and hated all of them.
This is definitely in the running for top 5 of the year. I can’t explain it. It was just a great time.
June 22, 2025
I came across this book by accident and then was unable to put it down. It is completely out of my genre of books I read, but my goodness was it good! A group of 6 teens who just graduated high school, decide to celebrate at one of the hottest locations around. The group of friends are bonded together in a way they wish they weren't. After a nightmare of a trip 2 years ago when 8 friends were on a trip but only 6 returned, it has been them. Always the 6 who find their way back to each other. But now is a time for celebration and they head to the location for the party before the rest of their graduating class. All starts out well, but slowly one by one each teen is being targeted. Every time I thought I knew who did it, I was proven wrong. And was completely shocked when I found out who did. I did not see the ending coming the way that it did.
I am glad I went with my first instinct and decided to read the book. Cindy He is a wonderful story teller. She keeps the momentum going and gets the reader to really think and analyze what is going on. I would definitely recommend this book.
I am glad I went with my first instinct and decided to read the book. Cindy He is a wonderful story teller. She keeps the momentum going and gets the reader to really think and analyze what is going on. I would definitely recommend this book.
May 14, 2025
This was very addicting and the plot kept me reading nonstop. I loved it
June 30, 2025
Thank you net galley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
-
Six friends graduate high school and want to have one last celebration at a mansion on a remote island. Relieved to finally be separated from one another, after being bonded together from a traumatic ski trip 18 months earlier that left them trapped for weeks and left 2 of their friends dead. The six of them head to the house a day early before the rest of the seniors, but the six are slowly dying one by one….and it would appear that whoever is doing it knows exactly what happened on that ski trip…
-
I was so excited to get this ARC, Perfect Little Monsters completely blew me away. Ever since I read And Then There None in the 8th grade I have been an avid lover of locked room mysteries. When done right it is one of the most anxiety inducing plots. Let me tell you…this one was done RIGHT. It is almost horror-like with how dark and gritty it gets, but it also has the mystery of what they all did on the ski trip, and the thrill of trying to figure if one of them is doing it or if there is someone else hiding on this island. It really is almost like if Yellowjackets was a locked room mystery after they were rescued. There are a lot of POVs but the characters are so different I didn’t find it confusing. The twists and reveals are shocking and well done. It is clear Perfect Little Monsters was not an accidental success, Cindy R. X. He has IT when it comes to YA thrillers. It almost is like they are not YA at all, they have an almost adult quality to the plot that sometimes feels like you’re reading an adult thriller about teens. I will be desperatelyyyyy awaiting the next book!
-
Six friends graduate high school and want to have one last celebration at a mansion on a remote island. Relieved to finally be separated from one another, after being bonded together from a traumatic ski trip 18 months earlier that left them trapped for weeks and left 2 of their friends dead. The six of them head to the house a day early before the rest of the seniors, but the six are slowly dying one by one….and it would appear that whoever is doing it knows exactly what happened on that ski trip…
-
I was so excited to get this ARC, Perfect Little Monsters completely blew me away. Ever since I read And Then There None in the 8th grade I have been an avid lover of locked room mysteries. When done right it is one of the most anxiety inducing plots. Let me tell you…this one was done RIGHT. It is almost horror-like with how dark and gritty it gets, but it also has the mystery of what they all did on the ski trip, and the thrill of trying to figure if one of them is doing it or if there is someone else hiding on this island. It really is almost like if Yellowjackets was a locked room mystery after they were rescued. There are a lot of POVs but the characters are so different I didn’t find it confusing. The twists and reveals are shocking and well done. It is clear Perfect Little Monsters was not an accidental success, Cindy R. X. He has IT when it comes to YA thrillers. It almost is like they are not YA at all, they have an almost adult quality to the plot that sometimes feels like you’re reading an adult thriller about teens. I will be desperatelyyyyy awaiting the next book!
June 23, 2025
If you enjoy isolated atmospheric locked door thrillers and deserted Island troubles this book is for you!
Six friends are waiting for a helicopter island pick up that never arrives! As people start getting picked off one by one by an unknown killed they start to realize how dire their situation is. Given that this group of people are the remaining survivor from an incident a couple years back, it’s safe to say everyone already has trust issues which sends them into a heightened spiral of paranoia.
I enjoyed how the book was split into dual timelines and multiple POV giving the reader various perspectives on past and present events as well as the mind frame of multiple characters leading to a well rounded understanding by the time you get to the big reveal at the end.
A fast paced read I’d recommend for adults too, don’t be put off by the YA target audience :)
This would also work really well as an audio book!
Thank you to the author and Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted copy!
Publishes - July 1st
Six friends are waiting for a helicopter island pick up that never arrives! As people start getting picked off one by one by an unknown killed they start to realize how dire their situation is. Given that this group of people are the remaining survivor from an incident a couple years back, it’s safe to say everyone already has trust issues which sends them into a heightened spiral of paranoia.
I enjoyed how the book was split into dual timelines and multiple POV giving the reader various perspectives on past and present events as well as the mind frame of multiple characters leading to a well rounded understanding by the time you get to the big reveal at the end.
A fast paced read I’d recommend for adults too, don’t be put off by the YA target audience :)
This would also work really well as an audio book!
Thank you to the author and Sourcebooks Fire for the gifted copy!
Publishes - July 1st
May 20, 2025
What. A. Book!
I absolutely devoured This Is Where We Die – and that’s saying something, because after Perfect Little Monsters, my expectations were sky high. Honestly? I was kinda scared it wouldn’t live up to the hype. But Cindy R. X. He didn’t just deliver – she blew me away.
Picture this: six traumatized teens, a dark secret no one talks about, a remote island – and then? They start dying. One by one. YES PLEASE. It's like And Then There Were None meets Scream with a bit of The Hunting Party thrown in – but with its own unique vibe that keeps you hooked from the start.
Cindy nailed that classic locked-room mystery energy again. Six (!!) POVs and somehow it never feels overwhelming. Sure, it takes a sec to get your bearings, but once you’re in, you’re IN. The writing flows like crazy – chapter after chapter, twist after twist, you just can’t stop.
And y’all – that twist.
I was sitting there with my jaw on the floor. Then it dropped even further. THEN I had to reread the whole chapter because… WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!
This book isn’t just suspenseful – it’s nerve-shredding. Everyone’s got secrets, everyone’s shady, and trust? Nonexistent. I was second-guessing everything until the final page.
Bottom line? This Is Where We Die isn’t just a thriller. It’s a full-blown adrenaline rush. If you’re into dark secrets, creepy island settings, and nonstop tension – this one’s a must-read.
Cindy R. X. He just shot straight into my Top 3 thriller authors.
Read. This. Book. Now. 🔪🌫️📖
I absolutely devoured This Is Where We Die – and that’s saying something, because after Perfect Little Monsters, my expectations were sky high. Honestly? I was kinda scared it wouldn’t live up to the hype. But Cindy R. X. He didn’t just deliver – she blew me away.
Picture this: six traumatized teens, a dark secret no one talks about, a remote island – and then? They start dying. One by one. YES PLEASE. It's like And Then There Were None meets Scream with a bit of The Hunting Party thrown in – but with its own unique vibe that keeps you hooked from the start.
Cindy nailed that classic locked-room mystery energy again. Six (!!) POVs and somehow it never feels overwhelming. Sure, it takes a sec to get your bearings, but once you’re in, you’re IN. The writing flows like crazy – chapter after chapter, twist after twist, you just can’t stop.
And y’all – that twist.
I was sitting there with my jaw on the floor. Then it dropped even further. THEN I had to reread the whole chapter because… WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!
This book isn’t just suspenseful – it’s nerve-shredding. Everyone’s got secrets, everyone’s shady, and trust? Nonexistent. I was second-guessing everything until the final page.
Bottom line? This Is Where We Die isn’t just a thriller. It’s a full-blown adrenaline rush. If you’re into dark secrets, creepy island settings, and nonstop tension – this one’s a must-read.
Cindy R. X. He just shot straight into my Top 3 thriller authors.
Read. This. Book. Now. 🔪🌫️📖
July 10, 2025
Rating: 2 stars.
Not great, unfortunately. The plot didn't feel very original, I've definitely read something very similar several times before, and even the plot twist wasn't an original idea. Once you realized the similarities, the story was just very predictable. I also found the way the flashbacks were incorporated into the story very confusing, it was hard to follow and threw off the pacing. The ending was also just kind of underwhelming and not very exciting.
Not great, unfortunately. The plot didn't feel very original, I've definitely read something very similar several times before, and even the plot twist wasn't an original idea. Once you realized the similarities, the story was just very predictable. I also found the way the flashbacks were incorporated into the story very confusing, it was hard to follow and threw off the pacing. The ending was also just kind of underwhelming and not very exciting.
June 10, 2025
Before we get into this review, you need to know that I LOVE Agatha Christie's masterpiece And Then There Were None. The quintessential novel about strangers that arrive on an island and start disappearing (see also the movie Clue), and the 'people getting picked off on by one in a very isolated location' is a favorite thriller/horror trope of mine.
This Is Where We Die is about a group of high school friends rent a mansion on an island, and then start dying. You get multiple POVs to find out some of the secrets the group of friends are keeping, and to try to figure out who is killing everyone. I DEVOURED this book. I read the EARC and read it in two sittings (most of my reads are audio and the eBooks or physical books I read, I read very slowly).
I will say this won't be for everyone, its fairly gory, and there are hints of the past secrets that aren't very happy. There are content warnings at the beginning, that you may want to check, although the more serious content is 'off screen'. I have to go check out Cindy R.X He's back catalog.
This Is Where We Die is about a group of high school friends rent a mansion on an island, and then start dying. You get multiple POVs to find out some of the secrets the group of friends are keeping, and to try to figure out who is killing everyone. I DEVOURED this book. I read the EARC and read it in two sittings (most of my reads are audio and the eBooks or physical books I read, I read very slowly).
I will say this won't be for everyone, its fairly gory, and there are hints of the past secrets that aren't very happy. There are content warnings at the beginning, that you may want to check, although the more serious content is 'off screen'. I have to go check out Cindy R.X He's back catalog.
May 29, 2025
As someone who doesn’t typically enjoy “locked room” books, this one was just wow - definitely gave me And Then There Were None vibes. This book was a page-turner, I read it in just a few hours because I couldn’t put it down. The multiple POV was so well done and helped make the story flow. I loved how the author perfectly intertwined the winter incident with the summer incident. It was seamless. While I did find most of the characters annoying - sorry, they’re high school kids - they were well-developed.
I questioned everything and everyone as I read this, but there are no words for how edge of your seat this book kept me. I’ve already preordered it for release day on July 1st - this one is 100% worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I questioned everything and everyone as I read this, but there are no words for how edge of your seat this book kept me. I’ve already preordered it for release day on July 1st - this one is 100% worth adding to your TBR.
Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 29, 2025
At its core, This is Where We Die is a chilling, locked-room mystery following a group of teens who have already survived a major crisis, only to find themselves once again trapped in a life-or-death scenario. The story explores themes of trauma, survival, and trust through multiple perspectives—six, in fact—which could have provided a rich and layered narrative. Unfortunately, the execution falls short.
The shifting points of view lack distinct voices, which made it challenging to keep track of who was narrating. I found myself repeatedly flipping back to clarify which character was speaking. While this structure aimed to give us a full view of the unfolding events and blur the lines of truth and perception, the effect was often more confusing than illuminating. Additionally, the snippets included at the ends of some chapters (possibly meant to mimic media posts or offhand remarks) added little to the plot and often restated what we already knew.
Thematically, the book is heavy—it comes with numerous trigger warnings including death, murder, cannibalism, substance abuse, mental health struggles, and more. While I appreciate transparency about difficult content, one major trigger warning served as an immediate spoiler for a key element of the plot, removing a layer of suspense that would have made the mystery more engaging.
There are moments where the present-day narrative mixes effectively with flashbacks, creating emotional depth and raising intriguing questions about memory and guilt. However, the tone of the book felt oddly light given the gravity of the subject matter, and the resolution, while complete, lacked emotional impact for me.
In short, while the premise had potential and the mystery posed interesting questions, the storytelling choices—particularly the indistinct voices and inconsistent tone—made it difficult for me to fully connect with the characters or the plot. This wasn’t quite my cup of tea, but readers who enjoy survival thrillers with complex backstories might find more to appreciate.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.
The shifting points of view lack distinct voices, which made it challenging to keep track of who was narrating. I found myself repeatedly flipping back to clarify which character was speaking. While this structure aimed to give us a full view of the unfolding events and blur the lines of truth and perception, the effect was often more confusing than illuminating. Additionally, the snippets included at the ends of some chapters (possibly meant to mimic media posts or offhand remarks) added little to the plot and often restated what we already knew.
Thematically, the book is heavy—it comes with numerous trigger warnings including death, murder, cannibalism, substance abuse, mental health struggles, and more. While I appreciate transparency about difficult content, one major trigger warning served as an immediate spoiler for a key element of the plot, removing a layer of suspense that would have made the mystery more engaging.
There are moments where the present-day narrative mixes effectively with flashbacks, creating emotional depth and raising intriguing questions about memory and guilt. However, the tone of the book felt oddly light given the gravity of the subject matter, and the resolution, while complete, lacked emotional impact for me.
In short, while the premise had potential and the mystery posed interesting questions, the storytelling choices—particularly the indistinct voices and inconsistent tone—made it difficult for me to fully connect with the characters or the plot. This wasn’t quite my cup of tea, but readers who enjoy survival thrillers with complex backstories might find more to appreciate.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars.
July 5, 2025
3 ale taka z ledwością jednak XD
Postacie były okropne (powielające jakieś już utarte schematy kiedy chodzi o osobowości) (było za dużo punktów widzenia które nic nie wnosiły), nikogo nie dało się polubić - uważam że zabicie *spoiler* Charliego tak wcześnie było bardzo złe fabularnie ponieważ stanowił on mocnego podejrzanego .
Podobały mi się wątki traumy z poprzedniego zdarzenia które powracały szczątkami do bohaterów i pokazywały jak to wpływa na ich aktualne życie.
Szybko się też to czytało ale to takie jedyne plusy ponieważ fabuła była dość schematyczna i przewidywalna.
*spoiler*
Ostatecznie myślę że ciekawym zabiegiem byłoby gdyby morderca był kimś z zewnątrz a nie częścią głównej obsady ponieważ nie byłoby to wtedy tak oczywiste że to któreś z nich i odbiór końcówki byłby inny.
Postacie były okropne (powielające jakieś już utarte schematy kiedy chodzi o osobowości) (było za dużo punktów widzenia które nic nie wnosiły), nikogo nie dało się polubić - uważam że zabicie *spoiler* Charliego tak wcześnie było bardzo złe fabularnie ponieważ stanowił on mocnego podejrzanego .
Podobały mi się wątki traumy z poprzedniego zdarzenia które powracały szczątkami do bohaterów i pokazywały jak to wpływa na ich aktualne życie.
Szybko się też to czytało ale to takie jedyne plusy ponieważ fabuła była dość schematyczna i przewidywalna.
*spoiler*
Ostatecznie myślę że ciekawym zabiegiem byłoby gdyby morderca był kimś z zewnątrz a nie częścią głównej obsady ponieważ nie byłoby to wtedy tak oczywiste że to któreś z nich i odbiór końcówki byłby inny.
June 5, 2025
Something pulled me into this book. It was a combination between the cover, description and the trigger warning page.
However it fell flat for me. I as more interested in knowing about thier past experience compared to there current situation. I loved the different view points of each character and the quick chapters were great.
I couldn’t stop reading it but something was just missing for me.
However it fell flat for me. I as more interested in knowing about thier past experience compared to there current situation. I loved the different view points of each character and the quick chapters were great.
I couldn’t stop reading it but something was just missing for me.
September 8, 2025
3.5 I read this in a day it was a super quick read. the plot was ok but not great and it did not take me very long to figure out the twist.
August 12, 2025
what a FANTASTIC book!!!! I wish I could read a million books like this!! also- it would make a fantastic movie!
July 11, 2025
And Then There Were None, but with angsts and dramas.
I had a great time reading this thrilling book! I love all the raw feelings like anger and guilt and how things came to play. I also love the twists and turns and how each characters bringing their personality into the fray.
I had a great time reading this thrilling book! I love all the raw feelings like anger and guilt and how things came to play. I also love the twists and turns and how each characters bringing their personality into the fray.
August 1, 2025
this was so good!! the twists and turns kept me guessing the whole time!!! i may have stayed up until 1am to finish it🫣🤭 and the ending was actually really good. i feel like these kinds of books can sometimes have the same ending but this one was just different enough!
April 25, 2025
This book had me hooked from the start. I actually had meant to up load it so it was ready for after I finished my other book and randomly started reading and next thing I knew.. I had abandoned the other book to binge this one. The writing and pacing were spot on and while not perfect, it kept me engaged and wanted to keep flipping pages until the end.
Now was it fairly predictable? Yes. Did I care? No. It was a fun read where it was more about the process than the who-dun-it. It did have some “Yellow Jacket” vibes in the survival part of the story so for fans of the TV series this may be a great read for you. It also reminded me of Pretty Little Island by Rhea Ryan- but without the spice and much more stream lined.
I think this book could have been a touch longer where some of the emotions of surviving a tragedy could have been explored a bit more as it had the beginnings of going a bit deeper but that’s just a personal preference. I think the biggest reason I love YA is young adults and teens make choices that they wouldn’t after their brains are fully developed. It opens up the possibilities of being way more twisted than if you used older characters.
This thriller comes out July 1st 2025 from SourceFire Books!
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from SourceFire through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
Now was it fairly predictable? Yes. Did I care? No. It was a fun read where it was more about the process than the who-dun-it. It did have some “Yellow Jacket” vibes in the survival part of the story so for fans of the TV series this may be a great read for you. It also reminded me of Pretty Little Island by Rhea Ryan- but without the spice and much more stream lined.
I think this book could have been a touch longer where some of the emotions of surviving a tragedy could have been explored a bit more as it had the beginnings of going a bit deeper but that’s just a personal preference. I think the biggest reason I love YA is young adults and teens make choices that they wouldn’t after their brains are fully developed. It opens up the possibilities of being way more twisted than if you used older characters.
This thriller comes out July 1st 2025 from SourceFire Books!
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from SourceFire through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
April 8, 2025
Unfortunately, this wasn’t for me. A locked room mystery has to really be stand out to work. I liked the premise, but had too many issues. The tone is very blithe for the subject matter and the six points of view have no distinction at all. I kept clicking back to the start of the chapter to see the point of view which made the story confusing overall. The little snippets at the end of some chapters (snatches of conversations? Social media comments? Unclear) didn’t offer any information and seemed to only recap what we already knew. There was a lot telling instead of showing. Each character plainly told us their motivation. Check the trigger warnings, but know that they will give spoilers.
Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.
Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.
May 5, 2025
What A great book! Starts off slow so you can get the full story as you are dealing with two different time lines. But stick with it as you see things through different POV as more to the story comes out and you keep guessing who is behind the craziness happening in the present! Love this book!
Read
June 16, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
This Is Where We Die by Cindy R. X. He is a first person multi-POV YA thriller. Eighteen months ago, eight friends (Sadie, Charlie, Isla, Emily, Ant, Will, Tom, and Vera) went on a trip to British Columbia but Tom and Vera didn’t come back. Now, the others have graduated and are about to have one last hurrah before moving on with the rest of their lives. But when they start betting picked off one-by-one, it becomes clear that the past isn’t going to stay buried.
This is the first book I’ve read where there are six first person-POV characters in a while. It’s not terribly common because it’s not only hard to balance all those POVs but also to make each one distinct. I think that Cindy R. X. He solved these two pitfalls in two different ways. The amount of POV characters is reduced as the characters are murdered which gives room for the ones that are still alive to breathe. The chapters focused strongly on the characters’ wants in the moment and the lingering effects of their time in British Columbia, which helped to sell how these characters were different from each other and added a bit of voice.
Of all the characters, I think Isla was my favorite to read. She’s kind of terrible, she’s incredibly messy, she’s shallow but is unafraid to go for what she wants and does so with single-minded determination. It’s a very hard balancing act to depict a female character who is that messy and is also compelling and I think that was achieved. Isla will stand on the shoulders of others and she feels no shame in that at all, but when we get a flashback to her homelife, it does start to make sense and you do understand more why she’s not willing to be anything other than who she is.
After a character dies, there is a small section depicting a conversation between the detectives examining the mansion and looking at the bodies. This helps to provide some detail into what is going to happen once the book is over but also deepens the mystery of who is the one committing the murders. I was definitely trying to figure it out for a decent chunk of the book but the breadcrumbs were laid well enough that I could guess before the reveal.
Content warning for mentions of cannibalism and miscarriage and depictions of gore, deathly allergic reactions, and alcoholism
I would recommend this to fans of Yellowjackets and readers of YA thrillers who like a lot of first person-POV characters to follow
This Is Where We Die by Cindy R. X. He is a first person multi-POV YA thriller. Eighteen months ago, eight friends (Sadie, Charlie, Isla, Emily, Ant, Will, Tom, and Vera) went on a trip to British Columbia but Tom and Vera didn’t come back. Now, the others have graduated and are about to have one last hurrah before moving on with the rest of their lives. But when they start betting picked off one-by-one, it becomes clear that the past isn’t going to stay buried.
This is the first book I’ve read where there are six first person-POV characters in a while. It’s not terribly common because it’s not only hard to balance all those POVs but also to make each one distinct. I think that Cindy R. X. He solved these two pitfalls in two different ways. The amount of POV characters is reduced as the characters are murdered which gives room for the ones that are still alive to breathe. The chapters focused strongly on the characters’ wants in the moment and the lingering effects of their time in British Columbia, which helped to sell how these characters were different from each other and added a bit of voice.
Of all the characters, I think Isla was my favorite to read. She’s kind of terrible, she’s incredibly messy, she’s shallow but is unafraid to go for what she wants and does so with single-minded determination. It’s a very hard balancing act to depict a female character who is that messy and is also compelling and I think that was achieved. Isla will stand on the shoulders of others and she feels no shame in that at all, but when we get a flashback to her homelife, it does start to make sense and you do understand more why she’s not willing to be anything other than who she is.
After a character dies, there is a small section depicting a conversation between the detectives examining the mansion and looking at the bodies. This helps to provide some detail into what is going to happen once the book is over but also deepens the mystery of who is the one committing the murders. I was definitely trying to figure it out for a decent chunk of the book but the breadcrumbs were laid well enough that I could guess before the reveal.
Content warning for mentions of cannibalism and miscarriage and depictions of gore, deathly allergic reactions, and alcoholism
I would recommend this to fans of Yellowjackets and readers of YA thrillers who like a lot of first person-POV characters to follow
July 20, 2025
This book is by far one of my favorite books I've read this year. I read 300+ pages in 3 days! First of all, I loved the setting and how the author used the setting to help really set up the plot. Despite a seemingly fun getaway on an island, the eerie setting with a thunderstorm helped to add "creepiness" to the book and shifted the mood from "happy" to uneasiness, fast. The getaway feels like a nightmare right away.
Upon picking this book up to read, I didn't initially realize it was told in 6 points of view. I would think that would be so hard to accomplish, but the author does it expertly, and each POV helps to drive the plot forward and allows for the transition from looking forward to a vacation to being driven to feeling and thinking insanely.
None of these characters are perfect; they're flawed, but that's what makes them so compelling. I always love plots where it focuses on the PTSD of an event that happened--because it allows readers to see how human these characters are, that they can feel grief, anger, or something deep behind what others typically see. It also leads/focuses on the "psychological" aspect.
This book genuinely kept my interest from page one to the ending, and Cindy effectively produces exciting and unexpected plot twists that I never saw coming. If you're looking for a smart, well-written thriller and want to be kept on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend this story!
Upon picking this book up to read, I didn't initially realize it was told in 6 points of view. I would think that would be so hard to accomplish, but the author does it expertly, and each POV helps to drive the plot forward and allows for the transition from looking forward to a vacation to being driven to feeling and thinking insanely.
None of these characters are perfect; they're flawed, but that's what makes them so compelling. I always love plots where it focuses on the PTSD of an event that happened--because it allows readers to see how human these characters are, that they can feel grief, anger, or something deep behind what others typically see. It also leads/focuses on the "psychological" aspect.
This book genuinely kept my interest from page one to the ending, and Cindy effectively produces exciting and unexpected plot twists that I never saw coming. If you're looking for a smart, well-written thriller and want to be kept on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend this story!
August 20, 2025
Very entertaining! This is definitely an And Then There Were None retelling in YA. However, it is just different enough to keep the Christie fans guessing. My favorite part of this book was the psychology—particularly the exploration of the recurring themes of distrust, justice, cynicism, and guilt/innocence. Yes, it can be psychologically and generally quite dark at times (read the content warnings!) and the swearing is a bit much at times, but I did enjoy this quite a bit.
June 21, 2025
thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!
yeah I decided to give this a shot despite the fact that it's a YA thriller, when like... 90% of them are just Not My Thing at all. the writing just didn't fit what this book was trying to do. also as other people have said, I'm all for content warnings, but this one gives away like a lot of the plot/twists
yeah I decided to give this a shot despite the fact that it's a YA thriller, when like... 90% of them are just Not My Thing at all. the writing just didn't fit what this book was trying to do. also as other people have said, I'm all for content warnings, but this one gives away like a lot of the plot/twists
July 24, 2025
2.5 rounded up. This tried to be too many things. Teen angst, friendship, betrayal, horror. None of it came together into a cohesive whole. The writing seemed amateurish, there were places where the plot was very weak and the gossipy, social media type bits at the end of chapters were repetitive and annoying. I think this author has potential…maybe stick with one story arc and flesh out those characters better. This unfortunately was very superficial.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews