Scream meets YA in this hotly-anticipated new novel from the bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss.

It's been almost a year since Makani Young came to live with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska, and she's still adjusting to her new life. And still haunted by her past in Hawaii.

Then, one by one, the students of her small town high school begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and the hunt intensifies for the killer, Makani will be forced to confront her own dark secrets.

International bestselling author Stephanie Perkins returns with a fresh take on the classic teen slasher story that’s fun, quick-witted, and impossible to put down.


Okay, so I'm going to put mark most of this review as spoiler, because I don't want to hint at anything in this book. When it comes to mystery/thriller, the slightest detail could potentially spoil or give something away, and I don't want to do that. Also, I have some thoughts about the BIG THINGS in this book.

So here are my vague, non-spoilery thoughts: I really enjoyed this. I liked the characters--though there were a lot of them and I sometimes forgot who was who--and I liked the construction of the story and the simple, classic Stephanie Perkins writing style. And I really liked the romance and the diversity of characters. It wasn't the best thriller I've ever read, and I wasn't scared or frightened literally at all, but I liked it and I could see myself reading it again some day.

Okay, now for my spoilery thoughts. Beware:

I thought this was going to pretty incredible, and while I wasn't blown away, I really liked it. I thought it was interesting (not bad!) that the killer was revealed relatively early in the book--about half way. I was expecting the tension to build and build and build and then GASP! The killer is ____??!?!?!!! And I didn't get that. I liked what she did, but it was unexpected; it also made the book not spook/scary at all.

The only thing I did not like at all was Makani's "secret". It was ridiculously dramatic, and honestly, stupid. With all the foreshadowing, I was expecting something darker, but it wasn't dark at all. Hazing and cutting off someone's hair? Not dark or scary or creepy or anything. Just a little stupid.

Overall, I enjoyed this! It's not by favorite Stephanie Perkins' novel--it does not compare at all to Anna and the French Kiss--but it was fun.