Ratings11
Average rating3.4
Scream meets Happy Death Day in this terrifying stand-alone horror novel from YA scream queen Danielle Valentine. Alice Lawrence is the sole witness in her sister’s murder trial. And in the year since Claire’s death, Alice’s life has completely fallen apart. Her parents have gotten divorced, she’s moved into an apartment that smells like bologna, and she is being forced to face her sister’s killer and a courtroom full of people who doubt what she saw in the corn maze a year prior. Claire was an all-American girl, beautiful and bubbly, and a theater star. Alice was a nerd who dreamed of becoming a forensic pathologist and would rather stay at home to watch her favorite horror movies than party. Despite their differences, they were bonded by sisterhood and were each other’s best friends. Until Claire was taken away from her. On the first day of the murder trial, as Alice prepares to give her testimony, she is knocked out by a Sidney Prescott look-alike in the courthouse bathroom. When she wakes up, it is Halloween night a year earlier, the same day Claire was murdered. Alice has until midnight to save her sister and find the real killer before he claims another victim.
Reviews with the most likes.
I see covers like this all the time, and I read books like this all the time. Valentine doesn't exactly do anything super duper unique, which makes it a lot like other books in the genre, but its still an enjoyable read I got through in a day or two.
I have read a lot of books within the past 2 years, but none of them have made me as speechless as How To Survive Your Murder. This book has everything you would want in a horror book: exciting characters, the epitome of right and wrong (more wrong than right in this case), an enticing plot, most definitely multiple plot twists, and maybe even a Sydney Prescott look-alike. I became hooked on this book within the first 4 pages and I don't think I ever put it down from there.
How To Survive Your Murder is built on the ground that is mid to late 90's horror movies. Most references throughout the book play a significant part in moving the story along.........like being a Final Girl.
Overall this book left me speechless and I absolutely loved every moment of it. I really recommend this for anyone who loves 90's horror movies, some very crazy plot twists, and if you just want a read that will make you go “I really think this person is the killer” or “NO WHY DID YOU GO IN THERE!” Then this book is for you. You'll be dying to read it.
Common sense: it's like the main rule of being a Final Girl........
P.S. being a Final Girl isn't easy
2.75 stars (rounded up). This was entertaining, but way too many eye-rolling moments to warrant a genuine 3 star.
I knew who the killer was 50% through the book. The protagonist's decisions were just bad and her obsession with horror movies was just overkill (Ha!).
The author tried so hard to be ‘woke' it just got ridiculous. I'm all for inclusion and representation, but it should be organic and natural - not a character lecturing and telling the reader why they have been included. SHOW DON'T TELL!!