There's No Way I'd Die First by Lisa Springer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


All the tropes, all the time, for all the scares!

There's No Way I'd Die First may be author Lisa Springer's debut novel, but it reads like a book from a talented veteran. It's got every horror movie trope worked into its story, yet it still feels fresh and new. It's one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year!

The main character, and the person from whose viewpoint the story is told, is Noelle Layne. She's strong, smart, and sassy, and she is certain she would be the "Final Girl" in the horror movies she loves. I liked how she was so goal-oriented in her social media endeavors and plans for college and how she managed to marry the two together. Despite her regrets over her internship maneuverings, she seems nice and a good friend. She is surrounded by a tight-knit core of friends who all seem to support each other. Everyone has a skeleton in their closet, though, and someone they know is going all out in a big way to shame each teenager for what they perceive they've done wrong. It was hard to see any partygoers eliminated, but losing or having someone in her immediate circle of friends get hurt was heartbreaking. (I definitely got emotionally involved with these kids.)

The story is full of blood, gore, murder, and craziness right out of a horror flick. There are numerous scenes of graphically described injuries and death. Social media plays a large role in the story, and many of the issues the "Killer Clown" has with the partygoers have to do with their fame online and their families' fortunes.

The author's writing style drew me into the story from the start, and as I mentioned, I was invested in these characters. The descriptions were vivid, and I could easily picture the action and the setting. The dialogue was natural and felt authentic to the speakers, their ages, and points in life. The chapters were nicely sized, with many ending on an exciting note that compelled me to read "just one more chapter." I look forward to this author's future books with great anticipation.

I recommend THERE'S NO WAY I'D DIE FIRST to readers of contemporary young adult horror stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

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