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livelaughlesbian99's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
First half is a little slow but second half really picks up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Outing and Police brutality
bookcheshirecat's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
“Romance is for straights. Queers get to bicker with each other about petty bullshit while we get killed one by one, you know that.”
➽ Your Lonely Nights Are Over is a YA Slasher about a serial killer who target's the school's queer club! A famous serial killer called Mr. Sandman emerges from retirement and starts to go on a killing spree again. He targets anyone who might be feeling lonely and I found his MO very interesting! It's inspired by the Mr. Sandman song! I liked that we get excerpts from a documentary on the topic in between chapters, as it added another layer to the story. Best friends Dearie and Cole are both in the sights of the killer, who's coming closer and closer to them. Even worse, someone is trying to frame them for the murders and the police is all too eager to blame Cole, a young black man. I liked seeing Cole and Dearie's friendship and how it changed with everything that was going on. The story was dark and suspenseful, touching upon homophobic hate crimes, police brutality and the danger of getting into relationships just so you're paired-up and no longer 'lonely'.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Hate crime, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death, Homophobia, Murder, Racism, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Outing
lettuce_read's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Murder, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying and Outing
legalplanner's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
First and foremost, thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to give my honest opinion in exchange for a earc of this book.
I was drawn in from the moment we met Dearie and Cole. I was wrapped up in who they were and what was going on. I found that the queer friendships, toxic friendships, and fear all played really well in this novel.
I will say that there were moments where watching Dearie and Cole's dynamic was hard because it felt a bit toxic to me, but I may have felt that way because they were just friends but often acted as more. The side characters were very lackluster and not likable to me, which made it hard to want them to stay alive.
Overall this was a great read, and I'm so glad that I got a chance to read this thriller headed into spooky season.
I was drawn in from the moment we met Dearie and Cole. I was wrapped up in who they were and what was going on. I found that the queer friendships, toxic friendships, and fear all played really well in this novel.
I will say that there were moments where watching Dearie and Cole's dynamic was hard because it felt a bit toxic to me, but I may have felt that way because they were just friends but often acted as more. The side characters were very lackluster and not likable to me, which made it hard to want them to stay alive.
Overall this was a great read, and I'm so glad that I got a chance to read this thriller headed into spooky season.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Minor: Homophobia, Outing, and Gun violence
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
In this queer dramedy thriller, you'll find queer friendship, found family, and an abusive/controlling romantic relationship. Plus quite a bit of murder!
I enjoyed this book! I laughed, I almost cried, and I was on the edge of my seat. I liked the levity that kept the book from just being too dark.
I was pretty sure I knew who one of the killers was, and I was right about the younger one. But the older one I had guesses Keven RIP.
I honestly wish I could have Cole and Dearie for my gay beasties! They are just the right amount of bitchy for me! But sweet on the inside. Which shows more as the story progresses. A lot of the other characters weren't particularly likable though, like AA, and Theo.
Overall a really enjoyable and not too predictable thriller. With excellent narration!
I enjoyed this book! I laughed, I almost cried, and I was on the edge of my seat. I liked the levity that kept the book from just being too dark.
I honestly wish I could have Cole and Dearie for my gay beasties! They are just the right amount of bitchy for me! But sweet on the inside. Which shows more as the story progresses. A lot of the other characters weren't particularly likable though, like AA, and Theo.
Overall a really enjoyable and not too predictable thriller. With excellent narration!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content, Homophobia, Outing, Gun violence, and Vomit
literarycavy's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gaslighting, and Racism
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Vomit and Gun violence
danscoada's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
I've never seen Clueless, but I am a huge fan of the Scream franchise. When I saw the comparisons, I knew that I had to get my hands on Your Lonely Nights are Over. It mostly didn't disappoint, and it definitely gives off Scream vibes without being a rip-off.
Following Cole and Dearie through this YA slasher novel was a fun ride with a few twists and turns. I don't read mysteries or thrillers with an intent on trying to solve anything before the book does. With that being said, my enjoyment of a book usually plummets when the solution is obvious enough for me to guess early on. Sadly, I saw the outcome from a mile away (it was rather obvious, in my opinion). Thankfully there were some other mysteries going on that weren't so straightforward, so I still found quite a lot of enjoyment during my time in Stoney Grove.
Our two POV characters were campy and provided ample laughs through their internal and external dialogues. Neither is by any means perfect (who is), but both readers and the book's denizens warm up to them. In the first third of the book I had difficulty remembering which POV we were following (both characters use first-person); the characters are very similar in a lot of ways. As the chapters progressed I felt each character come into themselves a little more, and it helped that they were more often in different locations. Cole's obsession with the word "flop", however, was grating.
The other characters were largely forgettable, but they were a good time while we had them. In many ways we don't get to know most of the other characters apart from their physical description. Both Cole and Dearie constantly use hair, clothing, and body size as major descriptors for the other Queer Club members, including themselves, and there are very few non-Sandman related conversations with the other members.
I think this would be a great read for the upcoming fall/Halloween season, despite being set in the spring. I found it easy to root for Cole and Dearie and was touched by their arcs. Your Lonely Nights are Over touches on societal issues - such as racism, queerphobia, and police brutality - that I feel incredibly under qualified to discuss. Adam Sass handled these issues in a way that makes me feel they have firsthand experience with many of the same things the characters undergo. I recommend reading the introduction before diving in.
I've never seen Clueless, but I am a huge fan of the Scream franchise. When I saw the comparisons, I knew that I had to get my hands on Your Lonely Nights are Over. It mostly didn't disappoint, and it definitely gives off Scream vibes without being a rip-off.
Following Cole and Dearie through this YA slasher novel was a fun ride with a few twists and turns. I don't read mysteries or thrillers with an intent on trying to solve anything before the book does. With that being said, my enjoyment of a book usually plummets when the solution is obvious enough for me to guess early on. Sadly, I saw the outcome from a mile away (it was rather obvious, in my opinion). Thankfully there were some other mysteries going on that weren't so straightforward, so I still found quite a lot of enjoyment during my time in Stoney Grove.
Our two POV characters were campy and provided ample laughs through their internal and external dialogues. Neither is by any means perfect (who is), but both readers and the book's denizens warm up to them. In the first third of the book I had difficulty remembering which POV we were following (both characters use first-person); the characters are very similar in a lot of ways. As the chapters progressed I felt each character come into themselves a little more, and it helped that they were more often in different locations. Cole's obsession with the word "flop", however, was grating.
The other characters were largely forgettable, but they were a good time while we had them. In many ways we don't get to know most of the other characters apart from their physical description. Both Cole and Dearie constantly use hair, clothing, and body size as major descriptors for the other Queer Club members, including themselves, and there are very few non-Sandman related conversations with the other members.
I think this would be a great read for the upcoming fall/Halloween season, despite being set in the spring. I found it easy to root for Cole and Dearie and was touched by their arcs. Your Lonely Nights are Over touches on societal issues - such as racism, queerphobia, and police brutality - that I feel incredibly under qualified to discuss. Adam Sass handled these issues in a way that makes me feel they have firsthand experience with many of the same things the characters undergo. I recommend reading the introduction before diving in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Death, Blood, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Racism, Police brutality, Outing, Homophobia, and Gun violence
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced copy of Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass! YA horror seems to be really taking off in the last couple of years, especially this year. I've read quite a few, and this one will definitely be a great fit for true crime fans. Clues to follow, focusing on a serial killer who comes back like 20 years later. Sass introduces a lot of twists and turns that will definitely keep you guessing unti lthe very end.
This book is formatted like watching a true crime documentary on TV, separated into sections kind of like episodes. In the book, there is a fake, documentary-style show that a lot of the characters are watching about the serial killer, Mr. Sandman. The parallels between the past and the present made reading the book an entertaining experience; the two different sort of plot lines work together to help create the mystery, as you are watching it unfold.
From the beginning, you know that Dearie and Cole aren't the most likeable characters. They kind of think they're above all of the high school drama, in that teen movie drama sort of way. Even if they weren't likeable, they were still complex, interesting characters, different from what you see in a lot of YA books. And there's a great side cast of characters as well.
My only real complaint is that the book itself felt a little longer than it needed to be. But other than that, this is absolutely an entertaining take on horror that teens will devour when it comes out in September.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Gore
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Outing and Sexual content
nerp's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’m not a big slasher watcher, but I loved this book. I’d read 50 pages in a flash and want to keep going. What I particularly love is its irreverence—this is not a story catering to the masses. It’s bloody, it’s sexy, it’s unapologetic, it’s real. The queers are messy AF, not angels. But at its core, it’s a story of two friends who give a new meaning to ride-or-die.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Stalking, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Outing and Sexual content
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