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No Escape
Following the success of her unputdownable debut, Escape Room, Maren Stoffels is back with a new standalone horror novel about a twisted game master who has no intention of letting their players go.
“You have been chosen to participate in a new Escape Room. You can bring one person. The one you trust the most. Your very best friend.”
When Lexi receives an invitation to participate in a brand-new escape room, along with her best friend Tess, she’s thrilled. They could both use the distraction after a recent tragedy.
But once inside, they learn that they must compete against one another.
What do you do when your best friend suddenly becomes your biggest adversary, and every choice you make puts her in danger? How far will you go to win?
“You have been chosen to participate in a new Escape Room. You can bring one person. The one you trust the most. Your very best friend.”
When Lexi receives an invitation to participate in a brand-new escape room, along with her best friend Tess, she’s thrilled. They could both use the distraction after a recent tragedy.
But once inside, they learn that they must compete against one another.
What do you do when your best friend suddenly becomes your biggest adversary, and every choice you make puts her in danger? How far will you go to win?
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2022
40 people are currently reading
1880 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
June 15, 2024
Yeah…I’m never going to an escape room again.
February 5, 2024
Vanaf het punt dat de escape room begon was het lekker spannend. Helaas was het einde teleurstellend. Ik had het gevoel alsof het verhaal niet helemaal af was en dat ik 1 belangrijk persoon niet goed genoeg heb leren kennen om diens intentie helemaal te begrijpen.
March 26, 2024
Thank you to PRH Audio and Maren Stoffels for my copy of this book. It was about Lexi, a girl who gets an invitation to join a brand new kind of escape room with her best friend Tess. They recently suffered from a tragedy and need a distraction, so they decide to do it. When they get there, they meet Beau and Zora, also best friends doing the escape room. But once they arrive, the learn they are actually competing against their friends, and even worse, if one person succeeds, the other will pay the price.
Thoughts: This was a fun and straightforward YA book. I think it was marketed as more horror, and it didn’t quite make it there. The premise was interesting and if I had to describe it, it would say a children’s version of the SAW movies.
The characters were one dimensional, but I was still interested in their backgrounds and what would happen in this book. It was SUPER short which was actually nice, and it was just a fun and quick read. If you want to bring a book to the beach to start and finish, this is the one for you! 3-stars!
Thoughts: This was a fun and straightforward YA book. I think it was marketed as more horror, and it didn’t quite make it there. The premise was interesting and if I had to describe it, it would say a children’s version of the SAW movies.
The characters were one dimensional, but I was still interested in their backgrounds and what would happen in this book. It was SUPER short which was actually nice, and it was just a fun and quick read. If you want to bring a book to the beach to start and finish, this is the one for you! 3-stars!
July 15, 2024
Horrifying. That’s all I have to say about this. But I’m going to say more, because this was a wild 200-something pages.
I wasn’t expecting this to be a 5-star, so this definitely exceeded my expectations.
I devoured this thriller in one day. (For the record, this is a tiny little book). But this was entertaining. And just terrifying. The part that really freaked me out was the Shadow. And Tessa’s point of view. AND WHO WAS IN THE SECOND CASKET. When they opened it, I kid you not, my jaw DROPPED.
Beau and Lexi’s little romance was a bit unnecessary, but I still appreciated it.
Also, can we get a book about Red? Like you cannot just leave me like that. 😭 I don’t even know her real name!
This had so many little plot twists in it, which kept the story exciting. Overall, 5 stars.
I wasn’t expecting this to be a 5-star, so this definitely exceeded my expectations.
I devoured this thriller in one day. (For the record, this is a tiny little book). But this was entertaining. And just terrifying. The part that really freaked me out was the Shadow. And Tessa’s point of view. AND WHO WAS IN THE SECOND CASKET. When they opened it, I kid you not, my jaw DROPPED.
Beau and Lexi’s little romance was a bit unnecessary, but I still appreciated it.
Also, can we get a book about Red? Like you cannot just leave me like that. 😭 I don’t even know her real name!
This had so many little plot twists in it, which kept the story exciting. Overall, 5 stars.
February 12, 2023
Jullie zijn uitverkoren om deel te nemen aan dit nieuwe spel: Escape Room 2.0. Je mag één persoon meenemen. Degene die je het meest vertrouwt. Je allerbeste vriend.’
Nordin krijgt een uitnodiging voor een nieuwe escape room. Hij neemt zijn beste vriendin Zora mee. Eenmaal binnen blijkt dat je moet wisselen met een ander team. Nordin moet niet samen, maar tégen Zora spelen. Wat moet je doen als je beste vriend plotseling je grootste tegenstander wordt? Elke keuze die je maakt heeft gevolgen voor de ander. Hoe ver ga je om te winnen?
Kies je voor jezelf of offer je jezelf op?
'Escape Room' vond ik een leuk geschreven verhaal, dus ik was heel benieuwd naar dit nieuwe verhaal van Maren Stoffels.
In 'Escape Room 2.0' maak je kennis met vier verschillende mensen. Nordin heeft een uitnodiging gekregen en neemt zijn beste vriendin Zora mee. Ook Lexi heeft een uitnodiging gekregen en ze besluit haar nichtje Tess mee te nemen.
Er wordt zowel vanuit Nordin als Lexi geschreven, maar je komt ook veel te weten over Tess.
Al gauw komt het viertal bij het mysterieuze gebouw aan en ze denken dat ze tegen elkaar moeten spelen, maar dan blijkt dat Nordin met Lexi samen moet werken en Zora met Tess. Het spel begint vrijwel meteen, dus de spanning is al snel voelbaar. De eerste opdracht is al meteen luguber en behoorlijk heftig. Lukt het ze allemaal om te ontsnappen aan deze gruwelijke escape room?
'Escape Room 2.0' bevat een heftig onderwerp, zoals zelfdoding en depressie, dus daar wil ik je wel voor waarschuwen. De schrijfstijl van Maren is vlot en prettig en zeker toegankelijk voor de jongere lezer. Toch weet ik niet zo goed wat ik van dit verhaal moet denken, want vooral het laatste stuk vond ik een beetje apart en gaf mij een dubbel gevoel.
Ik wil niet zeggen dat 'Escape Room 2.0' daardoor een slecht verhaal is, want het bevat zeker actuele en realistische onderwerpen en de spanning is ook goed voelbaar, maar dat einde......🤷♀️
Beoordeling: 3,0 ⭐
Nordin krijgt een uitnodiging voor een nieuwe escape room. Hij neemt zijn beste vriendin Zora mee. Eenmaal binnen blijkt dat je moet wisselen met een ander team. Nordin moet niet samen, maar tégen Zora spelen. Wat moet je doen als je beste vriend plotseling je grootste tegenstander wordt? Elke keuze die je maakt heeft gevolgen voor de ander. Hoe ver ga je om te winnen?
Kies je voor jezelf of offer je jezelf op?
'Escape Room' vond ik een leuk geschreven verhaal, dus ik was heel benieuwd naar dit nieuwe verhaal van Maren Stoffels.
In 'Escape Room 2.0' maak je kennis met vier verschillende mensen. Nordin heeft een uitnodiging gekregen en neemt zijn beste vriendin Zora mee. Ook Lexi heeft een uitnodiging gekregen en ze besluit haar nichtje Tess mee te nemen.
Er wordt zowel vanuit Nordin als Lexi geschreven, maar je komt ook veel te weten over Tess.
Al gauw komt het viertal bij het mysterieuze gebouw aan en ze denken dat ze tegen elkaar moeten spelen, maar dan blijkt dat Nordin met Lexi samen moet werken en Zora met Tess. Het spel begint vrijwel meteen, dus de spanning is al snel voelbaar. De eerste opdracht is al meteen luguber en behoorlijk heftig. Lukt het ze allemaal om te ontsnappen aan deze gruwelijke escape room?
'Escape Room 2.0' bevat een heftig onderwerp, zoals zelfdoding en depressie, dus daar wil ik je wel voor waarschuwen. De schrijfstijl van Maren is vlot en prettig en zeker toegankelijk voor de jongere lezer. Toch weet ik niet zo goed wat ik van dit verhaal moet denken, want vooral het laatste stuk vond ik een beetje apart en gaf mij een dubbel gevoel.
Ik wil niet zeggen dat 'Escape Room 2.0' daardoor een slecht verhaal is, want het bevat zeker actuele en realistische onderwerpen en de spanning is ook goed voelbaar, maar dat einde......🤷♀️
Beoordeling: 3,0 ⭐
January 24, 2025
this book would’ve been so much better if it was 200 pages longer. everything, especially the beginning, felt incredibly rushed. beau and lexi kissing was so weird, there was absolutely zero buildup or tension before that, and there was no conclusion to it either. and what happened to tess??? her story was one of the focal points of the story and then her end is just what? getting locked up in a coffin and then all of a sudden she’s okay again after hearing voices and seeing things? the ending with Red and the psychiatrist was so incredibly strange. this book was missing so much. i didn’t like the pacing, the writing felt juvenile at points, and the ending was shitty. the only good thing about it was that it was a quick read 🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2024
Laughably bad
“The shadow” and Beau ONLY talking about how famous he is.
Did like how short it was though.
“The shadow” and Beau ONLY talking about how famous he is.
Did like how short it was though.
February 27, 2025
4 stars
i’ve read two other books by this author, one i really enjoyed and one i did not. so i was a little nervous going into it but i really wanted just a short read and this was my shortest one. i actually really loved this book, for being so short i was nervous that the plot wouldn’t be as good or the characters would be dull but the characters actually had such good development and personalities. they struggled with mental health which i wasnt expecting at all but i loved it. the plot was also so good and really interesting. the idea was there and it was executed so well. this book was honestly exactly what i needed, short and good but also not too hard to follow along with. the only reason its getting four stars is bc i wish the motive behind the plot was better. it was just a little underwhelming and for it to really make in impact i wish the chapter from red was longer and more detailed. but i’m really glad i chose this book to read, it kept me interested and i read it in 24 hours.
i’ve read two other books by this author, one i really enjoyed and one i did not. so i was a little nervous going into it but i really wanted just a short read and this was my shortest one. i actually really loved this book, for being so short i was nervous that the plot wouldn’t be as good or the characters would be dull but the characters actually had such good development and personalities. they struggled with mental health which i wasnt expecting at all but i loved it. the plot was also so good and really interesting. the idea was there and it was executed so well. this book was honestly exactly what i needed, short and good but also not too hard to follow along with. the only reason its getting four stars is bc i wish the motive behind the plot was better. it was just a little underwhelming and for it to really make in impact i wish the chapter from red was longer and more detailed. but i’m really glad i chose this book to read, it kept me interested and i read it in 24 hours.
April 20, 2025
౨ৎ | ‘sometimes i think all the happiness clung to her, so there was none left for me.’
— ★ 3.5/5
this book was well written! i loved the plot and the characters were cool. i wish we got to see more on tessa but i know she wasn’t the main character.
unless so confused as to why they had to throw in a romance sub plot?? like that was not needed at all and i think it would have been rated higher if that wasn’t a factor. but i did enjoy this.
— ★ 3.5/5
this book was well written! i loved the plot and the characters were cool. i wish we got to see more on tessa but i know she wasn’t the main character.
unless so confused as to why they had to throw in a romance sub plot?? like that was not needed at all and i think it would have been rated higher if that wasn’t a factor. but i did enjoy this.
May 22, 2024
Ik vond deel twee dubbel zo spannend als deel één! Wat een adembenemend spannende en heerlijke thriller. Alle personages waren zo aangrijpend weergegeven en echt op een leuke en vlotte manier geschreven. Ik heb echt genoten van deze thriller die niet al te lang was maar echt net goed. Super schrijfster!
May 3, 2024
im only giving it 2 bc it made me laugh
June 20, 2024
This was compulsively readable but also completely ridiculous and horribly written. So, business as usual for these books.
August 25, 2024
This book was really bland and was missing many points out. It would’ve been better, if it was longer.
August 10, 2025
I’d say this is my second fav of her books. This one was twisted. My mind is boggled. It’s also the only one I’ve read so far that seems to leave a little bit hanging at the end, but that’s not a bad thing.
October 22, 2025
Almost like a YA version of a SAW movie. Cozy!
July 1, 2025
Content warnings: violence, blood, suicide, depression, death of a child (in the past), suicidal ideation
I haven't read Escape Room and I suspect that probably impacted my experience with this. It's very short and it's action-packed so there's very little time to get to know the characters. And as a result, I was left......a little perplexed as to what was happening in the story. Don't get me wrong, it's not a BAD book! I just feel like it could have used another 20-50 pages to really give the characters some padding.
I haven't read Escape Room and I suspect that probably impacted my experience with this. It's very short and it's action-packed so there's very little time to get to know the characters. And as a result, I was left......a little perplexed as to what was happening in the story. Don't get me wrong, it's not a BAD book! I just feel like it could have used another 20-50 pages to really give the characters some padding.
October 28, 2024
Very intense for under 200 pages. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!!
February 20, 2024
The idea of an escape room thriller is so fun! I haven’t read Escape Room yet, but best believe I’m going to after this!
A woman approaches Lexi and leaves a business card on her bike. When Lexi calls the number, she’s invited to a special escape room and told to bring her best friend. Her best friend happens to be her cousin, Tess. Tess has mentally been going through a hard time, and Lexi is trying to get her back to how she was before her friend Kelly passed. When they get to the escape room, Beau and his best friend, Zora are waiting for them. When they are made to switch partners and go their separate ways, all hell breaks loose. Soon they realize they’re definitely not in a normal escape room they’re at a race against the clock to make it out alive. But what will happen when one of them has to pay the ultimate price?
This was fast paced, and an intriguing read! I will say that the horror aspect is not where I wanted it to be, or what I would expect from even a YA thriller. However, the premise was interesting enough to keep me reading. It gave me mellow SAW vibes so that was a plus! I think this would be great for younger readers as it’s not too horrific, but definitely has some heart pounding parts.
Overall, I really enjoyed this, and will be reading more from this author!
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book!
A woman approaches Lexi and leaves a business card on her bike. When Lexi calls the number, she’s invited to a special escape room and told to bring her best friend. Her best friend happens to be her cousin, Tess. Tess has mentally been going through a hard time, and Lexi is trying to get her back to how she was before her friend Kelly passed. When they get to the escape room, Beau and his best friend, Zora are waiting for them. When they are made to switch partners and go their separate ways, all hell breaks loose. Soon they realize they’re definitely not in a normal escape room they’re at a race against the clock to make it out alive. But what will happen when one of them has to pay the ultimate price?
This was fast paced, and an intriguing read! I will say that the horror aspect is not where I wanted it to be, or what I would expect from even a YA thriller. However, the premise was interesting enough to keep me reading. It gave me mellow SAW vibes so that was a plus! I think this would be great for younger readers as it’s not too horrific, but definitely has some heart pounding parts.
Overall, I really enjoyed this, and will be reading more from this author!
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book!
October 3, 2022
Heel erg leuk en leest super snel. Heerlijk. Maren is echt zo'n goeie schrijver. Ik kan niet wachten tot haar nieuwe thriller. We bespreken we dit boek ook in Boekcast, onze podcast over Young Adult boeken. Daarin stellen we Maren ook een aantal vragen over het boek. Benieuwd? Ga dan zeker luisteren! https://open.spotify.com/episode/07YL...
August 19, 2024
It is a good book for YA, didn’t realize that before I started reading but it was not terrible! I could definitely see it getting more stars if it was written for an adult crowd! I think in general any escape room that goes awry already has the potential for a great storyline and there were some good points but again, more geared towards a younger crowd.
I am solely giving this book a 3 star because I think teenagers will like this book and cannot take that away from what I was expecting
I am solely giving this book a 3 star because I think teenagers will like this book and cannot take that away from what I was expecting
April 28, 2023
Goed boek. Ik was even bang dat die teveel zou lijken op Escape room, maar dat viel gelukkig mee.
Ik had het misschien wel leuk gevonden als er meer werd verteld over de kant van Zora en Tess, wat zij voelden en zagen toen ze vast zaten en als er wat meer werd verteld over waarom Red dit deed.
Zeker een aanrader, leest lekker weg
Ik had het misschien wel leuk gevonden als er meer werd verteld over de kant van Zora en Tess, wat zij voelden en zagen toen ze vast zaten en als er wat meer werd verteld over waarom Red dit deed.
Zeker een aanrader, leest lekker weg
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2023
Had verwacht dat het boek te veel zou lijken op het eerste deel, maar toch een hele andere vibe. Leuk boek!!!
December 31, 2023
Ik vind het echt een heel leuk en spannend boek! De schrijfstijl was fijn, waardoor het vlot las. Het thema was best heftig.
May 6, 2024
such a quick and easy read! had me hooked the whole time but the ending was disappointing. i feel like i needed a huge plot twist. i am glad that it ended on a more positive note.
December 7, 2024
No Escape by Maren Stoffels was such a fun surprise! I picked it up on a whim while waiting for another book, and I’m so glad I did. The audiobook was fantastic—Graham Halstead (Beau) and Elena Ray (Lexi) nailed their roles, and the extra voices for minor characters added so much to the experience. It was such an easy listen, and I flew through it in two days (would’ve been one if a migraine hadn’t hit).
The escape room theme instantly sold me—it’s one of my absolute favorite tropes—and this story didn’t disappoint on that front. The tension between Lexi and Beau, the high-stakes choices, and the overall vibe were exciting and kept me hooked.
That said, it wasn’t perfect. At just over 200 pages, some parts felt rushed. Lexi and Tess’s connection to the escape room is explained, but Beau’s invite? Still a mystery. And while Tess is a major part of the story, the ending doesn’t even mention her, which left me scratching my head. I wish there had been more time to flesh things out, but for what it is—a short, thrilling read—it works.
If you’re looking for something quick, fun, and exciting, this book delivers. Just go in ready to enjoy the ride without overthinking it. I’m giving it a 3.75/5, rounded up to 4 stars because I genuinely had a good time listening to it.
The escape room theme instantly sold me—it’s one of my absolute favorite tropes—and this story didn’t disappoint on that front. The tension between Lexi and Beau, the high-stakes choices, and the overall vibe were exciting and kept me hooked.
That said, it wasn’t perfect. At just over 200 pages, some parts felt rushed. Lexi and Tess’s connection to the escape room is explained, but Beau’s invite? Still a mystery. And while Tess is a major part of the story, the ending doesn’t even mention her, which left me scratching my head. I wish there had been more time to flesh things out, but for what it is—a short, thrilling read—it works.
If you’re looking for something quick, fun, and exciting, this book delivers. Just go in ready to enjoy the ride without overthinking it. I’m giving it a 3.75/5, rounded up to 4 stars because I genuinely had a good time listening to it.
May 5, 2024
Not even two hours of reading time but I’ll need over two hours of pondering time.
It’s creepy, cryptic, and cruel. Egregious and adorable, it had twists I could predict and an ending that clicked it all together.
It’s creepy, cryptic, and cruel. Egregious and adorable, it had twists I could predict and an ending that clicked it all together.
July 7, 2024
Quick read. I was sucked in by the end of the first chapter. I was on pins and needles the whole time. Oddly enough, for me, it was like watching a movie. I really enjoyed this read. I'm glad I found it. Can't wait to read more!
September 13, 2025
This book was a very quick and easy read, less than 2 hours. However, I felt like it moved so quickly that I didn’t get attached, there were plot lines that didn’t fully make sense or have an ending, and I didn’t really feel any fear. A bit disappointed :/
April 2, 2024
A fun and engaging “escape room” YA thriller novella. They synopsis is exactly what you get, it kept my attention, and felt it was an appropriate middle grade to Young Adult read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews