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The Haunting
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The #1 bestselling author of The Island is back with another pulse-pounding, twisty read!
Haunted by the past . . . terrified of the present.
Penny knows she must forget about her ex, Nash. Ever since his father was revealed as the brutal serial killer who traumatized their small town last Halloween, Penny’s parents have forbidden her to have anything to do with Nash or his family. It’s hard not to think of him—but she’s trying.
That stops when she goes shopping with friends for a costume. What she finds instead is ripped from a horror someone from school bleeding out on the floor of a dressing room. Stabbed.
People are quick to blame Nash and his sister, Grace, but as Halloween nears and the body count rises, Penny can’t help thinking this copycat killer is someone no one else suspects. . . .
Haunted by the past . . . terrified of the present.
Penny knows she must forget about her ex, Nash. Ever since his father was revealed as the brutal serial killer who traumatized their small town last Halloween, Penny’s parents have forbidden her to have anything to do with Nash or his family. It’s hard not to think of him—but she’s trying.
That stops when she goes shopping with friends for a costume. What she finds instead is ripped from a horror someone from school bleeding out on the floor of a dressing room. Stabbed.
People are quick to blame Nash and his sister, Grace, but as Halloween nears and the body count rises, Penny can’t help thinking this copycat killer is someone no one else suspects. . . .
Audible Audio
First published September 26, 2023
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About the author
Natasha Preston
49 books16.3k followers#1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Cellar and The Cabin. Romance and YA Thriller writer, boy mum, Tom Hardy enthusiast. Always buried in a book and a glass of wine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,792 reviews
October 1, 2023
If I was in a Saw trap and my choices were to read another Natasha Preston book and live, or simply die. I would die.
July 7, 2023
What the actual F… Would it KILL Natasha Preston to write an epilogue? Or does she she get some sick thrill out of pissing off her readers?? I’m only giving this book 4 stars because I enjoyed it - up until the last page. No, not even the last page, the last WORD. I thought the ending to The Island was bad but, nope, the ending to this book is so, SO much worse. And this time I can’t even throw the book across the room because I read it on my phone! Sigh.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2023
like I knew it would end on a stupid cliffhanger and wanted to read it anyways. I’m glad this was way better than the island though
December 5, 2023
✰ 2 stars ✰
“The killer might’ve been caught but the fear lingers. It changes you, makes you more cautious, less trusting.”
If I had known beforehand The Haunting was going to be a complete homage to the Scream franchise, maybe I would have thought twice before reading it. Clearly I misjudged myself on this, especially since I am not a fan of the original series, itself. I've always classified horror as a theme that has to involve a supernatural element or a paranormal entity that gives that presences of the otherworldly. I really need to re-classify that, because there was nothing like that here. Sometimes I read GR blurbs and I suffer; and sometimes I don't read them, and I still suffer. 😮💨😮💨
It's a losing battle. 🤷🤷
That said, this was Scream and all it's next installments - verbatim. I'm not a fan of slasher flicks and honestly, it can be said the same for books, as well. There's no thrill, just an annoyance, there's no horror, just the wait for how long it will take for the perpetrator to come to light. What would it take for a whodunit to really make me ask 'Who done it?' 🤯
“The killer might’ve been caught but the fear lingers. It changes you, makes you more cautious, less trusting.”
But, I digress; perhaps, for someone who is not that aware of the Scream franchise may actually enjoy this; after all, it has been almost more than twenty years since the original, but if you know how it pans out it in all, then this is really very quite predictable. 😖😖 The parents felt like caricatures of parents, when there is someone hunting down and killing teenagers, but no one really seems to care - Halloween must go on - even when there is a copycat-killer on the loose.
Still, aside from my obvious and apparent let-down, let us examine the good stuff, albeit, as few as they were for me. I liked the Halloween vibes and the familiarity that showed the dynamic of a friendship tainted by tragedy. 'The dynamic changed, but if anything, it made the rest of them stronger, tighter. Ride or die, that’s what Zayn would say'. Penny was a victim, but still, not really likable - some of her actions and questioning views made me dislike her, even if her boyfriend is the son of the accused, which should earn her some brownie points. 😞😞
She tried to show that she cared for Nash, but sometimes, I felt her actions were a little bit too self-centered and selfish and a bit silly, to be honest. Even if she was still hurting from the loss of Nash, and trying to prove his innocence, there were times I was shaking my head at how she was behaving. Like, only in a slasher thriller would people lose all sense of rationality? 🤦🏻♀️
“My head is dizzy trying to figure out who to trust. Honestly, I don’t believe either one of them would lie.”
The writing excelled in heightening the suspense of a killer on the prowl - as it is in small towns, where nothing seems to be taken seriously, no cops really doing any head-way into tracking down the culprit - it's moments of shining are when the fear is elevated to an extreme. Fast-paced and moving the characters through situations taking place in creepy corn stalk mazes, tackling car crashes and the silent footsteps of someone creeping up on you were captured vividly. Penny's apparent outbursts at each victim's reveal felt real and her efforts to coax Nash back into their small circle of friends did make me sympathize for her - a little bit. 😞😞
I appreciated that the author did try to keep the mystery going of how could be the potential killer - Penny's hesitancy and distrust of her friends were portrayed in a believable way, much-like what does happen in a slasher flick, as we go through all the murders, before coming to that pivotal moment when the mask will be ripped off and the true culprit revealed - complete with all their deranged and crazed motives behind their twisted actions. I was waiting - and I was ready. 👍🏻
But, that ending!! Forgive the pejorative, but WTF!!?? Who ends it like that? Where is my closure? Where is the resolution? Where is justice served? That was just - so utterly undeserved - after all that, blood and gore, this is the ending that I'm going to get?? A cliffhanger that renders the entire reading experience completely useless and worthless! When I saw the Acknowledgments, I stared at it for a full minute in silence, before I quietly closed it and hoped to forget about it, before my rage consumed me. 😵
Unless this is a trend that it is expected in her books, than I guess, I'm the loser who was caught unprepared. 😭😭
And, yes, I am still upset there was not an ounce of any haunting to this, except for me being haunted by this whole reading experience. 😤😤
Suffice to say, for a newer generation who enjoys fast-paced whodunnit mysteries with the occasional slice and dice factor, then, why not? As for me, well, this review speaks for itself. 💔💔
“The killer might’ve been caught but the fear lingers. It changes you, makes you more cautious, less trusting.”
If I had known beforehand The Haunting was going to be a complete homage to the Scream franchise, maybe I would have thought twice before reading it. Clearly I misjudged myself on this, especially since I am not a fan of the original series, itself. I've always classified horror as a theme that has to involve a supernatural element or a paranormal entity that gives that presences of the otherworldly. I really need to re-classify that, because there was nothing like that here. Sometimes I read GR blurbs and I suffer; and sometimes I don't read them, and I still suffer. 😮💨😮💨
It's a losing battle. 🤷🤷
That said, this was Scream and all it's next installments - verbatim. I'm not a fan of slasher flicks and honestly, it can be said the same for books, as well. There's no thrill, just an annoyance, there's no horror, just the wait for how long it will take for the perpetrator to come to light. What would it take for a whodunit to really make me ask 'Who done it?' 🤯
“The killer might’ve been caught but the fear lingers. It changes you, makes you more cautious, less trusting.”
But, I digress; perhaps, for someone who is not that aware of the Scream franchise may actually enjoy this; after all, it has been almost more than twenty years since the original, but if you know how it pans out it in all, then this is really very quite predictable. 😖😖 The parents felt like caricatures of parents, when there is someone hunting down and killing teenagers, but no one really seems to care - Halloween must go on - even when there is a copycat-killer on the loose.
Still, aside from my obvious and apparent let-down, let us examine the good stuff, albeit, as few as they were for me. I liked the Halloween vibes and the familiarity that showed the dynamic of a friendship tainted by tragedy. 'The dynamic changed, but if anything, it made the rest of them stronger, tighter. Ride or die, that’s what Zayn would say'. Penny was a victim, but still, not really likable - some of her actions and questioning views made me dislike her, even if her boyfriend is the son of the accused, which should earn her some brownie points. 😞😞
She tried to show that she cared for Nash, but sometimes, I felt her actions were a little bit too self-centered and selfish and a bit silly, to be honest. Even if she was still hurting from the loss of Nash, and trying to prove his innocence, there were times I was shaking my head at how she was behaving. Like, only in a slasher thriller would people lose all sense of rationality? 🤦🏻♀️
“My head is dizzy trying to figure out who to trust. Honestly, I don’t believe either one of them would lie.”
The writing excelled in heightening the suspense of a killer on the prowl - as it is in small towns, where nothing seems to be taken seriously, no cops really doing any head-way into tracking down the culprit - it's moments of shining are when the fear is elevated to an extreme. Fast-paced and moving the characters through situations taking place in creepy corn stalk mazes, tackling car crashes and the silent footsteps of someone creeping up on you were captured vividly. Penny's apparent outbursts at each victim's reveal felt real and her efforts to coax Nash back into their small circle of friends did make me sympathize for her - a little bit. 😞😞
I appreciated that the author did try to keep the mystery going of how could be the potential killer - Penny's hesitancy and distrust of her friends were portrayed in a believable way, much-like what does happen in a slasher flick, as we go through all the murders, before coming to that pivotal moment when the mask will be ripped off and the true culprit revealed - complete with all their deranged and crazed motives behind their twisted actions. I was waiting - and I was ready. 👍🏻
But, that ending!! Forgive the pejorative, but WTF!!?? Who ends it like that? Where is my closure? Where is the resolution? Where is justice served? That was just - so utterly undeserved - after all that, blood and gore, this is the ending that I'm going to get?? A cliffhanger that renders the entire reading experience completely useless and worthless! When I saw the Acknowledgments, I stared at it for a full minute in silence, before I quietly closed it and hoped to forget about it, before my rage consumed me. 😵
Unless this is a trend that it is expected in her books, than I guess, I'm the loser who was caught unprepared. 😭😭
And, yes, I am still upset there was not an ounce of any haunting to this, except for me being haunted by this whole reading experience. 😤😤
Suffice to say, for a newer generation who enjoys fast-paced whodunnit mysteries with the occasional slice and dice factor, then, why not? As for me, well, this review speaks for itself. 💔💔
September 29, 2023
Decent book. Dumb ending.
October 6, 2023
Why do I keep reading these
May 16, 2024
2⭐️
🎧📖🎧 An audiobook and physical book read along!!!🎧📖🎧
Thank goodness my expectations for this book were low. Otherwise, I would be in tears right now. 😬😬😬.
Ooohmgee!!!
But honestly, though, I cannot bring myself to a write a normal review for this book. I mean:
(1) Even though the narrator of the audiobook, Bailey Carr, was able to bring this story to life, FOR THE LIFE OF ME I COULDN’T BRING MYSELF TO TRULY IN ENJOY IT!!!
Aaannnddd…
(2) The thoughts currently running through my mind are kind of harsh. And my mom always told that “If you do not have anything nice to say then you should not say anything at all.”
🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️.
All I can say for certain is that The Fear WAS SSSOOO MUCH BETTER!!! 🫣🫣🫣.
Thank you New Book Friend John for reading this with me and putting up with my wild thoughts and assumptions!!!🥰🥰🥰.
🎧📖🎧 An audiobook and physical book read along!!!🎧📖🎧
Thank goodness my expectations for this book were low. Otherwise, I would be in tears right now. 😬😬😬.
Ooohmgee!!!
But honestly, though, I cannot bring myself to a write a normal review for this book. I mean:
(1) Even though the narrator of the audiobook, Bailey Carr, was able to bring this story to life, FOR THE LIFE OF ME I COULDN’T BRING MYSELF TO TRULY IN ENJOY IT!!!
Aaannnddd…
(2) The thoughts currently running through my mind are kind of harsh. And my mom always told that “If you do not have anything nice to say then you should not say anything at all.”
🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️.
All I can say for certain is that The Fear WAS SSSOOO MUCH BETTER!!! 🫣🫣🫣.
Thank you New Book Friend John for reading this with me and putting up with my wild thoughts and assumptions!!!🥰🥰🥰.
October 6, 2023
I almost want to give it four stars but that ending. C'mon, man. Too rushed. Very unsatisfactory.
November 3, 2024
What the hell kind of ending was that?!?
“bang” that’s it?!?! That’s all we get?! 😤
The story was entertaining but the ending ruined it for it.
“bang” that’s it?!?! That’s all we get?! 😤
The story was entertaining but the ending ruined it for it.
October 15, 2023
YA horror deserves better than idiot protagonists who deliberately put themselves in danger because they have a crush on someone. "It's YA" shouldn't be an excuse to deliver inane plots and characters who make nothing but unrealistic and reckless choices.
Does not have a real ending.
Also does not contain a haunting (hardly even a metaphorical haunting here either) so that was annoying too!
Major skip.
Does not have a real ending.
Also does not contain a haunting (hardly even a metaphorical haunting here either) so that was annoying too!
Major skip.
October 21, 2023
Why is this book called the haunting there is nary a haunt in sight
October 17, 2024
If I had known this was a YA book, I probably never would have read it. Shame on me for not checking beforehand. The cover was enticing along with the title, so I thought...what the heck.
There were no ghosts or goblins in this book. Just teens who were about as airheaded. The writing was juvenile for juveniles, but I'll give the author credit for setting the hook early enough to keep me reading until the end.
Well done, but not for adults who might want something with a little more substance.
There were no ghosts or goblins in this book. Just teens who were about as airheaded. The writing was juvenile for juveniles, but I'll give the author credit for setting the hook early enough to keep me reading until the end.
Well done, but not for adults who might want something with a little more substance.
October 3, 2023
No because this was a complete waste of my time. Halfway through the book I contemplated not finishing it but I haveeee to finish books…. but i wish I hadn’t because the ending is so terrible I’m mad I finished it. this was Scream as a book but 100x worse
November 27, 2023
I have never been so pissed off at the ending of a book in my LIFE
June 13, 2025
» What Was I Made For - Billie Eilish «
0:53 ─〇─────3:20
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
ׂ╰┈➤ Not bc it gives the vibe of the book but bc this book made me question my will to live.
⭐ - 1 Star
First Person POV
Spice Level 🌶️ - .5/5
⤷ pretty much nothing, a few mentions of hookups, a few mentions of light kisses
Age rating - 14+
⤷ some intense scenes, graphic deaths, cussing
⁺˚⋆｡° 🎃 My Thoughts 🎃 °｡⋆˚⁺
Y’all you better buckle up for this rant review, the character section is going to have a LOT
I literally felt like the grinch reading this “Hate, hate, hate, double hate, LOATHE ENTIRELY”
I only finished this book bc someone*side eyes Ari* said the ending of the book was worth it. I thought i’d trust my best friend with my life, but I’m questioning it at this point bc of that blatant lie.
This was the worst Natasha Preston book I’ve ever read, and I adore her books man. I never want to meet her in fear that she is anything like her fmcs. The plot was iffy but the characters made the book unbearable.
Also I figured I’d mention, if anyone didn’t want to read this because of ghosts, it has nothing paranormal in it. The name just references how past murders had haunted the town.
⁺˚⋆｡° 🔪 The Plot 🔪 °｡⋆˚⁺
Where to start….there was so much to this that made it an awful book.
The entire plot was SUPER unrealistic. The idea was interesting but not well written. She tried so hard to make the plot sound like it was narrated by a teen and it was all stupid stereotypes. The fmc snuck out of her house like 8 different times and constantly complained about her parents wanted to stay with her when all her best friends were getting murdered.
The beginning was so rushed and the first murder happened in the first chapter. We knew nothing that was going on, and nothing about the characters so it made it entirely insignificant.
She also had this random character no one ever met as a suspect for some reason and he was never actually introduced in the book, but they were so obsessed with him the whole time.
Also the ending was so obvious….like i was hoping for a Natasha Preston twist but nope…it was the obvious person the entire time.
I wasted so much time on this book and I so wished I had never picked it up.
⁺˚⋆｡° 💀 Characters 💀 °｡⋆˚⁺
: ̗̀➛ The amount of times I wanted to take a break to lay in traffic because of these characters was unreal
➥ Penny: oh my gosh, I was just praying that she would be one of the victims the entire time. She was obsessed with Nash after not talking to him for a year. She was like “I win the award for the crappiest girlfriend ever…EX-girlfriend” like broski y’all have been done for a YEAR you shouldn’t be still mixing this up like wtheckkk. She butted her head into literally everyone’s business the entire time and acted like everything was about her when it wasn’t. Bro she was acting so sure that Nash wasn’t the killer when she hadn’t had a single conversation with him in a year. And if one of her other friends was unsure he was innocent (when it’s not like they didn’t have evidence) she was like “How dare you! He’s your friend!!!” Hey idiot, once again, it’s been a year and they purposely cut off contact. She constantly complained about her parents calling her a liar and being overprotective but she constantly lied to everyone about her ex, including the FBI and her best friends, and then there is a murderer on the loose and her parents are being sooooo annoying bc they are making sure she’s safe. She told her parents to their faces they had no right to stop making her hang out with her ex. Like what the heck girl. They have every single freaking right, they are your PARENTS. She drove me NUTSSSS.
➥ Nash: ok he wasn’t awful ig. Boy just wanted to live a normal life and his frickin ex kept messing it up. He obviously wanted nothing to do with everyone but they kept bringing him into their problems.
⁺˚⋆｡° 🪦 Conclusion 🪦 °｡⋆˚⁺
Do not read this book. I repeat: Do not read this book.
It’s Natasha Preston’s worst book by far and you would like her as an author much better if you just didn’t read it.
0:53 ─〇─────3:20
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
ׂ╰┈➤ Not bc it gives the vibe of the book but bc this book made me question my will to live.
⭐ - 1 Star
First Person POV
Spice Level 🌶️ - .5/5
⤷ pretty much nothing, a few mentions of hookups, a few mentions of light kisses
Age rating - 14+
⤷ some intense scenes, graphic deaths, cussing
⁺˚⋆｡° 🎃 My Thoughts 🎃 °｡⋆˚⁺
Y’all you better buckle up for this rant review, the character section is going to have a LOT
I literally felt like the grinch reading this “Hate, hate, hate, double hate, LOATHE ENTIRELY”
I only finished this book bc someone*side eyes Ari* said the ending of the book was worth it. I thought i’d trust my best friend with my life, but I’m questioning it at this point bc of that blatant lie.
This was the worst Natasha Preston book I’ve ever read, and I adore her books man. I never want to meet her in fear that she is anything like her fmcs. The plot was iffy but the characters made the book unbearable.
Also I figured I’d mention, if anyone didn’t want to read this because of ghosts, it has nothing paranormal in it. The name just references how past murders had haunted the town.
⁺˚⋆｡° 🔪 The Plot 🔪 °｡⋆˚⁺
Where to start….there was so much to this that made it an awful book.
The entire plot was SUPER unrealistic. The idea was interesting but not well written. She tried so hard to make the plot sound like it was narrated by a teen and it was all stupid stereotypes. The fmc snuck out of her house like 8 different times and constantly complained about her parents wanted to stay with her when all her best friends were getting murdered.
The beginning was so rushed and the first murder happened in the first chapter. We knew nothing that was going on, and nothing about the characters so it made it entirely insignificant.
She also had this random character no one ever met as a suspect for some reason and he was never actually introduced in the book, but they were so obsessed with him the whole time.
Also the ending was so obvious….like i was hoping for a Natasha Preston twist but nope…it was the obvious person the entire time.
I wasted so much time on this book and I so wished I had never picked it up.
⁺˚⋆｡° 💀 Characters 💀 °｡⋆˚⁺
: ̗̀➛ The amount of times I wanted to take a break to lay in traffic because of these characters was unreal
➥ Penny: oh my gosh, I was just praying that she would be one of the victims the entire time. She was obsessed with Nash after not talking to him for a year. She was like “I win the award for the crappiest girlfriend ever…EX-girlfriend” like broski y’all have been done for a YEAR you shouldn’t be still mixing this up like wtheckkk. She butted her head into literally everyone’s business the entire time and acted like everything was about her when it wasn’t. Bro she was acting so sure that Nash wasn’t the killer when she hadn’t had a single conversation with him in a year. And if one of her other friends was unsure he was innocent (when it’s not like they didn’t have evidence) she was like “How dare you! He’s your friend!!!” Hey idiot, once again, it’s been a year and they purposely cut off contact. She constantly complained about her parents calling her a liar and being overprotective but she constantly lied to everyone about her ex, including the FBI and her best friends, and then there is a murderer on the loose and her parents are being sooooo annoying bc they are making sure she’s safe. She told her parents to their faces they had no right to stop making her hang out with her ex. Like what the heck girl. They have every single freaking right, they are your PARENTS. She drove me NUTSSSS.
➥ Nash: ok he wasn’t awful ig. Boy just wanted to live a normal life and his frickin ex kept messing it up. He obviously wanted nothing to do with everyone but they kept bringing him into their problems.
⁺˚⋆｡° 🪦 Conclusion 🪦 °｡⋆˚⁺
Do not read this book. I repeat: Do not read this book.
It’s Natasha Preston’s worst book by far and you would like her as an author much better if you just didn’t read it.
October 5, 2023
3.75 🌟 rounded up
As soon as I saw saw that I was approved to read this ARC, I immediately dove right into the book. I've been on a fall/Halloween book kick. This booked checked all those boxes. It the me for a couple curve balls that I didn't expect.
Penny is dealing surg the aftermath after her exes father went on a killing spree right before last Halloween. It's now a year later and it starts happening all over again.
I felt the ending was a bit rushed though.
Please keep in mind this is a YA novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'd like to thank netgalley and the publishers for the m this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
As soon as I saw saw that I was approved to read this ARC, I immediately dove right into the book. I've been on a fall/Halloween book kick. This booked checked all those boxes. It the me for a couple curve balls that I didn't expect.
Penny is dealing surg the aftermath after her exes father went on a killing spree right before last Halloween. It's now a year later and it starts happening all over again.
I felt the ending was a bit rushed though.
Please keep in mind this is a YA novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'd like to thank netgalley and the publishers for the m this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
April 11, 2024
Penny is, hands down, the dumbest protagonist I’ve read about. It’s actually a slap in the face to the reader.
June 1, 2025
I've heard of Natasha Preston countless times as she's pretty famous for her YA thrillers, but this was just so easy to read and kept me guessing!
The novel follows Penny and her small town one year after her now ex-boyfriend's father went on a mass killing spree the week before Halloween. Now the entire town isolates her boyfriend, Nash, and his sister, Grace. Everything is seemingly back to normal until the kills start happening again. Are his children following in his footsteps? Or is there a copycat killer amongst them?
THIS WAS JUST SO FUN. It's September, which legally means the spooky season TBR list has started and I've decided all of my Kindle reads would reflect that! This was a digital advanced reader copy (DRC) that I ate up in less than two days despite being almost 400 pages.
Whilst I did guess the whodunnit, I didn't guess their motive or why they were doing it and how. There's another twist that just GOT ME.
I had no critiques though until the ending. I went to click the next page, and then it was the acknowledgments?!?!?!?! This ends on a cliffhanger. WHERE IS MY CLOSURE? If this were to be a series, which it most likely won't be, I'd understand, but instead, that just ticked me off a little LOL
(Thank you to Edelweiss and Delacorte Press for the DRC!)
The novel follows Penny and her small town one year after her now ex-boyfriend's father went on a mass killing spree the week before Halloween. Now the entire town isolates her boyfriend, Nash, and his sister, Grace. Everything is seemingly back to normal until the kills start happening again. Are his children following in his footsteps? Or is there a copycat killer amongst them?
THIS WAS JUST SO FUN. It's September, which legally means the spooky season TBR list has started and I've decided all of my Kindle reads would reflect that! This was a digital advanced reader copy (DRC) that I ate up in less than two days despite being almost 400 pages.
Whilst I did guess the whodunnit, I didn't guess their motive or why they were doing it and how. There's another twist that just GOT ME.
I had no critiques though until the ending. I went to click the next page, and then it was the acknowledgments?!?!?!?! This ends on a cliffhanger. WHERE IS MY CLOSURE? If this were to be a series, which it most likely won't be, I'd understand, but instead, that just ticked me off a little LOL
(Thank you to Edelweiss and Delacorte Press for the DRC!)
September 27, 2023
After my first Natasha Preston book I swore it would be my last because of that awful cliffhanger ending.
Why, oh why, don’t I listen to myself?
The premise was too much for me to ignore and once again it was all fine until THE DAMN ENDING.
Can she not write endings? Is that why all her books end like this? I don’t know, but this time I’m sticking to my guns. No more Natasha Preston.
Why, oh why, don’t I listen to myself?
The premise was too much for me to ignore and once again it was all fine until THE DAMN ENDING.
Can she not write endings? Is that why all her books end like this? I don’t know, but this time I’m sticking to my guns. No more Natasha Preston.
October 10, 2023
I'm annoyed.
▪︎ I spent the first half of the book wondering if this was a sequel, but I couldn't find any information about book #1. If you're confused like me, it's not a sequel, it just reads like one.
▪︎ I felt like it was trying to be "Scream", but with significantly less wit or excitement. It was not one bit scary.
▪︎ Why is it titled "The Haunting"? It doesn't have anything to do with ghosts or spirits.
▪︎ Don't even get me started on the abrupt ending. (Insert eye roll)
▪︎ I spent the first half of the book wondering if this was a sequel, but I couldn't find any information about book #1. If you're confused like me, it's not a sequel, it just reads like one.
▪︎ I felt like it was trying to be "Scream", but with significantly less wit or excitement. It was not one bit scary.
▪︎ Why is it titled "The Haunting"? It doesn't have anything to do with ghosts or spirits.
▪︎ Don't even get me started on the abrupt ending. (Insert eye roll)
March 15, 2024
I just couldn't get into this. It's name is so misleading. I don't recommend this to anyone.
September 10, 2023
Thank you to Natasha Preston and Penguin Audio for my copy of The Haunting. It was such a fun and atmospheric story. The book was about Penny, a girl who’s ex’s father went on a killing spree last Halloween, murdering four teens. She is trying to stay away from Nash and his family, but as next Halloween approaches, the town is getting nervous. When Penny goes to the Halloween store to find a costume, she finds a body instead. It looks like there is a copycat, and no one is safe.
Thoughts: I loved the Halloween atmosphere of this book. The town had so many fun festive activities and it made the book feel chilly and creepy. The premise was good and I thought it was a fun YA thriller. Sadly, in the first 15% of this book I wrote down what was going to happen and I was 100% right. This book was pretty predictable and felt like the entire story was leading you from the very beginning. 3-stars
Thoughts: I loved the Halloween atmosphere of this book. The town had so many fun festive activities and it made the book feel chilly and creepy. The premise was good and I thought it was a fun YA thriller. Sadly, in the first 15% of this book I wrote down what was going to happen and I was 100% right. This book was pretty predictable and felt like the entire story was leading you from the very beginning. 3-stars
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March 7, 2025
4⭐
spoiler free
14+
romance: 3/10 (mentions of a past relationship, could possibly be sexual. Mentions of crushes and hooking up at parties)
cursing: 3/10 (mostly just hell, but some damn, bitch, and shit)
violence: 7/10 (brutal murder, gun abuse, stabbing, blood)
other: drinking and smoking mentioned.
tw: death, mention of suicide, grief
first person, present tense
– OVERVIEW –
What. The. Frick.
Welcome to today’s episode of Ari Reads. Featuring sleep deprived Ari (everyone’s favorite person isttlga)
This book left me unwell.
My mind is still reeling over it, I don’t even know how I’m going to process the ending. That might have been the worst cliffhanger/unresolved ending I have ever been tortured with.
I don’t know what to say.
This book was so well thought out, like she kept dropping us little hints and I STILL didn’t come anywhere close to guessing whodunnit.
I kinda wanna commit arson now, anyone else up for it? 🧨👀
If you’re putting off this book bc of the title assuming is abt ghosts, then just listen rq.
this is not a paranormal thriller
The title suggests otherwise, but once you read the book it rlly starts to make sense.
See the plot section for more info
I binged the whole audiobook while crocheting a dino for my little brothers (he doesn’t have a name yet lol), so if I spell some of the characters names wrong just tell me and I’l fix it 🤧
– PLOT –
The book takes place during the weeks leading up to Halloween, following Penny and her friends on the one year anniversary of her ex-boyfriend's father’s murder spree. The whole small town is trying to navigate how to be normal, that was until Penny discovers a body while costume shopping.
After this the town is thrown into disaster as the copycat murderer strikes and strikes again.
murder is haunting her little midwestern town, and Penny is now under scrutiny by everyone.
But when the web of lies starts to unravel, what will Penny discover?
Yk, I thought I had stopped torturing you guys with cruddy book summaries but ig notttttt
– CHARACTERS –
Penny
⤷ She actually wasn’t super annoying. Sure she was lwk so freaking stupid, but that’s okay bc literally same.
Nash
⤷ the inheritance games has ruined me, bc I kept picturing him as a motorcycle cowboy lo. But this guy was genuinely so sweet sometimes
Addi
⤷ mmm ngl she seemed a bit like a pick me… but that’s just who she is lol
Zane
⤷ he was nice, but he didn’t rlly stick out to me much
Omar
⤷ he likes to think he’s funny, but he’s rlly not. He’s a living, breathing dad joke.
Grace
⤷ I don’t get her. Idk she just confused me a lot of the book
– CONCLUSION –
You should read this 🙂↕️🙂↕️
spoiler free
14+
romance: 3/10 (mentions of a past relationship, could possibly be sexual. Mentions of crushes and hooking up at parties)
cursing: 3/10 (mostly just hell, but some damn, bitch, and shit)
violence: 7/10 (brutal murder, gun abuse, stabbing, blood)
other: drinking and smoking mentioned.
tw: death, mention of suicide, grief
first person, present tense
– OVERVIEW –
What. The. Frick.
Welcome to today’s episode of Ari Reads. Featuring sleep deprived Ari (everyone’s favorite person isttlga)
This book left me unwell.
My mind is still reeling over it, I don’t even know how I’m going to process the ending. That might have been the worst cliffhanger/unresolved ending I have ever been tortured with.
I don’t know what to say.
This book was so well thought out, like she kept dropping us little hints and I STILL didn’t come anywhere close to guessing whodunnit.
I kinda wanna commit arson now, anyone else up for it? 🧨👀
If you’re putting off this book bc of the title assuming is abt ghosts, then just listen rq.
this is not a paranormal thriller
The title suggests otherwise, but once you read the book it rlly starts to make sense.
See the plot section for more info
I binged the whole audiobook while crocheting a dino for my little brothers (he doesn’t have a name yet lol), so if I spell some of the characters names wrong just tell me and I’l fix it 🤧
– PLOT –
The book takes place during the weeks leading up to Halloween, following Penny and her friends on the one year anniversary of her ex-boyfriend's father’s murder spree. The whole small town is trying to navigate how to be normal, that was until Penny discovers a body while costume shopping.
After this the town is thrown into disaster as the copycat murderer strikes and strikes again.
murder is haunting her little midwestern town, and Penny is now under scrutiny by everyone.
But when the web of lies starts to unravel, what will Penny discover?
Yk, I thought I had stopped torturing you guys with cruddy book summaries but ig notttttt
– CHARACTERS –
Penny
⤷ She actually wasn’t super annoying. Sure she was lwk so freaking stupid, but that’s okay bc literally same.
Nash
⤷ the inheritance games has ruined me, bc I kept picturing him as a motorcycle cowboy lo. But this guy was genuinely so sweet sometimes
Addi
⤷ mmm ngl she seemed a bit like a pick me… but that’s just who she is lol
Zane
⤷ he was nice, but he didn’t rlly stick out to me much
Omar
⤷ he likes to think he’s funny, but he’s rlly not. He’s a living, breathing dad joke.
Grace
⤷ I don’t get her. Idk she just confused me a lot of the book
– CONCLUSION –
You should read this 🙂↕️🙂↕️
January 20, 2025
5 ✰ {14+}
＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊
i knew there was gonna be a cliffhanger.
ೃ⁀➷ i knew i was gonna be mad at it. i knew that i would tell myself that i would never read a book like this again. and i still read it.
but out of all the natasha preston books i’ve read, this was the best. the mystery was so well thought out and intricate, the author didn’t miss any concluding details when it came down to the last 20 pages. and i never could have guessed that ending!! i was really sad when i read who the killer was, i don’t get why authors have to do this to us 😫 but i think this is the first preston book where i didn’t predict it. this gave super creepy vibes too, the setting is perfect and for it to be during halloween made it even scarier. the suspense is super high too because you’re essentially following a copycat killer who is committing murders exactly in line with a killer who got arrested in their town a year prior. the first few murders happen at the exact same time as they did when it happened the year before so it’s very suspenseful because you know when the murders will take place and all you can do is wait until someone gets killed. it doesn’t go into too much detail on the bodies but there is a LOT of blood mentioned. there was a cute romance in this too! honestly didn’t get much out of it and they were in a fight most of the time but the moments that we got where they were both in a good mood were very nice. i loved all the characters in this too! i’ve had a hard time liking characters in her other books but in this one they were amazing. the endings of her books are usually a bad ending for the characters but i think this one can be interpreted either way because it doesn’t tell you for sure what happens, and you can create post-killer reveal scenarios for yourself. but yeah, definitely give this one a try, it’s a great book for the fall time and is sure to keep you on your toes 😉
* 。• ˚ ˚˛ * 。° 。 •˚ * 。• ˚ ˚˛ * 。° 。 •˚ * 。• ˚ ˚˛ * 。°
ׂ╰┈➤ “I've been finding it increasingly difficult to trap my emotions inside.”
＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊
i knew there was gonna be a cliffhanger.
ೃ⁀➷ i knew i was gonna be mad at it. i knew that i would tell myself that i would never read a book like this again. and i still read it.
but out of all the natasha preston books i’ve read, this was the best. the mystery was so well thought out and intricate, the author didn’t miss any concluding details when it came down to the last 20 pages. and i never could have guessed that ending!! i was really sad when i read who the killer was, i don’t get why authors have to do this to us 😫 but i think this is the first preston book where i didn’t predict it. this gave super creepy vibes too, the setting is perfect and for it to be during halloween made it even scarier. the suspense is super high too because you’re essentially following a copycat killer who is committing murders exactly in line with a killer who got arrested in their town a year prior. the first few murders happen at the exact same time as they did when it happened the year before so it’s very suspenseful because you know when the murders will take place and all you can do is wait until someone gets killed. it doesn’t go into too much detail on the bodies but there is a LOT of blood mentioned. there was a cute romance in this too! honestly didn’t get much out of it and they were in a fight most of the time but the moments that we got where they were both in a good mood were very nice. i loved all the characters in this too! i’ve had a hard time liking characters in her other books but in this one they were amazing. the endings of her books are usually a bad ending for the characters but i think this one can be interpreted either way because it doesn’t tell you for sure what happens, and you can create post-killer reveal scenarios for yourself. but yeah, definitely give this one a try, it’s a great book for the fall time and is sure to keep you on your toes 😉
* 。• ˚ ˚˛ * 。° 。 •˚ * 。• ˚ ˚˛ * 。° 。 •˚ * 。• ˚ ˚˛ * 。°
ׂ╰┈➤ “I've been finding it increasingly difficult to trap my emotions inside.”
October 12, 2023
Nash and Graces father was sent to prison for the murders of their friends. More murders start occurring and Penny, Nash’s ex girlfriend starts looking into the murders. This was a great, creepy, Halloween read that keeps you guessing. Thanks NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this free readers copy!
October 29, 2024
It was good until that damn ending!!
November 16, 2024
THAT ENDING?
I need more, you need to make a little novella, please?
Ah, this was such a cute little light and fluffy (my version) in between some twisted shit. Not that his wasn't twisted, actually - it's me that's probably too twisted.
Definitely purchasing some more Natasha Preston books, I liked this one more than I thought because it was high schoolers and I tend to shy away from that. However, she did good with this book!
I need more, you need to make a little novella, please?
Ah, this was such a cute little light and fluffy (my version) in between some twisted shit. Not that his wasn't twisted, actually - it's me that's probably too twisted.
Definitely purchasing some more Natasha Preston books, I liked this one more than I thought because it was high schoolers and I tend to shy away from that. However, she did good with this book!
June 25, 2024
I read this in a day because I just couldn’t put it down. My favorite holiday and serial killers sprinkled in? Count me in.
I will say that it was a tad bit predictable to me though which is why I docked a star. That, and it ended on a cliffhanger with no epilogue. But overall it was a very enjoyable read!
I will say that it was a tad bit predictable to me though which is why I docked a star. That, and it ended on a cliffhanger with no epilogue. But overall it was a very enjoyable read!
October 11, 2023
I eat Preston’s shit UP! Every. Fucking. Time.
God, this was so good! Not my favorite of hers, as this one was a tad more predictable than the others, but still rocked me to my CORE. There were still so many surprises and twists and turns that I adored.
God, this was so good! Not my favorite of hers, as this one was a tad more predictable than the others, but still rocked me to my CORE. There were still so many surprises and twists and turns that I adored.
April 22, 2025
What was that. Review to come…
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