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Liarland
A twisty roller coaster ride from start to finish, this suspenseful, romantic, theme-park thriller will have you on the edge of your seat.
Gwen’s summer job at a theme park is cool until people start dying...
After her best friend, Valerie, disappears, an anonymous account slides into Gwen’s DMs with a deal: help shut down Pineland or Valerie will die next.
Between shady operations and “freak accidents,” it shouldn't be too hard to tarnish Pineland’s already-declining reputation. But why is the killer so desperate to close the park?
Anxious to get Valerie out alive, Gwen hatches a plan of her own. Enlisting the help of her cute but off-limits neighbor, she schemes to unravel the killer’s identity. The race is on to unmask the murderer before anyone else’s life goes downhill.
Gwen’s summer job at a theme park is cool until people start dying...
After her best friend, Valerie, disappears, an anonymous account slides into Gwen’s DMs with a deal: help shut down Pineland or Valerie will die next.
Between shady operations and “freak accidents,” it shouldn't be too hard to tarnish Pineland’s already-declining reputation. But why is the killer so desperate to close the park?
Anxious to get Valerie out alive, Gwen hatches a plan of her own. Enlisting the help of her cute but off-limits neighbor, she schemes to unravel the killer’s identity. The race is on to unmask the murderer before anyone else’s life goes downhill.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2024
268 people are currently reading
3374 people want to read
About the author
Madison Rupp
3 books93 followersMadison Rupp is the author of Liarland, Liar Go Round, and Death Dates. Based in Orlando, Madison is frequently found scribbling in a quiet corner of a theme park. She is a firm believer that riding a roller coaster cures writer's block.
Find her online at madisonrupp.com and @madisonrupp on Instagram, TikTok, and X.
Find her online at madisonrupp.com and @madisonrupp on Instagram, TikTok, and X.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
September 5, 2024
I’m giving this 3 stars…. I wanted to love this book so much. The cover is BEAUTIFUL. The description sounded so fun… I am a sucker for an amusement park setting, throw in some murder and I’m usually hooked.
While I enjoyed parts of the book, I really wasn’t excited to pick it up. It wasn’t a page turner. It was almost a little bit too Scooby Doo for me even though I do enjoy YA thriller books. This would even be a good book for a preteen who’s wanting to get into thrillers.
While I enjoyed parts of the book, I really wasn’t excited to pick it up. It wasn’t a page turner. It was almost a little bit too Scooby Doo for me even though I do enjoy YA thriller books. This would even be a good book for a preteen who’s wanting to get into thrillers.
June 11, 2025
3.5 rounded up because the author is an Orlando girlyyy and we support.
December 17, 2024
I think this has an *immense* amount of potential, but just needed some more passes of revision.
There was a little too much tell-not -show, and while that was okay at the beginning (tbh, I actually prefer it to the usual show-not-tell rule, so I was happy at first), after a while, as more and more backstory plot points and side characters at the park were introduced, it all felt a little rushed. I would’ve liked to see a little more establishing time with Marty, Amanda, Weston, and Gwen’s parents. More than that, though, I would’ve liked to see some deeper digging into the backstory - into what being at Open Season was like, including unimportant details, and into Ride or Die and what it was like for Gwen and Valerie to run it (pre-hacking). These things aren’t necessary for plot details, but they are necessary, I think, to fully be in Gwen’s mindset as she navigates the account and her place at the park.
I also think the pacing could have been a lot better; it felt like thing after thing kept happening without them *feeling* like they were happening, because again we never got to sit in any particular moment. For example, after Gwen finds the lipstick message, I could see her going home and sitting for a while to reminisce more thoroughly on she and Valerie’s past; I think a slow moment like that would make the next discovery more impactful, and so on.
Because of the rushed plot elements, the hints laid out for who the culprit was never fully sank in for me. When they were brought back in the end as proof for the revelations, I was more confused than I was satisfied. I also think there were *too* many revelations, back to back to back, from . I understand that Gwen’s head is spinning and this is realistic, but again, without the depth to back up each of these accusations, they just felt repetitive. I, personally, wouldn’t have included the red herring of , and I wouldn’t have done the switch back and forth between
That all being said, I still really liked the characters, and I *loved* Rupp’s description of Pineland. One of my favorite theme park lands ever is Grizzly Peak at DCA, which is similarly Natl Park themed, so I would probably love visiting Pineland if it were real!! Rupp definitely has a lot of talent; the biggest thing I can say about this book is that, until the climax (when I was overwhelmed with info) I was always intrigued and never bored. I just think it needs a little smoothing out. With incredible respect - particularly for Rupp’s talent - I think she might need a new editor.
Purchased at: Writer's Block Bookstore in Winter Garden, Fl <3 Autographed copy!!! :)
There was a little too much tell-not -show, and while that was okay at the beginning (tbh, I actually prefer it to the usual show-not-tell rule, so I was happy at first), after a while, as more and more backstory plot points and side characters at the park were introduced, it all felt a little rushed. I would’ve liked to see a little more establishing time with Marty, Amanda, Weston, and Gwen’s parents. More than that, though, I would’ve liked to see some deeper digging into the backstory - into what being at Open Season was like, including unimportant details, and into Ride or Die and what it was like for Gwen and Valerie to run it (pre-hacking). These things aren’t necessary for plot details, but they are necessary, I think, to fully be in Gwen’s mindset as she navigates the account and her place at the park.
I also think the pacing could have been a lot better; it felt like thing after thing kept happening without them *feeling* like they were happening, because again we never got to sit in any particular moment. For example, after Gwen finds the lipstick message, I could see her going home and sitting for a while to reminisce more thoroughly on she and Valerie’s past; I think a slow moment like that would make the next discovery more impactful, and so on.
Because of the rushed plot elements, the hints laid out for who the culprit was never fully sank in for me. When they were brought back in the end as proof for the revelations, I was more confused than I was satisfied. I also think there were *too* many revelations, back to back to back, from . I understand that Gwen’s head is spinning and this is realistic, but again, without the depth to back up each of these accusations, they just felt repetitive. I, personally, wouldn’t have included the red herring of , and I wouldn’t have done the switch back and forth between
That all being said, I still really liked the characters, and I *loved* Rupp’s description of Pineland. One of my favorite theme park lands ever is Grizzly Peak at DCA, which is similarly Natl Park themed, so I would probably love visiting Pineland if it were real!! Rupp definitely has a lot of talent; the biggest thing I can say about this book is that, until the climax (when I was overwhelmed with info) I was always intrigued and never bored. I just think it needs a little smoothing out. With incredible respect - particularly for Rupp’s talent - I think she might need a new editor.
Purchased at: Writer's Block Bookstore in Winter Garden, Fl <3 Autographed copy!!! :)
October 17, 2024
Hi. 👋 First things first: this was a rage read. Everything below is my own personal opinion. (If you want some recs that are better than this book, scroll to the end.)
There’s one big thing I want to state: I guessed the twist of this by 9% into the book. It was almost a slap in the reader’s face how obvious and superfluous the “foreshadowing” was. I am so disappointed that Rupp felt the need to overemphasize the hints SO much. At the end, I was like “okay, but that’s not the real ending.” And each time I was right until well, the real ending came and I was completely correct. 🤷♀️
To that point, this book felt like a middle grade level book in its style. We get very large “telling not showing” vibes from the get go and each time there’s supposed to be a “twist”, the issues go nowhere and you’re like “ok that’s lame.” And while the Mg vibes themselves aren’t the problem… the bigger problem is that you have MG vibes with explicit death that is NOT middle grade worthy. I don’t know who this book is for. I’d never give it to an 18yo who is way too smart for this book but I also wouldn’t give it to a 12yo who may be too young for this much blood. 🙃 So who is this book for exactly?
It felt at times… to have too many random ideas and not enough focus. I could see sometimes where Rupp was trying to go with some subplots but they never … hit. The friends to “not speaking” to lovers made no sense. She basically let him leave her for a whole year and she didn’t give a shit??? 💩 and then when he’s nice to her again, she’s all “aww I actually love him” - except she didn’t. I still don’t believe this 180 at all. Because if she cared that much about him, she would not have let a stupid “but I can’t date a townie” nonsense stop her????? This girl does not love this boy. 🤷♀️ I said what I said.
The idea that all these kids were so poor?? Why are they all so poor?? And what is this idea that this girl needs to go to CA for environmental science?? And why does she even like that topic? And wait, why did her bff get the ranger job over her and why was she surprised about it? Was it not an interview process? Did they not discuss the position? Why did they have a fight and then just ignore it? Why why why. I kept asking myself all these why questions and they were never answered. There’s plenty more than the above. It all made no sense. Rupp would tell us something like it was fact. “Our relationship was so solid that we could ignore that we fought the night before.” WHY RUPP. Because I don’t SEE it. Show me their friendship. SHOW ME!!!!!!
All in all, I had so many issues with this book and I want to give you all some alternative mystery/thrillers that have similar themes but do it all much better!!
For text-based anonymous messaging from a killer, try These Deadly Games by Diana Urban.
For “kids solving a murder”, try This is Our Story by Ashley Elston.
Both of these books are enormously better than Liarland. Again, my own opinion. Happy reading!
There’s one big thing I want to state: I guessed the twist of this by 9% into the book. It was almost a slap in the reader’s face how obvious and superfluous the “foreshadowing” was. I am so disappointed that Rupp felt the need to overemphasize the hints SO much. At the end, I was like “okay, but that’s not the real ending.” And each time I was right until well, the real ending came and I was completely correct. 🤷♀️
To that point, this book felt like a middle grade level book in its style. We get very large “telling not showing” vibes from the get go and each time there’s supposed to be a “twist”, the issues go nowhere and you’re like “ok that’s lame.” And while the Mg vibes themselves aren’t the problem… the bigger problem is that you have MG vibes with explicit death that is NOT middle grade worthy. I don’t know who this book is for. I’d never give it to an 18yo who is way too smart for this book but I also wouldn’t give it to a 12yo who may be too young for this much blood. 🙃 So who is this book for exactly?
It felt at times… to have too many random ideas and not enough focus. I could see sometimes where Rupp was trying to go with some subplots but they never … hit. The friends to “not speaking” to lovers made no sense. She basically let him leave her for a whole year and she didn’t give a shit??? 💩 and then when he’s nice to her again, she’s all “aww I actually love him” - except she didn’t. I still don’t believe this 180 at all. Because if she cared that much about him, she would not have let a stupid “but I can’t date a townie” nonsense stop her????? This girl does not love this boy. 🤷♀️ I said what I said.
The idea that all these kids were so poor?? Why are they all so poor?? And what is this idea that this girl needs to go to CA for environmental science?? And why does she even like that topic? And wait, why did her bff get the ranger job over her and why was she surprised about it? Was it not an interview process? Did they not discuss the position? Why did they have a fight and then just ignore it? Why why why. I kept asking myself all these why questions and they were never answered. There’s plenty more than the above. It all made no sense. Rupp would tell us something like it was fact. “Our relationship was so solid that we could ignore that we fought the night before.” WHY RUPP. Because I don’t SEE it. Show me their friendship. SHOW ME!!!!!!
All in all, I had so many issues with this book and I want to give you all some alternative mystery/thrillers that have similar themes but do it all much better!!
For text-based anonymous messaging from a killer, try These Deadly Games by Diana Urban.
For “kids solving a murder”, try This is Our Story by Ashley Elston.
Both of these books are enormously better than Liarland. Again, my own opinion. Happy reading!
November 5, 2024
Wow, I thought I was reading a Natasha Preston book! Loved it!
Great for YA book readers.
Quick and easy read.
Great for YA book readers.
Quick and easy read.
February 11, 2025
I wanted to like this … so much. Beautiful book cover, fantastic, spooky theme park setting … but … it misses the mark.
It was confusing, convoluted, and honestly, most of the actions taken by individuals made little to no-sense nor did they really serve to drive forward the plot.
I know it’s a YA novel (and you know I love me some YA) but wtf is wrong with these adults? Where is the police presence? Where is the fricking town sheriff or mayor or whatever being like, “eh, buncha kids are dead … maybe we should investigate?” Felt like it coulda been a random episode of Pretty Little Liars with all the lack of adulting happening 😅
It was confusing, convoluted, and honestly, most of the actions taken by individuals made little to no-sense nor did they really serve to drive forward the plot.
I know it’s a YA novel (and you know I love me some YA) but wtf is wrong with these adults? Where is the police presence? Where is the fricking town sheriff or mayor or whatever being like, “eh, buncha kids are dead … maybe we should investigate?” Felt like it coulda been a random episode of Pretty Little Liars with all the lack of adulting happening 😅
August 19, 2024
This is a very enjoyable read! I absolutely love the setting, and I wish it existed in real life (minus the murders, LOL). Twists and turns kept me reading and wanting to know what happened.
August 20, 2024
Congrats on publishing your first book! I really enjoyed it. It was refreshing to read a book that dove right into the story rather than dragging it out hundreds of pages before anything happens. Characters and story are relatable. Nice, easy read. I did think it was pretty predictable...until I got to the end and realized I had it all wrong!
August 6, 2024
Young adult thriller!
Read this book if you want the twist and turns of the rollercoaster they are riding! The upside down thoughts and the epic conclusion! The round and round of the murders! Who did it???
Read this book if you want the twist and turns of the rollercoaster they are riding! The upside down thoughts and the epic conclusion! The round and round of the murders! Who did it???
September 24, 2024
There were so many twists & turns in this book, I didn't trust a single character! The scandals were juicy, the romance was cute, & the plot was intriguing. As someone who worked at a theme park, so much of this book was very relatable!
June 7, 2025
i grew up on Goosebumps and this definitely had goosebumpy vibes, it made me feel very nostalgic, this book is so good, i couldn’t put it down, i had a feeling i was going to love this one from the cover alone. this book will leave you on the edge of your seat, it's a quick read thanks to the pacing and plot twists, the author really keeps you guessing on “who did it.” the whodunnit side was filled with twists and turns, when you finally think you have it figured out who the villain is you're almost immediately proved wrong every time. i highly recommend it!
January 13, 2025
Where to start? A lot of crazy stuff happened here. It was a strange YA book that took place in a Michigan theme park. The park was themed around squirrels and trees. I have had a hard time believing that this would draw a crowd but maybe it would. Then people start dying and a mystery account online is blasting the park for their lack of response. Our main character is a confused girl who has a LOT of friends and co-workers. You might get confused and lose track but it's okay. Everything is tied together in the end. I should add that I have worked in a theme park and I found myself smiling and laughing at the climax of the story because I would have loved to see something like that happen.
February 27, 2025
This could’ve been so good, i love her writing style but the plot sadly just wasnt it for me
April 2, 2025
Such a great a thrill! I loved every bit of this book. My last experience with an amusement park read seemed to drag and became very repetitive. Liarland hooks you from the start and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Just when you want more, you're given another piece of evidence you didn't see coming. Literally felt like a roller coaster ride, there's a twist to every turn of the story.
January 10, 2026
A little slow at first but then I got into it. The book ended ok so not sure what to expect in book 2. I tried not to think about "whodunit" and was a little surprised at the ending. I think if I had thought about it more I could have figured it out, but this was a good read regardless.
June 11, 2025
Okay I real enjoyed this book. I loved Pretty Little Liars growing up and I’ve worked at theme parks so I was hooked from the beginning! I think this is a great YA read even for adults!
Read
July 5, 2025It had a lot of potential but it’s a dnf for me
July 16, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
This was a fun, quick little thriller to read. I really liked that it was a YA book and that it focused on kids working during the summer in an amusement park. You don't see a lot of those around. I will say some parts dragged on and some were cut short, but the story was fun and although you can see some parts coming, there are a few you dont expect.
This was a fun, quick little thriller to read. I really liked that it was a YA book and that it focused on kids working during the summer in an amusement park. You don't see a lot of those around. I will say some parts dragged on and some were cut short, but the story was fun and although you can see some parts coming, there are a few you dont expect.
July 25, 2025
eh
2.5 stars. Was okay, glad the ending was better than I expected. If it was a longer book probably would have DNF
2.5 stars. Was okay, glad the ending was better than I expected. If it was a longer book probably would have DNF
October 15, 2025
3.5⭐️. I found the author on TikTok and loved the cover and the book sounded interesting. This was a nice quick standalone mystery book which I read during my breaks at work. I enjoyed the plot twists and really enjoy when background info is discovered mid book so that the character & reader are both like GASP and OHHH at the same time. The mystery is very good, but as with some other books, I couldn’t connect to the character and setting because it felt too jouvenile for me. That is a personal preference though having graduated college last year, the summer camp job and looking for colleges felt unrelatable at my stage in life.
Not mystery spoilers but comments on interaction between characters that develop over the course of the book:
I really did like Dev and how his character is written, it is more common to see men rejecting women than to see the other way around and this was refreshing and realistic to see a man rejected. That side of it between Dev & Gwen and her reason for rejecting him and how their dynamic played out felt more relatable and mature (if that makes sense) and I really enjoyed that. I liked that Dev’s reasoning for staying at Pineland wasn’t only “bc Gwen is there” , but also for other reasons and that their lives didn’t revolve around each other.
Format: E-book
Not mystery spoilers but comments on interaction between characters that develop over the course of the book:
I really did like Dev and how his character is written, it is more common to see men rejecting women than to see the other way around and this was refreshing and realistic to see a man rejected. That side of it between Dev & Gwen and her reason for rejecting him and how their dynamic played out felt more relatable and mature (if that makes sense) and I really enjoyed that. I liked that Dev’s reasoning for staying at Pineland wasn’t only “bc Gwen is there” , but also for other reasons and that their lives didn’t revolve around each other.
Format: E-book
November 4, 2025
As a former Disney and Universal employee, and someone who worked in a local theme park in my home state, I LIVED for the theme park tropes, nuances, insider feelings, and little bits of culture that Madison Rupp wove into Liar Land. The setting felt so familiar, while still being incredibly unsettling. She took something that is typically fun, family-oriented, bright, colorful, and comforting…and turned it into a suspenseful horror atmosphere that still felt very realistic to the people who’ve lived that life behind the magic.
I absolutely applaud Madison for not rushing and throwing all the information at once. So many thrillers burn too fast and then lose their punch by the end, this one didn’t. The pacing was perfectly built. The ending was extremely well done, intentional, slow-burn intense…and still left me biting my nails.
This is one of the rare books where I genuinely could not figure out the culprit or the bigger “who” of it all from the beginning. I was guessing, theorizing, trying to piece it together the entire way through — and that shows how powerful Madison is as a writer.
She controlled the story. She controlled the reveals. She controlled the tension. And she didn’t let the reader get too comfortable.
I will absolutely be picking up the second book, Liar Go Round, soon. If it’s anywhere close to the same level of quality, pacing, and twist satisfaction as this one, then I already know I’m going to be hooked all over again.
I absolutely applaud Madison for not rushing and throwing all the information at once. So many thrillers burn too fast and then lose their punch by the end, this one didn’t. The pacing was perfectly built. The ending was extremely well done, intentional, slow-burn intense…and still left me biting my nails.
This is one of the rare books where I genuinely could not figure out the culprit or the bigger “who” of it all from the beginning. I was guessing, theorizing, trying to piece it together the entire way through — and that shows how powerful Madison is as a writer.
She controlled the story. She controlled the reveals. She controlled the tension. And she didn’t let the reader get too comfortable.
I will absolutely be picking up the second book, Liar Go Round, soon. If it’s anywhere close to the same level of quality, pacing, and twist satisfaction as this one, then I already know I’m going to be hooked all over again.
September 27, 2024
Liarland by Madison Rupp is a captivating YA thriller that plunges readers into the vibrant yet sinister world of an amusement park. The story centers around Gwen, a spirited teenager whose life takes a dark turn when her best friend mysteriously disappears before her shift. As she delves deeper into the park's secrets, Gwen receives a series of chilling messages that heighten the sense of danger lurking behind the park's cheerful facade. Rupp masterfully crafts an atmosphere filled with suspense, using vivid descriptions of the park's attractions to create a juxtaposition between the thrill of rides and the underlying tension of Gwen's quest for truth.
The characters in Liarland are well-developed and relatable, particularly Gwen, whose determination and resilience will resonate with young adult readers. Rupp skillfully balances elements of mystery and romance, allowing readers to become emotionally invested in Gwen's journey. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end, making it difficult to put the book down. With its engaging narrative and rich setting, Liarland offers an exhilarating experience that will appeal to fans of thrillers and mysteries alike. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for its ability to entertain while exploring themes of friendship, trust, and the courage to confront one’s fears.
The characters in Liarland are well-developed and relatable, particularly Gwen, whose determination and resilience will resonate with young adult readers. Rupp skillfully balances elements of mystery and romance, allowing readers to become emotionally invested in Gwen's journey. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end, making it difficult to put the book down. With its engaging narrative and rich setting, Liarland offers an exhilarating experience that will appeal to fans of thrillers and mysteries alike. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for its ability to entertain while exploring themes of friendship, trust, and the courage to confront one’s fears.
September 22, 2024
I grew up on Goosebumps and this definitely had goosebumpy vibes, it made me feel very nostalgic!
I liked the romance side, it was a very cute storyline.
The whodunnit side was filled with twists and turns, when you finally think you have it figured out who the villain is you're almost immediately proved wrong every time. I really enjoyed it and it kept me hooked til the very end.
As an avid theme park addict, the descriptions of the parks in the books felt so very real, I almost felt like I was there with all the characters! I could see everything perfectly in my mind's eye from the vivid and captivating descriptions provided. I really liked that.
I enjoyed this book as a full-grown adult but I feel like it could be enjoyed by both adults and teens/tweens alike. A good gateway book for younger readers that are wanting to getting into the light horror fiction scene. Would definitely recommend, I can't wait to read more stories from this new author.
Read the bulk of this while in HHN house lines or laying in bed recovering from HHN, it felt very on-theme for that haha.
I liked the romance side, it was a very cute storyline.
The whodunnit side was filled with twists and turns, when you finally think you have it figured out who the villain is you're almost immediately proved wrong every time. I really enjoyed it and it kept me hooked til the very end.
As an avid theme park addict, the descriptions of the parks in the books felt so very real, I almost felt like I was there with all the characters! I could see everything perfectly in my mind's eye from the vivid and captivating descriptions provided. I really liked that.
I enjoyed this book as a full-grown adult but I feel like it could be enjoyed by both adults and teens/tweens alike. A good gateway book for younger readers that are wanting to getting into the light horror fiction scene. Would definitely recommend, I can't wait to read more stories from this new author.
Read the bulk of this while in HHN house lines or laying in bed recovering from HHN, it felt very on-theme for that haha.
October 2, 2024
This book had potential but I see a lot of books make the mistakes this one made.
First I want to say that the characters were decently written and the high schoolers felt like high schoolers. Some of the grown up characters were absurd though.
I liked the idea of a theme park with mysterious deaths occurring but it could have done so much better at exploring this idea.
The romance plot was unnecessary and took up space that could have been used to better flesh out the plot. Also the seventy two different plot twists and dramatic moments that occurred took me out of the book entirely. The first big reveal would have been an ending, if fleshed out, that would have been satisfying. Also the author raised several questions throughout the story to drive the plot along and create doubt. These never got answered and I think would have created a better flow and believability to the story if they had been answered. But as it stands they feel like they added little to the book and were more distracting than anything.
First I want to say that the characters were decently written and the high schoolers felt like high schoolers. Some of the grown up characters were absurd though.
I liked the idea of a theme park with mysterious deaths occurring but it could have done so much better at exploring this idea.
The romance plot was unnecessary and took up space that could have been used to better flesh out the plot. Also the seventy two different plot twists and dramatic moments that occurred took me out of the book entirely. The first big reveal would have been an ending, if fleshed out, that would have been satisfying. Also the author raised several questions throughout the story to drive the plot along and create doubt. These never got answered and I think would have created a better flow and believability to the story if they had been answered. But as it stands they feel like they added little to the book and were more distracting than anything.
October 13, 2024
thriller + theme park + who dunn it? The best of the best! And it’s her debut book?!!! Feels like being on a rollercoaster of a book but in the best way possible!
I feel like it’s a 4.5 to a 5 for me just because YA is not my chosen pick of a genre typically, BUT…
OMG she nailed every part of the book flawlessly. I would read anything she writes again and again!
It was just enough of suspense, romance, mystery, and so much twists and turns!! It was a good pace as well even from the beginning! Right when I thought (even to the end) that I thought I was right about the ending and there wasn’t more involved, I was proven wrong!!! I loved how perfectly she captured the LIARland aspect in how the characters couldn’t trust anyone, and yet still in the end learn to trust them again🥹 and work hard for what you love and what you want.
What an amazing world she created in this book and I cannot wait to her next book and to see what amazing things are ahead of Madison!! Hope there’s more in store for this style of books cause of amazing and different!!
Can’t recommend her enough!!!!❤️🎡🎟️
I feel like it’s a 4.5 to a 5 for me just because YA is not my chosen pick of a genre typically, BUT…
OMG she nailed every part of the book flawlessly. I would read anything she writes again and again!
It was just enough of suspense, romance, mystery, and so much twists and turns!! It was a good pace as well even from the beginning! Right when I thought (even to the end) that I thought I was right about the ending and there wasn’t more involved, I was proven wrong!!! I loved how perfectly she captured the LIARland aspect in how the characters couldn’t trust anyone, and yet still in the end learn to trust them again🥹 and work hard for what you love and what you want.
What an amazing world she created in this book and I cannot wait to her next book and to see what amazing things are ahead of Madison!! Hope there’s more in store for this style of books cause of amazing and different!!
Can’t recommend her enough!!!!❤️🎡🎟️
June 17, 2025
All Gwen wants is to leave her tourist-trap town with her best friend Valerie; and her job at Pineland might just be her ticket out... but then people start dying. After Valerie disappears, Gwen starts getting DMs blackmailing her into helping shut down Pineland. Ready to do anything to save her friend, Gwen does as she's told... that is, until she decides to find the killer herself.
Part romance, part thriller; this book screams YA in the best possible way. It's a captivating read but is appropriate for a younger audience. As a theme park enthusiast, I was dying to read this book and it did not disappoint. Does it sometimes fall into the YA trappings of the main characters making the worst possible decisions over and over again? Yeah... but who says that's always a bad thing? If done well, and this book does it well, I don't mind a few SMH moments. I really loved this book and was stuck firmly between never wanting it to end and wanting to know the ending. This one's a Read It for any theme park lovers!
Part romance, part thriller; this book screams YA in the best possible way. It's a captivating read but is appropriate for a younger audience. As a theme park enthusiast, I was dying to read this book and it did not disappoint. Does it sometimes fall into the YA trappings of the main characters making the worst possible decisions over and over again? Yeah... but who says that's always a bad thing? If done well, and this book does it well, I don't mind a few SMH moments. I really loved this book and was stuck firmly between never wanting it to end and wanting to know the ending. This one's a Read It for any theme park lovers!
September 29, 2025
i feel like this book had a lot of potential but something was missing, the plot was so good like a murderer killing employees of a park ??? I LOVED THAT when i read the description but tbh idk it never really clicked w me. it was kinda boring, i wasn't really hooked with this like i thought i would be after reading the description.
i feel like it was a simple story, you kinda know what is gonna happen and tbh i half read this book, skipped over a few parts. sure i read each chapter but i found myself trying to finish it more than reading it for fun yk. also it lowkey reminded me of gggtm? idk if it's bcs Dev and Ravi are lowkey similar and so is Gwen and Pip.
i feel like this could've been so good but idk i would not read it again, but sure as a first book, Madison did a good job id say!
also the couple didn't click w me either, i didn't feel any connection and i wasn't affected when they got together. i was js like lol okay they got together now what so ig that tells you a lot abt how detached i felt to this book
i feel like it was a simple story, you kinda know what is gonna happen and tbh i half read this book, skipped over a few parts. sure i read each chapter but i found myself trying to finish it more than reading it for fun yk. also it lowkey reminded me of gggtm? idk if it's bcs Dev and Ravi are lowkey similar and so is Gwen and Pip.
i feel like this could've been so good but idk i would not read it again, but sure as a first book, Madison did a good job id say!
also the couple didn't click w me either, i didn't feel any connection and i wasn't affected when they got together. i was js like lol okay they got together now what so ig that tells you a lot abt how detached i felt to this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2024
Thrillers cure slumps and man did this get me out of my summer long slump🤭
Gwen works in a theme park, but finds herself gaining the attention of a serial killer. After 3 crew members die and Valerie, her bestie, goes missing, the killer slids into Gwen’s DMs to strike a deal. Get the park shut down, people stop dying, and her best friend is returned safely. Oh no problem, just a regular Tuesday afternoon.
I really enjoyed how well rounded Gwen was honestly. She was able to remain calm when things started going crazy. I loved seeing how much she developed from the beginning too. She went from seeming jaded and set on escape, to learning to enjoy that was around her while in the moment. Even her friendship with Valerie showed so much growth from the initial fight to her learning the truth about Valerie she never knew (but like lowkey cut her off)
100% did not guess the ending. Definitely a must read going into spooky season. Bonus points if you’re enjoy spooky season activities at theme parks🤌🏼
Gwen works in a theme park, but finds herself gaining the attention of a serial killer. After 3 crew members die and Valerie, her bestie, goes missing, the killer slids into Gwen’s DMs to strike a deal. Get the park shut down, people stop dying, and her best friend is returned safely. Oh no problem, just a regular Tuesday afternoon.
I really enjoyed how well rounded Gwen was honestly. She was able to remain calm when things started going crazy. I loved seeing how much she developed from the beginning too. She went from seeming jaded and set on escape, to learning to enjoy that was around her while in the moment. Even her friendship with Valerie showed so much growth from the initial fight to her learning the truth about Valerie she never knew (but like lowkey cut her off)
100% did not guess the ending. Definitely a must read going into spooky season. Bonus points if you’re enjoy spooky season activities at theme parks🤌🏼
August 25, 2024
Shout out to Madison for blending together two of my favorite things so perfectly: theme parks and thrillers. 🔪 🎡
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Hold on tight because you will be flipping and twisting and turning on this rollercoaster of a book! From page one you jump right into the thick of it all. I was on high alert from the start, side eyeing every character introduced, because how do you trust anyone when your peers keep turning up unalived?! Simply put: ✨you don’t✨. Those twists? 🫢
Gwen is such a wonderful main character. I loved watching her growth and seeing how she dealt with the insanity unfolding around her. And her relationship sweet Dev was so cute. I was rooting for her the whole way.
But there’s a certain character that it would be on sight 🥊 and I think you’ll agree when you read this book.
🔪 Add this to your spooky season TBR. It’s a fantastic thrill ride! And would make a great read for those HHN house lines. 👻
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Hold on tight because you will be flipping and twisting and turning on this rollercoaster of a book! From page one you jump right into the thick of it all. I was on high alert from the start, side eyeing every character introduced, because how do you trust anyone when your peers keep turning up unalived?! Simply put: ✨you don’t✨. Those twists? 🫢
Gwen is such a wonderful main character. I loved watching her growth and seeing how she dealt with the insanity unfolding around her. And her relationship sweet Dev was so cute. I was rooting for her the whole way.
But there’s a certain character that it would be on sight 🥊 and I think you’ll agree when you read this book.
🔪 Add this to your spooky season TBR. It’s a fantastic thrill ride! And would make a great read for those HHN house lines. 👻
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