What do you think?
Revenge of the Final Girl
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26Liliana “Lili” Garza hasn’t had a single moment of peace since her best friends were murdered at a graduation. A year later, Lili is barely scraping by. Now that her own high school graduation is fast approaching, reminders of the massacre are all around her, with news stories commemorating the anniversary of the Gatzville graduate murders and a town that refuses to let her forget.
But when one of Lili’s classmates is found dead at a party exactly one year after that horrific night―killed by the same injuries that Lili herself had survived―Lili realizes that someone is trying to recreate the past―and this time, they might not let her escape. To stay alive―again―Lili must confront the ghosts of her past to find out who is coming for her, even if it means unearthing the painful memories she has buried deep down inside.
A tense thriller about the scars that trauma leaves―and the lengths we will go to survive, despite the odds stacked against us―this is a powerful YA novel that will stay with you long after the final page.
But when one of Lili’s classmates is found dead at a party exactly one year after that horrific night―killed by the same injuries that Lili herself had survived―Lili realizes that someone is trying to recreate the past―and this time, they might not let her escape. To stay alive―again―Lili must confront the ghosts of her past to find out who is coming for her, even if it means unearthing the painful memories she has buried deep down inside.
A tense thriller about the scars that trauma leaves―and the lengths we will go to survive, despite the odds stacked against us―this is a powerful YA novel that will stay with you long after the final page.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Andrea Mosqueda
4 books41 followersAndrea Mosqueda is a Chicana writer. She was born and raised in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her partner and works in the publishing industry as an assistant editor. When she’s not writing or editing, she can be found doing her makeup, drinking too much coffee, and angsting over children’s media. Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster is her first book.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 8, 2026
Look at this cover! Isn’t it gorgeous?
I haven’t read Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster, but I’ve heard so many great things about it that I couldn’t wait to dive into Revenge of the Final Girl.
Revenge of the Final Girl is pitched as a mystery/thriller (and it definitely is) but it’s also a contemporary story that deals with themes like grief and trauma.
When I started reading the first chapter, which is set in the past, I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it because it opens from the POV of an adult. I shouldn’t have worried, though, because those past chapters ended up being my favorite. They’re told from different perspectives, including the teens who end up being killed, and it was pretty discomforting to read their thoughts.
The present‑day chapters aren’t as tense, even though people are dying and Lili is trying to find the killer. This part of the story leans more into the emotional fallout, the trauma and grief I mentioned earlier. I didn’t mind that shift at all because I actually enjoy mysteries that blend in contemporary elements.
Sometimes the writing felt a bit too telling, especially because Andrea Mosqueda used a lot of adverbs. But overall, I really liked Revenge of the Final Girl, and thanks to that beautiful cover, I rounded my 3.5‑star rating up to four.
Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
I haven’t read Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster, but I’ve heard so many great things about it that I couldn’t wait to dive into Revenge of the Final Girl.
Revenge of the Final Girl is pitched as a mystery/thriller (and it definitely is) but it’s also a contemporary story that deals with themes like grief and trauma.
When I started reading the first chapter, which is set in the past, I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it because it opens from the POV of an adult. I shouldn’t have worried, though, because those past chapters ended up being my favorite. They’re told from different perspectives, including the teens who end up being killed, and it was pretty discomforting to read their thoughts.
The present‑day chapters aren’t as tense, even though people are dying and Lili is trying to find the killer. This part of the story leans more into the emotional fallout, the trauma and grief I mentioned earlier. I didn’t mind that shift at all because I actually enjoy mysteries that blend in contemporary elements.
Sometimes the writing felt a bit too telling, especially because Andrea Mosqueda used a lot of adverbs. But overall, I really liked Revenge of the Final Girl, and thanks to that beautiful cover, I rounded my 3.5‑star rating up to four.
Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this ARC!
Follow me on Instagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a very emotional book. We start at the end, to a day no one should have to live through, and we jump around in time, through each painful moment. Your heart is going to break for Lili, repeatedly. Lili is strong, stronger than she even knows. But she has PTSD, and that kind of trauma needs to be treated. Because you live out your worst day, your worst moments, over and over again. You want to just sleep to get away from it all, but then you have night terrors. There is no rest for the sufferer. So a therapist would make such a huge difference in her life.
But Lili is a fighter, and fight she will. I can relate to being an outcast because of a traumatic event in a small town. That kind of event follows you everywhere you go. You get looks of pity, and you can’t trust if people are nice to you because they’re grief hawks, or because they genuinely care. And trying to function just isn’t a thing, yet Lili finds a way to keep fighting. One of the best things she could do for her mental health, for her family’s mental health, is to move, to get away from a town that won’t let you get away from your worst moments.
This is such a deep and thoughtful read. One that leaves you feeling really good about what you went through.
But Lili is a fighter, and fight she will. I can relate to being an outcast because of a traumatic event in a small town. That kind of event follows you everywhere you go. You get looks of pity, and you can’t trust if people are nice to you because they’re grief hawks, or because they genuinely care. And trying to function just isn’t a thing, yet Lili finds a way to keep fighting. One of the best things she could do for her mental health, for her family’s mental health, is to move, to get away from a town that won’t let you get away from your worst moments.
This is such a deep and thoughtful read. One that leaves you feeling really good about what you went through.
August 31, 2026
I grabbed this one for review on the PRH audio app that I have access to through their influencer program as I needed something to read. While the regular publisher is Macmillan in the Feiwel & Friends Imprint, PRH’s Listening Library publishes the audiobook which I found interesting but so digress.
I loved the narration. Andrea Mosqueda brought it alive! I love the Latinx cultural aspects to the book and Mosqueda voiced it perfectly.
This was a fun twisty ride that thoroughly enjoyed!
I loved the narration. Andrea Mosqueda brought it alive! I love the Latinx cultural aspects to the book and Mosqueda voiced it perfectly.
This was a fun twisty ride that thoroughly enjoyed!
June 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔."
my rating is purely based off the vibes & on a 9 hour plane ride, baby let me tell you, i was having a damn good time. i loooooove a final girl book, movie, whatever. i eat this shit up like i'm starving on a desert. i just like seeing a final girl win.
i really enjoyed getting a pov from each friend who died and what led to their untimely horrific deaths. none of the friends who passed away deserved it so it actually made me so so sad for their characters. it also made me really sad for our main girl lili to have to navigate this time without them & be the only survivor. and then she has to go through that shit again??? crazy. she's going to be messed up for life.
the plot twist in this one is non existent & the plot itself is pretty simple. go into this one with the thoughts that it's a stereotypical final girl book and i think you'll have fun with it.
thank you to netgalley & macmillan children's publishing for the copy of my ebook!
"𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒔."
my rating is purely based off the vibes & on a 9 hour plane ride, baby let me tell you, i was having a damn good time. i loooooove a final girl book, movie, whatever. i eat this shit up like i'm starving on a desert. i just like seeing a final girl win.
i really enjoyed getting a pov from each friend who died and what led to their untimely horrific deaths. none of the friends who passed away deserved it so it actually made me so so sad for their characters. it also made me really sad for our main girl lili to have to navigate this time without them & be the only survivor. and then she has to go through that shit again??? crazy. she's going to be messed up for life.
the plot twist in this one is non existent & the plot itself is pretty simple. go into this one with the thoughts that it's a stereotypical final girl book and i think you'll have fun with it.
thank you to netgalley & macmillan children's publishing for the copy of my ebook!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you love classic slasher vibes and the whole “final girl” trope, “Revenge of the Final Girl” by Andrea Mosqueda is a pretty fun YA horror read. It’s also a lot more emotional than you might expect.
The story follows Lili, a high school senior who survived a brutal massacre that killed several of her friends. The killer is determined pretty early on to be the sheriff’s son, Elijah, who also died that night, but as strange things start happening again, Lili starts to wonder if the nightmare isn’t actually over. And if someone is trying to finish what Elijah started, that means Lili might still be the final target.
One thing the book does really well is showing the emotional aftermath of the massacre. Lili is dealing with PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and the weird mix of pity and suspicion from the small town around her. Some people even believe she might have been involved, which just adds to how isolated she feels. Her struggles feel really raw and believable, especially for someone her age trying to process something so traumatic.
The story jumps between the present and flashbacks to the night of the massacre, along with POV chapters from some of the victims. Those moments really highlight how much these characters cared about each other, which makes their deaths hit even harder. It’s a nice reminder that they were real people, not just slasher-movie victims. However, this does make their death scenes harder to read as they were genuinely good people.
The mystery aspect is pretty engaging throughout. Once strange events start happening again, it becomes hard to trust anyone, and I definitely found myself suspicious of basically every character at some point. The reveal of the killer was actually a solid surprise, and the final confrontation is pretty action-packed.
That said, the pacing can feel a bit uneven. The first half leans more into introspection and grief than suspense, so it’s slower than you might expect from a thriller. The dual timelines and shifting perspectives can also feel a little messy at times and sometimes interrupt the flow of the story.
The violence is definitely present, especially in the flashback chapters showing how the victims died, though it usually focuses more on the emotional impact rather than just shock value. The book also includes some queer representation with Lili’s feelings for her ex-best friend Evie, which adds another layer to her character without taking over the main plot.
Overall, “Revenge of the Final Girl” feels like a mix between a classic slasher movie and a character-driven mystery about grief, revenge, and healing. It’s not nonstop thrills, but if you like horror stories that focus on the psychological aftermath of surviving something terrible, this one is definitely worth picking up. Plus, the ending brings things together in a way that feels satisfying and hopeful after everything Lili goes through.
If you love classic slasher vibes and the whole “final girl” trope, “Revenge of the Final Girl” by Andrea Mosqueda is a pretty fun YA horror read. It’s also a lot more emotional than you might expect.
The story follows Lili, a high school senior who survived a brutal massacre that killed several of her friends. The killer is determined pretty early on to be the sheriff’s son, Elijah, who also died that night, but as strange things start happening again, Lili starts to wonder if the nightmare isn’t actually over. And if someone is trying to finish what Elijah started, that means Lili might still be the final target.
One thing the book does really well is showing the emotional aftermath of the massacre. Lili is dealing with PTSD, survivor’s guilt, and the weird mix of pity and suspicion from the small town around her. Some people even believe she might have been involved, which just adds to how isolated she feels. Her struggles feel really raw and believable, especially for someone her age trying to process something so traumatic.
The story jumps between the present and flashbacks to the night of the massacre, along with POV chapters from some of the victims. Those moments really highlight how much these characters cared about each other, which makes their deaths hit even harder. It’s a nice reminder that they were real people, not just slasher-movie victims. However, this does make their death scenes harder to read as they were genuinely good people.
The mystery aspect is pretty engaging throughout. Once strange events start happening again, it becomes hard to trust anyone, and I definitely found myself suspicious of basically every character at some point. The reveal of the killer was actually a solid surprise, and the final confrontation is pretty action-packed.
That said, the pacing can feel a bit uneven. The first half leans more into introspection and grief than suspense, so it’s slower than you might expect from a thriller. The dual timelines and shifting perspectives can also feel a little messy at times and sometimes interrupt the flow of the story.
The violence is definitely present, especially in the flashback chapters showing how the victims died, though it usually focuses more on the emotional impact rather than just shock value. The book also includes some queer representation with Lili’s feelings for her ex-best friend Evie, which adds another layer to her character without taking over the main plot.
Overall, “Revenge of the Final Girl” feels like a mix between a classic slasher movie and a character-driven mystery about grief, revenge, and healing. It’s not nonstop thrills, but if you like horror stories that focus on the psychological aftermath of surviving something terrible, this one is definitely worth picking up. Plus, the ending brings things together in a way that feels satisfying and hopeful after everything Lili goes through.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙨.”
We all know what happens when the Final Girl defeats the killer. She screams, she fights, she survives. The killer is dead, the sun comes up… and the credits roll.
But what happens after?
Liliana “Lili” Garza has been haunted by her past ever since she became the sole survivor of a graduation slumber party that ended in her friends’ deaths a year ago. Struggling with PTSD and trying to face life as if nothing happened, Lili is confronted with a copycat killer who seems to have some unfinished business. With the help of her former best friend—and love interest—Evie, Lili sets out to put an end to this new killer’s terror… or die trying.
Everybody knows I’m a sucker for a good slasher movie or book, and Revenge of the Final Girl absolutely scratches that itch. Lili is front and center, living in the aftermath of trauma and drowning in survivor’s guilt, constantly questioning why she lived while her best friends did not. What I loved most is that even though she’s terrified, she refuses to stay a victim. Lili pushes forward, determined to uncover the truth and stop the killings before anyone else ends up dead.
The dynamic between Lili and Evie was another highlight for me. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is undeniable, and the will-they/won’t-they tension adds a really charming emotional layer to the chaos. Even while bodies are dropping, their relationship keeps the story grounded and human.
I also really enjoyed the dual timeline. Lili doesn’t remember everything about that deadly night, but as the new murders pile up, fragments of her memory start clawing their way back. Each revelation adds another layer of tension and suspense, slowly unraveling the truth behind what really happened.
That said, the kills themselves aren’t as creative or as brutal as I was hoping for in a slasher. There are also moments where the pacing dips a bit, especially with Lili’s newer group of friends, who unfortunately don’t get much to do and feel a little underdeveloped. Still, this was a really fun slasher read.
Andrea Mosqueda’s Revenge of the Final Girl is a love letter to the slasher genre that asks a question horror rarely explores: what happens to the Final Girl after she survives? It’s unapologetically queer, proudly Latinx, and packed with themes of trauma, anxiety, depression, and survival.
Bloody, emotional, and full of slasher heart, this is a story about surviving the horror… and refusing to let it define you.
We all know what happens when the Final Girl defeats the killer. She screams, she fights, she survives. The killer is dead, the sun comes up… and the credits roll.
But what happens after?
Liliana “Lili” Garza has been haunted by her past ever since she became the sole survivor of a graduation slumber party that ended in her friends’ deaths a year ago. Struggling with PTSD and trying to face life as if nothing happened, Lili is confronted with a copycat killer who seems to have some unfinished business. With the help of her former best friend—and love interest—Evie, Lili sets out to put an end to this new killer’s terror… or die trying.
Everybody knows I’m a sucker for a good slasher movie or book, and Revenge of the Final Girl absolutely scratches that itch. Lili is front and center, living in the aftermath of trauma and drowning in survivor’s guilt, constantly questioning why she lived while her best friends did not. What I loved most is that even though she’s terrified, she refuses to stay a victim. Lili pushes forward, determined to uncover the truth and stop the killings before anyone else ends up dead.
The dynamic between Lili and Evie was another highlight for me. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is undeniable, and the will-they/won’t-they tension adds a really charming emotional layer to the chaos. Even while bodies are dropping, their relationship keeps the story grounded and human.
I also really enjoyed the dual timeline. Lili doesn’t remember everything about that deadly night, but as the new murders pile up, fragments of her memory start clawing their way back. Each revelation adds another layer of tension and suspense, slowly unraveling the truth behind what really happened.
That said, the kills themselves aren’t as creative or as brutal as I was hoping for in a slasher. There are also moments where the pacing dips a bit, especially with Lili’s newer group of friends, who unfortunately don’t get much to do and feel a little underdeveloped. Still, this was a really fun slasher read.
Andrea Mosqueda’s Revenge of the Final Girl is a love letter to the slasher genre that asks a question horror rarely explores: what happens to the Final Girl after she survives? It’s unapologetically queer, proudly Latinx, and packed with themes of trauma, anxiety, depression, and survival.
Bloody, emotional, and full of slasher heart, this is a story about surviving the horror… and refusing to let it define you.
October 5, 2026
This was a quick and oddly easy read (given the heaviness of the subject matter). It was suspenseful and hard to put down, particularly with the flashback scenes as you’re eager to hear what happened next then and then she jerks you back to the present.
Early on in the book, I was like “that’s literally not how any of this works” multiple times. For example, Stela gets her financial aid package on June 1 and decides she’s going to CalTech. May 1 is widely recognized as decision day, so she would’ve gotten her financial aid package in March or April. Even if she appealed, she likely would’ve had the results well before June 1. Source: I’m a former financial aid counselor 😅 The other thing that seemed super unrealistic was Evie emailing Lili the super confidential morgue files on her friends’ deaths!!!! In what world would that be possible AND she wouldn’t get caught immediately? Come on.
Anyways! By the end of the book I was pretty bought in, yelling “GIRL NO!!!!” as Lili does dumb wannabe hero shit haha.
The PTSD element handled really well. It felt fleshed out and real to see how it came up in day to day life for her.
The mom characters felt off to me. I could immediately tell that the author isn’t a mom (confirmed, seemingly, by the acknowledgements, author bio, and her social media presence). That’s fine of course, and I’m not saying a non parent should never write parent characters, but it was just very noticeable to me how the moms said fake movie type stuff “my whole life changed the second I held you” yada yada. It was a weird vibe and is hard to describe!
The killer being Elijah’s mom seemed pretty obvious to me from a mile off. Her motivations felt off to me too. It felt ridiculous and unrealistic that she’d commit so many murders to finish what her son started and finish Lili off / avenge him. And calling the girls “tramps”? What century is this? Not sure if she was supposed to be a true psychopath or sociopath or what!
Overall, this was an entertaining thriller and a quick read with good mental health rep. The high school characters felt very realistic in terms of the intense feelings/drama. Wasn’t my favorite read ever, but still an enjoyable one!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC :)
Early on in the book, I was like “that’s literally not how any of this works” multiple times. For example, Stela gets her financial aid package on June 1 and decides she’s going to CalTech. May 1 is widely recognized as decision day, so she would’ve gotten her financial aid package in March or April. Even if she appealed, she likely would’ve had the results well before June 1. Source: I’m a former financial aid counselor 😅 The other thing that seemed super unrealistic was Evie emailing Lili the super confidential morgue files on her friends’ deaths!!!! In what world would that be possible AND she wouldn’t get caught immediately? Come on.
Anyways! By the end of the book I was pretty bought in, yelling “GIRL NO!!!!” as Lili does dumb wannabe hero shit haha.
The PTSD element handled really well. It felt fleshed out and real to see how it came up in day to day life for her.
The mom characters felt off to me. I could immediately tell that the author isn’t a mom (confirmed, seemingly, by the acknowledgements, author bio, and her social media presence). That’s fine of course, and I’m not saying a non parent should never write parent characters, but it was just very noticeable to me how the moms said fake movie type stuff “my whole life changed the second I held you” yada yada. It was a weird vibe and is hard to describe!
The killer being Elijah’s mom seemed pretty obvious to me from a mile off. Her motivations felt off to me too. It felt ridiculous and unrealistic that she’d commit so many murders to finish what her son started and finish Lili off / avenge him. And calling the girls “tramps”? What century is this? Not sure if she was supposed to be a true psychopath or sociopath or what!
Overall, this was an entertaining thriller and a quick read with good mental health rep. The high school characters felt very realistic in terms of the intense feelings/drama. Wasn’t my favorite read ever, but still an enjoyable one!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, this book was a whirlwind. We catch up with our protagonist, Lili, almost a year after the Gatzville massacre, where her four best friends were slaughtered and she narrowly escaped with her life. This story is told in dual perspectives from "Then" when the massacre happened and "Now" as Lili tries to adjust to her present. Graduation is looming, and Lili is struggling with memories of her friends and her own impending future. Lili definitely is not unscathed; besides the scar from her knife wounds, Lili is also harboring PTSD regarding blades, loud noises, and other events that trigger her memories. I think the story piques the reader's interest, because you don't find out exactly what happened right away - it starts with a crime scene but it's not until halfway through the book that you find out what happened. When you do, it's told from the omniscient narrator's perspective - you actually get to be a fly on the wall instead of hearing another character recount the events. But the mystery of what happened last year isn't the only storyline the reader will witness, because dead bodies are popping up in the present, horrifyingly mimicking the deaths from the previous year. It's unclear if the killings are related, or if this is some sort of sick copycat killer, but Lili is determined to get to the bottom of it so it doesn't shatter her already tenuous peace.
Lili also has big feelings about the return of her former best friend, Evie, who she harbored romantic feelings for but left the day of the massacre for college and hasn't spoken to her since. Evie is now interning with the coroner, so she has an inside track on the info about both the Gatzville Graduation Massacre case (where Lili's friends were killed) and the present. The two get their Nancy Drew moment as they try to figure out who the killer is before Lili herself is in irreperable danger. There are some surprisingly emotional scenes in this story and the deaths are a little gruesome, but for me it was a page turner that kept me reading long after I should have gone to bed. I would definitely recommend this to horror fans!
Lili also has big feelings about the return of her former best friend, Evie, who she harbored romantic feelings for but left the day of the massacre for college and hasn't spoken to her since. Evie is now interning with the coroner, so she has an inside track on the info about both the Gatzville Graduation Massacre case (where Lili's friends were killed) and the present. The two get their Nancy Drew moment as they try to figure out who the killer is before Lili herself is in irreperable danger. There are some surprisingly emotional scenes in this story and the deaths are a little gruesome, but for me it was a page turner that kept me reading long after I should have gone to bed. I would definitely recommend this to horror fans!
July 23, 2026
Liliana Garza has experienced something that no one should ever have to go through. She survived the night where 4 of her closest friends were brutally murdered and has the scars to prove it. No one wants to be a Final Girl, and Lili's anxiety and inability to cope with what happened to her, makes the situation infinitely more difficult. She is struggling to keep a job and keep it together around her remaining friends and family. She's doing all she can to hold it together, but when a copy-cat killer comes back into town, seemingly with a vendetta against Gatzville's own Final Girl, life quickly begins to spiral for Liliana. Can she hold it together and stay alive long enough to figure out whats happening or will she figure out what it means to be memorialized in violence as well.
Revenge of the Final Girl is perfect for fans of One Of Us Is Lying or A Good Girl's Guide To Murder. This was a medium-to-fast paced thriller following the Final Girl of a heinous crime committed in a small town and it was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that as I moved through the book I could feel my heart racing at multiple points throughout. The storytelling draws you in for a wild and crazy ride that makes it hard to put the book down.
Mosqueda does a great job of navigating how difficult it can be to move through life with trauma and PTSD, especially when it occurs during developmental years of life. What it means to pick yourself back up and claw your way back to the surface as you drown in horrible flashbacks and a barrage of what if questions. I can't say enough positive things about this book. I absolutely flew through it and I didn't want to put it down. I will say that after the climax it felt like it could've been wrapped up a little quicker, but whats a couple more chapters when the rest of the book was so phenomenal. A great YA read!
Revenge of the Final Girl is perfect for fans of One Of Us Is Lying or A Good Girl's Guide To Murder. This was a medium-to-fast paced thriller following the Final Girl of a heinous crime committed in a small town and it was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that as I moved through the book I could feel my heart racing at multiple points throughout. The storytelling draws you in for a wild and crazy ride that makes it hard to put the book down.
Mosqueda does a great job of navigating how difficult it can be to move through life with trauma and PTSD, especially when it occurs during developmental years of life. What it means to pick yourself back up and claw your way back to the surface as you drown in horrible flashbacks and a barrage of what if questions. I can't say enough positive things about this book. I absolutely flew through it and I didn't want to put it down. I will say that after the climax it felt like it could've been wrapped up a little quicker, but whats a couple more chapters when the rest of the book was so phenomenal. A great YA read!
March 4, 2026
I’m so grateful that I was able to receive an ARC of this book! When I first read about this book, I knew I HAD to get my hands on it! And… well the cover is pretty badass. 🤣
First, our FMC is a great heroine! This book delves deeply into her PTSD and mental health after surviving a horrific massacre, and her feelings of guilt and alienation in her community are incredibly visceral. This is a senior in high school dealing with the aftermath of a horrible crime, feeling like the center of all the accusations and pity the town casts at her, and all I could think of was how emotionally immature I was at that age.
Andrea does a great job of transitioning between the past and present, while also giving different character perspectives that let the reader see just how much these friends loved each other. It’s also great to see Lili from their eyes, as she is incredibly hard on herself. Together, it makes the story even more heartbreaking. (In a good way though!)
I also was satisfied with the ending. The story had a natural flow that was easy to read and had a pretty decent villain. It was great to see everything come together without unbelievable twists and shock factor. The violet scenes were tactical and quick so nothing felt like a bloodbath, but you certainly got an image of what was going on! And nothing was just magically resolved. There was fallout, and the characters making steps to put the pieces back together after it all. In life, that’s what would happen, so I am glad there was a real-world take on something that (hopefully) teenagers don’t normally go through.
Grab yourself a copy when this hits the shelves! It goes down easy, but sits with you awhile after you are done. I can’t wait to read more by Andrea.
First, our FMC is a great heroine! This book delves deeply into her PTSD and mental health after surviving a horrific massacre, and her feelings of guilt and alienation in her community are incredibly visceral. This is a senior in high school dealing with the aftermath of a horrible crime, feeling like the center of all the accusations and pity the town casts at her, and all I could think of was how emotionally immature I was at that age.
Andrea does a great job of transitioning between the past and present, while also giving different character perspectives that let the reader see just how much these friends loved each other. It’s also great to see Lili from their eyes, as she is incredibly hard on herself. Together, it makes the story even more heartbreaking. (In a good way though!)
I also was satisfied with the ending. The story had a natural flow that was easy to read and had a pretty decent villain. It was great to see everything come together without unbelievable twists and shock factor. The violet scenes were tactical and quick so nothing felt like a bloodbath, but you certainly got an image of what was going on! And nothing was just magically resolved. There was fallout, and the characters making steps to put the pieces back together after it all. In life, that’s what would happen, so I am glad there was a real-world take on something that (hopefully) teenagers don’t normally go through.
Grab yourself a copy when this hits the shelves! It goes down easy, but sits with you awhile after you are done. I can’t wait to read more by Andrea.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lili is the sole survivor after a graduation party goes sideways when all of her best friends are murdered. She hasn't known a minute of peace in the last year and as the anniversary of the massacre approaches, along with her own graduation, she finds herself spiraling. When one of her classmates is killed at another graduation party, Lili is forced to face memories she would rather forget as she once again fights for her life.
I find that I really like books that alternate between the past and present in chapters and this book managed it well. I found the queer and latinx representation to be refreshing though as these characters tend to be either killed quickly or not even mentioned in slashers. The book was a very quick read and easily digested. The snippets of gore we are given in the past chapters were done really well.
I did feel that the extreme predictability of the book kept it from being any better as it was quite obvious from the beginning who the new killer is. I read another review someone wrote that it was quite unbelievable that it took Lili so long to figure out who the killer was when she constantly referenced popular horror movies throughout the book, while missing the one that the new killer is obviously based off of. I just really found the novel lacking in the plot. I think this would be a great book for teens who are starting out with the genre and don't really have any other books (or movies) as references as the killer wasn't a surprise. While I wasn't expecting anything new or innovative, still let down a bit by the lack of originality.
2.5 rounded up
Lili is the sole survivor after a graduation party goes sideways when all of her best friends are murdered. She hasn't known a minute of peace in the last year and as the anniversary of the massacre approaches, along with her own graduation, she finds herself spiraling. When one of her classmates is killed at another graduation party, Lili is forced to face memories she would rather forget as she once again fights for her life.
I find that I really like books that alternate between the past and present in chapters and this book managed it well. I found the queer and latinx representation to be refreshing though as these characters tend to be either killed quickly or not even mentioned in slashers. The book was a very quick read and easily digested. The snippets of gore we are given in the past chapters were done really well.
I did feel that the extreme predictability of the book kept it from being any better as it was quite obvious from the beginning who the new killer is. I read another review someone wrote that it was quite unbelievable that it took Lili so long to figure out who the killer was when she constantly referenced popular horror movies throughout the book, while missing the one that the new killer is obviously based off of. I just really found the novel lacking in the plot. I think this would be a great book for teens who are starting out with the genre and don't really have any other books (or movies) as references as the killer wasn't a surprise. While I wasn't expecting anything new or innovative, still let down a bit by the lack of originality.
2.5 rounded up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I enjoyed this one so much! A year ago Liliana “Lili” threw a graduation party for her friends Stela, Jocelyn, and Cesar, their friend Gabriel came too. Evie, their other friend and Lili’s crush, wasn’t able to make it. The night ended in tragedy and terror as all of them end up dead, one by one. Except Lili that is, she’s the only survivor, but she’s not without her scars like the one across her throat. Now as her own graduation looms closer and the anniversary of the massacre comes closer she’s lost. She spends every day just trying to get through wondering if it would have been easier if she’d also died that night. Trying to stop her worries she attends a party, to her surprise Evie is there, they haven’t spoken in a year. Oh and also someone else turns up dead. Someone who looks strikingly similar to Lili, who just happened to die the same way that Lili should have. Now, as more people die, Lili must figure out how these current deaths are connected to the friends she lost. And is it possible someone knows the secret she kept from that night? With Evie’s help she’ll put the pieces together, and just maybe there’s a chance for the two to reconnect. But is someone trying to finish what was started that night and end Lili’s life? Andrea Mosqueda tells this story in two timelines, one tells the story of the original murders (told from the perspective of those murdered) and the other tells Lili’s current story! Both are exciting and thrilling! This is part mystery part slasher, and all intensity! This one sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down, I finished it in less than a day! I loved this story of survival and revenge and highly recommend for an quick, easy, and suspenseful read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's clear early on who the killer is and it's a bit annoying how long it takes the characters to arrive at the conclusion, The book was predictable on every front, and the characters felt underdeveloped. The best reading in the novel were the kill scenes in the present.
Lili had a great night planned to celebrate her friend's graduation from high school. There were Jello shots, a pinata, board games, movies, and no plans for her friend's toxic ex to join the party. So, when he shows up and hears some news they all knew wouldn't make him happy, the night takes a turn for the worse, and Lili is the only one who survives the night. Now, a year later, Lili is gradating herself, surrounded by memories of that night.
Lili agrees to attend a party with some friends, which ends with a classmate dressed in the same outfit as Lili, killed by the same injuries Lili suffered on that original night. As more bodies pile up, all sporting injuries that match one of the original victims, Lili must confront her past and hope to be able to survive for a future. She seeks aid in her ex-best friend Evie, who she also is in love with, and who is helpfully spending the summer working in the morgue. Between Evie's access to the old files and the new bodies and Lili's memories of the original murders, the two hope to be able to keep everyone safe and stop whoever may be looking for revenge.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Lili had a great night planned to celebrate her friend's graduation from high school. There were Jello shots, a pinata, board games, movies, and no plans for her friend's toxic ex to join the party. So, when he shows up and hears some news they all knew wouldn't make him happy, the night takes a turn for the worse, and Lili is the only one who survives the night. Now, a year later, Lili is gradating herself, surrounded by memories of that night.
Lili agrees to attend a party with some friends, which ends with a classmate dressed in the same outfit as Lili, killed by the same injuries Lili suffered on that original night. As more bodies pile up, all sporting injuries that match one of the original victims, Lili must confront her past and hope to be able to survive for a future. She seeks aid in her ex-best friend Evie, who she also is in love with, and who is helpfully spending the summer working in the morgue. Between Evie's access to the old files and the new bodies and Lili's memories of the original murders, the two hope to be able to keep everyone safe and stop whoever may be looking for revenge.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Revenge of the Final Girl" is a different take on the slasher/horror genre. FMC Lili has survived a house party massacre--the sole survivor (final girl!). She's now forced to deal with the aftermath, and the trauma and survivor's guilt. Then, bodies start to drop, and things look to be connected to the past. Eek! I'm glad this is a book and not real life, because I'm not built for the horror genre.
The writing is fantastic and the psychological aspect seemed believable. You'd be pretty dang messed up after watching your friends be brutally murdered, and almost being killed yourself. Honestly, Lili was way strong!
I really appreciated the flashbacks, especially because those were given through different POVs and allowed us to wrap our heads around what really went down in the past, and try to make connections to who, what, and why murders were happening again in present day.
The story definitely had me thinking of the 90's and 00's slasher films, Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, etc. and the author really leaned into that, delightfully so!
I also enjoyed the fact that Lili's mom wasn't made into a caricature of a parent, with the normal cliches and dysfunctional mom/daughter relationship. Her mom had her back the whole time and was a huge support system--and a badass!
Tropes: slasher, dark, flashbacks, final girl, whodunnit, revenge, LGBT+, sapphic
Thanks for the ARC! :)
The writing is fantastic and the psychological aspect seemed believable. You'd be pretty dang messed up after watching your friends be brutally murdered, and almost being killed yourself. Honestly, Lili was way strong!
I really appreciated the flashbacks, especially because those were given through different POVs and allowed us to wrap our heads around what really went down in the past, and try to make connections to who, what, and why murders were happening again in present day.
The story definitely had me thinking of the 90's and 00's slasher films, Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, etc. and the author really leaned into that, delightfully so!
I also enjoyed the fact that Lili's mom wasn't made into a caricature of a parent, with the normal cliches and dysfunctional mom/daughter relationship. Her mom had her back the whole time and was a huge support system--and a badass!
Tropes: slasher, dark, flashbacks, final girl, whodunnit, revenge, LGBT+, sapphic
Thanks for the ARC! :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my first time reading a book by this author and I didn't know what to expect but I did enjoy the story.
I feel like this book is a combo of slasher and then mystery thriller. A year ago, Lili threw a graduation party for some of her best friends. The night ended up being a nightmare as her friends ended up dead and she herself ended up injured. The ex-boyfriend was the killer and he's now dead. Lili suffers grief and trauma over the death of her friends, she struggles just to get by and a year rolls by and its time for her graduation. She attends another gathering of friends and then things start going wrong again, its like history starting to repeat itself. Then there are more victims of a copy cat killer with the victims dispatched in similar fashion as the friends in the first massacre. Maybe Lili and her friend Evie can figure it all out and get to the bottom of who the villain is.
The story is told through the use of different timelines along with some flashbacks that have some points of view from Lili's friends before and up to the massacre and then also a point of view from Lili. The story covers themes of trauma, ptsd, friendships, and trying to survive and heal from such trauma. I felt it wrapped up satisfactorily and I enjoyed the story. I would be interested in reading future works by the author. I also thought the cover of the book was beautifully done.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for the complimentary copy of the story.
I feel like this book is a combo of slasher and then mystery thriller. A year ago, Lili threw a graduation party for some of her best friends. The night ended up being a nightmare as her friends ended up dead and she herself ended up injured. The ex-boyfriend was the killer and he's now dead. Lili suffers grief and trauma over the death of her friends, she struggles just to get by and a year rolls by and its time for her graduation. She attends another gathering of friends and then things start going wrong again, its like history starting to repeat itself. Then there are more victims of a copy cat killer with the victims dispatched in similar fashion as the friends in the first massacre. Maybe Lili and her friend Evie can figure it all out and get to the bottom of who the villain is.
The story is told through the use of different timelines along with some flashbacks that have some points of view from Lili's friends before and up to the massacre and then also a point of view from Lili. The story covers themes of trauma, ptsd, friendships, and trying to survive and heal from such trauma. I felt it wrapped up satisfactorily and I enjoyed the story. I would be interested in reading future works by the author. I also thought the cover of the book was beautifully done.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Feiwel & Friends for the complimentary copy of the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Source: gifted arc from Feiwel & Friends
Cry Rating: Level 1 (misty)
Read If You Like:
- bisexual mcs
- final girl energy
- slashers
- grief
My Thoughts:
This book was so intense, and I am not sure I was ready for it! Lili plans an epic slumber party for her graduating best friends, except that slumber party turns into a horror movie when her friend Stela’s boyfriend shows up and decides to slaughter them all.
The story actually starts off so sad. For a minute there, I wondered if this was actually going to be a horror book. But don’t worry, it very much is! While parts of this were hard to read, the vibes were very much vibing. The mystery element and the community around Lili were so wonderful, and I (mostly) really enjoyed the flashback scenes where we get glimpses into other POVs.
SPOILERY BIT INCOMING: I definitely could have done without the chapters from each friend’s POV right as they get picked off one by one, but I can see why they were needed. They definitely added depth to the story.
The social commentary on racism and policing was so subtly and expertly woven into this fun final girl story, which was truly masterful. Anyway, give this one a try if you dare, but be prepared—some parts sure are brutal!
Cry Rating: Level 1 (misty)
Read If You Like:
- bisexual mcs
- final girl energy
- slashers
- grief
My Thoughts:
This book was so intense, and I am not sure I was ready for it! Lili plans an epic slumber party for her graduating best friends, except that slumber party turns into a horror movie when her friend Stela’s boyfriend shows up and decides to slaughter them all.
The story actually starts off so sad. For a minute there, I wondered if this was actually going to be a horror book. But don’t worry, it very much is! While parts of this were hard to read, the vibes were very much vibing. The mystery element and the community around Lili were so wonderful, and I (mostly) really enjoyed the flashback scenes where we get glimpses into other POVs.
SPOILERY BIT INCOMING: I definitely could have done without the chapters from each friend’s POV right as they get picked off one by one, but I can see why they were needed. They definitely added depth to the story.
The social commentary on racism and policing was so subtly and expertly woven into this fun final girl story, which was truly masterful. Anyway, give this one a try if you dare, but be prepared—some parts sure are brutal!
September 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing for the opportunity to read this book early.
If you love horror movies, this is the book for you. It read like a slasher film made in print form in all the best ways. Lili is our titular final girl and she’s going through it. Trapped in a town that views her survival as a distraction, Lili is not having a good time. And that’s before someone decides to recreate the murders that took her friends out the year before.
The truth behind the resurgence in killings was predictable but in a satisfying way. There were still enough twists and red herrings to make the inevitable conclusion somewhat of a mystery. The buildup towards the climax legitimately felt like a horror movie in all the most delightful ways.
The shifts in POVs and time between chapters was well done and raised the emotional investment significantly. Her friends become more than just the victims of horrible murder spree. They are given a chance for their personality to shine and to see how they viewed the one inevitably left behind.
This was a wonderful thrill ride of a book. I’m so grateful for the chance to read it in advance. Thank you again to Macmillan’s Children Publishing and NetGalley.
4/5 ⭐️
If you love horror movies, this is the book for you. It read like a slasher film made in print form in all the best ways. Lili is our titular final girl and she’s going through it. Trapped in a town that views her survival as a distraction, Lili is not having a good time. And that’s before someone decides to recreate the murders that took her friends out the year before.
The truth behind the resurgence in killings was predictable but in a satisfying way. There were still enough twists and red herrings to make the inevitable conclusion somewhat of a mystery. The buildup towards the climax legitimately felt like a horror movie in all the most delightful ways.
The shifts in POVs and time between chapters was well done and raised the emotional investment significantly. Her friends become more than just the victims of horrible murder spree. They are given a chance for their personality to shine and to see how they viewed the one inevitably left behind.
This was a wonderful thrill ride of a book. I’m so grateful for the chance to read it in advance. Thank you again to Macmillan’s Children Publishing and NetGalley.
4/5 ⭐️
Did Not Finish
March 21, 2026Horror isn’t usually my genre and picked this up because it had queer characters and the description sounded interesting. However, I wasn’t as engaged with the plot and characters as I would have liked and did not finish the book.
I found Lili to be a bit flat as a character — I didn’t find as much depth to her as a character outside of surviving a massacre. There were also points where the story did more telling over showing, particularly with character emotions, which took away from her depth as a character.
The point of view switches were also jarring — I understand wanting to give us a point of view of the victims, but no chapter starts off telling us whose point of view it’s from, so it’s very disjointed to read. The book is also mostly from Lili’s point of view, so it feels like an odd choice to have some chapters told from just one character’s point of view and the rest of them to be told from hers. Narratively, it makes the book feel uneven in places.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC!
I found Lili to be a bit flat as a character — I didn’t find as much depth to her as a character outside of surviving a massacre. There were also points where the story did more telling over showing, particularly with character emotions, which took away from her depth as a character.
The point of view switches were also jarring — I understand wanting to give us a point of view of the victims, but no chapter starts off telling us whose point of view it’s from, so it’s very disjointed to read. The book is also mostly from Lili’s point of view, so it feels like an odd choice to have some chapters told from just one character’s point of view and the rest of them to be told from hers. Narratively, it makes the book feel uneven in places.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a solid, emotional YA thriller that focuses just as much on trauma as it does on the mystery.
Lili is dealing with the aftermath of surviving a massacre that killed her friends, and that weight is present in every part of the story. The town, the anniversary coverage, and even her day to day life constantly force her to relive what happened, which makes the stakes feel very personal.
The plot really picks up when a new murder mirrors the original killings. That parallel adds a lot of tension, and I liked how the story slowly reveals pieces of the past while Lili tries to figure out what is happening in the present.
This is definitely more character-driven than twist-driven. Some of the reveals are a bit easy to see coming, but the emotional impact still works because you are so rooted in Lili’s perspective.
The pacing slows a bit in the middle, but it helps build out her internal journey and the lasting effects of what she went through.
Overall, a gripping and thoughtful take on the final girl trope, with a strong focus on survival and what comes after.
Lili is dealing with the aftermath of surviving a massacre that killed her friends, and that weight is present in every part of the story. The town, the anniversary coverage, and even her day to day life constantly force her to relive what happened, which makes the stakes feel very personal.
The plot really picks up when a new murder mirrors the original killings. That parallel adds a lot of tension, and I liked how the story slowly reveals pieces of the past while Lili tries to figure out what is happening in the present.
This is definitely more character-driven than twist-driven. Some of the reveals are a bit easy to see coming, but the emotional impact still works because you are so rooted in Lili’s perspective.
The pacing slows a bit in the middle, but it helps build out her internal journey and the lasting effects of what she went through.
Overall, a gripping and thoughtful take on the final girl trope, with a strong focus on survival and what comes after.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was super excited to get this ARC from netgalley, and it was such a interesting read. One complaint I have about a lot of modern slasher books is that they seem to have characters that make you care less about the story; this book didn't have that problem at all. I really enjoyed the main character and she was a great narrator. I also really liked the way the story immediately showed how debilitating the trauma of surviving something so serious would be in addition to every day problems. I think where this books really shines is it's characters, seeing people through the main character's eyes made me love them the way she loved them and made it so devastating when bad things happened.
On the downside there were definitely moments that felt a little slow or confusing, including the introduction of the character that basically becomes the informant. There were so many things that just never quite got explained about that relationship. Overall, I liked this book and found it an enjoyable read. It would be a good recommendation for anyone who likes teen slasher movies and teen horror books.
Received and ARC from netgalley.
On the downside there were definitely moments that felt a little slow or confusing, including the introduction of the character that basically becomes the informant. There were so many things that just never quite got explained about that relationship. Overall, I liked this book and found it an enjoyable read. It would be a good recommendation for anyone who likes teen slasher movies and teen horror books.
Received and ARC from netgalley.
June 30, 2026
Once I completed the first chapter, I immediately put my kindle down and said "wow!" That is one hell of a way to start a book! The brutality of the story is right from the beginning. It also had me completely gripped in ready to know what's going to come next.
I liked the way the story went between present day and before with the different chapters. Since what happened originally was very tied to Lili in the present, its super important to get those different sides of the story. This story is heavy with the grief and trauma of surviving when everyone else has not.
While all this has gone down and Lili is trying to survive her day to day, Evie is back in town. This added a refreshing aspect to the story and gave Lili so much more insight into what happened that night to piece together what was happening now.
The story had a nice ending and was wrapped up well.
🗡LGBTQIA+ Rep
🗡Trauma, PTSD
🗡Brutal Murder
🗡Revenge
🗡YA Horror
I liked the way the story went between present day and before with the different chapters. Since what happened originally was very tied to Lili in the present, its super important to get those different sides of the story. This story is heavy with the grief and trauma of surviving when everyone else has not.
While all this has gone down and Lili is trying to survive her day to day, Evie is back in town. This added a refreshing aspect to the story and gave Lili so much more insight into what happened that night to piece together what was happening now.
The story had a nice ending and was wrapped up well.
🗡LGBTQIA+ Rep
🗡Trauma, PTSD
🗡Brutal Murder
🗡Revenge
🗡YA Horror
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Revenge of the Final Girl is a YA thriller that follows the sole survivor of a massacre.
Almost a year ago, Lili planned a graduation party for her closest friends not knowing it would be her last night with them. As the anniversary approaches, and a girl ends up dead with wounds eerily similar to Lili's, she must face her past and the truth of what happened the night that made her The Gatzville Final Girl.
I really liked the way Andrea Mosqueda had nods to some famous horror movies and how she handled Lili navigating her grief and PTSD throughout the book. I also appreciated getting flash back chapters to the night of the Massacre.
However, the reason I can only give 3 stars is because I really felt like I was missing the "revenge" part of the book. Unless the revenge is just Lili living? I felt like while the book was enjoyable, it was just missing something.
Thank you Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends for the gifted e-arc through NetGalley, all opinions stated are my own.
Almost a year ago, Lili planned a graduation party for her closest friends not knowing it would be her last night with them. As the anniversary approaches, and a girl ends up dead with wounds eerily similar to Lili's, she must face her past and the truth of what happened the night that made her The Gatzville Final Girl.
I really liked the way Andrea Mosqueda had nods to some famous horror movies and how she handled Lili navigating her grief and PTSD throughout the book. I also appreciated getting flash back chapters to the night of the Massacre.
However, the reason I can only give 3 stars is because I really felt like I was missing the "revenge" part of the book. Unless the revenge is just Lili living? I felt like while the book was enjoyable, it was just missing something.
Thank you Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends for the gifted e-arc through NetGalley, all opinions stated are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fun, intense, and very interesting slasher thriller that's essentially already a sequel. One year ago, Lili's best friends were murdered at graduation, and she was the only one to survive after killing the killer. Now, it's her own graduation, and the world is intent on reminding her of the tragedy. And then a classmate dies at a party with the same exact injuries Lili had during the incident the previous year. Who is this copycat, and what do they have planned?
Intense, and shockingly emotional. The plotting is intense, and the murder victims are genuinely surprising (I did not expect the second victim to be much of a character at all, let alone to be one of the victims, but it worked really well). Also, the killer was dramatic and made a lot of sense as killer. 5 stars. thanks to Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Netgalley for the E-ARC.
Intense, and shockingly emotional. The plotting is intense, and the murder victims are genuinely surprising (I did not expect the second victim to be much of a character at all, let alone to be one of the victims, but it worked really well). Also, the killer was dramatic and made a lot of sense as killer. 5 stars. thanks to Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Netgalley for the E-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m giving this 5 stars because I had such a good time reading it. It was fun, intense, and completely hooked me from the start. As someone who loves slasher films, this was honestly the perfect read for me, it gave me all the vibes I wanted and then some.
I especially loved how the story starts in the aftermath of the killings and then works its way back. It made everything feel even more addictive because I already knew there was a “final girl,” but I needed to know what led up to something so horrific.
The dual timelines worked really well, switching between Liliana after the killings and the events leading up to them. It built suspense in a way that kept me hooked the entire time.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I especially loved how the story starts in the aftermath of the killings and then works its way back. It made everything feel even more addictive because I already knew there was a “final girl,” but I needed to know what led up to something so horrific.
The dual timelines worked really well, switching between Liliana after the killings and the events leading up to them. It built suspense in a way that kept me hooked the entire time.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2026
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
This is a gory one. I felt physically ill reading each of the kill scenes. Massive props to Mosqueda for being able to conjure up such clear images with her writing…but I had to take a couple deep breaths to get through.
If you’re a fan of teenage slashers (mostly Scream - there’s a party gone wrong, a slightly bitchy lady reporter who wrote a book on the original murders, and a killer legacy), you’ll enjoy this one. It’s got some good queer representation, and the main character’s voice is strong, equally hilarious and somber in the moment. Since I’ve seen every Scream movie, it was pretty easy to pick out the new killer. Which wasn’t a bad thing - actually, I think it was kind of a cool nod. Since this book comes out in October, it’s the perfect read to settle in with on a spooky night…just make sure your doors are locked.
This is a gory one. I felt physically ill reading each of the kill scenes. Massive props to Mosqueda for being able to conjure up such clear images with her writing…but I had to take a couple deep breaths to get through.
If you’re a fan of teenage slashers (mostly Scream - there’s a party gone wrong, a slightly bitchy lady reporter who wrote a book on the original murders, and a killer legacy), you’ll enjoy this one. It’s got some good queer representation, and the main character’s voice is strong, equally hilarious and somber in the moment. Since I’ve seen every Scream movie, it was pretty easy to pick out the new killer. Which wasn’t a bad thing - actually, I think it was kind of a cool nod. Since this book comes out in October, it’s the perfect read to settle in with on a spooky night…just make sure your doors are locked.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends, and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review**
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Though I am not the target audience it was still a great thriller. Sometimes YA is clearly written just for the teen crowd. Not every author can pull off a YA book that is still enjoyable for adults, but Andrea definitely pulled it off. The book was very well written and kept my interest throughout. It was fast-paced and suspenseful. I really liked how this book was not only about the murders and being a final girl, but about how surviving something like that affects you and every part of your life and how you deal with it. I also really enjoyed the romance part of this story; it really brought me back to being young and falling in love and how you feel everything so deeply at that age.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Though I am not the target audience it was still a great thriller. Sometimes YA is clearly written just for the teen crowd. Not every author can pull off a YA book that is still enjoyable for adults, but Andrea definitely pulled it off. The book was very well written and kept my interest throughout. It was fast-paced and suspenseful. I really liked how this book was not only about the murders and being a final girl, but about how surviving something like that affects you and every part of your life and how you deal with it. I also really enjoyed the romance part of this story; it really brought me back to being young and falling in love and how you feel everything so deeply at that age.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
MAKE THIS A MOVIE!
If you are a classic slasher fan like Scream, you will love this story and the final girl vibes like any horror or thriller.
I really liked the different viewpoints from Then and Now telling what happened leading up to "that night" and what is happening now. Like the movies, you have a feel for who you might think is behind everything happening to Lili (our final girl) in the Now - but I was happy to say that my first two thoughts were wrong.
The ending wrapped it up very nicely and didn't leave it open for a sequel - which I appreciated also. No need to make more of this story than the epilogue, but I will be intrigued to read more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers for this ARC.
If you are a classic slasher fan like Scream, you will love this story and the final girl vibes like any horror or thriller.
I really liked the different viewpoints from Then and Now telling what happened leading up to "that night" and what is happening now. Like the movies, you have a feel for who you might think is behind everything happening to Lili (our final girl) in the Now - but I was happy to say that my first two thoughts were wrong.
The ending wrapped it up very nicely and didn't leave it open for a sequel - which I appreciated also. No need to make more of this story than the epilogue, but I will be intrigued to read more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing company for an ARC of this book!
I absolutely loved this book! This was an amazing Young Adult mystery book with a small sapphic romance subplot. I loved how it switched between the current timeline and the past timeline of when the first murders happened. I loved how we got a POV from each of the friends when they died, so we got to know exactly how it happened.
While I don't think the murderer was very surprising, I loved the final girl storyline as well as the romance subplot. Evie was amazing and I loved the "will they won't they" of it all. I think all of the characters are great and Lili's whole inner turmoil was done very well. I think this is a very fun, simple murder mystery, perfect for teens.
I absolutely loved this book! This was an amazing Young Adult mystery book with a small sapphic romance subplot. I loved how it switched between the current timeline and the past timeline of when the first murders happened. I loved how we got a POV from each of the friends when they died, so we got to know exactly how it happened.
While I don't think the murderer was very surprising, I loved the final girl storyline as well as the romance subplot. Evie was amazing and I loved the "will they won't they" of it all. I think all of the characters are great and Lili's whole inner turmoil was done very well. I think this is a very fun, simple murder mystery, perfect for teens.
September 29, 2026
DNF
Revenge of the Final Girl simply wasn't for me.
I'm giving it 3 stars because I do think it's a pretty successful young adult book, but I definitely didn't connect with it in any way. The characters were pretty unlikable in that they were bland and I never really cared what happened to them. I made it about 45 percent of the way through the book when I finally decided I was forcing myself more than I should.
I do see the appeal this will have to younger readers, but (while I don't dislike young adult books on principle) this one just didn't work for me as an older adult. I hope this book finds its audience because I do think it's well-written! Unfortunately, I am not the right audience for this book.
Revenge of the Final Girl simply wasn't for me.
I'm giving it 3 stars because I do think it's a pretty successful young adult book, but I definitely didn't connect with it in any way. The characters were pretty unlikable in that they were bland and I never really cared what happened to them. I made it about 45 percent of the way through the book when I finally decided I was forcing myself more than I should.
I do see the appeal this will have to younger readers, but (while I don't dislike young adult books on principle) this one just didn't work for me as an older adult. I hope this book finds its audience because I do think it's well-written! Unfortunately, I am not the right audience for this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a horror lover, Scream MEGA FAN, this book gave me the best vibes. it's almost a cross between multiple of my favorite 90s horror movies. I love the inclusiveness and how you could truly feel the emotions of the main character (Lilli). We were able to follow her processing her emotions and anxieties over losing her best friends so tragically.
When it starts happening again, I didn't know who to trust. I was suspicious of EVERYONE. this was a true embodiment of what I love to feel from horror movies.
I truly loved this book and would recommend to all my friends, and I will be getting my book club to read this once it is released.
When it starts happening again, I didn't know who to trust. I was suspicious of EVERYONE. this was a true embodiment of what I love to feel from horror movies.
I truly loved this book and would recommend to all my friends, and I will be getting my book club to read this once it is released.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews