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Bad Creek
“June's debut is atmospheric and haunting, capturing the heart-pounding exhilaration of exchanging ghost stories around a campfire. The perfect spine-tingling read for summer!”—Tori Bovalino, author of
My Throat an Open Grave
Three lifelong friends confront restless ghosts and malevolent family secrets in this fierce, propulsive debut young adult horror novel.
Iris, Gum, and Aidan are vacationing in Bad Creek, just like every summer. Except Iris’s older sister, Glory, drowned in the lake last year, and Iris can’t seem to move on; Gum is hiding his sexuality from his family while being viciously haunted by Glory’s rotting ghost; and Aidan is distraught over a drunken argument with Glory that he fears may have led to her death. When Iris sleepwalks to the dilapidated house that Glory obsessively sketched in her final days, she and the boys begin to uncover a sinister history in the very bones of the town. The trio must reckon with the events of last summer and uncover what lurks within Bad Creek before it takes Iris’s life next.
Gripping and vengeful, Bad Creek confronts the intersection of religion, sexuality, and feminism, and forces listeners to reckon with monsters in all their forms—human included.
Three lifelong friends confront restless ghosts and malevolent family secrets in this fierce, propulsive debut young adult horror novel.
Iris, Gum, and Aidan are vacationing in Bad Creek, just like every summer. Except Iris’s older sister, Glory, drowned in the lake last year, and Iris can’t seem to move on; Gum is hiding his sexuality from his family while being viciously haunted by Glory’s rotting ghost; and Aidan is distraught over a drunken argument with Glory that he fears may have led to her death. When Iris sleepwalks to the dilapidated house that Glory obsessively sketched in her final days, she and the boys begin to uncover a sinister history in the very bones of the town. The trio must reckon with the events of last summer and uncover what lurks within Bad Creek before it takes Iris’s life next.
Gripping and vengeful, Bad Creek confronts the intersection of religion, sexuality, and feminism, and forces listeners to reckon with monsters in all their forms—human included.
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First published June 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
October 26, 2025
Such an intense finish! The last 200 pages or so read like lightning. It has a slower start but the writing, the form and style, is strong throughout. Definitely worth a read for horror/thriller fans. I plan to follow this author now.
March 6, 2025
Stranger Things meets the Indian Lake Trilogy by Stephen Graham Jones in this somewhat campy YA horror set at a lake in Michigan where families vacation every summer. The story was inspired by the author's own childhood experiences at a summer lake and she really got the creepy, meandering, nostalgic vacation vibe down.
Iris and her family have come back again this summer since Iris's sister, Glory, died in a supposedly accidental drowning last summer. Engulfed by grief, Iris knows that the drowning was not accidental and vows to investigate. But everything is changed in the gaping hole of Glory's absence in her group of queer friends, affectionately named the Disasters. Glory was the extroverted, fearless ringleader, ths glue that held them together, and Iris is her annoying mousey sister. Can she really solve her murder?
But it turns out girls have been drowning in this lake for years and there's something more sinister than murder in this tranquil vacation spot with old family traditions.
The first half of the book was kind of slow paced and I took awhile to get into the characters because their obsession with Glory's death was a little too on the nose. Glory this, Glory that. Grief takes different forms for everyone though. It definitely immersed me in that summer camp life in that way of making the mundane horrific. I spent the first half of the book thinking it would be a conventional murder mystery with grief-stricken teen sleuths and then it really picked up at 65% with the supernatural elements and the pace.
At first I thought this book wasn't that memorable until the twist at the end.
Just a fun romp with queer teens enjoying one last nostalgia at summer camp with a splash of cosmic horror. I also liked how their queerness wasn't front and center, either; it was just a part of who they were.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Iris and her family have come back again this summer since Iris's sister, Glory, died in a supposedly accidental drowning last summer. Engulfed by grief, Iris knows that the drowning was not accidental and vows to investigate. But everything is changed in the gaping hole of Glory's absence in her group of queer friends, affectionately named the Disasters. Glory was the extroverted, fearless ringleader, ths glue that held them together, and Iris is her annoying mousey sister. Can she really solve her murder?
But it turns out girls have been drowning in this lake for years and there's something more sinister than murder in this tranquil vacation spot with old family traditions.
The first half of the book was kind of slow paced and I took awhile to get into the characters because their obsession with Glory's death was a little too on the nose. Glory this, Glory that. Grief takes different forms for everyone though. It definitely immersed me in that summer camp life in that way of making the mundane horrific. I spent the first half of the book thinking it would be a conventional murder mystery with grief-stricken teen sleuths and then it really picked up at 65% with the supernatural elements and the pace.
At first I thought this book wasn't that memorable until the twist at the end.
Just a fun romp with queer teens enjoying one last nostalgia at summer camp with a splash of cosmic horror. I also liked how their queerness wasn't front and center, either; it was just a part of who they were.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 1, 2025
This was an interesting one for me. I really liked the narration and thought the narrators did a great job. I liked the character development, but I wanted some more from the story. I didn’t love the pacing and I thought that the story was way too predictable. It was still a fun ride, I was just hopeful for more. Iris and her family have gone to Bad Creek every summer her whole life. Last summer her older sister Glory passed away, but Iris still wants to go. She is determined to figure out what happened because she doesn’t believe that her sister truly drowned by accident. Along with her oldest friends Gum and Aiden she wants to find the truth, but not all truth is waiting to be found. I liked that this book had LGBTQA+ representation as well as questioning of religious upbringing. I wanted to like this one more than I did, but I recognize that might have been me. I gave this one 3.5 stars which I rounded up because there were a lot of good things and this might be a better fit for someone else.
June 19, 2025
I’m a bit unsure how to rate this, because, while it didn’t work for me, I can completely see that it would work for others
The highs.
Lqbtq representation
Amazing character development
Questions religion
Covers lots of angsty teen type tropes
The lows
I did f really enjoy the pacing
I was distracted often
I didn’t enjoy the narration
I usually rate depending on my personal enjoyment but I bumped this up a bit purely because I can definitely see it being a winner with its target YA audience.
Many thanks to RBmefia and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
The highs.
Lqbtq representation
Amazing character development
Questions religion
Covers lots of angsty teen type tropes
The lows
I did f really enjoy the pacing
I was distracted often
I didn’t enjoy the narration
I usually rate depending on my personal enjoyment but I bumped this up a bit purely because I can definitely see it being a winner with its target YA audience.
Many thanks to RBmefia and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
April 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the early ARC of this book.
This was good. I don't know if I'll remember it for a long time and it probably won't be a favorite for 2025 but I enjoyed it while I was reading and liked the characters. Iris became more annoying as I read which was a bummer but got better again towards the end of the book. The other characters were all interesting with their own backstories but came in second on down to Iris even with the book splitting POV between her, Gum and Aiden. The mystery of what was happening to the drowned girls in the small town was fun to follow with an interesting conclusion. I predicted some of it but still appreciated the big climax and ending. I'd be happy to read more by this author in the future.
This was good. I don't know if I'll remember it for a long time and it probably won't be a favorite for 2025 but I enjoyed it while I was reading and liked the characters. Iris became more annoying as I read which was a bummer but got better again towards the end of the book. The other characters were all interesting with their own backstories but came in second on down to Iris even with the book splitting POV between her, Gum and Aiden. The mystery of what was happening to the drowned girls in the small town was fun to follow with an interesting conclusion. I predicted some of it but still appreciated the big climax and ending. I'd be happy to read more by this author in the future.
July 3, 2025
3.5⭐
A perfect 'summerween' read! 3.5⭐
The vibes are immaculate. It's not the most in your face/jump scare horror type of book but the atmosphere oozed off the pages. I think the audiobook helped with the vibes, I was a huge fan of the multiple POV's it really added to the whole overall vibe. The book is very fast paced which makes it easy to finish in one sitting, especially with the almost non-stop action. Loved the supernatural side to this!
Make sure to add on your radar for this fall!
The trigger list is important to look at with this one, it goes through some pretty intense topics and gore (which is very detailed).
Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the audio copy!
*all opinions are my own*
A perfect 'summerween' read! 3.5⭐
The vibes are immaculate. It's not the most in your face/jump scare horror type of book but the atmosphere oozed off the pages. I think the audiobook helped with the vibes, I was a huge fan of the multiple POV's it really added to the whole overall vibe. The book is very fast paced which makes it easy to finish in one sitting, especially with the almost non-stop action. Loved the supernatural side to this!
Make sure to add on your radar for this fall!
The trigger list is important to look at with this one, it goes through some pretty intense topics and gore (which is very detailed).
Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the audio copy!
*all opinions are my own*
July 13, 2025
Narrated by Michael Crouch, Suzy Jackson, Nick Mills
Presented by RB Media
I didn't mind this, though the narrator for Gum was not my fave.
Three inseparable teens return to their regular summer haunt, but things aren't the same since last summer, when their fourth member drowned. There are secrets and mixed feelings and super weird things happening.
This jumps straight into eerie supernatural happenings, and it doesn't shy from that which I quite enjoyed. It commits to the horror and it gives the story a nice solid feel.
I don't know that I ever really liked any of the characters - they all have stubborn and/or naive ways of looking at everything and it does get a little tiresome after a while.
I did also tune out a few times, especially during Gum's chapters because the narration bothered me.
I enjoyed the narration from the other two, but Gum just delivered everything in the same stressed tone. Like everything was concerning, but then when action was happening it was the same rather than more exciting. I don't know if that makes sense but my point is that it all sounded the same, making it hard to appreciate the more exciting events his chapters told.
The other two narrators gave enough inflection to give the story character, so I found those much easier to listen to and follow.
I enjoyed the mystery, but probably tuned out a few too many things to properly put the puzzles together myself. I liked the way things came together, and I'm glad that it stuck with its supernatural themes because they were interesting and creepy.
All in all, this was a fun YA horror story. I think I'd have got more out of it with a physical read, but listening was good fun and still sufficiently disturbing.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
Presented by RB Media
I didn't mind this, though the narrator for Gum was not my fave.
Three inseparable teens return to their regular summer haunt, but things aren't the same since last summer, when their fourth member drowned. There are secrets and mixed feelings and super weird things happening.
This jumps straight into eerie supernatural happenings, and it doesn't shy from that which I quite enjoyed. It commits to the horror and it gives the story a nice solid feel.
I don't know that I ever really liked any of the characters - they all have stubborn and/or naive ways of looking at everything and it does get a little tiresome after a while.
I did also tune out a few times, especially during Gum's chapters because the narration bothered me.
I enjoyed the narration from the other two, but Gum just delivered everything in the same stressed tone. Like everything was concerning, but then when action was happening it was the same rather than more exciting. I don't know if that makes sense but my point is that it all sounded the same, making it hard to appreciate the more exciting events his chapters told.
The other two narrators gave enough inflection to give the story character, so I found those much easier to listen to and follow.
I enjoyed the mystery, but probably tuned out a few too many things to properly put the puzzles together myself. I liked the way things came together, and I'm glad that it stuck with its supernatural themes because they were interesting and creepy.
All in all, this was a fun YA horror story. I think I'd have got more out of it with a physical read, but listening was good fun and still sufficiently disturbing.
With thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC
June 22, 2025
I’ll say this every year, but there’s something comforting about a good horror read in the summer.
Bad Creek is such a fun read, it’s all hauntings, curses, and a history of murders. I loved the idea of the summer friend group and their history unravelling slowly throughout the book. This was extremely atmospheric, and had a vibe that everyone was guilty.
Places are so important in a book and Bad Creek definitely has an ominous, unexplored feel. It draws people to it, and they can’t leave. Definitely a great, quick YA horror to give you all those summer camp/small town vibes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available June 17, 2025
Thank you to Norton Young Readers or a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Bad Creek is such a fun read, it’s all hauntings, curses, and a history of murders. I loved the idea of the summer friend group and their history unravelling slowly throughout the book. This was extremely atmospheric, and had a vibe that everyone was guilty.
Places are so important in a book and Bad Creek definitely has an ominous, unexplored feel. It draws people to it, and they can’t leave. Definitely a great, quick YA horror to give you all those summer camp/small town vibes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available June 17, 2025
Thank you to Norton Young Readers or a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 30, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fast-paced YA supernatural horror/thriller that was good for it's target audience, but was ultimately pretty predictable. I did enjoy the concept of a generational curse causing the demise of others. However, it is getting tiring with the modern day rhetoric and personal ideations of the rich suck, religious people are all evil and bigots, conservative vs liberalism, etc. being thrown into the stories which just subtracts from it overall. Can we just get a good spooky story again?
The bouncing back and forth between timelines also became a little confusing at times but came together at the end. The main characters were well done especially for the youth of today, I could see how they can be relateable, and the Disasters (the group they call themselves) working together to figure out the deaths around Bad Creek was done well.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of the ghost and how it would turn into the different girls. All in all, it was a decent read through. I just wish some things could have been left out to shorten the story and provide more depth.
This was a fast-paced YA supernatural horror/thriller that was good for it's target audience, but was ultimately pretty predictable. I did enjoy the concept of a generational curse causing the demise of others. However, it is getting tiring with the modern day rhetoric and personal ideations of the rich suck, religious people are all evil and bigots, conservative vs liberalism, etc. being thrown into the stories which just subtracts from it overall. Can we just get a good spooky story again?
The bouncing back and forth between timelines also became a little confusing at times but came together at the end. The main characters were well done especially for the youth of today, I could see how they can be relateable, and the Disasters (the group they call themselves) working together to figure out the deaths around Bad Creek was done well.
I also enjoyed the descriptions of the ghost and how it would turn into the different girls. All in all, it was a decent read through. I just wish some things could have been left out to shorten the story and provide more depth.
July 29, 2025
Actual rating: 2.5☆
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ALC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
First, a disclaimer, I'm currently going to an awful reading slump after reading a lot of mid books, and unfortunately, Bad Creek was just another title to add to the long list.
The atmosphere here was really wonderful, honestly the biggest mark, you could really feel the sticky summer weather. The audiobook also helped with the different povs and getting a narrator for each character.
I thought the plot building was great until we got to the ending and the entire revelation behind the situation, I just think it was really serious and dark, and it got resolved just like that. The character work was also not my favourite.
Overall, it is a decent horror ya book with a great atmosphere.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ALC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
First, a disclaimer, I'm currently going to an awful reading slump after reading a lot of mid books, and unfortunately, Bad Creek was just another title to add to the long list.
The atmosphere here was really wonderful, honestly the biggest mark, you could really feel the sticky summer weather. The audiobook also helped with the different povs and getting a narrator for each character.
I thought the plot building was great until we got to the ending and the entire revelation behind the situation, I just think it was really serious and dark, and it got resolved just like that. The character work was also not my favourite.
Overall, it is a decent horror ya book with a great atmosphere.
June 23, 2025
Thank you, Net Galley and the publisher, for providing me with a digital copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
So, upfront: I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was exactly what I wanted to read right now. It was creepy, a good mystery and just the right dash of teen drama to make it an all- rounder.
The synopsis was intriguing already but I genuinely didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.
CHARACTERS: 8/10
The characters may fall into some cliché, but the fact we get POVs from most of them, makes them more likeable and you get deeper into what makes them unique.
ATMOSPHERE: 7/10
It was amazing! I felt like one of the gang hanging out with them this summer. The scary stuff was stunning. Chilling. Creepy cabins and lake vibes done right. Seriously, this was a collection of summer camp vibes and teen gang trying to solve a mystery.
WRITING: 7/10
I loved all the POVs. We have a couple of characters narrating at some point but it never got confusing, it helped to make the scope of the plot a bit wider. Plus it made me like all the characters.
PLOT: 8/10
It was a wild ride, in the best way possible. When I thought the story was heading towards something, it twisted into another mystery. Mixed with summer vacations? Yes please. The final reveal was a bit obvious but it was cool to see ow it developed.
INTRIGUE: 7/10
I kind of guessed some of the twists but it was fun the first half. Once you hit that first scary chapter, you just can’t stop reading.
LOGIC & ENJOYMENT: 7/10 & 8/10
“Bad Creek” is a highlight for me this summer. I can’t say it is a new all-time-favorite, but it was really fun. Left me in a mood to binge summerween content. It’s a quick easy read that I would recommend to readers wanting a chilly teen horror.
Excited to see what the author has in store for us next.
(CAWPILE) = 8+7+7+8+7+7+8 = 7.4 = 4 stars
So, upfront: I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was exactly what I wanted to read right now. It was creepy, a good mystery and just the right dash of teen drama to make it an all- rounder.
The synopsis was intriguing already but I genuinely didn’t expect to like it as much as I did.
CHARACTERS: 8/10
The characters may fall into some cliché, but the fact we get POVs from most of them, makes them more likeable and you get deeper into what makes them unique.
ATMOSPHERE: 7/10
It was amazing! I felt like one of the gang hanging out with them this summer. The scary stuff was stunning. Chilling. Creepy cabins and lake vibes done right. Seriously, this was a collection of summer camp vibes and teen gang trying to solve a mystery.
WRITING: 7/10
I loved all the POVs. We have a couple of characters narrating at some point but it never got confusing, it helped to make the scope of the plot a bit wider. Plus it made me like all the characters.
PLOT: 8/10
It was a wild ride, in the best way possible. When I thought the story was heading towards something, it twisted into another mystery. Mixed with summer vacations? Yes please. The final reveal was a bit obvious but it was cool to see ow it developed.
INTRIGUE: 7/10
I kind of guessed some of the twists but it was fun the first half. Once you hit that first scary chapter, you just can’t stop reading.
LOGIC & ENJOYMENT: 7/10 & 8/10
“Bad Creek” is a highlight for me this summer. I can’t say it is a new all-time-favorite, but it was really fun. Left me in a mood to binge summerween content. It’s a quick easy read that I would recommend to readers wanting a chilly teen horror.
Excited to see what the author has in store for us next.
(CAWPILE) = 8+7+7+8+7+7+8 = 7.4 = 4 stars
June 21, 2025
Pop sugar challenge #16 - książka, której akcja rozgrywa się w zbiorniku wodnym lub wokół niego.
Niby to Young adult ale miałam wrażenie jakby to było napisane dla młodszych czytelników, bohaterowie dziwni bez osobowości i mega wkurzający, tempo akcji szło jak ślimak i w ogóle nie było thrillerowego/horrorowego klimatu :/
*jedna postać miała niepełnosprawną matkę ? (w śpiączce chyba była) więc najlepszą decyzją w tej sytuacji było udawanie że nie żyje żeby o niej nie rozmawiać xD
Niby to Young adult ale miałam wrażenie jakby to było napisane dla młodszych czytelników, bohaterowie dziwni bez osobowości i mega wkurzający, tempo akcji szło jak ślimak i w ogóle nie było thrillerowego/horrorowego klimatu :/
*jedna postać miała niepełnosprawną matkę ? (w śpiączce chyba była) więc najlepszą decyzją w tej sytuacji było udawanie że nie żyje żeby o niej nie rozmawiać xD
September 3, 2025
Another Fear Street daughter! 3 Star book until the last 3rd then you can’t put it down! Never trust a spooky ass lake. Bonus points for taking place in Michigan
May 3, 2025
Bad Creek
By Peyton June
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 👻 slightly spooky ⭐️’s
TW: death, suicidal ideation, depression
Bad Creek is a YA part horror (horror “lite”—I’d say eerie more than nightmares for life), part coming-of-age mystery. It’s also a not-so-subtle rumination on grief, change, and finding the courage to be unapologetically yourself. Dead or alive (literally, in this book), everyone is flawed, and everyone has parts of themselves they’d rather forget.
Therapy lessons aside, Bad Creek centers around teen Iris and friends (Iris is the protagonist, though chapters alternate between her friends’ POV’s) and their vastly different families on their annual summer pilgrimage to the titular camp grounds of Bad Creek.
Nothing changes in Bad Creek—at least, that’s what they say (ad-naseam). Yet, everything has changed for Iris, after the tragic loss of her sister the previous summer, even if nearly everyone stubbornly pretends all is peachy perfect.
Despite everyone else’s seeming attempts to move on, Iris is determined to find out what really happened that night. But, she’ll soon find there’s more than one ghost in Bad Creek, and some people will do anything to keep the bodies buried.
A summer read, with relatable, diverse characters. I liked how the author approached queer characters—their identities were clear, and a part of who they were, but not their entire being. Shockingly, LGBTQ+ people are just that—people.
The diversity between the characters and their families absolutely matters, but it’s a piece of what makes these people a whole. So, props to the author for that 🍾🌈.
The story itself was decent, though it moved a bit slowly for my tastes (yet, somehow, fell short on some plot points, especially near the end). The imagery was overall well written; I can easily picture each location described as actual places.
The ghosts and eerie bits were equally well-rendered, but I really wanted more from a novel that billed itself as horror. I felt the plot became too repetitive or stuck at times. The themes worked, but didn’t need to be hammered in. Again, it’s a ghost story and a story of grief/growing up, but it often felt like the horror elements were pretty secondary. I would’ve preferred a better blend of genres complementing each other.
That said, I mostly enjoyed it, and I think it’s target audience will too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
By Peyton June
⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 👻 slightly spooky ⭐️’s
TW: death, suicidal ideation, depression
Bad Creek is a YA part horror (horror “lite”—I’d say eerie more than nightmares for life), part coming-of-age mystery. It’s also a not-so-subtle rumination on grief, change, and finding the courage to be unapologetically yourself. Dead or alive (literally, in this book), everyone is flawed, and everyone has parts of themselves they’d rather forget.
Therapy lessons aside, Bad Creek centers around teen Iris and friends (Iris is the protagonist, though chapters alternate between her friends’ POV’s) and their vastly different families on their annual summer pilgrimage to the titular camp grounds of Bad Creek.
Nothing changes in Bad Creek—at least, that’s what they say (ad-naseam). Yet, everything has changed for Iris, after the tragic loss of her sister the previous summer, even if nearly everyone stubbornly pretends all is peachy perfect.
Despite everyone else’s seeming attempts to move on, Iris is determined to find out what really happened that night. But, she’ll soon find there’s more than one ghost in Bad Creek, and some people will do anything to keep the bodies buried.
A summer read, with relatable, diverse characters. I liked how the author approached queer characters—their identities were clear, and a part of who they were, but not their entire being. Shockingly, LGBTQ+ people are just that—people.
The diversity between the characters and their families absolutely matters, but it’s a piece of what makes these people a whole. So, props to the author for that 🍾🌈.
The story itself was decent, though it moved a bit slowly for my tastes (yet, somehow, fell short on some plot points, especially near the end). The imagery was overall well written; I can easily picture each location described as actual places.
The ghosts and eerie bits were equally well-rendered, but I really wanted more from a novel that billed itself as horror. I felt the plot became too repetitive or stuck at times. The themes worked, but didn’t need to be hammered in. Again, it’s a ghost story and a story of grief/growing up, but it often felt like the horror elements were pretty secondary. I would’ve preferred a better blend of genres complementing each other.
That said, I mostly enjoyed it, and I think it’s target audience will too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
July 28, 2025
I had high expectations for this one based on the cover and blurb, but it was a dud. Besides the lackluster plot, the execution of the alternating characters was majorly flawed. The writing style left much to be wanted. I should have DNFed.
July 2, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the narration. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book, which was one I eagerly anticipated this summer! This book had a lot of potential and did not come across as a debut. I enjoyed all the characters, including their individual chapter narrations by different actors, and liked the themes of grief and a fractured found family. I thought the storyline about Gum and his religious trauma as a young gay boy to be lacking, it could have been so much richer but only served to act as the plot and not as part of his character. I did not like the romance aspect and thought it was kind of oddly placed. I liked the supernatural elements, but wish they had been dialed up to a 10, instead of like, a 7. I think this will sit well with readers who want a quick straightforward YA horror, and while I didn't LOVE it, I did enjoy it, and in fact listened to about 65% of it in one sitting. Overall, the themes felt a little under developed, but I would still recommend this to anyone searching for a vacation horror/murder mystery with supernatural elements.
August 23, 2025
4.5 rounded up!
"The Garrens didn't just have Bad Creek in their blood now. Their blood was in Bad Creek."
This summer especially feels like one for the books and adaptations of teens heading off for their annual summer vacations at the beach houses they've been going to for their entire lives, and you can add BAD CREEK to the list, BUT with a supernatural twist!
I really loved the characters in this story and getting to know them all through their rotating POVs. Despite their differences, I could feel how their annual stay in Bad Creek , Michigan bonded them and their families in a special way.
This story is riddled with grief and the grappling of existence, mixed with a mystery that kept me flipping pages amongst the tears.
A truly wonderful debut!
"The Garrens didn't just have Bad Creek in their blood now. Their blood was in Bad Creek."
This summer especially feels like one for the books and adaptations of teens heading off for their annual summer vacations at the beach houses they've been going to for their entire lives, and you can add BAD CREEK to the list, BUT with a supernatural twist!
I really loved the characters in this story and getting to know them all through their rotating POVs. Despite their differences, I could feel how their annual stay in Bad Creek , Michigan bonded them and their families in a special way.
This story is riddled with grief and the grappling of existence, mixed with a mystery that kept me flipping pages amongst the tears.
A truly wonderful debut!
July 1, 2025
“Their blood was in Bad Creek”
“Bad Creek” is a refreshing horror; a familiar tale of death, ghosts, teenagers coming of age, and that backwoods Christian hatred parading around as love. Following the death of her sister, Iris returns with her family a year later to her treasured holiday cabin, reuniting with old friends and digging up trauma that had not been properly tended to. Between the suffocating denial, the dangerous sleepwalking leading below the waves, and a collection of waterlogged ghosts haunting the cabins of Bad Creek, the vacation very quickly becomes an unforgettable experience for the trio.
There are aspects of this book that I had wished would have been dissected further, but with the knowledge that this is a YA novel, I feel like the more mature aspects were handled rather decently. The intersection of a religiously oppressive atmosphere, far too casual homophobia and the lingering effects of trauma upon a person at some of their most formative years, were well worn backbones to the horror. At times, it was tough to read the chapters dealing with Gum’s family; that diatribe of hatred being all too familiar in the world. The sharpness of those comments, spoken with the same breathes that preached about love, really provided an emotional impact for Gum’s struggles, fulled even worst by the ghostly women who plagued his waking moments.
All of the characters were enjoyable, and I wish there had been more of Iris and her mother’s. I wish there had just been more of her mothers in general. The loss of their daughter, coupled with the prior tragedies they’d experienced at this cabin, and the dynamic they would have had with friends who took radically different paths in life could have been a story all its own.
At points the plot struggled, getting a little muddled and repeatable. Overall, though, it was well paced, and I took the audio book in one sitting, I found myself that invested in the story being told. The imagery was extremely well written, and the descriptions of the ghost dripping all over the place got me excited each time. Its eerie, even if I wanted a bit more of the horror aspects (a personal preference with understanding of the YA demographic). The characters were enjoyable for the most part, and it's always nice to have queer characters who exist outside of simply being queer.
“Bad Creek” is a well-structured, and well written horror novel, that while it isn’t going to make waves or add anything new to the genre, is worth the read for horror fans.
Honest review given in exchange for an electronic ARC, via Netgalley.
“Bad Creek” is a refreshing horror; a familiar tale of death, ghosts, teenagers coming of age, and that backwoods Christian hatred parading around as love. Following the death of her sister, Iris returns with her family a year later to her treasured holiday cabin, reuniting with old friends and digging up trauma that had not been properly tended to. Between the suffocating denial, the dangerous sleepwalking leading below the waves, and a collection of waterlogged ghosts haunting the cabins of Bad Creek, the vacation very quickly becomes an unforgettable experience for the trio.
There are aspects of this book that I had wished would have been dissected further, but with the knowledge that this is a YA novel, I feel like the more mature aspects were handled rather decently. The intersection of a religiously oppressive atmosphere, far too casual homophobia and the lingering effects of trauma upon a person at some of their most formative years, were well worn backbones to the horror. At times, it was tough to read the chapters dealing with Gum’s family; that diatribe of hatred being all too familiar in the world. The sharpness of those comments, spoken with the same breathes that preached about love, really provided an emotional impact for Gum’s struggles, fulled even worst by the ghostly women who plagued his waking moments.
All of the characters were enjoyable, and I wish there had been more of Iris and her mother’s. I wish there had just been more of her mothers in general. The loss of their daughter, coupled with the prior tragedies they’d experienced at this cabin, and the dynamic they would have had with friends who took radically different paths in life could have been a story all its own.
At points the plot struggled, getting a little muddled and repeatable. Overall, though, it was well paced, and I took the audio book in one sitting, I found myself that invested in the story being told. The imagery was extremely well written, and the descriptions of the ghost dripping all over the place got me excited each time. Its eerie, even if I wanted a bit more of the horror aspects (a personal preference with understanding of the YA demographic). The characters were enjoyable for the most part, and it's always nice to have queer characters who exist outside of simply being queer.
“Bad Creek” is a well-structured, and well written horror novel, that while it isn’t going to make waves or add anything new to the genre, is worth the read for horror fans.
Honest review given in exchange for an electronic ARC, via Netgalley.
December 30, 2025
Almost PERFECT and to think that this was her first book!!?
Gum, Iris and Aidan are all summer vacationing with their families at Bad Creek like every summer......however it is the Summer after Iris's older sister Glory drowned mysteriously in the lake.
With Gum being gay, and hiding this fact from his OVER bearing and extremely religious family, and Iris being the girl who uncontrollable sleep walks, this will eventually bring the three teens to a summer that will be filled with demons, ghosts, rotting corpses of things both human and non human rising to the surface of the lake, and disgusting and very disturbing family secrets that will pit them to learn how to fight for their lives........literally at Bad Creek! This book started out great and grabs you with an opening that made me think to myself that this will either be very cliched or will be very unique.......and let me tell you what: I almost dnf'd this book at 64%! I was SO SO glad that I stayed with it......it was so well thought of and executed with a twist that I had NO idea was coming and I cannot WAIT for her next book......! I LOVED this tale of summer nightmares, and things that can grab you and pull under to the bottom of Bad Creek!!! Highly recommended to anyone who loves a GREAT horror/suspense thriller!
4.5 Screams
Gum, Iris and Aidan are all summer vacationing with their families at Bad Creek like every summer......however it is the Summer after Iris's older sister Glory drowned mysteriously in the lake.
With Gum being gay, and hiding this fact from his OVER bearing and extremely religious family, and Iris being the girl who uncontrollable sleep walks, this will eventually bring the three teens to a summer that will be filled with demons, ghosts, rotting corpses of things both human and non human rising to the surface of the lake, and disgusting and very disturbing family secrets that will pit them to learn how to fight for their lives........literally at Bad Creek! This book started out great and grabs you with an opening that made me think to myself that this will either be very cliched or will be very unique.......and let me tell you what: I almost dnf'd this book at 64%! I was SO SO glad that I stayed with it......it was so well thought of and executed with a twist that I had NO idea was coming and I cannot WAIT for her next book......! I LOVED this tale of summer nightmares, and things that can grab you and pull under to the bottom of Bad Creek!!! Highly recommended to anyone who loves a GREAT horror/suspense thriller!
4.5 Screams
August 14, 2025
A family vacation to the same spot they always go to - only it's been a year since their family member drown there. Bad Creek - it's a small town with the same people, year after year, live there or visit. The parents knew the parents who now have kids who know their kids. But every generation, a girl drowns.
This was such a fun little mystery. I really liked our POV - that it was well rounded and we got to see our characters both from their POV and the other POV. Love this creepy little town, the sleep walking, but also the family traditions like put-put golf and parties. The mystery was interesting and kept me wonder what would happen next. The audio was fabulous, the narrators did a great job of really pulling me in. Great for the Halloween season, highly recommend it!
This was such a fun little mystery. I really liked our POV - that it was well rounded and we got to see our characters both from their POV and the other POV. Love this creepy little town, the sleep walking, but also the family traditions like put-put golf and parties. The mystery was interesting and kept me wonder what would happen next. The audio was fabulous, the narrators did a great job of really pulling me in. Great for the Halloween season, highly recommend it!
August 14, 2025
wait this was insanely good , this felt like a fear street movie kinda mixed w the good parts of we were liars .
and also hudson? NEED THAT!!!
I hate when I love a really good book and yet don’t know what to say for the review , but I read this in a tube on the frio river and it was literally the perfect book for camping .
and also hudson? NEED THAT!!!
I hate when I love a really good book and yet don’t know what to say for the review , but I read this in a tube on the frio river and it was literally the perfect book for camping .
June 18, 2025
ALC 🎧 Book Review ���
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This had me SPOOKED- I loved it, but I also would never go to a cabin in the woods lmfao.
The characters were all so angsty. All dealing w/ grief in different ways, while battling their own demons. Their friendship was everything though, very admirable for their age. This gave very much cult classic vibes- They really included all the fun elements in horror.
I esp loved the ending like, that’s how I want my horror movies to end lol!! Overall, this was a fun audio, definitely recommend listening to this at night lol. Michael Crouch, Suzy Jackson, & Nick Mills really sold that- I especially loved the voice for Glory 👹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This had me SPOOKED- I loved it, but I also would never go to a cabin in the woods lmfao.
The characters were all so angsty. All dealing w/ grief in different ways, while battling their own demons. Their friendship was everything though, very admirable for their age. This gave very much cult classic vibes- They really included all the fun elements in horror.
I esp loved the ending like, that’s how I want my horror movies to end lol!! Overall, this was a fun audio, definitely recommend listening to this at night lol. Michael Crouch, Suzy Jackson, & Nick Mills really sold that- I especially loved the voice for Glory 👹
June 25, 2025
Do not shy away from this debut book because it is labeled YA-this one has it all! Fast pace, amazing atmosphere (creepy summer camp vibes), great characters, a generational curse, supernatural horror, and an entertaining story. Bad Creek is also a story about grief, friendship, and loyalty. And it packs in all the suspense and spooky imagery just without the violence and excessive gore. I also enjoyed the full cast narration!
Seriously, bump this one up to the top of your Summerween reading list!👻
Seriously, bump this one up to the top of your Summerween reading list!👻
April 23, 2025
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for approving me to read this, I’m rating it 4.25 stars.
I love this genre, it had small town creepy vibes with a mystery that links the past and present together in the worst ways.
I adore the friendships in this story, it was looking a little rocky at points because you never know who to trust during this book, but everything comes full circle.
I highly recommend this for fans of a supernatural mystery with creepy and unsettling vibes plus very likeable characters.
I love this genre, it had small town creepy vibes with a mystery that links the past and present together in the worst ways.
I adore the friendships in this story, it was looking a little rocky at points because you never know who to trust during this book, but everything comes full circle.
I highly recommend this for fans of a supernatural mystery with creepy and unsettling vibes plus very likeable characters.
Want to read
October 29, 2024"Three lifelong friends confront restless ghosts and malevolent family secrets in this fierce, propulsive debut young adult horror novel."
new favourite cover of all-time??? i'm speechless
new favourite cover of all-time??? i'm speechless
Read
June 6, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Bad Creek by Peyton June is a third person multi-POV YA horror set during summer vacation. Iris, Adrian, and Gum have been friends their whole lives, in part because their parents are friends. Glory, Iris’ sister, died last summer and no one seems totally sure exactly what happened. But Bad Creek can’t hide everything forever.
Of the three POVs, the one I preferred the most was Iris’ POV. There’s complexity in how she feels about her sister’s death, the way her mothers are responding to it, and her growing feelings for Hudson, Gum’s cousin and someone she’s never really considered a romantic option yet is suddenly becoming one. Iris also has conflicting feelings over her longtime friends and the things that they aren’t telling her, which drives some of the conflict between them.
This is what I would call ‘Dead Girl Media.’ Glory is haunting the narrative, her death drives the narrative, her death has caused damage to so many relationships, and nobody who loved her is over it. It’s very realistic. When you lose someone who has a significant portion of your life, they do haunt you no matter what your relationship was and it’s worse the younger they were and the more sudden it was.
The horror elements build slowly over time, first with suspense and then we get into the more supernatural elements. The supernatural elements don’t play a very big part overall and I think some of the narrative is more Iris finding out what happened to Glory and why and who was involved. We also get a lot of flashbacks that help to further contextualize the relationships of Gum, Adrian, Iris, and Glory (many are between Adrian and Glory as they were a couple before Glory’s death). The story does move at a fairly brisk pace, but the revelations are more on the slower end.
I would recommend this to fans of horror who love stories where a young woman is haunting the narrative and readers of YA looking to try a horror
Bad Creek by Peyton June is a third person multi-POV YA horror set during summer vacation. Iris, Adrian, and Gum have been friends their whole lives, in part because their parents are friends. Glory, Iris’ sister, died last summer and no one seems totally sure exactly what happened. But Bad Creek can’t hide everything forever.
Of the three POVs, the one I preferred the most was Iris’ POV. There’s complexity in how she feels about her sister’s death, the way her mothers are responding to it, and her growing feelings for Hudson, Gum’s cousin and someone she’s never really considered a romantic option yet is suddenly becoming one. Iris also has conflicting feelings over her longtime friends and the things that they aren’t telling her, which drives some of the conflict between them.
This is what I would call ‘Dead Girl Media.’ Glory is haunting the narrative, her death drives the narrative, her death has caused damage to so many relationships, and nobody who loved her is over it. It’s very realistic. When you lose someone who has a significant portion of your life, they do haunt you no matter what your relationship was and it’s worse the younger they were and the more sudden it was.
The horror elements build slowly over time, first with suspense and then we get into the more supernatural elements. The supernatural elements don’t play a very big part overall and I think some of the narrative is more Iris finding out what happened to Glory and why and who was involved. We also get a lot of flashbacks that help to further contextualize the relationships of Gum, Adrian, Iris, and Glory (many are between Adrian and Glory as they were a couple before Glory’s death). The story does move at a fairly brisk pace, but the revelations are more on the slower end.
I would recommend this to fans of horror who love stories where a young woman is haunting the narrative and readers of YA looking to try a horror
July 14, 2025
This one took me a while to get into. Not because it wasn’t good (it absolutely was), but it has that slow, eerie build that doesn’t fully grip you until things start unraveling…and when they do, it’s intense. We’re talking ghosts, grief, dark family secrets, and a town that feels like it’s hiding something just under the surface.
The story follows Iris, Gum, and Aidan—three friends spending summer in Bad Creek, but everything is different this year. Iris is consumed with grief after the death of her sister Glory who drowned in this exact lake a year ago, Gum is grappling with his identity and being haunted by Glory’s ghost (seriously gross, rotting vibes), and Aidan is carrying around some major guilt from a fight he had with Glory before she died. So yes, the vibes are dark.
Once Iris starts sleepwalking to this creepy old house that Glory was obsessed with before she died, the story kicks into gear and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. There’s a real sense of dread that builds, and the horror elements—both supernatural and emotional—are super well done.
My only gripe? The ending felt rushed. After all that build-up, I just wanted a little more time to sit with the revelations and the aftermath. I think the book could’ve used another 20-30 pages to let everything breathe a bit. Or, an epilogue of the group's next summer after this one. But overall, this was such a strong debut! The atmosphere was haunting in the best way, and the exploration of friendship, trauma, and identity gave the scares a lot of emotional weight.
Definitely recommend this if you’re in the mood for something dreary (literally and emotionally) and don’t mind a slower burn that pays off.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Norton Young Readers, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off of an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way. This came out in June so I'm a bit delayed in my review, but be sure to get it! Perfect spooky summer read!
The story follows Iris, Gum, and Aidan—three friends spending summer in Bad Creek, but everything is different this year. Iris is consumed with grief after the death of her sister Glory who drowned in this exact lake a year ago, Gum is grappling with his identity and being haunted by Glory’s ghost (seriously gross, rotting vibes), and Aidan is carrying around some major guilt from a fight he had with Glory before she died. So yes, the vibes are dark.
Once Iris starts sleepwalking to this creepy old house that Glory was obsessed with before she died, the story kicks into gear and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. There’s a real sense of dread that builds, and the horror elements—both supernatural and emotional—are super well done.
My only gripe? The ending felt rushed. After all that build-up, I just wanted a little more time to sit with the revelations and the aftermath. I think the book could’ve used another 20-30 pages to let everything breathe a bit. Or, an epilogue of the group's next summer after this one. But overall, this was such a strong debut! The atmosphere was haunting in the best way, and the exploration of friendship, trauma, and identity gave the scares a lot of emotional weight.
Definitely recommend this if you’re in the mood for something dreary (literally and emotionally) and don’t mind a slower burn that pays off.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Norton Young Readers, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off of an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way. This came out in June so I'm a bit delayed in my review, but be sure to get it! Perfect spooky summer read!
June 29, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers for sending the arc of this book via ebook and audio!
I started out reading this on my kindle before the release date but kept putting it down, but then decided to pick it up on audio and it made the experience so much more worth while! And bumped up the creep factor massively.
Bad Creek is a fast-paced, creepy YA horror that definitely delivers on atmosphere, especially in audio format, where certain scenes were genuinely unsettling and immersive. The author builds a moody, southern gothic backdrop that sets the stage for strange happenings, eerie secrets, and a familiar sense of small-town dread.
That said, while I appreciated the spooky moments and had fun with the ride overall, the story didn’t stand out much from other YA horrors I’ve read. The plot and character dynamics felt a bit predictable at times, and I found myself wanting a little more depth or originality to really set it apart.
Still, it was an entertaining listen, the pacing kept things moving, and the creepy scenes hit just enough to keep me engaged. It might not have blown me away, but I’m definitely glad I gave it a read and would definitely be interested in what more this author comes out with in the future!
I started out reading this on my kindle before the release date but kept putting it down, but then decided to pick it up on audio and it made the experience so much more worth while! And bumped up the creep factor massively.
Bad Creek is a fast-paced, creepy YA horror that definitely delivers on atmosphere, especially in audio format, where certain scenes were genuinely unsettling and immersive. The author builds a moody, southern gothic backdrop that sets the stage for strange happenings, eerie secrets, and a familiar sense of small-town dread.
That said, while I appreciated the spooky moments and had fun with the ride overall, the story didn’t stand out much from other YA horrors I’ve read. The plot and character dynamics felt a bit predictable at times, and I found myself wanting a little more depth or originality to really set it apart.
Still, it was an entertaining listen, the pacing kept things moving, and the creepy scenes hit just enough to keep me engaged. It might not have blown me away, but I’m definitely glad I gave it a read and would definitely be interested in what more this author comes out with in the future!
December 5, 2025
Bad Creek was a solid, enjoyable debut.
I really liked the cast of narrators as they fit the characters and set the tone of the story well. The setting was eerie and spooky which I enjoyed and I liked the overall plot even though I felt that some parts maybe dragged a little at first. I also appreciated the queer rep throughout and thought that Gum was definitely a stand out character.
Overall, I had a good time reading this one and would recommend it if you’re looking for a fun and mysterious summerween read. I’ll definitely be checking out this authors future releases!
Thank you Netgalley for the ALC.
I really liked the cast of narrators as they fit the characters and set the tone of the story well. The setting was eerie and spooky which I enjoyed and I liked the overall plot even though I felt that some parts maybe dragged a little at first. I also appreciated the queer rep throughout and thought that Gum was definitely a stand out character.
Overall, I had a good time reading this one and would recommend it if you’re looking for a fun and mysterious summerween read. I’ll definitely be checking out this authors future releases!
Thank you Netgalley for the ALC.
June 4, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!
This read like a middle grade or new adult book despite really trying to grasp some complex ideas about separating familiarity from safety and establishing your identity outside of the one assigned to you. The characters all acted much younger than their given ages, especially Iris, and the pacing was bizarre -- either I was skimming pages just to get through the thousandth belabored repetition of someone's obvious revelation or I had to reread passages because important information or dialogue was plopped down and glossed over.
I feel bad for saying this about a girl whose sister just died but I HATED Iris. The whole premise -- doing the Same Thing every year and going to the Same Place with the Same Friends who you inherited from your parents, down to everyone being assigned a color -- was insufferable. I really supported Aidan the most for getting the fuck out and not living his whole life in the past. Really, the only reason I powered through reading the whole thing (and I still doubt whether this was the correct choice) was to watch this wretched perfect little nostalgia bubble that glossed over classism and homophobia for the sake of not upsetting the way things have always been get utterly wrecked. I'm just sorry that a bunch of innocent women had to die in order for the (insanely wealthy and privileged) protagonists to learn that lesson.
I did like that the book featured queer characters without centering romance to illustrate or prove their queerness.
This read like a middle grade or new adult book despite really trying to grasp some complex ideas about separating familiarity from safety and establishing your identity outside of the one assigned to you. The characters all acted much younger than their given ages, especially Iris, and the pacing was bizarre -- either I was skimming pages just to get through the thousandth belabored repetition of someone's obvious revelation or I had to reread passages because important information or dialogue was plopped down and glossed over.
I feel bad for saying this about a girl whose sister just died but I HATED Iris. The whole premise -- doing the Same Thing every year and going to the Same Place with the Same Friends who you inherited from your parents, down to everyone being assigned a color -- was insufferable. I really supported Aidan the most for getting the fuck out and not living his whole life in the past. Really, the only reason I powered through reading the whole thing (and I still doubt whether this was the correct choice) was to watch this wretched perfect little nostalgia bubble that glossed over classism and homophobia for the sake of not upsetting the way things have always been get utterly wrecked. I'm just sorry that a bunch of innocent women had to die in order for the (insanely wealthy and privileged) protagonists to learn that lesson.
I did like that the book featured queer characters without centering romance to illustrate or prove their queerness.
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