What do you think?
Rate this book
Better the Devil
A harrowing, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller about a queer homeless teen who, in a bid for safety, assumes the identity of a boy who went missing ten years ago...only to find that his new home is anything but a safe haven—from All That's Left in the World author Erik J. Brown!
Perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, and Ryan La Sala.
When a runaway teen is arrested for shoplifting, he's desperate not to be sent back to the hyper-religious parents he knows will never accept him. While at the police station, he notices a resemblance to the aged-up photos of Nate Beaumont, a child who went missing ten years ago—and, in a moment of desperation, he takes Nate’s identity in hopes that it will help him make a quick getaway.
Before he can run again, Nate’s family arrives and welcomes him home to a life he never had. As "Nate" watches and waits for his chance to run, he finds that the Beaumonts are nurturing and loving, very different from his own parents.
But soon unsettling things start to happen—vandalism, alarms going off in the middle of the night—and it becomes clear that someone knows "Nate" isn't who he says he is...and that the real Nate wasn't kidnapped, but murdered.
As he starts to unravel the mystery, he gets ever closer to the devil he may know—and learns he might be their next victim.
Perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, and Ryan La Sala.
When a runaway teen is arrested for shoplifting, he's desperate not to be sent back to the hyper-religious parents he knows will never accept him. While at the police station, he notices a resemblance to the aged-up photos of Nate Beaumont, a child who went missing ten years ago—and, in a moment of desperation, he takes Nate’s identity in hopes that it will help him make a quick getaway.
Before he can run again, Nate’s family arrives and welcomes him home to a life he never had. As "Nate" watches and waits for his chance to run, he finds that the Beaumonts are nurturing and loving, very different from his own parents.
But soon unsettling things start to happen—vandalism, alarms going off in the middle of the night—and it becomes clear that someone knows "Nate" isn't who he says he is...and that the real Nate wasn't kidnapped, but murdered.
As he starts to unravel the mystery, he gets ever closer to the devil he may know—and learns he might be their next victim.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 20, 2026
69 people are currently reading
8600 people want to read
About the author
Erik J. Brown
5 books2,229 followersErik J. Brown is the internationally-bestselling author of All That's Left in the World and the sequel The Only Light Left Burning.
His books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books, and ALA Booklist.
His second novel, Lose You to Find Me, became a USA Today Bestseller.
Erik is also the co-host of the YA Book Podcast YA-OK where he and Alyssa Ljub of Netflix's The Circle talk with new and established YA authors about writing, publishing, and all things YA!
He lives in Philadelphia with his family.
You can find him on Instagram @ErikJB and TikTok @ErikJBrown
His books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books, and ALA Booklist.
His second novel, Lose You to Find Me, became a USA Today Bestseller.
Erik is also the co-host of the YA Book Podcast YA-OK where he and Alyssa Ljub of Netflix's The Circle talk with new and established YA authors about writing, publishing, and all things YA!
He lives in Philadelphia with his family.
You can find him on Instagram @ErikJB and TikTok @ErikJBrown
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
September 3, 2025
ARC for review. To be published January 20, 2026.
3 stars
YA novel about a gay teenager (we never know his real name, so feel free to imagine it. Abner? Horace?) who has run away from home in West Virginia after his parents try to send him to conversion therapy (I would like to read a good, non-fiction book about someone who has actually been exiled to conversion therapy. Anyone got any recommendations?).
Months later he is arrested for shoplifting and while at the police station he sees a missing persons poster on the wall. He impulsively tells the officer he is the missing boy, who disappeared when he was six. The narrator, now called Nate Beaumont, “reunites” with his family (yeah, they explain the DNA issue) but someone appears to know he isn’t who he says he is.
There’s a whole lot you have to swallow to get through this…the DNA issue, his good, Christian parents don’t seem to be looking for him…even if they don’t care, they need to pretend like it for the sake of their church people, right? And how did he survive on the street for eight months if he did as many dumb things as he does at the Beaumont house? Mysteries, all. Younger adults may like it fine, but it likely won’t hold the interest of adults.
3 stars
YA novel about a gay teenager (we never know his real name, so feel free to imagine it. Abner? Horace?) who has run away from home in West Virginia after his parents try to send him to conversion therapy (I would like to read a good, non-fiction book about someone who has actually been exiled to conversion therapy. Anyone got any recommendations?).
Months later he is arrested for shoplifting and while at the police station he sees a missing persons poster on the wall. He impulsively tells the officer he is the missing boy, who disappeared when he was six. The narrator, now called Nate Beaumont, “reunites” with his family (yeah, they explain the DNA issue) but someone appears to know he isn’t who he says he is.
There’s a whole lot you have to swallow to get through this…the DNA issue, his good, Christian parents don’t seem to be looking for him…even if they don’t care, they need to pretend like it for the sake of their church people, right? And how did he survive on the street for eight months if he did as many dumb things as he does at the Beaumont house? Mysteries, all. Younger adults may like it fine, but it likely won’t hold the interest of adults.
August 24, 2025
Oh, no! This is not what I want to write and I kind of hate myself for it. I wanted to write a glowing review about Better the Devil because Erik J. Brown is one of my favorite YA authors (and will always be). The thing is, though, I didn’t feel much tension throughout the book. Maybe it’s because I read a haunting house story right before this one, or because I had the perfect twist in my head and it didn’t turn out that way, or maybe because I figured out the real twist and who did it long, long before the plot twist actually happened (and found it a little unbelievable).
So, was this story bad? No. Erik J. Brown is a gifted writer, and I flew through the pages. I really liked Nate and Miles. They would have been the perfect characters for a contemporary romance. Better the Devil was just… something different from what I expected. More of a sleuthing story than a psychological thriller. I was prepared for something deeper. For more angst. For cliffhangers. I wanted to know more about Nate’s therapy sessions. I wanted to see him writhe on his seat. I wanted to peel off layer by layer and pick up all those breadcrumbs that would lead me to the end. And I just wanted to feel more, like I did while reading All That’s Left in the World. For me the story fell a little flat, and I figured out the twist and who did it long before it actually happened. Until suddenly that last part was bone-chilling and terrifying. I had wanted more of this throughout the story, not only in the last 15%.
Again, I hate that I’m writing this, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll love Erik’s next story so I can rate it a glorious five stars!
Thank you so much, HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley, for this ARC.
Follow me on Instagram
So, was this story bad? No. Erik J. Brown is a gifted writer, and I flew through the pages. I really liked Nate and Miles. They would have been the perfect characters for a contemporary romance. Better the Devil was just… something different from what I expected. More of a sleuthing story than a psychological thriller. I was prepared for something deeper. For more angst. For cliffhangers. I wanted to know more about Nate’s therapy sessions. I wanted to see him writhe on his seat. I wanted to peel off layer by layer and pick up all those breadcrumbs that would lead me to the end. And I just wanted to feel more, like I did while reading All That’s Left in the World. For me the story fell a little flat, and I figured out the twist and who did it long before it actually happened. Until suddenly that last part was bone-chilling and terrifying. I had wanted more of this throughout the story, not only in the last 15%.
Again, I hate that I’m writing this, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll love Erik’s next story so I can rate it a glorious five stars!
Thank you so much, HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley, for this ARC.
Follow me on Instagram
January 27, 2026
This starts off with a bang, as the teenage main character (on the streets and so desperately hungry that he steals a can of Beefaroni) gets busted for shoplifting. We learn in flashbacks that he is gay and was outed by someone he considered a friend. Unfortunately, his parents are the ultra-conservative, Bible-thumping, “Disney movies are pure evil” kind, and upon coming home one day, he is greeted by a creepily-smiling “counselor” from a conversion therapy camp. When he’s given a moment to start packing in his room, the boy does what anyone else in his situation would do–he RUNS.
Now that we know that backstory, it makes complete sense that when the teenager sees a missing poster of an eerily lookalike little boy while waiting in the police station, he, in a moment of panic, tells the cops that he is the lost Nate Beaumont. Anything to avoid being sent back to his parents, right? Totally understandable.
While he waits to make a break for it in the hospital, his plans are foiled when his “long-lost family” shows up before he can get his clothes back and slip away. The rest of the story is the boy trying to convince everyone back “home” that he REALLY IS Nate.
And then things start happening. Things that can’t be explained. Accidents that happen where Nate is the clear suspect. He knows he’s not the culprit, but he’s been set up so thoroughly that no one believes him.
Nate starts to realize that maybe, just maybe, he’s put himself in a way worse situation—worse even than a “pray the gay away” camp.
It just might be a fatal mistake.
This was very good. I did guess the reveal, but this had me on the edge of my seat, especially in the last half. This is the third novel I’ve read by Brown, and I really like his work. My only complaint, really, is that people’s reactions to trauma were completely unrealistic, and I would’ve liked to explore the aftermath more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storytide for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Now that we know that backstory, it makes complete sense that when the teenager sees a missing poster of an eerily lookalike little boy while waiting in the police station, he, in a moment of panic, tells the cops that he is the lost Nate Beaumont. Anything to avoid being sent back to his parents, right? Totally understandable.
While he waits to make a break for it in the hospital, his plans are foiled when his “long-lost family” shows up before he can get his clothes back and slip away. The rest of the story is the boy trying to convince everyone back “home” that he REALLY IS Nate.
And then things start happening. Things that can’t be explained. Accidents that happen where Nate is the clear suspect. He knows he’s not the culprit, but he’s been set up so thoroughly that no one believes him.
Nate starts to realize that maybe, just maybe, he’s put himself in a way worse situation—worse even than a “pray the gay away” camp.
It just might be a fatal mistake.
This was very good. I did guess the reveal, but this had me on the edge of my seat, especially in the last half. This is the third novel I’ve read by Brown, and I really like his work. My only complaint, really, is that people’s reactions to trauma were completely unrealistic, and I would’ve liked to explore the aftermath more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storytide for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
January 8, 2026
3.75* This was a wild ride but an incredibly fun and surprisingly twisted one. Easy to read and fast moving, I was totally hooked from the first page onwards. While the ‘big reveal’ didn’t quite work for me, at no point did this story stop being compelling or waver in its ability to keep me reading. This wasn’t the best YA thriller I’ve ever read and it was lacking in some areas for me but overall it was an entertaining read that was perfect for a rainy January day.
December 11, 2025
This book had me in an absolute chokehold for 70% of the way through. Then we got to the twist/reveal and oh brother.
Truly the ending felt so cartoonish with the killer doing over the top and long winded villain monologues where the main character thinks “Oh no, they’re so smart, they have this all planned out!” Uhhh, I guess? Maybe I’m just stupid and like to believe that I’m just simply built different but I myself never felt that fear. I don’t know, team, the reveal was truly so silly, it totally killed my vibe.
I enjoyed what the book was going for. I liked the banter, even if people don’t really talk like that, it was still fun to read (until it wasn’t, cue true crime photo negative flash).
Incredible writing, awesome premise, the ending was just, well it was terrible.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Truly the ending felt so cartoonish with the killer doing over the top and long winded villain monologues where the main character thinks “Oh no, they’re so smart, they have this all planned out!” Uhhh, I guess? Maybe I’m just stupid and like to believe that I’m just simply built different but I myself never felt that fear. I don’t know, team, the reveal was truly so silly, it totally killed my vibe.
I enjoyed what the book was going for. I liked the banter, even if people don’t really talk like that, it was still fun to read (until it wasn’t, cue true crime photo negative flash).
Incredible writing, awesome premise, the ending was just, well it was terrible.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2025
holy shit, i'm so ready for this (i'm definitely not)!!!
just tell us the date please
just tell us the date please
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I read the arc of Better the Devil by Erik J. Brown, I was disappointed. It sounded like a sensational story ripped from the Maury Show and I didn’t like it. It seemed far-fetched, unrealistic and stupid. But I also listened to the audiobook listening copy of the same book and liked it enough to rate it 4 stars because of the exceptional narration by Daniel Henning. ARC was provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books/Storytide. I received an advance reading copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This read like a high-quality Lifetime movie—and I mean that as a genuine compliment. It was engaging, propulsive, and absolutely the kind of story that makes you want to consume it in one sitting because you need to know how it turns out. I could clearly see two major paths the story might take, and I was eager to discover which direction the author chose.
I listened to this on audio and, overall, enjoyed the experience, though there were some notable flaws in the narration. It’s performed by Daniel Henning, who is a fantastic narrator. He delivered strong emotional beats, appropriate inflection, and distinct voices for each character. That said, the pacing at 1x speed felt a bit slow for my taste.
My main issue, however, was the voice he chose for the MMC. It made the character sound like a 12-year-old—or even prepubescent—which was jarring given that the character is supposed to be 16. Hearing what sounded like a young middle schooler in the situations the character found himself in pulled me out of the story more than once and definitely affected my overall experience. I do want to note that this wasn’t Henning’s natural speaking voice, so this felt less like a casting issue and more like a questionable performance choice.
All that said, I still fully enjoyed the twisty ride this book took me on. The story is well written, well plotted, and emotionally engaging. I’m very much looking forward to reading more from this author. I think this would be a great fit for older teens in particular, especially with an MMC whose queer experience will resonate with many readers—even if the outcomes are far more extreme than most will ever face.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harper Audio Children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
I listened to this on audio and, overall, enjoyed the experience, though there were some notable flaws in the narration. It’s performed by Daniel Henning, who is a fantastic narrator. He delivered strong emotional beats, appropriate inflection, and distinct voices for each character. That said, the pacing at 1x speed felt a bit slow for my taste.
My main issue, however, was the voice he chose for the MMC. It made the character sound like a 12-year-old—or even prepubescent—which was jarring given that the character is supposed to be 16. Hearing what sounded like a young middle schooler in the situations the character found himself in pulled me out of the story more than once and definitely affected my overall experience. I do want to note that this wasn’t Henning’s natural speaking voice, so this felt less like a casting issue and more like a questionable performance choice.
All that said, I still fully enjoyed the twisty ride this book took me on. The story is well written, well plotted, and emotionally engaging. I’m very much looking forward to reading more from this author. I think this would be a great fit for older teens in particular, especially with an MMC whose queer experience will resonate with many readers—even if the outcomes are far more extreme than most will ever face.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harper Audio Children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
August 18, 2025
3.5 ★
I really enjoyed Better the Devil! The premise instantly hooked me—queer teen assumes the identity of a missing boy to escape a dangerous situation? Yes, please. The story kicks off with a bang and had me totally gripped from the start. It’s dark, emotional, and tense in all the best ways.
I’ll admit, the pacing dipped a little for me around the middle, but once we hit that 70% mark? OH. MY. GOD. That twist had me yelling. I had theories (trust me, I thought I was smart), but I did not see that coming. Absolutely wild and super satisfying in that twisty thriller way.
One thing that gave me a little pause was how often "Nate" would casually drop in reminders that he was gay.. it felt a little out of place or forced in the moment, like “Hey, remember I’m gay!” with no real relevance to the scene. I love that we have a queer lead in a thriller, but it could’ve been woven in a bit more organically. That said go off, king, cause SAME.
Also: FUCKKKKKKK Easton. That’s all I’ll say
I really enjoyed Better the Devil! The premise instantly hooked me—queer teen assumes the identity of a missing boy to escape a dangerous situation? Yes, please. The story kicks off with a bang and had me totally gripped from the start. It’s dark, emotional, and tense in all the best ways.
I’ll admit, the pacing dipped a little for me around the middle, but once we hit that 70% mark? OH. MY. GOD. That twist had me yelling. I had theories (trust me, I thought I was smart), but I did not see that coming. Absolutely wild and super satisfying in that twisty thriller way.
One thing that gave me a little pause was how often "Nate" would casually drop in reminders that he was gay.. it felt a little out of place or forced in the moment, like “Hey, remember I’m gay!” with no real relevance to the scene. I love that we have a queer lead in a thriller, but it could’ve been woven in a bit more organically. That said go off, king, cause SAME.
Also: FUCKKKKKKK Easton. That’s all I’ll say
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Better the Devil gave me second-hand anxiety!
When a gay teenager (who was only ever out to one person) gets home to a surprise "you're going to a conversion camp" meeting with his ultra-conservative and ultra-religious parents, he takes the first moment he can to bolt, setting into motion a series of unfortunate (and honestly, some fortunate) events that changes the lives of the Beaumont family forever.
We hear the story from the perspective of the nameless main character, and oh my goodness, that boy has so much anxiety. Rightfully so, I might add, but still! The writing really leans into the anxiety he feels, being on the run, feeling constantly watched, and the moments where he can't fully trust the people around him - even if he wants to.
While a lot of this book is pretty believable, there are a few things that when you sit back and think about it, don't quite make sense, but when you're reading, the story sucks you in and makes you forget about the things that don't quite add up.
If you're looking for a quick, relatively fast-paced story that will keep you asking questions and always looking for the next clue, this is it!
Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and Erik J. Brown for this e-ARC. I was provided this ARC for review only, I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own.
When a gay teenager (who was only ever out to one person) gets home to a surprise "you're going to a conversion camp" meeting with his ultra-conservative and ultra-religious parents, he takes the first moment he can to bolt, setting into motion a series of unfortunate (and honestly, some fortunate) events that changes the lives of the Beaumont family forever.
We hear the story from the perspective of the nameless main character, and oh my goodness, that boy has so much anxiety. Rightfully so, I might add, but still! The writing really leans into the anxiety he feels, being on the run, feeling constantly watched, and the moments where he can't fully trust the people around him - even if he wants to.
While a lot of this book is pretty believable, there are a few things that when you sit back and think about it, don't quite make sense, but when you're reading, the story sucks you in and makes you forget about the things that don't quite add up.
If you're looking for a quick, relatively fast-paced story that will keep you asking questions and always looking for the next clue, this is it!
Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and Erik J. Brown for this e-ARC. I was provided this ARC for review only, I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2025
As expected, another home-run from Erik J. Brown.
With every book he puts out, he continues to cement his status as one of the best YA authors in the game right now. I will read anything by him at this point, and his track record gives me faith that I’ll always enjoy what he publishes.
Better the Devil takes so many left turns and keeps its foot on the pedal the entire length of the book. We’re left with a maze of doubt, violence, and gaslighting (pun intended) — which surround the actual heart of the novel, which is the theme of identity.
And while the mystery and suspense do take center stage, the book is a thoughtful and well-developed commentary on identity & self-acceptance. In the course of exploring those themes, Erik delves into so many other topics: found family, trauma, the price of honesty, and the heavy weight of keeping secrets.
While there were a few minor flaws / plot holes, I was willing to suspend my disbelief because the plot was so engrossing. Those flaws weren’t so blatant or glaring that they detracted from the overall experience of reading the book or enjoying the story.
I love that Erik J. Brown delivered on something different for him and tried his hand at a psychological thriller. Psychological thrillers, especially for a YA audience, can be tricky to pull off — but I thought the execution was excellent.
You wouldn’t take my word for it if you knew who was talking. / If you knew where I was walking — to a house, not a home, all alone, because nobody’s there. - Dear Reader X Taylor Swift
—
Huge thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Better the Devil in exchange for a review!
With every book he puts out, he continues to cement his status as one of the best YA authors in the game right now. I will read anything by him at this point, and his track record gives me faith that I’ll always enjoy what he publishes.
Better the Devil takes so many left turns and keeps its foot on the pedal the entire length of the book. We’re left with a maze of doubt, violence, and gaslighting (pun intended) — which surround the actual heart of the novel, which is the theme of identity.
And while the mystery and suspense do take center stage, the book is a thoughtful and well-developed commentary on identity & self-acceptance. In the course of exploring those themes, Erik delves into so many other topics: found family, trauma, the price of honesty, and the heavy weight of keeping secrets.
While there were a few minor flaws / plot holes, I was willing to suspend my disbelief because the plot was so engrossing. Those flaws weren’t so blatant or glaring that they detracted from the overall experience of reading the book or enjoying the story.
I love that Erik J. Brown delivered on something different for him and tried his hand at a psychological thriller. Psychological thrillers, especially for a YA audience, can be tricky to pull off — but I thought the execution was excellent.
You wouldn’t take my word for it if you knew who was talking. / If you knew where I was walking — to a house, not a home, all alone, because nobody’s there. - Dear Reader X Taylor Swift
—
Huge thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Better the Devil in exchange for a review!
November 7, 2025
This book was so good, I read it in a day! It’s a YA thriller/mystery that centres around our protagonist, an unnamed gay teenager who runs away from home when his parents attempt to force him into conversion therapy. After being arrested for shoplifting when starving, he spots a ‘missing’ poster for a boy who looks just like him. In a moment of desperation he takes on the missing boy’s identity and slips into his family… but someone knows the truth, and ‘Nate’ is terrified of being found out, because what if they know what happened to the real Nate?
Gossssh this was so good. It had me guessing throughout; I loved ‘Nate’ and his sleuthing buddy and neighbour, Miles. There were moments when I was genuinely, viscerally scared for ‘Nate’, especially towards the end when the secrets surrounding the mystery start to unravel…
Whilst this is definitely a YA novel, I still really enjoyed it as an adult. The mystery wasn’t overly complex, but it kept me guessing and I was genuinely surprised when the reveal happened! The author has thrown in a lot of red herrings, which kept me busy! Overall a great read for all ages and a happy ending 💕
Read Better The Devil for:
✨ YA Queer Mystery Thriller
✨ Gay teen escaping religious persecution
✨ Taking on identity of missing boy
✨ Someone knows the truth…
✨ What happened to the real Nate?
✨ Queer sleuthing buddy / love interest
✨ Doing it for the true crime podcast
✨ The dog’s called Chardonnay
✨ (PS. The dog is fine 💕)
Thank you so much to Hachette, Hodder Childrens Books and the author for an ARC of this book via NetGalley! It’s available on the 22nd Jan 2026!
Gossssh this was so good. It had me guessing throughout; I loved ‘Nate’ and his sleuthing buddy and neighbour, Miles. There were moments when I was genuinely, viscerally scared for ‘Nate’, especially towards the end when the secrets surrounding the mystery start to unravel…
Whilst this is definitely a YA novel, I still really enjoyed it as an adult. The mystery wasn’t overly complex, but it kept me guessing and I was genuinely surprised when the reveal happened! The author has thrown in a lot of red herrings, which kept me busy! Overall a great read for all ages and a happy ending 💕
Read Better The Devil for:
✨ YA Queer Mystery Thriller
✨ Gay teen escaping religious persecution
✨ Taking on identity of missing boy
✨ Someone knows the truth…
✨ What happened to the real Nate?
✨ Queer sleuthing buddy / love interest
✨ Doing it for the true crime podcast
✨ The dog’s called Chardonnay
✨ (PS. The dog is fine 💕)
Thank you so much to Hachette, Hodder Childrens Books and the author for an ARC of this book via NetGalley! It’s available on the 22nd Jan 2026!
February 7, 2026
Zaczęło się dosyć niewinnie - w ogóle to nie wiedziałam że autor All That’s Left in the World napisał coś nowego xD odkryłam przypadkiem.
Wracając - ta książka podobała mi się bardziej i choć początek był niepozorny i dosyć niewinnie opisany to im dalej w las tym było ciekawiej.
Tempo, bohaterowie i cała zagadka wszystko mi grało.
*spoilerowo*
I chociaż niektóre rzeczy mi się nie kleiły , jak np to że detektyw, ojciec i matka wiedzieli że to nie on jednak woleli nie robić ku zdemaskowaniu kroków - matka = bo chciała ślepo wierzyć że to on, ojciec bo nie chciał ranić matki a detektyw bo nie miał dowodów, to wciąż mi się to nie lepiło.
Nie uważam też że powód dla którego morderca to zrobił był jakoś niesamowicie oryginalny ale jednak czytając dużo true crime wiem że dla takich psycholi może być bardzo głęboki jaki i też mega płytki - niektórzy ludzie po prostu rodzą się źli i nie potrzebują powodu by skrzywdzić innych.
Największą rzeczą która mi jednak nie pasowało było to jak 10-latek mógł to wszystko zaplanować? jak policja w kolejnej książce może być takimi patałachami? (ja nie wiem autorzy w tym temacie to robią z nich takich debili że masakra xD)
No i końcówka mi się nie podobało, niby wszystko cacy jednak to wszystko kłamstwo, nic nie jest prawdą a może w tym temacie policja okazałaby się pomocna? pomoc społeczna? cokolwiek?
A no i też to że ostatecznie nie poznajemy imienia naszego głównego bohatera który do końca życia będzie słuchał imienia kogoś kto nie żyje.
A i nie spodziewałam się że w notce autorskiej zostanę doprowadzona do płaczu You are deserving of love, and you’ll find it from the people in your life
who see the real you and stick around when things get hard
mam nadzieję że ten autor szybko napisze coś nowego bo na pewno nie omieszkam tego przeczytać.
Wracając - ta książka podobała mi się bardziej i choć początek był niepozorny i dosyć niewinnie opisany to im dalej w las tym było ciekawiej.
Tempo, bohaterowie i cała zagadka wszystko mi grało.
*spoilerowo*
I chociaż niektóre rzeczy mi się nie kleiły , jak np to że detektyw, ojciec i matka wiedzieli że to nie on jednak woleli nie robić ku zdemaskowaniu kroków - matka = bo chciała ślepo wierzyć że to on, ojciec bo nie chciał ranić matki a detektyw bo nie miał dowodów, to wciąż mi się to nie lepiło.
Nie uważam też że powód dla którego morderca to zrobił był jakoś niesamowicie oryginalny ale jednak czytając dużo true crime wiem że dla takich psycholi może być bardzo głęboki jaki i też mega płytki - niektórzy ludzie po prostu rodzą się źli i nie potrzebują powodu by skrzywdzić innych.
Największą rzeczą która mi jednak nie pasowało było to jak 10-latek mógł to wszystko zaplanować? jak policja w kolejnej książce może być takimi patałachami? (ja nie wiem autorzy w tym temacie to robią z nich takich debili że masakra xD)
No i końcówka mi się nie podobało, niby wszystko cacy jednak to wszystko kłamstwo, nic nie jest prawdą a może w tym temacie policja okazałaby się pomocna? pomoc społeczna? cokolwiek?
A no i też to że ostatecznie nie poznajemy imienia naszego głównego bohatera który do końca życia będzie słuchał imienia kogoś kto nie żyje.
A i nie spodziewałam się że w notce autorskiej zostanę doprowadzona do płaczu You are deserving of love, and you’ll find it from the people in your life
who see the real you and stick around when things get hard
mam nadzieję że ten autor szybko napisze coś nowego bo na pewno nie omieszkam tego przeczytać.
January 18, 2026
Better the Devil is not without its issues, but it was an engaging read and one which I would have no problem recommending to students.
Our main character has run away when his ultra-religious parents try to send him to a conversion camp after a friend outs him. We catch up with him after he’s been on the street for months, is starving and is about to steal a can of food from a convenience store.
He’s arrested, and is terrified at the thought of being sent home. He spots a poster in the police station showing an image of a boy who looks remarkably like him. Nate Beaumont went missing when he was six. Our main character decides to tell the police that’s who he is.
What follows certainly requires some suspension of disbelief, but as a story to hook us…it succeeds.
The majority of the book focuses on Nate in what was his home. He’s suspicious of what exactly happened, and odd events that start taking place strongly suggest that someone wants to stop him asking questions. As the threat ramps up, it’s clear that someone is prepared to do whatever they need to if it means their own behaviour does not get discovered.
I can’t say any more without giving things away. Audacious at times, and certainly way beyond what you’d find credible, but entertaining. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
Our main character has run away when his ultra-religious parents try to send him to a conversion camp after a friend outs him. We catch up with him after he’s been on the street for months, is starving and is about to steal a can of food from a convenience store.
He’s arrested, and is terrified at the thought of being sent home. He spots a poster in the police station showing an image of a boy who looks remarkably like him. Nate Beaumont went missing when he was six. Our main character decides to tell the police that’s who he is.
What follows certainly requires some suspension of disbelief, but as a story to hook us…it succeeds.
The majority of the book focuses on Nate in what was his home. He’s suspicious of what exactly happened, and odd events that start taking place strongly suggest that someone wants to stop him asking questions. As the threat ramps up, it’s clear that someone is prepared to do whatever they need to if it means their own behaviour does not get discovered.
I can’t say any more without giving things away. Audacious at times, and certainly way beyond what you’d find credible, but entertaining. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
January 15, 2026
This is a YA thriller that is full of twists and turns and never slows down. “Nate” is running from a hyper-religious home where his queer identity was not accepted, and deep into his homelessness, he assumes the identity of a missing teen to avoid arrest. From there, he enters a home that sometimes feels like a safe haven, and other times feels like a house of horrors. This psychological mystery brings us to so many places while trying to discover what really happened to Nate Beaumont.
Wow, I am floored by how much I enjoyed this book! I latched onto the plot from the very beginning and never let go. For a YA novel, this was incredibly emotional, sometimes terrifying, and also filled with a maze of a mystery that really kept you guessing until the final moment. Not only was this a suspenseful mystery, but also touched on a lot of deeper themes like identity and self-acceptance, family trauma from multiple angles, and honestly so much more. Did the plot have a few plot holes? Yeah, but honestly, the plot was so good overall that I really didn’t care and was able to overlook them. I am truly very impressed with this one and will definitely read more from Erik J. Brown!
As for the audio, I was not in love with the narrators chosen voice for “Nate”. His character was 16, and the narrator decided to be bit too juvenile in his delivery. It didn’t bother me so badly that I couldn’t listen, but I do wish he’d taken on a more mature tone.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperAudio Children!
Wow, I am floored by how much I enjoyed this book! I latched onto the plot from the very beginning and never let go. For a YA novel, this was incredibly emotional, sometimes terrifying, and also filled with a maze of a mystery that really kept you guessing until the final moment. Not only was this a suspenseful mystery, but also touched on a lot of deeper themes like identity and self-acceptance, family trauma from multiple angles, and honestly so much more. Did the plot have a few plot holes? Yeah, but honestly, the plot was so good overall that I really didn’t care and was able to overlook them. I am truly very impressed with this one and will definitely read more from Erik J. Brown!
As for the audio, I was not in love with the narrators chosen voice for “Nate”. His character was 16, and the narrator decided to be bit too juvenile in his delivery. It didn’t bother me so badly that I couldn’t listen, but I do wish he’d taken on a more mature tone.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperAudio Children!
February 7, 2026
Starting this year off strong... I don't feel like writing a very in depth review right now, there's not much to say. The premise was intriguing so I wondered how Brown would pull it off, and the answer is that he doesn't. Everything hinges on plot contrivances so stupid that this book really only works if you suspend your disbelief to such a degree that you're barely even following the book anymore.
70% in our true killer, the obviously suspicious brother, reveals himself and he goes full twisted evil psychopath mode, doing cartoon villain monologues and killing all over the place suddenly with no regards for anything... really, what are we doing? They keep bringing up that there was no way a 10 year old could've done all that to try and put suspicion on the dad, except they then immediately reveal that- yeah, he did do all of that himself, don't even worry about it.
"Nate" is just kind of an idiot, but I'll give it some leeway since he's a homeless teen backed into a corner... but still. What do you mean you didn't take any pictures of the body and aren't going to the cops because they might not believe you. Literally just send them the body pics and call them over. And then calling someone to the house the known twisted evil psychopath lives in and being shocked he walks in and starts killing people... unbelievable.
The ending is so unbelievable and doesn't resolve anything. So everyone knew this guy was faking his identity and just doesn't care even though it is messed up as hell. Okay...
Disappointing, oh well.
70% in our true killer, the obviously suspicious brother, reveals himself and he goes full twisted evil psychopath mode, doing cartoon villain monologues and killing all over the place suddenly with no regards for anything... really, what are we doing? They keep bringing up that there was no way a 10 year old could've done all that to try and put suspicion on the dad, except they then immediately reveal that- yeah, he did do all of that himself, don't even worry about it.
"Nate" is just kind of an idiot, but I'll give it some leeway since he's a homeless teen backed into a corner... but still. What do you mean you didn't take any pictures of the body and aren't going to the cops because they might not believe you. Literally just send them the body pics and call them over. And then calling someone to the house the known twisted evil psychopath lives in and being shocked he walks in and starts killing people... unbelievable.
The ending is so unbelievable and doesn't resolve anything. So everyone knew this guy was faking his identity and just doesn't care even though it is messed up as hell. Okay...
Disappointing, oh well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2026
4.5⭐️
This was gripping and terrifying, I really wish I’d been able to read in one sitting as I think it would have intensified the whole experience.
“Nate” has had an awful childhood and his parents are extremely unpleasant people, he runs away to escape conversion therapy and finds himself on the streets. When he’s arrested for stealing food, he makes an impulsive decision to lie about his identity. He finds himself in a precarious situation built on lies, that slowly starts to collapse in a very sinister manner. Full of unsettling and unexpected twists this is a very dark story that is perfect for teens who enjoy a good thriller.
This was gripping and terrifying, I really wish I’d been able to read in one sitting as I think it would have intensified the whole experience.
“Nate” has had an awful childhood and his parents are extremely unpleasant people, he runs away to escape conversion therapy and finds himself on the streets. When he’s arrested for stealing food, he makes an impulsive decision to lie about his identity. He finds himself in a precarious situation built on lies, that slowly starts to collapse in a very sinister manner. Full of unsettling and unexpected twists this is a very dark story that is perfect for teens who enjoy a good thriller.
January 14, 2026
Daniel Henning is a goofy ass choice for this role but it works perfectly.
This was phenomenal. I firmly believe in you loved The Face On The Milk Carton, you’ll like this (the book even mentions it, also mentions a Hot Dog Girl LOL)!
Super interesting premise, works well both on audio or with your eyeballs. Very quick read.
Equal parts thrilling & heart warming.
Thank you to Harper audio for the ALC, Epic Reads for the physical ARC, & to NetGalley & the author for the advanced copy!
This was phenomenal. I firmly believe in you loved The Face On The Milk Carton, you’ll like this (the book even mentions it, also mentions a Hot Dog Girl LOL)!
Super interesting premise, works well both on audio or with your eyeballs. Very quick read.
Equal parts thrilling & heart warming.
Thank you to Harper audio for the ALC, Epic Reads for the physical ARC, & to NetGalley & the author for the advanced copy!
January 21, 2026
(4.25 rounded down) I couldn’t read this fast enough! An intriguing premise doesn’t always get the appropriate follow through, but this was a solid thriller with enough red herrings to keep you on your toes. While it felt longer than a typical thriller, the length gave more opportunities to flesh out the cast of characters and really sell the broken family trope.
Thank you to Storytide for the physical ARC!
Thank you to Storytide for the physical ARC!
Read
August 12, 2025This was nuts in the best possible way.
September 25, 2025
Wow. There's so much to this one that I don't want to give any spoilers, but if you enjoy thrillers you won't want to miss this one.
August 5, 2025
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of BETTER THE DEVIL by Erik J Brown in exchange for my honest review.***
Minor spoilers
4 STARS
What. A. Wild. Ride.
When a teenager runs away from home to avoid being sent to gay conversion camp, he never plans on taking on the identity of Nathaniel Beaumont, a boy who went missing ten years ago. Nate has never felt love like Valencia Beaumont dotes on him. He can’t believe how lucky he is to have happened into the perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family.
I enjoyed BETTER THE DEVIL even more than I thought I would. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome.
Nate/NotNate was such an interesting, well-developed character. He had a conscience, even when making bad decisions. He cared and had empathy.
SPOILERS BELOW
Two aspects of the book kept me from giving BETTER THE DEVIL five stars. First, the “bad guys” were one dimensional. The homophobes had no redeeming qualities. Not only were they religious zealots, they never loved their son even before discovering he was gay. Villains are more interesting when they have depth. Casting evangelicals in the stereotype of being homophobic is the same as using any stereotype for a minority religion like writing the only Muslims in a book as terrorists or the only priests as pedophiles. The “bad guy” from the Beaumont sector written as if the writer looked up signs serial killers showed as children and gave the character each of the diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder in children. I highly doubt a ten year old boy could strangle a six year old. From what I’ve read, strangulation takes about ten minutes, unlike what we see on tv. No matter how strong the older child, he probably couldn’t even strangle a toddler, but possibly could an infant.
The second aspect that kept me from adding a fifth star was the multiple spree killings at the end of the book, again making the perpetrator a one dimensional bad seed.
Minor spoilers
4 STARS
What. A. Wild. Ride.
When a teenager runs away from home to avoid being sent to gay conversion camp, he never plans on taking on the identity of Nathaniel Beaumont, a boy who went missing ten years ago. Nate has never felt love like Valencia Beaumont dotes on him. He can’t believe how lucky he is to have happened into the perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family.
I enjoyed BETTER THE DEVIL even more than I thought I would. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome.
Nate/NotNate was such an interesting, well-developed character. He had a conscience, even when making bad decisions. He cared and had empathy.
SPOILERS BELOW
Two aspects of the book kept me from giving BETTER THE DEVIL five stars. First, the “bad guys” were one dimensional. The homophobes had no redeeming qualities. Not only were they religious zealots, they never loved their son even before discovering he was gay. Villains are more interesting when they have depth. Casting evangelicals in the stereotype of being homophobic is the same as using any stereotype for a minority religion like writing the only Muslims in a book as terrorists or the only priests as pedophiles. The “bad guy” from the Beaumont sector written as if the writer looked up signs serial killers showed as children and gave the character each of the diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder in children. I highly doubt a ten year old boy could strangle a six year old. From what I’ve read, strangulation takes about ten minutes, unlike what we see on tv. No matter how strong the older child, he probably couldn’t even strangle a toddler, but possibly could an infant.
The second aspect that kept me from adding a fifth star was the multiple spree killings at the end of the book, again making the perpetrator a one dimensional bad seed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2026
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of BETTER THE DEVIL by Erik J Brown in exchange for my honest review.***
Minor spoilers
4 STARS
What. A. Wild. Ride.
When a teenager runs away from home to avoid being sent to gay conversion camp, he never plans on taking on the identity of Nathaniel Beaumont, a boy who went missing ten years ago. Nate has never felt love like Valencia Beaumont dotes on him. He can’t believe how lucky he is to have happened into the perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family.
I enjoyed BETTER THE DEVIL even more than I thought I would. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome.
Nate/NotNate was such an interesting, well-developed character. He had a conscience, even when making bad decisions. He cared and had empathy.
SPOILERS BELOW
Two aspects of the book kept me from giving BETTER THE DEVIL five stars. First, the “bad guys” were one dimensional. The homophobes had no redeeming qualities. Not only were they religious zealots, they never loved their son even before discovering he was gay. Villains are more interesting when they have depth. Casting evangelicals in the stereotype of being homophobic is the same as using any stereotype for a minority religion like writing the only Muslims in a book as terrorists or the only priests as pedophiles. The “bad guy” from the Beaumont sector written as if the writer looked up signs serial killers showed as children and gave the character each of the diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder in children. I highly doubt a ten year old boy could strangle a six year old. From what I’ve read, strangulation takes about ten minutes, unlike what we see on tv. No matter how strong the older child, he probably couldn’t even strangle a toddler, but possibly could an infant.
The second aspect that kept me from adding a fifth star was the multiple spree killings at the end of the book, again making the perpetrator a one dimensional bad seed.
Minor spoilers
4 STARS
What. A. Wild. Ride.
When a teenager runs away from home to avoid being sent to gay conversion camp, he never plans on taking on the identity of Nathaniel Beaumont, a boy who went missing ten years ago. Nate has never felt love like Valencia Beaumont dotes on him. He can’t believe how lucky he is to have happened into the perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family.
I enjoyed BETTER THE DEVIL even more than I thought I would. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome.
Nate/NotNate was such an interesting, well-developed character. He had a conscience, even when making bad decisions. He cared and had empathy.
SPOILERS BELOW
Two aspects of the book kept me from giving BETTER THE DEVIL five stars. First, the “bad guys” were one dimensional. The homophobes had no redeeming qualities. Not only were they religious zealots, they never loved their son even before discovering he was gay. Villains are more interesting when they have depth. Casting evangelicals in the stereotype of being homophobic is the same as using any stereotype for a minority religion like writing the only Muslims in a book as terrorists or the only priests as pedophiles. The “bad guy” from the Beaumont sector written as if the writer looked up signs serial killers showed as children and gave the character each of the diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder in children. I highly doubt a ten year old boy could strangle a six year old. From what I’ve read, strangulation takes about ten minutes, unlike what we see on tv. No matter how strong the older child, he probably couldn’t even strangle a toddler, but possibly could an infant.
The second aspect that kept me from adding a fifth star was the multiple spree killings at the end of the book, again making the perpetrator a one dimensional bad seed.
January 21, 2026
TL;DR: Better the Devil wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. The title, cover, and synopsis led me to expect a slightly more “horror” take on a psychological thriller and while maybe that was my misinterpretation, I do think this wound up being much less thrilling than I wanted.
This was a very slow paced mystery thriller and while there were interesting parts, I didn’t find that a whole lot happened to make those 400 pages feel worth it? That might sound harsh, but it honestly just felt like too long a read…
Perhaps my biggest issues were that I didn’t feel any tension, which led to me not feeling very invested in what was happening. Yes, I did want to know whodunit, and that’s why I kept reading despite feeling the need to skim the further I got (though I’m proud that I didn’t)! I really wished that I felt any kind of build up in tension or stakes as the story progressed and things seemed to get worse for our MC.
Of course, part of me did feel for Nate. He has gone through so much and it was sad to see him experience what nobody should, especially not as a young adult. I think the parts that felt the most emotional to me, were the parts where the author talks about LGBTQIA+ teens growing up in extremely religious families in conservative states. The way Brown shares Nate’s experience with the reader makes it clear how important this issue is to him, and that made me feel connected to Nate’s character. Nate struggles with his actions and the lie he’s living, but at the same time, he’s finally experiencing a family life that he has only ever dreamed of. One where his “family” sees and accepts him for who he is, one that treats him with kindness and shows him compassion and empathy. A family with many moments filled with laughter, camaraderie, and love—no matter how imperfect they can be at times.
It was definitely interesting to see him build a relationship with the Beaumonts, especially knowing how he’s lying to them. Valencia, Marcus and Easton were interesting characters. I especially loved Gramma Sharon—she was without a doubt the best character! I didn’t know what to think about JT and honestly, I didn’t really feel much about Miles either. I also found it interesting how we never learn our MC’s “real” name but once he *is* named in the book, it’s as someone else’s identity. I’m glad that the author made that choice!
That said, the book almost dragged at times and despite things happening in the book, it didn’t really feel like the story was going anywhere. Not to mention discrepancies in details and moments where you really had to suspend your disbelief. The story felt stuck at times until all of a sudden, everything just kind of whooshes forward and we get reveal after reveal until the very end. Again, I think because I didn’t feel the tension in the writing, it only came across as *“wow, this is happening very suddenly and I really don’t know how to feel about it.”* I wasn’t very shocked, but when things started happening, it seemed to come out of nowhere! At one point Nate questions how he was ever so bamboozled by the killer, and the first thing that came to my mind in response to that was: well, you didn’t do very much sleuthing to figure anything out! Obviously, I don’t want to give spoilers because I do think this book will find its home with readers, but it just felt like a “duh” moment to me due to how it felt like nothing really happened.
This did get slightly more gory than I expected, but with how over-the-top psychopathic the killer was, I guess it fit? Ultimately, I’m sad that this didn’t entirely work out for me because I didn’t connect with it the way I thought I would.
This was a very slow paced mystery thriller and while there were interesting parts, I didn’t find that a whole lot happened to make those 400 pages feel worth it? That might sound harsh, but it honestly just felt like too long a read…
Perhaps my biggest issues were that I didn’t feel any tension, which led to me not feeling very invested in what was happening. Yes, I did want to know whodunit, and that’s why I kept reading despite feeling the need to skim the further I got (though I’m proud that I didn’t)! I really wished that I felt any kind of build up in tension or stakes as the story progressed and things seemed to get worse for our MC.
Of course, part of me did feel for Nate. He has gone through so much and it was sad to see him experience what nobody should, especially not as a young adult. I think the parts that felt the most emotional to me, were the parts where the author talks about LGBTQIA+ teens growing up in extremely religious families in conservative states. The way Brown shares Nate’s experience with the reader makes it clear how important this issue is to him, and that made me feel connected to Nate’s character. Nate struggles with his actions and the lie he’s living, but at the same time, he’s finally experiencing a family life that he has only ever dreamed of. One where his “family” sees and accepts him for who he is, one that treats him with kindness and shows him compassion and empathy. A family with many moments filled with laughter, camaraderie, and love—no matter how imperfect they can be at times.
It was definitely interesting to see him build a relationship with the Beaumonts, especially knowing how he’s lying to them. Valencia, Marcus and Easton were interesting characters. I especially loved Gramma Sharon—she was without a doubt the best character! I didn’t know what to think about JT and honestly, I didn’t really feel much about Miles either. I also found it interesting how we never learn our MC’s “real” name but once he *is* named in the book, it’s as someone else’s identity. I’m glad that the author made that choice!
That said, the book almost dragged at times and despite things happening in the book, it didn’t really feel like the story was going anywhere. Not to mention discrepancies in details and moments where you really had to suspend your disbelief. The story felt stuck at times until all of a sudden, everything just kind of whooshes forward and we get reveal after reveal until the very end. Again, I think because I didn’t feel the tension in the writing, it only came across as *“wow, this is happening very suddenly and I really don’t know how to feel about it.”* I wasn’t very shocked, but when things started happening, it seemed to come out of nowhere! At one point Nate questions how he was ever so bamboozled by the killer, and the first thing that came to my mind in response to that was: well, you didn’t do very much sleuthing to figure anything out! Obviously, I don’t want to give spoilers because I do think this book will find its home with readers, but it just felt like a “duh” moment to me due to how it felt like nothing really happened.
This did get slightly more gory than I expected, but with how over-the-top psychopathic the killer was, I guess it fit? Ultimately, I’m sad that this didn’t entirely work out for me because I didn’t connect with it the way I thought I would.
January 3, 2026
Thanks so much to Harper Kids and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
This was such a wild ride from start to finish. I was completely hooked from the start.
I’ll admit that all my theories were wrong and I really didn’t see the reveal coming. Maybe I was just so set on what I thought was happening that I missed the signs, but all I know is I was shook.
“Nate” was such a great main character. I really loved following his journey and his emotional rollercoaster.
I LOVED Nate’s family. Especially after everything went down and they still loved him anyway. It just made my heart feel so full.
The romance unfortunately didn’t really do anything for me and I think the book could have done without it. I think they worked better as friends, personally. I also found the pacing a little off in places.
But overall a really solid read.
This was such a wild ride from start to finish. I was completely hooked from the start.
I’ll admit that all my theories were wrong and I really didn’t see the reveal coming. Maybe I was just so set on what I thought was happening that I missed the signs, but all I know is I was shook.
“Nate” was such a great main character. I really loved following his journey and his emotional rollercoaster.
I LOVED Nate’s family. Especially after everything went down and they still loved him anyway. It just made my heart feel so full.
The romance unfortunately didn’t really do anything for me and I think the book could have done without it. I think they worked better as friends, personally. I also found the pacing a little off in places.
But overall a really solid read.
February 8, 2026
(3.5)
нґл, защораз, як головним антагоністом виявляється просто якийсь психопат, це трошки underwhelming... на питання "нашо ти це робиш?" отримувати у відповідь "бо хочецця" — таке собі задоволення, а втім, шо йому врешті ще казати, коли це дійсно так. as far as villains go, істон трошечки карикатурний, але, як на мене, зображений він був все ж добрe, consistently й органічно. мене достоту задовольнили його міркування, поведінка й мотиви у контексті сюжету.
щодо самої історії, то вона теж хороша. так, де-не-де треба було suspend your disbelief, але в цілому мені сподобалась і вона сама, і теми, які вона зачіпала. до того ж кінцівка напрочуд класна. оце я понімаю found family 🤭
p.s. те, що ми так і не дізнались, як звати гг, котрий врешті став "нейтом", дуже гармонійно довершило історію
нґл, защораз, як головним антагоністом виявляється просто якийсь психопат, це трошки underwhelming... на питання "нашо ти це робиш?" отримувати у відповідь "бо хочецця" — таке собі задоволення, а втім, шо йому врешті ще казати, коли це дійсно так. as far as villains go, істон трошечки карикатурний, але, як на мене, зображений він був все ж добрe, consistently й органічно. мене достоту задовольнили його міркування, поведінка й мотиви у контексті сюжету.
щодо самої історії, то вона теж хороша. так, де-не-де треба було suspend your disbelief, але в цілому мені сподобалась і вона сама, і теми, які вона зачіпала. до того ж кінцівка напрочуд класна. оце я понімаю found family 🤭
p.s. те, що ми так і не дізнались, як звати гг, котрий врешті став "нейтом", дуже гармонійно довершило історію
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2026
This book was pretty good. It was an original idea that I think was executed well. The first 2/3rds might have been a little slow at times, but the last 1/3rd was WILD. I almost forgot it was young adult a few times because of the body horror. The characters were solid. I couldn’t help but feel for our main character even when he made bad decisions. Erik J. Brown wrote a sick villain, which I think would translate so well as a movie or series. Daniel Henning as the narrator was pure genius and a perfect selection. He really sold the whole performance. All in all, I think that this is a great young adult horror read, and another solid book by Eric J. Brown. I would definitely recommend this book to young adult horror lovers. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Children’s for the advanced audiobook!
August 21, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel.
I read Erik's novel "All that's left in the world" a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. So when I saw this novel and read what it was about I was sufficiently intrigued. Better the Devil follows a teen who escapes his abusive household and becomes "Nate", a child who disappeared 10 years before. Nate ends up getting way to deep and someone tries to uncover that he really isn't who he says he is. The premise was super interesting and I was excited to see it unfold. I thought the story itself was fun but landed a little flat to me. I wanted there to be more action and fastpassness. Overall I enjoyed it and thought it was a good story.
I read Erik's novel "All that's left in the world" a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. So when I saw this novel and read what it was about I was sufficiently intrigued. Better the Devil follows a teen who escapes his abusive household and becomes "Nate", a child who disappeared 10 years before. Nate ends up getting way to deep and someone tries to uncover that he really isn't who he says he is. The premise was super interesting and I was excited to see it unfold. I thought the story itself was fun but landed a little flat to me. I wanted there to be more action and fastpassness. Overall I enjoyed it and thought it was a good story.
November 27, 2025
This is definitely a book to make you think. A twisty YA book with plenty of suspense and thoughtful moments, this book tells the tale of a desperate, homeless, gay teen trying to outsmart the system and do whatever is possible to stay alive and out of jail. Not everything is what you think, not everyone is out to get you but sometimes it’s who you least expect who will be the devil you don’t know.
Thank you Storytide, Harper Collins, Erik J. Brown and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you Storytide, Harper Collins, Erik J. Brown and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 29, 2026
4.5⭐️ / Audiobook 🎧
This book was SO messy in the best way! It was equal parts funny and crazy, with a little bit of wholesome somehow mixed in. I really liked "Nate" and found myself really rooting for him despite the circumstances. He was very smart and cunning, just trying to get by and go undiscovered.
The narrator did a really great job bringing the story to life and giving "Nate" a lot of personality and humor. I enjoyed the various forms of emotion and voices they used.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for a copy of this ALC.
This book was SO messy in the best way! It was equal parts funny and crazy, with a little bit of wholesome somehow mixed in. I really liked "Nate" and found myself really rooting for him despite the circumstances. He was very smart and cunning, just trying to get by and go undiscovered.
The narrator did a really great job bringing the story to life and giving "Nate" a lot of personality and humor. I enjoyed the various forms of emotion and voices they used.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for a copy of this ALC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews