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Sundown Girls
In the tradition of Jordan Peele and Tiffany Jackson’s The Weight of Blood, a YA thriller about a Black teen whose fight for survival forces a small southern vacation town to face its dark history of racial violence.
When sixteen-year-old Naomi Ward and her family head to a secluded cabin in the Shenandoah Valley for summer vacation they don’t know the small, mountain town of Sparksburg, Virginia has a dark and twisted past. But when they arrive, Naomi can’t shake the feeling that something about Sparksburg just isn’t right—and it smells god awful, but for some reason Naomi is the only who can smell the town’s stench. When she learns Sparksburg had once been a Sundown Town—a town where Black people weren’t allowed after sunset lest they be murdered—Naomi’s unease starts to make sense.
As Naomi digs more into Sparksburg’s violent origins, she finds herself haunted by the ghost of a girl, appearing nightly outside her window. Then she learns of two girls who’ve recently gone missing and suspects the past may still be present in Sparksburg and beneath the quaint façade of this tourist town is a palpable danger.
When Naomi decides to track the disappearance of the two girls herself, she becomes suspicious of a local man who has kindled fear in Naomi more than once. She soon learns he has a connection to one of the missing girls, and Naomi is certain he’s responsible for the disappearances.
When no one believes her, Naomi takes matters into her own hands. But to save the missing girls, she’ll have to finally face her own past trauma as a “missing girl” as she finds herself in a fight for survival.
Gripping and triumphant, L.S. Stratton tells an important and unforgettable story of racial reckoning inspired by historical events.
When sixteen-year-old Naomi Ward and her family head to a secluded cabin in the Shenandoah Valley for summer vacation they don’t know the small, mountain town of Sparksburg, Virginia has a dark and twisted past. But when they arrive, Naomi can’t shake the feeling that something about Sparksburg just isn’t right—and it smells god awful, but for some reason Naomi is the only who can smell the town’s stench. When she learns Sparksburg had once been a Sundown Town—a town where Black people weren’t allowed after sunset lest they be murdered—Naomi’s unease starts to make sense.
As Naomi digs more into Sparksburg’s violent origins, she finds herself haunted by the ghost of a girl, appearing nightly outside her window. Then she learns of two girls who’ve recently gone missing and suspects the past may still be present in Sparksburg and beneath the quaint façade of this tourist town is a palpable danger.
When Naomi decides to track the disappearance of the two girls herself, she becomes suspicious of a local man who has kindled fear in Naomi more than once. She soon learns he has a connection to one of the missing girls, and Naomi is certain he’s responsible for the disappearances.
When no one believes her, Naomi takes matters into her own hands. But to save the missing girls, she’ll have to finally face her own past trauma as a “missing girl” as she finds herself in a fight for survival.
Gripping and triumphant, L.S. Stratton tells an important and unforgettable story of racial reckoning inspired by historical events.
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First published January 27, 2026
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About the author
L.S. Stratton
4 books468 followersL.S. Stratton is an NAACP Image Award-nominated author and former crime newspaper reporter who has written more than a dozen books under different pen names in just about every genre from thrillers to romance to historical fiction. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband, their daughter, and their tuxedo cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
February 12, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ | When this story peaked my interest immediately, from the very first chapter & I had my first wait.. what moment at the end of Chapter 3, I knew this would be a great read!
First of all! What possessed Dawn & Andre to take their family to this podunct town will forever remain a mystery! The adults in this story definitely pissed me off by not listening to Naomi, when she clearly saw dangers that others simply couldn’t see! I knew they would live to regret it, I just didn’t know to what degree!
Touching on this sensitive, racially charged subject “Sundown Towns” was simply beautifully executed in this story. It was entertaining, never lost my attention. And this author absolutely has a new fan. Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Young Readers Group for an advanced reader copy.
Publication 🗓️ : 01.27.26
First of all! What possessed Dawn & Andre to take their family to this podunct town will forever remain a mystery! The adults in this story definitely pissed me off by not listening to Naomi, when she clearly saw dangers that others simply couldn’t see! I knew they would live to regret it, I just didn’t know to what degree!
Touching on this sensitive, racially charged subject “Sundown Towns” was simply beautifully executed in this story. It was entertaining, never lost my attention. And this author absolutely has a new fan. Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Young Readers Group for an advanced reader copy.
Publication 🗓️ : 01.27.26
October 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Real rating: 4.25 stars
This was a nice read that kept me interested from start to finish. Although the culprit(s) were obvious and there was no surprise whatsoever in that regard, I still enjoyed my time here. I think this is a great YA novel.
Real rating: 4.25 stars
This was a nice read that kept me interested from start to finish. Although the culprit(s) were obvious and there was no surprise whatsoever in that regard, I still enjoyed my time here. I think this is a great YA novel.
February 14, 2026
A necessary read with a necessary topic.
Our FMC is dealing with the aftermath of being an abducted child and now navigating her new reality of her family after being found.
A vacation to a town that was once a Sundown town now reveals its secrets to her, her trauma allows her to tap into the gift of being a medium if you will, she is able to see the ghost of ancestors pasts, and they lead her to uncover current secrets and abductions, while also freeing the dark history of the town and assisting those whose stories were buried and never told.
I loved how the author spoke about Sundown towns that have existed and taught about other towns that were completely washed away in history.
This was a good read, and different than what I was expecting.
Our FMC is dealing with the aftermath of being an abducted child and now navigating her new reality of her family after being found.
A vacation to a town that was once a Sundown town now reveals its secrets to her, her trauma allows her to tap into the gift of being a medium if you will, she is able to see the ghost of ancestors pasts, and they lead her to uncover current secrets and abductions, while also freeing the dark history of the town and assisting those whose stories were buried and never told.
I loved how the author spoke about Sundown towns that have existed and taught about other towns that were completely washed away in history.
This was a good read, and different than what I was expecting.
October 23, 2025
This is my first time reading the author and I think I am hooked on the writing alone. The sundown towns in history are scary to me and having the history behind what they are and what could happen engulfed in the story made it interesting to put in the book. It mixed in some thriller, mystery, and horror and managing to keep the grasp of all of the topics to keep the plot flowing. I think I really hated the parents for not being able to just listen in knowing that she has been through what she went through previously. I loved how the ending came and this way she could get the closure she needs so she can live the life she deserves. The character building was phenomenal and in the end, everyone started to trust and believe that she was not crazy.
Thank you, Netgalley for the early read. This was above expectations.
Thank you, Netgalley for the early read. This was above expectations.
February 1, 2026
Sundown Girls
by: L.S. Stratton
Pub Date. Jan 27, 2026
I seriously can't begin to express how obsessed I am with L.S. Stratton! From Not So Perfect Strangers to Do What Godmother Says and In Deadly Company, every single book has blown my mind. And now, Sundown Girls?! This YA thriller is next-level amazing!
Diving into books without any prior knowledge is an exhilarating adventure, and this review will offer just a glimpse of that thrill. Meet sixteen-year-old Naomi Stoakes, who embarks on a family vacation to a town steeped in a dark, chilling history. Once a Sundown Town, this place harbored dark secrets—black individuals were forced to leave by nightfall or face dire consequences.
Upon arrival, Naomi senses an unsettling atmosphere, but the rest of her family is blissfully blind to it. As a fan of dark thrillers, I thought this young adult tale would be a breeze… but I was SO wrong! Sundown Girls is an epic mashup of horror, paranormal vibes, psychological thrills, complete with multiple trigger warnings — I am literally buzzing from this reading experience! Mark your calendars for January 2026; you will not want to miss out on this spine-tingling adventure!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
by: L.S. Stratton
Pub Date. Jan 27, 2026
I seriously can't begin to express how obsessed I am with L.S. Stratton! From Not So Perfect Strangers to Do What Godmother Says and In Deadly Company, every single book has blown my mind. And now, Sundown Girls?! This YA thriller is next-level amazing!
Diving into books without any prior knowledge is an exhilarating adventure, and this review will offer just a glimpse of that thrill. Meet sixteen-year-old Naomi Stoakes, who embarks on a family vacation to a town steeped in a dark, chilling history. Once a Sundown Town, this place harbored dark secrets—black individuals were forced to leave by nightfall or face dire consequences.
Upon arrival, Naomi senses an unsettling atmosphere, but the rest of her family is blissfully blind to it. As a fan of dark thrillers, I thought this young adult tale would be a breeze… but I was SO wrong! Sundown Girls is an epic mashup of horror, paranormal vibes, psychological thrills, complete with multiple trigger warnings — I am literally buzzing from this reading experience! Mark your calendars for January 2026; you will not want to miss out on this spine-tingling adventure!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2025
Girl?! Is this YA splatterpunk? This is so dark and good. A YA horror, mystery paranormal psychological thriller!!!! Lots of triggers in this one. Missing girls, racism, mental health, child abduction
February 13, 2026
Naomi and her family are taking a three week long vacation at a secluded cabin outside the small town of Sparksburg, Virginia. It’s a chance for them to grow closer following a year full of tense awkwardness. Because Naomi has only just reunited with her family about being kidnapped for 15 years, raised by a woman she thought was her mother. Missing her mom, and feeling disconnected to her birth family and the “Camryn” they want her to return to being, Naomi is not looking forward to this trip. And to make it worse, Sparksburg unsettles her. Stinking of rot, hiding a dark history, and girls are going missing. When Naomi has some paranormal encounters, she feels compelled to get to the bottom of whatever evil is brewing.
This was a very solid thriller. I was racing through the pages, and getting a little too invested. Naomi makes some crazy decisions that left me yelling at the book. Girl had very little self preservation and I was scared for her! But I didn’t blame her because the adults in her life had no urgency.
This book was definetly staked with a lot of elements. We have Naomi’s strained relationship with her family and the complex feelings she has for her kidnapper. Sparksburg’s horrific history as a sundown town, and the lasting impact it has had on the region. The disappearance of girls in the area and the inadequacies of law enforcement. Naomi being haunted by a young girl’s ghost, and other unexplained paranormal encounters. As well as a blooming romance between Naomi and local named Khalil.
With everything going on in this story, it sometimes felt like Naomi’s history was a little too much to add to the plot. But the more we got into the book the more I understood why it was important. Naomi’s identification as a past “missing girl” feeds into her fevered need to find these other girls, as well as why she was chosen by the spirits to uncover the truth. And seeing her desire for agency in her own life, as well as how deeply she cares about those who are ignored or overlooked, really added depth to her character.
This was a very solid thriller. I was racing through the pages, and getting a little too invested. Naomi makes some crazy decisions that left me yelling at the book. Girl had very little self preservation and I was scared for her! But I didn’t blame her because the adults in her life had no urgency.
This book was definetly staked with a lot of elements. We have Naomi’s strained relationship with her family and the complex feelings she has for her kidnapper. Sparksburg’s horrific history as a sundown town, and the lasting impact it has had on the region. The disappearance of girls in the area and the inadequacies of law enforcement. Naomi being haunted by a young girl’s ghost, and other unexplained paranormal encounters. As well as a blooming romance between Naomi and local named Khalil.
With everything going on in this story, it sometimes felt like Naomi’s history was a little too much to add to the plot. But the more we got into the book the more I understood why it was important. Naomi’s identification as a past “missing girl” feeds into her fevered need to find these other girls, as well as why she was chosen by the spirits to uncover the truth. And seeing her desire for agency in her own life, as well as how deeply she cares about those who are ignored or overlooked, really added depth to her character.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Actual Rating 3.25
Thanks to the Nancy Paulsen Books and Penguin Teens for this early copy
I went into Sundown Girls with pretty high expectations because the premise sounded so unique: a family trip in the mountains, a town with a dark past, missing girls, and a main character still healing from her own trauma. It had all the right ingredients for a great story on paper.
The story started a bit slow, not much happened plot-wise, though the buildup and character introductions were there, so it made sense. Once the mystery picked up, especially in the last quarter, I was more invested.
Naomi’s character could have been really great, but it felt short in execution. I wanted to feel empathy for her, but some of her choices made that hard. Still, watching her process her trauma and rebuild her relationship with her parents was one of the stronger parts of the book. I also liked how the story blended history, mystery, and a touch of the paranormal.
I did feel the story tried to do a little too much. The three main threads (past kidnapping, town history, and missing girls) sounded great, but never fully connected, which was a pity. Some plot points also felt rushed or underdeveloped, and a few things were left hanging by the end. The highlight of the book was the history, and I rarely learn something important from a YA book, let alone from a mystery. So kudos to that.
Overall, it is an engaging YA mystery with meaningful themes and a strong emotional theme. It didn’t fully deliver on its potential, but I still enjoyed it.
Thanks to the Nancy Paulsen Books and Penguin Teens for this early copy
I went into Sundown Girls with pretty high expectations because the premise sounded so unique: a family trip in the mountains, a town with a dark past, missing girls, and a main character still healing from her own trauma. It had all the right ingredients for a great story on paper.
The story started a bit slow, not much happened plot-wise, though the buildup and character introductions were there, so it made sense. Once the mystery picked up, especially in the last quarter, I was more invested.
Naomi’s character could have been really great, but it felt short in execution. I wanted to feel empathy for her, but some of her choices made that hard. Still, watching her process her trauma and rebuild her relationship with her parents was one of the stronger parts of the book. I also liked how the story blended history, mystery, and a touch of the paranormal.
I did feel the story tried to do a little too much. The three main threads (past kidnapping, town history, and missing girls) sounded great, but never fully connected, which was a pity. Some plot points also felt rushed or underdeveloped, and a few things were left hanging by the end. The highlight of the book was the history, and I rarely learn something important from a YA book, let alone from a mystery. So kudos to that.
Overall, it is an engaging YA mystery with meaningful themes and a strong emotional theme. It didn’t fully deliver on its potential, but I still enjoyed it.
October 12, 2025
This book was definitely a YA read as Naomi (or Cam) perfectly captured the essence of a teenager trying to navigate fear, trauma, and independence. The mother in me was yelling at every dumb decision she made, even though I understood why she acted the way she did. Her parents frustrated me too at times, especially when they refused to believe her. That dynamic felt painfully realistic and added to the tension.
Naomi’s past trauma gave her character so much depth. I really felt for her as she tried to adjust to her “new” family after being pulled away from the only home she’d ever known. That inner conflict, mixed with the eerie mystery surrounding Sparksburg, made the story even more gripping. The town’s dark history and Naomi’s determination to uncover the truth kept me turning pages late into the night.
Overall, this was an excellent creepy, emotional, and thought-provoking read. It blended supernatural elements with real-world issues of race and belonging in a way that felt both haunting and meaningful. L.S. Stratton did a fantastic job crafting a story that was as chilling as it was powerful.
Thanks Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Naomi’s past trauma gave her character so much depth. I really felt for her as she tried to adjust to her “new” family after being pulled away from the only home she’d ever known. That inner conflict, mixed with the eerie mystery surrounding Sparksburg, made the story even more gripping. The town’s dark history and Naomi’s determination to uncover the truth kept me turning pages late into the night.
Overall, this was an excellent creepy, emotional, and thought-provoking read. It blended supernatural elements with real-world issues of race and belonging in a way that felt both haunting and meaningful. L.S. Stratton did a fantastic job crafting a story that was as chilling as it was powerful.
Thanks Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved the title, the subject matter and the pacing of this book. You hear about Sundown towns all the time and this book gave a peak into the underbelly of one and although it is fiction, truth still remains that there's a level of sinisterness lying just beneath the surface. I also enjoyed the side story of our main character and how her life intertwined with the events in the town.
thank you to Netgalley and PenguinKids for this ARC.
thank you to Netgalley and PenguinKids for this ARC.
January 14, 2026
I received an ARC from Penguin Teen Canada in exchange for an honest review.
4.5⭐️ rounded up
This story was really gripping. The writing was very engaging, and it was hard to put down.
This book starts with Naomi who has been recently reunited with her family after getting abducted as a child and being returned when she turned 15. There are a lot of layers to this book, including navigating trying to fit into her “new” family, having a new boyfriend, and also vacationing at a previous sundown town where she is seeing ghosts and young girls are going missing.
I think the one drawback for me is that I wish the ending hadn’t wrapped as quickly as it did. We get the climax of the story and resolution within 60 pages of the ending. However, overall, I really liked the story itself and seeing Naomi deal with her interpersonal issues and learning about sundown towns in general.
4.5⭐️ rounded up
This story was really gripping. The writing was very engaging, and it was hard to put down.
This book starts with Naomi who has been recently reunited with her family after getting abducted as a child and being returned when she turned 15. There are a lot of layers to this book, including navigating trying to fit into her “new” family, having a new boyfriend, and also vacationing at a previous sundown town where she is seeing ghosts and young girls are going missing.
I think the one drawback for me is that I wish the ending hadn’t wrapped as quickly as it did. We get the climax of the story and resolution within 60 pages of the ending. However, overall, I really liked the story itself and seeing Naomi deal with her interpersonal issues and learning about sundown towns in general.
February 15, 2026
A family vacation to an isolated mountain town with a brutal past turns into a search for missing girls. The town looks quaint, but its history refuses to stay buried, and the story quickly blends mystery, danger, and the supernatural. This tackles the legacy of sundown towns without feeling heavy-handed, and it sent me down a research rabbit hole afterward, which is always a sign that a story did something right.
Naomi’s family dynamics were especially compelling: being abducted as a child and then returned means she’s stuck between two lives, and you can feel that emotional tension in every interaction. Her love for the woman who raised her, paired with her biological family’s attempts to reconnect, made the home life just as layered as the mystery.
I also liked the supernatural angle. Naomi’s connection to the past felt haunting in a quiet way, even if I wished the town itself leaned harder into that eerie, collective menace. I wanted a little more Get Out energy from the community as a whole, but I get why the book kept things more subtle. It feels more realistic that way, especially for a YA story. But as you can tell, there is a lot going on here. It juggled things more successfully than I expected.
The weakest point for me was the reveal around who was responsible for the disappearances; it didn’t hit as hard as the emotional or historical elements. And yes, the adults not listening to Naomi was frustrating, but it also felt painfully accurate, especially given her history and how often Black girls are dismissed when they raise alarms.
One of the twists genuinely hurt my heart, and I appreciated the open-ended conclusion. It gave Naomi something she’s been denied for most of her life: agency and the chance to define herself outside of her trauma.
Overall, this was a thoughtful, emotionally layered YA thriller that blends history, horror, and healing in a way that stuck with me longer than I expected.
Thanks to Penguin Teen and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Naomi’s family dynamics were especially compelling: being abducted as a child and then returned means she’s stuck between two lives, and you can feel that emotional tension in every interaction. Her love for the woman who raised her, paired with her biological family’s attempts to reconnect, made the home life just as layered as the mystery.
I also liked the supernatural angle. Naomi’s connection to the past felt haunting in a quiet way, even if I wished the town itself leaned harder into that eerie, collective menace. I wanted a little more Get Out energy from the community as a whole, but I get why the book kept things more subtle. It feels more realistic that way, especially for a YA story. But as you can tell, there is a lot going on here. It juggled things more successfully than I expected.
The weakest point for me was the reveal around who was responsible for the disappearances; it didn’t hit as hard as the emotional or historical elements. And yes, the adults not listening to Naomi was frustrating, but it also felt painfully accurate, especially given her history and how often Black girls are dismissed when they raise alarms.
One of the twists genuinely hurt my heart, and I appreciated the open-ended conclusion. It gave Naomi something she’s been denied for most of her life: agency and the chance to define herself outside of her trauma.
Overall, this was a thoughtful, emotionally layered YA thriller that blends history, horror, and healing in a way that stuck with me longer than I expected.
Thanks to Penguin Teen and Storygram Tours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
February 5, 2026
I was drawn to this story due to its premise. A horror/mystery with a unique setting, paranormal elements and commentary on anti-Black racism sounded right up my alley. Sadly though, this book really fell flat for me, for multiple reasons.
I really enjoyed the slow pace, and thought it was a great way to build tension, but there was so much repetitive world building that I thought was unnecessary. While I did love the inclusion of ghosts, they felt more like a plot device when they could have been explored more and expanded upon in the story. The motive for the kidnappings and murders didn't make much sense to me, and felt rushed. With more planning, it could have been a great climax to the story, but the amount of violence felt unnecessary for the motive.
Finally, as the story picked up, I found it hard to fully root for the main character. Lots of her actions weren't well thought out, very impulsive, and could've brought so much danger to her loved ones. She dealt with the mystery and gathering clues in a very irresponsible way, and it irritated me. A huge thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and Netgalley for this ARC!
I really enjoyed the slow pace, and thought it was a great way to build tension, but there was so much repetitive world building that I thought was unnecessary. While I did love the inclusion of ghosts, they felt more like a plot device when they could have been explored more and expanded upon in the story. The motive for the kidnappings and murders didn't make much sense to me, and felt rushed. With more planning, it could have been a great climax to the story, but the amount of violence felt unnecessary for the motive.
Finally, as the story picked up, I found it hard to fully root for the main character. Lots of her actions weren't well thought out, very impulsive, and could've brought so much danger to her loved ones. She dealt with the mystery and gathering clues in a very irresponsible way, and it irritated me. A huge thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and Netgalley for this ARC!
February 8, 2026
4.5 ⭐️. Interesting, thought provoking, suspenseful and absolutely gut wrenching. I felt quite emotional towards the end of the story, simply because this is black history. My grandmother was a little girl when Emmett Till was killed. She used to tell me how afraid looking at his body on the news made her feel. My maternal family came from Baltimore Maryland to Brooklyn in the 1960's. Here in NYC schools, were segregated well into the 70's. Racism rampant. Stories like this, shed light on America's unforgettable treatment of black Americans, and it hurts thinking about my ancestors surviving such a horrific and cruel life.
February 12, 2026
So you’ve been missing for 15 years and now you’re upset your real family gets anxious when you don’t check in or show up at the agreed time? Ma’am. Then you go searching for missing girls on your own during a family vacation… and get kidnapped…AGAIN?! Naomi Camryn had me ready to fight. Like girl, please get it together. BUT… beyond my frustration, the historical context really makes you pause. It forces you to think about how much Black folks have had to endure and how the legacy of sundown towns isn’t just history. It’s unsettling to realize some places like that still exist even today.
December 15, 2025
I usually don’t read much YA but I enjoyed this one and how it played out. The background of Naomi/Camryn was interesting and just seeing her navigate through that. On top of figuring stuff out in the town they went on vacation was interesting to see as well. Loves the dynamic between the family and Naomi as well and just figuring out her feelings and what actually was going on too. Thank you net galley and Nancy Paulsen books for the e arc!
January 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Sundown Town was really good overall, even though the first half dragged a bit for me. Not much was happening plot-wise, but it did allow time to really get to know the main character and her background. The last 25% of the story completely pulled me in, and the ending was emotional for me. I was genuinely happy with how it all wrapped up.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!
Sundown Town was really good overall, even though the first half dragged a bit for me. Not much was happening plot-wise, but it did allow time to really get to know the main character and her background. The last 25% of the story completely pulled me in, and the ending was emotional for me. I was genuinely happy with how it all wrapped up.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!
February 17, 2026
3.5 ✨
I finished this a few days ago and sadly this one isn’t too memorable. I think it had some important conversations about sundown towns but would’ve preferred this in an adult format. However, I do think this will resonate with younger adults. I also enjoyed the authors note and the additional context behind why Stratton told this story.
I finished this a few days ago and sadly this one isn’t too memorable. I think it had some important conversations about sundown towns but would’ve preferred this in an adult format. However, I do think this will resonate with younger adults. I also enjoyed the authors note and the additional context behind why Stratton told this story.
February 13, 2026
Learned a lot about "sundown towns" and I appreciated the mention of the Tulsa Race Massacre at the end of the book. This was such an intriguing and different thriller than any I've read, and I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sundown Girls is a fast paced, unflinching story about historical horrors and their impact on the lives of those in the present. The tension of Naomi trying to merge into a family that wasn't her family for the first 15 years of her life was immediately compelling, and the events Naomi digs into ratcheted up the suspense even more.
Fans of YA that explore the challenging parts of American history will devour this one!
Thanks to Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Fans of YA that explore the challenging parts of American history will devour this one!
Thanks to Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 24, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. 4.5 ⭐️
Glad I was able to read this during spooky season. It was a perfect paranormal mystery book to snuggle into.
It’s got family drama, ghosts, and murder mystery with a really good ending. I was just hoping it stayed more towards the sundown story when it came to the girls abducted. But it was a still a great story.
Glad I was able to read this during spooky season. It was a perfect paranormal mystery book to snuggle into.
It’s got family drama, ghosts, and murder mystery with a really good ending. I was just hoping it stayed more towards the sundown story when it came to the girls abducted. But it was a still a great story.
February 9, 2026
NetGalley Review: Sundown Girls by L. S. Stratton
This isn’t a thriller that’s going to shock you with a big unpredictable twist. It’s going shock you with all the truths about how Black people were and still are treated in the US.
I’m Australian, so I didn’t know what a sundown town was and it is shocking. Not that we don’t have our own racism problem here.
One of the scariest things was the unsettling feeling that Naomi was surrounded by a deep, dark treatment of people who looked like her- it was inescapable and I really felt that claustrophobic feeling as the reader.
This isn’t a thriller that’s going to shock you with a big unpredictable twist. It’s going shock you with all the truths about how Black people were and still are treated in the US.
I’m Australian, so I didn’t know what a sundown town was and it is shocking. Not that we don’t have our own racism problem here.
One of the scariest things was the unsettling feeling that Naomi was surrounded by a deep, dark treatment of people who looked like her- it was inescapable and I really felt that claustrophobic feeling as the reader.
February 8, 2026
Thank you, as always, to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC. All opinions are my own. Now, let’s get on to the review!
Trigger warnings for conversations around: racism, slavery, lynchings, kidnapping, murder
Sundown Girls follows Naomi, a teenager who is a missing girl, now found, although she never knew she was lost. We start when she’s been with her biological family for several months, after the woman she thought was her mother, was arrested for kidnapping her 14.5 years prior.
Now, living with the Stoakes, her “real” family, everything is different. She’s living in a different city, a different house, with an older sister, Maya, and a little brother, Blake. Her biological mother, Dawn and her biological father, Andre. They’re a well off Black family and everything is different.
Naomi is in therapy to help deal with everything that she’s been through but she’s having a hard time adjusting. From homeschooling to going to high school. Moving all the time to living in one place, it just being her and her mom to four other people always there. Always around.
Andre and Dawn are happy to have their baby, their Camryn back. Even thought Naomi doesn’t want to be called that, she doesn’t have a choice. Her parents will call her what they named her, not what their kidnapper did. Maya isn’t happy with Naomi being here. Their relationship is contentious, rough and angry. They don’t get along.
So, to bring some light and levity into the family, Dawn and Andre pack up the kids for a two week vacation to the Shenandoah Valley.
Going into this book, I prepared myself for the possibility of reading triggering content because of the premise of the story. I expected it to be painful. And it was. But something I really enjoyed was the way the author wrote the book. Sure, sometimes the writing could be a little weak but for the most part, it was strong. I found myself smiling and laughing at some of the quips. The characters were very distinct, I could tell them all apart and I think the voices all worked really well for each of them. None of them blended in.
I knew what the town of Sparksburg looked like while reading. The sort of old school classic Americana that the city dressed itself in. A pretty coat of paint over a heavily scarred base. And one of those scars presents itself in the form of a disgusting smell to Naomi. She’s the only one in her family that can smell it and it smells nasty. Like rot. Like death.
It’s so bad, Naomi mixes Vaseline and perfume and swipes some inside her nose to combat the smell and so she can leave the house.
Now, I will say that basically everyone in this book annoyed me except for Blake, because he’s a 9 year old boy and honestly was very sweet, and Bear, the family’s big Chow dog. He’s a sweetie and I love a story where I don’t have to worry about the dog getting hurt at all.
Maya is unnecessarily mean. Dawn and Andre act like everything is normal. Like their middle daughter wasn’t ripped away from her old life, thrown into a new one. Like they can just keep it pushing like there was nothing weird at all. But they won’t even call her by the name she wants to be called.
Honestly, this was something that really did annoy me. Their frustration and hurt by Naomi not calling Dawn mom. Maya’s antagonism toward Naomi as if she asked for all of this. Andre is the same. Just acts like things have always been this way and he doesn’t reign in his oldest daughter. Neither of them do. As I read it, I felt like Naomi didn’t have anyone on her side.
Not until she meets Kahlil. Before that, all Naomi has is her diary. One she started to keep at the instruction of her therapist. Although she has no idea how to start the entries, because there’s only one person she’s ever been open to. The woman she thought was her mom. So, when she writes, she starts her entries with “Hi mom”.
I was waiting for this to blow up and yes, it does.
Before that though, while the family goes about Sparksburg, after almost being run off the road mind you, things seem normal. They walk the downtown area and meet the mayor. Naomi and Blake go to a park and she sees a statue of a previous mayor and a massive bell that Blake wants to ring.
Andre and Dawn don’t let their middle daughter out of their sight. Causing Dawn to throw a fit at a gas station.
Then, Naomi sees a ghost. A Black girl, her hair braided on one side, the other side, free, floating around her head. She’s the only one who can see her, just like she’s the only one who can smell that smell. While out with Kahlil, she buys a book from a mall. See, his dad and family don’t shop in Sparksburg. It’s too far away, the next city is a better option. His uncle even worked on the vacation houses that Naomi and her family are staying in. And that book is about the history of Sparksburg.
How it used to be a Sundown town. How the mayor she had seen the statue of had “protected the borders of the city” from those that would harm it. In reality, it was to keep Black people out. She reads about lynchings, people being beat. It’s horrible.
I’ll admit, I was nauseous reading these parts. But it’s our history, for some of us. And some would want to hide that. I appreciate more and more books that don’t. Books that bring it to the forefront, especially with everything happening in America right now.
Then she goes to a cookout with Kahlil at his uncle’s house. Where she meets his great grandmother and learns about some of the dark history of the town. How it affected her very family. She’s a source of wisdom and history and I liked her, can’t lie. Sort of made me think of my own grandmother a little bit. But mine didn’t share stories of her past with me, because it was painful. Khalil’s grandmother shared them anyway. She told Naomi about people getting lynched because they stayed in town. How some people went in after the sun went down a s a dare and never came back.
It was sad but modern day Sparksburg seems to be trying to put all of that behind them by becoming a tourist destination.
There is another family staying in the same vacation rentals. A lesbian family, Cheryl and her wife Krissa. And their daughter, Elly, who seems to be about the same age as Naomi.
The family is fun, although Krissa and Cheryl both seem a bit excited and scatterbrained. But the two families agree to have dinner some time.
While they adults talk, Maya calls her boyfriend, something she does often, and I’ll get into that in a second. And Blake just wanders around. They had gone on a hike when they met, Elly tells Naomi that she’s been seeing someone around behind their house. And he’s freaking her out. So to be careful. At first, Naomi hopes she’s going to talk about the girl ghost she’s been seeing and is disheartened when she doesn’t, but still is thankful for the information.
Now, Maya and her boyfriend. Or, more specifically, her phone. She’s always on it. Before her sister was found and returned to their family, Maya had a normal social media following. Moderate count. After her sister was returned to them, it blew up. She never hesitated to make use of the attention her family was getting in order to grow her following. Which, is gross, point blank. She acts like she can’t stand Naomi, won’t call her the name she wants, and acts as if her general existence is an actively bleeding wound to her and their brother and parents. But when it came to growing her social media following, she didn’t really care.
They both tried being nice to each other but when Naomi wouldn’t act like she had always been there, Maya turned cruel. I think it’s kind of awful for her to have benefited from her sister’s disappearance and reappearance when she doesn’t like her. Doesn’t care and doesn’t try to. Even at the end of the book, when things have changed for the better for the whole family, I still didn’t like her.
I will say that the town’s racism isn’t exactly hidden. There’s someone in the town who literally says “you people” to Blake and Naomi. There’s a reason Khalil’s family doesn’t stay in or near the town and instead goes to the next city for whatever they need. Even if they can’t smell it, there’s still that feeling that Black people pick up on when we’re in places we aren’t wanted.
I give this book 5 stars. Even for it’s weak points, I really enjoyed myself. Even when there were things that annoyed me, Naomi made up for it. She was fun, smart, earnest and so determined. She was a missing girl who wanted to help people. An open heart, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.
This part will have a tiny spoiler in it. Stop reading if you don’t want to experience it.
The killer’s wife is dead before the book starts but he said something I found interesting. When he’s being confronted, he says that “those people killed her.” “They brought that disease her.” The disease is never named but we find out that his wife was on a ventilator when she died and it was horrible to see.
It reminded me of how when COVID started, there were people of means who left big cities in an attempt to avoid infection, and they went to small towns, hoping the smaller population would protect them. But COVID went everywhere. Even if people didn’t know they were sick or weren’t showing symptoms yet.
I wonder if that’s what he meant. It was just something that stuck out to me.
Trigger warnings for conversations around: racism, slavery, lynchings, kidnapping, murder
Sundown Girls follows Naomi, a teenager who is a missing girl, now found, although she never knew she was lost. We start when she’s been with her biological family for several months, after the woman she thought was her mother, was arrested for kidnapping her 14.5 years prior.
Now, living with the Stoakes, her “real” family, everything is different. She’s living in a different city, a different house, with an older sister, Maya, and a little brother, Blake. Her biological mother, Dawn and her biological father, Andre. They’re a well off Black family and everything is different.
Naomi is in therapy to help deal with everything that she’s been through but she’s having a hard time adjusting. From homeschooling to going to high school. Moving all the time to living in one place, it just being her and her mom to four other people always there. Always around.
Andre and Dawn are happy to have their baby, their Camryn back. Even thought Naomi doesn’t want to be called that, she doesn’t have a choice. Her parents will call her what they named her, not what their kidnapper did. Maya isn’t happy with Naomi being here. Their relationship is contentious, rough and angry. They don’t get along.
So, to bring some light and levity into the family, Dawn and Andre pack up the kids for a two week vacation to the Shenandoah Valley.
Going into this book, I prepared myself for the possibility of reading triggering content because of the premise of the story. I expected it to be painful. And it was. But something I really enjoyed was the way the author wrote the book. Sure, sometimes the writing could be a little weak but for the most part, it was strong. I found myself smiling and laughing at some of the quips. The characters were very distinct, I could tell them all apart and I think the voices all worked really well for each of them. None of them blended in.
I knew what the town of Sparksburg looked like while reading. The sort of old school classic Americana that the city dressed itself in. A pretty coat of paint over a heavily scarred base. And one of those scars presents itself in the form of a disgusting smell to Naomi. She’s the only one in her family that can smell it and it smells nasty. Like rot. Like death.
It’s so bad, Naomi mixes Vaseline and perfume and swipes some inside her nose to combat the smell and so she can leave the house.
Now, I will say that basically everyone in this book annoyed me except for Blake, because he’s a 9 year old boy and honestly was very sweet, and Bear, the family’s big Chow dog. He’s a sweetie and I love a story where I don’t have to worry about the dog getting hurt at all.
Maya is unnecessarily mean. Dawn and Andre act like everything is normal. Like their middle daughter wasn’t ripped away from her old life, thrown into a new one. Like they can just keep it pushing like there was nothing weird at all. But they won’t even call her by the name she wants to be called.
Honestly, this was something that really did annoy me. Their frustration and hurt by Naomi not calling Dawn mom. Maya’s antagonism toward Naomi as if she asked for all of this. Andre is the same. Just acts like things have always been this way and he doesn’t reign in his oldest daughter. Neither of them do. As I read it, I felt like Naomi didn’t have anyone on her side.
Not until she meets Kahlil. Before that, all Naomi has is her diary. One she started to keep at the instruction of her therapist. Although she has no idea how to start the entries, because there’s only one person she’s ever been open to. The woman she thought was her mom. So, when she writes, she starts her entries with “Hi mom”.
I was waiting for this to blow up and yes, it does.
Before that though, while the family goes about Sparksburg, after almost being run off the road mind you, things seem normal. They walk the downtown area and meet the mayor. Naomi and Blake go to a park and she sees a statue of a previous mayor and a massive bell that Blake wants to ring.
Andre and Dawn don’t let their middle daughter out of their sight. Causing Dawn to throw a fit at a gas station.
Then, Naomi sees a ghost. A Black girl, her hair braided on one side, the other side, free, floating around her head. She’s the only one who can see her, just like she’s the only one who can smell that smell. While out with Kahlil, she buys a book from a mall. See, his dad and family don’t shop in Sparksburg. It’s too far away, the next city is a better option. His uncle even worked on the vacation houses that Naomi and her family are staying in. And that book is about the history of Sparksburg.
How it used to be a Sundown town. How the mayor she had seen the statue of had “protected the borders of the city” from those that would harm it. In reality, it was to keep Black people out. She reads about lynchings, people being beat. It’s horrible.
I’ll admit, I was nauseous reading these parts. But it’s our history, for some of us. And some would want to hide that. I appreciate more and more books that don’t. Books that bring it to the forefront, especially with everything happening in America right now.
Then she goes to a cookout with Kahlil at his uncle’s house. Where she meets his great grandmother and learns about some of the dark history of the town. How it affected her very family. She’s a source of wisdom and history and I liked her, can’t lie. Sort of made me think of my own grandmother a little bit. But mine didn’t share stories of her past with me, because it was painful. Khalil’s grandmother shared them anyway. She told Naomi about people getting lynched because they stayed in town. How some people went in after the sun went down a s a dare and never came back.
It was sad but modern day Sparksburg seems to be trying to put all of that behind them by becoming a tourist destination.
There is another family staying in the same vacation rentals. A lesbian family, Cheryl and her wife Krissa. And their daughter, Elly, who seems to be about the same age as Naomi.
The family is fun, although Krissa and Cheryl both seem a bit excited and scatterbrained. But the two families agree to have dinner some time.
While they adults talk, Maya calls her boyfriend, something she does often, and I’ll get into that in a second. And Blake just wanders around. They had gone on a hike when they met, Elly tells Naomi that she’s been seeing someone around behind their house. And he’s freaking her out. So to be careful. At first, Naomi hopes she’s going to talk about the girl ghost she’s been seeing and is disheartened when she doesn’t, but still is thankful for the information.
Now, Maya and her boyfriend. Or, more specifically, her phone. She’s always on it. Before her sister was found and returned to their family, Maya had a normal social media following. Moderate count. After her sister was returned to them, it blew up. She never hesitated to make use of the attention her family was getting in order to grow her following. Which, is gross, point blank. She acts like she can’t stand Naomi, won’t call her the name she wants, and acts as if her general existence is an actively bleeding wound to her and their brother and parents. But when it came to growing her social media following, she didn’t really care.
They both tried being nice to each other but when Naomi wouldn’t act like she had always been there, Maya turned cruel. I think it’s kind of awful for her to have benefited from her sister’s disappearance and reappearance when she doesn’t like her. Doesn’t care and doesn’t try to. Even at the end of the book, when things have changed for the better for the whole family, I still didn’t like her.
I will say that the town’s racism isn’t exactly hidden. There’s someone in the town who literally says “you people” to Blake and Naomi. There’s a reason Khalil’s family doesn’t stay in or near the town and instead goes to the next city for whatever they need. Even if they can’t smell it, there’s still that feeling that Black people pick up on when we’re in places we aren’t wanted.
I give this book 5 stars. Even for it’s weak points, I really enjoyed myself. Even when there were things that annoyed me, Naomi made up for it. She was fun, smart, earnest and so determined. She was a missing girl who wanted to help people. An open heart, and I think that’s a beautiful thing.
This part will have a tiny spoiler in it. Stop reading if you don’t want to experience it.
The killer’s wife is dead before the book starts but he said something I found interesting. When he’s being confronted, he says that “those people killed her.” “They brought that disease her.” The disease is never named but we find out that his wife was on a ventilator when she died and it was horrible to see.
It reminded me of how when COVID started, there were people of means who left big cities in an attempt to avoid infection, and they went to small towns, hoping the smaller population would protect them. But COVID went everywhere. Even if people didn’t know they were sick or weren’t showing symptoms yet.
I wonder if that’s what he meant. It was just something that stuck out to me.
November 24, 2025
3.5
This is my second read by L. S. Stratton and I really enjoyed Not So Perfect Strangers, so I was excited to pick up this ARC as soon as I heard about it. As someone living in Texas, I hear a lot about the history of sundown towns, and I liked how the book incorporated those real life elements.
I did find it slow in the beginning, and it was a struggle to stay interested. The first half did not have a lot going on, but around the seventy five percent mark it finally takes off, and that is when it really held my interest.
The parents were a little annoying, and I felt like everyone could have been more understanding of Naomi’s journey and the trauma she is dealing with. Naomi was determined to solve a murder, but some of her actions felt a bit unrealistic for a teenager, especially the risky situations she put herself in. I also felt the title and the plot did not fully match. I expected something totally different based on the title. Something was missing for me overall.
It wrapped up well, but the execution could have been stronger.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This is my second read by L. S. Stratton and I really enjoyed Not So Perfect Strangers, so I was excited to pick up this ARC as soon as I heard about it. As someone living in Texas, I hear a lot about the history of sundown towns, and I liked how the book incorporated those real life elements.
I did find it slow in the beginning, and it was a struggle to stay interested. The first half did not have a lot going on, but around the seventy five percent mark it finally takes off, and that is when it really held my interest.
The parents were a little annoying, and I felt like everyone could have been more understanding of Naomi’s journey and the trauma she is dealing with. Naomi was determined to solve a murder, but some of her actions felt a bit unrealistic for a teenager, especially the risky situations she put herself in. I also felt the title and the plot did not fully match. I expected something totally different based on the title. Something was missing for me overall.
It wrapped up well, but the execution could have been stronger.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Read
August 20, 2025This was fantastic. It's the kind of book I wanted to inhale whole, with it's historical potency that seeps into modern times through both reality and the supernatural.
October 22, 2025
I loved the concept of the plot; however, the execution fell short. It felt a bit overcomplicated and incomplete at times. It would have benefited from focusing solely on the sundown concept.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a really interesting book. The premise really drew me in, and as more and more of the story unfolds--and we about our MC and her background--the present day narrative really adds to the story. I was really invested in the characters' interpersonal relationships; seeing the conflict with our MC's name, her relationship with her siblings, and trying to balance this entirely new dynamic with her parents all while still having really complex (and loving) feelings towards the person who raised (and kidnapped) her, I found these elements really added a great amount of emotional depth. And as the overall mystery of the book was being built, I found that these conflicts created a really natural divide between Naomi and the rest of her family that made her isolation (and her choice to keep so much to herself) much more believable. And the relationship between her and Khalil had a really grounded build as, for her, this was an opportunity for a fresh start--to be seen as exactly who she wanted to be. So many of these elements were really well established and earned. I thought so much of the conflicts in this story built really well and, while I had several theories and guesses along the way, nothing ever felt stagnant or too obvious. I loved tying tin the emotional and historical elements of the story (regarding the sundown town) and seeing how deep and corrupt these town roots can be. And seeing Naomi feel so determined (possible trauma response) to fight for these girls while still trying to find her own place and understanding in family all blended together in a really balanced and emotional way.
I also really appreciated the growth and healing that we experience by the end of the book and the way that the characters all sort of start to really work through the grief and trauma and move towards healing. There is an emotional payoff that I think was really necessary for the story and I was really glad to see it.
I will say, I grew increasingly frustrated with the family and how they interacted with Naomi. One thing that really bothered me was their insistence on calling her Camryn. I was very curious if her therapist encouraged this, but there seemed to be no acknowledgment for what Naomi wanted (or needed) for her own recovery, but rather just her family trying to throw her back into Camryn's life. I wanted to see/feel more from the mom and sister. There was a lot of consideration for how her mom felt, but it didn't always feel earned. And the sister was so antagonistic, and I couldn't really understand why.
I also thought the story would dig even deeper into the Sundown town elements of the story
I will say, one thing I really appreciated about this book (which might just be a me thing) is that Naomi did go to the police for help and did follow appropriate avenues. Her being shut down by everyone around her, while she knew she was on to something and couldn't leave those girls to suffer alone, felt so believable and I really appreciated the sort of levelheadedness she had to go to the cops and try to get help before, ultimately, deciding that she had to continue in her own way.
**SPOILER ALERT**
I was surprised that so much of the story boiled down to a few corrupt people trying to cover up crimes instead of exploring more of the story with the ghost girl and the entire town's history of murdering people. I was a lot more invested in her story and the tons of unmarked graves that were uncovered.
I also found the ultimate reveal to be a tad underwhelming ONLY because the culprit was a rather forgettable character in contrast to a lot of the other, menacing, people we meet along the way.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
I also really appreciated the growth and healing that we experience by the end of the book and the way that the characters all sort of start to really work through the grief and trauma and move towards healing. There is an emotional payoff that I think was really necessary for the story and I was really glad to see it.
I will say, I grew increasingly frustrated with the family and how they interacted with Naomi. One thing that really bothered me was their insistence on calling her Camryn. I was very curious if her therapist encouraged this, but there seemed to be no acknowledgment for what Naomi wanted (or needed) for her own recovery, but rather just her family trying to throw her back into Camryn's life. I wanted to see/feel more from the mom and sister. There was a lot of consideration for how her mom felt, but it didn't always feel earned. And the sister was so antagonistic, and I couldn't really understand why.
I also thought the story would dig even deeper into the Sundown town elements of the story
I will say, one thing I really appreciated about this book (which might just be a me thing) is that Naomi did go to the police for help and did follow appropriate avenues. Her being shut down by everyone around her, while she knew she was on to something and couldn't leave those girls to suffer alone, felt so believable and I really appreciated the sort of levelheadedness she had to go to the cops and try to get help before, ultimately, deciding that she had to continue in her own way.
**SPOILER ALERT**
I was surprised that so much of the story boiled down to a few corrupt people trying to cover up crimes instead of exploring more of the story with the ghost girl and the entire town's history of murdering people. I was a lot more invested in her story and the tons of unmarked graves that were uncovered.
I also found the ultimate reveal to be a tad underwhelming ONLY because the culprit was a rather forgettable character in contrast to a lot of the other, menacing, people we meet along the way.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
**This review has spoilers, so proceed with caution**
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5 stars
𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
The cover of Sundown Girls is what initially caught my attention, but the plot being centered around a Sundown town and a secret history was interesting. This is definitely a YA story with the main character, Naomi ("Camryn"), exploring her identity and reconciling her past with present revelations. The story follows her on a family vacation to Virginia, where she learns about the area's mysterious past and begins investigating what's happened to missing girls.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:
We are told very early on that Naomi was kidnapped at birth and that her real name is Camryn. The story opens with her having been reunited with her biological family for at least a year, but struggling to adjust to Andre and Dawn being her biological parents and having difficulty thinking of them with these titles, especially thinking of Dawn as her mother. I thought the author did a good job of describing this internal conflict for Naomi throughout the story, as well as showing her challenges and growth with learning to lean on her family's help. Something I had an issue with was Andre and Dawn's persistence in calling her Camryn and referring to themselves as "mom" and "dad," which read more as a lack of consideration for how difficult this was for Naomi. I understand that it was difficult for them as her birth parents, but they're adults--she was a child--and there didn't seem to be much effort on their end to support her with that adjustment and recovery. It read as if they were trying to force the connection or as if they were obvlivious to how she felt. That was just strange for me as I read the story. There seemed to be so much empathy for Dawn and very little for Naomi. It also wasn't clear why her sister, Maya, was so rude and antagonistic towards her.
I thought the author did a good job of introducing the mystery of the missing girls in the town. The element of the ghost girl was an interesting addition to the story. However, it fell flat for me. I believe it is because it wasn't explored well in the story and didn't add much to the overall story. It was also interesting to have the main character be a former missing girl, even though she spent 15 years not knowing that she was missing, searching for other missing girls. There were times when this flowed well, and it was intricately woven together, and at other times, it made the story feel like there was just a lot going on. I will say that, for the most part, as she investigated, she seemed to follow appropriate protocols to report things to adults and the police. Unfortunately, she was dismissed quite a bit. The story illustrated her perseverance in addition to her finding her voice.
A big disappointment was the basis of the story, which is that it takes place in a sundown town. We have her and Khalil talking about the history of the area as a Sundown town, but other exploration and brevity for the setting was lost in the mix of everything else. For it to be such an important factor, it fell flat, in my opinion. There was so much that could have been incorporated, but the story focused so much on a select few corrupt people covering up crimes. I genuinely feel that the ghost girl and Sundown town elements could've been removed, and not much of the story would've changed. For a mystery story, the main culprit was also underwhelming because so many other characters were given more attention and development that it was "meh" that this was the bad guy.
Overall, this was a good YA mystery with some creative elements. I mostly enjoyed the story and believe others will, too.
Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5 stars
𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀:
The cover of Sundown Girls is what initially caught my attention, but the plot being centered around a Sundown town and a secret history was interesting. This is definitely a YA story with the main character, Naomi ("Camryn"), exploring her identity and reconciling her past with present revelations. The story follows her on a family vacation to Virginia, where she learns about the area's mysterious past and begins investigating what's happened to missing girls.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:
We are told very early on that Naomi was kidnapped at birth and that her real name is Camryn. The story opens with her having been reunited with her biological family for at least a year, but struggling to adjust to Andre and Dawn being her biological parents and having difficulty thinking of them with these titles, especially thinking of Dawn as her mother. I thought the author did a good job of describing this internal conflict for Naomi throughout the story, as well as showing her challenges and growth with learning to lean on her family's help. Something I had an issue with was Andre and Dawn's persistence in calling her Camryn and referring to themselves as "mom" and "dad," which read more as a lack of consideration for how difficult this was for Naomi. I understand that it was difficult for them as her birth parents, but they're adults--she was a child--and there didn't seem to be much effort on their end to support her with that adjustment and recovery. It read as if they were trying to force the connection or as if they were obvlivious to how she felt. That was just strange for me as I read the story. There seemed to be so much empathy for Dawn and very little for Naomi. It also wasn't clear why her sister, Maya, was so rude and antagonistic towards her.
I thought the author did a good job of introducing the mystery of the missing girls in the town. The element of the ghost girl was an interesting addition to the story. However, it fell flat for me. I believe it is because it wasn't explored well in the story and didn't add much to the overall story. It was also interesting to have the main character be a former missing girl, even though she spent 15 years not knowing that she was missing, searching for other missing girls. There were times when this flowed well, and it was intricately woven together, and at other times, it made the story feel like there was just a lot going on. I will say that, for the most part, as she investigated, she seemed to follow appropriate protocols to report things to adults and the police. Unfortunately, she was dismissed quite a bit. The story illustrated her perseverance in addition to her finding her voice.
A big disappointment was the basis of the story, which is that it takes place in a sundown town. We have her and Khalil talking about the history of the area as a Sundown town, but other exploration and brevity for the setting was lost in the mix of everything else. For it to be such an important factor, it fell flat, in my opinion. There was so much that could have been incorporated, but the story focused so much on a select few corrupt people covering up crimes. I genuinely feel that the ghost girl and Sundown town elements could've been removed, and not much of the story would've changed. For a mystery story, the main culprit was also underwhelming because so many other characters were given more attention and development that it was "meh" that this was the bad guy.
Overall, this was a good YA mystery with some creative elements. I mostly enjoyed the story and believe others will, too.
Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Nancy Paulson Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Sundown Girls” is a chilling and emotionally resonant YA thriller that balances personal trauma, paranormal mystery, and a haunting reflection on America’s racist past. L.S. Stratton roots the story in the fictional town of Sparksburg, which was once a sundown town, where echoes of real historical violence reverberate through the present. Though fictionalized, the town’s history mirrors events that truly occurred across the United States, giving the story a weight that lingers long after the last page.
At the center of the story is Naomi, who is still raw from the life-upending revelation that the woman she believed was her mother actually kidnapped her as a baby. Returned to her biological family after fifteen years, Naomi now occupies an in-between space where she is caught between identities, names, and loyalties. Her love for the only mother she knew complicates her grief, while her biological parents struggle to understand how to support her without erasing who she was. Stratton handles this emotional tug-of-war with nuance, especially the painful realism of parents who want to help but often fail to listen. Naomi’s isolation feels authentic, especially as she copes with being called “Camryn,” a name she no longer fully recognizes.
A family vacation to rural Virginia becomes the catalyst for Naomi’s unraveling and rebuilding. Sparksburg is supposed to be a peaceful getaway, but the town is steeped in dark history and even darker secrets. Naomi begins to sense a supernatural presence tied to generations of racial violence and unexplained disappearances. She can see and smell the dead, which creates a powerful metaphor for how the past refuses to stay buried. When local girls start going missing, Naomi’s determination sharpens; as someone who was once a missing girl herself, she cannot ignore the parallels.
Naomi’s choices often feel painfully teenage. She withholds information, investigates alone, takes dangerous risks, but these decisions make sense through the lens of trauma, mistrust, and her desperate need for agency. Even if you want to yell at her (and her family), her actions feel authentic to a fifteen-year-old trying to reclaim control over her life. Her relationship with Khalil, a compassionate boy with more green flags than red, offers her a glimpse of what it means to be seen on her own terms. Though their romance develops quickly, it never overshadows the mystery and instead gives Naomi space to rediscover herself.
The mystery is layered and urgent, but not without flaws. While the supernatural elements create tension and atmosphere, I did wish the town’s history had been explored more deeply. And although the final reveal is undeniably surprising, the killer’s identity arrives with little foreshadowing, making the twist feel abrupt compared to the otherwise meticulous buildup. Still, the emotional payoff lands: missing girls are acknowledged, long-buried crimes come to light, and Naomi finally begins to heal alongside her family.
What “Sundown Girls” delivers most effectively is feeling: fear, frustration, grief, and ultimately hope. Stratton excels at showing how trauma can make someone both fragile and fiercely determined and how the past, whether personal or historical, always demands to be reckoned with.
Overall, “Sundown Girls” is messy in the way real healing is messy; it’s full of missteps, painful truths, and moments of hard-won clarity. Those who crave character-driven mysteries with heart, history, and a touch of the supernatural will find this story unforgettable.
“Sundown Girls” is a chilling and emotionally resonant YA thriller that balances personal trauma, paranormal mystery, and a haunting reflection on America’s racist past. L.S. Stratton roots the story in the fictional town of Sparksburg, which was once a sundown town, where echoes of real historical violence reverberate through the present. Though fictionalized, the town’s history mirrors events that truly occurred across the United States, giving the story a weight that lingers long after the last page.
At the center of the story is Naomi, who is still raw from the life-upending revelation that the woman she believed was her mother actually kidnapped her as a baby. Returned to her biological family after fifteen years, Naomi now occupies an in-between space where she is caught between identities, names, and loyalties. Her love for the only mother she knew complicates her grief, while her biological parents struggle to understand how to support her without erasing who she was. Stratton handles this emotional tug-of-war with nuance, especially the painful realism of parents who want to help but often fail to listen. Naomi’s isolation feels authentic, especially as she copes with being called “Camryn,” a name she no longer fully recognizes.
A family vacation to rural Virginia becomes the catalyst for Naomi’s unraveling and rebuilding. Sparksburg is supposed to be a peaceful getaway, but the town is steeped in dark history and even darker secrets. Naomi begins to sense a supernatural presence tied to generations of racial violence and unexplained disappearances. She can see and smell the dead, which creates a powerful metaphor for how the past refuses to stay buried. When local girls start going missing, Naomi’s determination sharpens; as someone who was once a missing girl herself, she cannot ignore the parallels.
Naomi’s choices often feel painfully teenage. She withholds information, investigates alone, takes dangerous risks, but these decisions make sense through the lens of trauma, mistrust, and her desperate need for agency. Even if you want to yell at her (and her family), her actions feel authentic to a fifteen-year-old trying to reclaim control over her life. Her relationship with Khalil, a compassionate boy with more green flags than red, offers her a glimpse of what it means to be seen on her own terms. Though their romance develops quickly, it never overshadows the mystery and instead gives Naomi space to rediscover herself.
The mystery is layered and urgent, but not without flaws. While the supernatural elements create tension and atmosphere, I did wish the town’s history had been explored more deeply. And although the final reveal is undeniably surprising, the killer’s identity arrives with little foreshadowing, making the twist feel abrupt compared to the otherwise meticulous buildup. Still, the emotional payoff lands: missing girls are acknowledged, long-buried crimes come to light, and Naomi finally begins to heal alongside her family.
What “Sundown Girls” delivers most effectively is feeling: fear, frustration, grief, and ultimately hope. Stratton excels at showing how trauma can make someone both fragile and fiercely determined and how the past, whether personal or historical, always demands to be reckoned with.
Overall, “Sundown Girls” is messy in the way real healing is messy; it’s full of missteps, painful truths, and moments of hard-won clarity. Those who crave character-driven mysteries with heart, history, and a touch of the supernatural will find this story unforgettable.
January 28, 2026
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for the ebook.
📝 Short Summary
Sundown Girls is a tense, unsettling YA horror story that pulls you into a dangerous situation where survival, fear, and control collide. As the story unfolds, everything connects in a way that keeps the tension high and the stakes personal, especially for a girl who is trying to navigate danger while no one around her seems to truly listen.
Review
I’m not usually a huge YA reader, but this book kept me interested from start to finish. It had that gritty edge that made it feel darker than I expected, and honestly, that worked for me. If someone wants to call it splatterpunk, sure, because it definitely leans into discomfort and horror in a way that doesn’t feel watered down.
This was my first time reading L.S. Stratton, and I really enjoyed the way everything fit together. The story felt well thought out, and even though I figured out where things were going, it didn’t take away from the experience. I still wanted to keep reading to see how it all played out and how the characters would get through what they were facing.
Naomi really stuck with me. I felt bad for her the entire time. She was dealing with so much, and the lack of support from her parents made everything feel even heavier. They were honestly extremely annoying, and that frustration added to the tension because it made her situation feel more isolating and real. Watching her try to navigate fear, danger, and being dismissed by the people who were supposed to protect her made the story hit harder.
What I appreciated most was how the book didn’t lose itself along the way. Everything connected, the pacing stayed solid, and the horror elements didn’t feel random. Even when I had things figured out, I still thought it was a good read because the journey mattered just as much as the outcome.
Overall, this book surprised me. It pulled me in, kept me engaged, and delivered a dark, uncomfortable story that worked well within the YA space while still pushing into more intense territory. I’m glad this was my first experience with this author, and I’d absolutely read more.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes. Especially if you like YA horror that leans darker, keeps the tension high, and doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable moments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for the ebook.
📝 Short Summary
Sundown Girls is a tense, unsettling YA horror story that pulls you into a dangerous situation where survival, fear, and control collide. As the story unfolds, everything connects in a way that keeps the tension high and the stakes personal, especially for a girl who is trying to navigate danger while no one around her seems to truly listen.
Review
I’m not usually a huge YA reader, but this book kept me interested from start to finish. It had that gritty edge that made it feel darker than I expected, and honestly, that worked for me. If someone wants to call it splatterpunk, sure, because it definitely leans into discomfort and horror in a way that doesn’t feel watered down.
This was my first time reading L.S. Stratton, and I really enjoyed the way everything fit together. The story felt well thought out, and even though I figured out where things were going, it didn’t take away from the experience. I still wanted to keep reading to see how it all played out and how the characters would get through what they were facing.
Naomi really stuck with me. I felt bad for her the entire time. She was dealing with so much, and the lack of support from her parents made everything feel even heavier. They were honestly extremely annoying, and that frustration added to the tension because it made her situation feel more isolating and real. Watching her try to navigate fear, danger, and being dismissed by the people who were supposed to protect her made the story hit harder.
What I appreciated most was how the book didn’t lose itself along the way. Everything connected, the pacing stayed solid, and the horror elements didn’t feel random. Even when I had things figured out, I still thought it was a good read because the journey mattered just as much as the outcome.
Overall, this book surprised me. It pulled me in, kept me engaged, and delivered a dark, uncomfortable story that worked well within the YA space while still pushing into more intense territory. I’m glad this was my first experience with this author, and I’d absolutely read more.
✅ Would I Recommend It?
Yes. Especially if you like YA horror that leans darker, keeps the tension high, and doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable moments.
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