On November 9, 1984, the horror wasn’t just on the screen… it was in the mall. What was supposed to be a night of scares and laughs turns into a waking nightmare when six friends attend the midnight premiere of Don’t Watch Alone—and find themselves locked inside the mall after the final scene fades to black. But this isn’t some prank or accident. Someone’s watching. Someone who knows their every move… and their darkest secrets. One by one, the group is stalked through neon-lit hallways, vintage storefronts, and dark food courts. The killer isn’t just after blood—they’re staging a slasher film of their own. As the body count rises, the lines between fiction and reality blur. The only way out is to survive the night—but not everyone is getting a final scene. Don’t scream. Don’t run. Don’t Watch Alone.
Elisa D. Daniels is from a small town in Oklahoma. Married to the love of her life and a proud mother of three children, she also loves being called Mimi by her handsome grandsons. She loves spending time with family. Since childhood, Elisa has been fascinated by true crime stories and had developed a deep passion for reading mystery books. Motivated by a steady determination, Elisa is now following her lifelong dream of becoming a writer.
Do you love a book that gives 80s/90s slasher vibes? A book that will pull you in and not let you go until the very last page? A book that delivers what it promises? Do you also love supporting Indie Authors?
Check out "Don't Watch Alone" by Elisa Daniels. This book releases tomorrow, September 12th, and is available for $2.99 for the ebook & $11.99 for the paperback.
Let's get into my review :
First of all, I've read three ARCs for Elisa Daniels now, and this was BY FAR my favorite.
I love the growth that I'm seeing in her writing. Its amazing being on this journey with such a talented friend. I love being able to support her and cheer her on with each new book release. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your ARC team.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
This book had me intrigued from the very beginning, but once I got to 62% (Yes. I know that was exactly the turning point!)
I was HOOKED. I could not freaking stop reading!!
This follows our FMC Blaize. A few of her friends make plans to go to a movie premiere for a new Horror movie "Don't Watch Alone." After the movie, six friends find themselves LOCKED in the mall, which doesn't sound so bad right? But one by one, they start to become victims. Their movie premiere night out with friends, quickly turns deadly.
I loved how Elisa used a single point of view throughout the first 62% of the book, but then switched to multiple points of view. This was something I've never seen done before. You get a point of view from each of the six friends while they are in the mall running for their lives. It made it so much more "real."
You know I'm very stingy with my 5 star reads!! But this book earned every star.
I absolutely loved this book. 😍 It’s one of my favorites by this author. I really connected with the FMC, Blaiz. The chapters are short and gripping, keeping me hooked from start to finish. I think I’ll wait a while before going to a movie or a mall. 😱 The last third of the book was incredibly intense!😬
I had the privilege of being a ARC reader for this amazing book! 📕 Pulls you in from the first page with loads of nostalgia, and then spirals you into the point you feel like you’re in a slasher film! Read in one day! I could not put it down, you have to know what comes next, and it delivers!
Don’t Watch Alone is pure 80s slasher glory—dripping with neon terror, pounding with heart-racing suspense, and packed with the kind of thrills horror fans live for.
A relentless stalker. A deserted mall after midnight. And one unstoppable FINAL GIRL who refuses to go down without a fight.
Elisa has outdone herself—her sharp, fearless storytelling put me right in the middle of the carnage. I’m so proud to be part of her circle and to see her genius up close. Bravo, book bestie—you’ve created a horror classic! 💗
Yo, get ready for a totally tubular ride back into the 80’s with Don't Watch Alone by Elisa D. Daniels. I kid you not when I say that Daniels brings grody to the max to a new, gnarly level in this gag me with a spoon horror/thriller. So take a chill pill, don't be buggin' and get ready for a bodaciously bitchin' time! And if you don't like it, you can eat my shorts!
OK, enough of my flashback to the 80’s slang there! But seriously, get ready for a ride to the 80’s you won't forget in Don't Watch Alone! Now, onto my review!
Dont' Watch Alone
~Elisa D Daniels
Blaiz (FMC) works at the mall, but lately, she can't shake the feeling she's being watched. A cryptic warning from her stalker, Andy, leaves her torn – take him serious or let it go. Her boyfriend, Tony, and their friends – Jade, Derrick, Eva, and Drew – say he's just trying to scare her and to dismiss his warnings as infatuation.
It's November 9th – the night of Don't Watch Alone's release and the group has plans to be there. Blaiz can't seem to ignore the eerie undercurrent to the evening, but once the movie begins, she starts to relax. Reassurance from Tony as he wraps a comforting arm around her shoulder that nothing's going wrong. Yet after the credits roll and bathroom stops are made, the real horror begins. The group of friends are locked inside the mall – starring in their own real-life, front row seat, slasher movie.
Will anyone make it out alive? And if so, how far will they have to go in order to survive? You will have to read Don't Watch Alone to find out – and if you jump scare easily, maybe keep the lights on!
Daniels has delivered a masterclass in pacing and atmosphere. Instead of bogging readers down with excessive backstory, characters are given just enough detail to take root in your mind and then deepen as events unfold allowing your mind to wander. Blaiz is instantly relatable – balancing her relationship with Tony, the stresses of work and personal friendships – while the friend group dynamic feels so natural and cohesive.
Don't Watch Alone pulls you straight into the story, immersing you with vivid imagery you won't soon forget. While this isn't a gore-fest from page one, the tension starts simmering from Andy's first warning, building into a nail-biting crescendo once the real-life slasher movie begins. Some scenes – no spoilers here – will make you cringe. True fans of horror/slasher movies will appreciate how Daniels balances all aspects – dread, pacing and the grand payoff.
Daniels immediately engages you into a slow-burn starting slasher that tightens its grip with every chapter. Then once the chaos starts, she plunges you straight into the madness leaving you unable to put it down. It's a read in one sitting kind of book that I highly recommend – I actually read it back to back twice.
Don’t Watch Alone isn’t just a title - it’s good advice.
I would like to thank Elisa D. Daniels for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC for Don't Watch Alone. As always, ALL opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for leaving a fair and honest review of the book.
If you enjoyed this review, or any content on my page, please follow me on all social media as thetxlitchic.
Not too bad and good for a quick slasher book but the writing wasn’t the best and I didn’t really care too much for the final reveal it was just meh to me
Y’all! November 9, 1984: big hair, neon lights, leg warmers, wild jackets… and a midnight slasher flick. Sounds like a total 80s dream, right? WRONG. In Don’t Watch Alone by Elisa D. Daniels, the horror doesn’t just stay on the screen—it follows you out into the mall, hiding in shadows, waiting for the perfect moment.
I tore through this in just 4 hours, and every chase, twist, and blood-soaked page had me on edge 🍿🔥. The characters feel ripped straight from the 80s teen scene—awkward crushes, loud personalities, and sneakers squeaking across tile floors. The writing is so vivid I could smell the greasy fries, hear the flicker of neon signs, and feel my pulse racing as the terror crept closer. Daniels perfectly blends nostalgia with heart-pounding suspense, making it impossible to put down.
💀 Creepy. Nostalgic. Cinematic. Totally binge-worthy. 5 ⭐️. Just… maybe don’t read it alone. Your nerves will thank you. 😉🔪
If you are looking for a totally righteous thriller read make sure to bounce on over to Amazon to grab your copy of Don't Watch Alone by Elisa Daniels on September 12th!
This gnarly book follows Blaiz, a homegirl just trying to make ends meet by helping customers look fly with fashions found at Electric Avenue where she works in the mall (and also appears to have landed a creepy stalker).
Blaiz and her homies decide to go to a late night showing of Don't Watch Alone and before that night, she gets a creepy warning to stay home.
This book is totally rad. There were many times I had some gnarly reactions as I was reading.
Make sure you dont miss out! Word to your mother! ✌️✌️
I LOVED the setting of the book! Even though I wasn’t a teenager in the era, I consider myself an 80s kid. I felt like I was with the characters getting dressed and doing all the fun stuff kids did back then! I was hooked from the very beginning. I could picture myself being with the characters and feeling what they were going through. It kept me guessing with all the twists. Love that it gave me the vibe of an 80s horror film and a Final Destination movie. Great read! Definitely recommend!
I truly can't say enough about this book. It truly left me on the edge of my seat and yelling at people during situations in the story. Trust me if you think you know who it is halfway through your wrong. The twist on the end had me floored. I am definitely super stoked about buying a paperback copy of this book.
You can feel the research that the author put into this book to make it as accurate as possible! A new favorite read from one of my top fave authors. The twists, the anticipation, the HEART PALPITATIONS! I can’t!
Think 80s slasher (it gives me total Scream vibes) and IM HERE FOR IT! Also the FMC is a total badass and you know how I love strong FMC’s. Beautifully done!
Review of “Don’t Watch Alone” by Elisa D. Daniels: Omg—I’m never going to the mall again! From the halfway point on, I was holding my breath, my heart was pounding, and I was jumping at every little sound. This slasher horror delivers the perfect mix of Scream-style tension, I Know What You Did Last Summer chills, and classic Final Girl grit. Elisa D. Daniels took all the best parts of slashers and brought them together in one unforgettable story of her own. Set in 1984, she perfectly captures the era, making me feel like I was right there in the mall, watching the terror unfold and fearing I’d be next. Absolutely chilling and brilliantly done! If you’re a fan of slasher horrors, this is a must-read.
Wow!!Wow!! Don't Watch Alone is an amazing book! I was hooked from start to finish. I even scared myself because I was so focused when I was reading. 😂
"We're the bitches who laugh in the face of terror. The Queens of horror. We are fearless."
The FMC, Blaize, is such a strong character and so relatable. She's a young woman taking time off from school, working,spending time with her boyfriend, and partying with her friends. She's just enjoying her life until she notices someone watching her. Blaize dismisses the creepy feeling until she notices this man everywhere. He is at the same party, shows up at her job, and wits for her after work.
The stalker warns her to stay home. He tells her something bad is going to happen if she goes to the movies with her friends to watch the new horror movie Don't watch alone. Blaze doesn't want this stalker to ruin her plans so her and her friends go anyway.
After the movie, Blaize's boyfriend (Tony) goes to the bathroom and never comes out. Blaize and her 4 friends go looking for Tony when they realize they are locked in the mall. They decide to split up to cover more ground and that is when all hell breaks loose.
"You should've stayed home." "You're next"
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! release date September 12, 2025
Strap yourself in for a wild trip to the 80's which wouldn't be complete without SHOULDER PADS!!! Arrrgghh, who on earth said "shoulder pads are cool?" Lol.
I was fortunate to receive an ARC from Elisa for this fantastic book! The FMC gets this eerie feeling she's being watched... She's right, some creepo is stalking her and then warns her not to go see the new movie "Don't Watch Alone" which she has been eagerly awaiting for - along with her friends.
Her eagerness, however, is overshadowed by feelings of fear and pending doom. Once at the movie, she tells herself she's fine, seeks reassurance from her boyfriend Tony and is relieved once the credits start rolling...
Blaize is wrong. The spine-chilling events in the locked Mall afterwards are from her worst nightmare. The killer is staging their OWN 80's slasher film and Blaize has been cast as the main character.
I felt like I was right there in the Mall amongst the chaos, body counts, and palpable fear. My heart was RACING and I did not see that ending coming...
As usual, Elisa has set the fast-paced atmosphere where you find yourself holding your breath in trepidation. The story telling is chilling, intense, and extremely well written. I felt like I could FEEL Blaize's fear!
Elisa captured the 80's perfectly. As a teenager myself in the 80's I remember the Neon coloured clothes and accessories and yes, the shoulder pads...and I related to both the character's and era.
Thanks Elisa for this excellent heart-pounding thriller which I devoured. The Acknowledgments are really cool too...
DON'T WATCH ALONE BY ELISA DANIELS 5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s Release day set for the 12th of September 2025. Let me tell you this book is the perfect book for anyone who wants to be scared shitless. I had the sense of dread from the very beginning and I'm sure at one point my blood pressure went up 🤣 Creepy and scary. Chilling to the bone. I read this in one sitting as just didn't want to put it down. Fantastic book. Highly recommend
This book sucked me in from the beginning to end. If u like horror & the thrill of the case, with a few secrets, you will love this book!! The ending doesn’t disappoint.
MA'AM. WHAT IN THE ABSOLUTE FRICK AND FRACK. I'm STILL trying to gather my dang words. I had chills Chile. Friggin chills.
Let me tell you something (picture Ace Ventura saying this 🤣): If someone repeatedly tells you the same message/warning/words of wisdom, WHATEVER, You better dang listen to them! (I apologize but I'm still on edge! 👀🫣🤣) or that could be your life!
This book took me on a ride where I'm still drifting in the clouds. I mean COASTING yall! The setting is based in the 80s and how everything was described, you definitely felt like you were there.
This book of greatness will be released on September 12th. Go👏🏽and👏🏽put👏🏽this👏🏽on👏🏽the👏🏽list👏🏽RIGHT👏🏽NOW! Like now. Whatchu still looking at the post for?! Go on now! Let me get my breathing and these chill bumps together because hun-nee (honey. Yall know! 🤣🤣)! I'm still wearing my jacket trying to warm up! 🤣🤣
Oh my goodness gracious! First off I was given an arc of this book for my honest reviews! This author for me is a read when published kind of author you just know you’re going to love whatever it is! This book is set in the 80s it gives you that perfect nostalgia It gives with the descriptions and lingo! I love love the slasher and scream vibes if you’re a fan of either of these please give this book a chance you won’t be disappointed! Lastly for me this book is extra special when my name was included in the shoutouts in the back it really makes a reader feel included!
If you love 80’s slasher films and all the nostalgia that goes along with it, this one is for you.
Blaiz is a typical young woman in the 80’s working at the mall. All seems well until some weird dude starts hanging around giving her weird ominous warnings about going to a movie with her friends. Cut to 80’s horror in all of its glory. The action starts and you won’t stop until you’re done.
This one had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t get to the next chapter fast enough. In typical Elisa fashion, I definitely had a whole lot of “wait, what?” Moments.
Thank you to Elisa for allowing me to ARC read this new one that releases 9/12/25. If you haven’t preordered this one yet, yall need to get on that. This one is a banger for sure.
This was a great book! I was 14 at the time the book takes place and right away, I had a feeling of nostalgia. The clothing mentioned, the hair styles, the slang (I had a friend who said rad all the time!), the mall stores that are no longer around.
The story was great. Every time I thought I had it figured out BAM, twist time!
This book was well written and fast-paced, especially once they went to the movie theater.
Highly recommend. I plan to read more by this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This has so much 80's nostalgia, it's ridiculous! Like a great 80's Slasher film, this has it all! Mall Friends Parties Coworkers Movie theater Clothing stores Food court Drama Revenge Suspense And murders. I mean..like not just one or two either. And if you don't know, I have TOTALLY deemed Elisa the Queen of Covers because.... C'mon! Look at this!! What a great one to add to her Bree Turner covers!
TL;DR: If horror, mystery, and ’80s nostalgia had a baby, it would be Don’t Watch Alone by Elisa D. Daniels. It's a gripping ride you won’t forget. Elisa D. Daniels doesn’t let you go until the final reveal. I stayed up way too late. Keep reading for my full thoughts.
Synopsis: A group of friends shows up for the midnight premiere of Don’t Watch Alone, expecting laughs, jump scares, and popcorn. What they don’t expect is being trapped inside the mall where the horror movie doesn’t stay on screen. It comes alive and it comes for them. Friends must fight to survive when what was supposed to be fiction becomes far too real.
Spillin’ the Book Tea: This book slammed me in the best possible way. It’s a twisty whodunnit, and I kept guessing. Incorrectly I might add. If I Know What You Did Last Summer had a more vicious killer plot, richer storyline, and curveballs that leave you gasping, this would be it. I couldn’t put this down. I stayed up, ignoring all common sense, because I just had to know what happened. And yes, the cover is 🔥. Daniels nailed it. The whole vibe (book and cover) is dripping 80’s nostalgia and that retro electric energy I live for.
The pacing is ruthless: there are moments when you think you’ve got it figured out, then bam... twist. The setting, the mall, the midnight horror flick gone bloody real, it all builds this perfect tension. It’s not just jump scares, it’s the lurking dread, the suspicion, the “who’s going to be next?” paranoia.
The Vibes It Brings: 🎬 Nostalgic Slasher Flick Vibe – like neon lights, cheesy horror trailers, VHS era feels. 🔍 Murder Mystery / Who-Dunnit Energy – secrets, lies, suspects, red herrings. 😱 Creepy Atmosphere – darkness in the mall, strange sounds, shadows in every corner. ⏳ Sleepless Nights Effect – once you start you don’t want to stop.
Final Thoughts: If you love books that grab you by the throat and don’t let you breathe until the last page you are in for a treat. Don’t Watch Alone gives you the terror, the plot twists, and the kind of tension that makes you check your closets at night. Elisa D. Daniels brought all the ’80s slasher energy and then some.
TL;DR: If horror, mystery, and ’80s nostalgia had a baby, it would be Don’t Watch Alone by Elisa D. Daniels. It's a gripping ride you won’t forget. Elisa D. Daniels doesn’t let you go until the final reveal. I stayed up way too late. Keep reading for my full thoughts.
Synopsis: A group of friends shows up for the midnight premiere of Don’t Watch Alone, expecting laughs, jump scares, and popcorn. What they don’t expect is being trapped inside the mall where the horror movie doesn’t stay on screen. It comes alive and it comes for them. Friends must fight to survive when what was supposed to be fiction becomes far too real.
Spillin’ the Book Tea: This book slammed me in the best possible way. It’s a twisty whodunnit, and I kept guessing. Incorrectly I might add. If I Know What You Did Last Summer had a more vicious killer plot, richer storyline, and curveballs that leave you gasping, this would be it. I couldn’t put this down. I stayed up, ignoring all common sense, because I just had to know what happened. And yes, the cover is 🔥. Daniels nailed it. The whole vibe (book and cover) is dripping 80’s nostalgia and that retro electric energy I live for.
The pacing is ruthless: there are moments when you think you’ve got it figured out, then bam... twist. The setting, the mall, the midnight horror flick gone bloody real, it all builds this perfect tension. It’s not just jump scares, it’s the lurking dread, the suspicion, the “who’s going to be next?” paranoia.
The Vibes It Brings: 🎬 Nostalgic Slasher Flick Vibe – like neon lights, cheesy horror trailers, VHS era feels. 🔍 Murder Mystery / Who-Dunnit Energy – secrets, lies, suspects, red herrings. 😱 Creepy Atmosphere – darkness in the mall, strange sounds, shadows in every corner. ⏳ Sleepless Nights Effect – once you start you don’t want to stop.
Final Thoughts: If you love books that grab you by the throat and don’t let you breathe until the last page you are in for a treat. Don’t Watch Alone gives you the terror, the plot twists, and the kind of tension that makes you check your closets at night. Elisa D. Daniels brought all the ’80s slasher energy and then some.
I just finished Don’t Watch Alone by Elisa Daniels and here are my thoughts.
What would you do if someone you don’t know tells you not to go to the movies with your friends… Stalks you… You take their power away and go anyway.. That was Blaize’s first mistake… Now she and her friends are in danger, trapped inside the mall after watching a horror movie. Trapped in their own version of a slasher movie not everyone is going to make it to the end.. Not sticking together was the 2nd…
I have a real love for the 80s and slasher movies are my bread and butter so finding this book was so very exciting for me. Let’s start with Blaize. She was the epitome of a young adult living the life back then. She was realistic and raw and I loved that! I thought the lead up to them being trapped in the mall was a tad slow and each POV was Blaize’s and was like why do we need to keep being told who’s POV it was…. Well it made sense when we got to the carnage.
I like the banter between all the friends and that made me nostalgic for the 80s, so much so I went on an 80s movie bender.
I am so glad the book wrapped up and tied off all the loose ends at the end. The one thing I did wonder about is Andy mentioned he tried to warn Mary about the danger… Why would he warn her if she wasn’t the target? It was about the only plot hole I found because I didn’t feel satisfied by that whole part.
All in all the writing was pretty good! Definitely would be interested to see what else this author has coming out in the future.
4 stars
Thank you @mysterythrillerbookselisa and @booksirens for my gifted ARC copy!
I went in with high hopes…maybe a little too high— especially since I hadn’t realized how new this release was at the time. Unfortunately, the nostalgia I was hoping for never fully landed, and the thrill of it took a bit too long to kick in, which was surprising for such a short read with such quick chapters.
The writing felt a bit uneven to me. There were a few strong moments and lines that really stood out, but much of the rest came across as simplistic and in need of more refinement. As a whole, it just didn’t quite land for me. The attempts at misdirection also fell flat—mainly because several characters weren’t developed enough for those twists to feel earned. At times, it felt more like filler meant to keep us distracted and second guessing rather than truly building suspense.
The slasher elements were fun when they finally arrived, and the gruesomeness was described very well, but they were over too quickly. By the time the action kicked in, everything wrapped up in a rushed, anticlimactic ending.
If you’re looking for a quick slasher where the characters make the classic questionable, “yell at the screen/book” decisions that keep the plot moving, this one definitely checks those boxes.
My favourite part of this read was buddy reading it with @alpacaman—great discussions and plenty of laughs. I almost forgot we were meant to be reading a horror/thriller. As we both agreed, there’d be no horror story here if anyone used an ounce of logic 😅
If you’re curious, it may still be worth giving a try. It had potential, and I can see why some readers might enjoy it more than I did. It just missed the mark for my personal slasher tastes.
In the end, it had all the ingredients for a great slasher, but not enough seasoning to bring out the flavour.