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Dead Before Co-Ed
When Edith's best friend, Sylvia, left for Discordia's College for Women, she promised to stay in touch. She didn't. But years later, out of nowhere, she reaches out inviting Edith to visit over fall break.
The campus feels watchful like it remembers everything no one will say. The cobblestone paths and brick buildings stand on the verge of crumbling, yet remain after centuries like a god, content to watch its disciples play their games, unmoved by what they've seen. And Sylvia... Sylvia isn't quite herself.
Edith tells herself she's overthinking it. That it's just time and distance playing tricks on her.
She came looking for her best friend and a fun getaway. But leaving isn't as simple as saying goodbye.
The campus feels watchful like it remembers everything no one will say. The cobblestone paths and brick buildings stand on the verge of crumbling, yet remain after centuries like a god, content to watch its disciples play their games, unmoved by what they've seen. And Sylvia... Sylvia isn't quite herself.
Edith tells herself she's overthinking it. That it's just time and distance playing tricks on her.
She came looking for her best friend and a fun getaway. But leaving isn't as simple as saying goodbye.
274 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2025
5 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Mary Vecellio
2 books9 followersMary Vecellio writes stories about the unsettling things lurking just beneath the surface. When she’s not writing, Mary can be found studying art history, drinking too much coffee, and staring at old architecture like it might talk back.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 17, 2025
At first, I thought I had the ending all figured out, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The best way to sum up my emotional state while reading? Stressed. The story might start off a little slow, but once it picks up, it doesn’t let go. More than once, I wanted to sit the main character down and ask her to explain her thinking process to me and why she didn’t just go home! The plot twists are quite truly unpredictable.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was that every character had a flaw. That ending, especially, leaves you questioning how you feel about each character and if you should spare any sympathy for any. I tried to put myself in that ending and I genuinely would not know how to react if I was a character in that friend group. The shifting perspectives over time add depth to the main character’s behaviour, particularly as everything starts to really go downhill. I think what helped a lot with understanding the main character was paying close attention to the past perspectives. You kind of start to understand her mindset.
The best way to sum up my emotional state while reading? Stressed. The story might start off a little slow, but once it picks up, it doesn’t let go. More than once, I wanted to sit the main character down and ask her to explain her thinking process to me and why she didn’t just go home! The plot twists are quite truly unpredictable.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was that every character had a flaw. That ending, especially, leaves you questioning how you feel about each character and if you should spare any sympathy for any. I tried to put myself in that ending and I genuinely would not know how to react if I was a character in that friend group. The shifting perspectives over time add depth to the main character’s behaviour, particularly as everything starts to really go downhill. I think what helped a lot with understanding the main character was paying close attention to the past perspectives. You kind of start to understand her mindset.
August 14, 2025
This book doesn’t just pull you in — it tightens its grip with every chapter. The mood shifts like a shadow crossing the room, growing darker, heavier, more dangerous. The main character unravels in layers, each reveal is both fascinating and unsettling. I can still see some of the scenes in my mind, like stains that won’t wash out.
The pacing is relentless — short, fast chapters that keep you thinking, “Just one more” until you realize you’ve been reading for hours. The tension building is pure craftsmanship, and there are moments where reality itself feels unreliable. By the end, I was left feeling tricked, disturbed, and somehow craving more.
I can’t compare it to anything else I’ve read — it’s its own strange, haunting creature. If you want a psychological thriller that leans into horror and doesn’t play fair, this one will get under your skin and stay there.
The pacing is relentless — short, fast chapters that keep you thinking, “Just one more” until you realize you’ve been reading for hours. The tension building is pure craftsmanship, and there are moments where reality itself feels unreliable. By the end, I was left feeling tricked, disturbed, and somehow craving more.
I can’t compare it to anything else I’ve read — it’s its own strange, haunting creature. If you want a psychological thriller that leans into horror and doesn’t play fair, this one will get under your skin and stay there.
August 8, 2025
I received this book as an ARC read! I don’t really know what to say other than it had my head SCRAMBLED the whole time (in the best way)!! There were SO many plot twists. I couldn’t even begin to guess what would happen next. It also had me feeling every single emotion someone could feel. Like one page I’d be devastated, the next page I’d be angry, the next I’d be disgusted. It was a wild ride. But honestly I loved every second. It was also sooo difficult to tell who I could trust, who I could like, and who was the villain up until the very end. It was just insane and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I can’t even begin to imagine how Mary’s amazing mind was able to come up with a novel so intricate yet intoxicating.
September 20, 2025
First I’d like to thank Mary for giving me the opportunity to be one of the first to get my hands on her beautiful book! I was amongst those given an ARC to read and review this book.
I went into this expecting to be on edge from the beginning of the book but what I actually got was a slightly more creepy walk down memory lane. The writing was so well that I knew exactly where I was in this story. I could see all the spots at Salem College that I saw many times while I was there. It gave me a bit of nostalgia but also made it slightly harder for me to envision Discordia as somewhere separate and somewhere fictional.
Where Edith saw things in a spookier haze I saw it with rose colored lenses. This made the story read more like a romance for me until it didn’t. In a way I think it made it all the more enjoyable at the end for me because I got such an abrupt switch in pace in the middle of the story.
There were so many weird scattered happenings in the story that I knew I was waiting for the big thing to happen but that feeling of reading a romance didn’t go away until the second half of the story. It went from dark academic romance to stalker romance to full on psychological thriller in my eyes in the middle and toward the end of the story.
You’ll see the characters one way until you don’t.
Bottom line: You may be able to see where things are going, but it’ll likely be as it’s already happening & the things you think you know… you really have no clue.
I had quite a ride with this one. I give it a 4.5 Stars.
I went into this expecting to be on edge from the beginning of the book but what I actually got was a slightly more creepy walk down memory lane. The writing was so well that I knew exactly where I was in this story. I could see all the spots at Salem College that I saw many times while I was there. It gave me a bit of nostalgia but also made it slightly harder for me to envision Discordia as somewhere separate and somewhere fictional.
Where Edith saw things in a spookier haze I saw it with rose colored lenses. This made the story read more like a romance for me until it didn’t. In a way I think it made it all the more enjoyable at the end for me because I got such an abrupt switch in pace in the middle of the story.
There were so many weird scattered happenings in the story that I knew I was waiting for the big thing to happen but that feeling of reading a romance didn’t go away until the second half of the story. It went from dark academic romance to stalker romance to full on psychological thriller in my eyes in the middle and toward the end of the story.
You’ll see the characters one way until you don’t.
Bottom line: You may be able to see where things are going, but it’ll likely be as it’s already happening & the things you think you know… you really have no clue.
I had quite a ride with this one. I give it a 4.5 Stars.
October 4, 2025
ADD THIS TO YOUR SPOOKY SZN TBR!!! 📚
I was captivated by the writing style this read offered! The way that every detail was written in and for the female gaze is just absolutely breathtaking to me. I was imagining everything in such a gothic, spooky tone.
The book flips between two timelines, Before and present day. Edith's POV for the first half of the book. I honestly had no clue where we were going with the plot other than Edith is OBSESSED with Sylvia. But I was along for the ride!
I thought I finally knew where the book was going and then I was still SHOOKETH. THE PLOT TWISTS?? I SCREAMED. Jaw on the floor. Flabbers = gasted. I still have questions that I need answered!!!
I honestly had so much fun reading this one and am happily adding my library sticker to solidify it's spot on my shelf! 🖤🌙🕯
I was captivated by the writing style this read offered! The way that every detail was written in and for the female gaze is just absolutely breathtaking to me. I was imagining everything in such a gothic, spooky tone.
The book flips between two timelines, Before and present day. Edith's POV for the first half of the book. I honestly had no clue where we were going with the plot other than Edith is OBSESSED with Sylvia. But I was along for the ride!
I thought I finally knew where the book was going and then I was still SHOOKETH. THE PLOT TWISTS?? I SCREAMED. Jaw on the floor. Flabbers = gasted. I still have questions that I need answered!!!
I honestly had so much fun reading this one and am happily adding my library sticker to solidify it's spot on my shelf! 🖤🌙🕯
September 20, 2025
Every time I started to think I figured this book out, it took me for another turn. Then another. Then another. I found myself lost in it's character's depth and a profound desire for dim sum and cookout shakes.
A literal thriller with spooky vibes leaving me wanting to deep dive into the lore, explore the buildings that inspired the book. Highly recommended read for this spooky season and beyond.
A literal thriller with spooky vibes leaving me wanting to deep dive into the lore, explore the buildings that inspired the book. Highly recommended read for this spooky season and beyond.
September 14, 2025
This book was so good!!! So many twists and turns I did not see coming! Definitely a fantastic dark academia read with a nuanced element. Love me some good psycho women! Fans of Bunny, If We Were Villains, and Plain Bad Heroines would ADORE this book. Binged it in one day!!!
September 26, 2025
There are so many things to say that it's hard to write them all down. I absolutely loved this book. I actually did not know which way it was going to go, and this is the first book in a long time that I finally didn't see the ending coming as it did. I did not know what to expect other than maybe some dark romance but I did not expect that at all.
The creepiest part for me is the memory lane aspect, as someone who went to Salem College, which the book is based on. I felt like I was back at Salem and feeling the same things I felt while there, such as the cemetery and the flats (even thought I never lived in the Flats but a very close friend did.) I could literally see where the characters were going step by step, and that really creeped me out.
The ending really had me wondering if I even have a favorite character with all the flaws, and notice each character is really different from the others. I will say there is one question that did not get answered for me but I can guess what happened.
I really can't wait for more from Mary as it had me on the edge of my seat!! I really enjoy her writing style and can't wait for what else she has in store for us. I would definitely rate this 5, as I have not found a book that kept me guessing about the entire ending. There were only two things that I guessed and got correct, but even at first, I thought I was wrong until I wasn't. All in all, an amazing spooky read!!
The creepiest part for me is the memory lane aspect, as someone who went to Salem College, which the book is based on. I felt like I was back at Salem and feeling the same things I felt while there, such as the cemetery and the flats (even thought I never lived in the Flats but a very close friend did.) I could literally see where the characters were going step by step, and that really creeped me out.
The ending really had me wondering if I even have a favorite character with all the flaws, and notice each character is really different from the others. I will say there is one question that did not get answered for me but I can guess what happened.
I really can't wait for more from Mary as it had me on the edge of my seat!! I really enjoy her writing style and can't wait for what else she has in store for us. I would definitely rate this 5, as I have not found a book that kept me guessing about the entire ending. There were only two things that I guessed and got correct, but even at first, I thought I was wrong until I wasn't. All in all, an amazing spooky read!!
September 3, 2025
I don’t normally read this genre but WOW!! So many twists and I enjoyed the narration. I was very confused but in a good way that kept me intrigued and wanting to read on.
Since I‘ve never really read this genre I was scared and stressed while reading for the majority of the book 😂
I also really enjoyed Mary’s writing style! I can’t say I didn’t expect part of the ending but the way everything played out was different than I imagined. Definitely a unique plot out with lots of suspense (and can’t forget the blood).
Since I‘ve never really read this genre I was scared and stressed while reading for the majority of the book 😂
I also really enjoyed Mary’s writing style! I can’t say I didn’t expect part of the ending but the way everything played out was different than I imagined. Definitely a unique plot out with lots of suspense (and can’t forget the blood).
August 24, 2025
The perfect spooky fall, thrilling, and mind-bending read.
The tension and relationships between characters is palpable. Vecellio puts readers into the scene with well balanced sensory descriptions.
Dry humor, lust, thrills and horror blended into one seamless book - unpredictable to say the least. If you think you know where it’s heading; YOU DO NOT.
This book makes you truly think about the lengths people will go through and weird situations you’ll put yourself in for lust or love or just to feel like you fit in and belong somewhere or with someone.
The tension and relationships between characters is palpable. Vecellio puts readers into the scene with well balanced sensory descriptions.
Dry humor, lust, thrills and horror blended into one seamless book - unpredictable to say the least. If you think you know where it’s heading; YOU DO NOT.
This book makes you truly think about the lengths people will go through and weird situations you’ll put yourself in for lust or love or just to feel like you fit in and belong somewhere or with someone.
September 18, 2025
Thank you to Mary and the publishing team for the opportunity to receive an ARC copy.
I was absolutely blown away. Just when I thought I had figured out what would happen, I couldn’t have been more wrong - every time. This beautiful book kept me guessing from start to finish and delivered a truly thrilling ride.
What stood out most to me was how the main character unfolds layer by layer as the story progresses. There’s no such thing as a “perfect protagonist” here. Instead, Vecellio invites us to examine each character’s flaws and complexities, and challenges us to rethink them as new truths come to light.
The pacing is spot on, with tension that never lets up. This is easily my favorite read of 2025 so far, and I easily give it six stars.
Dead by Co-Ed deserves a place among the thriller and horror greats for its unique writing style. If you’re searching for the perfect fall read that bends the traditional mold, look no further—this is the one.
I was absolutely blown away. Just when I thought I had figured out what would happen, I couldn’t have been more wrong - every time. This beautiful book kept me guessing from start to finish and delivered a truly thrilling ride.
What stood out most to me was how the main character unfolds layer by layer as the story progresses. There’s no such thing as a “perfect protagonist” here. Instead, Vecellio invites us to examine each character’s flaws and complexities, and challenges us to rethink them as new truths come to light.
The pacing is spot on, with tension that never lets up. This is easily my favorite read of 2025 so far, and I easily give it six stars.
Dead by Co-Ed deserves a place among the thriller and horror greats for its unique writing style. If you’re searching for the perfect fall read that bends the traditional mold, look no further—this is the one.
July 24, 2025
This is such an immersive read. I binged this book in a day!
I felt like I was walking the streets of Dicordia's along with the characters. The dark gothic vibes gave me everything I needed in a horror/thriller.
What stood out most was how unpredictable the story became. The twist wasn’t just surprising—it reshaped everything that came before it.
I’d give this book infinite stars if that were possible. I already plan to reread it, this time with a pen in hand.
I felt like I was walking the streets of Dicordia's along with the characters. The dark gothic vibes gave me everything I needed in a horror/thriller.
What stood out most was how unpredictable the story became. The twist wasn’t just surprising—it reshaped everything that came before it.
I’d give this book infinite stars if that were possible. I already plan to reread it, this time with a pen in hand.
September 19, 2025
Wow, this book was such a ride! Dead Before Co-Ed had me hooked from page one and I couldn’t stop reading. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist came along and totally surprised me. If you like thrillers that keep you guessing, you’ll love this one. So proud of my sister-in-law for writing such a page-turner!
September 22, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book so much ! It's very Gone Girl meets The Secret History. From page one you know something is off and you can't quite figure out what.
I love that the story is centered around women. Getting to explore the dynamics between all of them and slowly unravel the story was so fun.
The pacing felt great. And just when I thought I had these girls figured out, they surprised me again.
I don't want to spoil anything, but just know that as soon as I was done I had to go back and frantically search for clues and easter eggs in the beginning chapters and kept thinking "HOW DID I MISS THIS"
I love that the story is centered around women. Getting to explore the dynamics between all of them and slowly unravel the story was so fun.
The pacing felt great. And just when I thought I had these girls figured out, they surprised me again.
I don't want to spoil anything, but just know that as soon as I was done I had to go back and frantically search for clues and easter eggs in the beginning chapters and kept thinking "HOW DID I MISS THIS"
August 18, 2025
I cannot recommend this book enough. It has so many twists and turns, at no point did I know what was going to happen next, and I tried to guess, I really did. A masterpiece on paper; a book full of edge of your seat situations to the point my seat was nothing but edges. I read the entire thing in one seating, absolutely no regrets. 10/10 please read this book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews