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Gingerbread Bones: An Epic Paranormal Survival Horror Romance
They're being hunted…
When sixteen-year-old Georgie and her troublemaking brother are shipped off to the wilderness for their stepmother’s newest reality show, Georgie is convinced it’ll be the worst experience of her life. Two weeks. No phones. Hiking. Camping. Cameras catching every humiliating second.
Then she meets Mack Gray. Tattooed, unreadable, and―among a cast of kids already branded as trouble―he’s the one she’s sure is dangerous.
One night, the counselors are chanting affirmations around the fire. By morning, they’re gone.
But the kids are not alone.
Georgie can feel it, stalking them from the shadows―watching, waiting, picking them off one by one. Whatever it is, it isn’t just hunting.
It’s playing.
And in this game, there seems to be only one ending: no one gets out alive.
When sixteen-year-old Georgie and her troublemaking brother are shipped off to the wilderness for their stepmother’s newest reality show, Georgie is convinced it’ll be the worst experience of her life. Two weeks. No phones. Hiking. Camping. Cameras catching every humiliating second.
Then she meets Mack Gray. Tattooed, unreadable, and―among a cast of kids already branded as trouble―he’s the one she’s sure is dangerous.
One night, the counselors are chanting affirmations around the fire. By morning, they’re gone.
But the kids are not alone.
Georgie can feel it, stalking them from the shadows―watching, waiting, picking them off one by one. Whatever it is, it isn’t just hunting.
It’s playing.
And in this game, there seems to be only one ending: no one gets out alive.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Lindsay Lovise
7 books299 followersLindsay writes romances with brave heroines and a twist of mystery, as well as thrilling YA books. Although she earned degrees in English and teaching, she always knew she wanted to write stories about fictional worlds.
When she’s not writing, Lindsay is reading, drinking coffee, and avoiding laundry. She lives in Maine, where the winters make for perfect reading weather.
To keep in the know, sign up for Lovise Letters at lindsaylovise.com.
When she’s not writing, Lindsay is reading, drinking coffee, and avoiding laundry. She lives in Maine, where the winters make for perfect reading weather.
To keep in the know, sign up for Lovise Letters at lindsaylovise.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 367 reviews
July 26, 2026
🌟 3.5 stars 🌟
A fun and creepy twist on Hansel and Gretel!
Georgie’s stepmother, a self-proclaimed “parenting expert,” creates a camp for delinquent teens to help reform them. First to participate are Georgie and her older brother, Hamish. But when they get to the camp, people start disappearing and gruesome scenes follow them. All they can do now is try to survive, even when it seems that supernatural forces may be at play.
I enjoyed this YA horror/thriller. It was pretty bingeable and the mystery had me constantly turning the pages. There are grisly and creepy scenes that will definitely keep YA readers engaged. I had no idea there would be Hansel and Gretel vibes in this and was happily surprised with how it was woven into the story.
I really liked that the beginning of each chapter started with a social media post or news article. It was such a fun way to start each chapter. The comments were definitely ones you’d find online!
Now, I will say, the characters are teenagers, so if you’re looking for maturity among them, you won’t really find too much of it. In my experience with teens, their actions seemed pretty believable, especially when considering the life or death situation they’re put in. I only wish we had more time with other side characters so that their deaths hit a little harder. There were so many that I honestly had a hard time recalling who was who.
While I did predict who was behind all of the disappearances, I was surprised at the circumstances that led them there. And I felt that the ultimate villain never really got what was coming to them. They just sort of vanished?? I would’ve liked for there to have some been some sort of more satisfying end to their storyline.
If you’re looking for YA thriller that will keep you engaged, I’d recommend picking this up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for the advanced copy!
A fun and creepy twist on Hansel and Gretel!
Georgie’s stepmother, a self-proclaimed “parenting expert,” creates a camp for delinquent teens to help reform them. First to participate are Georgie and her older brother, Hamish. But when they get to the camp, people start disappearing and gruesome scenes follow them. All they can do now is try to survive, even when it seems that supernatural forces may be at play.
I enjoyed this YA horror/thriller. It was pretty bingeable and the mystery had me constantly turning the pages. There are grisly and creepy scenes that will definitely keep YA readers engaged. I had no idea there would be Hansel and Gretel vibes in this and was happily surprised with how it was woven into the story.
I really liked that the beginning of each chapter started with a social media post or news article. It was such a fun way to start each chapter. The comments were definitely ones you’d find online!
Now, I will say, the characters are teenagers, so if you’re looking for maturity among them, you won’t really find too much of it. In my experience with teens, their actions seemed pretty believable, especially when considering the life or death situation they’re put in. I only wish we had more time with other side characters so that their deaths hit a little harder. There were so many that I honestly had a hard time recalling who was who.
While I did predict who was behind all of the disappearances, I was surprised at the circumstances that led them there. And I felt that the ultimate villain never really got what was coming to them. They just sort of vanished?? I would’ve liked for there to have some been some sort of more satisfying end to their storyline.
If you’re looking for YA thriller that will keep you engaged, I’d recommend picking this up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for the advanced copy!
August 5, 2026
Georgie knows exactly why she and her brother are two of the teenagers selected to take part in a reality TV program that drops a group of "troubled" teenagers in the woods and forces them to learn some survival skills and adapt: Their parenting-influencer stepmother is the one who conceived of the show, and that same stepmother hates them. Georgie figures they can get through a week or two in the Maine woods, and they'll be eighteen and out of the house soon enough...but what she doesn't know is that "learn some survival skills" is about to get really, really literal.
Everyone thinks Ashley is so kind and wholesome, when really she's the razor blade hidden in the Halloween candy. (loc. 139*)
I picked this one up for the woods: I love me an everyone-might-die murder story set in the woods, because who doesn't? (Don't answer that.) What ended up interesting me most, though, is the fact that all of these teenagers have been labelled as "troubled". They've been cast for drama, of course; every one of them has their own backstory and their own problems. Every one of them is also likely to be, in the eyes of the show and the public, a perpetrator rather than a victim. Their voices don't count. No matter what happens.
We are disposable. And I'm afraid [the production company] knows it. (loc. 2362)
The romance didn't (surprise!) interest me much, but I loved how much the characters—well, mostly the teenagers—were allowed to grow throughout the book. Early on, especially, they're all guarded and angry and not happy to be there. And certainly they don't get any happier to be out in the woods; the woods make sure of that. But I've read too many mysteries (written for teenagers and adults alike) in which virtually every character is so perfectly awful that I'm just hoping that their death will come sooner rather than later, and Gingerbread Bones sees that and steers mindfully away from it.
There's a paranormal element, which is not generally my jam; entirely personal preference, but I like it better when the big bads are all things that can happen in real life. Paranormal stories just don't give me that visceral thrill. That said, I did know going in that there was a paranormal element, which helped, and that part of things was done well. There's a twist toward the end that I had half guessed at, but in a shape that I couldn't have known to guess at, which was great. All in all, a speedy read that will be perfect for autumn when the weather cools down a bit.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Everyone thinks Ashley is so kind and wholesome, when really she's the razor blade hidden in the Halloween candy. (loc. 139*)
I picked this one up for the woods: I love me an everyone-might-die murder story set in the woods, because who doesn't? (Don't answer that.) What ended up interesting me most, though, is the fact that all of these teenagers have been labelled as "troubled". They've been cast for drama, of course; every one of them has their own backstory and their own problems. Every one of them is also likely to be, in the eyes of the show and the public, a perpetrator rather than a victim. Their voices don't count. No matter what happens.
We are disposable. And I'm afraid [the production company] knows it. (loc. 2362)
The romance didn't (surprise!) interest me much, but I loved how much the characters—well, mostly the teenagers—were allowed to grow throughout the book. Early on, especially, they're all guarded and angry and not happy to be there. And certainly they don't get any happier to be out in the woods; the woods make sure of that. But I've read too many mysteries (written for teenagers and adults alike) in which virtually every character is so perfectly awful that I'm just hoping that their death will come sooner rather than later, and Gingerbread Bones sees that and steers mindfully away from it.
There's a paranormal element, which is not generally my jam; entirely personal preference, but I like it better when the big bads are all things that can happen in real life. Paranormal stories just don't give me that visceral thrill. That said, I did know going in that there was a paranormal element, which helped, and that part of things was done well. There's a twist toward the end that I had half guessed at, but in a shape that I couldn't have known to guess at, which was great. All in all, a speedy read that will be perfect for autumn when the weather cools down a bit.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4⭐️
Georgie and her brother Hamish are strong-armed into joining a reality show by their influencer step-mom, Ashley. The concept? Troubled teens spending two weeks unplugged in the woods to experience nature and better understand themselves blah blah. Basically these "delinquent" teens are all forced by their guardians to sign up, some just for the money and some out of genuine concern. But things go sideways quickly and the teens need to figure out how to stick together and survive.
This was weird but in a way that really worked? Like a supernatural murder mystery hike through the woods type weird. I like that the stakes were legitimately high from the beginning- these kids were really surviving in the woods while getting picked off and murdered one by one.
I also think LL did a good job in making the characters distinct. They all had their own personalities and faults without being caricatures of themselves or being there simply for plot purposes. Georgie was a great main character-she isn't perfect and she's well aware. She has a solid moral compass throughout the story, always trying to help others in the group even when she hated them. She continually fought for her brother and fellow campers even when she had no idea what was going on or if she would live
I think there also was supposed to be a map? There was a page for it and everything but it wouldn't load in the NG version I read, which was unfortunate
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"I love creepy shit, especially around Halloween, which is only a couple of weeks away now, so why do I keep feeling this scrape along my nerves, as if some dirty, foreboding fingernail is being inexorably drawn up my back?"A dark Hansel and Gretel story set in the creepy woods during a camping trip gone awry? This was a LOT of fun. Very different from what I have read by LL in the past, but I think she did great work here.
Georgie and her brother Hamish are strong-armed into joining a reality show by their influencer step-mom, Ashley. The concept? Troubled teens spending two weeks unplugged in the woods to experience nature and better understand themselves blah blah. Basically these "delinquent" teens are all forced by their guardians to sign up, some just for the money and some out of genuine concern. But things go sideways quickly and the teens need to figure out how to stick together and survive.
This was weird but in a way that really worked? Like a supernatural murder mystery hike through the woods type weird. I like that the stakes were legitimately high from the beginning- these kids were really surviving in the woods while getting picked off and murdered one by one.
I also think LL did a good job in making the characters distinct. They all had their own personalities and faults without being caricatures of themselves or being there simply for plot purposes. Georgie was a great main character-she isn't perfect and she's well aware. She has a solid moral compass throughout the story, always trying to help others in the group even when she hated them. She continually fought for her brother and fellow campers even when she had no idea what was going on or if she would live
I think there also was supposed to be a map? There was a page for it and everything but it wouldn't load in the NG version I read, which was unfortunate
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2026
Gingerbread Bones is a summer camp Hansel and Gretel, thriller/horror retelling
I just loved the whole summer camp vibes, but make it creepy, and a reality show, nowhere near civilization, that "delinquent" teens have "signed up" to rough it in the woods for a couple weeks. I loosely say "signed up" because I feel like their parents forced them to. After a long hike just to get to the location, the teens are in for more surprises than just the lack of facilities.
I really enjoyed the way each chapter has a social media post, or email, that starts to give you just teeny snippets of information about the stepmother who set up the show. FMC Georgie and her brother find themselves in this hellscape that they did not sign up for. After the first night at "camp" things get strange, and then very soon, it seems that all the adults have disappeared. Georgie has been feeling something wrong since she got there.
As Georgie and the group trek through the wilderness to try and find their way back out, or to find sign of where the others escaped to, they soon realize nothing is what it seems on this mountain. There is something sinister, stalking, hunting, and quite literally playing with them.
I could not put this book down, I was so eager to know what exactly was out there taunting the group and also nervous of who might be next!! I feel like each character played a role, the quiet one, the smart gamer, the broody mysterious tattooed guy, the stuck up rich kid, the shy one, the natural leader, and then Georgie, the one who fought back and refused to become a victim. Every chapter in the story brings some kind of new supernatural occurrence for the group, who are starting to believe in this creature not being human.
The reveal at the end is such a shock to Georgie, and the reader, and is such an amazing twist! I loved the Hansel and Gretel retelling vibes, which took me some time to realize, but then it was like oh!! This story has it all, summer camp, reality show, horror and thriller elements, action, angst, and a bit of romance.
Thank you so much to Netgalley's Camp Netgalley campaign, as well as Entangled:Mayhem books and the author for a copy!!
Some fav quotes:
"I never thought pocketing twenties and reselling the vapes I stole from spoiled princesses at my high school would land me on a reality TV show, but here I am."
"You know your stepmother really hates you when she develops a whole-ass television show just to get rid of you."
"Things at the Leider house look pretty from the outside, but so do shiny red apples, even when they’re rotten at the core."
"I usually like the woods in the fall, but today, something about them is giving me the heebie-jeebies."
"I love creepy shit, especially around Halloween, which is only a couple of weeks away now, so why do I keep feeling this scrape along my nerves, as if some dirty, foreboding fingernail is being inexorably drawn up my back?"
"“Why is it so quiet?” I finally whisper. “You noticed that, too,” Mack murmurs. “Where are the birds? The insects? The rustle of leaves? It’s like we’re the only living things out here.”"
"I don’t believe in the supernatural—real life is horrifying enough—but the facts aren’t adding up, and it’s making me uneasy."
"“I guess it felt like I knew your darkness, and that maybe it was time you knew mine. That we could find comfort in knowing we aren’t alone.”"
"I’d almost be okay with dying from natural causes at this point."
I just loved the whole summer camp vibes, but make it creepy, and a reality show, nowhere near civilization, that "delinquent" teens have "signed up" to rough it in the woods for a couple weeks. I loosely say "signed up" because I feel like their parents forced them to. After a long hike just to get to the location, the teens are in for more surprises than just the lack of facilities.
I really enjoyed the way each chapter has a social media post, or email, that starts to give you just teeny snippets of information about the stepmother who set up the show. FMC Georgie and her brother find themselves in this hellscape that they did not sign up for. After the first night at "camp" things get strange, and then very soon, it seems that all the adults have disappeared. Georgie has been feeling something wrong since she got there.
As Georgie and the group trek through the wilderness to try and find their way back out, or to find sign of where the others escaped to, they soon realize nothing is what it seems on this mountain. There is something sinister, stalking, hunting, and quite literally playing with them.
I could not put this book down, I was so eager to know what exactly was out there taunting the group and also nervous of who might be next!! I feel like each character played a role, the quiet one, the smart gamer, the broody mysterious tattooed guy, the stuck up rich kid, the shy one, the natural leader, and then Georgie, the one who fought back and refused to become a victim. Every chapter in the story brings some kind of new supernatural occurrence for the group, who are starting to believe in this creature not being human.
The reveal at the end is such a shock to Georgie, and the reader, and is such an amazing twist! I loved the Hansel and Gretel retelling vibes, which took me some time to realize, but then it was like oh!! This story has it all, summer camp, reality show, horror and thriller elements, action, angst, and a bit of romance.
Thank you so much to Netgalley's Camp Netgalley campaign, as well as Entangled:Mayhem books and the author for a copy!!
Some fav quotes:
"I never thought pocketing twenties and reselling the vapes I stole from spoiled princesses at my high school would land me on a reality TV show, but here I am."
"You know your stepmother really hates you when she develops a whole-ass television show just to get rid of you."
"Things at the Leider house look pretty from the outside, but so do shiny red apples, even when they’re rotten at the core."
"I usually like the woods in the fall, but today, something about them is giving me the heebie-jeebies."
"I love creepy shit, especially around Halloween, which is only a couple of weeks away now, so why do I keep feeling this scrape along my nerves, as if some dirty, foreboding fingernail is being inexorably drawn up my back?"
"“Why is it so quiet?” I finally whisper. “You noticed that, too,” Mack murmurs. “Where are the birds? The insects? The rustle of leaves? It’s like we’re the only living things out here.”"
"I don’t believe in the supernatural—real life is horrifying enough—but the facts aren’t adding up, and it’s making me uneasy."
"“I guess it felt like I knew your darkness, and that maybe it was time you knew mine. That we could find comfort in knowing we aren’t alone.”"
"I’d almost be okay with dying from natural causes at this point."
December 10, 2025
Thank you so much, Entangled, for letting me read an arc of this book. To start, I usually don’t read YA books because I find it hard to relate to young characters in their teens.
In this story, we follow a group of teenagers who are cast on a reality show similar to Survivor, but for delinquent kids. They are tasked with surviving in the woods for 8 days when something goes terribly wrong and they begin getting hunted down by a supernatural force.
What I enjoyed:
The horror aspect of the book was enjoyable. The author did a great job describing the gore and horror. The pacing was good, and I liked some of the characters and their backstories. I’m always down a dark retelling of a fairytale and this story was creative and original.
What I didn’t enjoy:
I found the story to be filled with plot holes. Everything involving the reality TV show was just covered in plot holes because it wasn’t realistic. No TV show would ever leave a group of teens alone in the woods without any means to survive. I wasn’t a big fan of our main character, Georgie. She wasn’t very relatable to me. Also, the twist at the end was kind of dumb and didn’t make much sense.
In this story, we follow a group of teenagers who are cast on a reality show similar to Survivor, but for delinquent kids. They are tasked with surviving in the woods for 8 days when something goes terribly wrong and they begin getting hunted down by a supernatural force.
What I enjoyed:
The horror aspect of the book was enjoyable. The author did a great job describing the gore and horror. The pacing was good, and I liked some of the characters and their backstories. I’m always down a dark retelling of a fairytale and this story was creative and original.
What I didn’t enjoy:
I found the story to be filled with plot holes. Everything involving the reality TV show was just covered in plot holes because it wasn’t realistic. No TV show would ever leave a group of teens alone in the woods without any means to survive. I wasn’t a big fan of our main character, Georgie. She wasn’t very relatable to me. Also, the twist at the end was kind of dumb and didn’t make much sense.
July 26, 2026
I absolutely loved this! It was just what I needed to read right now. Ironically I don’t typically like retellings and I had no idea that this was one until it dawned on me on me on page 50 and boy did it deliver.
Now, would a production company take this type of risk? Well there is a ton of info about the scary teen rehab programs and see the lengths that some networks go for content (Ahem, I’m looking at you TLC) it isn’t too far out there to believe to be honest. So I didn’t let that pull me out of the story.
Speaking of the story, it had me flipping pages so fast as I couldn’t get enough and needed to know what was going to go down. Now for me personally, I foresaw what was to come, twists and all but I don’t actually think it was predictable. It is just my brand of neurospiciness that figures out 95% of thrillers. For me I loved watching how it unfolded.
There are so made good slasher novels coming out right now and this one can easily join the list.
Thank you so much to Mayhem books for the physical ARC of this!
Now, would a production company take this type of risk? Well there is a ton of info about the scary teen rehab programs and see the lengths that some networks go for content (Ahem, I’m looking at you TLC) it isn’t too far out there to believe to be honest. So I didn’t let that pull me out of the story.
Speaking of the story, it had me flipping pages so fast as I couldn’t get enough and needed to know what was going to go down. Now for me personally, I foresaw what was to come, twists and all but I don’t actually think it was predictable. It is just my brand of neurospiciness that figures out 95% of thrillers. For me I loved watching how it unfolded.
There are so made good slasher novels coming out right now and this one can easily join the list.
Thank you so much to Mayhem books for the physical ARC of this!
August 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of Gingerbread Bones! I picked this one up as one of my #CampNetGalley selections, and honestly, I had a lot more fun with it than I expected.
This is a dark, horror-leaning retelling of Hansel and Gretel, following a group of troubled teens who are sent away to film a reality-style wilderness survival show. Of course, things quickly start going sideways, and what begins as a group of teenagers trying to survive the woods turns into something much more sinister.
For a YA book, I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I went in expecting something a little more straightforward, but the supernatural elements and creepy moments added a fun twist. I also really liked seeing the teens forced to work together despite their different personalities and baggage. There was a nice found-family element underneath all the horror and chaos, and I found myself actually caring about what happened to them.
It’s definitely still YA…so yes, there are some annoying teenagers making questionable decisions 😂..but overall, this was an entertaining and surprisingly creepy read. If you like horror retellings, paranormal twists, and a modern take on classic fairy tales, this one is worth checking out.
This is a dark, horror-leaning retelling of Hansel and Gretel, following a group of troubled teens who are sent away to film a reality-style wilderness survival show. Of course, things quickly start going sideways, and what begins as a group of teenagers trying to survive the woods turns into something much more sinister.
For a YA book, I was actually pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I went in expecting something a little more straightforward, but the supernatural elements and creepy moments added a fun twist. I also really liked seeing the teens forced to work together despite their different personalities and baggage. There was a nice found-family element underneath all the horror and chaos, and I found myself actually caring about what happened to them.
It’s definitely still YA…so yes, there are some annoying teenagers making questionable decisions 😂..but overall, this was an entertaining and surprisingly creepy read. If you like horror retellings, paranormal twists, and a modern take on classic fairy tales, this one is worth checking out.
August 3, 2026
Georgie and her brother Hamish expect the next two weeks to be miserable when their stepmother sends them to join her new wilderness show. Forged in the Forest is a reality series designed to teach troubled teens about teamwork and survival. But soon, the adult counselors vanish, and the group is separated. As the teens try to find their way out of the woods, they start to suspect that something dangerous is hunting them.
Gingerbread Bones is a Hansel and Gretel retelling that is filled with suspense and flawed characters. I loved the pacing of this book and the creepy atmosphere of the woods. There is so much to uncover in this story. The emails, social media posts, and diary entries at the beginning of each chapter start to reveal some of the mysteries of the show, while the teens start to uncover clues about what or who is hunting them. Suspense seems to build throughout the story, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
If you want a YA thriller with a supernatural twist, I definitely recommend Gingerbread Bones.
Gingerbread Bones is out August 4th.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to review Gingerbread Bones. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Gingerbread Bones is a Hansel and Gretel retelling that is filled with suspense and flawed characters. I loved the pacing of this book and the creepy atmosphere of the woods. There is so much to uncover in this story. The emails, social media posts, and diary entries at the beginning of each chapter start to reveal some of the mysteries of the show, while the teens start to uncover clues about what or who is hunting them. Suspense seems to build throughout the story, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
If you want a YA thriller with a supernatural twist, I definitely recommend Gingerbread Bones.
Gingerbread Bones is out August 4th.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to review Gingerbread Bones. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 21, 2026
I think this one kind of missed for me overall. The story felt like it had too much going on and random plot points that just kind of make it what it’s labeled (a romance/horror/thriller). I felt like there was a lot going on with the plot, and at the end of the day the twist was a bit random and sort of predictable. Truly I hung on just to see how it would play out.
Although it felt like a lot to get through to get to this point, I did enjoy the character development between the main characters at the end. One other thing I appreciated about this book was the horror elements, which was a bit more gruesome than I thought it would be.
You might enjoy this book if:
- You’re looking for a story that’s like the show Survivor, but the contestants are troubled teenagers are mean to each other
- You’re looking for messy drama
- You’re looking for some gross horror that’s not too over the top
- You need a good mystery
You may not like this story if:
- You don’t like annoying characters that spend half the book fighting with each other
- You don’t like corny dialogue
- You don’t enjoy reading gore
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for this ARC!
Although it felt like a lot to get through to get to this point, I did enjoy the character development between the main characters at the end. One other thing I appreciated about this book was the horror elements, which was a bit more gruesome than I thought it would be.
You might enjoy this book if:
- You’re looking for a story that’s like the show Survivor, but the contestants are troubled teenagers are mean to each other
- You’re looking for messy drama
- You’re looking for some gross horror that’s not too over the top
- You need a good mystery
You may not like this story if:
- You don’t like annoying characters that spend half the book fighting with each other
- You don’t like corny dialogue
- You don’t enjoy reading gore
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for this ARC!
July 25, 2026
Thank you to Camp NetGalley and the publisher for letting me pick this ARC to read early in exchange for an honest review!
I am obsessed with this book. It is up there for being one of my favorites of the year!
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! I flew through this book, I couldn’t put it down. There was so much action right from the start. From the first couple of pages I could tell this would be a special book! I instantly connected with Georgie, then I slowly started to connect with everyone else. Her way of thinking and speaking was so cool to me.
They need to make this into a movie. I’m serious. I think it would be perfect on screen. It felt like I was there in the most terrifying way. The setting was so alive and vivid. I could picture everything that was happening. All the characters were so real and easy to root for.
I sympathize with pretty much all of them, even if they weren’t great people. That just shows how good of a writer the author is. Even if some of them weren’t helpful or were rude, you still couldn’t help but root for them or feel bad when something bad happened.
I loved Georgie and Hamish’s sibling bond. I love to see that in novels, and the fact that it was throughout the whole entire book was amazing. I am very close with my brother and I would act the same way they did with each other, so it was nice to read about that.
I loved Paxton even though he kind of the worst throughout and not a good person. He was making me laugh the entire time. I couldn’t help it. His banter with the other characters and his one liners, even if they weren’t always the nicest, were a much needed comic relief. What happened with him at the end was satisfying for me.
Mack was great too. I loved how mysterious he was, but also caring. I loved his relationship with Georgie. It progressed very naturally. It was believable. I felt the chemistry.
Madison was the best. She was so cool, calm and collected. So smart! Without her and Ava, they wouldn’t have made it very far!
I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance that was pushed with Ava, it seemed a little forced, but it didn’t affect the story that much.
The rest of the characters I sympathized with, but they didn’t really stand out. Which is fine.
I guessed one plot point, but that didn’t take away from the novel at all!
Even though I believe this is classified as Young Adult, I would be very cautious of younger people reading this! There are trigger warnings in the beginning, so you kind of know what you are getting yourself into. Even still, seeing what is going to happen and reading it actually happen are two very different things! This was a pretty intense novel, not only with the grossness, but also with the heavy topics it discussed. Which those things can be important for younger people to read, but just because the characters are teenagers, doesn’t mean it is a Young Adult book.
All the same, I ate this up! No pun intended. I loved every second of it.
This will be a perfect Halloween read! I was pretty spooked for a lot of it. But honestly I would say to read it any time of year. It is that good.
It even left a little room in my opinion to maybe have a sequel down the line! Not even with just our characters from this book, but it opens the world up to more. I wouldn’t mind seeing our characters again, hopefully in a happier setting!
I am obsessed with this book. It is up there for being one of my favorites of the year!
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! I flew through this book, I couldn’t put it down. There was so much action right from the start. From the first couple of pages I could tell this would be a special book! I instantly connected with Georgie, then I slowly started to connect with everyone else. Her way of thinking and speaking was so cool to me.
They need to make this into a movie. I’m serious. I think it would be perfect on screen. It felt like I was there in the most terrifying way. The setting was so alive and vivid. I could picture everything that was happening. All the characters were so real and easy to root for.
I sympathize with pretty much all of them, even if they weren’t great people. That just shows how good of a writer the author is. Even if some of them weren’t helpful or were rude, you still couldn’t help but root for them or feel bad when something bad happened.
I loved Georgie and Hamish’s sibling bond. I love to see that in novels, and the fact that it was throughout the whole entire book was amazing. I am very close with my brother and I would act the same way they did with each other, so it was nice to read about that.
I loved Paxton even though he kind of the worst throughout and not a good person. He was making me laugh the entire time. I couldn’t help it. His banter with the other characters and his one liners, even if they weren’t always the nicest, were a much needed comic relief. What happened with him at the end was satisfying for me.
Mack was great too. I loved how mysterious he was, but also caring. I loved his relationship with Georgie. It progressed very naturally. It was believable. I felt the chemistry.
Madison was the best. She was so cool, calm and collected. So smart! Without her and Ava, they wouldn’t have made it very far!
I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance that was pushed with Ava, it seemed a little forced, but it didn’t affect the story that much.
The rest of the characters I sympathized with, but they didn’t really stand out. Which is fine.
I guessed one plot point, but that didn’t take away from the novel at all!
Even though I believe this is classified as Young Adult, I would be very cautious of younger people reading this! There are trigger warnings in the beginning, so you kind of know what you are getting yourself into. Even still, seeing what is going to happen and reading it actually happen are two very different things! This was a pretty intense novel, not only with the grossness, but also with the heavy topics it discussed. Which those things can be important for younger people to read, but just because the characters are teenagers, doesn’t mean it is a Young Adult book.
All the same, I ate this up! No pun intended. I loved every second of it.
This will be a perfect Halloween read! I was pretty spooked for a lot of it. But honestly I would say to read it any time of year. It is that good.
It even left a little room in my opinion to maybe have a sequel down the line! Not even with just our characters from this book, but it opens the world up to more. I wouldn’t mind seeing our characters again, hopefully in a happier setting!
August 4, 2026
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I requested this book on a whim, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It really was a wild, and honestly scary ride. The characters were well developed, and I appreicated that they felt like more than just sterotypes of troubled kids. The plot was well developed, and I liked how influencer culuture, and the troubled teen industry were intergrated into the story. I liked the romance, and how it intergrated into the story. It felt natural to the characters, and the situation they were in. It was a part of the story, but it never overshadowed the danger or the horror of the story. The ending felt satisfying, and fit the story well. I really enjoyed the epilogue, and appriecated that it wasn't anything too over the top. It was very satisfying without being sacherine.
I requested this book on a whim, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It really was a wild, and honestly scary ride. The characters were well developed, and I appreicated that they felt like more than just sterotypes of troubled kids. The plot was well developed, and I liked how influencer culuture, and the troubled teen industry were intergrated into the story. I liked the romance, and how it intergrated into the story. It felt natural to the characters, and the situation they were in. It was a part of the story, but it never overshadowed the danger or the horror of the story. The ending felt satisfying, and fit the story well. I really enjoyed the epilogue, and appriecated that it wasn't anything too over the top. It was very satisfying without being sacherine.
July 27, 2026
In Gingerbread Bones, siblings Georgie and Hamish are forced by their “influencer” stepmother to participate in a reality tv show aimed at reforming troubled teens. Two weeks without their cell phones, (and video cameras capturing their every move), sounds like hell to Georgie, Hamish, and the other teenagers forced to go on this journey. Things go from infuriating to terrifying when they are actively hunted by something lurking in the shadows that treats survival as a twisted game. Even the adults left in charge aren’t sure what to do...
Author Lindsay Lovise brings a tense, eerie atmosphere to the woods, but gives us a little room to breathe with the romantic subplot running throughout. The inclusion of multimedia snippets at the start of the chapters gives the story an interesting and modern flair also.
Gingerbread Bones is a fun, eerie, and ridiculously entertaining spin on traditional slasher and fairy-tale tropes. While it leans a bit more into fun popcorn-thriller territory than pure, paralyzing horror, it’s a great read for fans of dark folklore, reality TV drama, and wilderness survival thrillers.
(I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
Author Lindsay Lovise brings a tense, eerie atmosphere to the woods, but gives us a little room to breathe with the romantic subplot running throughout. The inclusion of multimedia snippets at the start of the chapters gives the story an interesting and modern flair also.
Gingerbread Bones is a fun, eerie, and ridiculously entertaining spin on traditional slasher and fairy-tale tropes. While it leans a bit more into fun popcorn-thriller territory than pure, paralyzing horror, it’s a great read for fans of dark folklore, reality TV drama, and wilderness survival thrillers.
(I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
August 6, 2026
Interesting!! This book is a YA modern day Blair Witch Project x Hunger Games x Hansel & Gretel retelling. You have a social media influencer stepmom posting parenting tips while simultaneously coming up with a TV show idea & shipping her step kids off to be in a reality TV survivalist show where a group of ~troubled~ teens must survive in the forests of northern Maine for a week at an old, haunted sleep away camp. After waking up the first morning to find the cameraman & only adults missing, the kids decide to go off in the woods to try and find him & are met with something evil lurking in the forest. Thus the cat & mouse game of Hansel and Gretel begins.
Thanks camp NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks camp NetGalley for the ARC
July 31, 2026
3.5⭐️
August 11, 2026
Gingerbread Bones by Lindsey Leveez, Georgie and Hamish brother and sister are being sent to a wilderness retreat call Forged In The Forest and it will be streamed on live TV a show that was co-created by their evil stepmother Ashley. ever since their mom ran away six years ago Ashley has slowly but surely wormed away into the family and is now married to the dad and has even given birth to her own daughter named Bell she is a child and family expert so when she brings the idea up to send them to this camp, the dad agrees. Unfortunately they’re not the only ones who’s going to be left in the main woods to survive on their own there’s going to be a 24 year-old youth expert Macy, a wildlife survivor expert Rick, 2 cameramen and 12 teenagers but the main one you need to know is Ava Ali Madison Paxton Mac Georgie and Hamish. There are a few others that stand out with these are the main important ones now the first night they go to bed after listening to camp songs and wake up to find all the adults are gone except for one cameraman. They don’t know what to do but that isn’t the weirdest thing they soon find body parts that absolutely belong to some of their fellow campers. Georgie due to being persecuted by their evil stepmother never giving the money and having to survive and then for their self has caused her to not trust anyone except her brother Hamish between her bad dreams the smell of gingerbread and something else the teens are not expecting to find in the main woods this is going to be along treck out and they’ll have to fight at every turn to get out alive. because something is hunting them down one by one and it is nothing they’ve ever seen before. leaving Candy for starving teenagers isn’t as nice a gesture when they learn it pertains poison with a twist and a clue that aims to get one of them in her clutches. As for Georgie, Hamish and the other survivors they all play a role and try to stay strong but is it enough to make it out. I know well I know you don’t I keep adding more and more stuff to this review because there’s so much to this book and this is a wow OMG I can’t believe that type book this book was awesome and really well done. I forgot to mention this book is also creepy as F the things in the book I cannot mention as it would be a spoiler but just know there are lots of twists and turns and I found it all so interesting. Even though this book is on the longer side I still truly enjoyed it and absolutely recommended. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
August 10, 2026
Y.A. horror has been ramping up a lot in the past year or so and I am so here for it.
Gingerbread Bones is a gory survival-horror that puts it's teen characters through the wringer, and I enjoyed every minute of it. There were a lot of elements throughout the novel that were executed really well, including:
• The sibling dynamic between Georgie and Hamish. I truly believed these two were ride-or-die for each other, and it really added to the character development of both characters as well as adding to the fairytale Hansel and Gretel vibes.
• Tortured characters with well earned backstories. The synopsis tells you that each of the teens selected to participate in the survival show are delinquents, but I thought each character (from the main group at least) had not only interesting habits tied into their backstories but actual traumas and reasonings for why they were acting as they did. Mack was definitely the standout and his backstory reveal was worth sticking around for.
• The gore was great! So many misplaced limbs and creepy bloody moments. Y.A. horror embracing the gore is one of my favourite new developments in the Y.A. genre. More blood!
This was the kind of book where I found an excuse to get some reading time in, it was definitely a 'just one more chapter' kind of read. In saying that, I did dock 1 star due to a couple of plot points that bothered me:
• It took the main characters way too long to clock that they were in a Hansel and Gretel story (literally until the book hit the 80% mark). The constant pieces of candy left everywhere by the unseen evil chasing them, the gingerbread smelling breath, a brother and sister duo with names starting with H & G who are descendants of German woodcutters and have an evil stepmother who set up this entire survivalist show to dump them in the woods. Hello? Guys, ya'll are not the brightest.
• Most of the deaths occured off page, and while this is not a problem in itself I think the stakes needed to be higher and more of the main group needed to go to really sell how horrific this story is.
• The main twist was good, I worked out some of it but not all. But the lack of resolution involving one of the main bad characters was really frustrating, and is the main reason I've dropped a star from my rating. The lack of resolution with this character made Gingerbread Bones feel incomplete. If this gets changed from a standalone to a series because of this one plot point I will not be surprised.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
Gingerbread Bones is a gory survival-horror that puts it's teen characters through the wringer, and I enjoyed every minute of it. There were a lot of elements throughout the novel that were executed really well, including:
• The sibling dynamic between Georgie and Hamish. I truly believed these two were ride-or-die for each other, and it really added to the character development of both characters as well as adding to the fairytale Hansel and Gretel vibes.
• Tortured characters with well earned backstories. The synopsis tells you that each of the teens selected to participate in the survival show are delinquents, but I thought each character (from the main group at least) had not only interesting habits tied into their backstories but actual traumas and reasonings for why they were acting as they did. Mack was definitely the standout and his backstory reveal was worth sticking around for.
• The gore was great! So many misplaced limbs and creepy bloody moments. Y.A. horror embracing the gore is one of my favourite new developments in the Y.A. genre. More blood!
This was the kind of book where I found an excuse to get some reading time in, it was definitely a 'just one more chapter' kind of read. In saying that, I did dock 1 star due to a couple of plot points that bothered me:
• It took the main characters way too long to clock that they were in a Hansel and Gretel story (literally until the book hit the 80% mark). The constant pieces of candy left everywhere by the unseen evil chasing them, the gingerbread smelling breath, a brother and sister duo with names starting with H & G who are descendants of German woodcutters and have an evil stepmother who set up this entire survivalist show to dump them in the woods. Hello? Guys, ya'll are not the brightest.
• Most of the deaths occured off page, and while this is not a problem in itself I think the stakes needed to be higher and more of the main group needed to go to really sell how horrific this story is.
• The main twist was good, I worked out some of it but not all. But the lack of resolution involving one of the main bad characters was really frustrating, and is the main reason I've dropped a star from my rating. The lack of resolution with this character made Gingerbread Bones feel incomplete. If this gets changed from a standalone to a series because of this one plot point I will not be surprised.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
July 22, 2026
•°. ❝ I'd thought the show was the worst thing that could happen to me, but life said ‘Hold my beer’ and set out to prove me wrong. ❞ *࿐
✎ᝰ. ★★★★ stars
✎ᝰ. 1/5 spice level (YA novel)
✎ᝰ. tropes:
𝜗𝜚 paranormal romance
𝜗𝜚 fairytale retelling (Hansel and Gretel)
𝜗𝜚 survival reality show
𝜗𝜚 found family
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ✉︎ ꒱ ˎˊ˗
First of all, I would like to thank Entangled Teen and NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. Gingerbread Bones comes out on August 04th, 2026!
This was a fantastic retelling of the classic Hansel and Gretel fairytale. I truly loved the way the author, Lindsay Lovise, incorporated the classic plot points into a modern-day setting, especially how she made social media such an integral part of the story in a way that felt natural and seamless.
I’m usually not a big fan of thrillers, but this book had me rethinking that opinion. I really enjoyed the mystery that surrounded the entire story, and the plot twist and final revelation were incredibly well done and, in my opinion, completely unpredictable. The paranormal elements of the novel felt cohesive and intriguing, and they were executed exceptionally well throughout the story.
As for the romance, I found myself more invested in the secondary couple than in the main characters, which made it a little harder for me to root for the central relationship. Although that affected my enjoyment slightly, the romance was a secondary aspect of the story, so I was still fully invested and thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Overall, I would recommend Gingerbread Bones to readers who enjoy paranormal romance, horror, YA novels with a touch of spice, and the found family trope.
•°. ❝ Maybe we're all looking at distorted reflections. If there's one thing I've learned over the past few days, it's that if you peel back enough of a person's layers, you almost always find a little good. ❞ *࿐
✎ᝰ. trigger warnings (possible spoilers): discussions of suicide, murder, sex, and mental health, along with depictions of violence, blood, cannibalism, hunting for survival, and cutting.
July 18, 2026
This was an entertaining read that was not only horrific at times, but also had some great moments in the ‘found family’ sphere.
To start, I’d love to give my take on one of things that some others have pointed out when it comes to the idea that ‘no production team would leave underaged teens with just a few adults and scant supplies in the wilderness, even for the sake of television’, but in all fairness, I don’t think there’d have been very many adults advocating for this group, since they’re all supposed to be troubled behaviorally, or criminally, and thus appear to “need something drastic to knock some sense/maturity into them”. And let’s not forget that either they or their parents signed their consent and were being paid for their time and appearance on the show, so the studio did make sure to have all their ducks in a row…even if all of it was at the expense of these teens. 🤷🏻♀️
Now I’ll get off my soapbox and move on to other things, like the horror aspect of this book. I’m a sucker for a good, creepy tale, and that’s what initially drew me to this book. I originally thought this was going to be more of a slasher-style thriller and completely ignored the ‘paranormal’ tag, so imagine my surprise when I come across a scene that has some very supernatural things happen to the teens?? It definitely drew me deeper into the story, and I was able to read the book all the way to the end from there.
Another thing I appreciated was the ‘found family’ aspect of this book and seeing these teens working together, some more begrudgingly than others, to make it out of these insane conditions alive. The characters were all interesting in their various ways, and I really appreciated how fleshed out their stories were, enough so that I could feel real empathy towards them and the things that ultimately lead to them ending up in this place. 🥹
Anyway, I’ll go ahead conclude this review by saying again how much I enjoyed this read and recommend it if you’re a fan of paranormal horror, but do keep in mind that this YA, so annoying teens exist, and though this does seem to lean more towards upper YA, it’ll still read as such.
Thank you to Entangled: Mayhem Books via Netgalley for giving me this copy in exchange for an honest review.
To start, I’d love to give my take on one of things that some others have pointed out when it comes to the idea that ‘no production team would leave underaged teens with just a few adults and scant supplies in the wilderness, even for the sake of television’, but in all fairness, I don’t think there’d have been very many adults advocating for this group, since they’re all supposed to be troubled behaviorally, or criminally, and thus appear to “need something drastic to knock some sense/maturity into them”. And let’s not forget that either they or their parents signed their consent and were being paid for their time and appearance on the show, so the studio did make sure to have all their ducks in a row…even if all of it was at the expense of these teens. 🤷🏻♀️
Now I’ll get off my soapbox and move on to other things, like the horror aspect of this book. I’m a sucker for a good, creepy tale, and that’s what initially drew me to this book. I originally thought this was going to be more of a slasher-style thriller and completely ignored the ‘paranormal’ tag, so imagine my surprise when I come across a scene that has some very supernatural things happen to the teens?? It definitely drew me deeper into the story, and I was able to read the book all the way to the end from there.
Another thing I appreciated was the ‘found family’ aspect of this book and seeing these teens working together, some more begrudgingly than others, to make it out of these insane conditions alive. The characters were all interesting in their various ways, and I really appreciated how fleshed out their stories were, enough so that I could feel real empathy towards them and the things that ultimately lead to them ending up in this place. 🥹
Anyway, I’ll go ahead conclude this review by saying again how much I enjoyed this read and recommend it if you’re a fan of paranormal horror, but do keep in mind that this YA, so annoying teens exist, and though this does seem to lean more towards upper YA, it’ll still read as such.
Thank you to Entangled: Mayhem Books via Netgalley for giving me this copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2026
In Gingerbread Bones we have two siblings, Gorgie and her brother Hamish are basically sent to a camp for teens that are deliqnuents. They are told to get to this camp they are going to actually have to walk there... But when they do and the others the adulst all go missing and now they have to survive because people are dying.
I liked the reality tv show aspect and the comments we see from social media a att he beginning of each chapter I always looked forward to those parts. I think the pacing was pretty even and it kept the flow really consistent. I overall liked most of the characters. I wish I would have had an audio for this one as I think it while it was consistent pacing and this due to work I did have to start and stop a lot and I would have been able to get through it it a more timely manner if I did. I also think it may have been more impactful for me if I did as well. Overall I think it is a solid 3.5 but I will round it up.
Thank you to entangled for the compimetnary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I liked the reality tv show aspect and the comments we see from social media a att he beginning of each chapter I always looked forward to those parts. I think the pacing was pretty even and it kept the flow really consistent. I overall liked most of the characters. I wish I would have had an audio for this one as I think it while it was consistent pacing and this due to work I did have to start and stop a lot and I would have been able to get through it it a more timely manner if I did. I also think it may have been more impactful for me if I did as well. Overall I think it is a solid 3.5 but I will round it up.
Thank you to entangled for the compimetnary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 5, 2026
Thank you to the author, Entangled Teen, and NetGalley.
I’d give this a 3.5 if I could add a half star but no I don’t think it should be rounded to 4.
“A whimper comes from the forest, the agony of it tearing straight through my chest, and then a human trips onto the riverbank.”
Vibes: Blair Witch Project meets Hansel & Gretel
I thought I’d try a different genre with the Camp NetGalley challenge and while i’m glad I read it, I’ve decided my gore and horror days are long past. Blame age or motherhood but I’m good without slasher stories about teens.
Tropes:
Troubled Teens
Reality Show
Fairytale Retelling
Paranormal
Horror/Gore
Wilderness Survival
I’d give this a 3.5 if I could add a half star but no I don’t think it should be rounded to 4.
“A whimper comes from the forest, the agony of it tearing straight through my chest, and then a human trips onto the riverbank.”
Vibes: Blair Witch Project meets Hansel & Gretel
I thought I’d try a different genre with the Camp NetGalley challenge and while i’m glad I read it, I’ve decided my gore and horror days are long past. Blame age or motherhood but I’m good without slasher stories about teens.
Tropes:
Troubled Teens
Reality Show
Fairytale Retelling
Paranormal
Horror/Gore
Wilderness Survival
August 11, 2026
✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
Georgie and her brother star in a reality show following troubled youth in a wilderness camp. But as people start vanishing without a trace, their two week commitment turns into a fight for survival.
Tropes:
🏕️Wilderness camp
🎥Reality TV show
🫂Forced proximity
🍪Hansel and Gretel vibes
🧟♀️Horror elements
✨YA paranormal thriller romance
This gripping tale gave me all the Survivor meets Hansel and Gretel vibes. The author intricately explores these characters and their painful pasts as they face unknown dangers, gruesome events, and find love in unexpected places.
Gingerbread Bones excels in its depth of characters, sense of foreboding, and wicked twists! Seamlessly blending horror and fairytale elements, this is perfect for readers looking for a fresh take on YA thriller romance!
Huge thanks for the author and Entangled Teen for the review copies. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Georgie and her brother star in a reality show following troubled youth in a wilderness camp. But as people start vanishing without a trace, their two week commitment turns into a fight for survival.
Tropes:
🏕️Wilderness camp
🎥Reality TV show
🫂Forced proximity
🍪Hansel and Gretel vibes
🧟♀️Horror elements
✨YA paranormal thriller romance
This gripping tale gave me all the Survivor meets Hansel and Gretel vibes. The author intricately explores these characters and their painful pasts as they face unknown dangers, gruesome events, and find love in unexpected places.
Gingerbread Bones excels in its depth of characters, sense of foreboding, and wicked twists! Seamlessly blending horror and fairytale elements, this is perfect for readers looking for a fresh take on YA thriller romance!
Huge thanks for the author and Entangled Teen for the review copies. This is my honest and voluntary review.
July 19, 2026
A fairytale retelling done exceptionally well, and don’t let the YA fool you! I am no stranger to horror novels, but this is the first one to make bile climb up my throat (a GOOD thing!). I especially loved all the character development, the YEARNING, and the found family trope.
Each chapter begins with some sort of social media post which creates its own story within the main story. It was such a unique and interesting way to intertwine the villain’s origin story.
Lindsay knocked it out of the park!!!
Each chapter begins with some sort of social media post which creates its own story within the main story. It was such a unique and interesting way to intertwine the villain’s origin story.
Lindsay knocked it out of the park!!!
July 28, 2026
Love all types of fairytale retellings. This is one of the most interesting and sinister ones that I have read. This kept me on the edge of my seat and enjoyed the wicked horror. This is a dark YA retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Story of a wicked stepmother, a missing bio mom, murder, survival, evil and wicked witch. Big reveals and strong character development.
Georgie and her brother Hamish have always had each other’s back. Even more so since their evil stepmother, who is a parenting influencer, has put their lives in danger, all in the name of a reality TV show about rehabilitating teens in the Maine wilderness. Georgie and Hamish alongside 9 other “troubled teens” traverse through the woods and end up at some dilapidated old camp with a sinister past. Their guides disappear first. Then some of the teens and a cameraman separate to go back. Everything just gets darker from there. The remaining characters are left 🩸bloody and 🍭sweet clues by a creature who wants to play a game. If you smell burnt gingerbread, then you better run.
Thank you to the author, Entangled: Mayhem Books and Netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Georgie and her brother Hamish have always had each other’s back. Even more so since their evil stepmother, who is a parenting influencer, has put their lives in danger, all in the name of a reality TV show about rehabilitating teens in the Maine wilderness. Georgie and Hamish alongside 9 other “troubled teens” traverse through the woods and end up at some dilapidated old camp with a sinister past. Their guides disappear first. Then some of the teens and a cameraman separate to go back. Everything just gets darker from there. The remaining characters are left 🩸bloody and 🍭sweet clues by a creature who wants to play a game. If you smell burnt gingerbread, then you better run.
Thank you to the author, Entangled: Mayhem Books and Netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2026
I shift uncomfortably in the hard, wooden chair as four cameras are facing at me in different directions - each one blinking with a red light indicating that they are turned on and currently filming every movement that I make.
"Let's try this again…. Sasha, tell us why you are here."
I move my eyes over to the woman sitting a few feet away who seems to be holding a large card with black writing that says in bold capital letters, "I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ANGER MANAGEMENT WHICH GETS ME IN TROUBLE WITH ADULTS AND AUTHORITY."
This, of course, is not true as I don't really have an issue with my "anger". In fact, what I might have is a "short fuse" where I bluntly tell people what I'm feeling and what I think of them…and that just so happens to be at times with those who are older than me and occasionally the authoritative figure. That doesn't make me have an "anger management" concern though. They just can't handle the truth and would prefer to live with rose colored glasses at the world as they live out their boring life day by day.
Looking back at the cameras, I state, "I don't know, why don't you tell me?"
The woman shakes her head and frustratedly pulls the card down. She breathes in a deep breath and asks, "Okay, let's try this a different way….why do you "think" you are here?"
I look back at her with a smirk. This is exactly where I want her - frustrated and hopeless….a trait I've come to be very familiar with in my prey to help me in getting what I want and where I want to be. I've tried being nice in this world and you know that saying "nice guys finish last"? That's the damn truth…because being nice has never gotten me anywhere. POWER is what you want to have and FEARED is what you want to be.
If anything, those cards should really say, "I STRATIGIZE EVERY MOVEMENT I MAKE NO MATTER HOW LITTLE OR LARGE WHICH MAKES SOME BIG CORPORATIONS VERY ANGRY WHEN LOSING MONEY."
Let me start off by saying that I originally was skeptical on whether this was going to be the right book for me. If you've seen my reads throughout this year, most of my books are HEAVILY romance focused; so if a book didn't have a primarily romance focused plot, I'd skip over it immediately. Thus, when looking at the premise of Gingerbread Bones by Lindsay Lovise, I can see how this would have probably been skipped over initially from my usually preference in books…..
Our MCs Georgie, the five finger discount thief, and her brother Hamish, the fist fighting machine, have been shipped off to the wilderness in Maine, where they are going to participate in a reality show along with several other troubled teens that their own stepmother is the creator and producer of. For two weeks, Georgie, Hamish, and the other teens will be hiking, camping, bonding, and surviving on their own, while a camera crew follows them every step of the way. All of the teens are, let's say, "more than thrilled" to be in the situation they are; especially with no phones and having counselors that are edging the teens to create drama and sometimes outbursts that they feel are going to make great reality television. What the crew and teens are not aware of is having all of the counselors disappear within the night, leaving the teens on their own to figure out what went wrong and, how to stay together to get themselves out of the current situation they are in. While thinking they are alone in their own "Naked and Afraid" situation, or should we say "Wet Clothed And Afraid" since it's been raining the entire time they have been here, there is something out in the woods watching them and hunting them. In fact, our FMC Georgie has been feeling something off since she's stepped foot in their main camp and it isn't until a severed hand which looks a lot like one of their counselor's is found, that they all really take in that there is, in fact, someone truly out there. The question now is…who (or what) is out there and which one of them is going to be next?
Sounds interesting, right?
As with most thriller/horror books, I always think they sound amazing, but never really pick them up because I know myself and my interests - romance is a huge part of what I love to read. But I kept telling myself that something I wanted to do in 2027 for my reading goals was to try out different genres of books to see if there is something outside of the "romance focused" stories that I might actually find I loved. Thus, this is how I ended up getting Gingerbread Bones in my hands and able to read as an ARC from NetGalley as I wanted to try out something a little bit different than my normal reads I usually go for.
Let me tell you though….I was NOT expecting to LOVE this as much as I did. In fact, this was a solid FIVE STAR for me and could NOT put this down. The main concern of having "limited romance"? Gone. Concerned I was not going to be interested enough without a "bickering enemies to lovers" dynamic? Out the window. In fact, this book kept me on the edge of my seat at all times in anticipation of seeing what happens next. I mean, is this what all of these books are like? If so, sign me up because that was one hell of a ride that I cannot wait to get back on!
Before I go into a little bit more on what I loved about the book, let me explain a little about the tropes you will find in this fantastic read:
👈Hidden Identity
👈Paranormal x Supernatural
👈Dark Fairytale Retelling
👈Forced Proximity
👈Found Family
👈Survival Horror/Slasher
I really enjoyed the pacing of this story; especially how we find out why each of the teens are actually on the show or the social media posting/emails that are shown at the beginning of each chapter in how the story was unfolded both before & during the teen's survival outside the wilderness. It felt like finding little puzzle pieces that you were able to connect and was fun to find out information this way. I member saying in a previous review not so long ago that slow pacing is usually not for me with reading - "slow burn romance" is okay but "slow burn plot" is a different story. Mix this in with being Young Adult (YA), this can sometimes cause books to feel as though they are dragging on without progressing to keep, at least my mind, interested. In this case, I actually retract that back with this book - this is exactly how you do slow, but efficient, pacing in just the right way.
I had also enjoyed that this book ended up being a "retelling". While the title of the book did say "Gingerbread" and our MCs were named "Hamish" and "Georgie", it didn't connect until those little gumdrops were found that this was actually a retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Don’t let this steer you away from picking this up though as this was definitely more mature, dark, and "slasher-like" than the children stories that we grew up with.
Another note that I enjoyed was the main FMC had two different colored eyes - entirely different colors - and really loved the representation of heterochromia within this book. As someone else who has two completely different colored eyes in real life, it was nice to finally see this one someone relatively normal for once; rather than on some sort of monster or witch to show how "different" and "scary" someone is.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed my experience with this storyline and am interested in seeing what else the "horror/thriller" genres have to offer. If you are looking for a great bingeable read to add to your TBR in AUGUST, I'd recommend you pick this up and give it a shot!
"Let's try this again…. Sasha, tell us why you are here."
I move my eyes over to the woman sitting a few feet away who seems to be holding a large card with black writing that says in bold capital letters, "I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ANGER MANAGEMENT WHICH GETS ME IN TROUBLE WITH ADULTS AND AUTHORITY."
This, of course, is not true as I don't really have an issue with my "anger". In fact, what I might have is a "short fuse" where I bluntly tell people what I'm feeling and what I think of them…and that just so happens to be at times with those who are older than me and occasionally the authoritative figure. That doesn't make me have an "anger management" concern though. They just can't handle the truth and would prefer to live with rose colored glasses at the world as they live out their boring life day by day.
Looking back at the cameras, I state, "I don't know, why don't you tell me?"
The woman shakes her head and frustratedly pulls the card down. She breathes in a deep breath and asks, "Okay, let's try this a different way….why do you "think" you are here?"
I look back at her with a smirk. This is exactly where I want her - frustrated and hopeless….a trait I've come to be very familiar with in my prey to help me in getting what I want and where I want to be. I've tried being nice in this world and you know that saying "nice guys finish last"? That's the damn truth…because being nice has never gotten me anywhere. POWER is what you want to have and FEARED is what you want to be.
If anything, those cards should really say, "I STRATIGIZE EVERY MOVEMENT I MAKE NO MATTER HOW LITTLE OR LARGE WHICH MAKES SOME BIG CORPORATIONS VERY ANGRY WHEN LOSING MONEY."
Let me start off by saying that I originally was skeptical on whether this was going to be the right book for me. If you've seen my reads throughout this year, most of my books are HEAVILY romance focused; so if a book didn't have a primarily romance focused plot, I'd skip over it immediately. Thus, when looking at the premise of Gingerbread Bones by Lindsay Lovise, I can see how this would have probably been skipped over initially from my usually preference in books…..
Our MCs Georgie, the five finger discount thief, and her brother Hamish, the fist fighting machine, have been shipped off to the wilderness in Maine, where they are going to participate in a reality show along with several other troubled teens that their own stepmother is the creator and producer of. For two weeks, Georgie, Hamish, and the other teens will be hiking, camping, bonding, and surviving on their own, while a camera crew follows them every step of the way. All of the teens are, let's say, "more than thrilled" to be in the situation they are; especially with no phones and having counselors that are edging the teens to create drama and sometimes outbursts that they feel are going to make great reality television. What the crew and teens are not aware of is having all of the counselors disappear within the night, leaving the teens on their own to figure out what went wrong and, how to stay together to get themselves out of the current situation they are in. While thinking they are alone in their own "Naked and Afraid" situation, or should we say "Wet Clothed And Afraid" since it's been raining the entire time they have been here, there is something out in the woods watching them and hunting them. In fact, our FMC Georgie has been feeling something off since she's stepped foot in their main camp and it isn't until a severed hand which looks a lot like one of their counselor's is found, that they all really take in that there is, in fact, someone truly out there. The question now is…who (or what) is out there and which one of them is going to be next?
Sounds interesting, right?
As with most thriller/horror books, I always think they sound amazing, but never really pick them up because I know myself and my interests - romance is a huge part of what I love to read. But I kept telling myself that something I wanted to do in 2027 for my reading goals was to try out different genres of books to see if there is something outside of the "romance focused" stories that I might actually find I loved. Thus, this is how I ended up getting Gingerbread Bones in my hands and able to read as an ARC from NetGalley as I wanted to try out something a little bit different than my normal reads I usually go for.
Let me tell you though….I was NOT expecting to LOVE this as much as I did. In fact, this was a solid FIVE STAR for me and could NOT put this down. The main concern of having "limited romance"? Gone. Concerned I was not going to be interested enough without a "bickering enemies to lovers" dynamic? Out the window. In fact, this book kept me on the edge of my seat at all times in anticipation of seeing what happens next. I mean, is this what all of these books are like? If so, sign me up because that was one hell of a ride that I cannot wait to get back on!
Before I go into a little bit more on what I loved about the book, let me explain a little about the tropes you will find in this fantastic read:
👈Hidden Identity
👈Paranormal x Supernatural
👈Dark Fairytale Retelling
👈Forced Proximity
👈Found Family
👈Survival Horror/Slasher
I really enjoyed the pacing of this story; especially how we find out why each of the teens are actually on the show or the social media posting/emails that are shown at the beginning of each chapter in how the story was unfolded both before & during the teen's survival outside the wilderness. It felt like finding little puzzle pieces that you were able to connect and was fun to find out information this way. I member saying in a previous review not so long ago that slow pacing is usually not for me with reading - "slow burn romance" is okay but "slow burn plot" is a different story. Mix this in with being Young Adult (YA), this can sometimes cause books to feel as though they are dragging on without progressing to keep, at least my mind, interested. In this case, I actually retract that back with this book - this is exactly how you do slow, but efficient, pacing in just the right way.
I had also enjoyed that this book ended up being a "retelling". While the title of the book did say "Gingerbread" and our MCs were named "Hamish" and "Georgie", it didn't connect until those little gumdrops were found that this was actually a retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Don’t let this steer you away from picking this up though as this was definitely more mature, dark, and "slasher-like" than the children stories that we grew up with.
Another note that I enjoyed was the main FMC had two different colored eyes - entirely different colors - and really loved the representation of heterochromia within this book. As someone else who has two completely different colored eyes in real life, it was nice to finally see this one someone relatively normal for once; rather than on some sort of monster or witch to show how "different" and "scary" someone is.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed my experience with this storyline and am interested in seeing what else the "horror/thriller" genres have to offer. If you are looking for a great bingeable read to add to your TBR in AUGUST, I'd recommend you pick this up and give it a shot!
August 8, 2026
Omg this was so fun. I went into this book completely blind (thanks to my very last-minute decision to change my Camp NetGalley pick), and all I knew was that it was a YA horror/thriller. I don't usually read horror, but I figured a change of pace would be nice, and it really was! I hadn't expected it to be a Hansel and Gretel retelling, and since I usually love fairytale retellings, this ended up working incredibly well for me.
The pacing was incredible. I genuinely don't remember a single dull moment. Almost every chapter ended on a mini cliffhanger, and I could not stop reading. And the thriller was absolutely thriller-ing. This book had me on the edge of my seat almost the entire way through, and some scenes in the last 20% genuinely gave me chills.
The group dynamic was also so entertaining! I loved how everyone had their own little role within the crew, and they all ended up growing on me one way or another. (Including Paxton, surprisingly. He was a total jerk, but damn... I actually ended up kinda sympathising with him.) In a weird way, this almost had a warped found-family vibe. They never would've become friends under normal circumstances, but surviving everything they went through together created this strange sense of camaraderie that somehow felt surprisingly wholesome. Especially with the huge pay-off at the end of the book.
This book also had one of the strongest sibling relationships I've ever read. Georgie and Hamish wouldn't hesitate for even a second to die for each other. They're each other's anchors. Wherever one goes, the other follows. It added so much emotional weight to the story, especially when everything else was so tense and people were literally dropping dead left and right.
I also enjoyed the romance a hell of a lot more than I expected. There's just something about two broken people finding pieces of themselves in each other and helping one another heal that makes this kind of relationship so incredibly heartwarming.
The ending was also fantastic. Everything was tied up in a way that felt really satisfying, and I absolutely adored the bonus epilogue!! It offered emotional closure (I'm so, so proud of these characters omg) without making it feel like the end of their journey, if that makes sense. It feels like they'll wake up tomorrow and continue living, learning, stumbling through life, and becoming better versions of themselves off the page. There's something incredibly comforting about knowing their lives continue beyond the final page.
I also loved the little snippets at the beginning of each chapter, whether they were email excerpts or Ashley's social media posts. They added so much personality to the story and were such a fun, creative touch that really enhanced the reading experience.
Really, the only gripe I had (and this is honestly just personal preference) was that the mystery aspect kind of fell flat for me. I found the "plot twist" pretty obvious from quite early on, and I wasn't really sure whether that was intentional or not. Because of that, the big reveal ended up feeling a little anti-climactic for me. That said, it was still an incredibly satisfying payoff, it just didn't quite unravel the way I'd hoped it would.
As a side note, screw Ashley oh my days. I had absolutely zero sympathy for her. Definitely a character I love to hate.
Overall, this was a great read. I'd definitely recommend picking this up if you're looking for something fast-paced that'll keep you on your toes, with a fun (and sometimes annoying), bickering group dynamic and just a touch of supernatural elements woven throughout.
Thank you Entangled Teen and Lindsay Lovise for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The pacing was incredible. I genuinely don't remember a single dull moment. Almost every chapter ended on a mini cliffhanger, and I could not stop reading. And the thriller was absolutely thriller-ing. This book had me on the edge of my seat almost the entire way through, and some scenes in the last 20% genuinely gave me chills.
The group dynamic was also so entertaining! I loved how everyone had their own little role within the crew, and they all ended up growing on me one way or another. (Including Paxton, surprisingly. He was a total jerk, but damn... I actually ended up kinda sympathising with him.) In a weird way, this almost had a warped found-family vibe. They never would've become friends under normal circumstances, but surviving everything they went through together created this strange sense of camaraderie that somehow felt surprisingly wholesome. Especially with the huge pay-off at the end of the book.
This book also had one of the strongest sibling relationships I've ever read. Georgie and Hamish wouldn't hesitate for even a second to die for each other. They're each other's anchors. Wherever one goes, the other follows. It added so much emotional weight to the story, especially when everything else was so tense and people were literally dropping dead left and right.
I also enjoyed the romance a hell of a lot more than I expected. There's just something about two broken people finding pieces of themselves in each other and helping one another heal that makes this kind of relationship so incredibly heartwarming.
The ending was also fantastic. Everything was tied up in a way that felt really satisfying, and I absolutely adored the bonus epilogue!! It offered emotional closure (I'm so, so proud of these characters omg) without making it feel like the end of their journey, if that makes sense. It feels like they'll wake up tomorrow and continue living, learning, stumbling through life, and becoming better versions of themselves off the page. There's something incredibly comforting about knowing their lives continue beyond the final page.
I also loved the little snippets at the beginning of each chapter, whether they were email excerpts or Ashley's social media posts. They added so much personality to the story and were such a fun, creative touch that really enhanced the reading experience.
Really, the only gripe I had (and this is honestly just personal preference) was that the mystery aspect kind of fell flat for me. I found the "plot twist" pretty obvious from quite early on, and I wasn't really sure whether that was intentional or not. Because of that, the big reveal ended up feeling a little anti-climactic for me. That said, it was still an incredibly satisfying payoff, it just didn't quite unravel the way I'd hoped it would.
As a side note, screw Ashley oh my days. I had absolutely zero sympathy for her. Definitely a character I love to hate.
Overall, this was a great read. I'd definitely recommend picking this up if you're looking for something fast-paced that'll keep you on your toes, with a fun (and sometimes annoying), bickering group dynamic and just a touch of supernatural elements woven throughout.
Thank you Entangled Teen and Lindsay Lovise for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 4, 2026
A YA paranormal thriller for readers who enjoy -
🌲Horror with a dash of romance
🌲Dark fairytale retellings
🌲Isolated settings
🌲Strong distinct personalities
⭑ Publication Date: 4th August 2026
⭑ Available In: Audiobook, eBook & Hardcover
⭑ Always remember to check content and trigger warnings before reading.
~ plot ~
Gingerbread Bones tells the story of a group of troubled teens who’ve been sent to a survival style camp in a bid to improve their behaviour. With everything being recorded for a reality show, they have to spend two weeks away from the comforts of modern day life, bonding, growing and above all, surviving.
However, the things that you expect teens to think of as their biggest concerns i.e. life without a phone, hiking and the weather, are quickly tossed aside when mysterious, deadly events start to occur.
Missing adults, a sinister presence and the feeling that danger is lurking around every corner leads to a page turning, exhilarating story that you won’t be able to put down.
~ review ~
Set in the wilderness on an isolated island, Gingerbread Bones is a fast-paced YA paranormal murder mystery that’s tense but exciting with danger lurking around every corner. It delivers you a headstrong FMC, a modern day evil stepmother, a ride or die sibling bond and enough secrets, lies, baggage and trauma to sink a ship. (Do be sure to check themes, content & trigger warnings before reading!)
This is a great book. It’s an easy to follow propulsive read that’s well paced, well written, entertaining and wonderfully gory. The dark fairytale, Hansel & Gretel vibes are well executed, as is the balance of fantasy and reality. I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the horror, gore and creepiness, another thing that’s very well done! It’s inventive, bold and there’s an air of eeriness running throughout that constantly compels you to read on. Nothing lags or feels stagnant and that makes Gingerbread Bones a book that can very easily be read in a single sitting.
The main characters are teens and their thoughts, actions, reactions and behaviour does reflect that. They’re messy and at times immature but honestly I’m all for it as it breaks up the fear, suspense and horror that Lindsay Lovise so brilliantly manages to create. The clear distinct, clashing, personalities make for some really humorous, banter filled, dramatic, chaotic moments which are perfectly pocketed amongst the darkness and gore. There’s also a dash of romance and a strong sibling bond that adds heart to the story.
If you enjoy suspense filled, mysterious tales that keep you guessing until the end and are also partial to gore and horror, be sure to add this to your TBR ✅
~ final thoughts ~
Overall this was a great read. It’s different to what I usually go for but I thank Camp NetGalley for putting it onto my radar. Lindsay Lovise is an engaging, immersive writer and the bread crumbing? Fantastic! I’m looking forward to exploring more of her work.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion and I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️
🌲Horror with a dash of romance
🌲Dark fairytale retellings
🌲Isolated settings
🌲Strong distinct personalities
⭑ Publication Date: 4th August 2026
⭑ Available In: Audiobook, eBook & Hardcover
⭑ Always remember to check content and trigger warnings before reading.
~ plot ~
Gingerbread Bones tells the story of a group of troubled teens who’ve been sent to a survival style camp in a bid to improve their behaviour. With everything being recorded for a reality show, they have to spend two weeks away from the comforts of modern day life, bonding, growing and above all, surviving.
However, the things that you expect teens to think of as their biggest concerns i.e. life without a phone, hiking and the weather, are quickly tossed aside when mysterious, deadly events start to occur.
Missing adults, a sinister presence and the feeling that danger is lurking around every corner leads to a page turning, exhilarating story that you won’t be able to put down.
~ review ~
Set in the wilderness on an isolated island, Gingerbread Bones is a fast-paced YA paranormal murder mystery that’s tense but exciting with danger lurking around every corner. It delivers you a headstrong FMC, a modern day evil stepmother, a ride or die sibling bond and enough secrets, lies, baggage and trauma to sink a ship. (Do be sure to check themes, content & trigger warnings before reading!)
This is a great book. It’s an easy to follow propulsive read that’s well paced, well written, entertaining and wonderfully gory. The dark fairytale, Hansel & Gretel vibes are well executed, as is the balance of fantasy and reality. I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the horror, gore and creepiness, another thing that’s very well done! It’s inventive, bold and there’s an air of eeriness running throughout that constantly compels you to read on. Nothing lags or feels stagnant and that makes Gingerbread Bones a book that can very easily be read in a single sitting.
The main characters are teens and their thoughts, actions, reactions and behaviour does reflect that. They’re messy and at times immature but honestly I’m all for it as it breaks up the fear, suspense and horror that Lindsay Lovise so brilliantly manages to create. The clear distinct, clashing, personalities make for some really humorous, banter filled, dramatic, chaotic moments which are perfectly pocketed amongst the darkness and gore. There’s also a dash of romance and a strong sibling bond that adds heart to the story.
If you enjoy suspense filled, mysterious tales that keep you guessing until the end and are also partial to gore and horror, be sure to add this to your TBR ✅
~ final thoughts ~
Overall this was a great read. It’s different to what I usually go for but I thank Camp NetGalley for putting it onto my radar. Lindsay Lovise is an engaging, immersive writer and the bread crumbing? Fantastic! I’m looking forward to exploring more of her work.
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion and I’m sharing it voluntarily❣️
July 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for providing me with an ARC of this book. All thoughts are genuine and entirely my own.
“Gingerbread Bones” by Lindsay Lovise is a genre triple threat, giving us a YA horror paranormal romance all in one. The story follows a group of troubled teens who are sent out into the wilderness to film a new reality tv show Forged By The Forest. After their arrival at the filming location, the teens quickly discover the show is not what they signed up for, and that there is something more disturbing out there with them.
This book was my Camp NetGalley pick - I choose this one for the genre, and the title was very unique and intriguing. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but once the story picked up I was hooked. The end of each chapter had me immediately turning the page to see what happened next, I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the main group of characters, all of their different personalities mingled together made a great, entertaining survival group. What I loved the MOST about this book was how effortlessly this author gave us a unique modern take on Hansel and Gretel with this retelling. It was done so well, I was genuinely blown away at how good it was. It was also giving The Hunger Games vibes, there were a few moments that stood out to me as references, and being a huge fan of the series I really enjoyed those connections.
There were so many layers to this story, the characters, and themes. They wove together perfectly to bring the story and characters to life. The writing was amazing, I felt like I was watching a tv show in my head. One aspect that stood out to me that I liked was how the beginning of each chapter featured a “media” piece (instagram post, emails, etc.) that gave us a glimpse into the events happening in the outside world while we followed the groups journey in the forest. The fairytale lore was naturally woven into the story, that even as retelling, still felt new and original. The characters were well written, held depth, and felt like an accurate representations of teenagers. Georgie as a strong FMC, I felt her and Hamish’s sibling relationship was very accurate of real siblings. I enjoyed Mack’s character; the mystery of his character was intriguing and I liked how his past was only revealed to us once he decided to open up to Georgie. Madison and Paxton also stood out to me as strong, memorable characters. Madison’s role in the story felt essential in moving the plot forward and guiding the rest of the group along. Paxton might have been insufferable for the others, but he provided great comedic relief throughout the story. Him and his interactions with the group were entertaining, and made me laugh. Ashley was an extremely well developed villain. The setting was very atmospheric and perfectly suited the story. Taking place in the wilderness and at an abandoned/ haunted camp that had been shut down was the perfect eerie location for the story to unfold. The paranormal aspects brought the forest to life, locking in that unsettling feeling you want from the horror genre.
This story blew my mind — it was the Hansel & Gretel / The Hunger Games/ Survivor genre mash-up I didn’t know I needed in my life until I read it. I genuinely believe even readers that don’t typically reach for YA books would enjoy it. A thrilling read for readers who like their horror with a side of romance.
“Gingerbread Bones” by Lindsay Lovise is a genre triple threat, giving us a YA horror paranormal romance all in one. The story follows a group of troubled teens who are sent out into the wilderness to film a new reality tv show Forged By The Forest. After their arrival at the filming location, the teens quickly discover the show is not what they signed up for, and that there is something more disturbing out there with them.
This book was my Camp NetGalley pick - I choose this one for the genre, and the title was very unique and intriguing. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but once the story picked up I was hooked. The end of each chapter had me immediately turning the page to see what happened next, I couldn’t put this book down. I loved the main group of characters, all of their different personalities mingled together made a great, entertaining survival group. What I loved the MOST about this book was how effortlessly this author gave us a unique modern take on Hansel and Gretel with this retelling. It was done so well, I was genuinely blown away at how good it was. It was also giving The Hunger Games vibes, there were a few moments that stood out to me as references, and being a huge fan of the series I really enjoyed those connections.
There were so many layers to this story, the characters, and themes. They wove together perfectly to bring the story and characters to life. The writing was amazing, I felt like I was watching a tv show in my head. One aspect that stood out to me that I liked was how the beginning of each chapter featured a “media” piece (instagram post, emails, etc.) that gave us a glimpse into the events happening in the outside world while we followed the groups journey in the forest. The fairytale lore was naturally woven into the story, that even as retelling, still felt new and original. The characters were well written, held depth, and felt like an accurate representations of teenagers. Georgie as a strong FMC, I felt her and Hamish’s sibling relationship was very accurate of real siblings. I enjoyed Mack’s character; the mystery of his character was intriguing and I liked how his past was only revealed to us once he decided to open up to Georgie. Madison and Paxton also stood out to me as strong, memorable characters. Madison’s role in the story felt essential in moving the plot forward and guiding the rest of the group along. Paxton might have been insufferable for the others, but he provided great comedic relief throughout the story. Him and his interactions with the group were entertaining, and made me laugh. Ashley was an extremely well developed villain. The setting was very atmospheric and perfectly suited the story. Taking place in the wilderness and at an abandoned/ haunted camp that had been shut down was the perfect eerie location for the story to unfold. The paranormal aspects brought the forest to life, locking in that unsettling feeling you want from the horror genre.
This story blew my mind — it was the Hansel & Gretel / The Hunger Games/ Survivor genre mash-up I didn’t know I needed in my life until I read it. I genuinely believe even readers that don’t typically reach for YA books would enjoy it. A thrilling read for readers who like their horror with a side of romance.
Read
August 11, 2026Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Gingerbread Bones by Lindsay Lovise is a first person-POV YA supernatural horror thriller reimagining of Hansel and Gretel.
This review is not spoiler free
I saw some of the marketing call this a romance, but I wouldn't call this a romance. The romance between Georgie and Mack is definitely present, but it's not tied enough to the core story to be romance genre as pretty much nothing would change if Mack and Georgie never got together. I also wouldn't put this in the romantic horror bucket as Georgie’s relationship with her brother, Hamish, is more important to the plot and her relationships with her mother and step-mothers also hold a lot more weight. It's a well-written subplot that makes you want the characters to end up together, but it's ultimately not the point of the story or even the second point of it.
The Hansel and Gretel aspects become more obvious in the back half as it takes time for all of the pieces to really start falling into place. I didn't mind this at all as it allowed the author more time to develop other ideas and characters and sprinkle in aspects of the fairy tale without beating the reader over the head with them. Tying it all into the troubled teen industry made a lot of sense to me once the ball really started rolling.
Like a lot of current YA horror, this story touches on the troubled teen industry and the mistreatment of teens at the hands of the adults who should have been helping them. I grew up in the age bracket when this industry was really booming, so I understand why so many authors around my age and a little older keep coming back to this topic. It really was a horror story when it all started to come out. I'm hopeful that by talking about it so much in books, that it will help young people today understand the harm this industry caused in twenty years and they will not repeat the mistakes of our parents.
Connect warning for mentions of cannibalism and teachers having inappropriate relationships with students as well as depictions of gore
Gingerbread Bones by Lindsay Lovise is a first person-POV YA supernatural horror thriller reimagining of Hansel and Gretel.
This review is not spoiler free
I saw some of the marketing call this a romance, but I wouldn't call this a romance. The romance between Georgie and Mack is definitely present, but it's not tied enough to the core story to be romance genre as pretty much nothing would change if Mack and Georgie never got together. I also wouldn't put this in the romantic horror bucket as Georgie’s relationship with her brother, Hamish, is more important to the plot and her relationships with her mother and step-mothers also hold a lot more weight. It's a well-written subplot that makes you want the characters to end up together, but it's ultimately not the point of the story or even the second point of it.
The Hansel and Gretel aspects become more obvious in the back half as it takes time for all of the pieces to really start falling into place. I didn't mind this at all as it allowed the author more time to develop other ideas and characters and sprinkle in aspects of the fairy tale without beating the reader over the head with them. Tying it all into the troubled teen industry made a lot of sense to me once the ball really started rolling.
Like a lot of current YA horror, this story touches on the troubled teen industry and the mistreatment of teens at the hands of the adults who should have been helping them. I grew up in the age bracket when this industry was really booming, so I understand why so many authors around my age and a little older keep coming back to this topic. It really was a horror story when it all started to come out. I'm hopeful that by talking about it so much in books, that it will help young people today understand the harm this industry caused in twenty years and they will not repeat the mistakes of our parents.
Connect warning for mentions of cannibalism and teachers having inappropriate relationships with students as well as depictions of gore
August 4, 2026
I absolutely devoured this book!
Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, Gingerbread Bones follows a group of troubled teenagers who are sent to a wilderness reform camp, supposedly to turn their lives around. For Georgie and her younger brother, the trip is arranged by none other than their stepmother, a social media parenting celebrity who has landed her own reality show about "fixing" troubled teens. Cameras are everywhere, none of the kids want to be there (I guess the adult too, lol) and things only get worse when they wake up one morning to discover that every counselor has mysteriously vanished.
From that moment on, the story transforms into a gripping survival horror. Stranded in the wilderness with limited supplies, the teens quickly realize they are not alone. Something is lurking in the forest, watching them... and hunting them.
I loved how the horror gradually intensified as the story progressed. The deeper I got into the novel, the darker and creepier it became, and I couldn't wait to discover what was really happening. The paranormal elements were incredibly well done, and I especially enjoyed slowly uncovering the truth behind the terrifying force stalking the group.
The relationship between Georgie and Mack developed naturally amidst the chaos, adding just the right amount of romance without taking away from the survival aspect of the story.
While the story is clearly inspired by Hansel and Gretel, I couldn't help thinking of Auntie Ethel from Baldur's Gate 3 as the mystery unfolded.
Overall, this was an intense, suspenseful and genuinely creepy YA horror that kept me hooked from beginning to end. If you're looking for survival horror with paranormal elements, plenty of tension, and a clever fairy tale-inspired premise, I highly recommend picking this one up.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
Inspired by Hansel and Gretel, Gingerbread Bones follows a group of troubled teenagers who are sent to a wilderness reform camp, supposedly to turn their lives around. For Georgie and her younger brother, the trip is arranged by none other than their stepmother, a social media parenting celebrity who has landed her own reality show about "fixing" troubled teens. Cameras are everywhere, none of the kids want to be there (I guess the adult too, lol) and things only get worse when they wake up one morning to discover that every counselor has mysteriously vanished.
From that moment on, the story transforms into a gripping survival horror. Stranded in the wilderness with limited supplies, the teens quickly realize they are not alone. Something is lurking in the forest, watching them... and hunting them.
I loved how the horror gradually intensified as the story progressed. The deeper I got into the novel, the darker and creepier it became, and I couldn't wait to discover what was really happening. The paranormal elements were incredibly well done, and I especially enjoyed slowly uncovering the truth behind the terrifying force stalking the group.
The relationship between Georgie and Mack developed naturally amidst the chaos, adding just the right amount of romance without taking away from the survival aspect of the story.
While the story is clearly inspired by Hansel and Gretel, I couldn't help thinking of Auntie Ethel from Baldur's Gate 3 as the mystery unfolded.
Overall, this was an intense, suspenseful and genuinely creepy YA horror that kept me hooked from beginning to end. If you're looking for survival horror with paranormal elements, plenty of tension, and a clever fairy tale-inspired premise, I highly recommend picking this one up.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
August 6, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
WOW. This book is an instant recommendation for anyone who loves horror, thriller, mystery, and dark retellings. I picked it up and genuinely could not put it down — Lindsay Lovise is a new‑to‑me author, and now I absolutely need to check out her entire backlist.
The story follows sixteen‑year‑old Georgie and her troublemaking brother as they’re dropped off at a wilderness “rehabilitation” reality show created by their wicked stepmother. The whole concept is already unsettling… but the moment Georgie smells burnt gingerbread, everything clicks.
Hansel & Gretel retelling? Dark? Twisted? Horror‑coded?
Oh yes. And it’s so good.
When the host and cameraman vanish after planning a prank on the teens, the group splits up — and that’s when the tension skyrockets. More disappearances follow, leaving the teens stranded deep in the forest with no adults, no cameras, and no idea what’s hunting them. The survival aspect is gripping, the atmosphere is eerie, and every chapter tightens the dread.
I loved how each character grew throughout the story. The pacing is sharp, the twists are genuinely creepy, and the forest setting feels alive in the worst (best) way. I swear I felt like I was right there with them.
And listen… do NOT read this at night with the lights off. My cat jumped on me and I nearly screamed. This book is that immersive.
If you’re craving a YA thriller that keeps you engaged from page one to the final reveal, you need to pick this up ASAP.
🍬 Tropes & Elements
Dark retelling (Hansel & Gretel)
Survival thriller
Evil stepmother
Reality‑show gone wrong
Isolated forest setting
Group split / forced teamwork
Teenagers vs unknown threat
Creepy atmospheric tension
WOW. This book is an instant recommendation for anyone who loves horror, thriller, mystery, and dark retellings. I picked it up and genuinely could not put it down — Lindsay Lovise is a new‑to‑me author, and now I absolutely need to check out her entire backlist.
The story follows sixteen‑year‑old Georgie and her troublemaking brother as they’re dropped off at a wilderness “rehabilitation” reality show created by their wicked stepmother. The whole concept is already unsettling… but the moment Georgie smells burnt gingerbread, everything clicks.
Hansel & Gretel retelling? Dark? Twisted? Horror‑coded?
Oh yes. And it’s so good.
When the host and cameraman vanish after planning a prank on the teens, the group splits up — and that’s when the tension skyrockets. More disappearances follow, leaving the teens stranded deep in the forest with no adults, no cameras, and no idea what’s hunting them. The survival aspect is gripping, the atmosphere is eerie, and every chapter tightens the dread.
I loved how each character grew throughout the story. The pacing is sharp, the twists are genuinely creepy, and the forest setting feels alive in the worst (best) way. I swear I felt like I was right there with them.
And listen… do NOT read this at night with the lights off. My cat jumped on me and I nearly screamed. This book is that immersive.
If you’re craving a YA thriller that keeps you engaged from page one to the final reveal, you need to pick this up ASAP.
🍬 Tropes & Elements
Dark retelling (Hansel & Gretel)
Survival thriller
Evil stepmother
Reality‑show gone wrong
Isolated forest setting
Group split / forced teamwork
Teenagers vs unknown threat
Creepy atmospheric tension
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