Gingerbread Bones: An Epic Paranormal Survival Horror Romance

by Lindsay Lovise

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.

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Thriller, Paranormal, Mystery, Fiction, Romance

398 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2026

About the author

Lindsay 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.

Reviews

[Natalie Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 she you read 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 don’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 lived 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!

[Liralen]

4 stars; review to come August 2026

[Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come…

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Shelby Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

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!

[D Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on the Hansel and Gretel story, a bit slow to start, but once the horror elements started to build more significantly it definitely hits it stride. I feel like the stepmother was a bit thin as a villain, and that the set up that brought us to the woods required a higher level of suspension of disbelief, if the production company had been more established as low budget or particularly open to questionable choices that might have worked better, that said once we are in the woods with the main cast being terrorized by gingerbread scented horrors the tension ratchets up, and the characterization and shifting interactions between characters gave the story a lot of momentum. And I feel that the scraps of text from the outside world at the beginning of chapters served both to deepen the story and keep it grounded in the current moment.

[Ayra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really unexpected! I went into this book completely blind and what a wild rollercoaster ride.

Even though I didn’t exactly care for any of the characters, I was still really invested in their stories. I think the author did a great job of giving each character a backstory and personality. I appreciated that there was still a little romance mixed into all the chaos and horror.

I could tell this was geared towards teens by the way some things were phrased, but overall it didn’t bother me as an older reader. The experience that all of these teens went through was so crazy. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.

[Malia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book. It was action-packed, a little enemies to lovers with a bit of slow burn energy. Character development was superb! Scene descriptions were realistic and imaginative! I love how the author incorporated snippets of what was happening on the other side through social media posts and emails. However, the storyline is the masterpiece of this book. The creativity behind the basis of the story is outstanding! I can’t wait to read more from this author. #gingerbreadbones #netgalley

[Mandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!!

[Barb George · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads give away!!!!

Congratulations, Barb!

You are one of our Giveaways lucky winners! You will soon receive a free copy of Gingerbread Bones in the mail.

Be sure to enter their Give Aways.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled: Mayhem Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Gingerbread Bones” by Lindsay Lovise is basically Hansel and Gretel if you mixed it with reality TV, influencer parents, survival horror, and a very hungry witch who absolutely does not believe in second chances. This is definitely an upper YA story.

And honestly? It’s weird in the best way.

The setup is already chaotic: Georgie and her troublemaking younger brother get dragged into their awful influencer stepmother’s newest reality show, which is basically “Survivor for troubled teens” except somehow even less ethical. They’re dumped in the woods with a bunch of other teenagers, barely any supplies, and cameras meant to capture all their suffering for views. Right away, the book makes it clear that the adults in charge are the real villains long before the supernatural stuff even starts.

And wow, Georgie’s stepmother is awful. Truly one of those characters you love to hate. She exploits her kids for content, manipulates everyone around her, and somehow keeps finding new ways to be worse. The little snippets of her social media posts throughout the book were such a good touch because they really showed how fake and performative her whole online persona is while everything is actively falling apart behind the scenes.

Georgie herself is a solid main character. She’s mostly just trying to survive long enough to get money and freedom away from her stepmother, which honestly makes her very easy to root for. Some of her inner thoughts can feel a little cliché, but overall she works well, especially because her relationship with her brother adds a lot of emotional weight. Their sibling bond is probably one of the strongest parts of the book; it feels real, messy, protective, and never gets overshadowed by the horror.

And the horror definitely delivers. At first it feels like a survival thriller with kids stuck in the woods, no rescue coming, group tensions rising, but then things start getting weird. Candy shows up in the forest. Body parts move where they shouldn’t. The woods feel alive. There’s this constant feeling of being watched, and it becomes obvious pretty quickly that something supernatural is messing with them.

And yes, there is absolutely a witch.

Not just any witch but a witch who seems to be specifically targeting “bad” kids and turning the whole thing into some kind of twisted morality game where the punishment is being eaten. The book gets surprisingly graphic with the gore too, which I appreciated. As said earlier, this is definitely older YA horror, not a soft spooky fairytale vibe.

The retelling elements are done really well, especially once the story starts leaning harder into the Grimm inspiration. By the time the teens reach the gingerbread house, it feels genuinely unsettling instead of cute. I never thought candy could feel threatening, but apparently it can.

There’s also a found family vibe with the group of teens slowly learning to trust each other, which helps balance all the murder and trauma. The romance, though, I could’ve taken or left it. It’s not bad, but in a book where everyone is actively trying not to die, it sometimes feels like there just wasn’t room for it.

I did have some issues with the reality show premise because legally, absolutely none of this should be allowed. Like, none. The amount of negligence here is almost comical, and you definitely have to suspend disbelief for the entire setup to work.

There’s also one character who is so relentlessly terrible that every chapter with him felt like emotional damage, and his late attempt at redemption didn’t really work for me.

But the twists? Surprisingly strong. There’s a really good reveal involving the witch, Georgie’s family, and the stepmother’s connection to the past that actually made the whole story hit harder. It ties the fairy tale retelling together in a way that feels clever instead of forced.

And the ending is great; there is a big chaotic final showdown, everyone teaming up, using the original Hansel and Gretel story almost like a survival guide, and finally getting revenge where revenge is very deserved.

The extended epilogue was also a nice touch because after all that trauma, it was nice to actually see the aftermath instead of just ending at the climax.

Overall, “Gingerbread Bones” is fast-paced, creepy, messy, and a lot darker than the title makes it sound. If you like fairy tale horror, survival thrillers, evil stepmothers, and stories where candy somehow becomes terrifying, this one is a really fun ride.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a title like Gingerbread Bones, I knew this story was going to be sweet... sickly sweet. (See what I did there?) That's what first caught my attention when I was asked to review it. The synopsis also mentions teens being sent to participate in their stepmother's survivalist reality show. I love shows like these, so I thought that aspect would be fun as well. I was absolutely right.

Georgie and Hamish are sent by their parenting "expert" influencer stepmother to the remote Maine wilderness to participate in a reality show she helped create about reforming troubled teens by teaching them to work together and survive under unusual circumstances. Unsurprisingly, neither is excited about the prospect. Once there, it initially seems to be little more than a group of unhappy teens complaining about everything. Then there's Mack. He seems older, ripped, and heavily tattooed. Georgie is certain he's the only one who's truly dangerous. Before long, events force the group to split in two, and overnight, the remaining adult disappears. Even worse, something seems to be hunting them, toying with them almost like a cat with a mouse, in this delightfully suspenseful spin on Hansel & Gretel.

The story is narrated entirely by Georgie in the first person. "Troubled" is a good word to describe her, although her reasons are completely understandable. She is an exceptionally well-rounded character, but early on she embodies the frustrating self-centeredness that often comes with being a teenager: everything is the worst, and this experience is surely going to ruin her life. She demonstrates considerable inner fortitude and grows exponentially before all is said and done. That growth made the opening feel a touch slower than the rest of the novel, even though the pacing itself never truly drags. Once Georgie begins to change, the story flies. The other characters we spend time with are also well developed, including the true villain. Don't get me wrong, the villain is unquestionably evil, but they didn't begin that way.

This story explores several themes in an immersive way, the most central of which is how the pursuit of perfection is insatiable. No matter how much you have, it's never enough because true perfection doesn't exist. Two of the other standout themes are self-worth versus external validation and appearance versus reality. The novel also explores choice, agency, and coercion, asking what real choice actually looks like.

Lovise's writing is atmospheric, cinematic, and relatively fast-paced. The scenes in Gingerbread Bones unfold vividly, almost like watching a horror film. The forest, eerie setting, and ever-present gingerbread scent create a pervasive sense of dread. It feels haunted from the moment the characters arrive at the campsite. The novel is also highly suspenseful and emotionally resonant. Beneath the horror, it thoughtfully explores grief, family, self-worth, and longing. My heart ached for Georgie, Hamish, and Mack.

Gingerbread Bones surprised me. I enjoyed it even more than I expected I would. I've not explored this genre much before, but this book is perfect for readers who enjoy YA survival horror, modern fairy tale retellings, supernatural suspense, and stories that blend pulse-pounding tension with thoughtful themes.

Content Warnings: Graphic child death, gore, and vomit • Moderate panic attacks/disorders and death of a parent • Minor animal death

Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓— a haunting fairy tale nightmare

I read a digital copy made available by Entangled: Mayhem Books through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.

📚 More book reviews and bookish content:

https://www.ispeakbooknerd.com

[donutdot · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!!

wow. that was a whole ride. this got me scared, shocked and tearing up a bit at the end so this was really something. this was advertised as 'upper ya horror for fans of scream and final destination' and while i don't think that was accurate i ended up loving this anyway.

firstly, the cover is so perfect for this book. the teenagers in the endless woods with nothing but their packs and flashlights are so accurate. and the colour palette!!

i've always liked the smell of cinnamon and gingerbread. i might not always crave or want to eat it but the smell is always comforting somehow no matter then context. somehow gingerbread bones managed to twist that into horror and i might never think the same of the scent again, which means this was done splendidly. honestly i didn't even realise thisnwas a very f-ed hansel and gretal retelling until halfway through.

wbk ashley was horrible and hated her stepkids, but who knew she was a murderous btch?? well i guess everyone reading did. jokes aside i thought the atmosphere and the reality tv-ness of the cast getting into arguments over everything really carried the first half of the book. i wasn't sure how they were gonna get out once they realised the threat was real, but i was sat for all the conflicts. my one gripe is that while we do get to know most of the cast (hamish, ava, mack, paxton, talia, madison) quite well through georgie's eyes, i wish we got to see more of their povs. maybe at least both the leider siblings'.

genuinely did not expect the plot twist of who the witch actually is. spoilers, it is their mum who supposedly left them but was killed by ashley at the campsite. the twenty questions game was so tense, and after when the witch took over. but glad that their mum is probably at peace now.

that being said i loved georgie and hamish's sibling bond. it really says something the way they stick together is the only constant throughout the entire quest and it speaks to how they only ever had each other to rely on. i love hamish being protective of her, and georgie thinking hamish deserves better. the way they care for each other, their conviction that if one goes, the other does too, was honestly the highlight for me. i was very worried throughout that one of them might not survive, but so glad they both did!!! happy that they and hamish get their new lives at the end away from the past.

"you and me, pest. always you and me."

"no matter what's happened to me, i've always had hamish, and he's always had me. even now as we face down imminent death."

i think it was a bold choice to focus on this relationship rather than the two romances (georgie/mack and hamish/ava) but this worked so well and it wouldn't have been the same otherwise.

the romances were cute, of course. i liked how mack and ava eventually opened up to the respective leider siblings, and somehow they managed to stay together afterwards!! maybe if this was a longer book, they would have had more focus.

anyway, still thoroughly enjoyed this!!

[ObscureVi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

It... wasn't what I expected and I feel like the blurb didn't fully deliver, at least in my eyes.

The very first sentence on NetGalley starts with: "Get ready for an edge-of-your-seat upper YA horror for fans of Scream and Final Destination!".

One: I'm a fan of both of those franchises.
Two: It was the cover + the title that originally caught my eye.
Three: I mean we have a group of teens stuck in the forest to film a reality show and they took their phones away. You really expect that nothing will go wrong?

The premise was so, so perfect for me, that I rushed to read it as soon as I was finished with the other book.

First off, I enjoyed the setting and the whole atmosphere. It was done well and there were moments where I felt as if I was in the forest with them. The characters were good, but I didn't really feel connected to any of them. I absolutely loved all the horror (especially the gore!) moments that we got and they were such a treat. It's also a sort of retelling (or maybe a twist on the tale) of Hansel & Gretel which I probably should have guessed sooner with all the clues it gave.

That saying... I honestly think that we didn't get enough horror for a book that's labeled as YA horror. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like most of the book the group was either talking or arguing and nothing was happening while the blurb suggested/promised a lot of action (it's also labeled as "Epic Paranormal Survival Horror Romance"). I also felt like there was very little romance (there were maybe... two moments for me?).

Next: the reality show trope itself. You should probably know, that I'm a huge sucker for "let's film something" in a horror genre. Starting from influencers faking exorcisms/hauntings for views to realize that it's real to exploring abandoned places or as it was the case here, filming a reality show in a secluded place. Unfortunately, it completely missed the mark for me in this case, since the idea died almost as fast as it appeared and we never really came back to it. It was more of a reason to why they were there in the first place, than being an actual part of the plot.

Lastly: the ending. It felt chaotic (especially the big twist) and even after finishing the book, I'm not really sure what to think about the whole conclusion? I just feel like something is missing and I'm not fully satisfied.

Overall, while I did enjoy it for most part, I do wish it had a lot more horror elements than we ended up with.

[Horror Sickness · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book without knowing it was a retelling and loved the interesting approach by the author to tell the story of Hansel and Gretel, evil stepmom and all.

A group of ‘delinquent’ teenagers are sent to survive in the woods so they can learn to work together and learn some valuable lessons. And that they will definitely learn the hard way. The whole thing will be recorded and televised and the crew also includes a psychologist and a wilderness survivor specialist that can help the teenagers navigate the woods.

Unfortunately after the first night, the crew disappears and the teenagers are left to fend for themselves. They will soon discover that someone or something is watching them and they are the next target.

Even though I do not really think it is realistic that a TV network would leave teens like this abandoned without resources, I get that it was important to the story.

Soon I figured out that this was a Hansel and Gretel retelling. Our main characters are two siblings that have been sent to participate in this TV show by their evil stepmother. Georgie tells us her story bit by bit revealing something very dark and terrible from her past.

The characters were really interesting and I really enjoyed learning more about them and having characters with different personalities forced to work together to survive knowing that no help is coming.

When it comes to the horror, there are certainly some scary moments and some horrible depictions of death but overall I would say the horror was a bit in the background here.

This book is more about the story of these teenagers, their past and their willingness to fight and move on no matter what life throws at them. A story about resilience and acceptance.

More than anything you will get deep conversations, confessions, process of loss, grief and there is also some romance in the book. In my personal opinion, the romance was not necessary (there is also more than one) since it is not needed to move the plot forward and the power of friendships could have also been used.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and to see the character’s journey. It was a great retelling with a tragic story and a lot of emotional moments.

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find my full review at Bookcave.

Story: ★★★ Gingerbread Bones by Lindsay Lovise is a standalone YA horror, paranormal romance. In it we follow Georgie who is shipped off with her brother, Hamish, to the wilderness to film a reality TV survival show featuring troubled kids. One night the counsellors disappear, and soon after it's clear that something else is in the woods with the teens, hunting them down.

Now I haven't read a ton of horror novels. In fact it's only since I joined a book club a little over a year ago that I started reading books actually advertised as horror and not just books with a scary part or two. This book is probably not something that I typically would've picked for myself, but I was sent an ARC of it (Thanks Entangled Insiders & Mayhem Books!) and figured I would give it a chance. Teens being hunted in at a camp place in the woods seems like a pretty classic horror trope, from what I know of them. The paranormal twist to it that's hinted at in the Goodreads description, and that I'm happy to have guessed without having seen that description ahead of time, was unique and kind of ridiculous? It was a fun idea and I was amused when I figured out where the book was going plot wise, but I can't say I was very scared or unsettled while reading the book, or any of the horror books I've read so far. Which I can't tell if that means they actually weren't very scary or if I can handle horror better than I originally thought I could?

Writing: ★★★★ I thought the writing was pretty good. The descriptions were great and I loved the little snippets at the start of each chapter that would feature news articles, descriptions of social media posts and little social media comment sections. Those were fun additions to the story. I did think that the pacing at some parts, mainly the beginning, was a little fast and a little more build up, maybe introducing the side characters more, would've been nice and make there deaths a little more impactful.

[Uncaged Reads Uncaged Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dare to enter the woods? 🌲✨
If you love classic fairy tales but crave the sharp, adrenaline-fueled edge of a supernatural slasher—with a dark YA romance laced through the shadows—"Gingerbread Bones" by Lindsay Lovise is your next obsession.
This dark fairy tale retelling grabs you from the very first page and refuses to let go.
Lovise builds a nightmarish, claustrophobic world deep in the woods that will make anyone who has ever gone camping think twice before stepping into the trees.
A group of troubled, deeply relatable teens, each shaped by neglect, trauma, and the circumstances of their upbringing are cast away by their families under the guise of a "behavior correction" reality show. These teens are forced to survive high stakes where the cameras might be the least of their worries. Lovise highlights each distinct personality beautifully, showing the raw humanity and struggles behind their "troubled" labels.
This is a fast-paced, high-tension ride that builds toward an explosive and shocking revelation. It honors the grim, unforgiving roots of classic Grimm fairy tales while injecting a modern, terrifying twist.
Add this to your TBR immediately and pre-order now! Gingerbread Bones releases on August 4th, 2026.

+++I have received a free eARC of this book. This is my honest review+++

I want to thank @netgalley and @entangledteen for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
#campnetgalley

[Hannah Haseley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!!

This book reminded me of What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould in its synopsis which is what drew me in. I really found myself surprisingly loving that book with its woods horror with troubled teens so I was pretty pumped to pick this up and I must say I was not disappointed.

For me, personally, the only really "bad" (subjective) thing int he novel was the Hansel and Gretel retelling being so on the nose. Like, the gumdrops sort of removed the creepiness of the novel for me. I also would have gotten the fairytale retelling without it being QUITE so on the nose. That being said, I still devoured this book.

Plot: I loved how much was going on. The step-mom little intro at the beginning of every chapter, though, was probably my favorite. It was just so fun to read her posts or to read the stories from the past that interwove with the main story. It also does make the "twist" at the end very predictable, though, I don't think that was unintentional. it felt very much like a horror reveal we crept to inch by inch with the destination your dreading being part of the fun.

Setting: Unsettling woods were children often go missing, an abandoned old camp where horrors once happened, all with so many bodies.

Characters: I loved these characters. Despite all of them being imperfect, they were so deeply lovable. I really loved how they all had their own motivations and despite having a large cast of characters, their individual motivations and desires ever felt muddled. It was also very fun figuring out their backstories and WHY they were all there. While the FMC , Georgie, wasn't my favorite of the cast, she was a good POV character and getting to now Mack through her eyes was really worth it. I loved Mack, but honestly the addition of Madison was my favorite. Having a gamer as a part of the story was very fun, especially one as strategic as her.

Overall, I would say if you like What the Woods Took you would love this or if you've wanted to watch Big Brother, horror edition, this also might scratch that itch.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC as part of Camp Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Nikki Artigas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hansel & Gretel, but make it a 2026 reality TV nightmare. 🌲🖐️

I picked Gingerbread Bones for my NetGalley Camp read. I absolutely flew through this book because it was such a fun read.

Siblings Georgie and Hamish are thrust deep into the Maine wilderness with severely limited supplies to star in Forged in the Forest, a reality TV show masterminded by their crazy parent-influencer stepmother. Each delinquent teen signed up for the show has a sordid past, and though they are supposed to learn to work together, everything goes awry when the group immediately splinters upon arriving at camp. The situation turns from a tense survival challenge into a literal horror story when they discover the severed hand of the cameraman who stayed behind with them, forcing them to abandon their initial campsite and flee deeper into the unknown.

​The stakes feel incredibly high and immediate as they battle hunger, isolation, and a genuinely creepy, supernatural presence in the woods. What made this story so enjoyable was the fascinating dynamic of the teens, where every character brings a unique strength to the table to help them survive. Hamish steps up as a born leader, while his sister Georgie is pure grit and toughness. They are backed by Ava, whose knowledge of healing plants and herbs becomes a lifesaver, and Madison, who uses her brilliant gaming coder brain to strategize their next moves. Even with wildcards like Paxton being a total jerk and Talia being completely unhinged, watching the group slowly forge actual friendships and learn to trust each other under such terrifying circumstances is incredibly satisfying.

​The heart of the book is the fierce protectiveness between Georgie and Hamish, but the romance that develops between Georgie and Mack adds a wonderful layer of hope and extra stakes to the narrative. The eerie atmosphere is driven forward perfectly by the supernatural elements, and the inclusion of social media posts and emails at the beginning of the chapters offers a brilliant, chilling look at the outside world and the true motives behind the show. With a killer ending twist that I wasn’t expecting, this is a must-read if you love dark, modern survival stories.

[Caroline | dogtailsandcrimetales · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★.5

”Oh, my dear children, I can barely wait for you to arrive…”

Georgie and Hamish have had a rough few years. After their mother leaves them to start a new life, their father remarries and has a baby with his new wife, a parenting expert (read: opportunistic influencer). Cast aside and increasingly acting out, the siblings are sent to "camp,” which is actually a reality TV show produced by a major streaming service: A group of delinquent teens is dropped into the wilderness and forced to work together to survive. So far, so good... except things quickly take a turn for the worse.

The opening chapters felt very YA, but once the situation became truly serious, much of that immaturity fell away as the story shifted toward survival. I liked the concept of a fairy tale reimagined as a dark historical account, and I found the characters compelling. It was easy to understand how they had been misunderstood, struggled to fit in, been neglected by their parents, exploited by others, and ultimately cast aside by society as a whole.

I also really enjoyed the chapter introductions, which were made up of diary entries, emails, and social media posts and comments. They helped guide the reader, establish the timeline, and gave the story a stronger sense of structure.

While the premise was intriguing, several of the twists felt fairly predictable from the start. The reality TV show, the streaming network, and the paranormal elements all played major roles, yet I never felt like they were properly explained. I kept expecting the story to connect the dots, but many questions were left unanswered, and some developments felt illogical enough to border on plot holes. The horror itself was dark, gory, and atmospheric, but I was hoping for more context behind what was actually happening.

That said, I did enjoy the ending. All things considered, it felt like the only ending that made sense, and the best possible outcome for those lucky enough to survive.

Thank you NetGalley, Entangled Teen (Mayhem Books), and Lindsay Lovise for a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

Gingerbread Bones was such a fun surprise. I never expected to have a relationship Blending survival thriller, paranormal horror, and mystery with just a hint of romance, it kept me completely invested from the moment the campers arrived in the woods.

The reality show premise instantly hooked me, and I loved how the story leaned into that atmosphere. The snippets of social media posts, emails, and news articles between chapters made everything feel more immersive while slowly unraveling the mystery without giving too much away. Every new revelation had me questioning what was really happening, and the twists kept me guessing until the end.

The large cast of teens could have been difficult to follow, but each felt distinct enough that I found myself rooting for them as the danger escalated. As their backstories unfolded, they became much more than the stereotypes the reality show tried to portray, which made the stakes feel even higher.

The horror elements strike a nice balance for YA readers, and I don’t think that was the weirdness creepy and suspenseful without relying on excessive gore. The constant feeling that something was lurking just out of sight created an unsettling atmosphere that made it hard to put the book down. And while a few plot points felt a bit over-the-top and I would have loved a little more depth behind some of the paranormal aspects, the fast pace and addictive mystery more than made up for it.

If you enjoy isolated wilderness settings, reality-show drama, supernatural thrills, and stories where no one feels safe, Gingerbread Bones is definitely worth picking up. It was an entertaining, unhinged,

The biggest thank you to Entangled: Mayhem Books and NetGalley for this giveaway eARC copy!

[Booklover_tv13_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a YA horror mystery that will keep you on your toes and send shivers down your spine, this is the perfect book for you.

This story made me go back in time to when, as a kid, I used to read Goosebumps under the covers of my bed with only the darkness outside.

Hamish and Georgie are forced by their evil stepmother to participate in a reality show for troubled teens where they’ll have to survive in the cold forests of Maine. It is bad enough as it is, but it could always be worse… When they arrive at their campsite, strange things begin to happen, and soon Hamish and Georgie will have to learn to cooperate with their mysterious companions to survive. But what they’ll learn will overturn all their beliefs.

It had been a long time since I felt as gripped by a book as I did with this one. I finished it in three days, and I was so lost in it that I forgot everything else. The story managed to keep me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I really appreciate it when a book is able to make me feel something… even if it’s fear. Some scenes were really macabre without being too much, perfect for a YA horror story.

The plot was so original, and throughout the book I really believed I had understood where this was going, but I was wrong. I never could have anticipated the final plot twist.

I really loved the romance subplot in this book and the emotional scenes where we got to understand these troubled teens better and grow with them. At the beginning of the book, I couldn’t believe I would get attached to any of the characters, but turns out I did, yes, even Paxton ;)

This book and its ability to take me into the story has made me want to pick up more books from the author Lindsay Lovise. It had been a long time since I read a YA horror book this good.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Teen | Entangled: Mayhem Books for the ARC.

[Melissa Widener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gingerbread Bones by Lindsay Lovise
4.3⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 0.5/5
Cursing: min
Format/Source: paperback from Mayhem Books and Entangled Publishing
Genres/Tropes: Horror, paranormal, fairy tale retelling, thriller, romance, twisty
Audience: YA
Setting: Maine
Characters: Georgie, Hamish, Ashley, Maisie, Paxton, Walker, Evan, Mack, Ava, Talia, Madison, Alicia
👍 short chapters, suspense, well-developed characters, Yellowjackets x Grimm x Survivor vibes, unique storyline, twists
👎 cursing

Description:
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.

I enjoyed this novel, especially the Grimm fairy tale retelling, well-developed characters, and unique storyline. Great blend of Yellowjackets, Grimm, and Survivor. I recommend this book to all who love YA horror with a touchof romance.

#bookstagram #booklovers #horrorbooks #fairytaleretelling #hanselandgretel

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely amazing book that I devoured in less than two days. The writing is so smooth, both the descriptions and the conversations, that the story flows incredibly well. While it’s described as horror, it’s handled just right for the age group it’s written for. So, moments of horror, but not overly gory or so scary you won’t be able to sleep afterwards. I really enjoyed how the opening of each chapter leads off with interesting tidbits, like social media posts, emails and news articles. We get enough hints about what’s playing with Georgie and the other kids that you can start to put some of the pieces together on your own. Not necessarily a bad thing because there’s enough twists, including the ending, that you’ll be plenty surprised.

The characters themselves all obviously have enough issues going on that their family eagerly signs them up for this wilderness behavior camp. While I would like to think adults wouldn’t send children off into the woods like that, with them all being 16 or 17 I can see where this would be a last resort “to straighten them out” kind of thing. As we get to know each teen though and what shaped them into who they are today, you start to understand them, and root for most to survive. Some of their stories are a little cliche, but that’s exactly what a reality show would want so viewers can relate better.

Overall I found this book to be extremely well written, highly addictive and totally worthy of a spot on my bookshelf for rereading and sharing. Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing for the advanced eARC!

[Emma B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, Lindsay Lovise, and Entangled publishing, for the chance to read this eARC!

The evil stepmother, Ashley, sends Georgie and Hamish, along with 9 other "troubled" teens into the woods for a survivalist show. Armed with only the pack on their back, and with 2 camera men, an expert survivalist and a psychologist to keep them on track, it's meant to give them a new lease on life. But after awakening on the first morning in camp, theres already people missing. And Georgie feels instantly like theres a very strange feeling to these woods, almost like they're being watched. Like it's alive. Like it's breathing. But that can't be right, can it?

I was so unsure about this book, I really only skim over the blurb on any book as I like to go in fairly blind. The cover intrigued me, so I gave it a go and oh wow, am I glad I did! I literally could not put this book down, consuming majority of it in one day. The tension builds so beautifully, so easily, you're sucked immediately into the story. The characters in themselves and how they bounce off the other characters really adds to that tension, as well as the location and events. At first, I thought the story would go one way, but as I realised it was going heavily another way and more of Georgie's background comes out, I started to put together more of what I thought would happen. Turns out, I definitely got some of it right, but there were large pieces I would have never guessed. I loved it, can't wait to read more from this author

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My NetGalley Summer Camp pick - thanks, NetGalley!

Ginger Bread Bones absolutely flew by! I finished it in less than three days because I genuinely didn't want to put it down. Lindsay Lovise delivers such a fresh, original reimagining of Hansel and Gretel. The pacing is excellent, balancing survival, mystery, and supernatural horror in a way that kept me turning the pages. I'm also a huge fan of shorter chapters, and they worked perfectly here to keep the momentum going. One of my favorite storytelling choices was the inclusion of social media posts, emails, and text messages at the beginning of chapters. They add so much texture to the story, offering occasional glimpses into the past, while also showing what's happening in the present, outside the Maine wilderness as the teens struggle to survive not only the unforgiving forest but the ancient evil stalking them. It made the world feel bigger without slowing the narrative. The Hansel and Gretel connection and the twist were both handled incredibly well. It felt familiar enough to recognize the inspiration while still surprising me with where the story ultimately went. Honestly, give me more books like this. "Lost in the woods while something supernatural hunts you" is a premise that will never get old for me, especially when authors continue finding inventive new ways to tell that story. Ginger Bread Bones is a tense, fast-paced, atmospheric read that I'd happily recommend to YA horror fans looking for a fresh fairytale retelling.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. 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. Something is watching, waiting, picking them off one by one.

Overall, I thought Gingerbread Bones was an entertaining read. I loved the whole Lord of the Flies meets reality show with Hansel and Gretel vibes. I mean, seriously, how can you go wrong with troubled teens being sent into the woods, forced to work together, and hopefully, come out as better kids?

I thought the plot was very refreshing and the pacing was solid. I liked that the author made you feel in the moment with the characters and the way she portrayed the dark, uncomfortable moments. As far as the romance aspect goes, I thought it was all right. It didn't make or break the story for me.

Gingerbread Bones is quite the departure from the books I typically read, but I still found it entertaining. Fans who enjoy young adult horror, deadly reality shows, with an unexpected paranormal threat, will definitely want to sink their teeth into Gingerbread Bones.

* I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a YA horror take on Hansel and Gretel. Georgie and Hamish Leider’s wicked stepmother sends them off on a reality show to reform troubled teens. Set in the Maine wilderness, things quickly go to hell. A bunch of traumatized teens with no survival skills must fight the elements, their combative natures, and a foe that may not be of this world.

This is meant for an older teen audience. There’s death on page, violence, light gore, descriptions of traumatic events, and cannibalism. What’s Hansel and Gretel without an unconventional meat source?

The kids took so long to mention Hansel and Gretel, I thought it didn’t exist in this world. By the time it registered for the protagonists, it was so late in the game, it made them seem foolish. Y’all found candy in the woods FFS.

That lone gripe aside, this was excellent. It was fast paced, dark, tense, with a mystery to unravel. Survival meets supernatural horror in the best way. I devoured it.

Because it’s YA, it’s not as violent or graphic as it could be. You suspect the characters you were made to care about will make it out of this. There will be some sort of resolution, healing, and/or light at the end. Adult horror makes no such promises. In these trying times, it’s nice to have dash of hope with our horrors.

It’s sent in October in northern Maine so cool off for Summerween or have a nice cap to spooky season reading. 5/5

[Genny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is YA, but is still engrossing to read as an adult. You are drawn in and hooked. Are there a few plot inconsistencies here and there? Yeah, but that doesn’t negate from the fact that it is a fun, twisted tale that takes inspiration from Hansel & Gretel. (Something I didn’t know going into reading this so it was a pleasant surprise.) The “paranormal survival horror romance” byline sounds oxymoronic, but I assure you this book covers it all and does a great job of it. I inhaled it in a few hours (and may or may not have abandoned adulting for the duration of it).

This book gives all the spooky vibes because teens who are labeled as troublemakers are sent to camp out in haunted woods in autumn by their influencer stepmother for a reality reform show. The more you grow to adore the teenagers, the more vile their stepmother becomes. We are instantly thrown into the fray and it starts like many other “conversion camp in an immersive wilderness experience” tales… but it does not take long to take a chaotic turn and it only gets weirder as time goes on— in the best of ways!

Be sure to grab a copy when it’s released on August 4, 2026!

Thank you to Lindsay Lovise and Entangled Teen (Entangled: Mayhem Books) for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.