Until the Last Light Goes Out

by Courtney Gould

Flickering neon lights and hot Miami nights turn deadly in this gothic horror about a daughter investigating her best friend’s disappearance at an abandoned island resort.

You may not escape, but the truth will.

Twenty-five years ago, the Ripley Memorial High School senior class entered the luxurious Kaleidoscope Key resort deep in the remote Florida Keys. Despite international intrigue and years of investigation, no one truly knows how the 183 students died. And they never will, since the five survivors of the massacre have never spoken a word about what happened to them that night.

Paige Keller, daughter of one of the Kaleidoscope Key Massacre’s infamous survivors, has grown up determined to steer her life away from the resort and the unsolved mysteries her ex-best friend, KJ, can’t leave alone. Paige has moved to a fancy new college and it seems that, finally, she’s banished the shadows of Kaleidoscope Key completely. But when she’s called home on the 25th anniversary of the massacre, she finds that KJ has gone missing.

Paige knows there’s only one place KJ could be: her obsession, the now-abandoned resort. When Paige and the remaining Survivors’ Kids go in after her, they’re forced to confront their―and their parents―pasts once and for all.

Kaleidoscope Key is waiting, and it's starving. Once they find their way inside, there may not be a way out. And one way or another, the truth of the massacre will come to light.

Captivating and chilling, Courtney Gould’s Until The Last Light Goes Out is a horror story, a love story, and an ode to the pain passed between generations that you won’t soon forget.

Genres: Horror, Young Adult, Thriller, Queer, Gothic, LGBT, Lesbian

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Courtney Gould is the author of The Dead and the Dark, Where Echoes Die, What the Woods Took, and the forthcoming Until the Last Light Goes Out. She writes books about queer girls, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a degree in Creative Writing and Publishing and now lives in Salem, OR where she continues to write love letters to small towns and haunted places.

Reviews

[Megan Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

reading this made me think too much about my mom dying and I cried about it but also about these lesbians. I love them your honor

[BookishKB]

🌴💀 Until the Last Light Goes Out 💀🌴

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• YA Horror
• Gothic Mystery
• Abandoned Resort
• Multiple POVs
• Survival Horror
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: October 13, 2026
Thank you to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Kristi V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This was a very speedy read for me! I couldn’t put it down. Really enjoyed the title matching everything and the vibes were just like Blue Prince video game but make it scary. I could 100% see this as a movie one day and I’d be there opening night. As always though, with most horror, no one likes a resolution so I find myself wishing for the why and the how. When they found news articles I really thought we might get the origin stories. But it’s just an entity that exists as the story continues. But if you like an atmospheric horror ride - because who doesn’t love an abandoned resort on an island - this is definitely for you!

[She’s Stranger Than Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tough one to rate. I love the plot. A senior class gets a free night at a brand new high-end island resort near Miami. It turns into a night of terror that only a handful of the class survives. Twenty-five years later, the descendants of the survivors find themselves drawn back to the resort where horror awaits. And there is horror - supernatural horror, body horror, psychological horror, and some of elements of a good old teen slasher. The social pressures of the teen years are on display as are the high school hierarchies and cliques. The book also explores love, family, and friendship, and the strain on those when ego, ambition, and survival are on the line. The characters are well-drawn. The resort itself is a character - not surprisingly considering the southern gothic nature of the novel. In the end, I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likable. That’s on me. I enjoy YA literature; however, I am much older and world-weary than the intended audience. I had to cut the book a break. There are also some repetitive plot points that pull the story down and some instances where the story jumps around that could be tightened up. Overall, I think this book is an entertaining piece of gothic horror that will delight its intended audience.

This is my honest review of an uncorrected ARC. The opinions here are 100% my own. I am grateful for the opportunity to read this and want to express my thanks to Courtney Gould, McMillan, and NetGalley.

[Avery Clason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always find Courtney Gould’s books to be incredibly creepy and long-lasting in my mind, and this one is no different!

The thought of a supernatural hotel actually sends me into oblivion and makes my skin crawl (in the BEST way possible)! This book was everything I wanted it to be and more with the incredible connections between characters, the thoroughly developed plot, and the intense feeling that something is lurking within the pages just waiting to pounce.

Without getting into too much, just know that this book will have you on the edge of your seat and while it pulls into the paranormal like Courtney Gould’s other books, I think reading it in the summer is the best season. It feels warm and sticky and lingering like the heat of summer …. And it’s so perfect.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this incredible book!

[willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS SPOOKED ME BAD! And I say this because I’m someone who doesn’t read a lot of horror (scaredy-cat), but also because this truly was nightmarish…

So Paige is the daughter of one of five survivors of a horrific massacre on a remote island resort. For her whole life she has tried to distance herself from the horrors that have defined her life. But years after her own mother returns to the resort and dies, her best friend also goes missing in the resort. She and two other survivors’ kids venture in to the resort for answers.

Listen… THIS PLACE IS SCARY!! It’s a shapeshifting, time-bending, possessing, murderous labyrinth with no exit. Quoting Meg Slater… GET ME OUTTA HERE!! I was scared to bits. In a good way of course. This kinda felt like how Jumanji made me feel as (an overly sensitive) kid. But it’s like Jumanji on horror steroids… with lots of blood…

Anyway, this was scary and heart-pounding and also touching. There is so much in here about relationships and generational trauma and putting your life on the line for the ones you love.

I actually went in thinking this was going to be more murder-mystery thriller because a YA thriller was what I’ve been craving. This is most definitely supernatural horror/thriller! I’m not disappointed at all because that’s on me (I didn’t read the description closely enough), but I’m very used to realistic fiction thriller where everything is tied up and explained. We get lots of answers in this, but the nature of it being supernatural means some of the questions are answered with “just because.” I ended up enjoying it immensely because the pieces eventually clicked into place (which I was worried wasn’t going to happen about halfway through!), but it was something new for me.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for an arc :)

[Kelly Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I picked up this book, I didn't want to put it down and I thought about it when I wasn't reading it.
The protagonist, Paige, is the daughter of one of the only a few survivors of a mass death(?) (killing?) (rampage?) at the Kaleidoscope Resort 25 years ago. No one knows how the victims were killed, only that most never made it out alive. She would never visit the Kaleidoscope with the children of the other survivors, right? Right??
The visit takes the reader on a terrifying experience through the Kaleidoscope, where old questions are answered, but at a cost no one could have foreseen. The journey goes through time and dimensions, which is often scary and always entertaining.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

[artemis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an excerpt in exchange for my honest review.

Kaleidoscope Key is an resort on a island that a high school group went to for celebration of their graduation which has caused the deaths of over 20 students and took the life of the main character, Paige's mother. There is a long-standing mystery behind this massacre as even the survivors never spoke of what had happened inside that Paige wants to escape from; which she does until the 25th anniversary which she is invited to. After coming back into Miami, she discovers that KJ, her ex-girlfriend and ex-best friend, has disappeared about one month ago; so she gathers two of her friends to come find her. On the other side of this story, we get to see Casey, Paige's mother, Tess, KJ's mother and Summer (as well as others) who were in this massacre 25 years ago and you get to see the events unfolding in their perspectives.

Courtney Gould's writing always surprises me considering for the most part, I have found I have grown out of the YA genre and cannot read very many new books unless if it is an author I trust and love; and Gould is one of those authors. She is able to tell a story with horror elements into a YA genre extremely well and find myself completely wrapped into each universe she tells in each of her books. Additionally, the way she conveys her romance is always enjoyable and with this, all of this continues with this.

Paige and KJ's relationship is interesting because their relationship fell apart purely due to this resort, KJ has an obsession over it meanwhile Paige wants nothing but the Kaleidoscope to be remembered by nobody. Along the book you see their friendship start to bond again and as we discover through the two friends, Mateo and Caleb that Paige brought along, we get more insight into their relationship as friends and even as girlfriends. The most interesting relationship in this all; is KJ and Tess. Gould consistently has some sort of story involving a mother and her daughter but this is the most explicit and most interesting out of all of her books. I actually wished we got to see more of it, even if it was sprinkled in throughout the book.

I enjoyed seeing the characters in the massacre, the glimpses of what had happened in this massacre, especially Summer (you deserved the whole world and more). There is an eeriness that follows them in the Kaleidoscope until the very end and with some of them, this resort changes them entirely making choices that you didn't imagine them making whatsoever. I love the horror aspects of this and the lack of detail in some parts adds to this but there were other parts I wish there was even More detail on as I believe it could have added to it even more. But I also understand this is YA which for horror, sometimes can be restricting at parts and other times, that restricting factor is an advantage (which I find is actually one of the most enjoyable parts of Gould's writing).

If you have read any of Gould's books, you will very likely enjoy this just as much, and even if you haven't, I would suggest so as her stories are a joy to read. Most importantly, all of her main characters are lesbians which I love each and every time.

[Christel Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was plain creepy.

Five students survive a massacre that took the lives of nearly 180 of their classmates. Paige just wants to move on, but the 25th anniversary has different plans. Now they’re going to get answers to questions they were too afraid to ask.

I love the cover of this book. It pulled me in, and I’m glad it did. This is a paranormal story that will keep you on your toes. I found myself wanting a documentary-style version on screen for this.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an absolute banger of a book!!

i loved everything about this. one of those books that are just so good that i was covering the bottom of the page so my eyes didn’t jump ahead.

the vibes are immaculate and i’m obsessed with the retro aesthetic of the resort. i loved the characters and how the two ‘timelines’ intersected to showcase the breaking of generational trauma.

the horror was extremely well done and left me feeling so unsettled throughout the book. it’s bloody and brutal and is amazing at creating tension and the feeling that something isn’t right here.

the central mystery is so compelling (200 people just causally dying in one night??) and finding out information and piecing it together was so much fun. it had so many twists that genuinely gagged me.

i cannot recommend this enough, especially to fans of liminal horror (like backrooms etc).

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Until the Last Light Goes Out” by Courtney Gould is a book with an extremely unique premise with a sentient, hungry tropical resort as well as reality bending. It’s difficult to fully capture what exactly this book accomplishes via its plot, but it’s definitely a book I will not forget anytime soon.

The setup is immediately strong: twenty-five years ago, over 200 people, mostly high school seniors about to graduate, mysteriously died in one single night at the brand-new Kaleidoscope Resort. No violence, no obvious cause, just 183 teenagers found dead in their beds, all lying on their backs like they had simply gone to sleep and never woke up. Only five survived. Paige Keller’s mom was one of them, until she later returned to the resort and died the exact same way.

So naturally, when Paige’s best friend KJ secretly goes back to the abandoned resort to investigate and then disappears, Paige has no choice but to go after her.

And honestly? The resort is the real star of this book.

Kaleidoscope feels less like a setting and more like an actual villain. The hotel shifts while people are inside it; the hallways change, exits don’t lead outside, rooms move, time stops making sense. It feels alive in the worst possible way, like the building itself is hungry. It gave me huge haunted house vibes, except instead of just ghosts, it feels like reality itself is breaking. Very “you should absolutely leave immediately” energy, except all the doors leading outside have disappeared.

The dual timeline structure works really well too. Alongside Paige’s present-day POV, we also get chapters from her mother Casey on the night of the original massacre. Casey’s chapters are especially unsettling because she feels like she’s trapped in some kind of time loop, like she knows something is wrong but can’t fully understand it. Watching the past and present slowly collide was probably one of my favorite parts.

The horror here is less jump scares and more creeping dread, emotional manipulation, and body horror. The resort feeds off fear and trauma, pushing people to turn on each other and escalating emotions until things get violent. There are definitely some disturbing scenes, but it’s more atmospheric horror than nonstop terror.

One of the strongest themes is generational trauma. The survivors never truly escaped what happened at Kaleidoscope, and now their children are carrying the fallout. The resort becomes this really strong metaphor for trauma; it doesn’t let go, even when you think you’ve left it behind. That emotional layer gives the story a lot more weight than just “haunted hotel but scary.”

Paige is also a solid protagonist. She is capable without feeling unrealistically fearless, and her relationship with KJ adds emotional stakes that actually matter. The book also handles the friend group dynamics well without making it feel like stereotypical teen drama.

That said, the middle does drag a little. Once everyone gets trapped inside the resort, some of the more stream-of-consciousness, disjointed scenes can get confusing. It makes sense for what the characters are experiencing, but it can be hard to follow. I also found myself wanting a little more explanation for the why behind the resort. There are reveals, but if you like very clear supernatural rules and backstory, this might leave you wanting more.

Still, the ending lands. It’s dark, bittersweet, and honestly pretty perfect for the story. It doesn’t go for a neat, happy resolution because trauma doesn’t work like that. Instead, it focuses on learning how to live with what haunts you, which feels much more honest.

Overall, “Until the Last Light Goes Out” is atmospheric, emotional, and deeply unsettling in that slow, lingering way. If you like haunted house stories, sapphic horror, weird reality-bending settings, and stories where the location itself feels like it wants you dead, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

[Ashley Reindeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtney Gould officially owns a piece of my soul at this point because Until the Last Light Goes Out completely consumed my life for two straight nights. Did the middle drag a little for me? Yes. Did I still stay up until 3 AM TWICE because I physically could not stop reading? Also yes. So honestly, that should tell you everything you need to know. This was a solid 4-star read and another reminder that Gould remains an instant-buy author for me.

The story centers around Paige Keller, whose entire life has been shaped by the infamous Kaleidoscope Key Massacre — a horrifying event where 183 high school seniors mysteriously died at a luxury resort in the Florida Keys twenty-five years ago. The only people who survived were five students who have refused to speak about what happened that night ever since. Naturally, this has turned into the kind of mystery people obsess over for decades… including Paige’s ex-best friend, KJ, who cannot let it go. So when KJ suddenly disappears around the anniversary of the massacre, Paige knows exactly where she went: the abandoned resort itself. Which already sounds like a horrible idea, honestly.

Paige teams up with the other survivors’ kids to go after her, and from there things get WEIRD in the best possible way. The deeper they get into Kaleidoscope, the more the story starts peeling back layers of grief, guilt, family trauma, friendship, and all the emotional baggage these kids inherited from parents who survived something horrific and then never talked about it again. It’s haunting in both the literal and emotional sense.

And listen… I was confused for like 85% of this book. But not in a bad way? More in a “I need to know what’s happening immediately or I will lose my mind” kind of way. Every chapter felt like it was dangling answers in front of me only to yank them away again. I kept thinking I understood where things were going and then suddenly I was questioning literally everything. Gould somehow manages to make confusion addictive.

What I loved most was how emotional this story felt underneath all the horror and mystery elements. This book is really about guilt, trauma, complicated friendships, generational pain, and how people carry the weight of things they never asked for. Every character felt messy and damaged and real in a way that made me incredibly attached to all of them. Even when they were making terrible decisions, I got it.

The atmosphere was also incredibly creepy. An abandoned luxury resort in the Florida Keys with a horrific unsolved massacre attached to it? Immediate nightmare fuel. The setting felt alive the entire time, and there’s this constant sense of dread hanging over every scene that made it impossible to relax while reading.

The ending wraps things up nicely while still leaving enough unanswered questions to keep your brain spinning afterward. I could absolutely see room for a sequel if Gould ever wanted to revisit this world because there’s still so much more that could be explored. And honestly? I’d be seated immediately.

This book has officially earned a spot on my favorites list. Courtney Gould really just does not miss for me. I loved this.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion. This review is based off of an uncorrected proof which did not sway my opinion either way. Be sure to grab this on October 13th, perfect read for spooky season!

[Renee Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Until The Last Light Goes Out by Courtney Gould

Until The Last Light Goes Out, a thrilling horror novel by Courtney Gould, plunges readers into a chilling tale of mystery and suspense. Set against the eerie backdrop of a soon-to-open resort named the Kaleidoscope, the book follows the haunting aftermath of a tragic night when a high school graduating class dies under mysterious circumstances during an overnight stay—only a handful survive. Twenty years later, the children of these original survivors return to the island, only to find themselves ensnared in a nightmarish loop that echoes the unsettling vibes of films like Grave Encounters. This review explores what makes Gould’s debut a captivating, if occasionally uneven, addition to contemporary horror fiction.

What stands out most in Until The Last Light Goes Out is Gould’s ability to craft an atmospheric and immersive setting. The rundown, enigmatic Kaleidoscope resort feels like a character in its own right, its halls steeped in secrets and dread. The slow unraveling of the island’s dark past is skillfully handled, drawing readers deeper into the mystery with each chapter. Gould’s pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to simmer and the horror to build subtly rather than relying solely on jump scares. This approach lends the book a suspenseful mood that horror aficionados will appreciate.

The novel’s core strength lies in its generational narrative, exploring how trauma reverberates across time. The children of the original survivors are more than mere victims; they wrestle with inherited fear and broken legacies, which adds emotional depth beyond the typical haunted setting. Characters are well-rounded enough to foster empathy, although at times their development feels secondary to the plot’s unfolding supernatural elements. The comparison to Grave Encounters is apt—there’s a meta quality to the haunting that reflects on the struggle to escape a recurring nightmare, both literal and psychological.

However, the novel is not without its weaknesses. Some plot points verge on predictable, and at times the story leans heavily into horror tropes without subverting them, which might temper the surprise for seasoned genre readers. Additionally, a few pacing inconsistencies emerge, especially in the latter half, where the narrative occasionally bogs down in exposition. Despite this, Gould’s prose remains clear and engaging, with vivid descriptions that paint the island’s ominous atmosphere effectively.

Overall, Until The Last Light Goes Out is a gripping read that balances supernatural horror with a poignant exploration of familial scars and survival. Fans of atmospheric thrillers and ghostly mysteries will find themselves absorbed by its unsettling world and emotional undercurrents. Those seeking a fresh twist on haunted house stories may find some familiar beats, but Gould’s voice and setting inject enough originality to make the journey worthwhile.

[Julia Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I binged it in a 6-hour readathon where I dont even believe I moved the entire time I was so engrossed. The story is so interesting and original. I have read a lot of horror, and I felt like I was reading something that hadn't been done a thousand times before. I am curious if the author i planning a sequel, the way it ended, was great, but it could also be expanded upon.
The book begins with a tragedy. We learn that 25 years previously, almost an entire senior class of Ripley Memorial High School died at a newly opened island resort deep in the Flordia Keys. 183 people passed with no marks or otherwise indication to tell what happened. Only 5 people survived that night, and ever since, no one really knew what happened. Our FMC, Paige, is the daughter of one of the survivors. Years after the original tragedy, Her mother, Casey, had gone back and ended up dying the same way the seniors had that night. Paige doesn't know why her mother had gone back to that place or what she was looking for.
The setting is this huge abandoned resort, The Kalidescope. It reads like a haunted house story, but it is so much more than that. Throughout the book, we get little teasers and learn more about the island and the resort, its origin story if you will. The Kalidesope Key resort begins to feel like a character on its own. At times it feels larger than life and there is no way to win, no way out of the nighmare that their lives have become, that they will spend their entire lives and after lives wandering around the resort.
This story also features a dual timeline, I am still not exactly sure if Paige was present in her mothers body, like she was seeing what had occurred that night or if we were just seeing Casey's POV. Either way, it added so much to the story.
Paige had originally gone to the resort with two of the other surviviors sons to look for her friend KJ, who had an obsession with the tragedy and the resort and had been missing for a month. Paige and KJ had a falling out, but Paige was worried about her and knew she most likely was at the resort.
The story features a time loop, ever-changing buildings with no exits or windows, and a creeping dread that gets your blood pumping. The emotional manipulation and guilt add layers to this story. Its more than just a horror novel, its about forgiveness and letting go of your trauma in order to really live as well as the premise that no matter what, the truth will always come out and there are some things you cant outrun.
Im rating this book 5 stars. I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my opinion.

[Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting concept worn thin by repetition. Initially, I liked that the weirdness of the Kaleidoscope started right away, but by the middle-end, I was ready for something else to happen. There’s only so much wandering around impossible hallways and running from strange noises that a girl can take before it becomes boring rather than frightening, and it’s nearly impossible to sustain the tension for that long. There are a couple unsettling moments of vore horror but, again, it’s more interesting in concept than execution.

I didn’t have any particular feelings about the characters. I think Gould does a nice job setting up the contrast between logical, orderly Paige and chaotic KJ. Their best friendship is a little insular, maybe even a little codependent, and it puts the rest of the characters in shadow. It’s clear the side characters are never as important to them (or the story) as they are to each other. I typically enjoy Gould’s wlw romances, but in this case it felt a little shoehorned and under-developed. I didn’t much enjoy the flashbacks to the previous massacre either, but that’s typical for me. I’m not sure they add much to our understanding of what’s going on, but they provide body count and some slasher-style horror.

If you’re the sort of reader who prefers to have everything explained, this book isn’t going to work for you. For as much as we see of the resort, we see very little of the force behind it. I wanted less of the haunted house and more of the monster, and I ended with a lot of questions. Is it even a physical being? Are they always just inside its consciousness? I’m not saying the book needs to answer all of these to be effective–sometimes the scariest monsters are the vaguest ones–just that it doesn’t.

The ending feels a little neat. It’s almost as though Gould wrote herself so big and powerful a monster that she couldn’t find a way to write herself back out. At no point did I feel like the characters stood a chance of surviving, so any loophole was going to feel like just that. It’s not my favorite Gould, but it’s not my least favorite either. I received an invitation to read a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An endless maze with a heart at the center.

As I reflected on this story after finishing it, that was the phrase that kept coming to mind.

I was initially surprised by the length of the novel considering its premise, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how intentional that choice was. Every turn, every unanswered question, and every seemingly insignificant detail built upon the last, mirroring the confusion the characters themselves were experiencing. The mystery unfolded at a deliberate pace, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle alongside them.

One aspect I especially appreciated was how easy it was to follow the world’s rules despite the complexity of the setting. I imagine it couldn’t have been easy to write a story centered around a constantly shifting resort without it becoming repetitive or confusing, but the author managed to keep each new discovery engaging while maintaining a clear sense of direction.

The multiple points of view added another layer of depth to the story. Casey’s perspective, in particular, deepened the mystery while also shifting the focus toward the emotional core of the novel. Beyond the supernatural elements, the story explored the lasting impact of childhood relationships, loyalty, and the difficult choices we make when faced with what matters most.

I also appreciated the ending. I found myself wondering whether the resolution would rely on an overly convenient twist, but instead it felt satisfying and well earned. The emotional payoff between the characters was genuine, and their relationships carried the conclusion in a way that felt authentic.

What stayed with me most was how the story blurred the line between the impossible and the believable. It captures that feeling we all experience when confronted with strange or unexplained events—the uncertainty of never quite knowing what is real and what isn’t.

Overall, this was a thoughtful and engaging journey. The mystery kept me invested, the emotional core grounded the story, and the ending brought everything together in a satisfying way. And I have to mention the cover—it was beautiful from the start, but after finishing the book, it took on an even deeper meaning.

[AMY DURAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to to review this book!

Until the Last Night Goes Out opens with the main character, Paige, attending a memorial dedicated to students that lost their lives when visiting
Kaleidoscope Key, a resort in the Florida Keys.
In 2001, the senior class of Ripley Memorial High School visited the Kaleidoscope Key for one night, as a graduation trip. On that fated night, over 200 people entered Kaleidoscope Key, the next day only 5 survivors remained. The deaths were a mystery and the survivors claimed to have no memory of their night at Kaleidoscope Key, stating they had all fainted at arrival and woke to find their classmates dead. Paige is the daughter of one of these survivors, her mother lived that night back in 2001, but died 13 years later in the same resort.
As the story develops we slowly learn more about the lives of the remaining survivors, and Paige's best friend, KJ, another daughter of one of the original survivors. Paige discovers KJ is missing and she suspects KJ has returned to Kaleidoscope Key, determined to find out what really happened on the night of the massacre at Kaleidoscope Key.
With the remaining children of the survivors, Paige goes to Kaleidoscope Key, determined to find KJ and is forced to face the past.

I really enjoyed this book, Courtney Gould did a great job with setting the scene, I grew up in South Florida and I could feel the humid tropical winds when reading this story. The story is told in alternating narratives and different timelines, but in a perfectly seamless narrative where I was never confused.

What really worked for me was the slow build up of dread and the claustrophobic atmosphere. I also loved the relationship between Paige and KJ and the overall explorations of friendships versus trauma bonds throughout the book. What didn't work for me was the repetition, I know the resort mirrored a maze, but I do think some scenes could have been cut due to the constant repeating of the "endless hallways", Courtney Gould did a great job building the world inside of the Kaleidoscope Key so I saw no need to keep repeating these narratives.

Overall a fun spooky read, solid 4 out of 5!

[Courtney Stearns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5stars

Plot and Vibe Summary
When Paige Keller is dragged back home on the 25th anniversary of a mysterious high school massacre, she discovers her estranged best friend, KJ, has vanished into the shuttered, decaying island resort where it happened. Paige and a group of fellow survivors' descendants venture into the ruins, quickly realizing they are trapped inside a living nightmare. The vibe is an intoxicating blend of neon gothic horror and claustrophobic mystery. It pairs a heavy, atmospheric 1990s nostalgia with a deeply unsettling, supernatural dread.

What I Liked
The Atmosphere: The author builds an incredible, suffocating tension within the abandoned resort that makes the setting feel like a malicious entity itself.
The Pacing Trick: I spent most of the book thoroughly confused in the best way possible because the author masterfully keeps the answers just at your fingertips, only to pull them away at the last second.
The Ending Structure: The story wraps up nicely and provides a satisfying conclusion without tying everything up with a perfect bow, leaving a few lingering questions unanswered to haunt you.
The Romance: The central relationship is tender, beautifully written, and serves as a crucial emotional anchor amidst the terrifying chaos.

What I Didn't Like
Pacing in the Middle: The narrative slows down slightly during the second act when the characters explore the resort layout, which briefly deflates the brilliant tension built up in the opening chapters.

Final Thoughts
This is a gripping, genuinely spooky young adult horror novel that seamlessly balances supernatural chills with a heartfelt exploration of grief and legacy. It kept me guessing until the final pages and left a lasting impression.

Book Breakdowns
Tropes: Former best friends to lovers, generation spanning curses, isolated trapped group, and atmospheric haunted locations.
Spice Level: Low (focuses entirely on emotional intimacy and yearning rather than explicit content).
Trigger Warnings: Gore, graphic depictions of mass death, child endangerment, claustrophobia, and intense psychological trauma.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending an ARC or advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this practically as soon as I received the ARC, because Courtney Gould and her writing have a hold over me.

I was not disappointed.

Here's the deal. I don't even like horror, but I love Gould so much, I will read anything she writes. And this story was amazing--sucked me in and spit me out. Somehow Gould wrote a book that makes you feel like you're inside a giant carnival funhouse, spinning from mirror to mirror, dizzy and slowly going mad trying to find your way out.

Welcome to Kaleidoscope Key.

Twenty-five years ago, a class of high school seniors were given the senior trip of a lifetime: a night at Kaleidoscope Key, a newly opened exclusive resort in Florida. But on that trip, 183 members of the senior class died. And the five survivors have never spoken about what exactly happened.

It's now the 25-year-anniversary. Paige Keller, daughter of a survivor, has reluctantly returned. She discovers that her ex-BFF KJ has gone missing. KJ is also the daughter of a survivor. And she's been obsessed with Kaleidoscope Key for years.

So Paige and the sons of two other survivors make the trip to Kaleidoscope Key. But once there, they realize there is something dreadfully wrong with this place. Time shifts. Rooms shift. Maps change. And something seems out for blood.

This story is spell-binding! Gould creates a horrifying, trippy, eerie atmosphere. The book is so terrifying and tense. I absolutely could not put it down--it's a complete page turner.

At its heart, this story asks: what would you do for the people you love? (There's something excellent happening between KJ and Paige, which I adored.) But on a darker, more terrifying level, it delves into what would you do to survive? Especially when faced with life or death.

Rarely does reading a book where everything feels wrong work perfectly, but it does here. I was simultaneously creeped out and riveted.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for this one in October, 2026!

[Angela Staudt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I dive into why this book is perfection, I need everyone to understand that this is one of the best-written horror novels I’ve ever read. I will genuinely be thinking about this book for months to come, it honestly might become my Roman Empire.

I’ve always been a fan of Courtney Gould, and once again she absolutely knocks it out of the park with her newest horror novel. This story starts with a bang and never lets up. The twists and turns completely got me. The concept alone is incredible: 200 kids travel to a brand-new island resort called the Kaelodescope for their senior trip, and overnight all but five of them die with seemingly no explanation. The mystery of what happened becomes something the entire world obsesses over. Fast forward twenty years later, and the survivors’ young adult children return to that same island resort to uncover the truth and rescue their missing friend.

I don’t want to give too much away because this is absolutely a book you should go into blind. It’s a wild ride, but also an emotional one. The resort itself becomes the true source of terror, and the dual timeline between past and present had me constantly gasping and wondering what the hell was really happening.

I LOVED the way this was written. Everything wove together so seamlessly, and there were so many mind-bending moments that had me questioning every character and everything I thought I knew.

The ending was honestly everything I wanted. It provided closure without tying everything up in a perfect little bow, which made it feel even more impactful. It was emotional, unsettling, and had me wanting to immediately reread the entire book.

My only complaint is that I wish the origin story of the island and the resort itself had been explored more because I still have so many questions. But aside from that, this book was genuinely everything I want in a horror novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this one and it reminded me of so many of the popular horror movies that are out right now! 25 years ago the senior class of Ripley Memorial High School were invited for a senior trip to the exclusive Kaleidoscope Key resort. They arrived safely but by the next morning 183 students as well as some chaperones and staff were dead. Only five students walked away from the hotel. And those five never spoke of what happened. Then years later one of those survivors, went to the Kaleidoscope and didn’t make it out alive. That survivor was Paige Keller’s mother. Now on the 25th anniversary Paige has returned, but this time she’s determined to so goodbye to all things Kaleidoscope, she doesn’t know what happened to her mother or those other students but she doesn’t know she wants to move on. She’s also dreading seeing her ex-best friend KJ, who has been obsessed with the Kaleidoscope their whole lives. It’s actually what drove the two apart, but soon she realizes not only is KJ not there but she hasn’t been seen in a month. And she soon finds evidence that points to KJ having gone to the Kaleidoscope. So, along with the other two children of survivors, she heads to the Kaleidoscope to find KJ. The resort is waiting for them and it’s hungry. Can Paige find KJ and make it out alive? One thing is for certain she’s about to find out what happened 25 years ago whether she wants to or not. Courtney Gould does an excellent job creating a creepy atmosphere and giving chills to the reader! I loved the characters and the switch between the current timeline and what happened 25 years ago! A tense thrilling read that had me on the edge of my seat and kept me hooked! Highly recommend if you enjoy a good paranormal horror mystery!

[Saltygalreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty-five years ago, a graduating class of high school seniors went to a resort island in the Florida Keys called The Kaleidoscope to celebrate and only five survived to leave it. The survivors never talked about what happened to them there and the shadow hung over them and their children in the years since then. When Paige Keller, child of a former survivor, finds out that her best friend KJ, also a child of a survivor, has disappeared, she knows where she has gone. KJ has been haunted by The Kaleidoscope all her young life, having witnessed her mother consumed by her guilt and demons. Paige and the other children of the remaining survivors journey to the abandoned island resort to look for KJ, little suspecting the horrors lying in wait for them.

This was quite an unusual book. I believe I can honestly say that I haven’t read anything else like it. It certainly has a promising concept – an abandoned resort in the Florida Keys with a horrific history and a small handful of survivors keeping secrets and passing their trauma on to their children. There is nail-biting tension in the first half of the novel while the reader tries to piece together what happened all those years ago and what is threatening Paige and KJ now. The resort is a full-fledged character in the novel – malignant and shape-shifting as it plays with its victims before consuming them.

The second half of the book becomes a little repetitive and could have been edited down somewhat. I would have liked to see more character development for Casey and Paige Keller as I think that would have enhanced the reader’s investment in their characters. I would consider this as a modern gothic “house of horrors” which readers of psychological horror may enjoy.

[Amanda Popken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Until the Last Light Goes Out is one of the first ARC's I've read that I was genuinely impressed with. The novel centers on a resort called the Kaleidoscope. 20+ years ago, a senior class went to the resort as a graduation event, and only a few of them came back. The book opens with this mystery: How did 180+ teenagers die? Why did only 5 survive? What happened that night? The book follows the survivor's children as they go back to the resort to search for one of their own.

This book was well written and engaging. It took me a few days to finish it because life got in the way, but I found myself thinking about it when I couldn't sit down to read. The book gives Backrooms vibes, mixed with House of Leaves, mixed with House on Haunted Hill. There's a little of everything: friendship, romance, ghosts, mystery, a slight bit of violence (I don't remember there being much gore, but there WERE scenes of violence).

My only slight critique, and it's not even that big of a critique, is that the book jumped between present day and the past. I LOVE when a book does that, but I felt that the first time it did that, I got a bit confused. I think it was because the chapter was labeled "Alt Chapter" in the table of contents, but there wasn't really anything on the actual page that indicated it was a new chapter. This was probably a Kindle error or just because it's an ARC and not the "final" version. But that was really the only thing I didn't enjoy.

I really loved this book and I've already recommended it to a few coworkers when it's published.

[Danielle (mischiefalwayswinsthewar) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your girl HAD A TIME. This book was the perfect amount of horror mixed with main characters I wanted to root for with a dash of a supernatural malevolent entity.

Paige left Miami and the painful memories behind a year ago and was prepared not to look back - until the 25th anniversary of the Kaleidoscope massacre beckoned her home. She reluctantly returns to the town that her mother, one of the 5 survivors of the massacre, took her own life years ago, only to find her ex best friend has been missing for about a month. Paige has a sinking feeling that she knows exactly where KJ is: on the resort that claimed so many lives over 2 decades before. However, when she gets there, she finds a lot more questions than answers - and the discovery she may not be able to leave.

I really did have an amazing time with this book. I was intrigued by the summary, drawn in by the prologue, and hooked within the first few chapters. I love a haunted building that seems to be alive, and the way the Kaleidoscope was described was everything of my neon nightmares. This was a really incredible world to me, with the system of how time passes and everything we learned about it and its inhabitants as the story went on. I also think that the relationships in this story really made it stronger because I was so invested in not only the relationship between Paige and KJ, but also the initial group of their moms and fellow classmates. Ultimately it does really make you question what would you do to save yourself versus saving others, including the one you love.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney Gould has never done me wrong, so I kind of knew I would like this book before even reading the synopsis. I loved The Dead and the Dark and What the Woods Took.
Until the Last Light Goes Out is very different those. The story is much darker, more violent, and more…hopeless…? In a way.
Paige finds out her ex best friend is missing. Both she and the ex bestie, KJ, are both children of a small group of survivors of a mysterious massacre that occurred 25 years ago. What starts as what feels like a scooby doo mystery, Paige and 2 other survivor’s kids go back to where it happened, and that’s when shit gets real.
I was not expecting to be so thoroughly scared by this-Courtney, you got me a couple times 🥹
I love the relationship between the original survivors, but also between the children. The way the themes of generational trauma, sacrificing yourself for the good of your children, dead moms, lesbians, and lasting friendships are written, is as strong as the Kaleidoscope resort is weird and freaky.
I could not put this book down. If I had time, I could have read it in one sitting, it was that engaging. The dual timeline (sort of? Was it?! Yes. Maybe?) was done really well, the characters felt believable and realistic, and the horror was truly horrifying. The atmosphere of the resort almost felt like its own character, and it was EVIL. This is a very rare occasion where I wanted to read it again immediately upon finishing just to put all the pieces together.
God I hope this gets made into a movie.

[lily ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story contains layers of horror and gore and grief that somehow mix together to become most poignant love story I’ve read in a while. The real theme of this book, I’d say, is love. Surprisingly, the romantic love isn’t the shining star of this story. Moreso, it is the undercurrent of this book that bolsters a fantastic narrative and gripping mystery. The main love in this book is largely platonic, a found family, sisterhood sort of love that radiates through each chapter between our characters throughout the generations.

This book will keep you guessing, it will keep you on the edge of your seat, holding your breath as you flip to the next page and hope that things will get better. They will get worse before they get better, time after time, and yet you won’t be able to put it down. Addicted to the horror, addicted to the misfortune, and when you are done you’ll thank this author for the experience.

Despite the ending being incredibly haunting and leaving us with a pit of sorrow in our chest, it is also strangely hopeful, and dare I say peaceful. I feel a solace knowing that in the end, our original victims are now free in whatever afterworld awaits. And knowing that despite the ways the Kaleidoscope has changed and inhabited them, Paige and KJ also have each other. For characters I have come to know and love through these pages, I am grateful to see them no longer alone.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was absolutely fantastic! Hands down the best horror I've read in a long time. Think The Shining, meets Hill House, meets Carrie. Wrap it all up in a tropical gothic bow, and you're starting to get Courtney Gould's Until the Last Light Goes Out.

The story follows Paige Keller, daughter of one of the five survivors of the mysterious Kaleidoscope Resort massacre that claimed the lives of Ripley Memorial High School's senior class twenty-five years ago. All anyone knows is that 183 students were found dead in their beds, no sign of foul play in sight. Now Paige is back from college for a memorial commemorating the tragedy. But what was supposed to be a short trip quickly turns into a nightmare when she discovers that one of her close childhood friends, KJ, is missing. Knowing KJ, there's only one place she could be: the abandoned resort. Paige teams up with the other survivors' kids to rescue her. Only, the Kaleidoscope has other plans...

To say I enjoyed this would be an understatement. Paige was a great protagonist: competent, but realistically so. The setting was fascinating, and the plot kept me engaged all the way through. In addition, I thought the portrayal of high school social dynamics was incredibly accurate without being cliché.

5 Stars.

If you loved the indie game POOL or wondered what Piranesi would've been like as a horror, this is for you.

[Crystal Gritzmacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC.

Until the Last Light Goes Out is an atmospheric, haunting horror novel that follows Paige Keller as she returns to the abandoned Kaleidoscope Key resort when her estranged best friend goes missing. Twenty-five years after the infamous massacre that claimed 183 lives, Paige and the other survivors' children are forced to confront the secrets their parents have kept buried.

What I loved most was the structure of the story. The narrative shifts between timelines and perspectives in a way that constantly leaves you questioning what's happening—is it the past, the present, or somehow both? The uncertainty adds to the creeping sense of dread and kept me completely invested.

This isn't your typical slasher, even though there are some gruesome and memorable deaths. The horror leans much more supernatural and atmospheric, and Courtney Gould does an incredible job bringing Kaleidoscope Key to life. The setting felt so vivid and immersive that I could practically see the flickering neon light and feel the oppressive heat of the island.

I did have a few moments where I was a bit confused, and there were some questions I wished had been answered more fully by the end but sometimes the unsaid is what makes it eerie. If you enjoy eerie, atmospheric horror with dual timelines, supernatural elements, and mysteries wrapped in generational secrets, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Daiana Gonzalez Videla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Coutney Gould blends supernatural and liminal spaces horror with sapphic romance in this addictive story about a young teen trying to save her best friend from the clutches of a haunted hotel. Decades after a senior night at a Florida resort turns deadly, the children of the few survivors return to the island to find out exactly what happened all those years ago, only to see themselves trapped inside a labyrinthine hotel where time and space don’t follow any rules.

I think I got this ARC at the perfect time, right with the huge success of Backrooms and its creepy liminal spaces. The hotel in Until the Last Light Goes Out is a bit like that, with impossible hallways and doors leading to rooms that shouldn’t be there. Although it was difficult for me to understand some of the descriptions of the setting at first (precisely because the rooms and time make no sense in the resort), I think Gould did a good job at making me feel as disoriented as the characters, which I guess is the point. Once I got the hang of it, the characters seemed to be more comfortable in the space as well.

In dual timelines, we follow Paige and KJ in the present, and their mothers Casey and Tess respectively, in the past. It was very interesting to see the dynamics between these characters, which elevated the book and made it also a commentary on trauma and family.

The only reason this wasn’t a 5-star read is that there is a LOT going on in the story when it comes to the horror elements. I could’ve honestly just had the labyrinth-building as the main attraction, but the story also includes a lot of more familiar clichés, such as ghosts, possessions, slasher horror, and even sea monsters. It felt like too many things were going on at once. But overall, it was an impossible-to-put-down book, and Courtney Gould is definitely an author I will keep on my radar.

[Gerika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fast, easy read for me. I felt the novel caught my interest from the very beginning and kept it going. There were a few bits where things slowed down a bit, but it was mainly the flashback scenes (of the parents' experience in that house and what happened, which has a big part to do with the current day plot) and probably just me anxious about getting back to the current story and seeing that progress. The plot was overall still well executed. The characters - main and side characters did develop over time throughout the story...each character had their own backstory and how they and/or their family were connected to what happened at the resort in the past and/or why they are the way they are during the present part of the novel.

The ending was good. Was a satisfying ending, like the plot was brought all together. Some parts were predictable and others weren't. It's mostly thriller with some supernatural elements to it. It's not for you if you're expecting to be scared or into extreme horror (I read/ watch a lot of horror), but it's good if you want a book with a good story, with thriller and some supernatural/ horror elements. There is death in the novel, sore gore/ slasher elements, and it does give a creepy vibe. 4 of 5 stars. It's a good read, above average, and the right length.